by Nick Thacker
Vilocek’s scientists had replicated this experiment in the lab — basically using a crystal-infused filament inside a high-wattage lightbulb. When the elements inside the subject’s bloodstream and skin cells came near to an external source of the crystal’s light, he became paralyzed. The physical effect of touching the crystal’s emitted light, though, not only caused the paralyzing effect but also an electrocuting transference of energy from the source, through the subject’s body, as if completing a closed circuit.
As with the subjects in the lab, Cole’s body remained stationary, silently and slowly pulsating as his palm stayed rooted to the tube. Vilocek winced, thinking back to the experiments they’d done with the small child, and others on chimpanzees, guinea pigs, and even an unlucky shark during a more peculiar underwater version.
In all of the experiments, the subjects had been injected with a serum that Dr. Enko Vilocek had developed thirty years ago. Tanning Vilocek had altered it slightly, optimizing it with a more precise replica of the crystal’s properties. It had taken over 130 batches, and many failed experiments to get to a point of consistent results, but they almost had it down.
The goal was to prolong the lifespan of the live specimens. They planned to eventually inject humans with the serum, increasing the brain’s speed and ability to heal and develop neural connections. The effect in isolated incidences had been staggeringly successful — for short periods. The chimpanzee had become able to read simple word problems, and draw the result on a chalkboard. The guinea pigs escaped their enclosures almost every time, working in tandem with one another like a team. And the shark, much to its keepers’ dismay, had to be put down swiftly with a bullet to the head, as it had become furiously ravenous and actually jumped from the water out onto the laboratory floor, taking a scientist’s arm with it.
Most of the experiments hadn’t ended well at all. Once they were able to successfully keep the animal subjects alive for longer than a week, they began the initial human testing of the serum. Some of the subjects had shown marked improvements in awareness, reflexes, and retention. But they all deteriorated rapidly after a few days to a week. They suffered extremely painful seizures before succumbing to massive failure of their internal organs.
The child hadn’t even made it as far as the increased brain activity before failing. They hadn’t even had time to test his reactions to the presence of the crystal sliver — much less bringing the crystal into actual contact with his skin — before he hyperventilated and his body temperature rose to over 120 degrees. He was dead within minutes — excruciatingly long minutes, Vilocek admitted — but he was a useful learning experience, and had served Vilocorp’s needs quite well: he was the last human experiment they’d run before they injected Cole Reed.
Vilocek had learned one important fact by testing on the young Panamanian boy: The serum was specific to species, and even more specific to certain sized species within one genus. By testing the serum on numerous human subjects of differing gender and size, his scientists had found out that the sex of the subjects was trivial compared to the balance of chemicals used in ratio to the size of the subject. The boy hadn’t fared well, but Cole was within the range of sizes his lead scientist had declared as “acceptable transferrable size.”
But it wasn’t a perfect match. They still didn’t understand how the serum worked, as it was based on the crystal that they hadn’t yet been able to accurately measure. They knew, however, that by forcing the serum into contact with the crystal synthetic — or the crystal sliver itself — caused the crystal to break down more rapidly, along with the subject’s body. But by adding a “parasitically beneficial” element to the crystal, they were able to slow the process.
And the only thing they’d found that acted as a parasite — leeching one of the materials and nullifying deterioration of the crystal — was the same substance that was so pivotal in his father’s career, and helped shape the history of the United States.
It was the isotope-form of the element used in many nuclear applications: Uranium.
Somehow, Uranium-233 almost completely nullified the breakdown of the crystal’s “Material A.” It wasn’t a perfect match, though, and it merely slowed the process to a crawl. They hadn’t been able to reverse the breakdown, and all of the subjects thus far had failed.
