The Infected 1: Proxy

by P. S. Power

  Charles took a deep angry breath. Making Brian nod.

  "Right, you were one of them. So you know... You more than anyone else here knows that what I've been through isn't unheard of, or all lies, that's just what the police like to tell people so they can get away with things. You probably know of a lot more than what happened to me and probably helped keep it secret and kept the people that did it safe from the very law you claimed to serve."

  Charles poked a finger into Brian's chest angrily. "Lies!" He blustered.

  Behind them Christian cleared her throat.

  "Charles... I don't want to cause problems, but... it's not a lie. He's not even wrong. You know that the police aren't perfect and that the system fosters brutality in their ranks and protects them from the fallout that the rest of us would face. It angers you to have it pointed out, but you know that Brian wasn't in the wrong and would be dead had he stayed in custody more than a day..."

  The angry man seemed to calm a little then and half heartedly pushed the palm of his hand against Brian's chest, not even half as hard as he'd poked his finger moments before. Brian took the hand, twisted it outward twisting the palm into a wrist lock suddenly, then pulled the man to him hitting with the edge of his hand against the side of the other mans neck three times, performed a simple leg throw and cracked the mustached head against the hard cold floor in a single swift movement, forcing the head against the solid surface. The team two leader was out cold, his legs trembling a little.

  "Ah!" Brian jumped back, hands out. "I, uh, didn't mean to do that!"

  Everyone else stood in shock for a second, except for Marcia, who chuckled and called for a doctor. Burrows ran in and looked at the situation, shocked. Marcia gave a blow by blow and they all helped move Charles down the hall to one of the emergency exam tables. Brian walked along behind them, everyone giving him leery glances, except again, Marcia.

  The Director started to chew him out for inappropriate behavior, but Marcia got between them and pushed the older man firmly, sending him stumbling back a few feet.

  "Miss Turner!" He said sounding a bit upset by the move. Robert had his hand raised, like he did when he used his power, but didn't seem to know if he should use it on Brian or Beatdown, so he hesitated.

  "Sorry Moore, but think for a second before you get too mad. Brian just spent six days in a hypothermic state, low level, but enough to eventually cause hallucinations. During that time he fought sixty-two beings that were at least class four threats. Alone. No sleep, no food. His only company a voice in his head that may or may not be the ghost of a girl not known for her lightness and love attitude. He gets accused by an angry man of something he didn't do, clears his name honestly only to have the same man try to lie about things that he's done and known about, not a half minute later, that just happens to be one of Brian's hot button issues. Also remember that more than once when Brian's been injured, in this very facility, he woke up being confronted by police. True, it wasn't always bad, but does his subconscious mind really believe that? We're really lucky he stopped without killing Charles. Or the rest of us for that matter."

  Stepping back with a slow bow, a nod of the head really, the Director acknowledge all that. "Still Brian, I expect better control from you in the future, understood? Now, if you would apologize to Charles we can get back to the real work at hand.

  Charles had woken up enough to sit on his own. Having heard everything Marcia had said he nodded, then winced, holding his head. "Fuck Brian... What the hell was I thinking?"

  Swallowing and taking a huge breath Brian looked at the man. "You were thinking that someone might be sleeping with an underage girl on your team and it might be me? You weren't in the wrong to try and find out, even given everything else. For the rest of it... I honestly don't know. I swear I hadn't even thought anything particularly violent toward you, my body just moved... I'm so sorry! I don't know why that happened..."

  A soft snort came from the white clad woman, her brown hair back in a ponytail. "I do. You reacted to a potential threat instantly, like you're being trained to. It's what you have to be to survive now. If it's any comfort Charles, he did stop after the first second or so, once he realized it was you. I kind of thought he'd go off on the finger poke myself... We'll have to work on that Brian. You're too weak physically to wait for an aggressor to make the first move, much less do it twice." She walked over and gently put her right arm around his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze.

