Without a Tommorrow

Screams got lost in the panicked bursts of gunfire. A young athletic brunette clutched her submachine pistols as a middle aged man fumbled nervously with an electronic box. Alien screams rattled his nerves. Sweat befuddled his grip. He attached a few wires and the gunfire roared outside the room. The brunette raised her weapons. The Gunfire died. A great force struck the door. The man whipped his head around in fear. Groans of steel and wood filled the room as the hinges cried in desperation. The brunette fingered her triggers. The door slammed against the concrete floor. A horde of people stood in the door; once citizens of the thriving city and now mindless thralls of CJD Fury Variant. Jumping with fright the man flipped the switch and the machine whirled to life. The distinctive staccato of automatic guns filled the room. Bullets chipped away the attacking mobs. The man turned for the brunette. Soon her guns would run empty and humanities hope with them. 1

“Elli, get in the machine!” he cried2

The brunette continued her salvo.3

“That is an order! Get in!”4

She lowered her weapons and ran for the machine. As she stepped inside, the man grabbed her guns and tore off her necklace, coat and belt.5

“No metal in the chrono sequencer; you’ll fry your circuitry,” he screamed as the mob clambered over the mound of bodies blocking the door.6

A hand grabbed his shirt and another his elbow. The man struggled and bit the gnarled hands clawing at his limbs. With a desperate swipe, his hand struck the ignition. Her eyes beheld the man savagely quartered right before she dissolved into nothing.7

The sun beat down on his black suit as Detective Beckem stood over the body. It was the middle of October, but right now it felt like midsummer. Beckem pushed back his wheat colored hair and wiped the sweat from his brow.8

“Tell me about our victim,” he asked.9

“Caucasian female, mid to late twenties; DOA. No ID, No blood, no obvious wounds.”10

Suddenly a screeching beep erupted from the waist of the investigator.11

“Couldn’t you have found a better cellphone ring?” the detective said covering his ears.12

“This chick is hot,” the investigator replied looking at his belt.13

“I’m not into necrophila, but I could see it,” the detective said.14

“No, I mean backup! My radiation meter is going nuts,” the investigator shot back.15

Beckem stepped back as the investigator radioed for the hazmat unit. It had been a slow week in Watercrest, Indiana. Hell, it was always a slow week in Watercrest. This was the first murder victim Beckem had seen in months. Most days he regretted leaving the National Guard, but today was not one of them. Who was this brunette and why is she radioactive? Maybe she works at the nuclear power plant five miles outside town. Luckily the mayor had the foresight to equip all emergency personnel with radiation meters after some of the waste barrels when missing ten months ago. Maybe this woman was only a victim of her own crime; perhaps she had stolen the waste. What ever the case Beckem watched as men in radiation suits placed her body in a lead bag.16

The body was decontaminated and promptly sent to the corner’s office. Dr. Polanski washed her hands and put on her latex gloves. It had been a long time since she had a victim this young. The young ones always bothered her; they reminded her of her younger sister. Polanski looked at the cadaver. A sheen of water still covered the brunette. Drawing a calming breath, Dr. Polanski switched on the camera.17

“Victim is a Jane Doe. Approximately 25 years old, no signs of external trauma. Preparing to draw blood for toxin screen,” Dr. Polanski said.18

She reached for needle. Taking the victims arm, she carefully pushed the tip of the needle against the brunette’s skin. The resistance given by the skin immediately sent chills down Dr. Polanski’s spine. 19

“This isn’t skin. What is this woman?” Dr. Polanski asked in fear.20

The tube attached to the needle remained empty even after being attached to the victim.21

Something was wrong. 22

“Jackass,” Dr. Polanski said believing Beckem had set her up.23

It was a week before Halloween and Beckem was known for playing tricks. This time he had gone way too far. Dr. Polanski picked up her phone.24

“I’ll have your badge for this one Beckem,” Dr. Polanski growled into her phone.25

“For what,” Beckem asked.26

“The dummy you sent to my office. Tampering with evidence is a crime,” Dr. Polanski shouted.27

“What are you talking about? The only thing in your office should be that Jane Doe we found on Fourth and Casper,” Beckem replied harshly.28

“Well she is a--- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Dr. Polanski screamed.29

“Brooke, what’s wrong!” Beckem shouted into the phone.30

Silence and then a loud crash came through the phone. Beckem closed the phone, drew his gun and ran for the morgue. His mind raced with questions about the bizarre accusations Dr. Polanski had made. His foot kicked the morgue door open; his finger on the trigger. Dr. Polanski stood pale as a ghost in the corner. On the slab the Jane Doe sat up and pulled the needle from her arm. Beckem swallowed hard. What the hell was happening? He wasn’t sure what to do.31

