Reset (Book 2): Salvation (17 page)

“Did you click on that before?” Trey leaned over his shoulder.

“Yeah, but it just flashed complete. I don’t … whoa.”

“Whoa is right.”

Within seconds of the program’s launch, all three of the computer screens filled with images. They weren’t photos but outlines of human figures, men and women. Next to each figure was a number and what looked like vital statistics.

“This can’t be right,” Malcolm said.

“What?”

“The president told me the system shuts down units to conserve power. These people are all still alive.”

“All one hundred?”

“All one hundred,” Malcolm stated.

“Maybe this system isn’t going to shut down units until it’s time to wake up. Over here.” Trey pointed to the corner of the screen. “Is this a countdown on wake up?”

“If it is, they aren’t getting up for another year.”

“Can we wake them now?”

Malcolm examined the screen. “All these options. It wouldn’t be terminate … no, here … Initiate De-Stasis. We have to …”

Halting their conversation was the echoing sound of Nelson’s voice calling out. “Hey! Everyone! I found something.”

Nelson sounded excited and because of that, immediately, Malcolm and Trey left the computer room to see what was happening.

Nelson was like a kid on Christmas, barely able to stand on one spot while waiting for the others so he could show them his big find.

“I have it. I think I found it.” Nelson said and led them into a room filled with oxygen tanks. “This is what turns on after stasis is complete. But this …” He enthusiastically pointed to a long blue, thin cylinder braced near the oxygen. On it was the name XL-454. “This is the reason for the countdown. The reason for sealing everyone in for five days. This …” Nelson said. “I think is the cure.”

“How can you be sure?” Maggie asked.

“I’m not,” Nelson said. “I’m guessing. But I think I’m right. It connects to the air supply. It’s a smaller cylinder. It isn’t flowing now. Looking at this, it will trigger and start once the oxygen system initiates. I have no idea what XL-454 is, but it mixes with the oxygen. It has to be the cure. The immunization. It gives them five days to absorb it before going out into an infected world.”

Malcolm said. “We were supposedly inoculated at stasis.”

“That also could be the case.” Nelson stared at the tube.

“It’s connected to oxygen,” Trey said. “What if it’s an explosive? What if it’s what blows this place up.”

“Could be. But I am wagering this is the cure,” Nelson said. “Or rather vaccine. I was young when it all went down. But I saw the pictures. This is the same system they used to deliver the virus on airplanes. An aerosol canister that released upon pressurizing the cabin. The same system.”

“We can test it,” Maggie said. “This is our best hope yet. I can’t believe we didn’t find this at the other lab.”

“We didn’t find a secret compartment,” Nelson said.

Maggie smiled and looked at Malcolm. “Thank you again. Your help has been amazing.”

“Speaking of amazing,” Trey added. “He found the stasis program. It has all the people, all their stats. The whole thing.”

“Oh, Malcolm. You are a Godsend. Humanity thanks you.” Maggie kept the smile on her face. “Where is it?”

Malcolm, just as proud of his find as Nelson, led the way.

The brightness of the screen reflected off Maggie’s eyes as she stared at each and every screen. “They’re all still alive.”

“Yes,” Malcolm said.

“Astonishing,” Maggie exhaled and stood straight. “Okay. I’ve seen enough. We can document this and take samples from the units.”

“They aren’t due to wake up for a year,” Malcolm explained. “Want me to start the wake up process now. I can override.”

“Override the scheduled hatching,” Maggie said. “Hit ‘Terminate All’.”

“No, no.” Malcolm laughed. “That would kill them.” He explained as if Maggie were a child. “You don’t want to do that. You want to …”

“Yes, Malcolm, There’s no reason to keep them alive. They could be carriers, they could be infected.”

“That’s what the XL whatever can be for.”

“IF XL-454 is a vaccine of sorts. We need it. Terminate.”

“Kill them? Are you insane?” Malcolm asked.

“No. I’m rational and protecting our world. Their existence is a threat. Can’t you see that?”

“I won’t do it,” Malcolm stood up. “I won’t terminate this.”

