by D. Henbane
It is dark when I step into the open mountain air. It's refreshing to my lungs and a drastic improvement from the filtered musky air of the underground lab. I walk across the grounds towards my bunk. I don’t even bother turning on the lights when I enter my home away from home. I wander in the darkness, locate the edge of my bed, and toss my shirt onto the floor. I unbuckle my belt and drop my fatigue pants to my ankles. I slump down onto my mattress, untie my boots, and hastily kick them across the floor. “You’re late, soldier.” A voice calls out from the darkness.
“Trixie!” I exclaim.
“Expecting someone else, soldier?” Says Trixie. She has been lying in my bed for who knows how long. Lying there silently, a tiger waiting patiently to pounce on her victim. Like a flash of lightning, she is on top of me. Her claws digging into my chest, she leans forward towards my ear. “I don’t remember everything that happened the other night, but I do remember you. I was rode hard and put away wet.” She whispers into my ear.
“Trixie, you don’t want to do this.” I reply.
“Oh, yes I do soldier, and if you disappoint me, I will have your balls on my desk for decoration.” She replies.
“This has to violate a law or something...” I say.
“Yes, it does! It's called insubordination. I am giving you a direct order, soldier!” Trixie screams. I don’t know if her threats could tread water or not. She was definitely determined, and I was pretending to be a soldier. Who am I to question authority? Who would have thought under such soft skin, there was such a rugged beast. My heart tells me this is wrong, but my brain tells me that I need to get Eve out of my mind. There is no future with her and there isn’t one here either. It's just a meaningless release of pent up aggression. No strings, no emotions, a textbook case of casual sex.
She leaves my room late in the morning and I try to grab a few hours of sleep before the morning sun rises. I try my best to get some sleep, but I can't escape the memory of Eve. After the heat of the moment is gone, I feel a deep sense of regret and I can't believe I went along with it. I tell myself that I can never let it happen again. It is wrong on so many levels and there isn’t anything I can tell myself at this point to justify it. I strengthen my resolve and promise myself it will never happen again. On a plus side, I will never have to explain this to Eve. It's all part of a past that doesn’t exist for her anymore.
It's almost dawn when I remember that I need to contact Reese. I scramble to the edge of my bed and hit the Dlink to Reese. It takes a few rings to grab him from his slumber.
“I’m up agent... What's the good word?” Reese says.
“Lots of new developments sir. Are you sitting down?” I reply.
“Sitting down? I am lying down to be exact, it's fpur O'clock in the morning, Haus. I am trying to sleep you narcoleptic fool.” Reese says.
“Glad I have your attention, sir! Cox has replicated the DNA, it's alien, and it's not pleasant sir. He has conducted experiments and has seen the affects first hand. It's similar to Rabies, sir. The first stage of infection is increased aggression followed by violent behavior. The next stage, the blood vessels in the eye burst, then homicidal tendencies, finishing with suicide.” I say.
“Agent, this isn’t news I wanted to hear. Who was subjected to testing?” Reese asks.
“Nobody sir, as far as the military is concerned, Cox has not replicated the DNA. He tested the virus on some rats and every one of them is dead. Cox seems to want to keep this under wraps until he knows for sure what he has on his hands.” I reply.
“Great, a rogue scientist! What is the method of infection? Airborne, food borne, direct contact?” Reese asks.
“I am not sure, sir. Each test rat was injected and the others were dead before they could show symptoms.” I reply.
“Well, I would guess it's limited to bodily fluid contact. If it was airborne, the others would have at least showed some signs. How fast of an infection are we talking about here, Haus?” Reese asks.
“Roughly, an hour till the first symptoms showed, and almost three hours before the final stage.” I reply.
“Well, that at least supports my hunch. It does trouble me how quickly it infects. Then again, since a human test subject wasn’t used, we can't be certain of all the details. Stick with it agent, and another bit of advice, double wrap it son! I mean go all out, this isn’t the common cold. Wear gloves, wash your hands, and keep yourself safe. I haven’t lost an agent in the field, and I don’t want to start counting bodies again.” Reese says.
“Sir! One more request. I realize I am already burning up your favors here, but it's important to me. “ I say.
“What is it Haus, and make it quick. I need my beauty rest...” Reese says sarcastically.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Eve was my sister?” I ask.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Reese replies.
“I was talking to General Stratton and he told me you fought with my dad in Vietnam. You were battle buddies, he also told me that he passed away years ago. You told me about Eve's father, and it's been eating me alive the way you took Eve under your wing and brought her into the program. The same situation with me and the circumstances that you decided to rescue me. The little pep talk you gave me about being gentle with Eve. Was that your way of telling me that I should lighten up without telling me she was my sister? I want answers, Reese, you told me to be honest with you, and I am calling out the skeletons in your closet.” I exclaim.
“Well, if you are going to try to spin it like that, I will tell you the truth just to put all this nonsense behind us. Five of us got captured, Schlitz got a bullet, and four of us remained. It's true I knew your father, and he was my battle brother. Did it ever cross your mind that I could have more than one? The truth is, I had several, and I am obligated to each one. The truth is, yes, I promised Bennie to watch over his children. I know in your mind that would indicate more than one, but you have to realize we were young then. We had to plan for something that hadn’t happened yet.” Reese explains.
