Fury (The Quantum Wars Book 2)

by C. A. Fraser

  “I did not trust anyone else but you with this,” it said holding up a data module. With the web isolated by the shield there was no automatic transfer of data. Everything would be on module or via hard lines. The Leviathan handed the man the module as it continued.

  “It is a scan of the boy’s brain. I thought ARES might spare some resources to analyze it. The patterns are unlike anything I have seen.” Maher took the module looking at it intently. The Leviathan could see the concern etched in his face and guess at his thoughts.

  “Commander Maher, what could it be?” it asked feigning concern. When the man looked back at it the worry had not faded from his eyes.

  “I am not sure, Doctor, but I will do my best to enlist ARES help. Thank you for bringing this. Please communicate any other changes in the boy’s condition,” Maher said, before turning and striding back to the table where he was coordinating the mission.

  The Leviathan stared after him for a moment, allowing itself to experience the instinctual reaction the doctor’s body had to the male commander. It quickly lost interest, its thoughts moving to what it would do next. It turned back to the transport stopping at the vehicle’s door to straighten its pant leg which had become slightly twisted on its leg. After it was satisfied it stepped onto the transport preparing itself for the blazing heat outside the mountain. The strain was quickly advancing through the doctor’s body. It preferred not having the constant input from the woman’s body as it was influenced by the heat of the day.

  As the transport disappeared into the massive tunnel, none of the gathered military noticed a small, black creature scurry away from where the vehicle had been moments before.

  Maher stared at the data streaming across the screen in front of him. Information from all over the containment area was slowly being relayed and reviewed for any indication of the Leviathan or its strain. He knew now it may have all been for naught. If the strain had not been destroyed as they thought, it meant the shield could never be lowered. He looked down at the data module resting on the table next to him, knowing he would need to review the information but dreading it. Slowly he stopped the data streaming on the screen and inserted the module into the port on the table. Closing his eyes, he thumbed the data module on, opening them as the table projected the data from the module in front of him.

  The scan of the boy’s mind appeared to float in the air as Maher studied it. His knowledge of the human mind was rudimentary at best. He could see the activity in the mind as well as the signals being transmitted through it. He did not know what that meant or how they were different from a normal brain. Maher felt frustration surge through his mind. His skills were for battle and defense not analysis of the human brain. As he watched a scan of a normal brain replaced the boy’s. Maher blinked in shock.

  The normal brain showed none of the activity the boys had. Maher felt alarm replace his frustration. The projection cycled back to the boy’s scan. Looking at the scan Maher knew they had failed. The Leviathan had escaped. He did not hesitate any longer. Punching at the table controls he opened a priority channel to ARES through the local network and uploaded the file for analysis by the quantum. He attached a brief message detailing his suspicion then stepped back from the table removing the module.

  “We are not too late,” he said, doubting himself even as he said it. Maher turned and strode to his airship. He had to get to the boy and prevent the Leviathan from gaining a foothold inside the shield.

  The Leviathan stood on the roof of the restored hospital looking around the small community slowly growing below. The building was several stories high and gave it an uninterrupted view of the area. It smiled. Already its horde was slowly spreading through the area. The larger creatures stayed out of sight on the outskirts of the refuge. The smaller ones were hiding within waiting for its signal. It could feel its body three floors below silently waiting its return. It stepped up to the edge of the building looking at the ground below.

  The doctor’s body had served its purpose. Now it would complete one final task. The Leviathan stepped off the edge of the building, its body plunging toward the ground below. As it passed the room where its body rested it felt the strain connect the two bodies. It moved from the doctor’s body to its own in an instant. It opened its eyes rising from the bed as the doctor’s now vacant body continued the drop to the ground below.

  The Leviathan moved to the window looking at the twisted form below. It smiled once more feeling its body strengthening and restoring itself. It looked out on the once dead town feeling its horde all around the area. It was time to begin the conversion of humanity anew.

  Maher watched Doctor Anath impact the ground with a sickening thud as he was racing to the entrance of the hospital. The airship was still securing itself as he moved away from it. The horror of the body hitting the ground was outweighed by the cold spike of fear driving through him. He pushed himself harder. He still had a chance to stop it. He burst into the hospital taking the stairs in huge leaps trying to get to the boy’s room as quickly as possible. Pulling open the door to the patient rooms he raced down the hall to the room where the boy had been resting. As he approached the room he pulled his sidearm hoping the energy discharge of the pistol would be enough to stop the Leviathan. The guard in front of the door stepped aside as he saw the commander running towards the door. Maher shoved past him trying to get into the room as quickly as possible.

  He slammed into the door with his shoulder raising his pistol as he recovered. The boy was standing in the window looking back at him. The boy smiled at Maher and leapt from the window. Maher fired, energy lancing out toward the boy’s body as it dove from the window. The discharge passed over the Leviathan as it fell out of sight.

