by Claire Buss
'I think this is Ingrid and Pete's child.'
Ruth went pale and dropped to sit in a nearby chair. 'How?'
'I don't know.'
'What the frig happened after I left today?'
'I was wrapping things up with Sean and I was discussing how many babies were left in the baby lab and who was still on the waiting list, when he mentioned an uncollected baby.'
'Uncollected? But that would never happen. I know of at least five families desperate for a child who aren't even on the waiting list.'
Martha clutched the sleeping baby closer to her. 'Is it still that bad?'
'Women aren't falling pregnant, Ma. It was just us, and nobody else since. There's a lot of unhappy people out there. And finding out about the hundreds of babies that were grown and shipped out has horrified everyone.'
'That's not my fault. No-one knew about it, just like the treated water.'
'Yeah, but the discovery was made under your government,' said Ruth. 'People are stupid, Ma. They blame you even though they know you didn't really have anything to do with it.'
'I know, you're right. We are trying to get to the bottom of it. The scientists are doing everything they can to figure out the long term effects of the irradiated water and as soon as we crack the computers, we'll find out why the city was selling babies.'
'If we crack the computers,' said Ruth.
The women lapsed into silence as they considered one of the biggest threats to Martha's governorship. If she couldn't explain why Corporation had been selling babies without telling anyone and solve the problem of women not falling pregnant soon, then she was going to lose a huge support base.
'A lot of people still think you're doing that,' said Ruth.
'Doing what?' asked Martha.
'Selling babies.'
'And who exactly am I selling all these babies to?'
Ruth shrugged and turned her attention to the baby in Martha's arms. 'What makes you think it's Pete's?' she asked.
'Well, he's mixed race, not unusual I know but that is what their baby would've been. He's the right age, again - it could be a coincidence but when I spoke to the tech in the baby lab it seemed to click into place. The child was bought there shortly after the terrorist attack. The one that Ingrid...'
'But we all saw the footage, thanks to Anti-Corp. On the sweeps. The doctors confirming the termination of mother and child.'
'Yes, but we never actually saw them terminate the child, did we? And they never released the bodies for the funeral. We looked throughout Corp Medical for some kind of sign that those bodies had been kept and found nothing.'
Ruth rolled her eyes. 'Are you suggesting that Ingrid is still alive, as well? Died her hair brown, working in some menial job somewhere, biding her time before taking back her baby?'
'No, of course no. Don't be so melodramatic.'
'Look, I know you feel bad about the baby situation but you can't latch on to an uncollected child and decide it's Pete and Ingrid's baby. You just can't. You need proof, Ma.'
'I am well aware of that. We are going to run a DNA test.'
'What? Here?' Ruth was incredulous.
'Yes.'
'How?'
Martha smiled grimly and went through to her bedroom. When she returned, a NanNan 3000 was following her.
'Where did you get that from?' Ruth was surprised.
'Kira gave it to me. It was the last present Ingrid ever brought her and Jed. I don't think either of them could bear to get rid of it but they had no use for it either.'
'And it does DNA testing?'
'Let's find out shall we?' Martha was still holding the baby in her arms and seemed reluctant to put him down. As if he would disappear if she did. One handedly she opened the medical diagnostics app on the NanNan, scrolling until she found what she was looking for. DNA test.
'Hang on a minute though, Ma. We don't have any of Ingrid or Pete's DNA and there is no central network anymore. How will the NanNan be able to tell us anything useful?' asked Ruth.
'Jed has their personnel files. Backed up into his personal system, which I have emergency access to. Kira told me about it when she caught him looking at their individual data streams.' Martha's voice went soft. 'Apparently it helped him feel connected to them still.'
'So we're really doing this then? We're going to test this kid to see if it's Ingrid and Pete's?'
Martha nodded resolutely. The NanNan was ready, she hit the button for the scan and watched nervously as the android took a hair sample from the small baby. It took mere moments to process the hair and the results were soon available to download. Saving the data to her handheld, Martha went over to the main screen in the living room and accessed the Jenkins' personal system.
