by M. V. Kallai
A few minutes later, Colonel Cline arrived and demanded that no one speak of the biomachine as the cause of General Pike’s death.
“The story will be that General Pike was attacked by a disgruntled weaponry worker. The other two, Rita and Rhys, were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“There’s just one problem with that, Colonel,” Ganesh said. “No one seems to know who this ‘disgruntled worker’ is. What if he goes straight to the press?”
“Well, then we should go look at some security footage and see if we can figure that out.”
Mace did not look at anyone directly, nor did he offer that he knew who was responsible.
“You are asking us to lie for you, Colonel Cline, which makes me wonder, what’s in it for me? And more importantly, what’s in it for you?” Camden asked. “And why are you making all the final decisions here? Is Ganesh not also a colonel?”
“As a matter of fact, Professor Riles, when I informed the Director of the general’s death on the way here, I was appointed acting leader of TRU until a promotion to general can be made official tomorrow morning.”
“So, you have already lied to him and won your prize,” Camden said. “Which makes me again, ask…what’s in this for me?”
Ganesh gave him a disconcerting look and Terry seemed to be agreeing with Camden’s approach to the situation, nodding his head when he spoke.
“You and I can discuss this later,” Cline said. “Aldretti, stay here with Professor Riles and the civilian while we go investigate.”
“That biomachine is still up there, have you thought of that?” Camden asked.
Cline paused. He had not thought of that.
“It would be best to go up there with a handler, sir,” Mace said.
“Where are we going to get one of those at this hour of the night?” Cline asked, then continued. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to bring anyone else into this situation anyway.”
“Ehem,” Camden cleared his throat. “If I may, General To Be, I have the controls right here, and feel that I have a pretty good grasp on how they work.”
Cline scowled.
“Of course, we can talk tomorrow…or you can sit down with me, alone, for five minutes, right now,” Camden said.
“Cam, why are you doing this? Those people up there deserve our immediate attention,” Ganesh said.
“I couldn’t agree more, Ganesh, but I’m afraid I might not get an opportunity like this again and I’m sick and tired of being a prisoner, my friend,” Camden replied.
“Fine then. Gentlemen, come wait outside with me,” Ganesh said to the group so Camden and Cline could speak alone. “And, Mace, go and get tonight’s security footage for all of the building’s exits.”
“Alright, Professor, what do you want?” Cline asked.
“I want my freedom, of course. Let me go home.”
“Alright, but you have to admit that you are an accomplice to Ganesh and his biomer theft.”
“So, you believe that too?”
“We have the proof.”
“Then why do nothing about it?”
“Honestly? You haven’t figured that out? I pegged you as smarter than that, Professor. Do you know how much it would cost to hire you officially? Between you working on the space travel project and Lee Tripple developing a failsafe for the biomachines, why would we rock that boat when we can keep our eyes on you, here?”
“I appreciate you being forthcoming with me, General. So, I guess we are negotiating now.”
“I suppose we are,” Cline said. “Stay on the space travel project. You’ll be paid as a consultant. You can have your precious freedom, but in return, you give us access to Tripple Laboratories and you say nothing of General Pike’s death. Lee Tripple will go down for the biomer theft.”
“Take the spies out of the supper club and tell me what you want from the lab. I will go personally and retrieve what you want. And, leave Lee out of it.”
“Deal, but if I’m not happy with what you bring me, I will personally see to it that Lee Tripple has his amnesty revoked and everything in that lab becomes government property.”
“I’ll pack my things. I assume you will arrange a transport to take me home.”
“Yes, fine, but we’ll expect you back at work bright and early in the morning. But first, you will accompany us to the site of tonight’s tragedy to control the biomachine.”
“Done. I’m glad we’ve come to this new accord, General,” Camden said. He was actually gratified to not be leaving the space travel project. If the technology somehow worked, he wanted his name attached to it. He wasn’t worried about Lee or his lab because he was certain his privacy would remain undisturbed. Never in history had an amnesty, such as his, been overturned. Still, he’d just made a deal to save himself by selling out his friend, so as an afterthought, Camden asked. “What exactly do you want from Tripple Laboratories?”
“Anything and everything related to the biomer. I don’t want a single bit of that material in the hands of anyone but this government,” Cline said.
Camden didn’t think that would be too difficult, but then Cline continued.
“I also want his notebook. I want to know everything he’s accomplished in that lab. If he possesses powerful technologies, the government should possess them, too.”
Camden raised his eyebrows at Cline, but said nothing. He knew that there was no way, short of killing Lee, that he would part with his notebook and give up his secrets. But Camden would worry about that later. He had a little time to come up with an alternate plan.
Maeve Daire arrived at Charisa’s house thirty-five minutes later. Luke and Charisa were almost finished packing what they thought was important, but still had not figured out where to go. Charisa had an aunt in the south and Luke thought they might try to make it across the sea and stay in a village in one of the frozen regions. They didn’t have much money between them but decided they could hide somewhere and buy some time. Then later on, they would be able to hack into a financial institution and secure what they needed to live…indefinitely.
