Mutation: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction (8 page)

A Time For Action

Chaz sat down in the cafeteria with Alex.  "Things aren't getting any better out there, Colonel.  The number of zombies coming onto the property just keeps increasing.  We can't wait much longer. We need to get Christa, and get the hell out of here."

"Yes, I know. I've seen them.  I've seen a few other things as well.  I went to the security room the other day, when the general was inside.  He was just working at the table, and had the security screens on.  I noticed one of the monitors was displaying an area I hadn't seen before.  It looked like the medical level, but not the one you were on."

"You think it was the second, lower medical level?"

"I'm pretty sure it was."

"I thought only the science staff had access to that area."

"Yeah, me too.  But it appears the general likes to keep an eye on everything going on around here.  Even the things he's not supposed to.  He flipped the monitor off just after I arrived, so I didn't get a good look.  But I thought I saw someone small being pushed in a wheelchair."

"Christa!  Was it her?"

"Keep your voice down, son.  Who knows where else he's got cameras.  I can't be sure, it was only for a few seconds, and the camera angle didn't show her face.  It was someone her size, and it looked like her hair.  We're going to have to get down there to find out for sure."

"We need to move soon, Colonel.  We can't wait much longer with the mob growing outside these walls.  Have they told you anything about her?"

"Some, but not much.  The general said her mutation has matured, and she's changed."

"Changed? Changed how?"

"He didn't go into a lot of detail.  He thinks she's just one of those damn freaks, but his perspective is twisted.  He's been locked inside this place for far too long.  I think all of them have been.  I do agree that we need to move quickly.  I'd like to go tonight."

"OK, I'm ready.  But we're getting Christa first, right?  There's no way I'm leaving here without her."

"I'm with you on that, son.  Don't worry.  We need more information first.  The general will be out on rounds this afternoon.  He likes to check everything, and end with some time up on the roof surveying the entire area.  While he's doing that, I'm breaking into his office.  We need to have a better understanding of that second medical level.  At least an idea of how to get to where Christa is.  Montgomery is our key to getting down there.  She doesn't know it yet, but she's getting us into that lower level."

"OK, what do you need me to do?"

"Two things.  First of all, I need you to keep an eye on the general while I'm rifling through his office.  It could take me a while to find what I'm looking for, and I don't need him surprising me.  If he breaks his routine at all, or looks like he's heading to his office, you need to divert him.  Come up with some sort of distraction."

"No problem, I can do that.  I don't have a shift till tomorrow, so I'll discreetly follow him around."

"Alright, secondly, I'm gonna need you to grab Dr. Montgomery.  She usually comes up from the labs early evening to grab some food from the cafeteria.  When she comes up that elevator, you need to detain her.  Do whatever you have to.  Don't hurt her though.  We'll need her to get to Christa."

"Sure thing.  I'll check out that hallway to the elevator for storage closets.  How long till we go down below?"

"Radio me as soon as you have her.  Nothing too obvious, those channels are monitored.  I'll get to you as soon as possible.  Don't want anyone to be missing the doctor for too long.  I suspect we'll create enough of a commotion once we get down there."

"That should work. Not too tough when you consider what we've gone through before."

"Sure." The colonel managed a smile.  "Just another damn mess to get out of."

"So, once we get out of here, then what?  Your family is still out there somewhere.  What about them?  Maybe Christa would like to have a little sister and brother to spend time with."

"I don't know.  My family is an even bigger question mark than this.  At least this I have a plan for.  I can see a way around things."

They were both quiet for a while, finishing their meals.  The cafeteria was starting to empty out.

"And son, Christa is another unknown right now.  They said she's changed, and I don't know what that means.  The general thinks she's just a freak.  I know we both have some history with her, but maybe that's gone."

