Ilium walked over to her and asked, “Well, did you find anything?”
“Yeah. Something about genetic modification and Code BK Max. Does any of that ring a bell?”
Ilium shook his head. “Nope. Can’t say it does.”
“I also discovered that my cryochamber opening prematurely was no accident.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It was deliberate. I watched video footage of a shadowy figure entering the room shortly after you exited. The figure pressed a series of buttons outside of my chamber after which my pod opened.”
“Do you think someone intended to kill you?”
Avalon’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know. But it sure seems like it. If you had not been there to rescue me, I would have died.”
Ilium nodded his head. “Or, perhaps, someone wanted you awake ahead of time.”
Chapter Nine
Fragmented images haunted Avalon that night. Her nightmare did not start off that way. At first, she dreamt of the world outside. She held someone’s hand as the wind washed over her face. But then her friends began choking. Why were they choking? What were they choking on?
Avalon startled awake. Her hair was matted on her face as she had sweated profusely. As her heart rate returned to normal, Avalon kicked off the sheets to her bed and hurriedly got dressed for the day.
Avalon returned to her work station and her team mates. While there, she reflected on how she came to enter the habitat in the first place.
The government pretended to hold a lottery for a slot in the habitat to keep the peace in streets. The trick to the lottery was that anything could disqualify you— from traffic violations to littering. If you made the lottery cuts, the next step was to participate in a series of tests. What the public was not privy to was that the 5,000 people were largely pre-chosen from birth. This reselection was mainly based upon genetics. Those pre-chosen went through the motions of taking tests, but as long as they passed the psychological and physical tests, they were pretty much assured entry.
Interestingly, the world population stopped growing and began to reverse in the decade before the asteroid hit. Some conspiracy theories said it must be chemicals the government placed in the water. Others said the government created climate change through seeding the clouds and causing some areas to experience drought while other parts of the country were expecting too much rainfall which led to flooding. In some states, it was a crime to collect rainwater, a natural resource from God. These rules were actually enforced by “water police” who could issue citations and even place you in jail for a few days. The water issue got so bad, that some people burst open fire hydrants for fresh water.
Of course, as far as America was concerned, people had long stopped believing in something the Boomer and Millennial generations described as the “American dream.” It was basic enough—a house, two or three kids, two cars, and a TV and laptop per person. While most people had the technology part, very few owned homes. Homes were only for the rich. And the middle class continued to erode while only the lower and upper classes blossomed. The wealth of the upper class grew exponentially, and the traditional ways of entering via meritocracy, i.e. entrepreneurship or university attendance, all but dissipated.
In those last days, the people who were rich enough began hiding in their shelters. Of course, if they lacked a cryochamber or other mechanisms besides canned foods to survive, they wouldn’t last very long. The affluent who were also intelligent maintained a low profile and drove luxury armored vehicles. Others weren’t so lucky. When the panic began, several people were left dead as others broke into their shelters. Sometimes in their haste, the trespassers permanently damaged the very shelter they took by force.
Someone waved a hand in front of Avalon’s face, bringing her back to reality.
“Earth to Avalon,” Skylar said.
“Hey,” Avalon said.
Skylar rolled her eyes. “Viggo is here to see you.”
“Viggo?” Avalon asked.
“Yes. Viggo,” Skylar pointed to Viggo who stood near the door.
Avalon cautiously walked up to Viggo. She hadn’t seen him in person since she woke up. Sure, her father worked with him and he had been over to the house, and he appeared to be a nice guy then. But why now? Why care about me so much now?
Viggo wore his trademark black rimmed glasses which barely covered the dark circles underneath his eyes. He was a bit lankier than Avalon remembered, and his hair showed a few signs of gray around the temples, though the majority was still a dark shade of brown.
“Hey,” Avalon said, like it was a question.
“Hey,” Viggo responded, concern in his eyes. “I am so sorry I haven’t had a chance to see how you were doing. I have just been so busy with everything.”
Avalon remained silent.
“Your father charged me with helping to watch over you. I here you are very successful which doesn’t surprise me. I didn’t expect anything less from Avalon Adams,” he added with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Avalon nodded. While it was like her father to assign a guardian over her, she wasn’t sure Viggo would have been her first choice. He was always kind of absentminded, no matter how brilliant he was at science. “Thank you,” Avalon muttered.
Viggo peered over her head and into the computer lab and then back at her. “Listen, can we step outside for a moment? I want to chat with you for a few minutes.”
Avalon glanced over her shoulder at Xin who nodded and said, “Five minutes.”
Viggo walked along the corridor with Avalon. “Now how are you really doing?” he asked.
“I am okay,” she said.
“I am not trying to be nosey,” he said readjusting his glasses onto the bridge of his nose. “It’s just that there have been some strange occurrences happening.”
Yes! He sees it too.
“Like what? I haven’t noticed anything strange.” Play it cool. Let him reveal information to you.
“Now, Avalon. You are too intelligent for that. There is no need to fib to me. You are telling me you haven’t noticed several of the Compatios becoming sick?”
