by C. A. Fraser
“Why?”
ODIN spoke at last shattering any remaining memory of Natalie Fore. Its voice was still feminine but held a depth that defied gender and humanity. It resonated throughout the chamber.
“It was needed to ensure humanity’s survival. Stephen Fore has become a threat to the entire planet and humanity. He must be stopped.” ODIN’s ivory eyes gripped Tim. He felt as if the quantum could stare deep into his mind. The panic surged through him again, and he struggled to fight it back.
“Tell me what you know, Timothy Reed.” ODIN stated its eyes continuing to bore into him. When Tim did not reply, the quantum closed the gap between them. It moved faster than Tim could follow. One moment they were separated by several feet, and the next the quantum was looming over him. It gripped his arm with its sheathed hand. Tim suppressed the urge to struggle knowing he would not escape. He turned his eyes to ODIN’s not speaking. ODIN’s cold face remained unchanged as it waited for Tim’s reply. When Tim said nothing, the quantum allowed a slight smile to crease its features.
“Fine. I will take what I need then.”
Pain exploded through Tim. His stocky frame stiffened. He stifled a scream. He looked down to where ODIN held his arm and saw the nanids streaming from the quantum’s hand onto his forearm. The quantum was taking his body over. Tim knew it would have his mind as well. Fighting through the pain Tim closed his eyes, and thought back to his first conversation about Antarctica with Stephen. It was then they had both decided there would be a contingency if something went wrong. They had set up the archaic tech that allowed them to communicate with each other without observation. That was also when they had implemented the failsafe in case their subterfuge was discovered.
Tim opened his eyes as a calm descended over him. The pain was a distant distraction that his nanids and adrenaline were insulating him from. He could feel ODIN’s nanids working their way up his arm and across his frame. ODIN was focused on him its eyes monitoring Tim’s reaction to the attack. Tim held the quantum’s gaze once more. He felt a slight tingle in his neural implant indicating the quantum’s assault on his mind was beginning. Tim smiled at the face looming in front of him knowing his time was at end. He began inputting the sequence into his implant that he and Stephen had programmed so long ago. As he finished Tim spoke his final words.
“You are lost, ODIN.” Tim closed his eyes once more awaiting the inevitable.
The implant cycled up the electric shock within itself while simultaneously signaling a monitoring station in Tim’s office. The explosives in his office detonated at the same time the implant sent a violent jolt through Tim. His mind was destroyed and all nanid activity within him stopped completely. All traces of Timothy Reed were eliminated in seconds and ODIN was left holding an empty husk.
THREE
It had been too long. Curtis held his position near the elevator silently counting the minutes. It had been well over an hour since Tim entered ODIN’s chamber. Something happened far above his current position. He was not sure what it was, but he had felt tremors in the wall he was pressed against. It pushed his level of alarm significantly higher and now with so much time passing he needed to act. He studied the guards to either side of the large metal doors to ODIN’s chamber. They were unaware of his presence, which was a credit to Kelly’s endless hours with him over the last few weeks. They were NDP security with the standard uniform and training. Curtis knew he could overpower them but did not know what he would do next. The doors only opened for ODIN or Worth. He took a deep breath. He had to try. Exhaling slowly, he silently pushed off the wall. He began to edge along the wall toward the chamber. A muffled chime behind him signaled the arrival of the elevator.
He flattened himself against the wall once more waiting for the doors to open. He could feel the strain and nanids working to minimize his profile on the wall and maintain his camouflage against the white. As they opened dread filled him. Kelly Holt was standing between two NDP security. She looked haggard. Her tall frame was hunched over and her eyes were puffy from tears. Curtis knew that Tim was dead in that moment. The sound of the quantum’s chamber opening pulled his attention from Holt. The doors opened wider than before allowing the room’s occupant to pass through. Curtis stifled his own surprise maintaining his silence. Kelly did not, her gasp rang through the chamber followed by a stifled sob. The person that stepped through reminded Curtis of ARES after it had possessed Simon Fore. The nanid armor completely covering its body was ivory white and flawless. It was obviously a female or had been. Curtis knew by its stride and posture this was a quantum, and suspected it was ODIN’s avatar. His gaze fell to what the quantum was casually pulling along the floor with it.
Anger bloomed in Curtis as he gazed at Tim Reed’s body. There were obvious burns along Tim’s body where his clothes had been pulled away. There was also a layer of white across his left arm and chest. Tim had not died without a fight. Curtis tore his eyes from the body. He was outnumbered and could not hope to defeat a quantum at any rate. He studied the security team trying to find a weakness he could exploit. It was then he noticed their eyes. They were covered with the same nanids as the quantum. Curtis knew there was no hope in winning an outright conflict. The guards were in the quantum’s control and augmented with the same nanids as it. The quantum’s voice cut through the chamber and brought Curtis’ attention back to it.
“Kelly Holt tell me what Stephen Fore is planning.” The quantum demanded, its voice was deep and reverberated with power. Curtis saw Kelly flinch from the power in the voice, and then stiffen raising to her full height. She met the quantum’s gaze defiantly before speaking.
