“Simple physics.”
“No. I mean this . . . the gravity mirror. Even the BTC doesn’t understand how it works. No one does.”
He thought for a moment. “It’s not me. It’s the universe. I was just the first person to see it.”
Her beautiful eyes studied him.
CHAPTER 28
Tipping Point
Graham Hedrick stood in the BTC command center as technicians scurried about in the control room below. He knew that beyond his sight AI bots were scouring consumer data, telecommunications signals, surveillance camera imagery, and satellite reconnaissance for any sign of Grady, Alexa, or Cotton. Every form of communication known to man was being sifted and resifted. With every passing hour they widened their search radius.
Hedrick turned to Morrison, who, as usual, stood nearby. “What happened to those underwater signatures—the ones in Lake Michigan?”
Morrison looked grim. “They disappeared. The teams up there have been looking, but nothing so far.”
Hedrick studied the screens. “An underwater escape. That must mean Alexa has cavitating gear. Check the inventory and see if anything is missing.”
“Let’s just assume she has it. What difference does—”
“Capabilities.” He turned back to Morrison. “If they have deepwater gear, I think Mr. Grady’s going to try for Hibernity. His compatriots there helped facilitate his escape. He’ll try to rescue them. That can’t happen.”
“If we recall the search teams, I’ll have enough manpower to go down to Hibernity and clean house.”
“No.”
“But if Grady and Alexa secure those prisoners, they could cut a deal with BTC splinter groups. Or they could trade them to the U.S. government—which would help them catch up to us technologically.”
“Yes. And if not the U.S. government or BTC splinter groups, then a hundred other enemies.” Hedrick gazed up at the world on the screens. “It’s all spinning out of control. It’s getting harder and harder to contain all this technology.” He turned back to Morrison. “How many people in Hibernity have invented fusion now—sixty? Seventy?”
“One hundred and twelve.”
“See? No, this can’t go on. That’s why it’s time to resolve this situation once and for all.”
“Meaning what, sir?”
“Meaning that the mission of the BTC must evolve. We’ve been trying to protect society from disruption since the Cold War, but it’s become increasingly obvious to me that we’re the only society that matters now. What’s important is preserving our store of knowledge—the hard-won advances of mankind—against the chaos that’s coming.”
“What chaos, sir?”
“The chaos you’re going to create. Perhaps our Winnower friends had the right idea; the outside world should not have so much knowledge.”
Morrison looked at Hedrick warily. “What are you proposing?”
“Undermine global financial markets—set our AIs loose on power grids, transportation and communications networks. In a few weeks the industrialized world will begin to come apart. We’ll just make sure there are no nuclear missile launches but otherwise let the chaos spread for as many years as is necessary.” Hedrick studied the satellite screens. “By the time it’s over, no one will be able to oppose us.”
“Our mission is to prevent social disruption, Mr. Director, not cause it.”
Hedrick turned calmly to Morrison. “Yes, but disruption of which society? We’ve progressed so far beyond the outside world, they’re no longer us.”
“And the widespread casualties this will cause?”
“The price of progress. Next time we won’t share as much technology. That was our mistake. We need absolute domination in order to keep humanity on track.” Hedrick contemplated the screens again. “You are with me, I hope, Mr. Morrison?”
Morrison cleared his throat, then nodded. “Yes, Mr. Director. You know I am. What about Alexa and Grady?”
“Disrupting civilization will make it harder for them to harm us.”
“She’s a bigger danger to us than anyone.”
“You’re saying we need to eliminate her.”
“The only reason she’s still alive is because of your feelings for her, but aside from Grady and his knowledge of gravity, I can’t think of a single person on this planet who can do more damage to us. Even if you topple civilization, if she winds up in the hands of BTC Asia or Russia, they could extend their life spans indefinitely from what they learn from her miserable carcass. We could be facing the same lunatics for centuries. Not to mention the inside information she has on every inch of this facility and all the people in it. All our procedures and operations. Every weakness. Every—”
“Enough! Okay . . .” He took a deep breath. “Kill her on sight.” Hedrick looked deeply pained. “But not the way you killed Davis and McAllen. I want it painless. Instant.”
“Fine. A high-powered microwave from orbit—”
“I don’t want to know. Just let me know when it’s done.”
“There’s someone else you’re forgetting.”
Hedrick turned to him with a questioning look.
“Cotton.”
Hedrick dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “I’m counting on Cotton to help us.”
“How do you figure?”
“Because he’s a survivor. He can read the way the winds are blowing. Once society reaches the tipping point, he’ll reach out to us. And I’m willing to cut a deal with him in exchange for Grady and Alexa.”
“And after that?”
Hedrick shrugged. “We’ll honor our deal. What do I care if he retires in luxury? He’s been useful, and he might prove useful again.”
“He’s a thief and somehow able to lie even to our AIs.”
“Like I said: He’s useful.” Hedrick focused back on the big satellite screens. “Heightened security procedures are in place?”
Morrison nodded. “We’re on a wartime footing.”
