by Chogan Swan
Today’s workout was more running than parkour movements, but Amber always finished the workout with something interesting. Most of the time, she let Jonah lead, giving him a series of techniques to use moving through a specified area. At the moment, she was in front, headed towards one of her favorite obstacles, the cannon display at White Point Gardens, to show him a new vault technique.
Jonah reminded himself, again, to take his eyes off the mesmerizing muscles at play under Amber’s yoga capris so he could follow the moves.
With a pivoting spin around a street sign, Amber set up her run for the vault sequence. She sped up as she approached the replica cannon, and dove for it from ten feet away, planting her hands on the barrel and tucking her legs through her arms in a classic dive kong. The next obstacle—a 13-inch seacoast mortar— she approached on a diagonal line. Attached to the side of the mortar, a ten-foot-high iron pole, cantilevered with a curved end for lifting heavy ammunition into the mortar barrel, waited for her. Amber’s first jump-step—to the concrete barrel plug—put her in the perfect spot for a leap to the pole. Amber grabbed it above the ring at the end and spun around it to land and ninja roll to her feet. Jonah was about to follow her, but Amber lunged into his path, grabbing him by the waist.
“Booby trap,” she snapped, releasing him and holding out her hands. Her palms and fingers both had long, bloody gouges. “Take cover, in the trees….” Amber crouched, checked her path for more traps and scrambled for the nearby trees. Bandit whined and raced after her, disturbed by the smell of blood. When she rolled behind a tree, he nudged her hands with his nose, trying to lick the wounds.
“Bandit, hide,” she snapped, pointing to a spot nearby. Bandit ran to it and pressed his body and head to the ground, looking at her with a sad/worried expression.
Jonah tapped his headphone as he rolled behind a tree. He pulled the polymer, narrow-frame 9mm from the concealed-carry slot of his Camelbak. “Minerva, code orange at White Point Gardens, forward to Tiana—”
“Jonah,” Tiana’s voice interrupted. “I’m on my way.”
“Be careful, they might use us as bait to get to you,” Jonah said. “Bandit hasn’t signaled a class-one threat, but someone booby trapped a vault location we’ve used in the past. It tore up Amber’s hands, and we’re worried they could’ve coated it with a toxin.”
“Right,” Tiana acknowledged over the sound of wind rushing past her microphone. The monument was only two hundred yards from the house; she’d be here in a matter of seconds.
Jonah took his eyes off Amber to glance around, looking for threats. If he hadn’t felt Tiana’s approach, he’d have missed her appearing, ballistic helmet snug to her chin and body armor strapped in place.
Tiana touched Amber’s lacerated palms with her fingertips while her eyes scanned for threats. A Glock 40 was cradled in her other hand. Jonah’s nerves thrummed with her sudden rage through their connection.
“You were right,” she said in a low voice. “It was a trap. They coated the metal with sporothrix schenckii, a modified strain, weaponized. It’s spreading fast in spite of her healthy immune system.”
“That nasty fungus rose gardeners get?” said Jonah. “Weaponized?”
“Yes.” Tiana said.
“I hate gardening,” said Amber, her voice was flat, angry, scared.
“Make a cup with your hands,” Tiana said, catching Amber’s water tube and taking a mouthful of water. She rinsed it around her mouth then spat it onto Amber’s upturned palms. “Rub it into the cuts.”
Tiana tapped her headset and spoke into the mike in the tongue of an extinct civilization from a far-off part of the galaxy. She was calling Meeshala, her AI assistant. Tiana and Symbiana were the only one still alive who’d ever learned the language. Until Tiana taught it to her AI, no one had ever codified the language. Anything she said to her assistant was useless to anyone else listening.
Tiana turned back to Amber. “I need to bite you on the neck to administer an antidote, but we need to get to the car. Give me your right arm. You’ll ride on my back. I want your blood as still as possible.”
“Oh good, it’s been forever since I had a pickaback ride.” Amber raised her arm; Tiana grabbed it and lifted Amber onto her shoulders.
“Bandit, heel,” said Tiana as she stood. “Jonah, stay close and watch left for sniper blinds in the parked cars as we approach the road.” She turned and set off in a flowing ground-eating gait, angling west toward the road. Bandit followed, glancing up at Amber as he ran.
