Sole Scion - 14. Chapter Fourteen: New Specimens

 

Chapter Fourteen: New Specimens

 

 

January 1^st, 2474 A.D.

17^th Year A.A.

 

 

“Good morning Lieutenant Winters. Good morning Ensign Grey.” The captain in charge of overseeing security at the Nano Research Division waved at the pair as he buzzed them through.

“Good morning David. Got any news for us?” Albert asked.

“Such as the mood our dearly beloved department head?” The head of security said amusingly. “You two will be glad to know he’s going to be stuck in conference meetings all day.” Albert and David knew all too well how unpopular Daniel was with Colonel Dean. Given how much interest the Praetor’s inner circle of followers were showing in Daniel’s exceptional progress in Sleeper research it could only be expected that the Division Chief had become jealous. Daniel was a rising star and the Colonel felt threatened by his success.

Daniel let out a sigh of relief. “Good… last week he was threatening to put me back in the Zoo.”

On hearing Daniel mention the Zoo, David could not stop himself from snickering. “Not that you would mind. He’s been asking about you again.” There was no need for the security chief to name which person he was referring to. Since their first meeting Clive had been greatly concerned about Daniel’s wellbeing… among other things.

“I guess we should start with him then.” One of the first things Daniel had done was make arrangements for Clive to be moved out of the seclusion cells to the Research Division’s separate specimen center.

“Uh uh… sir. The Colonel left orders that each Section Head evaluate the new specimens that arrived last night. You’ll find them waiting in the holding area.” He handed Daniel a clipboard.

Daniel rolled his eyes as he accepted the list. The first thing he noticed was how long the list was. “Why so many new ones.”

“I don’t know but rumor has it that NET found another group of Academy survivors hiding out on Swan Island.”

“And they want me to make sure they’re not Sleepers.”

“Actually I think it’s the other way around. They’re certain they’re Sleepers. They are hoping to use them to test the effectiveness of the machine you’ve been working on for the last six months.

“The machine’s not ready,” Daniel reminded the head of security.

“The Colonel is well aware of that. He just wants to see you fail.”

“Well he might get his wish. How many specimens am I allowed to take?”

“There are 36 and you’re supposed to take a third of them so I guess that’s 12. Good thing you decided to come in early. You’re the first to arrive so you get first dibs.”

Albert nudged Daniel along. “We better hurry before the others show up.”

When they arrived in the holding area Daniel took one look of the group and felt his stomach tighten. “They look so…”

“So normal? Aye… I have to agree with you there,” the guard watching the cell laughed.

The 36 lined up on the other side of the one way mirror. They wore fishermen’s overalls, boots, and longnecks. Their faces were covered by dirt and machine oil but didn’t look worse for wear. What caused Daniel’s eyes to go wide was that Ray was seated among them. So was Zac. Ray had filled the role Albert now had while he had been at the Academy. Daniel had to get the young man out of there.”

“I know there’s no point asking but which one is to be first.” The Ensign held the clipboard and a pin, ready to check off the first name.”

“Ray… I mean the kid and the one seated next to him.”

Albert arched an eyebrow. How could Daniel know the kid’s name when it’s not on the clip board? He would have to think on that before asking. He pushed the intercom button. “We’ll take number six and seven.”

One of the guards in the cell pointed to Ray and Zac and to the exit. They rose. While Zac looked despondent there was a smile on Ray’s face. Before exiting he turned to the mirror and winked. He was then shoved out of sight.

“Who’s next?”

“What other information do we have on the group?”

Al flipped through the papers on the clipboard. “Supposedly they were part of a fishing fleet returning to Darwin when the bombs dropped. The EMP from the nukes fried their electronic systems. Somehow they ended up abandoning their boats near Swan Island in the middle of the Sound. They weren’t found until some of them were captured looking for help on West Falkland. According to the interrogators #18 is supposedly their leader. I take it you will want him?”

“Most certainly.” Daniel knew if he didn’t then one of the other Section Heads would try to use 18 to control the other specimens. After he was taken away the other picks were less important.

