Charged (22 page)

We don’t make it to see Dr. Ford until the next day. When Mason and I returned yesterday, we filled Brie and Jared in on our suspicions. They both quickly jumped to the same conclusions that Mason and I did, and Brie immediately went in search of the captain to pass along the message that we need to meet with him and the doctor as soon as possible.

We go to the basement, which I now see has been transformed into Dr. Ford’s temporary workspace. A wall, which apparently was removable, has been folded into a pocket space and the room is now twice as large, with an obvious lab set up in the new area.

Captain Jennings and Dr. Ford are waiting for all of us. Dr. Ford greets us each with a warm hug. We take a moment to catch up, the doctor telling us how well our friends have fit in to the Columbus complex. Jack and Mariette, Becky and Nate are doing very well there. This is a relief. At least I helped save some people, even though it can’t begin to offset the things I’ve destroyed so far.

It doesn’t take long for us to get down to business. Me, Mason, Brie and Jared fill the doctor in on our experiences since leaving Columbus. His eyes widen at the appropriate parts, though he only interrupts one time, when I tell of the sample I had grabbed. “Do you still have it?” He asks, his eyes alight with excitement.

“We had it in the Jeep before we were brought here.” Mason says, and we all turn to Captain Jennings.

“To be honest, I don’t think they’ve touched it since we retrieved your belongings.” He picks up a phone, mumbling a few short phrases before hanging up. “One of my men will bring us any remaining items shortly.”

We continue with our discussion. Just before I’m able to address yesterday’s occurrence, a knock sounds at the door. Captain Jennings calls them in, and three soldiers enter. One carries the wrapped up hoodie containing the sample for Dr. Ford. The other two carry trays of food and drinks. I glance at the clock on the wall, surprised to find that it’s lunchtime already. We’ve been talking longer than I thought.

Dr. Ford immediately unwraps the gross hoodie and begins to examine the specimen we found. Now, in the light of day, it’s easy to tell that it was previously a foot. It still appears metallic, though more a tarnished silver than a shiny metal. I can see that Dr. Ford is going to become preoccupied with his new toy very quickly, so I hurry to relay yesterday’s events, and our suspicions.

This is the first Captain Jennings has heard our theory too, and his concern is relevant on his face. Dr. Ford has gone into full scientist mode, his curiosity overshadowing his concern at the moment. We begin eating and speculating as Dr. Ford moves over to the lab area and immediately begins testing his sample. I follow him with a sandwich, gently reminding him to eat before I sit back down to finish my own lunch.

Captain Jennings seems to be contemplating something important. Eventually, the look of indecision leaves his face, and he looks at all of us. “Dr. Ford, I think you need to hear this information too. You may already have been informed of some of it, but I think it’s important that we’re all on the same page here.”

Dr. Ford sets a timer and grabs his still untouched sandwich before sitting back in his seat. Captain Jennings begins again. "There’s some information I’ve been reluctantly withholding for the purposes of national security. I realize under normal circumstances that including teenagers in these matters is unheard of, but we no longer have the luxury of ‘normal’ circumstances, and you four have consistently and effectively shown both discretion and perseverance. And frankly, I just don’t give a shit anymore.

“When the infection first started, it spread more quickly than anyone could’ve anticipated. Even with all of the protocols we had in place for national security, we were not fast enough to beat the spread. The Nation’s Capital was overtaken, before we even had a chance at evacuation. We haven’t had contact with any of our nation’s leaders since the first day of the infection.”

“Then who’s running the government?” Jared asks, incredulous.

“Military leaders have been faking it, for lack of a better phrase. You four have been so busy out in the field, you wouldn’t have noticed that the president has failed to address a concerned nation yet. People started asking questions, and with the situation we’re facing, we had no choice but to instate Marshall Law throughout the remnants of the nation. The spread of fear and panic is almost as dangerous as the spread of the infection.”

“You can say that again.” Brie mumbles, and I know she’s thinking back to the first day, and our chaotic escape from Canaan. The memory causes me to shudder, too.

Captain Jennings hit a remote, and the large screen TV behind him springs to life. “This is an interactive map of the infection, from day one, until now. We can see it started at the BioNano rehab facility, where Michael had been learning to use his new leg. You can see how rapidly it spread from there, and you can also note the patterns, as you four began your journey. Before you contacted Dr. Ford, we were certainly perplexed as to why there was a certain radius that seemed to be unaffected by the infection. When you started moving, so did the radius.”

