Virion_The Black Cell

by R. L. M. Sanchez

  “Our current team, meaning… you and me?”

  “Affirmative, sir. I… I’m completely buggered. I just haven’t the stamina as a Martian, sir,” Dill said. McKenna took the hint after that. Dill hadn’t rested in quite some time, maybe twenty-seven hours, and McKenna even longer than that.

  “Yeah, that’s fine. The Chief’s speech is about to start soon. Might as well relax and enjoy the show.”

  Dill walked over to his desk as McKenna used his OPIaA to clear the image on the glass and bring up a new one, this time depicting the Chief’s speech that was about to start. Dill put his legs up on his desk and tried his absolute best not to sleep, but somehow managed to drift off. McKenna was nice enough to throw a paper ball at him, subtly shaking his head side to side.

  Dill looked at the screen McKenna had brought up in time to see the Chief take the podium within the VOX chamber at Freedom Tower. Dill sat up attentively and saw McKenna do the same. Alistair was viewed as a hero to almost every upper-class citizen, mainly because of her strike-fast attitude towards the criminal underworld. Dill watched her put her hands on the podium, ready to speak undoubtedly strong words to the people. He listened as Alistair’s voice was amplified by the microphones.

  “Yesterday evening, many citizens witnessed a brutal attack in our streets below. For those unaware, this was not the first of these attacks and it will not be the last. Word has spread of a group of individuals, known as the Taken, who are responsible for the attacks. However, they are not individuals, but rather a string of mutated beings. The Black Cell, which we all know, fear, and live with has begun to spawn these nightmarish creatures through a rare mutation in the virus’ structure.

  “We cannot confirm the number of active mutants. Any contact with a mutant’s blood or saliva enables the infection of the victim, not killing, but changing them. This transmission allows the strain to spread very rapidly. The new strain is being analyzed by Earth’s top scientists to find the cause of the mutation. In the meantime, however, the safety of the people will always remain my top concern, as well as the Council’s.

  “In light of these attacks, it was both my decision and the Council’s to form a special unit within Interpol to combat the Taken. This new unit has been recognized as the Infected Strain Task Force. The ISTF is being led by highly trained specialists, one who has fought and incapacitated several of these mutants single handedly. This lead ISTF Inspector regretfully could not be here today, as he is in the field at this very moment combating this threat.

  “The mutants must be considered hostile without reason. Any contact with the Taken is ill advised. If you see one of the mutants, contact your nearest patrol Enforcers to eliminate the threat. Expect increased patrols through the mid-city sectors as well as the lower city for your protection.

  “With this, I leave you. Citizens of Freedom, citizens of Earth, stay safe, stay hopeful, stay strong. Believe the Cure.”

  14

  THE MESSAGE

  Councilor Windsor stood in front of the massive holoscreen before him in the Council Chambers, bearing witness to the speech. Masses had gathered in the streets to watch the broadcast, which was now on almost every street’s video terminal worldwide. Some screens on the sides of the skyscrapers were over ten stories tall. Alistair delivered the message was well, and no doubt every press outlet on the planet was following the speech.

  The attack from the previous day, dubbed the Flash Avenue Massacre, had now reached the ears of every citizen in the city, and word had already spread to other provinces on Earth. The idea of deranged killers wasn’t anything new, especially to undercity dwellers but the monstrous nature of the mutants was the work of a nightmare come true. The fact that the attacks were spreading made even the wealthy fear for their safety. This public episode meant no one could question whether these mutants were real anymore, and worse, the beasts were very much amongst the helpless.

  Windsor had been informed of the attack not minutes after it occurred, and more to his shock, McKenna had been involved firsthand. After hearing that he reportedly incapacitated several of the mutants singlehandedly, Windsor knew that McKenna was the right choice for their new Marshal. And what better story for the public than the leader of the unit assigned to the mutants being the man who defeated them first-hand! Windsor could only smile at the idea. He’d wanted McKenna to succeed but he was perhaps the only one who wanted him to go further than his intended role.

