by Lim, Candice
“They’re with me,” I said. “Where’s Tameera?”
Cash stared at me before she burst into maniacal laughter. “Oh Roxy, you never learn your lessons, don’t you? Why do you keep forgiving people who’ve hurt you again and again? Did you really think they’d change for good? It’s fine. I used to be like you too. Except I learned my lesson and changed for good.”
“Where’s Tameera?” I repeated, uninterested in her debate.
She snapped her fingers and Cooper appeared holding Tameera up. He sneered at Vaxine and Axon, who shot daggers back at him.
Tameera’s face paled. “Guys, I’m so sorry.”
My eyes stilled on Tameera. If Ronin hadn’t said she was Infected, I couldn't tell. My attention reverted to Cash.
“How do you feel now, guys? To stand before the victor you once looked down upon?” laughed Cash.
“No one has ever looked down on you, Cash,” said Ronin. “People have only admired and idolized you.”
“Bullshit!” barked Cash. “Have you got any idea how messed up my life was before this? Before I decided to take things into my own hands and make things happen?” She glanced up at the sky, her face lit up with an arrogant look. “And all the hard work I’ve put in has finally paid off!”
Cash’s eyes flashed with murder as she pointed in our general direction. “And those of you who disbelieved me will watch as I prove you wrong!” She snickered to herself. “Like my glory and legacy, Cranax is everywhere around the globe and will etch in the mind of every Asia Nova citizen forever!”
Vaxine stepped forward. “You think you’ve won, Adenine Cash? It is not your creation that’s traversing the world. It’s Hershey. Your Cranatol only works for few weeks and is coming off the shelves due to its low efficacy!”
Cash’s face blackened, almost rivaling the night sky. She sucked in a deep breath until she’d calmed herself. “If I were you, I’d cut the crap and hand over what I want. Instead of taking it to your graves, why don’t you give it to someone who could utilize it for the betterment of our species?”
“Sure.” I grabbed the Gene Blast out of my backpack and tossed it at the jet. “Take this!”
The jet passengers dove to their sides before the shockwave threw them off. Cooper ripped out a snarl and shoved Tameera off. She keeled off the jet and freefell when I dove towards the edge of the helipad and grabbed hold of her hand.
Tameera’s shriek rang through the sky. “Blot my gel…please…I don’t want to die…”
Her weight hauled me, dragging me down the 88 floors with her. Raw panic flooded through my body. For a second, I thought it was the end until someone grabbed hold of my legs. I tilted my head at Sam and Mandy.
“We gotcha, bro.” Mandy nodded assuredly as the two dragged me back.
The sweat pooled in my palm made it slippery. With the last ounce of my strength, I pulled Tameera up. She collapsed on the floor next to be sobbing and trembling violently.
I looked up and met with Cash’s death stares. Pulling myself off the ground, I dusted myself off.
“I must say I’m impressed at how lucky you are. Every foolish attempt of yours somehow works out in the end,” spat Cash.
I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “You're right, Dr. Cash. What’s the point of keeping something that would hinder the progress of the Community?” I dipped into my pocket and whipped out the probes.
“Are you out of your friggin mind, Roxy?” snarled Vaxine.
I pursed my lips and scanned at every disheartened face behind me. Ronin hung his head. Tameera stopped crying and looked up with her tear-stained face. “It’s been a great adventure with y’all but this has to end.”
From the corner of my eyes, Cash’s lips quirked up in a smirk. “Finally, you have come to your sense to put your ego behind and acknowledge the one who could change the world.”
“You want these? You’ve gotta catch them!” I flicked them in different directions.
Cash’s eyes widened in shock. She leaped out to catch them but missing both. Her stiletto snapped under her weight. Her arms flailed in the air as she slipped and tripped off the jet. Cooper swooped to catch her but missed her by inches.
Cash’s voice trailed off as she plummeted to her death.
The onlookers were stunned into a standstill.
A tumult of emotions whirled through me amplified by my exhaustion and drowsiness. I stared at the space Cash had been in disbelief. As the reality sank in, the tension in my chest uncoiled. The woman who started the Cranax pandemic was dead. Perhaps, it was the beginning of better days?
A shard of golden light pierced through the dark. I shielded my face with my arm and peered into the horizon where the first drop of the sun emerged and lit up the city. The glass-coated skyscrapers captured the glow and reflected in shimmering gold dust.
Sucking in a breath, I soaked in the majesty of the view, one that could rival Whiteshore. Perhaps, even the universe concurred a new beginning.
