The sector was under complete control and virtual headquarters thanked them for efficient reactions. This compliment finally brought an emotional response. The command team and technical operators smiling and congratulating each other.
“Thank you all for your excellent performance. Cain said. “It’s a pleasure to be involved with such a dedicated and skilled group.”
Conversation around the room was brief before the command team and operators drifted away. Avery was left with Kaya. He stood over her, leaning back to accentuate the height difference between them.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
Kaya pushed his head back and stared down, eyes narrowed.
Avery focused her attention on his chin, forcing him to bend slightly. “Do you have anything to add?”
“I recommend you visit Dr Cain. She can help with,” he said, pausing for a moment. “Emotional problems.”
Avery pursed her lips about to voice a thought but Kaya walked away. She managed to hold it back and swept her gaze over operators still present at their consoles. They stared down at screens and didn’t look up as she left the room.
Ringo trailed her back to her quarters. Two steps behind her right shoulder, keeping pace with her. She watched the movement of soldiers around her. No talking or glancing around, walking in a measured quick step. Eyes straight ahead and focused on their destinations.
She listened to a Sergeant talking with a Private. There was no familiarity or camaraderie between them. Their questions and answers mechanical, body language neutral, information passed on without inference.
Avery stopped and leant back against a wall. Stepping out of the flow to watch soldiers and scientists move around her. Only a fraction appeared to notice her presence. Others appeared so focused as to not detect anything other than their objectives. It was like a performance that could suddenly stop, if a director called ‘cut’.
Ringo coughed to attract her attention. “Commander, shall I contact Doctor Cain?”
She would have to admit to being unwell. Have Cain examine her or risk ruin. Her career and life sliding out of view along with the missing memories. Everyone was marching in step apart from her.
“Later Ringo.”
She wandered like an outsider, a ghost inhabiting a world different from her own. Soldiers from a different species around her. She was used to hearing joking, singing and dissent, not in a disrespectful way but as a freedom to protect each soldier’s personality.
In the rest areas and canteen, all sat in silence, eating and drinking seemingly without pleasure. In training rooms, hands shot up as a question was asked. The soldiers, in identical uniforms with shaved heads smiled and frowned together in unison.
Alone in her room, she lay staring at a painting on the wall. For the first time in her military career she was an outsider, out of sync with the organizational heartbeat. She was commander of a military bunker, but felt like she was keeping the seat warm for someone else.
The warbling door alarm broke her concentration again. Ringo stared at the camera like a statue.
“Major Daniels asked me to brief you on a disturbance last night.”
Avery rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes as he stood waiting for her response. Ringo was the opposite to a ray of sunshine. He was like a prisoner, forced into collaborating with an enemy commander. She gestured for him to continue.
“The veterinary, Matos, started a fight with special forces alpha team.”
Avery started forward then checked herself. “What happened?”
“The disturbance occurred in the canteen at twenty three hundred hours. It took five men to subdue him.”
“Where is he now?”
“At the medical centre. They couldn’t contain him and action was-”
Avery brushed past Ringo, not waiting for him to finish and she walked quickly against a stream of soldiers towards the med centre. Ringo trailed behind, repeating his mantra over and over.
“They couldn’t contain him and action was necessary. They couldn’t contain him and action was necessary.”
“I understand,” she said, turning to look at him.
Ringo stared then nodded. She realized he needed to see her face to make sure she understood. An interesting development but now was not the time for Ringo.
She pushed open the med centre door. A waft of an antiseptic leaked out towards her. The white and silver colored room a stark contrast to the more common brown and cream bunker theme. She walked past a nurse who tried weakly to prevent her from entering the treatment rooms.
Before she could start opening doors, Aslam entered the corridor from a room on the right. His warm childlike smile punctured her ball of anger and paranoia.
“Commander, are you here to see Captain Matos?”
“How is he?” she replied.
Aslam swept around her to sit on the nurse’s workstation. “Sedated. He won’t be talking for a few hours.”
“Did he say anything when you brought him in?”
“Only gibberish. He’d taken a knock to the head.”
Avery closed her eyes, rubbing them with two fingers. “What did he say?”
“He was moaning about eyes. Burning eyes. He’s not the first. It’s always eyes in the bunker,” Aslam said, with a slight shake of his head.
She stared at him for a long moment. Adrenaline pumped back through her body. She glanced at Ringo then the nurse. All three stared at her with benign expressions. As if they knew what she was going to say.
The eyes, ask about the eyes, her brain shouted.
She smiled at Aslam. “Contact me when he’s ready to talk.”
“Of course Commander.”
Keeping her outward appearance neutral, Avery turned to Ringo. “Stay here until Captain Matos is conscious.”
Ringo’s mouth dropped open, eyes bulging as if she’d just slapped him. His hurt expression turned to anguish as she left him rooted to the spot.
“Shall I accompany you to the competition?” Aslam asked.
Avery scanned her brain to reference his question. He offered her a sympathetic smile and gestured towards the corridor.
