The Phoenix Fallacy_Book II_Norm

by Jon Sourbeer,

  Janus quickly sat down at the circular table as the MuDi in the center created a holographic image of a fiery bird, wreathed in flames and surrounded by the words ‘pax misericordis, bellus invictum’.

  “Chiles and Graham and some of the other Techs worked day and night to pull as much data as they could off the isotope drive.” Keats pointed to the strange symbol, “Latin – merciful peace, invincible war. It’s the Phoenix Corporation symbol.”

  The MuDi changed and warped, revealing a cut-away of the interior of the cryochamber. “We pieced this together from the command codes on the chamber,” Keats said.

  The chamber was a mess of pipes, wires, and components, seemingly bereft of a place for a person inside. But as the chamber rotated, Janus caught sight of a cramped space, just enough for a slightly larger than average man. Ramirez winced visibly at the sight of it.

  “From what we can tell, operation is fairly straightforward, although how it is achieved is not,” Keats continued. The MuDi highlighted a box in the bottom of the chamber. “First, the primary dehydrator removes excess moisture from the air. The occupant wears a mask during this time to prevent them from becoming dehydrated as well.” The MuDi zoomed in, highlighting the mask, and then moved to a series of plates along the inside wall. “Once a large proportion of the excess moisture is removed, the chamber moves on to stage 2 – where the chamber begins building up a negative charge along the inside. This process, combined with a positive charge inside the dehydrator, sucks the remaining moisture out of the air and preps the chamber for the final stage.”

  “Freezing?” Marcus asked.

  Keats nodded, “The final stage is an extremely rapid dehydration and low-temperature cooling of the occupant, all occurring in a precisely coordinated fashion. Our guess is that the both the dehydration process and the negative charge is key. The dehydration must nearly empty the occupant’s body of moisture.”

  “The current problem with the technology,” Celes, Janus, and Marcus chorused.

  “Which is why it hasn’t worked before,” Lyn glanced at Ramirez.

  Ramirez shook his head at the group, shrugged his shoulders and turned to Keats, “What they said.”

  Keats smiled, “Correct. You’ve all studied up, I see. Cryogenic technology has always been limited by the inability to prevent the human body from undergoing catastrophic damage when the large volume of water in the body freezes, bursting the cells. Phoenix circumvented this problem with rapid dehydration.”

  “And the negative charge?” Janus asked.

  “According to the drive, the negative charge lowers the freezing point of water,” Keats said. “I can only speculate, but I would guess that the charge is necessary to buy time for the dehydration to pull the water from the body, but also allow the body to sufficiently cool and remain suspended without death from the dehydration itself.”

  “Two things that would normally kill a person, combined to form a process that preserves life,” Marcus spoke with admiration.

  “I’m not surprised that a Corporation came up with that,” Lyn spat.

  “And how many tries did it take to get right…?” Celes asked grimly.

  Keats agreed, “It appears each chamber has the ability to put one human in stasis for hundreds of years without deterioration, assuming an uninterrupted power supply, and to revive him or her without long-term side effects. The freezing/unfreezing process takes between two to three days.”

  “Two to three days? That seems...,” Lyn trailed off, asking the more pertinent question, instead, “How long is the person awake during that time?”

  Keats cleared her throat, “We can only presume that a sedative dose is administered by the injectors present in the chamber.”

  Lyn shuddered involuntarily.

  Keats quickly moved on, “There is another problem, as well. There is only one material which can withstand the necessary conditions without fail.”

  “Immutium,” Janus said.

  “Correct. You were right to believe there was a treasure trove of wealth within those chambers.”

  “But how long ago was Immutium developed?” Celes asked.

  “Decades, centuries maybe. No one knows for certain,” Keats replied.

  “So some of those people in those chambers could have been frozen for hundreds of years now?” Janus asked.

  “Possibly, although we certainly can’t be sure. The isotope drive contained very limited information about anything other than the operational code of the chamber.”

  “Which is precisely why you are being deployed to Cerberus, effective immediately,” the Praetor said, striding into the room. The five leapt from their seats to salute. “At ease. Colonel Keats, I want you to prep Rogers’ Wraiths for immediate deployment.”

