Symbiota Sapiens

Chapter 10

The lobby was oddly quiet in the middle of the day. A bellhop was standing just outside the elevator, two well-coiffed girls were at the desk, and two men in suits...tasteful renditions on the bouncer type...stood on either side of the big doors.

The bellhop took a quick side-step as I barreled out of the elevator...following uncertainly in my wake. The women at the desk stared in shock, and the tastefully appointed bouncers took a step towards me before pausing in confusion at the fact that, coming from the elevators, The naked man charging through the lobby was apparently a guest at the hotel. 

I power-walked between them, my shoulder spinning one of them completely around. I heard the thump of his ass hitting the floor but didn't look back. Doors opened automatically...so slow...and I was on the sidewalk just as the ambulance pulled up.

"HERE! MOVE IT!" I bellowed. I think the AI used a softer version of Elena's amplification trick. It worked. The paramedic was jolted into action and sprinted around the vehicle to open the doors.

I didn't give him a chance to pull out the stretcher. Just climbed right in and put Julian on it. The paramedic hopped up nimbly behind me.

"The dispatcher said it was a poisoning?"

"Yeah." I realized I had the wine bottle in my hands. What? I put it down...

::I made a judgment.:: The AI informed me. Oh. Good then.

"Here's what's left. I found him on the bed, delirious." I told him.

"Hang on to that for a second while I check him." He busily started checking vitals as he continued to talk to me. Calm, soothing. He knew how to handle this. I found myself relaxing a bit.

"Eyes dilated, he's drooling a bit. Looks like he's entering a semi-catatonic state. Hey John, let's move it!"  

The sirens went on and the ambulance was moving into traffic.

"How long to the hospital?"

"Maybe fifteen minutes."

::That should be in time, if they figure out what is needed quickly.::

:Well, maybe we can just tell them.: 

::You'd be expected to explain how you knew, though. Too many questions.::

:I don't give a fuck about questions. I'm not taking risks here.: 

::Ok, don't worry. I'll take care of it.::

A small grate in the front of the cab was pulled open and the driver's hand came through, a cellphone in it.

"Hey, you're Jeremey, right?"

"Yeah."

"Uh, dunno how the hell, but this guy says he needs to talk to you."

I took the phone, puzzled. A strange voice spoke in my ear.

"Is this Jeremey?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"I've been instructed to inform you that your friend has consumed a toxic substance known as Perfidium. He will die within 6 hours if he does not receive the antidote."

"WHAT? Who the fuck is this and what do you want?" My voice shook.

"You will meet me in twenty minutes in the third level of the west parking deck, at the hospital you are en-route to. You will transfer one million dollars in return for the antidote."