by Dirk Patton
“The method,” Lucas said patiently. “How would you do it?”
Steve stared back for nearly a minute, trying to evaluate Lucas. Hoping to be able to figure out if this was a genuine opportunity for him to regain his freedom. Unable to read the big man, he sighed and began speaking.
“It’s a multi-tier system,” he said quietly. “First level is just standard user ID and password authentication. Second level is a supervisory password. The third and final level is biometric.”
“And you have all the passwords? And biometric access? Why would someone at your level have access into such a sensitive area?”
“You came to me,” Steve snapped. “Do you want me to help, or not?”
“Answer my question,” Lucas said softly. “Or I can leave and come back next month. Doesn’t much matter to me, mate.”
“Who are you trying to find?” Steve suddenly asked, suspicion clear on his face.
“That’s not your concern,” Lucas said, wanting to steer the conversation away from the “who” question.
“If you want my help, you tell me. Or you can go try to hack in,” Steve said, his mouth set in a defiant line.
“How about I take you outside, shoot you in the leg and leave you for the dingos?” Lucas smiled for the first time, but it wasn’t a warm and friendly smile. “Ever seen a man taken by dingos? They’re nasty little buggers. See, they don’t kill you right off. The pack will tear out your Achilles tendons so you can’t run. Then they rip open your arms so you can’t fight. And when your laying there helpless, they move in and start feasting. Tear open your stomach and feed on your organs. They like ‘em nice and fresh. And the whole time, you’re just laying there. Wide awake. Feeling everything until they bite into something that’ll kill you quick.”
“You can’t do that!” Steve exclaimed. “That kind of thing doesn’t happen here!”
“Where the bloody hell do you think you are, mate? This place doesn’t even have a name. No one besides me even knows who you are, and there sure as bollocks isn’t anyone that cares about what I do to you.”
Lucas was playing free with the truth. Not that he wasn’t willing and capable of carrying out his threat, but he would never be allowed to harm a prisoner. He was counting on Steve having knowledge of the rules in American black site prisons and not realizing that Australia wasn’t willing to go quite that far. With prisoners. But, once he had him outside…
“So, mate. What will it be?” Lucas asked, giving Steve time to fully develop the mental image he’d painted.
“I have my supervisor’s password,” he finally said. “That’s the man I killed at the listening station. My biometrics are still active from when I was at Langley. I checked a couple of weeks ago and still have all of my old access. I guess they forgot to disable it. I get you in. Then I go free. Immediately. Wherever I want.”
Lucas stared at him, thinking. He had no idea if Steve was making shit up about how the database was accessed or not. The whole purpose was to see if the man seemed like he did know, and was willing to cooperate. At this point, Lucas believed him, but also didn’t trust him as far as he could throw him with one arm. But it was a start.
“Agreed,” Lucas said. “You do this and the government of Australia will no longer have an interest in you.”
35
Sam and Gonzales sheltered behind the stairwell door. Hearing the voice from the other side had energized the Lieutenant. He had ordered the Master Chief to get the door open, keeping watch as the shorter man attached the breaching charge. In the safety of the stairs, Gonzales held the trigger up, thumb hovering over the actuator button, and looked at Sam.
“Sure this is a good idea, LT? I mean, how the hell is someone still alive in there after all this time?”
Gonzales hadn’t heard the voice and was hesitant to open the door and release whatever was on the other side.
“I’m sure,” Sam answered. “I know what I heard.”
“OK, sir. Hope you’re right,” Gonzales mumbled, pressing the button.
There was a loud thump as the C-4 detonated and Sam led the way back into the second level vestibule. The charge had done the trick, neatly cutting the door around the lock and freeing it. As they approached, rifles up and trained, the door swung open. A slight figure stepped into view, one hand pushing the heavy slab open.
“Who are you?” A female voice asked.
“US Navy, ma’am,” Sam answered.
