Nightfall

by Peter Hoole

  “What is it you mean to achieve?” asked Dunleavy.

  James turned to the older man. “That… is not for you to know.”

  Caleb again pulled out his gun, and pressed it against James’ temple. “I bet your Source doesn’t stop fucking bullets!!!” Caleb said, anger taking hold.

  James, for the first time in the conversation, looked tense.

  “You are killing so many people, and you plan to kill more!” Caleb continued.

  “Your point?” James asked, his voice filled with disdain.

  “I need to know why? At least help me understand,” Caleb pleaded.

  James considered the request. Again, he realised it would do no harm to his plan to speak the truth. “Take the gun away, and I will explain.” James said, glad that he had an opening to buy some more time.

  With some reluctance, Caleb removed his gun from James’ temple, comforted by the fact Dunleavy still had James in his sights.

  “You ask why?” James began. “Surely you can see it? The world has become infected. We have sat back and observed the so-called evolution of the planet. We have seen wars fought over everything. Oil, food, land. The world is at a point where it cannot be saved. People cannot be saved.”

  Caleb listened to the James, disturbed by what he was hearing.

  James continued. “Politicians are sending men and women to their deaths by the thousands… and why? So they can win another election. So they can justify how much money they are spending. And then, when they have reached their goal, they change their minds and say the war wasn’t worth it to begin with. That is why we are doing what we are doing. The world is broken, and we need to restart it. We need to begin afresh. It is time the world had a rebirth.”

  “So,” Caleb retorted, “let me guess this straight. You’re killing people because of what politicians do?”

  “People are complicit in their actions.”

  “Complicit?”

  “Yes. People let their leaders do whatever they like. They allow them to kill. They allow them to make the poor poorer and the rich richer. They allow oppression of religion, sexual differences, skin colour, gender. People have not done enough to help. Most of them just ignore what happens in the world. For goodness sake, countries with a widely documented, public history of human rights abuses have been allowed to showcase themselves to the world, to put themselves on pedestals. And what do people do? They clap. They cheer. They applaud the façade and ignore the reality.”

  “So, why don’t you try and change it? I mean, you have all these followers. All this technology. Why use it to kill? Why not use it for the betterment of the human race?”

  James smiled. “That is exactly what I am doing. I am changing the world for the better. The human race will go on. The human race will prosper. All the problems we have today will be gone. No longer will bankers be able to send others broke while they laugh about it on their jets. No longer will clothing manufacturers be able to live in mansions while the people working for them can’t even afford to eat. No longer will the few have more than the many.”

  “And you get to decide this, do you?” Caleb asked, astonished by James’ conviction. “What gives you the right?”

  After consideration, James spoke. “Are you a god-fearing man, Captain?”

  Caleb was unsure how to answer. He’d never really given the thought of God a second thought. “Not really,” he replied.

  “Well, I am,” James said. “Not in the traditional sense. While once considered I myself to be Christian, I have seen too much to make me doubt that. I do believe, however, that there is… something… something that controls who we are and what our destiny will be. Some call it God, some Allah, and some Muhammad. Me, I don’t like to name such things. What I know is this…” James paused, catching his breath. “What I know, is that I, and the people with me, were given the gift. We were given the gift of immortality. No one else has been given such a gift. Therefore, we have been ordained. Ordained by a higher power to make a difference. It is not our choice to do what we are doing. It is our responsibility to do it.”

  Caleb had seen zealots before, but James was different. James not only believed in God, but he believed he was a God. He knew James had to be stopped. The Colonials had to be stopped. “This… this rebirth,” Caleb asked, his voice shaking. “The goal is to wipe us all out.”

  James didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Caleb knew the answer. He knew the endgame.

  The Colonials were planning to wipe out the human population so they could take over, and begin the world again, in their own image.

  Once again, Caleb raised his weapon to James’ temple. “I cannot allow that to happen,” he said, a strange calmness appearing in his voice.

