by JC Ryan
Daniel had the team gathered in the situation rooms at Raven Rock and the Rabbit Hole. “Alright,” he said, calling them to order. “What’s our status?”
“Roy and Raj have provided us with additional spyders and spyflies and they are being deployed as we speak,” Jack started.
“I have Kerinski and Mouse setting some of them loose in the offices of each of the four remaining Cabinet members, and Eric has some of the other Tectus members doing the same at their houses.
“Salome and her team are ready for PsyOps Phase two.
“What are you planning?” Daniel asked.
Salome had an evil grin, “We’re going to show them that you can’t trust spyders because they spread rumors…”
“…And start a divide-and-conquer campaign,” Rebecca finished wickedly.
Daniel raised his eyebrows, “This sounds like fun! Do tell!”
“Well, the spyders will be whispering things into Hayden’s remaining Cabinet Members ears, sowing distrust and discord among them and against Hayden.
“We will continue to use Laurie to drive Hayden crazy, and a few other interesting people will start visiting the other Cabinet members as well.”
“Yeah, we’ve already got Hayden completely paranoid,” Jack laughed.
“He’s been muttering to himself about getting help, and my guess is that he will turn to his friend Potter very shortly. He’s already headed toward his office a couple of times, but turned around before he got there.
“I think Potter should be the next target we remove; shake Hayden up some more by removing those he wants to turn to for help. It will drive him crazy!” Salome said.
“Crazier, you mean!” Roy laughed.
“We plan on taking Neeley after that. He is too resourceful and slick; he could disappear on us quickly,” Sam explained. “We must take him before he has a chance to hide.”
“Alright,” Daniel said, “let’s grab Neeley next instead, but don’t wait too long to get Potter.”
Roy butted in, “Howard Baum just entered his office, let’s see what we can do here.”
They all watched as Baum sat down at his desk and began sorting through the stacks of reports. He didn’t notice the figure appear in the chair opposite his desk.
The man waited patiently for a few minutes then said, “are you having problems Howard?”
Baum started violently, jumped up, nearly tipping his chair over, and pressed into the bookcase behind him, yelping as he recognized George Miller, recently deceased Secretary of Treasury, sitting before him. He was speechless.
“Cat got your tongue, Howard?” George asked calmly.
“Wh – wh – a – wha – what are you doing here? How…”
“Well, Howard, I’ve been watching what’s been going on around here … you know it’s easy for a dead person to do that. Right? Anyhow, I’ve taken a liking to you; you seem to be a decent person.”
Baum had no color left to drain out of him, “oh no, what are you going to do to me?”
“Relax Howard; I’m not here to hurt you; as I’ve said, I like you, and I’m here to help you! I want to see you get out of this mess alive, unlike me, so I’ve come to warn you about Hayden.”
“Warn me?”
“Sit down before you fall down, Howard.”
Baum stepped back to his desk gingerly and melted into his chair.
“Hayden has gone mad,” George said, circling his right index finger around his right ear without actually touching it, “completely off his rocker. You know Frayser and Nguyen are missing, right?”
Baum nodded.
“Well, Frayser was secretly working for the Rosslers and Hayden found out about it. He had Nguyen and Potter ‘take care of him’ … if you know what I mean.”
Baum was wide-eyed and tongue-tied.
“Potter was supposed to apply some drugs and mild torture techniques so that Nguyen could question Frayser and find out where the Rosslers are, but Potter used too much of one of the drugs and killed Frayser before Nguyen could get the information. Nguyen and Potter had a horrific argument about what they were going to tell Hayden and who was going to take the blame.”
“What happened?” Baum whispered.
“Why, Potter had to kill Nguyen to keep him quiet of course. He’s told Hayden that the drugs are taking time to take effect and that Nguyen is with Frayser, tormenting and questioning him for the information.
“Actually, Potter has come back only to get a few things before he goes into hiding to avoid Hayden’s wrath.”
“What does all this have to do with me?”
“Well, like I said, Hayden has lost his mind, and very shortly he will have no one to depend on. That’s where you come in. You need to become Hayden’s best friend. Do whatever he tells you to do, support him no matter what he says.
“He will rely on you, and that will protect you. He’ll come to think you’re the only friend he has, the only person he can trust. No matter what he says, just act like you believe him and go along with him.”
“You’re sure this will work?”
“Absolutely! I’m dead, aren’t I? I’ve already seen it!”
“How will this all end?”
“It’s not time for you to know all that yet, but I can assure you that there will be peace.”
Baum’s breathing and heart rate had just about returned to normal by now.
Getting to his feet, George said, “I would recommend you tell no one about this conversation. They might think you are the crazy one.”
And with that, he vanished. Baum’s heart pounded in his chest as if it were going to explode.
The situation room at Raven Rock rang with laughter.
* * *
Hayden had taken refuge in the Lincoln Bedroom in hopes of getting away from the bewildering and terrifying visits from Laurie Campbell. He sighed deeply as he stepped into the room named after his boyhood hero and laid down on the bed.
“I’ve got to get control of this country,” he spoke aloud to the empty room as if he was expecting Abraham Lincoln to respond. “Got to rein them in some more and make them tow-the-line.”