He had just picked his 12^th specimen when one of those he hadn’t picked began yelling and pounding on the glass. Two of the guards tried to push him back to the line but not even the shock collar could control him

Al pressed the intercom. “What the hell is going on?”

Before he got an answer the man rammed his shoulder into the armored glass. To Daniel’s shock long cracks danced through the three inch barrier. “I don’t know about you but I think we have our Sleeper. Tell the guard’s we’ll take him.”

“But you’ve already picked your 12. The Colonel will…”

“I’ll deal with the Division Chief. I must have him in my group.”

Al shrugged but conveyed Daniel’s orders to the guards. There was a short shouting match. “They’ll do it but it’s your funeral.”

“Will they make me give one up?” Daniel didn’t want to have saved one of them only to hand him over for vivisection.”

“They’re not saying.”

“They’re just passing the buck to the Colonel.” Daniel knew what would happen. The Division Chief would let one of the Section Heads take his twelfth from any of Daniel’s specimens, not just the ones he had picked today. Everyone knew Daniel had his favorites and knowing them they would pick among those he cared most about. He had to give one up. “Pick a number between 8 and 16.”

“What?” The Ensign didn’t understand at first. Daniel repeated himself. This time Al did understand and he didn’t like it. “No way in hell are you going to make me pick which one to give back. You’re the one who picked them in the first place. It’s only fair you make the choice yourself, coward.”

Daniel chewed on his lower lip. Al was right. It wasn’t fair to make him choose. He was also right that he was trying to take the coward’s way out. “Give #12 back.” Being the last pick choosing him was the easiest of a list of bad choices. It wasn’t fair but when was life ever fair. He had to tell himself that it was the man he was replacing #12 with who was to blame. Whoever he was he would not be among Daniel’s favorites.

Daniel didn’t wait for the prisoners to be switched. The morning had already been ruined. He needed cheering up. Very few things could cheer him up more than the pup.

Leaving the holding cell he went straight to the back section of his lab where the specimens were kept. He went to the smallest cell and knelt by it. Inside was a dark furred wolf. “Hello you.” Though the wolf shouldn’t be able to see or hear him, the pup toddled towards where Daniel sat. Daniel placed his left hand on the glass. He watched with glee as the pup licked that spot on the glass.

Daniel didn’t have any proof but he was certain that the pup was not any wolf but was in fact the one he once had. On the last day he would ever see his father he had given him a wolf pup as his final gift.

At first Karl had allowed him to keep it but when his mother had won custody he had been forced to give the animal up. Once back on Labatt Estate one of the first things Daniel asked for was to have his pup back. He had cried for days when he learned that the wolf had run away the day after Daniel was taken back to New York.

Of course the idea that this pup was the one he had lost was insane. Even if his wolf still alive she would have grown to full size. Still he could not help but feel connected to this one and he longed to hold it in his hands.

It broke his heart that he would never be allowed to. The wolf was a Sleeper. Daniel might not have the blood test to prove it but it was a known fact that anyone the wolf bit would rapidly show signs of the Plague. If the pup was known for anything it was that she was a bitter.

On Daniel’s first day at the lab he had been shown several former guards the pup had bitten. Once human each had taken on the shape of the legendary werewolf.

Daniel sat by the wolf until Al’s shadow fell on him. “I knew I would find you here.”

Daniel didn’t look away from the pup. “And I knew you would find me.” Even after six months Daniel still didn’t like Albert any more than he had the first time they met. Al was his jailor and nothing would change that.

“I don’t see why you torture yourself like this. You will never be allowed in there.”

“I know.” This time Daniel did look away. “I guess it’s time to check on the others.”

“Good… I know exactly the one you should see next. Clive you are allowed to touch.”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“Say’s you. I know better. A good fuck would do you some good. If you don’t want it to be him then I would be more than willing to volunteer.”

Daniel stood. “Good. You two can go fuck each other.” He patted Albert on the check.