“Don’t move!” he shouted at Jane Doe.32

Suddenly the computer monitors all began to flicker. Beckem and Polanski watched in horror as the video player software started on all the computers. On the screen, a middle-aged man appeared. The man began to mutter and then looked at the camera.33

“If you are seeing this then humanity has a future,” the man started.34

“What is this?” Beckem asked.35

“No idea,” Polanski answered.36

“I don’t have much time so I will explain it succinctly. In the future a deadly plague has infected humanity; a variant of CJD appeared in Philadelphia. The disease causes the victims to either die or become incredibly feral. It attacks the pituitary causing serotonin to drop to minuscule levels and overproduction of adrenaline and testosterone in the victims. The disease spread like wildfire causing hordes of unfathomable violent and ruthless humans to kill anything in there path. Being the CJD is highly contagious, 90 percent of people have either succumb to the plague or have become victims of murder by mutilation.”37

“Do you believe any of this?” Beckem said skeptically.38

“Well it is scientifically possible, after all it is called related to mad cow disease”39

“I would have sent myself backwards in time to stop the plague myself, however, the chrono sequencer releases so much radiation that any organic creature would succumb to radiation poisoning. Thus I have sent Elli, an android specifically designed to infiltrate and destroy roaming hordes. Elli is designed to mimic the hordes favorite prey, down to the realistic smell of sweat and flesh.”40

“Great, he could have sent us a vaccine but instead he sends zombie bait,” Beckem commented.41

“Do not be fooled by her appearance: internally she is a formidable weapon of war. Elli, like all machines, does not know fear. She has been programmed to utilize any weapon and her servos allow her to tear through her opponents like tissue paper. Elli will prove invaluable in containing the outbreak should you be too late.42

My time grows short. All I can tell you is a train leaving Water Crest station on October 15 carries a biological warhead that will release the CJD into the air upon arrival in Philadelphia. 43

The man turns and screams can be heard in the background.44

“I’m sorry that is all the time I have. Without you there is no tomorrow. May God have mercy on us all,” the man said as the video clip ended.45

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. Beckem didn’t know what to think. He swallowed hard. If this was a prank, it was amazingly real. If not, he now stood face to face with the most complicated machine in the world. Even worse he was given a glimpse at the future, a window into the apocalypse and a tool to stop it. Some huge damn boots to fill. His throat felt like sandpaper. He needed a cold shot of whiskey. 46

Jesus H. Christ… this can’t be… why do I believe this? I am a man of logic, of evidence, of facts. This… this bareass twenty-something is a robot? A robot from the future…no a robot from the future sent back in time to avoid a zombie crisis? Hollywood couldn’t tell a better one. Yet I believe the old man; he is sincere. My gut is telling me to buy it hook and sinker. This is nuts… absolutely nuts!47

Polenski searched his face for a glimmer of comfort. His brows deeply furrowed, Beckem looked shaken to his core. This was an impossible situation, for the first time in a long tenure of hard choices, Polenski felt panic. What the hell could she do? The world stopped turning. She turned her eyes to Elli. The naked girl looked somberly ahead emotionless. Elli’s brown eyes—if you could call them that— stared fearlessly. Even in her most vulnerable moment, she didn’t cower, didn’t wince, and didn’t question her duty. Polenski envied her. 48

Peerless dedication, flawless body, no hint of humanity in her. She lacks our defects. No patient would be this brazen. This is for real. God I hope she is enough… man’s ingenuity versus man’s bastardization of nature. Really hope our good intentions win this time. What a marvelous creation... this mechanical Eve; If someone told be you were possible I would never believe it and here you are. Wish I were this stoic; would have made medical school a heck of a lot easier. Well, Elli… I hope you are as good as the old man claims. Beckem looks like hell… I have seen more color in my corpses. 49

Beckem looked at Polenski and then at the android. The fate of the world rested in this skinny naked girl. God had an incredible sense of humor. Beckem pulled at his chin and cleared his throat to speak.50

“Are you buying all this?” Dr. Polanski said.51

“Well the tin man’s badass little sister is sitting in front of us,” Beckem replied.52

“Christ! Senator Dolman is campaigning at the parkway tomorrow!” Beckem shouted, “this is going to be bad if we don’t act now!”53

“Ok then suppose this tape is legitimate. How do we stop a train armed with a biological warhead? The transmission cuts out before we learned the train number,” Dr. Polanski remarked.54

“I will help you,” Elli said,” It is my prime objective to prevent the spread of CJD fury Variant.” 55

