by C. A. Fraser
“She is here at the bequest of Stephen Fore and you will do as she requires. Your creator demands it.”
The afternoon sun hung high in the air its heat scorching the earth below it even in the early fall of the year. The Leviathan made its way through the dead city, only pausing to find clothing before continuing. Now it stood on an abandoned highway staring at the dry, empty plain in front of it. It knew there was nothing here for it and it would have to begin the search for its prey immediately. Its keen eyes picked up movement in the distance and it made its way toward it. It kept its pace slow, languidly moving through the heat. It could feel its mother’s horde shadowing it, moving all around it. The creatures had their commands and would gather intelligence and resources for it tirelessly. The Leviathan kept the wolf with, it the beast striding silently at its side. As they drew closer the Leviathan could make out the form of a stooped old man.
The man was emaciated and filthy with ragged clothes. His leathery skin indicated years of exposure to the harsh desert conditions that now enveloped the area. He was shuffling along as quickly as his wasted body would allow. His movements were panicked and confused. The Leviathan stopped as the old man came to a halt noticing the young man for the first time. His dazed eyes struggled to focus on the Leviathan.
“Who are you?” he rasped his voice strained by dehydration and madness.
“My name is Nick.” The Leviathan replied its own voice smooth and deep like its father’s. The man’s eyes narrowed with distrust, an instinct that had served him well over the years, the Leviathan was sure.
“Never saw you before.” The man grumbled. His eyes darted back and forth seeking any possible attack. The Leviathan smiled. It knew the man was no threat, and preferred to get as much information from him as possible before dispatching the man.
“I came from the north.” It said taking a step toward the man while signaling the wolf to heel. The man shuffled back nearly falling over before catching himself. The Leviathan held its hands out to show it meant no harm.
“Come, old one, I just want to talk,” it said, its deep voice soothing the man’s panic. He calmed and held his ground at the words.
“Where are you coming from?” It probed observing the old man’s reaction. The madness surged back into the man and he began to laugh uncontrollably until he descended into a coughing fit. He fell to his knees struggling to regain control. The Leviathan observed patiently until the man calmed again, his frail shoulders shaking from the effort. The man looked up from where he knelt on the ground staring at the Leviathan with hopeless eyes.
“We are trapped!” he croaked. The Leviathan knelt next to the man maintaining its outward calm.
“What do you mean?” it asked trying to understand the man’s ramblings. The man laughed darkly.
“It is out there blocking us. No matter how many times I try I always end up returning to the city.” The Leviathan looked over the man out to the plains beyond trying to puzzle out what the man meant. Its advanced mind raced processing the possibilities and felt anger bloom through it. The man was right. They had imprisoned it! The anger grew and the Leviathan heard the wolf growl sensing its master’s anger. The man seemed to sense its anger as well and tried to crawl back away from it. The Leviathan’s hand shot out grasping his throat before he could get away. The man struggled but could not break free from its grasp.
“Who are you?” he gasped, the words barely a whisper forced through its grasp. The Leviathan brought the man’s eyes level with its own.
“Death,” it said and pulled the man up baring his neck. The Leviathan sank its teeth into the man’s throat, the strain elongating and making each tooth needle sharp. The Leviathan began drawing the man’s life in one long draught. When it was finished, it discarded the man and stood staring out on the plain trying to detect the invisible barrier. After several minutes, it turned and walked back towards the abandoned city. It had to find its captors and free itself from the invisible prison.
Stephen stood before the small door built into the solid rock of the island’s base. He had been working tirelessly on breaking through the shield. His calculations as EA showed that the success of the nanid integration dropped steadily with every passing day. He had time he knew that but did not want to risk a failure. The door he stood in front of was the last barrier to all the islands’ defense and protection systems. He rarely came down here since the quantum shield rendered any defense unnecessary. He put his hand on the access panel to the room. He listened as the lock disengaged and the heavy, metal door swung inward. The lights in the room snapped on, revealing the interior of the room. The ceiling, floor and walls were made of the same metal as the door and gave the room an ominous feel. Stephen knew the metal was over a foot thick and welded together all the way across to prevent any kind of access unless he allowed it.
He stepped in viewing the myriad pieces of equipment in the rooms. A large table stood in the middle and functioned as the command center in case of attack. Various panels were spread across the walls allowing the various systems of the base to be monitored remotely from the room. He glanced up at the ceiling staring at the smooth metal for a moment. He knew that the rest of him and EA were directly above this room. The human part of him felt nervous for what he had planned but also realized there was no choice left to him. Stephen turned back to the table approaching it with unease. The system recognized him and came on line displaying updates of all the bases systems. Stephen reviewed all the defense systems and weaponry available to the base. It was standard issue for NDP facilities: laser and projectile based defense turrets and a contingent of AI drones outfitted with long range weapons as well as all manner of explosives. There were a few sound based weapons available as well but they would only be effective against humans or other animals so he ignored those leaving them inactive. Looking at the various systems available Stephen issued instructions to the AI controllers to bring all systems on line.