When his guards had come across Cole Reed in New Mexico, just minutes from the lab, Vilocek knew he’d found a perfect specimen to test the latest batch of serum. He’d come across another near-perfect specimen in Corinne Banks when his men had brought in her uncle, professor Andrews. Corinne had gone to her uncle’s office only minutes after he’d been abducted. Karn had jumped at the opportunity to bring her in as well, though Vilocek knew it was out of lust — not for the sake of experimentation. Only after sizing her up himself had he let Karn off the hook. He might have some use for her after this, depending on how Cole’s body reacted to direct contact with the beam of light.
Vilocek watched in fascination at the slow electrocution unfolding in front of them. Cole’s skin had lost all of its natural color, replaced instead by the blue tint. His eyes were hollow, making him look possessed. The only sound in the room was Corinne’s hopeless crying.
Vilocek began to lose hope. After the 45-second mark in almost all of the human experiments, breakdown would begin, or the subject’s body temperature would rise to an unsustainable level and crash the internal organs. Cole had passed the mark with flying colors in all of the lab tests. Now they only had the breakdown of the synthetic crystal to contend with. Vilocek hoped that by using the larger, purer crystal here, they’d be able to eliminate that problem as well.
If Cole could get past the initial shock of the “transfusion” of energy in his bloodstream, his brain should be able to return to a normal operating mode, with the addition of the heightened abilities.
He silently cheered for Cole to make it through the initial gauntlet of energy transfer, but only in the interest of declaring the experiment a success.
After all, the whole reason they were here — the only reason they were here — was to find a solution to his problem. The ultimate goal certainly wasn’t money, or fame — he couldn’t care less about either — it was for his own survival.
Tanning Vilocek hadn’t spent so many years of his life trying to crack the code of human life for philanthropy’s sake — that was for fools like Whittenfield and the rest of the scientific community. No, Tanning had a much greater goal in mind.
Like the high priests of the Rapa Nui before him, Vilocek wanted what every powerful man craved — more power.
He wanted the ability to control people — to reign over them as a man capable of superior thought. A man made of flesh and blood, but susceptible to none of the ailments and weaknesses that made the rest of the human race so pitifully frail.
He wanted the heightened intelligence and senses that they’d found in many of their test subjects. He’d be able to not only outthink and out-maneuver his opponents — he would be able to utterly destroy them.
But even those benefits paled in comparison to the real reason he was here.
Vilocek wanted to live forever. He knew that a successful experiment with Cole Reed meant that there was definitely a chance at prolonging his life far beyond what current scientific estimates showed.
11:26
Only a minute and a half had gone by, but it seemed as though the shining beacon of light had been holding Cole for ages. The men around the room watched in awe, and Corinne had even fallen silent. Cole’s body was no longer his own; it had been completely overtaken by the substance Vilocek had injected into his bloodstream. It was controlling his nervous system, holding him in place, fused to the glasslike surface containing the beam. Vilocek wondered what was going on in Cole’s mind; if he was even able to comprehend his surroundings or form a thought at all. As this wasn’t a controlled experiment, Vilocek couldn’t measure Cole’s vitals. He knew that in prior experiments, though, no subject had ever made it
past the 1-minute mark — the smaller piece of crystal had either started to break down, or the subject’s internal temperature would spike catastrophically.
Cole just seemed stuck. For the last few seconds, even the gentle pulsation of the slow-motion electrocution of the energy transfer had stopped.
“It worked!” Vilocek breathed. “He’s stable! It actually worked — his body accepted the transfer.” He nodded to Karn, who stepped toward Cole and reached out with his black gloves. He gripped the boy’s shoulder and yanked him away from the shaft. A ring of pulsating energy on the other side of the glasslike surface appeared like a ripple, dispersing after a few seconds.
Cole fell backwards against Karn, who laid him roughly on the floor next to Vilocek. They watched as he came to, his eyes twitching and gradually opening.
His breathing became regular, and he slowly sat upright. His eyes widened as he noticed the others, and he jumped up and scurried into a corner.
“Cole?” Corinne said.
Cole looked at her, not understanding. His face contorted and he became agitated. He looked nervously around the room, then at his hands and feet. Corinne spoke again. “Cole — are you ok?”