“I have no idea. Tim did not either.” Holt replied her voice wavering only slightly. The quantum did not react to the statement. Instead it moved Tim’s body in front of it, placing him gently on the metal floor.
“Timothy Reed’s fate was his own choice,” It stated. “Now you have your own choice to make.” The quantum observed Kelly’s reaction. Sadness creased the woman’s features as she looked at the lifeless body on the ground between her and the quantum. Curtis watched her reaction and wondered if she had loved Tim.
His decision was made in that moment. He would not allow Kelly to share Tim’s fate. He moved off the wall into a low crouch maintaining his invisibility. He moved behind Holt and the guards, keeping low to stay out of the quantum’s vision.
“Well, Ms. Holt, what is your decision?” the quantum pressed. Curtis was convinced it was ODIN. The quantum had always been very businesslike with little patience for human indecision. Curtis did not envy the quantums. The sheer amount of knowledge they contained, and data they had to interpret would burn out a human mind in moments. He did not how the quantums could hold the knowledge and occupy a human body, but doubted anyone would allow it willingly. He did know they were supposed to be humanity’s caretakers and partners in navigating the harsh new world. Looking at ODIN he knew that time had passed. A whisper of his time under the Leviathan’s influence surfaced in his mind.
He felt his body reacting to the memory and the pain he had endured. His skin hardened slightly to protect him. He felt his hands begin to harden into weapons the claws extending. His muscles thickened and he could feel the hair across his body bristling. He did not stop the transformation knowing it would continue and turn him back into the beast he once was. Curtis knew he needed to be the beast right now, if he were to have a chance to save himself and Holt.
“I do not choose Tim’s fate, Natalie.” Kelly replied. Curtis saw a flicker of uncertainty cross the quantum’s face and then it was gone. He was surprised that Kelly had recognized her. It had not even registered to him but as he observed he could see the features that marked Natalie Fore. The high cheeks and brow with a petite nose and flowing hair. It was Wren’s mother or what remained of her. The quantum stared a moment longer then with a shrug of its shoulders took a step toward the tall woman.
“As you wish,” It said. Curtis knew its intent immediately. It
was going to overcome Kelly and take what it wanted. He moved before it could draw nearer. His clawed hands seized the guards flanking Kelly and broke their necks with a quick flick. Without slowing Curtis seized Kelly by the throat pulling her against him.
“Stop right there.” He growled filling his voice with menace. The quantum stopped studying the guards lying motionless on the floor, before turning to Kelly. It was obvious it could not see Curtis but he wondered how long that would last. He began moving back toward the elevator maintaining his grip on Kelly.
“Where are you going, Curtis?” Odin asked.
“Fuck!” he thought. “That did not take long.” He maintained his cloak preferring to keep his exact location behind Holt hidden if possible. He laughed darkly trying to inject as much threat into it as he could.
“Simple. I am returning to my master with its prize.” He replied a slight smile creased his feral features. He hoped the ploy would work. It was plausible enough. A sleeper agent for the Leviathan to spy on its enemies. One of the remaining guards stepped forward. ODIN obviously thought Curtis was distracted.
“Stop where you stand!” Curtis barked, while he pressed a claw into Kelly’s neck. Blood sprouted from the wound and ran down her neck staining her lab coat.
“I will rip her throat out and you will never get the answers you seek.” ODIN silently stopped its guards. Curtis felt the elevator door press into his back. The doors opened silently sensing Holt. He moved them onto the elevator his gaze held on the quantum and its minions.
“You will never get out of this facility, Curtis.” ODIN called its voice echoing across the chamber.
“We will see.” Curtis replied. As the elevator doors began to close Curtis saw ODIN turn to its chamber and then disappear.
ODIN stood inside its tower monitoring the response to Curtis Reynolds invasion and kidnapping of Kelly Holt. It had allowed Curtis to board the elevator and leave its chamber. Both it and Curtis knew he could not escape, but ODIN preferred if Kelly Holt were alive so it could continue to counter Stephen Fore. It was viewing all video streams for the facility while monitoring the security team’s response. The feeds showing Holt were placed on the large screen in front of it so it could view Curtis and identify a weakness. It puzzled over how he man could elude detection. The adaptive camouflage he possessed prevented detection on all spectra of light, as well as sound and heat signatures. ODIN would have to prioritize a way to detect the man. While watching the chase, it reviewed what had transpired with Tim and Kelly.
Tim had been more resourceful than it had anticipated. For a human to be prepared to take their own life showed a level of commitment that boarded on insanity. Tim’s action reaffirmed that ODIN was on the correct path and it was paramount to stop Stephen. ODIN knew even with its resources split between the quantum shield, its avatar and itself that it would succeed. All scenarios indicated that it would.
