The remainder of the GMRC soldiers were on the other side of the massive crevasse that now split the rotunda in two; they turned on Ophion, and the assassin was forced into retreat.
Dante’s men were nowhere to be seen, but the man himself had defied the odds and now strode towards John with a look of murder on his face.
‘I’m not finished with you!’ Dante said, pointing at him.
‘I think you are,’ said another voice.
Dante turned and was met with a crushing headbutt from someone wearing an armoured helmet. He fell to the floor, clutching his face in agony.
A soldier wearing heavy-duty green and brown armour stepped over him like he wasn’t there and stopped in front of the president.
John stared at the stranger in stunned shock, unsure if he was friend or foe. ‘You were flying the plane?’
The man didn’t respond; instead he turned to look at Jessica Klein’s friend.
Brett took a step back and whispered, ‘Father?’
The soldier removed his helmet and stared at Brett, his expression a mask of regret. He turned back to John and saluted. ‘Colonel Samson, reporting for duty, Mr President.’ Samson removed a powerful beam weapon from his backplate and cocked it. ‘It’s time to even the game.’
Chapter Two Hundred Seventeen
Colonel Samson lowered himself down to the Capitol’s basement through the massive hole he’d just created, while Brett and Jessica held onto his powerful frame. They were the last pair in their party to descend, John, Ashley, Eric and the Chinese premier, Liang Junhui, having already abseiled down using equipment from Samson’s Terra Force suit. The colonel reached the ground and unclipped the winch cable, then looked up through the enormous rent he’d just torn through the Capitol’s heart.
‘Is that the asteroid?’ Eric said, pointing to a light now visible in the night sky.
‘It won’t be long before they regroup,’ Samson said. ‘Let’s move.’ He led the way past what was left of his aircraft and down into the complex beneath Capitol Hill.
John followed, but he couldn’t help notice the bronze form of the Statue of Freedom, which had once adorned the Capitol’s dome. The giant figure lay on its side, broken into two pieces. He hoped it wasn’t an omen for what was to come.
‘This isn’t the way to the people mover,’ John said.
‘Change of plan,’ Samson told him, as they walked down a steep slope.
‘We need to get to the White House,’ Jessica said. ‘There can’t be a change of plan.’
Samson ignored her, and Jessica ran ahead of him and blocked his way. ‘Stop! We need to go back!’
Samson went to move past, but she moved in front of him again.
The colonel gave a growl of annoyance. He grasped Jessica’s shoulders, picked her up and placed her down behind him, before continuing on his way, striding down into the depths to God knows where.
‘Brett,’ Jessica said. ‘Talk some sense into him.’
Brett didn’t reply; her gaze was fixed on the man who’d rescued them.
The two were so alike, it was uncanny.
‘He seems to know where he’s going,’ John said.
‘Of course he knows,’ Bic said, his image appearing on a screen further along the inclined corridor.
Samson glanced up at the hacker and kept on walking.
John was about to suggest going back, but before he could, they emerged onto a dimly lit underground platform, which looked suspiciously like it belonged in a train station, the monorail track disappearing into a dark tunnel at either end.
‘What is this place?’ John said, confused.
‘This is part of a network,’ Bic said, from another screen further along the platform, ‘which is being constructed to connect up the underground bases located beneath your nation, Mr President. When it’s finished, it will be quite extensive, although it’s likely, if things do not go well, this platform will see little to no use for the foreseeable future.’
‘Jessica,’ Eric said. ‘We don’t have it!’
Jessica looked at her German friend. ‘Don’t have what?’
‘The, the,’ – Eric made a face as he searched for the right word. He made a shape in the air before him, like an egg. ‘The – the thing – the nuclear case.’
‘The football!’ Brett said. ‘He hasn’t got it.’
‘I never have it,’ John said. ‘It’s carried around for me.’
‘We can’t stop the asteroid without it!’ Jessica said, putting her hands to her head in despair.
