‘He’s telling the world the truth,’ Jessica said.
Steiner looked at her. ‘You knew what he was going to do?!’
‘You have your secrets,’ Jessica said. ‘I have mine. I always suspected you wouldn’t help my family into an underground base, and when I overheard you speaking to Bic, I knew you couldn’t be trusted to keep your word. Bic might be many things, but he’s always had my family’s best interests at heart.’
‘What are you talking about?!’ Steiner said.
Jessica walked over to join Bic in front of the camera and Steiner motioned for John to move away and the president did so as Jessica took centre stage.
‘What’s going on?’ John said, rejoining him.
Steiner turned back to the console to try and stop the transmission. ‘Something bad, something very bad.’
♦
Back on the monorail Malcolm Joiner watched the display as Jessica Klein walked in front of the camera. ‘Tell them to cut the satellite relays!’ He grasped Myers’ arm. ‘NOW!’
‘They’re trying!’ Myers said, and then spoke into his radio. ‘Cut the feeds!’ he said, his tone urgent. ‘No, not for the U.S., all of them. EVERYWHERE!’
‘Stop them!’ Joiner’s grip on his device increased and the screen cracked. ‘STOP THEM!!’
♦
‘This is Jessica Klein, former BBC news anchor, journalist and broadcaster,’ Jessica said to the camera, ‘reporting to you live from the White House. You may know me from the lies and fake videos disseminated by the GMRC to discredit me. Much like John Henry after me, I was submitted to a campaign designed to silence my truth, but now the GMRC has been exposed as the monster it is, I come to you to reveal why another asteroid was never disclosed to you, the public, and why the GMRC never had any intention of stopping it.’
‘Eric,’ Steiner said, pointing at Jessica. ‘Stop her!’
Eric looked at Jessica and then back at Steiner in fearful bewilderment.
Steiner cursed and tore open a panel beneath the console, grasped a bunch of wires and ripped them out.
‘You cannot stop me, Professor Steiner,’ Bic said, appearing on the screen above Steiner, while his hologram simultaneously stood next to Jessica.
Steiner wasn’t listening as he seized more cables and ripped them out, too.
‘For over two decades,’ Jessica continued, ‘the GMRC has known about a threat to this planet so severe it was deemed – by the arrogant few – too incendiary for public release. But now it’s time to unveil the web of lies that has blinded many to its existence.’ Jessica motioned to Bic, who played back footage of Steiner speaking to the underground bases some moments before.
Steiner turned to see himself speak. ‘Regardless of what you have been told,’ the other Steiner said, ‘the asteroid which you are tracking can be stopped, along with the others following in its wake. So, heed my word and not the Directorate’s when I request you to enact the Harmonic Explosive Residual Defence, HERD protocol. The lives of your loved ones who remain on the surface are not lost, nor is the surface itself. For any who doubt I am who I say I am, I’m now issuing my biometric verification ...’
‘You don’t know what you’re doing!’ Steiner strode over and grasped Jessica and shook her. ‘Bic is tricking you, turning you against me!’
Jessica pushed Steiner away. ‘As you’ve just seen,’ she continued, ‘even as we speak, other asteroids are approaching this planet and the GMRC has left the surface to burn—’
‘Jessica, please ...’ Steiner said. ‘Don’t do this. I beg you.’
Jessica hesitated.
‘If you do this, there’s no turning back and you’ll condemn your family to an early grave.’
Jessica looked at the camera and then back at Steiner. Tears welled in her eyes. ‘I can’t let my family die.’
‘I won’t let them die. There’s another way.’ He held out his hand to her. ‘Trust me, there is another way.’
Jessica let out a sob of despair and her resolve faltered and then finally ... broke.
She took his hand and moved away from the screen, but as she did so Bic switched the footage to a pre-recorded message and Jessica reappeared on the live feed being broadcast in multiple languages around the world.
‘I apologise for the break in this broadcast,’ the new Jessica said.
‘You recorded another message?’ Steiner said, horrified.
Jessica gaped at her image in disbelief and shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t. That’s not me.’
