by J C Ryan
Johnson closed the door and took a seat beside Willis.
“What’s the news?” Daniel asked.
“The Enterprise is two days from port. Incidentally, there was a significant earthquake near the site where the Trepang went down. It caused some damage on Umnak Island and the other Fox Island group. There was also an associated tsunami, but it was fortunately fairly small—some minor flooding on the islands in the immediate vicinity, and unusually high tides along the west coast of North America and the Hawaiian Islands, but no real damage.”
Daniel frowned. “Were there any lives lost?”
“No sir, a few mild to moderate injuries, but none of them life-threatening.”
“More good news.” Daniel nodded, pleased. “So, how are we going to transfer the prisoners?”
“We thought we’d slow the Enterprise, so she arrives after dark. The prisoners, dressed as sailors, with about fifty crewmembers will disembark as if going on shore leave. Some crewmembers will be going on shore leave while the rest escort the prisoners to Fort Lewis.
“Once there, the prisoners will be confined to the brig, and the crew will have a few days unofficial ‘shore leave’ before returning to the Enterprise.”
“Sounds simple enough, I like it,” approved Daniel. “Willis, do you see any problems with that plan?”
“Not at all—simple and low key, it’s a good plan.”
“Excellent! Well then, gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see to making it happen!” Johnson said.
“Thank you, Admiral, that would be most appreciated,” Daniel replied as Johnson stood to leave.
Turning back to Willis, Daniel inquired about the status of the injured Trepang crew.
“The doctor aboard the Mystic Sea has taken good care of them and reports they are recovering well. They’re all going to be just fine.”
“What about the ones that were air-lifted to Anchorage with the young Ensign, that Brideaux had tortured?”
Willis had a sad expression on his face when he said, “The two with head injuries are going to be just fine. Unfortunately, Ensign Littleton is the exception, sir. I’m told that his condition has stabilized and has been upgraded from ‘critical’ to ‘guarded.’ He will recover, physically, in time, but it’s going to be a long, hard road. Psychologically—well, you never know – some people handle traumas like this better than others. He had to have shown a strong psyche in order to qualify for sub duty, so we’re hoping he will be able to cope with what Brideaux did to him.”
“It’s just unbelievable that he’s still alive. I thought I had an idea of how sick and twisted Brideaux was, but it’s obvious, I didn’t. Pulling the boy’s nails out, cutting off his toes, skinning him alive…” Daniel shuddered. “There is no description that can begin to describe the evilness of that man.”
Willis nodded.
“I want him to have the best treatment available,” Daniel growled through clenched teeth. “What isn’t covered by whatever benefits he has, I will personally pay for—just see to it that he gets the best.” Brideaux will not have the last say in this.
“Yes, sir.”
The men were silent for a few moments before Daniel spoke again. “What about his family? Is there anything we can do for them?”
“I’m afraid the boy was an orphan. His entire life he’d been bounced from children’s home to children’s home. He joined the Navy as soon as he graduated high school.”
“Talk about a hard life,” Daniel muttered. “All right, just see that he gets the best—and Willis…”
“Yes, sir?”
“I’d appreciate it and consider it a personal favor if you would keep an eye on this personally and keep me updated.”
Willis nodded. “Absolutely, sir. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks.”
Almost on the heels of Willis’ departure, Salome, Scott Jenkins, and Bill Simms arrived. When they were all seated, Daniel dove right into the issue of the prisoners.
“They will be transferred to the brig at Fort Lewis in two days. I’ve been thinking about how to transfer them to the ICC, International Criminal Court, safely and at the same time appease leaders of their respective countries who desire to settle the matter themselves.
“I don’t know if it’s legal, but what if we invite the ICC to convene here? Try the prisoners according to International Law and get them to agree to let the individual countries carry out the punishment under the ICC’s supervision—that is if the ICC exists, I forgot to ask about that. Secretary Simms?”