Cole suddenly froze, crouching slightly and lifting his nose into the air. He looked like a primate, sniffing the air for danger.
“What’s he doing?” Beka whispered to Vilocek. Wayne and Jeff were still held in place at the mercy of Beka’s pulse rifle. The Israeli had forced Bryce flat on the floor, where he watched uncomfortably, his fingers laced together on the back of his head.
“I don’t know,” Vilocek said. “We’ve never gotten this far in the tests.”
“It’s like he doesn’t recognize us,” Karn said.
Bryce had seen enough. He glanced around — Beka would have to move to react to an attack; that would free Wayne and Jeff, who were still watching from their invisible cage. Vilocek might release Corinne, as she wasn’t much of a threat, and she could grab Cole and make a break for it out the other tunnel.
He didn’t have much to lose. Madu’s forces would certainly find the doorway in the side of the temple soon, if they hadn’t already, and they would bring a lot more trouble to the party. He had no choice.
Bryce kicked the Israeli’s legs from under him, and grabbed at his gun as he went down.
Beka released his trigger and swung the pulse rifle around at Bryce, as the Thompsons collapsed on the floor. The Israeli, struggling to get up, stumbled and fell toward where Cole stood in the corner. Suddenly, Cole spoke.
His voice was different now. It was raspy; strained. It was much lower than normal, with a slight overtone that caused a chorus-like effect. He stared straight ahead as he spoke, and the words made no sense. “Korua te tea-tea kuhane; ‘Atua kuhane ni di maunga di rangi.” Corinne thought the words soundly vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t understand.
They all stared at Cole. He opened his mouth as if to scream and raised his right hand, palm out, toward the Israeli. He spoke again. “Te hare ‘Atua, ni kahune rake-rake.” A small blue orb appeared in Cole’s outstretched palm, inches from the Israeli’s face. The soldier looked around in desperation as the others backed slowly away.
Cole stared through the Israeli, and the soldier looked panicked. Then, Cole abruptly threw the orb into his face — making him stumble backwards and trip over Bryce’s foot. Cole then collapsed into a heap in the corner. The others watched in horror as the Israeli writhed on the floor for a few seconds, as if burning from the inside out. His skin became parched, then blackened, and finally started smoking. He screamed, the noise reverberating in the cramped space. The orb split into fragments, each becoming a string of light that coursed over the man’s body like lightning.
Bryce lifted his rifle and fired a single shot into the soldier’s head, killing him instantly. He thought back to the video he’d seen of the Panamanian boy. No one deserved a death like that.
Then he looked at Vilocek.
Almost no one.
CHAPTER 60
11:29 AM
VILOCEK WATCHED Cole as he lay in the corner and struggled to catch his breath. Corinne had broken free and was bent down at Cole’s side, trying to help him to his feet. Tanning was annoyed with Bryce for shooting the Israeli, but not out of concern for the soldier’s life — Vilocek had wanted to watch him die. Cole could be used as a weapon. He had used the crystal’s power against the Israeli with gruesome efficiency.
Just like in the lab, except this time they didn’t have to inject the subject with anything.
It was an unforeseen twist in his plan, but Tanning knew they’d need a weaponized form of the crystal anyway, so on a certain level he was quite delighted — Cole had unknowingly pushed his research ahead many months, if not years — if they were able to find out just how he’d done it — and how to replicate it.
Corinne pulled Cole to his feet. He seemed more normal — the possessed look in his eyes had faded, replaced by confusion and strain.
Bryce knelt next to the dead Israeli. He reached into the man’s collar and removed his dog tags. He handed them to Karn and approached the two civilians. He looked down at them and spoke quietly.
“I’m done, Vilocek. We’re going home.”
“Strong words, Captain. If we were still in Egypt, I might even allow that. But seeing how effective your team has been against Jabari’s forces, not to mention how easy you have been to keep in line, I think I’ll decline the offer.”
