The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments)

by Jacqueline Druga

  “OK so we were wrong; it wasn’t dropping something off. Can we head back now?” Cal pointed down the hill. “I’m freezing.”

  “Yeah, it’s even too cold for me.” Jake began walking with her.

  “Hey, it’s still early. You want to go back to bed?”

  “Nah, I’m not tired. You go ahead though.”

  “No, Jake. Do you want to go back to bed?”

  “Cal . . .” Jake’s voice took on a pacifying tone. “You go ahead. I’m not tired.”

  “Major Graison, I will ask you one more time and after that you’re out of luck. Do you want to go back to bed?”

  Jake laughed a quick ‘ha’ and wrapped his arm around her neck tugging her to him. He kissed her on the cheek. “I knew what you meant.” He kissed her again before releasing her. “And, I would love . . .”

  “What’s wrong?” She noticed he had stopped.

  “Do you smell that?” Jake turned his head to her. “It smells like a wet dog.”

  “Yeah, I do. It’s strong.”

  “I wonder where . . .” Jake’s eyes grew wide as he caught a glimpse of it following them. “Shit.”

  “What . . . shit,” Cal said as she turned around and also saw it.

  “Don’t move.” Jake held his hand out. “Don’t run.”

  It growled at them, snarling loudly as it watched them. It was a silver back wolf with its mouth open, excessive saliva dripping from its white fangs.

  “Cal. No sudden movements.” Jake had her walking slowly backwards. “Don’t look him in the eyes.” Moving his hand slowly, Jake reached behind his back for his pistol. It wasn’t there. “Fuck. I left my gun in the room.”

  “Well, Major Graison, care to tell me how we’re getting out of this mess?”

  “Just move slow . . . God that is the biggest wolf I have ever seen.”

  Cal noticed that for every step they took, the wolf took one. “He’s going to get us, isn’t he, Jake?”

  “I don’t think. Just keep moving very . . .”

  With a loud chesty growl the wolf opened his mouth and leaped forward straight at Cal.

  Cal saw it charge her. She smelled its foul breath. Moments before its dripping jaws sank into her, at the split second he opened his mouth inches from her face, Jake’s instincts sent his hand outward, snatching the wolf by the throat and instantly snapping its neck. After a high pitch yelp and a crack, he dropped the wolf to the ground.

  “Holy shit!” Cal grabbed her chest. “Did you just do that?” She looked down at the dead wolf and then up at a concerned looking Jake. “You are incredible. You saved my life.”

  “Let’s just head back.”

  “Do you think there are more?”

  “Cal, we need to move.” He took her arm and began to lead her.

  “What a rush! Whoa.” She shook her head in amazement.

  “Cal, listen to me closely.” Noticing they were twenty yards from the building, Jake leaned his head to her as they walked and said softly, “When I say run . . . you move those skinny legs as fast as you can.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “Run!”

  Cal sped forward, her legs charging on the cold hard ground. Jake ran but not at his top speed, staying right behind Cal for safety’s sake.

  “Get in the building!” he yelled.

  Using all her weight, Cal flung open the main doors in her forward run. Barreling in right behind was Jake and they closed the door together. The slam of the door may have shut out the ensuing wolf, but it did not stop its pursuit. The wolf slammed hard against the door causing the hinges to shake.

  Jake leaned against the door to hold it closed. The banging grew louder and he bounced with every strike the wolf made. He reached for the bolt. “Shit it’s frozen. Cal, go get me my shot gun and hurry.”

  Running as fast she could to her room, Cal retrieved the weapon. She loaded it as she hurried back to the gathering room. As she slid to a stop inside, Jake was stepping from the door.

  “I finally got it . . .” The wolf came crashing through the thin door, splinters of wood flying about as he noisily lunged for an unprepared Jake.

  A click-click of the pump and Cal fired one shot sending the wolf right back through the huge hole it had just flung itself through. “Are there any more?” Cal stepped forward, holding the shot gun pointed outward as she peered through the hole. Another snarl, another growl, and another wolf’s head poked through the hole. Cal fired as soon as she saw it. “We are going to have to fix that hole.”

