Tony and Theresa walked down to Mike’s cabin, but he wasn’t there so they headed to the sickbay. They found Mike sitting on the floor outside the door with his back against the wall. He looked up when they approached, but then ignored them and stared at the floor.
“Any word from Jess?” asked Theresa.
“Nope. She won’t let me in.”
“What did she say?” asked Tony.
“Nothin’. She told me to go get some sleep.”
Tony extended his hand to Mike, who looked at for a second, then grabbed it and pulled himself up off the floor. Tony didn’t let go of his hand. “No hard feelings, bro,” he said quietly.
Mike smacked Tony’s shoulder. “Yeah, we’re cool.”
Theresa looked at him with puppy-dog eyes. “Are we cool, too?”
Mike forced a smile and gave her a quick unexpected hug. “We’re cool. I’m sorry. I don’t know why that guy gets under my skin so fast, but he does.”
“I know—you’re trying,” said Theresa sarcastically.
“Yeah. Well, I guess I’ll have to try harder,” he replied. Theresa knocked on the door. “Jess! It’s Theresa. Can I come in?”
They could hear footsteps approach the door, but it didn’t open. “I’m sorry, Theresa, but no one’s coming in here right now. And I’m not coming out.”
“How is he?” asked Tony.
“Worse. A lot worse. I’m not sure . . .” Her voice choked off and the three of them looked at each other on their side of the door. Jess was crying on the other side. Tony put his hand on the door, wishing he could at least give her a hug. After a moment, Jess composed herself and spoke again. “He’s not gonna make it. There’s nothing I can do.”
Theresa looked at Tony and spoke quietly. “I’ll get Ted.” She avoided looking at Mike and headed for the lab.
“Jess, let me in,” said Tony softly.
“No way, Tony. He’s already changed so much. It’s horrifying. I don’t know what to do for him! I just hope he isn’t in any pain. It’s horrible . . .” She was crying again.
“Let me in, Jess.”
“No! We can’t risk anyone else getting sick.”
“What about you?”
“I’m wearing a full suit.”
“So hand me a suit through the door.”
“I’m not opening this door. No one’s coming in here.”
Tony looked at Mike. “Now what?”
Mike shrugged. “Don’t ask me. I was trying to get in there for twenty minutes before you showed up. She’s got her mind made up.”
Ted arrived with Theresa. He acknowledged Tony and Mike and knocked on the door. “Dr. Clark, it’s Ted. I need to see the commander.”
“I can’t let you in, Ted. It could infect the whole ship and kill everyone. Whatever this bacteria is, it’s lethal and I have no medicine to stop it. Just stay out there and I’ll take care of Jim.”
“Is he speaking?”
“No.”
“Heart rate and respiration?” Ted asked through the door.
“Very slow. Almost imperceptible.”
“Tongue?”
Tony and Mike made faces. “Tongue?” they both asked at the same time.
“Bright red and swollen.”
Ted looked at the three of them. “The transformation has begun. We’ll know better in a few days.”
“In a few days? What are you talking about? He’ll be dead by then!” exclaimed Mike.
“Maybe. Or maybe he’ll be stronger and healthier than he’s ever been. We need to remain calm and act like scientists.”
“That’s great, Ted. Tell ya what. When you get sick, I’ll be sure and take lots of notes and pictures of you,” said Mike, who walked away down the hall.
Ted ignored him. “Jessica, I am in command of the ship. I am ordering you to open this door.”
“Ted, with all due respect, I’m the medical officer on this ship and I’m quarantining the sickbay. This bacteria is lethal within forty-eight hours and we’ve got nothing to treat it with!”
Ted’s face showed his anger. “And what, exactly, do you plan on doing in there with him, Jessica?”
“I’m just keeping him company. It’s all I can do. If he looks like he’s in pain, I have morphine I can give him. When he’s gone, I’ll seal the body in hazmat bags and sterilize this place again. I don’t know what else I can do.”
“Jessica, you have no idea what you’re dealing with in there. Open the goddamn door and let me see Jim!” Ted screamed, no longer trying to hide his rage.
“Ted, I’m not opening the door. You shouldn’t even be around the sickbay. Go shower carefully, eat something healthy, and get some sleep. And pray we all don’t end up the same way.”
Ted looked at Tony. “That door is opening one way or another. If I have to take it off its hinges, it’s opening. I’m getting tools from the power plant. Stay here.”
Ted stormed off to the power plant to get a crowbar while the other three tried to talk to Jess through the door.
***********
Ted moved quickly through the power plant and grabbed a crowbar from his toolkit. When he was sure no one had followed him, he hustled to the biofuel room and keyed in to check on Ian.
Ian reacted to him walking into the room and began floundering in the cylinder, arms and legs kicking as he swam up and down. He looked like he was trying to get out of the top.
Ted was intrigued. “Feeling stronger, Ian?” he asked. “Hungry?” He walked closer and Ian’s face showed animal-like rage. “Oh, my. Feeling pissy today, Mr. MacMullen?” Ted smiled as Ian tried to bang against the inside of the glass. “Be a good boy or I won’t give you any more of that delicious bluefish.” Ian bounced off the bottom of the tank and lunged against the top, which was sealed shut. It didn’t budge.
“Behave or I’ll have you mounted and put over my fireplace,” said Ted with a sneer.
He stood in awe for a few more minutes, amazed at the changes in Ian from the day before. Ted couldn’t help but wonder how much of Ian’s brain was still “Ian.” Did he really have any idea of what had happened to him? Ted felt goose bumps on his arms when he contemplated Ian’s fate. He smiled when he pictured Jim swimming around next to him—his own little menagerie of sea creatures. It would make for quite an aquarium. He turned and hustled back to the sickbay.