“They did?” Kate asked, but she was quick on the draw. “Oh, right. Last night’s a bit blurry.”
“Do you want me to hand you one?”
“That would be great.”
Zane opened the door and saw Kate peeking around the shower curtain. He placed his finger to his lips, gave her the towel with the hidden message, and left the room.
A while later, she came out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped around her. “Turn around while I dress.”
He obeyed.
“I’m too sick to administer the drug today, Zane. I imagine Erica’s in worse shape, and you should probably have at least twenty-four hours to rest and recoup. I haven’t really told you how hard it’s going to be. If it works, it’ll rewrite your DNA, which is agonizing. Very much like what you told me you went through when you were first turned, but worse because as you became a vampire you grew physically stronger. Going human, you’ll grow weaker.”
He shrugged. “If it works, it’ll be worth it.”
“I can’t believe we drank so much.”
“I’ve no regrets.”
She groaned.
“Well, we bonded,” he said.
“Bonding is good.”
Zane was glad they had gotten to know each other. It made him feel closer to Glory. Terrible longing for her threatened to overcome him yet again, but he pushed it back. He cleared his throat. “How does one kill time in Wonderland?”
“I have to go into the lab at some point today to check your test results, but I could show you the sights. Visit the parks. Soak up the local color.”
He chuckled. “There’s color here?”
“Of a sort.”
“Good plan.”
“I’m dressed.”
When he looked at her, once again she reminded him of Glory. It was her determined, gutsy expression that made him smile.
“Shall we do this?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Let’s walk instead of taking the rails,” she said. “The exercise will help.”
“I love walking in the great not-outdoors.”
Kate removed a tiny address book from inside a hollowed-out book and slipped it into her pocket. A small volume of Rumi’s poetry went into the other pocket. She filled two duffle bags with bottles of whiskey and handed one to Zane. Together, they left her apartment.
He reached for the other duffle. “They’re heavy.”
She handed hers over. “They don’t make gentlemen like you anymore.”
“My daddy raised me to respect women.”
“It’s charming.”
“Hope didn’t think I was charming when we met. She thought I was rude.”
“Why?”
“I said her hair reminded me of the mane on my favorite horse.”
Kate laughed. “Oh dear. You really don’t understand women. Nope. Not at all.”
“But it was my favorite horse.”
They made their way to a path that ran along the river. The imitation daylight was harsh to Zane’s eyes, and he slipped on his sunglasses. Trees that lined the riverbank were mostly fruit bearing; Kate had told him that they grew their own food crops here. He couldn’t understand how that would be possible in such a strangely artificial environment. However, science could do crazy things. Yeah, he thought. Vicious, crazy things.
Kate whispered, “You need to know that Wonderland itself is bugged. Surveillance of all types is everywhere. Follow my lead. Watch what you say and do.”
He nodded.
She continued to speak in whispers. “I have so many regrets, Zane. I was a lousy mother—work was everything to me. I threw my emotions into that and had no clue how to handle life itself. When Erica went missing, I only held it together with Glory’s help—an awful responsibility to put on a child. After Mark died, I fell apart again and Glory had to buoy me up. Then Scorpio used my work to launch the pandemic. I sacrificed everything that was truly important for my work. I’ll never forgive myself.”
Zane was saddled with a lot of guilt, too, and didn’t know how to comfort her.
Kate sighed. “Now I discover once again that my work is slated to be used for destruction. I can’t change the past, but I can do my best to change the future. You need to know that I will do whatever it takes to stop them. If I die trying, so be it.”
“It’s my blood that led to all this,” Zane said. “This is my fight too.”
She grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
“So where are we going?” Zane asked.
“To see one of my geek friends, a woman named Ruby. If anyone can hack into Wonderland’s computer system, it’s her.”
Likely the same Ruby who is Sage’s friend. “Something that you need to know—they plan to eventually kill both Erica and Glory, too.”
Kate gasped and stumbled. Zane reached out to steady her. After a moment, she said, “I’ve wracked my brain to try to determine why Erica ended up here, and I think I’ve finally made the connection. When I first went to work for Scorpio, when the girls were young, they conducted DNA tests on us—the whole family. I was told it was part of another department’s project to study and track markers related to superior intelligence. Rumor mill said our genetic coding was exceptional. A few weeks later, Erica was taken. Now that I know Wonderland and Scorpio are related, it’s all falling into place. If that’s the case, if what happened to Erica was related to my work, that’s just one more tragedy I’m responsible for.”
“Don’t feel guilty for being smart. God gave you talent, and I’m sure He had reasons.”
Kate snorted. “I don’t believe in God.”
“Your lack of faith doesn’t change mine. I trust He has reasons we can’t understand.”
“Does this divine plan you believe in extend to you being turned into a vampire against your will?”
Zane thought about it. “Well, I reckon you’re trying to compare stallions to geldings. You were born a certain way. I was changed from how I was born by the actions of someone else.”
“Point taken. However, I’m unconvinced.” She gestured to a gathering of people down the path. “That’s our destination. People’s Park.”
The large park was a vibrant oasis in a sterile desert. Instead of grass, clover covered the ground, and beds of colorful flowers abounded.
