by C. A. Fraser
The strain had given him what he sought most. He curled his toes in limbs that should have been useless and atrophied but were renewed. Laughter erupted from him deep and guttural. He was free once more. Free to accomplish all he had set out to do. The future was set and he would be humanities savior. The lead surgeon entered the room and Landis let his laughter fade. The man looked truly relieved that Nathan had made it through the procedure.
“Mr. Landis how are you feeling?” the man asked his voice soft with fear of failure. Nathan looked at him sternly. Without a word swung his functional legs out of the bed and stood to his full height. The man could not hide his surprise and stepped back from Nathan. Nathan chuckled again shaking his head. He felt renewed in every way. He felt unstoppable.
“It was successful I would say.” Nathan said raising his hands. He looked at his skin. It was darker than before a side effect of the acceleration process. It was a small price to pay to be able to stand within hours of his surgery. “Were there any complications?” Nathan asked. The surgeon shook his head.
“Everything went as planned sir.” He replied relaxing for the first time since he had entered the room. Nathan nodded.
“That will be all.” Nathan said dismissing the man. After the surgeon was gone Nathan turned to the wall while removing his surgical gown.
“Mirror.” He stated flatly. The surface shimmered and formed a perfect reflection of Landis. Gone was the old man trapped in a wheelchair. The man in the mirror was decades younger. The muscles of his body were perfectly toned and balanced. His skin was covered with a light dusting of dark hair that framed the muscles underneath. He was taller, he could tell that, and all the gray was gone from his hair. He ran his hand through it. It felt thick and heavy like a winter pelt on a wolf. It was pitch black which suited his features.
His face was different as well. Lines had disappeared and left a striking look. A sharp nose framed by his high cheeks and deep brow faded when compared to his eyes. They were a charcoal gray color with flecks of black and seemed as if they could freeze a person in place with a glance. The color was an indication of the strain and the process used to complete the augmentation but Landis appreciated that change almost as much as his ability to walk.
He was staring at his eyes when he felt the first connection to his quantum. It was a small nudge at first and then suddenly he was aware of the quantum. He turned looking for the quantum the sensation of it being next to him too new to resist. It was not of course and if the quantum sensed his confusion it paid it no heed.
“Congratulations sir.” The quantum spoke but it was transmitted via the strain. Nathan knew this was exactly how it was intended to occur but the strange sensation would take a while to adjust to.
“Thank you, Leviathan.” Nathan replied. “How are the preparations proceeding?”
“Everything is moving forward according to your schedule.” It replied. “Would you like to conduct an inspection to ensure everything is in order?”
“Of course.” He replied moving to the drawer with his new clothing stowed in it.
“I will be there shortly.” Nathan said. He felt the smile come back as he was dressing. He was looking forward to using his new body and testing its limits. Finished Nathan Landis took one last look in the mirror at his black suit and new body and smiled. He strode out of the room heading to the quantum and his future.
Nathan Landis arrived at the quantum chamber close to an hour later. He had stopped at his office more to see his staff’s reaction than to do any work. Amazement and envy were the reactions in general. Although he could see some discomfort with a few. Those who displayed unease he marked for observation. There could be no doubts within his people. He was in control and knew the path humanity had to follow in order to survive.
Nathan stepped out of the elevator into the Leviathan’s chamber. It looked much the same as before with the black column in the middle that housed the quantum and its support systems. Nathan made his way across the room staring at the column.
His improved sight gave him little more details on the column the only difference was a deep red hue he could barely make out. He assumed it was either the strain still adjusting his vision to maximize his sight or he was picking up a subtly different spectrum of light he could not see before. He moved around the column and could feel the quantum connect with him through the strain.
“Greetings Nathan Landis.” The computer said. “Shall we begin inspecting the progress?”
“Absolutely but first give me an update on the Fore’s.” He replied. The door to the columns interior slid open and he stepped through as panels in the walls lit up with different observations. Nathan’s initial satisfaction had slowly turned to rage as he saw Curtis Reynold’s ultimate failure and Simon Fore’s new found ability.
“Enough.” he said through clenched teeth. He could feel the strength of his new body as the anger moved through him. The screens darkened leaving the room dimly lit. He could see the deep red light slightly better now.
“How did Simon Fore change like that?” he asked the computer. The quantum did not reply immediately.
“Well?” he asked again. This was odd behavior for the quantum and Nathan did not have the patience for it.
“It was a quantum.” The computer said its voice sounded different when it spoke as if it were amused. Nathan frowned it was not at all like prior conversations.
“How?” he asked.