  Eyes going from the hole in the door to Cal, Jake paused, and then stared in awe at her. He was so shocked at what had just transpired. So charged up from what she did for him, he did something out of the ordinary, he smiled brightly at her. “You weren’t kidding when you said what a rush. You saved my life.”

  “It’s about time. I still have two more times to catch up to you.” Cal checked the shot gun, then Jake. “Gees, Jake you look weird.”

  “I just . . .” Jake shuddered. “Wow. I never expected that. It felt excellent.”

  “Isn’t that a really great feeling? You are moments from death and then snatched away from it unexpectedly? The shock leaves you breathless.”

  “You aren’t kidding.” Jake stared into her eyes as he began to walk toward her. “And I am incredibly turned on.” He took hold of her face and kissed her intensely. “Let’s go.” He slid his hand down grabbing hers, leading her.

  “Wait, what about the hole in the door?”

  “Oh.” Jake glanced around to see what he could grab for a quick fix. He spotted the bookshelf, ran to it and slid it over the door. He retook her hand and quickly began to escort her from the room. He wouldn’t even allow them to slow down when Jennifer, John, and Carlos came running to the hall claiming they heard shots. Jake merely told them ‘wolves’ as he hurried Cal past them into her room.

  ^^^^

  Cal looked up at Jake as she sat on the bed retying her boots. She watched him through the tops of her eyes as he put his shirt back on and tucked it into his still unsnapped pants. “So what do we do now, Jake?”

  Jake snapped his pants. “I’ll have to fix that front door. Then I want to check, just in case another wolf or two is hanging around out there.”

  “I hope.”

  “Me, too, we finally got a little excitement.”

  “Tell me about it.” Cal placed her foot on the floor and ran her fingers through her hair. “Jake, could you hand me my shirt? You threw it somewhere over there.”

  Searching, Jake bent down, picked it up and handed it to her when he found it. “I really do think we’ve found your switch,” Cal said as she put on her shirt. “Some people are turned on by leather. You, you’re turned on by being near death.”

  “No, no.” Jake shook his head. “That is not it. I have been at death’s door before, but I think, no, I know, it has to do with the fact that it was you that was there with me. You, little lady impressed the hell out of me, and no one has ever done that. You act fast, think fast. And you aren’t afraid. That with the fact you used those qualities to stop something from happening to me, made me . . . made me . . .”

  “Want to stop everything and have sex?”

  Jake grinned.

  “So, Major Graison, feel like wolf hunting?”

  “I would love to go . . .”

  “Dudes!” Rickie, with his normal timing, knocked continuously on the door.

  Jake immediately glared at the door. “What does he have, radar?” Annoyed, he opened the door. “What?”

  “Dude . . .” Rickie walked in. “Check this out. I was like going to get some nourishment and I was walking through the living room. There’s like Carlos, Jennifer, and John all leaning against this bookshelf. So, I’m like, ‘Guys, why you moving furniture?’ And then I heard this noise, right? I notice, because I’m the perceptive guy, the bookshelf is moving. Sarge, we have some serious mammal problems.”

  “Shit.” Jake, grabbing his shot gun, ran to the hal
l. “Cal, grab the M-16.” He raced down the hall. As he stepped into the gathering room he could hear the growling of the beast outside the door. Jennifer, John, and Carlos were diligently trying to hold the bookshelf against the door.

  Pumping the chamber on the shot gun, Jake raised it and aimed it, prepared to tell the three who held back the wolf to move. He heard the click of the M-16, Jake turned his head and smiled when he Cal standing side by side with him. “On my call, Cal,” he said.

  “Whenever you’re ready, Major.”

  Jake prepared to bark his order but hesitated. “Wait up.” He lowered his weapon.

  John was breaking a sweat and yelled to Jake, “What are you doing? We can’t hold this back much longer.” Upset, he looked toward Rickie who was jumping up trying to see out the only window in the room. “Could you give us a hand?”

  “Dude, I’m trying to see how many.” He jumped again, but couldn’t make it out.

  Jake moved to the window and gently moved Rickie out of the way. “Go hold back the shelf.” Jake easily peered out the window. “OK we have wolves.”

  John was visibly upset. “No shit, Jake. How many? It feels like two of them.”

