The terminal was blinking red on the screen and I slid the little finger of my left hand into the receptacle. There was a sharp pin prick and the terminal began to whirr and buzz. The red light disappeared and for a moment the screen went blank.
“Oh shit, you've broken it Alex!” cried Saska.
Suddenly the display turned green and the mechanism keeping the vault door closed began to turn. Alex whooped and stood ready to charge inside.
“Man - weeks of work and you just came along! This is soul destroying - but fantastic!” he cried. The door swung open and an overhead light inside the vault flickered and buzzed into life.
“It's the size of a fucking tool shed,” said Riley. “How can you call it a vault?”
She was right. It was no bigger than my larder back home yet it was walled in plate steel and no doubt concrete behind it. There were rows of empty shelves bolted to the walls and a few empty packing crates on the floor. On the furthest wall I saw a CD in a black case and a long, thin key. Alex stepped inside and picked them up.
“Where's the cure?” he said. “It's supposed to be here, Saska!”
“I-”
“What's the disc?” I asked.
“It's got no label. But this does look like a key of some sort,” said Alex.
“What kind? I’ve seen nothing like that before,” I said.
“It's military,” said Riley. “They use a similar type on missile controls.”
Alex passed it to her and she put her cup down to examine it closer. Then he began rooting through the empty boxes even though they were still as empty as when we'd first seen them.
“All this time and no fucking cure!” he yelled and Saska went in to calm him down. I wedged my foot in the door until they came back out.
“We should try the disc,” said Saska, looking for any bit of hope she could find. “It might tell us where it is.”
“Have you ever thought,” began Alex, “that we're being taken for a ride by this clown? That he probably knows there isn't a cure and that he just wants his fucking porno back!”
“Alex - calm down, please!” said Saska.
“Fuck!” he roared and stormed off up the stairs. Riley finished her last mouthful of toast and passed me the key back.
“The kid has anger issues,” she mumbled. "That's from his mother's side."
“Let's go upstairs and run the disc,” said Saska, struggling to hide her sorrow. “It might tell us something about where the cure has gone.”
In the lab, Saska fired up one of the computers. It was old even by my standards, given that I saw very little technology and it seemed to take forever to start. Eventually it became active and the desktop image was of a family of girls - mum and three young daughters under the age of 10 - playing in the garden on a sunny day.
Saska took the disc and slid it into the front of the machine and waited.
“This could take a while,” she muttered, drumming her fingers on the table.
“One of the scientist's family?” asked Riley.
“I guess so,” said Saska. “Shame. That's a pretty family. No doubt they're dead now.”
“Is that Russian optimism I hear?” Saska grinned.
“I've seen much death back home. I was a trainee nurse in Mental Health Care after I received my degree in micro biology - I know, odd choice of a career eh? Many of the deaths were needless suicides. It requires a lot of Russian optimism to survive such a job.”
“Yeah, I think I know what you mean,” replied Riley.
The screen went blank as a video began to load. Suddenly an image of the vault appeared from a shaky camera aiming at the door we'd just opened and a man walked into the shot. Even though it was over twenty years ago I recognised my Dad straight away.
“Is that-?” said Riley.
“Yeah, that's my Dad. He must have been about 30 there, give or take a few years,” I said.
“The video isn't date-stamped,” said Saska.
“Is it on? Good. Okay, here goes - if you're watching this then you've found this vault behind me and the disc I'm going to leave along with the key to another vault. I'm recoding the door to only accept my own DNA and that of my son who I hope is the one watching this. Son - if that's you then I'm going to have to guess that I'm dead... Man, that sounds really creepy... Well I must be because you've found this disc and the key without me. Right now you're just over 10 years old and I’ve left you with your Uncle Piotr upstairs. I'm sorry I had to hide this part of my life from you, but it was too dangerous to let you in on it. I don't have much time and I'm afraid you're going to have to live without all the answers - I know I’ve had to over the years...
“Anyway - the top and bottom of it is that during The Panic the US tried to cover up one of its secret joint projects with us Brits. It was called Project 16 and it's a nasty biological weapon that they were keeping down here when the bombs fell. They took it back ages ago and I think that somehow they've let it loose. It might have been an accident, I don't know. We've seen the effects already and we think they're looking to use this to their advantage. The cure - that's what this is all about...”
Alex came in and stood with us, looking over Saska's shoulder.
“What's going-?” he said.
“Shush!” cried Saska.
“...day they'll come looking for it. We've hidden it for now until the plague begins to reach full strength. We're not scientists, son, so we're guessing here but if we release the cure to either the NSU or the US at this delicate stage it might do more harm than good. Either side looks ready to blackmail the other just to cut a better deal... The point... Jesus - people are going to die because of this...”
Dad went quiet but the camera continued to record. There were mutterings from the cameraman, then he seemed to gather his thoughts.
