No End Code

A story from the near future

Minna

Oct 01, 2023

NO END CODE

EXT. ALASKA - NEAR FUTURE

A private research team go out to observe and investigate an

abnormal aurora borealis phenomenon in a secluded Alaskan

village. Stress signals are sent out two weeks later and the

National Guard respond. Only two survivors are found. A

woman and a man.

The research station is wrapped in ice crystals. Everything

looks serene and untouched. The helicopter whisks up a white

cloud of snow particles. The men systematically search each

building. The dead are all found tied down in their beds

with several bullet wounds to their heads.

Moments later they find the woman, alive, locked in the

bathroom. The man is lying on the bathroom floor, on a

blanket, heavily sedated. The rescue mission takes less than

an hour.

INT. NATIONAL GUARD BASE - ALASKA

Irene is getting a check-up. Clean bill of health. As she

jumps off the gurney there is knock on the door. The doctor

opens the door and in walks Sergeant Dan Holt.

DAN

Finished?

DOCTOR

Yes, Sergeant Holt. Blood pressure

a bit high but no wonder...

DAN

Right. Well, we need to move

along.

DOCTOR

(motions toward Irene)

Ms. Westfield.

Irene looks at Dan, nods and zips up her fleece jacket all

the way up. Dan motions for her to walk out and follows her

into a hallway. He opens up another door and motions for her

to sit down at a table. It's an interrogation room.

DAN

You drugged them before you shot

them. Why?

IRENE

I want a lawyer.

DAN

I think even a lawyer will have a

hell of a time getting you out of

this knot. And you're the only

one...

IRENE

...uh, I believe there was one more

who came out of there alive?

DAN

Drugged beyond recognition, yeah.

IRENE

But he's alive.

DAN

Yes, technically. They're trying

to wake him up.

IRENE

They shouldn't do that.

DAN

Why?

IRENE

He's extremely dangerous.

DAN

Then why did you lock yourself up

with him?

IRENE

So I could monitor him.

DAN

Did you monitor the others too?

Irene remains quiet

DAN

Did you?

Irene looks out through the window and pulls up the jacket

zipper.

IRENE

Yes.

DAN

But something went wrong?

IRENE

Yes.

DAN

Ms. Westfield, do you realize you

have killed your entire research

team? Well, except for Mr. Storm.

Irene has no more zipper to zip up but rubs a dark patch on

the interrogation table.

DAN

You will of course be given a

lawyer, if that is what you desire.

But this is a very straight forward

case, in my opinion. Damned sad

case, I might add. Is there

anything you would like to say

before I take you to your holding

cell?

Irene shakes her head. Dan looks at her and sighs. They

stand up and he leads her to a small hospital room. He

points to a camera eye in the ceiling.

DAN

Don't be stupid.

Dan begins to close the door.

IRENE

Tell them to feed him only

processed sugars and minimal

amounts of protein. Anything

artificial is OK.

DAN

What?

Irene tries again to zip up her already zipped up jacket.

Her hands are shaking.

IRENE

I kept him sedated about twenty

hours a day and fed him sweets and

sugar. They seem to hate that.

Dan stares at Irene.

DAN

They?

Irene stares at Dan.

IRENE

It will take your team about a week

to figure out what I just told you.

Thought I'd save you time. And

don't kill Kenneth. I mean, that

is if you want to learn more.

Someone should get a lab sample as

soon as possible... of it.

Dan closes the door. Irene walks over to the bed and lies

down. She begins to shake and continues to do so until she

falls asleep.

INT. IRENE'S ROOM NEXT DAY

Irene does not sit up when Dan enters the room. She is

curled up on the bed with her back to the door. Dan pulls

the curtains apart to let in daylight. Irene does not react.

He sits down on a chair near the bed.

DAN

He sure likes to sing, doesn't he?

IRENE

What did he sing?

DAN

You're My Favorite Waste of Time.

IRENE

Yup. That's the one he likes.

DAN

And he sure as hell hates sugar.

IRENE

Yup. That he does.

DAN

Do you want me to pass on a message

to him?

IRENE

Sure.

DAN

What?

IRENE

Tell him that I would have found

out much more about him if I'd had

a couple of more days. Tell him

we're keeping him alive only for

the purpose of finding out more.

DAN

We?

IRENE

Well, however you want to phrase

it.

Irene slowly turns around and looks at Dan.

IRENE

Have you actually met Kenneth?

DAN

Sure, I've seen him.

IRENE

No, I mean have you talked to him?

Did he talk back to you?

DAN

I watched the interrogation, yes.

