The Dead War Series (Book 1): Good Intentions Read Free

dotting all my I’s and crossing all of my T’s .”
    “Do what you have to do.” Richard looked down at his watch. “Listen, my break is over. I’ll see you this Saturday, right?” He pointed at him as he rose from his chair.
    Vincent nodded. “Yeah, Sarah and I will be there at about two, is that cool?”
    “Perfect, see you then.” Richard walked toward the door making sure to toss his trash in the waste paper basket on the way out.
    Vincent sipped the last drop of his bitter coffee and rose from the table. He tossed the Styrofoam cup in the recycling bin and went straight to his lab. After donning the bio-protective suit, he went through the decontamination chamber and stood still under the chemical mist. Once the process was complete, he walked out of the chamber into the lab and met up with his fellow scientists.
    “How is test subject 12-19?” Vincent asked in greeting.
    “There has been a steady decline in his health. I administered six milliliters of the VH-32 into the solution in 12-19’s IV, but there’s been no change as of yet,” Dr. Philip Pierce informed.
    Vincent sighed again. In spite of some very violent and undesired side effects, VH-32 was the most concentrated formula they had. It was able to heal broken bones and cure full blown AIDS in less than sixty-seconds. Unfortunately, the subject suffered from powerful withdrawal symptoms. Whatever the test ape 12-19 was suffering from, the strongest vaccine they had—even with its flaws---wasn’t working. This wasn’t good. Vincent knew they were trifling with forces they had no business fucking with. The day he was told to study the top secret red liquid he’d acquired from the high ranking military general, Bradley Fuller, he knew he was in for trouble. That was nearly six months ago and the government never divulged where they got the base solution, what it was, or anything concrete about its origins, for that matter. It worried Vincent at first. Their lab was supposed to study holistic medicines—natural herbs and remedies. After one look at the compound they'd been given, he knew that they were breaking new ground. He just hoped it was for the better.
    Vincent walked over to the cage where test subject 12-19 lay on his side. The ape’s chest rose slowly as he struggled to breathe. Vincent frowned as he looked at the discoloration around the ape’s eyes, nose, and mouth. The black skin had turned an ashen gray and looked to be dry and crusty.
    “You said you gave it six milliliters of VH-32?” Vincent asked.
    Dr. Philip turned around. “Yes, and that was twenty minutes ago. It’s still not working?”
    “No. I think the subject is dying. If anything we’ve learned from this is that compound RTX-52 counteracts whatever definitive properties are in the VH-32 and VH-12. If it’s showing this sort of adverse results in the ape, it will most likely have the same effects on human DNA,” Vincent pointed out.
    Philip walked over to the cage to check in on their test subject. The animal was clearly in pain, but it was far too weak to move. Every few seconds it released a pitiful whimper or moan. They studied the dying ape with frowns on their faces. It was customary to give the animals numbers. To give them names would create personal bonds and, as scientists, they couldn’t afford to have sympathy for the animals in their care. Human lives depended on their objectivity and skill to remain on task. Still, seeing the animal lying in the cage suffering put both men in a shameful state knowing they were the cause of it. They had never lost an animal test subject before. Their usual experiments never produced these kinds of deadly results. This whole situation was taking its toll on everyone and everything involved.
    “Maybe we should put it out of its misery?” Philip suggested.
    “I wouldn’t do that, doctors,” Dr. Henrick intervened, coming up behind the two men. He peeked into the cage and groaned. “Even though test specimen