by Ellis, Tara
The four Minions all rotated toward each other, though Jason didn’t know how well they could see their faces. It didn’t seem to matter how fancy the set-up; the large viewport always fogged-up to a degree. But something Eddy said had gotten them worked up.
“How long since you…um, woke up?” A third man with a nasally voice asked.
“Over twelve hours ago,” Eddy answered. “I believe I was comatose for around two days.” He hesitated, then looked at Jason before turning back to their group of observers. “After doctoring myself to the best of my ability this morning, I began the process of investigating the most notable changes. Do you have other, recovered individuals here, yet? I’m assuming more have begun to surface.”
Again, the Minion-excitement dance. Jason was becoming acutely aware that he was on the outside of some pertinent information.
“Three,” the woman answered. “Twenty more in coma’s, thirty infected, and two with immunity.”
Eddy tsked. “Not nearly enough, but I suppose it’s a start.”
“We were in communication with a dozen other sites,” nasal-voice explained. “We managed to compile some of their data prior to losing contact. We’ll be sending the unit that brought you back out to physically go and retrieve more.”
“Excellent.” Eddy nodded, though Jason still couldn’t detect any hint of enthusiasm.
Jason frowned for a second time while staring at his friend, wondering how much of an impact the illness had. He’d mentioned changes.
The man nearest them lifted his yellow arms and gestured for them all to move. “Let’s get inside.”
“Are we going to have to wear those?” Jason asked, falling in behind Eddy. “And, you know dogs are immune, right? My dog Marty here has been with me the whole time and he’s fine. I was assured he’d be able to stay with me. That’s a requirement for me.”
The lead Minion looked back briefly as they approached a large metal door set into the side of the concrete building. “Negative on the suits,” deep-voice said. “Your CM masks are adequate for now.” Jason guessed the guy was military, based on how he spoke and the terms he chose to use. “The dog is fine,” he added, pulling the door open. “Just keep control of him.”
They were met inside the door by a couple more minions, eager to collect blood samples before they were led away. Their trip through the building was a blurred maze of stark hallways, hazmat containment stations where they got bio jumpsuits, a specially marked BSL (Bio-Safety Level) elevator for Level 4, and then more hallways and safety stations. They passed quite a few other people in various types of protective gear, getting bigger and bulkier the further they descended underground. The masks with their limited vision made it all a bit more surreal, and Jason’s optimism had begun to fade by the time they finally reached what appeared to be their destination.
Two of the Minions left them at the entrance to the BSL 4, but the woman and nasal-voice led them through another hall and one more over-sized door at the end of a decontamination room. On the other side was what looked to have been a small lab, stripped of enough furniture to accommodate two cots and a table.
“You can remove your masks once we’ve left,” the woman said. She kept her back to the door, giving Jason the impression that she was ready to bolt at the first sign of non-compliance.
Eddy dropped his bag and clasped his hands together. “This will do fine as a place to stay, but I’d like to meet immediately with whatever team you have working on The Kuru.”
The Minions exchanged a look through their hoods, making it anything but discreet. “I’m Dr. Cross,” the woman said. “And this is Mr. McCombs. We’re part of that team, so we’ve been tasked with getting you settled for the night and collecting whatever research you have for us to start going over in the morning.”
“You guys can call me Trent,” Mr. McCombs said. He sounded nervous, and he rambled on before anyone else could say anything. “I was assigned as Dr. Cross’s assistant a few days before all of this started, so I’m really just here by chance. I’m going to work as your assistant, too. So, you can call me Trent, and let me know when you need something. I’ll be down every few hours to take Marty outside,” he continued, looking at Jason.
The first stirrings of claustrophobia tickled at the edges of Jason’s resolve. They were what, three or four levels underground? The suggestion that he wasn’t allowed to take his dog out was enough to give the panic a solid push forward. “I don’t need you to take my dog out,” he said as evenly as he could muster. “I’ll do it myself.”
Dr. Cross glared at Trent. “Of course, Dr. Hunter…um, Jason. We just need to keep you under observation for a little while to confirm you’re prion-free. I’m sure you can understand that?”
“We’re more than happy to comply,” Eddy answered for them. “Except I’m going to hold onto my research until I have the opportunity to present it in person. I’m sure you can understand that?”
Jason was at first irritated with Eddy for speaking for him, but then had to hold back a chuckle at his brazenness. While he was once again acting out of character, it was a move Jason could get behind. It was clear they were in a vulnerable position. And although he wanted to help, it was imperative for Jason that they firmly established their own rules. Knowing how the military worked, unless they were seen as a part of the team, and not just assets, they wouldn’t maintain any rights. And Jason planned on walking out of that building whenever he chose to.
Another face appeared on the other side of the window in the door. Booming voice was back. “We all set here?”
When neither Eddy or Jason protested, Dr. Cross cleared her throat. “Yes, Sergeant. We’ll go from here in the morning.”
His military standing confirmed, Jason watched with interest as the two left, and made note of the firearm the sergeant was holding at the ready after they’d passed. He nodded at Jason before closing the door and an audible click echoed in the room as they were locked in.
