The Controller (The Securus Trilogy Book 2)

by Anthony Maldonado

  While lying there awaiting my fate, a soft voice calls out to me. It quickly grows louder, drowning out all other sounds, forcing my eyes to open.

  “Kagen, are you okay? You were moaning.” Talia wakes me from my nightmare.

  “Just a bad dream,” I tell her, wiping off the layer of perspiration from my face and neck.

  “Are you sure? That’s the third time this week I’ve had to wake you from bad dreams.”

  “Don’t worry about me, my angel. It’ll pass,” I tell her.

  Now that the dream has been broken, we both try to get some rest.

  *

  The next morning, I return to the Research Department. Inside, Sayda is already at her work station and to my surprise, she is not alone. I watch from the doorway of the large room that serves as a work area for multiple researches. The space is filled with various pieces of electronics and other testing supplies, some of which block me from being fully in their view. Sayda and Radek are unaware of my presence. A subtle gentleness flows from Radek when he talks with Sayda. That is something he did not display to the rest of us when we were out in The Caves.

  I move from my spot and walk inside, not wanting to spy on them. They both see the movement. As I approach, Radek excuses himself. Sayda flashes a smile as he turns away. He nods his head at me while passing. I involuntarily give him a suspicious stare in return.

  “Kagen, what’s up?” Sayda calls to me.

  “Just checking in. Any progress?” I ask while giving her the same look I gave Radek.

  “No. We tested the food from the surface again. It has plenty of vitamins in it. There’s no way to get a deficiency from that. Same goes for our own food. We tested everything Tailyn had in her list, but no abnormalities came up. There’s nothing else to test.” She ignores my stare. Apparently I do not have Arluin’s talent for getting information out of people. Before Sayda gets annoyed, I put my curiosity aside and attend to our perplexing task.

  The test results would be frustrating if I were actually expecting anything else. The way things have gone recently, I knew it would not be so simple. According to Tailyn’s report, other than a large amount of food from the surface garden, she had no other significant exposures or abnormal occurrences. The researchers are not the only ones out of ideas on how to proceed. The lack of progress and direction are truly flustering to me. Before we have a chance to continue, another research worker comes by.

  “Kagen, you’re needed in the infirmary,” the older man tells me.

  His words feel like a slap in the face, knowing the most likely reason for them to summon me. I lean over the table in front of me, resting on my knuckles with my eyes sealed shut. This is exactly what we do not need right now. I pound the table top out of frustration before turning to leave.

  Rapid strides carry me to the infirmary. Once inside the central corridor, I slow down to clear my mind, peering into each room while passing by. Galen’s gruff voice reprimands a patient in his appointment room. My exam room has been vacated for now. The surgical room is empty except for the waiting gurney and all of the sterile surgical instruments packaged nearby in preparation for when an emergency case arrives.

  Inside the intensive care room Rana, Adara, and Jace work on two new patients. Even from the doorway, their condition is obvious. Both of the patients are wearing uniforms adorned with the standard research worker emerald green trim and have visible rashes on their hands. It may not be an infectious outbreak, but the Pellagra is spreading. This is beginning to turn into a personal torment for me. It is my responsibility to figure this out, and now with more cases, the pressure is growing.

  For a moment I worry we may have triggered this by moving the metal box from our pools, but the water has tested clean. Also, if our water supply were tainted, we would expect a lot more than two new patients. Still, I plan to check on the box when I am done with the patients here.

  The grouping of these new patients makes it much more likely the disease has something to do with the surface. That means it will be imperative to hide these patients when the Controller comes here for his review. Another morbid thought comes to mind, what if someone from Securus has tampered with the garden?

  “So, we have two more cases,” I say when the others notice my arrival.

  Rana comes over. She tilts her head down and looks over her glasses at me. “Their presentation is very similar to Tailyn’s. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn they’ve had similar dietary habits.”

  “The cause has to be in there somewhere. I’m missing something,” I say out loud, mentally willing the answer to appear.

  “At least you have more direction,” Rana says, doing her best to encourage me.

  I spend the rest of the morning with the new patients. Like Tailyn, they also have no connection to Taig. Even though we retested the surface food, three people becoming ill with an altered diet is not a simple coincidence. The answer has to be in the food. If not, the only other logical explanation is something in the air. I seriously doubt the air is toxic. Otherwise Caelum would have used that knowledge against us and would not have had to spend so much effort fabricating the continued existence of The Agent.

  Even so, we cannot afford to overlook anything. The only way the air could be responsible is if Caelum has set up some sort of aerosolizing device at strategic points outside of Securus. I will have a team of researchers search around the exit hatch, storage bunker, and along the garden. From each location they will gather soil and air samples.

  By lunch time, I have run out of questions for the new patients. Wanting to grab a small bite before going to the Research Department, I rush out of the infirmary, heading to the lunch hall. For some reason my friends are not around, making it easier for me to slip in and out quickly.

  Once inside the Research Department, my eyes wander, looking at the different people engrossed by their tasks. On the left is a small room filled with electronic equipment. Inside stands a man with his back to me. His stout frame and spiked hair are more than familiar, but also out of place here. My eyes are drawn to the various pieces of equipment around him. There are so many gauges, dials, and probing attachments connected to the pieces. With all of the different readouts and flashing lights, it looks like a confusing mess.

