Chapter 11 - TS-19

[Daryl's POV]

T-dog passed out eggs to everyone in the morning. I sat there slowly eating ma' eggs. Jenner, Rebecca and Shane were the only ones not at the table. I chuckled at the thought of Rebecca comin' in with a nasty hangover. "Hey Dillan, where's ya' sister?" I asked as he pushed his eggs around his plate. "Huh, oh she was still sleeping... I think..." he mumbled. He never looked up from his plate. Something seemed wrong, it made me worry about Rebecca. I pushed that thought deep down as I continued talking to Dillan. "Probably has a killer hangover." I said to him. He looked up at me confused. "What's a hangover?" he asked innocently. "It's what happens when people drink too much wine or alcohol." I chuckled. I motioned towards Glenn, who was moaning and rubbing his head. Dillan looked at Glenn then nodded.

Rebecca came in a few moments later. She looked like she barely slept. Dillan hurried over to her with a smile. "Hey kiddo." she murmured as she rubbed her eyes. "Do you have a hangover? Daryl said you would." he asked happily. She looked at him with a smile, then up at me, then back at him. "Well, Daryl's right." She mumbled as she took the empty seat next to me. She rested her arms on the table and rested her head on them. Seconds later Shane strolled in, looking like he had a nasty hangover too. "Morning Shane." Rick murmured as he slowly ate his eggs. I noticed Rebecca tense up at his name and raise her head. I sent her questioning glances, but she ignored them. I couldn't shake this uneasy feeling in my stomach. Seeing the way she tensed up around Shane made me want to wrap ma' arms around her. Made me wanna keep 'er close and away from 'im. "Feel as bad as I do?" Rick asked as Shane made his way over to the coffee machine. "Worse." He mumbled. Rebecca looked down at the plate T-dog just set down in front of her. She pushed the food around, not looking up at anyone. "What the hell happened to you?" T-dog asked Shane. "Your neck?" Shane sat down at the end of the table before answering. "Must've done it in my sleep." he replied. He was staring right at Rebecca the entire time. She glanced up at him briefly then back down at her plate. I didn't like how this looked. It set me on edge. It's obvious he didn't do it, so why would Rebecca? I pushed my scattered thoughts down as I leaned back in my chair. "Never seen you do that before." Rick said. "Me neither." Shane simply said, looking at his coffee. "Not like me at all." He stared at Rebecca. She nervously looked down and started to slowly eat.

We went back to silence, the only sounds were the forks scraping the plate. "Morning." Jenner said as he walked in. He went straight to the coffee machine and got a cup, before turning back to us. "I don't really want to plaster you with question first thing..." Dale trailed off. Jenner let out a sigh before saying, "But you will anyway." Andrea stood up from the table and looked at him. "We didn't come here for the eggs." she stated.

He led us back to the main room we saw when we first came here. "Get me playback of TS-19." Jenner says as he set his coffee done. The robot repeated the orders and followed 'em. "Two people ever got to see this. Very few." Jenner said as the screen loaded. A human brain showed up. "Is that a brain?" Carl asked curiously. "An extraordinary one." Jenner replied. I moved closer to Rebecca as she moved closer to the screen. He looked back sadly. "Not that it matters in the end." He murmured. "Take us in for EIV." The computer zoomed in showing blue strands with lights shooting through them. "What are those lights?" Shane asked. I glanced over at Shane then to Jenner. "It's a person's life-- experiences, memories. Its everything." he said as he turned towards us. "Somewhere in all that wiring and those ripple of lights, is you. The thing that makes you unique and human." I leaned off the desk and looked over at him. "You don't make sense ever?" I ask. "Those are synapses," he said to me. "Electric impulses in the brain that carries messages. They determine everything a person says, does, or thinks from the moment of birth to the moment of death." Rick walks up beside Jenner silently. "Death? That's what this is, a vigil?" he asked. Jenner glances at Rick then back at the screen, as if marveling at it. "Yes, or at least a playback of the vigil." he answers. "This person died?" Andrea asked getting closer. "Who?" Jenner stayed quiet a short while before answerin'. "Test Subject 19, someone who was bitten and offered themselves up for science." he stated. He looked down, he looked almost sad. "Vi, fast forward to the first event." Jenner ordered. As usual the robot repeated his order and followed it. The screen showed black lines going through the blue. "What is that?" Rebecca asked. "It invades the brain like meningitis. The adrenal gland hemorrhages, the brain goes into shutdown, then the major organs." he explained. The person's body was still and the whole thing was black. Rebecca held her hand over her mouth in shock. "Then death. Everything you ever were or will be is... gone." Jenner said. Andrea looked like she was going to be sick. She took a few steps back. "Is that what happened to Jim?" Sophia asked Carol. "Yes." Carol replied sadly. "She lost somebody two days ago. Her sister." Lori says to Jenner. "I lost somebody too. I know how devastating it is." Jenner says. Andrea looks up at him, her hand is to her mouth.

