by Lara Nance
Animosity radiated from him, but she didn’t understand it. If Manson had solved the crisis without them, she didn’t care as long as the nightmare ended.
“Well, we’ll have to test it on a live subject to be sure. Of course, that’s only a matter of form. I have it all worked out in my head. It can’t fail. We record the test success, write up the details, then we develop a delivery system and distribute it to a grateful world.” He carefully placed the thin strip into a slot on the machine. “Here we go. Drum roll.”
A low hum activated when the strip disappeared. Louis leaned with one hand on the device, his greedy eyes on the output screen. Numbers and lights flashed as the model adjusted with new information. It took several minutes, and quiet reigned in the lab.
She sidled closer to Linc. He took her hand, squeezing it tightly. They both stared at Manson. The churning of data ended in a moment of silence, then a red light flashed on the screen. The big man stared at it a moment in disbelief. He pounded his fist on the machine, his face morphed into an angry mask.
“No! No! No! It has to work,” he yelled. “Something’s wrong. The sample must have been contaminated. He retrieved the strip as it ejected and placed it in another device, his beefy hands shaking. “It can’t be true.”
“Louis, are you okay?” Ria asked. She started to go to him.
Linc tugged her hand, holding her back, and shot her a warning look.
“I’ll check the sample. It has to be an error. Of course, that’s it. An error,” Manson muttered, his eyes feverish.
The strip emerged with a green light. He took a step from it, as though it was a deadly snake, his eyes wide and disbelieving as his cheeks quivered.
“Dr. Manson, you want to clue us in on what’s happening?” Linc asked in an even voice that belied the pressure he placed on her hand.
Louis slowly shook his head. A thin line of spittle ran from one corner of his mouth. She’d never seen him like this, even after nights of sleepless research. He turned on his heel and strode across the small room and back, rubbing his chin and muttering, “Must have missed…clearly the right sample…no reason for the DNA to fail…”
“Louis,” she said, her voice ringing sharp and loud.
He jerked as if she had slapped him. He stopped and stared at her, a sheen of moisture coating his face.
“What is going on?” she asked. “We’re here to help, but you have to tell us. What were you testing on the DNA?”
He rubbed his hands over his face. “I-I, need a moment to think. Go back to your apartment and I’ll be there shortly. I have to think…”
When he turned from them, still muttering, she glanced at Linc. He jerked his chin toward the elevator, and they left without saying anything else.
A soldier escorted them to their floor and departed without engaging in conversation. Glad to be alone with Linc, Annaria studied him, anxious for his thoughts.
“Have you ever seen him act like this before?” he said when the lift had departed.
“No. It’s bizarre. It’s like he’s gone mad from pressure. Is that possible?” Her mentor’s unsettled performance had her uneasy. She’d fully expected him to produce a cure. They could assist him in implementing it. That’s what she wanted.
Linc went to the settee and sat, clasping his hands before him, elbows on his knees. “He’s nothing like the man I met at The Divide. I sensed it the moment we arrived. He exuded an almost gleeful demeanor when they brought us in. Given your state and the situation of the world, it wasn’t appropriate.”
“Even if he thought he verged on a breakthrough?” She went to stand before him. Her insides twisted with anxiety and worry. The parasite was a problem, but she worried about Louis as a person, too. The way he acted made her fear for his sanity.
“If he only cared about the acclaim of finding a cure, maybe. But he didn’t strike me as that type when I first met him. He seemed genuinely concerned with how this would affect the citizens of both countries.”
She twisted a strand of hair around one finger. Dread settled like a lead weight. She had depended on Louis to save them. What if he didn’t? How could she deal with that?
The lift made its whooshing entrance, and its door slid to reveal the man himself. He appeared more composed than in the lab. The frenzied light in his eyes had faded, and he’d wiped the sheen of sweat from his face. He’d made an effort to straighten and smooth the wrinkles on his lab coat. He stepped out after hesitating a second.