"I can't believe that, sir.  People don't change all that much.  It's only been a few days.  I don't know what's gone through her head since we've been here, but after everything we went through, I'm sure she remembers us.  I haven't said this to anyone before, but she did something out there.  I mean a few days ago, after we took out the tank.  When that mob started swarming us.  She did something to keep me alive.  I don't know what.  I passed out at some point.  Have you ever seen someone come out of a swarm of zombies like I did?  I was down and out, bleeding on the ground.  They surrounded me.  There's no way we should even be having this conversation.  She'll remember that.  She'll remember everything we went through.  I know she will."

"Well, I hope you're right.  I'm just saying, be prepared for things to be different.  They've had her down there for two days, and who knows what they've done."

"Yes, sir, I understand that.  I'll keep things in check."

"Alright, we need to move.  The general will start on his rounds in the next hour or so, and you need to get on that." 

They both got up, and deposited their trays on the dirty pile.  Heading down the hall, they were both quiet.  Chaz went towards the officers' quarters, and Alex in search of the general.

Spy Games

Chaz made his way from the cafeteria to the officers' section of the military level, where he had been assigned quarters.  No one would be suspicious of him in these corridors, and most of the rooms were unoccupied.  While Fort Knox was one of the most secure facilities in the country, living under siege for extended periods can take its toll.  Spending most of your time in subterranean living quarters was difficult enough.  To compensate, duty rotations always called for time outside.  Everyone did time on the roof as snipers or lookouts as well as time in the yard.

Chaz's radio clicked three short beeps.  He had it tuned to an unused channel, the same as Alex's radio. At the moment, Alex was trailing the general on his afternoon patrol. Chaz didn't want any surprises.  Every fifteen minutes Alex would send three short beeps over his radio, indicating the general was sticking to his regular routine.  One long beep would let Chaz know that something had gone wrong, and he needed to get out of the general’s quarters pronto.

Chaz wasn't exactly a world-class cat burglar, but he did know how to get past a few locked doors.  All the doors in the facility were card coded, and some had biometric scanning.  The personal quarters only had card codes.  Biometrics were reserved for the more sensitive science facilities, where Christa was.  During their talk this morning in the security room, Chaz had managed to switch his security card with the general's.  It meant he couldn't get into his quarters for the day, but he had no intention of returning there.  The general shouldn't be back to his room till after the evening meal.  Chaz slipped the card through the reader, and the door popped open. 

Inside, the room was larger than his, but not excessively so.  There wasn't a lot of space in the underground complex, and it wasn't wasted on officers' quarters.  Chaz was looking for anything that could help them get to Christa.  A map or blueprint of the lower science section would have been ideal, but Chaz wasn't sure what he would find.  Rummaging around the general's desk didn't reveal much, and his small bookshelf didn't offer any clues.  The locked filing cabinet looked promising.  Chaz used the small screwdriver from his borrowed tool bag to pry open the cabinet.  He found personnel files on everyone at the fort.  Some were official military files, but others appeared to be the general's own personnel notes.  Chaz flipped through most of them quickly, but paused when he found Dr. Montgomery's.  It had the usual academic and work history, plus some other interesting tidbits.  Apparently Judith had had a few problems with ethics review boards over the years.  Most of it had to do with mistreatment of animals.  Handwritten job-recruiter notes indicated that a researcher willing to take risks and break a few rules would be a good thing.  Chaz closed the file.  Interesting, but not exactly what he was looking for. 

The last drawer in the cabinet had no files, but did have a laptop.  Chaz opened the laptop, and it prompted him for a security card.  Chaz used the general's card, and a welcome screen popped up.  Chaz clicked on the desktop icon marked surveillance, and found what he was looking for.  It was a feed from the general's own hidden security cameras.  Chaz selected 'lower medical level' from the options, and for the first time got a good view of where they were keeping Christa.  There were rooms similar to the one Alex had recovered in.  These however were filled with freaks in various stages of decay.  Some were restrained to beds, while others had the freedom to roam around.  From what Chaz could make out, the lower level was laid out in a similar pattern to the upper medical level, the exception being the central lab.  Instead of multiple small labs, there was one large lab, and that's where he saw Christa.  She wasn't strapped down, but she definitely looked different.  She looked older, more grown up.  While not restrained, she was confined to a windowed room in the center of the lab.  It looked like living quarters, with separate sleeping and living areas.  It had a small couch, a television and a coffee table.  Outside Christa's room were banks of display screens, desks, and technicians.  Christa seemed unaware of the presence of the technicians as she lay on the couch watching television.  Either she didn't care to acknowledge their existence, or the glass was one-way.  Chaz couldn't get over how much older she looked.

