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Authors: Michael Weinberger
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sounded doubtful.
“Yeah, I think that sounds a little far fetched too.”
“Okay, so what about the “ransom” theory?”
“Well, let’s suppose someone did loose a biological agent in here. It dispersed quickly or broke down into something harmless in seconds after its release, but was in a viable state long enough to knock everyone into a catatonic state.”
“Go on.” The Captain began to look intrigued.
“Well, if this is something new, like an anesthetic or something, maybe whoever developed it has some kind of reversal agent.”
“Reversal agent?”
“I know that may be an overdramatic term, but you understand what I mean.”
“So you think the doctors won’t be able to revive these people?”
“No. I don’t see this case coming to such an easy ending.”
“But you do think we will ultimately hear from someone who will provide the antidote for a price?”
A moment passed as Steve seemed to think about his answer.
“Yes, that is pretty much what I think is going to happen. The thought of over 1,000 people being held hostage inside their own bodies would make a lot of friends and relatives very adamant about the city paying whatever it takes to get the antidote. Whoever did this wants something so they left everyone alive. Why do that? Why go to all the effort of doing this without any benefit to yourself?”
“Maybe they did it for the thrill?”
“No, I think there was a method to their madness. Look who was in the club. Celebrities, yuppies and well-to-do people in general are here nightly. Even if there were no direct target, any given night would have delivered famous and affluent patrons. These are people who have the means to buy their way out of a predicament faster than we can figure it out.”
The look of interest dissolved from the Captain’s face, replaced by a look of concern.
“Jesus. We have to make sure we keep a lid on this. If word gets out that this whole thing is about money then whoever did this will probably get privately paid off and be inspired to repeat himself.”
A whole new weight seemed to drop squarely on the Captain’s shoulders. He forced himself to scan the club. Steve thought he was trying to get a feel for the sheer size of the situation when he saw the Captain’s face turn to intense rage.
“You!” he screamed as he launched himself forward, vaulting over catatonic club goers.
As he ran, the Captain pointed at a paramedic across the dance floor from where he and Steve had been standing. Steve erupted into motion as well, although for the moment he wasn’t sure why.
When the paramedic saw the Captain charging at him his eyes bulged in fright and he began to move quickly toward one of the rear exits.
“Officers, stop that man! Bring him down now!” the Captain bellowed.
The few uniformed officers who had been standing near the dance floor hesitated slightly before springing into action. The medic tried to run as the officers closed in around him.
Steve made a break to the right in order to cut off a potential escape route. He still didn’t know what was going on, but he trusted the Captain’s instincts. It was then that he saw the medic was holding something small and metallic in his closed right hand.
Steve was about to yell “gun” when an officer dove for the medic, reaching for his ankles, missed by centimeters and came crashing down on the hardwood dance floor. The medic’s face resembled the mask of a trapped animal knowing it was about to get caught. Without warning, and with considerable effort, the medic threw the metallic object against the nearest wall. The object cracked into the wall and broke into a few large pieces.
“I guess it wasn’t a gun,” Steve thought.
Two officers tackled the medic with brute force, taking him to the ground. The rest of the uniformed officers swarmed on top of the three men on the ground as Steve slowed to a walk and stopped just outside of the violent dog pile of men. He turned on
“Yeah, I think that sounds a little far fetched too.”
“Okay, so what about the “ransom” theory?”
“Well, let’s suppose someone did loose a biological agent in here. It dispersed quickly or broke down into something harmless in seconds after its release, but was in a viable state long enough to knock everyone into a catatonic state.”
“Go on.” The Captain began to look intrigued.
“Well, if this is something new, like an anesthetic or something, maybe whoever developed it has some kind of reversal agent.”
“Reversal agent?”
“I know that may be an overdramatic term, but you understand what I mean.”
“So you think the doctors won’t be able to revive these people?”
“No. I don’t see this case coming to such an easy ending.”
“But you do think we will ultimately hear from someone who will provide the antidote for a price?”
A moment passed as Steve seemed to think about his answer.
“Yes, that is pretty much what I think is going to happen. The thought of over 1,000 people being held hostage inside their own bodies would make a lot of friends and relatives very adamant about the city paying whatever it takes to get the antidote. Whoever did this wants something so they left everyone alive. Why do that? Why go to all the effort of doing this without any benefit to yourself?”
“Maybe they did it for the thrill?”
“No, I think there was a method to their madness. Look who was in the club. Celebrities, yuppies and well-to-do people in general are here nightly. Even if there were no direct target, any given night would have delivered famous and affluent patrons. These are people who have the means to buy their way out of a predicament faster than we can figure it out.”
The look of interest dissolved from the Captain’s face, replaced by a look of concern.
“Jesus. We have to make sure we keep a lid on this. If word gets out that this whole thing is about money then whoever did this will probably get privately paid off and be inspired to repeat himself.”
A whole new weight seemed to drop squarely on the Captain’s shoulders. He forced himself to scan the club. Steve thought he was trying to get a feel for the sheer size of the situation when he saw the Captain’s face turn to intense rage.
“You!” he screamed as he launched himself forward, vaulting over catatonic club goers.
As he ran, the Captain pointed at a paramedic across the dance floor from where he and Steve had been standing. Steve erupted into motion as well, although for the moment he wasn’t sure why.
When the paramedic saw the Captain charging at him his eyes bulged in fright and he began to move quickly toward one of the rear exits.
“Officers, stop that man! Bring him down now!” the Captain bellowed.
The few uniformed officers who had been standing near the dance floor hesitated slightly before springing into action. The medic tried to run as the officers closed in around him.
Steve made a break to the right in order to cut off a potential escape route. He still didn’t know what was going on, but he trusted the Captain’s instincts. It was then that he saw the medic was holding something small and metallic in his closed right hand.
Steve was about to yell “gun” when an officer dove for the medic, reaching for his ankles, missed by centimeters and came crashing down on the hardwood dance floor. The medic’s face resembled the mask of a trapped animal knowing it was about to get caught. Without warning, and with considerable effort, the medic threw the metallic object against the nearest wall. The object cracked into the wall and broke into a few large pieces.
“I guess it wasn’t a gun,” Steve thought.
Two officers tackled the medic with brute force, taking him to the ground. The rest of the uniformed officers swarmed on top of the three men on the ground as Steve slowed to a walk and stopped just outside of the violent dog pile of men. He turned on
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