The Badass Protector

COLT

I LISTENED attentively as he explained how he met Iris’ birth parents and how they ended up with the breakthrough.

“So, my parents were forced to work with the pharmaceutical company owned by a Russian billionaire?”

“Let me guess. It has something to do with a biological weapon.”

“Yes. That’s what we thought. They found a primordial virus and had an ambitious bioengineer on their payroll who would create it for a bioweapon. After the epidemic in the small village, your parents were kidnapped to help create the virus.”

“So, why faked their deaths?”

“The team who were tasked to investigate found cremated bodies and thought your parents were in there. It was difficult to trace the DNA, and they received a call from a high-ranking official to keep it off the record because they feared the media leaks. But your parents, especially your mom, were intelligent, so she must have altered the virus with her DNA and created a cure.”

“So, what happened then?”

“When the van carrying the virus with the bioengineer was ambushed, the container was broken and leaked. The bioengineer was infected, but before he died, he was able to run away, probably asked for help.”

“So, he infected other people?”

“No. Animals carried the virus. Must have close contact with his body. About a year ago, a few miles from that village-”

“Wait a sec. The same village?” Iris asked in disbelief.

“Yes. It was a quarantine zone since that epidemic. But there were people who caught wild animals and sold them. Though it was illegal, no one would want to stop them since they were living in the wilderness. When they caught a wild monkey, in just a few minutes, all of them got infected, but the monkey got away, and that was how the virus spread.”

“Oh, my God.” Iris shivered, wrapping herself as she turned white.

Still speechless, I swallowed hard, feeling my throat dry in an instant.

“The same virus altered by your mother. I thought that was her message to us to develop a cure. And she must have injected you. And now, it is running through your veins.”

“If I only had known, I would have presented myself to the authority, and the infection wouldn’t have been this devastating.”

“You couldn’t have known. You were just a kid when you got it.”

“We’ve been looking for you, Ms. Clayton. We even posted a reward just to find you. Everyone thought you might be dead, and obviously not from the virus.”

“And it caused my brother’s life.” She looked down. “That was because they wanted to give me to you.”

“I’m so sorry. You don’t have to worry about the Colony from the West. They won’t bother you anymore,” he assured her. “About Otis Wise, he was supposed to bring you to us unharmed. That was what we agreed upon, but instead, he became greedy-”

“And I killed him,” I said proudly. I didn’t care if this would have caused my life. I nearly died once, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. After what he did to Iris, he deserved it.

“We heard about the encounter at the bridge. Our men from the military planned a mission to intercept the Colony for coming after you. When our men got to the scene, you were all gone.”

“So, Otis knew that I had the cure in my blood?” Iris asked.

“Not entirely, but he believed that your blood could slow down the effect. You have probably tested it.” Dr. Warren looked at me, particularly at my eyes. “How do you feel, Mr. Snow?”

I shrugged. “Good?”

“Your irises darkened, aren’t they?”

“I think so. It was smokey gray. Now they looked like ash gray.”

“You looked like you’re wearing cheap contacts,” Iris commented.

“Is that so?” I smirked. The ‘behind the tree encounter’ came flashing back into my head.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

She rolled her eyes and clearly read my thought. “How did you figure out about the cure, Dr. Warren?”

“Through your mom’s DNA. We had to check your parents’ old house, but it was wiped out. We tracked down your heritage. None of them exist. That’s why we were forced to put that reward. We knew the possibility that it would place you in danger, but we had no choice. Until we got Intel about your brother. Too late, Nuke Clayton was already dead. After we got a sample from him, we gave him a proper burial, Miss Clayton.”

Iris shook to cry. “Thank you. That was all I wanted.”

I remembered how much she wanted to give him that. Without her knowing, someone had already done it for her.

“That’s the least we could do. I’m sorry for your loss,” the doctor said sincerely. “Do you want to ask something? Or you might want something?”

“Everything seems clear to me now. It’s been bothering me that I thought my parents had caused all of this. Thank you so much.” She paused. “Oh, I want something. I hope you can help me.”

“Of course, anything.”

“Can you take a look at Gael or ask someone to fix his leg.” She looked at Gael, who gave her a slight nod. “He is diabetic and an amputee.”

“We have all types of doctors here. This place is huge. You can all stay as much as you want while we are building our nation again.”

“Thank you. I think we could stay for a while. It’s been almost a year since I felt the air conditioner on my skin. Can you please check Colton? You know, he just woke up-”

“From the dead,” Frost interrupted.

Dr. Warren softly laughed. “Of course, we owed you and your parents, Miss Clayton.”

“Just, Iris.”

“Iris. And I have something for you.” Dr. Warren signaled to the black man outside. He came carrying a box.

“When we raided that old lab, we found this. It belonged to your mother. We thought this meant something to her.” He offered it to Iris before he rose from his seat. “Let me know if you need anything. Rowan will show you to your quarters. Mr. Snow, let us know whenever you’re ready, and so as Mr. Gael.”

“Glad you made that decision, twig.”

“Never doubt my instinct again, Officer Snow.”