He closed the laptop, and began putting everything back the way he had found it.  Exiting the room, he heard three more beeps on the radio.  All they needed now was a tour guide to get them into the lower level.  Chaz transmitted four beeps to Alex, signaling he was finished.  Alex in turn left the rooftop and found his way back to the military level.

What Chaz didn’t realize, was that just as he was about to leave the Colonels quarters, someone else was knocking on the door of his own quarters just around the corner.

Forgotten Passengers

Exiting the Colonels room, Chaz hears a knocking coming from around the corner. He stops for a moment to listen, then walks quicker, to put some distance between himself and the Colonels room. Turning the corner, he sees the Sergeant knocking on the door to his quarters.
Damn, what does he want with me. Apparently keeping on eye on the General isn’t enough. I need to keep tabs on all his lackeys as well.

Before Chaz can duck back around the corner, the Sergeant sees him, and calls out.

“Colonel, you look lost there? That’s the hall to the Generals quarters. Your room is down here.”

Walking towards the Sergeant, “Yea, I must have walked right past my own door. All these quarters look the same, and I was distracted. Got quite a bit on my mind these days.”

“Yes, I’m sure you do.” The Sergeant now walking briskly towards Chaz. “The General sent me. He’d like to have a word with you and Alex right away.”

“Oh, OK. What about exactly? I’ve got a few things I wanted to take care of, but I could come find him later today.”

“Actually, the General was thinking now would be a good time. He didn’t give me many details, but I sensed it was something he didn’t want to be kept waiting on. He can be very impatient at times. I’m sure you know what that can be like.”

“All right then. Just give me a second to grab a few things from my room, and I’ll be right with you.”

Standing between Chaz and the door to his quarters, the Sergeant said, “The General was quite insistent. He wanted to see you as soon as possible.”

Stepping forward and brushing the Sergeant aside Chaz responded, “He can wait another minute or two. Anything he has to show me will keep.”

Before the Sergeant could follow him inside, Chaz closed and locked the door from inside.
What the hell could this be about now. There were a lot of loose ends during my little foray to the lower levels. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of secret sharing between the personnel around here, but who knows what he’s up to. Everyone seems to be running their own game around here, including myself. I’ll just need to make sure this doesn’t take too much time. The quicker I can have this little conversation with the General the better.

Chaz opened the top drawer to the stand beside his bed, and retrieved the extra ammo he had placed there. Never hurts to be prepared for anything. Reaching behind the headboard, he pulled out the extra handgun he had taped to the back. Before opening the door to join the Sergeant, he surveyed the room to see if there was anything else he needed.
Time to move on to better surroundings it would seem.

The Sergeant smiled as Chaz opened the door. “Right this way Colonel,” as he motioned down the hall. “I know the General will be happy to see you.”

***

The Sergeant escorted Chaz to the main level of the fort, down an older hallway to one of the vault rooms. The halls were lined with old desks, chairs, and filing cabinets. Most of the lights were burnt out, but there was still enough lighting to navigate their way through the clutter. Chaz followed behind the Sergeant at a safe distance.

“You sure, the General knows we're meeting him here? We seem a little off the beaten path.”

“Yes sir Colonel. I’m just following orders. If the General says to take you here, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

At the hallways end was a big vault door. It was solid steel, with a round spinning handles and a combination. The Sergeant grabbed an iron pipe off an old desk, and wrapped on the door several times. He managed a smile for Chaz, as he dropped the pipe back on the desk, and waited with his hands behind his back. After a few seconds the wheeled handle spun and the door creaked open on it’s hinges just enough to let someone enter. The General appeared in the opening.

