Edict 42

Chapter 5 - Ryan

Ryan and Dan had been in the study until nightfall. Dan’s face, although mostly stoic Ryan could tell the man was having some trouble grasping the full extent of the information he had told him. He needed him to be fully on board Dan had been a part of the special forces division and had all the military and technical know how for training the survivors for what was to come. Ryan had been writing and wondering for the whole day if he could stop it from occurring but realistically speaking, he alone would not be able to, and if too many people got involved he might become a target later on. Given his present situation, the best way to handle this will be to gather as many people that he could find that had the talent and one was right here before him.

Dan sat back in the chair, his hands rested behind his head. He looked at the empty bottle of gin on the table. “In this future do I turn into one of those things too or do I end up dead? You didn’t mention a word about me, only you and Alina. I guess that means that your wife didn’t make it either.”

Ryan was still writing on the chalk board all the dates he could remember and their significance, he paused by the question. “Diane doesn’t make it, she dies and I don’t know what happens to Troy, but I have to assume he died too. I don’t know what happened to you, but I have to assume that too. Once they stop randomly attacking, they began to hunt us down like criminals.” He turned to face him. “I don’t think that you would have that problem. You don’t have it lingering in your body but just to be sure, I will run some blood test later to see if any traces might still be in your body.”

“I see, I hope I went out guns blazing at the end which seems a lot better than those human farms you mentioned. Did you ever get a chance to see one?”

“No, but Alina went to one a few times. She was trying to figure out a way to rescue the people from there.”

“Did the government create this? What role do they play in this future?”

“I don’t know, at the time I had no thought about that. It’s only when I got back here with all of this strange activities. Why would they be involved? If they are, I don’t think that they understand the full extent of the situation and if so, I wonder is that why Alina is missing?”

“Look Ryan, you know I served and I showed you the kind of messed up things the government does to people. The experiments they conduct for knowledge, for oil or for control. That’s what I kept telling you that there is far more to what’s going on. Feeding these chemical foods and hoarding the actual food for themselves.” He sat up. “ Here is something I was thinking what if the future you’re talking about didn’t even happen and instead the government was conducting experiments on you to see how you would respond?”

The thought made Ryan pause for a moment. “Then why would they let me go, I think they would blank out my mind or kill me or kept me in that nightmare until I had no further use. No, I believe what I saw and I am going to need your help to conduct experiments and for weapons and planning for a secure location.”

He would need Dan’s help in order to survive, but he wasn’t sure if Dan would be affected by the events later or not. When the outbreak had occurred, he was unable to reach him. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, Ryan didn’t trust anyone at all. So instead he avoided phones and people unless needed. If it wasn’t for Alina, he probably would have still be on his own. Would he have been able to survive then like that? He didn’t know.

There was static before the radio played. “Citizens of Mantaigo have been lining up here for days, some just got food to eat as the growing food shortages took its toll on the markets. Even chemical reproduction of the vast majority of the food is not without consequences Many citizens today compared to twenty to thirty years ago, have never seen a fruit or vegetable, instead they get their food in what looks like an army ration bag. Enough Carbs and enough protein to last them through the day. What was now a privilage to everyone, has become one that only the middle class and the rich can afford.”

“Sir can you give us your thoughts on why you and others have been here waiting so long for this food?”

“I have been here for Days now with my electronic ticket. Trying to secure food for my wife and child. I know the food isn’t much but at the moment for now it’s the only thing that the government is offering that’s keeping us alive.”

Ryan lowered the radio down and looked at the time. “I have to head to work tomorrow Dan but start looking for places that we can use for a hideout. It has to be spacious even if you have to have it constructed, only a few people can know about it. The parasite remember things. If they turn they will know exactly where we are.”

“No problem, I will get it done. I know a few places and I will get any other equipment that’s needed. Those men outside more than likely will follow me for a while, especially when they look into my background. If things are as you say.”

“You are right, thanks Dan for believing in me.” Ryan reached out and shook Dan’s hand.

Dan chuckled. “Don’t thank me yet friend the real work has just began.”

Ryan escorted Dan outside while trying his best to pretend that he didn’t know that he was being watched. The two men shook hands and pretended to talk based on what the C 75 had been feeding them. On the outside, however, was the media waiting with their cameras. Apparently, they had been there gathering from early this morning.

He did not know that opening the door would caused them almost instinctively to bound towards them. A few lights flashed before Ryan’s face. As reporters talked over each other trying to be the first to grab a story. He regretted that he didn’t invest in a gate or fence of some kind. A barrage of questions was shouted towards him, but it was nothing different from what he had heard before.

Ryan answered a few as he watched Dan leave thank god they both had learned sign language at school, he thought.

Alone now, Ryan headed into the living room and turned on the television. He hoped something might be on that could give him a further clue to everything that was going on. He switched from one news channel to the next, looking to see if any answer might appear or an inspiration for a clue might come to help him.

It, however, was muddled in robberies, protest about the food shortage and the ongoing war on the next continent. There was nothing there at all to help him. The fools didn’t even know what was to come. He rubbed his hand on his head. Where are you Alina? You weren’t missing this time before. Had events changed because of his interaction with the world? He had not even considered that possibility, but why would she be missing exactly? What did the government know? It might all have some clarity tomorrow at work.

The house phone rang disconnecting him from his thoughts. He jumped up instinctively as if reacting to some foreign threat.

The phone was mounted on the wall and Ryan took it off and placed it to his ear.

“Hello,” he said.

“Ryan, Troy was asking for you and I wanted to know if you are okay?”

“I have been fine Diane.”

“My sister was saying---"

“Your sister, what did you tell her?”

“You know that it was on the news right. I just told her you were going through some stress at work and that you needed someone to talk to so she was recommending---.”

“Recommending a shrink? I don’t want one of those. I am not crazy! Tell your sister to save her opinions for herself.”

“We are just trying to help.”

“Let me talk to Troy.”

There was a deep sigh, then quiet followed by a shuffle as Ryan heard a familiar voice.

“Daddy,” Troy said.

“Hey buddy, how are you doing?”

“I am fine, daddy, Mommy said you’re busy with work at home and you needed some time. Are you getting through?”

“Yes of course I am, when I am finished working I will see you soon, okay?”

“Okay daddy.”

Ryan spent an hour talking to Troy. The young boy with his childish innocence was fully unaware of the tale his parents had wove around him. Ryan clenched his fist even if she didn’t believe him. He would not allow anything to happen to his son. He wouldn’t let down his family again.