“There might be a phone inside,” Emma said from where she crouched behind one of the boulders, looking at the compound through a gap. “If we could find it, we could call the police, or the feds, anyone. Let them know what’s going on.”
“You think they don’t know what’s going on? They’re the ones covering this up. You heard what Agent Vega said. We were supposed to be eliminated. If we call them, we might as well just hand ourselves in and sign our own death warrants.”
“What do you suggest, then?”
“Right now, I don’t know. I’m thinking.”
“Think harder, we’ve got company.”
Emma pointed to the west. A black helicopter approached. It was barely noticeable in the predawn light, and the sound of its rotors grew louder every second. It flew low and fast, gaining on the compound quickly.
Jacob ducked lower behind the boulder as it came nearer and eventually flew overhead before it hovered near the single, short airstrip to the left of the compound, close to the transport plane. The downdraft kicked up a cloud of dirt and dust, obscuring Jacob’s view of the chopper. A dim ray of light came from the left side of the compound. Jacob couldn’t see beyond the particulate to make out who was leaving the building, but he counted three people climbing into the back of the chopper.
A fourth figure, one Jacob recognized as a synthetic, dashed past the helicopter. It didn’t even duck below the rotors. The synthetic reached the transport plane and climbed the ladder to the cockpit.
“Looks like they’re leaving,” Emma said. “That must be Gray and his lot.”
It certainly looked like the case, but that, of course, meant they’d won the battle inside. Unconsciously, Jacob felt for the gun inside his jacket, then thought back to the soldier killed in the middle of the warehouse.
“It seems they’re not interested in us,” Jacob said, even though he kept his eyes on the compound, his heart beating hard. “We could go back inside when they’re gone.”
Emma scrunched her nose as she thought about it. “I could go north,” Emma said. “To get help.”
“No chance. We have no idea what’s going on. Who knows who’s out there? Wait, get down. They’re coming this way.”
Jacob pulled Emma back down to the ground behind the boulders as the roar of plane engines and helicopter rotors filled the air. The chopper lifted up, turned, and headed back to the west, flying over their heads.
He caught a brief glimpse into a rear window and thought he saw Zoe Vega. But he couldn’t confirm it. In such low light it could just be his imagination filling in the blanks.
The brain, a pattern-recognition engine, often changed new and different things to those that were familiar. It was the reason why people thought they saw UFOs when all they were seeing were various aircraft lights or Chinese lanterns. It was no coincidence that most witnesses of UFOs were enthusiasts or conspiracy theorists—like himself. Their brains were looking for those patterns and saw them everywhere, much like the devoutly religious seeing pictures of Jesus.
“Where do you think they’re going?” Emma said as she sat up against the rocks and watched the transport plane turn in a slow arc before taxiing down the runway.
Jacob watched as the plane lifted with a roar of its engines and climbed slowly in the dark blue dawn sky. Unlike the chopper, the plane headed east.
“No idea,” Jacob said. “But wherever they’re going, I don’t think it’s good news. Just what are Gray’s plans? He’s gone way overboard here, slaughtering a bunch of government agents. And who knows how many of those damned synthetics he’s got out there.”
“We can’t stay here. I’m going to check it out, see if anyone is still there.” Emma got to her feet, brushing the dirt from her legs.
Jacob grabbed at her hand. “What if someone’s still there? I hardly think they want us alive if they are, whichever side they’re on.”
“Well, I’m tired and cold sitting out here. If we do nothing, we’ll just end up catching hypothermia or something. I’ll just be a few moments.”
“I’m coming with you, then.”
“Don’t be stupid, you can barely walk. Just wait here. I’ll be, like, two minutes tops. If I hear or see anything, I’ll be right back.”
Jacob pushed himself up the boulder until he was standing on his good leg. “I can’t let you do that.”
Emma gave him a withering look, her eyebrows rising on her forehead. “I’m capable of looking after myself.”
“I know, that’s not what I mean, it’s just… I… well. I care about you. There have already been too many deaths because of me. I got you all mixed up in this, and I don’t want anything else to happen to you.”
“I chose to be involved,” Emma said, relaxing her shoulders, taking the tension out of her voice. “I appreciate your concern, I really do, but we’re in this together. If it weren’t for you, we’d still be stuck in there, and probably dead. I’m going to do my part now.”
Jacob knew he couldn’t talk her out of it. Instead, he handed her the gun. “At least take some protection. Just in case.”
Emma took the gun, looking at it as though it were poisonous. “Just watch out for me from here. I’ll scout around and be right back, okay?”
“I guess I don’t have much say in the matter,” Jacob said.
“No, you don’t. Now get down and keep watch.”
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to the compound in a crouching run, keeping her arms low, gun out front.
Stupidly, despite the peril they were both in, Jacob couldn’t help but smile a little at the kiss. It was the first time she’d displayed that kind of affection. At least the first time when she was sober, anyway.
Of course, that made his anxiety even worse as she approached the shadow of the compound. She arrived near the spot they had fallen from, and sidestepped across the exterior wall with her back to the building and both hands on the gun.
