Project Armageddon

by Michael Stephens

  Chapter 59

  “Shit,” yelled Josh. “C’mon.” He grabbed Abbie’s hand and ran back in the opposite direction, pulling Abbie with him. He felt the wound on his shoulder tingle as he arm jerked taught with Abbie’s.

  Colonel Daniels and his two men chased after them. Josh was clueless about where he was going. He was relying on instincts. If they could not get to the basement, then they needed to get out of the hospital. As he and Abbie turned corners, dodged people, and ran down several halls, he finally spotted a plaque on the wall that pointed to another exit. Josh jerked Abbie in that direction.

  Abbie looked behind them. Daniels and his men were behind them, but she and Josh managed to get some distance between them. As Josh dragged her around another corner, Abbie snatched a large food cart and tipped it on its side, making a loud crash and sending food everywhere. Just before Josh and Abbie turned another corner, Abbie saw one of Daniel’s men trip over the cart and land on the floor. The cart bought them a few more seconds.

  Josh pulled Abbie as they both ran down the hallway. They reached an intersection that had a freight elevator and a door to the stairwell.

  Josh repeatedly smashed the elevator call button. It felt like an eternity, but it only took a few seconds for the freight elevator doors to swing open. Josh and Abbie darted into the elevator. Josh’s hand shot out towards the elevator control panel. His thumb found its way toward the button bearing the large “B” when Abbie’s hand intercepted it.

  “Wait.” She said.

  Chapter 60

  Hard rubber soles of combat boots pounded the hard linoleum as Daniels and two of his men turned the corner just in time to see the elevator doors close.

  “Damn it,” yelled Daniels. “We're they going?”

  The three men stopped short and gazed at the numerical display above the elevator doors. The watched as the numbers increased.

  “They’re going up.”

  The men watched and waited for the display to hold still. Finally, it stopped.

  “Ten!”

  “The stairs,” the colonel directed. Daniels was the first through the stairwell door, followed by his two men. The familiar sound of combat boots on linoleum echoed through the stairwell as Abbie and Josh watched Daniels and his men quickly climb the stairs from the lower flight of stairs.

  Abbie pulled open the stairwell door that led into the basement with Josh right behind her. She nodded hello to those that greeted her as she kept to her mission—get to the research lab.

  They arrived at the lab door and used Emma’s card key to enter the lab. She and Josh had most of the lab to themselves as most of the researchers worked evening hours. Abbie took her position in front of a computer monitor.

  “Let’s figure out what the hell this thing is.”

  Josh sat as he watched Abbie remove a small sample of Armageddon and run it through various tubes, machines, microscopes, and finally, a gas chromatic mass spectrometer.

  “What now?” asked Josh.

  “We wait.”

  “Wait? How long?”

  Abbie shrugged. “Hard to tell. It’s done when the machine says it's done. Hopefully, a few hours.”

  “Hours?” Josh shook his head. “We can’t sit and wait.” Josh took the hard drive Abbie had placed on the desk and handed it to her. “I think we need to keep looking.”

  Abbie took the hard drive from Josh and attached it to the computer’s USB port. Several clicks later, Abbie and Josh were staring at hundreds of thousands of files and folders with dates going back more than ten years, before Abbie’s mother died.

  “You gotta be kidding me,” Abbie said in disappointment. “It’s going to take forever to go through this.”

  Josh kept a close eye on the windows. “It’s not going to be long before the colonel, and his army of assholes are going to find us.” He looked over Abbie’s shoulder as they reviewed the files and folders on the external hard drive when a red broadcast alert flashed across the top of the computer screen.

  If you see or know the location of Abigail Talbot, please contact hospital security immediately.

  “Shit!”

  “Better get to speed reading,” said Josh.

  “There’s too much. I don’t know where to start.”

  Josh had an ah-ha moment. “Search for your name,” he told Abbie.

  “What?”

  “Your name, search for it.”

  “Why?”

