Compromised Inside: Slowpocalypse, #3

By James Litherland

Beware the Gravity Bug.

Sealed off from the crumbling civilization outside, the residents of the FURC may be safe from external threats, but their isolation only speeds the spread of a dangerous new infection, even as an upcoming election exposes divisions among them. And the fourteen square mile compound may not be big enough to prevent the pressure from building into violent upheaval…

The series continues with Book 4: Peripheral Encounters, Book 5: Political Homicide, and Book 6: Seismic Disruption.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outpost Stories
• Release date: Jan 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507015957

James Litherland

James Litherland is a graduate of the University of South Florida who currently resides as a Virtual Hermit in the wilds of West Tennessee. He’s lived various places and done a number of jobs – he’s been an office worker and done hard manual labor, worked (briefly) in the retail and service sectors, and he’s been an instructor. But through all that, he’s always been a writer. And after over thirty years of studying and practicing his craft, he took the plunge and published independently. He is a Christian who tries to walk the walk (and not talk much.)

Book preview

The Slowpocalypse

As much as everybody enjoys these dramatized accounts of the personal struggles of people surviving through this particular period of history—and rest assured the details are based on first-hand reports and as accurate as possible—many readers ask for more information about the larger events that were occurring. You particularly want to know how it all started.

Of course the records are spotty, and there is a great deal of argument over why such an advanced civilization collapsed and when the fall began. And with so many factors involved, how can you specify  a single cause? Some blame the breaking of the internet and others the failure of the global economy, while still others cite the spate of natural and man-made disasters and the totally inadequate responses to those crises, particularly the pandemics. And many blame the gradual erosion of law and order.

My opinion (for what it’s worth) is that if there was one precipitating event, it would have to be The Election. The race to replace the extremely unpopular incumbent President of the United States was so close, and the results so bitterly contested, with the accusations of fraud on both sides so unfortunately credible, that the wrangling went on (and on) interminably. With the amendment establishing a popular vote having abolished the Electoral College, the Supreme Court ruled Congress’ effort to choose the winner unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, the previous President remained in the White House without any apparent legal authority to do so, and the Joint Chiefs decided to run the military themselves until it was all sorted out. And as you know, it never was, and a new election never held.

It was in these circumstances that the governor of Florida, claiming victory but thwarted in his ambition to become the President of the United States, pressured the state legislature to vote him emergency powers and to secede from the union. Governor Roberts was definitely desperate (and likely a little insane.) His attempt to appropriate all the federal facilities in the state was what prompted FURC Director Jonathan Miles to seal the compound in central Florida.

That was the beginning of a chain of events, and we all know where it led. Surely it’s why we want to read these old stories.

Professor John

(writing in the 108th year of The United Array)

Returning Characters

(in order of appearance)

VERITY BELUE—deputy director of the FURC, she knows how to keep a secret and keeps a lot of them.

JONATHAN MILES—director of the FURC and the one responsible for the mess they’re all in.

KATHERINE (KAT) MILES—a former security officer recently promoted to lieutenant and second-in-command of the Guards. Do not mess with her.

LACEY PETROVICH—a former mercenary who was hired to infiltrate the FURC. She got caught.

DAVID BELUE—a newly made officer in FURC Security, he’s the son of the deputy director. Thinks a lot and rather keen.

SARA KING—an officer trainee who wants to be like Kat, which could be dangerous.

PAUL MACKLIN—level-headed physics major and an officer in FURC Security.

LISA COURDRAY—a senior officer in FURC Security and former homicide detective.

GRACE CAMERON—eldest daughter of the chief of the Guards, she wants to join Security.

MICHELLE MORI—a security officer and graduate medical student, she’s also a de facto criminologist.

BOB KIRKLAND—a former sheriff who’s now a senior officer in FURC Security.

ANTHONY NELSON—Chief of Security and an old friend of Director Miles. He started training Katherine when she was just a girl. Now he doesn’t know what to do about the woman she’s become.

AMITA HARKER—FURC clinic doctor and epidemiologist. Thorough, and focused on her work?

CAROLINE SANDERSON—an experienced actress, Kat’s mother, and a popular personality in the FURC community. She may appear to be a diva, but there’s more to her than meets the eye.

ALICE KITTNER—the FURC’s academic dean and an original member of the Community Council.

JEFFREY MINCHIN—a successful landscaper with multiple college degrees.

SUSAN WELLMAN—officer in FURC Security and a no-nonsense business major.

MICHAEL SALAZAR—a senior officer in FURC Security. Results oriented and rule bending.

