Plague Planet (The Wandering Engineer) (71 page)

Jerry turned. “Too right,” he growled. “Damn, fracken VIP's get
the good shit.”

“Yeah well, we'll see,” Irons said looking thoughtful.

“I know that look,” Hank said, eying the admiral. He exchanged
glances with Jerry. “That usually means more work for us.”

Jerry nodded ruefully. “Yeah, it does. What?” he asked
fatalistically.

“Well, I was wondering about those emitters. If we reconfigured
them into a sphere we could make a portable dome. An energy shield.”

“And what pray tell would we do with that?”

“Well, filter the air and clean the surfaces inside and then you
could go inside and undress and get cleaned up.”

“Interesting,” Hank replied. “Wouldn't it be easier and safer to
make a real dome? You know, just in case the shields fail?”

“Point,” the admiral replied. “Are we done with this replicator?”
he asked, pointing to one that looked like an oven. It was designed to make
flat parts for the drones. It was about ten centimeters wide, but over a meter
square.

“Sure, for now. We don't have any drone parts if that's what
you're asking,” Hank replied. “Go ahead and use it. Not that you of all people
need my permission,” he said with a snort and ear flick.

“Okay,” the admiral pulled up simple designs before he found a
basic structure. He thought about it then changed from the dome he had in mind
to a transhab. He turned, looking around for the textile replicator.

“What now?”

“I changed my mind. Textile replicator,” the admiral said. Hank
silently pointed to another machine in the right corner. Irons nodded and sent
a signal to it. It was no longer hooked up, now that the virus was here no one
needed hazmat suits. Those that were out of them were already infected with
something.

“I'm going to set this thing up to make a transhab. Can you two
feed it and pull the loads? All you have to do is make sure it's got the right
materials and pull them and then hit enter when the tray is clear.”

“Feed it, walk it, the usual,” Jerry quipped. “What may I ask are
we making? Or is this a secret?”

“Transhab. A really big tent. Pressurized tent. Big enough for two
or three people to get inside, take their suits off and get cleaned up in.”

Jerry suddenly smiled. Then his smile fell. “I'll do it, but only
if I get first dibs on using the damn thing,” he growled sternly.

The admiral laughed softly. “That's why I wanted to make it. Make
it and a couple more like it.”

“Yeah well, I so need to eat. Bad. Tired of this protein shake and
water,” the chimp growled.

“You needed to lose weight anyway,” Hank teased.

“Admiral, Boss Hodges has put a call in for you, can you go to the
city hall? Right away,” the messenger said, darting in. Irons looked up and
nodded. The kid spun in place and ran back out.

Hank snorted. “Like to see him move that fast in a suit,” he
grumbled.

“Yeah well, once you are in this, I want you and anyone else to
get caught up on shots,” the admiral ordered. Jerry made a face. He rounded on
the chimp. “I mean it. Unless you want to live the rest of your life in a
bubble and hazmat suit?” he demanded, hooking up the power line.

“Not on my worst day,” Jerry muttered. “How do we get this thing
going again?”

“One step at a time. We have to make it in pieces, sew them
together, disinfect them inside and out, then set the airlock up. I'll upload
you the directions when I am on my way to see what the boss wants.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Jerry sighed. “Better you than me. At
least you've got energy shields.”

“Yeah well, everything has a drawback. I think I'll just fly
there,” the admiral replied, checking the video feed from the outside camera.
There was still quite a crowd outside.

“You can fly?”

Irons smiled and turned. He keyed his force emitters and lifted
off.

“Fracken show off,” Jerry muttered, watching him go. He turned.
“Come on, give me a hand with this thing. I so want a beer in the worst way.”

“Right,” Hank replied.

“This would have been nice if Wally was still around,” Jerry said.

“What happened to him?” Hank asked.

“Died a couple of days ago,” Jerry said.

“Oh.”

“Luke managed to get out in time.”

“Good for him,” Hank said.

“I heard Dewey Keeper went to Gotham. Something about a job with a
tech company. The one Fox is in.”

“Oh. Good,”  Hank said. He liked the little old inventor. They
used to stay up and shoot the shit, get all excited about this and that until
the sun rose.

“Yeah, come on, let's get this thing done.”

“Right.”

“We'll probably have to make another. Hell, I wonder if we can
make one big enough to cover the planet?” Jerry asked.

Hank snorted. “Don't tell the admiral that, he'd stick us with the
job.” Jerry chuffed a laugh then grimaced. “You know, he just might.” He shook
himself with a snort then got back to work.

...*...*...*...*...

The admiral landed on the steps of city hall, avoiding a few
people there. They stared at him in shock as he double timed it up the stairs
and into the building.

Sheriff Coltrain was there, he waved frantically to the admiral.
“You know, I swear he does it on purpose,” the sheriff said, sounding worried
and disgusted.

“Who?”

“Huey, that's who! He got himself sick then yanked the bosses’
suit open while putting on a fuss. Boss is beside himself. Can you do
something?” the sheriff asked as he led the admiral into the office. Irons
noticed the blue lights all around the room. Some were real ultraviolet lights,
others were fake. He snorted. Someone was scamming boss.

Huey, a slimmed down younger version of boss was whimpering about
dying. Boss was too, fanning himself and moaning about not how he wanted to go.
Of course both men had glasses of white lightening in their hands. That still
didn't stop them from carrying on.

“Did you two get your latest round of shots,” the admiral asked.
For the most part, Boss Hodges was a blessing, working with the population and
for once not trying to take advantage of the situation.

“Some of them,” Hodges said weakly, then opened his eyes to see
the admiral. He was all smile suddenly. Irons snorted softly.