  From there everyone moved to make preparations, try and get information from the Canadian authorities and do a half dozen other arcane things that Brian didn't really understand. He knew that some of them potentially involved the press and him, but they promised he'd get to sleep first. And sent him back to his room, since his temperature had stabilized well enough. While he could still manage to think he pulled Christian aside, since she might know about jewelry and stuff. The woman always wore some at least. They moved to her office, Brian sitting in a chair that felt wonderfully comfortable to him, even if it was just a normal chair like the ones from the common room.

  "It's something Dharma mentioned, Becky I mean. If she wasn't making it up, that Bridget had always wanted jewelry. I don't get it, but if that's what she likes and if, you know, I can afford it... I don't know what kind of money I really have in my account at all... In light of everything, maybe if it came from the whole team? I mean..."

  "Not a problem, I understand your dilemma in this right now, after Charles made those accusations... Really, as a team leader he should have come to me first, rather than confront you like that. We're going to have a discussion about that, he and I. Later though. What did you have in mind?"

  He had to say it out loud, because it was Becky's idea and he didn't really know what the words meant, if they weren't nonsense, Christian shook her head disagreeing instantly.

  "Emeralds, not rubies. She has enough red in her aspect. I'll get something and have the funds taken from your account? Oh, wait. I can check the balance." Her eyes gleamed. "Team leader. I have full access to your account. No one's ever bothered to mention why, but all of us team leaders do for all our people, without exception."

  Tapping on the white keyboard on her desk she turned the screen so he could see it. He had to count the zeros three times to make sure it was what he thought. It had added up to a bit more than Dharma had suggested. Maybe he should give it to charity or something?

  The blond straightened her necklace. "You can afford it. By the way my birthday is in January, I prefer pearls and silver, nothing too clunky..." Her smile let him know she was playing.

  From there he decided to go and get some food, finally. He knew he didn't have everything taken care of yet, but he'd stopped running on fumes days ago, tapped out on will power three times over and knew that if he didn't eat soon, he was just going to collapse. The dining facility was locked, which shocked him, until he realized he'd never been there except at meal time, except that one time he'd escaped, maybe this was normal? Maybe it was because of his raid on the place before? If so... Oops?

  If he went anywhere else for food, he'd need clothes, so headed to his room at a slow but steady trudge. It wasn't the way he'd left it, clean, but someone came each day and straightened it for him, probably checking the place for weapons too, even though they'd all been left this time, in his closet. He strapped the carbon-nano tube knife onto his leg, and put on his second best pair of black fatigues, plus a new pair of running shoes, since he had three more pairs ready to go, just in case, and put a nine millimeter in the back of his pants, in a holster designed to keep him from shooting himself in the butt. That's what Jason had told him at least and so far the man had been right about everything weapons related.

  Maybe he could get something at the store on four? He didn't know for certain if they had food. He thought they must, if the dining halls closed, since some of the people here ate a lot more than two or three meals a day. When the elevator opened he realized he'd gone to one instead, after t
he door opened. He looked around for a moment and stepped out. Why had he come here? Well, maybe their dining facility would have something or at least be able to direct him to food... Karen had said they were open twenty-four hours a day, hadn't she?

  Walking in the hostess smiled and took him to a small two person table when Brian said he was alone. She sat him quickly and asked if he wanted anything to drink or needed anything else they could provide.

  "Um, yeah, well... I haven't eaten in six days and I'm probably going to crash hard pretty soon... You know how that goes right? You get busy and just forget to eat? If the chef has anything ready, I mean anything, bread, a half stick of unsalted butter... anything... That would be great?" He smiled, which must have looked different than Brian thought it would, because she turned and literally ran to the back room, coming back out with her arms loaded with food plates.

  "Here... if you need anything else, just let me know, all right?" Less than a minute later she came back with a glass of water and another with something dark and bubbly in it, soda?

