Blood on the Water

by Mark Hildebrandt

  Marcus began to once again feel sick. It must have been obvious because Josephus offered him a seat before he fell. “Was Flavious part of the Imperial party?”

  “No. He was away studying. Why?”

  “Damn!” Marcus said loud enough that the researches turned to look. He lowered his tone, “Think about it Josephus. Fusion reactors power everything and have been in almost all mobile equipment for a very long time, yet there has not been an accident like you describe in over two hundred years! Then you tell me Flavious was not with the Imperial party. Kukulcan bragged to me, he had Flavious in his pocket. Add up the points, and you realize it was no accident; Kukulcan designed it all. He told me I wouldn’t see his next move coming, and he was right. I would have never expected this.”

  Josephus appeared bewildered, “But Marcus there is a problem with your math. Why would Kukulcan strike now, with the Senate in recess? It is a huge waste of time having to wait for them to reconvene. And, let’s face it, such a plan depends on speed of execution.”

  Marcus nodded, “Yes that is confusing, but I am still convinced it is Kukulcan, and I think, he may be coming for James. I need you to post guards at all entrances with orders not to let anyone in this building. We will be going to the lab in London tomorrow, and will need similar security there.”

  “You got it. I’ll get things set up and check with you later.” And with the determination of a pit bull entering the ring Josephus charged off.

  Watching him leave, Marcus hoped he was right; he hoped there was time. He walked over to Dr. Magenta’s monitoring station pulled up a chair and watched in silence as the lines representing virus concentration slowly fell towards zero.

  There was little to do at this point, and to insure James and Cassandra remained still during the procedure, the phage solution also included a mild anesthetic. Not enough to induce deep anesthesia, but a quantity sufficient to bring about sleep. After several hours Marcus found he was getting sleepy as well. To break its grip, he got up and walked into the hall where he found Optio. “Do you ever sleep Optio?”

  “Not when I’m on duty, Sir.” Came the professional military response.

  “Good. Optio you have done an outstanding job, but we are not quite finished with your services. Please remain vigilant for just a little longer, and I guarantee you will get plenty of time off for sleep.”

  Optio standing at attention simply responded, “Yes sir.”

  Marcus smiled to himself at Optio’s professionalism and went back to the monitors. As he approached Dr. Singh stepped up and said. “Dr. Vespus the viral concentration has fallen below ambient air levels. We activated the bio-containment field around the bed, and now must be extremely careful not to allow either to be re-infected.”

  “That’s good Dr. Singh.” Marcus said, “How much longer?”

  “Difficult to say, a couple of hours, maybe more, maybe less. It’s like conducting any titration, the endpoint comes quickly and is easily missed, so we need to sneak up on it slowly.”

  The procedure stretched well into the night and then into the early predawn hours. Even though all the members of Dr. Singh’s team must have been tired, none showed any signs, and then around three in the morning, Dr. Magenta announced James system was clean. All traces of the virus were gone. An hour later she made the same announcement about Cassandra. The team members, who kept quiet so as not to disturb Cassandra and James, responded with a silent cheer. Marcus joined, and wanted to shout to the entire world. He had done it. The Ministry had solved the greatest medical dilemma of this century. Not since his ancestor Marcus Vespus addressed lead poising, had a Vespus been responsible for such a feat. Marcus’s place in history was certainly assured.

  Then he remembered Claudius was gone. The Emperor would not see his triumph, and his son Flavious was not particularly bright, so was not likely to recognize the significance. But the Senate certainly would. Almost every one of them is at the age of onset. Yesterday all of them were looking at death sentences, not today. Clearly all of them will cheer Marcus’s achievement and give their support. But for now, there was plenty of congratulations among the team members, and Marcus made sure to clasp arms with each one.

  Cassandra and James were allowed to sleep until six. When they awoke a smiling Dr., Marcus Vespus greeted them. “Good morning. You two are unique on this planet, you are completely free of the HHV-9-b virus. How do you feel?”

  Cassandra looked over at James, smiled and said, “A little groggy. I thought you said there would be no sensation from the treatment?”