Maggie looked at Norris. “Colonel, would you ….”

“Ma’am, I would rather not touch anything on a computer.”

“Fine.” Maggie huffed and quickly hit the ‘Terminate All’ selection. Immediately a pop up screen emerged asking to confirm termination.

Malcolm had his chance. A chance to get her to see reason. Obviously she wasn’t thinking clearly. At least he thought he did. The confirmation screen gave him an opportunity and he stopped her, speaking in a calm pleading voice... “Maggie, think about what you are doing? These people, if they’re like me, have no idea what happened. They didn’t choose this. They are human beings. Lives. Please.”

“They won’t know.”

“I’ll know. You’ll know.”

“I know what wiped out our world to near extinction. Those who survived, they don’t deserve to lose anymore.”

“Maggie. Just …” Malcolm stared at her. “Just think about it. Please.”

Maggie nodded. She paused. “I already did.” And without further hesitation she confirmed the termination request. Ending the lives of the one hundred people in Genesis Lab Two.

Rusty’s map came in handy and John made sure he told Jason and Nora about the man that saved their lives.

John noticed right away that Jason wasn’t quite so gung ho for the road trip, he used a lot of excuses not to go. One of which had validity … Malcolm and Amy hadn’t returned. They still had a week left until the meet up time. John promised he’d get them back to Rantoul by then.

While Jason had his church, no one else had much to do. Searching for Salvation was that ‘thing’ to do.

On the same big storefront, they left a message for Malcolm in the form of an arrow above Malcolm’s name pointing to Jason’s Rantoul Lives sign.

They also had to deal with the possibility that Malcolm and Amy wouldn’t be returning, that like with Grant, they ran into trouble. That was a real possibility.

They all gathered around the map John spread out on the hood of Buggy One.

“Marilee said they think it’s in Iowa, or Idaho,” Nora said. “Northwest.”

“That makes sense,” John said. “East is war land, Midwest is plague land, up here …” his finger encircled Montana. “Is where I think they are hiding millions of people.”

“It doesn’t make sense,” Meredith added. “I realize they built and finished it fifteen years ago. But it’s been ten since the last outbreak. Why are they not leaving?”

John corrected. “Ten years since the last one they knew about. We know of another, don’t we?”

Meredith lowered her head.

“And you look lovely,” John stated. “Not that you needed the powder, or lipstick, but just pulling your hair back. You look wonderful.” He jumped a little when he heard Hunter grunt. “Oh, someone is jealous.” He looked at Hunter. “You a little green big guy?”

Hunter stared and then he stepped back, looking out toward the road. “Friend.” He said and pointed.

All of them turned around.

It was hard for John to see, but a vehicle was making its way toward them.

“Is that Malcolm?” John asked.

Meredith replied. “He’s alone.”

Jason stepped forward. “Unless he lost forty pounds that isn’t Malcolm.”

“Hunter,” John said hurriedly. “Be prepared in case there’s trouble. That isn’t our friend. Whoever it is may have stolen that.”

“And came here?” Meredith questioned. “Seems a bit coincidental.”

“No,” Nora whispered, reaching out to stop Hunter from aiming. “He’s wearing Genesis clothes. Look.”

They stood there waiting and the NASA style solar buggy pulled up. The tall and dark haired man stepped from the buggy. His chin had a deep five o’clock shadow and his face was sun kissed.

In his hand he held a bottle of water and he took a long drink, walking to them. “Tell me,” he said. “Is one of you Nora?”

“I am.” Nora stepped forward,

John mumbled. “She knows someone in the apocalypse.”

“My name is Blake,” he said. “Malcolm sent me.”

The stranger appeared mysterious, mentioning Malcolm. As if their lives weren’t science fiction enough, he was another twist.

Nora’s mind raced. To her, this man was someone Malcolm met on the road, perhaps even gave him the buggy and clothes. Had Malcolm died?

“How do you know Malcolm?” John asked.

“I met him in California,” Blake replied.

“California.” John nearly shrieked. “Why was he in California?”

