He started screaming, and then he could not stop. He was screaming words indiscernible as speech. They were rants and babbles screamed incoherently at the top of his voice. Anything he saw where he had a moment to fire, he did, and so now and then he blew up buildings, bridges, houses, transit tubes, and trees.
He was utterly beside himself and he could not deal with the catastrophic failure of himself, so he finally landed and decided to send out as many viruses he could, thinking he might affect the lost HyperJet. But he couldn’t as John had destroyed his array, and the moment he discovered he was powerless, he descended into his mania again and held it for the entire night until the next morning where he fell asleep on the floor of his control room.
Chapter 23
The authorities had tracked the HyperJet since it took off from the manufacturing plant at Seattle where they knew the Agent was based. They were baffled why it had stopped at Spokane, an airport not equipped for large jets, where it has stayed only briefly before it taking off again. They watched the readouts as it headed towards them in the east, only to then turn away and take a new heading towards the north. A moment later as it disappeared off their scanners, they became convinced their hunch was correct, and that John Matheson was piloting the plane.
The moment it had taken off, they had prepared military jets for pursuit, and then when it disappeared, they commanded the pilots to take off and scout the last know co-ordinates, and report back as soon as they had any information the authorities could use. Each of the three military HyperJets had been equipped with extra fuel cells, enabling them to fly for ten days without having to land, or recharge. The authorities were confident they would find John, and so were prepared to do whatever it took to finally recapture the only man who could help them develop true flux mechanics.
An emergency meeting was convened for the top level of officers and personnel of the authorities who then gathered at authority headquarters far below New York City. Leaders from the civilian authorities and the military were called to assess the situation on regular occasions as they battled the Agent, but in this instance, there was a renewed sense of hope in those who aspired to once again return to the level of control they had attempted eight years before. When all required were seated around the large oval table inside the central meeting room, they began to analyse the situation and make proposals.
“We have to see this as an event of significance. If Matheson has taken a jet from the facility, then it must mean something has changed. The Agent would not be very likely to allow this to just happen. Matheson must have done something, and I am willing to bet he has interfered somehow with the Agent’s operations capacity.”
“How can we be sure though? If we take it on your advice and go ahead on the premise that he is now less capable, what is going to happen if that premise is wrong? Bringing major systems online is a risk. If he unleashes a virus using that amplifier thing of his, then we are wide open.”
“Ok, but why would Matheson have gone there at all? This Torus is surely not the object of his intentions. I cannot see him as wanting it in the same way the Agent did.”
“You’ve got a point. His service record was exemplary. But…he is the expert on flux mechanics, and with the Torus he could realise a lot of power.”
“Yes, but look at this,” the officer displayed John’s record via a holographic projector in the centre of the large oval table. “If we look at all these records of his thought patterns we took at the facility near San Francisco, and all the other data we have on him, there is nothing to suggest he is anything like that power mongering Agent.”
“So what do you suggest his motives were?”
“I am unsure on that. All I can say is that he must have had an objective that due to his success, it has caused the Agent to go haywire. Look at these reports of what he did immediately after the event. Flying around with no clear objective…”
“That’s because Matheson used the stealth device as he calls it.”
“Yes, but for the Agent to even bother giving chase there must have been something major happen there at the jet factory.”
“He’s a maniac though, where even the slightest little thing could set him off.”
“Sure, we’ve all seen examples of that. But I think in this instance, if you consider the knowledge Matheson holds, then he would have been sure to wreak some type of havoc upon the Agent during his visit…whatever it was for. I suggest we run some test of the major systems. Make it look as if they are online, but actually run some dummy test scenarios. If there are any new viruses coming out of Seattle, then they will be picked up immediately and we will have a result. But if nothing new is being generated, then the anti-virus measures we have in place will show up in the mock holographic systems. And…given the unstable nature of what the Agent has been sending, after some time, any virus should recede and eventually disappear.”
“Ok, but what about these unstable vortexes he has opened up? Some of those are getting too big to handle. If we cannot do something about them soon, then this issue will fade in comparison to the problems we will have.”
“Therein lays a reason why we should at least try the dummy tests. If it turns out we are not going to encounter any new viruses, then we can go full steam ahead with counteractive measures to treat those vortexes. Otherwise, we will sit around here at the mercy of whatever happens.”
A general consensus was being reached amongst the elite members of the authorities seated at the table as one by one they all fell into line with the idea of at least trying the dummy tests.
“If we get Matheson and we have systems in place ready for his work on stabilising these vortexes, we have a winning situation.”
“We need a vote. All those in favour, raise your hand.” All members at the meeting raised their hand, and so the order was given to proceed with the test scenario for bringing some of the major central systems back online.