Avalon nodded.
“I am worried about you,” Viggo said as he placed one hand on top of her shoulder.
“But I am not a Compatio. So why would you be worried about me?”
“I always worry about you. Remember? I have been entrusted with your safety.”
Avalon looked at Viggo.
“If you’ve noticed the Compatios turning sick, why haven’t you alerted the Council or the President?” Avalon asked.
“Oh, I have,” Viggo said. “They know all about it. But they don’t want to create alarm throughout the habitat, so we are trying to keep everything quiet.”
Avalon studied his face. Viggo had said her father asked him to watch over her. But her father said in the necklace to trust no one.
“I really should go back. I think it has been five minutes,” Avalon stated.
“Okay,” Viggo said, obviously a bit crestfallen. “But if you ever need me, you know you can call anytime.”
It would be good to have an adult on our side during this investigation thing. Maybe I can trust Viggo. But still…
Avalon smiled faintly and waved before returning to the computer lab.
At lunch time, Avalon sat by Ilium at the end of a long table. Skylar and the rest of the team waved at them from the opposite end of the table.
“Do you think Skylar or anyone is suspicious of us sitting here alone?” Avalon asked.
Ilium shrugged and said, “Who cares.”
A flush formed across her face. Avalon bit off a piece of fruit and asked, “So what else have you discovered?”
Looking around from side to side and lowering his voice, Ilium answered, “Well. I discovered that the universal shot we received has two different effects. If you are an Accipio or a Fulcio, there are no ill effects. However, if you are a Compatio, there is a high probability that you
will become sick, although not immediately.”
“So that could be what happened to Michelle. She was a Compatio.”
Ilium nodded his head in agreement.
“Also sounds like there could be two different universal shots,” Avalon whispered.
Ilium nodded and took a sip of water.
Avalon split open her potato and patted it with butter. She poured salt into it and mashed it all together before taking a bite. “We still don’t know who planted her body in my room, or why. It is someone in this habitat though. It scares me that we don’t know who.”
Ilium wrapped an arm around her. “Don’t worry I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Avalon flushed at the thought of Ilium being protective of her. “Thank you,” she said and took a sip of water. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Tell me, is it fatal for everyone?”
Ilium’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know yet. But from the questionnaire I found out some interesting things. But I will have to wait to tell you later on.”
Avalon chewed on her boiled egg. “I ran into Viggo today.”
“The scientist?” Ilium asked as he took a bite of his salad.
“In the flesh. You know he and my dad worked together back in the day.”
Ilium nodded. “What did he want?”
“I don’t know. He acted kind of peculiar. Said a bunch of stuff about Compatios getting sick and him being worried about me.”
“But you aren’t a Compatio.”
“Exactly,” Avalon said. Then she took a sip of water.
“Do you think he knows more than he is letting on?”
Before Avalon could answer that question, Kael walked towards them.
“Hey! What are you up to?” Kael asked Avalon.
“I am fine. How about you?” Avalon said.
“Good, I guess. Do you want to visit the rec room today?”
“No, not today. Maybe later this week?” she replied. Heat radiated from Ilium as he stared daggers at Kael. The gaze wasn’t lost on Kael who analyzed the situation, noting Ilium’s arm around Avalon’s waist.
“Ok,” Kael answered as his lips formed a tight line. He turned and walked away.
“What was that all about?” Ilium asked, irritation obvious in his voice.
“Nothing.” Avalon smiled. “Jealous much?”
“Not jealous. Just wondering if there is anything between you too.”
“No,” Avalon answered, taking another bite of her potato.
“Then why is that blonde girl Elena staring at you?” Ilium asked.
Avalon checked out the faces sitting around the Accipio table. Surely enough, Elena’s ice blue eyes were boring into Avalon like a laser through steel.
“I don’t know…” Avalon said. Kael didn’t say he had a girlfriend. Although I am sure plenty of girls are naturally interested in him. He is the most eligible bachelor around after all.
“But for some reason, I don’t think he would mind if something was between us,” Avalon said.
Ilium took another bite into his lettuce and tomato salad, chewing it a bit longer than he usually did.
“Besides, by hanging out with an Accipio I may get some more clues,” Avalon added.
Ilium had to admit she was right, although he kept the thought to himself. He scowled at the back of Kael’s head for the rest of the meal.
“Just promise me you will be careful. I don’t trust him,” Ilium said.
“I don’t think you trust any guy that much,” Avalon said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Ilium said.
“Nothing,” Avalon said.
“You can do what you want. Date who you want. I am just saying he is his father’s son. Make of that what you wish,” Ilium retorted.
Avalon did not care for the cavalier attitude Ilium displayed as he said date who you want. She didn’t know why, but she far preferred when he was jealous.
“Just meet me tonight in the storage room so we can discuss this some more,” Avalon said before leaving. Despite his efforts not to, Ilium watched the graceful sway of Avalon’s hips as she walked away from him.