“That’s how we made it.” Mason says. “If it weren’t for you Kat, we never would’ve made it out of there.”

Brie jumps in before I can answer. “Kat, you were showing us what you could do right as the infection began to spread. Think about it. If you hadn’t thrown the spheres when you did, we wouldn’t have even made it back to my house to see the news report. Other’s like Becky and Nate would have never even had the chance.”

I think back, remembering how the fog was present, but stayed downtown. At the time we were far too preoccupied with the horde of hysterical people to think much about it.

“And the night before, Kat, when you first tried it. Your energy was already there, already keeping it at bay.”

Dr. Ford nods. “Yes, that’s what I determined, once Kat contacted me. I watched your progress to my facility, and the impact it had on the infection as you traveled. The only problem was that it couldn’t hold them off permanently. It took a few days, but eventually, once you’d moved on, the infection would take the area back over.”

“Didn’t we determine that back in Columbus? That my energy wasn’t strong enough, and the nanobots were adapting themselves to overpower it?” I ask.

“Yes, but recently our maps have been indicating that you’re pushing them back farther than before, and it’s taking them longer to regroup and regain the areas you’ve been clearing.” Captain Jennings explains.

Dr. Ford turns back to his lab. “The incident with the lightning you told me about, seems to be the turning point in enhancing your power. It’s possible that since lightning is an organic energy, such as the kind that you’re able to produce, that it enhanced your ability to hold onto to it, reproduce it, and ultimately became bound to you.” He looks at me a bit sheepishly. “Of course-“

I interrupt him before he can finish. I know this road well. “Of course you have to run some tests, before you can know for sure.” I stifle an eye roll, not wanting to offend Dr. Ford, even if I dread the tediousness of his tests.

“Yes, I have a lot of work to do.” Dr. Ford says. The timer dings, attracting his attention. “Captain, please continue, I’ll be listening while I work through this.”

I turn my attention back to the captain, although it’s Jared that asks the question we’re all thinking. “There’s more?”

“Unfortunately, yes, there is. So, now you know that the country’s leaders are MIA and the surviving parts of the country are under Martial Law. We’ve also had confirmation that the infection is spreading eastwardly, over to Europe. We’ve been sharing as much information with them as possible, and they have been good at not pointing their finger, however correctly it would be, at us.”

“Whoa.” Brie comments, that about sums it up for me, too.

The captain continues. “Now that our country is being run by a few military leaders, let’s just say things are not running smoothly. General Carch-well, you know about her. General Brown has been actively working against her. General Rowan keeps playing both sides, I think he’s waiting to see who comes out on top.”

“So, not only are we facing extinction due to the nanobot infection, but behind the scenes our country is falling apart and has no specific leader?” I synopsize.

“Wait,” Mason says. “You said this other General keeps playing both sides. I assume that this means there is a good side and a bad one?”

“Gee, I wonder who the leading General for team bad is?” Brie scoffs.

“Yes,” Captain Jennings says solemnly. “And Dr. Ford has just brought me the most disturbing news to date.”

Dr. Ford sets down his glasses and papers to rejoin us at the table. He sighs as he sits, and I know whatever’s coming next is not going to be good. “Some people are meant to be leaders. They look at a whole picture, a greater good if you will. Others, the power goes to their head. It changes them. This is the case with General Carch. She began her military career as a decorated soldier. But after the loss of contact with our leaders, once it was decided she would be in charge with her two peers, she began to change. It wasn’t noticeable right away, but now it can no longer be ignored.”

“Why?” Jared asks. “I mean, I know she’s a pain in
our
ass, but what, is she all Dr. Evil now?”

This gets a laugh from both the captain and the doctor. “I don’t know if I’d put it quite so eloquently, Jared, but yes, I suppose she could be classified as such.” The captain answers.

I turn to Dr. Ford, looking for further explanation. “At first, we just thought she was being difficult.” He tells us. “She was given the Columbus location and surrounding areas, General Brown our area, and General Rowan the West Coast, the area still least affected by all of this. It’s her way of thinking that started to drastically change. I began to notice the change in her, when she talked about the infection. It wasn’t long before she approached me with an idea, an idea that deeply disturbed me.