“It might not make much sense right now but we can't let the US get it. Russia will pay - they've never been able to put aside their differences and they still can't. I'm sorry but I'll have to leave the decision with you. The US can't form their own cure - the creators all died during the bombing and without this sample it'll take years to get a workable treatment. By then... Son - when the time is right - give it to the Russians. It's their time now. The days of the Empire and the United States are over. Russia holds all the cards and I think... The decision must be yours, I'm sorry, none of this must be making much sense. I’ve got to go. I love you, son. I hope I did okay by you. I moved the cure samples to the second site - a different bunker and I hope by now you've found it in my notebooks. It was the only one with a working freezer vault. You'll be able to open it with this key. Do what you think is best...”
The image stood still and the audio went silent.
“That's it,” said Saska, turning to me. I felt something, sadness, deep, deep sadness that I suppressed as best I could but Riley saw it straight away. There were tears in her eyes but I think they were for me, not for Dad.
“That's why the sample wasn't here,” said Alex, grinning. “I should have guessed - I'm such a douche!”
“Alex - show some respect for Miller, please!”
“Miller. I'm sorry,” he said, flushing red. “I-”
“It's fine,” I lied. “At least we have answers.” Riley's hand was in mine and she squeezed it and smiled as best she could. It was more than enough for me. It always would be.
“Let me guess - this bunker is the one you just came from,” said Alex. “The one crawling with Corban's hired men.” We nodded. “Fuck.”
Alex and Saska argued for the next hour about what to do. I would like to say that Riley and me helped but we didn't really. We sat back and let them get on with it - I think we both thought that going back wasn't an option for us.
“Even with Corban dead it doesn't mean they've left the site," argued Saska. "They might have sent another leader to organise the dig - if they're based on the Revenant then they might have even more forces at their disposal!”
“But the cure - it's in there
and eventually they'll get it. Then what? We're not talking about a Government any more - we're talking about a crazy dictator in the making with some serious backing. We can't let it fall into his hands,” said Alex.
“Let me-”
“NO!” he raged. “Never! I don't trust them. I'm sorry Saska, I know he's your Father but I just can't agree to it.”
“What choice do we have?”
"We have your cure, don't we? You said it was almost complete."
It was Saska's turn to blush. "Miller's Father-"
"What?"
"He was right - I can't do it," she said.
"What do you mean? I thought-"
"I did too - I really believed I'd cracked it. But I haven't. All my results have come back negative. All my work - it's for nothing. You don't understand, Alex - we need that cure or-"
They separated after that and stormed off to opposite sides of the lab, both locked in their thinking and oblivious to our existence for a time. Riley saw it as our chance to escape.
“Besides,” she whispered. “It's long past their bed-time.”
“Yeah, let's get out of here,” I said, sneaking back towards our bunks.
When we got there, Riley flopped onto the bed opposite mine and led with her hands folded behind her head, kicking off her boots which she hadn't tied all day.
“I was hoping to be on our way by now," she said. "It looks like the whole thing got a whole lot more complicated."
“I'm not sure I can just walk away now even if I could. I didn't expect Dad to be involved - man, it's difficult to get my head around."
"And he never gave you even so much as a hint about any of this?"
"Nothing," I said. "I didn't even know about the 20 years before we came here. I didn't ask either. It was clear he didn't want to talk about it and I never pushed him. Now I kind of wish I had."
"So we carry on with this?" she said. "See it through?"
"Look, I know you want to get back - god knows I do. But..."
"Yeah. I get it. And I still have a responsibility to get Alex out of this so you can still count me in. Then we'll go home once we've saved the world."
"All in a days work for a Hermit and a retired Ranger."
She laughed - a soft, gentle chuckle that made my heart race. What if things had been different, I wondered. What if I'd never met Riley. What would my future look like now? It wasn't a place I wanted to go to.
“Options?” I asked.
“Two. Fuck and all. We had surprise on our side when you pulled off your little stunt and opened up Corban's brain pan, but they'll be on high alert now. I was shocked how easy they'd been to attack but I'm not about to underestimate them this time. If they're being supported by a ship - a carrier - then we won't stand a chance.”
“What about Saska's option?” I said.
“What? Bring in her NSU Father?” She shrugged. “Who knows what might happen? Your Dad did say to give the cure to them, but even he had his doubts. You might find we're prisoners and this country becomes property of the NSU.”
“You really don't trust them?”
“Miller - I was breast-fed distrust of the Russians. We grew up on baby-food made with distrust of Russians. Hating Russians is the cream that runs right through the American Twinkie.”
“Riley - that was almost poetic of you."
"Thanks - I've been working on that one for a while."
"So you're saying you distrust Russians?” She stuck her tongue out at me and smiled. “Do you think Saska might make the call anyway, without Alex's consent?”
“Oh yeah,” she replied with a firm nod. “Too fucking right. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the General was on our doorstep tomorrow.”
13.
The General met us outside the entrance to the bunker with twenty more NSU soldiers - all armed and all appearing to have been carved from the same lump of granite. Alex and Saska rode the lift to the top with us but Alex refused to leave it.
“You went behind my back!” he said as Saska saw her father. “I don't know where this leaves us...”