  Windsor motioned his OPIaA over the huge hologram in front of him, minimizing it and leaving only a few scattered images of world news feeds and private Council-related information. Alistair would be returning from the Earth VOX chamber soon

  “Believe the Cure, bah…” Councilor Krieg scoffed from behind him. “Hard to imagine that little slogan has stuck around for so many years. I doubt its meaning has aged well in that time.”

  “Hundreds of years,” Councilor Mahto clarified. “The phrase is as much the embodiment of humanity as humans ourselves.”

  “Yes, birthed out of Old Earth’s pursuit for the cure,” Krieg added, as though he could have forgotten.

  Believe the Cure was a slogan started by an unknown individual during the first decades of the 21st century. Much like the current day, while many at the time felt no cure was possible, there were some who spread the phrase to inspire hope. Hope that as a people, and through strength of the human heart, humanity could endure the virus until a cure was available. This message spread like wildfire even throughout the Dark Age, as it came to symbolize more than just a cure. The phrase adopted many other meanings over time, but mainly that hope was an idea not worth abandoning.

  “Let’s skip to the point, Councilors,” Windsor stated. “Was the speech satisfactory?”

  “Marshal Alistair has a way with words, as always,” Mahto said. “The people will definitely view the message positively.”

  “She’s our best Marshal, and it doesn’t hurt that she has a silver tongue,” Krieg said, but his words quickly soured as he addressed the elephant in the room. “But we all agreed that McKenna would give the speech! We should have involved Alistair in the investigation, then she wouldn’t have taken his place!”

  “Yes, I agree,” Glazov said. “A clever precaution on their part.”

  “I somehow expected him not to comply,” Windsor said. “McKenna’s not a fool. Too much subtlety on our part…”

  “I can suggest my contacts at Paragon begin running headlines if you’d like.”

  “No, keep his identity omitted. The people and the Aurorans saw that Alistair approves of the Martian, let’s keep it that way. McKenna can proceed with his investigation with no added press. As long as the right people know, we will be fine.”

  “Strange coming from you, Windsor,” Krieg sneered. “Just know that I expect the public to see who their new ‘savior’ really is.” The other Councilors merely glanced at each other. “I doubt he’ll fare better than Kazan in the end.”

  “Your worries are duly noted, Councilor Krieg. Agreed?” Windsor asked the rest of the Council, irritated by Krieg’s animosity towards the Martian.

  “Agreed,” the Councilors said in agreement. Krieg simply shrugged in frustration.

  “I’m sure the body count will not come from McKenna,” Mahto said. “We’ve just received a recent casualty list from a few of the undercover infiltrators in Red Sector.” She walked toward the holoscreens in front of Windsor and brought up a few charts and numbers. “They’re reporting over ninety infected casualties as of this morning. The numbers are multiplying.”

  “Christ,” Windsor said. “On top of the unknown number of these things already, they’ll only exponentiate from here. What of the undercity factions? How are they faring?”

  “As you would expect,” Mahto continued. “They see them as freaks of nature and appear to be combating them. However, at these infection rates, I’m not sure how long they can contain it before it comes upwards at full force.”

  “These freaks might
do us the favor of ridding the undercity of its rot,” Krieg added.

  “Enough,” Glazov said. “We must let McKenna take his own course of action to deal with this threat. He knows the stakes. The sooner he can neutralize these attackers, the faster Nina can form support from the WHO and ValiantCorp.”

  “Did your scientists at High Science truly believe a cure could come from this new strain?” Windsor asked Mahto. This particular subject was something that had not been pursued since the attack. The initial study had been to determine the cause of the mutation, not its beneficial properties, and the time spent studying the mutant had been was short. The attackers had quickly decimated the High Science facility and wiped out all staff, with all research now missing or erased.

  Mahto looked at the other Councilors as they stared attentively at her, clearly curious themselves. She didn’t want to provide false hope, but it was obvious that the Taken had some sort of immunity from the atmosphere. “Yes,” Mahto said. “Veena believed so. These mutants have an immunity to the Black Cell, but seeing how far these mutants have degraded, I’m guessing it would be years before we could find anything constructive.”

  “And with both U’ldanta and Hinsin gone…” Glazov mumbled.