BEN LASKEY—boy genius and officer in FURC Security, responsible for protecting the FURCSnet.

Prologue

Human Experiments

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Approaching the FURC Director’s office

9:15 p.m. Saturday, May 10th

VERITY LED DR. Cummings through the brightly lit and deserted offices on the fifth floor of the Administration building, thinking he didn’t look like a mad scientist or a monster. Glancing at him again as she circled around the square of desks her assistant Toby had pushed together for a workstation, she considered him moderately handsome—a solidly built, nicely dressed, middle-aged man whose appearance suggested a former jock who’d gone on to prosper in some professional capacity. Of course, he was all of that as well. Judging by his frown, he was also quite annoyed.

What’s the problem, Doctor?

She caught him grimacing at her back before he spoke. Is all this secrecy really necessary? If Director Miles wanted to speak with me face to face—and I’m not convinced that’s necessary either—we could have done this over our FURCS pads. Why should I have to sneak into his office at night?

Verity shook her head. The FURCSnet isn’t as secure as its name implies, and this isn’t a conversation Miles wanted anyone else to find out about. As for the clandestine nature of the meeting, I would’ve thought you would be accustomed to it, considering who you used to work for.

Dr. Cummings snorted softly. "I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. The CDC did not go in for all this cloak and dagger stuff."

She stopped and turned to stare. I’m not talking about the CDC.

He frowned at her before replying. You’re not supposed to know about the other work I’ve done.

I know a lot of things I’m not supposed to.

With that she turned and walked to Jon’s office, where the heavy oak door was engraved with the inscription—FURC Director Jonathan Miles. Turning the knob, Verity opened the door and held it open as she announced their visitor. An unwelcome one, in her opinion, but Jon was in charge and had made up his mind. They wouldn’t be dealing with this man if she were making the decisions. But she wasn’t.

Seated behind his desk, Jon looked up at them, his eyes hidden by the glare of the light on his glasses, as she followed Dr. Cummings into the office and closed the door behind her. The man turned, frowning at her again as he saw she was staying. He clearly didn’t like it, but Verity didn’t care.

Given his first words, Jon must have been sensitive to the atmosphere between them. Ms. Belue is fully informed on every detail of the work you have been doing for me, Doctor. Feel free to talk in front of her without reservation. Sending the message it would be useless to ask her to leave the room.

Dr. Cummings turned his frown on Jon. Every detail?

Verity kept her expression blank—he might feel free to show his dislike of her, but she wasn’t about to reveal her feelings for him—but she answered the question herself. "Every detail of your work. Was the man paying her enough attention to understand she meant that literally? She turned to Jon. Since you requested this conference with Dr. Cummings—and since you’re both quite busy men—shouldn’t we get down to business?"

The doctor hadn’t even glanced at her while she was talking, but he nodded at Jon as soon as she finished speaking. I presume that you asked to meet like this because you understood the gist of my most recent report.

Having read everything the man had sent, Verity knew he could be careful in his communications over the FURCSnet, despite his earlier comments to her. Even now he was watching his words with Jon because she was present, though they had just made the situation clear. Jon lifted a corner of his mouth to let her know he was amused.

Once again she answered for him. You’ve gone as far as possible in the laboratory. Now you want to begin testing your ‘cure’ on human subjects. I presume on people who’ve already been infected?

She had kept her tone carefully neutral, but the man’s discomfort was apparent. Jon saw it too, and gestured at the pair of chairs sitting before his desk. Please sit and relax, Doctor. This may take a bit.

Dr. Cummings shook his head. I’ll stand if it’s alright with you. As soon as we’ve settled whatever we need to, how I’m going to continue my work, I’ll want to get back to it.

As you like. Jon leaned forward, propping his elbows on the top of his desk and folding his hands under his chin. He peered through his glasses at the doctor. We want to see how well this cure works. If it works. Of course that will require testing on people who’ve already been infected. And it will have to be done without alarming the public.

Verity nodded. Since the symptoms of infection were so slow to show, and the transmission rate was so low, nobody had yet realized there was a dangerous contagion loose in the community. But eventually it would become obvious. First there would be the evident effects as people were progressively poisoned by the pathogen. Then the deaths. In the end it was always fatal—one way or another. The number of cases was growing, and they had to find a way to treat the victims soon. But they shouldn’t have to rely on Jon’s pet mad scientist.

Dr. Cummings glanced over at one of the chairs as if he was reconsidering, but he didn’t sit. I agree that the fewer people who know about this, the better. I’ll want to do a controlled study to be confident of the results. But how can you keep human clinical trials a secret?

