Things Change (Book 1): Things Change

by Citroner, GW

  “Sir, it must be a natural mutation of the original virus, it could be –”

  “That somehow the virus naturally mutated to mirror the results of your research?”

  “No, not at all!”

  The sound left everyone’s ears ringing, especially Doctor Robertson’s. Manning holstered his gun and watched her crumple to the floor, clutching at the red, raw hole in her belly. She writhed in pain at his feet.

  Someone’s bowels let loose; a nauseating stench filled the room. “Whoever shat themselves, please clean yourself up. I expect a report by tomorrow morning detailing how something very like our modified dogs is running loose. Hastings, I want our new test-subject accelerated through the process. If she survives, add her to the team. What are her odds?”

  “Good. She matches the metabolic profile we’re looking for perfectly and she’s just the right age. That her body was already fighting off the wild virus is ideal, introducing the one we modified tipped her right over.”

  “I want that monster the new men brought in treated too. See if it can work on something already far gone. What breed was that thing before it was infected?”

  “We think it was a bloodhound. If the treatment works it could be useful; the beast is enormous and powerful.”

  “Keep me posted.”

  Manning pointed at Robertson’s body. “And clean that up.”

  Four shaky voices said in unison “Yes sir!”

  Once Manning had left, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I’m sorry. Really, I am. I just shit my pants the second the gun went off.”

  Hastings covered his nose and mouth with a hand. “Calm down Donner. Get to the locker room and sort yourself out. We have bigger worries right now. I told you we shouldn’t have tried it!” They all looked at Robertson, lying in an increasingly large pool of blood. “Becca didn’t even know what was going on, she didn’t deserve that.”

  “Goldberg, get me the new girl’s file. He wants us to speed up her change. I’ll start her on the next phase and see if the results keep him happy long enough for us to have a fighting chance.”

  Eleven

  Lily was scared.

  Head pounding ceaselessly, her skin was itchy, peeling, and frighteningly pale. She was changing and the thought terrified her. She did not want to die, not like this.

  Hands and legs strapped to the bed she could only writhe, moan, and wait for them to kill her.

  The door opened.

  “Hi Lily, it’s me, Dr. Hastings.”

  “Are you going to kill me, now?”

  “I told you, we’re going to do everything we can to make you better. Our treatment can slow the infection enough to give us a chance. I’m going to give you an injection now that should help get you back on your feet. It’s worked before.”

  Her speech was slurred. “Help me, please.” Everything went dark for a while.

  “Smyth, it’s been hours. You can wake her up now. We’ll explain what’s going on and hope we get her cooperation. Once she knows what’s at stake, she’ll have to agree.”

  “What if she doesn’t?”

  “We shoot her. Now give her the stimulant.”

  Minutes later, Lily’s eye’s snapped open. She felt good, in fact, better than ever.

  She sat up and realized this was a different room. Then she looked at her arms and screamed.

  “It’s OK, Lily. Calm down, you knew you were sick and that we did what we could to slow the change. You’re stable now, and you won’t turn into a monster or lose your mind.”

  “What happened? I’m all white and my skin is cracked and peeling, I look disgusting!”

  Hastings asked “But how do you feel?”

  Lily was quiet for a moment as she flexed her fingers, wiggled her toes and then got on her feet “Good. I’m full of energy, I feel like running.”

  Smyth explained. “Lily, the virus changes your genetic code but we found ways to control what gets changed. We stopped the harmful effects, now the infection makes you healthier and more resilient than you were before.”

  Hastings said, “Lily, we can’t beat this thing, but we can work with it. Your skin will heal, but you’ll stay albino, we can’t change that.”

  “You mean white like a lab rat?”

  “I know it’s not ideal, but, the virus can’t hurt you now. You may even be immune to all diseases.”

  “Can I get out of here now?”

  “Not yet. It’s complicated, Lily. We thought we were working on a cure, but General Manning has some religious vision of supermen retaking the country. He ordered us give you our version of the virus and then alter your brain with surgery to make you easier to control.”

  “You’re gonna do what?” Lily was suddenly very frightened.

  “No, we never intended to do that. But we are asking your help to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

  The girl relaxed visibly “How am I supposed to do that?” Even as she asked the question, possibilities began going through her mind. “You’re going against him. You want to stop him, don’t you? I need to pretend you did what he wanted, so he doesn’t suspect.”

  Hastings smiled at her. “Listen to how confident you sound. You’ve accurately described the situation as it stands with very little data. Your thought processes will continue improving for some time.”

  “That’s right, I feel like I’m thinking faster than before. Did this happen to the others?”

  Dr. Oberon answered. “Yes, however they didn’t get to enjoy that benefit for very long.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “They were lobotomized.”

  Fear edged Lily’s words. “Doesn’t that make people act like zombies?”

  “Not always. But it does make people much more docile and easier to control.”

  “Doesn’t it hurt them, cause a hemorrhage?”

  “You and the others like you have unusual healing abilities, like animals that can regrow limbs. That extends to the brain. Lobotomy only wipes out a lot of short-term memory for someone like you, leaving us a blank slate to work with.”

