Pala and Cabot scanned every dark face, looking for two specific profiles. They were halfway down the stairs when Quade called them from two floors above. His voice was tight and grim. The two of them remounted the stairs. The rest of the unit would finish the building.
Quade met them at the stairwell and silently led them straight down the hall. As they rounded the corner at the end, Pala saw her parents, lying on the floor, holding hands. Her mother was still, her neck at that impossible angle that said everything alive was gone. Pala felt drained of all emotion. She checked her mother’s pulse, anyway. There was nothing.
She turned to her father, where Cabot, his face thick with grief, squatted, trying to staunch the blood that was caked on the side of her father’s crushed face. Her father blinked, alive. His gaze roved until it found her. He spoke with garbled, wet words, his eyes wide with urgency. “Pala, take care of your mother.”
She nodded, saying, “I will Dad. I promise.” His pupils quivered. A giant red bubble worked out of his mouth. Then he had died, his gaze locked onto her, unmoving.
Denten’s voice broke into her thoughts. “That was more than an infection that killed Bardef.”
He pushed past her and squatted beside Laramie. Picking up a power syringe, he drew another vial of Bardef’s blood. Then he put in a new vial and pushed a fresh needle through Bardef’s chest and into his lung. After filling the syringe, he wove through the crowd toward his station, his face grim. Pala followed.
At his table he prepped a dish and a slide diaphragm. Then he dropped a sample of the blood onto each, packing the dish in a cushioned incubator box and repeated the process with the respiratory fluid. “This will take some time to get a true confirmation, but we might be able to see the same initial indicators that we found earlier.” He slid the blood under the scope and peered into the lens. A few seconds later he lifted his gaze, his expression grim. “We have a big problem. The virus is collapsing the healthy red blood cells. Something Makel said wouldn't happen in humans.”
She moved past him, centering her eyes over the viewer. The little blobs were moving, not dead like the ones she’d seen earlier. While she watched, one of the spiky virus-infused cells folded up on itself and became a long snaky infection-type cell. It leeched toward a normal red blood cell. The healthy cell collapsed, also folding. She stepped away from the microscope.
Pala clenched her jaw tight. Her gaze automatically rose to the hospital, where there was still a commotion around Bardef. Her hands started to shake and her stomach clenched tight. She pivoted abruptly and strode quickly to The Hawk, pushing through the rangers gathered there. Quade was busy speaking with the group, his back to her. She entered the cabin of her ship, snatched up her hand cannon, and then strode toward the animal holding cages. Passing Denten again, she said, “Get your syringe.”
He scooped up the syringe, a fresh needle and a couple of empty vials. As he ran to catch up to her, she pivoted toward Makel’s cage.
To the left, still within the group gathered around Bardef’s body, she saw Physe. He looked up at her and her cannon and said something to a nearby cadet. Physe then headed her way. The other cadet took off at a run toward The Hawk. No doubt for Quade.
Pala reached the cage first, opened the DNA lock, and then raised her weapon. A high-pitched whine filled the air. This was no stun setting. Makel stood up, belligerence all over his face. Her gaze locked on him. “Get down on your knees.”
“You can’t kill him,” Stastny shouted from the next cage.
Pala ignored him. Makel slowly dropped to the ground. “Now, reach back and grab your ankles behind you,” she ordered.
He hesitated, glancing at Stastny. Then he slowly leaned back and did as he was told.
“Dr. Denten’s going to take some of your blood now. I want no sudden movements on your part. Do you understand me?”
Makel licked his lips. He answered softly, “Yes.”
Pala motioned Denten forward. When he finished drawing blood, she waited until he backed away before proceeding. The image of Dr. Bardef’s death again filled her mind. He’d stared at her, questioning and begging. And there’d been nothing she could do. Her father’s face superimposed on Bardef’s.
“Pala.” Denten’s voice floated up from behind her.
She ignored him., still focused on Makel. “Get up.”