“I wish,” Albert laughed. “He would snap my neck before he sucks my cock. He doesn’t like Greys.”

“I wonder why. Anyway I should inspect the new specimens first.”

“That’ll take all day.”

                                                                

“Keeping myself busy is exactly what I need right now.” Daniel gave the wolf a final smile before heading deeper into the maze of cells.

Each of the new specimens had been put in separate cells. None of them looked pleased by their spartan environment. The cells were nothing more than that. There was no furniture, no place for them to clean up. What passed for a toilet was a hole in the floor that connected to an incinerator. They had no toilet paper.

Daniel had to keep reminding himself it was only temporary. After a fortnight of quarantine they would be transferred to more homely quarters.

“Who do you want to start with?”

“I’ll start with the first one.”

“You mean Ray?” Al couldn’t stop himself. He wanted to know why Daniel knew the kid’s name. If it came to it he would force the truth from his mind. The glare of pure hatred Daniel aimed at him hinted that Albert would probably have to do exactly that.

“I want you to go interview Number 23. I’ll deal with the other.”

“I was hoping…”

Daniel cut him off. He knew Al had wanted to sit in while he examined Ray but he wasn’t going to allow it. “You will interview and examine 23. Given what we observed in the holding cell examining him should take the rest of the day.”

“Why spend that much time on a single specimen?”

“Aren’t you the one always complaining how reckless I am when dealing with the specimens? Since you’re always concerned with my safety; how about you show it and deal with the only one that’s shown to be aggressive.”

“But…”

“That’s an order.”

The Ensign’s face went bright red. He wanted to demand Daniel tell him the truth regarding Ray but doing so would only put him in danger. He would find out eventually but he couldn’t get them where there could be ears in the walls listening in. “I will have a full report ready for you by noon tomorrow.”

“See to it then.” Daniel snapped. He was not really angry with Al but himself for having slipped the fact that he had recognized Ray.

Daniel didn’t move from that spot until he was sure Al wouldn’t come back. When he was sure he let of a breath of relief. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hide the truth for long. Not just from the ensign but also the security staff. It was only a matter of time before one of them discovered that Ray had been stationed at the Academy with him.

Controlling his pace Daniel slowly headed to Ray’s cell. As he walked he tried to think on what he would say. “Hello Ray… miss me? No, that won’t do. What the fuck are you doing here Ray? No, that won’t work either. I have to act like I don’t know who the hell he is and hope he shows the same amount of discretion. “Hello, I am Daniel Winters, I will be handling your intake. That will have to do.”

When he reached the cell he found it unguarded. That did not mean it was not being watched. “Hello, my name is Daniel Winters. I will be the one handling your intake.”

“Hello Daniel… I’m Ray. It’s nice to meet you.” Ray’s voice was as sweet and innocent as it had been when they first met.

“I wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Don’t worry… I’ve seen worse.”

I’m sure you have. “First can you tell me your full name, age, and place of birth?”

“I already told you my name is Ray.”

“What about your surname?”

“My surname?”

“Your last name.”

“I only have one name.”

Daniel gritted his teeth. He knew Ray’s last name was Gains. That had been what he had used at the Academy. So why was he not giving it? It eventually dawned on him that Ray was being smarter than he. If NET were to learn his full name it would make it easier for them to cross-reference it against the names of those who had been stationed at the Academy. “That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. What about the rest?”

“I’m 17, and I was born in Alaska.”

“You look a lot older than 17.”

“I’m sorry… I meant to say I left Alaska when I was 17.”

Daniel set aside the question of how old Ray was. “So you were there during Azrael. Mind to tell me how you managed to survive.”

“Papa saved me.”

“Papa. Is he alive?”

“Yes… he’s in the next cell.”

“You mean specimen #18.”

“Specimen? Captain Papa is no specimen. He’s the Captain.”

“You mean the ship captain.”

Ray had to think about that for a while. “Uhmmm yes.”

“Is that how you escaped Alaska? You left in ship.”

“Yes… that’s it. We left in a big huge ship.”

