by David Meyer
The Grueler lifted its left front leg. The metal limb only rose partway out of the soil. The robotic beast tried to shift the leg forward. But the dirt resisted the effort. It lowered the limb and tried to lift the right hind one. But it refused to move as well.
I felt a strange sense of fascination as I watched the Grueler struggle to free itself from the pit’s clutches. It was like standing at the La Brea Tar Pits, watching a prehistoric animal trying to fight its way out of bitumen.
Beverly appeared at my side. Cocking her head, she studied the creature. “I think it’s—”
Abruptly, the Grueler’s front legs lunged forward in a single movement. Its back legs did the same and it shifted a few inches toward us.
“It’s not going to stop.” Unsheathing my machete, I strode to the edge of the pit.
“Where are you going?” she called out.
“To finish this.” I hopped into the pit. My boots sank into the soft dirt and I fought my way forward.
The Grueler tried to lunge at me as I drew within range. But it was too slow, too awkward. I easily sidestepped its effort and hoisted myself onto its back. It reared up. The hissing climbed another pitch. Then it began to jolt and buck like a horse.
I wrapped my legs around the chassis and gripped a piece of piping with my free hand. Using my machete, I pried open a section of protective casing.
The bucking increased. I began flying back and forth, barely maintaining my grip. Beneath me, I saw the Grueler’s inner workings. I scanned them, looking for a central control unit. Giving up, I fit my blade between various sets of pipes. Taking a deep breath, I plunged it downward.
My blade sliced through numerous wires. The bucking halted and I was able to catch my breath. Looking down, I saw a small metal box beneath the sheared wiring. Padding protected it on all sides. I shifted my blade and slammed it into the box.
I felt a small jolt. Electrical sparks flew outward. The Grueler froze. Then it slowly sank into the dirt.
I waited for the creature to stir, to come back to life. But it didn’t move. Slowly, its red glowing lights faded to blackness.
After a few additional seconds, I relaxed my grip and stood up on the partially submerged metallic carcass.
Beverly stood at the edge of the pit. I gave her a sly smile. Then I lifted my hands over my head in classic victory pose.
She faked a yawn. “Took you long enough.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “I was trying to give you a good show.”
“You thought that was a good show?”
Chuckling under my breath, I hopped off the Grueler and waded through the dirt. Then I climbed out of the pit.
She backed up a few inches.
Suddenly, I tackled her to the ground. With a soft squeal, she tried to squirm away. But I held fast.
Small dust devils soared around us, blanketing us. Dirt smashed into our bodies and faces.
With a grunt, she rolled me onto my back and climbed on top of me. Brushing back her hair, she stared at me with those stunning violet eyes of hers. Then her mouth was on mine, pushing hard. Our tongues met in the middle and electric sparks flew inside me.
“That’s enough for now.” She kissed me again and then stood up. Offering a sly smile, she extended her hand.
I grasped it and pulled her back down. I kissed her passionately. Her body melted into mine and I felt her heaving breasts against my chest.
I held the embrace for an extra moment. Then I slid out from under her and climbed to my feet. She stared at me with longing and exacerbation for a few seconds. Then she took my outstretched hand and I pulled her up from the ground.
I took one final look at the Grueler. My body hurt and my strength felt sapped. But it was worth it to see the robotic beast lying in the pit, broken and defeated.
“Cy.” Beverly’s voice was soft, serious.
“What?”
“Look.”
She pointed toward the station. Staring hard, I saw a bright light spread across the runway. “What’s that?” I asked.
“It’s light from inside the hangar. They must’ve opened the gate.” Her eyes turned hard as steel. “I hope Dutch and Carrie are in position. Because those drones are about to take off.”
Chapter 89
The spotlights, coupled with the hangar’s bright lights, lit up the runway. Simona stared at the bodies, which had been dragged to either side of the pavement. It was over.
She’d won.
In a few short minutes, her drones would lift into the air. They’d deposit their Miasma payloads into the upper atmosphere. Their job complete, they’d crash into the ocean.
The Black Death would be reborn.
A flickering image on her laptop caught her attention. It came from one of her island cameras.
Looking close, she saw two people, a man and a woman, standing near a giant pit. The Grueler lay in a heap at the bottom of the pit. She squinted, confirming the people were Cy Reed and his female companion.
She had to hand it to Reed. He’d survived every obstacle she’d thrown his way. Even the Grueler had fallen before him. Not bad for a salvage expert.
“Simona.” Tessie cleared her throat. “The planes are ready for take-off.”
“Excellent.” Simona cocked her head. “Did you hear back from the security detail?”
She nodded. “They reached your office. They said it looked like someone had been using your computer. But they couldn’t find anyone.”
Simona breathed through her nostrils. Minutes earlier, she’d caught someone trying to infiltrate her model. She’d quickly shut it down and sent a team to take charge of the would-be hacker. Unfortunately, the hacker, who she assumed was with Reed, was still at large.
She glanced at her laptop. Her sensors showed the tunnels were flooding right on schedule. Soon, the foundations would crumble. The station would break apart, destroying all evidence of what she’d done.