Makel stood and she stepped forward, placing the muzzle of her hand cannon against his cheek. She could hear Quade and Physe running toward her. Quade carefully entered the cage, breathing hard, but didn’t say anything.
Pala kept her gaze locked with Makel’s. “The virus is mutating. It killed Dr. Bardef.”
Makel jerked his head back as if slapped. “Mutating?”
Next door, Stastny grabbed the bars, “That can’t be!”
Makel spoke slowly, “Killing me would be a mistake. I know that virus better than anyone here. I can help find the anti-toxin.”
Pala gritted her teeth, knowing Makel was right. Killing him would be a mistake. He could help them, but how many people would die in the meantime because of him? She bridled her temper. “Fine. But I don’t want you too mobile; you might run away.” She lowered her cannon toward his foot, narrowed the setting to point specific and fired.
CHAPTER
25
As Pala backed away, Denten pushed past her, shouting for his medical kit. Flanked by Quade and Physe, Pala stepped out of the cage, only to be greeted by the somber faces of her men. Many were pale, some flushed. What she had originally assumed was shock or grief she now knew was the virus. These people were sick. Their faces reminded her of the few remaining leaves paling on the gopher trees.
Khamasa stood off to the side beneath the gentle sweep of what had once been a magnificent vine. She was sipping from a cup, steam rolling up her face. Why was she still here? She should be out burning the brush around her base camp.
Quade wrapped his hand around Physe’s arm. “You slept yet?”
“Nope.” Thick, dark hollows hung beneath the Master Sergeant’s eyes.
“Hit it. I want you as healthy as a jackrabbit. This is only gettin’ uglier.”
Physe ducked his head and angled off toward the tents. Pala turned to Quade, “Go get a planet-wide quarantine posted on the subspace frequency. I don't want anyone landing on or leaving this planet. Join me after. Denten and I will apprise everyone of the situation.” She hesitated and then added, “It won’t go well for me when this is all over, when we get back to Earth. Stastny’s got a good following, people with clout. A board of inquiry will probably be formed. You need to distance yourself.”
He shook his head and the worry in his blue eyes softened. “Pala, I don’t care. I’ll stand by you no matter what.”
Pala hesitated and then nodded. She watched him as he walked to The Hawk. What had she been thinking when she passed up Quade for someone like Cabot? Pala shook her head at herself. Stupid was all day long, sometimes.
Behind her, a murmur began within the onlookers. She could almost feel the mass of cadets that had been witness to her actions. Everyone wanted to know what was going on, why Bardef died, why she’d just shot a researcher and what would happen next.
Pala glanced across the worried faces around her. She stopped when she reached Khamasa.
The Korean cadet carefully set her cup down on one of the make-shift exam tables and stepped forward. Her face was schooled, her gaze hard. “I want to know why you just shot Dr. Makel. We’d all like to know.”
"To keep him mobile… in a limited manner." She turned to Denten, “Tell them what you found.”
Denten paused from working on Makel and stood up. He faced the larger group of cadets, scientists and officials, his back to Khamasa. “The virus that has been injected into all of us is now mutating.” More than one person gasped, and loud, frightened voices filled the air with questions. Pala raised her hand until the camp quieted behind her. Denten continued. “It’s not only mutating, but this new virus is dead
ly. It has killed and will continue to kill until we find a way to stop it.”
From behind Denten, Makel shouted, "The formula wasn't created to do that! De la Croix, you're going to regret shooting me!"
The questions erupted again. After a minute, she spoke over the din, filling her lungs with air and using her diaphragm to project her voice. “People, as you can see,” she paused and the noise dimmed to a murmur, “no one is safe. We are all in this together. Our only salvation lies in eliminating as much chance of contagion as possible in the environment around us. Please don’t bother our scientific community to check if you’re infected. Assume you are. Let the scientists spend as much time pursuing a cure as possible. Those of you who are IPC triage, please assist.”
