The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)(28)

“We’ve established a connection,” the technician informed Dr. Curran after a minute or two.

“Excellent,” Dr. Curran replied.

Another technician said, “Data is in the stream.”

Dr. Curran rested her hand on Maria’s shoulder. Her fingers were icy cold. Maria realized the Doctor was far more nervous than she had let on.

“It’s almost time,” Dr. Curran stated, her gaze locked to one of the screens. “Everything is going just as we’d hoped.”

The door hissed open and Mr. Petersen appeared in Maria’s peripheral vision.

“We’re almost ready,” Dr. Curran said in a voice that was surprisingly curt.

Mr. Petersen inclined his head. “Very well. Everyone has arrived and is waiting for you to proceed.”

Frowning, Maria searched the corners for cameras, then her gaze settled on a wall to her left. It was bare of any equipment and the technicians were careful not to linger on that side of the examination table. She wondered if it was a hidden window.

“Someone is watching?” Maria asked. “Why?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Mr. Petersen replied.

“It’s just a few of the higher ranking officers of the SWD. You don’t need to worry about them,” Dr. Curran assured her, but the glare she cast in Mr. Petersen’s direction was tinged with anger. “Mr. Petersen will be joining them now.”

Without a word, Mr. Petersen turned and left the room.

“We’re ready,” a male technician informed Dr. Curran.

“Very well. Clear the room,” Dr. Curran ordered. She leaned over Maria, her expression suddenly far from cold and remote. There was concern and warmth in her eyes. “Don’t be afraid.” After giving her hand a light squeeze, the doctor followed her team out of the room.

Alone, lying on the table, staring up at the robotic arms, Maria felt dread wash over her. She clenched her teeth together, fighting her fear.

One of the monitors began to beep faster and she realized it was her heart rate. Ashamed of feeling so afraid, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths while she waited for the doctor to return to administer the vaccine.

Instead, the robotic arms above her came to life, uncurling from the ceiling. The hum of their rotors compelled her to open her eyes and she gasped as one of the mechanical hands lightly pressed on her chest. Abruptly, clamps slid up out of the table, encircled her ankles, wrists, elbows and knees, and locked. Unable to move, Maria started to hyperventilate. Despite all her attempts to push away her misgivings and fears, she was utterly terrified and convinced she had made the wrong choice.

“Dr. Curran!” she called out as she watched one of the robotic hands tap a code into a stainless steel refrigeration unit marked ‘Biohazard.’ “Dr. Curran!”

“Please remain calm,” the inhuman voice of the machine commanded her.

“Dr. Curran! Why are you restraining me? What is going on?” Maria demanded.

“Please remain still and do not struggle,” the machine answered.

The refrigeration unit hissed open.

“Dr. Curran, please, talk to me. I don’t understand why you’re restraining me. What are you doing to me?” Maria twisted her hands, struggling to get free, but the clamps only tightened. She could hear the heart monitor’s beeps accelerating.

The robotic arms continued their task, the whirring of their movements adding to her terror. This didn’t feel right. Something was terribly wrong and in that moment she was absolutely certain she had been lied to.

One of the robotic arms withdrew a syringe with a very long needle from the refrigeration unit and swiveled toward her.

“Modified ISPV is ready to be administered,” the robotic voice droned.

“You may proceed,” said a male voice Maria didn’t recognize.

Straining to break free, Maria watched the syringe in horror as it was poised over her torso. One of the other arms moved, and a metallic hand pushed down her head, then turned it to one side. Out of the corner of her eye, Maria saw another arm with a different needle descending toward her. Her eyes sought out the one identified as the modified Inferi Scourge Plague Virus. It hovered just out of sight, waiting.

“Please don’t,” she gasped.

The second needle plunged into her chest, just below her right breast, sliding between two of her ribs. She screamed as it burrowed deep within her. Liquid fire spread through her body. Gagging, she arched her back as the burning pain filled her. It was unbearable. Maria felt as if her body was being consumed.

The heart monitor’s beeps were racing.

The arm holding the modified Inferi Scourge Plague Virus moved into position over her.

“Please don’t,” Maria whimpered.

The heart monitor suddenly went silent as the world turned black and cold.




*




The world was full of icy darkness. Maria struggled to move and gather her bed covers over her, but she found she couldn’t move. She was restrained, and her mind wondered if Dwayne had her pinned with his arm and leg like he sometimes did as he slept.

Trying to say his name, she found she couldn’t speak, couldn’t find her voice. Her mouth was dry and her tongue felt heavy and coated.

Struggling to open her eyes, Maria again tried to move. This time she could feel something warm and heavy pressing down on her wrists.