The New Haven Incident - Part Twenty-Six

Sebastian could hear nothing but the pounding rush of his own blood in his skull. With every pulse, he thought his head would explode. Shapes moved in vision blurred by tears he could not prevent. He was dimly aware that there were people in his vicinity. He knew they would not be safe with him here. He was a threat. It was not just the infection. That alone would be dangerous enough. But he was trained; his training making him deadlier by far than any ordinary infected man. He shuddered knowing what he could do when he was in control of himself. What would he be capable of when he wasn’t? He had shot his friend, nearly killed a child. He had to leave. It wasn’t safe with him near. He had to leave and find somewhere dark and quiet.

Forcing his body to move, despite the rapid mini-seizures that rocked him with every nauseating wave of pain, Sebastian struggled to his feet, using the wall as an aid. He paused. Weapons. He was armed. He had to get rid of the weapons.

Mendez found himself surrounded. Sakata, Lilith and Dr. Liu were at his left, tending to his wound. At his right stood Cheryl, holding Hannah close, stumbling over her words as she tearfully thanked Mendez for his intervention.

Shaking his head, Mendez muttered several meaningless phrases downplaying his involvement at all. A clattering noise broke through the multitude of murmurs. And Mendez lifted himself again.

Sebastian was on his feet, slowly, painfully drawing out weapon after weapon. He stumbled away, removing his weapons as he did, letting them drop; even his knife, which he had always protected fiercely. He stumbled a few more steps before stopping. His fist slammed hard against the wall as he doubled over, issuing a quiet grunt and bringing his free hand up to his chest. Straightening, he stepped twice more before he fell to his knees, crying out in pain.

Lilith ran to him, but he jerked away from her touch, spinning to face her. He scrambled backwards, eyes wild and unseeing.

“Stay away!” he barked. He spasmed, and his hand flew to his chest again as his face distorted into a mask of agony.

Lilith advanced, trying to help him.

Sebastian pushed her away and scrambled backwards again, before falling onto his side, breathing hard. He looked pale, sickly, his lips pulled into a grimace. A sheen of sweat beaded his forehead. Lilith stopped and stared at him. Sebastian let his gaze slide past her and his blue eyes locked onto Mendez.

“Shoot me,” he hissed, wincing.

Mendez stared from his position on the ground, Dr. Liu’s hand on his bandaged shoulder.

“I shot you,” Sebastian wheezed. “I nearly shot Hannah. You can’t —” Another spasm rocked his body. Sebastian fought to control it, returning his focus to Mendez. “You can’t let me become one of those… things. Shoot me.”

Slowly, Mendez withdrew his handgun from his holster. He lifted it to aim. Lilith turned, placing her body between her and Sebastian.

Stop! She signed. You can’t.

“Lilith,” Cheryl said, her fear for Hannah letting anger colour her tone. Lilith shook her head. She turned to her father.

Reinhert’s lab is close. He made this thing. He must have a cure. Somewhere in his notes. There must be a cure!

For a moment, Dr Liu didn’t answer, turning his mind inwards, searching his memories of the research he had managed to take from the lab. He looked up at his daughter. “There might be. But it’s a very long shot.”

We have to try. Please, father. We must try.

James nodded. He turned to Mendez. “Can you help him up?”

Relieved to not have to put a bullet in Sebastian’s skull, Mendez immediately holstered his sidearm. With help from Captain Sakata and Bosch, he got to his feet and walked over to Sebastian.

In obvious pain, Sebastian tried to pull away as Mendez bent down to retrieve one arm and sling it over his broad shoulders. “No,” Sebastian gasped. “Just kill me. Just…”

“Oh, trust me,” Mendez said. “I’m very tempted.” He winked at Sebastian, offering a grin, as he wrapped an arm around Sebastian’s back and lifted, forcing Sebastian to stand. “I’ll make a deal. You come with us to the lab, Dr. Liu works his magic. If his magic doesn’t work, I promise, I’ll put a bullet through your skull. Acceptable?”

Sebastian grunted. It was as close to uttering agreement as he was currently capable of.

“Good. Come on, then.”

With considerable help from Mendez, Sebastian walked forward. Every step brought fresh hell; his joints sent violent shooting pains through his whole body, the pounding in his head sharpened with every jolt and the stabbing pain in his chest radiated out, making it hard to breathe. Sebastian kept his eyes closed, concentrating on forcing air into his lungs.

Behind him, Dr. Liu began to gather Sebastian’s discarded weapons.

“Sebastian?” a small voice said. Sebastian opened his eyes and looked down. Hannah, having squirmed free of her aunt, stood in his path. He offered her a weak smile. The girl ran to him and threw her arms around his waist. Without thinking, Sebastian placed a comforting hand on her head.

“I’m alright,” he croaked. It was not convincing. “Just a bit sick. I’m going to go with the doctor to get better. You go with your aunt to the planes. I’ll be there soon. Okay?”

Hannah nodded, reluctantly releasing Sebastian. “Okay,” she said softly. She looked up at him with her large grey eyes. “I know it wasn’t you,” she whispered.

Sebastian’s knees gave out momentarily. Mendez grunted at the unexpected weight dropping on him, but managed not to let the agent fall. “Thank you,” Sebastian said softly to the girl. “Now go on. You can’t be late for the planes.”

Hannah turned and ran to Cheryl. Sebastian paused to collect himself before continuing on. The weight on Mendez lessened as Agent Connors forced himself to move. With one arm still around him for support, only Mendez could feel the quiver in his muscles, and hear the strain on his breath. As soon as they exited the room and the door hissed closed, Sebastian collapsed again. He cried out as the stabbing sensation in his chest struck. Unable to keep him up, Mendez dropped to one knee as Sebastian fought the infection. It did not take long before all that was left of the proof of the pain was Sebastian’s gasping, uneven breaths.

Captain Sakata watched the mercenary drag Sebastian from the room, followed by Lilith and Dr. Liu, looking grim, his arms full of weapons he had no idea how to carry. The captain shook his head, certain he would not be seeing any of them again.

He turned and looked over his unit and the survivors he was still somehow in charge of.

“Let’s try this again, shall we?” he said, sounding far more hopeful about their chances than he felt.

Shaking his head as his unit prepared to move out, Sakata cast one more look at the far door, then turned and led everyone out of the demonstration room the way they came.

Dr. Howard Reinhert stumbled as he fled down the corridors of the Cedarwood laboratories, flanked by two Dark Ones who had managed to spirit him away when the winged woman attacked. Reinhert gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath. Dr. Liu had managed to make the breakthrough on the super soldier project before he had. But Reinhert was certain his colleague had stolen his research.

No matter. Liu’s product was inferior. Nothing but a stupid, bleeding-heart little girl. Howard had the better serum, a better delivery system, and had created better soldiers. And the world would soon know it.

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