Things Change (Book 1): Things Change

by Citroner, GW

  Dan called out. “Lily!”

  As the three ran toward each other, Lily began to cry. “Dan, Ty – I missed you both so much.”

  Ty looked her over and asked gently “What happened, Lil?”

  “I got infected, and then the doctors gave me some pills and shots. I felt horrible and looked worse for while. That’s when my skin turned white and looked like I fell into a paper shredder. After a while, it got better, but they told me the color won’t come back, and my eyes will stay red. Except for some light sensitivity, I’m fine now, really.”

  “You look fine Lil, how many pull ups can you do?”

  She smiled. “I couldn’t even hang from the bar last week, and I just did thirty now. The docs said it’s an unexpected side effect of the treatment. It has something to do with how the virus changes your genes, and how the treatment stops the bad changes but can’t stop some others.”

  Sergeant Hartman walked up to the trio. “Would you three like to go get reacquainted in the lounge?”

  He guided them there and left as soon as they sat down. “I’ll be back in about a half hour – you’ve both got to get back on duty and the docs aren’t done with Lily yet.”

  Ty rummaged in a pocket “I’ve got some change and I bet the machine still has a few drinks left in it – I’ll be right back.”

  Once Ty returned, Lily said in a low voice, “guys there is some strange stuff going on here.”

  “It’s worse than you know, Lil,” replied Dan just as cautiously.

  Ty’s forehead wrinkled in confusion and he put down his soda. “What are you guys talking about?”

  Dan explained. “I’ve spoken at length with Hartman; apparently they’ve lost a lot of men to the plague dogs we ran into that day near the airport. Between that and a new influx of infected people, the situation is serious enough that he wants to draft every able-bodied civilian to defend this place until enough new people arrive to stabilize things. He wants me to help train everybody.”

  Lily added, “And I’ve been told the infection can probably spread to anything alive now. Forget stabilizing, this place is going to start looking like a low-carb buffet soon.”

  She spent the next ten minutes explaining how the doctors treated her with a modified virus as part of their own plan to stop the epidemic. How it leaves the treated stronger and more resilient than they were before, and that Manning is insane enough to want an army of people like her. “He’s nuts. He plans to use a small army of people like me to take control of the whole country. He doesn’t want to be bothered convincing anyone that he’s right. The doctors have actually done lobotomies the others like me to make them submissive and easier to control. He doesn’t want to risk soldiers who can think on their own.”

  Ty shook his head. “Are you OK with this?”

  She sighed. “They’re not bad people, not really – they’re just afraid of him. Manning killed one of them already. He shot her in the stomach and left to die in front of them. They want to stop him, so they’re going to fake the procedure after you both leave. I’m supposed to help stop him.”

  Ty’s face darkened. “Forget that crap. I say we get our asses out of here now!”

  Dan looked at his friends. “They have guns and we don’t. We couldn’t leave without supplies anyway. If I refuse Hartman’s offer to help train and lead civilians against the infected, it will go badly for us. If Lily doesn’t do what the docs tell her to, I’m sure they’ll… “

  “They’ll get rid of me somehow, no matter how useful I’ve become, I’m not bulletproof. I know too much for them to risk me talking.”

  Ty was furious. “How the hell are we supposed to do this? This place is falling down around our heads, if we don’t get moving soon we’re dead.”

  “Lily and I will go along to get along. Between repelling new attacks, low supplies, and them stabbing each other in the back, we’ll get our chance to make a break for it.”

  “I’m staying at the hospital for now, after the ‘lobotomy’ I’ll be placed with the others like me to do whatever it is they do. You’ll have to find me if I don’t manage to escape on my own and find you first.”

  Dan said, “Ty has the ambulance and can drive anywhere without being questioned, so that’s transportation. I’m trusted with a weapon while on duty, so we have defense covered. Lily, you just need to get away unnoticed. Find one of us and we can make a run for it. Hopefully we’ll get out before it all comes crashing down.”