"Scan to the second event." Jenner says as he turns back around. The robot once again repeats his orders and follows them. "The resurrection time varies wildly. We have reports of it happening in as little as 3 minutes. The longest we heard of is 8 hours, but in this patient's case of this patient it was two hours, one minute, seven seconds." Jenner explains as he stares intensely at the screen. The once black area started having red lights flashing through it. It started in one spot and spread. "It restarts the brain?" Rebecca asked in disbelief. "No just the brainstem... Enough to get you up in moving. You, yourself don't come back. Just an empty shell driven by mindless instinct." he murmured. I watched as the body started moving again, then there was a flash and it stopped. "God, what was that?" Carol asked. "He shot his patient in the head. Didn't you." Rebecca said quietly, almost to herself. He didn't answer. Just told the robot to power down the main screens. I crossed my arms and leaned back on the railing. "You have no idea what it is, do you?" Andrea asked. "It could be microbial, viral, parasitic, fungal." he said looking at each of us with each word. "Or the wrath of god?" Jacqui stated. "There is that." Jenner said. "Somebody must know something... Somewhere." Andrea said, sounding desperate for answers. "There are others right? Other facilities?" Carol asked also. He looked down and slightly shook his head as he turned to Carol. "There may be some, people like me." he simply said. "How can you not know?" Rick pried. "Everything went down. Communication, directives-- all of it. I've been in the dark for almost a month." he said as he looked around at all of us. "So it's not just here, but everywhere? There's nothing left anywhere? Nothing?" Andrea asked. He remained quiet, confirming all of our thoughts. I am getting about fed up with all this. "I'm gonna get shit faced drunk again." I grumble as I rub my temples. "Dr. Jenner, I know this has been taxing for you and I'd hate to ask one more question, but... That clock. What is it counting down for? What happens when it hits zero?" Jenner clammed up a bit, he hesitated before answering. "The basement generators run out of fuel." he answers. If that's the case, why'd ya clam up? I thought in my head as I watched him cautiously. "And then?" Rick pushed. Jenner said nothing as he walked out the door. "Vi, what happens when the power runs out?" Rick asked. "When the power runs out, facility wide decontamination will occur." it replied. I don't like the sound of that. I thought.

[Rebecca's POV]