Two scrap sculptures dominated the landscape. A twenty-foot high hand reaching up to the sky was made of chicken wire. The sight of it stirred something powerful in Zane. He thought of the children who had never been outside and the sinister nature of this place crashed down on top of him. Then he noticed the life-sized running horse—head down, tail flying, legs in motion—made of rusted scrap metal. Magnificent. Such fearless creativity was a noble testament to the human spirit. Oh, how he longed to be part of humanity again.
Wandering musicians strolled and happy children played. A variety of booths did trade in everything from homemade candies to tattoos. Customers abounded.
“It’s mighty busy,” Zane said.
“They run a six-day workweek here,” Kate said. “This is the seventh. A day for play.”
In the middle of the park was a large coffee shop named Junkman’s. Zane thought of Sage and Tessa’s father. “Junkman?”
“Junkman is the head of trash collection and disposal for Wonderland. He started upcycling trash into art.” Kate gestured to the sculptures, and then the coffee shop. “There’s more inside.”
The first thing Zane noticed when they walked in was a mural that said, “Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.” ~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland. Then the wall of noise hit him—loud music, laughter, and a ceiling full of wind chimes blown by a variety of fans.
“I’m going to get some coffee and let my friends know we’re here,” Kate said. “Do you want anything?”
“No, ma’am. I’m going to look around.”
She pointed to a shelf of wooden cubbies. “Shove the duffels into those. They’ll be safe.”
He did as she told him and then wandered through the shop.
The wind chimes were made of recycled bottles and bottle caps, silverware, keys, and broken jewelry. While Zane admired their creativity, he found the noise to be irritating. “Damn, it’s loud in here,” he muttered.
There was a tug on his arm, and he looked down into Tessa’s bright eyes. “Why, hi there, honey.”
“Pick me up now,” she said.
Zane laughed at her demanding tone, but he was used to obeying women’s orders so quickly settled her on his hip.
She threw her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “It’s loud so the bugs can’t hear. But they put in cameras and they read lips, so don’t mess up.”
“Gotcha.”
“Don’t put me right down or it’ll look suspicious.”
“Happy to hold you. I like kids.”
“Do you have any?”
“Some day, God willing.”
She shook her head. “Careful with the God talk.”
Zane saw so many clever upcycled pieces of art to check out that he didn’t know where to begin. “What’s your favorite thing here?”
Tessa pointed to an impressive evening gown displayed on a black mannequin. Made of clear glass, it looked like a fantasy of ice.
Zane whistled. “Eat your heart out Cinderella.”
She dissolved into giggles and rested her head on his shoulder. “You smell good. I bet the forest smells like you.”
“You smell real sweet, too.”
She kissed him. “You’re nice. Please don’t get fired.”
“I’ll try real hard not to.”
A tour of the shop revealed a swan made of plastic cutlery, a towering double helix created from wire hangers, and glass mosaics of birds in flight. The jagged human face made from a shattered mirror shook Zane. When he looked into it, he realized that the brokenness it reflected back at him was how he felt. Perhaps that would soon change.
Finally, he noticed Kate sitting at a corner table. She gestured for him to join her. He kissed Tessa’s cheek and set her down.
“If you have time, come see Alice and her boyfriend. They’re happier now.”
“Will do, honey.”
Across the table from Kate was a beautiful black woman wearing sunglasses and a scruffy redheaded man with an easy smile.
“Ruby and Junkman,” Kate said by way of introduction when he sat next to her. “This is Zane.”
“I’m told you have startlingly beautiful blue eyes,” Ruby said. She slipped off her glasses for a brief moment, and Zane could tell she was blind.
“That’s what they say, ma’am.”
“I like that you don’t entertain false modesty.”
“I’ve got my strengths and I’ve got my weaknesses. Seems silly to deny either.”
“You radiate such intense energy,” she said.
“Being a vampire will make that happen.”
“You sure made an impression my kids,” Junkman told him.
Zane grinned. “They made one on me, too.”
“In this corner, the cameras can’t see us, and of course, the mics can’t hear us,” Ruby said. “So speak freely. Kate’s explained the situation.”
Zane looked at the sunglasses Ruby wore and then the laptop. “Admittedly, I’m not techiest tool in the shed, but since you’re blind, how can you do what you do?”
She tapped her head. “I have a neural implant that interfaces with the computer. That’s actually the nature of the research I do for Wonderland. In the course of my work, I’ve discovered a lot of Wonderland’s secrets. Which is why I now work for the underground’s underground.”
“So, the resistance movement here is organized?”
She nodded. “We don’t want to escape because of the genocide they have planned. If they’re successful, some of us have to make it through to the other side of that to keep fighting.”
Kate removed the small address book from her pocket. “I have Evan’s private email addy. We need all the data related to my research emailed to him before you wipe it from the computers here. If you can send him anything else about Wonderland’s organization and agenda, that would be ideal. Evan could use his position to blow the whole thing wide open.”
Ruby turned the computer to face her. “Type in his address on the screen I just opened. I’ll do the rest.”
“And give me that book to destroy,” Junkman said. “In case you’re caught.”