Verity smiled, even though he wasn’t looking at her. Doctor, surely you’re aware how simple secrecy can be when you have the cooperation of the administration? I can arrange for a sister to give select people a ‘vitamin shot’ that contains your beta vaccine. Not that the nurse would know what she was doing. "Then I’ll make sure they are admitted to the clinic for observation—there you will have the controlled environment you require."

As long as I have real-time access to all the data from the subjects, that should be sufficient. At least for my purposes. Can you arrange that?

"Yes. And how many subjects will you need?"

Dr. Cummings continued to look at Jon. I will want at least ten people who have been infected, but I’ll also want the same number of uninfected, to be a control group. But how do you propose to get them admitted to the clinic? The treatment exposes subjects to a mild strain of the flu, but those symptoms won’t show up for a day or two.

Jon nodded. Then we’ll just have to make sure those symptoms show up sooner, won’t we, Doctor? Surely there’s some way to do that.

The man nodded reluctantly. I suppose adding a compound such as LDN that creates flu-like symptoms would do what you suggest.

"As long as we can convince the sisters that they are dealing with the flu. Would the compound show up on a lab test?"

Only if they’re looking for it. But if the patients are exhibiting flu-like symptoms and the cultures of their sputum specimens or blood samples show the influenza virus—which they will—who will look any further?

The doctor sounded confident of that, but Verity knew Dr. Harker to be a thorough professional—it was that tenacity Verity would have to rely on. But her question for Dr. Cummings was different. You want uninfected persons to test your vaccine on, but what are the potential side effects, and how dangerous might this be to them?

Dr. Cummings nodded. Part of the reason for this trial is to see if there are any other negative side effects besides a bout of the flu. There have been no indications of such in the laboratory tests, but this is the only way to be sure.

And do you also intend to infect those subjects after they’ve received your vaccine, to see how effective it is?

He looked uncomfortable. I hesitate to go that far. It should be done, but let’s hope we see results from those who’ve already been infected that would make such a step unnecessary. But since everybody will eventually catch the bug as it is... He stared at Jon. It’s your decision what we end up doing.

Verity squinted. The man was passing the buck to the director to avoid making the hard choice. She didn’t like any of this, but she was prepared to make whatever difficult decisions had to be made. Only a small percentage of the population has already been tested, but I can select subjects from those, since we know which of them are and aren’t infected.

They had lists. A list of those who’d tested clean and a list of those who had tested positive for the infection. The latter included her own son David, who she would make sure was one of those receiving this experimental cure, as well as the director’s daughter Katherine. Surely Jon would want her to be included too.

Neither David nor Katherine had shown symptoms yet, but without treatment they would eventually face a slow death—eventually everybody would. So Verity wasn’t worried about any side effects. Her son had good genes and could fight the flu, and anything else was still better than the alternative.

She glanced at Jon. One criterion for choosing at least some of the people for this trial—they ought to be in critical positions. Guards and security officers, so we can suggest the possibility of foul play, to make it easier to get them all admitted to the clinic swiftly.

She could tell by the look in his eye that he had understood her hint, but he shook his head at her—he was not so sure of this cure that he was willing to have it tested on his daughter. She returned to the doctor. You’re aware the second floor of the medical building has twenty-five beds? It was meant for research purposes, but it’s only been utilized once. And not for research. Wouldn’t it be better to have your test subjects isolated from the other clinic patients?

Dr. Cummings actually looked at her then, and with something other than a frown. That would be ideal. We don’t want it spreading until we’ve found out if this treatment actually works.

If it does, then we can hope to inoculate everyone, to keep them from falling prey to the infection in the first place. They might never have to publicize this whole sordid business.

The vaccine might require further refinement, Ms. Belue, after we see the results of this trial.

Now he was trying to keep her expectations low. Let me see to setting everything up. She’d have to be very careful in arranging a myriad of details, and subtle too, if she was going to keep people from getting suspicious. But this was the kind of project she excelled at. I believe all I’ll need from you, Doctor, is vials of your vaccine with this added compound to create flu-like symptoms. It will take several days to prepare everything, but rest assured I’ll set it up so you can monitor the patients’ data from a distance, without exposing your involvement or revealing the nature of the experiment.

Jon interrupted her. One thing I’m going to insist on. If we’re going to test this on people who are otherwise healthy, I should be one of those subjects who receive the vaccine.