Quade slipped into place beside her. She continued, “No more procrastination. Either we burn every place we’ve been on this planet, or we may all die. Quade will take a unit to Base Two. Please assign him some of your men. Sergeant Suez is already burning the perimeter of this base. Contact those already out doing their jobs and inform them of our new status.”
Khamasa spoke up. “Dr. Denten, what are the symptoms?” Her voice was a lower pitch than Pala had ever heard it before. Khamasa was scared. She ought to be. They all ought to be. So many of the faces watching her were pale already, and she doubted it was just from the news.
“It resembles the flu with a cough and muscle aches. In the final stages it moves into muscle cramps and spasming of the diaphragm that encases the lungs, causing suffocation. You’ll be looking for someone who’s listless, with a fever. Though, in all honesty, that’s most of us.”
Pala said, “As you can see, this virus has now taken us well beyond an emergency state. This planet is now under quarantine. Until this is contained, there will be no one coming to rescue us. We are on our own. Let’s get busy people.”
CHAPTER
26
Two weeks before the Colossus mission, Riyst strode into Stastny’s office and raised his hand in a sloppy salute. The Civilian Chief was busy working a com with his thumb. With his other hand, he flicked his fingers at one of the chairs in front of his desk. The shine on the wood and the deep plush of the chairs all pointed out that they were imported from Earth. No doubt they were very expensive.
Riyst sat and waited, at a somewhat relaxed attention. Technically, since Stastny was no longer in his IPC chain of command, he didn’t even have to give that much respect. In fact, he shouldn’t have even saluted. It had been an automatic reflex and it miffed him somehow.
Stastny continued shuffling his thumb across his com, occasionally muttering to himself. Eventually, he slowly questioned Riyst, not looking up. “Is this fight you and Isberg caused what you call ‘under control’?” Then, he did look up, not smiling.
Riyst launched to his feet. “If you need to know something, speak to my superior, General Grollier.”
“Sit.” Stastny again motioned to the chair.
Riyst braced his knuckles on the desk and leaned forward. “I don’t have a lot of time. What do you want?”
“I want you to sit while we discuss options.” Stastny frowned and leaned back in his chair. “I’ve already cleared it with General Grollier, though I’m sure you’ll check with him.”
“Bet on it.” Riyst sat.
“De la Croix has now become a problem. There’s no way we can keep her from the research trip to RK-197d.” He paused.
The silence made Riyst itchy. He opened his mouth to agree, but then Stastny continued, cutting Riyst off before he was able to speak. “If something were to happen to her, would Isberg still play?”
Not entirely sure he liked the direction this word ‘something’ pointed, Riyst nodded slowly. It was hard to keep his voice civil. “I think so, yes. He’s committed. She’s the only thing slowing him down.”
Stastny leaned over and pulled out a plain silver box from a drawer in the left side of his desk. Though he handed it across to Riyst, he refused to let go. “This will take care of the situation.” He caught and held Riyst’s gaze until Riyst nodded again. Stastny let go of the box, glanced at the door and returned his attention to the com.
Riyst slowly left the office, box in hand. After working with the man for nearly nine months now, he knew exactly what Stastny meant. Still, he hesitated. Killing didn’t bother him, even like this. But Cabot was a friend and he was fixated on de la Croix. Cabot was also company, through and through. Riyst opened the box. Inside was a polished gold and chrome canteen, hourglass curved like a woman’s body. Beautiful.
CHAPTER
27
Pala left Denten at his science station, working on Makel’s blood samples. She needed to meet with Quade, to keep him abreast of her suspicions about Khamasa. He often had insight into people’s psyche. He’d been mostly right about her.
She walked, focused on the ground in front of her until a shadow floated across her path. She spun quickly, scanning the sky, shading her eyes with her hand. Just above the fringes of the distant dying trees, a dark shape was sweeping across the pale boil of sky. An animal! Alive and flying right above them while everything else around them was dying! How was that possible? She needed to know; everyone's lives depended on it.
