Carmen looked away in obvious reflection of Albert’s accusations. When she let out a long sigh, her face softened. She replied in a kinder tone. “Your medical practices and scientific methods have always been questionable and, in my professional opinion, reckless. The fact that you’ve established a medical center in Undertown of all places proves it. Given that, you should know that under normal circumstances you would not be welcome here for your crimes against my hospital. However, as head of the Advanced Science Against Malady team, I’m obligated to explore all potential parasitic concerns.”
Albert tugged at his collar and adjusted his glasses. “Look, I didn’t come here to quarrel with you. There are greater problems that threaten us all. And my discoveries, while monumental, are too big for me to tackle alone.”
“You claim to have a specimen of an advanced breed of Malady,” Carmen said. “To date, no other species of the parasite have been identified. Needless to say, I’m skeptical.”
Albert puffed his chest and tucked his hands into his pockets. He pulled out a vial of blood and rolled it between his fingers. “There is a microscopic monster in here, one with the potential to destroy mankind. It’s called Malad-X. It’s highly aggressive and kills common Malady without hesitation. Subjects infected with Malad-X murder carriers of Malady in a type of primal rage. This is the result intended by its creator.”
Carmen stared at the vial. “It’s creator?”
“Malad-X is a genetically altered form of Malady created by Dr. Marcus Graves.”
“How do you know that?”
Albert opened his satchel and produced a manila folder. “This contains acquired information about the secret projects at Graves Enterprises, my DNA analysis reports with corresponding data logs and notes on Professor Crimm’s scientific findings with my definitive conclusions. It’s all there.”
Carmen examined the documents. “Successful genetic altering of the Malady parasite, kidnapping of Void Land natives for human testing of Malad-X, a living and deceased record of Graves Enterprises test subjects spanning twenty years!” She tossed the file onto the oak table and dropped into one of the chairs. “This is all too much.”
Albert sat across from her and spoke gently, “If Marcus Graves unleashes Malad-X on the city it will render the infected against the infected. The death toll wrought by Graves Enterprises will be unending.”
Carmen spoke in a low and contemptuous voice. “My hate for Marcus is immeasurable. My husband, Wolfgang, contracted Malady and died because of him. He’s divided this city and has turned half the population into addicts. Now this?”
“There’s hope,” Albert sustained. “During our efforts, one of our partners, Jameson Shoals, became infected with Malad-X but has not become enraged. His genome is unique. Which, for his entire life until recently, has granted him immunity to Malady.”
Carmen’s eyes trapped Albert’s. “How is that possible?”
“My theory, the one your team scorned, was correct.”
“Yes. I recall your dissertation. You proposed that humans might share a genetic link with the parasite. What did you call it again?”
“Malady-born; which is precisely what Jameson is. His condition has altered the effects of the Malad-X within him, but I am not certain as to what extent. This vial contains his infected blood. There is more to learn and understand. I believe the answer to stopping Malady in all forms is right here, but I can’t find it alone. I need your help.” He handed her the vial.
“I…I don’t quite know where to begin.”
“We should start with awareness. People trust you. They trust Oasis. It must be your voice that warns the people of Karma City. It has to be. I advise that Oasis District facilitate a public event; during which, you announce the specifics of this emerging threat and its origin.”
Carmen straightened in her seat. “What of Graves?”
“Graves is a sick and dangerous man,” Albert said. “He used his own Malady to create Malad-X. He won’t be too pleased when we expose him. It will lead to a collapse of his trusted reputation and the fall of Sable District. We must expose him before he unleashes his parasite on the world.”
Carmen sat in contemplative silence. After several minutes, Albert asked, “What are your thoughts?”
“Awareness is top priority. We need to be careful with how we proceed against Graves. There is no telling how he’ll react and I’m concerned for the safety of the people. I’m also wondering about this Malady-born. What did you say his name was?”
“Jameson Shoals.”
“I’d like to bring him to the hospital under my personal care.”
