Cecilia was startled but Akiko and Lian Xi were not at all. They stepped forward and stroked the two infected people with their bare hands. The infected people staggered left and right from Akiko and Lian Xi's simultaneous attacks.
Akiko and Lian Xi continued their assault with a few more kicks, but the infected people relentlessly got up and fought back with their claws and bites. It happened repeatedly, and it was clear that the infected didn't feel any pain or fear anymore.
Akiko and Lian Xi were startled. This couldn't be happening. The infected were no longer humans. With their pale faces covered in blood from the repeated kicks, they were still raging uncontrollably. Lian Xi ran to pick up a piece of iron rod not far from where she was standing. But before she had the chance to use it, there were two loud shots. Bang! Bang!
The two infected people tumbled with their heads smashed. Akiko tucked the FN back into her pocket.
Cecilia screamed. From far back, three people were running towards them. They were friends of those two attackers. Their condition was the same. Bloodshot eyes, extremely pale faces, and black foaming mouth.
Akiko was about to draw her gun when three consecutive shots were heard, and three bodies fell over with their heads covered in blood. Andalas was seen putting his gun behind his waist and then waving at the three of them.
The three women approached Andalas and got into the stolen car when more screams were heard from people running around in panic. Behind them, several people who appeared to be infected with the BA bacteria were chasing after them. A series of gunshots rang out, sending the infected men to the ground with holes in their heads.
Andalas turned around. It looked like a convoy of French military vehicles entering the vicinity. They dispersed and then combed all over the place and ordered people to take cover behind them.
Andalas turned the wheel and gently stepped on the gas. The stolen BMW car moved slowly away from the location. Several cars were also scrambling away from the rest area making their way from the terrible place that had been littered with corpses.
The French troops took control of the situation. Checking everyone carefully. As soon as they found injured people, they were immediately separated and loaded into closed military trucks that had been prepared. Cecilia, who witnessed all that happened, breathed a little relieved. At least the French government already had a clear protocol to deal with such situation.
Akiko saw the Strasbourg City's sign. They would arrive in Zurich in three hours. Enough to have a peaceful sleep next to Andalas who was driving. She felt a victory over Lian Xi who was sitting in the back grumbling for some reasons. At least now she was near Andalas. Akiko grinned widely in her sleep.
While Cecilia was struggling with her thoughts. The violent people earlier all had Asian traits. She was sure now that what Cathy said was true. The incubation period for BA bacteria was quite long. Those Asians must had been in Europe for some time. They couldn't possibly just arrive and suddenly went berserk in the rest area.
If so, could MS had reached Asia? Viruses could adapt to new environments by mutating their genomes. Cecilia was getting more and more horrified at the thought of this possibility. The clustering theory would no longer apply, and it would make the situation even more grave. Cecilia recalled her dreams about cities being quarantined and burned to the ground.
This also meant that Pandora's team had to find a cure for both diseases at the same time. Because it would be useless to give vaccines and medicine to people who were infected with MS while BA was also a threat to other people in the vicinity. Cecilia was getting worried. She remembered Black Death, a terrible pandemic in the previous centuries.
The pandemic had wiped out the human population. Regardless of climate and place. The cause was the bubonic plague which was transmitted by rats.
And now there were two causes that were even more dangerous than the limited spread of rats. Thanks to modern transportation, anyone could have breakfast in Switzerland, lunch in France, and dinner in Germany. Cecilia covered her face. They had to act fast!
The thought made Cecilia remember all kinds of problems they would face in the future. Limited facilities and access following the resignation of Doctor Aslan. The existence of a team of scientists whose safety level was unknown. Even the well-guarded Pandora's laboratory was taken over by the Organization.
Damn it! This Organization was their biggest obstacle. No one knew about the people behind it. But they seemed to have unlimited access and resources. The Organization could hire anyone to track them down. Based on Andalas's story about the incident at Paris de Gaulle Airport when he rescued Lian Xi, assassins like Helda and Yakuza could be hired to hunt down the same target without both parties knowing.
Not to mention OWC. An organization that had utopian dreams to build a new world order. With their capability to invoke chaos, they could hunt their prey mercilessly. Its members proved to be militant. Those who were caught chose to end their lives by ingesting cyanide rather than giving out any information.
And what have they got? What resources did they have? Doctor Aslan had lost his influence. Pandora's modern research facility had been ransacked. They were now just a group of vulnerable scientists, Yakuza children, and the number one cold-blooded killer in the world. Oh, there was one additional mysterious woman who was resourceful and expertise in kung fu, who turned out to be a secret service agent. Cecilia glanced at Lian Xi who was closing her eyes.
This was a crazy mission! If not impossible!
Cecilia managed to also fall asleep in her daydream. This time she encountered a dream about cities that were leveled to the ground after being bombarded by the army of their own country.
They entered Zurich late afternoon. Akiko was driving and Andalas directed her to a grand hotel in the city area. He had made reservations for the three of them. One suite room with three bedrooms so they were not separated. While he was more comfortable choosing his own place to spend the night.
After arranging the hotel payment in cash, Andalas followed them into the room. Akiko and Cecilia refrained from asking even though they were wondering where Andalas had that much money.
Andalas got the sense of the unspoken question. He put down a travel bag which was quite large and opened it in front of them.
"Doctor Aslan had the time to prepare all of this for us before became city prisoners."
Andalas showed Cecilia and Akiko the bag full of money. Then he continued his words.
"I will come by tomorrow morning. You all come with me to the SNB office. For the time being, I don't think we should split up until it's safe enough for us to carry out the plan."
Lian Xi touched Andalas's hand and then let go quickly when she saw Akiko's fiery eyes.
"May I come with you tonight? I also have plans of my own."
Andalas saw a glint in Akiko's eyes.
"Don't. No, Lian Xi. You better be with Cecilia and Akiko. I will try to see Doctor Aslan tonight before we leave for Milan tomorrow after I finish my business at SNB."
The fire in Akiko's eyes seemed to subside.