“She feels that this infection happened for a reason. The more I tried to explain to her the horror of this, the ramifications of it all, the more my reasoning seemed to have had the opposite effect. She wants to morph the infection, utilize it to make stronger soldiers and to weaponize the current strain. I told her until we get this, this invasion under control, that it was not a priority. We fought for weeks, while I was using your energy to develop the new weapons for our soldiers. Then one day, she just stopped, and I knew, even before I confirmed it, that she got someone else to do it for her.”

“Dr. Harris.” I whisper, more to myself than anything, but the captain and doctor nod.

“Yes,” Dr. Ford says. “Although, it’s not his fault, she left him no choice, took his family as collateral. It’s the first time I’ve ever been grateful to be a perpetual bachelor.” His half smile is more sad than anything.

“Did he succeed?” Brie asks. “Do they now have weapons to infect us with?”

“The day I left, Dr. Harris was beginning testing on the prototype. I know he’s trying to stall, but he won’t let his family get hurt, and I don’t blame him.”

I stand up and begin pacing the room. This is an awfully lot to take in at once. Things are worse than I’d thought. A lot worse. I turn back to the others. “What can we do? How do we stop all of this?”

“Our first priority remains to remove all of the infection possible. Until we completely destroy it, we’re just prolonging the inevitable. First, we have to figure out how to defeat them, and work with other countries to launch a world-wide attack.” The captain says, looking at me pointedly.

“What?” I ask.

“At this point, Kat, you’re our most effective weapon.” Dr. Ford says.

“Oh.” I guess I should’ve known that.

Brie turns to me, her face troubled, then back to the doctor. “You can’t just extort her.”

“That’s what we’re trying to avoid.” Dr. Ford reassures her.

“That’s what General Carch wants to do.” Mason says tersely, and it’s not a question.

“Yes.” Dr. Ford confirms softly, “She has no regard for Kat’s well-being, only her usefulness. Luckily, others in high places are more reasonable and compassionate.”

Further discussion finds me agreeing to a plethora of testing over the next few days. I trust Dr. Ford, although I know from past experience that the next few days will be boring and annoying, full of unpleasantness. But with all that’s going on, I’m sure I can find plenty of things to occupy my thoughts throughout it. How could I say no to helping stop all of this?

Testing is making me testy. I’m trying really hard not to snap at Dr. Ford and Mason, but my arm is sore from giving blood and I have a headache. The only thing I’m not lacking is energy. It seems the more samples I generate for doc, the more pumped I become.

We’re on day three now, and all this testing certainly hasn’t been in vain. Dr. Ford confirms our suspicions that the lightning seems to have changed something, but assures me it’s for the better. Apparently, I don’t have the same recharging problem as before. I guess I’m the freaking energizer bunny now.

Mason had gotten very worried when doc disclosed this piece of information, scared that if I no longer needed to recharge that something bad would happen if I didn’t let the energy out. This led to another round of tests, after which Dr. Ford was able to rule out that possibility, much to our relief.

Dr. Ford must notice my impatience today, because he tells me and Mason to go out to the mess tent to get lunch, instead of eating in his lab/office like we have been.

“You sure, doc?” Mason asks.

“Yeah,” He looks at me. “You guys could use the break. This will keep me busy for an hour or so.”

“Thanks, doc,” The relief in my voice is more obvious than I mean for it to be.

No sooner do Mason and I turn the first corner of the hall, that the lights go out and we’re left in darkness. It only takes a few seconds for the backup generator to kick in, bathing the hall in the eerie red of the security lights.

“This can’t be good.” Mason says, and we spring into action.

We tear through the corridors, hand in hand as an alarm starts to buzz. All I want is to find Brie, Jared and Baby bear. Once I know that they’re alright, then I want to know what the hell is going on.

We make it outside to discover total pandemonium. I look over to the east wall, and see the metallic fog beginning to rush down over it, like a deranged waterfall. “Get everyone back!” I yell to Mason. There’s no time to be inconspicuous now.

Mason begins attempting to organize people. He isn’t having much luck, but thankfully, people are instinctively getting as far away from the fog as they can. I turn, and to my relief see Brie, Jared and Baby bear by Mason’s side. At least that’s one less thing to worry about. Now that my path is clear, I turn to the fog and unleash my energy into it.