“I’ve been able to confirm that part of the ICC does still exist, and there is great interest in getting it re-established—quickly. A few of the members will be new due to death or incapacitation of previous members by the Beast.”
“How soon could they be ready to start the trial?”
“Probably within a few weeks.”
“Mister Jenkins, you’ve been awfully quiet. Could this work?”
“I believe it could, if all parties are agreeable to it,” Jenkins answered thoughtfully.
“Salome? Any concerns on the Homeland Security front?”
“Given the nature of the crimes, this is going to be nothing but a security issue. I think trying to move them to The Hague in the Netherlands would be a disaster and probably get a lot of innocent people killed. In fact, I would recommend clearing Fort Lewis of all non-essential personnel. Once their location is known, it could be attacked.”
“Ok, I’ll let Secretary Willis know.”
Salome added, “I would also recommend you postpone your meeting with world leaders until the prisoners are safely under lock and key at Fort Lewis. That way we won’t be putting the Enterprise at risk of becoming a target.”
“Good idea,” Daniel agreed. “Bill let’s see if we can have the ICC on board with our idea in the next two days. I want that in place before I let the others know we have the prisoners secured.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Salome, I will leave it to you to choose the location of the trial and set up whatever security arrangements you deem necessary.”
“You got it, Mister President!”
“Thank you all for being here. Unless there is anything else, I think we’re done for the moment.”
With the afternoon freed up, Daniel left in search of Sarah and Nicholas.
CHAPTER 20
Washington, DC
DANIEL AND SARAH, enjoying a quiet morning together, sat next to each other on the couch in the living room of their White House home. Sarah sipped a mocha latte and worked a crossword puzzle while Daniel drank his coffee, read the morning newspaper, and listened to the news on the television.
“And in other news, scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage are observing what they say is unusual increased seismic activity along the Aleutian Trench near the Fox Islands.”
Daniel looked up from the paper to focus on the newscaster’s report.
“The Fox Islands are part of the Aleutian Island Chain that extends West into the Pacific Ocean from the Alaskan Peninsula. Observatory scientists also report slight increases in minor, non-eruptive activity in four of the volcanoes in the area: Kanaga, Bogoslof, Cleveland, and Pavlof.
“Although all four of these volcanoes have been active this century, two of them as recently at 2017, scientists say there is nothing to be concerned about at this point, but they will continue to monitor the area closely."
The reporter paused to change subjects, and Daniel’s mind strayed from the newscast. “That’s odd,” he murmured.
“What’s odd?” Sarah asked.
“The area he was just talking about is very near where we lost the submarine the prisoners were on.”
“I can’t see how that could have anything to do with the seismic activities they’re talking about.”
“Maybe. It still seems strange to me, though.”
Nicholas wandered sleepily into the room and Daniel, pushing the matter from his mind, helped
his son climb into his lap for some morning cuddling.
“And how is my favorite young man this morning?” Daniel asked, brushing the boy's bangs away from his eyes.
Nicholas rubbed his face against Daniel’s shoulder and pulled his little arms in close to his body as if to make himself into a ball.
“Are you okay, Nicholas?” Daniel asked
The boy nodded silently.
Daniel laughed and gently tickled his belly. “Oh, I see—you’re not awake yet!”
Giggling, Nicholas objected half-heartedly, “Daddy!”
Sarah looked at the pair and smiled at their antics.
“Did you sleep well?” Daniel continued to engage his son.
Nicholas shook his head. “I had a scary dream.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
“Big, big mountains, giant explosions,” he said, flinging his arms in the air.
“You dreamt of mountains that exploded?”
Nicholas nodded solemnly.
“Did anyone get hurt?”
Thinking for a moment, he finally shook his head.
“Well, everything is all right then, isn’t it?”
His little sleepy-eyed face broke into a sunny smile. Nicholas nodded again and relaxed in his father’s arms.