IRENE

Did you actually hear him talk?

DAN

Well, I actually heard him talk and

then say your name, or sing is more

like it. Where the hell are you

heading with this one?

IRENE

I guess it doesn't matter.

DAN

Yesterday you said he is extremely

dangerous. Tell me, how can a

sedated man be dangerous? All he

does is sing a stupid Marshall

Crenshaw song over and over again.

IRENE

You have to give him high

concentrations of sugar to get him

to speak.

DAN

And what will he talk about?

IRENE

Sing.

DAN

What?

IRENE

He will sing incoherent battle

songs.

Dan laughs. Irene raises herself up on one elbow.

IRENE

As did all of the others. Once I

figured out they all needed an

immense amount of tranquilizers to

stay controllable, I realized my

supply wouldn't last long.

DAN

So, you had to kill all of them

except Kenneth?

Irene sits up on the bed. Dan quickly stands up.

IRENE

Yes, for my own safety I had to.

DAN

So, they all tried to kill you

first?

IRENE

Yes, but they failed.

DAN

But you don't look like you feel

guilty.

Irene does not answer.

DAN

Tell me more.

IRENE

You think I did it for fun?

DAN

Did you?

IRENE

I did what I had to, and what you

would have too. Keep Kenneth

alive, you'll see what I mean.

DAN

What does that mean? Some

communicable disease? Why keep all

this secret if you know what's

going on?

IRENE

I went through a lot of trouble

getting this knowledge.

DAN

You're a great troubleshooter, so

to speak?

IRENE

Give me twelve hours with Kenneth.

Dan's cell phone beeps. He reads the message and looks at

Irene.

DAN

You're one amazing frozen lump!

Dan walks toward the door. He turns around.

DAN

Someone else wants to talk to you.

Dan leaves.

Ed Colton walks in. He holds out his hand toward Irene.

Good morning Ms. Westfield. I'm Ed

Colton, I'm the...

IRENE

The guy who is supposed to do what

Holt couldn't.

Holt has many other

responsibilities. This is more my

area of expertise.

IRENE

And how many similar cases have you

had?

Well, I have encountered stress

related mass-killings before.

Kenya, Afghanistan, Iraq.

IRENE

Stress related.

Yes, stress related. Let me ask

you, how important was this mission

to you?

Irene looks down and remains that way.

IRENE

How important is it to you to find

out?

How important is it to you to

return home?

Irene shrugs

What does that mean?

Irene shrugs

You don't care? Is that what you

mean? You don't care about going

home?

IRENE

Have you talked to Kenneth? Yet?

Kenneth has been sleeping most of

the time.

IRENE

Most of the time. So, he has been

awake part of the time?

Kenneth and you. Were you good

friends?

IRENE

Kenneth and I worked together.

Worked?

IRENE

Well, he's not much of a worker

right now. Is he?

I saw the security tape of your

fight.

IRENE

And still you want to know if we

were friends.

I also saw another tape. From

earlier. Where you were more.

Friendly.

IRENE

And what does that have to do with

anything?

Is that why you kept him?

IRENE

(laughs)

You are still trying to decipher

all this as if it was a mass

murder.

We do have some of them on tape.

Just in case you didn't know.

Irene sits higher up in her chair and tilts her head.

IRENE

How many of them did you get on

tape?

Three.

IRENE

Good. I need to see those tapes.

Why don't we begin from the

beginning? Maybe you can help me

along because I think we're talking

past each other.

IRENE

You're catching on a bit slower

than I'd expect a man of your kind

to do.

So, in plain English and without

any more bullshit. What happened?

IRENE

I think you're going to need to

bring a brain tissue sample to a

nano-physicist before we can

discuss more frankly.

While we wait for the samples you

can at least give me a preview of

what you want to prove to me.

IRENE

Where are the bodies kept?

Morgue.

IRENE

What temperature?

What?

IRENE

Don't lose your temper. This is

going to take a long time for you

to melt. I can tell that. You're

not really used to these kinds of

results, are you? And you want to

know what? While you're sitting

here, trying to create a perfect

reason for why eight people are

dead, while you're doing that

nothing is being done to the

bodies, or to Kenneth!

Ed abruptly stands up.

Thank you for your time, Irene. I

hope our next conversation will be

more fruitful.

IRENE

You're a real piece of something!

Ed doesn't answer.

INT. IRENE'S ROOM

Irene sits on her bed. She has showered and brushes her wet

hair. Dan walks in without knocking. Irene startles but

settles back into detangling her hair. Dan hesitates for a

moment before he sinks down on the couch.

DAN

I think you insulted Ed.

