Project RM: Genesis

by Peter A. Schoemann

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  PROJECT RM: GENESIS

  PART I OF THE GENESIS SERIALS

  Peter A. Schoemann

  An Eck-Schoe Productions and Publications, LLC book

  Publisher, Copyright, and Additional Information

  Project RM: Genesis by Peter A. Schoemann published by Eck-Schoe Productions and Publications, LLC, 6932 Sylvan Woods Drive, Sanford, Florida 32771

  www.EckSchoe.com

  Copyright © 2018 by Peter A. Schoemann

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law. For permissions contact: paschoemann@projectrm.com.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Ebook ISBN-13: 978-1-7320509-2-1

  Editing by Natasha Simons

  Cover design and interior design by Xavier Comas

  To my children. Keep dreaming and keep working toward those dreams.

  CHAPTER 1

  [October 23, 1962]

  Nuclear holocaust: three billion people incinerated or decaying from radiation poisoning. That’s what should have scared Joseph Solomon more than anything. Yet as he stared out the porthole of the yacht, watching the Miami coast shrink into the horizon, the slight touch of Laurel Lyons’s hand on his shoulder frightened him more. Irrational, yes, but no less true. Cuba, its Soviet missiles, and possible worldwide devastation came in a distant second to the five-foot, four-inch seventeen-year old with her thick-rimmed glasses and pony-tailed, brunette hair.

  Joseph tensed at her touch until her fingers slid off and fell to her side. As he exhaled, he noticed something odd. He turned to query the only additional person in the cabin, his mentor, who was standing nearby at the bottom of the staircase to the deck above. “Sir, why are we heading east?” he asked Professor Drucker.

  The professor simply smiled back at his sixteen-year old assistant.

  Tall for his age, Joseph still felt small in the presence of his towering teacher. “I thought we were going to stay within sight of the coast for the test.” As a long-time recipient of defense department grants, Professor Drucker’s lab regularly tested new technologies; since his arrival two years earlier, Joseph had assisted the professor in his efforts. Given the current predicament, they had to complete the final test on a new radar-jamming system and turn over the results to the Department of Defense as soon as possible.

  The professor looked to Laurel, then back to Joseph. “That’s because today’s test is a little different.”

  “What do you mean, sir?”

  “Today’s test is of something of much greater importance: you.”

  Joseph’s chest tightened.

  “Stop,” Laurel blurted, her British accent inflected with alarm. “Please, turn back.”

  The professor stared her down. “Not a chance. It’s time you deal with reality—both of you.”

  Joseph’s hands went to his stomach. He was unsure whether the onset of nausea had emanated from the abrupt change in the professor’s demeanor or the sudden rocking of the yacht.

  Laurel stepped toward the professor, smiling and stroking her hair. Joseph wondered whether she were going to use a little womanly persuasion—a thought that stung him, even in those few seconds. Instead, she grabbed the professor’s arm, twisted around, and threw him to the ground. She raised her leg, as if she were about to stomp him in the face.

  Joseph yelled, “What are you doing?”

  “Trust me,” she said, but before her foot reached its target, the pilot of the boat—who had slipped into the cabin—pulled her into a bear hug.

  Joseph couldn’t move, but his heart raced.

  The professor rose and pat Joseph on the back. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be all right, for both of you.”

  He walked over to the struggling Laurel and pulled a gun from his pocket. “Thank you, Peter. As soon as this is under control, get back upstairs and steer us into calmer waters.”

  Joseph’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

  The professor raised the gun. “Stupid. Very stupid.”

  Spurred by some reserve of courage, Joseph rushed the professor and grabbed him from behind. Joseph’s control over his mentor lasted less than a second. In one move, Professor Drucker broke the hold, spun around, and punched him in the gut.

  He crumpled to the floor, his body balling up and his hands shooting to his mouth and again to his midsection. One hand soothed his stomach and the other restrained the need to retch as the pilot-less boat continued to heave and sway on the rough Atlantic sea. But the professor’s attack on Joseph paled in comparison to what he did next. Joseph could do nothing but watch as he smashed the handle of his gun into the back of Laurel’s skull. The impact sent her glasses flying and her petite body slumping to the ground.

  Joseph lay helpless next to her, hoping she was all right. The professor’s steel-toed boot pressed like a vice into his neck and the side of his face, grinding him into the long strands of the white shag carpet. He gasped for the salty air as the foot relented for what felt like the final few breaths of life. How could this have happened? he wondered. “My parents…I…we trusted you. Why?”

  The professor said, “Are you asking why I betrayed you? I didn’t. Your parents entrusted me with your development, and I unlocked your talent. Now look at you, my polymath. With my oversight, you’ve achieved more than most do in a lifetime at only sixteen. You’re already a mechanical engineer, a chemist, and an astrophysicist; and, with the books I’ve given you, you’re an expert in so much more. I bet you could even pass the medical boards right now. Thanks to me, you’re becoming a true renaissance man.” Laurel’s body lay still, but her eyes were open and fixed on their attacker. “Although, you still have some work to do with the girls.”