“Right now, Alex, I don't care. You know as well as I do that the only chance we have is him and you're too fucking stubborn to realise that.”
Alex made no reply but rode the lift back down once we were outside. It was still early dawn and the rotors of the attack helicopter cut thin slivers of it in ever decreasing frequency. The snow was all but gone, save for a grey sort of dirty slush that gathered in places around the camp.
The General stood in immaculate fatigues of Russian DPM with his hands clasped behind his back and his hat in the crook of his arm. He fixed his daughter with a cold stare and she in turn folded her arms against him. They'd have made quaint book-ends.
“Papa,” she said.
“Saska,” he replied. “This is where you've been hiding.”
“It isn't hiding, Papa. I’ve been busy trying to find a cure.”
“Yes. So you say.”
“Papa,” she said, softening. “Piotr-”
“Yes?”
“He's dead.” There was a flicker of emotion somewhere in that stony expression but it was quickly brought under control.
“How?”
“They murdered him, Papa. They murdered our Piotr.” Saska was struggling to hold it all in, to keep her exterior as hard as his. It was a battle of parental will power.
“Who?” he growled.
“The Americans on this island. They burned him from the sky. They're at the bunker and the cure is in there. If they get it...” The General raised his hand and she fell silent. His gaze turned on me and the full weight of it dropped onto my whole body.
“Miller. You saw all this happen?” I nodded. “And you - former US Ranger Claudia Riley. Were you there?” Riley nodded also, unruffled by the dangerously accurate information the General had on her.
He turned back to his daughter.
“What would you have me do?” he said.
“We need your help, Papa. We must get into the bunker and retrieve the cure before the Americans do. With it they will hold us to ransom.”
“Perhaps we should go inside,” suggested the General and he waved to one of his subordinates and gave him the order to secure the camp. The soldiers saluted and began running back to the chopper to get their gear.
Saska led the General back to the lift and he brought the cold in with him. It was an awkward ride down and not a single word was said until we entered the lab where Alex was waiting.
“You must be Saska's father?” he managed to stammer. “My name is-”
“I know who you are,” barked the General. Alex started to say something but he dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “I know that this was my daughters doing - she is as headstrong as her father, but let us not try and be friends. Once this is over your relationship with my daughter is over. Do you understand?”
Alex looked ready to object but it was Saska who fired a glare at him and he immediately fell silent. I decided that I'd had better days and from the expression on Riley's face it was clear she felt the same.
“Perhaps some tea?” suggested Saska, leading the way to the canteen. We allowed them to walk on ahead of us and Alex fell in step.
“He's such a prick,” he whispered. “Look at him.”
“It's hard not to,” said Riley. “He won't hesitate to snap you in half, nephew, so I suggest you shut that mouth of yours.”
“Why oh why did she have to bring him here?” he moaned.
“We're out of options,” I said. “What choice did we have?”
“We could have tried something.”
“Be my guest," said Riley. "The last time I checked we were outnumbered and out gunned I'll take an NSU battalion any day of the week."
Saska set two pots of water boiling on the stove and offered the General a seat. We joined him, reluctantly, seeing that even when he sat down he still commanded the room. It was hard to imagine him not commanding anything he wanted. He placed h
is hat neatly on the table, brushing crumbs onto the floor while we all looked on in silence. His expression was one of global disgust.
“Tell me about this bunker,” he said. “Who commands the forces there?”
“Until recently a man called Colonel Corban gave the orders there,” I said.
“I assume he is dead?”
“I killed him.”
“It looks as though he's hired a team of mercenaries - an outfit I’ve never seen before,” said Riley. “Without Corban paying the tab I'm not sure what they'll do.”
“They will send another to take his place,” said the General.
“Excuse me sir - but who is 'they'?” I asked.
“They? They are the people behind this in the first place. They are American but they aren't America, if you understand me. We heard about them during the war. It was only rumour at first but the dossier is thick with incidents we believe they were behind - one of which being the bombing of your country.”
“With all due respect - the blame was placed at NSU feet,” I said.
“Of course it would be. We are the enemy, are we not?” I let it pass - I had no time to dig further nor any kind of inclination. My Dad might of, but I wasn't about to. “It is they who were behind the shooting down of the flight carrying the plague in the first place.”
“So you think they've enough power still in place to put a serious force on the ground?” I asked.
“Do any of you know how Corban and his team arrived?”
“The Revenant is nearby,” said Riley. “We suspect they're based on board it.”
“Then there'll be a new leader installed at the bunker. But that will not be all. With Corban dead they will reinforce the area for fear of another attack. Do they know of Saska and this man?” By which he referred to Alex. I nodded. “American Intel, eh?”
“It's how I got involved in the first place,” I said.
“So We must first destroy their ship - cut off the head from the body so to speak. Then we can take their ground forces apart piecemeal,” he said. Saska brought over the tea and her father poured it into the cups. It would've been a pleasant scene had it not been for the tension. “Then what is your plan?”
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