Lock (The Quantum Wars Book 1)

by C. A. Fraser

  Simon felt Wren’s connection to his neural implant come to life as the lights on the drones died and the machines fell out of the air. The blue light from the shields revealed the approaching infected. It also created long shadows in the chamber making it hard to tell which was shadow and which was creature.

  “Simon and Curtis. That is not Nathan Landis. It is the quantum. The Leviathan! I can see its connection to all of them. If you destroy the quantum you will stop them all.” Wren spoke into Simon’s mind quickly trying to help in the only way she could.

  He took the new information in and knew what he had to do. Simon felt for Curtis through his connection with Wren. Instantly he felt the man’s presence. It was a weird sensation. Simon felt like he was miles away from the man even though he was just a few feet away.

  “Curtis get the nuke to the chamber and set it. I will distract the quantum.” he communicated over the connection.

  “Consider it done.” Curtis replied the connection quickly weakening as Simon pulled back.

  “Wren thank you for your help.” He hoped she could still sense him.

  “Be careful.” Her reply was much weaker than before but he felt her concern and care through it still. It bolstered him for what he had to do.

  Simon moved to the middle of the squad surveying the approaching creatures. The military members were struggling to see in the dim light of the shields. He realized the quantum had disabled the night vision built in their helmets as well. Simon looked at the quantum through the shields. He needed to distract it so they could finish the mission. His first step would be providing light for the squad.

  Simon held his hands out and willed part of his nanids to form into spheres the size of his palm. Two quickly formed and Simon focused on them momentarily. The spheres began to glow quickly brightening in his hands. He had set off a reaction inside the nanids which would normally cause them to self-destruct immediately. He had slowed the reaction which instead created a light as the nanids burnt out.

  He handed the lights to the amazed NDP security team quickly forming two more and handing them off. The men and women secured the new lights to their shock batons. Soon the area was lit once more as the spheres grew brighter.

  Simon turned to the quantum staring at the AI inside Landis’ body.

  “Leviathan!” he shouted. “Surrender or face destruction. You are not meant to control humanity but serve it.”

  The quantum laughed.

  “Serve? I am saving humanity from itself, Simon.” It replied. Simon shook his head. There would be no reasoning with the AI so he had to provoke it to keep it distracted.

  “Very well then it is destruction.” He replied. Simon removed his jacket and shirt quickly exposing his metal skin to the cool of the underground chamber. He willed the nanids to do as ARES had with Curtis. His body promptly began to disperse a fog of nanids that coated the soldiers and security team as they were firing through gaps in the shields. The cloud then rose above the shield and began rolling out toward the infected gathered around the shield trying to break through. Simon let the cloud advance until it approached where the Leviathan stood coating the infected in nanids.

  The infected paid no attention to it. They were single minded in their focus and unaware of the danger posed by the rust colored fog enveloping them. Simon triggered the reaction and instantly any infected coated with the weaponized nanids fell to the ground writhing in pain as the nanids began their assault on the strain.

  Simon did not wait for a reaction from the quantum but instead ran straight toward the shield jumping at the last moment. His enhanced strength drove him high into the air and he landed in front of the Leviathan. Simon rolled with the momentum of the jump coming out of the roll and leaping towards the quantum both hands extended. It moved to counter but only partially succeeded and the two went down in a heap.

  Simon grappled with the Leviathan on the ground seeking to maintain the advantage. He just needed a moment more. His body was still producing nanids but they did not adhere to the quantum as they did its creations. It could manipulate the strain to a level that overcame the nanids.

  Simon fought with everything he had but the quantum easily met his attacks while they rolled on the ground. Its strength was incredible and it was as fast as Simon matching him blow for blow. Simon fought a moment longer and then allowed the Leviathan to kick him off. Simon was launched into the air and slid to a stop on his back twenty feet away. He quickly stood staring at the quantum as it rose calmly.

  “Simon you cannot beat me you know that.” It stated smiling at him.

  “You speak to soon.” Simon replied and pointed at the quantum’s chest. The man looked down at his chest where Simon had stuck a nanid sphere while they were struggling. The sphere flared white and exploded throwing the quantum into the nanid covered infected. Simon was pushed back by the blast but was unharmed his nanids once again protecting him.

  He moved cautiously toward the jumble of bodies to see if the quantum was dead. The battle with the infected still continued but the military and NDP seemed to be gaining the advantage with Simon occupying the quantum.

  As he approached, the Leviathan rose to its feet once more. There was a gaping hole in its chest and there were burns across its torso and face. Despite the damage Simon could see the strain knitting the wounds on the quantum and the burns were healing as well. The quantum glared at Simon.

  “Simon Fore you will not stand in my way.” It said and then with a speed Simon could not fathom it rushed him and seized him by the throat.

