Read Z-Volution for Free Online

but spending time with her, whatever time she had left. That at least was another value he honored, for her, breaking away only on rare occasions like today when his mission took him to the U.N. itself. Up until a few days ago, he had worked as much as he could behind the scenes, on calls and Skype and limiting face-to-face meetings to times when his mother had care or was in the hospital for overnight treatments.
    Things had gotten progressively worse over the past few weeks, but surprisingly their relationship was the best it had ever been, at least as far back as he could remember, since when he was just a kid opening presents from Santa with his mom and dad, and everything was right in the snowy world.
    Even Veronica had met her and spent some time—the three of them together, and sometimes Alex thought that without that experience, without Veronica living through it and seeing Alex’s growth and dedication and compassion, maybe they wouldn’t be together right now. Of course, he and Veronica hadn’t had a lot of time together either, but that would come soon enough, once more urgent matters were settled. Once the threat was passed.
    Alex’s mother had been a priority, at least until today, until what just happened, but then—his phone rang and the caller ID showed him her name, and Alex’s heart leapt. She had gone for another treatment, something new her doctor had suggested. Alex didn’t know the specifics, and was taken aback that she had only just sprung this information on him while he was on his way out the door to fly to Washington last night.
    He hadn’t known where she was going, how she was getting there, or what was involved— whether it was a new procedure or drug or whatever.
    So, dying to hear the details, he eagerly answered the phone.
    He listened, his relief at hearing her voice turning to concern and then, crushing sadness and heartbreak as she told him the news.
    #
     
    Veronica found Alex in the waiting room, talking on his phone. His eyes brimmed with tears as he ended the call with a choked goodbye.
    She said nothing, just searched his red-rimmed eyes as a lump lodged in her throat.
    “How…how did it go?” he asked, wiping away a tear.
    She shook her head. “You probably heard it all before you left. All the main stuff. We’re locking down the borders, putting the navy on alert, redirecting the satellites and trying to get other countries on board with shared surveillance and cooperation.”
    “There’s a lot of ocean between here and there,” Alex said. “A lot of ports.”
    “Yeah, but we have a head start.”
    “You saw all those ships, Veronica. Only one needs to get through to a major city. Or even a minor one. Out of the thousands of ships docking every day, maybe tens of thousands. How can they stop them all?”
    Veronica had to ask, and wanted to change the subject. “Was that your mom?”
    His eyes fell.
    “She…left the country three days ago.”
    “What?”
    “An experimental treatment in Grenada. She just called from there, where they tried some last ditch cryo-surgical procedure.”
    “It didn’t work?”
    Alex shook his head. “She…isn’t coming back.”
    “Oh, Alex.” She went to him, slipped her arms around his neck and hugged him, just held him tight, feeling his chest tighten and his breath escape. “I’m sorry.”
    “I have to go,” he whispered.
    “No…”
    “I need to be with her. At the end. She’s completely alone. She needs me.”
    Veronica pulled back, stared into his eyes. “If you go, you may not be able to get back in. For I don’t know how long.”
    “I know. But maybe…”
    “Maybe you’re better off there. Safe,” Veronica said, nodding as if the debate was over. “Go, and let all this settle. We’ll stop DeKirk and whatever he’s got planned, and in the meantime, you’ll be isolated there, away from any contagion, away from…”
    “Dinosaurs and zombies who will be coming to devour the woman I love?”
    She