by J C Ryan
“I don’t trust you.”
“Trust me? What’s trust got to do with anything? We’re supposed to check the canyon as we move toward the site. One of us has to check the main trail while the other checks by the river.”
Petya made no reply, he just glowered at Deszik.
“Fine, you don’t trust me. The feeling is mutual. You choose which path you want to check. We need to get moving so we can meet up with the others on time.”
Petya responded after a long silence. “I’ll check the riverbank path.”
Deszik moved swiftly ahead and stepped off the trail at the marker he’d placed the day before. He climbed up into a cleft in the rocks, moving along it to where he could see the river trail.
As he got into position, he saw Petya come around a slight curve in the trail. Five steps later, he stepped on the false bridge Deszik had created and fell into a deep, water-filled hole between the rocks.
Deszik ran to the site, already knowing what he would find. As he reached the side, he caught the last glimpse of Petya being sucked down into the churning water.
The river undercut the bank along this section and had created an inescapable underground channel that, according to the tracking devices he has released there, rejoined the main river nearly four miles downstream. The trip took hours; even with his enhanced body, Petya wouldn’t be able to hold his breath that long. Besides, there were many narrow places that his body might not be able to pass through. It was likely his body would never complete the transit in one piece.
Dekka? Mother?
I’m here, son.
What is it, Deszik? Are you all right?
I am safe. I wanted to let you know that Petya has been eliminated and is no longer a threat.
I’m glad you’re safe, my son. Thank you for letting me know.
I am sorry that was necessary, but I’m glad you are all right.
Thank you. I’ll be in touch again, soon.
He lay on the ground and placed his arms in the hole where Petya had fallen, then dragged them across the sharp rocks along the edge, cutting the backs and undersides of his arms. Satisfied that he was safe from his executioner, Deszik continued to the rendezvous.
“Where is Petya?” one of his team members asked.
“He slipped into a chasm along the river. I tried to get him out, but he was sucked under. I waited nearly half an hour and looked along the banks downstream, but he never resurfaced.”
“What happened to your arms?”
Deszik looked at the dried blood and shrugged. “The rocks along the edge of the hole were sharp and Petya’s weight, while I was trying to drag him out, caused the rocks to cut into me.”
The others looked at him for a moment before he saw acceptance in their eyes.
“Come on, it’s an hour before sun-up, and we still have to reach the site.”
CHAPTER 34
Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA
ROBERT WAS ALONE in the new control room, watching as the dark clothed figures made their way through the canyon. They’d triggered the first proximity sensor a few minutes ago. It was time to wake the others and get Jack’s team outside.
As he was standing to leave the room, Jack walked in.
“Good morning, Robert! What are you doing up so early?”
“Keeping an eye on the Re’an soldiers,” he said pointing to the monitors. “They arrived at the first monitoring station a few minutes ago. I was just about to wake everyone.”
Jack stepped up to the station where Robert had been sitting. “They’re a little earlier than I expected. I’ll keep watch while you wake the others.”
Robert nodded and left the room. As he made his way toward the rooms where the others slept, he pondered the news reports he’d been monitoring the night before.
In recent days, seismic monitoring stations in Anchorage, Alaska were recording a substantial increase in submarine earthquake activity along the Aleutian Trench in the North Pacific. Additionally, several of the volcanoes along the Aleutian Island chain were showing suspicious activity - earthquakes, deformation—or swelling, and increasing levels of sulfur dioxide in the steam they released. The volcanoes Kanaga, Bogoslof, Cleveland, and Pavlof were growing restless.
The fact that a helicopter had been sent out to measure sulfur dioxide levels told the geologist in Robert that scientists were concerned.
Time will tell.
After waking the others, they all gathered in the new control room. “Roy, do you have the high-frequency sound devices set up in all major areas as planned?” Jack asked.
“Yes, I’m still working on the nanites, though. I need at least another day to have them all ready,” Roy answered. “As soon as they’re done, I’ve modified a few spyders for several areas on each level to deliver the nanites.”
“Good. The sooner you can have them ready, the better!”
“Jack,” Robert said. “I think it would be wise to have someone here to greet the soldiers. I suspect they might know there are people here and finding no one might make them suspicious.”
Linkola nodded. “He’s right. Korda and I should be here to greet them.”
“I was actually thinking of myself,” Robert said wryly.
“I’m sure you were, but your skills are needed elsewhere. Korda and I will meet them.”
“I will join you,” Siasha said.
“Why should we risk you as well?” Korda protested.
Pointing to one of the monitors, Siasha replied, “This man here – he… has a slight resemblance to my sister’s son. I’m not sure it’s him, but if it is, and there is trouble, I might be able to intercede through him.”
“Are you sure you want to put yourself in that position?” Robert asked. “If it isn’t him, or he turns out to be not the person you remember, it could be dangerous.”
“I’ll take the risk.”
