Read Online Z 2136 (Z 2134 Series Book 3) by Sean Platt, David W. Wright - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sean Platt, David W. Wright
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the madman, Sutherland.
Ana stood and hugged him, thankful that he was fully dressed in a long, dark shirt and pants, because as fond as she was of the man, she didn’t want to touch his decayed skin or metal chest and arms.
“How are you?” Oswald asked.
“Good.”
The doctor looked Ana over. “No further signs of the virus?”
“No. I haven’t felt anything since Hydrangea.”
“Amazing!” he said, his human skin stretching awkwardly up his face to greet alloy in a wide smile. “Please, have a seat.”
Ana sat, as did Egan opposite her. Oswald stayed on his feet, standing to her left at the end of the desk so the three of them formed a loose triangle.
“I was just telling Ana about your work,” Egan said. “Can you fill her in?”
“Sure. I’ve been continuing Dr. Goelle’s research as promised. Using your blood samples, I’ve managed to degrade the virus and temporarily arrest the effects within the host. However, I’ve not yet been able to kill the virus outright without harming the host’s blood cells, nor have I managed to replicate your reversal. But I feel close to a breakthrough. We have a few subjects in another part of The Station responding positively to my latest course of treatment, though it’s still too early to tell.”
“And is Calla one of those subjects?”
“Not exactly. I’m using a variant of the treatment Dr. Goelle prescribed for your old friend, Duncan. In other words, we’re holding the virus at bay, but there’s no telling how long these treatments will stay successful. The antidotes I’m working on are unstable, so we can’t use them to dose the child. I’m hoping with your help to further Dr. Goelle’s plans for a true cure.”
Ana turned to Egan, unable to hold her question. “Why isn’t Calla with the other subjects, away from the population?”
Egan nodded, as if expecting Ana’s question. He’d probably heard it plenty from his own people. “Because I’ll not have my daughter locked up like a dangerous animal.”
“You do realize you’re putting people at risk, don’t you?” Ana felt herself getting angry. “I watched my friend turn and it only took seconds. One moment Duncan was feeling a little off, then the next, we were dinner.”
Oswald intervened. “While I do understand your concern, Ana—especially since you yourself were quarantined—I believe this is best for the child.”
“How’s that?” she asked, incredulous.
“We believe that patients who are locked away from others degrade at a faster rate than those allowed managed interactions. Calla is supervised at all times by one of her elders, who has been instructed what to do should she turn.”
Kill her? Ana wondered.
Egan added, “She’s had a hard life. If these are her last days, I want her with loved ones. Of course, it is our hope that these aren’t her last days, and that you will help find a cure for my daughter.”
“Can’t you just take my blood and let me go? I have to save my brother. There’s no way in hell that Keller would ever allow him to walk away even if he were to somehow win The Games.
“I understand, and I agree with your assessment.” Egan met Ana’s eyes. “But you must see beyond your brother. What you have, in your blood, is a gift for the world . For you to risk that for one life, even your brother’s, is incredibly selfish.”
Ana’s cheeks flushed. “And tell me, Mr. Egan, would you not do the same in my place? If it were Calla in The Games, and you held the cure in your blood, would you be so generous?”
Ana knew Egan’s answer, though the man said nothing.
“As far as I’m concerned, Adam is my world. If that makes me selfish, I’m fine with that. I never pretended to be anything other than what I am.”
“Ah, the Lovecraft streak.” The man’s words were as sour as his smile. “Always so charming.”
“I’m done here.” Ana stood. “Thank you for your hospitality and for saving us from the hunter orb. But I
Ana stood and hugged him, thankful that he was fully dressed in a long, dark shirt and pants, because as fond as she was of the man, she didn’t want to touch his decayed skin or metal chest and arms.
“How are you?” Oswald asked.
“Good.”
The doctor looked Ana over. “No further signs of the virus?”
“No. I haven’t felt anything since Hydrangea.”
“Amazing!” he said, his human skin stretching awkwardly up his face to greet alloy in a wide smile. “Please, have a seat.”
Ana sat, as did Egan opposite her. Oswald stayed on his feet, standing to her left at the end of the desk so the three of them formed a loose triangle.
“I was just telling Ana about your work,” Egan said. “Can you fill her in?”
“Sure. I’ve been continuing Dr. Goelle’s research as promised. Using your blood samples, I’ve managed to degrade the virus and temporarily arrest the effects within the host. However, I’ve not yet been able to kill the virus outright without harming the host’s blood cells, nor have I managed to replicate your reversal. But I feel close to a breakthrough. We have a few subjects in another part of The Station responding positively to my latest course of treatment, though it’s still too early to tell.”
“And is Calla one of those subjects?”
“Not exactly. I’m using a variant of the treatment Dr. Goelle prescribed for your old friend, Duncan. In other words, we’re holding the virus at bay, but there’s no telling how long these treatments will stay successful. The antidotes I’m working on are unstable, so we can’t use them to dose the child. I’m hoping with your help to further Dr. Goelle’s plans for a true cure.”
Ana turned to Egan, unable to hold her question. “Why isn’t Calla with the other subjects, away from the population?”
Egan nodded, as if expecting Ana’s question. He’d probably heard it plenty from his own people. “Because I’ll not have my daughter locked up like a dangerous animal.”
“You do realize you’re putting people at risk, don’t you?” Ana felt herself getting angry. “I watched my friend turn and it only took seconds. One moment Duncan was feeling a little off, then the next, we were dinner.”
Oswald intervened. “While I do understand your concern, Ana—especially since you yourself were quarantined—I believe this is best for the child.”
“How’s that?” she asked, incredulous.
“We believe that patients who are locked away from others degrade at a faster rate than those allowed managed interactions. Calla is supervised at all times by one of her elders, who has been instructed what to do should she turn.”
Kill her? Ana wondered.
Egan added, “She’s had a hard life. If these are her last days, I want her with loved ones. Of course, it is our hope that these aren’t her last days, and that you will help find a cure for my daughter.”
“Can’t you just take my blood and let me go? I have to save my brother. There’s no way in hell that Keller would ever allow him to walk away even if he were to somehow win The Games.
“I understand, and I agree with your assessment.” Egan met Ana’s eyes. “But you must see beyond your brother. What you have, in your blood, is a gift for the world . For you to risk that for one life, even your brother’s, is incredibly selfish.”
Ana’s cheeks flushed. “And tell me, Mr. Egan, would you not do the same in my place? If it were Calla in The Games, and you held the cure in your blood, would you be so generous?”
Ana knew Egan’s answer, though the man said nothing.
“As far as I’m concerned, Adam is my world. If that makes me selfish, I’m fine with that. I never pretended to be anything other than what I am.”
“Ah, the Lovecraft streak.” The man’s words were as sour as his smile. “Always so charming.”
“I’m done here.” Ana stood. “Thank you for your hospitality and for saving us from the hunter orb. But I
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