John wasn’t sure what to say, but before anyone else could say anything a strong wind blew down the platform and a bright light headed towards them at speed from the tunnel at the far end of the station.
A sleek white train glided into view and came to a stop before them. A cloud of gas cascaded over the platform like a wave, and everyone but Samson took a step back in apprehension.
Double doors whooshed back with a pneumatic hiss and five soldiers emerged, their armour appearing grey through the gaseous mist.
John tensed in fear, as the soldiers stopped before him and their leader raised his visor and looked at Jessica Klein.
‘Miss me?’ Radcliffe said, the Darklight captain unable to suppress his grin.
♦
The president looked at Jessica and said, ‘You know these men?’
Jessica smiled and nodded. ‘We do.’
John Henry went to board the train with the First Lady and the Chinese premier, but when Jessica and her friends remained behind, he turned round.
‘You’re not coming?’ he said.
Jessica shook her head. ‘We can’t, we need to get the nuclear football.’
‘You’re risking your lives for nothing,’ John said. ‘I won’t allow Da Muss Ich access to nuclear weapons. He’d pose a bigger threat than the asteroid itself. He’d destroy us all.’
Jessica turned to walk back the way they’d come. ‘You don’t understand. We have to try.’
Bic’s holographic image projected onto the platform, blocking Jessica’s way. ‘You’re making a mistake, Jessica Klein.’
Jessica walked through him, and Eric and Brett followed, the latter casting a look back at the silent figure of her father, who remained standing where he was.
Bic’s image relocated six feet in front of Jessica and the hacker laughed and said, ‘Jessica, wait, stop!’
‘I thought you wanted us to complete the mission?’ she said, without slowing.
‘He does!’ someone called out.
Jessica slowed and stopped, and then slowly turned around.
‘I have many talents, Jessica Klein,’ Bic said from behind her. ‘I can access computer systems, drones, robots, cars, trains, and even – if I get close enough – personal body armour.’
A figure stepped down from the train and emerged through the thinning mist. Jessica’s eyes widened and she took a step back in shock. ‘It can’t be.’
Eric swore and Brett opened her mouth, looking similarly stunned.
‘I knew when Ophion Nexus hijacked our car, before we entered the Capitol,’ Bic continued, ‘that the assassin would attempt to determine my location. When he inserted Captain Radcliffe’s card into the console’s card reader, the electronic wafer he’d attached to track my signal was my opportunity to access his suit’s digital architecture. It is a very secure design, hardened against such attacks. Unfortunately for the assassin, that security was never designed to defeat someone as talented as myself.’
Eric swore again. ‘You accessed his helmet’s visor. You altered what he saw.’
‘But you weren’t moving,’ Jessica said. ‘I saw you.’
Professor Steiner walked towards them and gave a self-deprecating smile. ‘I’m sorry, I had to stay perfectly still to ensure I didn’t ruin Bic’s little charade.’
‘But, how …?’ Jessica said, feeling lightheaded. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘We always knew Ophion Nexus would try to kill Prof
essor Steiner first,’ Bic said. ‘We also knew he would stop at nothing to get into the Capitol. To that end—’
Jessica looked from Steiner to Captain Radcliffe. ‘You knew Ophion was there?’
Radcliffe winked at her. ‘I’d like to say we could have stopped him if we’d wanted to, but I’d be lying. It stopped us getting killed, though, as we didn’t fight back as much as we could have. He just wanted to get to you as quickly as he could. Or, that’s what we hoped, anyway. It was a big risk, but one worth taking if it meant keeping the professor in the land of the living.’
Jessica shook her head, still not believing the professor was standing in front her ... ALIVE!
‘You shouldn’t be surprised, Jessica Klein,’ Bic said, as Steiner hugged Brett and then Eric. ‘Professor Steiner is extremely intelligent – as am I – I think we are able to outwit an assassin, even one as talented as S.I.L.V.E.R.’s leader.’
