The Infected 3: Cast Iron

by P. S. Power

  “Sorry, not your problem, I’m just a bit shaken up by having stuff thrown at me like that. Just wave to me when you’re ready to order and I’ll be right over.” Then he left to check on another table nearby. This one held several of the television people, but they were crew, not talent. She recognized one of them from the other day. Gary, she thought his name was. A cameraman from Mark’s show. He caught her looking, so she waved to him a bit, smiling before turning back to her conversation. The only thing she knew about him was that Denis called him “Beardo” about half the time.

  They made small talk and watched people, avoiding talking about work at all, except Penny, which hit only on her complete lack of real training to that point. Mike nodded along, asking good questions and generally being agreeable until the food came. Then he grinned and took a bite of pancake, mopping up some of the real syrup out of the container that had come with it.

  “This is good. So, anyway…” He took another bite, a maddening habit of his, starting a sentence then taking forever to finish it. At least he didn’t talk with his mouth full though. After the swallowing he continued.

  “Is having me around going to be a problem for you? I know that… we didn’t end things on perfect footing.” It was a diplomatic way of putting it and meant what it sounded like.

  Could she handle having her ex around all the time? The truth was she didn’t know. It was a good idea all on its own and it wasn’t like she was sleeping her way through the ranks of the IPB or anything, so that part shouldn’t be too hard on him. If anything she’d be the one in trouble there. Older he may be and just on the fit side of average looking, but Mike Conroy was a charmer when he wanted to be. If he wasn’t dating half the single women on the base by the end of the first month it would only be because he was too busy.

  That reminded her to make sure he was too busy. Smiling she shrugged and took a bite of her own food, some of those eggs that could be used as projectiles in a pinch. They seemed fine to her, but then they would, even if coated in Drain-o or floor wax. The texture seemed right. She took a few bites herself; trying to make sure she didn’t starve herself by accident or make people think she was anorexic and pointed her fork at the man across from her when she was done.

  “It shouldn’t be a problem. We probably won’t get to see each other all that much. They actually manage to keep me fairly busy most days. I’m helping to train Brian for instance and have a load of admin stuff each day, meetings and all that. Think you’ll be alright with it? I mean, if anyone has a right to feel wronged about how things ended it’s you. I do want to remind you that I really couldn’t help it back then. Everything hit’s hard at first. Not that I’m claiming it’s a lot better now, but I’ve learned to cope with things a bit.” She grinned. “Sort of. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to have a real relationship with anyone. I’m working on the idea of friendship though. So far so good. I haven’t accused anyone of trying to steal from me or betray me in…” Counting she shook her head and took another bite.

  “What’s it been? Half an hour now?’

  They both chuckled over it, because it was true. A sad and sorry fact, but a real one none the less.

  Luckily, instead of having to delve into the failings of personality caused by her lifestyle and unalterable Infection, they got a distraction. It wasn’t a great thing, but it was something she’d thought might eventually happen. Peggy. She’d killed a man on national television and been put in prison for it. The only one that could hold a person as powerful as she was. The IPB lock-up. Not that it would have made a difference if they’d put her somewhere else. She’d stayed in lock up because it was her punishment and she felt legitimately guilty for what she’d done. The guards had never locked her in, not even at night.

  Marcia had been there and spoken for her at the trial, since it was, at most, manslaughter. The guy had goaded her into attacking, calling her names and insulting her, right after she’d fought to save his life. Peggy had been hurt and had just barely managed to stop the Infected that had been attacking people, separated from the rest of Team two at the time, desperately trying to protect the civilians in the area, even though she was very nearly outmatched. Then, still bleeding and in pain, the jerk started calling her ugly and trying to get a reaction from her.

  It worked.

  That was hardly her fault though and it wasn’t exactly related to her first mode, just that particular situation. It meant they didn’t have to put her to death, which normally would have been automatic. It also would have caused Team two to mutiny, she was sure. For that matter she might have joined them. Instead the Director locked her up to placate the masses and the rest of the government. That would have been fine, except now she was on work release, of a sort. Brian had set it up.

  Lauren had been her “guard” but was sent away on a mission, meaning that technically no one was watching the prisoner. The only real problem there was that the press had somehow figured all of that out and ambushed the woman in the lobby, along with Denis and Tobin. Marcia couldn’t hear them through the glass, but she could read the reporters lips enough to get the idea.

  Why was a dangerous prisoner walking around without the mandatory guard? She sighed and dug out some money, waving to James the waiter.

  “Hey, sorry to run like this, but it looks like there’s a problem. Could you just handle the bill for us? This should cover it. If not, um…” She dug into her purse and pulled her IPB card out. The one that was connected to her bank account.

  “If not, then use this. Give yourself a twenty-five percent tip. That or ten dollars. Whichever is more.” She hopped up, handing the wad of stuff to the man and walking out quickly. She didn’t want to stiff the man on the tip, but it was breakfast. He was only getting that much because she was acting like a loon and running off.

  Conroy followed her, moving up alongside her as they got to the scene, listening to what was being said the whole time.

