“Need any help Doc?” asked the young soldier.
“No I’m fine” said Dr. Noc, curtly.
“I’m sorry, I just want to help.” Peter said.
“Sure you do, Rushton.” said Dr. Noc turning back to her microscope.
Now that was odd; the virus looked like it had a new chain or was that a chain mutation? This could be important. She got up to get a
slide, but some idiot had put it in a box out of her reach.
“Here let me help” said Peter coming over to her.
“No, I have it" said Dr. Noc, but by now Peter had reached over her and got the box for her.
“Thanks.” she said angrily
“Doc, do you have a problem with me?” said Peter suddenly angry, but doing his best to remain subordinate. “I’ve been posted here for
your protection. With all due respect, I tried to help you out and you bit my head off. What's the deal?”
“Don’t patronize me kid. I know exactly why you’re here.” she said
“Respectfully, ma’m, why am I here?” said peter, anger beginning to show in his voice.
“To make sure I don’t tell anyone back at the lab or in the outside world what is going on here or to tell the media that you and all the
rest of you private military types have just, essentially, locked down a town to experiment on it with a rouge man made virus” said Dr.
Ngyung Noc
“What? Excuse me but what?” Peter was stunned. This was news to him.
“You heard me just fine.” Said Dr. Noc angrily, “We’re not here to help these people, where here to watch them all become hybrids so
corporate can use them, later.
“But I didn’t… how could we. Doc, are you saying that they are going to keep this town locked up to infect everyone?” said Peter.
Dr. Noc looked at Peter. She was surprised. “Yes they are. The original policy I was working under was the keep areas in quarantine,
but allow any uninfected out before infection hit them. Of course, we were to keep it quite about the infections. Now though they want
to test the virus’ effects on a town.” Dr. Noc said.
“We got to do something doc,” said Peter “they can’t do that it ain’t right!”
“So you had no idea about this? I thought you were here to make sure I didn’t blab to Dr. Summers.
“No ma’m I didn't know and none of the other grunts know either, I bet. Here pick up the radio and call that Summers guy I wont say
anything.” said Peter standing by the small radio and turning it on.
“Thanks.” said Dr. Noc as she placed the head phones on and took the speaker up of the small radio transmission set. It was cheaper
than something cellular. “By the way don’t tell anyone. We need you military boys to keep a lid on the infected citizens anyway. I’ll work
though this end to change the policy so we can get the uninfected out.”
“Will do ma’m. I wasn’t gonna leave anyway. You still need protectin’ from the beasties out there and we have to make sure Sgt. West
doesn’t find out I know. I hope don’t find out that we’re breaking his little game up.”
Dr. Noc smiled perhaps there was some hope after all?