'What happened?' Molly had been summoned by an urgent call to the detention cells.
'We're not sure, ma'am,' one of the guards on duty told her. 'Ten minutes ago the new detainees began to have convulsions, a few minutes later they were all dead.'
'Dr Fenway?'
'I'm not sure,' he looked puzzled. 'This lot were infected much more quickly than we've seen happen before. It may just be another learning curve for them.'
'You mean they tried to get people infected faster, make it more effective?' JT asked.
'But it didn't work – most of the infectees died soon after they were exposed to the signal, the ones we took alive are now dead as well,' Molly summarised. 'We need to be looking for the ones who got away. The chances are they won't live long either, but we have to be sure.'
'As far as we know, the majority of those exposed so far have died, but there have been some successes,' Fenway said thoughtfully. 'There's obviously some intelligence behind what's going on that allows the signal to be adapted and test different methods of infecting people. This one hasn't worked, but we've no idea what they'll try next.'
'We've located more of this batch of infectees,' Cavennaugh caught up with them as they were leaving the detention block. 'Most are already dead but there are a couple still alive. We'll be ready to leave in twenty minutes.'
Molly nodded an acknowledgement and hurried off to prepare herself, fighting down the feelings of frustration and exhaustion that came from little rest and almost constant action.
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'These definitely look like the same batch,' Fenway confirmed as he briefly examined the bodies. 'The way the bodies are contorted shows they were all affected by convulsions identical to those who died in detention.' He finished up and moved over to where those still alive were being detained.
'I think that's all of them,' Cavennaugh told Molly. 'We got the security tapes from the store and got Lucas and Ramsay to examine them. They did a headcount for us, and including Linda, this lot make up the missing numbers.'
'Ok, let's get them back to headquarters and see what we can learn from them.'
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'There's nothing new, I'm afraid,' Fenway reported, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes. 'There were four survivors and they're all infected, they're almost as far gone as Janklow and Novak.'
'It's as we thought then,' Molly frowned. 'The infection is acting much more quickly in these people. Are there any notable differences between them and the others we've come across?'
'I should be able to tell you more when I've carried out the autopsies on the ones that didn't make it. I'll let you know as soon as I've found anything.'
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'What have you got?' JT asked as soon as he entered the medlab with Molly.
'You're not going to believe it, but Linda's DNA profile has almost returned to normal,' Fenway reported. 'There's practically no trace of the alien DNA in her system at all. The only indication that she was ever exposed is the elevated theta waves.'
'How is she?' Molly asked, trying to fight down the hope that here was one who just might be able to escape the effects of the alien infection.
'Improving. Fortunately I caught the encephalitis early so she should be up and about in a few days, although she'll need to take it easy for a while. I'm giving her anti-viral medication and Tylenol to treat the symptoms, but other than that I can only monitor for complications.'
'Keep me posted on any changes in her DNA status,' JT told Fenway. 'As soon as she's well enough, we'll need to transfer her to more secure quarters, just in case.'
Fenway looked as though he were about to argue, but closed his mouth again as he realised the futility of doing so. He'd won the last round but knew the next one was out of his hands, instead he returned to his work, muttering to himself under his breath.
'It's hard to believe that just having a temporary hearing impairment could distort the signal enough to minimise its effect,' Molly spoke thoughtfully as she returned to the control room with JT. 'I know it's early days, but this could be the breakthrough we're looking for – if one person can avoid infection following exposure, it could be used to protect others.'
'As you said, it's early days. We still need to treat her as though she were fully exposed until such time as Fenway can assure us she's no risk.'
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'Have you got any further with finding out how Linda was able to sense what the other infectees were going to do?' JT asked Fenway.
The whole team were in the control room for the last debriefing of the day – although the day was quickly turning into night.
'It must have something to do with the elevated theta waves,' Fenway told him. 'We know they're what enables the infectees to recognise and find each other and it's possible that the signal was distorted enough in Linda to have activated a more enhanced form of the tracking ability in her.'
'What about the four we just brought in?'
'We're moving them to another location tonight,' Cavennaugh said. 'We can't continue filling the detention cells here indefinitely and we can have access to them when we need it.'
'Lucas, anything on how the signal reached that TV in the store?'
'We found prints on the equipment but we haven't been able to match them to anybody yet. It would have been easy for anyone to switch the tape. The security footage shows someone fiddling with the VCR, but it was impossible to tell who it was.'
'Any idea where he went after leaving the store?'
'Not yet, he seems to have covered his tracks pretty well, but we're still looking.'
'In that case, I think that'll be all…' JT's voice trailed off as the lights flickered and went out, the emergency lights providing only a dim glow. 'What the hell?'
'There's been a security breach,' Cavennaugh spoke urgently as he received information on his headset. 'One of the new infectees got away from his security detail and released the other three. They haven't tried to leave the building yet, in fact it seems as though they're searching for something. I've got additional security on their way to watch your backs, they're bringing weapons for everyone – you should remain here unless you receive further instructions from myself.'
As soon as he was gone, Ramsey spoke up. 'Have you noticed, the lights always go out in a film when it gets to the part where the psychotic murderer is about to strike?'
'Don't be ridiculous,' Fenway told him coldly.
'It's part of the security program,' Molly informed them. 'There's always a possibility that someone would get into the building who didn't belong. Our security teams, and ourselves, know the building a lot better than someone coming here for the first time, having the main lights out is to make it harder for them to find their way around.'
Silence fell as they waited for further news which wasn't long in coming.
'It looks like they're heading for the medlab,' Cavennaugh's voice crackled over the radio. 'I've got teams covering all available routes to and from there. I'll keep you updated. Cavennaugh out.'
To be continued…