Chapter Three
The Plan In Motion
The Sanctum, an underground facility...
The Council sat within the room designated for data collection and evaluation known as the Chamber. They spent most of their time there. The three heads making up the department within the Sphinx Corporation consisted of Mr. Morta, Ms. Nona, and Mr. Decuma. They were the second generation running the department. Adam Greenhouse and two others led the Council in the past. The current Council was in charge of many experiments and projects, and the three worked as one to make sure the entire department ran efficiently, increasing its standing within the corporation.
Twenty-four analysts and two supervisors worked within the Chamber as worker ants for the three-headed queen. Data was the pollen they collected, and analysis was the honey they produced.
A male supervisor approached the Council as they sat at a rectangular table within a darkened area of the Chamber. A laptop set on the table in front of each of them, and they were the only lights in the area. Only the Council's mouths were visible within the computer-blue hue.
The male supervisor stated, “One of our computer security specialists in the Cavity detected a hack in one of our warehouse servers. The hacker was able to access a few of the files before being kicked out.”
“How long ago was this?” Mr. Morta questioned.
“About twenty minutes ago,” the male supervisor replied.
Mr. Morta asked, “Could they tell what data the hacker accessed?”
The male supervisor referred to his H.H.C. (Hand Held Computer) before answering, “They accessed files pertaining to the Gorgons, Pandora, and Cerberus.”
Ms. Nona inquired, “How much of the data were they able to access?”
“They were able to access information on where the projects are currently located.”
Mr. Decuma pulled up a few files on his laptop, read through them, and then he stated, “All three of the projects mentioned have been shut down. Why would they be interested in them?”
“What do we know about these projects?” Ms. Nona questioned.
“We are all familiar with Cerberus,” Mr. Decuma started. “It has...”
Mr. Morta interrupted him by saying, “I do know what all three have in common. They are all dangerous experiments.”
Mr. Decuma added, “Do not forget that they were all deemed failures.”
“Have those three projects names flagged with our analysts and see if anything else comes up,” Mr. Morta instructed the supervisor. “Also increase security at that warehouse server.”
“At once,” the male supervisor stated and then he left.
Twenty minutes later...
A female supervisor, Supervisor Annette, approached the Council and then she said, “There has been a break-in at Etna Toys Distribution Station Bravo. A group of six armed men have been reported to have entered the premises.”
Ms. Nona inquired, “Were not the Gorgons created there?”
“They were,” Mr. Morta replied and then he ordered, “Send in one of our reserve S.C.M. Units that is closest to Etna Toys Distribution Station Bravo. Our Sphinx Corporate Military men will handle these intruders.”
“Will the ten men be enough or should we send in another unit?” Ms. Nona asked.
“The ten men will be enough,” Mr. Decuma replied and then he commanded the supervisor, “Make sure that one of the intruders is brought back for interrogation. We need to know what interest they have in the Gorgons.”
Supervisor Annette said, “Yes, Mr. Decuma.”
The male supervisor rushed over and informed the Council, “Another group of six intruders have entered Echidna's Bosom.”
Mr. Decuma said, “Cerberus was created there and is currently housed there after it went out of control on its last assignment.”
Ms. Nona turned to Mr. Decuma and then she turned to Mr. Morta and questioned, “What is going on?”
“Lock down the Sanctum,” Mr. Morta ordered. “The Pandora Project is here in the Sanctum, and I believe this facility may be the next one attacked.”
The male supervisor rushed off to put the Council's orders into action.
“I repeat my earlier question,” Ms. Nona said and then she asked, “What is going on?”
“More importantly,” Mr. Decuma began and then he questioned, “Why would anyone be interested in the Gorgons or Cerberus?”
The male supervisor rushed back over and said, “There was a second hack attempt on the same warehouse server and they breached six of our eight firewalls, including the ones that were just added.”
An analyst came over and handed Supervisor Annette a H.H.C.
“The six intruders at Etna Toys Distribution Station Bravo have made it past security personnel and are heading for the last secured door,” Supervisor Annette informed the Council. “Your S.C.M. Unit arrived outside moments ago and is moving in.”
Ms. Nona inquired, “What do these two projects have in common?”
The male supervisor reviewed their files on his H.H.C. and then he replied, “I see two connections. Adam Greenhouse worked on both and the Council currently has custody of them.”
