Shocked (23 page)

I don’t know if it’s from the overload of information yesterday (or other new activities) but I sleep for a few hours. It’s the most restful sleep I have in some time. It may help that Lucas wraps himself around me all night.

B whines next to me. If I don’t let him out soon I’ll regret it. I pull on my pants and a hoodie. He’s quick about it and I make a pot of coffee when I return. It sputters as Lucas comes down the stairs.

“Good morning,” He gives me a quick kiss and studies me closely. “You still okay?”

“I’m still
better
than okay.”

“Good.” He grabs mugs. “I have a feeling we’re going to be heading out to those camps soon.”

“I figure as much. It’s better to get it done soon anyway.” I fill the two mugs and hand Lucas one. “If the conditions are like the last place they may not have much time—even without the hives getting close.”

“Yeah, no one should have to live like that.” He agrees. “You should throw some stuff together in case we have to go today.”

“Good idea.”

“Then I have to stop by my room so I can change and stuff.”

“I still like you better shirtless.” I tease.

“Ditto but I think everyone else may like it too much also. You keep it on.”

I laugh. “It’s a shame we can’t stay in all day.”

Lucas pulls me close. “When all of this is over I’m going to take you somewhere and keep you locked up for a week straight.”

We finish our coffee and leave before the temptation to stay in all day wins.

Is it silly that I feel different? I don’t know if it’s how everyone feels after their first time. I don’t have the typical first time though. Mine’s incredible.

Lucas somehow manages to fix me in ways I don’t even know I need. It’s more than just a newfound confidence. I feel feminine for the first time ever. It’s liberating and strengthens our new connection.

We visit the lab first. It’s an unspoken policy to leave Brie and Xavier alone in the morning. The poor girl is up half the night so it’s only fair to grant her the time handicap. The lab is a safe bet pretty much anytime. Now that Dr. Harris is in the mix it’s practically open twenty-four-seven.

Dr. Harris works in one corner of the lab. He tinkers with the underground poles. Dr. Ford makes adjustments with miniscule tools on a thin bracelet. He wears magnification glasses over his glasses and makes quite a sight when he looks up.

“Good morning!” Dr. Ford says brightly. His project must be going well. “I was just going to try and give this a zap, but since you’re here why don’t you do the honors?” He motions towards the bracelet.

“That was fast, doc!” Lucas says.

I delicately touch the cool metal. It’s much stronger than it looks and doesn’t give under my touch.

“With Dr. Harris here helping with the adaptions to the poles I’m able to focus on this.” Dr. Ford says rather quickly. “It’s actually turns out to be easier to work with the full circuit. We don’t get the pulse element like we do with the poles but we don’t want that. It can be harmful to the wearer. Here we have a low constant stream. It’s enough to keep away the infection while being safe for the user.”

I glance over and notice a large lineup of empty Styrofoam cups on the next table. “Hey doc? Have you been here all night?”

“Not
all
night.” Dr. Ford says guiltily. “Only most of it. If this works I’ll go take a nap.”

“Alright, alright.” I surrender. “How much zap are we talking, doc?”

“Start small,” he answers. “We will know when it kicks on.”

I insist that Lucas and the two doctors stay behind me. I gently grip the thin metal again and rub it between my thumb and forefinger. Very gently I allow a current to flow out. It’s no more than a minute until the metal glows a shocking white and settles into a dull glow. Dr. Ford lets out a whoop before he high fives Dr. Harris.

“It works!” I grin. “You rock as usual doc!”

Dr. Ford stops jumping up and down. The caffeine is really messing with him. “It’s on, but we won’t know if it works until we test it out.”

Both doctors look at Lucas and me expectantly.
Crap and double crap.

“Let me guess,” I say wryly. “You want me to take a subject somewhere?”

“I’ll take a nap if you do!” Dr. Ford bargains. We both know I’ll do it anyway.

“Now we just need a subject…” Dr. Ford eyes Lucas.

“No!” I say a little too quickly.

“Aw, c’mon!” Lucas says. “It’s not like you can’t fix it if anything happens.”

I shake my head. “Where are we even going to find the infection?”

“We have a few of Carch’s weapons.” Dr. Ford says.

“You want to shoot my boyfriend with one of those things?” I squeak.

“We’ll turn it down first.” Dr. Ford says. I lose Lucas after I call him my boyfriend. He looks happy though.

“I promise that it’ll be completely controlled.” Dr. Harris pipes in. He does look more restful than Dr. Ford.

All three give me their most imploring looks. My resolve falters. “Fine—but if he gets hurt you’re all in trouble.”

Dr. Ford grins and hits a tiny clasp on the bracelet. It expands to fit over Lucas’ hand. Dr. Ford hits the trigger again and it sets in place.
Here we go...

We follow the path to our traditional test ground outside the camp. Lucas holds my hand and tries to cheer me up. I don’t hide my displeasure. They don’t play fair.

I insist that Dr. Harris sets the weapon to its lowest setting. I use the excuse that he designs the weapon to avoid hurting Dr. Ford’s feelings. It’s half true. The other half is that Dr. Ford is kind of loopy right now.

Lucas stands in the spot Dr. Ford designates and stretches. I frown. Sometimes I really don’t understand men.