“Ok,” Jack said. “I suggest you let them find you in the farming or family dwelling level. You’re not military and aren’t supposed to know anything about the control room, so stay away from here.”
They agreed.
“At their current speed, we should still have an hour or so before they arrive. Once they get here, we don’t know how long it will take them to gain access, or what they are likely to do, so we all need to stay on our toes,” Jack said.
“Dennis let’s get our teams in place outside. Mouse, you and Kerinski take care of the rest of the foundation team in the new control room as well as keeping your eyes on the Eighth Cycle people here.”
“If no one has questions, let’s move!” Jack said.
They scattered to their respective assignments.
CHAPTER 35
Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA
DESZIK AND THE other teams made their way along the main trail and carefully picked their way into the side canyon, unaware that they were under the watchful eyes of the Tectus and Rossler Foundation teams.
The teams and monitoring equipment were well hidden, Jack had seen to that. He had conducted drills under different lighting conditions. Wearing night vision goggles, he had moved about the canyon carefully observing the team member locations and equipment placement, until he was sure it was undetectable.
His diligence payed off. The Re’an team members were unaware they were being monitored.
Deszik paused after reaching the side canyon and began scanning the cliff for the entrance.
It took him a while before he finally noticed a holographic distortion in one area and climbed up to investigate.
Reaching through what appeared to be solid rock, he touched the smooth surface of the lift doors.
“Up here!” he called into his throat mic and was soon joined by the rest of the team.
“Viktor didn’t say anything about the door being hidden by holographic technology,” the youngest of the soldiers observed.
“No, he didn’t,” Deszik said. “He may have forgotten, didn’t know, or we have a surprise waitin
g inside. We will proceed with caution. Eight of us can descend at a time.”
He quickly divided the group into three teams and proceeded to give the orders. “I will take the first team down. Stonash, you follow as soon as the lift returns. Ama’ru, wait two minutes before making your descent; I want to have our own surprise in case we are surprised upon arrival.”
The rapid descent caught the Re’an off guard, and those on the Rossler team watching from the new control room laughed at their reactions.
“Watch that first step, boys; it’s a doozy!” JR whispered with a grin.
As programmed, the lift stopped at level four, the education facility. The Re’an tumbled out of the lift, quickly took up cover positions, and waited for the second team to arrive.
When team two arrived, they spread out, investigating the central area of the level. With the arrival of the third team, they split up in groups of five, four soldiers to check each of the five hallways, and four to remain holding the central area secure.
It took time, but Deszik had the soldiers check every dorm room in the three hallways. Once he was satisfied the level was clear, he left two soldiers as guards in the central room and took the rest down one level to the gathering room and museum on the fifth level.
“Same drill here,” Deszik ordered. “One of you stay behind to guard the central area, the rest of you break into teams of four and check every room.”
Shortly after starting the search with his team, Deszik received a message from Ama’ru asking him to come back to the central area as they had captured three prisoners.
Ama’ru reported first. “I found him reading a book in the tenth apartment on the left in hallway one. He says his name is Linkola.”
A stern-looking soldier spoke next, shoving a nervous-looking man forward, “This one says his name is Korda.”
Deszik’s eyes shifted to the third prisoner, a woman, Stonash was tugging forward by her arm. “This one calls herself Siasha.”
He identified her immediately as his mother’s sister. Without showing any sign of recognition, he turned to speak with Linkola. “How many of you are here?”
“Only the three of us,” Linkola answered calmly.
“You better not be lying to me.”
“Why are you here?” Linkola asked.
“Do you know who we are?”
Linkola shook his head and said, “No. Should I?”
“We are the Re’an.”
“Never heard of you.”
“No, I suppose you haven’t. We are… a new race, descendants of the B’ran and the L’gundo of the Eighth cycle.”
Linkola fixed a look of severe skepticism on his face. “Not possible… unless… well, unless you found a solution to the infertility problem. Did you?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
Linkola smirked. “Really? Interesting. I would like…”
“Where is the main control center of this facility?” Deszik interrupted.
“Level one. I’m not sure it’s operational. I was up there some time ago and it had power, but I don’t know anything about it.”
“Aren’t you a soldier?”
“No. I’m a scientist, and so is she,” he pointed to Siasha. “And Korda is our assistant. None of us are military, or know anything about the command center, other than where it is.”
“Take me there,” Deszik demanded bluntly.
Choosing four of his men to accompany them, Deszik directed Ama’ru and Stonash to take the remaining soldiers and complete a search of the site.
As they rode the lift to level one, he reached out to Dekka.
Dekka?
No answer.
Dekka!
What! Sorry, I was asleep.
I’ve found my mother’s sister, and I need to know if you can alter her chip so I can speak to her by mind as I do with you and mother.
I’m sorry, Deszik, but I can’t. I made many adjustments to our chips over the years to give us this ability. Her chip won’t have the supporting systems in place that make this possible.
Ok. I’ll find another way.
Good luck!