“Good. See that we stay that way. How is the outside world dealing with recent events?”
“The government folks are trying to explain the inexplicable as best they can. Some cell phone video sneaked out. The missile explosions over Canada, the power outages in southern Illinois—it’s starting to build into public hysteria.”
“And just think—it’s been less than twelve hours. We’ve barely started, and already the outside world is on the tipping point. You know what to do, Mr. Morrison.”
“Yes, sir.”
CHAPTER 29
Storming the Temple
Richard Cotton sat combing his hair out. Literally. Jon Grady watched perplexed as Cotton held some sort of glowing stylus to his scalp, activating hair growth at an insane metabolic rate. It came out of his head like Play-Doh through a press. Cotton had already half-finished creating eight-inch-long brown locks.
“And that works . . . anywhere on the body?”
Cotton looked up. “What does?”
Grady pointed.
“Oh. No. Only where there are hair follicles. And even then only up to a certain length before it’ll fall out. Just accelerates a natural process. So . . . if you’re bald naturally, this isn’t going to solve any problems for you. This manly mane is all me.” He winced. “Makes the scalp hot as hell, though. All the accelerated cellular activity.”
Alexa walked past them carrying a black helmet, which she placed on a nearby workbench. “Why are you even messing around with hair, Cotton? You’re not planning on going anywhere, are you?”
“In the event I have to bolt in a hurry, I’d rather have a convincing disguise than a bad one. You’re not the public face of evil here in the States. I am. So forgive me while I transform into an annoying hipster.”
Grady watched as Cotton passed the stylus over his lip and started growing a long mustache.
“I keep calling you Cotton, but that can’t be your real name.”
“All my names are real. I like to think of names as local variables. To you I’m Richard Louis Cotton, and so in this scope shall I always remain. To my online raid clan I’m Leeroy Jenkins, and there, too, shall I always remain.”
“Well, that’s a constant, not a variable.”
Cotton paused. “Quite right, Mr. Grady. I stand corrected.”
Alexa leaned against the workbench. “So you’re sure about your end? About this traitor of yours?”
“I am.”
“Who is it? How do we know we can trust them?”
“You have your traitor. I have mine.”
“How do we know they’re not the same individual?”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure they’re not. Mine is cool, and I’m certain yours is uptight and self-important.”
Alexa turned to Grady. “I don’t trust him. Cotton has no reason to help us.”
Grady placed a hand on her shoulder. “Hedrick tried to kill him. And Cotton’s distrusted them for years. He’s given us plans and preparations we can make use of, Alexa.” He looked around them. “In fact, we already have.”
“And what if this ‘mole’ of his is actually Hedrick or Morrison, and this is all a trap?”
“He could have called them here already. If he’s going to have any sort of life, post BTC, Cotton needs us as much as we need him.”
“Well, if he’s a master thief, why are we the ones breaking in?”
Cotton shrugged. “There was a time when I might have been crazy enough to try to breach their defenses on my own, but they’re on full alert. They’ve activated their perimeter security. No. This is a job for younger hands.”
“I’m twenty years older than you, Cotton.”
He patted her arm. “But you don’t look a day over twenty-five, my dear. And think how much more experience you have than me. Besides, you know their network, their control rooms, and all their procedures.” He raised his eyebrows. “But can you gain access to the network once you’re inside? That’s the question.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m confident I can get credentials.”
Grady gave her a look. “I hope so. Because without the location of Hibernity, this will all be for nothing.”
Cotton started combing a longer beard into existence. “I’m not sure I agree with you there.”
They both looked at him.
“You were right earlier, Mr. Grady. The Kratos satellite is actually the key. If you have control of that, you’ll have power over the BTC. You’ll be able to dictate terms—it’ll be like a celestial gun to their head. And it’s their main defense against enemies right now. Without it, even the government might feel confident enough to press the attack.”
“Or to liberate the prisoners at Hibernity.”
“Yes, Mr. Grady. They just might.”
Alexa’s eyes lingered on Grady. He could feel it. “What?”
“The more I think about this, the more I realize you shouldn’t be going. I can do this more easily alone. I’m trained in operations.”
He shook his head. “They won’t harm me. I’m too valuable to them. That means I can provide a critical diversion for you. They’ll drop everything and try to grab me the moment they know I’m near. Cotton’s right. You need to use that opening to go for control of the Kratos satellite.”
“Assuming Cotton’s mole can get me near the building without getting me incinerated.”
Grady frowned. “And what about this EM-plasma field?”
“You might have invented the gravity mirror, but I’m well practiced with it. I’m more concerned about Cotton’s mole.”
Cotton was forming a long devil’s beard with the stylus. “Have faith. My mole should be able to get you up to the building. All you have to do is turn their world upside down.”
“I can’t believe I’m taking instructions from someone who’s been caught doing this once before.”