Steiner came to stand before her and held out his arms, and Jessica hugged him close, her eyes brimming with tears. ‘We thought we’d lost you.’
Steiner patted her back. ‘So did I, for a minute.’ He touched the side of his head, where a small graze starting at his temple finished in his hairline.
She looked at it in concern. ‘That was close.’
‘Too close,’ he said, letting her go.
‘We need to go,’ Captain Radcliffe said.
Jessica looked at the Darklight leader and then to Steiner. ‘What about the football?’
‘Staying alive wasn’t the only purpose of deceiving Ophion.’ Steiner stepped aside and pointed at something in Captain Radcliffe’s hand.
The Darklight leader held up the president’s black briefcase.
‘After Ophion’s initial assault,’ Steiner said, ‘my untimely demise enabled me to enter the Senate Conference Room undetected. Since he thought I was dead, I could move without fear of being hunted.’
‘This was all a ruse, just to get the nuclear football?’ Jessica couldn’t believe it.
‘Not just the football,’ Steiner said. He looked over to where President Henry stood watching them, and then looked back at Jessica and smiled, his eyes sparkling. ‘It’s the fourth and down ...’
‘And the crowd are on their feet,’ Bic said. The sound of cheering filled the platform.
‘There’s six seconds on the clock.’ Radcliffe threw the professor the case.
‘The quarterback has the football,’ – Steiner held out the case – ‘and the receiver goes long ...’
A thrill of belief swept up Jessica’s spine. She felt herself smile and she grasped the case.
‘The ball’s in the air and everyone holds their breath,’ – Steiner put his hand on hers – ‘as they all know the ultimate Hail Mary ... is on.’
Chapter Two Hundred Eighteen
Professor Steiner stood at the controls of the monorail train that had been commandeered from the U.S. Subterranean Base Haven. That it had been left unattended was fortunate, although Bic had said he had contingencies if it had been occupied. What those were Steiner couldn’t guess, but so far things had gone far better than he’d expected. He was alive, for one thing, and for another, the president was, too. There’s still a chance we can pull this off, Steiner thought, amazed. Although he knew the hardest part was yet to come. Not to mention, convincing the president that launching a nuclear strike was the only way forward.
‘We’re ready,’ Captain Radcliffe said. The Darklight man came to stand by his side.
Steiner looked back at the people on board. It was an eclectic mix, but one he hoped was destined for greatness, as that’s what they’d need if they were to succeed.
‘Professor,’ Bic said, ‘I’ve picked up movement nearby, you need to go – now!’
‘You heard the man,’ Radcliffe said.
Steiner didn’t need telling twice; he released the brakes and pushed forward on the throttle.
The train crept forward down the long platform and towards the dark tunnel at its end.
‘Hurry, Professor!’ Bic said.
Steiner saw GMRC troops appearing on the platform ahead. ‘Open the door!’ Radcliffe said, and shouldered his rifle.
As their speed increased, Steiner pressed a button and the doors opened, and the Darklight officer fired off short bursts.
Bullets hit the screen as the GMRC soldiers returned fire, and Steiner attempted to bypass the computer’s safety protocols.
‘Faster, Professor!’ Radcliffe shouted.
More soldiers appeared on the platform, along with the tall figure of someone Steiner knew all too well.
Malcolm Joiner locked eyes with him as the train sped past. The final protocols released, Steiner punched the throttle and the train sped into the tunnel and disappeared from sight.
♦
Malcolm Joiner stood on the platform and watched the red taillights of the train disappear into the distance. It had been a long time since he’d seen Steiner in the flesh, too long, as it meant the professor had avoided all of Joiner’s attempts at ending his miserable life. The man had nine lives, although Joiner knew it was the hacker who’d extended his lifespan. The day they’d joined forces was the day his problems had spiralled out of control.
‘We could follow them,’ Myers said, coming to stand by Joiner’s side. ‘The next stop isn’t far.’
Joiner remained staring down the tunnel. ‘No, they’ll seal the exits. We’ll have to go in from the surface.’