“We should go,” Dr. Mychelle Besson whispered.
Simona frowned.
“They might not be able to stop your planes. But more troops will come here soon. They’ll be looking for you. And if they catch you, well …”
She didn’t finish the thought. She didn’t have to. Simona knew very well what would happen to her if she didn’t leave Pagan. She’d be locked in a cell, trapped while industrialization collapsed all around her.
Over the last eighteen months, she’d secretly diverted a significant sum of money from Eco-Trek. She’d used that money to purchase and fortify a new home on a private island. With Tessie and Mychelle at her side, she’d wait for Miasma to run its course. Then she’d use her resources and knowledge to help start the rebuilding process. This time, industrialization would be avoided.
This time, humanity would be righteous.
But before she left, she had one other thing to do. Within mere hours, soldiers would be combing the island. It wasn’t enough to just destroy the station and everything in it. She had to make sure all evidence of what she’d done was erased.
“Is my reservoir ready?” she asked.
Mychelle nodded. “I personally oversaw the installation.”
“Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.” Simona stared at the many employees occupying the hangar. Few if any of them knew the full picture. But a smart investigator could piece it together with their testimonies. “It’s too bad none of them will see the new world.”
Chapter 90
“You wanted to see me, sir?”
President Walters looked up as Alex Foster strode into the office. Foster appeared agitated. His eyes were puffy. His normally immaculate attire was slightly wrinkled. “Yes, Alex,” the president said. “Come in. And please shut the door behind you.”
Foster closed the door. “Why is the media here?”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. But it’s a little late for that.” The president unfolded his hands and pushed himself back from the desk. As he stood up, he studied his longtime fri
end. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”
“What’s going on?”
“I want to thank you for your service.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will.” He exhaled. “I’m about to make an announcement. After that, I’m finished.”
Foster stared at him in disbelief. “You’re resigning?”
“Not exactly. But I won’t be sitting in this office next year.”
“Talk to me, sir. I can help.”
“Not this time.” President Walters offered his hand. “Again, thank you for everything. You’ve been a loyal advisor and an even better friend.”
Foster shook the president’s hand. Then he turned around. Shaking his head, he walked to the door.
“Oh, Alex?”
Foster whirled around. His face turned hopeful. “Yes, Mr. President?”
“Please send in my guests.”
Foster stood still, clearly shell-shocked. Then he walked to the door and opened it wide.
The president frowned as reporters piled into the Oval Office. He still didn’t know what he was going to say. He wasn’t even sure what he was going to do.
Throw his support behind Senator Gar? Or bite the very big bullet known as Eco-Trek?
The president sat down. Folded his hands on his desk. Patiently, he waited for the reporters to get settled and the cameramen to set up their equipment. “My fellow Americans.” His voice thundered through the Oval Office. “Thank you for your time. I’m here today to …”
Chapter 91
I strained my ears, listening for engines. But all I heard were voices and churning machinery.
Holding my breath, I snuck along the station’s northwest side. My pistol felt slippery in my sweaty hand.
I checked on Beverly. She stood a few feet behind me, her pistol at the ready. Her eyes were hard, determined.
As I paced forward, I thought about Simona, about the people who’d supported her. Undoubtedly, they were eco-warriors to the core. They’d thought they were building a better world. Little did they know her so-called better world required billions of deaths.
I couldn’t stop her, not by myself. I didn’t have the manpower to take down her guards. Hell, I barely had enough bullets for a decent duel.
Fortunately, Graham and Carrie were on the case. Most likely, they’d already taken control of Simona’s drones. But I wasn’t content to wait at a safe distance. In the event something went wrong, I needed to be able to launch a distraction. And the best place to do that was inside the hangar.
We strode along the edge of the building, passing over well-trampled dirt. I paused at the edge. Then I peeked out. Thirty guards, armed with rifles, stood in front of the hangar entrance.
About half of them were staring straight at me.
“Freeze!”
Yeah, right.
I shifted backward.
Gunfire rang out. Air rushed past my cheek.
Ducking my head, I retraced my steps, hot on Beverly’s trail. As we neared the corner, the air swished again. Metal blasted against concrete.
Cursing, I hung a right. I saw the loading bay, shrouded with a blinding cloak of light. The large doors were open, revealing a pitch-black interior. Numerous trucks and SUVs sat around the area.
I ran behind an SUV. Beverly took up position behind another one. Together, we aimed our pistols at the station’s corner.
Distant footsteps echoed in my ears.
“They’re circling around,” Beverly said. “Looks like they’re going to take us head-on.”
“Got any ideas?”
“Yeah. Retreat.”
I sprinted up the ramp, aiming for the open doors. My eyes opened wide. I slid to a halt and stared, dumbfounded, at the interior.
It was so bright, I could hardly see anything. But I managed to catch a glimpse of various shadows. I couldn’t make out all the details, but I knew what was causing the shadows.
More Guards. Lots more.
Chapter 92
I twisted as gunfire blasted in my direction. Pushing Beverly ahead of me, I veered toward the far side of the doors.
More gunfire rang out. Caught in the crossfire, I threw Beverly to the ground, just outside the hangar. Covering my head, I jumped on top of her, bracing myself for the inevitable.
