Fury (The Quantum Wars Book 2)

by C. A. Fraser

  Curtis Reynolds pushed the heavy grate above him to the side. The weight would be difficult to move for a normal human, but provided little challenge to his enhanced physique. He had waited for several minutes before moving the grate. When no sound of any kind came from above or from the tunnel were in, he moved. Curtis willed his tech to cloak giving Kelly the signal to wait before he disappeared through the dimly lit space above him.

  He crouched defensively in a large hangar which held row upon row of darkened aircraft. He knew he was invisible but did not want to take a chance. He studied the interior of the building in the dying light of the evening sun. It was a private building of Nathan Landis’ that Curtis managed when he was the director of security for the man. It stored many of Nathan’s private vehicles; vehicles which the man no longer required and Curtis would turn to his advantage. Curtis surveyed the vehicles being stored. There was all manner of airborne vehicles, from current day airships, to ancient planes and helicopters. He knew most of them were out of commission and were more of collector’s items for Nathan than anything. There were a few still functional. He was looking for a specific craft.

  Curtis moved through the hanger proceeding cautiously in case any monitoring system was still active. He doubted there was. With Landis dead, Curtis was the only other person with knowledge of this collection. It was centered inside a small complex of buildings owned by Nathan. A former airport that was rendered useless by the planetary upheavals, Landis turned it into a storage facility as well as his Washington base of operations. Curtis had helped with the security for the complex and personally oversaw the security integration of the hanger.

  There was no internal monitoring per Landis’ request. He did not want anyone to have knowledge of the buildings contents. The external security systems more than made up for the lack of internal monitoring. AI observation, motion tracking, heat monitoring and protection systems all kept the building and its contents secure. Lastly its position in the center of Landis’ property kept it safely insulated from outside incursion. Curtis completed a circuit of the building checking for signs of intrusion or monitoring. Everything was as he had last seen it. Nothing human or AI was present.

  Satisfied they were alone Curtis turned to the tunnel opening, dropping his camouflage. He peered into the tunnel below, his enhanced eyes easily picking Kelly out in the deepening gloom. Curtis leaned down and extended his arm to his friend. Kelly gripped his hand firmly, bracing herself. As he pulled her up and set her on her feet in the hanger, his mind retraced their path.

  It was pure luck they made it. Curtis now suspected Kelly knew more about what was going on than she let on. For ODIN to let them get all the way to her lab unchallenged she must have knowledge of some sort. Once they were in the lab he knew they were free. In his years running security at the NDP he gained an intimate knowledge of all the buildings’ blind spots. In his profession, you always had to look for the least obvious source of trouble and means of escape. In this case, it had been the buildings’ retired access ways for old electrical and communications systems. Kelly’s lab had been positioned directly above one that led to the building’s basement. A small hatch providing admittance to the access was tucked next to the external wall of the chamber. Once inside, a ladder mounted to the wall descended to the basement.

  Curtis used this to escape, first jamming the lock to the hatch and then hurriedly guiding Kelly down in case ODIN detected the access. They arrived in the basement after several tense minutes of climbing. Kelly was breathing hard but Curtis urged her to continue. He led them to a door that exited the building into a vast network of long forgotten tunnels that crossed the former capital city. The tunnels were used for many things over the years’ security, maintenance and various other reasons but now were little more than a dark memory.

  Curtis shook the thoughts free returning to the present. The rest of the trip passed in a blur. The two of them scrambling through the dark guided by his memories from his time in the city years ago. He gently grasped Kelly’s arm guiding her to the end of the hanger. They stealthily moved through the dead hulks of flying technologies from the past. The various machines were silent sentinels of their passage. Curtis kept their pace measured preferring not to raise alarm by causing an unwarranted noise at the wrong time. As they reached the termination of the large building Curtis turned to the side moving past the remaining vehicles. Old military jets as well as newer technology lined the wall and Curtis stopped when he found the one he was searching for. Curtis studied the craft in front of them. It the last of the final generation of military vehicles meant for outright war with other humans. He began to move slowly around the machine inspecting it for any changes. He glanced at Kelly and saw her regarding the machine with a dubious look. He laughed silently at her reaction. His reaction was much the same when he first saw the vessel. It was hard to consider what stood in front of them as capable of flight.

  Curtis continued his inspection of the craft. It was a deep black color and triangle in shape. Its surface set it apart from any prior technology. Soft and yielding it resembled the tech used in many of their current technologies used in day to day life. The protoplastic covering the craft gave a rounded, soft look to it which belied its performance. When needed, the plastic would create a rippling movement across the craft that made it invisible to all detection methods of its time and many in the current day. Curtis touched it finding its slight give reassuring, an indication the tech was still functional. He moved back to the front of the craft regarding Kelly.