Irene smiles.

DAN

Kenneth woke up about two hours

ago.

Irene's hand begins to shake, and the brush gets stuck in her

hair. She struggles to get it out.

IRENE

Is he coherent?

DAN

Very little.

IRENE

But it's all being taped? Right?

Please tell me it's all on tape.

DAN

Yeah, it's all taped. But why is

it so important?

IRENE

Because I need someone to believe

Me.

DAN

What is it you want people to

believe?

IRENE

The tissue samples have to be

analyzed on location. All of the

bodies are contaminated. I didn't

have time to study the bodies

afterward. I don't know for sure

how they got infected in the first

place. I don't even know why I'm

not infected.

Or I have my theory, but I can't

understand why they wouldn't simply

attack me once their host is dead.

It just doesn't make sense.

Irene looks scared. She stops herself and jumps off the bed.

She is clutching the brush in her fist while pacing the room.

Dan is alert but quietly watching her.

DAN

Why do you think it's an infection?

IRENE

How else would you explain what

happened there? They came back in

the morning, chirpy and giddy

because they had collected some

amazing data overnight, at the

outpost. In the evening that same

day, during dinner, Dough threw up

and said he had a migraine. The

migraine turned worse. He was

screaming all night. Painkillers

didn't help. Steve, our med

finally gave him a tranquilizer and

it calmed him down. For a while.

An hour later he began singing. We

didn't have time to stay and listen

to him because it was around that

time that Elliot got the same

symptoms of migraine. One by one,

over a span of about 20 hours.

Kenneth knew he was going to get

there too. But you know what's

funny? He was so busy helping

everyone else during those hours

that he didn't eat or drink much.

And I think it helped stave them

off... I mean the infection. No

fever.

DAN

You believe they got infected at

the aurora borealis outpost?

IRENE

Yes.

DAN

Why the hell didn't you say so

right away?

IRENE

Because there is this business

about them being shot in the head.

DAN

See, that's why they don't get you.

You joke about it as if it's a

fucking joke!

IRENE

(bitter laugh)

I'm not!

DAN

Stop being so damn snide. You're

not in a fucking sandbox. I'll

break you down to peanut brittle if

they don't put you in your place.

IRENE

Please!

DAN

Shut up!

Irene continues to laugh.

Dan walks up to her.

IRENE

So? What?

DAN

Why don't you care about a single

fucking one of them?

Dan stands very close to Irene and waits.

IRENE

You don't know anything about what

I do or don't care about.

DAN

Then why are you acting so cold?

Shouldn't you be crying and acting

all hysteric over eight dead co

workers and one that almost killed

you... one whom you had a

relationship with, according to Ed?

Irene slowly backs toward the wall for support.

Irene quietly and slowly shakes her head.

IRENE

Because…

Irene's head hits the wall behind her. She sinks down to the

floor. Dan follows her and crouches down in front of her.

DAN

Yes? Because?

Irene swallows a dry swallow.

IRENE

Because I know they don't have to

endure what Kenneth is.

DAN

Then why did you keep him alive?

IRENE

So, we could figure out what the

hell they are!

DAN

Why don't I believe you?

IRENE

Because you want me to cry?

DAN

No, I want to see sincerity.

Irene leans forward. Dan doesn't move away but doesn't move

forward either. Both wait. Irene slides to the side and looks at Dan.

IRENE

Now you are being insincere.

Irene stands up and walk over to her bed and crawls under the

sheets. Dan slowly stands up and walks toward the door and turns

around.

DAN

No, unlike you, I'm not letting my

own personal agenda go before the

security of others.

IRENE

(throws the sheet away and

jumps up)

How dare you?

DAN

How dare I call you what you are?

IRENE

(snarls into Dan's face)

I refuse to be threatened,

persecuted, and belittled! I was

part of a highly skilled

professional team, and we

accomplished what we were set out

to do. Right, I think you are

forgetting that now, but I did make

sure your people did get all the

collected raw data. Bloody shame

we didn't have time to analyze it.

I was not going to be part of a

team that didn't perform well.

Yes, you can call it having a

personal agenda. Sure, I've been

called worse. But at this stage in

my life, I am not going to succumb

to some amateurish idiots!

DAN

I'm going to remind you that you

are in the custody of the National

Guard. We don't threaten or

belittle anyone. What we do know

is that you've killed all but one

of your teammates, and yet you seem

unmoved by it. In fact, a while

ago you said you were content they

did not have to live.

IRENE

You, sir, are twisting the truth!

DAN

As I've said before; you'll get

your chance to speak for yourself

in court. Good night.

