11 An Assassination
1674 Words
The tank had been angling forward several more minutes when Judith finally asked, “Where exactly do we go now?”
Paul who had been trying to will his stomach from growling answered, “I think we should have talked about that a bit earlier. It’s impossible I’m the only one who’s hungry right now.”
Judith hummed a noncommittal sound. “Your system-level upgrade is still low and I bet so is your conversion level. If you keep using those fireballs without stocking up on a lot of thermal energy and resources, the system is programmed to use your body as a substrate.”
“Eh? A sub-what?”
“A substrate,” repeated Judith, looking him in the eye then his growling stomach. “Food.”
“Oh, just great! There’s already a virus inside me eating me alive and you put another thing in me with the same purpose?!”
But Judith only frowned slightly, not threateningly but in a confused way. “It’s been about three years since you were infected. Curious how you’ve survived this long and still looking like a pre-Phase One.”
The same question has lingered in Paul’s mind, too, for the last year, especially when reports came out of the UCL virus mutating and becoming more rapidly fatal.
Why was he still doing okay?
“I don’t know, Doc. I should think you have all the answers since you were the one who put the system in me,” Paul said sarcastically.
“Calm down, Paul,” Rahu suddenly said. “Just because she is—or was—Pearse-Sachly’s lead scientist doesn’t mean she knows everything.”
As if Rahu’s words had nicked at her pride, Judith’s face paled and she opened her mouth to say something but at the last moment leaned back in her seat and looked away.
Paul didn’t know if Rahu even realized he’d insulted the lady. With a sigh, Paul said, “Well, what’s done is done. What would be the point of knowing now? As far as I’m concerned, we should really find a place to bunk in. We can’t stay in this tank forever. I mean, I can always fix it but we don’t always know if we’re safe enough to do it. Besides, this thing’s a behemoth. We can’t go around—two sufferers and one rogue scientist—traveling with this transport.”
“I agree,” said Rahu, glancing back. “Since you’re both unfamiliar with the territory, I suggest we go back to my house.”
“But didn’t you say it was taken over?”
“We either stay exposed here or we take a chance and go to my place,” argued Rahu. “Check your system, Paul. Where are we?”
Paul opened his system and navigation console to give Rahu their coordinates. He noticed Rahu sweating and concluded that his friend was not feeling well again.
“Leave the gun,” Paul said, pushing Rahu aside and forcing the much larger man—and also weaker at the moment—to sit back. “I’m hungry but I don’t look like I’m about to keel over. You are.” Turning to Judith, he asked, “Is there anything we can do for him, Doc?”
Judith hesitated for a moment before rapidly assessing Rahu’s pulse, eyes, and upper chest.
“He’s not Phase Three yet, just the early stages of Phase Two,” she told them. “But we have to get food. He’s going to get weaker without it. And those two bullet wounds I saw do not look like they’re healing properly. He needs proper medical attention.”
Rahu grunted. Judith uncharacteristically raised an eyebrow. “Fine. Have it your way. But you will die quicker than a Phase Five in its final stages if you refuse to find a doctor.”
Paul butted in. “I don’t think he’d refuse one but where do we find a medical doctor here? They’re all inside safe zones where we’re not even allowed to touch their gates.”
“If I can get to a safe zone, I can bring out supplies,” she hedged. “Unless I’ve also been exposed and infected.”
It was only then that everyone realized the likelihood of that already being true. Without the protective gear scientists and medical staff used when dealing with sufferers, Judith Merkel could very well be infected with the UCL virus now, too.
“Oh, crap! I’m sorry, Doc! I didn’t think—“
Judith shrugged. “If I’d stayed inside the institute, I’d be dead by now. Besides, it was my choice to come. I already knew you were infected and I still went with you. Don’t feel guilty on my account.”
“If we travel down this road for another two hours, we will be close enough to my place,” Rahu interrupted. “We find another less noticeable transport and go from there.”
Paul nodded, unable to help himself from shooting Judith a sorry glance. “Right. Go to sleep, Rahu. I’ll wake you up in two hours.”
They travelled in silence for the next few hours until Paul saw time had slipped them by. He stopped the tank and woke up Rahu. Judith, who likewise had fallen asleep, stretched her arms out.
“It’s time to move out,” Paul announced. He opened the hatch and was outside from the waist up when a pinging sound reverberated around them and he suddenly jumped back down into the turret basket, closing the hatch.
“Someone just shot at us!” Paul exclaimed in shock.
“What?!” asked Rahu, automatically going to the gun control.
“Unless the virus has mutated well enough to make zombies know how to use a gun, then someone human just took a shot at me!”
“Rebels?” Judith asked, peering into the driver’s optics.
“Maybe,” replied Paul, checking his arm to see if he’d been nicked. “It was goddamn close! Must be a sniper, well-trained and well-ammoed. There are no places of cover and trees close to the road so they—he or she---must be well-trained to risk that shot.” He looked down at Judith touching a hole in his jacket’s left shoulder yoke.
“Any higher and your carotid would have been burst open. Lower and it’s your heart,” Judith informed him.
Paul growled. “We can’t stay in here forever! I’m going out agai—“
But he was held back by Rahu, who now had an array of guns, knives, and two carbines.
Paul’s eyes widened. “Where the heck did you get and hide those?!”
“The dead soldiers and guards at the institute,” replied Rahu, moving towards the hatch. “Been collecting these babies since we arrived there.” Without another word, Rahu pushed up the hatch and with superhuman strength leaped out. Paul and Judith ducked when they thought they heard the sound of two bullets hitting the hatch lid. But it was only one of Rahu’s knives snagging on the latch.
“Could they be from those who planned the attack on the institute?” he asked her. Judith shook her head. “I don’t know, Paul. Possibly. Or, not.”
“Rahu!” Paul shouted. “Rahu! Are you okay?!”
“I’m fine! Start crawling out while I cover you!”
Paul grimaced. “How will you cover us when you don’t even know where the shooter is?!”
“Just do it!”
“Damn!” Paul cursed. “I go first then I’ll pull you out, Doc.”
Without waiting for Judith to agree, Paul pushed himself out of the opening. Immediately a bullet whizzed by, nicking his ear. Rahu took two pot-shots in the direction of their assassin. Paul fell down flat on his front, using the lifted hatch as a shield. Then, Rahu jumped up and positioned himself behind the raised lid, telling Paul, “Get the Doc!”
Paul had barely moved his head when two shots were directed at them, thankfully hitting the tank and rebounding away from them. Paul crawled back behind Rahu. Rahu crouched, exposing himself.
No shots were made.
Paul frowned. “Why are they only shooting at me?!”
Rahu moved back and handed Paul his carbine. “Cover me. I’ll pull the Doc out.”
Paul agreed and took position while Rahu, even standing, was not even shot at by their enemy. Rahu crawled to the opening and reached down towards Judith.
“’ I know you don’t like me for whatever reason, Doctor Merkel but you have to take my hand now.” Rahu wiped his forehead sweat on his upper arm sleeve, glanced back at Paul, and returned his gaze on her. “Now, Doc!”
Judith stepped on the tank’s controls and boosted herself up, grabbing Rahu’s hand. With one arm, Rahu pulled her out.
“Catch her, Paul!” he shouted. At the same time Paul grabbed hold of Judith to keep her from tumbling headfirst down the side to the tank, their assassin fired. But not fast enough for Rahu to shoot first.
After that, there were no more shots fired. When Paul cautiously stood up, there was only silence.
The assassin was gone.
- Writer
