Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga)

by Lawrence Nason Jr.

  “Cost is not a problem my organization has an open ended budget. Completion time will not exceed two years. You will have six months planning time and the two years starts from the first day of construction. If normal planning requires six years triple up the personnel and get it done in two years.” I walked to my closet and reached for my jacket. “Let’s go for a walk gentlemen.” I put on my coat and they followed me outside.

  Ricky followed along and glanced at the proposed area of construction. “If we are relocating to here and I am supposed to oversee some of the stages of construction, Who will be handling the organizational stuff.”

  “Both of us, Do you see this military base behind me?”

  Both men said, “Yes.”

  “I expect that by the end of the day this will belong to our organization. You will go back to Frankfurt and pack every item right down to the last paperclip, and transfer it to the various facilities in that base. Ricky you already own an apartment in that building next to us, Look at it as late birthday present from all the years I missed while we were separated. Miles, You work for me now, Whatever your company has been paying you, you now earn triple. When I say me, I do mean me personally.”

  “Bbbb.ut, Jason how and the heck can you afford all of this?” Ricky stammered

  “I have been very successful on the markets the past few years Ricky. Grandfather can explain this to you.” I turned back to Miles. “Your time working for the organization will be billed to them, but after that you and I will begin planning some personal projects for me and my family. There is also an apartment above Ricky’s that has been reserved for you. Do you have a family?” The man shook his head. “Fine then it will be adequate for you.”

  I pointed to the tree-line. “A couple of years ago I bought all of this land from the township from the river to this street and from the gardens up to half a mile past the end of the base. This is where the complex will be. I want the external building to cover a small area but once you get two stories down you can spread out to your heart’s content. As long as you remain on my land.

  Once the construction is finished, the government will buy whatever land was needed for the construction from my private company at a fair price.”

  Miles was making a drawing of the area and looked up when I stopped talking. “I will get the surveyors out here tomorrow to begin getting the layout of the land for me. Will I have any facilities where I can start the drafting process?”

  “For now the apartment next to you is being laid out as an office until the construction of my new company building is being completed. Don’t worry about the occupants, I haven’t kicked them out, they are just moving to the new high-rise apartments my future wife had them build last year. The apartments are nicer than these here and I needed these for the time being.”

  “This is a lot to get done in six months Jason.” Miles stated.

  “If you need help, then hire them, but pay them normal wages plus ten percent. I am not made of money you know.” I grinned.

  Both men burst out laughing.

  I turned serious again. “Whatever construction technique you use I must insist on one thing. No wildlife or fauna is to be disturbed. That’s why we are going to be mostly an underground facility. Also if I did mess things up my grandfather would haul me into the woods and beat me to death with the first loose tree he could find.”

  Ricky spoke up then, “He is serious about that. Grandfather Sam loves the natural forests and wildlife.”

  Miles smiled and said, “I am glad to finally work with someone who cares about the environment. Once I get the figures from the surveyors I can get a preliminary rough sketch to you in about four weeks. Number of personnel?”

  I jerked a thumb at Ricky. “That’s my numbers man. Take whatever number he gives you and triple it plus ten percent reserve. Once we get rolling here I want two years for construction and at least two years for training before we start our first major operation. The actual Strike Force will be trained and housed on the base behind use. Everything else will be in the complex. There is a section along the river where there is a wide open field which used to be used for farming. I want an airfield there with three runways. Six Hangers and the administration buildings for three squadrons of personnel. That will be our future jump off point for missions taking place here on the planet.”

  Miles paled. “On the planet? You mean to tell me that there may be a time when your organization will be operating outside the influence of Earth?”

  “Miles listen up closely, If we can get these aliens off our world then we cannot under any circumstances stop there. The enemy is out there too, suppressing freedom on other worlds and we cannot stop until they have no one under their control. We are part of an Alliance greater than anyone expects or realizes. The majority of the men and women involved in this operation only know of two of the races in the alliance right now, ourselves and the Barmins. There are two more who I am not at liberty to reveal right now but eventually you will learn about them.”

  Miles gulped and said. “Of course Jason. Now I understand the process Ricky put me through this morning.”

  “We had to be sure of you, Miles and I apologize for any discomfort you may have experienced. Every member of our team goes through the same process once a month during the entire time they are with us and once you commit to the cause it’s a lifetime commitment.”

  “What happens if your fail the test?” Miles asked.

  “Nothing if you are not working for us but if you do work for us you simply don’t wake up. Harsh, perhaps Illegal, not anymore. We are fighting for the survival of the human race so we have to have the tightest security measures possible. If we fail in our mission we lose everything we are.” I looked at Miles again and asked. “Still want in?”

  “Without a single doubt, Jason.” Miles replied.

  I nodded at Ricky and there was a few moments silence then he nodded back to me.

  “Perfect Miles welcome to the team.” I held out a hand and shook his.

  “What just happened?” Miles asked.

