The Flu 2: Healing (30 page)

“If I have to, yes.” Ace nodded. ‘How do we know what’s out there, on the other side of our borders? Outside our country? We don’t.”

“I can almost assure you, it isn’t people waiting to start a war or kill us. Not now and not for a long time. My God, an influenza pandemic has decimated our world. Billions are dead. Our country,
this
country, is struggling to hold on to what life remains, and you want to possibly use a weapon that can kill off what remains of this country or a good part of it.”

“No, Lars. I don’t want to use the weapon to kill off this country,” Ace said. “I want to use the weapon to control it.” He walked to the door and opened it. “Let’s go.”

“You’re insane. Completely and utterly insane.”

“Actually, I think I’m pretty smart.” Ace motioned his hand for Lars to walk out. “I mean, it takes smart man to think of this as a means to get what he wants.”

“No it doesn’t. It takes a cold blooded killer to even conceive the idea.” Lars walked past him.

* * *

Damon, NY

They made it back faster than they took to get there, but once they got to the hospital and settled into the quarantine area near the Ebola patients, time dragged.

It seemed as if it took hours, when actually it was only a little over one.

Mick sat in the hall, his elbows to his knees, face buried in his hands. All he could think about were his boys. He thought for the longest time about their lives and how it was possible he would never see them grow up. He was angry; it was never his intention to cause them any more pain. All he wanted to do was ensure they had a future, one without the threat of a deadly virus wiping them out again. At least one controlled by man.

Briggs showed up shortly after Doc had drawn Mick’s blood. At first he bolted down the hall with childlike enthusiasm, sputtering off about how Lars gave them vital information on how to infiltrate the camp. He was proud of how easily he deciphered the message. And then Briggs finally noticed where they were and put two and two together.

They talked the entire time they waited on Doc.

“And you’re sure?” Briggs asked.

“Positive. We need to infiltrate that camp, with minimal loss of life to civilians, take out his entourage and get that germ. Top priority. That’s what needs to be done and I know my part.”

“But—”

“No buts. If you were me, what would you do?”

“I don’t know, Mick. I don’t know if I’d give up hope.”

“With this thing? Is there any hope?” Mick asked. “No. I don’t want my boys to know if I’m sick, I don’t want them to even think I’m sick.”

“But you never know what can happen. You don’t. Look, we had people who should have died of the flu, they didn’t. Miracles happen.”

Mick chuckled. “Why does that sound so odd coming from you?”

“You don’t know me,” Briggs said. “Get to know me. You’ll see. Rethink—”

“No.” Mick grunted and stood. “God. This wasn’t supposed to happen. None of this. Why didn’t I just listen and stay home with the boys? Why did I decide to take this stupid road trip?”

“To save them. To save your town.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe it was psychic. Maybe it was fate. God’s intervention. Who knows? But had you not taken the road trip, you would have not known what was out here. How do you know Lodi isn’t supposed to be the recipient of the missing virus? You could have been sitting ducks and anything could have happened to your town. Why? Because you believed that all was good in the world, you never would have seen the bad coming.”

“You’re reaching.”

“I’m trying to be reasonable,” Briggs said. “And we still don’t know.”

At that second the door opened and Doc stepped out looking tired and worn. His face was drawn.

As soon as Mick saw him, he knew. He exhaled and closed his eyes.

“I t-took a while,” Doc stuttered, “because I had to incinerate the …” He cleared his throat. “Mick … Mick, I’m sorry.”

An ache seeped from Mick and he dropped to the chair.

Briggs asked. “And you Doc?”

“I’m good. It’s only strong in Mick’s blood.”

“Double check,” Briggs instructed.

“I did.”

“Then check again.”

Mick stood. “No. We knew. We both did. It was Doc we were unsure of. Briggs, I was exposed. I was cut and I stood inches from the broken vial. I knew.” He slowly turned and began to walk.

“Mick?” Briggs called. “Where are you going?”

“The way I see it, I have three days tops until I am sick. Two days until I’m contagious. I’m not gonna gamble. Mick dropped his voice to near whisper. “So I don’t want to take a chance on infecting my sons. That means I have just a little bit of time left with them. Make the plans for tomorrow, Briggs. Tonight … tonight I just want to hold my kids. I’m gonna absorb every moment left that I can.” Again he turned, only this time, Mick didn’t look back. He kept walking, strong and tall even though, emotionally, he was torn up inside.

* * *

“Our scouts told us that the first blockade is set up on 90 just before Wattsburg Road,” Briggs said, pointing to a map as he stood that night with twenty men in the room. “You gentlemen will be in charge of your own squad and we are storming this town, but we have to do so with caution. 90 is the first blockade. I believe that is what Dr. Rayburn is calling the left lumbar region. The right lumbar region, I am placing here at the 79 and 80 interchange. Sgt. Nelson will handle that, along with the right hypochondria areas.” He saw Jon raise his hand. “Yes, Jon?”

“The iliac regions and hypogastria regions? Are we joining forces with Nelson?”

“Negative,” Briggs said. “Sgt. Hems will take out five squads at first light and plan a southern trip coming up fifteen miles to meet those regions. Our entrance is here.” He pointed west of Erie. “This is what I believe to be the tight left hypochondria. Three quarters of a mile is McDonald’s, that’s where Mrs. Owens and Dr. Rayburn are. That’s where I believe the bulk of the troops are. This main center of town, north, has to be the vital organs. I’ll move with my men to the lower left lumbar region. Mick Owens and an elite squad will infiltrate the left hypochondria taking out the men there. Mick will enter the camp, radio us when he is in and unseen, and then we synchronize an attack, unless of course there is trouble.”

