Lock (The Quantum Wars Book 1)

by C. A. Fraser

“Priority communication coming through Director Worth. It is audio only on an emergency channel.” The AI finished and the voice of a panicked man filled the room.

  TEN

  “Help!” The man’s voice was filled with fear. His breathing was shallow and quick the adrenaline pumping through his body preparing him for fight or flight. The group in the rooms was silent listening intently to the audio link of the emergency broadcast. It was not a two-way connection so all they could do was listen to the man plead for rescue.

  “My name is Jason Moore please send help. I work at the Landis Geothermal facility outside of the old city of Denver. There has been an accident or something and…” Jason stopped speaking for a moment. “There are creatures taking over the facility.” He continued. Wren could tell from his voice he was young, probably an intern for one Nathan’s divisions.

  “They are attacking everyone. There are screams and people panicking everywhere. I am in the electrical substation on the complex boundary north side. Please send help I will keep this channel open as long as I can. Please hurry!” Jason was interrupted by a knock at the door.

  The group could hear footsteps moving away from the communications panel. Wren leaned forward still gripping Simon’s hand. She wished she could help the man. Only her and Simon knew what he was dealing with and he did not have the NDP to come to his aid as they did. Her thoughts stopped when Jason spoke again.

  “Who is it?” He asked his voice low obviously trying to not attract attention. Wren could hear a muffled response but could not make it out. She heard a click of a lock being released and then distant screams carried over the channel. Everyone in the room shifted at the sound exchanging worried looks.

  “Mr. Landis? You survived!” Jason said. Wren felt panic surge through her. She looked at Director Worth.

  “We have to help him!” she said knowing there was nothing any of them could do. Worth returned her gaze reflecting Wren’s desperation and helplessness. Wren could see the faint glow of the nanids within Worth and she ignored it frustrated with her inability to assist the man. Wren heard movement over the channel. The door shut and the lock reengaged. Wren knew the man was trapped.

  “Jason is it?” Nathan Landis’s deep voice cut across the channel.

  “Yes sir.” Jason replied quickly. Wren wanted scream at him to run but knew she was powerless and would be forced to listen to this man die or worse.

  “Well Jason thank you for opening the door.” Landis said smoothly.

  “No problem sir. We have to get out of here sir!” Jason replied.

  “In due time Jason, but right now we need to talk about what you have done.” Landis said his deep voice sounding stern and professorial. Wren and the group could hear movement in the room.

  “What are you talking about sir?” Jason replied his voice was closer and clearly confused by Landis’ statement.

  “You told them where we are Jason.” Nathan continued his voice lowering in disappointment. Wren felt disgusted by the exchange. Nathan was obviously toying with the man. Wren heard more footsteps. They were heavier with a larger stride. It was Landis moving closer to the panel.

  “I do not understand sir.” Jason said. “What did I do?”

  “You revealed our location!” Landis said the menace in his voice obvious to Wren. She shuddered guessing what he had become. The sounds of a struggle ensuing came over the connection.

  “Mr. Landis stop! Let go of me!” Jason’s voice rose with renewed panic across the channel. Wren dropped her head squeezing her eyes shut her heart was pounding in her chest. Jason’s protest was met with a growl from Landis as they struggled.

  “What are you…” Jason stopped speaking. There was a gasp of pain and then silence. Wren could hear the deep bestial breathing of Landis in the background and nothing else. Then the scream began. Wren cringed at the sound. It was Jason being consumed.

  The scream rose from a wail to a sharp keen that ceased all movement and sound in the rooms. Wren had never heard anything like it. It was an expression of pain so intense and so deep that it would kill a normal person. Jason did not get that luxury. The scream seemed to go forever. Just when Wren could bear it no longer his lungs, exhausted of air, cut the scream off. She could still hear the wheeze of Jason trying to push out the scream.

  Then a great intake of air as his body took over and forced him to take a breath that rattled across the connection. The scream began again stronger than before. It seemed to bounce through the room and amplify as it went on. Wren could hear the deep laugh of Nathan Landis despite the scream. As the scream began to fade again the connection was severed leaving the room enveloped in a dread filled silence.

  No one spoke in the room the scream still lingering in their minds. Even ARES was silent as if the quantum were grieving for the man’s fate. Finally, Worth gathered her composure and looked at Wren once more.

  “I am sorry Wren.” She said. “I wish we had more time.” Wren looked back knowing they were all powerless in that moment but still wishing there was somehow they could have helped the man.

  “We have to do something.” She replied knowing that the military and NDP would move swiftly to contain the situation but feeling the need to urge them on.

  “We will Wren. The innocents lost today will be redeemed and Landis will be held accountable.” Worth stated the words conveying her conviction to see this new outbreak contained and destroyed. Without waiting for a reply Worth continued.

