Technosis: The Kensington Virus by Morgan Bell Page A

asked.
    “Well there are two possibilities, either one, our soldiers shot an infected member, or two, an infected member shot our soldiers.”
    “But…”
    “Forget what we think we know,” Jamie said. “Something different is going on here.”
    “How do you want to proceed?”
    “We need to get you a blindfold.”
    “Not happening,” Rosen said.
    “Then I will have to go ahead of you and take out all the monitors between here and the exit.”
    “That sounds fine by me.”
    Jamie checked his ammunition and his knife, and then went down the escalator to the first floor. People were still shopping, which was not a good sign. Gunfire in the food court and possibly shots outside should have sent people racing for exits. But instead they were standing in front of store displays, some texting, some on tablets and others just staring.
    “Is it clear?” Rosen called down.
    “It most definitely is not clear. If it is anything, it is as far opposite of clear as you can get,” Jamie called up to Rosen.
    Jamie put on his glasses; the heat signatures at the far end of the mall were nearly normal, but they were dropping. He walked forward down the main concourse. There were at least fifteen monitor displays in store fronts and three directory kiosk displays that were scrolling the message.
    “Damn,” Jamie groaned; he knew he didn’t have enough ammo to take out all of the monitors. Especially not if the KVs turned on him. He doubled back to the escalator. “Rosen,” he called up.
    “What?”
    “There are too many monitors for me to take out and the whole first floor is infected. Anyone who was down here when the monitors started sending the message is toast.”
    “Options?”
    “One, I spend the next hour cutting through power and data feed lines to clear a path to the door. While the KVs get restless and come to text at me or kill me. Two, I find the breakers and shut down power to the complex and we are in here with them in the dark with only the emergency lighting. Or three, we get you in a blindfold and I lead you out of here,” Jamie said.
    “I’m leaning toward one or two,” Rosen said.
    Jamie did not respond.
    “Fine, I’ll put on a damn blindfold.”
    A few minutes later a blindfolded Sergeant Rosen came down the escalator. Jamie guided him off.
    “Now what?” Rosen asked.
    “You put a hand on my shoulder and we walk out of here.”
    “That simple, huh?”
    “I’m hoping,” Jamie answered.
    They walked slowly down the concourse. The people in the mall were transfixed, staring at the monitors. “We’re doing fine,” Jamie said. “They are calm. I’m going to pick up the pace.”
    The two men began to trot, with Jamie guiding them in an arc that would take them to their point of entry.
    “How many clips do you have?” Jamie asked.
    “Six, why?”
    Jamie looked at the crush of people gathered at the far end of the corridor. The monitors flickered out to black and the people turned as one toward him and Rosen. “No reason, just might be a good idea to have your gun ready.”
    “With a blindfold on?”
    “I think we can ditch the blindfold,” Jamie said.
    Rosen took off the blindfold. He did a quick mental count and said, “Wonderful.”
    The people moved forward, en masse, converging on them.
    ∞
    “What are you doing?” Sam yelled, as his mother dragged him down the concourse of the mall, just a few steps behind her boyfriend.
    His mother said nothing. She just shuffled faster. People were crowding in either side of Sam. “Hey, watch it!” he yelled.
    No one took any notice. “CHILD ABUSE!” Sam yelled at the top of his lungs. Then he looked around expectantly.
    The crowd continued to lurch. The HDMP and Family Emergency Services Evaluation Team Response (FESTER) failed to materialize and he continued to be dragged toward the area where two armed officers were standing.
    “Mom! This is a bad idea!” Sam was now negotiating as he tried to twist free of his mother’s grip.