by KJ Nelson
There on the dresser was her cell phone. The last time it had rang was on the day of the Crumbling. She remembered so clearly, standing outside the hospital. The trip that saved her life, but had cost her everything.
She wished so much that she would have answered the call, or at least listened to the voicemail. She never had the chance to hear her mom’s voice one last time.
Cameron stood for a second breathing deeply as she tried to gain her balance. After a couple of seconds, she was able to grab the water bottle and open it. She poured the cool liquid into her mouth, taking in more than she could possibly drink and ended up spitting half of it onto the floor.
The relief when she swallowed was immediate. She shuffled back over the large bed and sat on the end. She swayed back and forth as she waited for the water to take its effect.
She tried to put thoughts of her past, and her mom out of her mind, and focus on what was right in front of her. She still had so much work to do to save humanity.
“I need to pace myself better,” Cameron spoke to herself quietly. She knew she’d way overdone it. She had let her excitement and her addictive personality push her far beyond what her body could handle over the last three days.
Even in her trashed state, Cameron still looked forward to using the replicator again. She rationalized in her mind that she was doing it to take care of her people. But she knew the truth, she just wanted the rush that accompanied the use of the machine.
“Junky,” she said to herself, shaking her head in shame. Cameron opened her backpack and grabbed another full bottle of water. She knew she needed as much liquid as possible. She opened the bottle and stared into the glimmering surface of the replicator.
She reached a still shaking hand out to it and smiled to herself. With its capabilities, she knew she would be able to maintain her position of power for the foreseeable future. Cameron smiled wickedly to herself.
Boom boom boom. Someone was pounding on her door. Cameron gasped again at the pain in her head. She took a long drink of her water and stood slowly, letting her body acclimate to the movement. She felt more steady on her feet and she made her way to her door.
“What?” Cameron said in a low voice. She didn’t think it would be someone coming for her after all the goodwill she’d won over the last week, but she could never be sure.
“Cameron, it’s Stafford. We need to talk.” Stafford spoke in his deep resonating voice. Cameron immediately started opening the door. She hadn’t seen Stafford in the days since she healed his arm. Jeb insisted that he stay in the med container for a couple of days to make sure his arm was properly set.
The loud screeching of the large metal door sent another wave of pain through Cameron’s sensitive head. She squinted at the bright light. It looked to be in the afternoon. Cameron hadn’t realized she’d slept so long.
“Hey Stafford,” Cameron said just above a whisper. She hoped he would follow her lead and speak quietly.
“You look like I felt three days ago,” Stafford said with a smile. His bright white teeth standing out in the overhead sunlight.
Cameron couldn’t bring herself to smile so she just nodded in agreement.
“I’ve been busy while you were taking it easy.”
Stafford chuckled deeply at Cameron’s reply.
“You would think, with me being twice the size of Jeb, I wouldn’t let him boss me around so much,” Stafford shook his head slowly.
“You’re just a teddy bear.” Cameron finally found the energy to smile. “How are you feeling?”
“You would never know I nearly lost my arm,” Stafford spoke with reverence in his voice. “Or that we were all about to starve to death, less than a week ago.”
“Things change fast around here.” Cameron shook her head, taking in everything that had transpired over the last four days.
“They sure do. Do you want to go on a walk with me and tell me what’s been happening?” Stafford motioned with his large hand toward the path between the shipping containers and Cameron grimaced at the idea.
“No,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “But I will. Just give me a second to get ready.” Stafford nodded and went to sit down on the ground. He pulled a heavily worn paperback out of his left cargo pocket and started reading.
Cameron closed the door behind her and lit several candles so she could see. She finished the water and immediately started to feel better. She knew some food would help her as well. She changed into a dark green tank top and camo pants.
She decided to go without her normal beanie and wore her hair down. She grabbed her guns and backpack with the replicator inside at the last second, she grabbed the dead cellphone and tucked it into her backpack. Cameron joined Stafford outside of her apartment.
They walked together for half an hour. Cameron filled Stafford in on everything that had happened while he was in the med container. Stafford shook his head when Cameron explained how she’d spent the last three days straight using the machine.
“You don’t know the effects this alien technology will have on you,” Stafford said sternly. “We should have taken more time to understand how it works.”
“I didn’t have the luxury,” Cameron shot back. “Jeb was going to cut off your arm, and also we gave out the last of the food supplies. I did what I had to do.”
“To stay in power?” Stafford asked quietly. Cameron didn’t respond, and the two walked in silence for a few minutes.
“Thank you,” Stafford broke the silence. Cameron could feel the gratitude radiating from him. She just nodded, knowing she would make the same decision again without hesitation.
“We need to come up with a plan to save Garland,” Stafford said grimly. Cameron sighed knowing he spoke the truth.
27
Cameron and Stafford made their way back to the white command container. Fortunately, there was no one waiting on them when they got there. Passing out the food to everyone was keeping them happy for the time being. Cameron knew it wouldn’t be long until they were back to gathering every day asking for stuff.
