Charged (17 page)

Haven’t I sort of already been though? I thought they were falling back, slowly, sure, but back nonetheless.

“What do you mean?” Mason asks him. “I thought it was already working?”

“I see I’ve kept you guys a bit cut off in here the last few days. The latest maps do show a decline in the advance of the infection on the path you took to get here. The problem I’ve found is that the rebooted ‘fixed’ nanobots are still succumbing to the mutated ones.”

“So they’re re-infecting the fixed nanobots?” Mason asks quietly.

“Unfortunately, yes.” The doctor sighs. “If we could get enough of Kat’s new organic energy, we can stop them, but unless I can replicate it, we will only be able to keep a small area contained and uninfected.”

“Can you do it, doc? Replicate it, I mean?” I ask, finding my voice.

“I’m not sure. I’m going to try, though. Why don’t you guys go explore the rest of the facility today. I’ve monopolized you enough. If I need anything, I’ll have Jerome find you.”

“Alright, doc. Good luck.” I say.

Mason echoes my goodbye and we head in search of Jared and Brie.

I
t doesn’t take us too long to find Brie and Mason, mostly because its lunchtime and we meet them in the cafeteria. I scoop up Baby bear from Brie. He’s putting on some weight, so he’s not as light as he was. But he’s still a comfort, as I try not to let the stress of Dr. Ford’s answer session get to me.

When we have our food and find a table, I turn to Brie and Mason and fill them in. “I think we need to get Jack, Mariette, Becky and Nate out before it’s too late. I can get Dr. Ford to send someone out there, I’m sure.”

“I’ll call them as soon as we’re done eating.” Brie says.

Mason and Jared grunt and nod their approval as their mouths are full of food.

It doesn’t take very long at all for Jerome to find us again. In fact, it was pretty much the same allotment we had for lunch every other day. “Sorry,” He looks sheepish. “Doc needs you two again. Said it’s important.”

I shrug. I’m used to it, so is Mason. We get up and follow him with little fuss, down the now familiar hallways to the lab. Dr. Ford rushes us in, and unlike usual, he quickly shuts and locks the door behind us. Now that I really look at him, I notice he looks frazzled.

“What’s up, doc?” Mason smiles, trying to lighten his mood.

“Kat, I am so sorry.” Dr. Ford says.

Fear spreads through me like a slow burn. I can’t think to speak before Mason does. “What’s going on?” He demands more than asks.

“General Carch is what’s going on. One of the meanest old birds you’ll ever meet, and unfortunately for us, she’s also in charge here.” He looks at me grimly. “She doesn’t think we should wait to try to replicate your organic energy. She’s putting together an engineering team as we speak to create something to drain your energy constantly and use it to charge weapons for our soldiers. You’re not safe here anymore, Kat.”

It’s my guinea pig fear, come to life. I stand frozen.

It’s Mason who jumps into action for both of us. “What can we do?”

“I’ve had Jerome set your Jeep with extra supplies and a cell phone and charger. I’m the only one with the number. I can’t tell you where it will be safe to go, but I’ll check in daily with any updates I have. I can figure this out, I just need more time. You’ll do well to stay away from the cops and army, if you can help it. Whatever you do, don’t use your real names.”

Mason nods. “Jared and Brie?”

“Will probably be safer with you. I wouldn’t put it past that mean old cow to throw them in the brig once she discovers you’re gone.” Dr. Ford says.

Mason nods. “How long do we have?”

“An hour, maybe, but the less time the better.”

“Understood.” Mason pulls on my arm. “C’mon, Kat, we’ve got to go, babe.”

Suddenly, I remember something important. I walk to one of the maps on the wall and find the location I’m looking for, sticking a tack into it. “We have friends here, doc.” I tell him. “A mom, a kid, and an older couple. Please get them out, before it’s too late. We’ll tell them to expect you and be ready.”

“I promise.” Dr. Ford says, as Mason pulls me towards the door. “Be safe, guys.”

“Thanks, doc. You, too.” I answer as Mason and I take off down the hallway.

Jerome must have already told Brie and Jared, because they are waiting for us with Baby bear and their bags packed. It takes me and Mason maybe five minutes to gather our things, then we all follow Jerome to our Jeep. He explains about extra gas, a filled fuel tank, extra maps, the cell phone, water and MRE’s. I’m a little confused by the last one until Mason explains its army food.

Mason lets Jared drive the first shift, and I don’t miss him using his body and Baby bear’s to try and hide my presence in the Jeep, as we exit the gate.

When the gated, fenced building is shrinking behind us he backs off, but grabs my hand and squeezes tight.

I feel horrible, getting everyone kicked out of the safest place we’ve been since this whole thing started. Hopefully, doc keeps his promise and gets Jack and the rest of our group there for me. At least they’ll be safe.

“Where do you want to go?” Jared asks, not to anyone particular, more all of us as a whole.

“I have no idea.” Brie says, turning in her seat to face me.

I look dumbly at Mason. I really need to snap out of it, but my mind is too consumed by guilt.

“Maybe we should try south for now?” Mason suggests. “They’ll probably expect us to go west.”

“If they don’t have us lo-jacked already.” Jared points out. We all look at each other and Jared pulls over.

