The Infected [Books 1-6]

by P. S. Power

  It sounded like a thing to do and no one had anything better really, so after they ate, a meal that was nearly perfect as far as he could tell, they all went and waited for the others, chatting first, but not saying anything important. That just wasn't something that happened at the base, was it? Not anymore. It used to be different. When he'd first been there everyone had pretty much only been concerned with not setting off a violent attack by triggering someone's first mode.

  Now they did that too, but mainly avoided all political discussion like the plague. Not because it might start a fight, but because, as word had it, saying the wrong thing could have you taken out and made to vanish. That no one had yet didn't mean that much, since everyone knew it was only a matter of time now. Tobin thought that the war had probably already started, just in small ways.

  Attacking the IPB wasn't only the first thing that would happen, it was also the last. At that point, the battle would have to be joined and sides chosen. Who would be where was a thing that he didn't know at all. Tobin was with the Infected, right or wrong. It wasn't loyalty, just survival. The other side would try to kill him, he didn't doubt. If they could at least.

  But the people sitting with him? It was all an unknown. Doug wasn't really a fighter, but he was doing well and getting a lot by working for the IPB. There was no reason for him to side with the minority really, not if the government would take him too. Sitting there on the sofa in Bridget's room, it was easy to see why these people might all choose to stay where they were, for as long as they could. He was tempted, it just wasn't going to be offered to him.

  When the Chambers got there the meeting, and lesson, started for real. It was a bit strange, but while Prime joked about being into himself, as far as Tobin could tell he didn't seem any worse about that than the rest of them. For instance, when they were told how to stand to make themselves look strong and dominating, with their chins up for the men and fists on hips, and their feet spread, Doug seemed to just assume that it would work.

  Jessica was given a different set of things to do, which involved turning slightly sideways and pushing her chin forward, but tilting it down at the same time, so that she wouldn't look too manly. Everyone acted like it was all foolproof though, their confidence so great that it seemed out of place, nearly. Even their trust that it would work for him.

  Prime stood, wearing a suit that probably cost several month's salary, taking his own fist on hips power stance.

  "Tobin, why don't you give it a try?" He wasn't kidding, so Tobin did his best and waited for everyone to laugh at him. It wasn't that bad at least, and Prime nodded.

  The others gave him soft looks that spoke of him being cute. It was the large and powerfully built golden man that spoke however.

  "Excellent. Chin a bit higher. Chest out a bit." There was no chuckling from anyone at least. That was good, and had to be hard for them to pull off really. He had to look like a walking joke, like a little boy that was going through chemo, dressed up for his meeting with the superheroes.

  Still, it didn't pay to be the one that made waves. That was a thing that had been hammered home, over and again in his life. It might be the only thing that would eventually make a difference to the world, at least that he could do, but that didn't mean he should spend every waking moment pushing the point. If Prime said he was supposed to make a fool of himself like this, taking a "power pose" with his hands on his hips and pretend to be impressive looking, than it was what he'd do. For now. It wasn't like he had a thousand better ideas, was it?

  "Like this?" It was so much work to speak clearly, in front of everyone, and to not let his eyes drop, his first mode screaming at him to hide the whole time.

  Bridget moved in front of him and looked him up and down, carefully though, without a lot of judgment in her eyes.

  "I was thinking that we'd put him in something blue, but now that I see him like this, I'm thinking black. A body suit, like what I wear. So that he can actually move around. Maybe some armor? He isn't bullet proof. It will add some bulk to him, and he's strong enough that it won't get in his way too much. That and running shoes, since he's quick and we don't want to slow him down. Black ones." That started a discussion with Charlot, who didn't so much disagree with her as wonder out loud if it would make him look too sinister.

  Doug made a face, looking at the scene, with Tobin still standing there, his fists on his thin and bony hips. The larger man had short hair that was all black and flat on top, his square jaw and high cheekbones making Tobin a little jealous in the moment, as he looked back at him, before his shyness forced him to rip his eyes away. It was hard to see why the man didn't think he was good enough looking for Team One. It was clear he did however.

  "I don't think it will be scary at all. Not unless people already fear the Infected. I used to, a bit. I still sort of do, which is wrong, but it means that I should be a pretty good judge of things like this. Mr. Peterson isn't someone that would make me feel afraid. He's sweet looking. Like we could put him in the movies. Yeah, it would take the right role, but I can see it happening. I think all black would work well for him." There was a smile that went with it, and the voice sounded polite and matter of fact, not like he was just saying things to make Tobin feel better.

  Charlot snorted.

  "Of course he does. That isn't in question. I'm just thinking of his place on the team. Bright colors attract the eye. We aren't setting him up to be Proxy junior here, we want him to seem like someone that twelve year old girls would feel safe daydreaming about." That got a laugh, from Karen, who looked at him and went wide eyed.

  She didn't speak however, and Jessica shrank away suddenly, as if the idea was repugnant to her. Tobin swallowed and tried to ignore that, but clearly didn't make it all the way, since Doug explained it all to him quickly.