Dan leaves. Irene cries quietly and falls asleep.

Irene wakes up from a nightmare. She gets up and tries the door. It opens.

INT. HALLWAY

Irene feels around in the pitch dark. She follows the wall.

Each door along the hallway is locked. At a dead end she

continues along the other side. The hallway extends to the

left. Irene tries every door to no avail.

A door opens behind her. She stops and flattens herself

against the wall. A flashlight spots her. Steps approach.

Irene is blinded.

DAN

So, had enough fun? Let's go.

IRENE

Where is Kenneth?

DAN

Ah, of course. Sorry, visiting

hours are very limited.

IRENE

You have to let me see him!

DAN

Irene, you don't get it. You are

nowhere close to being allowed near

him. Here, walk in front of me.

They walk.

Irene stops. Dan almost walks into her. She turns around.

IRENE

Take me somewhere we can talk.

DAN

(thinks for a moment)

Follow me.

They walk through the hallway and through doors to a room.

Dan's quarters.

INT. DAN'S QUARTERS

IRENE

Here?

DAN

Here.

Irene looks around. Dan points to his couch. They sit down.

IRENE

If I tell you what I know, will you

let me see Kenneth?

DAN

What, are we trading bookmarks now?

IRENE

You must have some idea of what

position I am in. As a member of

the National Guard you've had the

training, the preparation, to be

put in a position similar to mine.

And I know that you know what an

impossible situation this is.

DAN

Why didn't you call for help when

they got sick?

IRENE

We had a doctor in our team. And

afterward it just escalated to a

madhouse. I was not able to do

everything that seemed correct.

DAN

Not even a quick cell phone call?

IRENE

Once it became clearer to me what

was going on I decided it was safer

not to call...

DAN

Why?

IRENE

In my opinion, basing it on the

data collected and on what I

witnessed, something happened to

the field crew.

DAN

You mean the sickness?

IRENE

Yes.

DAN

Explain.

IRENE

Kenneth, as the rest of the team

before him, might have been

infected with something. I think

that something came from the aurora

borealis.

DAN

So, what would that be? Radiation?

IRENE

More than that. I think it might

be a form of particle radiation.

Perhaps even a form of nano

particles.

DAN

Nano-particles? Why?

IRENE

Because their personalities changed

so drastically and eventually

converged into a very similar

pattern.

DAN

The battle songs you spoke of...

IRENE

Right. I am not processing this

any faster than you, but I had the

so-called privilege of being stuck

with these... beings for almost a

week. And I have seen them change

into horrid and unrecognizable

beings. It is one thing to think

about it but to see it, to see the

person you know vanish and just

have the shell remain. And yet

there is a force continuing in

there. But nothing inside of them

was left. Once they passed that

certain point, the migraine, the

screaming, the calm, and then the

hours of sleep. Once they woke up

all of it was gone. I couldn't

make any connection. They didn't

seem to recognize me. They could

see, hear, smell, and perform

regular body functions. And yes,

they did speak English. They sang.

All of it was done with such a

disconnect from humanity. A few

days into it they all became

violent and wanted to kill me. A

lot of tranquilizers was wasted

because I hoped and hoped they

would change. They didn't. I

didn't shoot the first one.

Kenneth did. But I did kill

the rest of them. I had to.

It escalated with such rapidity,

that I became trapped in an insane,

never-ending, wheel of feeding,

tranquilizing, and fighting. But

it was more than that. When

Kenneth killed Dough, he said

something interesting. He said

Dough didn't wear a hat. He told

me that it had snowed most of the

time out at the station, and Dough

had been outside fixing the

receiver and came in covered in

snow. So, Kenneth was the one

making the connection between

precipitation and the nanos. I'm

pretty sure it must be something

like that. None of us had any

experience with nanotechnology or

such, but what else could it have

been? It just wasn't purely

biological... It didn't spread that

way. We did do our rudimentary

tests. Nothing. And the guys were

of course freaking out. They knew

they were next in line singing

battle songs. We had to lock them

up for God's sake!

DAN

Why do you think people here

wouldn't believe you?

IRENE

You don't.

DAN

Is it important to you that I

believe you?

IRENE

It would be a good start.

DAN

Well, I have no scientific

education of the kind you refer to.

I can only go by what you have told

me and by what I have seen in sick

bay and what I will learn the next

few days. Do I believe you? To be

honest, I don't know. I do believe

that you believe it. I see that in

you.

But one thing you still will have

to face is the fact that you are

now outside that situation and will

have to face some tough questions.