I looked around at everyone. No one said a word as Jenner left. "Glenn, T-dog, Shane. You are coming with me to the basement. Everyone else go back to your rooms and get your stuff packed." Rick orders. We all nod and separate. "Becca, what's going on?" Dillan asked bewildered. "I don't know." I said. We went into my room and I threw our backpack on the bed. "Gather your stuff." I said to Dillan as I went into the bathroom. I gathered all the dirty clothes on the floor and a few hygiene products. I shoved everything in the bag as our lights went out. "Come on Dillan." I say. He grabs my hands and laces his fingers with mine. We step out in the hall as Jenner walks down it. "Why are our lights and air out in our rooms?" Lori asked as Jenner brushed past her. We stepped out and followed behind him. "What's going on?" Daryl asked, sounding very annoyed.. "It's shutting down nonessential things." Jenner replied. "Light isn't a priority?" Dale asked. "It's not up to me." Jenner simply said as he continued to walk off. We followed behind him. "Hey, hey! What the hell that mean?!" Daryl called after him. We caught up with Jenner and silently followed him. "Hey man, I'm talkin' to you. What do ya' mean it's shuttin' itself down? How can a building do anything?" Daryl growled at him. Rick came running out from a door as we walked down the stairs. "Jenner what is happening?" Rick asked as he speed walks next to Jenner. "The system is shutting down all nonessential uses of power. It's designed to keep the computers running until the last minute. It started as soon as we approached the half hour mark." Jenner explained as we entered back into the main room. "Right on schedule." he said as he pointed to the clock. It read 31:28, and counting. "The French." Jenner said as he came to a stop. "What?" Andrea asked confused. "They were the last ones to hold out as far as I know. While our people was bolting out the doors and committing suicides in the hallways, they stayed working till the end." he explained. "What happened?" I asked. "The same thing that happened here. No power grid. I mean, our world runs on fossil fuels... How stupid is that?" he said. "Let me tell you what." Shane starts as he storms after Jenner. "To hell with it Shane. Lori grab our things. We are getting out of here now!" Rick yells as he follows Shane. We nod and head back to the door as the alarms start blaring. "What is happening?" I yelled. We all stopped and looked around. "What is that?" I yelled again. Just then the screen started up. "30 minutes until decontamination." Vi announced. "Doc, what's goin' on here dammit!" Daryl yells. "Hurry, you heard Rick. Get your stuff and let's go!." I yelled. We hurry to the doors just as they slammed close.

"Did you lock us in?" I asked scared. He sat down without answering me. "He just locked us in!" I said in disbelief. I wandered out of Dillan's grasp towards the door. I stared at it in disbelief. "You son of a bitch! You locked us in here!" Daryl growled as he charged at Jenner. He was stopped by Shane telling him not too. "Jenner open the door now." Rick ordered. "There is no point. Everything topside is shut down. All emergency exits are sealed." he said. I could feel myself panicking. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. It was suffocating. I tried to remain, taking deep breaths. "Well open the damn things." Dale said. "That's not something I can do. I told you once those doors were shut they stayed shut. It's better this way." Jenner said. "What is? What happens in 28 minutes?" Rick asked. Jenner turns and starts typing on his keyboard. "What happens in 28 minutes?!" Rick yells this time. "Do you know what this place is?!" Jenner snaps. "We protected the public from VERY nasty things! Weaponized smallpox! Ebola strains that could wipe out half the country! Stuff you don't want getting out! EVER!" I put my hand against the wall, leaning to get some stability. He sat down and collected himself for a second. "In the event of a catastrophic power failure in a terrorist attack for example... HITs were placed to prevent anything or anyone from getting out or in." he said calmer this time. "What are HITs?" I asked from across the room. "Everyone looked at me then back at Jenner. "Vi, define." Jenner ordered. "HITs-- high-implosive thermobaric fuel air explosives consists of a two stage aerosol ignition that produces a blast wave of significant greater power than any other known explosive than nuclear. The vacuum pressure effect ignites the oxygen between 5,000 and 6,000 degrees and is useful in the greater loss of life and damage to structure is desired." Vi defined. I pulled Dillan to me, hugging him. I walked over to them. "It sets the air on fire." Jenner said astonished. "No pain. An end to sorrow and grief... regret.... Everything." he murmured. I looked at him in disbelief.