  “ARES proceed with the ODIN Protocol. Unless there is someone here that objects.” Worth finished looking at the seated military and NDP leadership in turn. Hearing no objections, she turned and with a nod indicated ARES should begin.

  ARES began speaking immediately relaying the specifics of the protocol to the gathered leaders. It drew a basic outline of what actions would be taken and distributed responsibilities.

  The military would be in charge of containing the threat, establishing a perimeter and providing reconnaissance. It would also isolate the area from the communication web and all AI traffic would be restricted from the area as well.

  The NDP would be in charge of arranging for equipment needed for a quantum energy shield to encapsulate the north end of the former state of Colorado and the surrounding area. Wren noticed the quantum made the shield concept sound new and in no way alluded to the fact this had been done before. She did not know if this was intentional or just how the quantum communicated. She felt thankful anyway knowing that her father would be safe.

  The NDP would also be responsible for countering the Landis nanotech and coordinating any rescue that would be attempted. ARES continued on, coordinating the effort to stop Nathan Landis’s new plague.

  “There is one other thing needed to ensure the protocols success.” The AI stated. “There is a quantum located at the facility. The level of coordination shown by this nanotech indicates quantum control. That intelligence must be found and disabled in order for us to contain the situation adequately.”

  One of the military commanders at the end of the table asked the question everyone wanted to ask.

  “How do you destroy a quantum?” he asked trying not to look uneducated and unnerved at the same time. Wren smiled at the slight humor of the statement. He was correct however. How did you destroy something as expansive as a quantum artificial intelligence?

  She looked to Simon to see if he had any clue. His face was set sternly his eyes focused on Worth as if trying to predict her actions. Wren turned to Worth looking for direction from the woman. Worth’s face was unreadable. If she had the information she was withholding it from the group. ARES’ voice brought all wonders of how to stop the quantum to a halt when it spoke.

  “A small yield, nuclear weapon should suffice.” The room that was already pale with events that had occurred drew even deeper into silence. Director Worth looked as if she would be ill and Wren leaned forward trying to project a bit of strength to the woman. She could see tears forming in the woman’s eyes. The
strain of leadership had taken her to the brink. Wren felt compelled to help and stop this from happening.

  “ARES there has to be another way.” Wren said hoping to ease the burden on the woman and also prevent another catastrophe on a planet already slowly dying.

  “We cannot damage the environment anymore, ARES.” Worth’s words followed Wren’s the strain evident by the slight tremor in her voice.

  “The environment will not be harmed more than it already is and only minimal damage will come to the planet.” It replied. “The blast will be contained underground and the site of Landis’ factory has long been contaminated so there will be little difference made.”

  Several of the government officials registered different challenges trying to persuade the AI on another course. However, ARES was set on the use of a nuclear weapon. The gathered humans all knew this was a pivotal moment.

  Never before had a quantum been allowed such a choice and they all felt that loss of control keenly. Wren watched the assembly quietly knowing the other reason for the use of a nuclear weapon. The possibility of eradicating Landis’ creation would increase dramatically with the use of such a weapon. The nanotech that Landis had unleashed on the world must be stopped and they needed every weapon at their disposal. The thought still shook Wren to her core.

  There had not been a nuclear weapon used in over a century. The last had been a futile attempt by the former North Korea to wrest control of its destiny from the rest of the world. They had misjudged the weapon however.

  What was intended as a show of strength had quickly turned into a crisis for the country that had left large swaths of its middle contaminated. A significant portion of the population was exposed as well and the humanitarian crisis that followed exceeded any prior. The government had quickly fallen and the world had helped reunify the North and South. Wren traced the history in her mind wondering why humans had been so quick to squabble when they were rushing head long into their doom. The posturing and maneuvering were gone as were most of the nuclear weapons.

  After the Korea crisis nuclear disarmament ceased to be a conversation and quickly became a reality. Countries around the globe discarded the weapons in favor of other methods. Then the dramatic shift in climate began and the need for any weapon of that kind disappeared entirely. There were few remaining in the world with the knowledge of the technology at all. Wren knew the US had discarded nearly all of its weapons and she had not heard of any active nuclear program. Which left the question of what did ARES know that the rest of them did not?

  “ARES where would we get a weapon like that?” Wren asked dreading the answer.

  “There is one in this facility.” The AI answered simply.

  “Every quantum was equipped with a failsafe in case the AI ever became uncontrollable. It would require the Director’s authorization to remove and military consent to move and use against the Landis quantum.” The AI finished and Wren knew why Worth was overwhelmed. She was being asked to remove the last failsafe against a quantum and to completely put their trust into the artificial intelligence. There would be no going back. Worth would go down in history for good or ill as the one who enabled the quantum to exceed any prior controls and assert itself into the world even more. Wren looked at the woman as Worth leaned forward preparing to speak.

