“Yes, anyhow, as you know there are two strains and two ways the virus affects people before they turn. One, they get sick, fevered, vomit blood. Two, they turn, they turn without warning.”
“Like Bill,” Rachel said.
“Who’s Bill?” Yates asked.
“He was a temporary Eliminator, but he kept his wits about him enough to kill himself before he hurt anyone,” Rachel explained then faced Jones. “But that’s what I don’t understand. Bill wasn’t an official Eliminator. So he wasn’t tested. All Eliminators are tested to see if they are immune.”
“And Fred was,” Jones folded his hands on the desk.
“Was?” Yates asked. “As in he lost immunity?”
“Was as in … he was immune until he got bit.”
“Fred was bit?” Rachel asked.
Jones nodded. “Several times over the last six months. He didn’t turn, didn’t get sick, so he figured it was his immunity. When the truth is, he’s a carrier, he has it and like your friend Bill, he can turn at any time.”
“Are you sure?” Rachel asked. “I mean is it possible he won’t.”
“It’s possible. But he’s still a carrier. We’re running more tests now. He’s fine and we’ll let you know as soon as we know anything. We’ll get in touch with Command.”
“How are his spirits?” Rachel asked.
“His spirits are fine.”
“Thank you for your time.” Rachel stood, extending her hand again. “I’ll hear from you soon.”
“One thing,” Yates said. “What happens after testing?”
“He’ll be moved from here to a community or if he wants, Dr. Stevens has little apartments set up over at his lab for those who want to be part of beating this thing.”
Rachel nodded and left the office with Yates. “No answers, really,” she said as they walked down the hall.
“At least it seems organized. Liz is on the ball.”
“We can talk to her. She’s supposed to meet us either at the hospital with Barry or after.”
“Good,” Yates said. “I need to talk to her about the EPEVs and things they’re taking from it.”
“You’re really upset about this patent thievery. I mean, I get it, it’s your thing.”
“It’s more than that. In the wrong hands, the EPEV can be dangerous.”
“But it’s not in the wrong hands,” Rachel said. “They’ll be going in the Command hands.”
“And who’s to say in six months, those hands won’t have a different agenda.”
“Let’s hope you’re wrong.”
“You’re still learning me. Soon, you’ll find out,” he opened the door for her to step outside. “I’m never wrong.”
SEVEN – BROKEN MAN
It was a totally different story at the other hospital back on the ‘safe’ side of the river. Rachel and Yates approached the Emergency Room entrance. It just screamed pre-virus normal. A security guard out front, a man off to the side smoking a cigarette.
Rachel figured they’d ask where they could find Barry, but just as she was about to, they hear Rigs. His voice was loud and booming.
“What is he yelling about?” Yates asked.
“Something must be wrong.” Rachel turned and ran ignoring the ‘you can’t go back there’ warning from the receptionist.
She followed the sound of his voice, turning a bend to see him standing outside of a treatment room. A doctor stood before him and she looked frustrated.
Rigs was shaking his head and while doing so, saw Rachel.
His shoulders dropped in relief.
“Rach!” he said so loudly it frightened Rachel.
She jolted and cringed. “What’s wrong?”
“What?”
“I said …” She raised her voice slightly. “What is going on?”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Why is he talking so loud?” Yates asked.
The doctor answered. “He suffered what’s called acoustic trauma. And like any inflammation, it’s worse now. He needs to block the ear to prevent any noise from getting in.”
“How did that happen?” Yates asked.
Rachel spun to him. “You shot your gun right by his head.”
“Oh, I did. Didn’t I? But … you were there.”
“I saw you raise it; I blocked my ears.”
“What are you guys saying!” Rigs asked.
“This is going to be annoying.”
“Rach! I’m trying to find out what happened with …”
Rachel put her hand over his mouth, stared at him, slid her hand from his mouth and made a ‘shh’ signal. She then signed to him. “You are talking too loud, because you can’t hear.”
“Wow,” Yates said. “I’m impressed you know sign language.”