  "Jess, her first mode is an avoidance of confrontation. She just wanted to get away from the potential fight that Lady Glory laughing at you might have brought. It isn't a personal thing. I don't think so at least." He turned to the woman, smiling, just a bit, his face seeming calm otherwise.

  She took another step back and chuckled nervously herself. She clearly didn't want to risk Tobin's wrath. He got that since she was glancing at him, like he might violently assault her at any moment. That was down to his looks. He took his hands from his hips and shrank into himself a bit, which got her to move back in a little.

  "Sorry. I... It's like Doug said. I used to be a bit afraid of the Infected. I..." She took a big breath and went on in a rush, like it was hard for her to say and she was worried it would be too confrontational. Tobin could see it that way, now that he knew it was her mode. It made a difference. "I heard that you beat up one of the Agents? It was all the buzz here for a while, and no one said why you'd done it. I keep hearing everyone say that we have to let people get away with things like that sometimes, because they can't help it, but..."

  That one at least, had half the room speaking at once, but it was Prime that managed to be heard when everyone else stopped talking. His voice was self-assured and confident, as if he had the real story and always had. That he really did seemed strange to Tobin, because it was news to him.

  "Agent Burkes got angry with Tobin and started to shoot him. I have this from the man himself, so you can count on it being correct. His wife refused to let his daughter come here for the summer, and is taking him to court over it, because it's dangerous. When Tobin suggested that he be allowed to go into public, even knowing that it would cause problems, in order to try and teach everyone a lesson in tolerance, he lost control and fell back on his training." The man spread his golden hands with their perfectly manicured nails and smiled, showing a full row of gleaming white teeth. "The Agents aren't just told to draw quickly, they're trained for it, in a way that makes it so they don't really have the ability to control when it happens. It wasn't fair to Tobin, but being worked up already, Burkes started to do just that, forcing a fight. Then Director Moore asked for a twenty-four hour hold to b
e placed on Peterson, not realizing the whole situation. It's standard procedure here. Blame the Infected. It's a thing to keep in mind before passing judgment." The last few words actually held a bitter edge to it, but he stopped speaking for a moment, which let an angry seeming Charlot take over.

  She glared at Jessica though, which got the woman to stand away again, until Karen moved between them. It was all a battle of different personalities for a moment as they all worked and struggled to reign themselves in.

  "It isn't the first time that we've had a conversation about due process here. It won't be the last either. The tour was almost canceled over it, and that would have been a public relations nightmare. Kevin Moore is a wonderful man in many ways, but his thoughts as to how to handle the public when it comes to our more Infected appearing members are a little too harsh. True, we can't let them be scared, but we shouldn't hide someone like Tobin. Douglas has that one right. We can place him in the media to good effect. And should."

  That started a conversation about the holiday special, and who was going to be in it. Karen had a part, though just as a background dancer. She used to be a gymnast so could manage it. Prime was going, but didn't have a role at all yet. His explanation made sense though.

  "Bridgie is going, so she needs a parent along. Besides, they might want me to wash dishes or something. This is for the Food Network, which means that it's being based around that subject. Everyone from the show is going to be involved, even if off screen." It sounded reasonable, but Karen looked like she was fighting an eye roll and Charlot acted like her husband was being full of himself. Tobin didn't get it at all. On the good side, he didn't have too, since everyone wanted to hear him go over his part, reading with Bridget, who sounded too young and high pitched for most of the lines, but actually did a good job acting otherwise.

  She just needed a role that would fit her look and voice. Basically that would mean a kid, Tobin thought.

  She couldn't sing to save her life though. It was actually painful to hear her try, and Karen wasn't much better. Because it was a group thing he tried them all on it, and none of them managed very well at all, except Charlot, who was only decent. Someone to put in a chorus, not as a solo act.

  They all got that too, though Prime did say he thought he might be able to learn how to do it in time for the show. Maybe he could? The man didn't have an unpleasant voice, he just didn't know how to use it for this. They were different things.

  "We can try to practice. Not the rest of you, except Charlot. Sorry." He managed not to mumble it and had to look away, but no one acted hurt, which was nice. Jess even seemed happy enough to hear him say that.

  "My eight grade music teacher would agree with you. I'm not slated to go anyway, being needed here to make some congressmen feel like they might get lucky, so they won't have us all sent to the gas chambers." She covered her mouth and everyone looked at her hard, except Tobin, who covered, since it was what they did on Team Two. It probably wouldn't make a difference at the end, but for the time being they didn't want the more hot headed people being marked as traitors or anything, holding anti-government sentiments.

  "Not that anyone would ever do that. Not in America. I should have a flag on my uniform, don't you think?" He spoke to Jessica directly, hoping that she'd get the idea.

  She did, naturally. It was hard to be around the base long and not pick up on the mood.

  "We all should. We're all Federal employees and back our country fully, after all."

  They needed a flag to pledge allegiance too or something, to really sell the whole thing, but everyone nodded along and said they thought it was a good idea. They broke up shortly after that, with Bridget holding him back as the rest left. That got Charlot to give him a bit of a dirty look, but she didn't say anything, which got her daughter to clear her throat.

  "He's my partner, I'm just going to go over the schedule for tomorrow." She sounded a lot more adult anyway, which got a skeptical look from her mother.

