Starting the Slowpocalypse (Books 1-3 Omnibus)

by James Litherland

  Since the chief of the Guards was still supposed to be avoiding close contact with those who had not yet caught the flu, he would likely be stuck in his office and available. At least he actually answered.

  In response to a growled demand to know what he wanted, David described the situation at the clinic. “We could use some help, but Security surely has their hands full at the Community Hall. I don’t suppose you could spare a guard or two?” He hastened to add a caveat. “I don’t want a military assault, but some assistance to contain the situation or disperse the crowd, if that’s possible.”

  Ken snorted. “MacTierney and Grace have both been orienting over at Security, to learn how to handle people with kid gloves—the way Nelson likes it.” A moment of silence. “And they’ve both gotten two or three hours of sleep by now. They should be good to go. I don’t suppose you’d mind if these protesters of yours caught the flu?”

  Thinking about the parasite, David assured him that would actually be a bonus. “But I hadn’t heard about either Tim or Grace having been infected. Do they feel well enough for something like this?”

  Ken barked a sound that seemed rather menacing. “Neither of them has caught the flu so far. I’m talking about me. There’s not much I can do around here right now. Now, if you want to tell me I’m not capable of dealing with these rabble-rousers you’ve got without resorting to shooting them…”

  “No, of course I wouldn’t say that.” Though the thought had occurred to him, David would not dare voice it. Besides, just the sight of a big bear like Ken might be enough to scare some of them off.

  “And then there’s Lacey Petrovich—she may be on duty, but I’d just as soon send her over there.”

  Lacey Petrovich? David remembered their last encounter and rubbed his head. Still, as he was asking for help, he couldn’t really turn away any offers. “Alright, we can use all the assistance we can get.”

  “Well, then—how do you want us deployed? After all, this is your show, David.”

  Looking up, he saw that Amita had been listening closely—she held up her workpad with a display of the plan for the ground floor of the clinic. David took a moment to scan the blueprint and digest the information. There was a single door on either side of the building—metal, secure, and opening inward—both of which could easily be barricaded. Besides the main entrance, that only left the ambulance bay at the back as a real point of vulnerability. Hopefully the sisters had at least locked those doors by now.

  Speaking into his FURCS pad again to relay his request, David made up his mind as he talked. “Alright, if you would send Sgt. MacTierney and Grace and Lacey around to the back of the building, where they park the ambulances? Have them look to see if there are any protesters lurking around the rear entrance. If there are, ask them to see if they can drive them off. If it’s clear, have them send me a message and we’ll open up for them and bring them inside to help us hold back the main mob.”

  “And what about me?”

  David grinned, though his old friend would not be able to see. “You can just wander into the back of the crowd and start breathing on people.”

  Ken grunted again and disconnected.

  Turning back to Amita, David had a question to ask. “What was that the nurse used on Chief Nelson and Sgt. Carruthers the other day? In the IV stamp, that put them out so fast?”

  She nodded, already seeing where he was going. “That was a fast acting sedative we use at the beginning of general anesthesia. It dissolves in the blood, and a few heartbeats later the drug has crossed into the brain and caused a patient to lose consciousness—then we administer other drugs to keep them under safely.” She frowned. “But the IV stick must be pressed right over a vein to work that fast, and even then it won’t put a person out for long.”

  “Hopefully it won’t have to.” He turned back to Michelle. “You know the drug she’s talking about?”

  Officer Mori nodded. “Of course.”

  Of course she too was already aware of what he was thinking. “Then go get us a few of those stamps and as many ampules of that sedative as they have.”

  Michelle blinked at him. “I don’t expect they’ve got a large quantity of pre-made ampules. So I may have to make more. How many will we need?”

  “Let some of the sisters do that, if it’s necessary. As for how many—how many protesters are outside this building?”

  She shook her head. “I didn’t count. A lot.” She seemed dismayed by her lack of precision.