“Louis, are you all right?” Ria went to him.
He patted her shoulder, awkward as usual. “Have a seat, my dear. I need to talk with you two.”
She sat beside Linc, and Manson pulled a chair from the dining room table to sit across from them. He lowered his head a moment then raised it and squared his shoulders.
“I’m going to tell you the truth. I’d hoped this wasn’t necessary. I wanted to solve this problem and be done with it. I never counted on the virus causing such fantastic mutations and killing so many people.
“I have to go back a ways to give you the whole story, so bear with me. It’s necessary for you to completely understand.” He laced his fingers together in his lap, his demeanor calm. Almost too calm. “I went to Spain three years ago and met a young man who was quite a fan of mine. He wasn’t a parasitologist, but he did study anthropology. He wanted to learn if any parasites had caused massive extinctions in the past. I kept in touch with him from time to time, and we visited on occasion. I grew quite fond of him and enjoyed his papers on the effects of plague on ancient civilizations.”
Linc shifted on the seat beside her. She cast a sideways glance at him, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. Something Louis said had disturbed him.
The famous scientist continued. “When I learned I’d been passed over for the Nobel Prize again that year, I had a lot of animosity for the committee. They didn’t take my field seriously and never had. I spoke to this young man about my concerns, and he commiserated. He said it would take an epidemic of massive proportions solved by a parasitologist to force the Nobel committee to take notice. That’s when I began my plan.”
A sinking feeling hit Ria’s stomach, and a dark pit opened at her feet. No!
“I started an investigation into a virus that might cause such a feat. Viruses are tricky little devils. They tend to mutate on their own. I needed a way to control one so when the time came to destroy it, I would have no deviant strain resistant to my cure.”
Linc pressed his hands to the cushions beside him, his face red. “Are you saying you created the virus that infected the parasite?”
Manson held up a hand. “Here me out. Yes, I know it sounds horrible. But I never meant for it to go so far. I only intended to allow it to kill a few hundred people at most.”
“And the young man who studied archeology, was that…”
“Hold on, Dr. Butler. Don’t ruin my tale.” Louis fake laughed.
“Only a few hundred?” She couldn’t believe her ears. Who was this man? The man sitting opposite had no resemblance to the person she’d sacrificed six years of her life to serve.
“Yes, enough to cause a panic and break into international news. So my key to manipulation was in using a portion of human DNA. Actually, two portions so I had double assurance of control. Then when I was ready, I’d use that same DNA to build an antidote, a key to unlock the deadliness of the virus and make it harmless.”
Linc’s nostrils flared as if he wanted to leap on Louis and beat the shit out of him. But they had to have all of the information to stop him. They had to let Louis talk. She slid closer to Linc and covered his hand with hers. Her touch seemed to break him from his fury, and he sank back, eyes hooded.
“I needed DNA from two people. I decided a man and a woman. It’s not easy to take tissue samples without someone knowing, as you can imagine. So I had to take advantage of opportunistic situations. My young friend happened to cut himself while making us a gin and tonic one night, and I got a blood sample
at that time without his suspecting. The other donor was you, dear Ria.”
Her throat tightened. He’d taken her DNA? A part of her composed this microscopic monster that had killed thousands of people? Her mind couldn’t process the hideous nature of his confession. Linc moved his hand atop hers.
“Yes, I thought it appropriate that I involve you in my Nobel win. My way of honoring you for the years you’ve assisted me. I easily procured strands of your hair for my use. So I had my two DNA donors. I worked diligently to produce my little green devil and find the right organism in which to insert it. Yes, the lowly shrimp. It already had a parasite that caused it to cannibalize, so I merely tweaked the creature to cross species lines and infect humans.
“I couldn’t have been more proud when my plan worked and people became infected. I portrayed the magnanimous parasitologist who bravely and selflessly led a team of scientists to uncover the secret to the cure. But then my magnificent creature surprised me and began to mutate so quickly I couldn’t keep up. I had to predict the next mutation in an attempt to stop it. What an exciting and challenging brain tease!