“All Indiana Soccer moms do.”
“For some reason,” Yates said. “I’m think there’s an inside joke there that I’m not getting.”
“There is,” Rachel replied. “But he can’t hear.”
“What? Rach! I don’t know sign language!”
Rachel looked at Yates. “Get paper please. Tell him he’s talking too loud.”
Again, Rachel held up her finger, shushing him. She faced the doctor. “How long is this going to last?”
“At most a few days. The damage isn’t too bad. He just sounds upset because he can’t hear what he’s saying,” the doctor explained.
“I wrote a note,” Yates held up a pocket size notebook.
“Good, please, show it to him,” Rachel instructed. “So, Doctor, we’ll get through to him. Otherwise he’s fine?”
“He is.”
“What do you mean shut up!” Rigs blasted at Yates. “Why are you telling me to shut up!”
“Oh my God,” Rachel snatched the paper from Yates’ hand and the pen and wrote down. She then showed the note that said, ‘you are too loud because you can’t hear. Whisper.’
“Oh,” the Rigs voice dropped to slightly below normal. “Okay. But I can’t hear what I am saying. So I probably sound weird.”
Rachel shook her head, but behind her Yates nodded. Rigs grimaced.
She signaled that she would write things down for him and Rigs gave a thumbs up.
Exhaling, Rachel returned to her conversation with the doctor. “Now, our friend Barry was brought in.”
“Oh, yes, Mr. Bicks. He’s on the other side of the hall, treatment room thirty. We’re moving him to a bed upstairs until we can get our one and only ortho doctor in here tomorrow. He’s in the service so he’s out in the field.”
“Is he okay?” Rachel asked.
“He broke his tibia in two places. We don’t think he needs surgery, just set properly. In fact the president is with him and the other woman now.”
“Then that’s where we have to head. Thank you.” Rachel took hold of Rigs arm and tugged.
“No,” the doctor nodded at Rigs. “Thank you for getting him out of here.”
Not letting go of Rigs, Rachel led him to room thirty, where Barry lay, his leg wrapped and elevated. Sandy stood on one side, and Liz on the other.
“Acting commander,” Liz said, walking to Rachel and hugging her. “Taking care of business I hear.”
“Trying. You know Yates, don’t you?”
“I do. We met six weeks ago.”
“That’s right.” Rachel walked over and kissed Barry on the cheek. “Don’t ask Rigs anything. He’s loud.”
“Oh, I know. I heard him. The whole hospital heard him.”
No hellos or hand-shakes from Yates to Liz, just “Why are you building more EPEVs?”
“I didn’t,” Liz replied. “The previous president did. They were already in the works before the world went to shit. He copied your patent and I’m just trying to figure out how to safely use them.”
“That bastard,” Yates quipped. “You have to watch who gets control over them.”
“I know. Trust me.” Liz folded her arms. “So, this isn’t exactly
how I envisioned the meeting to go. I needed to talk to you about the special mission, but half of you are out.”
Rachel slightly shook her head. “I don’t understand. Half? Rigs is fine.”
“Not Rigs,” Liz said. “He can resume command as soon as he can hear. But Barry is out for at least three weeks. He can’t put any pressure on that leg, cast and all.”
“Going to the potty,” Sandy said. “Is the only walking he is going to do.”
“This is all bull,” Barry argued. “I can go.”
“No you can’t,” Sandy replied. “I’m staying with you. I hear we have four babies due.”
“So neither one is going?” Rachel asked.
Liz shook her head. “We’ll put Barry and Sandy somewhere nice where he can get care.”
“A nursing home again,” Barry argued. “Bet me.”
“Well, Mr. Bicks,” Yates spoke pacifyingly. “You are getting up there.”
Barry grumbled.
“It’s not long,” Liz said. “They told me you can go back out before the cast is off, but for the first few weeks … no.”
“And Fred’s out, as you have heard.”
“Yes,” Liz replied. “And I heard someone shot our dog.”
“Nipped,” Yates corrected. “And they shouldn’t have been created anyhow.”