  “Well, estimate then. But bring all there is now, and we’ll get going on my crazy plan.”

  “It’s not crazy, David, but it is dangerous.” She turned and trotted on out and down the hall.

  Once Michelle was gone, Amita stood and came around the desk to plant herself in front of David. “I don’t like the idea of you putting yourself in harm’s way. Don’t get hurt. Doctor’s orders.”

  Then she threw her arms around his neck, lifted her face to his, and kissed him. It was over, and she had stepped back before he could react. He started to blush and turned his head. “I ought to hurry over to the ambulance bay, to be ready to let the cavalry in, if it’s clear back there.”

  Flustered, he walked out of the room and down the corridor with a rapid step. He was sure she had meant it well, trying to encourage him at a time like this, but it made things more difficult. He needed to be focusing on the job at hand rather than thinking about Amita.

  David started sprinting down the halls and soon arrived at the back entrance to find the instructions he’d asked Ken to pass on to Tim, Grace, and Lacey had been unnecessary—the clear sliding glass doors made it obvious there was no one else outside. And also that although the sisters had locked the doors, that wouldn’t do a lot of good against an assault by a mob. Using his security key linked to his FURCS pad, he overrode the lock and let the waiting trio inside.

  Relocking the doors behind them—it was better than nothing—he gave both the sergeant and Grace a warm welcome. “I sure am glad to get your help.” He looked uncertainly at the Lacey woman.

  Tim nodded brusquely. “Not that Chief Cameron gave us any choice, but we’re happy to lend what assistance we can. What can we do?”

  Pausing, David realized he’d have to amend his plans. They couldn’t leave the back entrance so vulnerable—someone needed to barricade these doors, and it wasn’t a one-person job. He also required at least one other person to help him with his part.

  David turned to Grace. “How do you feel about facing an angry mob?” He’d seen some of her training with Chief Nelson and knew she would be more useful in combat than any of them.

  Her only reply was to nod. Then Michelle came scurrying up with a small box in her hands. “Those IV sticks hold ten ampules each, and the sisters had enough ampules to fully load four of them. But that doesn’t leave any for reloading, and there’s not time to make more.”

  He took the IV stamps out and handed a couple to Grace. “You have to press them against a vein.” It wouldn’t be easy to get at the inside of most elbows out there. “Go for the back of the hand or the inside of the wrist, or maybe the sides of the throat. Press firmly to send the sedative into the blood. We want to move fast and knock out as many as we can.”

  Michelle nodded. “Please hurry. They’re banging against the main doors with rocks and bricks. It may be reinforced glass, but there are already some cracks showing. It could break at any moment.”

  Noticing that Grace was wearing her sidearm, David took off his shoulder holster and placed it in the box Michelle was carrying. “I don’t want them thinking we’re Security, so you’ll have to leave your gun behind.” He didn’t like making the request any more than he liked giving up his own gun, but it had to be done.

  Her braids bristled with indignation, but Grace didn’t say a word. She just followed his lead and put her holster and handgun in the box with his. Looking at Michelle, he had one final instruction for her. “Go back and cover the main entrance, in case what we’
re going to try doesn’t work. If that mob breaks through, you may have to shoot someone. MacTierney and Lacey will barricade these doors, then join you at the front.”

  He looked at the sergeant. “You see how easy it would be for people to force their way in here. You and Lacey can look for things to block those doors.” Glancing around the empty halls, he shrugged. “In some of the rooms you may find chairs or filing cabinets or something you can use to build a barricade. We need it in place before any of the protestors discover there’s an easier way in than the main doors.” Seeing the sergeant and Lacey were also armed, he added another request. “Please don’t shoot anyone unless you have to.”

  Lacey nodded without expression, but Tim was shaking his head. “If you’re sending Grace out into that violent mob, I’m going with her. Ms. Petrovich can handle the grunt work all by herself.”