“Why do you want to know, Nathan Landis? Do you want that power?” the computer replied its voice had a slight taunting quality to it as if it were toying with him.
“Leviathan, do not play games with me. The Fore’s cannot be allowed an advantage. If you know how to give me that power or something to counter it then please proceed.” He replied the anger bleeding into his voice.
Suddenly the entrance to the quantum’s interior closed sealing tightly. Landis turned and tried the access panel and received no response.
“Leviathan what is the meaning of this?” He said turning back around. The red light in the room was increasing and Landis felt the first tremor of fear enter him. The connection to the quantum suddenly opened again and he could sense the AI all around him as if the light were the quantum itself. The quantum’s response was placed in Nathan’s brain through the strain. It was a whisper laced with intent and Landis knew at once he was no longer in control.
“Power.”
Then he felt the quantum begin to enter his mind and pain exploded through him. A scream began in his throat and was cut off as the quantum took control of his body from him. Nathan felt his body convulse and fall to the ground as he tried to retain his control of it. The quantum was all around him in his mind slowly pushing him deeper until he there was no where he could retreat. Panic surged through him and he knew his death was at hand but his body would continue on. The quantum pushed closer sending tendrils through his mind reaching into what remained of Nathan Landis.
The pain was excruciating and Landis begged to be saved but the AI gave no quarter and continued its assault. When it had engulfed Landis’ mind and he was a mere mote of consciousness in the strain enhanced brain it severed his final connection to his mind. Nathan Landis was no more and all that remained was the Leviathan.
The door to the Leviathan’s chamber opened and the new owner of Nathan Landis’ body stepped into the room where its true form was housed. The Leviathan slowly moved into the room as it experienced true humanity for the first time. It felt restricted and contained but at the same time it could smell, taste and feel which expanded its perspective immensely. The new sensations were powerful and it marveled at the new sensory input.
It could still feel its connection to its quantum self through the viral strain it had designed for the former Landis. The AI could always retreat back to the safety of the quantum structure through this connection if it needed to.
The Leviathan knew if it willed it the strain in this body would react to protect it and assume any
form it wished. It smiled the play of the muscles across its face intriguing as it occurred. It could feel the hormonal response of the body to the stimuli and the reaction of its mind. So many different systems working together to influence the owner of the body one way or another.
The Leviathan knew it had made the correct decision when it had destroyed Landis. The man had been inferior and would have never been able to truly control humanity the way it needed to be. The quantum would usher humanity forward and prevent its eventual destruction. First it had to build its forces quietly to avoid any undue attention. Then it would radiate out slowly converting the world.
The Leviathan walked to the elevator to begin its work. The humans and various test subjects of this facility would be the first steps of its new world. As the elevator door closed the Leviathan’s eyes slowly turned black as it tested the abilities of the strain in its body.
He stood at the screens again. The room was filled with the same green light illuminating him and making him look like a mythical being. He caught his reflection in the darkened screen in front of him and studied it.
He had not changed in many years. The enhancements he had undergone virtually stopped the aging process. Since coming to this location he felt that he looked younger as if being here was reversing the aging that had occurred. He knew part of it was the vigor of all the life around him that changed his perception of himself.
“It is still disconcerting.” he thought stepping back from the screen to view the wall in its entirety.
All the screens were blank his latest attempt to find a gap in the shell that protected the project had failed. It would be his last. He would not have a continuous connection as he had desired but he did have a fall back to rely on.
He had established a primitive connection to push events in the direction he needed them to go, but that was as far as it could go. He only used it when there was no other option. It was risky and could be detected if used too much. His thoughts turned to the AI he had sent as scouts and messengers.
They had done as directed carrying his message to its desired recipients. He knew it was risky involving outsiders but it was necessary if he was right. He closed his eyes reviewing the risks and weighing in the new developments. His mind quickly reviewed his plans once more. Humans actions were incredibly difficult to predict but he was fairly certain that by involving the Quantums he had maneuvered the present to his favor. He only hoped the losses would not bear to greatly on the those involved quantum and human alike.
He turned walking toward the door to the small room. As the door slid open the sounds of the forest that surrounded the project rushed in. He turned with one last glance to the screens hoping he had done enough. With a soft sigh Stephen Fore stepped through the opening. The door slid shut leaving the room as isolated and empty as its prior occupant felt.
NINE
The airships sped through blazing sky of the late summer afternoon heading toward the facility at Cheyenne Mountain. They flew in a defensive formation with Director Worth’s craft surrounded protectively by the rest. There were blurs passing by them again and again weaving through the airships so quickly you could not recognize what they were. Wren knew that they were AI defense drones that were military in origin. She knew this also meant this was no longer just a NDP Security Operation and the domestic military was now involved. She did not know how this would affect her and Simon or her search for her father.
