Milwaukee Deep

“I’ll say it again, Sam – the answer is no.”

“But don’t you get it, Phil – can’t you see what that poor man’s going through?” Sam pleaded.

“I do, but I took an oath twenty three years ago that precludes me from doing such a thing – and I’m sorry, Sam, but friend or no friend, I cannot and will not intentionally end anyone’s life,” Jensen replied

“So you’re going to let him sit in that glass room for the next twenty odd days until he dies from the release of that virus, is that what you’re telling me?”

“No, Sam – I’m going to spend the next twenty odd days trying my hardest to find a way to stop him from dying – that’s what I’m going to do.”

Sam shook his head.

“Oh Come on, doc, enough’s enough – we both know there’s no way to stop this and although it sounds absolutely unimaginable to want to kill this man, I truly understand what he’s going through. Just think if you were in his shoes – knowing you’re going to die and more importantly knowing that your death, if not controlled, could in fact kill every human being on this planet, not to mention your only daughter – how would that make you feel?”

Jensen looked at Sam.

“Terrible – but I would want to find a way to stop it from happening.”

“He has! It’s called ending his life – don’t you get it? He’s lost complete control over his entire existence. Not being able to reconnect with his past, especially with his little girl, is killing him inside and he wants the pain to end.”

Sam stopped for a moment – he took a deep breath.

“Phil,” he said calmly, “Michael lost his ability to protect his little girl the moment he stepped onto that ship. Now all he wants to do before he dies is protect her one more time – to feel like a dad again – you can see that, can’t you?”

Jensen didn’t reply immediately – he stopped and looked at his feet.

“I’m sorry, Sam,” he finally said, “You make a good point, but I just can’t – I would cease to be a doctor if I did.”

Before Sam could respond, Perks entered the room.

“Fellas,” he said.

“Where have you been?” Sam asked

“I was in the northern wing checking something out – what’s going on here?” he asked.

“Well your colleague here has come to me with an unthinkable request to terminate Michael’s life,” explained Jensen with only a hint of contempt.

“It’s not unthinkable, weren’t you listening to a word I said?”

Perks turned to Sam.

“Why would you want to do that?” he asked

“Anthony, he’s hurting. A short time ago he asked me to help end his life and at first I turned him down, but after listening to him, I mean really listening to him, I now understand why he would want this.”

“But why would he want to die – I thought we were trying to save him,” asked Perks.

“Exactly – my thoughts precisely,” added Jensen

“Look, we all know that there’s no way we’re going to stop the release of that virus in the time left, let’s face it - so Michael asked that we deal with it now – that we control the situation and end his life under the supervision of both Phil and Dr Stevens.”

Perks turned to Jensen.

“You don’t agree, obviously” he said.

“No I don’t. I didn’t become a doctor to kill – not for any reason.”

“Then it’s settled,” Perks said, “Sam, unless you’re willing to go into that chamber with Michael and put a bullet in his head, this conversation is over.”

“No it’s not – we need to discuss this further,” Sam argued.

“Let it go, Sam,” replied Perks, “trust me we’ve got bigger problems to deal with right now.”

Both Jensen and Sam looked across at each other

“And what does that mean?” Jensen asked

“It means we’re in trouble – and not just in 30 days.”

“What’s wrong, Anthony?” asked Sam

“New York’s under fire right now, gentlemen – there’s a nuclear weapon that’s been placed on a subway train and right now Harding and his crew are trying desperately to find it.”

“What!” Sam exclaimed

“So how long before it’s set to go off?” Jensen blurted out

“Within twenty four hours.”

Both Sam and Jensen stood in silence.

“Harding told me if I haven’t heard from him by lunch time tomorrow we’re in trouble. He told me to seek refuge in the underground bunker in the northern wing of this facility – that’s what I was doing just now; making sure it can hold us all.”

“Can it?” Jensen asked softly.

“Yes, but if I don’t hear from Harding by twelve pm tomorrow then Sam may get his wish after all.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because Michael won’t be coming with us.”

Joel Stoker lay on the cold floor, his arms curled around his legs, his knees held tightly to his chest.

The cold air was now starting to attack his throat; every time he swallowed he shut his eyes tightly, the pain increasing with each gulp.

“Can anyone hear me?” he called out - his voice struggling to carry the call - the token cry for help was just that - the feeling of helplessness now overwhelming his every thought.

His eyes began to feel heavy now. The air, as cold as it was, was also getting thinner.

“Help me please,” he whispered as he slowly closed his eyes.