Sick

4

The man running the show in Dr. Karp’s absence was Major Frank Littlefield.

The major had left his previous posting three years earlier for a special assignment. After a year in which a whole new world had been opened up to him, the assignment became permanent. It was on that day that the Army — and the U.S. Government, for that matter — ceased to be his true employer. He was a member of the project now, and as such, that’s where his loyalties lay.

Major Littlefield was sitting in his office sipping a cup of coffee. Via the monitor on his wall, he had access to all the same feeds as the observation room two doors down, but was limited to watching only one at a time. That wasn’t such a big deal anymore since there was just one cell still occupied.

Cell number 57. Captain Daniel Ash.

The captain was taking what had become his usual post-workout morning nap. But this morning there was definitely a change in him, a defiance that had only been a spark in the previous couple of days.

As the major stared at the screen, his phone rang. He pressed the speakerphone button and said, “Major Littlefield.”

“I just read your report.” It was Dr. Karp. The major had been expecting the call, waiting for it, actually. “Has there been any change in attitude?”

“No, sir.”

“What about physically? Still no reaction?”

“None whatsoever, sir.”

The doctor was silent for a moment. “I had hoped to give it a few more days, but I think it’s safe to assume the results won’t change. Where are we with the current dosing cycle?”

“It’s scheduled to complete at two a.m.”

“All right, we might as well let it run. Once it’s complete, pull the plug, Major.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want the autopsy performed immediately. Once you have obtained all the required samples, and the body has been eliminated, you and your team are to report to Bluebird.”

“Understood.”

“Good,” the doctor said, then hung up.

As Major Littlefield replaced the receiver in the cradle, his gaze returned to the napping form of Captain Ash.

“Enjoy it,” the major said to the TV. “It’ll be your last one.”