Devolution

[Isolde]

Nancy

I smiled at the two and said,"To tell you the truth I never thought of you as a father figure. But I guess I am outvoted. You stay here with Matthew I can get everything ready. Get some rest I have a feeling you are going to be doing most of the driving tomorrow."

With one last look at the two, I went back to the lab and looked at the syrum I had processing. I then began to pack up all that I would need and placed most of the most important notes in a safe hidden in the wall. The rest I burned in the sink. I went and packed some changes of clothing and personal items as well as raiding the snack machine for food. We were going to have to stop off somewhere to load up on other stuff if we were going to travel very far but I finally felt I was ready to get underway.

Looking up at the clock, I realized it was a few hours til dawn. I might as well get a little rest before we left so I headed back down to the room where the cots and Troy and Matthew were to crash until it was time to pack things in the humvee and leave.

 

[Angelus]

I heard a noise and looked up just to see Nancy as she walked into the room. I tried not to move as Matthew's head was resting on my arm and I knew that I would wake him if I moved which was something I didn't want to do right now. It was then that Matthew moved and groaned and I whispered something into his ear and he fell straight back to sleep which caused Nancy to laugh softly.

I then heard her lay on one of the other cots on the bed and closed my eyes again, a little shocked that I was so happy.

 

[Kepic]

Dr Adam Kennet

The roads were thick with silent traffic, abandoned vehicles littering the route I took. Often, I had to drive off road. Several devohuman packs roamed the area, though I kept them at bay with the high-pitched sound generator I had built.

I glanced at the case riding besides me in the passenger seat. Inside, was another one of my viruses. One which was quite, quite fatal.

A couple of the small vials would wipe out life in a twenty mile radius of its releasing point, given a calm day, before the virus would become inert. That should be plenty enough to deal with the threat to my work.

 

[Isolde]

Nancy

I rose a few hours later feeling more tired than when I had lain down to sleep. Gently shaking Troy awake, I whispered,"It's time to go. Lets get Matthew and get out of here."

Going to the equiptment and bags I was planning to take with us, I began to take them out to the humvee and pack it up. Soon Troy came out carrying Matthew in his arms. I had never seen this gentle side of this man and it never failed to bring a smile to my lips. I fetched a pillow and blanket and we made a bed in the back where Troy placed the boy.

He went back in to grab his own things while I settled in to the passanger seat and then he was strapping on his seatbelt and we were pulling out of the garage. He paused for a moment so that I could take the remote to the security system and caused a lockdown from the outside.

Turning to him, I took a deep breath and nodded to him. "Ready," I said and then he was pulling away and we were off to our journey.

 

[Angelus]

As I drove the Humvee out of the garage I turned to Nancy, "Okay, where are we going to go. I was thinking of heading towards the CDC in Seattle but if you want to go somewhere else then it is okay with me."

 

[Isolde]

Nancy

"That sounds fine to me," I said, a feeling of exhaustion sudden taking over me now that we were on the road. "We need to stop somewhere and get some things for Matthew to wear and food to take with us."

I looked out the window as we went along and soon I found my head nodding and before I knew it I was asleep.

 

[Angelus]

"Okay, Seattle it is," I said before I noticed that Nancy was fast asleep. I smiled when I saw that as I knew what she must have been up to all night. I turned the Humvee towards one of the main roads and drove along it slowly, trying to find a shop that I could get some stuff for Matthew.

I then saw a shop and stopped in front of it, grabbed two of my pistols and ran into the building, hoping that I wouldn't be too long. I rushed through the store, grabbing clothing that I hoped Matthew would like and put them into several large bags before I ran back out into the street.

After I threw the bags into the back of the Humvee I got back into the drivers seat and started up the engine then drove off down the street.

 

[angie girl]

OOC: In case you haven't noticed, I am failing to keep up my character the diminished girl. So I better formally drop out. Please use her anyway you see fit.

 

[Isolde]

Nancy

I was jarred awake when Troy stopped in front of the shop and sat up to keep an eye on Matthew while he went and got some things together. He was back shortly and we were off again, the humvee eating up the miles to Seattle.