The Jessica on screen continued to speak and Bic said, ‘I always have redundancies, Professor Steiner.’
‘I can now bring to you a worldwide exclusive,’ said the fake Jessica. ‘Five more asteroids are on their way and this time neither the GMRC, nor any government, will be able to stop them. You may be wondering what that means for the world’s populace who remain on the surface. Simply put, it means you will die.’
‘Dear God,’ – Steiner watched the footage and felt his heart sink as his worst fears were finally realised – ‘he’s going to tell them everything.’
‘You may also be wondering why you’ve been experiencing food and water shortages,’ said Jessica’s digitised doppelganger, ‘and what the GMRC has actually been doing for the last twenty years. Well, I can tell you. The Global Meteor Response Council never intended to save everyone, only those they deemed worthy, which includes the rich and privileged few, and select members of our species chosen as perfect worker ants to serve them. You may have noticed, I said previously, “those who remain on the surface”. Yes – that’s right – that can mean only one thing. The GMRC has built vast underground cities, replete with luxury apartments, skyscrapers, parks and shopping malls. And for those of you who don’t believe me, I have proof.’ The fake Jessica on screen motioned to one side. ‘Observe.’
‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Bic said to Steiner, ‘but I took the opportunity to hack into the Subterranean Programme’s internal surveillance systems during the launch. You know how I like to multi-task.’
Steiner closed his eyes as real-time images of underground bases across the world were streamed to the billions now watching around the globe.
‘As you can see,’ the digital Jessica said, ‘these bases have their own transport systems, road networks, businesses, parks and recreational facilities. Some even have lakes, small seas and beaches, while another is so large it could easily house the entire human population three times over with room to spare. Unfortunately, these amazing creations are not meant for us, but for the people who have since fled the surface to leave us all to die terrifying deaths.’
Bic appeared on screen beside the fictitious Jessica and said to those watching, ‘But why would anyone allow billions to die, when there’s room to spare? I’ll tell you why. Their greed and disregard for human life means they don’t want to allow the rest of us access to these safe havens. Even the governments and military personnel currently on the surface will suffer fiery deaths, John Henry and Liang Junhui included.’
The broadcast switched to footage of John Henry and the Chinese premier standing in the nuclear bunker, their expressions dumbfounded.
‘And now,’ Bic said, ‘here’s what you’ve all been waiting for: the locations of these bases.’
Around the world, hundreds of millions of people leaned in closer to their screens, their eyes glued to the incredible and terrible information being aired.
A revolving depiction of Earth appeared on screen and seven markers materialised within it, one on each continent.
‘Here are the locations of seven of these underground bases,’ Bic said, ‘and I will release the location of one more each hour, until all forty-four have been disclosed. In the meantime, I wish you all luck in securing access to these man-made arks, because if you don’t,’ – Bic’s expression became grave as he gazed into the camera – ‘you, and everyone you love, will surely die a torturous death.’
Chapter Two Hundred Seventy
The broadc
ast inside the nuclear bunker ended and Steiner stood with his hands on the console, his head bowed in defeat.
‘What have you done?’ Eric said to Bic. ‘Why, Da Muss Ich? Why have you betrayed us?!’
‘Because I must, Eric,’ Bic said, with no hint of remorse.
Steiner slammed the desk in fury. ‘What about the other asteroids?! We could have stopped them!!’
‘And you still can, Professor Steiner. In fact, now you have to, especially if the bases are compromised. Unless,’ – Bic glanced at Jessica – ‘there’s something else you’re not telling us.’
Jessica looked at Steiner, her conflicted expression turning accusatory.
John Henry moved to the fore. ‘If they have room, Professor, shouldn’t we try and save as many people as we can?’
‘They don’t have room!’ Steiner said, infuriated.
‘What about Sanctuary?’ Bic said. ‘They have the capacity, do they not?’
Steiner glared at the hacker and knew he’d played right into his hands. All this time, Steiner thought, he’s been waiting to make his move. He let me win the battle in order to secure the war.
‘Professor?’ John said.