Albert shook his head. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Mr. Shoals should understand resistance to Malady is extraordinary. Why won’t he allow me to work with him?”
“Because I’m his doctor,” Albert professed. “Let’s leave it at that. See what you can do with his blood for now. Our immediate focus has to be stopping Malad-X and exposing Graves.”
“You’ve regained my respect, Albert. I’ll arrange for an event to be held at the River Commons, tomorrow afternoon. We’ll issue bulletins from the district today and I’ll contact the Karma Daily for coverage in the paper. I’ll have a platform and podium set up. The commons should accommodate a crowd of several hundred. I’d like you and the members of your group beside me as I address the people.”
Albert smiled and shook her hand. “We’ll be there.”
Chapter 13
The telephone rang late in the night. Donna stirred but Jack whispered, “Stay in bed. I’ll get it.”
He stumbled through the dark apartment. The neon city lights blinked through his living room window, lighting the way in pulses of red, yellow and purple. The wall mounted phone rattled on its cradle. Jack lifted the receiver and brought the phone to his ear. He spoke in a groggy voice, “Dad, if this is you calling, I’m going to swallow a handful of Quell.”
“No, Mr. Halligan,” answered a female voice, “this is not your father. This is Dr. Carmen Victoria speaking.”
Jack snapped awake. “Dr. Victoria! What can I do for you at…” he glanced at the digital clock on the microwave, “Does that say one o’clock in the morning?”
“I’m sorry to call so late. But this is urgent.”
“I’m listening.”
“As connected to the community as you are, have you heard the term ‘Malad-X’ before?”
Jack dodged the question. “Sounds like a bad cleaning product.”
“I wish it were. Karma city is in great danger and—”
“I know,” he interrupted, his heart sinking to his stomach. “There are some things I need to tell you.”
***
“Jameson. Are you asleep?”
The bedside lamp winked on. Jameson opened his eyes and rolled onto his back. Pipes and cables crisscrossed along the ceiling. In a half-sleep delirium, he recalled that he was still in Albert’s medical center in Undertown.
“I’m sorry to wake you.”
The voice sounded clear, as if spoken directly into his ears, but no one stood at his bedside. Brighton. Jameson mumbled. “What time is it?”
“Three o’clock in the morning.”
“Damn. What’s the problem?”
“I had a nightmare.”
Jameson dropped his palms over his face. He rubbed his eyes. “What are you, a kid or something? Let me go back to sleep or I’ll put a plunger to my ear and drag you out of there.”
“The nightmare was about you. I must warn you!”
“Fine. Make it quick.”
“You and I were at a gathering of some kind, surrounded by people. The faces were angry, frightened and some of them were dead. A thick fog fell over us, trapping everyone. The smell, the one that I can’t tolerate—”
“It’s the smell of Malady that makes you nuts.”
“Well, it was everywhere. Panic, violence…death.”
“Is that it? Can I go back to slee
p now?”
“No. The worst part was the man with glowing, orange eyes. He wanted you dead.”
“Gemni.”
“This man exists?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“What is he?”
“He is…like you,” the realization struck Jameson like a baseball bat to the stomach. “Like me.”
“Is Gemni an enemy?”
“Yes. And somehow, we’re going to stop him.”
“I will help you.”
Jameson turned onto his shoulder and reached for the lamp. He switched it off and closed his eyes. “Go back to sleep, worm.”
“Good night, Jameson.”
Jameson couldn’t sleep. Something else troubled him more than the similarity between himself and his enemy. Brighton turned on the lamp. He took control while I slept.
Early Saturday morning, Jameson gathered his shotgun and traveling pack and met his friends in the reception area of Albert’s lab. Albert and Luna passed around the morning paper. Luna handed it Jameson. “Looks like the good doctor won over Carmen Victoria yesterday.”
Jameson read the headline on the Karma Daily, “‘Worse Than Malady by: Jack Halligan.’ That’s eye catching.”
“I thought so,” Albert agreed. “I can’t believe Carmen was able to get Halligan to write the article on such short notice. He’s the city’s top writer. I’ve been trying to get him to do a piece on my lab, you know, for publicity and such, but he never returns my calls.”