  “Hadwin, what are you doing in there?” I ask while walking in to the room.

  He turns around, revealing the object he is working on, which answers my question before he speaks a word.

  “They’re finally done with the external testing of this thing. I couldn’t wait any longer to figure out what this thing does,” he says, pointing to the metallic box we found in The Caves.

  “How are you supposed to rule your department with an iron fist if you're up here?” I ask in a mocking tone.

  “My rule is absolute!” Hadwin proclaims with a smile. “I can take a momentary reprieve and my loyal minions will keep order. That and we don’t have any deadlines looming, so there’s a bit of a lull right now. But it’s mostly my intimidating leadership.”

  His response makes me rest my face in the palm of my hand, but at least it helps elevate my mood and refocus my attention. I walk over to stand next to him. “I was wondering what was interesting enough to keep you and Sayda from lunch.”

  “Sayda didn’t show?”

  Apparently she had a different reason for not coming. I have an idea of what or more likely who else could have distracted her, so I change the subject. Otherwise, it would be too difficult to hold my tongue about him and Sayda. “I don’t think so, but I wasn’t there for very long either. So, did you learn anything about that box yet?”

  He turns back to the box while filling me in. “You’re just in time. The external testing showed there’s no radiation, chemicals or other toxic fumes emanating from it. So it’s time to open the box and see what’s inside.”

  “We should be doing do that in an isolation room.” I look around for biohazard gear, only to find none available.

  “Too late,
I just opened it,” he says with remorse. I back away, fearing what could be released. When I near the door, he starts laughing. “I’m kidding. Do you really think I would do that here? I was making sure there are no electronic booby traps before opening it. There’s an isolation room set up down the hall.” As always, Hadwin is entertained by my gullibility.

  “You got room for one more?” I had planned to let the research workers do this part, but since he is here I may as well help.

  He picks up the box and heads for the door. “Sure, let’s go.”

  We head down the hall to the same isolation room Taig was held in when he returned to Securus. Hadwin enters first. Before I follow, something in the corner of my eye catches my attention. Sayda and Radek walk down the hall together toward her work station. Before they round the corner, out of my line of sight, Sayda flashes a flirtatious smile at him.

  I want her to be happy, but this is making me uncomfortable. Radek does not seem like a natural fit for her. As the thought comes to mind, I know it is not the real reason for my trepidation. I know someone else who cares for her, but is taking way too long to say something. I need to tell him something soon, before it’s too late, I think to myself while looking back to Hadwin. Now is not the time. He should not have any distractions while opening the box.

  I walk into the room and push those thoughts from my mind. Instead of a gurney, a table with hand tools spread out on it stands in the middle of the isolation room. In the corner are some biohazard suits to shield us from whatever is inside the box. After putting the protective gear on, Hadwin gives a thumbs up to the two research workers positioned in the control room, letting them know we are ready to start.

  We carefully set the box sideways onto the table. The lower spout blocks the device from lying flat when right-side up, so removing it will be the first step. Electronics are Hadwin’s specialty, so I stay out of his way and hand him tools as needed. When the spout is disconnected we place it in a container off to the side. Hadwin takes a deep breath before continuing.

  With the object now steady, I open the door the control panel while Hadwin checks his tools. He uses delicate screwdrivers to disconnect the outer bracket holding the panel in place. When the piece is loose, he slowly inches it forward, constantly shining a light through the edges, looking for any traps. It looks safe, so he pulls the whole panel off and disconnects the wires run into the center of the box.

  Even with the electronics extracted, we cannot see all the way inside. Another piece blocks the way, keeping the box enclosed. The screws on this piece have been soldered in place, so Hadwin uses a small grinder to cut them off. When the screws are cut, he slowly pulls the piece off. As he does, we hear a faint screech. He immediately stops. We both look around the edges of the thin piece of metal, trying to see as far inside as the angle and our light will allow. Nothing seems to be connected to the piece, so Hadwin slowly continues. I watch intently as he slowly moves, fighting a small tremor in his hand. He is not used to this kind of pressure.

  “You want me to take over for a bit?” I ask him.

  “I’m fine.” Hadwin anchors his forearms to the table in an effort to steady his movements.

  He usually is not this stubborn, but I understand how he feels. So much has been out of our control lately and that makes us feel helpless at times. He is clinging to the one thing he can do to help. As he continues to remove the piece, the tremor in his hand subsides. My heart nearly stops when I hear a distinct cracking come from inside the box as he pulls the piece off.

  Hadwin moves the piece out of the way, exposing the inner compartment of the box. It contains a grid of vials, all about as thick as my finger. They are made of clear glass. The outer ones have no visible contents. Tracing those vials up, each one has an affixed valve before they all coalesce, feeding into the upper spout. The inner vials feed into the lower spout and have a light blue liquid held inside. There are at least twenty of them in total. My eyes turn away from the two broken vials on the outside row. On the table site the piece we just disconnected. Attached to the inner side of it is a thin translucent string that was holding a small spike against the vials. When he applied force, it broke them.