  “But you’re not gonna do that to me.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Good. But why are you telling me all of this?”

  “Manning’s crazy, Lily. Many people died before we got the process right and only a few have been successfully changed and lobotomized. He’s training them in Albertsons Stadium, not far from here, and waiting until he has enough people to make his move. But it won’t happen. There just isn’t a way to do this to hundreds of people. We don’t have the resources.”

  “Why don’t you just release your virus outside? People are getting infected all the time anyway. You’d be helping them and making it impossible for the General to do what he plans.”

  “We tried that already, Lily. It didn’t work the way we planned. Without certain drugs to control the change, it makes even worse monsters.”

  “I heard someone yelling about infected dogs outside my door a while ago.”

  “Yes, he wanted some kind of war dog to help, so we experimented and made the virus able to leap from man to animal. Then we secretly infected a stray and let it loose to spread that version of the change virus, hoping to stop the wild one. We were wrong. It was the biggest mistake we made. We think it exchanged DNA with the wild virus and now it’s a hybrid that can mutate almost any life form.” Hastings continued. “Lily – these creatures won’t eventually die from it either, they’ll keep on going until something kills them.”

  The day started badly and was getting worse. Mutant dogs were lurking on the city’s outskirts. They attacked in small packs, disappearing quickly, and carrying away bloody chunks of human meat with them.

  The leg was bitten off at the knee, and although his friends managed to improvise a tourniquet, blood loss had been severe. Shock set in soon after the ambulance arrived. Dan finished wrapping up the raw stump.

  “It’s bandaged tight, load him up.
Have you radioed the ER?”

  “They said they’re ready for us, but to please confirm after speaking with his squad leader.”

  “They told you what?”

  “We need to speak with whoever’s in charge of this soldier’s patrol before bringing him in. They said its how Manning wants things handled.” Ty and Dan began carefully moving the maimed man to a gurney.

  “Whatever. Let’s get him in and worry about protocol later, between blood loss and shock he’s not gonna make it if we wait much longer.”

  The radio clipped to Dan’s belt squawked. “Medical personnel, this is Corporal Lundy. I’m approaching your position now. Await my arrival, please confirm.”

  “Shit.” Turning his head toward the mic on his shoulder, he replied “Copy that, ambulance crew will wait.” Staring helplessly at the dying man, frustration and anger colored their faces. They waited impatiently.

  “Please stand away from the patient, gentlemen.”

  Ty lost it. “What’s this about? We can’t wait, he needs blood!”

  The squad leader appeared to be in his twenties, but fatigue and stress had aged him beyond his years. Unslinging his rifle, he spoke calmly. “Stand aside gentleman.”

  They stepped back a good six feet from the wounded man, now moaning softly.

  Lifting the weapon to his shoulder and aiming carefully, he fired a single round. Blood and brains sprayed into the street.

  “Please take this body in for processing.”

  Ty was confused. “Processing?”

  “Yes, processing. His death will be recorded and the body cremated, we don’t have the men to bury everyone who dies but there’s more than enough gas.”

  Dan spoke much more calmly than he felt. “But, why did you kill him?”

  Corporal Lundy looked at Dan wonderingly. “Don’t you know? We’re running low on medical supplies. In fact, we’re running low on everything. According to General Manning, we can’t spare resources for the severely injured. What the hospital uses to possibly save him could definitely save many other men not so badly off. Just follow your fucking orders, gentlemen.”

  Ty glanced at the man’s rifle, then at his tired, emotionless face and decided it was a bad time to argue the finer points of morality. “Of course corporal, we’ll be on our way.”

  As the soldier jogged away, Dan bent over convulsively and threw up just inches from the dead man’s shattered skull.

  The radio barked non-stop bad news as they brought the body in for ‘processing.’ Five men assumed dead at the airport, responding squad attacked by infected dogs as they approached. One man missing in action, last known position was the eastern outskirts of town. Human and other infected flowing into the area in growing numbers. Ammunition is running low, no resupply at this time. Patrol delta five out of gas three miles west of Main and waiting for assistance.

  Since the infected animals appeared, the situation became dire with incredible swiftness. It seemed every stray dog, cat and vermin in the city became a monster overnight, adding to the growing number of infected humans attracted to the smell of fresh meat wafting from the protected zone. Area defenses were overwhelmed. Few survived the new attacks and the ambulance crew could do nothing for the dead.

  On the way to pick up another casualty, they received an unexpected call. “Paramedics, woman in labor at 950 Lombardi, attend ASAP, confirm.”

  Dan replied eagerly. “Copy dispatch, our ETA is about ten minutes. Hit it Ty.”

  They arrived to find the woman lying down on her living room floor. She was panting furiously and groaning with pain. Two other women kept her company but left as soon as the men entered the apartment.

  “The baby’s crowning, Dan. Its showtime.”

  Ty kneeled by the woman’s head. “We can’t move you, this is happening right here. I need you to push hard, now.”

  She looked up at him desperately before putting all her efforts into pushing the baby out. Face purpling, she screamed. The infant slid into Dan’s hands.

  It was a normal baby girl and both men grinned at each other like idiots.