Steiner waved away the assertion. ‘USSB Sanctuary is unsafe for human habitation on such a scale.’
‘Then why did Bic say it?’ Jessica said, looking at him in suspicion.
‘Because he’s a damn liar!’ Steiner said. ‘That’s why!’
‘Err, Professor,’ Eric said, pointing at the screen.
Steiner looked to where Admiral Yates and Admiral McCormick had re-appeared. They were both speaking, but no audio could be heard. Steiner tapped at the console and Yates’ voice crackled over the speakers, ‘... not much time. Mr President, can you hear me?’
John nodded. ‘I can, Admiral. What’s the problem?’ He glanced at Liang Junhui. ‘Is it the Chinese?’
‘No, sir. We’re picking up strange readings. We’re not sure what to make of them.’
Steiner tensed. ‘What sort of readings, Admiral?’
Yates looked at him. ‘I’m not sure. Unusual activity, throughout the Americas and beyond.’
‘Activity?’ John said, looking to Steiner.
‘It’s begun,’ Steiner said. ‘Mr President, we need to get you out of here.’
‘What? Why?’
‘It looks like we’re being targeted,’ Yates said.
‘Targeted?’ John said, still looking at Steiner. ‘By who, the Russians?’
‘No,’ Yates said, looking confused. ‘It looks like,’ – his expression became fearful – ‘it looks like, we’re targeting ourselves.’
♦
‘So,’ Agent Myers said, as he watched Bic finish his broadcast. ‘It’s as we feared.’
The motors on Joiner’s exoskeleton whirred louder and he crushed the device held in his hand, the electronics sparking and crackling.
‘What are your orders?’ Myers said.
Joiner glared at him. ‘Our secret is out.’ He threw aside the broken display and stood up inside the monorail. ‘Open the case.’
Myers picked up a steel case, unlocked it with a retinal scan, then held it open for the director.
Joiner unhooked his crippled hand from his exoskeleton and placed it on a palm reader.
‘Scanning biometrics,’ the computer said. ‘Welcome to the GMRC mainframe, Director Joiner.’
‘Authorisation code. Alpha, sigma, omega, five, eight, seven.’
‘Authorisation code,’ the computer said. ‘Alpha, sigma, omega, five, eight, seven. Confirmed. What are your orders, Director?’
‘Directorate override,’ Joiner said, glancing up at Myers as the enormity of what he was about to do made him pause. ‘The Tenth Protocol has been breached. I repeat, the Tenth Protocol has been breached.’
‘Thank you, Director,’ said the artificial intelligence. ‘I concur, as do all other members of the Directorate. Automated systems are online and awaiting your final command.’
Joiner stared at the display and caught sight of his deformity reflected within. He clenched his hand into a fist. ‘Proceed,’ he said, his eye gleaming with the lust of power. ‘Light them up.’
♦
‘Targeting ourselves?’ John said. ‘How?!’
‘Bic,’ Steiner said. ‘You need to help me stop them!’
‘Stop what?!’ John said. ‘Stop who?!’
Steiner looked at the president. ‘The Tenth Protocol is fully activated. The underground bases are military installations. Do I have to spell it out?’
‘You can’t be serious?!’ John said.
‘What’s going on?’ Jessica said, alarmed.
‘Why do you think the bases have large standing armies and weapons systems?’ Steiner said.
Bewildered, Jessica gave a shake of her head.
‘It’s because they are built to defend themselves from the surface!’
‘They wouldn’t nuke us,’ Eric said. ‘Would they?’
‘If they have any left, they might,’ Steiner said. ‘As a last resort.’
‘Oh, my God,’ John said. ‘What do we do?’
‘Bic,’ Steiner said, ‘you can still stop this; access their tracking systems, as you did before.’
‘The underground bases have automated tracking systems, Professor Steiner,’ Bic said.
‘Systems you can stop.’
‘If I wanted to ... yes.’
‘This isn’t a game, god damn it! Stop those missiles!!’
‘Multiple launches have been detected from the mainland,’ Yates said on screen.
