The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(111)

“How many rescue centers failed because of the Gaia Cult?” Lindsey asked, her gaze openly hostile.

Solomon settled back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Most of them.”

“It’s the hidden history of the outbreak,” Dr. Curran said somberly.

With a shrug, the former chief defender said, “We didn’t have to work too hard to topple countries and governments. The strife already ripping apart the world helped with the downfall of civilization. Once ISPV appeared, it became the weapon of choice against one’s enemies. That’s why humanity learned to build walls and lived behind them for nearly a century before the fall. When it became evident that this was our extinction event, Gaia Liberation just helped Mother Nature along.”

Torran shook his head in disbelief. “Why? Why do that? We’re all humans!”

“There is a natural ebb and flow to life. Life evolves. Life goes extinct. Look at the history of the planet. It was our turn. ISPV evolved to rid the planet of us. Global warming, wars, overpopulation, the stripping of natural resources, the out-of-control building of mega-cities...” Solomon shook her head in disgust. “Just look at the history vids. It was our time. Or so the founders of the Gaia Liberation believed.”

Dr. Curran was unrestrained, so she made her way to an empty chair in front of a gutted console and sat down. “Your fairytale amuses me.”

“Fairytale?” Solomon shot the scientist a fierce look. “Look at history. Look at science.”

“You said the founders believed it was our extinction event,” Lindsey interrupted, “but you give the impression that’s not what you believe.”

“When the existence of the Inferi Boon came to light, it became evident to the leadership that maybe Mother Nature didn’t want all of us dead. This was confirmed when Dr. Curran admitted in a personal conversation—”

“With someone who was sent to spy on me,” Dr. Curran snapped.

“—that she didn’t actually create the Inferi Boon virus. She discovered it among samples from other labs. Mother Nature created a virus to destroy humanity, but also one to save us.”

“You talk like Mother Nature is real,” Torran said skeptically. Though Solomon had valid points about certain aspects of history, he couldn’t understand how it warranted the destruction of human civilization.

“Isn’t she? The planet is an organism that we’re just a part of. We made the planet sick and it responded. Call it Gaia, Mother Nature, Terra, Earth, whatever...it’s still the same thing.” Solomon gave them a sad, weary smile. It was obvious she thought they were ignorant. “When we started to spread our disease outside our biosphere, that is when the ISPV appeared. Coincidence?”

“You’re talking about Luna Colony and Mars Outpost,” Lindsey said, her voice accusing. “Gaia Cult wiped them out?”

“That was our first major operation. It took years of preparation.”

“It was one of the greatest acts of terrorism in the history of mankind. Thousands died!” Torran stared at her in horror.

In school, all children learned of the destruction of the two Earth colonies. At the time, no one had claimed responsibility. Wars had broken out among countries that had accused each other of the terrorist act. Conspiracy theorists had blamed aliens. Then the Scrags had started to spread across the globe and the world had fallen apart.

“Oh my God,” Lindsey whispered in shock. “You’re so wrong.”

“You’re clearly close-minded,” Solomon retorted.

“No, you’re wrong because Mother Nature had nothing to do with the virus.”

“Rooney! No!” Dr. Curran snapped.

Torran swiveled toward Lindsey. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing else like ISPV exists in nature. It’s perfect and unique,” Solomon said in a sharp tone. “Nothing. It wasn’t created by humanity. It was created by Gaia to purge herself of us.”

“No, it was created by an alien race as a gift to us,” Lindsey snapped back. “We just screwed it up by altering it.”

Solomon broke into wild peals of laughter as did the others gathered in the room. “Really? Is that what you believe?”

“Think about it. The virus appeared after we started making our forays out into the solar system and sending more advanced probes into deep space,” Lindsey answered, but she sounded a little meek in the face of the Cultist derision.

From the look on Dr. Curran’s face, Torran suspected Lindsey was telling the truth, and the scientist was relieved that no one believed her.

“We’re wasting time,” Solomon said, dismissing the whole conversation with the sweep of her hand. “We need your help, Rooney, to find Maria Martinez. We won’t hurt her. We just need a sample of her blood so Dr. Curran can extract the modified virus and begin replicating it.”

“I don’t know where she is,” Lindsey replied, her eyes downcast.

Torran shifted his weight so his arm pressed against her shoulder. Though he knew her refusal would have dire repercussions, he stood by her choice and supported it. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to save them. “It’s the truth. She doesn’t. I tried to get the information out of her for the SWD.”

“So you were conscripted to recover Maria. Dr. Curran wasn’t lying about that,” Solomon said, and this obviously pleased her. “She also said you might be sympathetic to our cause.”