It wasnt long before Matthew woke up and I climbed in the back to search the bags for some clothes to put on him while Troy drove. Picking out some jeans, shirt, socks and grabbing one of the pairs of shoes that he had picked up I looked at the little boy. When I went to put the clothes on him, he looked at me like I had lost my mind and dodged out of the way to avoid me.

I wasnt ready to get into a tussle with the child and maybe distract Troy from his driving so I reached in where I had packed up some of the food from the machine in the lab. Holding up a candy bar, I offered it to him if he would let me put the clothes on him. He gave me a strange look and I realized he did not remember what a candy bar was from before the virus so I opened it and gave him a small piece to taste.

The look on Matthew's face was almost comical as he tasted the sweet stuff and he immediately tried to grab the rest of the candy from me. Smiling, I held it out of his reach and told him he could have it when he was dressed. He looked at the clothes than at the candy bar and then at me and finally nodded.

He was soon dressed and I had to admit Troy had an eye for sizes as the clothes fit rather well. It took three tries with the shoes but one of the pairs he picked up did fit. Matthew did not look too happy about the clothes but he sat back and happily munched on the candy bar.

Climbing back over into the front seat, I took one of the bags of food with me and began to hand out sandwiches and juice all around. Not the best breakfast but my rumbling stomach did not care at that moment.

 

[Angelus]

As I drove along I ate the sandwich and tried hard not to fall asleep as I hadn't gotten much myself last night. I then heard a noise behind me and wondered what it was until I recognized it as a burp from Matthew. I smiled at that and continued to drive along as we had to get to Seattle and the labs there.

I had been driving for a while and before I knew what was happening I heard Nancy say, "Stop the vehicle and let me drive for a bit- you look like you're ready to fall asleep at the wheel and I personally don't want that as it will end up killing us and destroy the only sample of the serum that we have."

Without any complaint from me I drove the Humvee over to the side of the road and got out of it. After I did Nancy moved over to sit behind the wheel as I sat in the passengers seat. As soon as Nancy drove the Humvee out onto the road again I closed my eyes.

 

[Celestiale]

I felt like we'd been driving for days, though it had only been a few hours since we left the lab. Angie had fallen asleep and the night around us was dark and eerie. I had hoped that I'd find some of the main highway's clear, but it was not to be and I had to make due with the more deserted backroads.

I thought about the broadcast I'd heard over the radio the day before and knew that I needed to make my way Northwest in hopes of finding the lady doctor who'd made the transmission. I had made it to the border of Oregon and Washington when I finally decided to try out the CB radio.

"Hello...is anybody out there?" I said loudly in the mic. "Can anyone hear this? Please respond if you can!"

 

[Isolde]

Nancy

I was driving along at a good speed. It was weird not seeing anymore cars along the road. It brought home just how alone we really were. Suddenly I heard voices and I looked down in shock at what could only be a cb radio in the humvee. I dont know why it should strike me as strange since I should have known that the military would have it but I didnt know it was turned on. I wondered breifly if Troy had turned it on and why.

My thoughts were interupted as I swerved back onto the road. My attention had been taken off of my driving and I almost ran us off the road. I dont know if it was the voices over the radio or my driving but Troy was awake and alert in a moment.

I reached for the mike to the CB but he got to it first. "Just keep your eyes on the road," He said pointing out the window,"And the car too."

I made a face at him but looked forward, keeping the humvee going as he spoke into the mike.

 

[Angelus]

I sat there and looked at the cb- wondering who the hell it was that was calling us and whether or not to trust them. I pushed the button on the mic and said, "Hello- who is this and where exactly are you?"

I then looked at that cb and wondered how the person was going to respond and what she was going to say, hearing another human voice.

 

[Celestiale]

I slammed on the brakes, in complete shock that someone had responded so quickly! I sat for a moment, trying to regain some composure before replying.

"Hel...hello?" I began. "My name is Trista and I survived the virus..."

I wasn't sure how much information to give, I was still reeling from Adam's betrayal.

"I'm trying to find the woman who broadcast a message over the radio...I'm just entering Washington state."

I knew that I needed to warn the man about Adam, I just didn't know how.

"There is another survivor...a man...a scientist, and he's trying to find that woman too, but he's evil...he's going to try and stop anyone who gets in the way of his plans to create a new world!"

I let my finger off the button on the mic and waited for another message.