Verity’s face froze. She hadn’t expected him to volunteer himself. But, sir. It will only be a matter days before Dr. Cummings can begin his trial—that could be an awkward time for you to be indisposed.

With his face buried in his test tubes, she wondered how much the doctor was aware of what was happening in the larger community. The newly expanded council was still finding their feet, and election day was less than three weeks away. And then there was that revelation they were dreading, which would be getting out soon. They wouldn’t be able to keep the secret, that secret, much longer.

She stared at her boss. You have rather a lot to deal with right now, and bad news might break any minute.

He grinned at her. Then now would be the perfect time for me to be out of the public eye. I’m sure you can arrange it to work out that way. And you’re always taking my place at the council meetings.

Meaning he wanted her to leak the news and be the one who had to deal with the fallout while he relaxed in a hospital bed sipping orange juice, leaving the entire mess in her hands.

She nodded. I expect no one will find me as intimidating as they do you. Meaning they’d underestimate her. And as they’re working these things out, it would help not to have you underfoot. If he was going to give her this responsibility, she’d show Jon she didn’t need him hanging around.

Of course this opportunity would come to her at the worst possible time.

Chapter 1

Getting Out

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Patrolling the buffer zone

7:35 a.m. Monday, May 19th

KAT KEPT HER mind empty of every thought except movement as she skipped her way along the buffer zone between the perimeter wall and the chain-link security fence. The Belue kid had painstakingly recorded the precise placement of every motion detector planted in the ground, and she’d memorized the blueprint. Now she flitted across the grass, carefully avoiding every sensor.

Her subconscious threw up things one after another, trying to distract her, but she kept her focus and ignored them all. She’d have time enough later to consider the issues she was confronting. For now she trained.

Hopefully no one was watching her on the security cameras, especially Chief Cameron, who tended to get to work early—he might think she was swinging around carelessly the expensive, finely calibrated rifle he’d given her. In truth it barely moved. Kat carried the gun steadily forward and danced around it.

Tony had insisted that she needed to take more time to recuperate from her recent ordeals, dodging the question of giving her more advanced training—but he was just using that as an excuse to avoid her. She’d gone back to training as soon as she was able, pushing herself harder than ever. If Tony wouldn’t help her, she’d do it on her own. At least Chief Cameron had been working with her on her marksmanship skills.

She shoved all thoughts of Tony out of her head, clearing her mind and focusing only on the physical. A chill breeze blew through, and she was zipping up her jacket automatically as she moved. Like everyone else, she was waiting and hoping for spring, but so far it had failed to come, and she had to wonder if it would be another year without a summer. Going through one of those had been more than enough—she’d experienced two already in her lifetime.

She let the memories and speculation float past her mind without taking hold of them. At least this cold, crisp air would help keep her awake. In addition to patrolling all night, Kat had done Carruthers’ duties—since the sergeant was out with the flu. And MacTierney had spent the day orienting at Security before working his swing shift, so she hadn’t felt she could ask him to continue until morning. Sgt. Rose had a wife and family he needed to spend time with. So it had fallen to her.

She’d been second-in-command of the Guards a few months now—it was a position she hadn’t wanted, and she was still learning to make those kinds of executive decisions. As that was another thing she’d rather not think about, she turned her mind back to training. Imagining invisible opponents all around, she practiced taking them out one by one while she spun—without killing a single imaginary adversary. Better the dream than the nightmare.

In the midst of this moving meditation, distant shouting intruded into Kat’s consciousness, cries of alarm from real people. At once she abandoned her workout and ran toward the noise, making sure she hit a motion detector with each sprinting step, alerting someone back at HQ. Hopefully.

She rounded the southeast section of the perimeter wall and slowed unconsciously as she witnessed what was happening near the main gate. Somebody she could not make out at that distance had climbed one of the stairs up the inside wall and was trying to haul themselves over the spikes on top. Whoever it was, they were apparently attempting to escape the compound.

Setting aside her speculation about why anyone would want to break out, she slowed and dropped to one knee, then lifted her rifle to use the scope to see what was actually going on. Aligning her sights, she saw the man dropping to the ground inside the buffer zone. She didn’t recognize him, but for a moment it looked like the fall had injured him so he wouldn’t be able to get up again. Then he was up and running across the grass.

The guards at the gate were under strict orders. They wouldn’t fire on anyone without a direct command from a superior, unless it was in self-defense. And this certainly didn’t qualify. Besides, their job was to keep people from getting in, not to try to stop anybody getting out. So Kat couldn’t imagine they’d do anything other than