Deadman

Book 3 Chapter 10: Vaccine

It was two days before Julian was able to go through the data Mercy had given me hidden in the hollowed out book shed borrowed from Nico. Nico would have had no difficulty finding another copy of Pride and Prejudice, so that made perfect sense as her choice for smuggling information. I had been tempted to leave Pott's after Id retrieved the data, but something told me I should wait to see what was on it. Mercy herself had given no hint other than that she believed it was important. I spent my additional three days in Potts continuing the walks Id been going on, trading Patriot Points for a new 9mm and some ammo, and grinding my teeth.

The amount of Patriot Points Id been paid had led to me gaining another level in Marshal, but that level hadnt come with any additional abilities, only stat increases. The rest was mine to spend. I was hoping that Murphy was sitting on a number of things from my list, and was fairly certain that hed be more than happy to take the extra points off my hands.

I was taking one of my anxious walks through Potts when a white robe approached me. She was panting heavily and after getting me to stop she took a moment to catch her breath. She looked up at me.

The Honored Dead request your immediate presence at the mausoleum.

I nodded, and she started to walk again, back toward the center of the city, but I put up my hand. You dont have to lead me, I know the way.

She nodded, grateful for the chance at a respite.

I made a beeline for the Mausoleum, its sleek black dome inviting me inside to nods from the undertakers and white robes who were either on their way into, or out of it. I pushed my way through the doors into the council room where I found Mama, Kit, Julian, Solomon and Jim, waiting for me. The air in the room felt heavy, and all of their faces looked hollow and exhausted, as if theyd been talking non stop through the night.

In spite of her obvious exhaustion, Mama managed to offer me a warm smile when she noticed me. Donovan. Im grateful you came so quickly.

I nodded at her, and let my eyes move across the rest of them. What do you need?

Julian picked up a data square from in front of it, and held it in the air. This information that you retrieved from Mercy. Do you know whats on it?

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I shook my head. Im not certain she knew what was on it.

Its Julians expression twisted in disgust. Its genocide.

What? I asked.

Tell him exactly what it is Julian. I know youre angry, but lets present the information as it is, said Kit.

Julian took a deep breath. Id never seen him distraught, and felt a pit build in my stomach.

Its a vaccine. A formula for an inoculation thats very near complete.

A vaccine? How is that a genocide? I asked.

Its a vaccine against the creation of more Deadmen. Those who receive it wont produce deadman children, nor will their offspring.

I clenched my fist, the leather of my gloves straining as I did so. My vision went red for a moment. I had just enough clarity in that moment to keep from breaking something and to realize that this was my fault. When Id gone to the rEvolutionary Virus bunker and scanned all that data, they mustve used it to develop thisvaccine. Id done it before Id realized it wasnt the system itself making me, but Leah and the Remnants.

Solomon shook his head releasing a dark chuckle, his eyes haunted. Theyre keeping their word to the letter. They said they wouldnt attack us, but instead theyll condemn our race entirely. Doom us to a slow, rotting death.

I could feel my gloves starting to tear and slowly eased my hands open. I had been drawing in the radiation around me without realizing it and I could feel the heat radiating off my skin. I released it, gradually, and when I spoke I managed to do so calmly. What are you going to do about it?

Jim spoke up, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke. What can we do? He looked up at the rest of them. These people hate us. All of them do. We do nothing to harm them and they still do whatever they can to rid themselves of, just to not look at us anymore Maybe a slow death is the best we could ask or.

I was on Jim in an instant reaching over the table, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him to my face, my vision reddening again. What the fuck are you talking about!? I brought him closer so I could look into his yellow eyes. They looked sad and defeated. Well fucking kill them. Well go to war. Well burn them the fuck down before they can finish their vaccine! I threw him back down and looked across at the rest of the Honored Dead. Thats why you asked for me to meet, isn't it? If you wanted things to just go away quietly you couldve lied and told me the intel was for something different. Or just told me nothing. No, you wanted me here to tell you what you should do about this, or to do it myself. I gripped the table in front of me in an attempt to calm myself and it cracked under the pressure. This is the only place in the wastes thats truly worth protecting. Thats worthy of survival. If anyone should understand that, its all of you.

Solomon placed a hand on Jims shoulder, then looked at me. Hes right.

I released my grip on the table, surprised to find Solomon in my corner.

Julian nodded as well. Agreed. Its war. Its our only choice.

Kit shook her head. We have additional facts to consider. What about the deadmen who live in STAR territory? What about a diplomatic solution? Weve had this discussion before about the Rens and their lack of deadmen children. Are we to kill them as well?

Mama shook her head and looked her in the eye. They dont act with the intention of wiping us out, and their spread will be much slower. We have time to determine a solution to that. This vaccine though its on an entirely different level. I know youre anxious to have more information. You were always a cautious child, but surely you see what needs to be done here?

Kit gritted her teeth. Ill call on Nix to start pulling the undertakers in the STAR region back, unless we can give them orders for some kind of sabotage.

Ill have Nico reach out to our contacts in the Horde. Well keep it at a high level though. The Remnants cant know what were up to until were ready to strike. We certainly wont have enough of a force to end the threat of the Remnants on our own anyway, said Mama, nodding in approval at Kit.

Jim and I will work on determining who will volunteer to fight. Obviously we cant force people to, but Im guessing once they hear whats at stake, we wont have much trouble putting a force together, said Solomon.

Ill inform my people at the factory to increase production. Well need to be as armed and armored as possible I suppose we should produce a set of weapons that can be used in joint actions with the Horde without harming them with radiation Well have to move quickly, the vaccine is getting close to completion, and if they have the right equipment and facilities they could begin producing it very quickly.

I watched as they dove into logistics, armament, and diplomacy in figuring out their initial plan. All I could think of as I listened to them was blood. I could hear my heart, beating in my ears. I wanted to move right away. To cut a path all the way to the Remnants fort and bleed Masters and his cabinet over the battlements. I knew that wasnt possible though. Alone I could do serious damage, but I doubted theyd let me back into the fort so soon, and storming it alone would lead to my death with all the gun emplacements they had. I needed to be patient, I needed to work with the Honored Dead and determine exactly where Id be able to provide the most help or deal the most damage.

I listened to the rest of their initial discussions, watching white robes get summoned in, followed by groups of undertakers, as they answered questions, summoned additional information, and got information on the locations of various groups that could be at risk. At the end of it, they had a new energy, catching a second wind now that a decision as to the fate of Potts had finally been decided. Symbiosis and peace was no longer possible with STAR and the Remnants. It was time for war.