  David looked at the former mercenary with uncertainty. But though he had his misgivings about the woman, Ken wouldn’t have her in the Guards if he didn’t think she could be trusted. And MacTierney was clearly going to be stubborn about tagging along with Grace. “Alright. Go with your girlfriend while Ms. Petrovich builds the barricade.”

  The sergeant smiled and turned to Grace, who’d been frowning as she listened to them. She squinted at him for a long moment before nodding. “Just don’t get in my way.”

  David turned back to the Lacey woman. “Know what to do?”

  Nodding, she strode down to the nearest room and entered, presumably to search for a big piece of furniture. Hopefully. David didn’t have the time to worry about the woman. Or about Michelle, who’d already darted back down the corridor for the main entrance, to try and hold back the mob should they break through. We have to prevent that.

  Turning back to Grace, he continued. “Alright, this is my plan—we each take one of the side doors, slip out and circle around and act like we’ve come to join the protesters. We want to get close enough so we can start sedating people before they understand what’s happening and begin to fight back. But they will when they figure out what we’re doing. So don’t get hurt.” Ken would kill him if Grace were injured. “And remember, your dad will be out there too, trying to glare people into submission.” That ought to help her take heart. More than MacTierney’s presence, he suspected.

  She rolled her eyes at him. “I’ll take the door on the east side of the building.” And then she was jogging down the corridor and gone.

  Well, David would take comfort knowing Ken to be out there somewhere. He ran down the hall and found himself at the west door in less than a minute and hesitated. Then he got a text from the sergeant saying the pair were at the east door and ready.

  David sent him a reply to let him know what he was about to do, then used his pad to override both the side doors’ security locks. Then gently turning the knob, he eased his door open a crack. When he saw the way was clear, he waited for a message from MacTierney to know they were both out before stepping through the gap himself. As soon as the door closed behind him, he made sure to secure both the side doors again.

  Strolling away from the clinic, he circled around to approach the massed mob from the side. Seeing their mindless rage and incoherent violence as they threw themselves at the main entrance, he doubted they’d take any notice of him. He couldn’t see Ken, but there must’ve been dozens, maybe a hundred or more and David could only make out some of them. But he did spot someone he knew.

  An off-duty guard, Neilson, who was without his weapon, thankfully. And likely under the influence of the Gravity Bug. But Neilson was tough, and David knew he had to try to sedate him before tackling the others.

  He took a deep breath and steeled himself. He had been in some scrapes before now, though nothing as bad as this by a long shot. And he was not a hero like Lt. Miles. But he had to try and keep that mob from getting into the clinic to attack those inside. So he’d do all he could. And hope and pray it would be enough.

  Chapter 22

  Elections Have Consequences

  9:05 a.m. Tuesday, May 27th

  KAT opened her eyes, rolled off the sofa, and started stretching her kinked muscles. At least Caroline had a big, comfy couch in her office—Kat’s stiffness all came from a long night spent chasing down hooligans and scofflaws. But considering how busy she had been busting mischief-makers, this was nothing worth complaining about. That was thanks to Tony for reminding her to trust her training, not only for her technique, but also for her intuitive reactions. It had helped her relax.

  Just being in the moment and not trying to control what happened, a lot of stress she hadn’t known she was carrying around had melted away. And she hadn’t hurt anyone too bad. Enjoying her work into the wee hours, Kat had finally come here to crash in the office her mother kept at the Community Hall—on the comfy couch—so she’d be on hand when time came to help provide security as the election results were announced.

  She looked at her FURCS pad and saw that time had already arrived. At least, Tony had wanted her and the others there by eight in the morning, and it was now five past nine. Then she noticed the muted buzz in the background.

  This place was sturdily built, and this office was well soundproofed, so it must’ve been an incredible noise being made out there for Kat to hear it at all in here. Yawning and still half-asleep, she opened the door and the volume jumped up to eleven. And the hubbub all seemed to be coming from the main hall. Of course.