A voice from the chair across the room startled him and he sat up quickly to see none other than Abraham Lincoln sitting there calmly, speaking to him.
“I’m disappointed in you Thomas … killing people to get your way … you’re not the man I thought you’d be.”
“What!”
“What happened to you; to your ideals and principles, your dreams, your vision? Your actions aren’t those of a West Point graduate not to mention the President of this great country.”
“I have experience; I know what’s best for this country. She needs to return to her roots.”
" As I’ve always said, ‘this country belongs to the people who inhabit it, and whenever they grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it.’"
“But these people are running this country into the ground!”
“Are they? Or are you?”
“Come on, you know as well as I do, the country has become immoral and violent, the government deceitful and untrustworthy, and everything is spiraling out of control.”
“And why do you think this is happening?”
“Are you kidding? Where have you been lately? We had a madman try to take control of the world; a woman try to take over the country, and now that psycho, Rossler, is on the loose opposing my presidency.”
“Have you looked in the mirror lately, Thomas? Have you done some introspection? Can you look at yourself and honestly say to yourself, ‘I’ve done the right thing? Just think of all your actions the last few weeks, Thomas, then you answer that.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I may be dead, but I see what is happening. Remember what I always said; ‘No man is good enough to govern another man without the other's consent’."
Lincoln vanished in wh
at looked like a puff of smoke.
Hayden yelped and exited the room hastily, muttering to himself.
Grabbing the guard at the end of the hall by the arm he said, “get maintenance in here immediately and have them board up the Lincoln Bedroom.”
“Sir?”
Hayden started yelling, “I don’t want anything getting out …” he caught himself. “Don’t question me! I don’t want anyone going into that room. Get it boarded up, and I mean NOW!”
“Yes sir, Mr. President!”
As Hayden strode away, a voice whispered to him, “you can’t get away from us Thomas, we’re always going to be here. Right next to you, in your ear and in your mind.”
The guard watched an agitated Hayden walking briskly down the hall waving his hands around his head, shouting, “get away from me, leave me alone!”
Deciding Hayden obviously needed some sort of assistance, the guard turned and went in search of General Potter. He would notify maintenance to board up the room later.
* * *
Colonel Stillwater was about to enter the dining area, to pick up his usual lunch when he thought he heard his name and stopped just outside the door to listen for a moment.
A woman’s voice said “are you sure you heard correctly? I can’t imagine The President would be killing any of his top advisors.”
“I’m sure,” a male voice said. “I don’t know the two guys he was talking to; never seen them before … but he told them he was sure that Potter is responsible for the disappearance of Nguyen and Frayser. Hayden thinks Potter killed them and now he wants him dead.”
“It sounds to me like Hayden has gone completely batty if you ask me.” The female voice said.
“Maybe, but he told me that he’s going to bring Frank in to replace Stillwater. He thinks Stillwater is incompetent... I have to say I agree with that.”
The voices faded away and the Colonel peaked around the door to see who had been talking, but just caught a glimpse of the two people leaving through the other door.
If I didn’t know she was dead, I would have sworn that was Laurie Campbell talking … sure sounded like her.
Forgetting that he had come down for lunch, he turned and headed for Potter’s office, knocking firmly on the door when he arrived.
After being invited in, he reported what he had overheard. “So, I’d be careful if I were you, Joe. I don’t know if it’s true, but Hayden has been acting a little strange lately, I’m sure you have also noticed it.”
General Joe Potter paled and stared at Stillwater in astonishment for a moment. “I haven’t killed anyone! Nguyen killed George Miller, but that’s the only one I know of.”
* * *
The groups at Raven Rock and the Rabbit Hole were awestruck by the effectiveness of Salome’s PsyOps tactics. In less than twenty-four hours she managed to sow so much discord and suspicion it would be a miracle if Hayden’s advisors weren’t at each other throats within the next day or two.
“Who’s next?” Aaron asked with enthusiasm.
“Neeley,” Roy replied setting a phone and some equipment on the table. “Ready Sam?”
Sam nodded.
“Everyone be very quiet now,” Roy said as he dialed the phone. Sam held a microphone near his mouth.
Roy muted the display and the view switched to a view of Neeley sitting alone in his office.
They could all hear the ringing of the phone on his desk and watched Neeley pick it up.
“Neeley,” he said.
Sam spoke urgently and quietly, “Stephen, this is Lucas …”
“Lucas! Where the hell have you been? Hayden has been looking all over for you!”
“Shhh! I know … but he’s not looking for me for the reasons you think he is. I’ve gone to ground, Stephen. Hayden tried to have me killed, but I escaped. He’s gone completely mad. He plans to eliminate all six of us and declare himself the sovereign leader.”
“What!?”
“I know, I couldn’t believe it either, but I saw his goons murder Frayser. You have to get out of the White House and away from Hayden as quickly as you can!”
“How? Where am I supposed to go?”