When they broke out of the trees at the crosswalk, the SUV was in front of them, crawling along the road at a walking pace in the right-hand lane. The back doors and front-seat passenger doors flew open.
From the driver’s seat, Daniels called, “Here Bandit.” Bandit jumped in the front. The back seats lay folded flat. Austin crouched in the back, bullpup slung at his side, holding out his hand to cushion Amber’s head as Tiana lowered her into the back.
Jonah stopped in the crosswalk and turned to check the car behind the SUV for threats. He held up his free hand to keep the car back. The driver flipped up his middle finger and continued, veering to squeeze past on the left. Jonah re-assessed the threat, turning so his pistol was visible, holding out his hand and staring the driver in the eye. “Pedestrians in the crosswalk have the right-of-way, asshole,” he yelled. The car screeched to a halt. Jonah backed toward the SUV, jumped in beside Tiana and closed the doors.
“Go, Daniels,” called Austin. The SUV surged ahead.
Amber chuckled. “Ya know Jonah, failure to yield the right-of-way isn’t a capital offense,” she said.
“Most South Carolina drivers need remedial lessons in that area,” Jonah said.
Tiana pulled off Amber’s helmet and started on the Velcro fasteners of her vest. “Austin, crawl up front with Bandit,” she said. “Hand us the cold packs from the med kit and turn the AC on maximum with priority to the vents back here.” Tiana peeled Amber’s vest away and tossed it aside. “Daniels, the airfield, fastest route.”
“Aye aye, Captain. Already on it,” Daniels answered.
Tiana continued stripping off Amber’s clothes. When Austin handed back the four chemical cold packs, Jonah popped the inner bladder of the first bag and shook it. Tiana finished stripping off Amber’s capris. “Amber, hold the bag on the cuts of both hands. We need to keep the fungus from changing to its yeast form, so we need to bring your temperature down, and your hands were the first point of contact.
Jonah handed the bag to Amber, who held it between her hands like a lifeline. He popped the inside pouch of a second bag and draped it over her forearms.
Tiana pointed to Jonah’s water tube with her chin. “Spray her skin with water to help her cool off, then use the reflective wrap in the emergency kit to set up a privacy screen for our patient. Daniels can use the rearview cameras to drive.”
Jonah popped the bite tip off his water tube and pressed his back against the side door, squeezing the bladder. He flipped the valve and sprinkled water across Amber’s naked body. Amber shivered. Jonah went to work setting up the privacy screen.
“Daniels, stop at a convenience store and get at least ten bags of ice.” Tiana looked at Jonah. “After I start, I won’t be able to talk. I want you to rub her with the last pack and focus on cooling her arms, face and the soles of her feet.” She turned and put her forehead on Amber’s. “Time to sleep now Amber. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Just relax.”
Amber nodded jerkily.
Tiana tucked her face into the hollow of Amber’s neck.
Amber tensed. “It’s like getting a hicky,” she said then took a deep breath and relaxed. Her eyes closed.
Jonah squeezed the fourth cold pack and slid it across Amber’s face, leaving it there for a few moments then sliding it down her arm.
The van slid to a stop, tires screeching. Daniels unlocked the doors from the driver’s seat. The side door opened and Austin tossed four bags of ice into the car, cubes a
lready separated. Jonah had two of them packed under Amber’s legs and one against the soles of her feet before, a few seconds later, four more landed in the same spot. Jonah packed another over her hips so it covered the femoral arteries where they emerged from her pelvis. It would speed cooling her and give her some more privacy.
When running behind her, peeking at her caboose in tights was one thing, but having her sex exposed when she was unconscious was disturbing. Jonah continued packing bags around her. Four more landed next to him. Austin slammed the side doors shut, and Daniels put the car in gear and steered them back onto the road. Jonah put three chemical cold packs on top of the extra bags and spread Amber’s clothes over the pile to keep the ice from melting.