‘And across Europe and China,’ McCormick said. ‘They’re tracking their own ships and ours.’
Steiner looked at Bic’s screen. ‘I’m begging you, Bic, stop this madness!’
‘I’m sorry, Professor, I cannot do what you ask. You’re on your own.’ The hacker disappeared and his disembodied voice emanated into the nuclear bunker. ‘It’s been a pleasure working with you, Professor Steiner, but remember this ...’
A message materialised on screen:
The game always remains _
Flushed with rage, the veins bulging at his temples, Steiner raised clenched fists and shouted, ‘BIC!!!’
Chapter Two Hundred Seventy-One
Sarah fell down through darkness, the wind rushing past, a roar of sound in her ears. Down and down she fell, into the unknown abyss, deeper and deeper into the Earth. How long she fell, she didn’t know, but after the fear of death had passed, she felt her arms, and then her body, touching a smooth wet surface as she continued to plummet into the depths of beyond. The wind around her lessened and she found herself sliding down the steepest incline, her speed unimpeded. Her velocity decreased with the shallowing surface gradient, and soon the curved wall down which she slid levelled out, and she slowed even further still, until, at last, she came to a slithering halt.
Water continued to trickle down around her and Sarah lay on her back, wondering if she had enough energy to stand, or if she was even alive at all. The blackness was all-encompassing, the only noise, the murmur of running water as it continued to wash past her in an unseen miniature cascade.
Her chest throbbed with pain. She’d been shot three times, but the bullets hadn’t penetrated further than the metal fused to her breastbone and ribs. If Dagmar Sorensen had had his way, he’d have removed the smaller of her two pendants, which had melted beyond recognition during her final moments in Sanctuary. As it was, it had once again come to her rescue, first saving her from Konstantin’s sword, and now from Avery’s bullets. It was like having armour plating, but on the inside. However, despite her unusual good fortune, she’d still lost a lot of blood, and it was this that had taken her to the brink of passing out and – as Sarah had thought at the time – death itself.
The scroll she’d stolen from Avery remained in her hand and she shuddered at the memory of his vile kiss and the things he’d said, which were beyond sickening. Anger flooded her body. She pocketed the parchm
ent and then, somehow, found the strength to get to her knees.
A wave of nausea swamped her senses and she swayed, and then managed to focus on a pale glow of light in the darkness ahead. She crawled forward towards it, passing through what felt like an opening, as a light breeze brushed her senses.
As her eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, she saw a colossal statue before her, which disappeared up into the black. Its enormous legs acted as an archway into a vast labyrinth of ancient walls, where mirrored surfaces gleamed like liquid metal. She recalled what this place had been referred to on the inside of the stone pyramid: a trial of the spirit. If the mirrors were a way into the spirit world it stood to reason there’d be more of them here.
She tried to look for signs of Trish and Jason. There were none, and Ruben himself remained as elusive – only gloomy darkness prevailed within the maze of passages standing tall before her.
I can’t go any further, she told herself as she passed beneath the arch. I’m already out of breath. She hung her head. You’ve been shot in the chest, she thought. You might still be dying.
Quiet! she told her wayward mind. She sagged against the nearest wall, wondering why – and if – she could go on. She clutched her bloodied chest and teetered on the brink of passing out. Lights swam before her eyes and she took a deep breath to steady herself.
Holding onto the wall, she glanced into its mirrored surface. Her reflection’s light was fading.
She half reached out to it as she recalled the black fluid the Pharos had forced down her throat and knew it could mean only one thing.
‘Avery was right. I’m becoming one of them. It’s inside me.’ She held up her hand and swore she could see an illumination flickering within.
A distant noise made her turn. Behind her, tiny beams of light appeared in the gloom. She wondered what it was, for a moment, before realising it was the flashlights built into the Swiss guards’ helmets, which swivelled this way and that in the dark. Avery’s three soldiers were as alive as she, and the man himself was walking in their midst towards her.
Ancient Origins: Books 4 - 6 (Ancient Origins Boxset Book 2) Page 135
