Another similarity was the lack of overgrowth. The weeds and cracked concrete were eerily similar to Marshal. They weren’t sure it was the building, however as soon as Malcolm saw it he was certain.
Coyly, Maggie said to him, ‘I’m going to guess you are going to that warehouse.’
“I planned on it.”
And surprisingly, with quick ‘how to’ instructions, she handed him an Aldervice. “Just leave it on. I’ll call you if we find anything.”
“You will?”
“You’re that sure?”
“If you walk in there and see a large red carpet before the office on your left. A carpet with a G on it, then you are here.”
“That’s an odd thing to say.”
“I just can’t tell you enough how much this looks like Marshal.”
Maggie projected gratefulness, leaving Malcolm as she went with the others. Trey went with them as well. He was having issues with Malcolm although he didn’t say it. Even though he was now the younger of the two, Malcolm felt it.
He didn’t expect ultimate loyalty from Trey. Thirty years had passed; there was a sense of being strangers.
Using the same technique as he did in Alabama, Malcolm broke into the warehouse. Just as when he woke up, the buggies were there, covered in plastic.
“Malcolm.”
Maggie’s voice carried over the Aldervice. It was clear and crisp and the quality surprised Malcolm.
“Malcolm, look at the screen. Press the button that says open and we can have an open line.”
Malcolm did. “Yeah.”
“When you get a second, we need you here.”
“That was fast.”
“You were right.”
He was right? That meant one thing; they found the lab. Leaving the buggies for later, Malcolm slipped the Aldervice in his back pocket and headed over to join the others.
The double glass doors of the office building were open and sure enough, the red carpet was there. It was buried under dirt and someone had swept a hand across it to check the color. He could hear the voices when he stepped inside the office. It was exactly like the Alabama office, down to the computer and the folder of information left out. Historian Clark and his virus buddy Nelson were already digging into papers.
“Would this be the elevator down?” Norris asked.
“That’s….” Malcolm shook his head as if to snap out of the daze. “That’s uncanny. That looks like the elevator we emerged from.”
“There has to be a staircase,” Norris said to his fellow soldier. “Let’s spread out. The elevator door isn’t opening.”
“It sealed on us,” Malcolm said. “After decontamination.”
“Dad,” Trey stepped to him. “You look like you saw a ghost.”
“In a way I did. It’s all the same,” Malcolm spoke in a low voice.
“What?” Maggie asked.
“It’s all the same. A carbon copy of the other office above the lab.”
Maggie shook her head. “I’m not sure what carbon copy means.”
Clark clarified. “It means duplicate.” He then looked at Malcolm. “You said the elevator sealed?”
“Yeah, during decontamination. We couldn’t go back down. But…” Malcolm looked at the one computer. “Nothing seems touched. I mean, if they had hatched, as you call it, and came up, things would have been touched. The first thing we did was try to find information about what happened. They haven’t come up yet.”
Maggie asked. “Do you really think that?”
“Without a doubt.” Malcolm lifted the folder. ‘This exact folder was left in the same exact place for us. If you read this it has information. If I can get the power up on this computer there will be a video and everything we know, you’ll know. I just….”
“Found it!” Norris called out. There were thumping footsteps and he emerged back into the office. “Staircase door was hidden in the back of a closet. We ready?”
Maggie looked at Malcolm, then took the folder. “Yes. Yes we are. Malcolm after you.”
Malcolm agreed and walked before her.
Trey took hold of his arm. ‘Is this really an exact duplicate?”
“Yeah, yeah it is.”
“What do you think we’ll find below?” Trey asked.
“I don’t know,” Malcolm replied. “But prepare for anything.”
It was quiet below. The lights were dim, slightly brighter than emergency lights and from the tiny windows on the doors, a blue glow emerged.
“They’re all still here,” Maggie said, peering in one of the doors. “They’re still in stasis. They haven’t hatched.”
“The timer hasn’t even started yet,” Malcolm added.
“What do you mean?” Maggie asked.
Malcolm pointed to the door at the end of the hall. “That square above it starts a timer. When it’s done, that door opens for the elevator. My guess is they’re all linked to together. The hatching triggers the countdown.”
Clark questioned. “What’s the purpose of the countdown? Nelson, you’re the virologist. Does this have to do with the sickness?”
“Maybe. It’s hard to say,” Nelson replied.
Norris walked the hall, peering in each room. “There has to be a main frame. Something that controls this. That tell us how they are set.”
Something clicked in Malcolm. “There is. If it’s the same layout, and I bet it is…” He walked down the long corridor to the door at the other end. “It’s behind here. It was at the other lab.”
Maggie gave a nod of approval to Norris. “Colonel, can you open that.”
“Right away,” he said and made his way to the door.
It didn’t take long for Norris to get that door open. Much less time than it took John back when he opened it. With the use of hand lights Malcolm led them down the small hallway.
“Once through here, there’s a power box.” Knowing where it was, the second he made it through the short hall, Malcolm turned on the lights.
“What is this place?” Maggie asked.
“Where you eat and make meals. This entire area is the heart. Water tanks are here and oxygen. They are all down that way.” Malcolm pointed to the far end and another door. He swung his aim to the second floor. “Up there are lockers. One for each person. It has their belongings. The computers are up there as well. I just need to power them up.”
Maggie asked. “Do you think the program for the units is up there?”
“I believe I saw it when I was looking at our computer. I’ll look.”
“Wonderful, we are going to look down here. If you don’t mind doing that?” Maggie asked.
“No. Not at all,” Malcolm said. He really was interested in finding out why they hadn’t hatched, or at least when they were scheduled to.
“Thank you, Malcolm.” Maggie squeezed his arm. “Thank you so much.”
Malcolm nodded and headed to the metal steps. Trey accompanied him.
“See now,” Trey said, “you can be a team player.”
“I’m curious. I want to see why they didn’t wake. Plus, this is the first time I don’t feel funny about all this.”
Trey smiled. “Yeah, they are acting a lot different here.”
Malcolm reached the top level. “Maybe I was wrong. Maybe their reactions in California was just disappointment.” He turned on the lights in the computer room.
“Why does this place after all these years, still have power?”
“Solar, I’m guessing. I don’t know.” Malcolm moved out a chair and sat down. “Okay. Here we go.” He turned on all the computers. “Before I was looking for videos and answers. But If I am not mistaken.” He waited for the boot up of all three computers. “The stasis is…” He chose an icon that looked like a heart monitor. “Here.”