  He stared at her, knowing he would appear menacing in the darkened building. She held his gaze meeting it with no fear. Curtis was surprised after the incident with ODIN and their hurried escape. He was sure she would have some hesitance at being near him now. Curtis stepped closer to her leaning down to hold her gaze.

  “You still trust me?” he spoke softly his intended whisper issuing as a muted growl. Her gazed softened at his words. She moved closer to him reaching up to softly touch his altered face.

  “Of course I do.” she replied, her whisper barely audible. Curtis felt the tension in his body release slightly and then raise once more as he spoke.

  “You need to tell me how to find Wren Fore.”

  FIVE

  Wren stepped carefully through the grasses in the meadow she found herself. Beauty surrounded her on all sides in the late afternoon sun. She knew it was a dream but she could feel the ground beneath her and the slight breeze crossing her body. Animals small and large flitted through her vision. Birds of all kinds wheeled in the blue green sky above her, riding the currents of air endlessly. Wren continued through the meadow knowing there was a towering forest behind her without looking back.

  She was awed by the resurgence of nature on the planet. The grasses she was moving through varied in color but were waist high obscuring the land in front of her so she had to move slowly. She could sense creatures moving around her in the grass their minds bright with curiosity and fear of her. Wren could see the land in front of her declining revealing what was beyond the meadow.

  She stopped short. The sight in front of her brought lump to her throat. A vast, grass covered plain stretched endlessly to the distant horizon. Massive herds of animals moved across the plain. Huge creatures covered in dark fur moved slowly grazing on the tall grass as they made their way across the stretch of land. Large horns topped their heads and Wren suspected they would be quite dangerous up close. As she watched her enhanced vision allowed her to see the individual minds of the animals on their migration. The glow of mammalian intelligence was easily detected by her nanid augmented vision, but she was surprised by what else it revealed. Small tendrils extended from the minds of the animals in front of her connecting them all together. It was a true herd moving as one mind.

  Wren swept her vision across the herd and could see grass moving to the rear of it. Her eyes could pick out the mind of the creature following the herd. Cool and cunning the mind felt familiar to her, bu
t she knew she had never encountered it before. As she watched the creature lunged from the grass toward the nearest member of the herd.

  Wren struggled to understand what she was seeing. Its body was built like a human and it moved like one. However, the similarities ended there. The creature was covered in scales from head to toe and as it surged toward the herd the scales shimmered camouflaging it from the herd. She watched captivated by its movement. It was quick and controlled, closing the gap with the creature in mere heartbeats. As it reached the beast Wren saw a gleam in its reptilian hand. A flash of the hand and Wren saw blood spurting from massive wounds in the beast’s neck.

  The creature dove away from the herd into the tall grass its shimmering scales concealing it. The herd reacted instantly moving as one they all turned to protect their wounded member. Bellowing and shaking their heads they surrounded the distressed animal, the wicked looking horns warning away the attacker. The link the herd shared transmitted its pain to the rest. She could see the panic work through the primitive network putting the herd on edge. As Wren watched she could see the injured animal fall to its knees unable to stand any longer. Its link to the herd was growing weaker as was its mind. She knew its death was close as did the herd. All bellowing stopped and the animals stood silently waiting for death to take it. When it finally fell to the ground, its mind silent and link gone, the herd let out a final chorus of bellows. With one of its own gone the herd quickly reformed and moved away. Wren could see that it had learned though. The members of the herd in the back were larger and healthier than before. The herd mind adjusted its strategy instantly to account for the weakness. Wren knew the reptilian creature would have a harder time when it next attacked.

  She turned her attention to the dead animal knowing the scaled creature would come to claim it. Within moments it emerged with its scales shimmering and moving like the grass all around it. It crept slowly toward its prize keeping low to the ground. When it drew near it pounced on the creature its hand flashing once more. It froze hovering just over the corpse watching the nearby herd for a reaction. When it was satisfied, the creature was dead and the herd safely away, the creature stood. As Wren watched it turned towards her as if it knew she were there. Wren stepped back shock filling her. It was not the possibility of being detected or the cruel knife the creature held that shocked her. It was its eyes. It’s very human eyes. It was then she felt the presence behind her.

  Wren spun around recognizing the quantum before she saw it. It was the quantum that had approached her in the safe house so many months ago. The quantum spoke once.

  “Humanity’s survival depends on you.” Wren could not speak. She did comprehend what it said, but her attention was captured by what was behind it, above the evergreen forest that rose into the darkening sky. Holding silent vigil in the sky above the forest and plains were two moons. Wren was paralyzed with the knowledge that she was not on earth any longer.