Ruth looked round nervously, knowing that Kira and Jed were miles away in City 15, but still feeling like she were prying into their personal privacy uninvited. 'I don't know about this, Ma.'
'Oh hush.' Martha navigated the system expertly, finding the DNA profiles quickly and then holding up the recent scan from the child.
The two woman looked at the patterns in front of them. Despite Ruth being a history teacher and Martha originally a plant biologist by trade, it was clear that the child's DNA had matching bands with his parents. Ingrid Jenkins and Pete Barnes.
Martha looked down at the baby in her arms. 'He is. He's Pete and Ingrid's baby.'
Ruth looked like she'd seen a ghost. 'We have to tell Jed, and Kira. Can we get in contact with them?'
Martha nodded.
'I think so. They took the latest comm units with them so provided they're not in a location with high interference, we should be alright.'
'Do we tell them now?' asked Ruth.
'Yes. What are we waiting for?'
'I don't know but should we wait for them to come back? I mean, isn't this mission, expedition, whatever you want to call it, highly critical? Don't we want them focused on the field and not wanting to rush back home?' Ruth sounded dubious.
Martha was quiet. She wanted to scream it from the rooftops but Ruth might have a point. It wouldn't do much good to distract Jed while he was on mission. They should wait before telling him. The baby began to fidget in her arms.
'Do we have enough supplies for another one?' Martha asked Ruth, just as Sarah, then Lucas began to cry.
'I guess we'll find out,' sighed Ruth. Being a mum to three babies loomed ahead of her and she didn't think she particularly relished the prospect.
ENCRYPTED MESSAGE FROM 7421 TO NEW CORP
>>URGENT - Hamble has discovered the child, what do I do?<<
ENCRYPTED MESSAGE FROM NEW CORP TO 7421
>>EVIDENTLY, YOUR INCOMPETENCE KNOWS NO BOUNDS. THE CHILD SHOULD'VE BEEN DEALT WITH MONTHS AGO<<
>>DO NOTHING. I WILL DEAL WITH IT<<
ENCRYPTED MESSAGE FROM 7421 TO NEW CORP
>>What about City 15? They've found the bodies. I can't keep it from the Governor for much longer<<
ENCRYPTED MESSAGE FROM NEW CORP TO 7421
>>DO WE HAVE SUPPORT?<<
ENCRYPTED MESSAGE FROM 7421 TO NEW CORP
>>Yes, most of the old Corpers are open to the idea of a new leadership. What do you want me to do next?<<
ENCRYPTED MESSAGE FROM NEW CORP TO 7421
>>HOLD THE VOTE<<
Chapter 11
'I want to do something useful,' announced Kira.
Ash looked up in surprise. He had thought she'd turned in for the night. 'What sort of thing are you thinking?' he asked cautiously.
'I think we should go look for medical supplies. After all, that is one of the reasons we came here in the first place.'
'True, but now is not the best time.'
'No, I don't mean now, this minute. Of course not. It's night-time. But I think first thing in the morning you, me, and a couple of operatives should go to 15's med centre and see what's left.'
'I'll have to get it confirmed with Captain Jenkins but I can't see any real issue with it.' Ash thought for a moment.
'But doesn't Dina have the list of medicines we need?'
'I have a copy as well. I know what we need to get.' Kira was beaming. She hated feeling like she had nothing to do. This would give her purpose. It would also get them moving around the city which would divert Grace's attention from trying to eat skimmer tread and playing with spare Force riot gear stored in the transporters.
'I'll radio through, let you know.' Ash waited until Kira had gone before setting up the comms link with Alpha Team.
'Alpha Team, Alpha Team. This is Operative Ash, Beta Camp - do you read me? Over.'
'Loud and clear, Ash. This is Captain Jenkins. Switching to visual comms. Over.'
The vid screen in the transporter flickered and Jed's head came slowly into view. The connection wasn't the best but at least they had visual comms.
'How are things there, Ash?'
