Legacy of a Mad Scientist

by John Carrick

  Chapter 62 – Montrose

  Thursday, July 30, 2308

  First Lieutenant Grey arrived at the Montrose cabin in the late afternoon. He anchored the massive tank at the end of the row of similarly anchored tanks. Their phase-cam caused them to shimmer in his Micronix-enhanced vision.

  Grey landed on the deck and deactivated his phase-cam before opening the sliding glass door. Reverend Wolfe and Ambassador Becket were both present, also wearing their Black Willow armor. It had been some time since either of them had been serving members of Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children.

  “Kilo,” Becket nodded.

  Wolfe rose and nodded as well.

  “Gentlemen. What’s the situation?”

  “King and Snow are in the stew,” Becket answered. “Ross is on over-watch and Reid ran out to prep a server farm for degaussing.”

  “What are we doing?” Grey asked.

  Secretary Croswell came into the living room from a hallway leading to one of the decanting tanks.

  “We have a very urgent task before us, Lieutenant.”

  “Yes, Sir. How can I help?”

  “Gentlemen, we need to find a way to jam this Micronix scanner of Bergstrom’s or we are sitting ducks.”

  “Well, let’s not all congregate in one place,” Grey joked.

  “And you wonder why you haven’t soared up the ranks?” Croswell smiled.

  “Actually, I don’t. And you’ll never hear me complaining. I’ll stick it out as long as they let me. I live for the shit, you know that.”

  “Animal Mother,” Becket laughed.

  “Hoorah,” Grey smiled.

  “The issue at hand?” Croswell asked.

  “How’s it work?” Grey asked.

  When King infiltrated, Bergstrom said something about being able to hear and smell it. We figure he’s got some particle reflection algorithm or something.”

  “Or something, huh?” Grey looked at the ceiling.

  “It works like old school radar. Snow was able to spoof it by tethering to her battle suit and sniping them from a thousand feet over head.”

  “So she looked like one blip?” Grey concluded, smiling. “Well, the obvious conclusion is to saturate the city with the op sys. How fast could we do that? Could we even do that at all? And barring that, what about altering the signature?”

  “How’s that?” Croswell asked.

  “I read that briefing material, doesn’t this guy Von Kalt have an amplifier?”

  “It’s corrupted,” Croswell said. “He’s already burning out from exposure.”

  “He was piloting one of the wolves. Why didn’t his Metachron set off the scanner? Obviously Bergstrom used it as a model, as a reference point.”

  “Obviously?” Croswell asked. “You’re just plug-full of attitude aren’t you?”

  “I’m right. You know I’m right,” Grey said. “You want my help or not?”

  Croswell looked over to Becket, “What kind of figs are you feeding him, out there in the holy land?”

  Ambassador Becket raised his hands. “He’s his own man.”

  “If you want to jam it, here… Give me your amplifiers.” Grey held out his hands, his own amplifier in his right palm.

  “Wait, what about Ross, Reid and the kids?” Becket asked, handing Grey his Micronix, as Croswell and Wolfe did the same.

  Grey held the amplifiers in his hands and closed his eyes.

  “It’s done,” he said a few moments later, returning the devices.

  “What’s done?” Croswell asked.

  “Let me forward it to the others… There, done and done.” Grey smiled.

  Croswell raised and eyebrow.

  “I wrote a script. It will react if pinged. It was easy enough to check the amplifier’s history. Bergstrom’s scanner is operating at 608-614 megahertz, the medical emergency band; it’s mostly empty. The next time he turns it on, it will over heat and burn up, if not blow up.”

  “You’re sure?” Croswell asked.

  “I’m sure,” Grey answered. “He used a similar device back in eighty-five. I read about it. That one operates on a parallel oscillation of airborne terillium. This will cause the process to double exponentially and melt his components.”

  “So you’re saying our phase-cam is tight again?”

  “Yes, Sir. Speaking of, my platoon was holding some desperate ground when I pulled out. I should be moving, unless there’s more I can do here?”