  Lily agreed. “Sure, I’ll do my best.”

  Thirteen

  “Everybody line up!” Dan sympathized with the thirty men and women standing with him in the municipal parking lot. The sun beat down on them mercilessly.

  This was his first group of trainees and having no direct experience making civilians into soldiers, he relied on what he could remember from his time in the military.

  “I have three days to familiarize you with basic commands, maneuvers, radio etiquette, and how to handle a rifle.” Dan paused, looking over nervous faces in front of him.

  A surly teenaged boy caught his attention. “I heard we’re fucked. There are too few soldiers and too little ammo to keep out the monsters. Why are we bothering?”

  Dan was honest. “Because you’ll probably get shot in the face if you don’t. I don’t want to be here either.”

  After that, everybody enthusiastically participated in the day’s activities. He tried to forget that it didn’t matter whether they learned well or not. The boy was right; they were fucked. Most of them would die, quickly or slowly, but die they would. If their most experienced men failed to survive the increasingly vicious attacks, what hope did this bunch have?

  He looked over his duty roster, out of a hundred or so names, he had already crossed off more than half due to being too young, too old, or for not showing up. Dan wished the best of luck to the deserters. Their chances were probably better than the poor bastards who couldn’t or wouldn’t leave. The situation could only get worse.

  There was a short burst of static. “Foster, what’s your location?”

  “This is Foster. I’m behind City Hall, who’s this?”

  “Hernandez. I’m alone about two miles west of your position. I spot infected activity on the east corner of Hewitt. No perimeter patrol close enough to assist, I could use a few men.”

  “How many?”

  “There’s four infected so far – two human, one canine, one unidentified. I think it was a raccoon, now it’s bigger than a dog.”

  “I’m training new recruits. There isn’t much they can do to help”

  “I’ve got nobody else to ask.”

  Dan considered his options. Even one infected human would wreak havoc in downtown. “Alright, heading out now with the best I’ve got, give me ten minutes to get there. Maintain radio contact channel 19 and update me as there location changes.”

  “Copy that.”

  Looking over the crowd, Dan called out. “Who here likes hunting?”

  Back at the fire station, Dan heard disturbing news.

  “You’re telling me that we’re the only men left in the fire station, Chief?”

  “No, Ty. I’m telling you that you’re the only man left in the station. God help me, I’ve been told to lead a security patrol.”

  “Where the hell did everybody go, and where’s the hook and ladder?”

  The old man sat down heavily, indicating that Dan should join him at the table “Listen, I shouldn’t even be discussing this with you. But whoever wasn’t killed last night probably deserted. That truck’s gone; no sign anywhere. It’s probably carrying somebody as far from here as possible.”

  “I’ll do my best, Chief – but I’m gonna need something better than a Taser to even have a chance of making it back today.”

  Craddoc gave him a thin smile “You’re a good man and I’m sorry to stick you with this situation, but maybe I can help.” Reaching into his cargo pocket he pulled out a pistol and handed it to him. “I believe this is yo
urs.”

  Ty’s face broke into an enormous grin. “How’d you get a hold of this?”

  “I was at Newsome’s dealership after it was overrun. We scavenged whatever supplies we could find before abandoning the area, I happened to be the one who went through your van. The shotgun and ammo are in the supply closet next to the kitchen.”

  “I don’t know what to say Chief, but, thank you.” Suddenly, the gravity of the situation hit Ty square in the face. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

  Chief Craddoc’s heavily lined face frowned fiercely. He drew a deep breath and admitted “You and your friends should do the same, sooner rather than later. I’ve lost everybody that mattered to me since this started. My oldest son was killed last night and I’ve had enough.”

  “Where will you go?”

  “My brother has a ranch in Montana. I don’t know if he’s still there, but that’s all the family I have left.”

