by J C Ryan
Daniel’s shoulders dropped. He looked at Nigel for support, but Nigel was clearly still in shock, just staring at Robert.
What else can go wrong? When will we ever have peace and stability? Are we destined to stumble from one crisis to another?
“Not another calamity,” Roy blurted. “But what's wrong with Robert, can't he talk?”
“Yes, he can. I was about to let him explain.” JR nodded to Robert.
Robert stood, and for a moment had to fight down the personality of Tawndo threatening to take over. He needed to communicate with the group, not order them. “Hello everyone, it is good to see you all again. I know most of you and have heard about the rest of you. Let me first put your minds at ease, I am real, I am really Robert Cartwright, your friend, and colleague. I was killed by John Brideaux, and I have been brought back to life by the Eighth Cycle technology that JR spoke about earlier. It is correct that the body you see in front of you hosts two personalities. I know it is an all but impossible concept to understand, and it has not been without its challenges for me, but I’d like to suggest we talk about that later.
“I’m here as Robert Cartwright for one reason, and that's to tell you that the world is in grave danger.”
The audience had gone quiet and listened intently as Robert stepped them through the basic history of the conflict between the war-like B’ran and the peaceful L’gundo, the transformation of The Healer into The Beast that ended the Eighth Cycle, and the information gathered since his reanimation.
“Using links to the twelve global satellite sites, still intact from the days of the Eighth Cycle, I was able to connect to the regional control center at one of our other sites in Tunguska, Russia and access their data storage units.
“I discovered that the B’ran were successful in their takeover of the L’gundo site but were stranded there when the Beast destroyed everyone who was chipped. That was the event that ended the Eighth Cycle.
“The Eighth Cycle scientists knew, as we did, that reanimated beings are incapable of reproduction but that there would be some survivors who were hiding, remaining unchipped and whose descendants would repopulate the planet. They decided, as we did, to enter the Deep Sleep and await the future.
“People who were placed in Deep Sleep, in the last days of the Eighth Cycle at the Tunguska site, about forty-thousand years ago, were awakened in 1908 to a problem with the volcanic gasses used to power the facility and were unable to stop an explosion that severely damaged the facility. Nevertheless, some of them, some B'ran and some L'gundo, survived. The B'ran were in the majority and forced the L'gundo survivors to work for them.
“Over the next forty-five years, while they repaired the facility, Viktor, the B’ran commander, captured and killed people outside the facility and coerced the L’gundo scientists to reanimate them as soldiers. His goal—to create a new powerful race called the Re’an.”
“Then, in 1954, the Russians tested a nuclear bomb near the facility that caused a secondary explosion inside, which killed many of them and severely damaged the site again.
“But since then, the Re’an at the Tunguska site have been building an army for the sole purpose of conquering the world.
“According to their records, they have seventeen-hundred active soldiers and another two-thousand in Deep Sleep, which very recently they started waking up and training.”
“So, let’s say there are four-thousand of them; that's hardly a force that could take over the world,” Salome interjected.
Robert held his hand up. “Yes, that doesn’t sound like much, does it? But, in addition to the re-animation, over the years they have made astounding enhancements to anatomy, senses, intelligence, strength, endurance, vision, and hearing. They have created super soldiers. The soldiers are equipped with handheld particle-beam weapons that can destroy targets up to two miles or more away. Their weapons can destroy the best armored vehicles and tanks available today. Their larger, long-range weapons can take out targets in the air and on land, even if they’re thousands of miles away.
“Ultra-lightweight liquid armor that doesn’t restrict movement protects the bodies of these soldiers. It will repel any projectile of Eleventh Cycle technology.
In short, their technology is advanced and beyond the comprehension of Eleventh Cycle scientists. With their weaponry, they can destroy anything any of the militaries of the Eleventh Cycle can throw at them. They could probably take over the world with a thousand of their soldiers or less. Nothing short of a nuclear weapon can stop them.
“I could tell you much more, but I think you’ve got the picture. Each of these soldiers is a one-man, unstoppable army, capable of unimaginable death and destruction.
“My friends and I, at the canyon site, Linkola, Korda, and Siasha can’t stop them by ourselves. We have the technology, and we understand theirs, but you have the people. We need your help, and you need ours; we need to work together to find a way to stop them.”
“If they have all these extraordinary weapons and soldiers, what's holding them back? Why haven’t they made their move for world domination yet?” Daniel asked.
“From the data I’ve been able to collect, I've discovered that their plans are to retake the canyon installation first—it was their Eighth Cycle Head Quarters. Once they have conquered it, I suspect they will attack the US and then the rest of the world.
“I don’t know how much time we have, but I can tell you it is counted in days—not weeks—they are mobilizing.”
Robert sat down in the petrified silence that followed his presentation.
After a few moments, Daniel cleared his throat. “Why the canyon site? What does it have that the Tunguska site doesn’t?”
“As the headquarters site, it is linked to eleven other locations across the globe. In those locations are thousands more B'ran in Deep Sleep awaiting the awakening cycles.
“I believe Viktor also wants the technology of The Healer, or rather ‘The Beast’ as it has become known.”