Rigs tapped Rachel on the shoulder. He shook his head and raised his hands.
Rachel lifted a finger, then wrote on the note pad, ‘Fred is out. Explain later. Barry can’t go, leg broke, Sandy staying with him. Half the team out for mission.’
Rigs nodded his understanding then looked at Liz with a questioning look.
“Oh, what’s the mission?” Liz asked. “We’re opening up Moundsville as a safe town and part of the rebuilding civilization. There is a small survivor town in Illinois, self-created, they have done really well, but are ready to move to safe ground. Moundsville. We need you guys to escort them here.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” Rachel said. “Very interesting. A change of pace. What do you think Yates?”
“I’d rather eliminate, but I suppose we’ll have a chance to do that on the road.” He grabbed the notepad and wrote down words showing it to Rigs.
“Oh, please tell me you didn’t lie to him,” Rachel said.
“No, I didn’t. See for yourself.”
Rachel looked at the note he showed Rigs and she grimaced when she saw it simply said. “Lame mission.”
“But there is a slight problem,” Liz said. “With Barry, Sandy and Fred out, your team is short. Now, you’ll have Kasper. Who understands everything. We’re still working on communication, and you’ll have to give him injections daily, but he can do it.”
“Can we go with four?” Rachel asked.
“I’d prefer you have one more. I’ll pull a list of Eliminators that are available, you can look and choose.”
“So while I am still commander, can I choose for the team?” Rachel asked.
“Sure. I’ll hurry the list.”
“No need.” Rachel smiled. “I know exactly who I want.”
<><><><>
The ringing was still there, along with the pressure, and Rigs only felt pain in his ear when he opened his mouth wide or chewed, other than that he was sure that his hearing would come back fully. It was already better. The muffled words were slightly clearer and if he looked at the person talking, he could understand by reading their lips.
It didn’t bother him that he couldn’t hear Yates bitching at Starbucks. Rigs didn’t even bother looking in an attempt to read his lips. He only nodded as if he were hearing him. Rachel looked as if she enjoyed what he was saying, obviously she agreed with him, so Rigs mimicked that.
They had to wait to hear from Dr. Stevens to see Kasper.
When the summons finally came, Yates went to secure their housing for the next couple nights while they waited to go on their mission.
The new person would be joining them, Rigs didn’t have a clue who he or she was. Rachel didn’t say, he was okay with that, Rachel had good judgement. If he argued with that, Rachel would be pissed and say he only argued because she made the decision as temporary leader.
Plus, Rigs would meet him or her soon enough.
There was some paperwork to process and after they talked to Dr. Stevens and Kasper they’d go get the temporary Eliminator.
Rigs was surprised though, Liz didn’t insist on a medic, Rigs asked about that. One of the survivors they were escorting was a doctor.
They made their way to Dr. Stevens’ lab and to the area where they kept Kasper.
Rigs was nervous and excited, so he could only imagine how Rachel felt. To him, she looked nervous.
The last time they saw Kasper, he looked like a freshly turned stiff. Eight weeks had gone by, it was possible that he was pretty decayed and Rigs wondered how’d they handle the smell.
Dr. Stevens entered the waiting area. “Rachel, Rigs. So wonderful to see you.” He shook their hands. “This gives me a chance to talk to you both.”
“Excellent,” Rachel said. “But I need you to speak a little louder, nearer Rigs left ear and try to let him see your lips.”
“What happened?” Stevens asked.
“He has some acoustic trauma.”
“It’s getting better,” Rigs told him. “I’m making out words.”
“Bet you don’t hear yourself well,” Stevens said.
“Too loud?”
Stevens held his thumb and forefinger close together. “A little bit.”
“Gotcha.” Rigs held a thumbs up.
“Anyhow,” Stevens continued. “Before you leave, I’d like to make sure you understand the treatment and injections. How the process works. He is needing a lot less.”
“Is he safe?” Rigs asked,
“Yes, no desire to bite or attack. He’s … he’s Kasper. He talks a little slow, but he knows. He doesn’t look healthy so be prepared for that.”
