“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.
FIFTEEN – THE WAY
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.