  “That’s true, there is no sensation from the treatment, but we dosed your phage bottle with a little anesthesia just, so you would be comfortable. Now, you are in a biostatic field to prevent re-infection that is the little box next to you. If you keep it near, you will be safe. We are done with the treatment, so you can get out of that chain mail and back into your regular clothes.”

  “Now that is a good idea,” James piped in. “Is now a good time?”

  “Sure,” Marcus smiled, “Your clothing is still in the bathroom.”

  With that the two were quickly out of bed and into the bathroom. Marcus soon heard the water running and assumed they both decide to take a bath. It was the better part of an hour for them to return refreshed and very cheerful. Well they got to sleep, which is certainly why they are so full of energy, we have been up all night, Marcus thought.

  When they returned, they found Marcus and Dr. Singh’s team toasting each other with mimosas. Marcus pointed to glasses for each of them on the table, “Join us in a toast.” He said barely able to contain his elation. “To the greatest medical breakthrough in this century.” But as Cassandra and James reached in to touch glasses Marcus said, “No! You must not come into contact with us. You must stay back a few feet to allow the biostatic field to keep you virus free.”

  A rumbling was heard at the door and Marcus said, “Must be breakfast. I ordered the best breakfast this place has ever seen to be delivered for our little celebration. “Come in!” Marcus bellowed. The door opened, and the festive atmosphere immediately stopped.

  The caped figure standing in the doorway threw back his hood and revealed a smiling Kukulcan.

  Chapter 35

  - You both lose -

  Cassandra couldn’t take her eyes off the figure standing in the doorway. So, this is Kukulcan, she thought. Tall, dark, handsome, with long black hair, he looked more like the depiction of the character on the cover of a romance novel then a Senator of Rome. Kukulcan looked at Marcus and said, “Marcus, I see you have been busy, if you don’t mind I would like to come in and discuss current events with you.” He did not wait for a response, but walked into the suite, Aeliana followed him as well as four Senatorial guards, who were escorting Optio, Atticus and Pompeius.

  “How did you get onto the Ministry grounds?” Marcus snapped at him. “You have no authority here, get out! Before I summons the Imperial troops.

  “Marcus let’s not be hasty.” Kukulcan said still smiling.

  “I repeat you have no authority here, not without the order of a full Senate. You are required by law to have a Senatorial mandate, and since they are on recess that is impossible.

  “Oh, Marcus that is not true. There is other president for my being here, other authority, Imperial authority.” Kukulcan, who had remained with his hands under his robes, slowly removed his right hand, and held up for all to see, the Imperial baton of office. “As you are well aware, my good Dr. Vespus, with this baton I wield the power of the Emperor, and no one can deny the Emperor’s right to enter the grounds of his own Ministry of Health and Environment.” Kukulcan’s smile grew and transformed into a menacing chuckle.

  “How did you get that? That baton was never intended to be transferred to a member of the Senate.” Marcus said trying to exhibit far more confidence than he felt.

  “Nonsense, I told you there was a new world coming. You didn’t listen, and that is most unfortunate.”

  Ca
ssandra saw the turmoil brewing in her brother. She knew he was having difficulty calculating the next move. Ever since they were little, she alone was able to tell when Marcus was in doubt, and clearly, he was at a loss, something she had not witnessed for a very long time. As Marcus started to speak, Josephus rushed in and broke the spell. “Senator how do we know that baton was legitimately given to you and not appropriated under false pretenses?”

  “Simple Director Josephus, the baton, as it was programmed to do, deactivated the building security when I approached, and if that is not enough.” Kukulcan turned the baton in his hand and pressed one of the eagle’s claws. A life-sized holo-image of young Flavious appeared in the room. The young heir explained the baton had been given to Kukulcan to protect the Empire. Kukulcan is to be Steward of the Empire, until the full Senate could sanction Flavious, as Claudius successor. “So, you see I am the rightful holder of the baton,” Kukulcan continued staring at Josephus, “But even though Flavious gave this to me of his own free will, I will never be able to convince you of that fact. Will I?”