Even further beneath New York City, the authorities operated their central systems inside a complex stretching for two miles, filled with vast holographic arrays, personnel at holographic stations, complex machinery the public was entirely unaware of, and a legion of newly developed robots on standby. Travel tubes reached out from the complex on north, south and west headings, where anyone could travel beneath the great city, to destinations where installations located underground were in place to service the anticipated resurgence of dominance by the authorities. During the hardship years brought on by the Agent, where the public were made to suffer at the hands of both his viruses and through the lack of service support from the authorities, they had developed this vast network in readiness for a time rapidly approaching.
It was an entirely new level of technology they had secretly developed at the expense of the population, and those who had played a central role in first proposing, then designing, and now with implementation, were confident of a new reign of power on Earth. This time however, they would not seek the compliance of people, or of other nations – they would enforce compliance, and choice would be the most sought after element of human nature they would seek to destroy. Their intentions were to wither away those very last vestiges of natural intention and alignment of person with heart and soul, and bring about a sophisticated machine based reality where human beings were to become slaves unto themselves, through the advent of technology where to survive without it in any instance would become next to impossible.
Technology development chief Eric Gunter was at his command post ready to analyse the results from the test scenario. Eric was a member of the new type of officers the authorities had determined would be best suited for the new efficient machine society was to become. He was amongst the first to take on the advanced nano technology implants they had developed in recent years, where its presence was so obvious that to look into Eric’s eyes, one would see they were in fact mechanical and thus, they were not a window into his soul in any way. Behind them was a complex array of both physical and holographic compo
nents forming an integrated circuitry linked to his brain and deeper into his thoughts. Eric was half human and half machine, and the very moment the opportunity had arisen to uptake the technology, he did not hesitate to undergo the surgery required to replace many of his organic systems, with mechanical systems. Akin to his initials as an acronym, Eric was an example of the new direction the authorities were striving for to take humanity.
“Set output parameters at maximum. This test must completely engage all possible weapons systems contingencies for offensive operations at a city-wide level.” He issued the command in a calm yet direct manner, rather than with the nature of ego-like superiority an entirely organic officer would do given the situation. As part of his new, and some would say, enhanced constitution as a mechanical trans-human officer, mannerisms were programmed to be direct without any hint of emotion. His subordinates were programmed to react only to his orders, and so they too as examples of the new trans-human being, were given to only respond with compliance.
As the test commenced, the holographic array lit up with data statistics and imagery as constructs of the scenario being tested in a real physical situation. Eric watched the weapons systems engage active mode as they were directed at their target – a group of dissident citizens gathered at a subversive meeting. He saw the ultrasonic pulse as the holographic beam was directed at them, and he enjoyed the result as the people were immersed in a wave of nano technology programmed to activate on arrival at its target and immediately commence reconstitution of vital human systems into mechanical systems. The tiny robots were directed to re-establish atomic form, where they transformed organic matter into machine at the atomic and sub-atomic levels.
He still retained an element of the facet of humanity known as enjoyment, for the authorities had deemed it essential to the growth and therefore progression of efficient officers and citizens. But their type of enjoyment was only aligned with the efficiency of compliance and as he watched the test scenario, he himself was a subject of testing as authority scientists marvelled at how they had constructed such efficient human system from their studies of elemental geometry and waveforms within the human experience.
After running three other test scenarios, Eric instructed all officers to disengage and stand down. The results automatically compiled into a report for assessment where it showed there had been no influx of virus data coming from the Agent. Eric was pleased as much as his mechanics would allow with the result, as he was certain that due to its success, real systems would soon be brought online and his duties of compliance would then increase and fulfil his desire to be an efficient technology development chief officer.
He proceeded along the long passageway to the meeting scheduled immediately after the tests to assess the results. Other officers he encountered on his way were a mix of the new trans-human type and of the preceding officers who had not yet taken the machine technology to such an extent. Those who were not yet fitted with mechanical eyes, looked at him as they passed by, noticing the shallowness in his. Some wondered if it was the right thing for them, whilst others were envious of Eric. Soon they would no longer be envious, as envy was not programmed into the new trans-human ways, but little did they realise, that to indulge the new technology for the sake of such efficiency, would be to lose facets of themselves as human beings. Whilst envy was never considered an asset of the human experience, its loss along with other fundamental characteristics of emotion and feeling as a trade off for a machine efficient body, would reveal as yet an even deeper misalignment and disruption to natural elemental intentions within.