  “Your dad has left you the puzzle and the briefcase. I figure you’re the only one he expects to be reading this. It seems like the thing he would do. He told you in the letter, you would know what to do with it.”

  Abbie was skeptical about Josh’s bright idea, but she did not have a better one. Her fingers typed and smashed the enter key.

  The two of them stared blankly at the computer screen as the search progress bar slowly crept across the screen. After what felt like an eternity, the search completed.

  “Zero results,” said Josh.

  “It was worth a try,” comforted Abbie.

  Josh studied the screen carefully—Abbie’s search criteria and the results. “There.”

  “What?”

  “That’s not your name.” Josh pointed to her search criteria, where she typed Abbie.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Not to your father. I’ll bet he called you Abigail.”

  He’s right. Abbie quickly corrected the search criteria and pressed enter. She waited, and the computer surprised her with a DING.

  The screen showed, 1 file(s) found.

  Chapter 61

  Abbie opened the document and read it.

  My darling daughter. If you’re reading this, then it means I’m dead. I always thought that phrase was quite cliché in books and movies but quite apropos for my situation. It also means that you’ve managed to open the briefcase. Guard its content with your life. I’ve spent the better part of fifteen years and lot of my money (and the money from others) to achieve what you have in your hands. My only wish was I arrived at this achievement before we lost your mother.

  The hard drive contains all my research for the last forty-five years. Research, labs, trials, outcomes, failures, and successes… it’s all there. Everything.

  The three purple vials are the rewards of the research. When administered using the protocols found in my work, the serum permanently boosts the body’s immune system. In doing so, it “teaches” the white blood cells to identify and attack most types of cancer. Yes, what you are holding is the cure for cancer.

  The next question you’ll likely have is—does it work? Yes, it does. I’ve tested this extensively on lab mice. It worked on all of them, no matter what type of cancer I injected into them—even those in advanced stages. And the best part, once treated and cured, I found it impossible to reinfect them. I extended the test to dogs, cats, cattle—identifying patients through ads on the Internet. If the animal had an immune system healthy enough to fight a high fever for seventy-two hours, then there is a ninety-eight percent success rate. It’s genuinely incredible, Abigail. I only wish I did this before Mom died. And yes, it works on humans, as there is a patient zero that walks the earth completely cancer-free after having been given a prognosis of less than a year.

  Why call it Armageddon? Once I realized what I created—the few people who knew no longer had altruistic intentions. Money and greed rose to the surface. I realized that I could not trust anyone… but you. I recognize the economic impact Armageddon would have on the industry, but the industry would survive as there are hundreds of different types of cancers that serum will need to be tested against, synthesized and adapted as needed, and administered. The cancer industry will not die overnight—it will thrive and be more successful. Success is not measured by profits; it’s measured by how many lives are saved.

  I’m done rambling, Abigail. I’m sorry I did not share it with you before. I did it to keep you safe. I did things I am not proud of, associated with people I should not hav
e, and lied to them to fund the research needed to make Armageddon. It’s probably the reason I’m dead. I hate to have passed this burden on to you, but you are the only person I trust with Armageddon. I’m confident you’ll figure out how to cure the world. Hopefully, I’ll be looking down on you with your mother, smiling—that is if God doesn’t send me to hell for keeping something so astonishing a secret. I Love you. -AT

  Chapter 62

  Abbie fell back in her chair. “Holy shit!”

  Josh sat still, his face froze in disbelief. “I can’t believe it.”

  There was a moment of silence between the two of them as their brains digested the letter Anthony Talbot left for Abbie. They both took a deep breath.

  Josh reached for the keyboard. He closed the file, disconnected the hard drive, and handed it to Abbie. “Hide that. You never found it… no matter what.”

  “Josh,” said Abbie as she tucked the drive safely in her purse,” you’re scaring me.”

  “I hope so. This is some serious shit, Abbie. We need to get to Agent Walker.”

  “Are you sure we can trust her?”

  Josh shrugged as he and Abbie shared a moment to ponder.

  Abbie broke the silence. “What’s next?”