Jon nodded. “Wait — if Mick is that vital, where is he?”

Briggs lowered his head. “He knows what he needs to do. And I believe he has a more important place to be right now.” He exhaled and returned to the map, but Mick and the boys were never far from his mind.

* * *

Mick stood in the door of the room, watching the boys. They didn’t even know he was there. Chris argued with Tigger over a game, so reminiscent of the arguments Chris used to have with Dustin.

“
Are not,” Chris said to Dustin.

“
Are too.”

“
Are not.”

“
What the heck is wrong with you?” Dustin asked. “They aren’t gonna do something like that.”

“
Are too. Gonna build a super highway right on top of Lodi, and we’re gonna be able to look up and see it. Cars will be going by all hours of the day and night.”

“
Are not. Mick’s the chief of police; he would never let them do that to our town. He would sign a petition, he would fight it. He wouldn’t let them build a highway over Lodi.” Dustin paused. “Or would you, Mick?”

“
No.” Mick grumbled. “And it’s bullshit. Where did you hear this from?”

Both boys at that second pointed to Dylan.

“
That’s what I heard,” their mom said. “All the talk down at Connie’s beauty shop.”

“
Well, keep the talk at the shop and don’t get these boys started. It’ll get them started on their back and forth and it drives me nuts.”

What Mick wouldn’t give for one more moment of Chris and Dustin fighting, Dylan being the catalyst, and Dustin standing up for Mick then tearing him down. All that was gone and life was far from done changing for Chris.

* * *

“Mick’s back!” Tigger exclaimed.

“Hey, Mick!” Chris rushed to him. “Did you get the germ? Are we good now?”

Mick sniffed.

“Oh, no, you didn’t,” Chris said.

“No, no we got it. We’re good.” Mick winked.

“We waited up for you to eat,” Chris informed him. “I made sliced beef in a can. Not that your eggs weren’t all that good, they were, you know, but I wanted sliced beef in a can.”

Tigger argued. “Maybe Mick hates sliced beef in a can.”

“Oh, Mick eats everything. He don’t hate sliced beef in a can. Do you, Mick?”

Mick’s heart thumped in his chest so hard he swore he heard it. “I eat everything.”

“You okay, Mick?” Chris asked.

“I’m just tired from the trip and want to spend some time with you guys before tomorrow.”

“That the big day?” Chris asked, enthused. “Are you gonna go get your mom?”

“I am.” Mick nodded, then exhaled. “Let’s eat, I’m hungry.”

Chris jumped excitedly. “You’re gonna eat my cooking now. Hope you don’t get sick. Come on, it’s in the cafeteria.” He grabbed Tigger’s hand and they ran by Mick.

Hope you don’t get sick.
Chris’ words echoed in Mick’s thoughts. His entire being sank but he had to keep his spirits up, he didn’t want anything to distract from every second he had left with the boys.

Mick planned on taking in every second, holding them, appreciating them and making just one more memory.

This night was the last night Mick would have with his sons and the last night, unknowingly, they would have with him.

He was going to make the best of it.

Mick’s Last Letter

Chris and Tigger:

It’s a difficult task. Many soldiers and men and women who have sacrificed for our country have written a letter like this. This is by far the hardest letter I will ever write. It is my hope that you never have to read this. But if you do, if you get this letter, then I am no longer with you. It breaks my heart to even think about never seeing you two grow up, be men, fall in love, have children. My entire life has been spent loving you with every breath of life I take.

All I ever wanted to was to be there for you. I will always be there, watching, but not the way I want, you want or any of us need. It is the best I can do.

I am so very proud of you both. The greatest gift was the day each of you were born. My flesh and blood or not, you boys, all three of you, never will be less than my own sons.

My life has been complete. Please know that everything I have done, especially the past few months, has been for you boys. I did it without regrets.

It kills me to know that you will feel any more pain. It was not my intention, because God knows you boys have had enough pain for a lifetime.

You deserve a good life. A safe life, and one that is open to many opportunities. The world has changed since the days when I changed your diapers, took you to school, talked about space travel and wrestling. The days of dreaming of great things are not over, they are just different. Remember that.

Both of you boys are destined for greatness. You are remarkable young men and I know the path you choose will be good and honorable. You have it in your hearts to make this world what it needs to be, make it a better place.

This world is a new place and has changed. Please promise me it will not change you.

With all of my heart I love you. I love you more than I could write on this paper.

Be strong. Be brave. Live life for every single second. It’s too short.

Again, I am proud and I love you.

Mick

18. Final Battle

October 19th

Damon, NY

Forty men left at dawn. Two hundred and ten lined the streets of Damon. Every vehicle was utilized. They were determined to defeat the rebels and exterminate the threat of the virus.

Even Doc was suited up to go, he had to. They didn’t doubt that there would be injuries. They expected them. The midnight scouts estimated over a hundred rebel soldiers. The plan was simple. Outnumber them, outgun them, and outsmart them with minimal casualties. Take prisoners if need be. Life was too scarce to lose any more. There was only one life that wasn’t sacred and that was the life of Shane ‘Ace’ Drummond. For him there was no mercy, but that mercy had to be given if Mick didn’t locate the virus.