Chapter 24
The fence ended north of Saskatoon two hundred miles from the United States and Canadian border in the state of Saskatchewan, where the open plains gave way to the frozen north. Beyond the fringe city, there lay an area of no man’s land with open wilderness where nobody could survive. Since the coming of the Agent, and the erection of the dividing fence, people had abandoned the central Canadian state for warmer climates and more populous cities in the search for food. All that remained in Saskatoon just inside the western sector, was around one thousand locals who had spent all their lives there, along with those who periodically visited as they tried to go around the northern end of the fence, passing through the city on their way. Going around the fence was not an option as they soon discovered, for at its northern end, the authorities had established a minefield stretching a further two hundred miles northward.
Landing at the airport had been hazardous in the icy conditions without any upkeep of the main runway, but John had skilfully brought the HyperJet to a stop, and then parked the jet inside the main hanger. Conditions in the city were calm when they had arrived, but after the first night, the weather had turned nasty and for a time, they had to remain in Saskatoon whilst deciding where next to fly.
“The stealth device works, but…if we were tracked up until I engaged it, we can be certain the authorities will be onto us somehow.”
“Where do you suggest we go John?” Carmel asked.
“Well... the sky is pretty well our limit. This jet can fly us anywhere in the world, but our problems are, one…the authorities will track our movements, two, we are bound to create attention wherever we go which can often be bad, and three, the Agent still has his spaceship and he will come looking.”
“Yeah but he’ll have a very wide area in which to look for us. I’ll keep him at bay with my ray gun.”
“Ha…I bet you would give him a decent run for his money, but he can modify his instruments to find us if he is smart enough.”
“The Agent and smart just don’t seem to go together.”
Up until this time, Chan and the others who had been held captive remained silent. During their years together mostly in darkness and being forced to sleep for months at a time, they had become distant to the outside world, and so after their rescue, they still had some adjusting to go. Despite what Chan had taught them in focusing on their auras to retain strength of heart, their bodies were weak, and required solid nourishment.
“This tastes so good,” Raynie said in a low shaky voice.
“I’ll bet it does sweetheart.”
“Thanks Kerry Ann.” Raynie spoke for the other four who were also eating the mixture of wild vegetables and grains Kerry Ann had prepared.
“Don’t eat too much though. Your bodies will not be used to much food yet.”
Tobias and John had gone to check the systems on-board the HyperJet, and also to scout around the airport to see if their arrival had drawn any attention. It had looked odd since they had first taken off, to see Frieda inside the jet happily resting in a place Tobias and Kerry Ann had cleared for her during the flight from Spokane. Carmel was very glad to see her and equally pleased to see she had carried her beloved steam engine. Without second thought, she considered the effort of John and Tobias worthy of celebration as she prepared the firebox, and then when enough steam had built up, she let off three whistles.
Carmel had longed to sound her engine since before the Agent captured her west of Bishop, and no amongst the group, she was realising those moments they had all longed for. Chan and the others had been strong over the years since the dark sect leader had first captured them, and now they were feeling the progression they had felt was coming for such a long time. The long darkness was over for them despite the darkness still hanging over the United States and the rest of Earth, with each mouthful of food returning their strength providing more foundation in body, to align again with their awakened spirits in heart and mind.
When the two men returned from their objective to ensure they were secure in the hanger, the group of five had finished eating and had returned to sleep at the back of the plane. It was not an Agent induced sleep, but a natural response to their tiredness and to their full stomachs, and for the first time they could rest much easier than they could almost remember.
“It is all clear out there. Tobias and I went around the entire perimeter and we also looked inside
the passenger terminal. This place is deserted. It does not look like anyone had been here for a long time, but we will need to post two guards the entire time we are here.”
“I’ll take first watch. How about it Kerry Ann? Those guys could use a bit to eat and some rest by the looks of them.”
“Ok Carmel. Go to the back honey. You and Tobias will find some food there.”
“Oh thanks. Only give us four hours though, and then we can swap.”
“John. John, wake up. There are people coming,”
“Where’s Kerry Ann?”
“She’s at the foot of the ladder. Come on. They will be here soon.”
Tobias woke up when Carmel stirred John, and readied his ray gun as John took the only remaining pulse rifle. As soon as they had reached the bottom of the ladder, they could all hear a commotion less than one hundred yards away.
“That does not sound good. Tobias and I will take a front position while you two stand here by the jet. Did you see how many there are?”
“I think about a dozen honey. Be careful.”
John and Tobias took up position at the centre of the large open hanger doorway, standing a few yards apart with weapons at the ready. As the group approached, they could see them in the moonlight, and Kerry Ann was right as Tobias counted twelve – seven men, three women, and two children. The moment the group saw the two armed men, they stopped and began to talk amongst themselves. A moment later one of them called out to the two men, “Where did you get that jet? And how did you fly it?”
Höllenbadt: Book two of the Torus Saga Page 20