Mandy and Sam took my sides and clapped me on the shoulders.
“Guess I just suck at everything.” I shrugged.
“It’s not a bad thing, in this case.” Mandy smiled.
I spun around at the rest. Tameera had composed herself and rose to her feet.
“I hope you’ve got some spare probes,” I said.
“I might actually have some back in the co-lab.”
My brow arched with interest as I traded knowing looks with the others.
38
RONIN
“Come in.” Peyton’s muffled voice called out from behind the door.
Ronin Yamashita nodded at Tameera and burst into the President's office.
Peyton looked up from his desk. His eyes widened before they rolled back into his skull. The gene struck him in the chest, jolting him. He threw his head back against the chair and knocked out.
The pair made for the desk where they pulled out chairs and plopped down. Tameera grabbed the bottle of whisky at the edge of the desk and poured two glasses for her and Ronin.
Peyton stirred three minutes later. He let out a grunt. His face twisted in a grimace as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Welcome back, President Professor Peyton,” said Ronin. “In reason we trust.”
Peyton tilted his chin up and blinked at the two people in front of him. His frown deepened. “What happened?”
“You caught Cranax, President Professor,” said Tameera. “The strong one.”
Peyton turned to Ronin. “Who’s this?”
“This is Dr. Tameera. She has a prototype program that could help us end Cranax for once and for all.”
“Please call me Tameera, President Professor. We believe you are in possession of a Cranax tracking map that could facilitate us on our next operation.”
Peyton’s gaze bounced between Ronin and Tameera. “I must be still tripping.”
39
ROXY
Two Months Later
“And that’s the end of my presentation. In reason we trust.” I sucked in a deep breath. My mouth became parched from spewing the words that fell out of my lips like programmed drones. The suit blazer cinching my chest and restricting my movement didn’t help me feeling dizzy. A puddle of sweat formed on my breast though the air-cond blared through the room.
The applause broke out from the crowd jammed at the back of the glass-walled ANNUS thesis defense room that had been refurbished along with the rest of the facility since the end of the Cranax pandemic. That was the cue for the end of my final year project, the end of my undergraduate. Life would become normal again.
A certain wave of relief and nostalgia swept over me as I scanned the audience. It wasn’t like anything I had imagined a few years ago.
Prof. Ronin Yamashita took Dr. Jane Hershey’s place at the panel of examiners. Two more external examiners from ANNUS took Ronin’s side. Behind them sat Axon, Vaxine, and Mandy in a line. Sam had wa
nted to join but the defense was exclusive for the Community. Carlisa could’ve been here as she had to pick up someone’s shift at the restaurant.
“All that’s left for you to do now is the amendments, then you can submit your final thesis and be done with it for good,” said Ronin.
I feigned a smile. I should be elated but I felt nothing. A numbness devoid of any positive emotions I should be feeling. To be fair, I had nothing else to look forward to. I couldn't even share my joy with my family. Instead, the dread for my future loomed over me like black clouds before a storm.
My mind drifted away as Ronin spoke with the examiners. Their voices reduced into white noise as I packed away my tablet into my backpack.
A wave of jealousy for my past swept over me. At least I was without the burden of deciding the next chapter of my life. At least I had something to look forward to. Now, all anticipations had come to an end.
My mind drifted to Whiteshore. Maybe I should spend a few weeks there and contemplate my next steps. The thoughts of the shed, where I shattered the last memories of grandpa haunted my mind. Even my last safe haven was contaminated by the fears I tried to outrun. There was nowhere I could hide.
“You’ve done very well, Roxy.” Ronin’s voice snapped me back to reality.
I spun around and met with Ronin. Long white hair covered a part of his face. His hands at his back. It was the first time I saw him smile. Everybody else had left the room, so there were only Ronin and I.
“Thanks.”
“What are you planning to do next, now that you’re free?”
I shrugged. “Catch my breath? I’ll send you the amendments soon.” I made for the door when Ronin called me back.
“The door is always open here for you, Roxy. In reason we trust.”
“In reason we trust, Prof. Ronin.” I walked out of the defense room, closing the door behind me. The whispers dropped as Axon, Vaxine, and Mandy snapped in my direction.
“I’m so proud of you, bro!” Mandy threw her arms over me and squeezed me hard. “I knew you could make it.”
I scrunched my nose and patted her shoulder urging her to let go. I gasped for air when she tore away and smiled back at me. “Thanks, bro.”
“So what’s next, Roxy?” asked Vaxine. She and Axon joined in, towering above us both.