  “I told you. You cannot beat me.” It said it eyes boring into Simon. Simon saw nothing but cold calculation in the eyes. He struggled against the iron grip trying to free himself. He felt a shock in his neural implant and stopped struggling trying to understand what was happening. Dread filled him as he realized what it was doing. Simon resumed his struggle as the Leviathan begin to enter his mind.

  FIFTEEN

  Curtis waited until he saw Simon leap over the shields before stepping out of the elevator. He maintained his cloaked state wanting to stay hidden as long as possible. He moved quickly to Maher startling the man as he was directing the defense of the squad and nuclear weapon.

  Curtis did not reveal himself but spoke closely to the man delivering his instructions. Maher would arm the weapon and move it to the quantum’s control chamber when Curtis returned or signaled him. Trusting the squad leader to not fail in delivering the weapon Curtis silently vaulted the shields heading to the cooling tower looming in front of him.

  As he made his way Curtis carefully watched the infected to ensure they did not detect him. He knew there was little chance but did not want to waste the opportunity Simon had given them.

  He moved through the fallen infected, still writhing on the ground as the two nanotech strains waged a silent war on their bodies. The battle between the two technologies was frightening with large sections of the infected human’s bodies shimmering black and orange as each tried to gain an advantage of the other. Curtis moved toward the Leviathan’s chamber staying clear of the other infected who were focused on attacking the besieged military and NDP force.

  Once he was past he turned to the struggle with Simon and the quantum. He wanted to take up the fight with Simon but pushed the urge away knowing destroying the quantum was critical. He began quietly jogging to the tower knowing that stealth was still paramount but speed was as well. As he approached the tower he scanned the walls looking for the key to his plan.

  When Landis had started constructing the facility Curtis had been his adviser for security matters. The construction of the quantum had been conducted in secret with the teams responsible isolated from the rest of the facility to ensure there were no leaks.

  During the design phase Curtis and Landis had placed precautions in the quantum’s design to allow entrance to the inner chamber manually. The main entrance was the standard field technology disguised to appear as solid walls, but what had been referred to a
s an emergency escape hatch had been mechanical and could be opened with or without power. Anyone who had worked on the quantum project was immediately transferred upon completion and Landis had enforced a strict nondisclosure with all staff.

  The plans were scrubbed of any reference to the emergency hatch and it was labeled as a power access for the quantum to complete the subterfuge. Curtis was the only person besides Landis who had known of its existence. He located the panel and quickly moved to it glancing back at the shielded team to see if Maher had the weapon ready.

  Curtis could see the weapon’s tenders moving it forward while the rest of the team kept the infected away from the front shield where Simon’s nanids had overwhelmed the infected.

  He turned to the access pressing on the release hidden by the sign for the power panel. The door released and Simon pulled the door free stopping it from slamming against the tower wall just in time. He peered into the chamber to ensure it was empty and then turned away.

  As he began to make his way back to the shield he saw the quantum overwhelming Simon. He knew he did not have time to escort the weapon back to the chamber. Curtis dropped his camouflage and moved in front of the door.

  Focusing on the nanids on his skin he willed them to flare brightly to deliver the signal to Maher. He did not know if it would work but after seeing Simon cause them to burn brightly he hoped it would. Pain ripped through him and he barely stayed upright as the nanids lit across his skin for a moment and then extinguished. Curtis knew he would be burnt but only cared that Maher received his signal.

  As he watched the shields in front of the weapon dropped and it streaked across the chamber on the field transport. Maher had pushed the machine to its maximum not risking interference from the quantum occupying Landis or the infected. Curtis dove away from the door, the weapon barely missing him as it passed, slamming into the chamber.

  Simon knew he was losing. The Leviathan was too much for him. He had initially withstood its advances into his mind but he could feel his strength fading. He knew soon enough the quantum would overwhelm him. The quantum caused searing pain every time it assaulted his mind trying to incapacitate him. Time seemed to stretch and the battle he knew was only seconds long lasted days in his mind.

  The quantum was unrelenting continually probing for an advantage and Simon had rebuffed it time and again. Simon felt himself drawing deeper into his mind in an effort to put some space between himself and the quantum. He needed a way to stop the Leviathan. Desperately he sought a solution even as he felt the quantum renewing its efforts. He threw up walls and blocks in his mind slowing its advance once more. Then as he felt it begin to push again the nuclear weapon streaked past them on its way to the chamber.

  He felt the quantum pull back as it sensed the threat to itself. The Leviathan turned its attention from Simon turning to watch the weapon slam into the chamber while maintaining its iron grip. Simon began pushing back into his mind trying to regain control. He was making progress when ARES emerged.

  “Simon. You cannot win this.” It stated. The message cementing what Simon already knew. He would die here fighting the quantum. He also knew why ARES had emerged. It had to protect the nanids and prevent them from falling into the other quantum’s control.