  “Dammit!” Maher yelled running to the window. He leaned out holding his weapon ready, scanning the building and ground for the boy. A flash of the boy’s body at the corner of the building was all he saw. He pulled back from the window sprinting from the room. As he moved down the stairs once more, he issued a string of commands to the base through his connection to the airship below.

  The island was drawing closer as Wren followed SIA. It was part of a small group of islands just off the coast where the space center was located. Wren studied the island as they drew closer. It was small barely two hundred feet across. A much larger island rose just beyond the one separated by a channel of water barely 50 feet wide. She suspected they had been one island prior to the massive shift in the climate. There were others in the distance as well but she paid them no heed focusing on SIA and the island it approached. The island was barren. A few dead trees and struggling grasses were the only vegetation remaining on the island. There was a small structure in the middle of the island and Wren could tell the AI was navigating to that structure. The larger island was much the same the only difference was the ruins of several building that were revealed once the vegetation was gone. Wren turned her focus to SIA. She watched the AI descend to the small structure. She did not know why it was here but knew she had to follow it.

  “Land the airship.” She commanded and felt the military AI respond immediately. When they were within a few feet of the ground Wren opened the side hatch on the ship and jumped to the ground racing to the catch up with SIA. The AI was drawing close to the structure and as Wren sprinted toward it, her enhanced eyes studied it. It was small with dual doors on one side. The entire thing seemed to be composed of protoplastic which meant it had power. As she approached, her eyes brought traces of power lines into focus. A shapeless AI hovered above it as well. Once Wren was close she slowed and approached the building not understanding what she was seeing. It was an elevator, but an elevator to what?

  Maybe she was wrong about ISIS. Maybe it had been moved here to protect it. She stopped behind SIA. The AI floated silently in front of the elevator as if waiting for something. Wren walked past it investigating the elevator more closely. There was no obvious way to access the machine. No buttons or switches were present and as she mov
ed around it she found nothing indicating its operation. She circled back to the doors staring at them silently. SIA was once again a reassuring presence behind her. Wren slowly began to reach out with her mind trying to sense the access point.

  She met resistance immediately. The AI controlling the elevator was not hostile but did not allow any intrusion. She worked at the AI softly probing for a way past but was met with a wall every time. Wren pulled back feeling frustration bubbling within her once more. She stood considering her options trying to puzzle out how she was going to gain access. Her father’s words came to her once more. SIA IS THE KEY. Wren did not take her eyes off the elevator watching the AI flowing around it. Wren extended her mind to SIA.

  “Have you tried to enter it?” she asked the transformed AI.

  “Yes but it will not open,” It replied. An image of the locks of old came to her mind. It was an image of a hand holding a key as it slid into a lock.

  “What if we tried together?” she asked. The AI did not reply but simply floated closer to Wren until it completely encompassed her. Wren was amazed. It was as if she were inside a projection of a galaxy looking outward. She could still see the elevator, but the dark of SIA made it look far away and dimmed the light of the sun. Wren could feel the energy flowing through SIA more strongly now. She could sense it flowing out of the AI downward into the surface of the island. Once it entered the island she could sense the flow go toward the larger island and spread out underneath it. Wren pulled her mind back and looked at the elevator once more. Without pause she opened her neural implant to SIA reaching out to connect with the AI as she had never done before. She brushed the AI with her mind gently inviting SIA into her mind.

  The AI reacted instantly surging into her mind. Wren felt SIA bonding with her as she never had before. She could feel the AI’s thoughts and processing as if they were hers. It was amazing to behold how the AI perceived its world. The deep intelligence of the AI continued merging with her, allowing her to see what was waiting for them below. Wren felt a mild surprise at what she sensed below. The surprise turned to excitement and Wren stepped to the elevator reaching out to the AI with SIA. The AI hardened at her approach beginning its defensive routines. Wren did not hesitate. Together she and SIA issued a simple command to the AI guarding the elevator.

  “Open!” The AI withdrew all its defenses and floated silently above the elevator. The machinery of the elevator kicked in and within moments the door opened revealing a sterile space big enough to house a small contingent of humans. Wren was beginning to step into the elevator when her enhanced eyes pick out a shimmering blur approaching at a high speed. She stepped back from the elevator, alarm rising in her chest. It was a ship. She could make out the blazing energy of a fusion drive as the shipped rocketed overhead barely making a sound. She spun watching the ship arrest its acceleration and bank around coming back to the island where she was standing. It slowed and began to lower itself to the island, the blaze of the fusion drive fading as it shut down. The shimmering slowly faded as well, the ship forming into a solid triangle that was charcoal in color. The ship landed silently and Wren felt her nanids begin preparing to defend her as the door to the craft opened.

  Wren knew she could step on the elevator and escape. Whatever was on the craft could not follow. Still she waited, compelled to see who had tracked her so far. A small part of her thrilled at the possibility it was her father, even though she knew there was no chance of that. Her trepidation over who had followed her was instantly replaced by joy as Curtis Reynolds stepped off the craft.