Supervisor Annette informed the Council, “Your S.C.M. Unit has engaged the intruders at Etna Toys Distribution Station Bravo. I'll switch to live audio, and I'll listen in.” She typed a few things on her H.H.C., then activated her earpiece, and stated, “The intruders will not surrender and a gun battle has ensued. A few of the intruders are trying to escape.” Supervisor Annette listened carefully to the live audio for a few minutes and then she reported, “Your S.C.M. Unit has secured Etna with two casualties.”
Mr. Decuma questioned, “What about the intruders?”
“They're all dead,” Supervisor Annette answered.
“We gave clear instructions that we wanted at least one of them alive,” Mr. Decuma said.
She stated, “The head of your S.C.M. Unit reports that the last intruder took his own life, so he wouldn't be captured.”
Mr. Morta asked, “Were they corporate military from another corporation?”
“If they were, they had no type of patches or markings. Your unit also couldn't find a CDN anywhere on them.”
“No Corporate Designation Numbers,” Mr. Morta said and then he stated, “Someone must have been running an Ultra-Black Operation.”
“Such an operation has been deemed illegal by the Corporate Senate,” Ms. Nona stated.
“This shows the desperation behind whomever sent the men,” Mr. Morta spoke. “Whoever is after the projects must not want anyone to know they are after them to use such a method that could get them sanctioned by the Corporate Senate.” He thought about it some more and then stated, “If we knew which corporation, we might be able to figure out why they want the projects.”
Ms. Nona told the female supervisor, “Have the bodies taken to one of our off site medical forensics offices and see if they can deduce which corporation sent the men.”
Supervisor Annette typed up the order.
Mr. Decuma questioned, “How far did the intruders get?”
“They never made it past the secure door leaving Etna Toys Distribution Station Bravo,” Supervisor Annette replied after she finished typing up the order. “If you will excuse me...” she spoke and then she headed for the line of analysts.
The male supervisor remained with the Council and monitored the second group of S.C.Ms. No one talked for a few minutes and the background noise of typing and muffled conversations filled the silence.
Mr. Morta spoke up as he stated his suspicions out loud, “What if it was not a corporation?”
“What are you thinking?” Ms. Nona inquired.
“What if...” Mr. Morta started.
The male supervisor interrupted, “Your second S.C.M. Unit has entered Echidna's Bosom. I'm switching to live audio.” He tapped his earpiece and said, “They have entered the lab and have found the intruders. They have asked them to su
rrender and they have refused.” A few minutes went by as the male supervisor listened to the gun battle. He stated, “Your S.C.M. Unit neutralized the intruders and lost none of their own. They managed to keep one intruder alive but he is severely injured. Where would you like him brought for questioning?”
Mr. Decuma replied, “Have him brought here?”
The male supervisor relayed the information and then told the Council, “They're heading back to their vehicle, and they estimate they will arrive here in... One moment. I heard a shot ring out and another.” The male supervisor questioned the S.C.Ms., “What has happened?” He listened to them and then reported to the Council, “The prisoner managed to take a gun and shot your head of the S.C.M. Unit. Another soldier then shot the prisoner. He's dead and the head of the S.C.M. Unit is wounded in the leg.”
“This is most disappointing,” Mr. Morta stated.
“Yes,” Ms. Nona agreed. “We still have no idea what they wanted with the Gorgons or Cerberus.”
Mr. Morta ordered, “Have security and the S.C.Ms. within the Sanctum report in.”
The male supervisor relayed the order.
Mr. Decuma questioned, “Should we have Cerberus and the Gorgons brought here?”
“I believe we should not have them all in one place,” Ms. Nona stated. “We should increase security at those locations.”
“All is quiet,” the male supervisor reported. “No vehicles or personnel have come within a one mile radius of the Sanctum.”
“I do not like this” Mr. Morta spoke up.
Ms. Nona questioned him, “What is bothering you?”
“Three files were accessed at the warehouse server but only the facilities housing the Gorgons and Cerberus were hit.”
“We did instigate a lockdown,” Mr. Decuma said. “Maybe our added security deterred the third group from attacking.”
Mr. Morta asked the others, “What if the plan was not to acquire the Gorgons or Cerberus?”
“What do you mean?” Mr. Decuma questioned.