“I was on the verge of completing my theory when the damned Radical Democracy took Lincoln. My innocent trip to the Triumvirate turned into an unexpected divergence to this place. Not at all what I had planned.” He shook his head.
“Perhaps you should have thought about chaos theory,” Linc said between clenched teeth.
Louis chuckled. “Yes, Dr. Butler. The thing is, I am familiar with that archaic notion. Fascinating, and why I didn’t completely despair when I came to this fine place where, I might add, I didn’t have any of my precious donor DNA.”
Linc frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I had a backup plan. I was initially upset when my male donor figured out what I did and confronted me. That forced me to end his life last year in an apparently freak accident. Although I had his DNA, it was a finite sample. I suspected I would need more. Imagine my elation to discover my young friend had a twin brother. The only problem was he lived in the South. Naturally, that meant the first outbreak had to happen there. I had my reason for urging our government to accept a collaboration with a scientific team from the South.”
Linc half rose from his seat. “My brother…”
Ria grabbed his elbow and pulled him to his seat. His twin. That’s why Louis had constantly wanted them together, always asking if he was with her. He wanted them in easy reach when he needed more DNA.
“Exactly, Dr. Butler. Your twin brother shared an identical set of DNA with you.”
Linc slapped a hand to his arm. “You killed my brother. And that wasn’t a stimulant injection. You took blood.”
“Again, your mental agility is a pleasure. Correct.” Manson nodded. “I took new samples from both of you on your arrival. With that data, I was confident I would finally construct the key I needed to insert into the virus and stop this nonsense. I’d be the hero of the world, and the Nobel would be mine, capping off a life of achievement and brilliance. I do regret the additional loss of life I didn’t count on, but I can’t blame myself for that.”
“You can’t?” Ria had about had enough. “If you hadn’t made that virus in the first place, no one would have died. Are you missing that point?”
“An end that should have merely culled a few eaters of raw seafood from the population. I’m confident that this research will likely prove beneficial in the future should a natural mutation of this type appear. I’m sure eventually the knowledge will offset loss of life.”
She blinked several times, trying to follow his convoluted reasoning to justify his horrendous deed. But no, she sat in the midst of madness. There was no explaining this away.
“If I’m not mistaken,” Linc said, straining against the hand she now circled through his elbow bend. “You just ran your attempt at stopping the virus and it failed. Or did I misread the scene in your lab?”
“No. You’re correct. I did miscalculate. But after a moment of speculation, I believe I have the answer.”
“Oh?” She asked. “So you can stop this?”
“Yes. I realized that your two separate DNA’s is not the key I need. The DNA in the virus has melded in its brilliant need to survive. Therefore, I also need a blending of the two to control the virus…a master key, so to speak.”
She didn’t immediately follow, but Linc bolted to his feet, escaping her grasp and clenching his fist. “You’re insane.”
“No, I’m a genius. It took a flash of pure brilliance to interpret the results and come up with a solution so quickly.”
“You’re suggesting you need tissue from a fetus that comes from a joining of our DNA!” Linc started forward, but she stood and braced an arm in front of his chest.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute.” She stared at her old boss and the smug look on his face. No. Not possible. “You want tissue from our, uh, our child?”
“Not a child, Ria, a blob of genetic material.” He rose, tugging on his lapel. “Where’s your scientific curiosity?”
“You’re talking about taking tissue from our fetus, which I assume would end its opportunity to survive. I have no curiosity at all about that. Linc’s right. You’re insane!”
“If you cooperate, this will be much easier,” Manson said, plunging his hands in his coat pockets and taking a step back. “Think of the contribution as saving humanity. Isn’t it worth that?”
“I’m going to twist your fucking head off,” Linc said, advancing. “You murderous monster.”