  “You will find out during your briefing with Ricky tomorrow,” I replied coolly. “By the way, next week I am getting married again. Free up two days of your schedule because we are throwing one heck of a wing ding to celebrate it.”

  “Again?” Miles looked confused.

  “Yes to wife number two, Wife number one is excited beyond belief.” I looked at the look of shock on Miles’ face and chuckled. “Complete new country my friend polygamy is the marriage form of the future. which is needed since in the fifty-six percent losses we experienced here in Paneuro almost ninety percent were male.”

  “I had not realize it was that bad.” Miles replied shocked.

  “It may get worse before it gets better.” I said in a dry tone.

  Chapter 30 - Two Day Wedding

  The day of my second wedding dawned clear but chilly. Outside was minus fifteen Celsius and the ground was covered in a layer of frost which looked like a well stuffed quilt. Even the bare trees across the field from my house looked like they had been outfitted with fleeced lined jackets to protect themselves from the frosty environment. Katie was still missing and I was worried. I fumbled with the silly tie my future wife had chosen for me and cursed.

  Mimi heard me cursing as she walked past the office and stepped inside. “What did I tell you about working today Jason?” She began to fix the mess I had made of my tie.

  “I had to get some numbers from....”

  “Not today Jason,” she interrupted me. “you promised both me and Irma.” She held out her hand and said. “Give it to me now.”

  The week before, Moerin had distributed a new device her people had come up with that tapped into the signaling capabilities of satellites we now had in space. This device was a lifesaver because I could be in contact no matter where I was.

  “I can’t, I left it with my new assistant.” I replied

  “Good and does he know not to bothe
r you for the next forty-eight hours” she jerked on the tie to tighten it then centered it on my collar.

  “He does.” I replied.

  “Then everything is settled. Irma is over at her mothers and we will meet them at the church.”

  I nodded. Irma belonged to the Catholic church and even though I was basically non denominational they insisted that any children we had would be raised in that faith. I refused. We finally compromised that should the child wish to become a member at the age of fourteen, this would be their choice. This was a condition they set for us to be married in their church and I only did what I did to satisfied the conditions Irma’s parents had set. I looked at my watch and grumbled.

  “Don’t be so impatient Jason.” Mimi laughed at me. “We will be there in time for the ceremony.”

  “God I hate this monkey suit they have me wearing.” I complained.

  “I do have to admit you look quite dashing in it.” Mimi smiled at me.

  “What kind of ceremony is this, for crying out loud!” I complained, “There are no horses, no bonfires, no dancing and no loose fitting trousers!”

  “It’s a religious ceremony and you agreed to it to make your future wife’s family happy.”

  “They are a member of the Second Family for crying out loud!”

  “Jason, you know the original tribesmen that were taken to Origan were converted to devout Catholics and that has never changed.” Mimi reminded me.

  “Ok, Ok you have me there. I still don’t like this monkey suit. When can I take it off?” I asked.

  “Try to leave it on for the first few hours of the reception Grandson.” Mimi diplomatically suggested.

  “Fine.” I grumbled. The past week had been full of activities. The exercises in the pool had been switched to improve the muscle tone in my leg. Hopefully in a couple months I would be back to my normal strength. I turned toward the door when it opened.

  There stood Grandfather Sam all decked out in a similar monkey suit with the tie hanging loose and flapping in the breeze. “Can anyone tie this dab nabbed doohickey they have me wearing?

  Mimi laughed again and said. “You White boys are useless when it comes to tuxedoes.”

  “Haven’t had to wear one of these things before. People in our neck of the woods know how to dress for a wedding.” Grandpa Sam growled.

  Mimi laughed again and fixed Grandpa Sam’s tie. “There you go Sam.”

  “How lo...” He began.

  “A couple hours into the reception Grandfather.” I replied. I noticed his startled look and continued. “No I am not reading your mind. Mimi would skin me if I did this too early. I had the same question before you walked in.”

  “I know Irma has a taboo in place for work today but there are a couple of items we need to go over before we leave for the church.” Grandpa Sam began.

  Mimi cleared her throat and held out her hand. “Out with it Sam!”

  Without complaining, Grandpa Sam reached in his pocket, took out the communicator and handed it to her. “The government turned over control of the base to you and approved the construction of the complex. But Jason thirty-eight billion credits?”

  “I won’t skim on the complex Grandfather. The fate of human kind is in our hands and we need the best facilities possible. Remember these will also be the same facilities used when we go interstellar. And don’t worry, with the new gadgets we are patenting from our allies we will be able to pay every cent back.”

  “That’s another thing I am worried about. Don’t you think you are going overboard with your personal finances. I mean how much money does one person need?”

  “Grandfather this money I am earning belongs to every member of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Families, if we ever find them. I am only managing it and investing it. I talked to Mimi about it and she agrees I should be the one who handles everything until my daughter is able to do so. Nobody in the family can do what I can do and even in my diminished condition now I am still earning money through my experience in playing the market.”

  “I still don’t understand how you do it.” Grandfather Sam complained.

