The Zombie Bug

by John Stevenson

determined that there is a permanent change to the structure of the mouse brain that results in a tendency to risky behaviors.” She looked serious. “As exemplified by the infected mice loosing all fear of cats to the point of deliberately going towards them… None of the research involved human brains, and nobody is prepared to actually say so, but it’s possible that Toxoplasma is why we humans engage in risky behavior?”

  Andrew sighed. “Then considering all of us: including the guests, were rocketed off the planet onto a tin can in airless space, we probably all have a tendency for risk?”

  Emma gave a weak smile.

  Peter spoke. “Even if a quarter of the population isn’t scared of walking in front of a car, they don’t do it in those numbers, so what has changed?”

  Emma looked back at him. “I’m assuming it’s to do with the asteroid. Maybe it was carrying just the right protein and somehow it found its way onto the station? We may never know?”

  “It got aboard?” Andrew wasn’t convinced. “How’d it manage that?”

  “I don’t know, I’m just saying somehow?”

  Matt wasn’t sure what he was saying but said it anyway. “But something has suddenly made it more powerful… maybe it’s something we ate?”

  “Your saying it’s in the food?” snapped Andrew.

  “Its possible.” Emma spoke over him. “It’s possible to get infected with Toxoplasma by eating unwashed vegetables or undercooked meat; the report stated that the French like their meat undercooked, and makes a claim that their infection rate is double?”

  Andrew had heard enough. “None of this could be important. Firstly we have to find out if this bug is the culprit. Emma you need to find out what tests are needed?”

  “I already have done that but, but it could prove nothing. It seems that even after the infection has gone the brain remains restructured.”

  “Great.” Muttered Andrew. So we’re all possibly infected with this zombie bug, but we have no way of finding out. In total were no further forward than we were?”

  “No, probably not,” Emma agreed reluctantly. “But I don’t think that it was brought onto the array. You will remember when the asteroid passed, and we passed through a micro meteor storm, I believe the asteroid delivered the virus to us.”

  Alisha almost scoffed. “Your saying Aid’s is extra terrestrial?”

  Emma shook her head. “No, it’s not Aid’s, I said there was a resemblance... that’s all.

  Alisha Interrupted. “HIV was first discovered in a remote area of central Africa in nineteen eighty-one. I think I remember someone saying the asteroid has an orbital period of around seven years that would put it in Earth’s vicinity about the same time?”

  Matt stared at her in surprise, but Andrew was astounded. “Your saying a fragment hit the Earth and caused the Aids epidemic?”

  “No,” Emma tried not to show frustration. “It’s not HIV; can we stop talking about HIV; all I said was that there could be a connection?” But no one was listening.

  Andrew was indignant. “Aids spreads person to person, and to my knowledge none of the people who have died are homosexual?”

  “I can guarantee you Josh wasn’t, he was dead against it?” added Alisha.

  Everybody began talking until Emma almost shouted. “It isn’t Aids, all that I’ve said is hypothetical…” her voice lost its shrillness as they all fell silent and looked at her. “The bodies that Vincent couldn’t sample fully ... He did do a scraping, and was led to believe that once a host is consumed the virus has a particle size that theoretically could allow it to become airborne, that is a very unlike HIV characteristic.”

  Now everyone was waiting.

  “Whatever this is I strongly suggest that we do not open the waste pod again and that any other bodies including the ones in the new morgue be sealed in whatever airtight containers we can construct.”

  “What about Vincent?” Mathews voice was heavy with concern.

  “He has agreed to remain in quarantine.”

  Andrew spoke. “None of this is fact, but if nothing else we have something to start from. We need to do whatever tests we can on everybody on the array, and we need put all of the dead in sealed containers and… “ He hesitated as he looked around the room. “And as a precaution we need to jettison the waste pod.”

  They were all leaving when Andrew stopped Mathew: he waited until the others had left and closed the door. “Is what I have heard correct?”

  “That depends what you have heard?”

  “You have arrested the Russian woman?”

  “Yes, she’s in protective custody.”

  Andrew looked at him in disbelief. “I’m not entirely sure you have that authority?”