“Supervisor Annette, please come here,” Mr. Morta called across the Chamber and then he spoke to the Council, “What if their real target is Pandora and the others were used as a diversion? During our lockdown, S.C.Ms. at the Sanctum are moved to the upper levels to guard against attack. What if..?”
An analyst approached the table and informed the Council, “Supervisor Annette stepped out a few minutes ago.”
Ms. Nona questioned, “Where did she go?”
“I don't know,” the analyst replied.
Mr. Morta stood as his suspicions were becoming less and less possibilities and more and more probabilities. He ordered, “Send a S.C.M. Unit to where Pandora's housed.” Mr. Morta pointed to the male supervisor and instructed him, “You, check on the project's status.”
“What do you think is happening?” Ms. Nona inquired.
“I believe we have a Mole within our ranks. One that has been very close to us,” Mr. Morta replied and then said, “How else...”
The male supervisor reported, “Pandora's stasis pod is operating at normal... wait a minute. The wakeup sequence has been instigated. Pandora will be fully awake in five minutes.”
Mr. Decuma ordered, “Instruct the S.C.M. Unit heading there to stop Pandora from waking up at all cost!”
The male supervisor stated, “They can't, not after the sequence has been started.”
Mr. Decuma ordered, “Pull two more S.C.M. Units from the upper levels and send them to Pandora's room.”
“Will they be enough?” Ms. Nona questioned.
“Make that four,” Mr. Decuma instructed.
A few minutes later...
The male supervisor said, “The first S.C.M. Unit you sent in has reported that they have Pandora and Supervisor Annette in custody. Supervisor Annette gave up without a fight and the project's groggy and confused. They want to know what they should do with Pandora and Supervisor Annette.”
Ms. Nona stated, “One moment while we discuss this.” She turned to the other members of the Council and questioned them, “What should we do with the project?”
“Destroy it before it destroys us,” Mr. Decuma answered. “You have read about what it has done in the past.”
Mr. Morta turned to the male supervisor and ordered him, “Ask the S.C.Ms. if Pandora is acting hostile.”
“They report that the project is afraid and wishes to go home.”
Mr. Morta told Ms. Nona, “If the project remains docile and cooperative, I say we keep it alive.”
“I agree,” Ms. Nona stated and then she said, “We need to find out what is so important about the Pandora Project that someone would go to all this trouble to acquire it.”
“I strongly believe that we should put it down, but I will agree with you two as long as it remains docile,” Mr. Decuma stated. “What do we do about Supervisor Annette?”
Ms. Nona spoke, “We will interrogate her till she...”
“She is dead,” the male supervisor stated with a blank look on his face. “The S.C.Ms. report she took some sort of poison she had hidden in her mouth. Supervisor Annette is dead.”
“Suicide mission,” Mr. Morta spoke. “They all killed themselves or had others do it for them. What is so important about the Pandora Project that thirteen people were sent on a suicide mission?”
“We may never know,” Ms. Nona stated as she pulled up the file on the project. “There is a reference here to Ginn L. Irynkissgthie and Arcamedes. Both of these men lived hundreds of years ago. I will have a team of analysts look into these two men and maybe they will shed some light on Pandora.”
“In the meantime,” Mr. Morta started. “Let us prepare Pandora. We will test this project and see what it is capable of. Maybe something good can come out of all this carnage.”
Chapter Four
Was It Worth It?
R.G.'s view...
I sit in my office, impatiently waiting for news. It has been hours since the start of the mission, and I don't know if we've been successful. A knock comes to my door, so I stand and I bid them come in.
Tait, one of the security guards who works for me, enters and then reports, “We have heard from your second Mole within the Council, Annette is dead and both of the groups you sent in have been wiped out.”
“I see, and Pandora?” I question.
“Pandora has been reawakened and the project has been reinstated. The tests will soon begin again.”
“I see. Thank you, you may leave.”
Tait turns and leaves me alone and once the door shuts, I collapse into my chair. Annette was a dear friend to me and the men... Many of them had wives and children. Was all these sacrifices worth it? Did I have to go to such extremes to have Pandora brought out of stasis?
I believe fate needed a nudge, and I must live with the guilt that many died so that one may rise. Now I must wait again. Pandora will bring a Twilight. It'll be one heralding the light or the darkness; I pray it's the Twilight that will save this planet, for death can only come from the other.
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