 

[Angelus]

I almost dropped the mic at the news that Adam was looking for Nancy and looked at her. I then saw that she had stopped the Humvee and was looking at me with wide eyes. I pushed the button on the mic and said, "Trista, my name is Troy. If you are in Washington State then head to Seattle as we are going there now. The woman who sent the broadcast, Nancy is with me right now and listening to this and the other survivor I know about but I will tell you more when we get to Seattle. Just go to the CDC and we will meet you there."

 

[Kepic]

I brought my jeep to a halt, listening to the conversation on the radio, and smiled. A little change of course, then. The Seattle CDC it was, then. Trista had escaped, it seemed. Good for her. I laughed, and set off again.

 

[Isolde]

Nancy

I was shaking as I looked at Troy. I knew that my eyes much be wide as saucers and my face pale. I shouldnt have been surprised though that the person who was responsible for this had also heard my message.

Swallowing hard, I said,"I think you are going to have to drive now." He nodded and we switched places. As we got started again I didnt know whether to be happy that someone else had survived this or fearful for my life. I decided to be a bit of both as the two emotions warred inside of me.

Turning to Troy, I said,"Tell me about this Adam. I need to know what kind of person we are dealing with.

 

[Celestiale]

"I'll head there..." I replied, getting my truck moving again.

Angie was still asleep next to me and it was too dark for me to notice that something wasn't quite right with her. I was elated to have found other's who had made it, and distracted by happiness and fear.

 

[Angelus]

"Adam is basically a eccentric nut. He is brilliant though and told me that he would find a way to make the world the way that he saw fit. I didn't expect anything like this from him though but I should have will all the work that I had been doing with the virus. It has to been the stupidiest mistake that I have ever made in my life and I think that I am going to pay for it. But as for Adam he will be loving what has happened to the world."

 

[Isolde]

Nancy

I thought about what he had told me for awhile and then I said in a small voice. "And what do you think he will do if he finds us? We must prepare for that eventuality."

 

[Angelus]

"Well if he finds us and finds out that you have found a cure and that I have been helping you he will kill us and destroy every bit of evidence or kill me and make you tell him everything that he wants to know about the cure and seeming as he is a scientist he would know exactly how to hurt you and make it last."

 

[Isolde]

Nancy

Nancy swallowed hard and looked straight ahead as Troy drove. How did one become so embittered against the human race that one would want to destroy it? She shivered as she imagined what kind of man would be capable of that.

Looking ahead, she wished that they would hurry and get to their destination. The more time passed, the more opportunity this madman had to find them.

 

[Celestiale]

I left the CB radio on, feeling comforted just knowing that there were two other survivor's out there. I relaxed a bit and let the adrenaline ease out of me...and that's when I finally realized that Angie was no longer with me.

My senses had been running in overdrive and I didn't smell or hear Angie...but now I felt almost suffocated by the scent of her death. Tears streamed down my face as I pulled over and jumped out of the truck. I wretched quietly beside the cab, wondering how to go about removing her body. Adam was more clever, more sick and twisted than I could have imagined. He had ensured the girl's death no matter what we had done.

I had no time to bury her, I had to reach Seattle before Adam did...for surely he'd heard our conversation over the CB radio. I did the only thing that I could do...wrapped her in a woolen blanket and set fire to her remains, hoping that her soul had found freedom.

It was daylight by the time the fire was in full blaze and I felt it was safe to leave her body there. I climbed back into the cab, reaching for the mic, but stopped, realizing that Adam might hear what I was going to say. I was NOT going to give him that satisfaction...

[Edited by Celestiale on 02-27-2001 at 09:54 PM]

 

[Angelus]

Troy

As I drove along the road I wondered where the hell Adam was and what he was going to do when he found us. I should have admitted to myself a long time ago that what I was doing was wrong by helping a person like Adam but I told myself that what I was doing was to do with science and I fooled myself by believing it. Now I had to make up that mistake any way that I could and helping Nancy now was the best thing that I could do.

 

[Isolde]

Nancy

I looked over to Troy who was deep in thought. "How much longer to our destination," I said, glancing behind us to see that Matthew was doing fine. The sooner we reached our destination, the better. I had a bad feeling that our tormentor was not as far away as we would have liked.