The Mutation Wave

Chapter 35: More Of Us

"What's that look like to you?"

"Like... some sort of battery? I don't get it, what has this got to do with-"

"This," William gestured to the transmitter covered in a glass tube, "is a miniaturised ionised electro-converter. You know, like the one responsible for turning half of the human population into zombies."

Zacharias stared in awe at the red coloured sparks spewing around the transmitter and shook his head slowly. "You reverse engineered the mutation wave? That's crazy!"

"It's not that difficult when you have the power core with you." William grinned, tapping the glass containing the crimson electricity. "As my engineering professors used to say, the most efficient machines are nothing but their core with fancy extensions."

He cut the power to his small setup. "Now that the easy part is over, I need your advice for the next part."

"What more help could you still need?"

"If I'm not wrong, a number of these full sized converters were constructed around the world to amplify the mutation wave. Similarly, Firdaus needs to use that amplification as well as an enhanced to take over zombies. As you mentioned, Vivian's red aura allows him to manipulate a region's worth of mutates. But what if he wanted to control an entire world?"

Zacharias' expression hardened. "Then he would require an enhanced with a blue aura to be the catalyst."

"Exactly." William's eyes narrowed with a sudden serious look on his face. "What would you do if you were him?"

"Guard a source machine heavily and start looking for one such enhanced." The old researcher chuckled and shook his head again. "Be careful lad, you really are getting too clever for your own good."

"Of course, this is all just theoretical." William laughed a little. "I'll need the expert to confirm my theory."

"Speaking of which, may I ask you for another favour?" The chair creaked as he got up. "Vivian's memory is still lost. Could you help us find the reason and possibly a solution?"

"You want me to help with Vivian's amnesia too?" Zacharias took off his round rimmed spectacles and massaged his eyes. "I'm not that kind of doctor, you know. I don't know a thing about psychiatry."

"The way she lost her memory is oddly precise; convenient even," William pressed. "It doesn't sound like your run of the mill hypnosis."

"Being part of Firdaus' settlement is an unpleasant experience, to say the least." Zacharias chuckled slightly. "Her memories were probably repressed forcefully. I wouldn't try and force her if I were you; some things are best left forgotten."

"If you don't mind me asking, how exactly does Firdaus brainwash his residents?" William asked sharply. "I've seen them; they would throw themselves into the fire for him. Doesn't seem like something a simple speech or propaganda could do, especially for the newer residents."

"No idea..." Zacharias mumbled, before letting out a loud yawn. "Anyway if you're done here, mind letting this old man here catch up on some sleep? It's almost two in the morning."

William threw up his hands in mock surrender and walked towards the door.

Zacharias eyed the door for a few seconds as it closed quietly. He pulled out a small device from his breast pocket and pressed the button on its side firmly. It stopped vibrating as he put it up near his ear.

"You couldn't have called at a worse time, Kareena," he whispered in a low voice. "I was just talking to the enhanced. You're lucky the electrokinetic one didn't come with him."