  The dream faded as Wren surged awake. The shock of what she had seen was coursing through her. She sat up on the small bed in the rear of her airship. She rubbed her face. Her new skin felt oddly smooth to her enhanced touch. The remnants of the dream spun through her mind. It was not a dream she decided. It was a message or vision planted months ago during her encounter with the quantum. She could not understand why. What did that have to do with her attempts to free her father? She stood and moved to the front of the ship puzzling over the visions meaning while checking their status. As she sat in the pilot’s chair SIA spoke providing its dutiful update.

  “We are over the Atlantic Ocean, but will be within view of the European space station within minutes.” The AI paused awaiting instructions from Wren. She did not hesitate with her response.

  “Slow down and take the lowest approach possible.” Wren stated. She did not know what they were flying into and wanted to avoid any possible entanglements with any local response. The ship responded immediately slowing down and drawing closer to the sea below. Wren stared at the ocean below. The blue of the ocean was gone, replaced by a sickly green that saddened Wren. This should not have happened. The world had suffered needlessly and was dying due to humans’ neglect. Wren leaned forward tearing her thoughts from the desert waters below her. She checked the ships heading and found SIA was approaching the station from the northeast. This was the least obvious direction for an approach. Any defense systems would be more focused on the south or northwest. She hoped it worked.

  As she looked out the windows of ship she could just see land starting to appear in the distance. It was the first land they had seen since crossing the barren islands of the Caribbean. They had not paused there. No life human or otherwise existed on the islands. The climate ravaged sea no longer allowed it.

  She stared intently at the land in front of her. The dark strip began to resolve itself and she saw sparse green where life continued to struggle in the arid land. As they drew near Wren could feel a tendril of fear working itself through her. They would be on top of the long abandoned Guiana Space Center on the coast of the former French Guiana in moments. Before collapsing completely, the European Union and Russia had used the center as their launch point for all orbital projects, including the International Space Station.

  “Minimum speed, SIA” Wren said preferring to be cautious. The ship slowed even further. Wren’s anxiety did not lessen as the ship left the sea behind and the AI slowly banked the ship towards the center. Wren could see the buildings in the distance and used her enhanced vision to scan for power or signs of artificial intelligence. She found none. Her nerves eased slightly and she leaned back watching as the AI drew them closer.

  “SIA, maintain heading and scale down all ship defenses.” She stated. Wren knew the airship had few offensive weapons but did have several countermeasures to defend itself if needed. She did not want one of the systems being active to trigger any aggression if there were any defenses in place. The AI kept the ship moving directly toward the center and within moments it was passing over the first of the center’s administration buildings. Wren studied the buildings and grounds below. Everything seemed to be in order. There was no evidence of damage or neglect. The buildings were clean and maintained. Wren felt the unease return.

  They passed the administration buildings and moved to the airfield beyond. She could see launch pads in the distance but her attention turned to several hangers positioned to the side of the large field. Everything was in excellent condition as was the field. Wren could see no sign of caretakers yet it was obvious the center was well tended. She felt a tight panic rise in her and began to signal SIA to retreat when a host of AI sprang into her view. The AI were centered in the hangers and were too numerous to count. As power signatures appeared throughout the hangers, Wren knew it was too late to retreat.

  “SIA hold!” She hissed as the doors to the massive hangers slid open. AI controlled drones streaked out of the hangers quickly surrounding the airship. The drones circled the ship at a dizzying speed and Wren struggled to track them. She could see the majority were around them but also observed a small contingent moving away obviously patrolling for further intruders. She knew they were outmatched and awaited the drones next action. It was not long.

  “Land your vehicle.” The cold, genderless voice of a military AI rang across the ship. Wren knew she could try to overcome the AI with her new-found abilities but doubted she could control them all and would probably get the ship destroyed in the process. She closed her eyes and took a breath steadying herself.

  “SIA comply.” Wren said sounding more confident than she felt. SIA quickly complied and gently brought the ship to rest in front of the hangers. Wren stood moving to the hatch on the side of the airship. It slid silently open at her approach. Wren could feel the nanids on her skin tightening, sensing her stress and preparing to protect her. Wren felt a small comfort knowing she had some weapons of her own if needed. Without further pause she stepped out onto the field next to the ship.

  The heat of the midd
ay sun registered slightly to her. The nanids protected her from it and regulated her body temperature preventing any loss of moisture. The sun lay directly overhead and when her eyes had first changed, Wren knew she would have been practically blind. Now it had no effect at all. As she stepped away from the ship a drone slid smoothly out of the mass of blurs above her, snapping to a stop in front of her. It floated silently, its smooth surface unmarred except for the spinning blades keeping it afloat. Wren knew the surface belied the weapons that lay below its surface and held still, preferring not to provoke a response.

  “State your reason for trespassing.” The emotionless voice requested through her neural implants connection with the web. Wren began to speak but stopped when her father’s AI appeared next to her. Its response to the military AI’s question brought all motion on the field to a halt and seemed to shock the surrounding AI as much as it did her.