“An oil tanker?”

“Is it big?”

“It’s the biggest ship I’ve ever seen.” Daniel replied as he continued adding to his notes.

“Then yes. It was an oil tanker,” Ray said.

Daniel stared at the man inquisitively. Ray might not be trying to be all that careful as I thought he was. He might be that clueless. Then again given the chaos caused by Azrael that could explain it. “Where did you go after you left Alaska?”

“We went all over the place.”

With the entire world in a mass panic most people didn’t know where to go. “Nowhere in particular? Where did you live before moving to the Falklands.”

Ray answered without any attempt at subterfuge. “New York.”

“New York… Like in New York City!” Daniel bit down when he realized he had been shouting. Before Karl had gotten him back he had lived there with his mother. He took a deep breath to calm himself. “When did you leave New York?”

“Uhmmm thirteen years ago.”

Right when I had left. “From there did you go straight to the Falklands?” Daniel was certain he hadn’t but he had to ask.

“Not right away. We went all over the place… Buenos Aries, London, Washington, Sidney.”

“Which city did you spend the most time at?”

“Oh Washington. We had a big house there.”

A big house… probably near Karl’s big house like all the big houses were. Had this kid been following him around for most of his life?” No more subterfuge. “Why are you here Ray?”

“Can’t tell you.” Ray said evasively.

“Why?” Both were now whispering.

“It’s a secret.”

“Am I that secret?”

“Hello sir… is that for me?” Ray shouted.

“No it’s for the Lieutenant.” The man standing behind Daniel said.

Turning around Daniel saw Albert directly behind him. He was holding a tray and he looked angry. “Is that lunch?”

“Yes… I thought you would be hungry.

You thought you could sneak behind me and listen in asshole. “Thank you for lunch but I’m not hungry.”

“I’m sure you’re not.” The Ensign didn’t leave.

“Don’t you have a prisoner to interview?”

“Can’t.”

“Why not.”

“I ordered him transferred to one of the seclusion cell at the Zoo.”

“And why did you do that?”

“Too violent… I must say what little I did get out of him was quite interesting.”

“Care to share it?”

“No.” Al said flatly. “Not unless you wish to share with me what you’ve learned.”

“Fine…I’ll read your report later. You can move on to specimen #11.”

“I thought you were going to handle him”

“Well since you finished early with 23 you can speed things along and deal with the less violent ones.”

“Is that an order, SIR?”

“Do you really need me to make it one, Ensign?”

The two glared at each other. Albert was the first to flinch. “I’ll go see to the others specimens.”

“See that you do.”

Once he was gone Daniel turned his attention back to Ray.

The kid looked as guilty as sin. “Sorry if I got you into trouble with your boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend!” Daniel yelled. “The ensign is far from ever being that.”

“He seems to think he is.” Ray replied.

“How do you know?” Daniel asked.

“I just do.”

“I see. Anyway thank you for warning me he was there. Did he hear much?”

“Nope… not a word.”

No wonder he was pissed. “Good I want it to stay that way. If he comes back, which he certainly will, don’t answer any of his questions, okay?”

“I promise.”

“I’m going to go check on your father. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okeydokey.”

Before he left Daniel leaned in closer to the comm. “And yes Ray… I did miss you.”

“I know you did. I hope you enjoy the rest of you day.” Ray waved goodbye as Daniel moved on to the next specimen.”

 

Going to the next cell he found Ray’s father pacing about looking worried. “Hello sir, my name is Daniel Winters I will be handling your intake.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be.” The man covered his face with one hand and shook his head.

“How what’s going to be?”

“You playing clueless.”

“About what?”

“About my son. I know him better than anyone so I know he said too much.”

“No… he said only what I needed to hear. Still I would like to verify some facts with you.”

Ray’s father sat down and crossed his legs Indian-style “Go ahead.”

“Are you Ray’s father?”

“I am as much as anyone can be.”

“Is he really only seventeen.”

