Paradise Hacked (First Circle Club Book 2)

by Siegel, Alex

"OK," he said at last. "I'm willing to accept the possibility that you're not my enemy despite the fact that you abducted me."

  "Hey," Virgil said, "you spied on us. You stole that corpse. We were minding our own business until you came along. What were your orders tonight? You were going to capture us, right? I don't want to hear any whining about abductions."

  "Hmm. OK. I'll tell you a few things, stuff you probably already know."

  "Go on," Virgil said.

  "A scientist discovered a gateway to an alien world. We've been sending test subjects through it, but they haven't come back alive."

  "A gateway?" Virgil looked at Alfred.

  "It's an interesting twist on the truth," Alfred said. "Technically, the gateway does lead to another place."

  "I suppose." Virgil faced Kyle again. "Where is the gateway? What's the name of the project? Who is the commander? Most importantly, who is the scientist? He is probably the cause of all the trouble."

  "You don't know where the gateway is?" Kyle said with surprise.

  "If we did, it would get closed! We spent all day trying to figure out which one you guys were using. We figured it had to be one of them."

  Kyle realized there was more than one gateway. He had a revelation.

  "Is that a gateway?" He pointed at the hatch in the floor.

  Virgil narrowed his eyes. "That kind of insight could get a person into trouble. Just tell me which gateway was compromised. I promise you it doesn't lead to an alien world. It offers no military advantage, if that's what the Army is hoping for. No human can use it and live."

  Kyle considered what information he wanted to reveal. He wasn't ready to spill his guts, but his attitude was shifting. Virgil reminded Kyle of good soldiers he had known in the past.

  "It's in a place called McCormick Woods in Riverside," he said. "I'm not sure of the exact location."

  Virgil furrowed his brow. "You're sure?"

  "Of course I'm sure. Why do you look confused? You didn't know about it?"

  "No, and that in itself is a big, red flag. Let's move on. What else are you willing to tell me?"

  "The scientist is Dr. Theodore Harlow," Kyle said. "He's some kind of physics genius, but I've heard some creepy rumors about him. I definitely could believe he's not on the level."

  "And how did he discover the gateway?" Virgil said.

  "I don't know."

  "We need to find him. What else? Who is your commander?"

  Kyle looked down at the filthy floor.

  "Well?" Virgil said.

  "I don't think you need to know that."

  "I need to know everything! This is not some harmless little experiment. Dr. Harlow is stirring up a hornet's nest of trouble."

  "What kind of trouble?" Kyle narrowed his eyes. "Where does the gateway actually go?"

  "It's not a place you need to worry about right now. The people who use those gateways are friends of humanity, and they've been doing it for thousands of years."

  "Why should I believe you?"

  "Because I'm telling the truth!" Virgil said angrily. "We need to find a way to resolve this situation. I would really like to talk to your commander, but I just spent the night being chased by men with guns. I think the opportunity for peaceful meetings has come and gone."

  "Don't be so pessimistic," Alfred said. He turned to Kyle. "I have a proposal. If we promise not to harm anybody, will you take us to your headquarters?"

  "I'm not going to betray the location of my comrades," Kyle said.

  "What if we go unarmed?"

  "But you can't warn them we're coming," Virgil said. "We don't want to walk into an ambush without even a gun for self-defense. By the way, how many Special Forces operatives are attached to this project?"

  "Several squads."

  "Against the two of us?" Virgil said. "Even with the advantage of surprise, I'm not excited by this idea."

  "It won't be a problem," Alfred said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Once we start to talk to them like adults, I'm sure they'll listen."

  Virgil shook his head. "I'm not so sure. We'll meet the rest of the team first. I want my side to be at full strength before we try this insanity."

  "I never agreed to this idea," Kyle said.

  "You want more bloodshed instead? More death? If we don't end this soon, you're going to see a lot of soldiers with toe tags."

  Kyle contemplated the proposal. He noticed the massive stone casks again. "What are those barrels for?"

  "Medical supplies."