  James began to shake. He knew that, as powerful as the Source and subsequent serum was, a bullet to the head meant death. “Now don’t be so rash,” James said, trying to maintain his composure. “I can help you all.”

  Caleb kept the gun firmly focused on James’ temple. “We don’t want your help,” he said. “In fact, I think that if we blow this place up, you won’t have your Source, and your plans will be gone.”

  James turned his head as much as he could in an attempt to face his possible assassin. “You know how many colonies we have. You know how powerful we are. One colony does not make a difference. Everyone has the serum now. It is only a matter of time until everyone has had their injection, then the time will come.”

  Caleb almost had the information he was after. It was true; his anger was getting the better of him. But he also knew that the only way he could get anything further from James was to apply pressure. “The time will come for what?” he shouted, pressing the gun further into James’s head.

  As he did, he felt a familiar feeling against the back of his head. He had not felt it for some time, but it was a feeling that sent a quick shiver down his spine. “Drop your fucking gun,” Jacob said, holding his pistol to the back of Caleb’s skull, “Captain.”

  Caleb realized he’d made the wrong decision with Jacob. It was not the first mistake he had made these past few days, but it could be the most vital. Upon walking into the room, Caleb already knew he may have to kill James.

  It was a logical move. At the very least, the Colonials would lose their leader, and it would buy them some more time.

  Now, the opportunity may be lost.

  Caleb lowered his weapon. He would have to wait for another opportunity. Wait for a moment where Jacob would drop his guard.

  After several long seconds, the alarm sounded again.

  Caleb felt the gun move slightly. It was enough for Caleb to determine that Jacob was momentarily distracted. Without delay, Caleb sprang into action. He began to wheel around, when a sharp pain began in the back of his head.

  Jacob was no rookie. He knew what Caleb was planning. As soon as he heard the alarm, Jacob’s instincts kicked in. He knew Caleb would use that opportunity to attack, and he was ready. No sooner had Caleb moved than Jacob struck him with the butt of his gun, knocking him unconscious. As Caleb slumped to the floor, Jacob grinned at James.

  He felt he had proven his worth. He had shown his hand, and he was comfortable with his decision. His grin turned into a smile, a smile that James did not return. “So…” Jacob asked, “What now? Should I kill him?”

  James looked at Caleb’s still body, and back at Jacob. He saw the look of pure evil in Jacob’s eyes, a look he had not seen in Caleb. “No.” he replied, “Not yet. We may need him.”

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Darcy looked down at the tablet. The Colonials were nothing, if not efficient. She scrolled through the Levels of the virtual complex. Apart from a few people in a room several levels down, the colony looked virtually empty. All the movement was heading away from the centre of the colony.

  “Please,” Helen said, “Please don’t kill me.”

  Casey scoffed. “Don’t give me a reason to.”

  Darcy moved towards the blonde woman. “
What is it you do here?” she asked. She’d already figured out the answer. She was using an old reporter’s trick, asking a question she knew the answer to. That way, she would be able to tell if the interviewee lied to her. Normally, if she was lied to, she would use the information against the interviewee. She decided against that tactic on this occasion. Darcy figured it would be more useful to let them think they had the upper hand.

  “It’s just an infirmary,” Helen replied, lying.

  Darcy nodded, feigning belief. “Okay then.” She walked around the room, evaluating the beds.

  Each bed had an injector next to it. It looked, as with the other rooms, to be efficient in design. It was clear the beds only had one purpose – to deliver injections quickly to a large number of people. “What’s the move?” Darcy asked Casey.

  “Well, if it’s just an infirmary,” Casey replied, also not believing what the blonde had told them.

  Darcy glanced again at the tablet. It was then she saw them. There were several colonists moving in on the room she assumed Caleb was in. After all, every other room was being evacuated, and it was the only room that showed little or no movement, just a single dot. “Casey, we have to move.”

  “Why?” he asked, his gun still fixed on the blonde.

