Mister 85 Percent

By Scott Anderson

Nick DiBenedetto would be altered along with hundreds of thousands of men from the Los Angeles area. Literally overnight, he would be changed to a more workable form that would be able to survive in a harsh environment.

Altered at 85 percent of his former human self, he and those redesigned at 50 percent, would work the mines for the Colar State. His body was now more resilient, though alien encounters would forever educate the man in ways that were both unexpected and dangerous.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781387590933

Scott Anderson

Scott Anderson is a veteran war correspondent who has reported from Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Northern Ireland, Chechnya, Sudan, Bosnia, El Salvador and many other war-torn countries. His previous book, Lawrence in Arabia, was a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, and was shortlisted for the US National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography.

Book preview

Mister 85 Percent

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

© 2022 by Scott C. Anderson. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-387-59093-3

Los Angeles – A Simple Life

The fourteen-story residential condominium known as The Tides sat within the City of Huntington Beach in California.  Completed in 1994, the tower contained 80 residential units and appeared as a brilliant white resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  The property was in excellent condition and currently held a 90-percent occupancy rate. 

At the street level, the expansive garage offered two reserved parking spaces for each unit.  Eighteen additional visitor parking slots were available near the lobby entrance on the ground floor.  The garage offered one subterranean level and one additional parking deck that took up most of the second floor. 

The two parking decks above ground were open but protected by ornamental iron bars.  Fresh air flowed through the garage and offered security within an open setting.  The three penthouse units were each assigned an enclosed two-car garage.

Nick DiBenedetto and his wife Mattie were both 32 years old and had been married for eleven years.  The couple purchased unit number 906 as a fixer upper.  The plan was to eventually flip the nineth-floor condo for a profit. 

The planned renovation was a simple one.  Unfortunately, as work was about to finish, the housing market hit a slump.  Mattie and Nick were stuck with a property that they owned outright and found affordable, but could not sell for a profit.

After several months of renovations, the couple, along with their son and daughter, found the tower to be a good starter home.  Located near the Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean, the residence was clean and the Home Owner’s Association (HOA) was both well-run and solvent.

Mattie would work part-time from home and remained available to their two children.  Their daughter had just turned 8 and their son was 9.  For the past ten years Nick had been working as a successful salesman with Collo-Bonae in Pasadena, California.  The pharmaceutical corporation supplied a variety of drugs and supplies to hospitals, pharmacies, and selected physicians.  Nick worked in the field and enjoyed his nomadic relationship with his many customers.

Nick found his success rising, and felt that they could afford what he considered to be a high HOA for the tower.  All things considered; the couple continued to live below their means.

Nick saw Mattie as his best friend and never used the term wife to describe her within their marriage.  In many ways, Mattie felt the same way.  Nick had pushed to buy the condo due to the ninth-floor location that faced the city, and the balcony with a peek-a-boo view of the ocean.  For the most part the restoration and upgrades were almost complete. 

Mattie had painted each room herself and picked out most of the furniture.  The couch in the den had been hijacked by Nick, and would be his one place in the house to take a quick nap.  For all the fluctuations with the housing market, Mattie and Nick were comfortable with their situation.

From a far-off world and a completely alien culture, an unmanned probe tracked through the deepness of the never-ending starfield.  The mission, the target, would be the blue-water planet within the Earth Solar System.  Passing the single moon of the third planet, the unmanned alien delivery system slowed as it entered the upper atmosphere of Earth.  Scanning was active as the probe fell into a slow orbit.

The unmanned vessel, similar in size to a railroad car, targeted the first and brightest city it encountered.  Designed to scan and detect a random large metropolitan area during the hours of darkness, the target city was also located near a body of water.

Had it not been for the city lights competing with the stars, it was entirely possible to look up from within the City of Los Angeles, located within Los Angeles County, and actually see the dim light of the heavens.  Safe and locked in orbit, the alien delivery system would deploy a detachable unit for a more accurate atmospheric penetration.

On a very-hot Friday night in August, the cloaked and unidentified object in the sky had lowered to circle the Los Angeles area.  If visible, this type of phenomenon would not have attracted much attention, as shooting stars were common.  But in this case, the object in the sky would alter course and then follow a circular pattern over the limits of the county.

On that very hot Friday evening, Nick fell asleep on his couch and slept through the night.  Mattie knew, as this had happened before, that he would eventually wake up and then come to bed.  Nick was off work for the weekend, so Mattie found this minor offense easy to overlook.

On Saturday morning, Mattie discovered that she was unable to wake Nick, and decided to allow the man to sleep in.  She had the kids to feed and, as this was the summer, Cali, 8, and Titus, 9, were out of school.