They walked up the stairs and he dashed forward to open the access door to level one. There were no sounds behind the door, but she sensed the presence of a large group of people.
Lines of soldiers stood on the matted area and rows of spectators sat behind. All turned towards her. Their eyes followed her as she walked to the raised platform in the centre and took her seat.
Daniels gave a curt nod then waved at an officer on the matting to proceed. There was an explanation of the competition but it washed over Avery. Her hands were shaking and heart beat like a bass drum as she settled.
The blue matted area stretched out one hundred feet long and forty wide. Ten lines of soldiers dressed in olive green T shirts and combat pants stood at attention.
On the plasma screens, thick grey clouds hung across the sky, masking the sunlight. Invisible wind fluttered naked tree tops in the distance.
A solid looking sergeant, in white vest and combat pants, shouted names and numbers at the assembled soldiers. They raced in their squad groups across an assault course. Their fitness was evident and unquestionable. Sprinting, jumping, climbing and swinging over the obstacles like flowing water.
In hand to hand combat, there was no holding back as an attacking squad ran at a defensive position with undisguised violence. The attackers sensed their collective confidence and united aggression as they ran. Strength gained from individuals to form an entity. Like a large rampaging beast, a charge like this could be unstoppable. The defenders needed to withstand the first crucial assault and break the momentum.
Unfortunately for this defending group, they crumpled on the first wave of attack. Soldiers broke through the shield wall and set about routing the enemy with foam covered bats. Clubbing, battering and stabbing the defenders bloody. Avery winced at the punishment.
<
br /> The patterns of riot control reminded her of Buffalo and a wave of memories, ready to rush in if she unlocked the door. Surreal that she had been in Niagara Square a year ago, battling rioters and Ghosts. Her memory was blurry as she tried to recall the night before she entered the bunker.
“We have a surprise for you at the end,” Daniels whispered, leaning towards her.
An electric shock of surprise ran through her body and she stiffened. She glanced at Daniels, but he was staring back towards the action.
The soldiers were chanting for a fight between two champions. It seemed to be an uncharacteristic show of emotion.
A tall rangy dark haired man walked onto the mat, swinging his arms and rolling his shoulders. He was met by a smaller, stocky, blonde haired man. The assembled audience shouted for either Deacon or Ford.
The two men hopped from foot to foot, eyeing each other. The smaller man, Ford, moved his head from side to side, cracking his neck. A whistle blew and they moved forward, fists up in fighting stances.
Deacon swung a kick at Ford’s head. He ducked and swept Deacon’s legs when he landed. Before he could take advantage, Deacon rolled away, using the momentum to rise to his feet. Deacon over extended on a jab, taking a body punch that had him doubled in pain. A vicious hook followed, knocking him down. As Ford moved forward to finish him, Deacon threw up an elbow.
With a sickening crack, he caught Ford on the cheek. The smaller man staggered back and shook his head. Deacon rose to his feet and for a split second they stood facing off. Undaunted, they both moved forward, arms outstretched in an embrace. Twisting, bucking and kicking.
A whistle sounded and they both obediently pulled apart.
The fighters shook hands before returning to opposing sides of the practice mat. Avery joined the applause for their intensity and skill.
Under normal circumstances, after witnessing a competition drill, she would insist on military police for the inevitable bar room brawl. In the bunker, they would be more likely to have dinner and retire to bed for the evening. She missed predictably troublesome soldiers with personality.
Ringo appeared in the stairway entrance, walking with purpose towards her. A flexi rolled under one arm, the other swinging. His left eye was blackened and swollen.
“What happened?” She asked, pointing to his eye.
“I walked into a door Commander,” he replied, dead eyes giving away no indication of a lie.
“I told you to stay at the med centre.”
“Captain Matos was taken to the neuro lab.”
She pushed past Ringo and marched towards the staircase. Ringo raced ahead and opened the door. Following behind as she descended.
Cain was alone in the lab, visible through the glazed window, reading at her workstation. Avery changed her mind at the last minute and diverted to the chemical lab. She checked surface level readings with the brown haired science officer. Offering him a sympathetic nod to find radiation levels were still at a dangerous level for humans.
Chapter 14
Himrod salt mine began its new incarnation with the collective nervous energy of people with nothing else to do. The committee met to divide up tasks and agree work parties. Make sure everyone had a bed, food and a name on the hospital database. The full list of miners was calculated at two hundred and seventy two.
A canteen was operational and although Fox complained about resource, he organized two mealtimes. The first, serving in the morning between eight and ten. The second, in the evening between four and six. Two shifts managed by himself and his brother.
He took a full inventory of food and projected basic rations for two years. The main staple of the morning meal was porridge, cereal, flatbread, dried fruit and nuts. In the evening, stew, pasta and rice dishes. Fox suggested everyone produce whatever food they had hidden away. But Logan overruled the idea. It would send the wrong message and people were entitled to privacy.
Heather Sands counseled in groups of ten. She encouraged everyone to enter trance like states and visualize their own imaginary world. She called it Stronghold. It was particularly effective with Logan. A day dreamer by heart, he conjured up a desert island surrounded by ocean.
