Nodding, Sarah came over and helped Sutton take off the suit. “I know, but the first ones to come down with the flu were part of the base crew that mans the installation. Homeland and the FBI retraced their guard routes and found that some were going outside to smoke. At one entrance, they found dead pigeons right outside the door.”
Feeling lightheaded, Sutton moved over and sat down in a chair. “How many infected inside?” he asked.
“So far over four hundred, but the testing has only started and there are over five thousand in the main bunker and fifteen hundred troops in the outside bunker. So far, they haven’t found any infected among them,” Sarah said, sitting down. “I know the team has had minimal contact, but we have to test them.”
Looking up at Sarah, “You’ve had more contact with others than we have,” Sutton said fearfully. “I need to test you,” he added, quickly moving to get up.
Reaching out, Sarah stopped him. “I showed negative,” she said and Sutton gave a sigh of relief. “I have to admit, getting attached to the team probably saved my life. Since you and the team don’t like leaving to eat and I never know when I can get any of you out of the lab, that’s why I’ve prepared your food in the office.”
“I’m glad you got the president to let us do the conferences via video,” Sutton mumbled and then looked up. “The president?”
“Not infected, but several others on his cabinet were, so everyone is in isolation. He wants to talk to you,” Sarah said, grabbing a test kit off the table beside her.
Watching Sarah open the kit up, Sutton gave a nervous chuckle. “Turns out smoking is dangerous for everyone.”
Uncapping a swab, Sarah inserted it in Sutton’s nose and then pulled it out and put it in a test tube, breaking it off and closing the top. “You do that rather well,” Sutton said, clearly impressed.
“Well, you go and get me promoted to the upper ranks of the CDC, I’d better know how to do some of this stuff,” Sarah grinned, putting the tube in the rack. “The only contact the others have had with the outside are the guards at the entrance to the lab and private quarters. I thought I was going to have to beat Skannish yesterday just to get him out of the lab to eat.”
Sutton grinned, “Tapping on the observation window with a baseball bat did have some effect.”
“It was all I could think of,” Sarah shrugged.
Dropping the grin, Sutton asked. “Sarah, may I ask you a question?” When Sarah nodded, “Why aren’t you wearing a mask? You know you’re not infected, but we could be.”
“I know you’re not, but if this team is sick, my team, I go with them,” she said with a straight face.
Jerking his head to the table, “Well, I’m not,” Sutton told her and Sarah glanced over to see the liquid was still clear.
Getting up, “We need to brief the president and then test the rest of the team,” Sarah told him, holding out a hand. Sutton grabbed her hand and she pulled him up. Letting her hand go, Sutton followed Sarah to her office. Walking in, he grinned at the large fridge, hot plate, and microwave that Sarah had put in the day she’d been promoted just so she could cook for the group.
“Not many bosses cook for their team,” Sutton chuckled, walking around the desk and sitting in one of the chairs.
“All of you better be happy I took classes,” Sarah told him, dropping in her chair. Tapping the keyboard, the two monitors came to life. On one screen was the President, looking at them and the other was subdivided into multiple sections, showing the rest of the cabinet. Even though he didn’t know all of them, Sutton could tell there were missing faces.
“Dr. Sutton, please tell me you have some good news,” the President cried out.
“Yes sir. The first batch for testing is nearly ready. We’ll start testing in twenty-four hours,” Sutton answered and the President gave a very relieved sigh before dropping back into his chair. “All the preliminary information looks good and it’s a viable vaccine.”
“You and that team are owed a debt that can never be repaid,” the President told him.
“Mr. President, you have to understand, this vaccine works like any other. It will take those given the shots up to fourteen days to develop antibodies. If they get the virus before then, they will still get hit with the full lethality,” Sutton explained.
Holding his hands up, “I understand,” the President said. “Dr. Sutton, we are getting reports from outside of unprecedented violence. Is there any way the virus could be the cause?”