“He looks a lot older than that, I know. As far as he is aware he is. In truth he has only been my son that long.”

“So you adopted him?”

“I guess that’s a good way of putting it,” the Captain replied

“I take it you were the one who helped him escape Azrael?”

Ryan shook his head as he laughed bitterly. “So he told you about that too?”

“Only because I asked him,” Daniel replied

“Yes… I did help him escape not that I wasn’t also running for my life.”

Time to cut through the crap. “Are you infected?”

“Are we Sleepers?” The prisoner paced back and forth in the tiny cell. “Yes. But we’re nothing like the sort you’ve ever come across.”

Daniel stepped closer to the armored glass. “I will take your word for it.” Very few people managed to escape Alaska and among the few who did they showed the early signs of being infected. That was one of the reasons Daniel was so surprised that Ray admitted he was from there. The world government had made a combined effort to kill every Alaskan survivor they could find. If they had been anywhere else Ray and his father would have just signed their death warrant. West Falkland was the exception for it was here that most of the world’s research on the Sleeper phenomena was performed.

The man’s answer left Daniel no choice to ask the next question. Daniel pressed his mouth against the small vent which allowed sound to pass between each side of the cell. “Why are you following me? Do you want to kill me or infect me with the plague? Which one is it?”

The man let out a soft chuckle. He joined Daniel at the vent. “No Daniel, son of Avery. Hurting you is the last thing on our mind.”

Daniel’s heart skipped a beat. “You knew my father?”

“Aye… and we swore our lives to protect him. Since we failed where your father was concerned I guess the only way we can redeem ourselves is by doing a better job protecting his son.”

It took all the self-control Daniel could muster to keep his voice down to a whisper. “Are you one of the Dozens?”

“Yes.”

Daniel’s face went pale. The Dozens had been among his father’s best friends. Andrew’s father was one which is why Andrew was one as well. Unlike Andrew however Karl did not feel the same way towards Daniel as he had his father. These Dozens clearly did or they would not have been following him around for so many years. The very knowledge that those who knew his father best had been looking out for him all these years was overwhelming. “I need a break.”

“I hope I’ve not upset you. Hurting you is the last thing your father would want me to do.”

On the man’s mention of his father Daniel snapped. “Enough talking about my father… don’t you dare bring him up with me again!”

“I see…” Ray’s father turned his back to the window. When he turned around Daniel was gone.

 

Gazing into the rows of television cameras Andrew did his best to smile. “As you can see the decontamination process is already ahead of schedule.” He pointed to the busy bulldozers tearing up the contaminated radioactive soil. “By April enough of the radioactive material will have been removed to begin rebuilding the school.”

A reporter raised a hand. “What about the water supply. How soon until it’s safe to drink again?

“An iodine water filtration plant has been running in Stanly for three months now. It will take time to dreg up any radioactive soil from the reservoirs but in the meantime a desalination plant is being built to provide an alternative drinking source. I must once again thank the public for their support and generous donations they have given towards the school’s reconstruction. It indeed proves that Neos and Norms share the common dream of a world free of the Plague.”

“What of Daniel Winters, Captain. The public knows his health is a very sensitive subject with you but they are curious to know when we will see you two back together.

Andrew leaned into the stack of microphones and gave the cameras a deadpan look. “When there’s a cure.”

As Andrew turned his back to the reporters they kept hitting him with more questions. “When will there be a cure?”

“Is it true that Mr. Winters is working on exactly that?”

“How does your romantic relationship work now that he’s infected?”

Being asked so many pointless questions they knew Andrew couldn’t answer had the young Neo wishing he could line all the reporters up and let a true Sleeper infect each and every one of them. They could then answer their own god damn questions. Instead he said…”Thank you all for coming but as you can see work on the site never ends.” He then left the podium, making it clear the interviews were over.

Wanting to be left alone Andrew fled to his trailer. Once inside he fell to his knees and sobbed uncontrollably. He couldn’t believe that after six months NET had yet to allow him to visit Daniel. He was starting to doubt they ever would.