  “Do you think you could leave your tank here?” Croswell asked. “We lost a couple, and you can’t exactly go exposing top-secret assets on the front line….”

  “If I can have your permission to swing by El Toro Nuevo and pick up a couple mortar platforms, that would be a very fair trade, Mister Secretary, Sir.”

  Croswell laughed. “Take what ever you need son. Good luck out there. We appreciate your sacrifice, Lieutenant.”

  “Say Hello to the rest of the team for me.” Grey rose from the couch and shook hands with the senior men. “If the situation changes, please don’t hesitate to call.”

  Grey exited the cabin and vanished, flying to the southeast, headed for the massive Marine Corps anti-gravity air-station.

  “Fucking smart ass,” Croswell muttered ad looked over at Becket. “What does he know about Andrew?”

  “Not a thing. He was given a cursory introduction to the Micronix and believes it to be a neural interface with the battle suit. He has no idea what the amplifiers can really do,” Becket answered.

  “Keep it that way. “He’s too smart for his own damn good.”

  Becket laughed. “He’s harmless.”

  “Harmless? Hence the nick name, Kilo, right?” Croswell smiled.

  “Is that a true story?” Reverend Wolfe asked.

  “Oh, it’s true all right,” Becket answered.

  “Didn’t work out the way he expected, though, did it?” Croswell laughed.

  “You could promote him,” Becket said. “He probably just saved our lives.”

  Croswell gave an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes. “Not today, and don’t you go expanding his permissions either. He doesn’t need anymore access than he’s already got.”

  “Oh, relax.” Becket said.

  Reverend Wolfe leaned forward. “If you don’t mind my saying so, you trust him because you need him and you distrust him for the same reasons. How do you expect him to react?”

  “Yeah, thanks buddy.” Croswell smiled.

  “I don’t mind sticking around a couple of extra days.” Reverend Wolfe offered.

  “Me either,” Becket said. “You guys should have called us in sooner.”

  “It kind of unraveled all at once,” Croswell explained. “To be honest, I’d hoped we could keep a lid on it.”

  “But it had to fall to Reid?” Becket said. “You let Fox and Ana get killed, King and Snow are in the tank? Really?”

  “You should have called us when they went after Kelly the first time,” Wolfe said.

  “Thank you, Captain Hindsight. It happened how it happened. And all for the best, I might add. Dr. Te has agreed to share his bots,” Croswell nodded to Becket. “Thank you for that. And Fox had a real break through while he was out in the desert.”

  “What do you mean, breakthrough?”

  “He forwarded the details, but if you’ve been that wrapped up hunting demons, I guess it’s possible you might not have noticed.”

  “What?” Becket asked. “I haven’t had any time either.”

  “Fox did it, boys. I think he truly ‘expanded’ for lack of a better word, beyond the confines of his body.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Stanwood took him prisoner out at White Sands for a few weeks. By the time we found him, Fox had manifested a second body out of sand and was out walking around, beyond the perimeter.

  “From there he visited Conway in the Oval office and tried to bring him onboard. Conway gave him clearance to take the Centaurs out to the Hammered Bracelet to do som
e terillium mining.

  “He also, apparently hinted that while Stanwood might be something of a thorn in his side, but that he couldn’t be charged with murder until he’d committed murder.”

  “So that’s was why Fox blasted us all with that Don’t Fire Until Fired Upon bit? He was taking one for the team?” Becket asked.

  Croswell touched his nose.

  “God, what’s that done to the kids?” Wolfe asked.

  “Which catches us right up to the present,” Croswell said. “Oh, I did give Stanwood a bit of a belly washing the other day. I’m sure he’s still pissed about that. Probably walking with cane too, but he earned it.”

  “Why not just kill him?” Reverend Wolfe asked.

  “He’s President Conway’s nephew,” Croswell answered.

  Becket whistled and rolled his eyes.

  “He and Fox have hated each other since grammar school and Epsilon was just the excuse he needed to paint Fox as unstable,” Croswell said.