This fog is different. It doesn’t flinch; shy away like it did before, which is puzzling. I’ve gotten used to it doing that. The overall effect remains the same though, and it doesn’t take long before the fog is completely gone, the wall behind it singed in remembrance of its invasion.

“What the hell was that?” I demand, turning back to the others. My question answers itself, as I see my friends surrounded by armed soldiers.

“I had a feeling I’d find you here.” A rough female voice calls out. I have to shield my eyes from the sun, in order to find its owner. It doesn’t take me long to find the uniformed woman making her way down the stairs of the main building, emerging behind the soldiers threatening my friends-no, my family. She’s older, her hair gray, her face pinched and her body belying some extra pounds over the years.

I see Captain Jennings and Dr. Ford appear behind her, also being detained by armed soldiers. I know who she is before she introduces herself. “General Carch, I presume?” I can’t help the acidity in my voice.

“So you’re smart, too. Good to know.” Her pinched face contorts into what I guess is supposed to be a smile.

“What do you want?” I ask, slowly inching my way closer towards the soldiers surrounding Mason, Brie and Jared. Baby bear is obviously distressed, attaching himself to Brie’s leg. I wonder if I have enough control to hit the soldiers and miss them. It’s too risky to try, if I miss…I can’t even think of it.

“Shouldn’t you know that already, too?” She sneers. “I came for you. Technically, you’ve been a fugitive since you escaped the Columbus facility. I could charge everyone involved with treason for helping you. It was easy to find you, you know. All I had to do was find the area that the infection was being pushed back by.” The ugly sneer turns into an even uglier smile.

I feel my glare harden. I try the same calculations at hitting her, but she keeps Captain Jennings and Dr. Ford too close.

“Basically, it boils down to two choices here.” She says. I can tell that she’s enjoying this. “Either come with us willingly, or we start killing people until you change your mind, starting with these three.” She gestures to Mason, Brie and Jared.

It’s becoming hard to contain myself. The rage coursing through me is mixing with the energy, my body recognizing a great threat and wanting to defend itself, and my loved ones. I take a deep breath, trying to keep it in check. With all the people within these walls, it would be a slaughter if we began to battle. “Fine,” I say. I see the pain in Mason’s eyes, know that it matches mine. “Let’s go. There’s no reason for anyone here to get hurt.  And you have to give your word that you will leave them be, that no harm will come to
anyone
here.”

She seems to consider this. “That kind of wrecks my fun, but I suppose as long as I have you, it really doesn’t matter all that much. You come with me now, I’ll leave them alone.”

I look around at all the faces, not only my friends, but others we’ve met, worked beside and become close with over the past weeks. I see the rage in Mason, Brie and Jared’s eyes shared in the eyes of some of our own soldiers. I figure I better go now, before somebody snaps. Looking at Mason, I mouth to him ‘I love you.’ I think he does it back, though it’s hard to tell through the tears that are forming.

I hear him as the soldiers lead me past, gun butted against my back. “We will find you, Kat.” I just nod. I can hear Brie weeping softly.

I feel bad for ever complaining about Dr. Ford’s tests. They were nothing, a cakewalk compared to what these scientists are doing to me. They’re all nameless, and even addressing me as ‘Subject 109.’ I feel awful for the first hundred and eight subjects.

I wish I knew where I am. As soon as we left the gate of the compound, I felt a sharp prick in the back of my neck. When I woke up, I was here. I guess they figured that it was the safest way to transport me. I can’t try to escape, if I’m unconscious. I’d certainly be happy to zap all of them, should the opportunity present itself.

I’ve never seen anything like the cell they keep me in, when they’re not running their tests. An impenetrable fiberglass like box, suspended a few dozen feet off the laboratory floor below. There’s no privacy, and of course, no metal to carry a current. I have to admit, this bitch certainly planned ahead.

I haven’t seen General Carch since I arrived. I can only guess that she doesn’t want to press her luck, as far as I’m concerned. Or possibly, she just doesn’t care, now that she has what she wants.

The lack of privacy goes both ways. I can always see what’s going on below me. At first, I thought this was an oversight on their part, that when I escaped, I could tell all their secrets. Then the realization hit. It didn’t matter to them, because they have no intention of ever letting me go.

