Erasure and Affirmation (Hypernaturals 11)

Regrets Come In Two Kinds

The next phase of the building takedown is an all hands on deck thing. Moving vans rolled up and sleeping people from the building were loaded into them. Even the two that are sleeping forever. Single Dart hits, but more tranquilizer than they could survive.

Denise said the darts are loaded for bear and she meant it.

I was standing near her when the two deaths were reported to her. She sighed. "Thanks. Proceed as planned. We'll use the incinerator we have ready near the destination."

"Yes, Ma'am." the Crew member said and hustled off. I looked at Denise without her being aware I was watching her. Heavy is the burden of command. If she starts owning all these kinds of deaths, we are never going to get married and have kids.

Once the building was empty of people, those vans rolled out and were replaced by long-haul trucks. We emptied the Siren bio-lab of computers, files and anything not bolted down that is not furniture. Even the personal effects for the people in their lockers in the changing area for the white room. Locks cut. Everything was taken. We'll match phones, wallets, and purses to perps later. Carts rolling in empty, left full, and were efficiently strapped into the cargo trailer.

The kitchens single cup coffee makers were sensibly left untouched. No Vampire would drink the swill such things produce.

A refrigerated truck took every sample out of the coolers, and we handled those with extreme care. We found a locker full of unused environmental suits and took all of them. Crew probably have access to their own, but these are here and free. Also, Morgan and I put holes in all the ones already being worn.

"I hate to ask it, but you beat this shit. Can you take the lead on sample loads?" Denise asked me.

"Yes. Makes sense. If there is immunity to be had: I have it." I agreed.

"I'll help. I am the most like him here." Morgan said to Denise.

Dressed like space-people, Morgan and I loaded up carts and cabinets, taped them shut, and only then did more space-suited figures roll that away and secure it inside the truck.

When we came to the animals, I paused. "Not sure what to do with these." I said. "I am not taking them."

Morgan stood next to me and said. "Well. Let's see. Most of these poor creatures are designed to do science experiments upon. Their chances out in the world are bad."

"Their chances from being jammed full of viruses are worse." I said.

"True." Morgan agreed and went over to look at some containers. "Here is their feed. How about we dump this in the grass and trees outside and release them there? At least give them a running start?"

"Sounds good." I said.

We came to a set of huge albino hamsters. "I wonder if Nakoma would like a new set of pets to go with Goober." Morgan mused.

"We'd have to put them someplace beside the house. I had hamsters as a kid, and the cats terrorized them. The cats sat on their cages and looked in all day long. Hamsters do not do well in that situation."

"I never had hamsters." Morgan said.

"They are fun. Lots of personality, some of them. Easy to scare with cats. When you live in terror, it shortens your life a great deal." I said.

"I can see that. Can hamsters survive out there? I know mice and rats can..." Morgan asked.

"In the wild, they live in desert regions. Perfect for global warming. Not so great for New Jersey for a few years yet. They only live about two years no matter what." I said.