  “Well, dragging Bergstrom into it was a mistake for sure,” Wolfe said.

  “Yeah, but it was a good one. Fucking great mistake,” Croswell said.

  Chapter 63 – Surrounded

  Thursday, July 30, 2308

  On the National Guard complex, Von Kalt rose some time after sunset. He had tossed his phone, but apparently he hadn’t been divested of his powers as Deputy Director of National Intelligence. He walked from the medical ward to the command and control center of the Angel City National Guard Armory.

  When he demanded the Officer on Watch turn over the ready response teams, the man did so without thinking twice. Von Kalt, discovered, however, he had no commands to give.

  Von Kalt apologized to the watch commander for his abrupt tone and submitted that a government sedan would be a perfectly acceptable method of transportation for the few logistical errands he needed to run.

  The commander nodded and reassured Von Kalt that they were there, should he need them. Von Kalt left the facility and just drifted in a loop on the urban freeways.

  Using the Metachron, the director sought out Bergstrom on District Thirteen. The doctor didn’t answer his call. Bergstrom had been badly burned during the assault that destroyed his hangar.

  Friday, July 31, 2308

  The next morning, Ashley and Geoff drifted through the local mall. Whenever Geoff asked why they weren't on their way to Canada, Ash replied that she wanted to wait until it was safer to travel. In truth, she wanted to find out just who Stanwood and Von Kalt were, but she didn't dare tell Geoffrey, for fear that he'd go looking in cyberspace and run into the Eel or other equally sinister fellow, someone capable of causing him serious harm.

  When he mentioned that she’d said no more shopping, she changed the subject. They checked out stores, played sample video games and tried out furniture. Ashley noticed several different sets of people in the mall around them.

  She knew that anyone could be there to abduct her and Geoff. At any given moment, someone might approach them, produce a weapon and bark clipped commands, as the agents in the library had.

  Ash realized she was increasingly reluctant to search for Stanwood or his deputy online, it was her search for her father that had brought the other agents to the library. This time she seriously doubted that there would be another Major Ross waiting to rescue them. From here on out, they had to be more careful. They couldn't be making stupid mistakes.

  She did consider walking through one of the busiest shopping centers in one of the busiest cities something of a mistake, as did Geoff. However, she told him they were hiding in plain sight.

  She also understood that all the guns and research in the world couldn't get her any closer to what she wanted. She needed evidence, solid, concrete, undeniable evidence. If it existed, there was only one place she was going to find it. She just needed a way to convince Geoff the returning home was the best idea.

  Meanwhile, Ross, Reid, Croswell and Reverend Wolfe all took turns hovering above the children.

  Ambassador Becket had been called back to his post in Jerusalem shortly after Lt. Grey returned with a small fleet of mobile mortar platforms. This was close to being a breach of the non-proliferation agreement for the tinderbox of an area, but Grey had fairly distributed them to all the front line units and thus avoided a major international incident, and possibly war crime charges.

  Croswell had rolled his eyes and asked Becket to forcefully remind Grey of the difference between a ‘couple’ and a ‘fleet.’

  Saturday, August 1, 2308

  Tired of the cramped sleeping conditions inside the car, Ash convinced Geoff that they should go camping. Being the middle of summer, there were dozens of campsites throughout the city.

  That evening, they registered a space over the car's online connection and landed a short time later. They laid out their sleeping bags, and watched the stars as thin pale clouds rippled through the sky overhead.

  "Geoff," Ash said. "We have to go home again.”

  "We can't, Ashley! They'll catch us if we do."

  "It's the only way," she said.

  "What about Canada? We could almost be there by now."

  Ashley didn't answer.

  Brother and sister fell asleep together beneath a carpet of stars.

  At midnight, Chief Warrant Officer Reid joined the ex-major general on post, hovering over Dr. Andrew Fox’s sleeping children.

  “Bet you never thought you’d be standing post again, huh, Sir?”