  Joseph looked away from both of them. Why had the professor kidnapped them? Where were they going? Was Laurel all right? He peeked back at her; her fiery, amber eyes belied her usual kind nature.

  The professor continued, “Or maybe you’re asking, why did I lure you here under the pretense of a test of our stealth enhancements? Certainly not for your fighting skills. A little tip: your body may have grown to match your intelligence, but it takes more than size and strength to beat me. No, it’s that brain of yours. Anyone who can help solve the issues with his country’s first satellite gains our interest. Anyone who does so at twelve years old…well, we have to have him. You’ve achieved a great deal in the time you’ve been with me. In fact, I’m disappointed that, as smart as you are, you didn’t see this coming. The real question is, why are we doing this now? For that, you can blame your President Kennedy. He has accelerated your opportunity.”

  “Opportunity?” The professor’s words paralyzed and confused him. This man, whom I trust more than anyone, is kidnapping us for our brains? What does the president have to do with this?

  Another thought occurred to Joseph. Who does he mean by “we”? Are there others? Joseph touched his two forefingers to his left temple—the focusing technique the pr
ofessor had taught him.

  The professor smiled at Joseph, likely waiting to see if he could figure out the puzzle. Unfortunately for Joseph, nothing came to mind. Is this about the radar-jamming system?

  “Allow me to help with some of the questions running through your head,” the professor said. “No, it’s not for your help on the radar jamming system. That’s a bonus. We’ve had plans in place for you. We weren’t going to act for another year. But your president’s announcement has forced our hand. He’ll stop at nothing to impose his will on the rest of the world.”

  Before Joseph could respond, the boot pressed once more into his tender, throbbing neck. Joseph closed his eyes, ready to pass out.

  “Leave him alone,” Laurel pleaded. “Please.”

  For the moment, Professor Drucker complied.

  Through the throbbing in Joseph’s head, he heard the professor’s condescending voice. “I know it hurts, but both of you need to understand your situation. You’re all alone now,” he said to Laurel, who had recovered enough to reclaim her glasses. “If I hadn’t acted, the oncoming nuclear holocaust would have incinerated all of us.”

  “It won’t happen,” she said. “There’s no way either side will do it.”

  “You silly girl. This young, naive president has his finger on the trigger right now. It’s inevitable. The only question is, when? I’m not waiting around to find out. You should be thanking me, not fighting me or”—here, his foot pressed back into Joseph’s neck—“whatever you call that attempt to defend her.”

  Joseph looked at Laurel, who turned away. Dizzy from the lack of blood flow, he welcomed the oncoming blackout

  CHAPTER 2

  The warm caress of her hand on his cheek woke him. Her heavenly fragrance made him think for a second that he had not survived.

  “He’s gone,” she whispered.

  His eyes popped open to see both of his arms had been handcuffed, one to the chrome pole in the center of the cabin and the other to hers. Everything closed in around him. He had spent two years longing for her presence, too frightened to get close. It had been like wanting to get a close view of a celestial body, but having to keep one’s distance to avoid being crushed or incinerated. Joseph breathed in slow and deep so the intimacy wouldn’t overwhelm him. Instinctively, Joseph knew he had to focus on their escape, but as long as he remained this close to her he couldn’t think. He lowered his head and mumbled, “I’m sorry.”

  “For what? Trying to protect me?” She placed her free hand under his chin and forced him to meet her eyes. “Confidence is all that you’re missing. You’re amazing, and it’s time you realize it.”

  “I…I didn’t think you felt that way.”

  She smiled and leaned toward him. He tensed further as she whispered in his ear, “We need to find a way out. You have to get over this fear and start thinking. And I’m going to help you do that.” She giggled and backed away.

  Anxious as he was, his head tilted at her bizarre behavior.

  She grabbed his hand. “Do you remember when we first met?”

  He remembered the awkward encounter and nodded, a blaze of heat radiating through his face.

  She continued, “We stood across the desk from each other in Professor Drucker’s lab. You stared at me. Do you remember what you were thinking?”

  Joseph’s chest tightened. He felt as if she had squeezed away the limited space he had between them. He attempted to pull away, but she held firm. The heat intensified.

  “Answer the question first.”

  He exhaled. “All right…I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Until I noticed you staring back at me.” He thought about how he had looked down, then back up again to see if she was still staring. She had been. He had turned around so fast that a bead of sweat had flown from his brow. “Then I thought it had to be a mistake. Why would someone as…as… Why would you be into me?” She frowned. “And, if by some miracle you were, my reaction had to have killed it. It was embarrassing.”

  She released his hand and tugged his chin up again. “Actually, I thought it was cute. But you’ve always been too scared to talk to me.”

