Paradise Hacked (First Circle Club Book 2)

by Siegel, Alex

  "Oh, I can pick locks."

  "I think that falls into the category of stealing. You're not a child. You must've done something other than swindle people in your life."

  Cat thought for a moment. "I'm great at ping-pong."

  "That's nice." Virgil sighed. "Captain Kyle, I assume you have more to brag about."

  "I have a ton of combat experience," Kyle said. "I'm a dead shot with a gun. I know tactics inside and out. I'm good at blowing things up."

  "I expected all that. Anything unusual in your background?"

  "I can fly a helicopter, although I wouldn't consider myself an expert pilot."

  "That's useful," Virgil said.

  "What about you? We don't know anything about your background."

  Virgil hesitated for a long moment before answering. "At times, I may act like a U.S. marshal with 25 years of experience. Not that I ever was a marshal, or was alive for that matter, if anybody asks."

  Kyle nodded. "Nice."

  "Pick up the pace. We need to get back and figure out how we're going to rescue Sara."

  * * *

  A peculiar formation of stars looked down upon the trio. The stars were arranged in the shape of a smiling face.

  Another set of stars appeared, but these were so dark, they were almost invisible at night.

  "Azazel," the first set of stars said, "how nice. Come to admire my work?"

  "I came to caution you, Uriel. The anarchy is spreading. The fires of Hell are roaring."

  "That's the point, isn't it?"

  "We have a long road ahead," Azazel said. "I think you are falling prey to the temptation to rush things. We might be exposed."

  "A demon is lecturing an angel about temptation? How amusing."

  "I must also question your sanity. Lately, you've been... erratic."

  "By the standards of angels," Uriel said, "I am certainly insane. By the standards of men, I grow wiser every day. Which is right? But have no fear, teacher of warfare. I will allow the current drama to play out according to the plan we agreed upon."

  "Why not just end it? Remove your mantle of blindness. Allow the powers of Heaven to see the truth, and I will do the same in Hell."

  Uriel shook its head. "Too early. None of our objectives have been achieved."

  "Mammon put Mr. Li's soul in Limbo."

  "That was a lovely moment, I admit, but the pillars of Heaven hardly shuddered. Mr. Li's soul isn't the shiniest."

  "You really want to take this all the way to the end?" Azazel said. "Perhaps we are risking too much. We are trying to fix the system, not turn it into a smoking crater. Lisa almost ended the Heavenly Choir with her comments during her tour of Heaven."

  "While Harlow still breathes, we will continue. We will go right to the edge."

  "What if he successfully enters Heaven and lives? What if his new spacesuit works? It would be a calamity even for us."

  Uriel watched Virgil from above. "I have faith that the First Circle Club will not allow that to happen."

  * * *

  Virgil walked into the motel followed by Cat and Kyle.

  "Have a nice walk?" Lisa said.

  "Delightful," Virgil said. "We talked about sports. Now that everybody is refreshed, we can figure out how we're going to rescue Sara. Obviously, we have to find her first."

  "How big is the Crusader Special Unit?" Cat said.

  "Around eighty people," Kyle said. "Half are soldiers who are responsible for security. The other half is a blend of scientists and technicians."

  "Big group."

  "And it might be getting bigger. If I were Knox, I'd requisition more squads. The opposition is surprisingly tough." Kyle looked at Virgil.

  "We need somebody on the inside," Cat said. "Can you go back as a double-agent?"

  "They think I'm a traitor."

  "Then tell your buddies Virgil forced you to cooperate."

  "Or used mind-control on me," Kyle said.

  Cat looked at Virgil. "Can you actually do mind-control?"

  "No," he said. "I can make people experience guilt and fear, a sort of preview of Hell. Alfred can create positive, friendly feelings. That's as far as it goes. And it's possible for somebody with a strong will to resist our powers."

  "Oh! You did that to me in the spa when we first met. That's why I felt so bad!"

  "I was just trying to get the truth out of you. It didn't work."

  "You manipulated me," Cat said angrily. "You made me question my whole life for no reason!"