“He was with some sort of science team and …” Blake’s eyes shifted. “I’m sorry. The big bald guy is throwing me off. I know I have been in stasis for a while, is this what happened to the human race?”

“Yes,” Nora answered quickly. “Only a handful look like us. Now you said you met him in California?”

“Nora,” Jason scolded. “Why would you tell him that?”

Nora waved Jason off.

Blake replied. “I had come out of stasis. We went searching for our families. Mine, the only ones I had were near the base. So I was the only one there when he arrived. He arrived with others to seek us out. Now …” He shook his head. “I can share my story later, but I need to tell you. Malcolm said there is a place called Salvation.” Spotting the map, Blake grabbed it. “It’s up here, somewhere.” He pointed to the top of Colorado. “Three hours north of Denver the wall starts.”

“Yes.” Nora said excitedly. “We have direction.”

Meredith nodded. “Thank you, Blake. We are on our way there.”

“Don’t.” Blake said. “Don’t go. Malcolm said it isn’t safe. Something about the president wasn’t dead, he went there and they arrested him. Whatever that means. Everything he told me was fast and coded, as if you guys would understand. But he said to tell Nora that his gut is screaming stay away. And your husband is alive, he met him, and he asked about you.”

His words about her husband, stumbled her back some and Jason caught her.

“You okay?” Jason asked.

“Rick’s alive?” Nora said.

John nodded. “Malcolm must have been to Salvation. Something isn’t right there. He wouldn’t tell us not to go.” He looked at Blake. “What about Amy? Did you speak to Amy? Was there a woman with him?”

“I didn’t speak to her. She seemed in charge. Tall woman, light brown hair.”

Meredith furrowed her brow. “That’s not Amy. Maybe Amy is in Salvation.”

“We have to go,” Nora stated.

“No.” Jason said. “This is the second warning we’ve gotten about Salvation. Maybe we should listen.”

“Or …” John added. “Wait until we meet up with Malcolm. Blake? Is he coming?”

“He said he’d get here, but to go somewhere else and leave a creative way of telling him.”

Meredith said. “We don’t need to be creative. That Rantoul sign will take him to the town and they can tell him where we’re going. Once we figure that out.”

“Maybe the people of that town can suggest a good place,” Blake said.

Jason looked at Nora. “Marilee warned you not to go. Did she say why?”

Nora shook her head. “Just that we shouldn’t go.”

“Then maybe we need to ask them,” Jason said. “There’s a reason that they grab guns, hide, and aim when a stranger comes to town. They want to protect their town. Why?”

Hunter, who had been listening, with his arms folded, finally spoke up. “That does not sound like protecting a village. It sounds like fear. Who do they fear?”

Jason glanced down to the map and then to all the faces around him. “Salvation.”

<><><><>

Malcolm didn’t have much for breakfast, and that was a good thing. Pretty much all he had in his stomach to vomit up was coffee and that landed with a splash on the ground. He was certain that the violent eruption wasn’t caused by a sickness, but rather emotions. The brewing of the contents of his gut: churning, boiling, holding it back, was almost like a pressure pot. Until it released. It began when Maggie clicked on terminate. It was silent in the moments after. No one made a sound. Malcolm swore his blood felt like icicles running through his veins. The quiet stunned faces of the room as each subject in the Genesis unit went from alive to deceased.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Silence

Malcolm felt sick he started feeling ill the second she confirmed termination. What made it worse was Maggie. She was stone. No expression, no remorse and when they all had died, she merely exhaled and said, “Well, that’s over. Shall we move on?”

On that, Malcolm stood in a rush, raced from the lab, up the staircase, through the office and outside. Once there everything in his stomach expelled violently like a volcano.

I can’t do this
, he thought.
I can’t do this. This is not why I’m here. It’s not
.

Malcolm turned and paced in half circles, holding his head, wanting to scream. He just wanted to cry out. He had just watched a hundred people die.

“Dad?” Trey approached him. “Are you okay?”

“No. No I am not okay.” Milton spun around to face his son. “I can’t do this. I can’t.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you serious? You can ask me that? After what just happened in there.” Malcolm pointed with a hard swing to the building. “That was harsh. That was wrong.”

