“So, I’m wondering if there’s any more of that wonderful drug you gave me,” she said, circling the chair and heading over to the locked medicine case.
“Of course not,” Karr said. “It was all destroyed years ago.”
Using the butt of her pistol, she broke the lock on the refrigerated cabinet and perused the goods, but only recognized the names of a few painkillers and antibiotics. She began removing other bottles, reading the labels out loud. From Karr’s reactions, she was able to determine the three bottles that scared him the most. She set them on the instrument tray next to the chair.
“You don’t want to do this,” the doctor said. “If you do, you’ll be as bad as I am.”
Shuffling the small bottles between her fingers, she said, “And exactly how bad are you, Doctor?”
Karr’s gaze bounced back and forth between her and the drugs. “Please. Don’t. I’m begging you.”
She stuck the needle through the membrane on top of one of the bottles and drew some of the liquid into the syringe. “You think I should be concerned about your life? Like how you were so concerned about mine?” She put the needle into the next bottle and added some of its content to the mix. “And about the billions who died from the Sage Flu?” She finished the medical cocktail by adding an equal amount from the third bottle.
“I…I wasn’t responsible for the flu. I didn’t work on that.”
“And that absolves you of all responsibility? I’m thinking no.” She gave the syringe a shake and then pushed the plunger enough so that a squirt flew out. “I have no idea what any of these drugs are, but I’m guessing at least one of them will make your life hell.”
He yanked at his restraints as she moved the needle toward him.
“Now, now, Dr. Karr. This will go much easier if you just hold still.”
15
Gordie Blake, Powell’s second in command, had been left in charge of the small contingent assigned to remain outside the base. So far his duties had consisted mostly of updating Ward Mountain on the progress. Since the radio was unable to reach anyone inside Dream Sky, his reports had been limited to “No word yet.”
Not this time.
“Crystal? Gordon Blake. I’ve heard from the team. Dream Sky security forces have been neutralized, and our people are doing a floor-by-floor roundup of other personnel.”
“Hold on,” she said.
“Sure.”
The line went dead for a moment.
When Crystal came back on, she said, “I’ve got Rachel on with us now. Can you repeat what you just told me?”
Blake did.
“How long do you think until the base is fully secured?” Rachel asked.
“No ETA yet, ma’am, but from the sounds of it, that place is pretty big so it could take a while.”
“Any casualties on our side?”
“None were reported.”
“Good,” she said. “Let’s hope it stays that way.
“We do have a potential problem, though,” he said. He explained about the phone call Harden had received and the general consensus that Project Eden forces might be on the way there.
“Any way to know for sure?” Rachel asked.
“Not from here. I was actually hoping you could check on that.”
“I’ll get someone on it,” Crystal said. “No promises, so keep your eyes and ears open.”
“That’s the last of them,” Dixon told Ash as he and his partner, Cabrera, ushered another scrubs-wearing medic into the holding room on level six.
The other team members were gathered by the elevator, ready to move on to their next floor. They’d become numb to the sight of wards filled with patients and had been able to pick up their pace, finishing level six in half the time they’d needed on eight.
“Who’s staying on this level?” Ash asked.
A woman raised her hand. “I am.”
“Corrie, right?” he said.
She nodded.
“You know what to do?”
“Yes, sir. Check the patient rooms every fifteen minutes, and if there are any problems, come get you.”
“Right,” he said. He turned to the group. “Okay, everyone. We’re going up to five.”
“Not four?” someone asked.
“From this point forward, we’re meeting up with Chloe’s team. Let’s get moving.”
The elevators were called and Ash piled into the first car with half his people. When they exited on five, the man guarding the detention room looked surprised.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
Ash shook his head. “How close are you all to being done?”
“Five more minutes at most.”
“Is Chloe around?” Ash asked, hoping she’d returned to her team.
The man nodded to his right. “That way, I think.”
Ash found her working by herself, clearing another ward.
“Thought we should work together from this point on,” he said.
“Whatever you want.” She brushed past him and moved to the next door down the hall.
“You’re supposed to be doing this with someone, you know,” he said, following her as she entered the new room.
“I’m fine by myself.”
The room was one of the smaller wards, ten beds only, and in a rare occurrence, one of the beds was empty. Chloe made sure no Project Eden people were present and then headed back toward the door.
As she neared him, Ash said, “I just, uh, want to make sure you’re all right.”
“I’m fine,” she said, her face expressionless. “Thanks.”
He locked eyes with her. “I need you here, with us, not distracted. I realize there’s a lot going on in your head right now, but if you let that control you, you’re going to get people hurt.”
Grim-faced, she stared at him before saying, “My whole life has crashed back down on me. How am I supposed to ignore that?”
“I’m not asking you to ignore it, but I am asking you to focus on what needs to be done here, right now.” He paused. “This is the most important thing we’ve done since the fight began. I need you.”
She blinked and looked away, then whispered, “He was a monster.”
Ash said nothing.
“He said I was no better than him for what I was going to do.” She looked at Ash. “Does that make me a monster, too?”
“It makes you human, which is several steps up the evolutionary ladder from these assholes.”
“I’m not so sure.”
He put his hands on her cheeks and tilted up her face. “Chloe, you’re not the monster. You’re the slayer.”
“Poetic,” she said, one corner of her lips ticking up slightly.
“But true.”
“Maybe.” She closed her eyes as if lost in thought, and then nodded. “I’m here, Ash. I’m right here with you.”
With the groups combined, it took only ten minutes to clear each floor. As soon as they were done, Ash headed up to the hut that served as Dream Sky’s entrance.
He clicked on his radio. “Blake, this is Ash. Do you read me?”
“Loud and clear, Captain. Good to hear your voice.”
“Can you patch me through to Ward Mountain?”
“Yes, sir.” The radio was quiet for several seconds, then, “Captain, I have Crystal and Rachel on the line.”
“Captain Ash?” Rachel said. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, ma’am. Everything is fine. I’m calling to officially notify you that Dream Sky is ours.”
16