  The men shook hands, and then Craddoc left. Ty got into the ambulance and headed out to find Dan and tell him about the guns. For the first time, he felt like they had a chance.

  Pulling into downtown’s public parking lot, he saw a small crowd walking wearily in a wide circle. One of Manning’s soldiers was trying to get them to move in a military fashion and failing miserably.

  He called out “Where’s Foster?”

  Ordering the group to stop, he jogged over to speak with Ty. “There were infected spotted near here, he went with a few men to take care of it. You could try calling him on channel nineteen.”

  He went back to his seat and picked up the mic.

  “Foster, it’s Brantley. Pick up if you can.”

  “Hey Ty, hold on a second.”

  It was five minutes before Dan radioed back. Ty was already blocks away, heading south along tenth.

  “Brantley, do you copy?”

  “I copy, Foster. Got a sec?”

  “I’m trying to hunt down a sighting. But, sure.”

  “Just checking in before I go on patrol and to tell you I got promoted to Fire Chief. Wait till you see my badge!”

  “Stop being funny, Ty, I’m a little occupied now.”

  “Who knows? If you’re a good boy, you might get one of your own soon. Why don’t we talk about it at the station later, if you’re not too bugged to go out?”

  Dan realized he was trying to tell him something important, something they couldn’t discuss on the air. “I get off at eight. You can tell me all about it over dinner.”

  Sunlight glared fiercely into General Manning’s office, and it was oppressively hot. The power had cut off, again. Every building became an oven.

  Manning looked over the few reports that had made it to his desk, sweat dripping down his face.

  Using the intercom, he spoke firmly. “I want Dr. Hastings here as soon as possible.” No reply came. Then he remembered the power was out. He stormed out of his office to speak directly with the clerk stationed outside his office. “Robles, I need to speak with Dr. Hastings, dispatch whoever’s available to bring him here – now!”

  The young man got up, but Manning stopped him “Where the hell are you going?”

  “I’m sorry sir, I’m alone up here. Almost everyone’s on patrol, I’ll have to ask lobby security to relay the message and I don’t have a radio.”

  “Why the hell don’t you?”

  “The order you gave, sir. All working radios are now prioritized for use on patrols.”

  Manning fumed internally, but spoke calmly. “Of course Robles, it slipped my mind. Go ahead.”

  Back at his desk, he faced the window and considered how quickly the situation was falling apart. He needed to consolidate his resources. Boise was already a lost cause. However, there were many other places where he could start over.

  Fourteen

  “Lily, this is going to hurt a bit” She was sitting on a hard metal stool in the hospital morgue. Today was ‘lobotomy’ day.

  Dr. Hastings was sitting across from her, and he held a very sharp, small silver spike in his hand. “I would really like to consider other options, doc.”

  “It has to look authentic, Lily. A lobotomy leaves no marks, but will always cause two black eyes, which your improved healing ability will resolve in a day or so anyway. Be happy that I’m faking transorbital lobotomy and not prefrontal.”

  “They both sound bad! Why is the other one worse?”

  “Transorbital is a spike shoved past your eye and into the brain; a quick, simple procedure and easy to fake. Prefrontal means I drill holes in the side of your head first.”

  “Oh.”

  “Manning always inspects his ‘recruits’ immediately after the procedure to confirm that it was carried out as he instructed. He’s not a trusting man.”

  “What did it do to the other people you changed for General Manning.”

  “Well, Lily, it’s pretty terrible. Even with enhanced healing ability, they lost the ability to feel emotions, and became docile. So they’re more suggestible and easier to order around. However, in normal people the results are very unpredictable, it makes some people vegetative, others couldn’t speak anymore or respond to stimuli.”

  “But that didn’t happen to the others?”

  “I told you, the accelerated healing ability our virus gave you and the others seem to prevent that from happening. Now lie back on the table, I’ll give you a local anesthetic first, then just pierce the inner corners of your eyes. I promise it’ll be quick and painless. You should be all healed up within a few hours.”