An anguished cry rang out. In the near blinding spotlights, I saw a guard fall to the ground, clutching his ear.
The gunfire continued, unabated. Then a second guard crumpled over and fell to the ground.
I shifted my gaze. Eco-Trek guards were lined up along both sides of the loading bay doors. The interior, pitch black, was a stark contrast to the blinding exterior.
I heard a shriek. Flesh smacked against concrete. Moments later, a body materialized. It tumbled out of the dark interior and rolled onto the ramp, arms splayed to one side.
My brain raced. The guards couldn’t see each other. It was too dark inside the station, too bright outside of it. And the swirling dust further obscured their vision. So, each side thought it was fighting us.
But in reality, they were fighting each other.
For twenty seconds, I listened to gunfire. A few cries rang out. Soft shouts stung my ears. And then the shooting stopped. All sounds of life drifted away.
I lifted my head. Cautiously, I looked at the ramp and the area beyond it. Corpses lay everywhere, perfectly still as dust swirled around them.
Inside the station, bodies lay on the ground. Ever so slowly, blood seeped across the floor.
Is it over?
I caught Beverly’s eye. She gave me a look of pure disbelief.
Cautiously, I stood up. I studied the area for movement. Seeing nothing, I ventured to the nearest body. I checked for a pulse and found nothing.
For the next minute, Beverly and I checked for signs of life. Then we regrouped near the ramp.
“I can’t believe it,” she said. “They’re dead. The two sides … they killed each other.”
“Yup.” A grim smile crossed my visage. “I guess we’ll call that one a draw.”
Chapter 93
Footsteps pounded toward us. Beverly and I raised our guns.
Three people raced into view. Seeing us, they skidded to a halt.
“Dutch?” I lowered my gun. “Carrie?”
“In the flesh.” Graham cast a glance at the floor. Then he looked toward the ramp. “I see you’ve been busy.”
“They got into a firefight,” Beverly explained. “With each other.”
A third person, a tall man, appeared at Graham’s side. Instantly, I lifted my gun.
“It’s okay,” Carrie said. “He’s with us.”
I studied the man. “Are you sure?”
“He’s with the Secret Service.”
I arched an eyebrow.
“It’s a long story,” Graham said. “But his name is Ed Hooper. And he’s trying to help us stop Eco-Trek.”
Beverly’s face grew tense. “Trying to?”
“Yeah.” He shook his head. “It didn’t work. Simona blocked me.”
“So, the drones …?”
“… are still under her control,” Graham said, finishing her thought.
Engines roared. A wave of heat rolled over me followed by a sense of utter helplessness.
We were out of time, out of moves.
We raced back to the hangar portion of the station. Another engine roared. A drone nosed out of the hangar and wheeled onto the runway. I searched my brain for a way to stop it. But my pistol was no match for it.
A second plane, the small business jet, rolled out of the hangar. I caught a glimpse of Simona’s face in the cockpit.
My gaze flew to Beverly. “Think you can block the drone?”
Her eyes tightened. “You’re not coming with me?”
“Not this time.” I stared hard at the jet. “I’m going after Simona.”
Chapter 94
Stop Simona. Stop the drones.
I ran back to the loading ba
y. My feet pounded against the soil. My breaths came hot and fast.
I didn’t think about the reliquary or the old tunnel system. I didn’t think about the Grueler or the research station. All I could think about was stopping Simona.
I figured she was controlling the model from the cockpit. If I could capture her, we might still have time to reprogram her drones.
As I rounded the bend, spotlights blinded me. They were even brighter than I remembered. Shielding my eyes from the glare, I studied the SUVs.
The vehicles remained in the same positions. The corpses hadn’t moved either. The only thing that had changed was the dust, which seemed to be in the process of easing a bit.
My brain registered two shadowy figures. Without hesitation, I darted toward the nearest one. His eyes opened wide with terror. Swiftly, he raised his rifle.
I ducked under the muzzle and grabbed my machete. With a flick of the wrist, I slashed the blade deep into his hip. He collapsed to the ground.
Leaping to the side, I shifted my blade. It swept toward the second guard, slicing easily through his thigh. Dropping his rifle, he fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding limb.
More guards raced out of the station. A single glance told me I couldn’t take them all.
Loud blasts rang out. A guard took two to the chest. He tripped over his feet and rolled down the ramp.
“Go,” Grimly, Hooper took aim at the other guards. “I’ll cover you.”
Wrenching open a door, I dove into an SUV, landing on the soft fabric seat. I slid behind the steering wheel and fired up the engine. I shot the others a salute.
A split second later, the vehicle launched down the access road. My hands gripped the steering wheel, unflinching.
Deep down, I had an alternative reason for going after Simona. Regardless of what happened to the drones, I knew she couldn’t let anyone live, not if she wanted to keep the authorities from figuring out her plans.
Unfortunately, my chances of stopping her were one in a million. The safer bet was to get to a boat, to evacuate the island.
But I knew it wasn’t that simple. There was little to no chance of us escaping the deadly aerosols. That left just two choices. Stop her or die.