“Are you ready Lucas?” Dr. Harris calls.

“Yes sir!” Lucas calls back. He holds both thumbs up.

For the first time since I’ve known him I almost want to smack him. Doesn’t he realize how dangerous this is?

Next thing I know Dr. Harris lets out a small blast. It’s much lighter than any I’ve seen in action. I tense as it hits Lucas. We all wait expectantly and nothing happens.

Dr. Ford looks eager but remains cautious. “One more time Lucas?”

Lucas shrugs because the last one doesn’t hurt him. “Go for it!”

Dr. Harris lets it rip again and still nothing.

“Turn it up a notch!” Lucas calls to Dr. Harris.
Really?!

Dr. Harris and Doctor Ford look at me for confirmation. I wave my hands in a ‘whatever’ gesture. God forbid I have to see their puppy faces again this morning.

I give them three more tests before I call it. The last blast knocks Lucas onto his ass and he’s still not infected. The ground below him begins to glisten slightly and playtime’s over.

As soon as Lucas is next to the doctors I move closer to the shimmer. The stream that courses from my fingertips weaves around it. Once my energy completely surrounds it I grasp my fist tight and squelch it out.

Dr. Harris has never seen one of my demonstrations before and reacts the typical way. While he recovers I turn to Dr. Ford. “I think we can declare it a success. Now you just need to make a few billion.” I’m only half joking.

“Luckily most of the other places we’re working with can follow this design. They already utilize the weapon designs we gave them.” Dr. Ford says.

We begin the walk back. “Don’t forget to make Xavier one.” I remind him. There’s no way he’s going to take a nap. I look to Dr. Harris. “Make him sleep tonight please.”

“I will.” Dr. Harris promises.

Dr. Ford pouts a little. “At least let me show Jared what to do first.”

“Fine doc.” Lucas says. “How do I get this off?”

Dr. Ford laughs. “I’ll show you but you can keep that one. I’ve got more.”

Dr. Ford eventually gives in and goes to rest but not before he has me zap some more bracelets. Jared follows the instructions and amazes me when he successfully creates another and another after that. The third and fourth he recreates warm my heart. The third is small—baby size. The fourth is a collar which he adjusts to fit comfortably around B’s neck. He shows me how to adjust it. We both know how fast B can have a growth spurt.

Captain Jennings visits for an update. He’s exceedingly happy to hear that the bracelets are a success before he steals Lucas and me.

“We have three countries willing to assist with the evacuation and accept refugees: Canada, Mexico and if the need arises—Australia. A few others in Europe offer to help in a few weeks if we still need it. They’re still trying to hold their boundaries and rebuild. It’s nice of them to offer at all when we consider the cause of their situation.” Captain Jennings tells us.

Europe gets hit hard. The infection rides the fluidity of the water right across the Atlantic. We got them a decent warning, but we’re still the cause of this whole disaster.

“How long will it be until we move out to look for survivors?” Lucas asks.

Captain Jennings leans back. “That’s where you two come in. We can do this piece by piece or in one fell swoop. Both will achieve the same result. I don’t want to send you on another sabbatical if we can help it.”

Lucas waits for my cue. Much as it’s nice to be home, responsibility comes first. “Which is really the most effective captain?” I ask.

He makes a face. Not too many people call him out like I do. That’s why we get along so well. “The sabbatical, of course.”

Lucas gives my hand an encouraging squeeze. He’ll do whatever I want because he believes I’ll make the choice that’s best for everyone. “The sabbatical it is then. We need all the edge we can get.” My mind drifts back to our time with nice people before a few days in a cave. “May I request one place we can begin?”

We get a lot of people out the first couple of weeks. General West orders everyone to come to the camp for their safety and many comply. Some we seek out and others we stumble upon. We fit everyone with bracelets. A few stay but most fly away to Mexico and Canada—bringing crates of bracelets and poles with them.

Jared is kicking butt in the lab. Recently Mason begins to join him. They’ve been close for a while so it doesn’t surprise me. It’s nice to see the two young men learn from the two doctors.

Lucas and I join the others for retrieval missions while the Captain finalizes the last of the locations we’ll hit on a two week mission. We leave in three days. The logistics of it blow my mind. The captain has to plan every pick up zone and even then they’re all subject to change. Nothing ever goes along with your plan in the field.

Today the guys and I are going to check out a camp that’s only in rumors. With the horrible communications networks these days sometimes a rumor is all we’ve got. We have the same crew as our nuclear mission without the techs. We already know how to rely on each other.

This is in General Rowling’s territory. General Rowling is missing and we presume dead. It’s impossible to know for sure. The area doesn’t look very promising. There are no predominant signs of life and the air is quiet.

We approach the camp from the front side. Things are different now. We have the bracelets that keep our team immune to the infection. They still have to be wary of the impact from the weapons and careful of any actual firearms. They’re still in use and deadly as hell.

Like the other “camps” we find a small amount of men that guard the door. I motion to Lucas to have everyone hold their positions and then I try something different.

I move directly down the main path. Surely there’s some communication between these shops of horrors. Maybe they’ll surrender if given the chance.

It only takes a few steps before I catch the first guard’s attention. He raises his weapon and calls out. “Stop there.”