around with weapons.”
Jack nodded, and gave up the guns.
“The sword too,” Chambers said.
“Hell no. This stays with me.”
“That’s fine,” Chambers said, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “But then you don’t stay with us. Doc’s house; doc’s rules.”
“Hand it over, Zaun,” Jack told his friend, and he did, reluctantly giving the sword to Chambers.
“They’ll be in the arsenal, safe and sound.”
They followed Chambers to the containment room, Zaun entering first, Jack hesitating.
“Jack?” Chambers asked.
“I’m okay,” he said, then walked in. The door closed behind them, making Jack jump.
“What’s up?” Zaun asked. “This going to hurt?”
“No. They just zap the room with an EMP. You won’t feel a thing.”
“So what’s…” Zaun paused. “Oh, this is the room where Jess.. where she died?”
“No, she was already dead by the time she was here. This is where I last saw her body, before I fried the little bastards inside of her.”
“Sorry man,” Zaun said, putting a hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“Thanks.”
A small hole opened in the ceiling and a silver sphere, attached by a metal arm, lowered into the room.
“Is it disco time?” Zaun asked.
The lights dimmed, and the sphere began to glow red. A bass-like blast echoed around the room. Before Jack knew it, the lights came back on and the silver sphere retracted back into the ceiling. The door to the room opened, and Chambers told them that they were all set.
“Jack,” the man said, “ Dr. Reynolds would like to have a word with you in his room.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. What about Zaun?”
“Mr. Van Pelt will be escorted to his room, and a guard will be posted outside his door, for now.”
“What am I, a criminal?” Zaun asked.
“Relax,” Jack told him. “They don’t know you. Once they do a thorough background check, like they did with me, you’ll be fine.”
“No background checks, Jack,” Chambers said. “We’re self-contained now. No internet, but don’t worry, I’m sure Dr. Reynolds will give your friend the run of the place in no time.”
“Okay, buddy,” Zaun said to Jack. “Don’t want to upset our hosts. I’ll behave. You go see this doctor and I’ll catch you in a bit. I need a shower and a nap.” Turning to Chambers, he asked, “You guys have showers, right?”
“Yes, each residential floor has them.”
Chapter 14
Jack sat in the same chair he had sat in during his last visit to Doctor Reynolds’ place. This time instead of drinking Cognac, the man was sipping tea, offering Jack nothing to refresh himself with this time. The imitation fireplace blazed away, Jack feeling its heat as if it were real.
“So, all that for only one survivor?” Dr. Reynolds asked.
Jack thought the man sounded perturbed. “Yes. Only one and I’d do it again for another one.”
“I didn’t mean to sound cruel, as if your friend’s life wasn’t worth rescuing. I simply mean it’s a shame there weren’t others, that along with the rest of the city, the entire building was dead.”
Jack went on, telling the Doctor everything that had happened, from his climb up the rope, to finding Zaun almost dead, to the narrow escape at the end.
“Amazing,” the doctor said, his tone cold, no emotion in it. “The last part, your rescue, I watched on camera. Dreadful.”
The doc took another sip of his tea. Jack thought the man looked terrible, as if he hadn’t slept in days. Screw the tea, the man needed his liquor.
“Any headway on the bot situation?” Jack asked, wanting off the current topic.
“None,” Dr. Reynolds said, looking dejected.
Jack had never seen the man as he was, completely cold, almost sinister in his demeanor. The guy was under a lot of pressure. Jack wondered how he would feel having the weight of a cure on his shoulders.
“Well,” Dr. Reynolds said, “I’m glad you at least found one person alive… and a friend no less.”
“Yeah…” Jack shifted slightly in his chair. “About that. I wanted to ask you something.”
“Shoot,” the man said, enthusiastically, startling Jack a bit.
“When you do find a way to stop the bots, a cure so to speak, and I know you will, how are you planning to get word to the outside?”
Reynolds sat still, looking at Jack as if studying him. He sipped his tea, taking his time as if pondering something. Jack felt a shiver crawl over him, waiting for a response. He began to question if he should have kept his mouth shut.
“I have a way,” he said. “A way of communicating to the proper authorities.”
Jack couldn’t believe it. So there was a way to reach the outside. Why had he kept it from him?
“Only a few others know about this,” Dr. Reynolds continued, “and I’m counting on you to keep it to yourself. This includes your friend, Mr. Van Pelt.”
“But why? Wouldn’t it make the others feel better, knowing they aren’t cut off?”
“No. It would distract them. They’d constantly want to get word out to their families. Then they’d even want to speak to them, one on one. This can’t and won’t happen. Not on my end and not on the military’s. The channel is hardwired to a building in Brooklyn. Communication-wise, it goes directly to my bosses. They expect their soldiers to do their jobs, and not worry about home life. The same goes for when our troops are in the field overseas. No communication. No whereabouts known. It’s better to just have everyone believe we’re on our own, leaving the men and women here to realize that they must be up to their best. Bottom line, they need to concentrate on their duties.”
“I’m surprised none of your people have brought it up. I can’t be the only person to wonder.”
“I’m sure you’re not, but unlike you, a civilian, my men must follow orders. They don’t ask questions. So, again, I must insist that you keep this conversation between us.”
Jack nodded. “My lips are sealed. It isn’t my place. I’m not a member of your team and I’m grateful to have a place here with you.”
He might inform Zaun, just to tell someone, but then again he might not. Zaun wasn’t a member of Doc’s team and he had no one he’d want to communicate with. But Zaun could be a loose cannon, and Jack didn’t want the guy mouthing off, telling any of the guards what Jack and him had talked about. So as much as he wanted to, Jack needed to keep the information to himself.
“Well, Jack,” Reynolds said, “I’m glad you’re back safe and sound with us.”
“Me too. And thanks for giving me the tools to get it done.”
“Not a problem.”
Jack stood, the doctor doing the same. They shook hands.
“Think I’ll head back to my room. I’m beat.”
Reynolds was looking at Jack again, as if studying him. A grin formed on the man’s face.
“Everything all right, Doc?”
The man turned away. “Aside from my numerous failed attempts at finding a cure and the fact that the city is in total ruin, millions dead?” He laughed. “I’m fine.”
Jack frowned. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”
Reynolds walked to the door. “I know. I’m sorry too. Sorry I wasn’t more diligent with my security. Sorry for