Gonzales hung back, slipping to the side to keep his firing lane open as the Lieutenant slowly approached the woman.
“Is it over?” She asked, taking a timid step into the vestibule.
“Is there anyone else with you?” Sam asked, ignoring her question.
“Just me,” she said. “I’ve been alone for a long time. Tell me it’s over. Please.”
“No ma’am, it’s not,” Sam said, stopping fifteen feet from where the woman stood. “It’s worse, if anything.”
Lowering his rifle, Sam clicked on a small flashlight and pointed it at her. As soon as he saw her face without night vision, he dropped the light and snapped the rifle back to his shoulder. There was a frightened gasp from the woman and she took a step away from the weapon.
“Don’t move,” Sam warned.
“What’s wrong? What did I do?” The woman asked.
“You see it Master Chief?” Sam asked without taking his attention off the woman.
“Yes, sir. I did.”
“Saw what? What are you talking about?” The woman raised her voice.
“What’s your name?” Sam asked after a moment.
“Nicole,” she answered, the fear obvious in her voice. “What’s wrong? Tell me?”
“What are you doing here? How have you survived?” Sam asked, rifle not wavering.
“You’re really scaring me,” Nicole said. “Tell me what’s wrong and quit waving that gun in my face.”
“It’s a rifle, not a gun,” Sam responded automatically. “Answer my questions first.”
“I work here. Or I worked here. I teach applied nuclear physics. There’s a security system that locks down the building and I got trapped inside a long time ago.”
“How have you survived? Food and water?” Gonzales asked.
He moved again so he could keep an eye on the first door they had breached. They hadn’t taken the time to clear all the labs and rooms in that area of the building and he didn’t want someone or something coming out of it and surprising them.
“The staff kitchen is back there,” she gestured behind her. “There wasn’t a lot of food, but enough to keep me alive. And a water cooler with a couple of spare jugs. I ran out of food two days ago and am almost out of water. Now what’s wrong?”
Sam and Gonzales exchanged glances.
“Thoughts, Master Chief?” He asked.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Nicole shouted, stepping forward but stopping when Sam adjusted his rifle and she found herself staring down the barrel.
“Ma’am, if you don’t keep your voice down I’m going to restrain and gag you,” Sam said.
“What?” Nicole whispered, eyes wide with fear. “What did I do?”
“Beats the hell out of me, sir,” Gonzales answered, ignoring Nicole and answering Sam’s question.
Sam thought for a moment, coming to a decision. Stepping backwards, he moved away from the woman.
“Take a seat. There,” he indicated a small grouping of chairs pushed against the far wall. “Don’t speak or go anywhere else.”
Nicole stared at him, her mouth open in shock.
“Now,” Sam hissed.
Wrapping her arms protectively across her chest, she slowly walked to the closest chair and lowered herself into it. Her eyes never left the weapon in Sam’s hands.
“Check it out, Master Chief,” Sam said.
As Gonzales came forward, approaching the door, Sam repositioned so he could see all of the entrances into the vestibule as well as Nicole. The Master Chi
ef disappeared through the damaged door.
“Please tell me what’s wrong,” Nicole said, earning a stern look and a shush from Sam.
Gonzales was gone for most of ten minutes, checking in with Sam over the radio twice in that time. When he emerged from the hall, after calling that he was coming out, he walked to the Lieutenant and leaned close to speak with him in a low mumble.
“Checks out, LT. Big kitchen and lots of empty food wrappers. Two empty water jugs and one that’s got maybe a quart left in it. Found where she’s been sleeping. No one else back there and no bodies, either.”
“See. I was telling the truth,” Nicole said from the far side of the room.
Sam and Gonzales both turned to look at her in surprise.
“What?”
“You heard that?” Sam asked. He’d had to concentrate to hear the Master Chief’s low mutters as he spoke only inches from his ear.
“Of course I did. I’m not deaf,” she said. “Now that you know I’m telling the truth, what the hell is wrong?”