Stafford opened the large door at the front of the container and let Cameron walk in first. They both made their way over to the push seats.
“What are your thoughts?” Cameron asked Stafford as they both sat down. The darkened room was a relief to Cameron. Her vision was still pulsing from her headache and the bright sunlight wasn't helping matters.
It was Stafford’s turn to sigh as he took in the problem before them.
“I truly don’t know,” Stafford shook his large head. “I’m struggling to find a solution that doesn’t end with a lot of people being killed.”
Cameron nodded in agreement. It was a tough situation. Both groups had weapons and there had been so much hostility between them that it was impossible to think that mere words would be enough.
“Could we wait them out?” Cameron asked hopefully. “They have to be running low on supplies at this point.” Stafford shook his head at the idea.
“No, if we do that Garland will die right along with them. We have to move quickly before they simply kill him out of spite.”
“Well then, let’s go the other way. Let’s barter with them. We give them food and resources, they give us Garland.” Cameron said the idea forming in her mind as she spoke.
Stafford raised his eyebrows at the comment and nodded his head slowly.
“Do we have enough to spare?”
“Not right now, but we will in a couple of days.” Cameron shrugged, knowing it meant more time spent using the replicator. Regardless of how she felt, the idea thrilled her.
“Only if it’s safe,” Stafford said, narrowing his eyes at her. “I want to talk to our miniature friend to better understand how the machine works, and if there are any dangers of over-using it.”
Cameron almost objected but knew better. Stafford was right. She didn’t want to endanger herself by misusing the replicator.
“How does it work?” Stafford asked, the awe in his voic
e was apparent.
Cameron considered her answer for a long moment. She was reluctant to share the device with anyone. Over the last week, she’d grown so attached to the disc-shaped device. She felt a little like Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings.”
Stafford chuckled slightly at her hesitation.
“I won’t take it from you,” He said simply in disappointment.
“It’s not that,” Cameron spoke quickly not wanting to offend him. “The replicator...it’s hard to explain.”
“Start with replicating the seeds in the outpost. I never had the chance to ask you about that afterward.”
“That’s a good place to start,” thinking back on the first time she’d used the machine felt like a year ago. The sensation was completely different. She hadn’t realized how powerful the replicator was at that point.
“It was like using any other piece of technology, assuming that it bonded directly with your brain. I didn’t realize how much deeper it could go. Not until I replicated a living thing.”
Cameron let her voice trail off. Thinking back on how it felt to replicate the tomato plant, gave her chills of delight.
“Was it painful?” Stafford must have misread her thrill for fear.
“Not at all,” Cameron whispered the words, the longing in her voice evident.
“It was...pleasurable?” Cameron could tell Stafford was having a hard time understanding how that was possible.
“Extremely,” Cameron said simply. “The replicator isn’t simply a machine like we would think of it. It has its own emotions, its own feelings. It loves being used, fulfilling its purpose.”
They both sat in silence considering her words. Cameron knew it didn’t make much sense, but it was the truth.
“Is that what you meant by it going deeper?” Stafford finally asked raising his eyebrows.
“Yes...there are levels of functionality,” Cameron nodded her head slowly as she spoke, remembering the second vision when she paired with the replicator.
“It is possible to fully open your mind up to the machine and use it as an extension of your own body. You see what it sees, you feel what it feels. It’s...very strange.”
“I bet,” Stafford chuckled lightly. It was his way to make light of serious situations, and also accept without questioning.
“So you fully paired with the replicator, then what happened?”
“I freaked out a little bit, but then I just went with it. The replicator knew what I wanted it to do, and it showed me how,” Cameron smiled at the remembered ecstasy of using the machine for the first time.
“Fascinating,” Stafford spoke in his deep soothing voice. “Then you used it to save my arm and the rest of humanity?”
Cameron nodded solemnly.
“With no ill side effects?”
Cameron could tell Stafford had arrived at the key question he was trying to get to. Cameron kept her face passive, not giving anything away.
“Nothing that I noticed.” She lied without hesitation.
“Right, so that’s why you look hungover at two pm?” Stafford just stared at her, not shifting his gaze.
“Alright, it messed me up pretty bad using it so much,” Cameron hated admitting it. She didn’t want Stafford worrying about her using the replicator as much as she knew she would have to in the coming days and weeks.
She also didn’t want to share it with others either. It was hers, her precious. She laughed at addictive personality.
“We need to fully understand the ramifications of using this new tool,” Stafford said rising from his chair. “I want to talk to the pompous alien.”
“Let’s go talk to him then,” Cameron started to stand as well. “I haven’t fed him in a couple of days, I’m sure he’ll be really happy to see us.”
Stafford sighed and shook his head. Even though Drac was responsible for the destruction of the entire planet, it still bothered him that Cameron was treating him badly.
On their way out of the command unit, Brody ran up out of breath.
“What is it?” Cameron asked, her stomach sinking.