Then on Saturday afternoon and again in the early evening, Mattie found that she couldn’t wake Nick.  She checked, and found that the mans’ breathing was steady and his vitals appeared strong.  This was unusual, even for Nick, but Mattie decided to wait.

Calming her nerves, she sat on the couch and scrolled through her phone.  There were social media reports from friends and family throughout Los Angeles that sounded familiar.  It appeared that people had fallen asleep and were unable to wake up.  Darkness began to creep through the condo, as Mattie had been engrossed with the news on her phone and on television.

She glanced towards the living room and saw Titus and Cali staring at her through the darkness.  Frightened for the moment, she asked Titus to turn on the lights.

Okay mother.  Titus said the words as if something was going on that he and his sister weren’t supposed to know.  Mattie spoke in a tone that meant that she would explain herself in due time.  Mattie once again checked on the slumbering Nick.

Slightly concerned, Mattie called her parents in Woodland Hills, California.  Her father was in his mid-sixties and had never remembered sleeping that long in his life.  Her mother also couldn’t remember anyone sleeping that long, at least not without drinking, which caused good-natured laughter between the two women.  As nothing serious appeared to be happening, Mattie decided to continue to wait.

On Sunday afternoon Mattie became worried.  She then spoke to several of her neighbors.  Two of her neighbors were going through the same thing, or, at least their husbands were.  Mattie also found that the concierge or caretaker for the building, a young man named Tanner, had missed his shift because he was going through the same situation at his home.

On Monday morning, Mattie couldn’t sleep.  She also couldn’t wake Nick.  Pacing and pausing, she called the paramedics. 

The 911 Dispatcher told Mattie that there had been a flood of calls regarding men who had been asleep since Friday night or early Saturday morning.  Of the several hundred calls to date, none of the men appeared to be in distress, but they also would not wake.  The dispatcher, an older woman whose name Mattie couldn’t remember, told her to remain calm and to call his doctor. 

Mattie found this to be good advice.  She hung up on the 911 operator and then called Doctor Nasr, Nick’s assigned physician.  The receptionist reported that they had also been inundated with calls, and that Dr. Nasr was presently unavailable.  Mattie was told that Nick would be put on a waiting list.  Either the doctor or a Physician’s Assistant would return her call as soon as possible.

Mattie had always been supportive and felt that she had had a good life with Nick, but she now had to face a decision.  She simply didn’t know what to do, but she also felt that she had to do something.

One thing Mattie did find was that Snooper, their young black Manx kitten, would routinely sleep with Nick on the pillow next to his head.  After the second day of sleeping, Snooper would no longer appear to trust Nick.  Snooper was the first to see that the change was almost complete.

Monday was pure hell for Mattie.  Tuesday night came with no real explanations or cure, though Mattie checked his pulse and breathing.  A little more tired than usual, Mattie slept in her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

On Wednesday morning at 4:30 a.m., Nick could hear the alarm from his clock radio located in the bedroom.  The man woke from a restful sleep, but felt nothing more than a few aches and pains.

At first, Nick didn’t understand why he had slept on the couch, even though it was comfortable.  He heard Mattie snoring in the bedroom and walked in to silence the alarm.

Nick pressed the snooze button and then the off switch for the alarm.  Mattie screamed.

What’s the matter?  Nick didn’t know what was wrong.

Mattie blurted, Look at yourself! 

For the first time that morning, Nick found a mirror and looked at his image.  As a Caucasian, Nick wasn’t as white as some of his relatives, but the man in the mirror was a light shade of brown.  He stepped closer.  He touched his face and noticed that his skin felt as thick as leather.  He also noticed that the white in his eyes were now a light shade of yellow.  He then reached up to feel his face and neck.  Other than the feel of his skin, there were very-light streaks of white, red, and black down his neck.  Calm but concerned, he then felt his hands and bare chest.

Nick knew how to keep in shape and regularly trained at the gym.  Understandably, the man also knew how his body moved and felt.  His skin had a tougher and more leather-like feel.  Taking a full deep breath, he seemed to breathe deeper and felt better, as though the few aches and pains in the morning were completely gone.

The kids heard their mother scream and ran to the bedroom.  They looked at their mother, who was okay, and then looked to their father.  The man was different.  Both children froze, but weren’t completely afraid.

Nick stated out loud, No.  Not that.  Not them.  The husband and father did not explain the statement, but looked at the two kids in a new way.

Cali was the first to run, followed by Titus.  Mattie ran from the bedroom and after her children.

Nick’s emotions were now different, in that he didn’t chase or follow after Mattie.  Nick looked out the bedroom window and into the early morning dawn of the Huntington Beach neighborhood he knew so well. 

