by J E Grace
The sun had set, and darkness filled the atmosphere outside. Everyone left by the cover of night to keep the location safe. I had been blindfolded and escorted to the area by William. Only now, after agreeing to join, was I able to see where we were for the first time.
Removing the blindfold didn’t give me a clue though. We could be anywhere. Moonlight cast shadows on the rock ledge marking the entrance to the cavern making it appear quite ominous. In the distant landscape, large trees reached up to touch the sky, and thick underbrush dotted the surrounding hills. It was typical of any rural landscape.
William started up the Explorer, and we made our way down a narrow roadway that opened up to a steep mountain grade. For the next few miles, the sky seemed to be closer as we climbed higher and higher into the distance.
“How long has your group been using this location?”
“For about a year now, we watched the signs of the impending control by the government and decided the time had come. Our main objective above all is to protect our location.”
“Did you have a chance to view the discs you gave me?
“I’ve been so busy with STRC that I just didn’t get around to it. Well, that’s not entirely the truth either. I was afraid of what might be on them.”
“I understand. It was quite a shock to me too. You wouldn’t believe the information he had smuggled out. Gives me cold chills just to talk about it,” I said looking away into the darkness.
“What was so shocking? You’ve got my curiosity going now.”
“Stop by my cabin before taking me home, and I’ll show you.”
“It’s a deal.”
We made our way along the mountainside with the glow of the moon lighting up the roadway. We each sat in silence, both with our own private thoughts filling up our heads.
After about a half an hour I could see the highway leading into the hills of Lockwood and my safe house. We pulled up to the gate, and I hopped out, put my key in the lock, and it popped free. I opened the gate and motioned William through and then locked up the gate securely.
“Well, I guess you are pretty hidden, aren’t you?”
“I can’t be too careful. Interplay isn’t anyone to mess with. I only use this place when I need to work on something secret.”
We pulled up out front and made our way to the door. I placed my key in the lock, flipped the light switch and sat down at the computer. I booted it up and popped the disc into the hard drive.
William pulled up a chair and joined me as the images began to load. He sat in total silence, his face ashen white, in disbelief at the view before him. Only when I removed the disc, did William try to speak? His voice, broken and muffled was shaky as he began to talk. “My God, I had no idea what we were up against. Do you have any idea what this all means?”
“Let’s just say that I have a good idea, but at this precise moment, I’m powerless to do anything. I don’t think the rest of the group is up to handle this knowledge. It’s all I can do to cope.”
“You’re absolutely right; I can see you’re going to be a great asset to STRC. What do you say we combine our efforts and work together,” said William as he polished off his coffee.
“I’d consider it an honor. Are you ready to get out of here?”
“Sure. I need to be getting home to the wife and kids before they think I deserted them.”
Chapter Thirty-One
I awoke with my mind filled with cobwebbed images of mindless clutter. I knew the time had come for me to put aside the identity that made up the framework of who I was. My life as Davis Summerfield would soon come to an end. Funny how I had pangs of loss, even though I had found out that my whole life was a lie anyway.
Our society had made the most significant mess out of what was once a beautiful planet. We had become cutthroat, greedy and self-centered. Where was the hope? Just hearing the word run through my brain made me think of Jeanette. It died out like a flame hit by a massive gust of wind yet deep inside I didn’t want to accept it. The loud ring of the phone snapped me back. Reluctant to answer it, I stood motionless, before I finally reached over and picked it up.
“Hello.”
“Well, my friend, you are there?” said the familiar deep voice on the other end of the line.
“Yeah, funny you should call. I was just about to call you.”
“Hope your news is better than mine,” said William.
I could feel that what he was about to tell me was not going to be pleasant.
“You first, you have my curiosity up,” I said as I straightened the pillows and sat up in bed.
“Didn’t you work with Wilson Bench?”
“Yes, why are you asking?
“He was found in his car in the parking garage this morning. The authorities are treating it as a suicide. His revolver was still in his hand. One quick shot to his head.”
“I can’t imagine him committing suicide,” I said picking up the phone and moving over to the chair.
“William this creates a heightened sense of urgency. I need some new id and wheels. Do you have any contacts to get that done?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I’ll set it up and get back with you.”
“Don’t call me back here. I’ll have to clear out and go to the cabin. You can reach me there."
“Hey, watch your back. The group needs you.”
“Catch you later. Give me about three hours to get squared away before you try to contact me.”
It was apparent that the Fallen had put their plans into warp drive. Time was of the essence and was becoming a treasured commodity. With Wilson out of the way, it was just a matter of time before they would be looking for me. I had to make sure they didn’t find me.
I quickly showered and threw my stuff into a suitcase. Thanks to a fully furnished cabin there wasn’t much to pack. When they checked my house, it would seem as though I was still living there. The Fallen would keep my house under surveillance, and I had to be one step ahead of them. I would ditch the BMW and replace it with an SUV. William would come through. He had connections that were untraceable. All I could do now was, wait.
