Evolution Chapter 21
*Good morning and Happy Friday! This chapter is a little heavy on the dialogue but it reveals a bit more about Inland's activities. I hope you like it and thank you again for reading.
The eleven test subjects were excused from the physical therapy area and brought back upstairs to their individual rooms for a light supper. Emily had calmed down considerably and told Merle he could rejoin Holly and Rick if he wanted to. The elder Dixon chose to go back to Holly's room where he flopped on the bed and sighed. "Wish I had my George Jones CD," he said looking off into space. "Or at least my hunting gear to clean."
Merle and Holly frowned at their meager dinner of a granola bar and a small cup of apple juice. Holly sipped from the cup and listened to Rick talk about his exchange with Trotter. "So we're the experimental group," she confirmed. "I knew it! Must be performance-enhancing drugs or something. They're slipping us some sort of freaky mojo, Merle."
Merle shrugged. "I already HAD freaky mojo before, baby," he said, grinning devilishly.
"Oh yeah?" said Holly, chuckling. "Well I heard that performance enhancers make men a little small…there," she said nodding to his lap.
Merle scoffed. "Well I hear they make chicks grow hair…there," he said pointing to her chin.
"You both are being really flip about this," scolded Rick, folding his arms across his chest and peering at both of them in their beds.
"I'm sorry Rick," said Holly. "Merle and I use a little comic relief to get through the buckets of crazy." She sighed. "I just don't understand how they could be getting this stuff into our systems. I mean, I…" Then she looked down at the apple juice with suspicion and cringed. "Okay yeah so maybe there's a few ways to sneak them in," she said, placing the cup down as if it contained toxic waste.
Rick nodded. "The other six people ran out of gas well before they had you guys stop. Emily and the twins went well beyond them. But you and Merle-you two were on that treadmill over two hours without any level of fatigue. Your heart rates never climbed over a hundred. You barely perspired. Not to mention, Holly, you were seriously injured only a week ago and you look like you could run a marathon. Could performance-enhancing drugs do that?" he asked.
Holly shrugged. "I'm not sure."
Rick put his hands in his pockets and sat down in a chair. He tapped the balls of his feet on the ground in thought. "Holly did you receive any injections of any kind before April or May of this year?"
Holly nodded. "At routine checkups I got an injection of vitamins. I got an antibiotic shot in February for an upper respiratory infection that I had."
"And you said before your last deployment—before the walker sickness spread—that you were inoculated. They injected you with the walker virus, didn't they?" asked Rick.
"Yes," said Holly. "What are your thoughts Rick?"
Rick shook his head. "I don't know. Just something scratching at my brain. Don't quite know what it is yet. Merle, you served time, right?"
"Yep," said Merle. "In Rock Springs."
"Walker State Prison?" asked Rick. "How long?"
"Let's see," said Merle, placing his left arm behind his head. "I think it was 'bout twenty-eight months if I remember correctly."
"Did you get medical care there for anything? Anything at all? It would most likely be early this year. Try to think," said Rick.
"Sure, I saw the docs," said Merle. "All the inmates did."
"Were you ever injected with anything?" asked Rick.
"I got cortisone shots in my shoulder for an old injury," said Merle.
"How often would you get those shots?" asked Rick.
"Every so often when I had pain so roughly every month I guess," said Merle.
"How many other inmates were in Walker with you?" asked Rick.
"I couldn't tell you exactly. Maybe five, six hundred or so," answered Merle.
"How long had you been out of prison when they started evacuating?" asked Rick.
"Not long at all. I'd say a month," said Merle. "If that."
Rick stood up. "What about Emily Ohligher and the twins? What were their stories before coming to camp?"
"Emily was an Army wife. She worked on base at the Sayers Library. Her husband didn't survive," said Holly. "The twins hadn't even graduated high school yet. They were from around this area I believe."
"So they hadn't lived on base," stated Rick.
"That's right," said Holly. "What is it Rick?" she asked softly.
"The twins," he continued. "What else do you know about them?"
"Um, not too much. Their parents are deceased. They have no other family here."
"No, I mean what are they like? Or what WERE they like is more what I meant," said Rick.
Holly thought hard to remember. "Sorry Rick, I'm going through my mental database of fifteen hundred…um, oh they were big athletes. Track…and lacrosse I think."
"Athletes," said Rick nodding. "Athletes…And Emily, being a soldier's spouse, would she be eligible to be treated at the hospitals and by the doctors on the base?"
"Yes," said Holly.
Rick nodded, his blue eyes showing a glint of erudition. "I'll be right back," he said before abruptly walking out the door.
Merle looked at Holly. "Looks like our bloodhound has caught the scent of somethin'."
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Nearly a half hour later, Rick walked back into Holly and Merle's room. "So get this," said Rick. "Emily told me that she was doing IVF before the walker virus hit. Under the care of a doctor on base."
Holly's eyes widened. "Oh boy."