  “If the situation poses a threat to the safety of the station, crew and visitors; then we have.”

  “Your saying that some woman being slapped by her husband can endanger the whole station?”

  “I don’t know; that’s what I intend to find out.”

  “Find out?” Andrew snapped.

  He knew he had promised her, but Andrew already knew so he wasn’t really breaking the promise. “It’s possible there’s a gun aboard.”

  “Yes she told me that… and you believe there is?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s concerning enough to make sure.”

  “I already have: nobody had been asked to make anything other than what’s been requested through the proper channels.”

  “If anyone has they are unlikely to admit it?”

  Mathew,” Andrew said firmly. “These are people who have passed all manner of tests before they are sent up here: they are people we trust and have worked with, so why should they lie? Isn’t it more obvious that she’s lying to get her husband in trouble?”

  Mathew couldn’t reply: maybe she was, maybe she was manipulating him, using her femininity; preying on his pity to get him to do what she wanted?

  Andrews voice brought him out of his doubt. It stops here Mathew, You will do nothing more.”

  “If I have information that could affect the safety of everyone aboard, I cant just ignore it?”

  “You have the ranting of an hysterical woman; who almost certainly wants to cause her husband trouble.”

  “I believe she is in danger.”

  “And you’re going to close your eyes to reality and play sir Galahad?”

  “I’m going to do what is best for the sake of the station.”

  “And look a fool tomorrow when you find she’s back in her own cabin…” Andrews face took on a curious look. “Where is she?”

  Mathew had dreaded the question, and now he had to answer it. “I intended to get her in with some of the females staff?”

  “Intended?”

  “I don’t want to put anyone else in danger.”

  Andrew looked at matt in disbelief. “Where is she?” he said sternly.

  “In my cabin… where I can protect her.”

  “Are you out of your mind.” Andrew snapped.

  “I had no option.”

  “Of course you had options, but moving her in with you wasn’t one of them. You have to send her back.”

  “No.” Mathew surprised even himself with the conviction in his voice.

  “You’re refusing an order?”

  “I can if it’s unreasonable.”

  “It contravenes your contract for a start.”

  “Nothing improper is happening, she’s just sharing my cabin.”

  “A married woman in your cabin, and her husband standing outside, and your saying there’s nothing improper?”

  “She’s in danger from him.”

  “Sorting out domestic arguments isn’t part of what we do.”

  “Andrew you know it’s more than that, she tried to warn you and as a result she’s beaten up; next time he could kill her.”

  “And afterwards he’s going to leave the country? Matt I don’t excuse what he may: or may not, have done but it isn’t our business.”

&n
bsp; “I don’t see it that way.”

  “He will and he’ll have every reason to claim your using your position to force yourself onto his wife?”

  “That’s ridiculous; the only reason she’s in with me is that I couldn’t get any of the female crew to take her in.”

  “Because they are not blinded by a pretty face and a pair of big tits.”

  Matt knew better than to go there, so he said nothing.

  “You realize what this will do to crew discipline, if officers can take on a mistress then it’s a free for all?”

  “She’s not my mistress.” Mathew said firmly. “And nothings happening other than I can be sure she’s safe in my quarters.”

  “Well how long to you intend to keep her there?”

  “I don’t know?”

  “For the rest of the journey?’

  “Until I believe she’s no longer in danger.”

  “Which considering her husband is going nowhere is however long were here… or until she comes to her senses and goes back to him?”

  Mathew left the cabin fuming. He didn’t expect Andrew to instantly support him, but he did expect some understanding, and possibly sympathy: instead he had got hostility. Matt tore off his jacket, and suddenly felt cooler. It wasn’t just the heat of anger; he actually did feel cooler. It was strange he hadn’t noticed it so starkly before.

  He knew that the one thing that the builders of the Earthrise had paid little attention to in their design criteria was air refrigeration. At the time it probably didn’t seem important: heat radiation from the sun was high, but exposure was brief, and space was cold.

  During internal re-circulation, the air was slightly chilled. It was barely noticeable at the best of times, but kept the interior of the array at a comfortable temperature. Up till now that extra heat had been