Nothing Happens in Sommerville (Part Thirteen)

Ten Years Before

“I don’t know how you can stand it,” Tye muttered.

“Stand what?”

“Working with vermin.” He crossed his arms and glared at the dozens of lab rats scuttling around in their cages. “How does it not gross you out?”

“Because they’re not vermin, they’re my patients.” The young woman seated across from him briefly glanced up from the microscope she was peering into to flash a teasing grin. “So if you want to keep pestering me at work, you’ll stop calling them names. Otherwise, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Tye arched a brow. “Work? Grimes offered you the job, then?”

“Not exactly.” The woman rose from her seat with a stretch. There was a faint indent from the eyepiece that deepened the dark shadows under her eyes. But her exhaustion couldn’t dim the excited smile on her face as she gestured for him to join her. “But he will once he sees this.”

Knowing better than to protest, Tye begrudgingly joined her and peered into the microscope. He shuddered at the sound of the rats, now directly behind him, and reminded himself that they were securely locked up in their cages. The rodents were quickly forgotten at the scent of perfume washing over him as she pressed to his side.

“You know I’ve been assisting Dr. Grimes with his research on neurodegeneration, right?” She waited for Tye’s nod before continuing. “Well, he’s been focused on finding a cure with immunotherapy, like using inhibitors to slow down progression, but it isn’t actually stopping the disease, and when I spoke with Yvonne a few months ago, she said. . .”

At the mention of another intern, Tye tuned out. For the next five minutes, he’d most likely be getting an earful of complicated experiments and neurology terms he’d never heard of. As much as it impressed him, science had never been Tye’s thing, except maybe psychology. Understanding how people think and learning how to use that to one’s advantage? Now that was a science that had his interest.

“. . .Which is how I found this!”

Tye frowned at the blob of cells before him. He was familiar enough with Grimes’s experiments to know he was looking at a rat’s brain, but that was the most he could piece together.

“And this is what, exactly?”

She sighed irritably. “God, do you ever listen? I’ve figured out how to repress the damaging acetylcholinesterase in the rat’s brain with gene therapy.” At his blank expression, she rolled her eyes. “I’ve stopped its neurons from breaking down.”

Tye nodded as if he understood. He didn’t. “So. . . that’s good, right?”

Her smile was one of long-suffering affection. “Yes, Tye. It’s very good. If I can prove that this works, we could offer it to the public. Just think of how many diseases we could cure!” Her speech grew more rapid as she practically bounced up and down with enthusiasm. “This could change our understanding of human health forever!”

It was a bold claim, especially from a graduate student, but her self-confidence was what had piqued Tye’s interest to begin with. Universities were restricted for only a select few to attend, unlike in decades past where anyone could apply to get in. He’d assumed that meant his fellow students would have world-changing dreams like he did, but he’d been sorely mistaken. They were all so disappointingly small in their ambitions. Even the few of his peers he could stand, like Bennet, spent more time plotting how to get into someone’s pants than thinking about the future.

But the young biologist before him was different. Not only did she have plans, but she had the drive to make them happen. Tye would be a fool not to bring her into his circle.

“Of course it will.” He touched her shoulder and noted the blush the action caused. Good. The last few weeks hadn’t been a waste of his time after all. “If anyone will be able to change the world, it’ll be you, Summer.”

And I’ll be right at your side when you do.

Three Years Before

“You know those are terrible for your health,” Bennet said with a grin.

Tye took an overly long drag on his cigarette before exhaling the smoke into Bennet’s face. 

He waved the air away with a chuckling cough. “Just because you want to put yourself six feet under doesn’t mean you have to take me with you.”

“Thought you said it was you and me against the world,” Tye mused.

Bennet’s over-dramatic groan echoed in the marble halls of the Capitol Building. “God, that was one time! And I was drunk out of my mind that night, so it doesn’t even count.”

“I don’t know. You seemed pretty sincere.” He shrugged. “Whatever. You’re the one who followed me to D.C. and everything but sure, you didn’t mean it.”

“I didn’t come here for you,” Bennet muttered.

A scoff slipped out before Tye could stop it. He felt a little bad at Bennet’s wounded expression, but what had he expected? Everyone had been shocked when Bennet had joined the FBI. But when he’d suddenly dropped out just days before his graduation from the academy. . . Well, that had been far more in character. Even Summer hadn’t been surprised and she was supposed to be an optimist.

“Why’d you quit, anyway?” Tye asked after a few minutes. They were both stuck here until the senator Tye worked for and Mr. Winchester’s meeting was over. No point in spending it in awkward silence.

“Just. . .” Bennet’s gaze flicked to the locked door of the meeting room. “Didn’t want it anymore, I guess.”

Tye raised the cigarette to his lips with a pensive frown. He’d always suspected that Mr. Winchester had “pressured” Bennet into leaving. An arms dealer who may or may not partake in some illegal trading most likely wouldn’t want his own son with the feds. Still, it’s not like Bennet was a little kid that could be bullied around. He’d always been fit, but after his time at the academy, Bennet cut an intimidating figure.