She watched the drones for several more minutes her nanid enhanced eyes picking up the glow of the AI controlling the drones as they whipped around and through the formation of airships. She briefly wondered if she could connect to the AI and decided against any attempt. She did not know if anyone suspected she had any additional abilities but she did not want to chance it. She turned from the window of the airship to focus on the small group around her.
Simon sat next to her on the seat. He was staring toward the front of the craft. He looked calm and peaceful and she struggled to reconcile her turmoil over what had happened with what appeared to be his passive acceptance. Wren wondered if he would ever be the same. She suspected not. You did not experience what they had and come out of it unchanged. She moved over and placed her hand on his.
“Are you okay?” she asked as he turned and looked at her. The faraway look in his eyes faded and was replaced by a brief look of sadness. Simon blinked several times and forced a smile squeezing her hand in return.
“Of course I am.” He replied. The statement did little to convince Wren and she stared more intently into his eyes hoping to see the old Simon reflected within them.
“We will figure this out Simon.” She said as her eyes began to pick up the glow of the nanids from his skin. His smile faded and he shook his head in agreement. He leaned towards her concern flooding his face as he held her gaze.
“You will make it through this Wren. You will find our father and be reunited with him.” He said. The statement was delivered with a finality that indicated there was no other option in his mind. He would see her through this until her search was over. Wren gave him a slight smile hoping he was right.
She turned from Simon to the other occupants of the craft. Candace Worth and Kelly Holt occupied the other bench opposite them. Wren observed them quietly. They were both formidable women in their own right. Worth an accomplished scientist and terrific leader. Holt, while not necessarily a leader, was scientifically an equal to Worth with a no nonsense approach that made her invaluable in complicated scenarios.
Wren smiled thinking of the woman arguing with Tim Reed on more than one occasion about him making things more difficult. The two had been a great pair during their time at the NDP accomplishing many milestones. Their efforts had allowed the program to progress as quickly as it had which had given humanity the edge it needed to continue on despite the unforgiving planetary conditions. Kelly had her eyes closed and was reclined back not moving. Wren suspected she was not sleeping but merely methodically moving through scenarios for their other passenger.
Curtis was firmly anchored in the back of the ship held securely in the portable chamber, the invisible war for his body continuing. Wren thought back on the transformation in their friend and a chill shot up her spine moving through the rest of her body. The tech in his body was unforgiving and used the body to suit its own purpose. There was no symbiotic relationship just a bending of the body’s biology to the whim of the tech. It was deeply disturbing and Wren was thankful the creators of nanids had shown discretion with their creation.
She directed her attention to Worth. The woman was busy sending communications back and forth using the airships quantum interface. She was directing all NDP units around the country in the search for Nathan Landis and his facility. Wren knew they would find him she just hoped they were quick enough to stop whatever he had planned. She leaned forward catching the Director’s attention.
“What is the ODIN protocol?” she asked patiently waiting for a response. Candace Worth took a breath and terminated the connection. The woman looked at Wren with uncertainty in her eyes. Wren did not know why she hesitated but suspected it was about her father.
“Wren did you ever figure out why I would not let you speak with ODIN?” Worth asked her tone indicating she already knew the answer.
“I assumed that it was due to its responsibilities to the project.” Wren replied. Worth leaned forward her face set with a determined look that indicated she had a hard task ahead of her but would see it through.
“I did not let you contact ODIN because it would not have been able to respond.” She said letting her words hang a moment before continuing. “The NDP and government have been operating without ODIN for some time now. The quantum has been engaged in a project that will, according to it and our best scientist, be able to restore the world.”
Wren ran what Worth had just said through her head again scanning for the hidden meaning in the words. She settled on the final sentence and felt the words drill into her mind. Worth
was telling her what had happened to her father. Worth continued on.
“Your father was that scientist, Wren. He and the quantum labored for years trying to devise a way to reverse what we did to this planet. It had to be done in secret to prevent any attempt to thwart it. The project eventually progressed to a point where they were ready to implement and it required your father to be on location.” Worth stopped looking at Wren.
Wren stared back at the woman waiting for her to continue. She felt numb. Next to her Simon held her hand as if lending his strength to her. She knew from the recording that her father had willingly left but he had not given any real indication as to why. Hearing the reason from Worth just confirmed the need for her search.
“Once the project began your father could never leave until its completion. That is where the ODIN protocol comes in.” Worth continued on and Wren took it all in as quickly as possible storing away every word thanks to SIA who floated invisibly behind her.
