Vanishing Point - Marc Cerasini [49]
Palmer glanced at another monitor, this one displaying the pigs in their cage. The creatures twitched and rolled in their own feces. When they attempted to stand, their flanks twitched and their limbs shook violently.
"The pigs have fouled their cages," Palmer noted.
Dr. Reed nodded, smiling. "Bowel and bladder control is voluntary, Senator. The animals have lost the ability control those functions."
Dr. Toth lifted a tent flap and gestured to a pair of men in spotless white lab coats. As one, the duo moved toward the cages. Palmer noticed the technicians were carrying hypodermic injector guns.
"Those two men?" he asked. "Are they going to administer some sort of sedative, or perhaps the antidote? When do the waves' effects wear off?"
Dr. Bascomb looked away. Dr. Reed cleared her throat, then spoke. "Senator, those men are going to euthanize the animals. There is no antidote to the Malignant Wave effect, nor does it wear off."
Palmer turned away from the ghastly scene, faced the woman. He seemed to tremble with barely contained anger. When he spoke, Palmer's voice was a low, threatening rumble.
"Malignant Wave is supposed to be a non-lethal weapon system, Dr. Reed. That's what the committee was promised."
"Yes... Well," she stammered. "As I said, there is no physical trauma induced by the waves... Only..."
"Only you render the victim helpless. Unable to control its most basic bodily functions — forever."
Megan Reed blinked. "Of course, Senator. Think of the disruption to the enemy's ranks on the battlefield, as medics try to administer care to hundreds, perhaps thousands of soldiers so afflicted. The drain on the enemy's resources would be catastrophic. In the end, they would be forced to resort to euthanasia, if only to be merciful. The enemy would have to kill their own troops! Think of the effect such dire measures would have on their morale. "
Senator Palmer shook his head.
"No," he declared. "I refuse to consider your logic. It is too terrible to contemplate. Malignant Wave is not non-lethal technology, despite what you say, Dr. Reed. In truth your team's invention is one of the most vile and hateful methods of execution I've ever witnessed."
Dr. Bascomb rose, faced the Senator. "But, surely you see the value of such technology?"
"Value! In this, this... abomination?" Palmer cried. "We asked for a new type of non-lethal technology. Instead, you've invented nothing more than a diabolical new weapon of mass destruction. Can you imagine this weapon in enemy hands? If we allowed this program to go forward to deployment, we would unleash a new arms race."
Once again, Senator Palmer shook his head. "If you think I or anyone on my committee will endorse such a weapon, you are sorely mistaken."
Palmer spied Corporal Stratowski lurking in a corner. "Corporal, I need to get back to Las Vegas at once. Take me to the airfield," he commanded.
"Right away, Senator. The Hummer is parked outside."
As Palmer crossed the tent, Megan Reed caught his arm.
"Senator, please let me accompany you back to the city," she pleaded. "I'm sure you've gotten the wrong impression of our work here. I think I can change your mind... Convince you to see things our way..."
Palmer glanced at the high definition screens a final time. He watched a man injecting one of the monkeys with poison, looked away immediately.
"Don't bother, Dr. Reed," Palmer replied. "Nothing you say could ever change my mind. As of this moment, consider the Malignant Wave Project cancelled."
* * *
6:23:41 p.m. PDT
Las Vegas Boulevard
At the corner of Tropicana Avenue
The Las Vegas Strip
From behind mirrored sunglasses, Pizarro Rojas placidly observed the Las Vegas strip as it rolled past his windshield. The MGM lion blazed rose gold in the fading light, the sun a radiant ball