“Dad, listen to me. It was harsh to watch, but it had to be done.”

“How can you say that?” Malcolm asked with passion. “It had to be done?”

“Those people in there. They lost their existence thirty years ago, Dad. Each and every one of them was a possible threat, like the president. A threat to our existence. You have to see that.”

“But what about the canister? Nelson thinks it’s a cure.”

“And we will need every ounce of that to make an inoculation.”

“So that gives them the right to take those people’s lives.”

“Again, those lives ended years ago,” he said. “Those alive now. This is about their lives.”

“Life is life. And you talk about Salvation’s existence. That isn’t an existence. Living behind a wall. Being told what you do, how you do it. When you live. When you die. “

“That is the way of the world now,” Trey said.

“It’s not the way in my world.”

“No. Sadly, Dad, it’s not your world anymore, this is the way it is now and you’re gonna have to like it and deal with it.”

“I don’t have to deal with it. I still have some sort of freedom. I don’t have to abide by anything.”

“What are you gonna do?” Trey asked. “Run away?”

Malcolm just stared.

Trey chuckled a laugh. “Unbelievable.”

“It may be the only option.” Malcolm said.

“Dad, don’t do this. Whatever you do, don’t do it. I know you want to run. You want to find your friends…”

“Yes. Because they’re in danger.”

“They’re in danger because they are a danger. Don’t you see it?”

“No, I refuse to believe that. If they stay away …”

Trey shook his head. “If they carry the virus, they remain a threat as long as they are out there. Let this go. Forget your friends. Hate what you saw, disagree with it, but don’t put yourself in the middle of this.”

“I already am. How can you accept this so easily?”

“Because I watched everyone I love die. I also watched a lot of people be saved by this initiative. It may be strict, but we are alive. So I stand by it.”

Malcolm sighed out. “I can’t just stand by.”

“I understand,” Trey said. “Know this. I will protect you, I will stand beside you, and I will always love you. But please, I beg you, don’t do anything stupid.”

That was all that was said and Trey walked away. Malcolm began to think about what he needed to do, if he could do anything. He knew he had to try. Something wasn’t right and the puddle of the regurgitated stomach contents before him reminded him how sick this new world truly made him.

<><><><>

Marilee was pleasant when the four of them returned, leaving Hunter and Blake behind as a precaution. She expressed that she thought they changed their mind until they asked her about Salvation.

“You said not to go there,” Nora probed. “Why?”

“I wanted you guys to want to stay here, I didn’t want you to think I was scaring you into not leaving,” she replied.

Jason asked. “Should we be scared?”

“Salvation isn’t what you think,” Marilee explained. “Yeah, they do a lot of good for those inside the wall, but out here … they don’t.”

“Is that why you arm up?” Jason asked. “Because you don’t trust them?”

“We have plenty of reason not to trust them. They haven’t swept through here in a while, two years, but they used to come through all the time.” Marilee said. “At first, I can remember hiding. My mother telling me to stay quiet, don’t make a sound. I was twelve when it first happened. I used to hold my hand over my mouth, hear the gunfire, and hear our people screaming.”

“Oh my God,” Meredith gasped. “They came in and killed you?”

“Those who fought,” Marilee said. “Those who refused. And we guess those who attempted to get back what Salvation took. We lost a lot of people because they chased after them and never came back. Our people that is. We used to be a big community. Now look at us.”

“What about the others that you trade with?” John questioned.

“They hit them too,” Marilee replied. “I guess they learned early on. But most of the towns, villages, and communities were hit by Salvation.”

Nora asked. “Did they think you had the virus?”

Marilee laughed sadly. “I wish. But no. We’re ready for them, but I don’t think they’re coming back. Not yet. There’s nothing left for them to take. They took it all from us.”

“What … what did they take?” Nora asked. “What did they keep coming back to get?”

Marilee puckered her lips before answering, her glossed over eyes shifted to Meredith. “You asked about the drawing. My son Dillard drew that when he was six. They took him. In fact... That’s what they took until there weren’t any more left to take … the children. They took our babies.”