  Kyle raised his eyebrows.

  "He's serious," Alfred said, "but the supplies are for him, not me."

  "Here's the plan," Virgil said. "We'll hang out here for an hour or two. Then we'll sneak past the police and steal a car. The meeting with the rest of the team is at noon."

  "Maybe the stink in here is making me crazy," Kyle said, "but I'll accept your proposal. I will facilitate a peaceful resolution provided I don't have to reveal any more secrets. I would appreciate an opportunity to sleep though. I've been awake for thirty hours."

  "We'll work that in."

  "Thanks. Are you tired?"

  "We don't sleep," Virgil said. "Ever."

  * * *

  Lisa was walking quickly through a neighborhood on the outskirts of Chicago. It was a semirural area with small homes spaced at wide intervals. The lawns were relatively enormous. Most of the houses were made of red brick, a tradition in the Midwest. She didn't see anything taller than one story.

  She was looking for a car to steal, and she didn't have a lot of time. Dawn would come soon. Theft was best done in darkness.

  She stopped to let Mei catch up. The poor girl was so tired, she could barely lift her feet. She had slept at most an hour in the car. Being traumatized by her father's death didn't help.

  While Lisa waited, she thought about that death. She had never been a fan of Mammon, but she had felt some respect for the demon at least. It was a prince of Hell after all. One didn't get that job by being weak. Killing Mr. Li had stripped Lisa of any positive feelings. She now saw Mammon as a prince of scumbags who deserved only disgust and hatred. If there was any justice in the universe, Mammon would pay for the crime.

  Mei finally caught up. "Can we stop to rest?" she panted.

  "If we stop, you're going to fall asleep on me, and I'll have to carry you. Let's just find a car. You can sleep on the back seat."

  "OK, but we've already been looking for a while."

  "I'll try the next place," Lisa said. "Wait here."

  The next house on the block had blue walls made of wood. A detached garage was built out of cinderblocks, and a tan minivan was parked on the driveway.

  Lisa liked that minivan. It wouldn't attract attention, and it could carry a lot of stuff.

  She padded over to the front door and peered through a window. Car keys were lying on a table near the door. Bingo, she thought.

  She tried the door, but it was locked. She walked around the house until she came to a window that slid upwards. She pushed with all her strength, and a cheap latch broke, allowing her to open the window. She slipped into the house and silently closed the window.

  Lisa hurried back to the front door and grabbed the keys. Just to be nice, she removed the car key from the ring and put the rest back on the table. She left the house.

  She ran to the minivan and opened the door. She didn't want to start the ignition so close to the house because it might wake up the owner. Instead, she put the car in neutral and pushed it down the driveway. When it was in the street, she climbed in and turned the key. The engine purred nicely.

  Mei climbed in on the passenger side. Lisa drove off.

  "Don't you feel guilty about stealing a car?" Mei said.

  "I'm just borrowing it," Lisa said. "Once things have settled down, I'll make sure the police find it and return it to the owner."

  "What if that doesn't happen?"

  "That's what insurance is for. Listen, this car is just a thing. It's much less importa
nt than the mission or your life. Focus on what matters."

  Mei looked down. She didn't seem happy with that answer.

  "The next problem is finding a place where you can be safe," Lisa said.

  "For how long?"

  "I don't know. Until this mess is fixed."

  "I don't want to be dropped off like a bag of garbage," Mei said.

  Lisa glanced at her. "Did you see what just happened at that gas station? Guys with guns want our asses. You might be hot stuff at a computer keyboard, but in a fight, you're a liability, and there will be more fights."

  Mei rubbed her eyes. Tears dripped down her cheeks.

  "I don't mean to be harsh," Lisa said softly. "Virgil told me to make sure you're safe, and that's what I'm going to do."

  "You're meeting him at noon."

  "That's right, if he makes it."

  "I want to see him again," Mei said. "I didn't really get a chance to say goodbye before."

  Lisa sighed. "You're making this complicated."

  "If he still wants me dropped off, I won't complain."