  “It’s definitely more than one.” Jake turned his eyes to Cal.

  Cal knew by the look on his face, the twitch in his eye, that something was wrong. “Jake?”

  “OK.” Jake grasping his shot gun, walked center room. “You four hold that shelf. I can’t take them out from here. I have to go up. Cal . . .” he looked at her and asked, “You game?”

  “Lead the way.”

  “Excellent.” He placed his hand on her back and led her from the room. Stopping before going down the hall, he faced the struggling four. “Give us a minute. I have to get rope from my room.” He turned, and then stopped. “And uh . . . good thing that shelf is metal, huh?” Jake marched out.

  John turned suddenly to Carlos who was bouncing around as much as he was. “He’s such a dick.”

  ^^^^

  “Jake . . . found them.” Cal emerged from the bathroom carrying two rolled up ropes. “Why do we need ropes?”

  “Just in case.” Jake made sure both weapons were loaded and handed Cal the rifle. “All ready.” He took the ropes, throwing them over his shoulder.

  “How are you fixed on ammo?”

  “Oh, I’m fine. I came prepared.” Jake opened the bedroom door. “You and me Cal, we’re hooked up.”

  Cal followed him down the hall. “And where are we going? The gathering room is that way.”

  “To the roof.”

  “Can I have the shot gun?”

  “No, you have an M-16.”

  “Come on, Jake I feel real cool with the shot gun.”

  “The M-16 is cool. No, Cal, the shot gun’s mine.” He looked up at the ceiling as they reached the end of the hall.

  “Please.”

  “All right . . . here.” He exchanged weapons with her and turned the M-16 upside down. With the butt of it he pressed up on the ceiling, opening a hatch. “Get on the roof.” Extending his arm up Jake jumped once. As he came down he pulled with him a sliding ladder. He motioned his hand toward it signaling Cal to go first.

  “How did you know this was here?” She stepped her foot on the first rung.

  “Did you really think I didn’t scope this place out? Now up. Hurry.” Nudging her by her backside, Jake gave her a boost up. He watched her climb and then he followed. He could hear Cal running across the roof as he climbed the ladder.

  “Shit, Jake.” Cal peered over the edge. “There’s . . . one, two . . . seven of them.”

  “I know. Now keep your voice down.” Jake joined her, pulling her down to sit beside him. “Here’s the plan.”

  “We have a plan?”

  “Yes,” Jake snapped. “You have the shot gun. You concentrate on the close range. They’re going to scatter when we fire so, I’ll try to catch them. Try to be accurate.”

  “Me? You be accurate. Let’s just do this.” Cal brought herself to her knees to peer over the ledge. “They are a determined bunch.”

  “They are probably hungry. Look . . . when you hang over the edge, be careful you don’t fall. OK?”

  Cal laughed. “What are they going to do jump up . . .” Cal shrieked as the snarling jaws of a wolf lunged within a foot of her face. She jumped back. “Fuck.”“

  ”Are you satisfied, Miss Mouth? Are we ready now?”

  Still in shock a little, Cal nodded and slowly raised her weapon again. “I’m ready.” She visually charted out which wolf she would go for first, then second. Within moments they began to fire upon the small pack of wolves.

  ^^^^

  It appeared to weigh nothing as Jake carried the heavy door he had taken from the bathroom in Rickie’s old room into the gathering room. Jake carried that the door along with a hammer under his arm and nails in his mouth. “Cal.” He spoke muffled, lifting his chin toward her to remove the nails, which she did. “You guys can move away from that shelf now.”

  “Hey, Sarge,” Rickie said. “Like that’s my door, can I have my poster back before you use it to block the hole?

  After giving Rickie a sneer, Jake walked up to the bunch, resting the door he carried against the wall. He slid the shelf out of the way, whistling when he saw the blood stained door and the huge hole in the center of it. “That’s a big hole.”

  John’s mouth dropped open. “No shit, Jake. And you just left it there.”

  “I put the shelf in front of it.” Jake slid the new door over the old one and lined up a nail. He pounded it twice, driving it in and took another nail from Cal’s hand.

  “A lot of good it did though,” John continued. “All you say is wolves, and you leave the shelf to block the door.”