  Josh’s eyes opened wide as he sprang from his chair and grabbed Abbie’s hand, “Run.”

  Abbie looked where Josh was looking—two of Daniels’ men weaving their way through the computer systems toward them.

  “This way,” she said, “the other door.”

  Josh let Abbie lead the way and followed close behind her. She led them through several lab stations, computer terminals, cabinets.

  Abbie glanced behind Josh. Daniel’s men behind them and closing quickly. Abbie started running through the stations with Josh following. She turned the last corner that would lead to the lab’s other exit when she ran into Colonel Daniels.

  “Going somewhere?”

  Abbie and Josh stopped quickly and were surrounded. Daniels and one other man blocked the exit while two of his men blocked the direction from which they came.

  Josh inserted himself between Abbie and Daniels. He shielded her behind him with his right arm. He did his best to conceal any reaction from the pain of his wounded shoulder.

  Daniels’ goons drew handguns that had been concealed under their jackets.

  Daniels asked, “Where’s the case?”

  “Not here,” answered Josh.

  “Tell me something I don’t know, genius.”

  Josh came back quick. “You’re an asshole.”

  “He said something he didn’t know,” said Abbie.

  Colonel Daniels did not share in Abbie and Josh’s humor. “You think this is funny?” Daniels gestured with a jerk of his head to one of the men standing by Josh.

  Like a well-trained Doberman, Daniel’s man responded to the command with a blow to the side of Josh’s face with the butt of his pistol.

  Josh was blindsided by the sudden blow. It dropped him to one knee. He rubbed the new gash on the side of this cheek, which seeped brilliantly dark blood that transferred to his hand.

  Daniels smiled. “There is more where that came from if you don’t tell us where we can find the case.”

  “Kiss my ass,” said Josh.

  Daniels gestured another command toward Josh’s babysitter.

  The man pounded the butt of this handgun at the base of Josh’s skull.

  Josh let out a yell as he collapsed to the ground. He reached for the back of his head as he rolled on his back. His eyes squinted to help subdue the pain that rang throughout his head.

  “Stop,” yelled Abbie.

  “Where’s the case,” asked the colonel.

  “I’ll tell you, but you have to stop.”

  Daniels leaned into Abbie. “I got a better idea. We’ll knock him around until one of you tells me what I want to know.”

  Before Abbie could blink, the three of Daniels’ men took turns kicking Josh’s ribs, sides, and back.

  Abbie heard the combat boots slam against Josh’s body as it flopped in different directions with each kick. She heard Josh cough and gasp for air as they each took their turns. She knew Josh was tough, but she knew there was only so much he could take before they would kill him.

  Abbie yelled. “Stop!”

  Chapter 63

  Daniels held up his hand. Again, his thugs behaved like well-trained pets.

  Josh curled in a fetal position with his hands and forearms holding is abdomen. He did not feel the stitches rip away from his shoulder wound as blood seeped through the hospital scrubs. He gasped and coughed as blood frothed and drooled from his mouth. “Don’t tell them,” he said between coughs and gasps for air.

  Abbie found continuing to lie to Daniels increasingly tricky. She and Josh knew the case was irrelevant, but Daniels did not. Watching Josh get pulverized by Daniels’s thugs just to keep the lie going was an emotional punch to her stomach. She had known Josh for less than seventy-two hours. In that time, he had his car shot up, barely escaped being shot in the head, got shot in the shoulder, and was now being brutalized for false information that he insisted she not give away.

  Daniels knelt. He watched Josh endure the pain that followed his beating. “You can tell me, and we’ll stop. Or, you can play your game, and we’ll keep at it.”

  “I’m good for another round or two,” said Josh. “Your men kick like a bunch of pussies.”

  “Do they,” said Daniels. “We’ll keep going. After we kill you—we’ll start on your girlfriend.” Daniels’ lips peeled back, revealing a sinister smile. “How long do you think she’ll last?”