  Lily lay back on the examination table and steeled herself against the prospect of having a metal spike driven part way into her head. She closed her eyes while Hastings injected an anesthetic into the area near where the spike would enter.

  She never knew what hit her.

  “Alright Lily, the scopolamine seems to have taken effect. How do you feel?”

  “I’m fine, Dr. Hastings.”

  “Please slap yourself across the face, Lily.”

  She extended an open palm away from herself and brought it back in a short arc that terminated on her right cheek. The sound of it echoed briefly in the small room. The side of her face turned a puffy scarlet, contrasting fiercely with her unnaturally pale skin.

  “Do you know what scopolamine is, Lily?”

  “No, Dr. Hastings.”

  “It’s actually a remarkable drug, and has been used by both governments and criminals to get people to do things they ordinarily wouldn’t. Like telling someone your PIN number or giving away your belongings. They call it Devil’s Breath in South America. That’s the drug I injected you with instead of an anesthetic.”

  Lily sat mutely staring at the doctor as he spoke, showing no signs of curiosity or distress.

  “You see, Lily, there were no lobotomies being performed on anyone. The risk of death or disability is simply much too high, and we couldn’t afford to lose any of our successfully converted test subjects. Do you understand?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Of course, this doesn’t mean we agree with everything Manning has planned, just most of it. There’s no way I’m going allow this country to fall under military dictatorship with that nutcase as dictator. No, that second-rate Hitler wouldn’t be able to keep things running smoothly. But I can. Do you want to know why?”

  “Sure.”

  “I worked for the asshole that developed this virus. It was intended to be the way to achieve world peace. My old boss, a man named Lester Silverman, was obsessed with eliminating race and class distinctions to prevent the prejudices and fears that cause violence and wars. I saw its real potential. It was the nuclear bomb of bioweapons, bringing chaos and death to entire cities and then burning out as everyone infected died too fast to spread it farther. What do you think?”

  “It sounds dangerous.”

  “It is. Silverman infected himself with a modified version that I intended to sell to the Department of Defense, causing the mess we’re in now. Now, hi
s original vision is the only hope we have left. You and the others will help me remake the world. Without war, racism, crime, or any of the other problems that helped destroy the old one. It’s a shame Lester’s not around to see his crazy dream come true. It’s only right that I should be in charge, isn’t it?”

  Her face and voice devoid of emotion, Lily replied “Yes.”

  He went on. “That idiot Manning was my Defense Department contact. Once the crisis hit, my colleagues and I had no choice but to rely on him and his men. We promised him the moon if he would just keep us safe. However, he’s become paranoid, dangerous. Now it’s all coming apart; but I can fix it, and you’re going to help me. You will help me, won’t you?”

  “I will.”

  “That’s good. Of course, the drug will only affect you for about a day, so you’ll carry this,” he removed a small, plastic container from his pocket. “It has thirty delayed release scopolamine capsules in it. You’ll take one every twenty-four hours beginning tomorrow evening at eight o’clock. Do you understand?”

  “I understand.”

  “Please repeat the instructions I just gave you.”

  “I will take one capsule every night at eight o’clock.”

  “Now I’m going to give you something to wear – a collar. It’s a very important thing for you to wear, so you must never take it off. If you do, it will explode with enough force to blow your head off. You’d be surprised what we used to use those for.”

  Locking the device in place, he smiled. “Good girl. Let’s show you to Manning, and then you can join your team.”

  The heat became bearable as the day slowly died. Hastings walked toward the park, seeking relief from the hospital’s stuffy atmosphere and a measure of privacy.

  Manning rolled toward him on a motorcycle. “Hastings!”

  “Isn’t that a little dangerous? You’re not very protected on that.”

  “No, but I always wanted to own a Harley. I found this one at the hospital. I bet it belonged to one of the docs.”

  “Is that all? I was just taking a break.”