Daryl threw his bottle of alcohol at the door furiously. "Open the damn door!" he growled. Dillan was slumped against the wall trembling me next to him. I feel like I'm suffocating. I stand up and move away from him. I try to take deep breaths, but they come out at gasps. I got to get out of here! I thought frantically. My eyes came across an axe and I grabbed it. I ran at the door and slammed it against it. It didn't even make a scratch. Shane threw an axe to Daryl and he hit the door with it also, still making no scratches. I heaved the axe at the door one more time, weaker than before. I slumped to my knees gasping. "Rebecca?" Daryl asked. I clawed at the door trying to get out, but it was useless. I leaned back against the door, my hands to my throat. "Can't... breathe." I said between each gasp. "Rebecca, are you okay?!" he asked frantically as he kneeled next to me. "Guys!" he yelled to the others. I kept trying to take a breath, but it felt like I was being strangled. No air would come in. Everyone rushed over to me as I gasped for air, laying on my back. "What's wrong with 'er?!" he asked frantically. "Rebecca, what's wrong?" Rick asked. I couldn't answer, I wanted to, but couldn't. "Move." Dillan said as he pushed past them and knelt by me. He grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes. "Calm down." he murmured. "Just breathe. Look into my eyes and breathe." His voice soothed me somewhat. I followed his instructions and tried to match his breathing. Dark spots became to form as my vision blurred. Then darkness consumed me. "Becca, it's okay." Dillan cooed as I slipped into unconsciousness.

[Daryl's POV]

I watched as her eyes closed and her hand fell limp in his hand. "What happened? Is she okay?" I asked frantically. I knelt down and put my ear to her chest. I let out a sigh of relief when I heard her heartbeat. "What happened?" I asked. "Panic attack." Dillan mumbled. "From what?" Rick asked. "She's very claustrophobic. If she gets in a small space, like this being underground... this happens. My mom told me when she was young she had them a lot, but not as much now." he murmured. I picked Rebecca, her head limply falling on my chest. I laid her against the wall. "Watch your sister." I said to Dillan. He nodded and sat down next to her, holding her hand.

[Third Person POV]

Daryl and Shane continued to pound against the door with the axes. They both knew that their efforts were useless, but they didn't give up. The only thought going through Daryl's head was that he needed to get Rebecca out of here. Dillan sat by Rebecca's unconscious body still holding her hand as the rest of the group stood around Jenner trying to get him to change his mind. "It will be easier this way." Jenner said. "For who?" Lori asked in disbelief. "For all of you. You know what's out there. A short brutal life and agonizing death. Your sister, what was her name?" he asked. If they only would understand that this was the best way to die in this world. Jenner believes this. Though everyone else is skeptical, Jacqui and Andrea silently agree with his world. Andrea feels she has no reason to live without her sister. She'd rather die and be with her sister again then to continue through this living hell without her. "Won't make a dent." Shane said as he caught his breath. "Those doors were made to withstand even a rocket launcher." Jenner stated. "But yer head ain't!" Daryl yelled as he ran at him with the axe. He would've plunged it in Jenner's head too, if it wasn't for them stopping him. Daryl stormed away in a huff. Stealing a few worried glances at Rebecca, who was still unconscious. "You can't keep us here." Carol pleaded. "One tiny second, a millisecond. No pain." Jenner explained. Carol ignored this clinging to her daughter. She was too worried about her well being. "My daughter doesn't deserve to die like this." she continued to plead. "Wouldn't it be better? More compassionate? To just sit with your loved ones and wait for the clock to run out?" Jenner asked. He didn't understand why these people would rather go out there and risk their lives to be later killed in the most brutal way. Why go through that when you can die in a blissful manner with your loved ones. He will never understand that.

Shane had it. He was tired of listening to this crazy son of a bitch. He grabbed a shotgun and charged at him. Rick yelled no and blocked him. "Get out of my way!" he yelled as he pushed past Rick. He pointed his gun in Jenner's face. "Open that damn door. Or I'm going to blow your head off! Ya hear me!?!?" he yelled.