~
The sun faded into the horizon and was soon replaced with the dark shadows. Guards walked their assigned rounds, stopping only to chat with their fellow employees.
Everything was quiet at Interplay. Wilson Bench’s apparent suicide was kept under wraps. No one discussed his death, and the paperwork was quickly buried in red tape. A secret meeting was being conducted in the west wing office of the Head of Security via satellite while the rest of Interplay went about their regular rounds.
~
From his headquarters on the island, Luther watched the monitors as the secret panel members entered the boardroom at Interplay. A smirk started to form at the corner of his mouth as he watched a nervous Reginald Livingstone enter the room and begin to pace back and forth. A bead of sweat formed on his brow and trickled down his hairline before finally landing on his shirt collar.
What a worthless piece of expendable human waste. No backbone, a spineless coward. He would enjoy getting rid of him almost as much as he enjoyed watching Wilson make his final exit.
Luther watched as they all nervously took their seats. He would make them squirm a little while longer.
A hovering noise outside broke his attention. After a few seconds, the door opened, and Lucius entered the room. After the usual greeting, they settled down to the purpose at hand.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” said Luther in his deep and calculating voice.
“I have gathered all of you here today to resolve a matter of urgent importance. My sources have informed me that Davis Summerfield has joined forces with a rebel group operating in our sector. So far, we have been unable to find their headquarters or determine who the head of the group is. Your job is to use whatever resources you have at hand to locate our enemies. Do you have any questions?”
“It isn’t really a question, but I can’t believe that Davis w
ould be involved with these rebels,” said Thompson, the new head of the security department.
“His departure from Interplay, as you all well know was rather questionable. Now while he is unreachable, an associate of his, Jeanette Sims, is also missing from her condo. Makes for a rather timely coincidence, wouldn’t you agree? Do you have anything to report on the surveillance on his residence?”
“His personal belongings are still inside, but he hasn’t been spotted for a couple of day’s now,” said Thompson.
“As Head of Security, it’s your job to know where he went. I want you to find him and let him lead you to the others. They have to be stopped. My intelligence says they are mounting a takeover of Interplay which must not happen,” said Luther glancing over at Lucius. “I also want Jeanette Sims found. She had to leave a trail. Find Davis, and you’ll find her.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
I had spent the day meeting with an underground surgeon that William had set me up with. Thanks to some new surgical techniques, my recovery would be shorter. Once it was done, there was no turning back. I just had to deal with the image in the mirror, good or bad.
I nervously looked around the room, which was in the basement of an abandoned warehouse. The doctor, Vincent Gorman, was in his late sixties and reminded me somewhat of the doctor in the old Frankenstein movies. He was short and walked with a slight shuffle, which I was told, was due to a war injury.
“Well, Mr. X, are you ready to begin your journey?” he said as he placed a sheet over my body.
“This isn’t exactly my idea of a fun time, but I really don’t have a choice. Just make me handsome, so the girls will still find me irresistible,” I said trying to make a joke to calm my nerves. The idea of someone cutting on my face gave me the creeps.
“I’m going to put you under now, and when you wake up, your face will be wrapped in gauze so don’t be alarmed. The healing process begins from that point on.”
“I’ll call William when you’re stable and ready to leave.”
“Okay, get it over with,” I said closing my eyes.
The sun was setting over the island as Luther glanced out across its vast expanse. His thoughts were focused on McKenzie. There had been no contact in days with Davis. There could be no loose ends. McKenzie’s usefulness had come to a conclusion. The Fallen would carry out his orders as usual, and he would watch the annihilation.
As he walked through his spacious abode with its many windows providing a view of the ocean from almost any angle, he smiled to himself. It felt great to have so much power. Who needed God? He had the Fallen. Soon it would all be over, and he would reign over them, and nothing would be out of his grasp. He made radio contact and relayed the direct order.
It was late in the evening when McKenzie returned to his ranch. He stopped briefly alongside the front porch to fill his arms with firewood. The sky was clear, and briskness was already in the air. It would be a cold night.
In a matter of minutes, the fire crackled and popped, emitting a bright glow that seemed to radiate throughout the room. McKenzie retired to his favorite chair and opened the paper glancing at the headlines, stopping only periodically to sip coffee from his oversized mug. His mind wandered causing him to read the same passage over again.
Outside nothing moved. It was as if all living creatures of the night had ceased to exist. From high in the East a single flashing light appeared brighter and brighter as it closed in on its target. From inside the craft, a loud noise erupted as the Fallen let out their battle cry. They loved the taste of victory and what it meant to their cause.
The craft approached within a few hundred feet of the cabin. Lucius hit the detonator ray, and within seconds the entire cabin and its contents were vaporized. All that was left was a gaping hole in the ground filled with smoldering embers. McKenzie never knew what hit him.