“My name is Elli. I am sorry to meet you on such terrible circumstances,” the android said climbing off the exam table.56

Beckem back-pedaled. His eyes wide with a combination of awe and fear. Elli tilled her head ask if she felt confusion.57

“Sorry but I am real uncomfortable hanging out with a robot that could tear me in half,” Beckem replied, “Too many bad late night scifi flicks start out this way.”58

Elli folded her arms and looked into his quivering eyes.59

“Would you rather face a bloodthirsty mob? Once they smell you they will no stop until you’re ripped into pieces?” Elli replied.60

Beckem turned a shade paler.61

“I think I’d take my chances with the robot,” Polanski said.62

“Fine. But she can’t go about a la Lady Godiva,”63

“Well she is about the same build as one of my lab techs,” Polanski started.64

Polanski exited the morgue leaving Beckem with Elli. Beckem smiled nervously at Elli.65

She ain't too terrifying actually she's kinda hot. Always liked babyfaced brunettes... Who am i kidding? She could ripout my spine and still keep that cute, doll-like innocence face on. Do i really want to give this think a weapon? Where the hell is Brooke? How long does it take to get a few pieces of clothes? I wonder if a bullet would stop her? Hell, i wonder if a bazooka would stop her? Easy,Greg, she is on our side--for now. Nice body though... that old man sure could make 'em well. Guess they still make 'em like they used too, heh. Stop it, Greg! You're acting like a creep. Mom taught you better. She is a person--sort of-- not a chunk of meat. Come on Brooke...this is creepy! Uncle Sam never prepared me for crap like this! 66

After five nerve searing minutes, Polanski returned with arm full of clothes.67

“Get dressed,” Polanski ordered.68

Beckem reluctantly turned his back to the android as she got dressed. He knew she wasn’t a real woman but even so he felt is was the right thing to do.69

“How do I look?” Elli said.70

Beckem turned around. Long wavy chestnut locks draped over a denim jacket. Tight jeans and black leather boots hugged her legs. Beckem smiled as he saw a black bare midriff t-shirt that read “if looks could kill, I’d be a hit man.”71

“Love the shirt,” Beckem laughed.72

“She said those were her clubbing clothes,” Polanski said slightly embarrassed at Beckem’s reaction.73

“Alright then, let’s go. We have no time to lose.”74

****75

The attendant wiped her forehead as she traversed the dining car. Her arm felt weak under the platter. She now regretted getting that flu shot earlier. Pain from the injection ate at her. As she placed a chicken salad platter in front of an elderly woman, she noticed a man coughing terribly in the back of the car. She felt her breakfast in the back of her throat. His hacking turned her stomach. His gray eyes caught hers and she quickly glanced away. Her nostrils then filled with a slight foul aroma. Behind her, a patron vomited their soup. The attendant looked down and then motioned for another attendant to come clean it up. The male attendant approached, his collar damp with sweat. Something wasn’t right on this train. Her gut told her to run. The attendant ran to the front of the car. Now she could barely see the mist of particles showering from the vents. Her consciousness started to fade. Between blinks she saw two passengers attack each other savagely. Her last waking thought was “Oh my God we have been poisoned!”76

****77

A crowd of gawkers formed as screaming police sirens surrounded the building. A black sedan stopped among the swirling streams of blue and red. Beckem stepped out of the police car. Elli reached for her seat belt.78

“Hold up there. I promised I’d bring you but nothing else. Stay in the car and let the police handle it. Look there is the SWAT van. If worse comes to worse they’ll protect us. So sit here and—well— do what ever androids do,” Beckem said. 79

Slamming the car door he motioned to a trio of uniformed officers. The officers nodded and raced into the building.80

The hefty rush hour crowd obscured the view of the tracks. Beckem brandished his badge wildly and he mired through the mass of travelers.81

"POLICE MAKE WAY!" he yelled.82

Approaching the ticket station, Beckem gasped as he saw the departure and arrival schedule. A train to Philadelphia had departed nearly an hour ago and another sat on the tracks.83

am i too late.. did i just doom us all? Wait another train for Philly is on track B! Come on God, give me this one and i'll lay off the scotch...promise 84

“Platform B!” Beckem shouted hustling back to towards the stairs.85

“Police MOVE IT!” he bellowed gripping his gun as he prayed.86

As he skidded on to platform B, the conductor made his last call. Several members of SWAT appeared behind him.87