[Daryl's POV]

I watched as Shane pointed his gun at Jenner. If it was me, he'd already be dead. "If he dies, we all die, Shane!" Rick yelled at him. Shane yelled and shot at a computer behind Jenner. He continued firing rounds in it till Rick stopped him. "Are you done now? Are you done?" Rick asked, ready to smack 'im in the head with the butt of the gun. "I guess we all are." Shane retorted. I headed back over to the door with the axe, beating away at it. Rick walked away from Shane and looked at Dale before looking at Jenner. "I think you're lying." he said. "What?" Jenner asked confused. "You're lying. About no hope. You could've left, but you stayed when others left. Why?" Rick asked. "I didn't have a choice. I did it for her. My wife." he said. "TS-19 was your wife?" Andrea said. "Yes, she told me to go on as long as I could. She was the Einstein... I'm just Edwin Jenner. She was a great loss to the world. It should have been me there." he stated solemnly. I stood by with the axe dangling from ma' hand. I'm gettin' fed up with this charades. Rebecca is still unconscious and the time is just ticking away. I thought angrily as I brought the axe back down against the door with a grunt. "That's all we want... Is a chance." Rick said. "Let us keep trying as long as we can." Lori continued. Jenner looked at them and sighed. "I told you topside locked. This is all I can open." he said. The doors opened in front of me. "Come on!" I yell as I run over to Rebecca. "Go on, Dillan. I got her." I said to Dillan. He ran off ahead with Lori as I carefully picked up her unconscious body. I heard Jacqui yelling that she was staying and Glenn yelling we only have 4 minutes. "Get out. Please." she said with tears in her eyes. She pushed T-dog back and we turned and ran. We ran out to the doors. "Get the doors open!" Glenn yelled. They slammed on the doors and T-dog even tried the keypad. Nothing worked. Rick and Shane slammed their axes down on the window. T-dog ran over with a chair telling them to look out. He slammed it against the window and it didn't even faze it. "Dog, get down!" Shane yelled as he pointed his shotgun at the glass. He fired a round into it and it didn't even shatter. "Rick I have something for you." Carol said getting into her bag. "Carol I don't think a nail files gonna do it." Shane said cockily. "When I washed your uniform on the first morning at camp I found this." she said as she put a grenade into his hand. "Look out!" Glenn yelled. I ran down the steps and covered Rebecca's body with my own. The explosion shook the floor and glass flied everywhere.

We ran out the windows. Shane shot down any walkers that got close, since my hands were full carrying Rebecca. We ran to the vehicles. I placed Rebecca in the truck and covered her with myself just as the CDC came down.

[Rebecca's POV]

Something warm. That was the first thing I felt. It made me feel safe. I blinked my eyes open and a few more times to clear my vision. I looked up to see beautiful blue eyes. I sat up quickly almost causing me to hit my head off Daryl's. "Glad to see you're awake." he scoffed. I rubbed my head, for some reason I have a slight headache. "What happened?" I asked as I rubbed my head. Last thing I remember is hitting the door with an axe. "You had a panic attack. Dillan helped you." he said as he slid into the driver seat. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I looked down. I looked at the CDC with sadness as I saw the black smoke poor out of its remains. "Did we all make it?" I asked, not taking my eyes off it for a second. Daryl was silent and I looked over at him. "Jacqui stayed." he said quietly. I looked down in sadness. I never really got to know Jacqui that much, but she was still one of us. I let out a sigh and rested my arm out the window and rested my head on my arm. I heard Daryl sigh as he put the truck into drive. I watched the CDC as we pulled off. Back to square one. I thought.

***

What'd you think of that Third POV? I thought it was terrible. Probably wont do it again if I don't have to.

Next chapter won't be at till the weekend. Sorry if this feels rushed, kinda was.

Anywaaays, chapter 12 is slowly coming! :P