want to treat has the right antigens before you administer the serum. Not in an emergency situation.” He knew more about science and medicine than the rest of them combined.
“And it doesn’t work to create a cocktail of antigens and administer them first,” McCormick said. “The substances have to be an integral part of the patient’s body before administering the serum, and there wouldn’t be enough time for the antigen cocktail to get around enough in someone’s system for the serum to work. In fact, the results might be disastrous: a half-turned creature capable of thought and still very, very deadly.” She shuddered.
“Could that be part of what Sellars has been doing?” Xavier asked quickly. “His new strain of zombies are capable of some limited speech and following his directions.”
McCormick paled. “I don’t know what line of research he’s been following, but that sounds very bad, Captain. One of the reasons I don’t like him is that he once talked about making an army of the creatures, back when we first discovered what had happened to the cadavers they’d decided to use for testing.”
“The ones that got up and walked out of the lab in the middle of the night?” Reno asked with a hint of dark humor. “We heard about that. When the trouble started up on our base, the navy guys filled us in.”
“It’s happening elsewhere?” Dread filled her expression.
“Back at our base,” Xavier confirmed. “And here on Long Island. They sent us up to take care of this problem while others are dealing with the one back home.”
“That is truly awful.” She looked thoughtful and very concerned. “Some of our team struck me as unethical. I was going to request a transfer right before that final, terrible experiment. Then all hell broke loose and we were sequestered for weeks on end. Eventually we were cut loose from our military contracts with all kinds of dire warnings. I suspected a few of my colleagues wouldn’t go quietly. I’m sad to say I’m not surprised that Dr. Sellars did this. The man is a snake. I hope you catch him before he kills anyone else and I’ll help in any way I can.”
“You’ve already helped a great deal, Doctor. The best thing you can do to help us right now is to remain with the police while we go get Sarah.” Xavier was focused on his mission. He was already formulating plans in his mind. They’d take the chopper to the house and he’d rappel in from above.
“Once we’ve nipped this in the bud, I’m pretty sure our superiors will want to talk to you about that serum you’re developing,” Sam put in. “We’ve already had two flare-ups and I think they’re afraid there will be more before all is said and done. You and your serum could come in mighty useful.”
“I’ll be glad to help,” she assured them all.
Kauffman pulled into the police station lot, having broken every speed limit along the way.
Impatience was riding Xavier. He wanted to be off. “Sam, settle things with the locals. I’m going to gear up at the chopper. Have the team meet me there ASAP.”
“Yes, sir.” Sam escorted the scientist toward the police station.
The SWAT vehicle was parked, ready and waiting, right next to them. No doubt the officers from that emergency services division were also ready and waiting, but Xavier wouldn’t be using their expertise today if he could help it.
Xavier jogged the short distance to the helipad. It was behind the station, in a clearing. The chopper was equipped with special biometric locks, so nobody could get in it without one of the team members present. Xavier opened it up and went straight for the weapons cache. Loading his gear with the toxic darts he’d need against the zombies, he tried to calm himself. He needed to get into a bright head space to accomplish his mission and save Sarah. Going in half-cocked would be the worst mistake of his life. He counted on his training to kick him in the right direction as he deliberately slowed his breathing and focused on the task at hand.
Sam, Reno and Kauffman were back just as he began to get impatient. He was ready. His mind was set on the mission like an Olympic athlete focused on his few seconds of glory. Nothing would stop him now. It was free Sarah or die trying.
Sarah woke by slow degrees. She was in the dark, in a damp place, probably a basement, and she