While using the fourth pack to wipe Amber’s face, Jonah glanced at his watch. She should be safe from hypothermia for at least thirty minutes he guessed. A pencil and pad of paper were in the side pocket of the med kit. Tiana’s left hand couldn’t move, the fingertips inserted in the seal between her lips and Amber’s neck. But, if she needed to communicate…. Jonah slid the pad and pencil under Tiana's right hand where it rested above Amber’s heart. Tiana raised her thumb. Jonah leaned back against the door, glancing out the window to keep track of their location as he worried and waited. Unless she wrote something on the pad, he'd assume Tiana needed all her attention on Amber.
As the SUV pulled up to the private hanger, Tiana scribbled on the pad.
Ask Jerry to hook up the blood purifiers to Amber’s arms. Warn him of combined contamination of HIV with dangerous new variety of Sporothrix schenckii. I hope he’ll trust me. Promise him I’ll explain.
Jonah frowned.
His cousin?
The SUV rolled into the hangar and pulled to a stop. Jonah opened the door and slid out. A nearby ambulance siren signaled approaching medical help. The ground crew swarmed around the Falcon 8x in the center of the hangar. Jonah reached back into the SUV and ripped off the top sheet of the pad. A moment later, an armored ambulance rolled in through the hangar door. His cousin hopped out of the back and trotted toward him; an ambulance attendant with a XYMBI logo on his jacket followed, carrying a case.
“Jonah, I got a message from your girlfriend there was a medical emergency. Obviously, you aren’t the emergency. What’s wrong?”
Jonah stepped forward to meet his cousin, giving him a quick hug. “It’s our friend Amber.”
“She was at the dinner with us last weekend, right?”
“Right. Listen, Jerry, let me tell you what I can, but I don’t have much time. Amber doesn’t have time, for me to explain everything. You’ve talked with Tiana about medicine and you know she’s solid there, right?”
“Yeah, she’s rock solid. Brilliant.”
“Okay, a moment ago she gave me this note.”
Jerry took the paper. As he read it, a worried frown settled on his face. “Tiana showed me the blood purifier she had under development. The science is sound, and its use wouldn’t be a risk for anyone. There’s no way it could make a situation worse. I’ll agree.”
Jonah squeezed Jerry’s shoulder. “Good, thank you. That’s all your part of the treatment will require right now.”
“But she could set them up by herself. Why does she need me?”
“I think the problem is that she can’t do it with one hand,” said Jonah. “But Jerry, that’s not all you’ll see. She’s working on her part of the procedure and can’t stop. You’ll have questions about the method she’s using. Can you trust her judgment, and mine, to defer the questions no matter what?”
“God, Jonah! Now I wouldn’t know how to refuse, but I can only say, I’ll do my best.”
Jonah opened the car door a crack. “Is that good enough?” he asked softly.
Tiana held up her thumb.
Jonah reached in the door to remove the pile of Amber’s clothes and ice bags so Jerry would have room.
Jonah turned. The EMT handed him the case. He put it in the car and shut the door.
“We’ll be here if you need us,” said the EMT, handing Jonah a package of sterile gloves. Jonah ran to the back and opened the rear door for Jerry. “Thank you, Jerry,” he said, “Amber means a lot to us. I’ll be at the side door if you need another set of hands.” Jerry hesitated—looking at Tiana and the ice bags covering Amber—then crawled in. Jonah shut the door.
When Jonah opened the side door, Jerry was reading notes Tiana had written on the pad. When finished with that, he opened the case and set up the blood units. Jonah watched as his cousin worked through the field treatment.
In spite of what Tiana was doing, his cousin maintained focus. In less than twenty minutes, working around Tiana, Jerry completed setting up the units, taping them securely to Amber’s arms.
Jerry pulled an aural thermometer from the case the blood purifier had come in and took her temperature. “Blood purifier readouts are showing positive flow, body temperature, ninety-five point one Fahrenheit.”
Tiana wrote on the pad. Jonah, is the Falcon ready?
“I’ll check.” Jonah turned and trotted to the plane, but stopped when Jacksie came down the steps from the plane. “Is it ready for boarding?” Jonah called.
Jacksie flashed him the hand sign for ready and Jonah waved to the EMTs who were waiting with a stretcher. He stuck his head back inside the SUV.