The Sergeant saluted, “I’ve brought the Colonel along as you requested Sir.”

“Thank you Sergeant,” the General responded. “Colonel, nice of you to join us. Why don’t you come inside so we can talk a little.” As he stepped back to give Chaz room to enter, he faced the Sergeant, “That will be all Sergeant. You can resume your regular rounds. I’ll let you know if I need anything later.

“Yes sir,” the Sergeant replied before turning and walking back down the hall.

Chaz hesitated, surveying his surroundings and his options. The General smiled, and stepped further back.

“C’mon in Colonel. No need to worry, you're in good hands.”

Chaz patted the extra concealed pistol he had picked up from his room, and proceeded to enter the vault with a smile for the General.

“Sorry sir, old suspicious habits die hard.”

As Chaz entered the room, the General answered “No need for apologies, but we’re all on the same side here. Don’t forget that Colonel. We all want the same thing.”

As Chaz first entered the vault, he was taken slightly aback. There were two hospital beds in the middle of the room, with a zombie strapped to each bed. They were awake, but docile and hooked up to the same IVs he had seen in the ambulance they recovered days ago. In addition, there were multiple monitoring machines and computer consoles around the beds. Each zombie was hooked up to several of the machines. It wasn’t the freaks strapped to the tables, so much that surprised, it was who was attending to them.

Chaz recognized the medical researcher he had left stranded atop the elevator not so long ago. The General locked the door behind them, and noticed Chaz and the researcher eying each other.

“I understand you two have met before, so I’ll skip the introductions.”

Chaz grinned reaching to shake the researchers hand, as the researcher stepped back. Chaz replied, “Actually General, we only met in passing, I’m afraid I don’t know your friends name.”

“Oh, I see, I suppose I was somewhat mislead then regarding your familiarity. Colonel Chaz Sheperd, meet Dr. Charlie Mitchell. He’s one of my favorite medical researchers here at the facility. He truly understands how we're all one big happy family here, and that we need to work together. There’s no secrets between Charlie and I.”

“That’s good to hear General,” Chaz said, as he reached closer to shake Charlie’s hand. In a quieter voice, he said to Charlie, “The nose is healing up pretty nice.”

Charlie reluctantly shook Chaz’s hand, but his face remained sullen. Chaz smiled regardless, as Charlie turned back to monitoring the two sedated zombies.

“So General, what is it you’ve brought me down to your secret lair to talk about?”

Now it was the Generals turn to force a smile. “I assure you Colonel, nothing so nefarious to deserve the lair moniker. I just thought, I’d introduce you to a few of your old friends here.”

“You don’t mean Charlie do you? I wouldn’t say we’re friends, we just barely met the other day. More like colleagues really.”

“Actually, I was referring to your two traveling companions laying down. We saw you drive by the other day in the truck, and couldn’t help but notice it was one of our vehicles that was overdue for a return. We’d assumed the worst of course, so initially we were quite pleased to see it. But when we saw it was you just driving by, we were disappointed and intrigued. We would have responded earlier, but at the time our hands we’re somewhat full with our uninvited guests outside.”

“I see. Well General, in all honesty we had intended to return your vehicle with the big game prizes inside, but we ran into a little difficulty as well.”

“That’s totally understandable Colonel. No need to explain yourself.” The General moved past Chaz till he was between the zombies beds and leaned back to sit on one. “I was wondering Colonel though about our original team that accompanied the truck and the other vehicles.” The freaks remained docile, despite the Generals proximity.

Looking more solemn, Chaz kept his distance but moved to the other side of the bed where the General sat. “I’m sorry Sir, but everyone we found was dead, including a few more freaks. The were all in a ditch not far from the trucks. It appeared that they got tripped up in their own netting while trying to capture some freaks. I can only assume that some of the others tried to help, but ended up in the ditch as well. We didn’t stay long enough to get a good read on the scene.

“That’s unfortunate. They were all good men that volunteered for that mission. The only good news I suppose, is that none of them had any surviving family.”