Deszik inspected the control room carefully.
Everything appears to be operational, yet some of the readings aren’t quite right. These controls have been tampered with… but when? Did these three do it? Have the systems degraded over time? Or, was it done at the shutdown of the facility?
He studied Linkola for several minutes, watching the subtle movements of his body and eyes and his breathing.
He knows!
He studied the other two.
They all know!
Clearing his throat, he said to his soldiers, “Everything appears to be in order here. You,” he said pointing to three of his men in turn. “Guard these stations. I’ll send two more up to help you.
“You,” he said speaking to the fourth man, a burly soldier on his team. “Take the woman back to her room and keep her there under guard.” He let his eyes rake cruelly down her body, and he brushed his fingers down her cheek and neck.
He saw the look of hurt and loathing cross her face before it sparked with anger, and she slapped him across the face.
I think she has recognized me.
The burly soldier shoved her up against the wall and drew his arm back to strike, but Deszik intervened. “Leave her! We will not hurt the prisoners.” He looked around the room at his men. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir!” They replied in chorus.
Deszik stepped closer to Siasha, and with a grin on his face he again ran his hand across her cheek and neck and said, “But I’ll definitely want to have a quiet word with her a bit later.”
The soldier grabbed Siasha’s arm and led her away.
Korda started toward Deszik, shouting, “You leave her alone!”
Linkola managed to grab Korda by the back of his shirt and pulled him back. Two of the soldiers moved quickly—one punched Korda in the face and the second drew his weapon.
Once again Deszik intervened. “Stop! I told you, we will not hurt them. They’re not soldiers. If you must subdue them, you’ll do it with the least amount of violence to overcome their aggression.”
The angry soldier looked at Korda with disgust before holstering his weapon and returning to his station.
Speaking into his throat mic again, Deszik called six more soldiers to the control room. While he waited, he contacted his mother.
Mother! Your sister is alive!
Siasha lives?
Yes! And I think she recognized me. Do you think she will help us?
If you can convince her of who you are and your truthfulness, I’m sure she will.
How can I convince her quickly?
Tell her about our plans if you must.
I will.
When the six stolid looking soldiers arrived, he set two of them to additional stations in the control room.
“Take these two back to their rooms and keep them there. I want two of you outside their doors at all times,” Deszik ordered.
CHAPTER 36
Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA
DESZIK FOLLOWED THE group to the family level and then headed to Siasha’s room.
The guard opened the door for him as he approached. Once inside, he closed and locked the door behind him, and just as he was about to turn to Siasha, he sensed danger, something hurtling through the air toward his head. He ducked, and the glass vase shattered against the wall where his head was a split second earlier.
Deszik approached Siasha standing in the corner of the room, from where she was screaming insults and throwing any moveable objects within her reach at him. He continued calmly, dodging the flying objects with ease until he caught her and pinned her arms down.
“Stop it!” he hissed. “I’m not going to hurt you! Be quiet.”
She fought against his grip, kicking and screaming as he pulled her to the bedroom. Pushing her down on the bed on her back, he straddled her and pinned her down wi
th his legs, covering her mouth with his hand - which she bit, drawing blood.
He removed his hand, shook his head and whispered in an urgent voice, “Stop it! Listen to me. I am not going to hurt you.”
But she refused and kept on yelling and wriggling to get away from him.
He grabbed a pillow and forced it over her face. Leaning as close as he dared to her ear he whispered loudly, “Sister of my mother, stop! I promise I will not harm you. I need to talk to you privately and this was the only way I could do it.”
Gradually her body grew still beneath him. “I’m going to remove the pillow so we can talk. Please trust me and don’t do anything foolish.”
Feeling her head nod, he carefully took the pillow away from her face and helped her to sit up.
She moved away from him still wide-eyed with shock and disgust.
“I’m sorry, Siasha. I didn’t want to frighten you. Please forgive me.”
She remained silent and slowly seemed to calm down and collect herself. She stared at Deszik for a while longer before stuttering, “Is… is… my sister… is… Telestra alive?”
“Yes, she is, and she misses you very much. She can’t wait to see you again.”
“How… I mean… how could that even be possible?”
“That’s why I am here. There might be a way, but we don’t have much time. You’ll have to work with me.”
Siasha didn’t respond. It was clear she still didn’t trust him. And he couldn’t blame her for it.
“Siasha, I’d say from the looks of things in the control room that you knew we were coming. Is that so?”
Getting no answer, he shrugged and continued. “I don’t blame you for not trusting me. I know you were part of the Liberty Movement and sent here to spy on the B’ran. Are Linkola and Korda L’gundo sympathizers?”
Still no comment.
“Let me tell you what is happening. Perhaps that will convince you to trust me.” He proceeded to summarize Viktor’s plans, as well as those of Dekka and his mother.
When he finished, she cautiously approached him, sitting next to him on the bed. “Deszik, I’m so sorry for slapping you.”