“Not by altering the brain, if that’s what you mean,” Sutton answered. “But sir, you have to understand, people have watched masses die; including family. That is enough to push many past the breaking point. If you have the time, I have a report from a psychiatrist and two psychologists that have done follow-up work after an outbreak. They show a clear correlation between deaths from the outbreak and the increase in violence afterwards.”
“I’ve read that one,” Paterson said and Sutton looked over at the subdivided screen and saw Paterson’s tiny image in the upper right corner. “We had them do another study after Katrina and Sandy to draw up strategies in other disasters.”
“Paterson, send both to me,” the President said and then looked at the camera. “Dr. Sutton, the reason I mention it is because our troops have been attacked in the field. We’ve had to pull out of all major cities. Across the globe, it’s much worse.”
Sarah cleared her throat, interrupting, “Yes, Mr. President. I’ve just compiled a report that third world countries will have a one in fifty survival rate. Even though they have the knowledge to live off the land, they have become dependent on foreign aid. The secondary diseases from unclean drinking water will hit them hard over the next year.”
“I see you are taking your position by the horns, so to speak. Sarah, I’m very pleased,” the President smiled. “Are the new numbers Dr. Sutton gave us holding up?”
“Yes sir. In North America by next year, there will only be four to six million people. From our current projections, in two years the population will continue to fall for another year by half. Before the epidemic, there were almost eighty people for every square mile of the US. In two years, it will be less than one. By then, people will learn to sustain themselves. In two years, the global population will be under half a billion, but we don’t think it will fall much lower. As the current predictions are, the way of life we once knew won’t be attained for over a century.”
“Sarah, we had over a hundred troops attacked and wiped out near Boston. What I need to know is, will this change with the vaccine?” the President asked.
Looking at the screen in shock, Sarah slowly looked down and shuffled the stack of papers she was holding. “Mr. President, they’ve watched their world destroyed in front of their eyes. The numbers we have right now suggest only one in five of survivors is an adult over the age of eighteen. We just passed the peak death rate here in the states with a projected twenty million dying an hour. That number will continue to fall drastically, since there won’t be anyone left to infect,” Sarah summarized from the papers.
“Sarah,” the President snapped. “Will the vaccine stop the violence we are facing?”
Looking back up at the screen, “No, sir,” Sarah answered. “Just the opposite. Once they know we have it, reports suggest others will attack to make sure they get a dose.”
“Thank you,” the President smiled. “What are your projections of those not infected right now?”
“Less than twenty million,” Sarah answered.
“Paterson, that sound near your numbers?” the President asked.
“Yes, Mr. President, but there won’t be anyone on the North American continent that hasn’t been exposed by winter. Current projections have over sixty million mobile-infected in the US. I’ve ordered what troops we have to pull back to isolated areas. As of right now, only this facility, along with Groom Lake are running. We lost our bunker in Virginia to a group of civilians trying to get inside,” Paterson read and then looked up at the
camera. “We have confirmed Diego Garcia has been lost, along with two of our carriers. The sub fleet has remained intact, but our forces as of now are under twenty percent. And will drop to ten percent before the flu runs its course.”
“Dr. Sutton, how long to put this vaccine into large scale production?” the President asked.
Sutton glanced at Sarah and then back to the screen. “Mr. President, we would have to seize a manufacturing plant to do that. We are setting up here in the labs to do what we can. If this vaccine works, we will be able to produce a hundred a day. But that’s only if we can keep getting eggs from those chickens that the troops are protecting topside,” Sutton explained. “We lose those chickens, and we are done.”
“Mr. President,” Paterson interrupted. “I’ve sent you a report outlining this. After key cabinet personal are vaccinated, we’ll need those troops topside vaccinated and then let it filter down.”
“Agreed,” the President said. “What’s the news inside?”
“Not good,” Paterson sighed. “We are still testing but so far, almost a thousand have tested positive. If the numbers continue to hold, over two thousand inside the main bunker will be positive. We are trying to come up with a way to feed the rest, who are isolated in their rooms until we can vaccinate them.”