Rachel nodded. “Liz mentioned you needed us to take him out, test him. Are you afraid he might get violent? Is that what you mean by test?”
“No.” Stevens replied. “Since getting infected, Kasper has acquired some special skills. We’ll go over those and how you can work on them. One of them, is like our dogs, he can sense or smell the infection in someone not showing it. Which is helpful. There is a whole document I have for you to take and read tonight. But for now …” he walked to the door. “Kasper is anxious.”
“I’m excited,” Rachel said.
“Did you say he can smell the infected?” Rigs asked,
Apparently he was loud because Stevens cringed. “Yes, like the dogs.” He opened the door. “Speaking of dogs, did you hear? Someone shot one of our virus dogs.”
“Oh, no,” Rachel faked concern.
“Yep. What kind of sick, twisted individual shoots a dog in the ass? Just wrong. So wrong.” He walked through the door.
There were certain things Rachel expected to see after two months away from Kasper, and things she didn’t expect to see.
Like the fact that he wore jeans and a 1980s AC/DC tee shirt.
She wanted to cry the moment she laid eyes on him.
“Oh man …” Rigs said. “He looks good. A little white, but good.”
“Can I hug him?” Rachel asked.
Dr. Stevens nodded. “It is fine.”
She ran to Kasper, immediately embracing him. “Oh my God, I missed you.”
“Ray … Chel. You smell like … food.”
Rachel pulled back.
“Kid … ing. Ha. Ha. Ha.”
“Oh my God, you’re joking.”
“Dude,” he said slowly and reached out to Rigs.
“He’s a little hard of hearing.”
“He’s … old.”
“Yeah, well,” Rigs said. “You’re pale.”
“I look … like … Edward … from the vampire … movie.”
“Oh my God, you do look like that. Just as white, but better looking,�
� Rachel said. “And know even though Rigs is getting old, that’s not why he can’t hear. Yates shot a gun by his ear.”
“Ow…ow. Who … is Yates?” Kasper asked.
“New guy. Not red shirt. Like a definite member of the team. We have a new, new, new guy coming. He may be the red shirt. Fred was a new guy but … long story.”
“How … is Barry?”
“Good. He won’t be on the mission with us,” Rachel replied. “Neither will Sandy, but you can see them before and when we get back. They are really anxious to see you.”
“Unfortunately,” Dr. Stevens said, “They’ll have to visit here. We can’t have him out in public in Center City. Not yet.”
“It … sucks. I need a … tan.” Kasper said, then laughed. “Oh … man. Did they… tell you about … Penny?”
“No.” Rachel shook her head.
“What happened?” Rigs asked.
Stevens answered, “She turned. Rather quickly after you left. We have her here. She’ll miss Kasper. See … that’s another thing about Kasper, he can walk among the dead and they don’t attack.”
Rachel was excited. “Like Brad Pitt in World War Z. That can be so useful. What about with Growlers?”
Kasper looked confused. “Growlers?”
“Zombie dogs,” Rachel said. “Really nasty and fast. And I am assuming since you never heard of them that you don’t know if they’ll attack you or not. We’ll just pretend they will to be safe.”
“Let’s not stand in the hall,” Stevens said. “You’re here for an hour, let’s go sit somewhere and chat.”
It was a lot for Rigs to take in and he heard much of what was said. It was going to be interesting with Kasper. Rigs was happy to see him not be a zombie. Despite what Stevens said, Kasper wasn’t really one hundred percent himself. Rigs attributed that to the fact he had a hard time expressing verbally.
However once Kasper overcame that obstacle, Rigs had no doubt in his mind that the old Kasper would return one hundred percent. Whether that was a good thing, remained to be seen.
<><><><>
He sat on his bunk, staring at the bars of his cell. He heard the jingling of keys and didn’t think much of it until they grew closer to him. Then Sheriff Norton stood at his cell.
The Eliminators | Volume 3 Page 6