She disappeared around the right corner. From his position he couldn’t see that side of the compound. He had no idea if there were doors or windows there.
“Screw it,” he whispered.
He couldn’t just stay behind the rocks.
Busted ankle or not, he hobbled out from the boulders, keeping his weight on his good leg, and headed to his right so that he could get a better angle and keep Emma in sight.
The yellow light from a window illuminated that side of the compound. The window had bars across it. Emma knelt below, her face turned up and cocked to one side as though she were listening. Jacob wanted to call out, find out what she could hear, but he resisted the temptation and kept low behind the smaller, knee-high rocks.
Something in the corner of his eye caught his attention.
A synthetic from the left side of the building walked around the corner, a rifle in its hands. Jacob hit the deck hard; his chest struck a rock and his ankle bent at an angle, making his vision blur with pain.
Gray’s creation seemed to be examining the ground as it continued to stalk the length of the compound, getting closer to Emma.
Jacob wanted to call out to her, make her realize. Emma stood and headed back to the corner of the building.
As soon as she turned, they’d see each other.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
5:05 a.m., Day 4, Heading West
Gray marveled at the light pink cloud formations around him as the chopper thumped through the early dawn sky. Just like big lumps of cotton, he thought: tranquil, still, not man-made. It felt like a nice break from the project.
Vega broke his concentration by yawning. She rested her chin on the lapel of her jacket.
Michael yanked her shirt collar back. A look of surprise crossed her face as she bounced against the seat.
“Jesus, is that really necessary?” Vega said.
Gray leaned towards the cockpit. “Are the cars waiting for us?”
“Yes, Doctor, they’ve been waiting since last night,” the pilot replied.
; “I thought you said we were heading to a submarine?” Vega said.
“Yes, but we can’t land on top of it, can we?”
“How the hell did you get a sub? Whose is it?”
“Devereaux’s. He loved the sea, you know?”
“Kind of ironic that you dumped him there,” Vega said.
“Very perceptive, Agent Vega,” Michael said.
“It doesn’t take a genius to work it out. Not now…” Her voice trailed off.
Gray leaned towards her. He was trying to figure out if it was worth talking to the woman. The flight was starting to bore him, and Vega could provide some early feedback on his more advanced creations.
“So, Agent Vega, what do you think about the synthetics?” he said.
“What does it matter what I think? You should think about what’s coming your way.”
Gray smiled. “Don’t be like that. Come now, tell me, what do you think?”
“Dangerous, subservient; they’re not like humans, they’re just shells.”
“Could a shell fly a helicopter?” Michael said.
“This one? You’re kidding, right?”
“No, I never joke. Are you impressed?”
“I’m more worried than impressed. You’re forgetting I’ve trialed two of these things,” she said, pointing at Michael.
“How did you know?” Michael said.
“Your wooden style, zero personality, the strength. I didn’t see it until it was too late. I just thought you were a miserable, jumped-up security guard.”
“I can assure you I’m just like my DNA brother,” he protested.
“Your brother?”
Michael tightened his grip. Vega’s shirt bunched around her neck, causing her to let out a short cough.
“Easy now,” Gray said. “Michael prides himself on his appearance and performance. Having zero personality is hardly a crime. Take your director…” Gray said.
Michael loosened his grip.
“Who exactly is your brother, Michael? Where is he?” Vega said.
“That’s not your concern at the moment,” Gray said.
“At least tell me about the two in Portland. If you’re creating synthetics based on humans, who were they?”
“The two your boss allowed you to see were early models based on two vagrants. We plucked them from the streets. Do you think anybody cared or sent out a search party?”
“I only gave them basic training,” Michael added.
“They were trained enough to take out our team in Portland.”
“They were trained for the task. Nothing more,” Michael said.
“You planned this from the start?” Vega prompted.
“We plan for all eventualities,” Gray said. “I didn’t want to go this route. The problem is making people see that mass integration is necessary.”
“We tried speaking to some multinationals,” Michael said. “It was a waste of time and resources.”
“Mass integration? How many of these things have you got, Gray?”
“More than enough, Agent Vega. More than enough.”
He yawned, rubbing his eyes.
“Where did you get the launch codes?” Vega said.
“Don’t you see it yet?” Gray said.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Very well.” He sighed. “We preyed on a basic human weakness: greed. With Devereaux it was financial greed; your boss had a physical greed. We sized them up long before they’d even heard of us.”
“You got the codes from the director? I don’t believe it.”
“I didn’t say we got them from him, but he has been our vehicle. Greedy Devereaux with his old college buddy, we showed him the potential to make billions on biofuel and chemicals. When we pushed the idea of the synthetics, as a demonstration of the technology and a path to large government contracts, who do you think he called for a trial?”
“The director, I get that. You couldn’t have known he’d go for it?”
“Remember the game of chess, Agent Vega. We didn’t need to do it this way, but it’s been a great testing ground. It’s allowed us to build up awareness at the highest level without being attacked. Do you think we’re seriously developing biofuel or chemicals?”