  "Not true." Virgil shook his head. "My power doesn't create bad feelings from nothing. The guilt was real. You're a con-artist, a crook. You hurt innocent people for a living."

  "I take money from fools who don't deserve to have it."

  "That weak argument won't keep you out of Hell. You need more compassion."

  Cat crossed her arms defiantly. "According to who? Where is the rule book that shows who gets to go to Heaven?"

  "You're not allowed to see the official rule book. It's for immortal eyes only."

  "That's crazy. How are we supposed to know how to win the game if we can't read the rules?"

  Virgil shrugged. "Good question. I'm also not a big fan of how Heaven and Hell handle their business. Too much fine print. But obviously, I'm not in any position to make changes. Of course, Christians would tell you to read the Bible. However you slice it, being a con-artist is wrong. I didn't manipulate you. I unintentionally saved you. Now accept the gift and move on."

  She glared at him. "Can Lisa and Sara do any tricks?"

  "Sara has a healing power. Lisa can injure. Enough about us. Let's talk about the mission."

  "Do you think I should try being a double-agent?" Kyle asked.

  Virgil shook his head. "I wouldn't recommend it. You're liable to end up in jail for the rest of your life. Most people won't believe you succumbed to mind-control. At the very least, you'll be kept under close observation for a long time, and that doesn't help us."

  "You're right, but now we have no plan."

  Virgil looked at the bag containing Alfred. Virgil could see Alfred inside as a glowing white form. The cloth was no barrier to Virgil's new ability.

  "Alfred can be our double-agent," he said.

  "What?" Lisa said. "They think he's an alien. They'll lock him up immediately."

  "Right. They'll eventually take him to the same place as Sara."

  A smile spread across Lisa's face.

  "I don't get it," Cat said.

  "Lisa and I can track Alfred," Virgil said. "We always know where he is, no matter how far away."

  "Oh. Interesting, but why doesn't that work with Sara?"

  "It's a recently acquired skill. For now, it just works on Alfred. We simply have to arrange for his capture by the enemy."

  "Not so fast," Cat said. "If it's too easy, the Army will guess it's a trick. The capture has to look completely legit. Alfred has to fight."

  Virgil smiled. Insights like that were exactly why he had brought her in.

  "We need to create a realistic scenario," Kyle said, "which ends in Alfred's capture. I have an idea. I could make contact with somebody in the unit and try to flip him to our side. It won't work, of course, but it will get the ball rolling."

  Virgil stared at Mei's beautiful face. She had stopped working and was listening to the conversation.

  Piece by piece, a plan formed in his mind. "Right. You'll go to Chinatown," he said. "We know the military is looking for us there."

  "Then what?" Kyle said.

  Virgil smiled. "I'll tell you tomorrow. I want all the humans to go to sleep now. It may be your last chance for a while. Mei and Cat in one room, Kyle in the other. Lisa and I will stand guard. In the morning, we'll wake up Alfred and get started."

  Chapter Eighteen

  "Is that all you want to know?" Sara said. "I think I've told you everything."

  Dr. Z looked down upon her from behind his high window. She presumed others were watching, but she had seen no sign of the
m.

  "You've certainly talked a lot," he said. "Several hours without a break. Sadly, I haven't believed a word of it. I kept waiting for you to slip and accidently tell me the truth, but I don't think it happened."

  "Why do you think I'm lying?"

  "I recognized bits from old science fiction movies and TV shows. You borrowed liberally from the original Star Trek, which I'm a fan of by the way. You stole an entire episode from Doctor Who. I have to commend you for effort at least. For an alien, you do a remarkably good job of looking and acting like a real woman. You've made a thorough study of our culture. Even your mannerisms are impeccable. You're just not a good liar."

  "Thanks," Sara said, "I guess."

  "You clearly have no intention of cooperating, so I'm going to sleep now. I hope you'll be more compliant when I come back. While I'm gone, some gentlemen will keep you entertained."

  Dr. Z left the window.

  A moment later, the bolts on the giant steel door released. The door swung slowly out of the way.

  Soldiers poured into the chamber. They were wearing hard black armor which covered everything including their faces. Some soldiers carried ropes with lead weights on the ends. Others were armed with chains, clubs, or brass knuckles. They formed a semicircle in front of Sara.