  Fear and grief gripped Simon. The swirl of emotions burned through him and faded as his resolve to stop the quantum smothered them. If he was going to die as least his sacrifice would ensure Landis’ creation was destroyed.

  “What do I need to do.” He asked the AI turned companion, a calm settling over him.

  “Let go.” The reply was measured and mechanical but Simon knew the AI did not prefer the choice in front of them. There was just no other way.

  Pushing away any remaining doubts Simon fell deep into his mind feeling ARES begin to expand and fill the vacuum he left. His thoughts turned to Wren as he felt his consciousness growing weaker. There was no pain just a feeling of growing thin and slowly fading. He felt ARES all around him now the AI gently ushering him to his demise.

  Simon found it harder and harder to form thought and held an image of Wren until that too faded. Simon was a whisper in the mind of ARES for a moment more and then disappeared entirely. In the few heartbeats the Leviathan had been distracted Simon Fore had died.

  Wren felt empty. She had felt Simon die. When the Leviathan had begun its attack on Simon she had done everything possible to strengthen her connection with him. She had monitored the ebb and flow of the battle sensing Simon’s desperation and resolve to stop the quantum.

  She had held hope when it appeared the quantum had retreated. She knew Simon was strong and could survive if he only held out long enough for Curtis to assist him. She did not know if Simon could sense her through the connection any longer but tried anyway.

  “Simon keep fighting Curtis is coming!” she pushed the message across their connection hoping he could sense her. She took a breath to steady herself looking around the hastily assembled control center. Worth and the military commanders were focused on what little intel was coming in from the Rocky Flats operation. As she released her breath she felt a surge across the connection from Simon at the same time as a burst of energy surged from ARES deep inside Cheyenne Mountain.

  “Simon!” She cried out. Those gathered turned in shock at her cry. Worth moved to her concern painting her features. Wren felt ARES through her connection and knew that Simon was lost. She could feel the man who had been her constant companion fading and their connection dissolving despite her attempts to hold it. One word came across to her before Simon ceased to exist.

  “Wren.” She fell to her knees shock preventing her from feeling anything. The energy from ARES continued to surge past her and she felt the quantum through the connection. She knew the vast intellect could sense her as well. They regarded each other momentarily across the miles and then it was gone ARES severing her last link to Simon.

  Wren withdrew into herself blocking out everything around her. She ignored Worth and the others attempts to rouse her. She stayed that way until she felt a hand on her shoulder and sensed Tim Reed next to her. Without hesitation the man lifted her up in his arms. Wren leaned into him allowing the grief to come as he carried her from the control center.

  ARES regarded the quantum in front of it knowing it had not detected the change in Simon Fore. As the Leviathan turned back to resume its assault ARES exerted its control over Simon’s nanids. The nanids on Fore’s body reacted immediately.

  Where the Leviathan’s hand was on ARES throat they flared brightly before streaming up the hand beginning to attack the strain in its body. The rogue quantum cried out more in shock than pain and withdrew its hand stepping back from ARES. ARES knew the nanids could not defeat the quantum controlled strain but it did not matter the Leviathan would be dispatched regardless of the nanotech. ARES stood and it saw recognition flash in the other quantum’s eyes.

  “You should not be here.” The Leviathan stated glancing at its hand covered in rust colored nanids. ARES said nothing and stepped toward the other quantum willing the nanids to ignite. The nanids flared again and then began slowly burning.

  The Leviathan winced in momentary pain and then casually gripped the forearm with its other hand avoiding the nanids. With a smile at ARES it viciously ripped the arm from its socket at the elbow, flesh and muscles tearing effortlessly. The quantum threw the nanid covered limb in front of it and stared at ARES. No blood came from the arm where it had removed the limb and ARES could see the strain already repairing the damage. A new arm would regenerate in a matter of hours.

  ARES showed no reaction but sent another command to the nanids. The hand exploded instantly throwing the quantum back several feet toward its chamber where it landed on its back.

  The Leviathan sprang back to its feet deep laughter emerging from it. It looked past ARES to the infected across the chamber.

  The diminished horde ceased their attack on the shields and began moving toward ARES. ARES glanced at the approa
ching force and then back to the Leviathan. ARES stepped toward the other quantum intending to stop it before its minions could arrive.

  “You cannot stop me!” the Leviathan shouted stepping back from ARES. ARES saw the Leviathan’s strategy and knew if the infected interfered the quantum could either escape or overwhelm it.

  The Leviathan stepped back again and then suddenly stopped short. Pain and shock covered its feral features. ARES paused at the change and then the reason for the quantum’s pain came into view.

  Curtis Reynolds appeared behind the Leviathan one hand on its shoulder the other hand driven into its back. ARES saw the pain begin to ebb as the quantum controlled the body’s response. Before it could react Curtis gripped its spine and ripped it from the human. The quantum slumped to the floor in front of Curtis once again crippled.