Perhaps Tye had underestimated how easily influenced his friend was. If so, that might play to his advantage. With the whispers he’d overheard from congressmen and the reports ending up on his boss’s desk, Tye would need someone like Bennet in his corner. He’d just have to make Bennet realize that listening to him was more important than listening to his father.

It couldn’t be that hard. He’d gotten Summer to break her NDA and share all sorts of information with him from her job. That’s how his senator had known about the outbreak before anyone else, which had led to Tye being promised an important role in the Compound Project; whatever the hell that was. 

“Well, it’s probably for the best,” Tye said, careful to sound sympathetic. “With how quickly this outbreak is spreading, there’s been talk of using more extreme methods to contain it. If you were still a fed, you’d be having to help with all that.”

“Extreme how?” Bennet asked warily.

“Come on, you know.” Tye gave the door a meaningful look. “Why else would your father be here?”

A noticeable shiver ran through Bennet. Tye had to fight against a smirk at his friend’s expression. How had Bennet ever thought he’d like the FBI when the mere implication of violence made him look nauseous?

Tye finished his cigarette and flicked it on the ground. With all that was happening in the world, no one would care about his litter. “Like I said. It all worked out for the best.”

“Yeah.” Bennet shook his head then managed a tentative smile. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“I am right,” Tye concluded. “I’m always right about these things.” 

One Day Before

“Lockdown in progress. Stand clear of the closing doors.”

He wasn’t ready for this.

For the first time in his life, Tye wasn’t ready. 

He’d been so certain Summer and the global team of scientists working with her would find a cure. Or that there’d be a way to contain the outbreak. He’d hoped the increasing heat waves ravaging the planet would at least impact the infected as much as it did the rest of humanity. And he had really really hoped that reports of the infection spreading to animals was a sick joke.

“Final seal in 60, 59, 58, 57. . .”

Being announced as a Compound Leader had been an honor, but only because he thought it would never actually come to this. It was never supposed to come to this.

“. . .41, 40, 39, 38. . .”

Behind him were twenty people, all heavily armed and trained in combat. They were all more prepared than him, even Bennet, who had proven himself enough to be promoted as Tye’s second in command. And yet these Wall Watchers—hell, the entire compound—were looking to Tye for instruction?

“. . .25, 24, 23. . .”

Humanity had one final card to play against the extinction they’d brought upon themselves. A desperate attempt at salvaging the mess they’d made. It had all been laid out neatly in the last meeting Tye would ever have in the world he knew.

In a few hours, the global leaders would press a button that would purge man’s filth from the earth. By tonight, there’d be nothing left outside of the steel walls and thick dome protecting the few chosen inside the compounds. Then, the work to rebuild could begin.

“. . .17, 16, 15. . .”

He could sense Bennet’s eyes on him and did his best to hide the fear strangling him tighter and tighter with each mechanical countdown.

“. . .10, 9, 8, 7. . .”

You wanted this, he told himself. You wanted to be someone that mattered, remember?

“. . .3, 2, 1.”

Not like this.

“Lockdown complete.”

Six Months After

“Aside from the flu outbreak a few weeks ago, Sommerville is stable,” Tye reported with forced confidence. “Everyone’s healthy and completing their assigned tasks.”

He managed a small smile, trying not to show his unease. The three faces staring back at him from the computer screen did not return it. Instead, their matching scowls only darkened. The gray-haired man on the right fixed his glower to the figure standing beside Tye.

“Any incidents?” The man growled.

“Not really. Seen a few people get into arguments, maybe one actual fight, but nothing we couldn’t handle,” Bennet said. “Think it’s just a bit of cabin fever, nothing more.”

He seemed far more relaxed than his counterpart. Too relaxed, in Tye’s opinion. He thought being a Wall-Watcher would make his friend take things more seriously, or at least wouldn’t require Tye having to check Bennet’s behavior, but that had obviously been a mistake. Tye ground his teeth when Bennet had the audacity to smirk at the man across from him. They were meeting with three of the most powerful people in the world for God’s sake!

“Uh sir,” Bennet hurriedly coughed out when Tye slammed his heel on his foot.

The trio either didn’t notice or didn’t care about the lapse of professionalism, as the gray-haired man nodded.

“Good. Keep the people in line. The last thing any of the compounds need is a revolt.”

“Da.” The other man on the screen agreed. “Vosstaniye privodit k panike. Panika privodit k khaosu. Khaos privodit k smerti. As happened to research team.”

Tye shuddered. He might not speak Russian, but he knew what the man meant about the research team. The Phoenix Compound had lost control of the people, and it was the researchers who paid the price. The report detailing the gory murders of Summer and her coworkers was permanently burned into his memory.

“Don’t worry. We have total control here,” Tye promised. He elbowed Bennet, who winced but nodded.