Jason pulled off the com’s unit first, and then the mask, before turning to Eddy. “This might have been a mistake coming here.”
Eddy dropped his mask onto one of the cots before raising an eyebrow at him. “Really? You know of another level four lab somewhere capable of doing the research I need, that’s both operational and willing to accommodate us? I’d say we’re rather fortunate.”
At first, Jason thought Eddy was being his normal, sarcastic self and waited for the punchline. When it didn’t come, he cocked his head at him and scoffed. “Lucky? We’re locked in an underground lab and have zero control over what’s happening at the moment. I’d say we’re screwed.”
Eddy shoved his bag against the wall next to his cot, and then sat down at the table. “On the contrary, Jason. The world is presently a pressure cooker and we’re all in it, regardless of any locked doors. The simple truth of it is we’re at a point where we’ll do what we can to help, and it may or may not be enough for some. For the rest? It’s already over. So, yes. I’d say we’re extremely lucky to have landed here.”
Jason stood motionless. It didn’t matter that every word Eddy said was accurate. Or that Jason’s selfish perception was grossly wrong. Eddy should have commiserated with him while beseeching the government and all of it’s unscrupulous actions both past and present, before eventually coming around to the same conclusion. That was the sort of man Eddy was. It was why they were best friends.
While the extinction of mankind, and a life-threatening illness were good reasons for a person to act differently, it was more than that. It was as if Eddy’s personality had been sucked out of him, and all that was left was his logic. Granted, the guy was a genius and his judgement was still obviously sound, but—the way he came around to it wasn’t…Eddy.
“What’s happened to you?”
Eddy didn’t flinch at Jason’s words. There was no grimace, or sigh that indicated any sorrow. He simply blinked once, interlaced his fingers on the table, and looked up at Jason with a chilling indiffer
ence. “For the first time in my existence, I’m able to think clearly.”
Jason hadn’t moved, other than to reach out a hand to rest on Marty’s head. “And what is it that you’re thinking?”
Bending over to remove his shoes, Eddy then stood, stretched, and lay down on the cot. “That while this prion disease may have enabled me to help more by removing the clutter in my head, I don’t believe it will have the same outcome for most others.”
Jason forced his feet to move, and he went to sit on the second cot, across from Eddy. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, doc,” he said, trying again to create the light banter that was the hallmark of their friendship. “Break it down for the simple man.”
Eddy had closed his eyes, and his chest rose and fell in the steady rhythm of sleep. But he wasn’t asleep. “Everyone’s brain is wired differently,” he said, his voice hardly more than a whisper. “Pre-ordained to be driven by one thing or another. Mine, is compelled by science. To understand and dissect information in order to maintain life. But the others…”
The others.
Eddy had drifted off, and Jason lay down slowly, without looking away from him. He had a powerful, terrifying premonition that he’d soon find out what that meant.
Chapter 19
JESS
Amazon Jungle near Kumalu, Suriname
Northeast Interior of South America
Jess pulled the sheet up over her head. She knew she’d slept in, since the rooster had crowed over an hour earlier, but she was determined to stay in bed.
“Jess!” Akuba begged, tugging at the sheet. She’d just walked into the room and had seen Jess’s attempt at evasion. “I was going to let you sleep, but you’re going to have to get up. Your father—”
Jess rolled over abruptly at the tone in Akuba’s voice. After all they’d already been through, and the strangeness from the night before, she couldn’t imagine what it would take to rattle her. “What now?”
Akuba’s eyes darted toward Jess’s large window seat, which looked out over the front and side-yard. “He’s packed up a good deal of his belongings into those trucks. I’m surprised all the noise he made didn’t wake you up.”
Jess wrinkled her nose. She’d heard some of it, but was half-asleep and not curious enough to go investigate. “I need a day, Akuba. Just a day away from him so I don’t have to—” she looked away, guilty for feeling relief that he might be going on a trip somewhere. However, once Jess had a chance to think about it, a new sort of frown worked its way into her features. “Where in world would he be going?” she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
“He didn’t say.” Akuba went to a nearby chair, and picking up the shorts and t-shirt laying on it, tossed them to Jess. “But he asked for you.”
Swallowing, Jess quickly got dressed, wishing she was still asleep. With her eyes closed, she could pretend it was like any other Saturday morning and her father was going on some sort of fun excursion into the jungle. Maybe he’d allow Jess to tag along, and Goldie would scamper alongside them through the canopy of the trees, eliciting laughter from both her and the other scientists.
“Jess?”
Jess startled, and had to shake her head to focus on the harsh reality. The longing she had to drift back into the fantasy scared her. Was she losing her mind?
“Jess, are you okay?” Akuba took hold of her arm and scrutinized her. “I’ll tell him you’re not well. Get back into bed.”
“No!” Jess gave her head another shake, as much for her own resolve as to convince Akuba. She knew inherently that to allow herself to crawl back into the bed would be a mistake. “I’ll go talk to him. I need to talk to him.”
Akuba released Jess and stepped aside. “He’s down by the barn. And Jess—”
Jess stopped at her door and looked back, waiting for Akuba to continue.
