"Yeah, I'm okay, just a little tired."

"Anything?"

She turned her face to him and shook her head.

"Nothing conclusive."

"Well I'm going to grab something to eat, can I get you anything?"

"Yes..a strong coffee and maybe a donut?"

Ryan smiled and hesitated a moment.

"Maybe you need to get some sleep. You look exhausted and you've been up here for 18 hours."

"I'll be okay."

Ryan closed the door and went about his business. Helen put her glasses back on and walked to the window. In the distance she could see several fires buring out of control perhaps 8 miles away. The mayhem was just now reaching San Francisco.

She walked to the phone and lifted the reciever, punching in a few numbers and waiting for an answer.

"Grant residence.." Little Amy's voice replied as Helen smiled.

"Hi honey, its Mommy."

"When are you coming home Mommie?"

"Pretty soon sweetheart, can I speak to Daddy?"

There was a hesitation and then Martin's voice came on the line.

"I'm really getting worried here Helen. When are you coming home?"

"I need to find some answers Martin. I'm needed here."

"This mayhem is getting closer honey..I don't want you locked up in some 50 year old hospital when the crap starts pouring in."

"I'll try to get out of here as soon as I can. I have to go..I love you."

"Just hurry home. I love you too sweetheart."

Helen hung up the phone and turned to the table where the lifeless corpse of one of them lay strapped down. She walked over to it and observed the bullet entry wound in the center of its forehead. She remembered the officer who shot it telling her it attacked him in his cruiser as he finished up log reports parked under a street lamp. This was 8 hours ago, and now the officer was in the intensive care ward.

She decided to go down and pay him a visit. She was getting nothing done here.

. . .

"How is he doing Ryan?" Helen asked as she stepped into the intensive care ward noticing Doctor Burns shaking his head as a young nurse administered another vitamin shot into the unconcious officer.

"I just don't understand it Helen..this man should be up and around, but now his condition has worsened."

"Worsened? how?"

"Low pulse and respitory problems..high fever, coma state."

"Jesus Ryan, he was just bitten on the arm."

"I know. It has to be something viral."

"Viral?..even if that was the case, it would take any viral infection months to show any signs."

"Well were not exactly dealing with anything normal here."

"I know." Helen suggested as she gazed at the officer's face. His skin was pale and he seemed to be sweating. She checked his pulse and nodded in agreement.

"Has his blood test come back from the lab yet?"

"No. Thats what I'm waiting on. We need to know what is causing these mutations." He said gazing at the officer as if willing him to give some answers. He turned to Helen.

"You really need to get some rest Helen."

"I'm going to the lab." She said as she left the room.

. . .

Doctor Jackson had just conducted another test and discovered the same results. He sat there in the lab dumbfounded and rubbing his hands together as if he somehow discovered a new form of viral disease. He wanted to learn more about this infection, just as the door opened and broke his concentration.

"Helen..damn, you still here?"

"We've been waiting on your test results on the police officer."

"Ah yes..I have it right here. Its something I have never seen before."

"So your finished with it?"

"Not by a long shot. Take a look at this." He said as he stepped away from his powerful scope and waved his hand over. Helen peered into the device and studied the molecular movements on the slide.

"Its incredible..see how the dead cells reproduce? and immediately consume the living ones?"