  The others looked to their own thoughts on the matter. While it wasn’t foolish to hope for a cure, it would be to expect one. The fact that research existed proving otherwise provided a shred of hope on a much larger scale.

  “We’ve lived with the Black Cell for over four hundred years,” Windsor said. “I think we can wait a little longer. What’s more important are the treasonous atrocities that have taken place at High Science. We have to bring them to justice.”

  As Windsor closed the holoscreens before him and the others, a message on his OPIaA chimed, then the security doors leading to the Earth VOX opened from within. In walked Alistair, accompanied by her two guards, who stayed by the door as she continued into the room. The doors to the VOX locked behind her, to be accessed by only the highest of authority.

  “Councilors,” Alistair stated as she approached. The Councilors turned to greet her. The Marshals, due to their status as personal agents for the Council, were much more informal towards them, having developed utmost familiarity. Alistair also happened to be the Council’s golden girl, the perfect example of Council pride and justice.

  “Chief Alistair,” Windsor said. “First, my commendations on the speech.” Glazov and Mahto nodded their heads, smiling at Alistair. Finally, Krieg approached Alistair with the biggest smile of all and opened his arms.

  “Marie,” Krieg said happily.

  “Uncle,” Alistair said, smiling. “Did you approve of the speech?”

  “We were just speaking of it moments ago. Far better than a red gorilla like McKenna could have done. It was a quick speech as well,” Krieg said.

  “Chief Alistair, we haven’t received a chance to discuss the briefing you had with our newest Marshal before arriving here,” Windsor said.

  “That is correct, Councilor,” Alistair said. “I’ve been made aware of his case regarding the attack on High Science. He has my full support.”

  “And what did you make of him?” Krieg said with a smile, assuming she would agree. “Barbaric? Hot blooded?”

  “To my own surprise, no. He didn’t seem to be your typical blood-lust Martian. He seems… different. Perhaps peacetime has cooled his veins?”

  “Perhaps,” Krieg frowned. “Maybe I’ll take your insight into consideration.”

  “Do you have any new updates, Chief?” Windsor asked.

  “Yes,” Alistair said. She opened her OPIaA and passed a file over to Windsor. “One of my Infiltrators in the undercity recently intercepted an outgoing message to Markal Ln’Tara.”

  “Markal hasn’t brought the message to our intention,” Windsor said.

  “He never received it, sir. A data scrambler, presumably an information broker, prevented the message from leaving the undercity, but my Infiltrator was able to grab it.”

  The idea of purchasing information from crime syndicates was highly frowned upon by the Council, but Alistair knew that some information was worth any price – even if she had to bend the truth a little to get the Council to accept her intel. The acquisition of the message never came from any such infiltrator, but rather one of the very criminal brokers the Council despised.

  “What did this message contain?” Windsor asked.

  “I looked into the disappearance of Chief Science Officer U’ldanta, as Councilor Mahto requested, shortly after Kazan’s disappearance,” Alistair said. “As I understand it, the doctor’s body was never recovered from the casualties.”

  “Have you news on the matter? Is Veena alive?” Mahto said eagerly.

  “It’s… possible. The message is written in code in the Auroran language, but it’s signed V,U’D.”

  “Her initials!” Mahto exclaimed, even more hopeful than before.

  Alistair had never realized how much of a friendship Mahto carried with U’ldanta. Then again, Nina Mahto was once a Lead Executive at High Science before being elected Medical Advisory Councilor. She must have spent time with U’ldanta.

  “How can we be sure it’s the doctor?” Glazov asked. “The Aurorans have virtually no presence in the undercity as far as I’m aware.”

  “Red Sector is a maze,” Alistair said. “But either way, the fact that this individual could encrypt this message using Auroran military cryptography and knew Markal’s personal OPIaA channel points to the fact that we have an Auroran at play here.”

  “And you don’t know what it says?” Mahto asked.

  Alistair only smiled at the naivety. I felt it wasn’t my business to open the personal correspondence of the Auroran liaison. But nonetheless, my technicians in our cyber division could not crack it.”

