Free Falling
Disclaimer: I do not own the Maximum Ride series or the Virals series. Max and the flock, Ella, Dr. Karsten, and other characters all belong to their respective owners. I only own my writing and any original characters.
Prologue
Dr. Karsten sat in his office chair and sipped his coffee. He didn't even bother to turn around when the door opened and heels clicked on the tile floor.
"It's been fifteen days and the parvo-B subjects have shown no signs of new symptoms," a voice said. Dr. Karsten turned to face the perky brunette intern that had spoken. "Would you like to continue our testing on them or terminate the experiment, sir?" she asked, pushing her glasses farther up on her nose.
Dr. Karsten was silent for a moment. "The subjects were supposed to start showing symptoms within the first five days. We can continue observation for the next two weeks, but after that I think it's time to—" he started, but he was interrupted by the lab's door flying open.
"Dr. Karsten! Dr. Karsten!" another lab assistant said as he rushed in.
"What is it, Dan?" Karsten asked. Irritation was present in his voice.
"We just got the results back from today's parvo-B virus tests. All the subjects tested positive!"
Karsten almost choked on his coffee. "Are you certain?" he demanded, slamming his mug on the counter.
"Yes sir! See here! The tests don't lie!" Dan quickly shoved a stack of papers into Dr. Karsten's greedy hands. The scientist quickly shuffled through the reports.
He smiled cruelly, crunching the papers in his hands. "Excellent."
The normally chatty intern, who had stayed quiet throughout this whole exchange, shifted her weight nervously and cleared her throat. "Umm, Dr. Karsten, sir?"
"Not now, Jenny. I need to record this!" he replied, opening up a file cabinet and riffling through the folders. "Just think! We have the ability to change a subject's entire genetic code just by injecting them with a virus!"
"But sir, there's something you should know!" she said urgently.
Karsten paused. "Yes?"
Jenny took a deep breath. "That experiment escaped? 67FB8? It was injected with the virus too."
Dr. Karsten looked up sharply. "What?"
"Remember? 67FB8 was also part of the parvo-B virus experimental group," Jenny said nervously as she adjusted her glasses.
Karsten cursed under his breath. "That little runaway will ruin us! This virus was supposed to make us millions!" he hissed.
"What would you like us to do, sir?"
Karsten thought for a moment. Then the cruel smile returned to his face. "We can't allow it to live. I think it's time we sent our little escapee a good-bye present." The smile crept wider. "Sent out pack 12-X."
Jenny blinked in surprise. "Pack 12-X? As in 'Erasers'? Sir, those recombinants were retired years ago."
"No," answered Karsten, "that's only what we wanted them to think."