  The whole purpose of staggering out the reporting of the election returns was to create this atmosphere of anticipation, to build a sense of excitement about the results. Kat didn’t think much of the idea, but no one had asked her opinion. She thought they might as well have waited until voting finished, then announced the final count and the winner. But apparently most people thought that would be anticlimactic. On the other hand, they all seemed to think real-time reporting would be underwhelming.

  Kat looked down the deserted corridor, shaking her head. Voting had started at four in the morning and would end at ten, so it had been decided to wait and announce the current vote count at eight. Then at fifteen minute intervals they would update everyone with a new interim total. Until the election was over and a final declaration was made.

  That meant emotion had been building for over an hour in the main hall where the announcements were being made live. Even though the same report was available over the FURCSnet. No doubt plenty of people had gathered here to listen in person with all the interested parties in attendance. And surely they all wanted to see the swearing-in ceremony—as dull and boring as it would undoubtedly be. Or perhaps not. A lot was at stake, emotions were running high, and there was the potential for protesters trying to make trouble. That was why Tony had wanted most of Security on deck.

  Kat sighed and stretched some more before she pulled her paper mask up over her nose and mouth and started walking toward all the commotion. Her presence obviously wasn’t needed, not yet, or surely Tony would’ve woken her. But, she admitted to herself, she was curious to see how the vote was coming along.

  After all, if her mother was losing, it ought to be entertaining to see how she was taking it. And if she was winning, Caroline would find a way to make her daughter’s life miserable. Kat definitely had a stake in the outcome.

  At the end of the hall, the back door to the main hall was standing wide open, and one of the student volunteers wearing an old safety aide uniform stood in the way with his back to her.

  She didn’t try to move quietly as she walked up behind him, but he still didn’t seem to notice. “Excuse me, but I need to get through.”

  The boy started at the sound of her voice. Then he whirled around and glared at her before noticing who she was. “Oh, right. Okay.” With a sulky look he moved just enough out of the way to let her pass. He wasn’t one of the aides she’d known, so he could be from before her time or after she had been transferred to the Guards. Not that anybody had asked if the promotion was what she’d wanted.

  So while
she itched to correct this guy’s attitude she also knew it wasn’t properly her job. Even if she had been assigned to Security again, temporarily. It was Tony’s responsibility, let him handle it.

  “Thanks,” she said sarcastically and slid past into the massive space she hadn’t been in, at least not since the night of the near riot. Less than a year ago now, but it felt like a long time. She sincerely hoped they wouldn’t see a repeat, but then preventing that was why Tony had called in so many extras.

  Kat scanned the crowd, searching for him. The table was set up on the main platform, but the deputy director was the only council member actually up there. Caroline was mingling with the multitude, as was Alvin Fox with a separate little swirl of supporters. The rest of the councilors must’ve been hidden by the throng. Tony too.

  A loud thumping noise caused the chatter to be lowered in volume, and Kat glanced back to see Ms. Belue tapping the tiny mike pinned to her lapel and lifting her FURCS pad in front of her face. “It’s nine fifteen, and the vote tally has been updated.” Pausing for dramatic effect, the woman continued. “One thousand, seven hundred seventeen votes for Alvin Fox. One thousand, six hundred ninety-three votes for Caroline Sanderson. And three hundred ninety-two votes for Dean Alice Kittner.” Then she set her pad down and looked placidly out at the crowd. All this despite the fact that anyone could pull out their own FURCS pad and find the same information out for themselves.

  Kat’s gaze then flew to her mother, but Caroline didn’t look the least concerned, though she had just heard that she was losing by twenty-four votes. Perhaps she was already resigned to defeat. Kat didn’t think so.

  Back to scanning the gathering for familiar faces, she finally found Dean Kittner, right in the thick of things. Jeffrey Minchin was leaning up against a wall with a small group of friends, out of the action. Moving around to get a better view, Kat saw Sara on the other side of the platform, looking alert. They’d both worked all night, so Kat was glad to see it.