The Catalyst: (Book One) Read online

  “I’ll do whatever I damn well please. That woman is nothing but trouble.”

  “I do not appreciate you speaking of my daughter that—”

  “Can it, sir. Ethics board won’t get you anywhere anymore.” The sergeant waved his free hand. “In case you haven’t noticed, there’s not much need for it.”

  Robin peeked around Addar to see her father scowling at the man. Her mother mirrored the expression.

  “Did you release the virus?”

  Robin’s question drew every eye to her. She stepped out from behind Addar to look at the remaining scientists. One of them nodded, the same Asian man who had showed her the lab the day before. His eyes went from her to Addar.

  “Yes.”

  Robin sighed. “Were all of you in the infected area?”

  Again, the man nodded. Everyone in the group joined him.

  Her eyes met her father’s. “You will begin to feel the effects within twenty-four hours.”

  The Asian man, Dr. Kim, spluttered. “That’s not possible. The virus was engineered for—”

  “Us. Yes, we are aware.” Addar said.

  The sergeant’s gun came up lightning fast, fixed on Addar.

  Vanor gave the sergeant a quick glance, before she seemed to dismiss him. She moved past Addar and Robin with Amber in tow. The room watched with mixed reactions, as the woman settled Amber on a chair and stood next to it. Vanor scanned the group and muttered a few foreign words. Addar’s lips twitched.

  “Just what is it that you want here?” the sergeant demanded.

  “Lower your weapon,” Addar said.

  The sergeant sneered. “Or what?”

  “I will remove it. Along with your hand.” Addar’s quiet words drew a gasp from one of the scientists.

  The sergeant let his gun fall to hang at his side. “Talk.”

  Robin gave Addar a quick glance, before she hurried across the room to speak with the three terrified scientists. She tried to tune out the hateful glare of the sergeant.

  “The virus is fatal.”

  “To them,” one of the scientists said, with a glare toward Vanor and Addar.

  Robin shook her head. “No. To us. It has no effect on them.”

  “How can you know that?”

  “They heal far too fast to be affected.”

  “But—”

  Robin pinned the woman with a stern look. “It doesn’t affect them. Now, what can you tell me about the virus that will help us?”

  “We used the measles virus as a base,” Dr. Kim answered.

  Highly contagious and potentially deadly on its own. Then, they added to it. Robin rubbed her forehead.

  “A vaccine?”

  Dr. Kim shook his head.

  No, of course not. She had not expected it, but to hear it confirmed was discouraging. Robin nodded.

  “We will have to stay here until a cure is found. We cannot infect any other survivors,” she announced.

  As Robin looked around the room, she saw nods. Only the sergeant looked mutinous. He continued to clutch at his gun. Robin noticed Addar watching him from the corner of her eye.

  “Fine,” the man spat.

  He spun away and stalked toward the exit. The other soldier trotted after him. When the side door to the gym closed behind them, Robin turned back to the scientists.

  “Do you have everything you need?”

  Dr. Kim nodded and led the other two scientists into a clean room on the other side of the gym. A soft touch on her back pulled Robin’s attention to the remaining members of the group. Her parents stood beside Amber’s chair, speaking with the younger woman as Vanor watched. Shannon and George stood together a few feet away from them.

  “May I speak with you?” Addar asked, hand still settled on her lower back.

  Robin nodded.

  She let him lead her through the decontamination areas to the fresh air outside. They walked together in silence until they reached the far side of the football field. Robin turned to face him.

  He stood in the cold air with only a thin, long-sleeved shirt and pants. His feet were bare. Addar raised his eyebrows when she did not speak. After a moment, he bent down to press their foreheads together.

  “I don’t know what to do,” Robin murmured.

  Addar brushed his lips whisper-soft against hers. “Your people will find a cure and rebuild.”

  Robin raised her hands to touch his face. “I wish I was as confident as you.”

  His lips turned up into a faint smile.

  “What about when the virologists are too sick to work?”

  “I will feed them energy.”

  Robin pressed her lips to his in a lingering kiss. “What if they cannot find a cure?”

  Addar pulled her close to him, tucking her head under his chin. “They will.”

  “And the survivors? How will we find them?”

  “Robin,” he murmured into her hair.

  She fell silent. For several minutes, she just leaned on him with her eyes closed. With his arms around her, it was easy to forget how much still had to be done.

  “You will stay, won’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  Robin started to relax, when a thought entered her mind. She pulled back to look him in the eye.

  “What will you do if your people come back?”

  “When,” Addar corrected gently.

  Robin nodded. “What will you do?”

  “Will I stay or go?”

  “Yes.”

  Addar sighed. “I have great regard for you, Robin.”

  “Great regard?” Robin inched away from him.

  “Yes.”

  She dropped her eyes from his face. “I see.” Robin pulled away fully. “I should speak with my parents.”

  “Regard,” Addar said, when she had turned away. “I was under the impression it was synonymous with ‘affection’, ‘esteem’,” he paused. “’Love’.”

  Robin froze. Slowly, she turned to face him. “Love?”

  He closed the space between them. “Yes. I love you, Robin.”

  She stared at him. “You do?”

  Addar smiled. His hands rose to touch her face. “I do.”

  He ducked his head to press his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. When he pulled back, he gave her another smile.

  “Shall we?”

  She took his offered hand. “So, I suppose this means you will be staying. Indefinitely.”

  His lips quirked. “I suppose it does.”

  They walked back across the field together, her hand clasped in his.

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