  "Of course, dear." Charlot didn't seem pleased to do it really, but she left, not glaring at him in particular.

  That was all she really wanted however, and she ran over it quickly enough.

  "Exercise and Hobbs in the morning, then after lunch, which you need to dress for, we have a photo shoot with Doug and Jessica. The others too. Just the quarterly pictures for publicity. It's why we were practicing poses tonight, instead of going over how to handle reporters. Then we'll get that singing stuff going for you and dad. Don't be shocked if he shows up first thing in the morning to ask about it. I'll leave a note for him. Let's call that tomorrow evening?" She sounded efficient and in charge, like she knew what she was doing already, even if she was still new to Team One herself. Then, she'd been around her parents her entire life, and it was possible that they'd taught her all of this kind of thing, grooming her for it.

  He'd never had anyone to do that kind of thing for him, just going to school on the base computer system for years, spending most of his time doing that, sitting in the media room alone. It worked well enough, and he could do basic math and knew the capitals of all the states, so was no worse off than most people, from what he'd read about the state of education online.

  "Got it."

  Then he was released to go back to his room, to find Charlot standing outside the door, her face a bit dark and glowering. Pretty still. Since she used to be on Team One herself, that just made sense.

  "You actually came right out? Here I thought that we'd be having a long conversation about my underage daughter." She softened a bit and shook her head. "Not that I can stop the two of you, but please be careful with her heart? People think that her impulsive nature means that she's flighty, but that isn't the same as callused. She falls in love easily, and will act on it, but she doesn't fall out of it. It's making things confusing for her. Next month Clark is getting out of our prison here, and I don't know what she intends to do in regards to him. He's a child molester. I..." She actually looked away, and then shook her head, seeming sad.

  For a long time she didn't say anything, her head slightly down and defeated looking, and when she spoke she didn't make eye contact with him at all, or even try. Tobin saw this from the corner of his own field of vision.

  "What are we going to do? We can't hurt him, and ordering him not to have sex with her once she's of age won't work. She's even doing a lot better now, controlling herself, so isn't really any worse than any teenage girl in her position. Better really, in a lot of ways. She could be spoiled and entitled, but she's managed to avoid that. I just have no clue how to handle this."

  Tobin didn't either, having never been a parent, but he shrugged. The real answer was that Clark would need to be watched and so would Bridget.

  "I'll keep an eye on Bridgie, and get someone from Team Two to make sure Clark is never alone with her. It isn't perfect."

  That produced a soft sound from the woman that he realized was a sob.

  "Like you aren't going to be sleeping with her too?"

  Tobin considered lying, or not speaking, since saying anything would make his insides feel like they were ripping out, but swallowing and forcing himself to be as brave as he could, he answered.

  "If I can. But I told her we had to wait, for her to be old enough. I don't know if it's right, because of her mode. I'm supposed to ask her grandmother about it. Or her dad, but I don't really want to be inside a wall." That was a thing that had happened once, with Proxy. Prime flew him into a wall. Just down the hall from where they stood in fact, in the open common area.

  "Really? That's a lot more than I would have expected. Scott wouldn't hurt you over that however. I agree that you should speak to Rachel about it however. Or Brian. He won't let you do anything too wrong."

  That Bridget had already pointed out that he'd probably feel embarrassed about it meant that Tobin wouldn't ask him however. He didn't like to make anyone else uncomfortable, even if it seemed like they hardly ever were, compared to him.

  It was ver
y strange, but the woman reached down and patted his shoulder gently.

  "Well, if one of you has to end up as her boyfriend, I'd much rather it be you than Clark Clarkson. Of course I'd really rather she never date at all, until she's ready to move away and I never have to know what she's getting up to. That won't work, given our lives and hasn't been the case for years. You have my vote though. Now I just have to seem mildly disapproving of you so that she knows that you're the right one. I think that's how it's done at least." She walked away then, toward the first room, which was the one that she and her husband shared. Everyone knew that.

  It took only a few minutes for him to get into bed and it was fairly early, but he'd been sleeping a lot, so it felt about right. The room was nice and dark, but he got a wake up knock on his door at six-thirty. He expected it to be Bridget, but it was Prime, dressed for the day already and looking perfect, as always.

  "Ah! I didn't wake you did I?" The man looked concerned about it, but soldiered on, even as Tobin wiped the sleep from his large black eyes. "It's just that a certain daughter of mine was supposed to meet me for an early breakfast, and she isn't at the restaurant or still asleep. I thought she might have spent the night here?"

  That got Tobin to blink several times, then decide that the man had to mean that he figured his underage daughter was sleeping with him, not just on his sofa. It was almost a compliment, him thinking that anyone would want to do that with him, but this was also the girl's father, so it wouldn't be right to let him think that. Even if it actually ever happened. Tobin had seen sit-coms after all, he knew the rules there.

  "Come in and check?" He wasn't bold sounding, but got out of the way so that the large and too perfect man could come in. Even his nose hair was styled, cropped closely and showing nothing out of place. Being as short as he was, he had a better than average view after all, so knew it to be true.