  Josh sat up as far as his stomach muscles would allow. He caught his breath. “Fuck you, Daniels,” he said as he spat a large wad of phlegm mixed with blood in Daniels’ face.

  Daniels winced to protect his eyes. He dried the spit from his face using his sleeve. He noticed the large spot of blood that soaked Josh’s shoulder.

  “Awe, what happened here,” asked Daniels. He placed his thumb in the center of the circle of blood that permeated the shirt covering Josh’s shoulder. He pushed hard as he dug his thumb deep into Josh’s wound.

  Josh clenched his teeth.

  Abbie saw all the muscles in Josh’s neck tighten as he endured the pain Daniels inflicted on him. But Josh made no sound.

  Daniels pushed harder, but Josh’s resolve continued to win. He tightened his jaw to absorb pain, which frustrated the Colonel further. Daniels twisted his thumb clockwise and then counterclockwise. He repeatedly pushed and twisted deeper and harder.

  Josh’s face was bright red as if all the pain Daniels applied to his wound was the energy that lit up his face like a light bulb.

  Abbie’s eyes puddled with tears as she watched Josh endure immense pain. He opened his eyes. They widened and bulged immediately as Daniels continued to torture him. His jaw tightened. She saw Josh make purposeful eye contact with her. He slowly and willfully shook his head.

  Abbie understood his nonverbal command. He did not want her to say anything. She learned to trust Josh in their short time together. He earned it. But watching Daniels and his men torment him—he was asking a lot of her.

  Abbie covered her nose and mouth with her hands to hide her emotional distress. Tears rolled down her face. She could no longer stomach the sight before her eyes.

  Abbie yelled, “Stop!”

  Daniels turned his attention to Abbie but did not remove the pressure of this thumb in Josh’s injury.

  “I’ll tell you where to find the case. Just stop.” Abbie dropped to the floor and pulled Daniels’ hand away from Josh. Abbie inserted herself between Daniels and Josh. She gingerly helped Josh sit upright. His eyes were glassy and appreciative.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah. I’m gonna kick his ass when I’m done bleeding.”

  Daniels stood over Josh and Abbie. He laughed. “Enough with the jokes. Where’s the case?”

  “It’s at the apartment.”<
br />
  “We tossed your apartment. It’s not there.”

  “Not my apartment, Emma’s. Dr. Emma Hoffman’s. It’s in the closet in the bedroom.”

  “Excellent. You two,” Daniels said to two of his men. “Stay with boy wonder until I confirm we have Armageddon.”

  “Then what?” asked one of his men.

  Daniels gazed down at Abbie, who attended to Josh. “Let him go and meet back at the office at eighteen-hundred.”

  “If it’s not there?”

  Daniels’ gaze at Abbie and Josh turned into an evil, sinister glare. “Kill him.” Daniel’s eyes centered on Abbie. “Ms. Talbot will be coming with us,” he said, “Just in case we need help.” He added sarcastically.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” said Abbie defiantly.

  “I couldn’t agree with you more,” said an unfamiliar voice.

  A man wearing a long gray overcoat entered from the door behind Daniels followed by two larger men—all of them aiming pistols at Daniels and his men.

  “You heard the lady. She’s not going anywhere with you.”

  The barrel of the man’s gun quickly flashed twice as the sound of gunshots echoed throughout the lab’s cement basement walls.

  Chapter 64

  Abbie removed her hands from her ears and opened her eyes just in time to see Colonel Daniels’ body drop to the floor. His head smacked the concrete floor with a loud thud while his eyes stayed wide open and did not blink. Abbie presumed he was dead—not from the lack of blinking—but the two large holes that leaked his blood onto the floor.

  “No, No,” said the man in the gray coat, directed at Daniels’ men who were reaching for their weapons. Abbie studied his face. He looked familiar, but she could not place it.

  “Gentlemen, you have a choice.” His free hand reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a stack of bills wrapped with a gold band and waved it around. “You can leave here with ten grand, each. Or, you can end up like him.” He gestured to the lifeless man on the floor.