“There was no real danger of that—I’vebeen dosing him with different anti-virals since he was first infected,”Sevsaid loftily.
But it seemed thatCassandrawasn’t buying what he was telling her.
“They tried anti-virals in theCrystalCitytoo,” she said, giving him a skeptical look.“Whenour belovedMayorKisslyxwas bitten, some of the best scientists in the city locked him in a cage and began trying everything they could.”
“Oh?Andwhat was the result?”Sevarched an eyebrow at her, genuinely curious thought he thought he could guess the outcome.
“He turned even faster after they injected him with that stuff,”Cassandrasaid, frowning.“Inforty-eight hours he went from a thinking, speaking, rational being to a ravenous, slobberingInfectedwho just wanted to eat everyone he saw.Didn’tyou think you were taking an awful chance withRavik?Imean, keeping him so close?”
“He’s my best friend, all right?”Sevsnapped, surprising himself by revealing the truth instead of just putting her off.“He’ssaved my life more times thanIcan count andI’vesaved his as well.Ican’t just put him out in theDeadZoneto die—not whenImight be able to save him!”
“Okay, okay—sorry.”Thehuman woman held up her hands in a “don’t shoot” gesture.“Ididn’t mean to offend you—Iwas just trying to figure out what’s going on around here.”
“What’s going on isresearch,”Sevsaid shortly.“Iactually came here to study rare viruses with one of the top scientists onVisslickPrime—Dr.Hisslax.”
“Oh,Iheard about him!”she exclaimed.“Hewas supposed to be working on an antidote for the sleeping sickness that only affectsVisskousmales, wasn’t he?”
“So he was.”Sevnodded.“AndIbelieve he was on the verge of a breakthrough…but that was when theHungerVirusbroke out and we turned all our attention to finding a cure.”
Cassie raised her eyebrows at him.
“So isDr.Hisslaxdown here, too?”
Sev shook his head regretfully.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t make it.Hewas bitten by anInfectedduring our run from the main research facility to the bunker.”
“So you came here after the infection started to spread?Youweren’t working here in the first place?”she sounded surprised.
“No.Thisis actually a historical site, built to replicate how theVisskouspeople lived hundreds of cycles ago during theNaniteplagues of the 1640s,”Sevexplained.“ThelocalHistoricalSocietykept it in working order.Weonly knew about it becauseDr.HisslaxtookRavikand myself on a tour during a day off.WhentheHungerVirusstarted spreading in earnest, we brought our equipment down here to try and find a cure.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you took that tour,Iguess,”Cassandraremarked, nodding in appreciation.“Whatall do you have down here?”
“Almost everything we need to sustain life indefinitely,”Sevsaid proudly.“There’sa shielded nuclear reactor which gives us pretty much unlimited power…an underground reservoir of water that won’t run out for thousands of years…even a hydroponic garden thatI’vebeen attempting to get going again.Sofar none of my plants have bourn fruit, butI’mhopeful,” he added.
Cassandra frowned thoughtfully.
“That’s all pretty impressive, butInotice you didn’t mention much about food.”
Sev raked a hand through his hair.Thishuman was quick—he wished she wasn’t.
“Well…that is a problem.Becausethe bunker was used mainly for historical tours, it wasn’t really stocked with any food.RavikandIgo on supply runs often—sometimes he goes without me, just to get out because being in here makes him stir crazy.Butwe’re always running lower thanI’dlike.”
The curvy little human nibbled her lower lip.
“Then taking me in is going to strain your resources, isn’t it?”
“Honestly, yes.Butwe’ll manage,”Sevtold her.Hedidn’t believe in sugar coating the truth.“Speakingof supplies, this is our kitchen,” he added, nodding to a doorway off the main corridor.
“Oh—canIsee?Ilove to cook,” she remarked.
“Of course.Let’sgo in.”
He ushered her into the long, galley kitchen where a row of pots and pans hung from the walls on one side and the other was lined with cupboards.Therewas a small stove and oven—a primitive way of cooking toSev, who was used to the wave cookers on theMotherShip.Therewas also a cold unit and a freezer unit—both empty at the moment, unfortunately.
Cassandra immediately began opening cupboards, just as though she had the right.
“By all means—make yourself at home,”Sevsaid dryly.