  “You’d be surprised, Chief. Some things never change. What’s your Seventh General Order?”

  “What general order?” Reid smiled, as he saluted Croswell.

  Croswell returned the salute “Clever.”

  Sunday, August 2, 2308

  At dawn, Ashley awoke under the bright, morning sky.

  Geoff woke up a short time later. "I'm hungry. Let's get breakfast."

  "Look, you agreed. We're not going back into town."

  "We are in town. We're just not out in public."

  Ashley said nothing.

  "Come on, really? You want to stay out here?"

  "You agreed," Ashley said.

  "Yeah, but seriously, forever?" Geoff argued.

  "For right now. Hiding is all we'd be doing in Canada. Why not here?"

  "But to never go into town? I'm almost out of comics," Geoff said.

  "So read them twice."

  "You don't want raisins and nuts for breakfast, do you?" Geoff asked.

  "Geoff. If we don't leave, they will catch us," Ashley said.

  "Then let's leave! At least if we're camping in Canada we can go into town for comics, right?" he asked.

  "We will go to Canada, but we have to get the evidence first. So, for now, we camp out until it's safe to go get it. We're not that far from home. All we have to do is get the security footage, and we'll go. Okay?"

  "Today?" Geoff asked.

  "Yes, today. Tonight. We'll go at night."

  "I don't care if we go to Canada. I just want to stay together. We'll be safe; Dad said, whatever happens, just stay with Ashley and you'll be safe."

  Ashley didn't say anything.

  "I have to go to the bathroom," Geoff said.

  Ash gestured for him to walk well away from their camp.

  "It's too cold," Geoff said. "And I gotta go number two."

  Chapter 64 – Separated

  Sunday, August 2, 2308

  Von Kalt had returned to the canyon residence across from the Fox home. Using the Metachron, he created scanning daemons to read every camera and wired public service employee in the entire metropolitan area of Angel City. Sure enough, one of them finally scored a hit.

  The Deputy Director rose from his lounge chair and called the west coast director of the FBI. He explained the situation and was assured, he would have the bureau’s full and complete cooperation.

  Von Kalt explained that he needed at least seventy experienced field agents. He had no idea how many agents he needed or wanted. However, si
nce the director agreed so easily, he felt compelled to say, “Double that if you can.”

  “Done,” came the reply. “Vehicles?”

  “Three men to a vehicle. Small arms will be sufficient.”

  “Yessir.”

  “You have a bright future.” Von Kalt smiled.

  The director nodded humbly.

  Bright indeed? Von Kalt knew he would be well served to copy a trick or two from this young man, if only his pride didn’t prohibit it.

  Ash and Geoff walked toward the restrooms a few campsites away.

  Behind them, a group of uniformed boys in their late teens patrolled the park. A few were walking and a few more sat on the companion golf cart, floating along the path.

  They grinned at Ash. She didn't like it. Despite their slow pace and non-threatening behavior, they were following them, and they looked malicious, dangerous.

  "Can we go out for breakfast, please," Geoff asked, ignoring the escalating situation as they reached the toilets.

  "You know what? Sure, no problem," Ashley folded. "Just hurry up."

  Geoff smiled and disappeared behind the door with the male symbol.

  Without looking at them, Ashley kept a close eye on the trailing young safety officers. They slowed, and the driver of the cart stopped their advance.

  The three uniforms continued their walk toward Ash.

  One of the cart's riders climbed off to tie his shoe.

  The three boys drifted past, ignoring Ashley, highly unusual behavior for boys at or even close to her age. Ashley considered the possibility that she must really look like a mess if these clowns were ignoring her.

  "After this were going into the mountains, I mean it," Ashley said to the bathroom wall.

  "Okay, I hear you," Geoff answered from inside.

  Ash watched the walking boys continue, but they moved with exaggerated slowness as they reached the bend up ahead. It was as if they didn't want to lose sight of her. The boys on the cart were talking, not paying any attention to her, but not leaving either.