  “I thought it would hold them back.” Jake placed in another nail.

  “Jake!” John snapped at him. He noticed Jake’s glare and at that moment didn’t worry. “The wolf put a huge hole in the door. Did you really think the shelf would stand on its own?”

  “John! Why are you bitching at me?” Jake halted in his pounding to stare him down. “It’s not wise. Trust me.” Without looking Jake reached his hand out for another nail.

  “I don’t mean to bitch at you, Jake. Common sense should tell you if the wolf was strong enough to go through a wooden door, it was going to knock the shelf over. You should have at least warned us of that possibility before you ran off.”

  “At the moment I ran off, I really didn’t care.” Jake slammed the hammer into the final nail so hard it rang in everyone’s ear. “I still don’t.”

  Seeing that he was getting nowhere with Jake and the ‘hole’ issue, John tried another line of questioning. “So, do you think there are more? Do you think they’ll come back?”

  “How the hell would I know? I’m a Ranger, not a fuckin’ Forest Ranger.” Jake looked at his completed project. “Done, and you can still open it.” He turned to knob immediately bringing into view the scattered carcasses. “Oh man, do they stink.” Jake covered his nose with the back of his hand and shut the door. “We killed them.” He laid his hand on Cal’s back. “You people move them.” Amid the moans that emanated from the group, Jake smiled snidely and walked out with Cal.

  Sand Dune Casino - Las Vegas, NV

  November 19 - 8:22 P.M.

  Between the forefinger and middle finger of his left hand, Aldo clenched the cigarette. Phone gripped between his ear and shoulder, his right hand rested just above his eyes as he sat behind his desk. “I’m listening.”

  “Virus bred,” Bar explained over the phone, “It’s new to this experiment and eighty percent fatal. Someone weak won’t beat it at all.”

  Exhaling a long breath, Aldo sat back and rubbed his head. “Damn it.” He took a moment to think. “So, as long as they don’t get bit, they’re fine, right? Graison and my girl, are they doing good taking them out?”

  “For the time being they are,” Barb answered. “But his arsenal isn’t that big.”


  “How many are we talking about?”

  Barb hesitated before answering, “Over the next two weeks, maybe two hundred.”

  “Fuckin’ Jefferson,” Aldo snapped forward. “He wants to keep the pot again this experiment, doesn’t he?”

  “Absolutely, and he’ll try anything. After all . . .” Barb said, “we don’t have the catch this time.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  November 22 - 7:30 A.M.

  “Sarge, please,” Rickie pleaded with Jake. “Let me go and shoot with you today.”

  “No, Rickie. We have to conserve my ammo. I cannot take a chance on you wasting it.” He tossed Cal the rifle. “Cal, don’t ask . . .” He saw her mouth shut. “I get the shotgun today. You’re already winning the wolf count.”

  Cal smiled as she took the rifle. “It’s Cal ten and Jake seven.”

  “Don’t rub it in.” Jake tried to move around the room to get ready to go, but Rickie followed close behind. “Rickie, get out now.”

  “Sarge, I can do this. You have that cool gun that shoots that red light first . . .”

  “Out.” Jake opened up the bathroom door for him. “Give us a moment. We need to mentally prepare for this.”

  “Fine, gun hogs.” Rickie jumped as Jake slammed the door on him.

  Cal snickered as Jake locked the door. “Mentally prepare?”

  “Oh, what does he know?” Jake sat down on the bed with her, shot gun between his legs. “It should be anytime now.”

  ^^^^

  Watching the monitor of Cal’s room, Hawk shook his head at Carl in utter annoyance. “Graison’s so arrogant. I just hate him.”

  Carl gave an upward nod of his head. “Do it. Hit the homing device. Let’s get him.”

  Ornery was the grin that graced Hawks face as he reached for the button under the counter and pressed it.

  ^^^^

  “What the fuck?” Jake slowly stood up from the bed.

  It started as a soft rumble, an odd sound they hadn’t heard before. It grew closer. The sound was almost too deep and thick to be real. Not what they expected, not what had happened the previous on the two mornings. Like the motor on a large truck rolling down the road, the sound came into focus. There was growling, more growling than they had ever heard.