What you have done might prove to

be acceptable, who knows. But I can

fully understand your reluctance to

speak out. And your defensive

attitude is normal. What sticks out

is your aggressive persistence to

be part of the examination of

Kenneth.

IRENE

Because I think Kenneth might be

the last one of them. I think that

might be it after he's gone.

DAN

Really?

IRENE

I don't think it is a communicable

disease.

DAN

No fast-spreading invasion from

space?

IRENE

None of us have it.

DAN

So, you think Kenneth is your get

out of jail card.

IRENE

Bingo!

DAN

But you won't be able to

participate in any examination of

him.

IRENE

Don't be so sure.

DAN

You have not fully cooperated with

Ed, or me for that matter. We're

in the middle of an investigation.

You running out in the middle of

the night. Us speaking off the

record...

IRENE

(relieved sigh)

Thank you.

DAN

So, there is some softness in you

after all.

IRENE

It really seems to fascinate you.

DAN

Fascinate is a strong word.

IRENE

Ah.

Dan stands up.

DAN

Well, time to get back.

Dan and Irene walk back to her room. Dan locks the door

between them. Irene leaves the light on and lies down on the

bed.

INT. IRENE'S ROOM MORNING

Ed Colton knocks on the door, unlocks it and enters. Irene

sits cross-legged on the bed.

Good morning, Irene.

IRENE

Hello.

I thought we'd take our breakfast

in the cafeteria. Not too crowded

this hour of the day.

IRENE

All right.

They walk to the cafeteria and serve themselves from the

breakfast buffet. A few people sit there and eat breakfast.

INT. CAFETERIA

Eat up. I'm taking you to full

physical scan afterward.

IRENE

What are you looking for?

(taps on his forehead)

I want to see what's going on in

here. Everything. Inside out, top

to the bottom!

IRENE

All right, it should be interesting.

Not worried?

IRENE

Why should I be worried?

Perhaps we'll find something?

IRENE

You want to find something.

I want to find out why you killed

your team in what you call self

defense and then waited almost a

week before calling for help.

IRENE

Have you scanned Kenneth?

Yes. A little dehydrated. High

levels of adrenaline, but nothing

unusual. Temporary diabetes from

the shock. Brain scans

inconclusive since you've kept him

sedated for so long. Most likely

the phenytoin you gave him.

IRENE

Did the lab samples come back yet?

No.

IRENE

You're kidding! I've told both you

and Dan to take samples as soon as

possible!

Right, yes, you are concerned about

nano-bots. Isn't that so?

IRENE

Yes.

Would you care to explain why you

think all of your team would

suddenly have a bout of nano-bots?

IRENE

Because I couldn't find any other

physical cause, bacterial or viral.

I apologize in advance if I have

overlooked something, but are you a

trained medical physician as well

as an astrophysicist and

nanoparticle expert?

IRENE

You can spare me your sarcasm. No,

I'm not a doctor but I know enough

about it to run some tests.

All right, fair enough. And what

makes you competent to identify

their symptoms to stem from nano

bots? As I understand it barely

anyone in the field have a thorough

knowledge or understanding of them.

IRENE

It was an intuition.

You are telling me that you, a

scientist, who strive to follow

clear and precise steps of

investigation, that you would be,

no were, so sure of your intuition,

your guess that lacked any kind of

evidence at all, that you without a

hesitation just decided to shoot

your entire team, except Kenneth

Storm, whom you decided to keep for

further investigation.

IRENE

That is what you are telling me.

It is your interpretation of what

you think happened.

Then why don't you enlighten me?

Tell me what happened. Tell me why

you think it is nano-bots! Why the

hell nano-bots? Where the hell did

you come up with that?

IRENE

Did they check your credits before

they sent you here?

All right let's look at it your

way. Say it is nano-bots. Do you

know how common nano-bots are?

IRENE

Georgia Tech and Rice have built

some.

Building some is entirely different

from injecting them into eight

unsuspicious people. Georgia Tech

is still testing them on a non

biological level and are having

severe difficulties once the bots

are activated. None of these bots

are yet capable of running

extensive sequences such as taking

over a human body.

IRENE

I think we've found an early

Christmas present for them.

I think you're smart enough to not

take that road, Irene.

IRENE

Send them the tissue samples.

Colonel Holt told me you have made

it very clear you want to be

included in the inspection of

Kenneth Storm.