It considered its new body. Natalie Fore had been the natural choice. A broken mind and links to all its targets. Her mind was easily consumed and her body took to its new nanid strain quickly. The nanids themselves were masterful. Unlike any prior, they could consume a body if needed giving ODIN raw materials and resources effortlessly. They were also impervious to infection or attack from any other known nanid strain. ODIN knew they gave it an edge in any battle and would allow it to expand its influence across the planet as well. It turned its focus back to the screen allowing its consideration of the nanids to fall in priority. Kelly had exited the elevator and was making her way down the hall way towards the laboratory. ODIN could tell Curtis was still guiding her as it scanned all the possible vectors he could choose. All ways were blocked and ODIN would have Kelly back soon. Then it would have the information it needed to put the future back on course and ensure Stephen Fore’s failure.
As ODIN observed, it became obvious Curtis was heading to Kelly Holt’s lab. A security team was moving there as well and would intercept them shortly after they arrived. ODIN allowed other processing streams to take priority confident the situation was playing out to its satisfaction. It reviewed upcoming actions it needed to take. It knew Director Worth would be returning soon. The quantum shield in the West was now in place and under ARES control, so her presence was no longer needed. ODIN also considered Wren Fore and knew it would have to find her. She was the uncontrolled variable it needed to control.
ODIN regretted allowing Stephen to use the nanids to save her. It had allowed the human to assert control where he should not have. It knew why it had allowed it. The quantum had not evolved sufficiently at that point to counter the demands of the human in charge of it. Now it had and would rectify the situation as quickly as possible. ODIN paused all streams as Kelly arrived at the lab. It could sense the security team drawing closer. The door to lab slid shut and it moved its observation to the inside of the lab. Kelly stood motionless in the middle of the lab. As ODIN watched the door to her test chamber slid open. The chamber took up most of the lab and had only one window for viewing. Kelly was led into the chamber turning to look out the window at the lab entrance. It knew this was where Curtis was going to make his last stand. Kelly would be back in minutes. ODIN felt a smile cross its face and suppressed it. Human emotions were still new to it and it preferred to be cautious. The chamber door closed as the security team arrived and began attempts to access the lab. ODIN could see Kelly through the window. The human looked overwhelmed, but otherwise unharmed. ODIN leaned closer to the screen trying to catch any indication of Reynolds. There was none. Its link to the local control system for the lab indicated the security team had released the lock and was preparing to enter.
ODIN watched as the team forced the door open and stepped into the lab. Chaos erupted throughout the lab. The lights began cycling rapidly, a cacophony of sounds began inside the test chamber. Flares of electricity and all manner of systems used to test nanid reactions were running out of control. The local observation units tried to keep up but could not follow the rapid changes. The screen and all lab feeds stopped from the overwhelming stimuli. The security team evacuated the lab as well. Several members sustained injuries from the energies released by Reynolds.
As quickly as it started the distraction stopped and ODIN forced the feeds back on in the chamber. It was empty. Kelly Holt had disappeared.
The building was growing cooler as the sun was setting to the west, sliding behind the barren Rocky Mountains. Nicole was thankful for the lapse in the heat. She knew she could tolerate much higher temperatures, but in her current condition was much more comfortable at night. She stood inside the building that she made her home staring out what had once been a window. The dead city had a haunting beauty in the deepening night. She looked down at her greatly swollen abdomen. It was close to time. She would have her baby soon.
It had been several weeks since she arrived in Denver, seeking a place of safety to have her and her master’s child. The search was quick. She found the remains of bank in a long forgotten suburb with its vault intact. After observing it for days with no visitors of any kind she made it hers. She quickly established a routine. Securing herself in the vault during the day and hunting by night. Bits of her humanity returned. She would never be truly human again she knew that. She was still the feral, strain enhanced creature driven only to serve her master. The only change in her devotion was the fervor she felt at first was replaced by the cold calculation needed for survival. It was hard at first but the foothills turned desert slowly gave her what she needed to survive.
Initially she immediately slew any animal or bird she encountered using it for food, until she encountered the coyote. She first saw it roaming outside her new home. Her first response had been to feast on it, but as she observed the creature a thought winnowed its way through her mind. What if she turned it? She had seen her master turn humans to his side using the strain and wondered if she could do the same. It was a simple matter to secure the beast. It was half starved and desperate for food. As soon as it saw her
it charged, driven by its hunger to attack. Her enhanced strength and speed quickly subdued it. She then took it back to her home and began to test with the strain. It had not been a pleasant change for the coyote. The strain did not do anything to prevent discomfort or pain while it integrated with the host.
It failed to take at first. The new host environment was utterly different. After several days of drawing her own blood, and bleeding it directly into the coyote’s wounds she saw the transition begin. It was slow at first localized to wounds she had made in the animal, but quickly gained speed. The resilience and adaptability of the nanotechnology was astounding. The technology tore through the animal remaking it into the beast that lay near her now. It was easily the size of a wolf from the far flung past. Its hair was coarse and pitch black covering its muscled frame and protecting it from attack. When it was hunting with Nicole or felt threatened the hair stiffened and became as much a weapon as the rest of the beast. The needles inflicted a sharp pain and served to transfer the strain.
Controlling the creature was easier to accomplish than she expected. The strain allowed for communication to the animal’s brain directly. She was able connect and command it at will. The only limit to this control was the amount of distance between them. That was easily overcome with training the beast to return to the vault if they separated. The coyote had been useful more than once, especially during her lone human encounter.