“That technology has been removed and destroyed,” Daniel replied.
“We know that. Viktor doesn’t. According to what I found in their data banks, they don’t know anyone has been to the canyon site. He believes it remains hidden and that you developed your own ‘Beast.’”
At this point, Daniel said, “Robert, I'm sure we all have hundreds more questions, I know I have. But if we're facing the dangers of which you told us, and if it's as urgent as you've said, there's no time for all of that. However, before we make any decisions, I'd like to give everyone the opportunity to have their say. For that part, I trust you'd take no offense if I ask you to wait outside?”
Robert nodded. “No problem, maybe one of the guards can show me where I can get something to eat and some coffee in this place?”
Daniel stood and accompanied Robert to the door where he asked one of his security guards to arrange for Robert to be taken to the restaurant.
* * *
Raven Rock meeting room
BACK IN HIS seat, Daniel said, “The floor is open. I'd say the first thing we’d have to decide is if we believe any of this?”
It quickly became evident there were three groups of thought. The first group rejected the whole thing as some kind of prank played by JR, who was well-known for his practical jokes. Who this man was, who looked and spoke and acted like Robert Cartwright, they could not explain.
It was not surprising to Daniel that the majority of this group consisted of the older Rosslerites, which included the Musketeers.
The second group was ambivalent, they neither believed nor rejected it, Daniel and Sarah found themselves in this group.
The third group consisted mostly of the younger and more tech-savvy Rosslerites, such as Raj and Roy. They accepted everything and wanted to take action.
Daniel was, however, very surprised to find his ninety-two-year-old grandmother in the latter group.
He had to ask. “Grandma, I am pleasantly surprised to see you have no issue
s with what you’ve heard. What was it that convinced you?”
Bess grinned. “Son, I know Robert Cartwright, that man who stood here earlier is him, it was not an imposter. Besides, the way I see it, we don’t have much of a choice. If we don’t believe him and do nothing, and those people from Russia are real and they take over the world, we would have a lot to be sorry about and nothing we could do about it. But, if we choose to believe him and send some of our people to help him, as he requested, all we stand to lose is a bit of our time.”
Daniel smiled. That was his grandma Bess, coolheaded and wise. He looked at Sarah, and the expression on her face told him she’d just joined the third group, and as Daniel’s gaze shifted around the table, he found more of them nodding. There was no arguing with Bess’s logic.
“It seems Grandma Bess has provided the answer. It’s not a matter of if we believe this to be true or not, it’s just that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“Everyone onboard with that?”
The Rosslerites have dealt with scary and weird situations in the few years of their existence. This was by far the most way-out thing anyone of them had ever heard. But Bess’s reasoning was correct, and Daniel’s summary thereof, ‘better to be safe than sorry’, soon had everyone in agreement.
Getting the nod from everyone, Daniel invited suggestions of what to do next.
Raj spoke with unfocused eyes. “I don’t know who these people are, but they have to be stopped,” he almost whispered.
All eyes focused on Raj. “Raj?” Sam inquired.
Speaking slowly and softly, eyes still unfocused, Raj responded, “These people at the canyon brought Robert back to life and … loaded another person into him …” he shivered. “He says the people at the canyon site are friendly. If they are friendly and can do this, and this Viktor person is killing people just so he can re-animate them, he has to be stopped. He can’t have access to anything at the canyon site – who knows what he would do with it.”
“I believe Raj is right,” Luke stated. “He needs to be stopped, and the sooner the better.”
Within minutes, no one seemed to have reservations; they participated as if they were all believers.
“The question is, do we go after him in Tunguska, or wait for him to come to the canyon?” Jack asked.
“I didn’t know we’d decided to get involved in this at all yet,” Sinclair said, bringing the meeting back to focus.
Roy looked at him incredulously. “Sinclair! We can’t let them just take over the planet!”
“Who said anything about letting them take over anything? I just want to know if we are united in the decision to do something about this threat.”
A chorus of “hell yes,” and “damn straight,” followed Sinclair’s statement.
Roy stood up, drawing everyone’s attention. “We’re gonna nano-nuke ‘em!”
Luke said, “Roy, I’m starting to worry just a little bit about you and those nano-nukes—you’re awfully enthusiastic about using them.”
Salome started a ‘nan-no-nuke, nan-no-nuke’ chant, and the others joined in and then started laughing as Luke shook his head in defeat. The comic relief eased the terror of Robert’s report and the tension from moments before, even Raj looked more himself.
Daniel let the laughter and teasing flow around him for a bit and then nodded to Sinclair who understood, that as leader of the Rossler Foundation, he was now in charge of the meeting.
CHAPTER 22
Yemelyanovo airport near Krasnoyarsk, Russia
SIX THOUSAND MILES away, in a green valley surrounded by rolling hills covered in a dense pine forest, Deszik watched from a third level window as the Airbus A320 descended against the backdrop of a beautiful blue sky and touched down on the single runway. His eyes followed it as it taxied to the gate, and the boarding ramp rolled out to meet it, sealing gently against the side of the aircraft.
Shifting his gaze, he scanned the terminal for Petya. He’d found it odd that Viktor paired him with Petya on this mission when he was normally paired with Ama’ru. Something wasn’t right, and his internal sense of wariness had been triggered.