  “Just trust me,” Darcy replied, her instincts telling her not to share information with the woman. “I’ll tell you on the way.”

  “Okay then. What should we do with her?” Casey asked.

  Darcy was surprised he was asking her opinion. As a Sergeant, surely he had ordered people before?

  “Um, I guess she’s not a threat. We’ll just have to take her with us.”

  Casey nodded, and motioned for Helen to move.

  Helen stood fast. “Where? Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Just move,” said Casey, his voice forceful.

  As Helen began to move, Darcy stepped towards one of the beds. Next to the injector was a medical box with several epipen-type devices.

  Darcy reasoned that they must contain the serum. It was the only explanation for them being in the room. She surmised that, while it was better to inject in the room, the colonials wouldn’t be so foolish that they couldn’t do it on the run. Sensing the serum would be her proof, Darcy grabbed a handful of the devices.

  As she began to put them in one of her pants pockets, Helen screamed out. “Noooo!”

  In an instant, the slight blonde woman had grabbed Darcy, swinging her around by the throat. Darcy now faced Casey, acting as a human shield.

  “They are not for you!” Helen said, furious they’d dared take the serum.

  Darcy struggled against the woman. While they were both of a similar height and weight, Helen had the advantage. With her arm around Darcy’s neck, Helen began to squeeze. Darcy could barely breathe.

  Casey continued to aim his gun at the blonde, hoping for a clean shot. However, despite being an excellent shot, he wouldn’t take the risk, not with Darcy.

  Darcy continued to struggle against Helen’s arm. Then, as though her destiny was at stake, Darcy remembered what she had learned in the plane. The thought brought a calm focus to her. As she struggled, she reached for her pocket, and pulled out the knife Murphy had given her.

  Casey saw what she was doing, and realised her intent. He distracted the blonde. “Okay. I’ll put it down,” Casey said, as he slowly lowered his gun.

  Helen saw this, and momentarily loosened her grip. It was all the help Darcy needed, as she swung the knife into Helen’s right flank. The knife plunged deep, imbedding itself in Helen’s liver. As instructed, Darcy twisted the knife, exacerbating the injury.

  Helen doubled back, her breath forcing out a scream, a scream of such volume it almost burst Darcy’s eardrum.

  Darcy sprang free, pulling the knife from Helen’s gaping wound. Darcy turned and faced the dying woman.

  Helen fell back, blood pouring out of her wound. For the first time in her life, Helen felt mortal. She fell to the ground, knocking over one of the injectors. She tried to scream again, but the feeling of dread was overriding. She continued to writhe in pain, the blood spilling onto the once pristine white floor.

  Darcy stared in horror. Helen’s wound had started to heal itself. The Source, flowing through Helen’s blood, had started to take effect.

  Darcy, sensing that Helen would attack once fully healed, did the only thing she could. She took her gun out of its holster, raised it towards the still-writhing doctor, and fired. Only one shot was required, as the bullet shattered the back of Helen’s skull into the floor.

  Casey grabbed Darcy by the arm, trying to usher her out of the room.

  “No, wait,” Darcy said, regaining some composure. In the struggle, she had dropped the serum. She went over to the box again, and collected half a dozen more. She put them in her pocket and turned to Casey. “Okay, let’s go,” she said, a tear welling in her eye.

  The room slowly came back into focus. Caleb had no idea how long he had been unconscious, but he figured it couldn’t have been a long period of time. As he woke, it became clear the advantage he’d had, had dissipated. At first, the image was a mess of blacks and greys, with the occasional white. As the seconds ticked by, he was able to make out shapes. Some were large and wide, others thin and tall. It was a feeling he’d experienced before.

  The blow he’d received from Jacob was substantial, and there was a severe pain in his head and neck. It would take a lot of concentration to not be distracted by it. Fortunately, that was not a problem. Quickly, Caleb was reminded of the nature of his situation. Seemingly moments ago, he was about to find out what James’ endgame would be, but then Jacob betrayed him. While Caleb wasn’t surprised, he was angry. He had thought he had convinced Jacob of the right thing to do.