  Looking a bit panicked, Denis was trying to cover for the lack of guard by claiming that he was handling the situation personally. That didn’t fly though, because he was a celebrity now. Everyone knew he was on probation himself. It was getting pretty dire when Tobin spoke up, his voice firm and commanding, deeper than it normally was. All eyes and camera lenses went to him suddenly.

  “Operative Lauren Slovich had that duty, but was called away on a real assignment, so left me in charge of the situation. Due to the high level of rehabilitation offered in the IPB program, both Peggy and Denis are considered to not be a threat to the public at all. In fact both have proved themselves to be high level assets to our program and we look forward to releasing both of them from any extra scrutiny in short order. The idea of either of them needing a guard is a mere formality, meant only to satisfy the requirements of paperwork and is not a real issue. Even that paperwork has been recently diminished to the point of almost being considered non-important.” He smiled, a thing that didn’t look like it belonged on his face at all, but would have served the Director well. It was like he was channeling the man or something.

  “Any further questions on the matter should be addressed to Marcia Turner, Deputy Director of the IPB, who I believe I see right over there? I assure you that this situation is well in hand, and more, even if we didn’t have a guard at all, both of these people standing with us are trustworthy and would do anything to protect the public at large, even if they’ve made a few mistakes in the past.” He turned to the blond man who had led the attack, a guy from the conservative network and waved.

  “Yes, mistakes. Made under duress. Before you attack them for what they’ve done, Mr. Jonas, perhaps you’d be best serve to question your own loyalties and behavior? Haven’t you been linked to several hate groups in the last few months? I’m rather surprised that your channel still lets you on the air. Of course, this information won’t air there, due to the bias of your Network, but I think your competitors might be more inclined to let the truth out.” Then he took Peggy by the hand and
walked off with her firmly. Stalking a little.

  The other camera people moved to get a reaction shot from Jonas, if that was his name and found the man looking pissed, rather than confused.

  The whole thing hadn’t been like Tobin at all, and as far as she could tell, Denis hadn’t been looking at him the whole time. His powers required him to focus on the person being influenced. Didn’t they? He saw her looking at him and shook his head, which was a sad thing, then looked at Tobin. Taking Mike by the hand she pulled him along and nudged the guy with his short wooly hair into action, walking in the same direction that Tobin had gone.

  “Um, that wasn’t normal. Explanation Den? Do we need to scuttle this mission and run or what?” Braid had a guy that could control people like that, from a distance. Make anyone do anything for as long as he wanted. He was called Stillness. The old codenames weren’t as easily understood as the new ones were. Not all the time. Why one of Braid’s people would have influenced Tobin into being so effective though she couldn’t see.

  Looking at Mike first, as if wondering who the heck he was, Denis shook his head again slowly. He tilted his head as they walked toward the stairs, as if asking who the new guy was. It was a good thought, since they really hadn’t been introduced. She didn’t want him to go around blabbing everything all the time, so she couldn’t fault him for being careful at the moment.

  “This is Mike Conroy. Colonel, U.S. Army, retired. Ran special operations with Lancaster, Reyes, Jason and I back in the day. I can’t talk about most of it, since it’s still classified. Currently he’s agreed to come in and act as a special trainer for Penny, so he’s one of us now. Most of that is also classified, though I want you and Hobbs to work with her and Brian from time to time on that. So, unless what happened to Tobin is really classified, you can talk about it.” She tried to leave off the last bit, but it would come out, eventually and hiding things from her own people, while always tempting, wasn’t going to work too well. Especially with the little stuff. Secrets eroded trust.

  “Um, Mike is also my ex-husband. My fault. Or, well, I’m still blaming my first mode for that one, which I’m sure I don’t need to explain to you.” They all got that kind of thing at the IPB. Once Infected you didn’t get a lot of choice in how you felt or reacted to things. People learned to just let stuff go, after a while.

  “OK.” Denis still looked glum, but kept talking.

  “It’s because of my dad.” He glanced at Conroy and stopped talking for a minute.

  “He was Infected too. A creepy cult leader that used his power to control and rape hundreds of women, tortured children and did worse things… Stuff that I don’t really want to talk about. The point is, his power was the ability to influence people, basically projecting a sense of them trusting him totally. My sister has a similar ability. Mindy. She used it on me a few months ago. Or tried to. I kind of defeated it pretty easily because she’s not that strong, but it got me thinking… I can make people feel anything, even overwhelm first modes. If I got people to trust me enough, to believe what I told them completely, they’d do what I said, right? I mean, if I really overwhelm their system, people kind of have to do what I want, if I do it right. So Hobbs and I have been experimenting with the idea.”

  They climbed the stairs to the sixth floor in near silence, letting the implication sink in.

  “It works. I’ve been using it to try and help some of the others get past their first mode problems. When I’m not around I mean. Lauren and Tobin mainly. I… It’s just that I’m afraid I’ll end up like him. Like the Prophet Darren Jones. Abuse my power and control over others and become a monster. I don’t know what to do. I mean, is it enough that the others I’m working with know what I’m doing and have asked for help? What if I get greedy? That’s my first mode, so it’s not like that one is a stretch or anything. What if I just wake up one day, decided I want more… and take it?” He glanced back at Conroy and kept walking, not out of breath at all.