“He isn’t alone. There are…others.”
Her brows furrowed, Jess mulled that over. She didn’t understand. “The guys from last night?”
“One of them,” Akuba confirmed. “Plus, two more who showed up during the night. They’re like him.”
“Like him…” Jess’s voice trailed off as she thought about what that meant. “You mean, they got the Kra Puru and recovered?”
Akuba looked worriedly again toward the window. “Kavish says it is more than simply being ill. That the way your dad has been acting…so, detached? It’s how they all are, just like in the ancient stories.”
Though Akuba had implied just as much when she told Jess the old story about the Kra Puru, to hear it said so bluntly was hard to accept. “So, you guys believe my dad doesn’t have a soul anymore?” she asked, anger creeping into her voice.
Akuba’s head snapped back from the window like she’d been slapped. “You know I love your father, Jess. He’s basically raised me since I was sixteen. It is what Kavish believes. I think the behavior could be explained medically, if the ability to do so existed. Right now, it doesn’t, so we have to accept that regardless of the real cause, the resulting behaviors might eventually be the same. We must be…cautious. That is all I’m saying. Please.”
Jess knew it was the fear making her angry; not Akuba. Because she was right. Jess had recognized the changes in those first minutes after her father woke up. Instead of improving, it had gotten worse. She put her hand over top of Akuba’s, still gripping her arm. “I understand.”
It was all she needed to say. Akuba moved aside but followed closely as they walked outside into the hot, humid morning. Jess could imagine how unbearable it would soon be inside the house without the air conditioning. At least the main structure of the building hadn’t been altered since it was built so many years ago, long before air conditioning, so the windows and doors were arranged to allow for airflow.
Thinking about the heat was a distraction as Jess approached their truck, where her dad was busy shoving a box into the backseat. The bed was already full of the equipment she’d been messing with in the barn. Jess’s frown deepened as she looked at the other two trucks lined up in the gravel driveway. One had some of her father’s personal items, and the other a good chunk of the food store she’d recently finished inventorying.
“What are you doing?” she blurted, forgetting about her promise to be careful. “Where are you taking all of this?”
Eric turned slowly from his task, shielding his eyes so he could see Jess without being blinded. It was such a normal gesture that she had a brief flash of hope. “Pack your things, Jessica. You have an hour.”
Her optimism crushed, Jess screwed up her courage and stood her ground. “No. Not until you tell me where we’re going.”
This should have been the point where her father scoffed at her, placed his hands on his hips and looked down his nose at her as his voice grew stern and he reminded Jess of how she was only fourteen. Instead, he simply finished pushing the box inside and continued to speak in the same, dead-pan tone of indifference. “We’re moving to the Libi Nati Resort.” Closing the door of the truck, he began to walk away, back to the barn.
Jess stepped in front of him. “No! We have to stay here, Dad. The Libi Nati is our home!”
Eric gestured toward the various buildings. “This isn’t the Libi Nati, it’s only named after it. I need to be closer to the hot springs, and the resort has the space and rooms that we’ll need. Akuba and Kavish may return to their people, where they belong. You belong with me.”
Jess reeled away from him, unsure if it was his words that upset her the most, or the way he said them. The thought that Kavish was right thrummed through her mind, and Jess fought against the compulsion to believe it. “But you hate the resort!” she countered, taking a step back in his direction as he began walking again, pleading with him. “We all belong together. What do you need the extra rooms for?”
As they reached the open doors of the barn, a sedan Jess didn’t recognize pulled up behind the line of trucks, interrupting their conversation. The same unknown man fro
m the previous night got out from behind the wheel, and a middle-aged woman slowly emerged from the passenger seat.
“I found her.” The man closed his door and motioned for the pale, staggering woman to follow him. “The report was accurate.”
Report?
Jess looked back-and-forth between the new arrivals and her father, trying to piece it together. Meanwhile, Mr. Van appeared from behind the barn, carrying two cases of water.
“We’ll need the rooms for my guests,” Eric said casually, like he was telling Jess about the weather. “For our future, and everyone’s eventual survival.”
“I told you, he’s collecting them!” Kavish spat, his voice filled with fear and contempt.
Jess spun around to find him standing near Akuba. She hadn’t heard Kavish approaching, and was happy to see that he was still there. She’d been afraid he’d left during the night. Though, it was clear the older man was terrified, and he was staring at her dad as if he were the devil.
Mr. Van scowled at Kavish before stopping in front of Eric, still holding the water. “I’ve buried the guy that passed away this morning, and we’re ready to move the other two.” He turned to Kavish and Akuba. “He’s saving them.”
“Then why not save the people at the hospital who were just ill, and not in a coma?” Kavish yelled. “Why not round up those of us who are immune to the Kra Puru, to band together and survive? No.” Kavish shook his head emphatically and staggered back several steps, away from the other men. “He only wants those touched by the Kra Puru. That’s why he’s seeking out those who have already woken, or are still unconscious.” His voice lowered to a growl. “He wants to be there when they wake up. To see the same dull, soulless look in their eyes.”