“Probably not. I still don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
“I’ll repeat to you what I told a group of international business representatives. Every day, humanity walks a tightrope with death, disease, and conflict hungrily waiting below. We will all eventually fall unless something is done. My object is not only to ensure the long-term sustainability of our species, but also to provide continuous improvement along the way.”
“So what? You’re going to threaten us with a nuclear weapon?”
“Threaten? No, that’s not the intention. The time for games is over. That missile is heading straight for the White House.”
“Why?”
“Have you been listening to a word I’ve been saying? Synthetics are the future. I tried the Mister Nice approach. People aren’t interested. With the capability of founding a stronger race to ensure our long-term survival, do you think I’m just going to stand by and wait for DNA-based humans to fizzle out?”
“You’re completely mad.”
Gray slapped his hands on his knees. “Conversation over.”
He relaxed in the seat, closing his eyes.
Vega started to say something. Gray held his right index finger to his lips, making a hushing sound.
***
Gray flinched awake as the helicopter bumped against the ground. He peered through the window at a small hangar. Several light aircraft and choppers were visible through the open doors. A road led around the side of the building to a parking lot, where he could see two figures standing in front of two red cars.
“We’re here,” Michael said.
“Let’s get moving,” Gray said. “We need to be in open water when they realize what is underway.”
He checked his watch. Two hours was quicker than he’d expected.
Gray slid open the chopper door and stepped onto the tarmac. Vega exited next, almost falling after being shunted out. Michael held her steady. He frog-marched her to the parked vehicles. Gray followed, waving a greeting to the two waiting synthetics.
“How are we going to do this, Doctor?” Michael said.
“We’ll all go in one car. The other can follow.”
Michael opened the rear passenger door. He pressed down on Vega’s head, bundling her into the backseat. He slid into the same side, slamming the door shut behind him. Gray took the front passenger seat.
“To the harbor,” Gray said.
He turned on the radio as the car pulled out of the small private airport. He scowled as rap music blasted from the speakers and immediately switched it off.
“Not a fan of 50 Cent, Doctor?” Vega asked.
“Are you a fan of Siberia, Agent Vega?” Gray said, looking toward the backseat. “Don’t worry; you’ll make a fine contribution to our new way forward.”
Five minutes along the highway, the car shuddered and veered toward the shoulder. The synthetic driver struggled to hold the wheel steady.
“We’ve got a problem, Doctor.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
6:30 a.m., Day 4, Montana
Jacob watched in abject, useless horror as the armed synthetic and Emma approached each other from either side of the building.
It would only be a matter of seconds before…
The synthetic stopped, turned away from the corner, looking into the sky to the north. Jacob ducked lower, avoiding being spotted. He followed the synthetic’s gaze, looked behind him and saw in the far distance a black spot. A helicopter—no, three helicopters flying in formation. The sound of their rotors came to him on the wind.
Emma noticed the choppers too as she poked her head around the corner, and having seen the synthetic, jerked back around. She moved to the further edge and disappeared around the front of the compound,
obviously hiding from the choppers.
The synthetic had sprinted with uncanny speed to the left of the compound, where, Jacob thought, it had probably reentered the building.
Not for the first time, Jacob felt like a sitting duck pressed against the rocks. He didn’t know whether to try to make for the compound or stay where he was. The ground was littered with dirt, a few dry weeds, and the boulders. He guessed the helicopters would be there in minutes. Given his ankle, he decided against going for the cover of the building and instead moved slowly until he curled into a ball, pressed against the boulders.
Luckily, his jacket was a dusty gray color. He hoped with the dusky sky of the predawn that he’d blend in enough to avoid being spotted. If they weren’t specifically looking for him, and didn’t have night vision operational, he’d probably be okay.
They took longer than expected. Five minutes passed, Jacob counting the seconds in order to remain focused and not move. Cramps had set in his calf muscles. His ankle continued to throb, the swelling pressing against his shoe.
He chanced a glimpse as the sound of the rotors grew ever louder.
All three choppers were black and were a different model than the one that had taken Gray away. These looked like government models, probably Black Hawks, or at least ones Jacob recognized from looking at Brian’s various research into cover-ups. The poor guy had a thing about both cover-ups and black helicopters.
Jacob wished he were here now. A part of him, the part that wasn’t worrying about being gunned down in the open, thought Brian would have loved all this—his theories being proven. NSA involvement, a mad scientist running amok with synthetic humanoids, anonymous and remote interrogation houses… it had all the hallmarks of the perfect conspiracy theory.
To Jacob’s relief, the choppers passed overhead. They split formation, one going left to the airstrip, the other two going over the top of the building and landing to either side of the compound.
Where was Emma? He hadn’t seen her return back around from the other side of the building. Was she there now, right in their view? He kept an eye on the chopper to the left. As soon as it touched down, a door flew open and more black-clothed soldiers jumped out, every one carrying a rifle.
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