“Live and learn, my dear. Now . . .” Cotton rummaged around his workstation. “Here . . .” He tossed her what looked like a one-inch cubic diamond. “Once you get inside and enlist the aid of your ‘friend,’ and you somehow miraculously get past their deadly security measures to the Kratos control station in the heart of the BTC, and then somehow get your biometrics cleared for security access to their most precious asset—”
“This isn’t inspiring confidence.” She studied the crystal.
“After all that, plug that relay q-link into one paired with the satellite. It will transfer control here.” He gestured to the many holographic computer screens floating over his workstation. “Extra points if you can destroy their other q-links. Just keep that control room secure after you do, and I’ll be your overwatch.”
She looked at him doubtfully. “And how do you know how to operate the Kratos satellite?”
“My mole has gotten me access to many things . . .” Cotton brought up detailed blueprints for the Kratos satellite onto his screens as well.
“My God, we had a serious security problem. How did you get these? How did you fool the AIs?”
Cotton spread his hands. “I’m a thief. It’s what I do.”
Grady examined the drawings. “Then the BTC never had a monopoly on all of this technology. All of this insanity is for nothing?”
Alexa still didn’t look happy. “What other data have you stolen, Cotton? What other plans?”
He laughed. “Now is not the time or place, but I assure you I will share everything I have. I will hold back nothing.”
Alexa didn’t seem to know what else to do, given the situation. She turned to Grady, then grabbed the helmet from the nearby workbench and handed it to him. “I found this scout cover among Cotton’s stolen loot. It’ll give you some head protection if things go wrong. BTC aimbots always go for head shots.”
Grady accepted the helmet. It looked like a matte-black bicycle helmet except that its crystal visor seemed to be made of bulk diamond, which he was starting to become familiar with. It could probably withstand the impact of a .50-caliber bullet—though his brain would still be turned to Jell-O from the impact. He nodded grimly. “Thanks.”
Cotton finished his coiffure. “Well, what do you think?”
They turned to look at him. He now resembled Wyatt Earp. They stood silently.
“That good, eh? Well, to hell with you both. You have no taste.” He tossed the stylus onto the workbench. “Are we ready to do this thing?”
Alexa nodded. “Yes. The sooner we do, the sooner we can end this.” She turned to Grady. “Your destination is programmed into the helmet visor.”
Grady nodded.
“Cotton, how do you know they’ll be watching that geographic location?”
Cotton was busying himself at his workbench. “Because it’s the location my mole reported as Mr. Grady’s last-sighted position. They’ll have sensors on it.”
She turned back to Grady. “The site’s about two hundred miles from Chicago, and about two hundred and fifty miles from Detroit.”
“So even after the alert, it’ll take them hours to get to me.”
She shook her head. “No. Morrison’s assault teams use pressurized diamondoid armor. They don’t stay in the atmosphere. They ascend to about twenty miles into the atmosphere, and then free fall over the landscape from there.”
Grady considered this. “Much thinner atmosphere at that altitude. Makes sense.”
“Right. It means they can reach speeds of eight hundred and forty miles an hour. It’s about a four-minute fall up to their cruising altitude; about seventeen minutes travel time, and then a four-minute fall back down to sea level. So expect them to arrive within thirty minutes of the time they leave BTC headquarters. Stay miles away from your destination until I give you the ready signal.” She examined him. “Are you sure
about this, Jon?”
He took a deep breath. “It needs to be done.”
“We could try some other form of diversion.”
“Nothing that’s guaranteed to get them to come in enough force to be of use to you. If they definitely see me, they’ll think you’re not far away.”
“We could have Cotton’s mole make a false sighting in—”
Cotton shook his head. “He’s no longer in a position to help there, I’m afraid—seeing as he lost track of Mr. Grady once already.”
“What if we created a decoy that drew them?”
Grady answered the q-link, “Alexa—anything that fails will only tip them off that you’re coming.”
She pondered it a bit more. “The moment you appear, there’s the possibility that they just zap you dead.”
“I don’t think Hedrick would do that. In any event it’s worth the risk if it provides a distraction at a critical moment.” He gripped her shoulder. “No matter what happens to me, Alexa, promise me you’ll free Archie and the others. You need to get to them before the BTC does; even if you get control of the satellite, they’ll try to hide them somewhere. Don’t let them.”
“We won’t. Don’t worry, we’ll rescue them, and you’ll do it with us.”
“Hate to interrupt the touching moment.” Cotton approached with what appeared to be an autoinjector. He was loading an ampoule into it.
Alexa scowled at him. “What the hell is that?”
“You never asked how the BTC caught me when I tried to break in all those years ago. Kind of hurt you didn’t ask, actually.”
“I assumed you did something stupid.”
“Ah, funny. No, I might not have been caught had I known that they release a neurotoxin into the crawl spaces during high alarms. It makes you panic and run screaming for fresh air—even if that’s over a cliff. The stuff enters through all semipermeable membranes—lungs, skin, eyes.”
“I’ve never heard of this.”
“Have you spent much time crawling through your power conduits during security alarms?”
She just glared.
“This is what I was working on earlier.”
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