  Finally he stopped talking, just as they started walking down the hallway. The older man looked over at Marcia first, and then Denis, both dressed up a bit for the cameras.

  “Well… I’m glad to hear that it worries you. That’s probably a good sign that you won’t let it get out of control. If you keep to only helping people that ask for it, that should be fine. Just use some common sense and when in doubt run it by Marcy or your Director. Moore is a good man. Solid head on his shoulders. Old enough not to let you abuse anyone, even by mistake. If that doesn’t work and you start to get too out of control, I’ll just sneak up behind you some night and shoot you in the back of the head, so you know, you have a safety net. It won’t come to that though. The fact that you care enough to let it bother you now means you won’t turn into your father. I know that I never wanted to be mine, worked against it pretty hard in fact.” The words weren’t cold or anything, but didn’t sound wishy-washy either.

  He’d promised to shoot Denis in the head if he got out of control and Marcia knew that he meant it. She’d have to let Den know that too at some point, if he didn’t buy it already. Later though, in a place less exposed. She mentioned some other things though.

  “Plus, there are the others. Hobbs and Brian… Penny too. They’ll keep an eye on you that way. How well is it working? I mean, that bit with Tobin was incredible, did it take hours of working with him or…”

  Denis sighed.

  “Marcia, that wasn’t even twenty seconds of work. I did it as the a-hole reporter was walking up. I don’t even know where Tobin got that bit about the hate groups from, I just told him he’d be confident and say the right things so I wouldn’t have to focus on him while on camera. It seemed to work, didn’t it? The guy looked ready to crap himself.”

  She had to agree with that. It was a lot more powerful than she’d thought at first then. No wonder he was worried. She would have been too if it was her and she didn’t even have to contend with constant greed yammering at her. Denis had suddenly found he could have anything, or anyone and very little in the world would be able to stop him, if he did it right. Not a happy combination for a recovering asshole. Plus it meant he could probably order armies to do his bidding for him, making him at least a full power class higher. Boom, class seven without ever having done more than learning to pay attention. He might even be able to order people to just kill themselves, making his power perfectly lethal now too.

  “OK, for now Denis, I want you to keep it to helping people with mode problems and maybe things like quitting smoking or getting in better shape. Run any work plans by me first though please? You need to work with the ability to get good with it, but I agree; there might be some temptation there. Just keep in mind what you told me about your mode. You want things, but getting them doesn’t help you want them any less.” She gave him a hard look and Denis just nodded, seeming slightly relieved.

  “That’s true. I’ll do that. Thanks guys.”

  They dropped him at his room and then had to double back to the restaurant. She’d left her card and James was probably getting ready to buy a yacht or something with it. She didn’t run though, since the thing would cap out at about five hundred dollars anyway. She had a lot more than that in her account; it was just a safety feature in case of theft. Not all of them in the IPB had it, but she liked to take precautions.

  The waiter waved to her, smiling when she walked in and walked over quickly to hand her the card and her receipt, along with the bundle of cash she’d handed him. He’d added the ten dollars like she’d said, but nothing else. Not on the bill at least, just the meals.

  “Thanks James. Are you going to be around later in the day? Anyone willing to work with the IPB is a treat. You’d be surprised at how often we’re invited to leave places like this by the staff. I can almost assure you that none of our people will throw things at you.” It was true. A few might stutter at him or hide, but no one would attack him.

  Except maybe Charlot, but that would only be with words. She was bitchy, not ins
ane. Not most of the time.

  “Off just after lunch today. I’ll be back for dinner though, it’s a split shift, but I need the money for rent, so you know how that goes.”

  She nodded. After all, she’d been there herself, after a fashion. Young and without a job that paid enough to get by easily. She hoped he’d make it and patted his arm a bit before walking away. She hadn’t meant it that way, but he smiled at her as if she was flirting with him. Well, at least James didn’t seem to think she’d lost it totally or let herself get way to skinny. Wasn’t that the look now anyway? So thin that you could count all the ribs?

  She hit the elevator just as her cell rang, making her pull it from her front pocket. That and her ID, charge card and some cash was all she carried most of the time anyway, so she didn’t need a purse. They were just another way for people to bug your things after all.

  “Turner here.” No one would be calling her for a date, she didn’t think, so it was fine to sound businesslike.

  “This is Daryl. We have eyes on Mic. It was Burke that found him. We got the rental place to tell us when he’d gotten the rental, which was under an assumed name, then physically went from place to place along the route he was taking, trying to find cameras that would show where he was going. It took some doing, since we don’t have a warrant for anything, but we got him. You want in on the take down? We don’t know who he has with him, but there’s a lot of movement for it to just be him and Weathers in there. Given who they are, back-up seems in order.” The tone was hushed and gentle, even though he wouldn’t be all that close. It was something that IPB agents learned pretty quickly. You assumed that people could hear you, and even that they might be able to read your mind or emotions, so you kept everything as subdued on a mission as possible, just in case.