Brody stood for a second the air wheezing in and out of his lungs.
“Word...has gotten out about...your...friend in the fertilizer container,” Brody spoke between ragged breaths.
Cameron’s eyes narrowed the anger flashing through her.
“What do you mean?” She asked slowly, fighting the panic down. If people knew about Drac they weren’t going to stand by and let him live. Not after what they’d all been through.
“Jeb,” was all Brody needed to say. Cameron knew immediately what was going on. Jeb talked about what happened with Stafford and he must have mentioned the strange man that knew too much about the alien technology.
Cameron didn’t believe that Jeb had intentionally told the others about Drac. It was just his way, he loved to talk.
“We need to go, now,” Cameron said looking at Stafford and Brody in turn. They both nodded in unison. In the distance, Cameron heard three gunshots in quick succession.
28
Cameron drew one of her pistols and started running. She wasn’t sure what her play would be once she got to Drac, but she had to be ready for anything. It was entirely possible that whoever was at the fertilizer container would blame her for harboring the alien.
Cameron could see Brody out of the corner of her eye easily keeping up with her rapid pace. Stafford was loudly running behind them, struggling to keep up. Cameron purposely slowed so that she didn’t arrive without Stafford for back up.
As she rounded the corner she saw the group of people gathered around Drac. The good news was it looked like he wasn’t hurt in any way. Cameron wanted to be the one to shoot Drac if he stopped being useful.
As she took in the scene she slowed her pace, trying to read the faces of those gathered around Drac. She also checked for weapons. She didn’t want to get shot because she scared someone with a jumpy trigger finger.
In total there were 8 people forming the circle around Drac. Cameron recognized Connor who was one of Thomas’s friends. He held the only visible weapon. She was worried about his reaction after she’d killed Thomas a week ago, but so far he hadn’t shown any aggression.
The dirty clothing and scrawny figures made the group look even more dangerous. The hate in their eyes as they stared at the alien was shocking. It was the same hate Cameron had seen any time the aliens were mentioned since the Crumbling.
These were people who had lost everything, looking at the person they saw as responsible for their misery. Cameron knew the situation would turn to violence in a matter of seconds.
Drac was standing straight-backed among the group drooling for his death, showing absolutely zero fear. Cameron was impressed seeing as every single person loomed over him and were looking at him with clear murderous intent.
Cameron turned back to Stafford who was breathing heavily, but out of sight of the assembly. She made a quick motion with her head toward the right of the group and Stafford nodded in agreement.
He would take up a defensive position where the others couldn’t see him, in case things turned violent.
“Excuse me,” Cameron said in the commanding voice that she used to control weaker people. The power it gave her felt limitless. “That is my prisoner.”
Drac met her eyes as she spoke and Cameron could see the relief clear in his features. His fortitude from earlier was obviously just a show.
“You don’t have the right to harbor one of them here without telling us,” Connor spoke and the rest of the group nodded in unison.
“Don’t I?” Cameron said, taking in each set of eyes one by one. “I’m Warlord, I can do whatever I want. If you want that luxury, come take it.”
Cameron’s eyes hardened at the bluff. With exaggerated force, she flipped the safety of the bright silver pistol in her hand. She raised her eyebrows expectantly at the crowd waiting to see if there were any takers.
She stared each of them down in turn.
One by one they broke eye contact with her. Last was Connor. She was waiting to see the look in his eyes that would cost him his life. Part of her wanted to see it. Her finger inched toward the trigger, it would take only a second to confirm her place at Warlord once again.
Connor stared back, his face indecisive. Then his eyes shifted away and down. His cheeks bloomed with color. So his life would be spared, for now. Cameron would have to watch out for the man. It was nice to know that he was a coward.
“Drop your weapon,” Cameron spoke in a low commanding voice. Connor hesitated for a moment, then did as she said.
“Stafford,” Cameron motioned with her hand and Stafford walked out of the shadows. He bent and retrieved the gun off the ground.
“Why does he look like us, if he’s one of them?” One of the younger men of the group asked. Cameron didn’t know his name, he had only been in the co-op for a couple of weeks.
“I don’t have time to explain everything right now,” Cameron said, not wanting to open the opportunity for even more questions. “The gist of it is that the Squatches all look like this, but they wear the fur-suits for protection.”
They all stared at her in awe and shock. Cameron used their distraction with this news to her advantage and walked through the crowd and grabbed Drac by the arm.
“Let’s go.” She said simply and marched him away from the crowd.
Cameron knew the issue was far from resolved. Word would spread faster than the Crumbling and people would surely want answers.
“Back to the command unit,” She said to Stafford and Brody. They needed to move quickly before other people started gathering and Cameron completely lost control of the situation.
29
“What are we going to do now?” Brody nearly yelled, when they got back to the command container. “We could have totally avoided this if you would have let me know. I hate being out of the loop.”
“Be quiet!” Cameron’s head was killing her enough without adding Brody’s loud complaints. “I need to think.”