  He couldn’t look at her. He wanted to say, I’m scared of all girls, but especially you. But all he could offer was a slight nod.

  “I’m not sure why.” She glanced at the staircase, then back at Joseph. “I want you to think about two things. One, you don’t know me. I knew you before you became…what do girls say, a hunk. I’ve always been into you. But don’t like me just because you think I’m pretty.” Her index finger shot to his lips to stop his response. She whispered, “Trust me, when you get to know me…you won’t be interested.”

  “But…”

  She giggled again. “Trust me. But now that you’re finally talking to me, you need to focus on the second thing: how to figure a way out of this mess.” She kissed him on the cheek and leaned back.

  The professor reappeared at the bottom of the staircase. “So, how are my two lovebirds getting along?”

  Joseph blushed, but was already planning their escape in his head. From the position of the sun, he knew they were continuing to travel east. Hopefully, they would keep to their current course. “Where are you taking us?”

  “For now, we’re going to a small uncharted island far away from the Florida coast. The fallout shouldn’t reach us there. If it does, we have a well-stocked shelter. We can live there until we’re safely extracted.”

  Joseph smiled. He knew their way out.

  The professor reciprocated his smile. “I know you better than you know yourself. I watched the president’s address too, and I’m aware of his so-called naval quarantine. No, they won’t spot us, thanks to you.”

  Joseph slumped.

  “I’ve already tested your radar-jamming system. You should be proud. It works. Without their technology, they’ll never spot us in this vast ocean. We’ll sail through the largest gap in that blockade without anyone knowing we’re out here.”

  Defeated, Joseph said, “And, to avoid detection from the air…”

  “We’ll use that fun fog machine you designed last year.”

  “Why didn’t you just fly us out?”

  “Suffice it to say that would have been too risky. This boat was the safest means of escape. Besides, I’m just following my comrades’ orders.”

  Joseph asked, “What are you, a Russian spy?”

  “Da,” the professor said, smirking.

  Joseph couldn’t speak or move.

  “My parents emigrated from Russia to England in 1925. They taught me the value of communism. When I was old enough, I joined the party, then the KGB. My sole life assignment was to work with a few of my comrades to change the balance of brilliance between our two countries. Just like what our countries did to Germany at the end of the war.”

  “You’re kidnapping us to change the balance of intelligence?”

  “Something like that. Although, I’d prefer it if you’d come willingly. Just listen to what I’ve got to say.”

  “What could you say that would make me want to turn on my country and become a slave?”

  “You’ve been brainwashed. We’re not slaves. Unlike your so-called land of the free, where everyone is out for himself, in the Soviet Union we all work for the benefit of the whole. All abilities working together to satisfy all needs.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Joseph said. “You and I both know none of that’s true.”

  The professor shook his head. “Well, maybe this will convince you. Can you guess who works with me?”

  He scoffed. “Who? My parents?”

  “No. Hers.”

  “What?” Joseph said, looking at Laurel. His mouth dropped open.

  “That’s right. I know how you feel about her. If you play this right, she’s yours.”

&nb
sp; “As much as I like him, no one owns me,” Laurel said, looking away from both of them. “Yes, my family’s from Russia.” Joseph felt as if the bottom had fallen out of his stomach. “No, I no longer believe what my parents believe from their comfortable home in Moscow.”

  “Please, comrade. You’ve been on assignment in my class for the last two years. And you’ve done an impressive job. Mr. Solomon was going nowhere until we added you to the mix.”

  Still in the fog of learning Laurel’s true identity, Joseph barely heard these last words. When he finally focused on them, his face flushed. He mumbled, “You knew from that ridiculous letter I’d written.”

  “You mean that sweet letter to that girl. What was her name, Kelly? How you told her she motivated you to achieve great things and that you credited her with all of the opportunities you had.”

  For the last two years, Joseph had tried to block the memory of the day he’d met the professor at his high school. He’d been too shy to talk to Kelly Johnson. Not only because she was a junior and he was a freshman, but also because she was beautiful and he…was a nobody. As silly as it sounded—even to himself—he had thought that if he could build the most amazing science fair project, she might like him. Joseph worked almost every hour outside of class. He barely slept, but in the end, he had presented a working computer the size of a desktop. Still too shy to talk to her after he’d won and even gained the interest of several prominent universities, he poured out his feelings in a letter. But before he could muster the courage to give it to her, Jason Berksen had snatched it and read it aloud to her and the rest of the lunchroom. Kelly and everyone else cracking up had almost sent Joseph running from the room. That is, until the professor—who had come to the school to interview Joseph for early admission to college—walked up to Jason, snatched the letter out of his hand, and stared the crowd down. It had ended their fun, but not before Joseph’s nervousness around the opposite sex had intensified into paralysis.

  The professor said, “It’s all right. We don’t have to discuss the past. It’s painful. Yes? The point is we understand what motivates you. Since we included Ms. Lyons in our plans, you’ve really tapped into your potential.”