“Linc,” she screamed, but too late. Manson’s hands came from his pockets, and he sprayed them both with air-syringes. The sickly sweet vapor hit the back of her throat, and her knees crumpled. The last vision was the crazed, triumphant grin on her mentor’s face.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Linc fought the weight on his eyelids. He licked his dry lips. Tension and stress beat at his consciousness, but he didn’t know why. He only had an overwhelming need to open his eyes and fight. He tried to rise, but his arms and legs didn’t move. He jerked them to no avail.
When he managed to open his eyes, he squinted to clear a fog clouding his vision. White walls surrounded him, and a large light with a silver hood hung above him. He twisted his head and found his wrists and ankles strapped to the metal gurney under him.
His memory flooded in. Manson! That inhuman beast. His brother, murdered. Tears burned hot in his eyes. His brother. His only consolation at separating from him had been in the promise of a better life in the North. Here, his brother had lived unafraid as an open homosexual. This bastard had taken advantage of his friendship and killed him when he became a threat to his demonic plan.
“I will take you down, Manson. I swear,” he said, bitterness rising like bile in his throat. He should have surmised the clever maniac had a plan when he came to give them the truth.
Ria! He twisted to the other side. She wasn’t in this room. Had Manson taken what he needed? Linc’s sperm? He didn’t feel any pain or discomfort. Maybe he hadn’t extracted the sample yet.
He struggled on the bed, but it solidly attached to the floor instead of sitting on rollers. Damn. He jerked his arms and legs, but the restrictions held tight.
Now what? Stay here and let them take another part of him to play into Manson’s warped plan to win a Nobel Prize? What choice did he have? His mind ran a dozen scenarios, all impossible because he couldn’t move.
The door to the infirmary room swished open. At least he could curse this devil to hell for what he’d done. Dear Lord Jesus, give him strength to get through this.
“Yo, Dope. What’s up?” Minlo stood in the doorway, grinning.
Relief flooded through him. “Min, you’re the answer to a prayer.”
He entered the room and the door closed. “Let’s get you out of here. I think they’re coming soon to take your little boys.”
His groin tightened at the thought. “You heard Manson?”
“Yeah. The fucking basta
roid. What a nut case. Good thing he’s crazy and forgot I was in the bedroom.” He unlatched the restraints, allowing Linc to rise.
His white, disposable cover slipped from his shoulders.
“Nice gown.”
“Never mind that. Where’s Ria?” He found his clothes folded on a chair in the corner and donned them.
“I released her first. She’s waiting in the library.” Min crossed his arms. “This place is completely fucking tight, by the way.” He pulled a folded piece of paper from one of his many pockets. “I looked up the plans and made a sketch of what’s on each floor. Then I took a little tour before you guys came back. That pool is mondo crazy. It’s like a beach with—”
“Let me see that.” Linc scanned the levels and Min’s labels for each floor. This bunker formed a complete city, from living quarters to a movie theater. Crazy to think people built this so many years ago and it had survived wars and government changes. He tucked it in his pocket to study later. “We should go. Do you think we can get out of here?”
“Well, I haven’t tried the outer shields yet, but if we make it as far as the upper levels, I’m sure I can lower the security there.”
“All right. Take me to Ria.”
Min peered out of the door then motioned him to follow. They entered a circular hall with plain white walls and unmarked doors. “We’ll take the stairs.”
After several levels, Min paused and opened a door on the side of the stairwell marked with a nine. “Clear.”
They entered a room furnished with plush couches and chairs and rows of shelves containing packages for book chips. A faux fireplace glowed with cheery holo-flames. A dozen small egg-shaped pods lined one curve of the outer wall where people could enter and close off from the outside world. No doubt they had programs for different environments and music to provide a background for the reading experience or an outlet for audio book play. Given a different set of circumstances, he would take a more active interest.
The room appeared empty. He turned in a circle, heat rising to his face. “Where’s Ria?”