  Josephus began to snap at the Mayan Senator, but Marcus stopped him having regained his composure. He asked in a calm professional voice, “Very well Senator, or perhaps Steward would be more appropriate. Regardless, why have you decided to visit this facility at such an early hour?”

  Kukulcan began to laugh, but this was not a discrete chuckle, it was a full belly laugh. When he finally stopped he said, “Marcus you cannot feign obedient bureaucrat with me at this point in the game. I gave you, your chance; unfortunately for you, you chose the wrong side. You chose to finish your work on the virus.” Kukulcan paused and scanned the faces, coming to rest on James. “Ah Dr. Woodman. I believe you were the first. Congratulations, but I must also offer my condolences, because unfortunately I am not ready for the cure to be announced. So, I think you just might get lost in the Imperial prison system for a few years.

  Cassandra felt like her blood was beginning to boil. This madman had turned what should have been a simple project into an ordeal. And now he was going to lock up James. She would not be able to send him back, and she would not be able to be with him. As her mind wrestled with Kukulcan’s words, she could feel rage build in every corner of her being, and to ward of the image of strangling him, she thrust her hands into her pockets. What’s this, this mass in her right pocket? As she fingered the object it became clear. It was the gun Optio had given James. She slowly began rotating the weapon in her hand and continued listening to Kukulcan.

  “You see Dr. Vespus at the end of the long count, I Kukulcan will announce a new world order, just as the ancient prophecies predicted. One where Rome and the world are remade. Remade by me the Feathered Serpent, and the first gift I will give the world in appreciation for naming me Emperor, will be a cure for the dreaded virus. So, you see I just could not let you announce a cure yet. It is clearly not time.”

  Kukulcan was beaming, as he looked around the room at the stunned faces, and now Cassandra understood what Marcus meant when he said this man was a lunatic. Undaunted by the look of incredulity on the others in the room, Kukulcan continued. “Now Marcus, who was this A patient you treated?” His gaze once again moved around the room, finally landing on Cassandra. “Marcus, you didn’t experiment on your own sister, did you?” Looking from Marcus to Cassandra, “You did! You treated your own sister. But Marcus that presents a problem doesn’t it. Dr. Woodman is not a citizen, and treating him is not a problem, but your sister is, and experimenting on a citizen is a crime, a very serious crime.”

  While Kukulcan was grinning at Marcus, Cassandra looked at Optio. She discreetly caught his attention, and even more discreetly nodded to him. She could tell from his expression, he understood something was up. The next second, she saw the other team members; Atticus and Pompeius turn to watch her very intently. She had no idea how Optio had communicated with the others, but he had, and now they were watching her. She was calling the shots.

  “Marcus,” Kukulcan continued, “I believe you will be in prison for some time. I sincerely hope while you are away nothing happens to your lovely wife, and those darling children.” Cassandra could see Marcus had been pushed to the breaking point, but Kukulcan still didn’t quit. “I told you, you were a very sloppy opponent. And now I think the game is over Check Mate, my friend.”

  Marcus started to lunge for the Senator, but Cassandra was much quicker. She drew the weapon and fired three quick shots, all three hitting the Senator in the head, but before the lifeless body could hit the ground, Optio, Atticus and Pompeius had disabled and killed the four senate guards. In the blur of activity, Cassandra was only vaguely aware of Aeliana heading directly for Marcus, knife in hand, poised for a lethal thrust. Just before she was able to lunge, Josephus’s large hand sliced through the air landing on Aeliana’s throat. The force of the impact lifted her off the ground and she landed on her back. Unable to catch her breath, because Josephus had crushed her cricoid cartilage. He then quickly jerked her head sideways, breaking the neck just below the foramen magnum. Death was instantaneous.

  Marcus’s momentum carried him to the crumpled body of the once great Mayan Senator Kukulcan. As he looked down at the lifeless bloody mass of bone, brain, and torn flesh that was his head, Marcus said in a solemn voice, “You were correct, Kukulcan. You did not die from the virus.” Marcus quickly surveyed the room stopping at Aeliana’s body lying on the floor knife in hand. “Josephus, why would she try to kill me?”