  Lisa made a sour face. She had planned to put Mei in a cheap motel somewhere far from the action, but there was no rush. Sticking together for a few extra hours might not be a bad thing from a safety point of view. Mei certainly wasn't in a good condition to take care of herself alone. Virgil would also appreciate seeing his girlfriend safe and sound.

  "OK," Lisa said. "We'll find a motel near Aladdin's Castle. You can sleep for a few hours while I keep watch. When we meet Virgil, he can decide what to do with you."

  "Thank you." Mei paused. "I hope Sara is alright."

  "I'm sure she is," Lisa said confidently, but she was also worried.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sara saw a sign for the Illinois Army National Guard. The soldiers were taking her into a military base.

  The Humvee stopped at a guard post. A guard came out, and his eyes widened at the sight of heavily armed soldiers and one captive. He waved the car through, saying they were "expected."

  The soldiers were obviously unfamiliar with the base, and the driver made a few wrong turns. The car eventually pulled up to a brick building isolated from the others.

  Sara was still bound at the wrists and ankles, but the soldiers didn't untie her. Two of them simply carried her inside the building. The lights were turned on.

  The building contained big water valves, meters, filters, and pumps. She could hear water flowing through pipes as big as two feet across. An old desk, a wooden chair, and a tool chest were in the corner. The floor was solid concrete. Buzzing fluorescent fixtures hung from a ceiling with exposed wooden beams.

  "What am I doing here?" Sara said.

  "Staying for a while," a soldier muttered.

  The men set her down on the cold floor. One of them found a big roll of duct tape among the tools, and he wound it around her body many times, pinning her arms to her sides.

  "That's not very hospitable," Sara muttered.

  More men entered the room. The soldiers snapped to attention and saluted a man wearing the silver bird of a colonel on his collar. Even without the insignia, Sara could tell by his bearing that he was in command.

  The colonel had a big, beefy body and a round face. His brown hair was cut short and perfectly even. Pink ears stuck out on the sides of his head.

  "I must apologize for the crude accommodations," he said. "We weren't really prepared to take prisoners, and our headquarters is currently in transition. I hope you're not uncomfortable."

  "I guess I'm OK. I'm Sara. You are?"

  "Just call me colonel. Sara Blandish?"

  "The Blandish part is made up," Sara said.

  "Ah. Before we get down to business, my medical doctor would like to examine you."

  She knew the examination would produce some very surprising results, but she wasn't in a position to resist. She sighed. "Go ahead."

  Another officer setup a video camera on a tripod. He crouched down in front of her and placed a medical bag on the floor. He turned on an audio recorder in his shirt pocket.

  The doctor started by taking her temperature using an electronic thermometer. He stared at the reading, shook his head, and tried again.

  After a third attempt, he reported, "Body temperature: 48 degrees. Could that be right?"

  "Just continue," the colonel said.

  The doctor shined a penlight into her eyes. "Pupils are... completely unresponsive. No visible blood vessels. No blink reflex. Say, 'ah.'"

  "Ah," Sara said.

  He pushed her tongue down with a tongue depressor. "Mouth is dry. No saliva. No tonsils. Fused teeth." He sounded frightened. "I want to look down your throat."

  "Must you?" she said.

  He nodded.

  He took a flexible probe out of his bag. It had a tiny camera at one end and a display screen at the other. A built-in light provided illumination.

  The doctor pushed the probe down Sara's throat. She had no gag reflex, but the experience was still unpleasant. He stared at the screen with a dismayed expression.

  "What is it, doctor?" the colonel said.

  "No esophagus. I don't think she has a digestive system."

  "Keep going."

  The doctor pulled out the probe and put it away. He used a stethoscope next to listen to her heart. He tried several different spots.

  "No heartbeat," he reported. "Dead silent in there... or just dead." He rubbed his forehead anxiously. "Are you a zombie?"

  Sara smirked. "No."

  She noticed another man in the corner staring at her with particular fear on his face. He was wearing a lab coat over his uniform. He was tall and skinny, and he favored one leg. Big glasses enlarged his bloodshot eyes.