Since I’ve been here, I’ve had plenty of time to think about things. I realized that the fog within the wall must have been the weaponized version, meaning General Carch was successful in her venture. At first, I was just outraged. Here I am, trying to force the infection back, and she’s out there spraying the stuff all over. Once that passed, I realized that if I ever do get out of here, I’m going to have a
lot
more work on my hands.

I find it interesting that the cloned fog couldn’t communicate with the main infection. I’m sure this information can be used against them, if only I had some way to pass it along. This makes me think of Dr. Ford. He would surely know what to do.

I try very hard not to go down this mental road. This is not a healthy place for me. It’s horribly broken, and whenever I begin, so does the tears. But I can’t stop, I can’t forget why I have to keep going.

Brie. I miss her so much. This is the longest we’ve gone without speaking ever. I know she’s probably worried sick about me. If she’s even okay…she has to be okay. I have to believe that the General kept her word and left them alive and well. But a nasty little part of my subconscious can’t let it go. I have no way of knowing for sure.

I turn the pain up full blast. Every time I allow myself to think of Mason, it feels as though my chest may explode. As if our being apart is going to kill me. All I can see is the look on his face when I agreed to come here. I hear his promise to save me. I pray that he doesn’t try, doesn’t get hurt trying to find me. If I survive this place, I will find him somehow.

I miss my mom. She could always make me feel better. I hate not knowing if I will ever see her again, if she was infected. Will we ever find where they are located and if we can cure them? I never got the chance to try…

My thoughts turn to Baby bear, and I wonder how big he’s getting now. I think I’ve been here a few weeks, maybe a couple of months? It’s so hard to tell. I’ll bet he’s bigger now, he’s been growing so fast.

Bring stuck with only my own thoughts for so long is very disarming. I’m not feeling well, physically or mentally, and I’m not sure how long I’m going to make it in here.

So it turns out that with all this energy in me, I heal a bit faster than everyone else. Not superhero fast or anything crazy, but maybe twice the normal rate. The scientists here were excited to learn this. Healing twice as fast means they can increase the frequency of their tests and procedures.

I haven’t exactly been a model prisoner/test-subject. It took quite some time before they were able to get a sample of energy from me. Unfortunately once they learned how, they had no problem utilizing the method.

See, at first they tied me down, took blood samples. That wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t heinous. It was the tissue sample that did it. They plunged a three inch long, hollow tube into my thigh and I almost passed out from the pain. All of my control lost, my energy flung out around me defensively.

So, they got their sample. And they continue to do the same incredibly painful procedure anytime they need more. Every time I see a white-coated figure begin the trek down the hall to my cell, I know why they’re coming.

I know that I have to come up with an escape plan. It’s the only way I’m ever going to make it out of here. They’ve only taken me out of this cell one time. That was before the testing began, before I knew what I was in for. If I had known, I would’ve unleashed hell on all of them and ran while I had the chance.

I suppose that’s the best plan I’ve got. Wait them out, fake compliancy, defeat. And the next time they remove me from this prison, zap the hell out of them and run. I don’t like to think of what a monster this will make me. More uninfected casualties and blood on my hands. Can I handle more than what’s already there? It seems like I have to, or surrender and accept that this is my life now. My new life as Subject 109.

I hear the sliding doors and know, even before I look, what’s coming. My body can’t control the charge now, my fear is too great, the memory of pain too clear, and it’s purely defensive as the electricity thrums around me. In comes the first scientist, in a protective suit. In front, they hold the thin machine that will drain some of my charge. Only then will they risk getting close enough for the tissue sample.

Should I fight? Can I? I know that I can. And as the faces of the people I miss flicker through my mind, my anger grows. Who knows what’s happened beyond these torturous walls. By keeping me here, they’re not just hurting me, they’re hurting everyone.

Maybe it’s because I just can’t stand the pain again, or maybe I’ve finally snapped and lost the last shred of my humanity. I don’t want to become a monster, but they’ve left me no choice. The scientist approaches with his machine. Let’s see just how much that thing can handle. I blast it, sending the melted remnants and the scientist into the far wall. The entire room shudders in protest.

I start down the hallway, barefoot, in the same tattered medical gown that has been my uniform since arriving. The scientist that was prepared to take the tissue sample, fumbles with the main keypad as I approach, trying to escape. I see the soldiers begin to file in the lab below. Weapons raised. Maybe I am becoming the monster I fear, because a small smile crosses my lips. I’m looking forward to the fight.