  "Hey, guys," she said weakly. "Can we talk about this?"

  All the soldiers charged her at once. She fought but was quickly overpowered.

  * * *

  Virgil was sitting outside in front of his motel room on a chair. He was watching dawn break.

  There were no dawns in Hell. For thirty years, he had existed in a world of constant smoke and flames without day or night. Time was almost meaningless there. Since returning to Earth, he had tried to watch every sunrise and sunset. He enjoyed the passage of time and the changes it brought. Here, actions had consequences, good and bad. In Hell, the only possible consequence was more suffering. Utter hopelessness was the rule.

  Heaven didn't seem much better in some ways. The conditions were much more pleasant, of course, but souls were still locked in a kind of infinite loop. They enjoyed the same rewards again and again, forever. No amount of effort or ambition could change a soul's fate. Evil was physically impossible.

  Earth was the crucible where important things happened. People who spent their lives worrying about getting into Heaven were missing the point. Life was about the journey, not the destination. Virgil hadn't really appreciated that fact before his death, but he certainly did now. The rosy pink in the sky as the sun broke the horizon was a true miracle as far as he was concerned.

  After the sun had risen, he quietly slipped into the motel where Kyle was still sleeping. The door to the girls' room was closed, but Lisa was watching them.

  Virgil grabbed a cell phone off a desk. It was one of the phones Mei had brought from Chinatown. He stepped back outside and called Haymaker.

  The detective answered in a sleepy voice. "Hello? Who is this?"

  "Virgil."

  "Oh! It's been days, and I haven't been able to reach you. I was getting worried."

  "A lot has happened," Virgil said. "For one thing, we know how Corporal Hartmann was killed."

  "Great! Tell me."

  Virgil told the tale in the chilly morning air. When he was done, Haymaker was quiet for a moment. Virgil waited.

  "One thing I don't understand," Haymaker finally said. "You claim Heaven is full of radiation, and that would explain some of the damage to the body, but not all. Hartmann was smashed, driven into the ground, and left out like bait."

  "Obviously, a powerful angel killed him. Probably the same angel who is secretly working with Dr. Harlow."

  "But why would an angel open a secret door to Heaven and then kill anybody who came through it?"

  Virgil narrowed his eyes. "It's not about bodies. It's about souls. The bodies come back to Earth, but the souls stay in Heaven."

  "What does that accomplish?"

  "I'm not sure, but it's causing a ton of trouble. I didn't call just to give you an update. There will be a big fight on Navy Pier today. It will go down at noon near the Ferris wheel."

  "What kind of fight?" Haymaker said nervously.

  "The Army will try to capture some of us. They may be disguised as federal agents or maybe even cops. There will be many of them."

  "With all the tourists around? That will be a freakin' mess!"

  "Right," Virgil said. "Here is your opportunity for some payback. Make sure the Chicago Police Department is on the scene in large numbers. Get in the way of the military. Give them a hard time."

  "So you don't get captured?"

  "Something like that. And afterwards, take your wife on a nice vacation in Mexico. The Army will be pissed, and they might want to know who is responsible. I got to go."

  "You can count on me," Haymaker said. "Good luck finding Sara."

  "Bye." Virgil hung up the phone.

  He reentered the motel and looked at Kyle. The captain was snoring softly, but his eyes were cracked open slightly, and his posture was a little stiff.

  "How much did you hear?" Virgil said.

  "Not much," Kyle said.

  "Good. Get up! It's time to be a hero."

  Virgil opened the door to the other motel room. He found Lisa standing in the corner, watching over Mei and Cat who were still in bed. Mei's face was even prettier when she was asleep.

  "Ring-a-ding-ding," Virgil said. "It's morning."

  He left the room so the women could go through their morning routine. They called when it was safe for him to return. He opened the door and found them in the same clothes as yesterday.

  "We need to go shopping," Cat said in a grumpy voice.

  "We'll buy some clothes when we get a chance. Alfred should be fully marinated by now. Help me get his bag into the bathtub. It could get messy when we open it."