  Taking an experimental sip he discovered it wasn't coke or anything he recognized, but something smooth and sweet, a bit like vanilla and cherries. It was good, so he took another sip, then started eating the food in front of him, one dish had fish, another steak, the last thin slices of roast chicken breast and a lot of vegetables. When he got through half the main courses two men walked over trailing behind Karen.

  "Brian!" She scurried over when she saw him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "My god, what happened, we've all been worried sick about you!" Leaning in she kissed him again, this time more warmly, causing the men behind her to smile.

  Not knowing who they were Brian tried to short hand the whole thing.

  "Um... I went for a swim in Canada, and had to, um, have a discussion with some class fours?" He didn't know if she'd get it, but her eyes went wide. Behind her, the stately looking man, about sixty, but still fit and strong looking, who stood on her left raised his head a little and went still.

  "I see..." He said quietly. "And how did this "discussion" go?" Well I take it, since you've returned to us?"

  Brian took a bite not wanting to be rude, but starving again now that he had food in his system. He chewed carefully and swallowed before answering.

  "The immediate situation seems to have calmed down, but we don't know if something else might take place, requiring further... negotiation. I'm sorry about all the hedging here... I... well, this is possibly sensitive stuff and I don't know what I can say to who here... My fault for not keeping up with things I'm sure, I hope you can understand?"

  The dark man on the right bowed, his clothing looked expensive, as nice as anything Brian had ever seen on anyone. He carried a few extra pounds and had black curly hair, graying at the temples and a thick accent when he spoke.

  "I'm William Washington, ambassador from Liberia, a small country in Africa." The smile was large and toothy, but seemed genuine.

  Brian nodded, "By Sierra Leon, Guinea and the Ivory coast. Declared independence on July twenty-sixth, eighteen forty-seven, first President Joseph Jacob Roberts..." Brian put down his fork and held his head for a second. "Sorry, you don't need me to recite grammar school history lessons about your own country... I haven't slept or eaten, before this, for six days... I'm not always an insufferable know it all... honest!"

  The other man laughed and clapped the ambassador on the shoulder.

  "And here William thought he'd have to educate everyone in the country about his home." He looked at Brian for a few seconds. "Oh! Sorry, I'm Tom Roberts, one of those pesky senators that pops in for lunch every now and then. Our food seems to be taking a while to get to the table so we thought we'd come and visit..."

  Brian looked down at the plates in front of him and took a bite of the chicken strips, they were moist and tasty, he swallowed and looked at the men.

  "I think I stole it... I came in and told the hostess, you know, about everything, and she came out with food... I'm sorry I didn't..." Brian felt bad and embarrassed but the Ambassador just laughed, waving his right hand a little.

  "Don't be silly. Eat! None of us is so big of head that we can't see to the needs of someone truly hungry before our own."

  Brian liked this guy, he realized. He seemed nice and put up with the hardships Brian made for him like a pro. Probably why he was an ambassador to begin with.

  A few moments later he woke up to find Karen shaking him gently, holding his shoulder.

  "Brian?" She sounded really concerned.

  "Oh," yawning hugely he threw a hand over his mouth a second too late. "Sorry, I don't think I can stay awake much longer. I just needed food before I crashed..."

  Apparently he'd fallen asleep again, since he woke up with his face in a plate of mashed potatoes. They had garlic mixed in and little flecks of green too. He'd never realized how comfortable a plate of food could be before. Karen set him upright and mopped off his face with a napkin. He heard talking, but it sounded too far away to understand, so he didn't bother. After a few minutes he found himself moving and made himself walk where Karen told him.

  That he was used to, from running each day. Run, stop, walk, go the other way. Even if he felt tired he knew to trust her. At least when it came to walking. Nice as she was, he knew he'd still have a problem with her if a fight were breaking out, half expecting her to hit him with her powers.

  Then he fell on something soft and warm, people helping him get under some covers he tried to murmur thank you before everything went away.