  The Colonel nodded and walked swiftly to the door, but stopped just as she reached it, “Any success, sir?”

  “None whatsoever. Like talking to a wall. But it’s still early. There is time for change, and we haven’t talked to the others yet. Frankly, I am surprised we reached so many, so quickly – it implies at least some willingness to listen. The biggest worry is either that they know much more than they are telling, or they know nothing. In either case, we will be at a great disadvantage.”

  “If anyone can convince them, sir, it will be you,” Keats said supportively, standing in the door.

  “One would think…,” the Praetor said grimly as Keats disappeared.

  The Praetor turned back to Janus and the team, “I presume you have figured out a way to access Cerberus?”

  “Yes, I believe so, sir. But the more people we bring along, the more attention we’ll attract.”

  “Rogers’ Wraiths are only coming along as a supporting role. They will wait in the slums for your return or communication.”

  Janus was hardly surprised anymore by the Praetor’s seemingly prescient understanding of his thoughts. “So you knew I would choose the slums as the most obvious insertion point?”

  “It is hardly difficult, Janus. The slums are a glaring weakness in the Corporate defenses. Accessing them is simply a matter of walking in. Only the Executors’ arrogance blinds them to the stupidity of it. Besides, with your background, I knew you would be well suited to lead this mission. If anyone could find a way into Cerberus, it would be slummer.”

  “You’re a slummer, Janus?” Celes said, sounding shocked.

  “Does that make a difference, Adept Celes?” the Praetor asked.

  “Of course not,” Celes said, flustered. “I- I just didn’t think that any Corporation ever pulled anyone from the slums, that’s all.”

  “Well, yes and no. My experience has been that Corporations frequently try to pass slummers off as adepts in desperation for a sale. But in terms of helping slummers, you are quite correct,” the Praetor grimaced. “However, we have more important matters at hand. Janus, I presume that you will want to get in contact with your mother, Clara.”

  Janus gritted his teeth – he had not wanted it to become apparent before the mission.

  The Praetor shook his head at Janus, “Your personal goals and ODIN’s goals need not be mutually exclusive. A good leader will always realize what is most important to his troops, Janus, and how to benefit from it.”

  Janus nodded in understanding, “Yes, sir. Clara was a maid for Overlord Middleton and she knows how to find Norm. If she is still in the slums, she could be a great asset.”

  Clara, please be OK.

  “Good,” the Praetor said. “Find what we need and get out. I have no doubt Middleton will be on the lookout.” He gave Janus a hard look, “A leader also knows when to put his personal feelings aside for the good of his team. Do you understand?”

  Janus felt the bile in his throat, “Yes, sir.”

  You have a go for your mission to Cerberus – get prepped. Major Northcott will provide you with whatever weapons you think you will need for the mission. I suggest you speak directly with Captain Rogers to coordinate his support. Any questions?” />
  Janus looked around at his team. Lyn, Celes, Marcus, and Ramirez all shook their heads. “No, sir,” Janus said.

  “Good. Get to it, Lieutenant.”

  Chapter 20: To Cerberus…

  Two longboats, their engines whirring, sat prepped in the Voyages Bay. Celes had opted to take the controls this time, and she signaled her fellow pilot in the other longboat, a woman called “Glory”, who was piloting for Rogers’ Wraiths. Janus, who was sitting in the copilot seat, spoke into his link, “After we split, rendezvous in eight hours.” Their plan was to split up and land in different areas, reducing the chance of detection and giving them two evacuation points, if needed.

  Captain Rogers responded, “Right, we will find a nice spot to sit tight with the longboat and meet up with you at the designated rendezvous within eight hours.”

  Janus stared regretfully at the other longboat – Rogers had, of course, wanted his Ghostblade back. He would be going without one this mission.

  With one last look, Janus gave thumbs up to Glory, and the two took off out of the Chariot of Voyages with a farewell from Valhalla: “Good hunting. Operation Hell Flea is a go.”

  “Hah! Thanks, Valhalla. We’ll give em’ something to remember us by and take plenty of blood while we’re at it,” Captain Rogers voice came over the com.