Sergeant Ortiz set up pickets at each tunnel leading to the central cavern. They provided a boundary around their area of occupation. Although unmanned, the pickets were connected to an alarm system located in the barracks. He also started a drill program for civilians.
Jarod and the workshop team supported everyone. Working on chairs, beds, bookcases, vehicles, kitchen equipment and washing facilities. They already had weeks of work booked in their planner.
Two weeks after moving in to the mine, Logan knew they had made good progress. With Christmas only two days away, Fox was organizing a special meal to mark the occasion. Most children, including his own, wanted to know if Santa would make it to the mine on Christmas Eve. In secret, Cate and a group were making toys for all the children. She even asked Jarod to dress up as Santa.
The sound of a vehicle approaching his cabin broke Logan’s concentration on the manual. Moments later Rich appeared in the doorway, dressed in blue scrubs and looking agitated.
“Namaste,” Logan said, giving their old greeting.
“We’ve got a problem.”
Logan was slowly getting used to Rich’s blunt and off hand nature. His friend was ever more distant since their first day in the mine.
“What is it?”
“There’s a virus in here and it’s likely we all have it.”
“We knew there would be bugs in here. We have drugs, right?”
Rich produced a jet injector from a small bag he was carrying “We do but I don’t know how it will affect us. Don’t forget our immune systems are weak, any complication could happen.
Before Logan could stop him, Rich pushed the injector to his arm. There was a sting as the needle punctured his skin. “I’ve given ten other shots so far today. I’ve told them to stay in quarantine in their rooms.”
“We need to get that out for everyone as soon as possible. Don’t start a panic.”
“We don’t have enough for everyone.”
Logan pulled his arm away. “What?”
“By the time we had power in the mine, the police impounded everything left in the drugstore,” Rich said. “I did warn you.”
“How many have you got?”
“I don’t know. I’ll need to stock check and see what else I have.”
“I’ll get all the kids over to you now.”
“I’m the doctor in here. There are standard contagion procedures to follow.”
Logan shook his head and pushed past Rich before he said something he would regret. He ran out of the cabin towards his vehicle. His only concerns now were Cate and the kids.
Cate was sitting at their small table, Adam and Gregor on either side of her, all sketching on thick books.
“You need to come with me,” Logan said.
Cate instantly stood, pulling the boys up with her. She held out their shoes and both took them soundlessly. It was a practiced emergency exit. Gregor’s mouth was turned down at the corners. Adam eyes were wide, looking at him questioningly.
“There’s a flu virus. I need to get you all inoculated,” Logan said.
He held Adams’ hand as they walked quickly to the hospital. A queue of people already there, stretching back down the tunnel. He locked eyes with an unfamiliar man at the front of the queue. The man’s expression showed recognition then suspicion, holding his children closer as Logan approached.
He could choose to cut the line and take his family in next. Say he was needed at another part of the mine, or just use his authority. But remembering lines of freezing people queuing in Syracuse, he pulled Adam to the back of the queue. Cate followed with Gregor.
They waited in silence, nodding greetings to others joining the line. There was a confrontation towards the front and someone shouted his name. As the line moved slowly along, Logan began cursing Rich under his
breath. After this fiasco, they would need to get an accurate inventory of what they did and didn’t have.
The boys were restless and broke off to play with other children in the line. They ran down the dark tunnel then back to the hospital. Each time whooping and daring each other to go further into the darkness.
Logan recognised Richards walking towards the hospital with his family. He strolled over, nodding and gesturing until Richards followed him away from the line of people.
“Get Ortiz over here with twenty men, I’ll look after your kids.”
Richards nodded, spoke a few words to his wife and then headed back up the tunnel. Logan chewed his lip, rubbing his hair.
“Is there a problem?” Cate whispered.
He shook his head, he couldn’t tell Cate in case anyone overheard. Panic would soon spread. She squeezed his arm and held his hand. He returned the gesture and they stood in a silent embrace.
The boys came crashing into them. Cate grabbed Gregor’s arm and a handful of Adams jumper. “Stay here now.”
Behind him, the queue snaked around a bend in the tunnel. More men, women and children were following the line and walking out of sight. The hospital door opened and a family emerged, Logan offered a nod in their direction as they hurried away.
“Next.”
Logan pushed the boys into a consulting room and closed the door behind him. Cate read out their names for a nurse to write down. Her pen scratching against paper, she glanced up at the sound of his name. He gave her a weak smile and sat next to Adam on a bench.
The large square room showed no reflection of the panicking queue of people outside. The nurse sat at a workstation with black folders spread out in front of her. Opposite her, the examination bench was half covered by a shower curtain.
Rich entered the room from a rear door, smiling and straightening scrubs. “I expected you sooner?”
“We queued with everyone else,” Logan replied. “How many have you done so far?”
“I’ve administered fifty six antiviral injections.”
“How many are left?”
“One hundred and twenty four. Give or take.”
Eximus Page 14