That you seem very eager to be part

of this scientific endeavor. Let

me ask you, can you see how it

would puzzle us that someone, you,

who is accused of killing eight of

your own team members, would

without a flinching of an eye

demand to participate in

systematically investigating

something that science barely has

created yet? Can you see how it

would deeply puzzle us when you

spend most of your time demanding

biopsies of non-existent

nanoparticles or whatever you are

trying to call them? Colonel Holt

is also, as am I, surprised by the

lack of emotion you're showing

after such an ordeal. Am I missing

something?

IRENE

There will be enough of time for

emotion later!

Ed looks at his watch.

Not very hungry, are we? Well,

breakfast time's up. Let's go.

Irene hasn't touched her breakfast.

Ed leads the way through the hallway into the medical wing.

Doctor Vivian Balakan greets them.

INT. MEDICAL LAB

DR. BALAKAN

Morning. Ready?

Morning Dr. Balakan! Yes, we are.

DR. BALAKAN

Miss Westfield. Remove any metal

objects you have on your body.

Irene removes her jacket and her belt

DR. BALAKAN

All right. Follow me Miss

Westfield. Dr. Colton will have to

stay here.

Good luck, Irene.

Some time later Irene walks out of the scanning room with Dr.

Balkan. Dan and Ed stand up. Irene looks at Dan.

DR. BALAKAN

Normal. Anything else you want me

to look at?

Can you see it this quickly? You

don't need to study it more in

depth? No comparative charts?

DR. BALAKAN

All standard pointers are

automatically compared. Normal.

What about blood tests?

DR. BALAKAN

Normal. We took them yesterday.

Tissue sample?

Dr. Balakan walks over to the coffeemaker and pours herself a

cup.

DR. BALAKAN

Sure. We can do that. What do you

want me to look for?

Nano-bots. In the brain.

Dr. Balakan takes a gulp of coffee. She looks at each of

them.

DR. BALAKAN

Nano-bots in the brain. Yes, they

did warn me about taking this job

in the middle of blasted nowhere...

What?

You heard me. Nano-bots. Tiny

computers that can work inside an

organic system. See if she has

them.

DR. BALAKAN

There are no such tests available

here. I've never heard of anything

like that available, except in

specialized labs for such things.

I can't work magic, you know!

Georgia Tech can. Find a way to

take a sample of her brain tissue

and rush it to Georgia Tech. We'll

find someone to stamp an approval.

Perhaps Atlanta can do something as

well.

IRENE

When do you want to take the brain

tissue sample? What kind of

procedure is it?

DAN

First time I see you nervous,

Irene. Are you nervous?

IRENE

Not exactly looking forward to

having my brain scrambled, but I'll

do it.

DAN

(to Dr. Balakan)

How soon can you do this thing?

DR. BALAKAN

I have to contact Georgia Tech and

Atlanta to verify that this

nanotech test actually can be done,

and how they want to sample taken.

A few hours should be enough.

Dr. Balakan walks over to her computer and ignores the rest

of them.

Call us when you're ready.

DR. BALAKAN

Will do.

Dan takes Irene back to her room. Irene sits down on the

couch and closes her eyes. Dan looks at her curiously.

INT. IRENE'S ROOM

DAN

Do you have any family I can call

for you?

Irene rubs her eyes and shakes her head.

DAN

You do or don't?

IRENE

I don't want to talk to anyone.

DAN

I'm sure they must be very worried

about you, you know. It's been

weeks since you last saw them, no?

Irene squeezes the spot between her eyes, and looks at Dan.

IRENE

I think I might be infected.

Dan sees how frightened Irene looks and walks over to her.

He sits down next to her. Irene jumps a little at the sudden

close proximity.

DAN

Now, why would you say such a

thing? Wouldn't you be much worse

off already if you were? Migraine

and all the other stuff?

Irene sinks back into the couch and squints straight up.

IRENE

I have the worst headache of my

life. Right now. My vision field

is distorted. I can barely see you

to my left. Just started when we

walked back.

Irene is cold sweating. Small pearls of sweat are forming on

her forehead.

IRENE

Can you turn down the light?

Irene sags down toward Dan and falls onto his lap. Dan snaps

open his phone and calls for the medics. Irene's head is in

his lap. She is sobbing.

IRENE

It hurts like hell!

DAN

Irene! Hold on, let me turn down

the lights.

Is this better?

Irene can only nod.

IRENE

Dan, listen, they have to take the

sample soon. I haven't got long.

The door flings open and two paramedics and Ed rush in.

DAN

She got sick all of a sudden. She

says she has a horrible headache,

and wanted me to turn the lights

off.

Could it have been the scan? We

need to get her out of here

quickly!

The paramedics lift Irene onto a gurney and roll her out.

DAN

She told me... she told me she

doesn't have long left... what the

hell do you think that means?