  The two longboats soared from the launch bay, dropping over the edge towards the sea below, skimming the surf as they sped on to Cerberus. Every Corporation had claimed large territories long ago and though they rarely maintained any presence at their fringes, Valhalla was well away from the Cerberus territorial lines. The flight would be long and tedious.

  Marcus lay across several seats resting his head in his hands, “Wake me when we get there.”

  Janus turned to him from where he stood, peering out the front window, “How can you sleep at a time like this?”

  He sat up and shrugged, “Not really that difficult. We aren’t actually doing anything right now, and frankly, catching some shuteye will help when we finally arrive. So it makes sense, doesn’t it?”

  “If you say so… I certainly won’t be getting any rest,” Janus said.

  “Well, that’s why it’s nice not to be the one with the responsibility,” he goaded as he lay back again, closing his eyes.

  “Yes, but that would imply ya wouldn’t sleep anyway,” Lyn said sardonically.

  Marcus opened one eye and said, “True, but I guess not everyone can be as calm and collected as I am.”

  “Teach us, oh great master.” Celes said sarcastically without turning from her piloting.

  “Oooohhhhhhmmmmm,” Marcus hummed, a smirk on his face and his eyes still closed.

  Lyn laughed, “That’s nothing. I think we could all learn from Ramirez what it means ta be calm and collected.”

  Ramirez was leaning against a corner of the craft and looked as though he were already fast asleep. He frowned, his eyes still closed, “And if all of you don’t shut up and let me rest, I’ll knock out every single one of ya.”

  “Well, you could at least offer me an arm or something, so I don’t have ta lie down on the hard seats,” Lyn said. “I mean, you’re already taking up all the prime real estate, ya big galoot.”

  Ramirez sighed and proffered a huge arm. Lyn leaned back comfortably, “Thank you.”

  Celes giggled and said, “The taming of the beast.” Janus chuckled.

  Ramirez opened his eyes long enough to give the evil eye to the pair, and Celes and Janus quickly fell silent.

  The ocean always seemed endless to Janus. He stared out the cockpit of the longboat from the co-pilot’s chair, watching the swells stretch out endlessly. It seemed so peaceful, so boundless. And so lonely. Involuntarily, Janus watched Celes as she worked the controls, and then twisted around to look behind his chair. In the back, Ramirez, Lyn, and Marcus slept silently.

  “So how exactly are we going to get into Cerberus, again?” Celes asked with a smile.

  Janus returned his gaze to the swells, “You just like watching me squirm,” he said irritably.

  “I do.”

  “Well, we’ll just have to play it by ear,” Janus said. “Getting into the slums will be simple. Beyond that…,” he trailed off, “I just hope Clara is well,” he paused, a grimace on his face. “Despite the Praetor’s promise, who knows what Middleton may have done?”

  Celes nodded understandingly, “I know.”

  They were silent for a while, the whine of the engines filling the space.

  “How bad it is really, the slums?” Celes asked.

  Janus frowned. How do you describe hell so that people believe it? “You’ll see, soon enough. They were always rough, dangerous. But, things got easier for me as I became older, stronger, and wiser. The early years were tough for Clara. As I grew, I became better at keeping us one step ahead of the patrols. The last few years were relatively trouble free. For the slums, at least,” he added as an afterthought. “But that’s why I am so concerned: Time is not kind, down in the slums, and she has not been alone in many, many years. Except for Norm, that is exactly what she is – alone. And with no word from me for far too long. She probably thinks I abandoned her,” Janus said bitterly.

  Celes gave him a warm look, “She wanted you out here, remember? She knows that this is the best opportunity for you.”

  “I still left her there,” Janus said coldly.

  “And you fought to make sure she would stay protected by the Praetor. I suspect Middleton has not been too lax in watching her,” she said. She shook her head, “But who exactly is Norm?”

  Janus watched the cresting whitecaps as the longboat skimmed along, the engines’ thrum echoing dully in the cockpit, “That’s a good question, isn’t it? Norm is an old man who has lived in the slums as long as I’ve been alive, maybe longer. He seems nice enough – I haven’t actually had that many interactions with him. He helped Clara out in the past, especially when I was very young, but he grew more distant the older I got. And he always seems to know more than he lets on.” Janus looked pensive, “If we can’t find Clara, he may be able to help us.”