“Any mirrors back there, Master Chief?” Sam asked, not bothering to keep his voice down.
“Not that I found. No, sir. Small bathroom, but no mirror in it.”
“Look. I know I’m not a supermodel or anything and haven’t had a shower in a long time, but seriously. What the hell is wrong with you guys?”
Nicole stood and faced them, hands on her hips. Her fear had turned to frustration and was well on its way to becoming anger.
With a sigh, Sam reached into a pocket and pulled out a battered iPhone. He hadn’t had a signal for a long time, but every photo he had of his wife was on the device. He’d been able to keep it charged at the research facility, opening the pics and looking at her face every time he had a chance.
Letting his rifle hang from its sling, he stepped closer to Nicole, held the phone up and snapped a picture. Tapping a button, the freshly captured image filled the screen. Reversing it in his hand, he held it for her to see. She gasped, stepping forward for a better look.
“Oh. Oh my God,” she breathed.
Looking up at Sam, she held his gaze with her blood red eyes.
36
Nicole began to freak out. She tried to snatch the phone out of Sam’s hand, but he held it high in the air like he was playing keep-away with a child. Shock, fear and revulsion were all reflected in her face as tears flowed and the beginning of a scream welled up from her throat.
Sam saw what was coming and lashed out with his fist, striking her in the solar plexus before she made enough noise to alert every infected in the area. The blow temporarily paralyzed her diaphragm and she was unable to push the air out of her lungs and scream. Stumbling backwards from the impact, she glared at the two SEALs.
Panic momentarily replaced her other emotions as her body was unable to draw a breath. But as quickly as it had been stunned, her diaphragm relaxed and she blew out stale air and took a shuddering breath.
“You have to stay quiet,” Sam said, moving to loom over her. “There are infected outside, maybe inside, that will be drawn to your voice. You need to get it together so we can get out of here.”
“You hit me, you son-of-a-bitch,” Nicole spat at him.
“Did you hear what I just said?” Sam asked, frustration creeping into his tone.
“Of course I did. But why did you hit me?”
Nicole stood up straight and Sam took a couple of steps back. He had no clue what the hell was going on. She looked infected, but she acted normal. Was this a new manifestation of the virus? Or was this something entirely new?
Then he remembered her hearing. She’d clearly heard and understood a mumble from across the room. A mumble that had required his concentration to understand and it had been right next to his ear. That, more than the red eyes, convinced him she was infected.
“Master Chief, you read every brief that comes in. Any mention of something like this?”
“No, sir. There’s lots of talk about smart ones working together and even a few of them using basic tools, but nothing like this.”
“What about someone turning slowly? Eyes going red first, then they turn sometime later?” Sam was grasping at straws.
“No, sir,” Gonzales shook his head without taking his eyes off of Nicole. “But we should take her back with us.”
“What? Take me where?” Nicole’s voice sounded on the verge of hysteria.
“There’s a team of virologists nearby in a secure facility. That’s the only reason we’re anywhere near the city. They are definitely going to want to meet you,” Sam answered.
“Can they help me? They have to help me! I don’t want to turn into one of those things,” Nicole wailed.
“Nicole, I don’t know if they can help you or not, but if you don’t be quiet we’re not going to make it back. If you can’t control yourself I’m going to leave you here,” Sam said, hoping the threat would help the woman calm herself.
“No!” She shouted. “Don’t leave me! I’ve been alone for so long. I’ll be quiet. I’m sorry.”
Sam stared at her and after a few moments she realized she’d been yelling.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, making an effort to keep her voice down. “I’ll be quiet and I’ll keep up. Just please, take me with you.”
Sam glanced at Gonzales, but the Master Chief just shrugged his shoulders and went back to scanning the doors. Sighing, the Lieutenant stepped up to Nicole and spent nearly a minute giving her instructions. To her credit, despite the desperate fear coursing through her body, she listened closely and didn’t make a sound.