  “That’s quite all right, Alistair,” Windsor said. “Has McKenna been made aware? I’m sure this would be quite useful for his investigation.”

  “Yes, sir. His department is dual-tasked over there, and no doubt pressuring him, but I feel he’s the right man for the job.”

  “Good. I’ll see that the message gets to Markal.” Windsor said. Just then, the other three Council members’ OPIaAs chimed, indicating an upcoming video conference.

  “It’s all right, Councilors, I’ll see Alistair out.” Windsor said.

  “Please let me know if anything else develops regarding the doctor, Alistair,” Mahto said as she turned back to her desk. “And Councilor Windsor, I’d very much like to know what the message says. Please inform me when you give it to Markal.”

  “Absolutely, Nina,” Windsor said.

  “Always a pleasure, Uncle,” Alistair said with a smile. “And please get some more sleep, it’s showing.”

  “Ha! One day I’ll find the youth fountain as you did,” Krieg said, returning her smile. Krieg made his leave to join the other Councilors. The meeting in question did not include Windsor. Instead, he was expecting another Marshal’s audience any moment.

  “How are the other cities reacting to the ISTF?” Windsor asked Alistair as he walked her out, her Enforcers shortly behind.

  “From what I’ve heard, with fear. They’re afraid the Taken might spread to other provinces,” Alistair said. “They don’t have much hope for the ISTF, and as you’d expect, tabloids like Lost Tribune aren’t helping matters.”

  “Naturally. You have to do your best to contain this within Freedom City.”

  “I will. The ISTF is a globally recognized unit now. In time, the people will see this as assurance.”

  “McKenna will be busy with his investigation, and they’re only one station. It’s up to you to strengthen the force on a global scale. We have to be ready to beat this thing should the time come.”

  “I’m recruiting as fast as I can, sir. I’ll see to it this city is protected. I’ve just one question, though, regarding McKenna.” Windsor nodded his head, curious to hear. “I don’t let my status lead to boldness and I know it�
��s not my concern to question the Council—”

  “Marie, if you have a concern, that takes utmost precedence. Please speak your mind.”

  “It’s more of a curiosity. McKenna has been given Kazan’s High Science case, no light matter, yet it’s a case that has produced no leads. A dead trail.”

  “And it was our decision to send Kazan, our best, to lead the investigation.”

  “And you know as well as I do that he’s long dead. Why recruit an off-worlder as a new Marshal, let alone a Martian, and then hand him this case? I mean no disrespect to McKenna, but this could bear too much for a recruit.”

  “You’re aware of how we recruit a Marshal. They’re never trained—”

  “—they already possess all the skills needed, I know. But having him give that global speech seemed the most out of place. We could’ve painted a bull’s-eye on his head. Not to mention this case? It could send him to his death.”

  “I understand your concerns, Marie, I truly do. The Council believed it was best to give the people a face, a new one with no prior slate, to be the symbol against this threat.”

  “All Martians have a slate, whether they like it or not.”

  “Be that as it may. If you look around out there, it’s clear there’s plenty of crime, mutants, poverty, famine. One thing we’re short of is heroes. Heroes can make people believe. One man. We need to find them and present them wherever we can.”

  Alistair sighed, still not understanding, and she was always used to having her own way. “He seems tactful, methodical. I understand, sir.”

  “Try not to worry, Marie.” Windsor’s own OPIaA then chimed indicating his next appointment. He opened his tool and saw the secretary’s face again.

  “The Sky Marshal for you, Councilor,” Patricia said.

  “Send him in, Patricia,” Windsor said, closing his OPIaA. The doors opened in front of them. The Council guards turned to inspect as Henry Stoker walked through the doors. Every time Windsor saw Stoker he was always wearing his advanced flight suit and old leather jacket, always ready to take to the skies. After his efforts in the Solar War, his skills in the sky gained him fame until he was offered the title of Marshal. Stoker initially refused, as he preferred to be with his team in the sky, but then the newly formed Council made him a specially designated Sky Marshal. In addition to his ranking within the Earth Naval Fleet, Stoker would embark on special missions, safeguarding the skies of the Solar System, reaching to other colonies and rooting out threats.