  “Help us to do what - locate Clara, or figure out what Middleton is up to?” Celes asked cautiously.

  “Both,” Janus said.

  Chapter 21: Home

  Cerberus was located on the coast of what Janus now knew was the south-western edge of one of the northern continents. The longboat landed in a small forest clearing North of the city. Celes eased the longboat deep into the trees, the active camouflage making it nearly impossible to spot. Rousing Marcus, Lyn, and Ramirez from their sleep, he tossed everyone a set of brown rags to wear over their armor. They were actually rather high quality, torn from any extra flak mesh Chiles and Graham could find. The two had complained that one day the Praetor made them make the armor – the next day he asked them to destroy it.

  Janus had yet to meet the pair, but they seemed to do two things very well: come up with ingenious solutions to problems, and complain.

  Confident the longboat was secure, Janus led the team onward.

  The rendezvous point the two teams had decided upon was due East from the city, in the rocky hills surrounding Cerberus. As the rendezvous was approximately 30 km south of their position, the team moved at a steady clip, taking care to keep themselves alert for Cerberus patrols or activity. There were few, mostly scouts looking for large amounts of activity – an invading army, not a squad of Adepts. Cerberus loomed over them as they trotted on, the massive city roughly equivalent to a small mountain range.

  It’s… amazing… when you see it from this side, Janus thought, staring at the monstrous dark mass.

  “I nearly forgot how large the Corporations are…” Celes said from behind him.

  Great black spires, dotted with sparse lights erupted from the Earth. Twisting black lines of roads and rails circled it like razor wires, disappearing into it, like they were embedded in a monster. In the distance, in the center of the massive city, giant towers of
steel and plasment rose higher and higher, piercing the clouds. But Janus was more disturbed by how – dead it all seemed.

  “Looks like the Devil himself thrust hell up here,” Lyn said simply.

  “Do all the Corporations look like that?” Janus asked.

  Celes nodded, “Yes, and no. They are massive, and even begin to block out the sky, but not all are quite so - dark. In a few hours, as the sun sets, the Cerberus superscrapers will cast a shadow that will completely cover this land. Night comes early here,” she said. She pointed at the ground, the grass brown, and stunted – and it only got worse the further they ran.

  The dingy, brown rags they wore were the perfect camouflage for their approach, meshing them with the earth and grass. Nothing moved – all was still. Not even the ominous clouds overhead seemed to create a breeze. It seemed so different from the first time Janus had visited the edge of Cerberus – coming from the slums and coming from Valhalla had given him a totally different perspective.

  “It is odd, though, isn’t it?” Lyn said. “It takes up so much space and then it suddenly…”

  “Stops,” Marcus finished. Janus looked at the edges of the city, which abruptly went from the gigantic buildings to empty space. No outlying buildings – the edges had been built up, and seemingly abandoned.

  “All of the Corporations are like that. None have expanded for years,” Celes said simply.

  “But why?” Janus asked

  “You need a growing population. The Corporations are – shrinking. The executors blame it on resources…” Celes trailed off.

  “Yeah, the Corporations are always lacking in resources,” Lyn interjected sarcastically.

  Celes shook her head, “It’s not quite so simple,”

  Marcus cocked his head at her, “For who—” he stopped at Janus’s nearly imperceptible shake.

  “Now isn’t the time. Come on, let’s find the Wraiths,” Janus said grimly.

  Ramirez was the first to spot the waiting Wraiths. Janus and the team had crept silently towards the rendezvous point, checking to ensure the area was still secure. The area was a former quarry, partially collapsed and filled with dust from ages of disuse, and devoid of whatever mineral or rock had once driven the work here. Tough grasses had taken root in the bottom, with the occasional patch dotting the side where it could find a perch. The quarry itself wasn’t terribly deep anymore, but had maintained its discernable lip. The bottom was uneven, but relatively flat, and rocks and ledges dotted the outside wall.