'Everything's fine, Sir. Perimeter is set, night watch has been organised. The team have eaten, those not on duty are resting. Your wife is fine, she's turned in for the night with your daughter. We don't anticipate any problems.'
'Good, good. Max and Dina are still running analysis here. It will probably take another twelve to fourteen hours. So I need you to sit tight for now.'
'Actually, Sir, I was wondering whether Beta Team could visit the Med Centre, see if there are any supplies available. That was our secondary mission after all.'
'It was.' Jed thought for a moment. 'OK, do it. Take Kira and Grace with you, give them a protective detail at all times. I'm not expecting any trouble but that's usually when it hits. Do you have the list of meds we need?'
'Yes, Sir. At least, your wife does, Sir.'
'Ah. Okay.' Jed grinned. 'Try not to let her get you into too much trouble, Ash.'
'Yes, Sir.' Ash grinned back at his commanding officer. They said goodnight and signed off the comms. Nothing to do now but try and sleep peacefully until morning.
No-one slept much in the end and Beta Team broke camp early, packing everything away into one skimmer and emptying out the other one as much as possible. Everyone was feeling optimistic that they would be filling the empty skimmer's containers and storage areas with medical supplies.
'We are going to walk there, aren't we?' Kira asked Ash anxiously. She didn't feel like being cooped up in that vehicle for a minute longer than necessary.
'We can do, Ma'am. We won't all fit in anyway.' Ash smiled then looked down at Grace who was trying her best to pull herself up to standing on a nearby box of dried food pouches. 'What about Grace?'
'Oh, don't worry. I have her stroller. If we waited for her to toddle to the Med Centre, we'd be waiting all day.' In a few deft moves, Kira undid the contraption lying on the floor next to her and with an expert flick of her wrist, a fully functional stroller now stood waiting for its passenger.
'Impressive. They fold up well, don't they?' Ash said.
'Believe me, the first time you try to undo these things, it takes you half an hour but with a little one, you get plenty of practice getting the stroller in and out of skimmers.' Kira scooped up Grace and secured her into the seat. 'Are we ready?'
Ash nodded then called the order to move out. Half of Beta Team were to stay there and guard the camp whilst the rest were to come to the med centre, the empty skimmer following the human crocodile. Kira noticed with a faint smile that the most heavily armed operatives surrounded her and Grace. She didn't mind. This was Jed's way of making sure she was safe. The impending doom feeling she had had yesterday was gone. Kira knew Max and Dina would get to the bottom of what happened to the citizens of 15. Now she felt an odd sort of an excitement. She was on an exploratory mission to find much needed medical supplies and she could think of no reason why the supplies they were looking for wouldn't be there. It felt good to be part of such a positive action.
Two hours later, Kira and Ash sat dejectedly on the benches outside the med centre. It wasn't a particularly big building and it hadn't taken Beta Team long to scout through. It was completely empty. There were beds, tables and chairs but all the electronics had been ripped out and taken away. Every single medical cabinet was cleaned out. Not even a handheld med scanner had been left behind. Kira's mind was spinning. Who had the kind of manpower to empty out a med centre so efficiently? Was it Corporation? Had they somehow expected City 42 to send an envoy and instead of agreeing to meet, they had instead decided to remove anything and everything that could've been helpful? They had even taken small things like childrens plasters and the holographic stickers they loved so much. All the food hydrators had been shut down and without the city key codes, Ash had been unable to get anything turned back on. Thank goodness someone had considered that eventuality and brought enough supplies with them for the entire expedition.
Ash tapped at his handheld despondently. All his scans had come back negative. There were no harmful elements in the air or anything contaminating the building. It was completely empty.
'I suppose we ought to report in to Jed.' Kira spoke at last.
Ash nodded and walked back to the still empty skimmer. So much for thinking they would be able to achieve something positive today.
'Alpha Team. Alpha Team, come in please. This is Beta Team. Operative Ash speaking. Over.'
'Beta Team received, this is Captain Jenkins. Switching to visual. Over.'