  “Activate the containment protocol!” I shout to the workers in the control room.

  “I’m sorry, Kagen. There wasn’t any resistance at all. I thought it was clear,” Hadwin shouts over the roar of the ventilation fans, already sucking out the contaminated air to sterilize it. “What do you think was in there?”

  He already knows the answer to his own question and probably is simply hoping I can come up with another explanation. Unfortunately, not many options come to mind.

  “There are not many things that are clear and not liquid. Either it was already empty or there was some kind of gas in there.”

  We both know exactly what gas that would be. If this box is indeed from Caelum, it could only be The Agent inside. I was hoping for something different, but with the box’s location and the spouts pointing at the water when we found it, deep down we always knew what it would be. At least we are in the isolation room, so the poison will be contained.

  “Kagen, there’s another problem,” Hadwin says with a horrified glaze in his eyes while holding his hands tightly together.

  “What is it?” I look around, searching for the source of his concern.

  He holds up his still clamped hands. Between the vise-like grips of his fingers lies a tear on one of his gloves.

  “Am I gonna die?” he asks with a low monotone voice.

  I wish I could say no, I lament in my own mind, but do not dare speak it aloud.

  Chapter 14

  “You’re gonna be fine, just keep the cut sealed,” I tell Hadwin, concealing my real thoughts. Even though cutting open his glove is not his fault, I am mad at him for being so careless and at myself for letting it happen. In this moment, I feel even more helpless than when Merrick was murdered. This time there is no wall keeping me from my friend, only an invisible monster. All that can be done is to stay here and watch him die.

  “My heart’s going so fast,” Hadwin says as he smacks his already dry lips together.

  “You’re just nervous. Don’t worry about that.” I do my best to reassure him even though those are both early signs of infection from The Agent. The symptoms really could be from anxiety but there is no way to know until things progress. If he starts to hallucinate or develop muscle spasms, there will be no stopping the delirium and complete paralysis that will kill him. If that happens I will be forced to hold him down, or watch him mutilate his own body from the madness brought on by the infection.

  “Come over here and sit down.” I lead him to the back wall, having him rest on the floor.

  I drop down next to him. Through the window, we see the workers furiously checking their diagnostics, making sure the pressurizing system keeps the threat contained. Other workers run in and out of the observation room, presumably relaying information people outside checking the filtering equipment. By now, they should be analyzing the air to determine what toxin was released.

  The flurry of activity outside starkly contrasts to the agonizing stillness of the wait in here. They all have designated tasks to do while Hadwin and I sit alone with nothing but fear and uncertainty.

  “Did you cut your hand?” I ask, searching for some shred of hope.

  “I’m not sure,” he answers.

  Hadwin’s rapid breathing begins to slow. He tries to hide it, but his hand is now stuck in an unnatural position. It has to be a muscle spasm. I should ask him to find out for sure, but cannot bear to hear his answer. Hadwin does not have much time left. I hide the tears in my eyes and look away from his hand, not wanting to call attention to the spasms or reveal my morbid thoughts.

  He stares at the floor and his torn glove. When he finally lifts his head, I see remorse mixed with concern, but surprisingly, not fear. Hadwin has always had a unique humor and prospective on life. His family is one of the very few that have alw
ays seemed to be able to avoid tragedy. I think that has helped him develop into the thoughtful, entertaining, and always helpful man he has become. He typically puts others first. That is most likely what he is doing now. Thinking of those he will leave behind, not of what he faces. It makes me feel even worse knowing what will happen next.

  “Remember the time when we convinced Merrick that Sayda had taken his Coden?” I ask, hoping to distract his mind.

  He stifles a small laugh. “Yeah, she nearly ripped his head off when he accused her.” He manages a smile that grows as he remembers more. “Then she turned on you when I told her it was all your idea.”

  “Yeah, she’s hard to outrun, isn’t she?” I say, wincing when his other hand and wrist contort from another spasm.

  “We had fun, didn’t we?” he asks, forcing his wrist straight while continuing to keep the tear in the glove closed.

  “We did, and we will again.” I move to sit in front of him. Even with the signs in front of me, I refuse to acknowledge that he is dying. “You’re not done yet. We have a lot of work to do, and I’m not gonna let you get out of it. We need you here with us, Hadwin.”

  He nods before looking back down. Neither of us knows what else to say. The room turns silent as we wait to see what happens. After a few more minutes the team outside calls for me. “Kagen, The Agent has been filtered out of the room. You may come out and go through decontamination. Hadwin needs to stay inside for observation.”

  “I’m not going anywhere without him,” I tell them while looking directly at Hadwin. I place my hand firmly on his shoulder. “I’m with you, no matter what.”

  “Thanks, Kagen,” he says.

  After having been forced to abandon my friends before, nothing could force me to leave Hadwin to face this alone. Even if I cannot help, he deserves to have someone with him. After a moment, his emotions shift. Hadwin’s anxiety eases and his strength grows. He looks me in the eye, and I read his thoughts before they are formed into words. “See, I told you guys you would be lost without me, and you just admitted it!”