Merle looked between the two of them. "Wait. What the hell is IVF?"
"In-vitro fertilization. She was trying to have a baby," said Holly.
"Do you have to get injections for that?" asked Merle.
"Yes," said Rick. "Emily went on a series of hormone shots in preparation for the procedure."
"And let me guess," said Holly. "The twins were given shots of performance enhancing drugs for their sports."
"Bingo," said Rick. "And I'm sure every little syringe had Inland Biotech written neatly on the label."
"Wait a minute," said Merle. "I know I'm a little slow so you're gonna have to forgive me. What the hell are you drivin' at Grimes?"
"Okay I know this is thin but I think Inland was injecting you with, well this, I'll use Holly's term—mojo—way before the walker virus went global," said Rick.
Merle's eyes widened. "Oh come on man, that's crazy. LT, please tell officer Grimes that he's loco."
Holly stood up and paced the room. "Well, me I can see. Inland always had ways of sneaking shit in with the military under the guise of the CDC. I guess they could have been injecting any number of the soldiers with experimental material. But how does that explain the others, Rick?"
"Merle was in prison," said Rick. "Don't you think it would be just as easy for Inland to use prisoners as guinea pigs? It's the perfect setting if you think about it. Your test subjects are remarkably easy to observe when they're in cages and on lockdown."
"Like lab animals," said Holly quietly.
"You two realize how—and I'll use my fifty-cent word for the day—implausible this is, don't ya?" asked Merle.
"I gotta side with Rick on this Merle. The more he talks the more I'm seeing this clearly," said Holly.
"Oh yeah? Okay fine you're a soldier and I was an inmate. We'll put that aside for now even though I think this entire conversation is fucking ridiculous. What about Emily and the twins? How would Inland get to them? Tell me that," said Merle.
"Emily was on base under the care of the same doctors that Holly and any other soldier was. They used all the same supplies and drugs, all of which I bet came from Inland," said Rick.
"And the twins?" asked Merle. "Who, by the way, were nearly a hundred miles to the north of Benning?"
Rick shrugged. "Schools are public institutions. The twins told me their coach provided them with the stuff. Maybe the school knew and looked the other way. I don't know, Merle."
Merle looked at Holly skeptically. "You tellin' me that you believe Rick's little fairy tale?"
"I don't know. Okay so maybe you've got a 'how', but we need a 'why', Rick. What would Inlands motive be?" she asked. "Why would we be getting these mysterious injections before anyone even knew what a walker or a zombie apocalypse was?"
"To prepare you," said Rick.
"For what?" she asked.
"The walker virus," stated Rick.
"But we're already immune," said Holly. "How would they be preparing us? And how were we even chosen? None of us knew about our immunity until after being bitten. So how would Inland have known that months before?"
Rick nervously chewed the inside of his mouth. "I don't know. I need to think some more."
Merle rolled his eyes. "Sounds like you need to STOP thinkin' if ya ask me. I've heard enough of your science fiction bullshit for one day."
Rick frowned. "Merle we live in a world where reanimated corpses outnumber humans. Are my ideas really out of the realm of possibility?"
Merle sat up. "It don't matter what I think. What matters is that I don't want you goin' and runnin' your mouth about this to Trotter or that stuck up Cecile chick. It's only gonna get people's boxers in a twist. You need to keep ya big mouth shut."
"Rick I have to agree with Merle," said Holly. "Please don't bring any of this up. Not yet anyway. We simply don't have any proof beyond the fact that the five immune in camp are have gone through some unexplained physical changes. But I promise if we are able to gather more information then we may be able to approach Trotter with questions. Can we agree on this for now?"
Rick looked at the floor. Holly went to him and took his hand in hers. "Rick I trust your judgment. I always have. If you truly believe what you've told Merle and me tonight then it's worth looking into. But we have to tread very carefully with Inland. Please promise me that you'll help me to do that."
Rick nodded. "Okay. I promise," he said, squeezing her hand. He went over to a chair and sat with his arms folded. "There's just one other thing that keeps bothering me."
"Oh Christ, what now?" asked Merle.
"Well Holly didn't you notice that Trotter knew my name? Or that you had to ask him to be introduced to me? It's like he already knew who I was. Now unless I'm losing it…"
"I'd put money on it," interrupted Merle.
Rick ignored him. "I know I've never met him and vice versa," he said to Holly. "But I swear he knew me. Didn't you find that strange?"
Holly twirled her hair and looked at Merle. "Just like that guy Justin knew who I was," said Holly.
Merle blanched. "Yeah that was a little unnerving."
"What happened?" asked Rick.
"Well when we were on the treadmills, the guy next to me, Justin, said he knew who I was. He said I was well known where he came from, whatever that means," said Holly.
"He didn't clarify?" asked Rick.
"No," said Holly. "He was pretty tuckered out at that point. I didn't press it."