Nick found that he could focus on details easier and saw a new clarity within his vision.  This was new and different, and he took a long deep breath that seemed to calm his nerves.  Nick then took another deep breath, because the first felt so good.

Looking out the window and down to the street, a man was chasing a woman.  This seemed unusual but the terrified woman appeared to be running for her life.  Nick felt odd for multiple reasons.  He wasn’t alarmed at the running woman, plus he could see down to the street level with little to no effort.  Also, cars were driving by, but at a seemingly faster rate.  None of this captured his full attention.

Nick didn’t feel the need to check on the condition of his children and waited for Mattie.  She returned alone and closed the bedroom door behind her.

How do you feel?  Mattie appeared both forceful and frightened.

New.  Different.  I’m not sure yet.  Nick was being honest, which seemed to come through his speech as accurate.

I want you to see the doctor.  Doctor Nasr.  Before you do anything.

Day 1

Nick rode the elevator down to the lobby and was about to turn right to enter the parking garage.  Nick’s hearing was more acute and he stopped in the lobby to look outside.  Glass doors led to a short concrete stairway and to a handicap ramp to the street.

Two women were fighting with a man on the sidewalk.  The wild-eyed man appeared to have been changed, and he seemed intent on biting the closest woman.  Tanner, the young man who worked as the caretaker for the building, was holding the man back.  The ugly and altered madman had grabbed the one woman’s leg and was attempting to bite into her.

The two women had been out for a jog and must have run into the crazy man, who was attempting to harass and chew on the two women.

Nick appeared to want to help and heard Tanner loudly state, NO!

The crazy man held tight to the woman’s foot and lower leg, and paused for a moment, but wouldn’t let go.  Tanner lowered to the ground and then got behind the man while changing his grip.  With a swift and sudden move, he pulled the crazy man’s head back.

Tanner released his grip when Nick stepped over to confront the newly-altered man.  Nick then blocked Tanner and grabbed the crazy man by the jaw.  The crazed and altered man smelled of fresh roasted peanuts.  Making eye contact with the aggressive, wide-eyed and hungry male, Nick turned to anger. 

Angry, Nick growled, No.  Then, with strength that surprised even him, he broke the man’s grip and lifted the man into the air.  He then swung the man down and around.  Nick continued to fight and pushed the man’s arms back.  Grabbing his head, Nick quickly snapped the altered man’s neck.

The unidentified male dropped limp and lifeless to the concrete.  The death grip on the woman’s leg had left deep marks, but the woman on the ground was safe.  The other woman, the young lady standing and calling 911 for help, still couldn’t get through to emergency services.  She closed the call attempt and stared at Nick.

Still angry, but calming, Nick spoke to both the woman on the ground and the woman standing.  He stated strongly, It’s not safe to be out at this time.  Go home, stay home and stay safe.  And, this won’t last long.  Nick shared a glance with Tanner.

Calm and altered, Tanner added, We’ll take care of this.

The agitated woman that was standing with her phone said, in a hurried voice, I couldn’t get through to 911.

Tanner looked to the woman on the ground.  Are you hurt.

I’m okay.  I mean, I’m not okay.  He had no right to do this.  The woman was still shaken.  She only glanced at the lifeless body for a moment.

Nick used a voice that sounded strange to his ears, He’s a 5.  He’s a mistake.  There are others out there like him.  He then scanned the empty street.  Returning his focus to the two women, he added, It’s not safe to be out at this time.

The last was spoken in a chilling way that frightened the two women to the bone.  Nick could see the reaction, and again stated, It’s not safe, and this won’t last long.  Go home and stay home until this is over.

Without introductions, the woman on the ground stood, quickly brushed herself off, and then stared at the dead man on the ground.  She then started to run, with her friend not far behind.  The two women continued to look behind them to see if they were being chased or followed.

The morning still had a slight chill to it.  Nick and Tanner stood on the sidewalk and were alone.  Tanner stated, That sounded like something from the movies, when you snapped his neck.  Tanner paused for a moment before adding, Of course, that was an actor and not real, especially not real with a stuntman.

Nick was surprised that he not only had the ability to kill, but to kill so easily.  He replied, I know.  This guy is a mistake.  We need to…

Tanner interrupted, I’ll take care of this.  That’s my job.  Tanner said the words with ease, as though he had been practicing.  The two altered men nodded to each other.

Nick returned to his apartment.  On his way up, there were a few mirrors or reflective surfaces in the elevator or hallways.  The elevator on each floor opened to a small lobby and a short hallway leading to six apartment doors. 

Nick’s apartment was 906, which was on the right as he exited the elevator, but he turned at the sound coming from 901. 

