The Badass Protector

COLT

“NO, IT’S NOT. It has no scent, and it’s empty?” She wasn’t sure about her answer anymore. This conversation affected me, and again, it was because of me.

“It looks like a Lapis lazuli.”

“A Lapis what?” Gael asked.

“A deep blue rock. A long time ago, this rock was more expensive than gold. A Tsarevich egg is made of this stone for Empress Alexandra.”

“And who the fuck is Empress Alexandra?” Frost asked, mocking Darick. “Do we really have to go through history lessons?”

“Let him finish, Templeton.” Gael groaned in displeased.

“I dropped my history.” Frost shrugged.

“Of course you did. Why am I not even surprised?” Lois rolled her eyes at Frost.

“You know, one day, I will leave you two alone in an empty well for the whole damn day just for the both of you to figure out why you keep bickering each other. Because even a blind person could see it.”

I looked at Gael. “Couldn’t agree more.”

Lois pressed her lips together, still glaring at Frost.

“So Empress Alexandra let someone make it as a tribute to her son Alexie, and now it is displayed at the Museum of Virginia, or maybe someone had destroyed it.” Darick shrugged. “Whatever.”

“And?” Iris asked.

“This.” Darick opened the silverwork and showed the rectangular-shaped blue stone in his palm.

“That’s it?” I asked.

“There is something more.” The excitement in his voice was palpable.

“Cut the crap. Tell us what’s so important in that pendant, small D,” Frost snickered.

Darick took the gum he’d been chewing since we sat down and dried up with his shirt. He wrapped it around the stone, making us all grimace.

“Ew.” Lois wrinkled her nose.

Then he carefully unwrapped it and placed it on the table. Our heads bowed simultaneously to see the result.

“What’s that? A quote?” asked Lois.

“Numbers,” Gael said.

“Maybe a combination, a code, or a password,” Darick answered.

“To what?” Iris asked.

“Maybe your mom’s a locker or a safe-deposit box.”

“Everything will be okay, twig.” I kissed the top of her head.

She sighed. “I feel like a hoax. Before I woke up, I had this vivid dream. I was like six or seven years old in that dream.”

“What happened in your dream?” I asked her.

“I know it doesn’t connect to what’s happening to me, but I was in that air-pressurized room while those doctors were watching me. I can’t remember anything that happened to me in real life. That was probably because I was under a lot of stress, exhausted physically and mentally, and emotionally drained. But the shocking part was I saw my mom there.”

The silence stretched around for a whole damn minute until everyone shared a confusing look.

Iris finally broke the silence. “Since everyone thought my parents had something to do with the genocide, well. Let’s get into it. Shall we?” She eyed everyone, only to her surprise, she didn’t find criticism or condemnation on their faces.

“The truth is, Mom didn’t die. My dad did because Mom was apparently immune to the virus. Her team made us believe that my parents had died in that village. Months later, I received a call from an unknown number. I recognized her voice right away. I was terrified that I had received a call from my dead mother, but I wanted to see her because I couldn’t adjust to the new family I was in, which was Otis’family.”

They cursed except Lois.

“Guys, he’s dead, and we wouldn’t have figured out that Iris is immune if he didn’t become an evil incarnate. Not that I wish Colt would go through that unspeakable experience.”

“She’s right,” Dr. Hull agreed.

“That son of a bitch.” I growled as I remembered what he had put us through.

“Do you want me to continue?”

They concurred in unison.

“I was still grieving. It was a difficult time-my brother and I were separated, and Otis treated me like shit. So, she asked me to trust her and told me something only my parents and I knew about. I went to see her after the class, then my mom injected me with something and said sorry that she had to do that.” She wiped her face dry. “She said she only wanted to protect me. I never told anyone about that because she made me promise not to. And I was just a kid. I had no idea whatever it was.”

“It’s all right. You don’t have to tell us anything.” Frost gave her a sympathetic smile. “Maybe your mom had predicted that something might happen like this in the future.”

“Or maybe it’s just another booster. Who knows,” I said.

“I don’t want to keep any secrets from everyone anymore. The last time I did, I put Colton’s life in danger.” She paused. “I was so young at that time even to ask. I can still remember the horror in her eyes. She seemed paranoid and vigilant. She hurriedly walked away as if someone was watching her. Two days later, she died with bullet wounds on her chest.”

Lois gasped while Dr. Hull shuddered.

“I’m so sorry. And you should know that what happened in the world right now, none of this is your fault.” Gael squeezed her shoulder.

None of us could talk, even Dr. Hull, but I couldn’t see their eyes filled with anger, blame, or pity. It was not her parents’ fault. It was their employer. I would say bullshit if they said it was to protect the people of this country.

How did the virus spread again? We still didn’t know.

I scratched my beard, waiting for someone to break the unwavering silence, but it remained as it was until Iris spoke again.

“You can decide if I should surrender myself to the CDC. Maybe it’s not too late to save this country.”

They shared a look as if Iris was losing her sanity.

“You’re kidding, right?” Frost reacted.

“Now we have the answer to why Otis was after you. Do you have to do that?” Lois asked.

“I doubt if he knew, but there’s something that isn’t adding up here,” I said.

“He was following orders,” Gael said.

“No. Maybe Otis went rogue when Zypher was infected. He was in that car that blew up. That was why they were wearing masks,” Iris explained. “Because he needed my blood.”

“You know what they did to you back at that colony, and you’re still willing to be their lab rat? I don’t think it’s a good idea. Fuck humanity! Fuck the government and the people!” Darick stood up, glaring at Iris.

“Calm down,” Gael told Darick.

“No, Gael. I’ve kept my mouth shut for so long. Look what Cora did to me. Right now, if I stay silent, I might just shoot her myself instead of going on a suicide mission again.”

Our jaws dropped as we stared at Darick in utter shock.

“Those scientists studied for years and spent billions from our taxes and just one job-just one fucking job to contain the virus, yet they failed. They failed us! And look at what happened. If you go there, you’ll die.” He pointed at her. “They won’t take a bullet to protect you, Iris. So this is bullshit!”

Iris’ mouth gaped at Darick’s outburst.

“You don’t owe them shits. The people behind this shit stole their lives from the world, from you, their future, and their family. Your parents gave their lives to save those victims. They were also victims, Iris. Aren’t all of these too much if you will do this to save the fucking humanity?”

“I told you this guy is something. He’s a piece of work, too. When he talks, he’s always on point,” I broke the tension even though Iris’ idea started to piss me off. “So, Gael, what do you have in mind?”

“I don’t like it. What she’s about to do is suicide. Forget about it, Iris.” Gael was already on his feet. “Let’s move to find Templeton’s dad.”

Iris raised her hand to stop us. “I’m not going with you. I need to make things right.”

Everyone groaned and shook their heads in unison, unimpressed.

“Fuck me.”