Rick watched Trotter stroll by Holly and Merle's room. The man's tanned skin looked unnaturally orange under the medical center's fluorescent lights. He wondered what else Steven Trotter and his mysterious guests knew about the camp and its residents.
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"I've never been surrounded by so many women and not been happy about it," Daryl said under his breath. He looked around the apartment and shook his head. Carol was on the couch with Lulu on her lap. Sophia sat next to them and read Lulu a book. Lori helped Aria and Carl prepare dinner in the kitchen, while Andrea folded clean clothes in the bedroom. "I can take care of two little girls just fine on my own."
Glenn chuckled and offered Daryl a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "They just want to help you. You know how women are. Besides, maybe they saw that Dale and I were trapped here for the night and they wanted to watch three grown men try to play domestic gods. Besides, what else do we all have to do right now besides worry?"
When the alarms went off earlier in the day, most residents made it to their own homes but, as protocol dictated, anyone already inside needed to stay inside no matter what. Glenn and Dale were repairing a ceiling fan in one of the apartments when Inland arrived, thus keeping them on lockdown for at least twenty-four hours. Andrea ended up having to stay in the apartments because she was having lunch at Carol's place at the time. Daryl figured that somehow Lori, Andrea and Carol got together and decided to come and give him a hand at Holly's.
Dale posted himself at the living room window and hardly said a word for most of the afternoon. He just kept nervously twisting his hat in his hands. Glenn would occasionally go to join the older man in an effort to alleviate his worries. The ladies in the group were more upbeat, or at least they appeared that way to Daryl. Lori always concealed her anxiety without fail, while Carol's soft, even-tempered ways could put anyone at ease.
Daryl smiled as he watched Lulu read with Sophia and Carol. "Miss Carol you smell nice," said Lulu, nuzzling into Carol's neck.
Carol laughed. "Why thank you Lulu. Same to you."
Daryl sat next to them on the couch. "They just don't stay this age long enough," said Carol, squeezing Lulu affectionately. She nodded in Sophia's direction. "They grow up too fast."
"Holly's always saying that too," said Daryl. "So that means YOU, little lady, cannot grow up. Ever," he said gently tugging Lulu's nose.
Lulu giggled. "But I have to grow up Daryl!"
"Oh really? Give me one good reason why," said Daryl, grinning.
"So I can get married to a prince and have a big house and a white dog named Sasha," Lulu declared.
Daryl laughed. "A prince huh?" he asked, lifting her onto his lap. "And what will this prince do to support his wife, house and dog?"
"Prince stuff," said Lulu. "Like he'll wear a crown and sit on his throne and dance and sing and play the piano. And he'll have LOTS of money."
"So you're gonna marry Elton John?" asked Daryl.
"Who's that?" asked Lulu. "Does he live in camp? Is he four like me?"
Daryl and Carol's shoulders shook in laughter. "No, he's a lot older than you," said Daryl. "And he lives in England which is very far away."
"Oh," said Lulu.
"Besides," said Lori from the kitchen. "Your prince should have better skills than wearing crowns and playing the piano. You need a guy that can fix things around the house and will help you cook and clean. And giving lots of hugs doesn't hurt, either."
"Like Daryl does for Mommy," stated Lulu. "You're Mommy's prince, Daryl!"
Daryl felt a room full of amused faces settle on him. "Yeah, that's me. Daryl, prince of the Georgia rednecks," he said, his face crimson. He kissed her forehead and got off the couch. "Not one word, Glenn," he warned as he went into the bedroom. Glenn stifled a giggle.
Daryl went and sat on the bed. Andrea put the last of the laundry in the bureau drawer and joined him. She studied him for a few moments. "You're nervous," she said. "I don't blame you. We all are. But you're doing a great job hiding it for the kids," she offered.
"Thanks," he said running his fingers through his hair. He looked over at her. "Thanks for helping me out here too. That's real nice of you, Carol and Lori to do."
Andrea smiled. "It's just what we do for each other. I know we're part of a big camp now but I feel like we all need to stick together. It's important."
"Yeah," said Daryl, looking at the floor. "I just wish I could do more. I want to be with Holly and Merle, you know?"
Andrea placed her hand on his back. "I know you do. But Rick is with them. He's strong and I'm sure he hasn't left Holly and Merle's side since Inland got here. I think we're all just on edge because this is our first experience with Inland. A lot of the other residents have already gone through this. It'll be easier the second time around. Once Holly and Merle and Rick come back safe and sound. You'll see."
Daryl locked eyes with her. He knew even a fool would notice how quickly Holly had recovered from the wounds she received a week earlier. He'd tried to overlook Merle's tailbone incident or the fact that the pain from his fourteen-year-old shoulder injury had miraculously gone away. Daryl knew something was wrong. Inland couldn't be just taking blood from the immune. He felt that Merle, Holly and the others were paying a much bigger price for everyone's safety. He rubbed his hands together nervously. "I hope you're right."