The door was open and the room was covered in blood.  The only thing he knew was that a young man lived with his grandparents in this condo.  During his time in the tower, Nick had nodded in passing, but wasn’t sure of their names. 

The woman had recently turned 80, as birthday signs were hanging in the dining room and cards filled a table in the living room.  The room stank of death.

Nick heard the young man in the hallway, gnawing on his grandfather.  The elderly man was in his mid-eighties and could not escape to the safety of the bedroom.  The twenty-two-year-old male turned at the sound of Nick’s approach.

Most of what Nick was feeling had no basis in reality, as he still didn’t know what was going on.  He cornered the boy, though that was not his intention.  The closed doors of the hallway created a trapped atmosphere that panicked the young man.

Also altered, the grandson had the leather appearance to his darkened skin, and his eyes were brighter, less human.  The young man appeared stronger than Nick remembered him to be.

The young man’s features were highlighted by the wide-eyed panic of operating at only 5 percent of his mental capacity.  For the moment, the young male stopped feeding on his grandfather and stared at Nick.  The young man also smelled of fresh roasted peanuts, similar to the man that had chased down the two women on the street.

You’re a mistake.  Nick said the words as if passing judgment.

The young man, unable to articulate speech, stood to defend his creation.  The man lunged at Nick and grabbed him by the leg, hoping to injure or disable Nick.  The grandson was now well fed and escape appeared to be the young man’s only goal.

Until recently, Nick felt that he was stronger and more centered when moving his body.  With a right cross, he struck a hammer blow to the man’s jaw, which also knocked away his grasp.

Nick then grabbed a nearby table lamp with a thick base.  The lamp was an old-style touch lamp that was heavy and well made.  Ripping the shade away, Nick began striking the young man with the heavy base of the lamp.

Blow after blow struck the face and head of the man Nick didn’t know by name.  Nick knew that this wasn’t the way that he normally handled himself, as he was never this violent.  His thinking wasn’t clouded, as all that he knew to do was to protect the stock and eliminate a threat.  The young man, a true 5 percent, was simply a threat to the population.

After eleven or twelve solid blows, the young man stopped moving.  Nick didn’t pause, he lifted the man by his torn shirt and pants, and carried him to the balcony.  Below was the pool area surrounded by concrete and planters.  Nick gauged the concrete decking, the distance, and the expected result. 

With strength that Nick didn’t fully understand, he heaved the man over the railing and aimed for the concrete.  The nine-story fall took only moments, and the result was predictable.  The body of the young man was damaged beyond repair and would no longer be capable of injuring or destroying the stock of this world. 

Checking the condo, it appeared that the woman, the grandmother, had been badly bitten, but escaped to the bedroom.  She died sometime during the night.  From the evidence, it appeared that all she could do was outrun her husband. 

Nick’s cellphone rang, it was Tanner.  Tanner would no longer make small talk and asked, Do I need a cleanup at the pool?

Yes.  Nick didn’t know what else to say.

Understood.  Tanner’s voice was cold and business-like.  He closed the call.

Day 2

Nick still didn’t understand why he took to violence so easily.  Following his long snooze on the couch, and after his appearance had altered, Nick chose to sleep in the hallway outside of the front door to 906.  When he did enter his condo, Mattie would position herself between her husband and their children.

Throughout the first day Nick had knocked on doors and spoke to those on his floor.  Four men on the 9th floor, who appeared to have been altered in the same way as Tanner, smelled of bacon.  Mattie told Nick that he too smelled like bacon, which the man accepted as a simple truth.

Nick’s excellent organizational skills had helped further his career.  For his own reasons he decided to clean and clear the building.  He asked each of these four men to canvas the tower and confront or detain anyone unable to speak and smelling of roasted peanuts.

Normally, this should have been a traumatic experience for Nick.  But he found that he, and the four male residents on his floor, were taking the unknown and drastic change awfully well.

One of the condos on his floor contained a pair of female roommates in their thirties.  Next door, another condo was occupied by a single mother and her daughter.  Individually, each woman was terrified, and had a hard time speaking to Nick, even though they recognized him through the physical alteration.

Nick felt strongly about his beliefs, yet had no evidence to support his faith.  He stated the same words to each, This shouldn’t affect you in any way.  He would always include, This will not last long.

At the end of the day, Tanner had created an inventory of male residents that had been either altered or unaffected by the visible change.  For the safety of those living within the tower, Nick had Tanner coordinate with the altered male residents who smelled of bacon.  For security, at least one altered man would be stationed on each floor.

Nick also stationed two pairs of men at the entrance to the parking garage.  The single metal gate, which was wide enough to cover the in and out lanes, glided on rollers to the right as you entered the