CHAPTER 21
Private airstrip Washington, DC
PETER SCOTT, MEMBER of the Rossler Foundation and former CIA operative, piloted the Baron 58 to a smooth touchdown in the light of the setting sun at the private airstrip in DC.
Raj was present to meet him and his passengers.
“Welcome back,” Raj’s greeting died on his lips when he saw the tall, brown-haired man. “Robert?” He breathed wide-eyed. His heart raced, a cool moisture broke out on his skin, and the ground seemed to spin.
Oblivious to Raj’s state, JR asked, “Is the leadership assembled?”
Raj slowly turned to look at JR, incomprehension on his face.
Impatient, JR repeated the question only to receive no answer again, just the continuing dazed look from Raj. Suddenly realizing the problem, he took Raj by both arms and shook him gently. “Raj, buddy, look at me.” To help, he patted Raj lightly on one cheek and saw his eyes begin to focus again. “You’re okay, Raj. This really is Robert.”
“He’s dead,” Raj whispered as terror washed over his face.
“Yes, he was killed by Brideaux at the canyon.”
“We buried him.”
“That’s right, we did. But through a miracle of 8th cycle technology, he is alive again.”
“Miracle?”
“Miracle, yes.”
“Oh, okay,” Raj responded flatly. Obviously, his brain had decided to shut down rather than try to process this ‘miracle'.
Rebecca saw Raj’s shock and bewilderment and said, “JR, I think you better drive.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” he agreed. “Come on.”
Peter grabbed a blanket out of the plane and helped Rebecca wrap it around Raj, who was now shaking like a leaf in the wind. He looked like he was in urgent need of a lot of sugar water, or a stiff drink.
“Get Sam on the phone,” JR said. “We need to know where the meeting is taking place.”
Peter made the call and put Sam on speakerphone. “Sam, Peter here. What is the location of the meeting?”
“Didn’t Raj tell you? He’s supposed to pick you up; he should be there.”
“Oh, he’s here – in a manner of speaking – he’s … indisposed at the moment.”
“Do I want to know why?”
“No, not now.”
A heavy sigh followed. “The meeting’s at Raven Rock. Catch the monorail at Camp David. The Foundation leadership, as well as Roy, Salome, James, Sarah, and Daniel will be there by the time you arrive. Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
“We’ll tell everyone at the meeting; it’s a long story and we don’t want to have to tell it twice.”
“Suit yourself. We’ll see you there.”
“Cheers.”
The rest of the trip was made in silence, each lost in their own thoughts—Raj didn’t say a word – he just stared at Robert. The three from the canyon wondered how much time they had.
* * *
Raven Rock meeting room
THE LEADERSHIP OF the Rossler Foundation gathered in perplexity. When Daniel accepted the appointment to the Vice-Presidency, he and Sarah had stepped down as the leaders of the Foundation, handing the reins over to a team who had been dubbed ‘The Musketeers’. From an original group of three, their membership had grown to seven and included: Daniel’s father, Ben Rossler; John Mendenhall, Rebecca’s father, a retired college dean; Luke Clarke, Sarah’s uncle and retired CIA field agent; Nigel Harper, a former US president; Ryan Clarke, Sarah’s father, an electronics engineer; Sam Lewis, retired head of the CIA under Nigel Harper; and Sinclair O’Reilly, the Foundation’s chief translator and now head of the Foundation.
Except for Nigel who was in DC assisting Daniel with his transition to the Presidency, the rest of the leadership was at the Rabbit Hole.
When JR requested the meeting, Sam had discussed it with Daniel, and both agreed they smelled trouble. As a result, Daniel suggested including Raj Sankaran, their computer expert and Daniel’s friend from working at the New York Times; Roy James, their nanotechnology expert; Salome James, Roy’s wife and the head of security for the Foundation; and Jack Symonds, a former Special Forces operator and one of Sam’s former CIA Special Agents.
When the team from the canyon, accompanied by a still partially dazed Raj, arrived at Raven Rock and walked into the conference room, a stunned silence fell as the attendees recognized Robert.