  “Revenge Marcus. Revenge. She was Kukulcan’s niece. I found out just before Kukulcan appeared at the front gate holding the Imperial baton. It seems he needed to replace Quintus, so he used the best and most trusted person he could find, his own niece. She spent her whole life preparing to serve her uncles ambitions. She left home at an early age, was educated in Sicily, and went to school at the University of Palermo, for all appearances she was completely Italian.”

  Cassandra was standing stunned in the middle of the bedlam and turned to James. She smiled and softly said, “Soon you will be home, and this will all be just a memory.” And James just nodded. “Marcus, how are we going to get James to the Lab in London? Our deadline is approaching quickly.”

  Marcus looked to Josephus, “Any ideas?”

  “Sure,” he answered returning to his Director of Security persona. “There is a craft waiting to take us. There are several Senate guards in the lobby, so we can leave through the private corridor between your office and mine. I have already requested a security team get up here and clean up this mess. Without Kukulcan to issue instructions the Senate guards will be paralyzed that will give us plenty of time to get to the lab. So, if you are ready we should go?”

  “One moment,” Marcus said, “Dr. Singh, get your people and equipment back to the laboratory, and start working up the results from the procedure. I want a paper, suitable for presentation, when I get back tomorrow. Oh, and one other thing, should any of you breath of word of what happened to the Senator, you will wish your punishment was as gentile at the one given Quintus.”

  ◆◆◆

  For the next few hours, Cassandra felt completely detached from her body. It was like watching a Holo-drama. She was intrigued by the action, but it just didn’t feel real. She and James sat side by side on the trip to London alone, and removed from the others for fear of being re-infected. The only part of the journey that seemed real was holding James hand, and feeling the closeness of his body.

  Her thoughts seemed beyond her control. One minute she was shooting the Senator, recalling the act in every detail, and the next she was sitting near James, enjoying the comfort of his presence. It wasn’t that she regretted shooting the Senator, he was clearly a danger to the stability of the world, and he was going to harm, her, her brother, and he was going to harm James. None of this was James fault; none of it was the result of anything he had done. It was all her fault; it was all because she did not anticipate the consequences of her actions. Well damn it, she was going to set
things right, or at least she would do everything in her power to put things back the way they should be. She would send him home. Away from this crazy mixed up world she inhabited. A world where, a madman like Kukulcan, could almost topple an Empire three thousand years old.

  She watched from her detached state as Marcus and Josephus led the way into the Vespus London Laboratory. Dr. Gupta the facility director was literally falling at Marcus’s feet. The pandering was so obvious, it was embarrassing, and she had to wonder how Gupta made it as far as he did. Josephus posted legionnaires at all the entrances with explicit instructions to kill any senatorial representatives attempting to gain entrance.

  Accompanied only by Optio, Cassandra went to her Laboratory to check on the trans dimensional equipment. She left Marcus, Josephus, James and the remainder of Optio’s team in the facility’s dining room where they could eat and relax. At first James had protested, but she insisted, and he finally complied. By the gods, she wanted to be with him, but sending him back was hard enough. If he was with her, she knew she would not be able to finish the task.

  Dr. Gallium greeted her at the Lab, “Dr. Vespus, I’m glad to see you. Everything is ready to return Dr. Woodman to dimension Delta 1540. The reactors have been recharged, safety checks have been complete, and the test runs have all given results in the optimum range. The only thing to do now is wait for the nodes to line up. The timer over the portal has been set for the alignment.”

  Cassandra looked at the timer and made note, two hours thirty-six minutes to go. “Thanks, Dr. Gallium. You have done a wonderful job. This may be my last experiment, and it’s good to know that as my replacement, you will keep things running smoothly.” Cassandra, smiled at a stunned Dr. Gallium, and then moved into the control room, Tibus was at the controls. “Tibus, I’m told everything is right in the middle of the control limits and we are ready to go. I want to know from the expert, is that true?”