Jameson scrolled down the front page and read aloud, “‘A scientific breakthrough has uncovered a new parasitic threat more dangerous than Malady. Dr. Carmen Victoria is calling for citizens of Karma City to attend a public address this afternoon at the River Commons outside Oasis District. The identifier of the new parasite and independent scientist, Dr. Albert Walker, will announce the details and answer questions. Medical teams will be on hand to provide free screening for the advanced Malady parasite that Dr. Walker calls Malad-X.’” Jameson folded the paper and handed it to Albert. “You’re hitting the big time, doc.”
“To be honest, Carmen is more interested in you than me. I told her of your immunity to Malady and she practically begged me to bring you in.”
“Not happening.”
“I figured.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That I am your doctor.” Albert slapped his hands and rubbed them together in excitement. “Let’s head out for Oasis. I’d like to get there early, before the crowds. It’s going to be a day that Karma City will remember forever.”
Brighton spoke to Jameson. “I don’t want to go.”
“Will you please relax?” Jameson snapped.
Albert frowned. “Excuse me for being excited to help inform and protect the citizens.”
Jameson shook his head. “I was talking to myself. Trying to calm my nerves.”
Luna, Jameson and Albert arrived at Oasis District by late morning. Crowds filled the subway station and lined the streets. They walked to the River Commons, a grassy park with swaying willows, served as the public front grounds of Oasis Hospital. Beyond the park, Karma’s highway stretched into the distance, running parallel with the Iron Tribe’s rails.
Medical tents stood along the edges of the park walkways. Nurses and doctors conducted free examinations and parasitic screening of citizens gathering for the announcement. Jameson scanned the people, looking at expressions, postures and mannerisms. He found a mix of worry, hope and speculation in the eyes of Karma’s citizens. Then, he smelled it—Malady. His heart quickened.
As if right on cue, Brighton barked in his mind. “I hate that smell.”
Jameson struggled to extinguish the hatred crackling in his mind like vehement fire. Sweat dotted his brow.
“What purpose does Malady serve? We are surrounded by the weak and wasteful. I’d love to kill them all!”
“Enough!” he shouted.
Luna reacted to Jameson’s outburst and spun him around to face her. “What’s the problem?”
“Brighton is losing it over the infected.”
“Fight him. Take control.”
Jameson closed his eyes and took in a slow breath. He wiped away his sweat and focused on confronting the other consciousness within him. He spoke aloud, “I will not harm people just because they’re infected with Malady. If the sick bastards get violent and attack me or someone else, that’s different. Understand?”
“We don’t need to be victims. With me, you can have strength beyond yourself. You can have reflexes quicker than you’ve known. I can shelter you from physical pain so you can move forward when others would fall.”
“What’s your point?”
“That all of these things give you—give us—options. Killing is one. Commanding is another. Malad-X is superior and my power is undeniable. Let me show you. Let me take control.”
“No, you son of a bitch! NO!”
Brighton’s voice faded. “Upsetting you is putting us both at risk. I’m going to rest now.”
Jameson no longer felt the parasite’s rage boiling in him.
“Is he gone?” Luna asked.
“He shut up, and that’ll do.” Jameson looked for Albert. “Where’s the doc?”
Luna pointed to a large stage with a podium and speaker system. “He’s already at the platform with Carmen.”
“This place is getting packed.” Jameson recalled Brighton’s dream of the crowd, an outbreak of terror, the smoke, of Gemni. “Better hurry to the stage. I have a feeling,” he tapped his temple, “things are going to get dangerous.”
“In that case…” Luna reached into her pack and pulled out the small radio that Mandy Briggs gave her when they parted at the docks. She switched it on. The radio crackled with static and a blue light flashed near the volume dial. She brought the radio to her lips. “Luna Briggs to Iron Tribe. Radio check.”
After a brief moment of whirring frequencies and static garble, a deep voice answered, “Northbound 4-8-4 responding. Loud and clear, Briggs.”