  After taking mother and daughter to the maternity unit, they were approached by one of Manning’s men at the elevators. “Foster, I’m Staff Sergeant Cole, please come with me. Brantley, you’re instructed to report back to the fire station.”

  “I’m sure it’s alright, Ty. I’ll see you later.” Dan followed Cole to the freight elevator in the hospital’s east wing.

  Exiting at the loading dock, they went off in a battle-scarred Humvee. “We’re heading to Albertsons Stadium. Gunny Hartman wants to speak with you.”

  “About what?”

  “You’re a former infantry marine and combat vet, aren’t you?”

  Dan began to suspect this had nothing to do with his duties as paramedic.

  “Yes, that’s right. But that was a little over ten years ago.”

  “Doesn’t matter, you’re not a civilian – you’re an experienced vet, and we’re growing very short of personnel since the dogs and all their buddies showed up. That’s what the sarge wants to discuss with you.”

  Hartman was waiting inside the stadium’s atrium smoking a cigarette as they drove up. He stomped it out under his heel and walked out to meet them.

  “Foster, good to see you! Walk with me.”

  “Uh, good to see you too. What’s this all about?”

  “I figure you asked Coleman the same thing on the way here. What did he tell you?”

  “Well, nothing I couldn’t have guessed on my own, like you’re running short of men now that there’s infected people and monster animals to deal with.”

  “That’s correct Foster. Worse, my people believe that the virus will quickly spread to animals across the country. The suspicion is that it had something to do with the work done to neutralize the virus. But the eggheads have Manning convinced that this is part of the virus’ natural evolution; I’m doubtful. In any event, it’s something we have to deal with going forward.” Hartman stopped walking and faced Dan. “Which brings me to why you’re here. You were a marine, son. Trained and tried in war. I need a man like you armed, not running a sick bus. You’re filling body bags rather than the emergency room anyway. You know, you’ve been watched closely since you got here. You perform well under pressure and you’re goddamned lucky. What do you say?”

  “I need to get my kid and I promised Lily I’d get her to Abilene. Besides, I’ve been here a little over a month already. I thank you for everything your docs have done to help Lily, but as soon as she’s stable, we’re heading out.”

  “I see.” Manning placed a hand on Dan’s shoulder. “Listen, I understand your situation, but I have long-range people bringing in new batches of civilians from out there. The first trucks should be arriving in about a week, and those vehicles are vulnerable now. The animal problem means I can’t spare men to protect them. Refugees may be abandoned to allow those men to return as fast as possible to support the folks here. Folks might die who could have made it to safety otherwise. I need those new people to help grow what we’ve built here. Many of them will replace our defense force casualties. After they arrive, you can go.”

  “What difference can I make? I’m just one man.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong son. You have knowledge to pass on, and we’re putting everybody able to hold a gun on defense anyway. Young and old, men and women, we all need to pitch in. You could help train them, give them the skills they need to hold the line. I’ll give you a sergeant’s rank and every resource we can spare to get the job done.”

  Dan opened his mouth to answer, but Hartman continued. “I can guarantee you a vehicle, spare fuel, weapons, and ammo to get all three of you back on the road. As soon as the new people arrive, if you agree.”

  Suspecting there were no new people coming and that Manning didn’t intend to honor his promise, Dan asked for more time. “I need to sleep on it, sarge. And I want to discuss this with Ty.”

  “Are you forge
tting someone?”

  “Lily, but she’s in isolation now until she stabilizes, I can’t talk to her.”

  Dan had spent weeks trying to find out where she was. As soon as he found her, he was determined to get all three of them out. He didn’t trust these people.

  “I was told that she can have visitors now, how about you and Ty talk to her tomorrow. I know she’s anxious to see both of you.”

  Twelve

  “Do you know how she’s doing?” Ty said, stepping out of the small car that brought him to a nearby college campus.

  “I’ve been here an hour already with Hartman, and I still don’t know any more than you do.”

  “And what did he want with you?”

  “Something we can talk about later. The important thing is that we get to see Lily now.”

  “Why are we at this school’s sports building and not the hospital, then?”

  “I don’t know.”

  The same soldiers who had driven them there brought the two men to the indoor volleyball court. Hartman joined them at the entrance to a weight room.

  “Hello, boys!”

  Ty nodded curtly. “Hi Sarge, it’s good to see you. Lily must be doing great if she’s here instead of the hospital.”

  “She’s doing amazingly well, gentleman. But she hasn’t come through this entirely unchanged. I ask you to bear that in mind when you see her and try not to make her self-conscious.”

  “What’s different about her, what happened?”

  “Treating the infection is a little complicated, it’s easier to just show you. Please keep an open mind.” He led them to heavy metal doors that opened out onto a gym dotted with treadmills, weights, and other sorts of exercise equipment. A long, narrow row of windows topped three walls near the ceiling. They offered the only lighting in the large space.

  “Why are the lights outs, Sergeant,” asked Ty.

  “We’re just trying to conserve energy. The generators are running a bit low,” replied Hartman.

  There was a small figure in sweat pants and tank top doing pull-ups. Her skin was alabaster white. She dropped to the floor and turned her face toward them.