“That won’t work,” Sutton said, leaning toward the camera. “When I got here, I looked at the air system. That large main complex with all the stores and apartments doesn’t filter the air inside as it’s circulated around. Only the air systems at the presidential complex and this lab complex do that. Everyone in that main complex will be exposed and eventually infected unless they are naturally immune.”
The President nodded, “Thank you, Dr. Sutton. Sarah, I expect daily reports, by video of course.”
“Yes sir,” Sarah said with a nod and the screens blinked as the feed was cut.
Pushing up from his chair, “Come on, we have to tell the others,” Sutton sighed.
As she got up, Sarah turned to Sutton. “The president was asking very troublesome questions,” Sarah admitted, as Sutton headed for the door.
“Yes, he was,” Sutton said, opening the door. “My guess is he’s going to use the vaccine to force compliance on those who receive it.”
Following Sutton out, “It makes sense, but it’s wrong,” Sarah mumbled as Sutton stopped at the intercom, telling everyone they needed to come out for a meeting. After listening to Skannish yell for five minutes, Sarah stepped over to the wall to open a fire station and pull a fireman’s axe out. Walking over to the window, she tapped the blade lightly against the thick glass.
Skannish gave a yelp and took off running for the decontamination chamber. Putting the axe back, “I feel so bad when I threaten Skannish,” Sarah admitted with a sigh.
Laughing, “I don’t, that old fart has yelled at me for decades,” Sutton told her.
They met the team in the dressing area and told them what was going on. As Sarah spoke, she watched each member of the group test themselves and all were negative. “Best case is twenty days before we can start handing out vaccines,” Skannish blurted out.
Rolling her eyes, Sarah walked over to a small fridge and pulled out a tray of sandwiches. “Dr. Skannish, you will eat two of these because when your blood sugar gets low, I want to strangle you with a yo-yo,” Sarah growled, putting the tray in front of him. Looking up at Sarah behind his thick glasses, Skannish tried to scoot back, running his eyes over Sarah for a yo-yo.
Hooking her foot around one of the legs of the chair Skannish was sitting in, “I ran track and always placed. I also had three older brothers. I promise, I can catch you,” Sarah said, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t think I won’t force feed you.”
Reaching out, Skannish grabbed a sandwich and took a bite. As he chewed, Sarah reached over the table grabbing a napkin and putting it in his hand. Walking over to the coffee pot, Sarah poured a cup as the others on the team dove over the table to grab sandwiches before she started on them.
Walking back over to the table, Sarah smiled at everyone to see they were eating. Putting the cup of coffee she’d just fixed in front of Skannish, “Just like you like it,” Sarah smiled as Skannish shoved the last of his sandwich in his mouth. “Don’t choke,” Sarah told him as she patted his cheek.
“How are we for supplies before we have to go out?” Sutton asked.
“For regular people about two weeks but for this group, we can go three with ease,” Sarah answered. “But the troops can resupply us from storage.”
Feeling much better after his second sandwich, Skannish drained his coffee. “I have shoes older than you,” he mumbled with a grin as he got up and headed over to the coffee pot. “Well, seems like as good a time as any,” he called over his shoulder, refilling his cup. “I have seventeen vaccines ready for trial.”
“The eggs were just put in for incubation!” Sutton shouted. “How in the hell did you manage that?”
“Used the human DNA based bacteria cell cultures,” Skannish shrugged. “That’s why I only have seventeen. Had to use some on mice twelve days ago and exposed them on day eight. Antibody response was immediate.”
“That’s not in your reports!” Sarah mumbled with shock.
“Sorry, but working under Scott has taught me to hide some of my work,” Skannish said, glancing over at Sutton. “He doesn’t like me going off on my own, wasting resources.”
“What’s the production rate?” Sarah asked, moving to a table and sitting down.
“The culture set puts out enough for one shot every four days,” Skannish answered, walking back to the table. “That’s all we have and I got that from Atlanta before we left. Even with what they have, we could make one shot every two hours. Sorry, but I was working on this because the virus was so lethal to chickens. Since I was almost done when we got some chickens that were immune, I just continued on the side.”