“Can you confirm my location?”
“Tracking signal now, standby… signal locked. Location identified as Karma City, Oasis District, River Commons. Please confirm.”
“Location accurate.”
“Monitoring your frequency and location.”
“Copy, 4-8-4. Over.”
Jameson grinned. “A little back up?”
“Just a little.”
Luna found Albert behind the stage platform with Carmen Victoria. Carmen regarded the group then spoke to Albert. “My team and I poured over your work all night. Your concept of Malady-born having a genetic commonality with the parasite is accurate and revolutionary. We’re standing on the fringe of mankind’s evolution, and have been the whole time. There are so many tests I want to do, so much to document. It’s all so fascinating but what is most special, Albert, is that you’ve proven that we, as a species, are not doomed. Furthermore, the blood sample was rigorously analyzed,” she paused to clear the misty from her eyes. “Your work has opened the door for a possible anti-parasitic immunization, one that can ward against Malady in all forms!”
Albert clapped in delight. “This is everything I’ve hoped for! How does it work? Tell me more.”
“Jameson’s blood contains a wide range of antigenic properties, but I’ll tell you more after the event,” Carmen assured. “We’ve got a capacity crowd here; it’s time to warn them about Malad-X and Graves Enterprises.”
“You’d better do it soon,” Luna interrupted. “Graves just pulled up.” She pointed at a black limousine carving its way through the crowd. The car glided to a stop at the side of the stage. The driver stepped out and opened the rear door. Marcus Graves emerged, his black overcoat trailed at his ankles as he approached. He wore dark sunglasses and a wide-brimmed black hat. He moved up the platform and waited for Carmen at the podium. He stared at Albert and Carmen, standing as still as a lifeless shadow.
Carmen turned to Albert. “I’m scared.”
“In Karma City, that’s the feeling you get when you’re doing the right thing.” Albert took her hand in his and led her onto the stage.
Luna waited at the corner of the stage. Jameson remained behind the scaffolding. She gripped her rifle; her finger hovered over the trigger as black vans from Sable District surrounded the event. Sable Guard filed out, dressed in matte-black armor and armed with automatic weapons. The tension brewing over the awareness event felt like a storm rolling in from the sea, chilling and unstoppable.
She watched and listened, ready for the first sign of chaos. A cool breeze blew across her face; for a brief moment, she felt aboard the train once more, ready to defend and willing to fill the air with bullets to keep order, to keep peace, to keep alive.
The crowd hollered, jeered and applauded for Karma City’s two scientific powers standing beside one another on the stage. The reaction of the people showcased their division. The Malady infected praised Graves for Quell. The uninfected called out their support for Carmen and her Victory Vaccine. Respite and Opportunity. The two doctors stood before the people of Karma as symbols to these notions.
Carmen stood behind the podium. Luna noted the doctor’s air of confidence and the command her very presence had on many of the people. The microphone hummed when Carmen spoke. “Dear citizens of Karma City,” the crowd fell to near silence. “Thank you all for coming today. I am joined by my colleague,” she pointed to Albert who stood at the left side of the stage, “Dr. Albert Walker, the man whose tireless dedication to the sciences against Malady has uncovered a new threat as well as a new hope.” She paused and turned to acknowledge Graves. “To my surprise, I’m also joined today by Dr. Marcus Graves. Dr. Graves, I appreciate your presence here this morning, as today is the day when things change for the good people of Karma. That change starts with you.”
Graves leaned toward the microphone and took off his sunglasses. The people applauded again, shouting thanks and words of admiration. He gave a gentle wave of gratitude. “Thank you, Dr. Victoria. I couldn’t agree more.” He raised his voice. “Let’s speak of change. I am the one who has brought more change to this city than anyone else. I changed the lives of Karma’s citizens with Quell. I returned serenity to the homes of countless infected. The change I’ve brought has given people the ability to cope and continue living even when sick with Malady. Is this not true?”
Karma City Page 17