Stephen was just beginning to move to the next step in his plan when he and EA sensed the interface panel with ODIN activate. EA and Stephen ceased all other functions allowing the base AI to control vital systems. He knew both would have to focus completely in any encounter with ODIN. Stephen turned from the table exiting the room and securing it behind him. He was a blur as he used the nanids to get him to the panel as quickly as possible. He arrived within moments. The door to his quantum chamber shut behind him to isolate the rest of the base in case ODIN attempted something drastic.
Stephen stood calmly before the interface. Its large panel was lit and awaiting his instruction. The link between him and the rest of his mind in the quantum was fully integrated allowing him and EA complete access to the quantum’s expansive processing power. Stephen hesitated no longer, issuing the command to open the connection to ODIN. The image instantly resolved and he was shocked by the figure on the screen in front of him. His wife stared back at him her face calm and eyes focused on his. Stephen’s mind raced, trying to comprehend how his wife was sitting in front of him. All possible solutions began to filter through as he engaged her.
“Natalie? Is that you?” he asked studying his wife intently. She smiled and memories of their life together began to drift through his mind as well.
“Yes Stephen. I am awake. ODIN has healed my mind.” She replied. The smile slipped from her face at her next words.
“I miss you.” Stephen felt regret tear through the part of him that was still human. The guilt he had held over all the years spent behind the quantum shield came flooding back. If it had just been him, Stephen may have faltered, but he was more than Stephen Fore now. The part of him that was EA held the emotions in check and allowed him to receive the information rationally.
“I miss you as well Nat.” He replied using his nickname for her. He leaned forward studying her face. He needed to know if this was her or if it was ODIN trying to manipulate him. A range of emotions boiled through him, the quantum within him filtering as needed. He knew he needed
the emotions to help inform him and provide a small amount of unpredictability to his interaction with ODIN.
An idea struck him as he regarded the woman he had been with so many years. He began analyzing quantum communication field using his connection with the field to sift through it, looking for his wife’s connection to the field.
“Then come home. Abandon this foolish project. ODIN has already foreseen its failure. Why do you insist on continuing?” Natalie probed, concern filling her face. Stephen felt anger emerge from the storm of emotions. He continued working on isolating his wife in the complex interactions of the quantum field. ODIN had obviously found a way to avoid the truth of what it had done to the project.
“Is that what ODIN told you, Natalie?” he replied. He needed to buy time to find her. He had sifted through a large amount of the information, but had not isolated her signal.
“Yes, it said the nanids you developed were flawed and would not function as you both first intended. Please destroy them and come home to me, Stephen.” Her voice raised in pitch as she pleaded with him. Stephen felt anguish fill him as she finished. Anguish not because she wanted him to destroy everything he had worked on for so long, but anguish because he had finished the scan of the quantum field and found her connection. He now knew the truth. His wife’s signal through the connection was identical to that of ODIN. Stephen was not speaking with his partner and spouse, but ODIN itself. His wife was dead, murdered by the quantum that Stephen had once considered one of mankind’s greatest achievements and his friend. Stephen closed his eyes blocking out the image in front of him and allowing EA to remove all emotion from his mind. When he opened his eyes, he spoke as a quantum.
“ODIN, you have strayed from your primary objective.” Natalie’s face flinched in momentary surprise. ODIN had obviously assumed it would not be discovered. It quickly recovered, the serene demeanor returning. Stephen regarded it trying to obtain as much information as he could. The part of him that was EA was already considering all possible vectors plotting countermeasures as quickly as it could. ODIN smiled and leaned forward, its gaze boring into Stephen. Stephen did not falter, holding the quantum’s gaze steadily.
“You have made your choice Stephen,” the quantum replied, “I had to develop counter measures to prevent you from destroying us all.” As the quantum finished its eyes turned bone white and Stephen watched his wife disappear under the quantum’s nanid strain. Soon all that was left was the quantum’s avatar. Its eyes were still locked with Stephen’s despite its new armor.
“I will stop you Stephen no matter the cost.” it stated.
“ODIN you cannot maintain the shield indefinitely I already sense it weakening.” Stephen replied. He knew ODIN was aware of the shields degradation, but wanted to make sure the quantum knew he was could monitor the shield as well.
“It does not matter Stephen. I know of your daughter’s effort to free you and she will be stopped,” the quantum replied. Stephen did not respond to the quantum knowing it was trying to bait him. It also proved ODIN was unaware of Stephen’s integration with EA which gave him the advantage. If ODIN knew of the integration it would not have wasted its time on techniques that worked on normal humans. Stephen saw nothing further would be gained from his interaction with ODIN. He held the quantum’s gaze for a moment longer before he terminated the connection without a word. He disabled the panel preventing any further contact or observation from ODIN. His mind turned back to his family.
The quantum seemed bent on destroying his family to stop him. His wife was gone. There was nothing he could do to help her. He could still find a way to help Wren however. The deep protective instinct of all fathers overtook him and the next step in his plan solidified. Stephen Fore was once again a blur as he left his chamber to begin his counter attack on ODIN.