  ELEVEN

  As the ship touched down on the island next to Wren’s airship, Curtis jumped to the sandy ground. As soon as his feet made contact, he was running. The air was hot and slightly humid but he shrugged it off. He knew they had little time and he must warn Wren. She stood at the doors to what he assumed was an elevator. The silver of her skin was the same. As was her dark hair that shimmered with the silver nanids. He slowed as he closed on where she stood waiting for him. He felt happy to see her despite the situation, but pushed it aside. That is when he saw her eyes.

  He paused staring at her. Her eyes had changed again. They were still the deep black throughout but now emitted tiny specks of light that reminded him of stars in the night sky. He stared a moment more before speaking.

  “Wren, you are in danger,” he said, stepping closer while searching her eyes for a hint of the woman he had known so long.

  “Curtis, how did you find me?” she asked looking truly happy to see him. Curtis was surprised at her voice. It resonated as if two people were speaking at once overlapping each other. He wondered if it was the nanids or something else.

  “It is a long story,” he said, feeling his urgency rise. “We have to leave now, Wren! ODIN has found you.” Curtis saw confusion cross her face at his statement. She did not know about ODIN. He put his hand on her shoulder.

  “Wren, ODIN has gone out of control. It has already killed Tim Reed,” he said softly, dreading the fact he had to tell her the man was dead. Curtis saw grief cross her nanid covered features for a moment then it was gone. The grief was replaced by a fierce determination.

  “Curtis, I am where I need to be and ODIN will not stop me.” As she spoke her mingled voice deepened with anger. Curtis began to speak again but was cut short by a high-pitched whine approaching them. He spun and looked in the direction of the sound. A military insertion vehicle zipped overhead. The machine was being pushed to its limit judging from the sound. As it reached the island it slowed obviously detecting the humans on the island. A one-man vehicle, it was extremely agile and began circling above them as it descended. When it was still fifty feet above them, a white figure rolled off the top of the vehicle dropping to the ground.

  When the human female landed on the island, sand and dirt were thrown into the air by her impact. Curtis watched cautiously as she rose standing between him and Wren and their ships. It knew the woman was sent by ODIN by its bone white skin. Nanids covered its body concealing it completely behind the armor. The white eyes stared at the pair coldly evaluating them.

  Curtis allowed the strain and nanids on his body to respond to his stress, working together to transform him into the feral beast once more. His muscles strained under the technology preparing for battle. His skin thickened, forming a thick hide to protect him. His hands and feet were tipped with massive claws and his teeth elongated to needles in his mouth. Curtis felt the strain pushing adrenaline through him and growled a warning to the creature ODIN had sent. Without a word, he stepped forward between Wren and the thing that had hunted her down.

  The female creature regarded him for a moment before speaking.

  “Curtis Reynolds, you are slated for termination on contact per ODIN.” The voice was flat and emotionless. Curtis felt a flare of anger at its words but did not reply, waiting to see its next move. He bent into a defensive crouch preparing for the inevitable attack. Wren’s voice rang out behind him.

  “Be gone, ODIN spawn.” The two-tone voice sounded menacing to the adrenaline-fueled man. The creature cocked its head staring at Wren behind Curtis.

  “Wren Fore your fate is to be the same as his,” it said as it took a step toward the pair. Curtis did not wait for it to draw closer. He leapt toward the once human female with his clawed hands extended. He knew he had to strike true to stop the creature. The hunter’s limbs blurred as it closed with him. Curtis struck at her neck with one hand and chest digging deeply into the nanid armor. He felt hope flare until her fist struck him in the chest launching him into the air. He flew past Wren and hit the interior wall of the elevator feeling the air being driven from him. Curtis struggled to rise as the hunter turned to Wren. A huge gash was open across its chest from Curtis’ attack and its neck was slowly knitting back together. He forced himself to take a breath as pain surged through him. He shook his head frustrated at his body’s slow response. The pain of the impact continued throbbing through him as the hunter spoke.
<
br />   “Wren Fore you and your father have failed to destroy this planet and humanity’s future,” it said as it took a step toward her. Curtis surged to his feet, but stumbled. The lack of air and pain from his impact threw him off balance. He held himself against the open door of the elevator preparing to jump in front of Wren. He never got the chance. The sizzling report of an energy rifle tore through the air behind ODIN’s assassin. The creatures left shoulder exploded in haze of nanids and human blood as the weapon’s beam tore into it. It was driven to its knees as the beam faded. Curtis looked past the creature to see Kelly standing with the rifle to her shoulder.

  “Go!” Kelly shouted at Wren. Before Curtis could protest Wren turned to the elevator shoving him into the machine with a strength that belied her frame. Curtis felt his vision spin and sank to the floor of the elevator. He tried to rise but could not. His body was not healed sufficiently to respond. He felt grief rise in him. He had to help Kelly. The choice was taken from him as he heard Wren’s voice.

  “Descend.” Curtis sank to the floor knowing Kelly was left to face ODIN’s hunter by herself.