  Virgil, Lisa, and Kyle lifted the white bag. With some mighty grunts, they placed the bag in the bathtub. Lisa and Virgil held the top as Kyle undid the tight knot holding it closed.

  When the bag was open, Virgil looked inside. The white material reminded him of the glue he had used in grade school.

  "Alfred!" he yelled. "Can you hear me? Are you awake?"

  A head emerged, coated in white slime. Kyle assisted Alfred as he climbed out of the bag. Virgil and Lisa did their best to keep as much material in the bag as possible, but despite their efforts, holy milk splashed everywhere. As soon as Alfred was clear, Virgil tied the bag again.

  "How are you feeling?" Virgil said.

  "Good," Alfred said. "Great. I'm completely healed. Thank you."

  Milk had saturated the shredded remains of his clothes. He also needed to go shopping after he took a long shower.

  "I have more good news," Virgil said. "I figured out how we're going to rescue Sara. You're going to lead us to her."

  Alfred raised his eyebrows. "I am?"

  "Sure. There is a small matter of you being taken prisoner though."

  "I'm suddenly uncomfortable. Can I get back in the bag?"

  "No," Virgil said. "Here is the plan...."

  * * *

  Captain Kyle shuffled through Chinatown. He was wearing new clothes and a good disguise which Virgil had purchased. Kyle was dressed like a tourist, one of many on the busy street. A fake beard and glasses hid his face.

  He was carrying a gun under his jacket, but by his standards, he was lightly armed. This part of the plan was dangerous for him. Success would depend on his ability to lie convincingly.

  He spotted a familiar face looking through a window at the goods inside a gift shop. It was Captain Bernard, another officer in the Crusader Special Unit. Bernard was short but built like a tank. A wide chest and shoulders made him look top-heavy. He was disguised as a civilian in jeans and a red nylon jacket.

  He was posted near Li and Li's Electronics Boutique and obviously keeping an eye on the place. The security gate in front of the store was closed, and the windows were dark.

/>   Kyle looked around for more members of the Special Unit. He didn't know them all on sight, but he could spot a military man by his bearing alone. Life on a battlefield taught soldiers wariness and paranoia which marked them as veterans for the rest of their life.

  Bernard seemed to be alone, but he was wearing a blue ski cap, and Kyle guessed the cap covered a radio headset. Kyle would have to take his chances.

  He reached into his jacket and put his hand on his gun but didn't draw it. If he got into trouble, he could shoot his way out, but he very much hoped to avoid that outcome. Mei had also built a simple homing beacon, which Kyle was carrying in his sock. Virgil and Lisa would rescue Kyle if necessary.

  He shuffled up to Bernard. "Good morning, Captain," Kyle muttered softly.

  Bernard turned, and his eyes widened. "Captain Kyle! You must have balls made of steel to come here."

  "I'm not here to fight. I just want to talk. Don't use your radio or reach for a weapon."

  Kyle lifted the flap of his coat to reveal his hand on his gun.

  "What do you want, traitor," Bernard said.

  Kyle flinched. He knew the word didn't fit the situation, but it still hurt to hear.

  "The aliens explained the situation to me," he said. "The Special Unit is messing with something they don't understand. Colonel Knox is leading us into a disaster. It has to be stopped."

  Kyle could tell Bernard wasn't paying a lot of attention. He was probably thinking about how he could capture Kyle instead.

  "You betrayed your team," Bernard said. "Good men died."

  "Lots more men will die if this mission is allowed to continue. We're like cavemen playing with atomic weapons. It can only end badly."

  "What are these aliens doing? Are they a threat to Earth?"

  "No." Kyle shook his head. "They've been here a long time, and under normal conditions, they keep a low profile. They're just sentries. Dr. Harlow's experiments brought them out of hiding."

  Bernard's hands were clenching and unclenching unconsciously. He glanced left and right, obviously looking for backup.

  "I want you to meet them," Kyle said.

  Bernard drew back. Kyle had his attention now.

  "Where?" Bernard said.

  "First, promise you'll come alone. No tricks. You can meet all the aliens, and they'll explain why I'm a hero, not a traitor."