Myers nodded. ‘Did you send the message?’
‘Yes,’ Joiner said. ‘The Chinese government was most aggrieved to learn our president has taken their premier hostage. It’s the straw that broke the camel’s back. I believe their fleets will be converging on the Pacific as we speak.’
‘And the Europeans?’
‘They’ve condemned the death of their leader and declared that a state of war now exists between the European Union and the United States.’
‘It has begun, then,’ Myers said.
‘The GMRC will prevail,’ Joiner said. ‘It is inevitable.’
‘And if Steiner’s plan succeeds?’
‘Whatever he might think, the asteroid cannot be stopped without the other nations’ support. The United States doesn’t possess the firepower.’
‘But if he did?’
Joiner turned his gaze away from the tunnel and looked at his subordinate. ‘Then God help us all.’
Chapter Two Hundred Nineteen
Sarah Morgan stared out across the arid Mongolian landscape in wonder at what she’d discovered. It was unbelievable, incredible: Anakim pyramids hidden by their own enormity for thousands of years. Aside from Sanctuary itself, it couldn’t be anything other than the greatest archaeological revelation in human history.
‘No,’ Ruben said again, as he shielded his eyes from the evening sun. ‘They’re too big. And there’s too many of them.’
‘I count eleven,’ Sarah said. ‘Twelve, if you include the one we’re on.’
Ruben gave a shake of his head. ‘They’re just mountains. You’re seeing what you want to see.’
‘Or I’m just believing,’ Sarah said.
Ruben didn’t have an answer to that; how could he? He’d been telling her to believe in herself and now she was.
‘What about the three symbols the Anakim woman traced onto its chest?’ she said. ‘The pentagon for the pendant and the circle to activate it, the triangle must represent the pyramids. What else could it be?’ She continued to marvel at the astonishing sight laid out before her. ‘The giant knew I would come here. I know it.’
‘If by some miracle they are pyramids,’ Ruben said, ‘how did the giant know you would be here? It was in suspended animation for an eternity.’
Sarah frowned and then smiled. ‘They could predict the future. They knew the asteroids were coming. They built underground, because they knew when and where the asteroids would impact far into the future. That’s why the frieze and stone tablet have the same configuration of
constellations that are in the night sky today.’
Ruben didn’t look convinced.
‘Avery mentioned spiritual gifts,’ she said. ‘How many are there?’
‘What has that got to do with anything?’
‘Tell me,’ Sarah said, believing she was onto something.
Ruben looked at her for a moment and then said, ‘The gifts of the spirit can be categorised in different ways. Although it’s not a case of which way is right, or which is wrong; rather it’s up to the believer how they wish to interpret God’s word. Gifts of knowledge, gifts of speech and gifts of power is one way to separate them. Another is to call them supernatural, aid or working gifts. Yet another is ministry, manifestation and motivational gifts.’
‘And which do you prefer?’
‘I have no preference, but I will use the first I mentioned. The gifts of knowledge are wisdom, knowledge and distinguishing between spirits. The gifts of speech are speaking in tongues, interpretation and prophecy.’
‘And the gifts of power?’ Sarah said.
‘Faith, healing and miracles.’
‘And what about visions?’
‘Dreams and visions are a gift of prophecy, although distinguishing between dreams can be said to be a gift in itself, as many are just functional operations of the mind.’
‘So, what with my visions, and interpretation of tongues and Anakim scripts, it’s fair to say I have the gift of speech. Correct?’
‘It seems that way,’ he said, his tone guarded.
‘Then I’ve acquired these gifts either in Sanctuary, from the giant, or from this site, or perhaps all three. Either way, it’s the Anakim artefacts that have effected this change, which means they also possessed these gifts, or were aware of them. They left messages about the coming apocalypse in their texts and sculptures, messages for those present during the time of the disaster: messages for us, from the past.’
‘To use in the future,’ Ruben said.
‘And predicting the future would be a gift of prophecy.’
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