Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
“Okay, okay—sorry.” The human woman held up her hands in a “don’t shoot” gesture. “I didn’t mean to offend you—I was just trying to figure out what’s going on around here.”
“What’s going on is research,” Sev said shortly. “I actually came here to study rare viruses with one of the top scientists on Visslick Prime—Dr. Hisslax.”
“Oh, I heard about him!” she exclaimed. “He was supposed to be working on an antidote for the sleeping sickness that only affects Visskous males, wasn’t he?”
“So he was.” Sev nodded. “And I believe he was on the verge of a breakthrough…but that was when the Hunger Virus broke out and we turned all our attention to finding a cure.”
Cassie raised her eyebrows at him.
“So is Dr. Hisslax down here, too?”
Sev shook his head regretfully.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t make it. He was bitten by an Infected during our run from the main research facility to the bunker.”
“So you came here after the infection started to spread? You weren’t working here in the first place?” she sounded surprised.
“No. This is actually a historical site, built to replicate how the Visskous people lived hundreds of cycles ago during the Nanite plagues of the 1640s,” Sev explained. “The local Historical Society kept it in working order. We only knew about it because Dr. Hisslax took Ravik and myself on a tour during a day off. When the Hunger Virus started spreading in earnest, we brought our equipment down here to try and find a cure.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you took that tour, I guess,” Cassandra remarked, nodding in appreciation. “What all do you have down here?”
“Almost everything we need to sustain life indefinitely,” Sev said proudly. “There’s a shielded nuclear reactor which gives us pretty much unlimited power…an underground reservoir of water that won’t run out for thousands of years…even a hydroponic garden that I’ve been attempting to get going again. So far none of my plants have bourn fruit, but I’m hopeful,” he added.
Cassandra frowned thoughtfully.
“That’s all pretty impressive, but I notice you didn’t mention much about food.”
Sev raked a hand through his hair. This human was quick—he wished she wasn’t.
“Well…that is a problem. Because the bunker was used mainly for historical tours, it wasn’t really stocked with any food. Ravik and I go on supply runs often—sometimes he goes without me, just to get out because being in here makes him stir crazy. But we’re always running lower than I’d like.”
The curvy little human nibbled her lower lip.
“Then taking me in is going to strain your resources, isn’t it?”
“Honestly, yes. But we’ll manage,” Sev told her. He didn’t believe in sugar coating the truth. “Speaking of supplies, this is our kitchen,” he added, nodding to a doorway off the main corridor.
“Oh—can I see? I love to cook,” she remarked.
“Of course. Let’s go in.”
He ushered her into the long, galley kitchen where a row of pots and pans hung from the walls on one side and the other was lined with cupboards. There was a small stove and oven—a primitive way of cooking to Sev, who was used to the wave cookers on the Mother Ship. There was also a cold unit and a freezer unit—both empty at the moment, unfortunately.
Cassandra immediately began opening cupboards, just as though she had the right.
“By all means—make yourself at home,” Sev said dryly.
“Sorry,” she said, not sounding sorry at all. “But if I’m going to cook for you two, I need to know what I’m working with.”
“Cook for us?” Sev frowned at her. “I never said you had to cook for us. I didn’t take you in just to perform domestic labor for Ravik and myself.”
“I like to make myself useful,” she said honestly. “Because if you find me useful, you’re more likely to keep me and not throw me back out into the Dead Zone.”
Sev opened his mouth to promise he wouldn’t throw her out…and found he couldn’t do it. If he was unable to cure her and she went full Infected, he would have to put her out. However, the way her blood didn’t seem to be succumbing to the virus gave him hope. He would need to study it though. It could be that the Hunger Virus simply took longer to multiply in human blood. He’d only studied its effects on Visskous blood and Kindred blood so far. So if it—
“I notice you’re not promising to keep me no matter what,” Cassandra said, breaking his train of thought, which had veered off into theoretical territory, as it so often did when faced with an emotional choice.
Sev felt immediately defensive.
“I can’t promise anything,” he said, frowning. “I wish I could. My instinct is to tell you that Ravik and I will protect you and keep you with us no matter what. But if you—”
“If I turn into an Infected, you’ll have to make some hard choices. I understand.” She nodded calmly. “But please promise me something—if I turn, don’t just put me out in the Dead Zone to wander around like a soulless zombie. Promise you’ll put a bullet or a laser blast through my brain and kill me.”