“My friend!” Hodges said, seemingly ready to kiss the admiral.
“Please Mr. Admiral, can you see to an old man and his stupid nephew?” he
asked, “I'm too young to die?” he said with enough theatrics in his manner and
voice to make even Irons chuckle.

Irons turned to the sheriff. “Sheriff have you had your shots?”
The sheriff winced and rubbed his arm. “You and your deputies should be updated
daily.”

“You know, shots hurt, and...”

The admiral sighed. “You know, I don't care. Dying hurts more. A
shots a prick and it's over. Sure there are a lot of them, but the doctors are
combining some of the vaccines into single injections. So, be a pal to the
Hodges here and go round up a medic with all the necessary shots for them, you
and your deputies. If you are caught up you may not even need the suit anymore,”
Irons said.

“Oh, oh, you mean it?” The sheriff asked, eyes wide. He looked at
his boss. “I'm gone,” he said, rushing out.

“Now gentlemen, the shots won't cure you, once you're infected
you're infected. But I can see about killing what is in you now.”

“What price?” Hodges asked.

“First, get rid of the lights that aren't working,” the admiral
said, pointing to a few of the lights.

“But... but Huey had them made!” Hodges said turning on his
nephew. His nephew hunched his shoulders and then smiled an innocent smile.
“Huey...” Hodges growled menacingly.

“Sorry uncle boss, I couldn't help it,” the younger man said
sheepishly.

“Yeah, and I bet he sold these all over town. So people who
thought they were being protected are still dying. So, item number two, fix
that. At your own expense,” Irons growled, eying the schemers.

“I will,” Hodges said, nodding dutifully, bottom lip jutted out,
doing his best to do a bulldog impression. Irons snorted.

“Fine. And get with the doctor, they need more help in the
hospital and in getting the vaccines out. And the sheriff needs more help, we
need to secure the perimeter of some of the buildings. I've had to chase people
out who tried to climb in a window yesterday. That's a waste of my time.”

“All right.”

“Good,” Irons put his hand on the man's chest, then his other on
Huey's. The men looked down at the hands and then up at him questioningly.

“Hold still. Just relax,” the admiral said as the nanites went to
work.

Fifteen minutes later Proteus was finished. He turned at the sound
of a clatter, a medic was being hustled in holding a red plastic toolbox filled
with syringes. “Got her, though she didn't want to come,” the sheriff said,
motioning with a finger for the woman to enter. The woman glared at him and
then entered the room.

“What the devil is going on?” she demanded.

“Ah, my dear Amanda,” Huey started, hands apart. He almost slopped
his drink. Irons snorted.

“Can it you,” the woman said, glaring.

“I've got some customers for you,” Irons said. “We've been
reminisce on getting the Hodges and the sheriff's staff inoculated. That ends
now.”

“Why?”

“Because like it or not, they're needed. And the sheriff and his
people are in contact with a lot of people all day and night long,” Irons said.
“And it's an order,” he said straightening. “Get it done,” he growled.

Her eyes widened briefly and then she nodded. “Fine then,” she
said, grabbing Boss Hodges arm and yanking his sleeve up. “Just don't expect me
to be gentle about it,” she growled.

Irons snorted. “If that's all, I've got to get back to work on the
big picture,” he said. The boss nodded, handing him a clear bottle with a
lightning bolt on it. Irons snorted. “Thanks,” he said trying to get past
Rosco. Every time he zigged left the sheriff did too. Finally he stopped and
when the sheriff went right he dodged around him and left the room.

Outside the admiral paused on the steps.

“What is his angle?” he asked Sprite.

“Who Hodges?”

“Yeah. I'm not sure, but from a few choice tidbits he spoke around
Coltrain and his nephew... future politics may be a major factor.”

Irons snorted. “It figures.”

“It could also be his wife is leaning on him heavily to behave. Or
he came to the light and realized they will all die if they don't pull
together. Or a little of both,” she suggested “Sometimes a hanging is a very
powerful motivator for change, even temporary change.”

“Yeah well, a leopard like him doesn't change its spots.”

“True,” Sprite chuckled. “In some small way I like the fat lard
ball. Some of the schemes I've heard about... They're a bit funny.”

“Really. You of all people like a corrupt politician?” Irons
asked.

“I respect his intelligence, wit, and stubbornness,” Sprite
replied with some dignity.

“Right...” Irons replied with a snort. He heard a distant bang,
like a fire cracker going off. Then a second and third. “What was that? Was
that what I thought it was?” he oriented on the sound and started to move in
its direction.

“If you mean gunfire yes. And Nohar is right in the middle of it.
He needs back up admiral,” Sprite said, voice picking up with urgency. Irons
swore and took off at a full run, moving at a blur.

...*...*...*...*...

Nohar had concentrated his efforts on security and the much
overlooked Neo community. It seemed that some of the humans were ignoring the
Neo plight, or at least not focusing enough effort on the smaller population.
Things like that happened, he knew they had the bigger picture to worry about,
but someone had to help his people. He guarded Hank when people began to rush
the replicators thinking they had a cure, but he couldn't do it all the time
and couldn't be everywhere at once.

He'd started to act as a guard to the nurses running vaccines to
the clinics after one had been mugged when she'd carried a supply. Another had
been nearly raped, her dress had been practically ripped off her by the mob.
She'd been a sobbing wreck.

He insisted some of the vaccines went to the Neo's and Doctor La
Plaz had no problem with that. Which was where he was when he heard a scuffle
and then a series of shots.

Nohar arrived on the scene at his best speed to find a distraught
man, enraged by the deaths of his family. He had killed a medic with a small
hold out pistol, wounded others, and was holding another hostage. “Where is he?
Where is the bastard! Show him to me! Why did he do this? Why didn't he help my
family! He saved mobsters but not my family!” the man screamed, looking around.