“I want to know the whole truth, Reese. You at least owe that to me.” I say.
“The truth is, Bennie only had one child, and that was Eve. Your father's name was David Hines. Dave couldn’t handle the toll of the war and it played hell with him. Your mother couldn’t cope with the nightmares and the violent flashbacks. She left him before she knew she was pregnant. After she left, things went from bad to worse. I got a late night call from Dave and he needed my help. I drove as fast as I could to the motel. When I opened the door …”
Reese stops speaking suddenly. I can see Reese biting into his hand. He slowly lowers his hand and lets out a large exhale. I can tell it's difficult for him to speak. He attempts to continue talking, but it is broken up by sobs of pain.
“I saw him there, the chord around his neck, his naked body hovering over the bath tub. I buried my brother into the earth, no ceremony, but that is how it goes for the Nam boys. Your mother gave you her maiden name after she found out. Eve isn’t your sister, not even remotely close.” Reese says.
“Now that I know... I am sorry I even asked, Reese. At least I know what happened to my dad and that he was once a good man. I always thought in my head he was some kind of irresponsible rebel child. If I had known all of this back then, I would have done something with my life. Maybe even followed in his footsteps served my country, and at least give him something to be proud of.” I reply.
“Haus, listen to me, the world is a different place now. The wars of old are over and there will never be any like it again. Someone like you can cause more damage with a few keystrokes than a million guns could ever do. Bombs can kill a few thousand men, but your skills can cripple an entire army. You can still make a difference out there. You can fight a new war, and more importantly, make your father proud. So put on your big girl panties and concentrate on the mission, son.” Reese shouts.
“YES SIR!” I exclaim. My Dlink goes silent and I fall back onto my pillow. It
pains me to see the images in my head that I have of my father committing suicide. Even though I know it's all conjured up images I have of what my father looked like, I can see him in my mind as if I was watching a movie. I try to imagine what his voice sounded like and how he must have behaved. I try my best to piece it all together, but realize I am just painting a picture of myself to fit the part.
There is something else in the back of my mind that keeps pressing through. I have so much on my mind, and literally everything I once held as fact is no longer. Eve permeates into my thoughts and I have little control over it. My feelings for her were suppressed when I thought she was my sister. Now that I know she isn’t, they come back with overdue vengeance. I picture myself dressed in full army uniform walking up to our white picket fence. I open the gate and walk towards the door. She sees me from behind the screen door then rushes out to wrap her arms around me.
Her embrace could melt icebergs and she showers me in welcome home kisses. I spin her around then lean her back for a long sweet kiss. Queue the marching band, then the kids come out of every corner tugging at my pant legs. I drag children, clinging to my legs as I walk into the house then settle down into my chair at the head of the table. Eve brings out a large fresh baked pie and places it in front of me. I press my fork into it and it explodes into thousands of pieces. I drag myself to my feet. There are sirens wailing, and then, I realize it's the buzzer on my alarm clock.
I had drifted off into sleep at some point in the few remaining hours of the night. If I had a dollar for every good dream that was destroyed by my alarm clock, I would be a very wealthy man. I am in no particular hurry this morning and I take my sweet time getting ready. To my disappointment, once I was dressed I still had another hour before duty, so I head down to the mess hall for breakfast. The food they serve there is at best crap. Today, I am actually hungry and decide its best to utilize it. The idea of over-cooked eggs actually appeals to me.
I grab my tray then proceed down the line. I load up on eggs and sausage. I opt for some hash browns then a little fresh fruit. When I get to the end of the line, I see a young lady tending to the beverages. “You know the reason they call it instant coffee?” I ask.
“No, I don’t... Why?” She asks.
“Once you taste it, you know in an instant it's not coffee.” I reply. She bursts into laughter, and I thank her for the coffee. I sit down at the farthest edge of the table and eat my breakfast in peace. It was surprisingly filling but not what I wanted. I need to get busy and it's off to the lab.
The elevator doors open and I proceed towards the lab. I am intercepted by MP's and directed to a holding room. Upon entering the room, I see Cox. I rush over to him to figure out what is going on. “Hey, doc, what's going on here?” I ask.
“Well, from what I understand, there has been a death. Apparently one of the cleaning staff decided to end her own life. She chose a room directly across from the lab and we are not allowed in until the investigation is over.” Cox is interrupted by a MP entering the room.
“Sorry to keep you boys waiting. I am Captain Hayes. We have been processing the scene for a few hours now. You will be allowed back to work soon. The guys are rapping everything up as we speak.” Another MP knocks on the glass window and gives him a nod. He leaves the room promptly. Cox leans back in his chair, resting his head against the wall.
“That’s just great doc! I didn’t sleep at all last night. The garbage I just ate isn’t sitting well with me and now there’s a dead body across the hall.” I say. Cox motions to me to be quiet and instructs me to take a seat next to him. I walk over and sit next to him. I can hear faint talking of the MP's outside the room. I place my ear against the wall to hear the conversation a little better.