  The doctor tried to take a blood sample next, but he couldn't draw any fluid through a standard needle. He had to use a much larger needle to extract a small amount of white, gluey material. He stared at it.

  "You'll have to let me know what the analysis results are," Sara said. "I'm curious."

  The doctor swallowed. "Tissue sample."

  He grabbed a scalpel out of his bag. He cut a tiny piece of flesh off her calf and placed the sample in a test tube. He put a rubber stopper in the tube and clear tape over the stopper. By the time he finished, the wound had already healed.

  "Are you done?" the colonel said.

  The doctor nodded. "Yes, sir."

  "Then get back." The colonel addressed the crowd in the room. "I have an announcement. I'm about to have a top secret conversation with the prisoner. You are staying here to protect me. She is extremely dangerous, and her capabilities are unknown. She might exert some kind of influence over our minds, so be wary. You must not repeat what you hear. Understood?"

  All the soldiers said, "Yes, sir."

  The colonel drew his sidearm and aimed at Sara's head. "Now, don't try any of your mind-control tricks, or I'll blow your head off."

  "There are two errors in that statement," she said. "First, I'm not capable of mind-control. Second, that gun wouldn't blow my head off. It's a 9 mm. At worst it would make a nice hole."

  "You're an expert on guns?"

  Sara wanted to reply that she had seen tens of thousands of gunshot wounds during her career as a medical examiner. Instead, she merely said, "Yes."

  "That's interesting," the colonel said, "but I care much more about your expertise on alien weapons and technology. Let's start at the beginning. What is your home world? Where do you come from?"

  She raised one eyebrow. "You think I'm an alien?"

  "Of course. That examination just established you can't possibly be human. What else would you be?"

  Sara couldn't tell him the truth because Barachiel had forbidden it. Only the people directly involved with the First Circle Club knew of its existence. Mei and Detective Haymaker were the only mortals, and even that made the lords of Heaven and the princes of Hell uncomfortable. The whole arrangement violated the spirit of the Celestial Contract.

  Sara need
ed a cover story. Fortunately, the colonel had just provided one.

  "I'm from the planet Nibiru," she said. "We are called the Zetas, and we have been secretly observing earthlings for decades."

  "For what purpose?" the colonel said.

  "To determine if you're a threat, of course."

  "And are we?"

  "The human civilization is currently classified as 'mostly harmless,'" Sara said.

  The skinny man in the corner appeared very surprised. He clearly hadn't expected that answer. She wondered what he knew.

  "We examined your base in Chinatown," the colonel said. "We didn't find evidence of advanced technology."

  "That's because you don't know how to look properly. I have a question for you. My people have detected unusual activity lately. What are you doing to cause so much trouble?"

  The colonel stared at Sara for a moment. "Performing experiments," he finally said. "So far the results have been disappointing. You're going to tell us how to succeed."

  "You'll have to be more specific."

  "We're sending explorers through a gateway to your home world."

  Sara immediately grasped the truth. Somehow they had found a passage to Heaven and were trying to use it. The next question was how they had discovered it. An angel must have told them.

  "You're trying to invade my planet?" she said.

  "We come in peace," the colonel said.

  "Then why is everybody in this room armed? Why do you bear military insignia? Why were my friends and I attacked tonight? These are not peaceful actions."

  "We're simply taking necessary precautions. Your technology is more advanced than ours."

  That statement struck Sara as ironic. Angels and demons possessed almost no technology. Their methods hadn't changed in thousands of years. The Celestial Contract granted specific magical powers to them, but that had nothing to do with science or technology. When Sara had returned to Earth, she hadn't even known what a cell phone was. The colonel knew more about the modern world than her.

  "Nonetheless," Sara said, "I'm not permitted to open that doorway for you. How did you discover the secret?"

  Several people in the room glanced at the skinny man in the corner. She realized he was the key to everything.

  "I'm not going to tell you that," the colonel said.