“I have a friend that can help you get away and get to where I’m hiding. Meet him in the bar at the hotel on 12th and H streets this evening at seven o’clock. He’ll be wearing a Steelers T-Shirt and baseball cap, white running shoes, and black jeans. He goes by ‘Fred.’”
“But …”
“I have to go. Stephen, I don’t want to see you killed, man. If you want to live, be there.”
Sam ended the call. The others looked at him in astonishment. He shrugged his shoulders.
“Max will meet and drug him, Kerinski and Mouse will be waiting in the basement to take him to Raven Rock.”
“But he thought he was talking to Nguyen!”
“Oh, that. Yes, well, Nigel has spent some time talking with Nguyen and recorded his voice. He gave me the tapes, Raj and Roy did the rest with their voice-imitation software and voila, my voice sounds just like Nguyen’s.”
Daniel just shook his head, “Once again everyone, I’m forever grateful that you are on our side! You certainly are a scary bunch to have as an enemy.”
Chapter 72- The only hope we have
Viktor dressed slowly, watching Telestra in the mirror behind him. After all the years of marriage, he still did not trust her not to turn on him. He knew she had only agreed to be his wife because he threatened to kill her son Deszik if she didn’t.
Deszik was her weakness and the only hold he had on her. She also knew he had given standing orders that if he ever died under suspicious circumstances, Deszik was to be tortured and killed in front of her.
“The time has come for the Re’an to mobilize and make our presence known,” he told her.
“You will never conquer this world, Viktor. These people will fight you. You might think they are savages, and in some ways, they are, but many of them love their freedom. They will fight you and destroy you.”
“They don’t stand a chance against us. With our superior weapons and technology, they might as well throw stones at us. And as soon as we have control of our old headquarters at the Canyon and the rest of the technology from our Cycle that is stored there, it will be all over for them. The entire world will bow to the Re’an.”
“You’re deluding yourself, Viktor. Why can’t you leave things as they are now? We have lived well for all this time. Why do you have to control the world? Leave them; they are different than us. It’s their Cycle, their time; there’s a sixty-two-thousand-year gap between us.”
He ignored her and changed the subject. “I’ve been impressed with Deszik’s performance lately and have decided to send him with the team to take over the Canyon site.”
Telestra was dismayed but knew better than to object; it would only give Viktor pleasure to know he was succeeding in tormenting her. “I’m sure he will serve with honor.”
“You hate that I’m sending him,” he snarled when she denied him his pleasure of emotional abuse.
She refused to engage in an argument and remained quiet, frustrating him even more, “you will never be free of me Telestra, accept it. We are Re’an and will live forever.”
She turned and left the room; she needed to have a word with Dekka.
His snide laughter rang in her ears as she made her way down the corridor toward the lab and Dekka’s reassuring presence.
The once nearly empty corridors throughout the facility had changed drastically over the years as Viktor had forced Dekka and his team to create more and more Re’ans, building up his forces for the day when he would take over the world.
When Viktor had taken Deszik under his wing and trained him to become a soldier in the Re’an army, Telestra and Dekka had decided it was time to start planning Viktor’s end.
Because they knew Viktor enjoyed nothing better than harassing and controlling Telestra through the hold he had on her son, they knew Viktor would see to
it that Deszik was the most highly trained soldier he could produce.
Viktor had forced Dekka to adjust the boy’s chip so that he would call Viktor ‘father;’ an adjustment that had nearly cost him his life. Telestra had been wild with fury the first time she heard Deszik call him ‘father’ and had attacked him. Viktor had underestimated her strength at the height of her fury and found himself with a severe stab wound in his shoulder before he knocked her unconscious.
When she awoke, she was restrained and gagged; it was then he had issued the standing order that Deszik be tortured and executed in Telestra’s presence if he should die by her hand, of a mysterious illness or other unexplained death.
It was days before Telestra accepted that she could not change anything through anger and violence and she forced herself to calm down so that Viktor would order her release. She became withdrawn and isolated herself.
Several weeks had passed after this incident when Dekka one day enticed her to join him for lunch promising he had a way to help Deszik.
What had unfolded from that meeting was a series of slight and almost unnoticeable adjustments to Deszik’s chip at every opportunity Dekka got.
Gradually, so that Viktor would not detect it and Deszik could adjust, they introduced the information to him through his implant. They fed him the story of the B’ran, the L’gundo, the end of the Eighth Cycle and Viktor’s plan for the Re’an.
The boy had responded exactly as they had hoped—he embraced the truth and hid his knowledge rather than informing Viktor. One day, Deszik was going to be the downfall of Viktor.
With the knowledge gained from Viktor about his plans, Telestra knew that the day of Viktor’s downfall, for which they had been preparing Deszik so carefully all these years, was fast approaching.
“Dekka,” she said quietly as she approached the lab station where he worked. “Viktor is about to send a team to the Canyon, and he’s sending Deszik with them.”
He looked gravely at her. They both knew that this meant Deszik might never return. “Are you ready for that?” he asked gently.
She gazed into his soft brown eyes, the love between them had grown over the years and, had things been different, they could have been a family. Dekka loved Deszik as though he were his own son. “I have to be. Deszik is the only hope we have to get rid of that evil man.”