Glenn’s clone, was more hopeful. No more so than today. “It’ll be alright Captain.” He patted him on the shoulder. “Anyway I have some good news for you.”

“The only good news I want is that they’ll let me see Daniel.”

“That might be becoming possible. If you’ll listen to what I have to tell you…”

Andrew went over to an empty recliner and flopped into it. “Out with it.”

“Lanyon has received word that one of his agents has managed to take footage inside the complex. Daniel is on some of it. He appears to be in good health and no longer in a cell.”

“Don’t describe the footage. Let me see it for myself.”

“Unfortunately I can’t. I haven’t seen it for myself. We can’t risk letting NET get its hands on the clips. With so many of them watching you it would be too dangerous.”

“If you haven’t seen them how do you know if the clips even exist?”

“Because I trust Lanyon and so should you. He wouldn’t lie to me knowing I would pass the information on to you. Anyway so long as you keep taking the White the Grey’s shouldn’t be able to pick it out of your mind. The footage we’ve gotten showing Daniel is not really all that important to us freeing him. It’s those with him that gives us the most hope.” Glenn paused for effect. “Ray’s with him.”

“Ray? His valet? So he survived too?”

“He and over two dozen men Lanyon knows personally. It seems an outside party has been keeping a close eye on Daniel as well.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“It’s about as good as we can hope. These men swore their lives to Daniel’s father so we should not be surprised they feel some sort of loyalty to Daniel too.”

“If they were so loyal why did they let Avery die?”

“You know better than to ask that. Daniel’s father died for reasons we might never understand. Do you think your father just let him die? Do you think Azrael fell right on top of him by mere chance?” Somehow Avery knew what was going to happen and tried to stop it. Unfortunately he failed. We all did. These men let themselves get captured probably hoping they’ll be able to free Daniel. At least we can hope that’s the case.”

“You have to get me back inside the complex. I need to talk to Ray. I need to know what they’re planning. Damn it I can’t keep sitting on the sidelines. I need to be involved.”

“The best way you can help is continue to let your minders believe they’re still the ones in control.”

“That’s not enough. I can do more. I need to do more.”

“If you feel that strongly about it…” Glenn saw the lad’s hard determination in his eyes and sighed. “You do feel that strongly about Daniel. Your father once felt the same towards Avery. That, however, was a long time ago. All he feels now is bitterness that Daniel has given you that which he so easily lost. There’s more involved of course but that’s something you’ll need to ask Lanyon about yourself. Since you are so determined to help the person you’ll need to meet with the Generalissimo.”

“Generalissimo Helios, head of the NSP paramilitary?”

“He is almost as powerful as the NET’s Praetor and far more feared than Lord Varrus the Church of the Awakening’s Prelate in charge of the Inquisition. He has over a million men under his command and he only takes in those who can prove their loyalty is solely to him. What I mean to say is that he is the only one who can act independently from the rest of the NSP.”

“What about Lordon?”

“Even Lordon can’t tell the general what to do. Much of that is due to the fact that while all the world governments are afraid of NET and the NSP they all hold the general in higher esteem than anyone else in the bloody organization. He is Earth’s first and best line of defense against those monstrosities infected with the Plague and the entire world knows it. If Lordon were to even try and remove him from command the US and the EU would join the general in tearing Lordon and his lackeys apart.”

“If he is so powerful why hasn’t he acted already?”

“For the same reason his men love him. He is not the sort of leader who would throw away the lives of his men for the sake of his own political ambitions. To be honest, except for defeating the Spiderwolves and Mantises I don’t think the man is all that ambitious. His sole desire seems to be protecting Neos and Norms alike and maintaining the peace between the world powers for as long as possible.”

“If he strives to be so neutral how can I convince him to side with me?”

“That’s what you don’t yet understand. He would not be joining you as much as you will be joining him. Lanyon believes you have something the General wants desperately and he is known for taking care of his men. If you want the General’s help to free Daniel you better give him a good reason to.”

“And what does he want?”

“The Bond”