Pala bolted to the car-sized shuttles. Suez had The Hawk’s, but two others were sitting and waiting for general use. Snatching a spare visor, Pala hopped into the closest shuttle. Lifting into the air, she broke through above the trees, but the animal was nowhere to be seen. She slowed, letting her shuttle hover. A sea of brown and dying trees surrounded her in various stages of decay. In the near distance there was still some green, but it was a dull, lifeless green. The horizon line beyond that was a bright, emerald green.
Suddenly, the animal floated up from the top of a large gopher tree not more than a hundred meters in front of her. Gray-green skin flaps stretched between its front and back legs. A tiny, smooth-skinned tail, kept ballast. It looked to be one of the large flying lizards some of the northern bases had encountered when first arriving on the planet. Jack Squirrel, they’d called it. There’d been none this far south, though. The reports showed them clustered in the more temperate northern climates. This was the first she’d seen.
It looked directly at her with fierce, golden eyes, then shifted its front legs, lowered its short, flat tail, and climbed higher. Pala raised her shuttle to stay behind it. She slipped on her visor and powered up her Ellison hand cannon to a wide-band stun setting. The weapon picked up a deep bass hum.
One of the creature’s ears flicked back and the animal moved its front and hind legs again, increasing its speed. Pala matched it, staying only ten meters behind. It lowered a front leg and swayed away to the right. Pala adjusted course. Picking up speed again, the creature banked and made a sharp left turn.
As she moved to follow, another shuttle came up to her right. Quade stood, visor on, his foot propped up on the dash of the craft and his cannon tucked into his shoulder. Another visored ranger from Red Wing’s unit piloted. On the screen in Pala’s own visor, Quade’s blue eyes were sharply focused on his target.
Pala said, “Wait till it’s closer to the ground. I don’t want it injured in a fall.”
“Yep.”
The silver lizard animal twisted and turned, climbed and banked. The two shuttles kept pace on its flanks. Pala was just beginning to wonder how long the creature could glide when it began to lose altitude, skimming just above the treetops. Suddenly, it dove through the canopy of brownish gray leaves. Braking hard, they plunged after it, their visors adjusting immediately to the darker surroundings.
The now brown-green creature was twisting and turning around thick, smooth trunks, all the while heading into denser and denser growth, making him harder to spot. The further they got from the camp, the more vital and vivid the vegetation looked. Even the giant purple blooms from the pineapple-type plants looked bright. They lowered closer still to the ground until they were skimming only a few feet off the forest floor, swaying back and for
th as they dodged trees and brush. Even though the size of a small automobile, the shuttles had a hard time with the tight brush. Then, for a brief second, the animal appeared directly in front of them.
Quade fired.
The Jack Squirrel suddenly went limp and fell like a thrown wad of paper, slowly turning as it crashed through the underbrush. Twigs and leaves exploded around it in a violent green and brown cloud. It landed in a heap at the base of a wall of squat, thick trees with blackish-green leaves.
Quade jumped to the ground, Pala following. There wasn’t room in the brush for both shuttles, so she sent the other one back to base. The creature was unconscious, but just barely. It wouldn’t take long before it woke from the stun. They loaded the thickly-muscled, child-sized body into Pala’s shuttle and took off for the base. Quade rode in back, keeping a keen eye on their captive.
Makel was already out of his cage being worked on by one of the two surviving IPC triage docs. Laramie was nowhere to be seen, and Pala supposed he’d crashed inside a tent. That left Denten to work on the animal. She sent a runner for the scientist and moved the commander from Base One into the cage with Stastny and Harlen. He skiddled sideways, looking nervously at her every step of the way. “You’re not going to shoot me are you?”
“Yes, if you go any slower. Move it.”
As they started unloading the creature, Denten joined them, his arms full of testing equipment.
Pala grabbed its lower half and lifted. “Denten, it isn’t keeping the stun well and I don’t want to give it more unless it’s needed.”
Denten frowned and motioned for an IPC medic to help him. “We’ll hurry.”
Quade nodded toward one of its front legs. “And good luck with those needles through its skin. That’s some tough stuff there.”
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