Ed looks puzzled.

Damn! What if she is right?

DAN

She told us to take the sample

Soon.

Dan and Ed rush into the medical lab. Dr. Balakan is

examining Irene. Irene is moaning and shielding her eyes

from the intense medical light.

INT. MEDICAL LAB

DR. BALAKAN

Nothing's out of the ordinary.

Except her blood pressure is

rising. And she says she has a

migraine and obviously is sensitive

to light.

Dr. Balakan turns down the light and they all are left

standing in the twilight.

IRENE

(whispers)

Please take the sample soon. Soon!

INT. OUTSIDE MEDICAL LAB

Dr. Balakan stands in the hallway outside the medical lab and

talks to Ed and Dan. They can see Irene through the

plexiglass. Irene is writhing and screaming. She has been

tied down to the bed. IV drips lead into both her arms and

into her neck. A white cotton cap is covering her head.

DR. BALAKAN

We'll have to wait 48 to 60 hours

for the results. The samples have

been scanned and emailed to

Atlanta.

What's going on? What is this?

DR. BALAKAN

Exactly as she described. Look, I

don't know what the hell we have

here, but she isn't lying. I also

took samples from the other

scientist.

DAN

But how could she have stayed

symptom free for so long?

DR. BALAKAN

She's pregnant. And she hasn't

eaten or drunk anything since you

found her. She thinks it has

latched on to her... fetus.

DAN AND ED

(simultaneously)

Oh God!

What are you going to do?

DR. BALAKAN

I'm giving her nutrients. And

plenty of fluids. And

tranquilizers. And painkillers.

DAN

How's the other guy?

DR. BALAKAN

Unchanged, sort of. It seems he's

reached a peak and is now fairly

predictable in his behavior. He'll

never recover. His brain is

completely and utterly rewired.

Uncoiled. It's not doing much more

than maintaining the basic life

supporting functions. And then a

bunch of irrational signals that

awakens him every twelve or so

hours. Adrenaline shoots up like a

geyser. But even that is subsiding.

I think he's dying. I mean I'm not

trained to diagnose this kind of

shit!

Dr. Balakan sounds slightly desperate.

Dan is looking at Irene through the window. She is calming

down now. She is looking at him. Pleading with her eyes,

opening and closing them slowly.

DAN

Oh God, she is in the calm phase

now. I remember her telling me

about the different phases. Calm,

then sleep and then... the human

part vanishes.

I want to talk to her! Let me in!

DR. BALAKAN

I don't think it's a good…

Dan ignores her and walks in to see Irene.

INT. MEDICAL LAB

DAN

Irene. Can you hear me? You're

calming down, just like you told me

the others did. I can see that.

I, I believe you.

Irene is tensing up, trying to penetrate the layers of

tranquilizers. She aims her head in a bird like fashion

toward Dan. Tears are rolling down her face.

She opens and closes her mouth, but no sound emerges. She

finally manages to nod a yes. Dan glances over his shoulder

toward Dr. Balakan and Ed.

DAN

(yells to Dr. Balakan)

Are you getting this on tape? Are

you? And come and get her off the

tranquilizers! She needs to stay

awake for as long as possible!

They nod and point to the cameras.

DAN

Irene, the sedatives will taper off

now. Stay with me. Stay awake.

There is something I need to tell

you. Are you with me?

Irene stares and nods. A guttural sound comes from somewhere

deep in her throat. Dan is struggling to keep his composure.

DAN

Irene, do you know that you're

pregnant?

Dan waits. Irene's tears are dripping down on the pillow and

her nose is getting stuffy. She cannot wipe it off because

her hands are still tied. She is gargling. Dan grabs the

corner of her sheet and gently wipes her face clean.

DAN

Irene, you're about eight weeks

pregnant. Did you know that you

are pregnant?

Irene is shaking her head in stiff, jerky motions.

IRENE

(barely able to speak)

Nooo... nooo!

Dan leans in and wipes her tears and her nose.

DAN

Do you know who the father is?

Someone we can contact?

IRENE

(shakes her head)

Nooo... nooo!

DAN

But there must be! Think! Think

back. Who?

Irene is staring straight into Dan's eyes, desperately trying

to force words out.

IRENE

Noot p-regnant! Noo... sex!

Irene coughs and her face contorts into a semblance of a

smile. Dan cannot help but smile at the irony of it.

DAN

No sex huh, so you can't be

pregnant.

Dan turns to look at Dr. Balakan, who in turn looks

bewildered.