  Apparently, he was wrong.

  Again.

  As he came around, Caleb could see the positions had almost completely reversed. He was now sitting down, his hands behind his back. With a quick motion, he realised he was bound to the chair James had been sitting in. Dunleavy was in a chair next to him, his hands bound in the same fashion as Caleb’s. Dunleavy seemed to be more alert, meaning he had chosen to sit, rather than being forced to as Caleb had.

  Immediately in front of Caleb stood James, a smug smile spread across his face. He was obviously enjoying their role reversal.

  Jacob seemed equally jovial about the situation. He was basking in his betrayal. So far, he’d achieved everything he wanted. He had made it to the Zone One base, or Haven as he now knew it, and saved the life of the leader.

  Not that James’ life mattered to him, he was just interested in the reward he would receive for his work. Now, all he needed was the serum. Once he had it, the rest of them could go to hell for all he cared.

  Caleb looked at Jacob, seemingly asking Why?

  Jacob saw this, and answered the unasked question. “C’mon Captain. You didn’t really expect me to be on your side, did you?” he asked. “You’re fighting the strongest group of people in the world. They’ll win. I’ve merely chosen the winning side.”

  Caleb looked at Jacob in disgust. It was then he realised just how different they were. “You… are the worst or the worst Jacob. These people would be fools to help you.”

  Caleb turned his attention to James, and saw a look he wasn’t expecting. He saw a look of agreement. It was then Caleb saw more of James’ true intentions. “…and it looks like you’re not too sure about him either?”

  James wasn’t surprised by Caleb’s statement. He wasn’t a man who hid his emotions very easily, and even less so based on the ordeal he’d just experienced. He’d spent much of the past in Haven - primarily by choice. He had seen a lot of the outside world, and what he saw, he didn’t like. In Haven, and the other colonies, James had created a small society free of the encumbrances of the outside world. Free of the corruption of money. Free of the need to stand on the shoulders of others.

  The people he had chosen to work with him and to lead the
other colonies - they thought like he did. All the colonists had their own skills. Some were accomplished scientists; others were of the arts. Some were dangerous killers, and trained soldiers. Together, they formed the perfect society. No one wanted to use, abuse or corrupt their brothers and sisters. None of them wanted to hurt the plan.

  James didn’t have that same level of confidence in Jacob. In fact, he knew he didn’t trust him in the slightest. Those thoughts of mistrust were coupled with the fact that Jacob was such a ruthless killer.

  James had always been reluctant to use the man. His techniques were questionable, and his complete lack of empathy was disturbing.

  For that reason, Jacob couldn’t be allowed to be part of the future. But, that was not a problem that needed to be solved right at that moment.

  “Jacob will be rewarded as appropriate,” James said, choosing his words carefully.

  Caleb struggled, trying to free the hand ties that held him. They wouldn’t budge, and Caleb started contemplating alternatives. His eyes panned the room. It was the first time he cursed their design. Such was the practicality of the design, the only unique aspects were in no way designed, or able to be used, for escape. He would need to divert James’ and Jacob’s attention, unwittingly taking the same tactic James had used minutes earlier. “I’m curious,” Caleb began, trying to sound calm, “if you’re so prepared, and your followers are so devoted, where are they? You’d think they’d do whatever they could, to ensure your safety.”

  James scoffed. “I know what you’re trying to do, Captain, and it won’t work. My people are not mindless drones. But they are disciplined enough not to listen to their emotions. I specifically ordered them not to return. When your cohorts set off the alarm, I imagine they thought there would be panic. I imagine you thought there would be chaos.”

  Caleb was silent, and it betrayed him, giving James the answer he wanted.

  “The people here have doubtlessly begun moving to their safe zones, and are well away from the colony.”