Previous Story: 62. Whiskey in a Bottle

It took a while for Lucky and the rest of Team 1 to be admitted to the 8th Street camp. Understandably, the guards on duty at the converted high school had to be sure the new arrivals meant no harm. Lucky was careful not to mention specifics, claiming only that he needed to discuss a treatment that might help us deal with the virus’. He, Thug, Flash and Cyborg were happy to leave their weapons at the guard post and were then escorted to the school building. They passed dozens of tents and makeshift shelters. The hundreds packed into the school compound didn’t seem overly interested in four new faces.

The leaders of the camp had based themselves in a small office. They were an approachable group, the most vocal of them a direct, charismatic woman named Veronica. She was a former professor of sociology who had faced a financial crisis and found herself on the streets for a while. She and Lucky knew each other slightly, having attended the same soup kitchen. Veronica clearly believed that only a well-defended, well-organized camp would keep the inhabitants safe. Along with two of her key people, she sat down with Team 1.

‘What exactly is this treatment? We have to be careful about raising false hope.’

Lucky gestured to Cyborg, as the tech expert among them.

‘We’re in possession of a program called a ‘purge script’, which can be installed within implants to treat the virus. We believe it can both remove it from those affected – ie CyMS – and inoculate others, safeguarding them from future infection.’

‘You “believe”?’ remarked one of the camp leaders, a balding man wearing metal-rimmed glasses. ‘That doesn’t sound entirely convincing.’

Cyborg answered: ‘The treatment has worked on an individual level. It’s true that it hasn’t been tested on a large population but the risks are minimal and the potential gains huge.’

Veronica grimaced. ‘People can be sensitive about implants. Some have had them added for medical reasons, others against their will – former prisoners, for example.’

The third leader, a grey-haired woman of at least sixty, spoke up. ‘But we do have a group of CyMS here. We keep them in the gym. I can’t think of any reasons not to at least try this program on them.’

‘What about this,’ said Cyborg. ‘We can begin installing the purge script on those CyMS. If it’s successful, we can ask for volunteers from the rest of the camp.’

Veronica glanced at her two compatriots. When she received nods, she stood up. ‘Let’s get to it.’

_____

Along with Thug, Flash joined the camp guards to ensure that the gym was secure. Veronica had decided not to notify the inhabitants of the plan, for fear of sparking panic or the false hope she’d mentioned. They all agreed that there was no sensible reason not to try and assist the CyMS, who currently posed a threat to themselves and everyone else. They were being removed from the gym and treated one by one. The operation continued well into the afternoon.   

Flash found himself just outside the gym entrance with Thug. Their weapons had been returned to them and they’d made a real effort to get on with the camp guards. A couple of them seemed overly defensive but most were friendly.

‘You still didn’t tell me how you ended up inside.’ Flash had been curious about this since meeting the ex-con. He didn’t like to push but felt he knew Thug well enough now. ‘Tell me to mind my own if you want.’

‘No problem,’ replied Thug. ‘Long story though.’

‘Try me,’ said Flash.

‘Back in the day, I ran with a gang. We decided we’d try robbing a club. We got in okay but security was there when we came out. One guard started shooting. I had a shotgun.’ Thug sighed before continuing. ‘I fired back but made sure I aimed at his legs. He went down and … we scattered. I didn’t even make the getaway car. Cops caught me. The following day, I was told that the guard was dead. When I got to court, I found out that he’d been killed by a small caliber round – some of the guys with me had pistols. But I was the only one in custody and when I refused to name the others, the judge went for a harsh sentence. Fifteen years for armed robbery and involuntary manslaughter. I served ten.’

Flash admitted to himself that the view of the man before him had changed. But he couldn’t fault his honesty.

‘I thought about the guard every day,’ added Thug. ‘His name was Kevin Buchanan. He was forty, a married man with two kids. I got to come out, start life again. He didn’t get that chance and neither did his family.’

‘You didn’t kill him,’ said Flash. 

‘I should never have been there. We shouldn’t have. I knew it was wrong. I could have stopped them.’

‘How old were you?’

‘Eighteen.’

Flash chose his words carefully. ‘Of course it was wrong. Very wrong. I met plenty of guys over the years that just kept on going wrong. And I met a few that didn’t care how many they hurt, how many they killed. You’re doing the right thing now, man. And that’s what counts.’

Next Story: 64. The Purge Script - Part 3 (10th Street Camp)