AntiBio: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller Read Online Free Page B

Caldicott City and the Clean Nation is better for having you. Although I must remind you that one mistake and you could spread the bacteria within you and cause an outbreak citywide. The number of deaths would be quite unfortunate.”
    “I’m careful,” Blaze says, nodding to a woman that is frowning at him since only people that talk to themselves are either crazy or jumped up on stim. “And being in love is hardly irrational.”
    “There are millions of plays, movies, video programs, and books that would argue against that,” Worm replies. “But since visiting Ms. Cale does seem to have a lasting positive physical, emotional, and psychological effect on you, I would be remiss in debating your point of view.”
    “See,” Blaze grins. “It’s like I’ve always said, love is the best medicine.”
    “That is far from medically accurate,” Worm replies. “But the effects are beneficial to you, so I allow your excursions to go unreported.”
    Blaze laughs out loud and a man coming towards him picks that moment to cross the street.
    While all citizens of genpop receive personal sat chips, only GenSOF operators, and their bug hounds, are equipped with interfaces with the AiSP system and squad specific personalities like Worm. Another bonus is the IRIS system implanted within each operator’s eyes allowing them full video access to everything that can be streamed.
    “I have StatMisted Ms. Cale’s loft, just to be sure your bacteria does not stay present,” Worm says. “She was startled, but I had an alert sent to her vid screen in time so she could secure her breathing mask in place.”
    “Good thinking,” Blaze replies then stops as he gets to the corner of the street. He looks up and down the street then frowns. “Worm? Where are the trolleys?”
    “TransPod trolley activity has been suspended in this area until the unrest is fully contained,” Worm replies.
    “IRIS up, Worm,” Blaze orders. “Show me the scoop.”
    Blaze’s eyes go completely black and he watches as various news feeds flit across his vision. He subconsciously pats his pockets, hoping to find a static stunner, or at the least his static blade, but he’s unarmed as always when he goes AWOL from GenSOF tower.
    “Can you plot routes for me, Worm? Looks like I’m walking until I can hit a trolley line. I’d like to avoid any of the crowds.”
    The screen in Blaze’s right eye disappears while the left one shows a map of Caldicott City with various routes highlighted. One by one, the routes wink out and disappear, leaving only a neon pink line.
    “That’ll get me past the civvies?” Blaze asks.
    “It is the route that will expose the least amount of the general population to you,” Worm replies. “Unfortunately the unrest is widespread and there is no clear route from here back to the next operational TransPod trolley line.”
    “Great,” Blaze says. “Automatically activate my StatShield if I get too close to anyone, okay?”
    Worm doesn’t respond.
    “Worm? What’s up with the pauses, man?”
    “I advise against that strategy, Sergeant Crouch,” Worm replies as if Blaze hasn’t said anything. “The damage it will do to your bacterial load balance is not advised.”
    “How’s that?” Blaze asks. “What damage? Since when does a StatShield-”
    “My apologies, Sergeant Crouch,” Worm responds quickly. “Since you are not at GenSOF tower, I cannot issue you your nutritional requirements. Your bacterial load is currently weaker than it should be and I would prefer not to weaken it further.”
    “Weak?” Blaze asks. “That’s not good. Does that mean I need a culture boost when we get back to the tower?”
    “I am not gone from the tower, Sergeant,” Worm responds. “But, yes, you will need a culture boost.”
    “ Great,” Blaze says. “So let’s pray to the Static God that this one doesn’t give me the shits like the last one.”
    “The Static God is not a scientific-” Worm begins.
    “Can it,”