  He roused a little later, in the dark. Feeling safe and warm and almost went back to sleep when he heard something, a slide of fabric on skin. He froze, then slowly reached for the gun in the small of his back. It wasn't there. The knife was gone too. He nearly panicked, then relaxed and took a deep breath, ready to fight.

  "Brian? Are you awake?" The voice was soft... feminine. Karen.

  "Uh, a bit. Sorry. Where are we?"

  "My room. You fell asleep at the restaurant and we didn't think you'd make it all the way back to your own, so we brought you here. I just have to change... is that all right? I don't want to bother you..." Concern colored her voice.

  He rolled over, assured that all was well and went back to sleep.

  11

  Brian woke with a start, sitting up, bolting out of the bed carrying the covers with him. He rolled on the floor, hit a wall and kicked his feet free, hands rising in front of him ready to fight, or defend against at least, whatever had touched him in his sleep. Blinking his eyes he looked over at the unfamiliar space, a white sheet draped over Karen who turned to look at him in the dim light.

  "Hey, good morning. You were so peaceful looking when I got in last night that I didn't want to wake you, so I just crawled in, I hope that's all right?" She looked up at him sleepily and then looked over at the clock. "I won't be needed for a bit, press stuff, briefings at seven, do you want to go with me to breakfast? I have an extra toothbrush around here somewhere. Don't worry, it's just part of the multi-pack I bought, I don't have so many guests here that I have to keep extra toothbrushes handy all the time." She grinned at him, her mouth quirking a little bit.

  "That..." As if answering for him, his stomach growled just then. "Sounds really good, if, you know, you don't want me to just leave? I already put you out. Thanks by the way. I was really out of it. I don't even really know how I got to the first floor. I know I pushed four. Planning to see if I could buy something to eat there..." He trailed off, knowing he sounded lame. Probably better to just stop than to keep compounding the damage. Plus, she may cut him some slack, since it was only six-thirty in the morning. He'd been at a really late lunch, so he must have crashed at about four. Fourteen hours of sleep. Well, he felt all right, ready to meet the day, with some food and possibly drugs to prop him up. Just coffee today, Brian decided, unless something came up. He didn't want to push himself too hard after the last week.

  Karen smiled, looked at the mess o
f covers on the floor, and shook her head, walking out of the room into the bathroom to get him that toothbrush.

  Ten minutes later they were both roughly ready to sneak over to the restaurant and eat something, dressed in real clothes, a requirement for team one, but Karen not wearing any make-up at all. Technically that was a requirement too, for the team members that needed it. A couple like Argos and Prime just didn't at all. She did, but could get away with skipping for breakfast sometimes, as long as she sat in the corner. Brian looked at her doubtfully.

  "Who told you that you needed make-up for breakfast? You look great. Now me, I look like something dragged out of a puddle, which is really pretty good all things considered." His smile was lopsided but firm, as if he knew what he was talking about. Karen chuckled, which, given the time of day, seemed pretty nice of her.

  They hid in a corner like she promised and got all the way to the end of the meal, their server, a friendly older man in a waiters uniform, who looked slightly familiar to Brian for some reason, having just taken away the used dishes and brought extra coffee when Prime, Charlot and Bridget came over. They all looked good, Bridget having dressed up again. It made her look like a tiny twenty year old, her make-up reshaped her face somehow, making it less pointy and rat-like and a lot cuter. Not that she didn't look cute the other way, just that this looked... hot, he admitted to himself. If he hadn't known she was only fifteen he could have gotten... confused. Charlot moved to the front of their little family group.

  "Karen! Good to see you up. We need you in the press area by eight-forty-five. Some new information has come in, so we pushed everything back. Brian... I believe nothing is scheduled for you today, R&R after your ordeal, but if you could remain ready to go in front of the cameras? We can forgive a little blurriness around the edges, but pressed and neat, maybe some make-up?"