“What do you know about the rest of their plans?” Kate asked as she typed.
“They’ve been manipulating human DNA for generations now, creating mutations. When the pandemic failed, they started triggering those mutations and mass genocide will result unless it’s stopped. They’re also implementing Project Blue Beam technology to trigger a collapse of religions and further facilitate their plans.”
Kate looked up with a stunned expression.
“What’s Project Blue Beam?” Zane asked Ruby.
“Blue Beam was NASA’s originally and has ties to DARPA’s HAARP program. Blue Beam utilizes three-dimensional optical holograms with deep perspective, and acoustic ELF, VLF and LF waves for sound. Using the massive amount of data collected over the past few decades on everyone and everything, the NWO can use the science to generate visual and audio phenomena targeting individuals as well as groups of people. That’s where all these visions circling the globe are coming from. Combine the DNA mutations, Blue Beam, time travel, and now what you’re telling me about the super soldier project and, well, the future does seem bleak.”
Zane could smell the cloud of terror surrounding Kate. Worried, he took her hand.
Kate said, “I had heard rumors of the DNA manipulation but always attributed it to conspiracy theorists. I’m such a fool. Over and over again, I’ve been such a fool.”
Zane squeezed her hand and held tight. “Do we have a plan to get the medicine from your lab? And then how will we escape Wonderland?”
Junkman said, “If you can grab what you need and get out, I can arrange to smuggle you up top. Beyond the labs, the river makes a ninety-degree turn and leaves Wonderland. The river itself is grated so nothing can swim out, but they didn’t count on there being natural tunnels that run alongside the river to the surface. Our groundsmen discovered them, and some of us worked to clear and reinforce them. It’s the biggest secret we have. I can get you out and arrange for one of our outside contacts to meet you topside with transportation.”
It sounded like a good plan to Zane.
“Do you expect trouble in the lab?” Ruby asked Kate.
“There shouldn’t be many people around, but of course there could still be trouble.”
“I don’t dare disable the security devices again so soon after I did it for the children,” Ruby said, regret in her voice. “If I had known....”
Junkman shook his head. “I can’t believe you broke my kids in there to rescue rabbits. So foolish.”
“Tessa was pitiful. I’m putty in her hands.”
Junkman groaned.
“Ruby, the most important thing you can do is get that information to Evan,” Kate said. “Everything you’ve got. And I must get my serum out of there so they can’t reverse engineer it.”
“Why can’t my wife smuggle it out for you?” Junkman asked. “Megan works tonight.”
“She couldn’t access the safe.” Kate tapped her face. “Iris scanner.”
“Seems to me that, rather than you trying to smuggle it out, it would be much safer to arrange a drop for Megan inside,” Junkman said. “You plant the medicine somewhere and she gets it out. She’s close friends with the guards; they don’t search her.”
Kate looked at Zane. “That’s a better plan than ours. Especially since the cameras will be on.”
Zane considered. “I hate to put your wife at risk.”
Junkman shrugged. “That’s what we do.”
“There’s a large, bushy potted plant in my lab. I could leave it in the pot,”
Kate said. “The other option is to simply destroy the drug. If Ruby gets my data transferred to Evan, I’ll have what I need to make it again.”
“Wouldn’t destroying it attract more attention than just planting it?” Junkman asked.
“Well, yes,” Kate said.
Junkman smiled. “Then do the drop. Get in, get out, and get to the rendezvous point. Megan will meet us there with the goods. If for some reason she can’t, we’ll get you out and destroy the medicine ourselves.”
Ruby smiled and nodded. “It’s decided then. Now you have a few hours to kill until dark settles, so make yourselves at home.”
Zane enjoyed Tessa’s company, visited the rabbits, checked out all the art, thought long and hard about Glory, and then did what he always did before a fight—he prayed twice.
† † †
It was dark when Zane and Kate arrived at the science building. One guard stood at the entrance. Zane assessed him and noticed the gold badge on the handle of his holstered gun that identified it as a .357 Python. And despite the man’s polite smile, Zane could smell his hostility.
“Pete,” Kate said in greeting.
“It’s awful late for you to be coming in, Dr. Templeton,” Pete said.
“We got sidetracked sightseeing,” Kate said. “I just need to check some things in my lab. Won’t be long.”
Pete patted down Kate and did the same to Zane.
“Are many of my colleagues about?” Kate asked.
“A few. Dr. Adams is working. I think Dr. Oshiro is in the time lab.”
“My daughter?”
“Saw her earlier. Do you want me to tell anyone you’re here?”
Kate shrugged. “No, but it’s good to know about Dr. Adams in case I have any questions about Zane’s test results.”
After being properly groped, they made their way to her lab.
She punched up reports on her computer and reviewed the screen. “Your test results are perfect, Zane.”
“So, we do it tomorrow?”
“Looks like. Let me just double check everything and then we’ll start early in the morning.” Kate walked to the wall safe, operated the iris scanner, removed a large vial and palmed it. Another vial of the same size was ready in her other hand. She examined it and returned that one to the safe.
Genesis (The Legend of Glory Book 3) Page 13