The vid comm on the dash flickered once more into life and Jed's hopeful face looked out. He was soon frowning.
'The entire place is empty? Actually empty?'
'Yes, Sir. There is some furniture but otherwise nothing is left. No food, no water, no medical supplies and no access to the city's mainframe.'
'Any sign as to who did this?'
'No, Sir. There are no messages left behind or even any real evidence that anyone was here in the first place. Just an empty building.'
'And you're sure there aren't any contaminants?'
'No, Sir. No contaminants.'
There was a pause as Jed digested the information. They had completely failed in their medical re-supply mission and the mysterious deaths of the entire population of City 15 was the absolute worst possible scenario. Trying to explain what they'd found to City 42 wouldn't help Martha's position at all.
'Go back to camp, Ash. Get the skimmers ready to move out. We are on our way back as well. If you can think of anywhere else to investigate before we leave, let me know but I think we've done everything here we can.'
'Yes, Sir. See you back at camp, Sir.'
Chapter 12
'Are the results in?' Jed asked as he poked his head under the tarpaulin Max and Dina had rigged up to keep their testing under some kind of shelter. Not that the weather was bad here in City 15 but more to limit the chances of any kind of contamination. Dina's eyes were rimmed in red as she looked up at Jed and nodded. She didn't speak. She wasn't sure she could. Max squeezed her shoulder as he stood upright, his lanky form towering over both of them.
'They were poisoned. Looks like it came through the city's airways, most likely at some point in the evening which is why we see the grouping we do. Families together, students, work colleagues, that sort of thing,' he explained.
'What about the individual bodies?' asked Jed.
'I'm guessing they were gassed in the street. Anyone who was inside a building would've been affected at the same time,' replied Max.
'So you think it was a complete city-wide assault. All at once?'
'It looks that way. From what we've been able to determine, time of death is pretty much the same across the board.'
'And they didn't miss a single person,' said Dina quietly. 'Our count matches the city's population. Every single resident was targeted.'
Jed was quiet for a moment then asked the obvious question. 'So why aren't they in their homes or wherever they happened to be when the airborne assault occurred?'
'I think, and this is pure conjecture, that the bodies were removed from the city and placed outside the city walls to be destroyed,' said Max. 'I believe the discolourati
on in the grass is down to an accelerant, I think we arrived before they were able to complete that task. Whoever they are.'
Jed shook his head in disbelief. He began pacing up and down. 'We interrupted them? Why haven't they finished us off as well? Where are they?'
Dina tapped one of the monitors, bringing up their analysis for Jed. 'It looks like the toxin they used was fast acting and quick to break down. In some of the later samples we collected and tested there were only trace amounts of the poison left. If we hadn't known what to look for, we would have missed it.'
'Are you telling me that they, what, ran out of poison?' Jed sounded annoyed. 'Whoever did this clearly doesn't have an issue with killing people. If we interrupted them, why weren't we attacked? There's not that many of us, they could have wiped all of us out with a few well-placed snipers.'
Max shook his head and gestured to the outer wall. 'I think the poison was released by drone, remotely.'
'Remotely? By whom?' asked Jed.
'I don't know.'
'Okay, so let's say for a moment that's exactly what happened, what about the bodies? How did they get here?' Jed jabbed a finger towards the southern wall that hid the mass genocide of City 15.
'I'm not sure,' Max replied. 'It may be that they were teleported somehow...' But Jed interrupted him.
'Teleported? What, some kind of alien ship came along and moved all our people for no frigging reason?'
Dina caught hold of one of Jed's arms that was gesturing wildly. 'Jed, hey, calm down. Listen to Max's theory. We're trying to help.'
Max had stepped back, a little out of the way, and he hovered protectively behind Dina. 'Look, Jed. I don't have the answers. I don't know what happened here but someone extremely powerful and resourceful gassed an entire city. For whatever reason the tech they used to do this is nowhere to be seen. But I think it's safe to say that they will be back. So we should leave. Now.'