“We just finished interviewing the night guard, sir. His story so far checks out. He claims that a little after midnight he went for lunch break while the cleaning lady was working. We got her employment records right here. She is one of Trixie's outreach cases. Name is Rosaline Verdes, known around the base as Rosa for short.” The detective says.
“Why wasn’t Rosa on break as well, detective?” Captain Hayes asks.
“She was known to never take a break, sir. She even ate while she cleaned. The work ethic of the woman is definitely not in question. Everyone we have interviewed so far says the same thing. It's almost as if this job meant more to her than her own life.” The detective replies.
“So what did the guard say happened next?” Captain Hayes asks.
“He claims he heard some strange thumping sounds and went to investigate. He went inside the room and that’s when she attempted to attack him. He fled the room shutting the door behind him. He held the door shut as she repeatedly smashed her head against the reinforced glass. She lost consciousness and he ran to call for back up. Once his partner arrived, they went back to the room. They didn’t see her, went inside to search for her, and found the blood trail. It led them to a closed closet door. His partner immediately called for medical help and the other guard opened the door. She was sitting on the floor in a large pool of blood with a box cutter next to her.” The detective explains.
“Did they mention anything about the message written in blood at her feet?” The captain asks.
“Yes, they both said it was there when they found her. We did a background check on both of them. No associations with known racial hate groups. One of them is married to a black woman so it's my belief that this wasn’t a hate crime. I would say it's a clear case of being at the wrong spot at the wrong time.” The detective says.
“Yeah, unlucky isn’t even the word for it. The message in itself makes me lean towards suicide. What exactly does FINALLY FREE mean? Why would someone write that out in their own blood? Unless, of course, she had something in her past that was haunting her. If it was bad enough, then certainly death would be liberating. How about the rape kit results?” Captain Hayes asks.
“Negative sir. She was fully clothed to start with, and no signs of moving the body. Vaginal swabs showed no signs of semen or blood. Nothing was found under her fingernails as well, sir, not even a broken nail.” The detective says.
“There is no motive, no real evidence, and no signs of foul play. I think we can file this as a simple case of suicide. Let the guards go, and tell those two monkeys they can get back to work. In the meantime, I will debrief the general with the results of our investigation. Seal off the scene, call Stearnfeld, and let him clean up this mess.” Captain Hayes says.
“Are you sure, sir? Stearnfeld is the nation's premiere crime scene clean-up crew. Once they are done, there won't be a chance to come back to gather any evidence. Their motto is once and done, and their work is second to none. We can't come back from that, sir.” The detective asks.
“Do I need to draw it out in crayon, detective? I gave you an order. Call Stearnfeld; end of discussion.” Captain Hayes shouts.
The door opens and the detective steps inside. He explains to us that we are free to go about our usual work. Cox and I waste no time in exiting our prison. We dart across the hall to his lab. Once inside, he slams the door. Cox seems very uneasy and paces about the room.
“Doc, you are making me nervous! Please explain to me what the hell is going on here?” I demand.
“It isn’t what is going on, it's more about what has happened here. This is beyond me, and my gut feeling tells me this is really bad.” Cox explains.
“Are you insane? Some Mexican chic just iced herself in a room next to us. I guess I can cross off Witness a crime scene off my bucket list! So, what's next, doc? We going to kidnap some hookers, murder them, and dump the bodies in a creek? You know, since it's so boring around here and all.” I scream.
“I think it is worse than that, Haus. I might have been a little sloppy cleaning up in here last night. There is a slight chance that some stray droplets of blood might have been on the counter.” Cox exhales slowly.
“What do you mean a slight chance? You're saying you think she i
s infected with the alien bug!” I yell.
“Keep your voice down, Haus. Look at the behavior of this woman? Seems normal one day then, just like that, she kills herself. You know what is the best practice to stop the spread of germs? Yes! Washing your hands, and when do you usually do it? Right before you sit down to eat a meal. In the case of our migrant friend over there, she easily could have been snacking on something. Then she set it on the counter did some more cleaning. After she is done, picks up the food, and finishes eating.” Cox explains.
“You know, doc, if there is ever a time to not drop the ball, this is one of them. We have to do something about this right now. You have to tell the General you cloned the virus and you think she became the first victim,” I say.
“That’s not possible, Haus. What makes you think the General will understand about me withholding information from him? That would cost me my career, my reputation, everything I ever worked so hard to attain. Besides, we don’t know if she was even infected. You heard the MP, they think she was severely depressed and it was a clear case of suicide.” Cox says sternly.
“Doc, don’t even walk down that road. Who is the security expert here, you or me? I was in Operation Thunderclap, and I can tell you from experience, trying to cover this up is not going to end well. Now is not the time to save your own skin. You want to go down in history and that’s fine with me. Right now, you have a choice... The good news is both of them involve you going down in history. You can make a decision right now that could potentially affect seven billion human beings and the very life they live. Option one: You can try to save your own ass and be known as the man who finally destroyed mankind. Option two: You can tell the general everything and hope to god we can stop this thing right now. If you need any more convincing, there is option three.” I say.
Cox stands silently in front of me. I can see the beads of sweat welling up on his forehead. He is frantically searching his brain for a possible solution.