“Yes Sir, I suppose that is one way to look at it.”

The General nodded his head in agreement as he got up. He moved around the bed, past Chaz to the back of the vault, and pulled back a divider revealing two human sized glass tanks. They were similar to the tanks that contained patient zero, but slightly different. Instead of many separate tanks containing each body part, these tanks each held one intact zombie. Intact, but very agitated and animated zombies. They were pounding and throwing themselves against the walls of their tanks, but no sound penetrated their walls.

“Have no fear Colonel, the glass is three inches thick. It not only ensures their containment, but keeps things quiet as well. We wouldn’t want to have Charlie here distracted from his important work with all that noise.”

“Why would I be afraid of freaks Sir? I’ve never met one I couldn’t handle."  Chaz forced a smile for the General.  "While we're talking about Charlie, what exactly is his work here? I assume that’s what you brought me here to discuss.”

“Yes, of course it is. Although, not so much a discussion. More of a demonstration. What we’re attempting to do here, is move things along a little quicker than Dr. Montgomery would advise.  As well, perhaps learn a few things along the way. I like to make decisions based on first hand reliable information. I think during your few days here, you may have developed an appreciation for the lack of communication between departments.  Rumor has it that you were on a little fact finding mission not so long ago.” At this point Charlie made eye contact with Chaz, and for the first time seemed amused.

Chaz furled his brow, but changed the subject. “I thought, it was just a matter of waiting for Christa’s mutation to mature, and then release her into the wild so to speak. At least once you have a way to control the mutation. That’s Montgomery’s part right? She was giving you a way to control them.”

“Control or extermination. A final decision really hadn’t been made.”

Chaz wondered, how much does the General really know? According to the vice president, extermination was off the table.

The General continued. “We’re about to make history here Colonel. We’re going to be the first humans to witness the zombie mutation process, and live to tell the tale.”

The General nodded to Charlie. Charlie moved to one of the consoles connected to the tank for the zombie on the left, and entered a command on the keyboard. Everyone had their eyes glued to the tank. Nothing appeared to happen at first, but gradually they started seeing changes in the zombie on the left. Her erratic behavior lessened. She momentarily ceased her incessant pounding on the glass. Every once in a while, she would stop and look at the three of them. For a brief moment, Chaz felt as if they had a connection. Like when you look directly into another persons eyes and feel like you know them. Then, it was gone, and she was stark raving mad again. Pounding on the glass and screaming.

Chaz looked at the two of them and said, “It doesn’t seem to be working, she keeps reverting back.”

“Give it time,” Charlie said. “It’s a massive change her body is going through. It’s basically rewriting all her DNA. I’m really not sure how she will end up.”

Gradually over the next half hour or so, they all watched as one zombie nearly beat himself to a bloody pulp trying to get out of his glass prison, while the other became more human like with each passing minute. By the time the half hour was up, she had stopped pounding and screaming altogether. She was awake, but looked exhausted. Slumped back and sitting cross legged in her cell, watching the three of them watching her. Occasionally, her attention would shift to the monitors and machines attached to her cell. Chaz couldn’t be certain, but he thought she was trying to figure them out. Like, she was looking for a way to reason herself out of her prison. She sort of reminded him of Christa, but all grown up.

The General spoke to Charlie. “Is it time? Can we move to the next phase now?”

“I’m not sure,” Charlie replied. “Like I’ve said before, this is all new territory. It would be easier if I had blood tests, but that would take time.”

Chaz worried to himself, that Alex would be waiting. He didn’t have hours to wait before getting Christa out.

Luckily the General was an impatient sort. “I don’t want to wait. I need to be a step ahead of what they’re doing downstairs. Let’s move on. Open her door.”

“Well,” said Chaz, “I guess things are really going to get good now.”

Charlie made a few mouse clicks on the computer, and the electronic bolts holding the glass door released. The General was the first to step forward, and open the door. This seemed to further agitate the reaction of the male imprisoned zombie. His efforts increased so much, that the walls of his cell were now drenched in blood.  It was hard to even see him inside.