They put her between them, Sam reminding her to stay absolutely quiet no matter what happened or what she saw. The Master Chief took point, leading the way into the stairwell. He had to pause half way down to remind Nicole not to follow him so closely. She had bumped into his back when he slowed to scan the lower half of the stairs.
When they reached the lower level, Sam called a halt by tapping his index finger lightly on his rifle’s receiver. The sound was subtle, but Gonzales was listening for it and immediately placed his back against a wall, prepared to fight. But there wasn’t anything wrong. Sam had just had an idea and moved to stand on the same stair as Nicole.
“Nuclear physics professor, right?” He muttered.
She nodded her head.
“So you know how to use a Geiger Counter.”
It was a statement, not a question, and Nicole nodded again. Sam shrugged out of his pack and removed the device, holding it up for her to see.
“This is what we came for. This and radiation suits.”
He held it out and she looked at him questioningly as she took it in her hands.
“Time for questions later. Right now, can you use that to test the environment outside without making any noise?”
For the third time, Nicole nodded. Looking down at the Geiger Counter, she turned it on and silenced it. Her fingers flew across the controls as she set it up to not only measure the exposure levels, but to also record them for later review. Watching her work the piece of equipment, Sam was glad he’d thought to ask.
Meeting Gonzales’ eyes, he nodded and the Master Chief got them moving again. They exited into the first floor lobby, the two SEALs tightening up to protect Nicole as they moved towards the vestibule. Sam walked backwards, rifle on a constant swivel in sync with his head as he protected their rear.
The small vestibule was clear. Nicole quietly gagged and shied away from the decomposing body. Gonzales paused at the exterior glass doors and peered out into the night, motioning Sam forward after watching for a few seconds. There were nearly twenty males bumping around in the parking lot. But they weren’t what was concerning the Master Chief.
Beyond the males at the far edge of the parking lot was a group of nine females. Some were turned, staring down the slope that led to the small forested area, but three of them appeared to be watching the building.
“Do we wait and see if they move on?” Gonzales asked as qui
etly as he could.
Sam shook his head as Nicole raised up on her toes to see over the two larger men. She gasped when she saw what they were discussing, earning a look of warning from both of them.
“Sorry,” she mouthed, silently.
“You’ve read the same intel I have,” Sam mumbled. “They don’t move on unless something distracts them. You’ve got right, I’ll take the left.”
“Do you hear that?” Nicole asked softly.
Both men froze, listening for several seconds before turning to look at her.
“Hear what?” Sam asked.
“That sound. I started hearing it when we were coming down the stairs and it got louder the closer we came to the door.”
Nicole cocked her head, trying to identify what she was hearing. Sam and Gonzales faced the glass again, adjusting the positions of their heads in an attempt to hear what she was talking about.
After almost half a minute, Sam glanced at the Master Chief but he shook his head. He would have dismissed it as nothing, but after the demonstration of Nicole’s enhanced hearing he was hesitant to discount her warning.
“What does it sound like?” He asked, moving her closer to the interior doors.
“It’s like a hum or a buzz. It’s not loud, but I can hear it and kind of feel it in my teeth, if that makes sense,” Nicole whispered.
“The Russian signal, LT. Remember?” Gonzales reminded Sam of the report they’d read about how the Russians were attracting and directing the infected.
“No shit,” he breathed.
“What’s he talking about?” Nicole asked, looking at Gonzales’ broad back.
“Later. The good news is, you’re not crazy. There really is a sound, but we can’t hear it. Now, stay close and stay quiet. We’ve got to move and we’re going to have to fight. Better give me that back.”
Sam took the Geiger Counter from her hands and slipped it into his pack before turning and joining Gonzales at the doors, cutting the nylon flexi-cuff that was securing them. Nicole moved to stand right behind them, nearly frightened out of her mind. What did they mean, “fight”?