“Clear my head before making any big decisions.”
“That’s a good start,” said Axon.
“What about you all?”
The three traded looks.
“We’ll find another mentor, another project. Life still goes on. The Community still needs us.” Vaxine shrugged. “We’ll probably ask Ronin if he’s got any jobs. Maybe we’ll be your seniors again should you decide to come back.”
I nudged Mandy at the elbow. “And you? Going to grad school?”
Mandy simpered. “Well, I’m going to travel for a bit. Carlisa and I plan to explore the world and find ourselves out there. You know, there are things grad schools don’t teach you.”
My thought flitted to Sam. If I stayed in the Community, I would never be with Sam anymore. My heart sank. Another reason to envy the past. I shook my head and snapped out of the trance. “So, this is goodbye?”
“For now.” Mandy laughed. “Maybe I’ll miss the lab life and someday we’ll cross paths in the Community again.”
I let my gaze linger on Mandy’s face. It felt like forever since we’d first met and so quickly we had to part ways. I smiled at the fact she’d been by my side till the end. I clapped her on the shoulder. “In reason we trust, bro.”
Mandy clapped back. “In reason we trust, bro.”
I beamed at Vaxine and Axon before walking out of the Alpha Hall. Perhaps for the last time. I probably wouldn’t see these people who had been a big part of my life for the past few months again. A twister of emotions whirled within me but I was quick to shut them out. I needed to focus on the future ahead.
The double door opened to the expanse of cerulean sky. Wind blustered my hair, exhaling a refreshing breath against my skin. The scaffolds bandaged part of the facility and the hazard tap blocked off part of the campus. Even ANNUS had mellowed with time since the last I’d been here.
I sucked in a deep breath and wore a smile on my face as I left the campus.
The Cranax pandemic was over.
I had graduated now.
Another chapter of my life was beginning.
I loosened the blazer that I shoved into my backpack and undid the first two buttons on my shirt. Pulling out my phone, I hailed a cab to my next destination.
☣☣☣☣☣☣
Three hours of nap later, I jolted awake by the cab pulling up at the curb. I blinked quickly to the piercing brightness of the afternoon sun and scrambled for my phone to pay the fare.
Hopping off the ride, I trekked up to the beach and plopped on the sands. The waves ebbed and flowed in the ocean. I had no idea how long I’d been sitting there until a shadow cast over me. I looked up at Sam.
“I thought you’d be here.” Sam extended the bouquet of fresh flowers to me. “It’s organic. I looked through the whole city and finally found a hydroponic florist that sells them.”
I sniffed the lovely pink blossoms and pulled myself up. “Thanks. They’re beautiful.” Sam’s sparkling eyes interlocked with mine when the worry that had been bugging me resurfaced. I couldn't say goodbye to this gorgeous face and live with the regret for the rest of my life. I couldn't give up the love of my life for the Community.
I leaned forward, grabbed him on the neck, and planted my lips against his. His mouth felt warm and soft against mine.
Sam kissed me back. His arms slithered around my hips where he held me tight. The feeling that I’d been longing for suddenly came rushing back. I felt at home again. A wave of nostalgia and comfort bounced around me.
I pushed myself up against his chest, inhaling his scent and listening to his heart beat against me. I didn’t want this moment to end. I didn’t want to go back to reality. I’d rather spent an eternity in his embrace, not having a care for the world.
Sam and I pulled away after a long while. His eyes twinkled and smiled. He cupped his warm hands on my face. “I found something that might pique your interest.”
I arched my brow with interest.
“I cleaned out the shed for you. While I was clearing the glass, I found a microchip in the machine.” Sam dipped into his pocket and retrieved a chip he thrust into my palm. “I thought it might be something personal so I didn’t check it. But you could pop it into your tablet and see what it is all about.”
I pulled out my tablet and inserted the glass chip into the slot. The logo of Project Hive Mind appeared. It flickered. Black dots scattered across the jumping screen. The logo disappeared, replaced by the familiar Asia Nova map.
A few red dots moving across the city on the map, then it multiplied. The red grew and spread.
I sucked in a deep breath. The frightening thoughts ran through my mind. I turned to Sam whose facial expression reflected my state of mind. The chill picked up, raising tiny hairs on my arms. “Blot my gel…”
###End of Lockdown Nation by Candice Lim###
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ALSO BY CANDICE LIM
Soul Thief
Cranax Outbreak Trilogy
Cranax Outbreak
Panic Protocol
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