“Ready.” He ran to the back and opened the doors.
Tiana and Jerry were removing the ice from Amber. As the EMTs pushed a polyethylene backboard under Amber’s legs, Jerry and Tiana covered her with the reflective cloth, lifted her, strapped her on the stretcher and fed it out the back door. Tiana scrambled out, and Jerry followed.
Jonah hugged him. “I’ll see you soon, I hope.”
Tiana took Jerry’s hand. “I’m in your debt. That job we discussed. If you want it, it’s time to decide. You can get on the plane with us, and we’ll move your wife and belongings to your new location. Did you discuss the idea with her?”
“She supports of the idea.”
“I have a qualified specialist in your field who will buy your practice from you. He can cover your patients starting tomorrow. You’ve kept the research ideas we’ve talked about quiet?”
Jerry waved his hand, “Of course, but what I need to know to answer your question is this. Did someone try to kill Jonah with this?”
“Yes,” Tiana said.
“I’m in.”
“Text Wendy to let her know you need to go out of town and can't call till tomorrow. Then take your battery out of your phone.”
Jonah put up his hand. “Wait Tiana.” He turned to his cousin. “Jerry, I’ve made enemies, I think this incident is because of that, but Tiana has more enemies, and hers are more dangerous. It isn’t possible to guarantee your safety if you join us.”
Jerry shook his head. “Jonah, you aren’t the only one who can take risks for a better world. I know enough to understand you’re making enemies out of politicians. I know you’ve kicked a hornet’s nest, and if Tiana’s enemies are worse than yours, they need to be fought. If I can help, I’m in. This is not a hard decision.” Jerry reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell.
“Welcome aboard,” Tiana said and dashed to the plane.
Jonah waited until Jerry finished then they ran to the plane together.
Chapter 24 (Ambush)
Inside the plane, Jacksie and Austin were strapping Amber into a five-point restraint on a stretcher lashed to the bulkhead. Ice packs enveloped her arms and hands.
Jonah pointed Jerry to one of the first-class seats. “Better get buckled in,” he said.
Jerry plopped into a seat.
Bandit and Daniels came through the door behind Jonah who moved aside, ducking into the cockpit. Tiana was running through the preflight checklist.
“Is anyone else coming with us?” Jonah said.
“Yes,” Tiana said. “Max should be here shortly. He’ll copilot. When he gets here, we can talk to Jerry.”
Jonah n
odded and pulled on the Velcro fasteners of his ballistic vest. “How is Amber?”
“She’ll be fine. I’ll give you a full report when Jerry can hear it too.”
Jonah stepped back into the main cabin, pulled off his vest and stowed it in the overhead compartment. He tossed his helmet in next to it and grabbed a blanket. The cabin temperature was set to help keep Amber well-chilled.
Jonah moved to her stretcher and bent to whisper in her ear. “You are going to be fine. Thanks for protecting me.” She was hurt because of him. Jonah had known the project would attract enemies, but he’d never thought about it endangering others. The rage in his chest at the cowards who’d hurt her while trying to kill him was threatening to flood him. He squeezed the fold of blanket in his hands, twisting it into a rope. He felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t let it eat at you, sir,” Jacksie’s voice rumbled behind him. “She’ll pull through. Whoever did this will be sorry they even considered it.”
“I’ll make sure of that,” Jonah said. “Thanks Jacksie.”
“Count me in on that?”
Jonah looked up into Jacksie’s dead-serious face. “I will,” he said and wrapped the blanket around his shoulders.
Max, carrying a backpack, came up the air stair. He turned to disengage the stairs from the hatchway and closed the door. He nodded to Jonah as he went into the cockpit. Tiana stepped out and came to sit next to Jonah as the ground crew cart towed the plane out of the hangar. A few moments later, the engines fired and they began to taxi under their own power.
Jonah walked back to the front and sat across from Jerry.
Tiana leaned forward and put her hand on Jerry’s knee. “Thank you again for your help with Amber. I needed to focus on her lymphatic system. If you hadn’t been here to install the filters, the fungus could’ve spread. Now her system can fight and eradicate both the virus and the fungus with the immunities I gave her.”