“It wasn’t an offer, old man. We’re out of here.” Bryce looked at the Thompsons and gestured toward the door. “Get your gear, help these two. Let’s get out while we can.”
Vilocek chuckled slightly. “You think you can just waltz out of here? Have you forgotten the twenty pissed-off Egyptians out there?”
“We’ll take our chances.”
“No, you won’t,” Vilocek said, inclining his head toward Cole. “I need the boy. He’s a vital part of my research. Now, Karn, if you don’t mind, please assist our friends in finding the way out, and remind them who’s leading this expedition.”
Karn stepped quickly to Corinne and grabbed her by the hair. His other hand found her side, pulling her close to him as he half carried her to the door. He stunk of sweat and grime, and she fought back a gag as she tried to break his grip.
Bryce knew Vilocek had the upper hand. He also knew enough about Madu Jabari by now to know that he wasn’t the negotiating type — especially when he still had overwhelming numbers.
Muffled shouts and footsteps came from the passage outside. It was time to leave. They all turned and ran up the opposite passageway, hoping that Madu hadn’t already found that route as well.
CHAPTER 61
11:33 AM
THE PASSAGE was much smoother and shorter than the others, the exertion of the past few days was slowly catching up to all of them. They’d jog for a stretch, then Vilocek would pick up the pace, and they’d all follow suit. After a few minutes they reached the ground-level exit on the other side of the temple.
Bullets immediately started spattering the stones around them as they stepped from the doorway. Vilocek and Bryce both ducked behind a stone block just outside the threshold.
Karn was the third man to exit. He somersaulted to the ground, popped up and fired a few shots toward the attackers, and then sprinted down the side of the temple mound.
“Where’s he going?” Bryce shouted. But as they watched him racing down the slope, they understood.
About fifteen yards away, one of the towers surrounding the temple rose toward the volcanic ceiling. Its base was easily wide enough to conceal the eight of them. Karn ducked behind it, then motioned to them to follow.
Bryce yelled to Jeff and Wayne, who laid cover fire for Beka, Corinne, and Cole. They paused behind Bryce’s stone, then bolted for Karn’s position.
Bryce saw two of Madu’s men peel away from the rest and jump into the circular ditch surrounding the temple mound. He yelled at Wayne, but he was already moving.
He snuck down to the side of the tower nearest the ditch and found the men with his scope.
Bryce didn’t need to watch any longer. Two shots rang out in quick succession, and he knew they weren’t going to be flanked anytime soon.
The volley between Vilocek and Bryce against Madu’s forces went on for another thirty seconds before Bryce realized where they were sitting. He turned his attention back to the troops at his front. Then he realized that the open passage was still behind them, unguarded. “Vilocek, we need to leave. We’re sitting ducks here.“
A single gunshot exploded behind him, ringing his ears. He turned — to see an Egyptian officer pointing a smoking rifle directly at Vilocek.
Vilocek moaned and fell sideways, slumping against Bryce.
Shit.
The Egyptian swiveled the gun toward Bryce.
Bryce tried to get his own rifle around, but it felt like he was moving in slow motion. He didn’t have time.
He saw the man’s finger as it squeezed the trigger.
He heard the muffled explosion.
And saw the Egyptian’s head explode.
Bryce flinched involuntarily. The Egyptian didn’t make a sound as blood splattered Bryce’s face and shirt. He stared at the dead man for a moment, until somebody whistled from down the hill.
Bryce turned to see Jeff grinning at him. He couldn’t help grinning back.
He owed that guy his life.
CHAPTER 62
11:38 AM
KARN HAD been keeping a close watch on the advancing soldiers, and Bryce and Vilocek were right in his line of sight. As Wayne took out the two men to their left, Karn, Jeff and Beka had focused on keeping the rest of the force pinned down.
He’d missed the first soldier emerging from the side of the temple, but he didn’t miss the two who followed. The first got a bullet to the chest, the second in the arm and stomach. Beka shot the fourth man exiting the tunnel just as Jeff hit the first Egyptian in the back of the head.
