Episode 3: Screaming Tent

Slinking away quietly, trying to ignore the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes, I headed in the direction the commander had gone. He knew more than he was letting on and I had a feeling I would find the missing ambulance if I stayed close.

Skulking through the thick underbrush, careful to keep a good distance and buried in the obscurity of the forest, I kept the Commander in my sights. I didn’t want to look away and miss the path he took, but I was also worried he could feel my eyes; evidenced by the few times he passed to glance around during our short journey.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hold my breath every time. Luckily, he never set his sights on me, and when I matched his footfalls, he stopped looking for me. Quite the relief if I’m honest, but I really should have more faith in myself. This wasn’t the first time I had to covertly follow a lead and it probably wouldn’t be the last; life of a daring journalist, I suppose.

Eventually, we arrived at another entrance to the park; the N.E. Pioneer Parking spot. There I found the jeep and ambulance alongside several others parallel parked in the road.

The area was being fenced off with barbed wire and the road shut down as white tents were getting set up with military guards. I didn’t have much time to get information before I would be stuck here. Slinking closer as the commander entered a tent far away from any soldier and medical worker in earshot, even missing guards at its entrance, I positioned myself behind some bushes. I strained my ears, but the conversation was too muffled to make anything out.

Taking a huge risk, I crept even closer, risking being spotted with my bright jogging attire, but everyone was too focused on their assignments to notice me. I quickly hid behind crates and under a tarp next to the tent. The muffled words started becoming clearer.

“...side effects we’re more severe than you told us. You have damaged military property–”

“Commander, relax. Your superiors knew the risks and we already agreed to a settlement for families if this happened. A few may be lost, but they are still suitable hosts,” a calm voice replied to the Commanders shouting. “There’s a chance he’ll pull through. We are preparing a general antibiotic and vitamin shot to help him alongside some fluids.”

'Hosts? Soldiers dying? What have I stumbled on?'

“Fine, but tell me this: why did you ask us to contain the area? I need a damn good reason for ordering this, Dr. McArthur,” the commander bellowed back.

'I’ve heard that name somewhere, but I don’t remember where. I’ll need to do some research later.'

“We can’t let anyone know what’s going on until we have good news and in the worst case, we can keep people out long enough to erase it,” the same calm voice replied.

“Erase it? Damnit, that’s not what we asked for,” the Commander growled. “You better fix that soldier. Too much money was spent for this to fail right out of the gate.”

“Commander, we will do everything we can to stabilize the soldier in the field. We can’t take him to a hospital and risk other drugs,” Dr. McArthur explained. “Nor can we take him to our labs and risk exposure to the general population–”

“Exposure?! What the fuck do you mean?!” The Commander exclaimed. “I was just with those men–”

“You just talked to them at a distance, I assume as I see no notable fluids on you outside the light rain. You’re fine. Exposure is more concerning for any bodily fluids, bites due to saliva, and potentially scratches,” the doctor reassured. “But to be honest, the scratches are more conjecture and unlikely. If you want to be extra safe, we can administer some of our experimental medication–”

'What the hell kind of disease is this?! It transmits in so many ways… This is starting to freak me out.'

'I need to burn these clothes instead of tossing them. Maybe I should deep clean my car after this to be safe. I think I have some stuff at home. Oh, and clean the hell out of my headphones and phone.'

“I’m not your fucking guinea pig. It’s just rain on my jacket,” the Commander spat. “Now, If I’m understanding this correctly, you’re telling me this could potentially harm others not involved with this training?”

“Yes and no,” the doctor’s weak reply began. “The short and the long of it is that we’re not sure. Due to the structure of the–”

“You’re not sure? Are you fucking kidding me?!” The Commander yelled, practically shaking the tent. “You originally said there were only risks to the soldiers. I have goddamn civilians less than a klick from here.”

“Commander, allow my team and I to do our job and everyone gets to go home,” the doctor sternly replied. “The civilians will be safe and unaware that anything minutely dangerous happened near them.”

“This better not be a fucking PR nightmare. You and your team better do your fucking jobs,” the Commander hissed. “I swear, if any of my men are lost, it’ll be your ass and those ‘grants’ will be audited. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

'Is something wrong with the money? I’ll need to investigate that later.'

“Again, we have contingencies–” the doctor began.

“I don’t fucking care!” The Commander stated. “They are military property and they better be in working order within a week or I will personally make the call to end all your funding both above board and below. Do you understand me?”

“We cannot guarantee–”

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND?” The Commander screamed.

“Yes, I understand,” the doctor sighed.

“Good. Get a team to group two. They are located here, on the map. They have a man down and update me on the hour with his condition,” the Commander ordered. Then his heavy footsteps headed toward the tent's entrance as the crackling of a walkie-talkie coming to life could be heard inside.

“Emergency medical team one, head out immediately. A specimen from group two is degrading, sending coordinates to your field laptop,” the doctor's tired voice ordered.