Luther watched the monitor, his power mounting. For a second, he had to take a breath as the feeling of invincibility overtook him. He walked over and poured himself a victory drink, swallowing slowly to enjoy every last drop.
Chapter Thirty-Three
I awoke to a world of darkness. I could sense, however, that someone was in the room with me. As I made a vain attempt to speak, I heard a familiar voice urging me to be silent.
“Don’t try to talk, just rest. You came through the operation beautifully. You might even be my greatest work. Rest, I’ll be back later to check on you.”
I lay in the hard hospital bed with thoughts of what I might look like now. Would I get used to seeing a different image look back at me when I looked into the mirror? Well, what I looked like on Earth didn’t really matter anyway.
My face was a lump of massive soreness. I didn’t look forward to when the anesthetic wore off. Hopefully, the Doc had some good painkillers. Even in my state of drowsiness, my mind wandered to thoughts of Jeanette. When this hurdle in my life was over, I had to find her. Getting her into the STRC group was her only chance for survival. At least, there was the satisfaction of knowing that at this time, she didn’t remember the terrible things that were done to her. I couldn’t really decide if it was a blessing or a curse. I had to also get in touch with McKenzie. I had to make sure he was okay and get him into the group. He would be an asset.
~
Back at STRC, William paced the long corridor of the stronghold. He wished Davis was back. There was word by underground sources that Interplay was getting ready to place Washington under military control. They required that all citizens register with Interplay and be issued an ID card. Without it, you couldn’t work, buy food, or receive medical care.
It was time to put Phase 2 into operation. Their underground headquarters was self-sufficient and could hold up to 2,000 quite comfortably. Supplies were stockpiled and would last, if rationed, for approximately six months. All that was left was the medical unit to be stocked with supplies, and they were coming in late that evening, as well as, fifteen doctors and nurses.
The reclusive lifestyle was about to begin, remaining underground, moving only by the dark of night to keep their location safe.
William’s cell phone made a chirping sound. He glanced at the readout, and a sigh of relief came over him.
“Are you ready to get out of there? I’ve been anxiously waiting for your call. A lot is happening here. Things have escalated quicker than we anticipated,” said William as he paced the length of the infirmary.
“You can bring me up to speed on our way back. I don’t know how much use I’ll be for another few days until these bandages are removed. I won’t have to worry about Interplay tracking me down. My own mother wouldn’t recognize me.”
~
Interplay was steaming with activity. Everywhere personnel scurried about the yard in all directions. They had received their orders and were being dispatched to various parts of the city. The civilians had to be kept under control at all costs. It wouldn’t be easy. The people could panic. They had to be organized and forceful in their approach. This is where their years of training came into play.
Reginald Livingstone, still saddened by the news of Wilson’s demise, glanced out the windows facing the yard. Why the heightened state of alert? There were no threats of terrorism on the horizon, no warnings. The ring of the phone broke his concentration. He was apprehensive about picking up the phone out of the cradle but knew he had no choice. No one ignored Luther.
“Reginald Livingstone.”
“Well, Reginald, how are things at Interplay?”
“We are rushed. Your plan has to be implemented in stages in order not to panic the public,” said Reginald sitting down at his desk.
“Just make sure that everything goes smoothly. I’m holding you responsible now that Wilson is no longer here,” said Luther watching him on his monitor. “How long before the ID station is set up?”
“It should be up and running by tomorrow. With millions of people in the city who knows how long it will take to ID them all. We have to cross-match everythin
g up with the Interplay database. It could take some time.”
“Anyone who is stopped without an ID will be taken immediately to a center within the city for clearance. If they refuse, you have my orders to shoot them on the spot,” said Luther grinning. “Make sure your men are kept up to speed on the orders. If they refuse to enforce them, they will be dismissed from their duties and will be dealt with severely.”
~
The sun was slowly fading out of sight on the horizon, and the salt-laden air swept through the open window as Luther watched the craft descend on the pad outside.
This was a glorious time. The entire city was about to be at his disposal, McKenzie was gone, and soon the last obstacle in his way would no longer be a threat. The battle plans were drawn, and the outcome was evident. Didn’t these fools know they couldn’t win? They were dealing with a force far more advanced than anything they could even imagine.
Lucius entered the room with a cry of victory, his entourage at his side. They lived for this. They were destined to rule, and nothing would stop them from completing any mission given to them.
“To another victory, said Luther raising his glass. “Long live the Fallen!”
Chapter Thirty-Four
My recovery had gone even better than I imagined. I did, however, have trouble getting used to the image that stared back at me from the mirror. My face was now thin. My eyes had been altered to blue thanks to the aid of contacts, and my once graying hair sported a new blonde look. My mustache and beard were also gone. I smiled to myself thinking that the new procedure had taken about 20 years off. The doctors and nurses at STRC had aided in my recovery.