Watch your back.
Petya’s flight wouldn’t leave for several hours yet, and he had no reason to be at the airport this early, but Deszik couldn’t shake the feeling that he would show up early.
Getting up, he meandered across the terminal and peered out the windows toward the passenger arrival area.
There he is!
Deszik watched as Petya made his way toward the four-story glass atrium entrance to terminal two. Returning to his gate area, Deszik settled into a seat where he would be able to watch the gate-area entrance without Petya being aware of his scrutiny.
Within a few minutes, he watched Petya enter, scan the area, identify him, and then make his way to a seat perfect for observing Deszik covertly. A hard knot formed in Deszik’s stomach.
I was right! He is watching me.
“Dekka?” Deszik reached out on their secured communication link. “Can you still hear me this far away?”
“Yes. I’m here Deszik.”
“Is there a way to modify my chip so I can detect the others when they are near me?”
“I’m not sure, especially over this distance. Why?”
“Petya is following me, and I’m not sure why. I’d like to be able to know when any of the others are near.”
“I see. Let me give it some thought and see what I can come up with.”
“Thanks, Dekka!”
“You’re welcome.”
“First boarding call for Aeroflot-Russian Airlines flight 7456 with service to Moscow,” the overhead speakers announced.
“That’s my flight; I have to go.”
“Safe journey.”
Deszik moved with a sense of unease as he got up and joined the boarding line. Just before he stepped into the boarding tunnel and lost sight of him, he noted Petya raising his cell phone to his ear. Thanks to his enhanced hearing – enhanced more than Viktor knew thanks to Dekka, Deszik faintly heard Petya’s report.
“Yes, sir, he’s boarding now.”
While Deszik settled into his seat in the aircraft, Petya made his way to a restaurant and ordered breakfast.
A thousand miles to the northeast, Stonash and Ama’ru arrived separately at the Yakutsk airport. Each aware of the other’s presence but acting as strangers, they waited at separate gates. Stonash departed first, Ama’ru an hour later. They would meet again in Flagstaff.
CHAPTER 23
Raven Rock
IT WAS 1:00 a.m. when Robert was called back into the room and told that they’d unanimously decided to help.
Robert nodded and thanked them.
“All right everyone, let’s settle down and talk this through. Robert, what exactly do you want us to do?” Sinclair asked.
“We need to keep Viktor and his men out of the canyon site—they can’t be allowed access to the technology and connections there.”
“Do you want us to raise an army? Move the equipment? Or something else? What do you have in mind?”
Sinclair didn’t wait for Robert’s answer. He looked at Daniel and said, “I suppose you won’t authorize a few bombers to go over to Russia and nuke the Tunguska site?”
Daniel shivered when he heard that and shook his head. He couldn’t tell them how strained the relations with the Russians were and the reasons for it. “Nope, not an option for now. Nor would be the option to bring the Russians into the fold and get them to do the bombing. They might just want to capture the technology for themselves.”
“Yep, that’s precisely what you can expect from them,” Sam commented.
Daniel nodded. “I’m afraid we’re on our own.”
“Sorry, Robert, please continue,” Sinclair said.
“Actually, we hoped your team would have some ideas. We don’t have time to raise an army or move the equipment.”
“A small force of commandos could engage them in the confines
of the canyon, but it doesn’t sound as if they would stand much of a chance,” Jack said.
Roy started to say something, but Sinclair cut him off. “Roy, we don’t want to nuke the Grand Canyon if we can keep from it.”
Frowning at Sinclair, Roy replied, “Believe it or not, that wasn’t what I was thinking,” and he turned to Robert. “You said Viktor and these soldiers are all re-animated people with chips in their heads. Right?”
Nodding, Robert agreed, “That’s right.”
“Do you have access to their technology and medical records through their database?”
Robert nodded.
“Then I suggest we let them in and find a way to kill them using their chips against them. If the Beast could kill through a chip, why can’t we?”
“The chips that were tied to the Beast had a specific design with a trigger to kill that could be activated. We have to find out if these chips have the same feature,” Rebecca said.
“They wouldn’t necessarily need a ‘trigger’, just a vulnerability,” Roy responded. “Isn’t that right, Raj?”
Raj, deep in thought, nodded. “That’s true, and maybe we could relocate the headquarters to another part of the facility or canyon to hide it from the soldiers and leave it looking like it’s still operational. Then we could kill them when we know how to do it.”
“There are some hidden tunnels and areas within the canyon,” Robert said. “It is possible that could work. I suggest we contact my colleagues at the canyon and bring them into this discussion.”
“Let’s bring them in then,” Sinclair agreed.
Within moments, the life-like holographic images of the three canyon dwellers appeared in the meeting room at Raven Rock and the war room in the Rabbit Hole, and Robert introduced them.
“Linkola, Korda, Siasha, it is a great pleasure to meet you,” Daniel said. “I only wish this were in person.”
“I’m sure there will be time for that in the future, Mister President,” Linkola said. “In the meantime, since you’ve contacted us, I assume an agreement has been reached for us to work together against the Re’an.”