At around 2000 hours that night Ilium met Avalon in the cluttered storage room. Avalon shivered in the corner, her lips turning a shade of purplish blue.
“You’re cold,” he said.
“I will be ok,” she answered, teeth chattering.
Ilium took his shirt off and handed it to her.
Avalon took in the sight. Despite lacking six pack abdominals, he wasn’t exactly flabby. His defined muscles were on a slim body. Avalon quickly slid the shirt over her head.
“Thanks,” she said with a smile.
Ilium returned the smile.
“So, the questionnaire and interviewing people yielded some interesting results. Turns out, word amongst the Compatios is that there is someone who will dole out extra rations and points as long as you follow him. No one knows who this person is who doles out extra rations and points, and no one sees people after they choose to follow him or her.”
“So why would they continue to go?” Avalon asked.
“Because they are starving,” Ilium answered. “Starvation has interesting effects on the human brain.”
Avalon mulled over what he said. “I have been thinking about what you said. I think that the universal shot must be triggering something in the Compatios,” Avalon said.
Ilium leaned forward. “I agree with your hypothesis. Indeed, once triggered, the virus appears to do more than just make them sick. It appears to change them. At a cellular level.”
“That doesn’t sound too good.” Avalon said with a frown. “What is it doing exactly?”
“It appears to be enhancing certain elements of their genome. Like genes which control things like strength and intelligence and immunity. But the process looks downright painful.”
“So it’s a beneficial virus then?”
“Apparently. If one survives the process,” he said.
Then Avalon removed his shirt and threw it back at him.
“Why are we trying to fix this thing?” Avalon asked.
“Because everyone doesn’t survive the process,” Ilium answered as he placed the shirt back over his head.
“I really think we should blow the top off this thing and let others know,” Avalon said.
“No,” he said. “You sure you don’t want to keep the shirt? It looks better on you.”
“If you walk around shirtless, they will suspect something is wrong. Besides, you have been shivering this whole time as well,” she said.
“See you later, Sherlock,” Ilium said with a smile.
That night Avalon reflected upon all the events which had transpired, as she struggled to distill and synthesize the truckload of information that was thrown at her over the course of a few weeks. Michelle’s body was there one minute and gone the next. Compatios were sick with a virus they should have been protected from. A virus which if it didn’t kill you, would make you stronger, faster, and smarter. Yet it wasn’t communicable because the members of the Fulcio and Accipio sectors were not catching it. A young man had already ventured outside before, but the government deliberately kept this information hidden from citizens.
This whole thing must be bigger than one person—it sounded like an orchestrated series of events. Who was working together to this end and why? No matter what question she asked, it all circled back to the same conclusion. She was trapped inside this habitat— with a killer.
Chapter Ten
The image of Michelle’s dead body lying in her dorm and disappearing did not leave Avalon.
Before she found Michelle’s body, Avalon believed there was a chance she could lay low, do what was asked of her, and perhaps make it outside alive. Now, everything had changed.
Yet, Avalon could not reveal to the others her true emotions. She did not know who she could trust, besides Ilium, so it was safest to trust no one.
Day after day, Avalon diligently searched
and looked for clues, careful not to leave a trail. Her keywords included, “how to activate a virus, how to create a retrovirus, trigger for retrovirus, virus promoter etc.” These terms pulled up about 656,000 articles per keyword, so it took some time to sift the wheat from the chaff. Many a night she fell asleep with the wallscreen still displaying search results.
Days began to take on a pattern. Work, eat, meet with Ilium. Her day to day job consisted of running full diagnostics on systems to ensure everything worked properly. Systems included things like the airlocks, oxygenator, air filters, water storage units, and backup power generator. If a system had problems, it was logged into her work queue.
Ilium stopped by every night and checked on her. Sometimes they played old fashioned card games into the wee hours. Other times they held each other as they whispered about what they missed from life before. Once he was assured she was okay and nothing out of the ordinary was happening, he returned to his dorm.
But one night he was late checking on Avalon. And then the walls in the dorm felt like they were tightening around her. Avalon kept her composure, and as soon as Ilium buzzed her door, she let out a sigh of relief.
“Sorry, I was late today. Had a bunch of paperwork and stuff to finish,” he said with a flushed face as he had run to her room.
But Avalon didn’t care about hearing why he was late. She was just grateful that he was here now.
But she also hated how much she had grown dependent on Ilium. And in such a short time span. What used to be something he did as a courtesy, she came to see as mandatory.
“Don’t worry about it. You’re here now,” Avalon said, staring into his sky blue eyes. A shiver ran through her.
What is it about Ilium? He is perfectly ordinary. He is not wealthy, or the President’s son. He isn’t exactly exciting. He’s risk averse. And yet…
He stepped closer, and rubbed the back of his hand against Avalon’s face.
“As long as I am here, you don’t have to be afraid. I don’t know exactly what is happening in the habitat, but it will have to go through me to get to you.”
After Impact: After Impact Trilogy, Book 1 Page 8