“Police! Stop this vehicle!” Beckem shouted.88

The train stopped its engine. Beckem huddled to catch his breath. the cadence of SWAT boots swarmed from behind him. a crowd of distrubed faces watched the armed men approach the train. Watercrest never saw this much action, submachine guns brandishing in public choked the courage out of even the most stoic of onlookers. A paniciked whisper spread across the startled bystanders. Beckem motioned to the SWAT men to search the cars. He stood erect, white-knuckled his gun and followed. 89

Beckem searched the cargo hold, while the SWAT team checked every crevice of the train. Nothing. No bombs, no gas tanks, not even a dirty napkin.90

Beckem's heart sank. He failed. Beckem slammed his gun into the holster. He muttered curses. A cocktail of rage and dissappointment pumped through his veins.91

“Damn, its not here!” Beckem said with a deep frustrated breath.92

“It’s got to be on the earlier train,” Beckem called into his radio.93

Beckem ran for the station manager’s office. The only way to stop it now was to divert the train from Philadelphia.94

"Hey!" Beckem shouted as he entered the tight little office.95

A shapely Filipino man swirled to face him. The man stumbled as he stood up.96

"Sorry, but i need you to get that train to Philly back,"97

"Who the hell are you, dude?"98

"Greg Beckem, WPD. I take it your the station manager?"99

"Yes i am. But i can't get the train back."100

"Why not?"101

"I can't, i could try to contact the train, but i can't get it back?"102

"Do it!"103

"I aint doing nothing with out a warrant. You could be a terrorist or something. I've seen badges like yours online. Let me contact your station first."104

"I don't have time--105

"Well, i don't have to do anything for you."106

"Listen you fat ass--107

"Forget it man, your clearly crazy. I'm calling the cops"108

While Beckem spoke with the manager, the SWAT team exited the station. To their horror, their comrades laid unconscious on the ground. Quickly, the Lieutenant ran to the side of the fallen men.109

“Charlie, what the hell happened,” the Lieutenant said shaking the fallen mans shoulders.110

“It was like a nightmare. This brunette comes up to us. She socks Jack in the face and slams him into the van like a ragdoll and tosses me on my ass. She took our MP5s.”111

“Holy Jesus!” another member of the SWAT team shouted.112

The Lieutenant looked up. The back doors of the SWAT were crumpled like cardboard. The man ran into the van.113

“Anything missing?” the Lieutenant asked.114

“Um…” the man said115

“Well out with it!” the Lieutenant shouted anger now hot on his nerves.116

“M60E3 is missing,” the man replied in a frightened tone.117

“Goddamn it!” the Lieutenant bellowed.118

The Lieutenant stood up. An angry man approached.119

“What the held do they pay you cops for? The goddamn SWAT van sitting right there and someone lifts my bike. I should sue your goddamn asses,” the man yelled.120

“Take a hike pal, we all got bigger shit to worry about,” the Lieutenant said.121

“So let me get this straight. Beckem took an android from the morgue to the train station looking for a biological warhead that is going to turn people into zombies. The android over hears our communication—122

“Beckem, left his scanner on in the car, sir” the SWAT Lieutenant replied.123

“Let me finish, Coslo!” the chief growled.124

“Knocked my men silly, does 5,000 dollars worth of damage to my SWAT van, and steals two MP5s, an M60E3 loaned to us by the National Guard, and some plumber’s motorcycle?” the chief said his voice rumbling with anger.125

“You left out part where Beckem scares the crap out of a hundreds of people—without a warrant I might add— for no reason,” Coslo mentioned.126

“I love you too, Cos” Beckem said with a smile.127

“Jesus H. Christ!” the chief shouted, “I should fire you both. In all my years of service I have never heard such a load of bullcrap. Beckem, you’re suspended without pay until we figure out what really happened. Coslo, get the hell out of my office.” 128

Beckem laid his gun and badge on the table. Maybe he was crazy, maybe the doldrums of deskwork has whittled his sense of adventure to the point of creating action, and maybe he needed a break. He rubbed his head and let out a flustered breath. The android had to be real.129

“Hey Beckem,” Dr. Polanski said coming around the bend.130

“Brooke!” Beckem said recalling she saw the android too.131

He grabbed her arms. She winced.132

“You can tell the chief I’m not crazy. You saw the android and the video,” Beckem blurted.133

Forget it, Brooke! Its your job on the line. Are they really going to believe the story about androids and zombies? Get rid of him! 134

“What the hell, Beckem? Let go of me. There is no android, no video,” Dr. Polanski replied.135

“Sure, remember you scolded me for bringing in a dummy as a Halloween prank?” Beckem said.136

“Oh yes, I got rid of the mannequin and noted your prank in my case notes,” Dr. Polanski said tearing away from Beckem.137