“Yeah, for sure,” he added hurriedly. “My Watchers don’t say anything they aren’t supposed to. As far as the people are concerned, the clean-up is happening right on schedule, just like you wanted.”

The two men’s frowns softened just a tiny bit with what Tye hoped was approval and not pity. He had to admit, the initial announcement that they’d have to stay in the domes longer than planned had worried him. But his concerns had been laid to rest with assurances that the lingering radiation was just a bit higher than anticipated, and they wanted to be absolutely certain it would be safe to reopen the domes. Any questions about sightings of the Infected were pushed aside, until Tye knew better than to ask.

Still, he hadn’t stopped Bennet from ordering the Watchers to shoot every creeping thing that moved outside the wall.

“I’m impressed with you two.” Tye’s heart stopped as the woman who’d been silent for the entire meeting finally spoke. She leaned forward in her seat, dark eyes piercing his through the digital barrier. “I must say, I had my doubts about entrusting a compound to two people as young and inexperienced as you both are, but it sounds like you’re one of the few settlements that aren't having any problems.”

For a moment, Tye couldn’t speak, before managing a stunned, “Thank you, ma’am.” Bennet echoed him, for once not needing to be prompted into showing respect.

“However.” The sharp word popped Tye’s small bubble of confidence. “That doesn’t mean you won’t ever have problems. For whatever lies ahead, I want you both to remember that people like us are in charge because we are willing to make the right decisions; even if those decisions seem wrong to everyone else.” She paused, as if silently evaluating their reactions. “Are you capable of that? Of doing what needs to be done, no matter the cost?”

Her tone betrayed the depths of that question, asking if they were willing to lie and kill—to throw away all their preconceived morals—if that’s what it took to keep Sommerville going?

Tye met her gaze without any trepidation. “Yes.”

Two Years After

Static rang out through the air, despite the frantic turn of the dials. While the radios weren’t the best quality, they had always worked, even when the computers had been buggy. And it was clear from the static that this radio did work. So why was no one picking up?

Bennet shifted nervously. “Tye.”

“Not now.” He swore under his breath at the change in frequency emitting more static. “Hello? Hello?! Why isn’t anyone answering?”

“Tye, please—”

“I said not now,” Tye snapped, pretending that he could hear a difference in the radio’s high-pitched whines.

Bennet took a step forward. “I just think we should consider—”

“CONSIDER WHAT?” Tye roared as he finally spun around. “That it’s been weeks since we heard anything?! You want me to consider the fact that no one’s answering because there’s NO ONE left?! That we’re all there is?! HUH?!” Bennet barely dodged one of the desk mics as it was hurled at his head. “That what you want to talk about so badly, Bennet? You think pointing out what we both know will magically fix things?!”

Bennet took a step back, boot crunching the broken mess of the microphone on the ground. It was only a spare, nothing too critical. Yet its destruction cast a heavy weight over the room, making the office’s one exit now feel too far away.

Tye knew he should apologize. He wanted to apologize, and perhaps he would have, if Bennet hadn’t beaten him to it.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. You. . . You’re always right.” Bennet smiled weakly. “It was stupid—I was stupid, I shouldn’t have. . . I mean, you’re the one who always has the plans and I’m just—” He shook his head. “I wasn’t trying to question you. I’m sorry. I’ll—I’ll go tell the Watchers to ignore the communicators and wait for your orders.”

Tye didn’t say anything, afraid that whatever came out of his mouth might make things worse. Instead, he nodded dismissively and turned his back. He held his breath until he heard Bennet’s footsteps fade, then slumped into his chair with a muffled moan.

Of course Bennet had apologized when Tye was the one in the wrong. He was always the one doing what was right; from a moral standpoint, anyway. Which is why Tye was the one leading Sommerville and not him. 

Tye would do what needed to be done. Oh sure, Bennet had gotten his hands dirty following an order once or twice, but they both knew whose conscience was really being stained. And while it killed him to lie to the people he was supposed to be protecting, he knew it’s what was necessary.

Because he was the only one who understood how things really were. Tye had always been willing to do what was needed, even if it made him sick and haunted his waking thoughts.

He’d promised to keep the people in line, to prevent a panic and mass chaos. And if Bennet was right and there really wasn’t anyone else out there, he’d still keep up the lie. They were all going to die anyway. At least he would make sure his people died with order and hope instead of chaos and despair.

Tye dragged his hands through his hair and rose to his feet. He’d make Bennet wait, knowing his friend would grow more and more worried that he’d pissed Tye off. He knew how long it took before it became unbearable, and that’s when Tye would apologize. In front of the Watchers. Worded in a way to make himself look like the humble, caring leader they all thought him to be. And Bennet wouldn’t say anything, because he never did. In fact, he’d most likely never bring up the radio again. Not until Tye decided to mention it.

Because Tye was the one in charge. Everyone believed that he knew best. That he was always right.

And if it ever reached the point where he’d have to start eliminating dissenters permanently, then so be it. He wasn’t losing Sommerville, no matter the cost.