  “ARES you have my permission to remove the nuclear weapon and prepare it for delivery.” She looked to the military commanders in the room. “I assume we have clearance to proceed.” A quick nod from the commanding officer was all the response she received. Worth turned to the assembly looking at them all in turn.

  “We have an opportunity to stop the worst disaster to occur in our lives. Now is not the time to be weak. We all will have to make choices in the next few days know you have my full support in this endeavor.” Worth stopped to briefly look at Wren and Simon.

  “There will be a strike team put together for deployment and rescue operations. Drones will be deployed for reconnaissance immediately. ARES do we have any information on the layout of the facility?”

  “None, Director.” ARES replied as the doors to the conference room swung open.

  “You will not need them, Director.” Wren turned in her chair shocked to hear a voice that she almost did not recognize.

  Curtis Reynolds stood in the entrance to the conference room looking at the gathered NDP and military officials. Some he recognized others he did not. His enhanced senses picked up on the slightest tremor in an eye or hand. He could smell the pheromones of each person and judge their current state whether it was anger, anxiety or fear.

  He knew his appearance was hellish and intimidating to the humans in the room. His skin was black and streaked with orange lines where the nanids had created a matrix to contain the strain. His body was rigid with muscle under the skin and his limbs ended in digits tipped with menacing claws. His face had smoothed since the attack but was still vaguely lupine. The dark hair was still thick on his head but had a slight orange sheen when the light struck it at the right angle.

  Kelly had supplied him with a NDP security uniform that barely contained his new frame but he would make do. He did not care for clothing now. It was too restrictive for his body but he knew that his unclothed appearance would be even more shocking. He suspected this was a side effect of the Landis nanotech and he knew it would take time to adjust to.

  It had been less than a day since Simon’s nanids had severed the connection the Landis nanotech had with the Leviathan and given Curtis back his body and mind. The process had been painful and if he could have Curtis would have ended his life without regret. He could remember only bits of the time when the quantum had controlled him but it was enough that he knew he had to help stop Landis from doing that to anyone else.

  When he looked at the Fore’s seated directly in front of him sadness clenched his chest. He owed them a debt he did not know if he could ever repay. No matter what the circumstances he should have been able to overcome it and no forgiveness could ever be given for what he did to them. Curtis turned his eyes back to the Director.

  “I will be your team’s guide on this mission if you will allow it. I know all of the building layouts and the location of the Leviathan as well.” Curtis finished stepping into the room.

  He saw several people pull back as if repulsed by him or afraid. He had expected it and did not feel any anger toward them. He only felt the pang of his lost life and fear for what lay ahead for him.

  He sensed Kelly Holt step up next to him and glanced at her. Her face was set with anger and she stared down the people who had withdrawn from him. Her gaze bored into them chastising them for their disdain. He put his hand out to her careful to not graze her with the dark claws at the tip of each elongated finger.

  “It is okay, Kelly.” He said trying to convey his appreciation with a look. He owed her more than anyone. She had brought him back from the brink. The nanids had stopped the quantum and the raging strain within him but Kelly had saved him.

  She had been by his side constantly since Simon had beaten him and if not for her persistent care he would still be in stasis fighting an unending battle with himself. He knew the combination of medication and stimulus she used in conjunction with the nanid reaction had allowed him to regain control of his mind and body. He would do his best to repay her and the rest no matter how long it took.

  The woman relaxed slightly her glare losing a fraction of its edge while she stood next to him with her arms crossed in defiance of the room’s hesitance. Curtis turned back to Worth waiting for her reply.

  Worth looked at him her eyes soft with empathy for his condition. He saw no revulsion or fear just sadness for what had passed. The minutes stretched while they silently observed each until she finally placed her hands on the table and broke their stare.

  “Curtis we would be glad of any help you would provide and know that we will do everything we can to help you.” Worth said the empathy flashing back in her eyes momentarily.

  “T
hank you Director. I will not fail you or the team.” He said. He could feel impatience beginning to bubble within him. He ached to avenge what had been done to not only him but everyone at the facility who had been harmed.

  “Curtis what is the Leviathan?” Wren asked sounding perplexed by the name.

  “Landis named the quantum after the ancient legend to signify the importance of his new project.” He replied thinking back to the man who he had worked for. Curtis silently berated himself for missing the madness in the man. Worth interrupted his thoughts bringing the meeting back on track.

  “The drones are establishing surveillance of the facility as we speak. The military needs to establish quarantine perimeter and prepare the nuke for transport. We will begin the recovery and intervention after that.” Worth replied. “It will be several hours until we are ready.”

  Curtis nodded not liking the time wasted but seeing the logic of her statement. He stepped back while the room began to buzz with voices planning the operation. He turned to Kelly to thank her for her support when he heard the Fore’s arguing.