“How certain are you that it works?” Sarah asked.
Setting his coffee cup down, “I took my shot six days ago,” Skannish answered. “I tested for antibodies this morning and have them. By day ten, I should have full antibody response.”
“You tested negative!” Sarah gasped.
“Sarah, as our boss you should know, getting the shot doesn’t give you the flu. We only inject pieces of the flu that we’ve killed. You don’t spread the flu with the shot. The only downside is if the shot doesn’t work on what’s going around,” Skannish grinned.
Rolling her eyes, “I know how it works. I’ve read so much on virology, I want a damn degree,” Sarah huffed, throwing up her arms. She looked around at Sutton and Skannish, then to the five other researchers.
“If everyone agrees, let’s get the team vaccinated,” Sarah said, looking each person in the eyes. “All it would take is for someone that was infected to burst in here and without this group, there isn’t a hope. That means the president will have ten vaccines to give out.”
Sutton looked around the room and then back to Sarah. “I know you can count, you prove it each day. There are eight of us,” he told her.
“I’m not a researcher, nor in the continuity of government,” Sarah said and Skannish jumped up, trying to yank his belt off but was having serious trouble.
“I haven’t spanked someone in forty years, but I’m damn sure about to fix that!” he bellowed, still trying to get his belt off.
“Sarah, you are part of this team and without you, we wouldn’t have made the progress we have. Either you do this with us or we hold you down,” Sutton grinned. “One on one, we are intimidated by you but as a group, we aren’t.”
As Skannish pulled and tugged at his belt, Sarah looked around at the others and saw them nodding. Reaching up, she wiped a tear from her eye, “Okay, I’ll take the shot willingly,” she smiled.
“Hold her down!” Skannish yelled out as he finally got his belt undone and was pulling it off.
“Skannish, she said she would take the shot!” Sutton shouted, moving over and
stopping Skannish from moving toward Sarah.
Looking at his belt in his hands, “You have any idea how hard it is for me to get this damn thing on?!” he shouted. “I should spank you just for making me pull it off!”
Walking over, Sarah took the belt from Skannish’s elderly hands. “I’m almost sorry I sat you down and force fed you,” Sarah smiled and started putting Skannish’s belt back on him.
Sutton and everyone turned to Skannish and saw he wouldn’t look at them. “It was a few days ago and Sarah told me I had been in the lab too long, but I was checking viral culture reactions. She suited up, came into the lab, and pulled me to the decontamination chamber. When she got me out, Sarah put me in a chair and forced two bowls of soup down my throat,” Skannish mumbled.
Pulling Skannish’s belt tight, Sarah buckled it and straightened his shirt up. Skannish was the only researcher that didn’t wear scrubs. “I looked up those words you called me, that’s why I’m not sorry,” Sarah grinned.
Looking at Sarah, Skannish saw his great-granddaughters but in Sarah’s eyes, he saw a determination that they didn’t have. “I shouldn’t have called you Coccydynia Bescumber,” Skannish mumbled.
“Haven’t heard that one,” Sutton chuckled, thinking the meaning out.
“Pain in the butt shit sprayer,” Sarah grinned.
Everyone laughed as Skannish moved over to his locker. “Let’s take our shots and let the president decide who gets the other nine,” Skannish said. “Sarah goes first.”
Rolling up her sleeve, “Fine,” Sarah moaned and dropped into a chair.
Chapter Twenty Five
Don’t go swimming
May 17
Crossing her fingers, Wendy flipped the lever for the door on the hull. When she heard the whine of the motor, Wendy sighed with relief. There was a crank that said, ‘Manual Operation’ but Wendy knew that would wipe her out.
As the ten-foot-tall door pulled in, the smell of the sea filled their noses. They watched the door slide down the wall on tracks, exposing a twenty-foot opening. The sun was just peeking above the horizon as Wendy flipped the switch that lowered the ramp into the water over ten feet below the door.
Viral Misery (Book 1) Page 27