  “I tried to explain it to Moerin before but she does not understand the human economy enough to comprehend what I am talking about. Irma is pretty good at it but not as accurate as I am. Let me put it this was. White Industries Inc. runs a daily surplus, even with what I am spending on various projects, of around fifty million credits.

  “How in the spirits did you manage that? Grandfather gasped.

  “We now own four manufacturing companies who are producing the gadgets the Barmins are developing and turning over to us. The patents belong to us and the Barmins but they do not know what to do with money. They have never needed it so all of their profits go into an account which provides every member of the race with their daily necessities. The devices we are building are selling faster than we can build them. We have projected increases of profits to be one hundred times what we are now doing in just six months.”

  “All of this is giving me a headache. I agree with Mimi, you have everything under control. Let’s get to the wedding.”

  I waved to Grandfather Sam that he should stay behind. When we were alone I asked. “Have you heard anything about Katie yet?”

  He sighed and nodded his head. “You are not going to like this...”

  “What’s happened?” I knew I would dread what was coming next.”

  “We are convinced she was taken by the enemy.”

  “What do you mean taken?”

  “She was seen in Hannover last week and a member of the Second Family reported the sighting to me...”

  I knew he was drawing this out longer then was needed. “Sam...”

  I think I shocked him. I had never called him his first name in my entire life. “Son, she is a Death Walker now.”

  The blood rushed from my head and I had all I could do to remain upright. My grandfather helped me to a chair and rushed to get a simulative drink for me. “I thought she was able to resist being taken.”

  “The rest of us believed it too. We will try to get her back Grandson. I promise you that.” He said when he had returned with a drink for me. I downed it without a word.

  “We should postpone the wedding.”

  “Nonsense, you know yourself that Katie wants this wedding to go forward.”

  I went through all the conversations we had ever had in my mind and knew that what my grandfather was saying was right. I sighed, stood up and straightened my tie. “Of course you are right. Let’s go”

  We both went out and got into the van I leased for my wedding. Once inside I made sure Mia and everyone else were belted in before I started the van. I put it in reverse to back out of our parking space. I glanced in the mirror and noticed a jeep full of uniformed strike force troops pulling up behind us. I looked forward and saw the same. “Grandfather?”

  “Don’t worry son. Blackthorn insisted on this. With me being the Defense Secretary and you being the head of Opfree, they insist on constant security whenever we move in public.” Grandfather informed me.

  “Oh, Ok but I don’t have to like this. If they get in the way of the ceremony, I will not protect them from my future wife or future mother-in-law, I replied with a grin on my face.

  “I think Blackthorn is aware of this.” Grandpa Sam replied. “I think Mimi would have a go at them too, but I am surprised you haven’t noticed them before.”

  “Oh I have noticed them, especially that garlic eating idiot at the south side of the yard. I am just happy Irma hasn’t not spotted them or she would have gone ballistic. I am going to have to talk with Nathan about this.”

  “Nathan accepted the offer you made?”

  “Yes, he just needs a month to wrap up thing with Paneuro. Then he will be reporting in to Opfree’s temporary Headquarters to lay out the training and buildup plan for the strike force. I am giving him full control over the training and will only assist in the buildup plans.” I stopped at the railroad
tracks because the gate was down indicating that a train was coming. The men from the front jeep jumped out and fanned out around the van. When I looked in the mirror I noticed the men from the jeep behind doing the same

  “Sound choice Jason. I approve. I knew you were the man for the job.” Grandfather rolled down the window and spoke in a low voice to the man outside the window. He rolled the window back up and said in a low tone. “Jason did you follow my directions when I told you which van to lease?”

  “Yes Grandfather, right down to the rocket resistant plated glass.”

  “Don’t be alarmed, but the gate should not be down right now. There is no scheduled train for this time”

  “Mimi,” I said in a low tone. “Begin merge now.”

  “But, Jason?” she began.

  “Now please. Grandfather slide in after her.” I felt with my mind where I instinctively knew was the proper place. Mimi’s familiar touch at the edge of my mind and slid her into proper alignment with my mind. I nodded to my grandfather who scowled at me but did as I asked. When the merge was complete I reached out for Irma’s mind and directed her to join us. Startled, she did as asked and when she was in place I touched Grandmother Cara’s mind. With five merged minds I was able to reach out and scan the area for enemy presence. Not finding anything, I scanned for normal human minds and began reading them. Everything was coming back now and it was sharp and in focus.

  I felt them coming from over one thousand yards off. I planted the information in the squad-leaders head and they fanned out in that direction. Returning back to the oncoming attackers I tasked my merged mind into six individual tasks and touched the nerve in each of their bodies effectively freezing them in place. Thus immobilized, the advancing squad was able to remove their explosives and weapons and restrain them

  That complete I directed the disbanding of the merge. I opened the window and ordered.” Call into the base and get someone to come and get these guys. I have a wedding to attend and I do not want to be late.” I opened the door and got out of the van to see who we had captured.