The guys get out of the car, and it doesn’t take long for them to find what they’re looking for. Mason holds up a small piece of something I don’t recognize and sticks it on a parked car one space up.

We try again, this time adjusting our route to the south. I stroke Baby bear’s soft fur as he snores gently with my free hand and force myself to think. How on earth did this happen? How did we suddenly become basic fugitives? And what’s more, if Dr. Ford can’t replicate my energy, what will I do? Let the world end? I sigh, and Mason squeezes my hand.

“You alright?” He asks.

“Not really.” I answer truthfully. “But I don’t see any way to get around it right now.”

He gives me a quick kiss on my cheek and begins staring out of his window. I guess he doesn’t see any way around it right now, either.

We travel south for a few hours before we stop to stretch our legs, and let Jared and Mason switch drivers. I have no idea where we are, but I assume somewhere in the mid-west farmland as all we’ve seen is empty fields for a while. The sky is overcast and the day dreary, but this is fine with me, it matches my mood.

We continue on for a while, and since we have no real destination in mind, we toy with the option of stopping for the night. Ultimately, it’s Mason who convinces us to wait until tomorrow night. He wants to put more space between us and Columbus, before we attempt a campout. Nobody argues, though I can’t help the involuntary shudder that runs through me.

It feels like we drive forever. Eventually the sun breaks across the horizon to our left, and we drive on. When the sun is high above us, Mason stops.

“Time to switch?” Jared asks.

“Well, yes, but that’s not why I stopped. Look.” He points southeast. “I don’t think we want to get too close to that.”

I follow his finger and see the metallic fog. I get out of the car, my hands already in front of me, creating an energy sphere. I can’t afford to hold back, and finally, the numbness I’ve been feeling since we left Columbus, is waning. In its place is fury. I’m pissed. I’m super pissed. And I’m going to unleash my rage on these freaking nanobots.

I only make it a few steps before I throw the sphere as hard as I can towards the fog. The ground trembles on impact, the aftershock slamming me back into the Jeep, hard. I haven’t thrown one like that, well, ever. Not even the first few, which I didn’t know how to control. And I expected to feel drained after, but I don’t. Not like before, anyway. I really wish Dr. Ford was around to give me some more answers.

“Kat, are you alright?” Mason jumps out of the Jeep and crouches next to me, where I now sit on the ground, my back leaning up against the Jeep’s large tire.

“Yeah,” I stand up to prove it and brush the dust off my jeans. “I’m good.”

“Dang, girl,” Jared says.

“Yeah, kick that nanobot ass, Kat.” Brie adds.

“Think that’ll hold them back?” I ask.

“Babe, I think they felt that in Mexico.” Mason laughs.

He’s right. The fog is already visibly drawing back. Soon, it’s just a memory. “It must have just made it this far.” I speculate.

“According to the maps before we left, it hadn’t made it further west than the Ohio River. I guess it’s advancing.” Brie tells me.

Wait a minute. “We may have a chance to solve a mystery here.”

“What do you mean?” Mason asks.

“Remember how confused Dr. Ford was that they can’t seem to locate any survivors?” I tell them.

“Yeah, so?” Jared questions.

“Well, here we are, in a place I just zapped, where the infection just occurred. Aren’t you guys just the teensy bit curious as to what happens to all the people?” Like my mom. And Mason’s family. And Brie’s mom. What could be the fate of the world, if Dr. Ford fails?

“It could be dangerous.” Jared says.

I roll my eyes. “What isn’t, anymore?”

“Point taken.” Jared smiles a bit.

“It’s up to you guys. Who knows what we’ll find.” I look at each of them. I don’t want them feeling forced into going.

“But if we found out, I mean, it would help, right?” Brie asks.

“I don’t know if we
want
to know, though.” Mason adds.

Jared looks hard at Brie, then turns back to me and Mason. “I say we do it. If it can help, then it’s worth a shot.”

“Okay, I guess. A hunting we will go.” Mason finally succumbs.

So far, all we’ve found is empty house, after empty house. Eventually, as it begins to get dark, we stop at one of them to spend the night. Jared and Mason secure the downstairs, while Brie and I make a picnic of sorts on the floor of the master bedroom.

It’s a nice house, all big windows and wood floors, with way nicer furniture than my house or Brie’s. Hopefully tonight, it will be our sanctuary.

We eat our MRE’s. They’re not very good, but they fill our stomachs. Part of me wishes that we could try cooking something in the nice kitchen we saw downstairs, but Mason wants to play it safe. We only leave one small light on as we eat.

Baby bear makes himself comfortable on the bed. Again, I notice he’s getting bigger. He’s going to have to get used to walking on his own, if he keeps going at this rate.

I’m happy we decided to stop in a house that still has electricity. Not all of them did, and I can recharge to my heart’s content. After I’m done, we call it a night. Brie and Jared drag in a mattress from the other room and we push a dresser in front of the door. I’m not sure why, since no one’s around, but I don’t argue if it makes everyone feel better.

The morning comes too quickly. It sure beats sleeping in the Jeep. We pack up and move on, pushing east, and I throw more energy spheres, just to be safe.