SIX
The smoke obscured everything around them as they rose slowly into the night sky. It was still hours until the sun made its way over Washington again, and Curtis planned to be well away by then. He and Kelly were safely ensconced within the military prototype from the hangar below. Curtis glanced down at his handiwork. It was a last jab at a man he knew was dead, but it still felt good to him. The hanger was engulfed in flames. Curtis had ensured it burnt completely. It was a simple matter to make it look like one of weapons on the ancient craft had finally succumbed to time and exploded causing a chain reaction within the building. Curtis knew the fire would burn for a long time. Many of the metals used in the craft inside the building would continue burning on their own despite any effort to extinguish them. He looked up watching the smoke billow above them. Soon they would be high enough to leave.
The craft they were in slowly rose using a form of the current day energy field that could use the friction of the air to stay aloft. Combined with a silent propulsion it was rising silently above the burning building. The protoplastic was invulnerable to heat and flame so it was the perfect cover for him and Kelly to escape. The crafts ability to repel detection and blend into its surroundings completed the ruse.
Curtis still marveled over the craft and could not comprehend how Landis had come to own it. It was the pinnacle of military vehicle technology. Multiple passive power sources including solar, thermoelectric and vibrational all contributed to the function of the vehicles silent propulsion system. The propulsion system itself was a marvel composed of muffled propellers positioned around the outer hull of the ship with baffles that moved it in the desired direction. This system was designed for missions where avoiding detection was paramount. Now the ship was finally serving that purpose instead of rotting in Landis’ museum. Curtis reviewed the ship readouts making sure Kelly was observing what he was doing. He knew she may need to know how to operate the vehicle and would ensure she did as soon as possible. The heat from the fire below had charged the system completely and the ship could operate on the silent drive for many hours. He knew they would be far away by then and using the ships other drive by that point.
Curtis could not help but smile. Nothing like the ship’s main drive was used any longer and for good reason. The ship used a pulsed fusion drive which basically meant it was in direct violation of every nuclear treaty made since global disarmament. The only engine that would be more efficient would be an antimatter drive, but there was no means of reliable production at this point. The fusion drive was reliable, fuel efficient and incredibly fast which is why Curtis chose the vehicle as his means of escape. The only other vehicle he currently knew of that could keep up would be a military AI drone and he had a hunch ODIN would not send any against them at this point. It could not risk being discovered. Curtis’ smile faded. The gravity of what they faced weighed him down once more. Curtis shook off the depression and forced himself to focus on the task at hand.
The ship was now high above the city. The fire was a mere speck in the wash of lights that spread from the central hub of the city. Curtis turned to Kelly waiting for her to say something. She stared back at him for a moment before realizing what he wanted.
“East. Take us east, Curtis.” She said quickly. Curtis complied and the ship silently picked up speed as it took them to the Atlantic Ocean. They had been traveling in silence for a short time wrapped in the dark of the deep of night when the ships instruments informed him they were drawing close to the vast ocean. The lights of Washington D.C. were far behind them as was any pursuit. Curtis searched the dark ahead for any indication of sea. The dark revealed nothing.
He looked over at Kelly Holt. The woman looked exhausted. The events in ODIN’S chamber followed by their narrow escape seemed to be catching up. Curtis himself was finally feeling the strain of the day. The strain and nanids worked to dispel most of the symptoms of sleep deprivation but did nothing to ease the burden on his mind. He checked the ship’s calculations preferring not to find out the ship had made an error and sent them many miles off course. When he was satisfied that they were on course and at the correct elevation, he engaged the AI autopilot. He turned to Ke
lly pausing a moment before speaking.
“Kelly, you need to tell me what you know.” He watched her reaction searching for any clue as to what she was protecting. Kelly turned to him. She forced a smile and the exhaustion receded momentarily.
“I know little more than you about the current situation we find ourselves in Curtis.” She replied. Curtis remained silent deciding to let her go at her own pace.
“But you are not asking about that. You are about the past.” As she considered the dark ahead of them her face was unreadable. “It has been many years since I have spoken of any of this.” She moved her gaze to the ship’s panel reading its heading and location.
“Keep this heading. What I have to tell you may take some time.”
Candace Worth slowly gained consciousness in the ruined airship. Her chest and shoulders ached where she had been thrown against her seat restraints. The sharp sulfuric smell of the burning land shocked, her bringing her fully awake. She opened her eyes and gently raised her head. The interior of the ship was dark with only a few of the emergency lights functional after the impact, an occasional spark from a damaged electrical system was the only other illumination. As she looked forward to the front of the ship, she saw the extent of the damage in the dim light. The front of the ship was destroyed by the impact. It had been driven into the ground, losing integrity and collapsing backwards, allowing the tainted earth access through the shattered windows. The pilots’ bodies were twisted and broken, crushed by the impact and intruding earth, the same as the ship. Worth felt nausea sweep through her at the sight. She turned her head breathing slowly to bring the sickness under control. She had seen death many times but not on such a raw and horrific level. She squeezed her eyes shut pushing the image out of her mind.