“What about the video clip of the man from the future?” Beckem pressed getting irritated.138

“I don’t care about the crap you find on the internet,” Dr. Polanski.139

“Brooke…please,” Beckem pleaded with her.140

Polanski sighed.141

“Its over, Greg, go home. Please,” Dr. Polanski replied looking in his eyes.142

Beckem rubbed hands down his face. He leaned against the wall and looked at the ceiling. Dr. Polanski’s resounding footsteps got out of earshot. 143

You're in a heap of crap now, Greg. Brooke is too scared to back me. cowardly bitch! Is this all in my head? No.. can't be. Damn it. Can't prove it. No android not story, just a huge stain on my record. Now what Greg...what do you do now? 144

Never had Beckem felt so alone, nor so confused.145

The train entered the hills of Kentucky. Elli approached on the motorcycle, M60E3 slung across her back. She looked up at the windows. Jagged streaks of blood obscured the interior of the train car. Elli was too late. The bike engine roared as Elli pushed the speedometer to its limit. She cut down a side road. Elli had only one chance of stopping the CJD now.146

****147

The railroad crossing lights flashed and the bells alarmed. Elli revved her engine. The train came into view. Elli gunned the engine. The bike roared. Elli hit the side of the dining car at seventy mph. Her body slapped through the blood stained window and tumbled through dining carts and broken serving ware. Snarls and gnashing of teeth surrounded her, Elli as returned to her feet. As the infected humans charged, Elli drew the MP5s. Gunfire erupted in the car. Bullets flew like a swarm of bees stinging her attackers into submission. The last spend shell resounded on the metal floor. Elli stepped over the bodies. Her sensors indicated the prion was not present in the room. Yet these people appeared afflicted. Elli scooped up a sample of the victims’ blood. Placing the blood droplet in her mouth, she analyzed the composition. These victims were not infected with CJD Fury Variant. They, however, had levels of the neurotoxin CJD fury produces in their blood. Perhaps it was not too late. Elli searched for the neurotoxin. Her sensors indicated it came from the back of the train. Fingernails scrapped metal. More victims barred her from the back of the train. Elli dropped her expended MP5s and took the M60E3 from her shoulder. Kicking in the door of the economy car, Elli opened fire. 148

The infected swarmed her. The metallic bark of the M60E3 mowed down their onslaught as Elli pushed toward the next door. A hand snatched her hair. Elli whipped around. The butt of the M60E3 crushed the assailant’s head. Another lunged at her. Elli snatched his neck and flung him fatally against the ceiling. The stillness of death surrounding her, Elli trudged forward. 149

She opened the cargo hold to find an infected man gnawing on suitcase handles. His gas mask lay filled with blood around his neck and a crowbar at his side. Before he could move, a bullet cored his brain. Elli found the source of the neurotoxin. A large crate had been pried opened and inside sat a dissemination device. The device had been cracked when the crate was opened. The deadly CJD variant lay still inside. Yet, the neurotoxin had been seeped out of the crack and into the HVAC of the train. Elli headed grabbed the emergency brake above her head. The train screamed as it shook to a stop. Everyone on board was now dead. All she had left to do was destroy the CJD. 150

****151

A horrific fire swallowed the train as Elli lit the diesel train fuel and chemicals she had spread all over the train. Elli wandered a few meters down the track; in one hand she held the dissemination device, in the other a large bucket of diesel fuel. Elli drenched the device and covered it with timber. She watched as the device crumbled and withered under the heat. In a burp of flame the CJD was destroyed. The crisis had ended. Elli, with no cause left to champion, disappeared into the woods.152

****153

Beckem sat on his couch. He had finished his third glass of bourbon and half a bag of chips. Beckem looked begrudgingly at the TV that was flashing highlights of a sports game. Suddenly, the news switched to news of a train fire in Kentucky. Beckem perked up as the reported mentioned the train was headed to Philadelphia.154

“Earlier this afternoon a passenger train, headed from Watercrest, Indiana to Philadelphia ignited killing everyone on board. Firefighter’s say spilled diesel and a cigar caused the blaze. So far police have not determined the cause; however, there is evidence of possible gun related violence on board. We will continue coverage of this tragic event as updates come in. This is Kora Davies, Channel 9 news,” the reporter explained.155

Beckem’s jaw dropped. Had this been the work of the android? Had she really existed and saved humanity from a terrible future? Beckem then looked down at the half empty bourbon container on his coffee table. No, he was just drunk. Beckem, disgusted, shut off the TV and headed for his bedroom. He hoped a long nap would cure his delusions.156