Daniel, blindsided at the juncture, sat in slack-jawed astonishment but was the first to find his voice, “What the hell …!”
JR heard whispered exclamations begin to drift around the room and saw the same on the big screen linked up with those at the Rabbit Hole.
“Robert?”
“This is impossible!”
“Oh, my God!”
“How can this be?”
“This can’t be happening.”
Robert didn't say a word. He stood against the wall and just looked at everyone in the room and the faces on the screen.
It was surreal, unearthly—impossible. Yet, there he was, Robert Cartwright, the Australian, their friend who was killed by John Brideaux. The same Robert Cartwright whom they’d buried in the Grand Canyon, the same Robert Cartwright after whom they'd named the meeting hall at the Rabbit Hole. But this Robert Cartwright was alive and breathing, right in front of their eyes.
JR realized that mass hysteria and chaos were threatening to erupt, and he'd better do something, quickly. “Everyone,” JR started. “Please be calm, take a seat, and take a few deep breaths while I explain.
“There is a logic… ah… well maybe not logical to us, but there is an explanation – and impossible as it might sound, it's true.” He paused a moment to let the sundry remarks die down. “This man is indeed Robert Cartwright, and through a miracle of eighth-cycle technology, which I don’t understand, he is alive and well.
“For reasons that will be explained shortly, we don’t have a lot of time, so I will provide you with a brief explanation before we move on to why I requested this meeting.
“When Robert and I initially entered the installation at the Grand Canyon, the first time, and discovered the Eighth Cycle headquarters, we unknowingly triggered an activation sequence in a part of the facility that was never discovered by us or any of our later teams. This activation sequence ‘awoke’ three people from the Eighth Cycle who were in a cryonic state they call ‘Deep Sleep.’
“They, the Eighth Cycle people, have the technology to put humans in this ‘Deep Sleep’ for up to one hundred thousand years, awakening them whenever they want. They also have the technology to revive, repair, and restore the dead within twelve hours of death, using a microchip inserted in the brain and some adv
anced repair and revival techniques.
“This technology is how Robert is alive.”
Mindful of his own and Rebecca's reactions and incredulity when Robert ‘visited’ them in their room a few days ago, JR paused to let what he told them sink in. He understood all too well how impossible it was to come to grips with the entire concept.
Some were silent and motionless, some were silent but shaking their heads, and some were murmuring, “don't believe it,” “impossible,” “rubbish,” “next we'll get a visit from aliens,” “JR's playing a prank on us,” “a hoax.”
JR held his hand up for silence.
“In addition to this ‘re-animation’ technology as they call it, they have the ability to place another person’s mind, memories, or whatever you want to call it, into a revived body.”
“The hell you say!” shouted Sinclair in the silence that followed.
Stunned expressions around the table gave way to pale faces, blank stares, appalled horror, and chilled distress punctuated by more commentary of shock and disbelief.
JR continued, “Robert was initially implanted with the memory of a soldier from the Eighth Cycle. After a time, because of the information we are going to provide to you momentarily, his Eighth Cycle persona was joined with his original Robert Cartwright memories. It was the first time the Eighth Cycle scientists were able to do so successfully…”
“So, what you're saying is the person we're seeing there,” Sam pointed to Robert, “is actually two people. C'mon JR, you can end the joke now. You’ve had your fun, you had all of us. Let's get serious now. Tell us why we're really here.”
“Sam, Daniel, all of you, please listen to us.” He pointed to Rebecca, Peter, and himself. “We went through the same ordeal a few days ago when Robert made contact with us. We’ve been at the canyon site the last few days. What I’m telling you has been verified by the three of us. You must listen to me now. We're in trouble, I'm not talking about us only, our civilization, the entire world is on the brink of an unimaginable tragedy, and apart from a handful of people, no one knows about it. That’s why Robert has been reanimated so that he could contact us and warn us of the danger that is fast approaching.”