Prologue
It was just after nine p.m. when Jennifer decided to call it a day. After a long week, a nice restful weekend would be just what the doctor ordered. Changing from her sterile apparel into her street clothing, she left the lab. Walking to her car that was parked in a vast underground parking lot, her thoughts were only of the weekend ahead. Looking around, it always amazed her how they could build such a huge complex deep into a mountain. The ceiling must have been about twenty feet high and ran at least a few hundred feet in each direction. Dozens of strategically placed, steel re-enforced concrete columns kept the mountain from caving in. Jenny worked for a Bio hazard Research Laboratory situated deep inside a mountain just south of Seattle, Washington. She worked on the top level where most of the research was conducted on computers. Each lower level experimented with more hazardous materials. The lowest level, the fourth, dealt with the most deadly ones. Soon, she thought to herself, “I’ll be down there, for that’s where the big money is made.” Graduating tops in her class at the University of B.C., is what landed her here, but like everyone else, she had to start at the bottom, which in this case ironically meant the top floor. So for now Jennifer would have to be content with working on the less sensational diseases.
Pulling the keys from her purse she unlocked the door of her brand new red Toyota and sank down into its black, plush interior. It still smelled brand new, even though she had owned it for a few months already. Fully equipped; stereo, electronic windows and locks. Air conditioning was standard with this model. It was her first new car and she was proud of it, because she had always been given her parents’ old one. This one was all hers, bought and paid for by herself. Adjusting the rear view mirror, she smiled and started the engine. The radio crackled, for there was a lot of static here under the mountain. Turning down the volume, she backed the car out of its space. Just then some one tapped on the passenger side window. When Jennifer lowered the glass, her friend Helen peered in.
“Don’t forget tomorrow night,” Helen said, “Supper’s at seven-thirty sharp, and… oh yes, bring wine.”
Jenny cursed under her breath as she closed the window. She had completely forgotten about Helen and Roger. Oh well, she sighed to herself, there goes a perfectly good restful weekend. She didn’t particularly like visiting them, for the evenings always ended very late. That meant sleeping in late the next day. Whenever she could, Jennifer enjoyed watching the sun come up.
As she exited the mountain, Jenny saw that there was a storm brewing. “I hope it won’t ruin my weekend,” she said softly to herself. Moments later she came to the main gate and guardhouse.
“Good evening, Ms Wells,” said the guard.
“Hi Charlie,” answered Jenny. “Looks like we’re in for quite a storm.”
“It’s a strange one,” said Charlie looking up at the sky, “I’ve never seen blue lightning and look, there aren’t any clouds about. Yes I would say, it’s a strange one all right.”
Charlie was an older man, nearing his retirement. He always had a kind word for everyone here at the Lab. An old vet of the Vietnam War, he spoke only of the good times he had over there and never talked of the killings that went on.
“It must be some sort of atmospheric phenomenon,” said Jenny. “Anyway, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”
“You’re probably right,” agreed the guard. “You drive safely and have yourself a good weekend.”
Charlie pressed a button and the big gate slid silently out of the way. Once clear, Jenny waved and drove on. Soon she arrived at the junction that would take her down the twisting mountain road, which led to the village of Ashgrove where she lived.
It sure was a strange storm, she thought to herself. The stars were out and not a cloud in sight.
Where did this light show come from? Shrugging her shoulders she put it out of her mind and began thinking of the weekend ahead. Maybe a visit to the archery range for a camping trip was out of the question, because of Helen’s dinner invitation. In any case the next couple of days would not be wasted.
Jenny had daydreamed her way half way down the mountain, when a loud bang and flub… flub startled her back to reality. Holding tight onto the steering wheel and pumping the brakes, she wrestled the car over to the shoulder of the dangerously winding road and stopped. By now the blue flashes in the sky had intensified. She got out and checked the car. The front, right tire was flat. “Damn!” she swore softly, as she opened the trunk. As she bent inside and loosened the spare, a sudden flash of blue light hit the car. Jenny felt a searing pain and all went black.