DR. BALAKAN

(speaks via intercom)

I have a crystal-clear pregnancy

test result. Positively consitent

with approximately eight weeks

pregnant. Even shows on

ultrasound. She's definitely

Pregnant!

Irene continues to shake her head and tries to eel her way

out of the restraints. Dan reaches to loosen them and

decides to undo them entirely. Irene immediately grabs his

hands with such strength that he regrets he let her loose.

She is incredibly strong!

Irene struggles to speak. Her mouth is dry, and her tongue

doesn't obey her.

IRENE

May-be Kenneth's... but not eight

wee-ks. No-t possi-ble.

Dan sees how much energy it's taken her to form just one

simple sentence and realizes the urgency.

DAN

Do you know what it is?

IRENE

(contorted smile)

A... a jo-joke!

Dan doesn't understand. He repeats his question.

DAN

I mean the nanos; do you know where

they came from? What are they?

Irene wipes her eyes and feels her face with her fingers.

She is trying to set it into a smile with her fingers.

IRENE

A... a cru-el jo-joke!

Irene hiccups her answer and tries to twist her body into a

more comfortable position. Dan helps her roll over to her

side.

DAN

A joke, huh. Yeah, I'm sure it all

seems like a cruel joke. Just stay

with us, Irene, we are trying to

find out what has happened. The

tests will be ready soon.

She is grabbing his arm and violently shaking her head,

throwing her hands out.

IRENE

Noo... this! This inside this!

She grabs her cap covered head and motions toward it.

IRENE

Cruel! Joke! In-siiide! In

siiide! Noo... end code!

DAN

End code? Inside... your brain?

You mean, you can feel what it is

and it's a code of some kind?

Irene is nodding frantically. She is stuttering and forcing

out sounds.

IRENE

B-baad j-joke. Al-most know...

now. It's... worr-king h-haard!

DAN

Is it working hard on your brain?

To take it... over?

IRENE

(grinning proudly and

crying)

B-but I... I'm st-still heeeere!

Thaaank y-you, D-Dan! F-For be

believing m-meee!

Dan can feel his own face twisting and fighting with

emotions. She is still holding his hands.

IRENE

T-try... saaave b-bay-bee? Plee

ase? Maybe too late...

DAN

Absolutely. I promise. But you

know what? Just stay here with me,

and stay awake, and you'll get to

see the baby yourself! Dr. Balakan

already saw it on the scan!

Irene's face is twisted into a trembling smile. Her hands are

like claws trying to help her face obey her.

IRENE

Oh-kay!

Dan pats her shoulder. He rises to leave but she pulls him

back.

IRENE

St-aay. I must not sleeep. Baad

idea to sleep.

Dan sits back down and grabs her hand.

DAN

Of course, I'll stay. And don't

you dare fall asleep! Hey, did I

tell you about the time…

Dan proceeds to talk to Irene and keep her awake.

DR. BALAKAN

Atlanta called. They can get us

the results in... 72 hours.

That's too late! She's already

drifting off! We need to know!

DR. BALAKAN

I'm going to try to inject a

stimulant. Let's see what happens.

DAN

See, we'll keep you awake!

IRENE

It muu-st have gotten looos-t!

DAN

Hey! There you are! What got

lost?

IRENE

Thee jooke! Haha! It got looost!

I think I confuused the ba-bastard!

DAN

I wish I understood. It got lost?

The code got lost in your brain? Is

that what you mean?

IRENE

Haha! It waasn't e-even meean-t f

for uuusss!

Irene lets out a loud staccato laugh and then becomes very

still.

IRENE

D-Dan... I k-killed a loot of... of

f-friends!

DAN

You did kill several people, yes

you did.

IRENE

N-noot huuu-man any-moore. Noo...

end code.

DAN

You said it wasn't meant for us.

Do you mean us humans? So, who was

it meant for?

IRENE

W-whoo knowwss! F-frieends!

Ennemiies! Crrruuel joke!

DAN

You're saying the particles, the

nanoparticles, were accidentally

exposed to you and your team? I

still don't get how you got them?

You were not at the outpost! Do I

have them? Am I contaminated?

What about the battle songs? And

what about the Marshall Crenshaw

song? How would something,

something from elsewhere, know a

Marshall Crenshaw song?

Irene's face twitches to a strange smile and then she closes

her eyes. A moment later her eyes and mouth pop open wide and her

entire body is stiffened into an elongated shape. Dan

instinctively removes his hand away from her hand.

IRENE

(sings loudly and proudly)

You're m-myy... favorite w-waaste

of time!

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Check out No End Code, my sci-fi anthology, where this story is featured.

Cabinet of Curiosities

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