Maeve hovered her sleek black transport just outside Charisa’s house.
“Go and get them,” she said to Bearden. “They at least know who you are.”
“If I do this, will you take me to the safe house?”
“No, you will still go to Tyrine. Now, go, Hurry up,” Maeve said.
Bearden went to the door and knocked, realizing as soon as he did that they wouldn’t answer. After what he felt was too long of a wait, he took a few steps back and ran full force, shoulder first, against the door, ramming it open. Charisa and Luke were standing in the kitchen with knives and heavy objects in their hands. The sight of them, frozen with fear and so poorly armed, made Bearden smile.
“I’m here to help. I promise,” he said.
“Sergeant Leitner? Is that you? What are you doing here?” Charisa asked.
“It seems that we are all on the same side. There is someone outside who has come to take you somewhere safe. I know it’s hard, but you have to trust me and you have to come now.”
Charisa and Luke looked at each other wondering what to do. Leitner was government and this could be a trick. Bearden walked toward one of their packed suitcases and picked it up.
“There’s not much time. Major Magner will be here soon.”
“Ha!” Charisa shouted, pointing a knife to Bearden’s chest. “How do you know about that?”
“Put that thing down. You’re going to hurt someone. Look, I’m on the same side as Colonel Ganesh and if you want to live, you had better come with me now,” Bearden said.
“Colonel Ganesh,” Charisa said to Luke. “I was right! He is on our side. I think we should go with the Sergeant.”
“Are you sure? I am not going back to the unit as a prisoner,” Luke said.
“What can I say to convince you?” Bearden asked. “Mace Magner fired me this week. I was working as a spy for Ganesh. As long as you are fightin
g against the Daxian government, I am on your side.”
“Well, that changes things,” Luke said.
“Yes. And there is someone outside, right now, to take you two to a safe house and you’d be foolish not to come.”
Charisa saw sincerity in Bearden’s eyes, and since they didn’t have a better plan, she picked up a suitcase and walked outside. Following her lead, Luke and Bearden grabbed the other packed bags and loaded them in the tiny transport.
“What the hell is all this, Bearden? I sent you in for two people, not two hundred pounds of luggage.” Maeve said.
“Hey, it’s you! The mystery nurse.” Luke said, recognizing her beautiful face.
“Oh my God! It is you.” Charisa said to Maeve as she climbed in the transport. Well, trust me, whoever you are. If you are on our side, you do not want the government to find this equipment.”
“Fair enough. It will be a tight fit. I’m Maeve, welcome to the resistance. Ganesh told me about you.”
“Thank you for coming, Maeve. I’m Charisa and this is Luke. And just so you know, you have just rescued two of the top computer programmers and hackers in existence.”
“Incredible, and I’ve got the scientist who knows the most about the Daxian weapons. I will say, this might be my best ever night for recruiting. Don’t worry, Charisa, I’m going to bring you and Luke to a safe house. But first, we need to drop off the ever helpful, Sergeant Leitner.”
“Could you please lose the ‘Sergeant’, already? I’m just Bearden Leitner now. That designation has brought me nothing but misery,” Bearden said. Maeve smiled at Bearden’s comment.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Moving Out
The next morning, Cline’s promotion to general became official. A statement went out to the press about General Pike’s death and with the help of Major Magner, a programmer named Luke Rappaman, had been identified as the shooter. By 10:00, the newly appointed General Cline was on a conference call with the Director and the Regent to talk about gaining access to Tripple Laboratories, in case Camden didn’t get him what he wanted. And Camden, with his freedom again, went home, changed into one of his finer suits, and paid a visit to the newly widowed Enira Pike.
She greeted him with open arms, though there were tears in her eyes. She was clearly grieving for her husband, but at the same time, she was happy to be free of him. Enira knew she loved Camden more than he loved her, but still, less than a day after her husband’s death, thoughts of being with him openly had crossed her mind.
“I’m so sorry, Enira,” Camden said. “How are you doing?”
“I think I’m still in shock, it just doesn’t feel real,” she replied, still locked in his embrace.
“I can understand.”
“Oh, of course you can. You’ve been through this,” she said, thinking for a second of Camden’s wife. Camden gave her a weak sympathetic smile. He wanted to feel sorry for her, but comparing her and the general’s marriage to his and Rosa’s just pissed him off. What he and Rosa had was so much more. It had been years before Camden had considered being with another woman, but he would no doubt be in bed with Enira tonight. It sickened him a little, but he had needs, after all.
Maeve Daire had returned early that same morning, after she’d dropped Bearden off in a Tyrinian camp, and settled Luke and Charisa into the safe house, run by a young girl named Madelyn. After her long productive night, she had little time for rest. She would have to return to Tripple Laboratories to try and negotiate with Lee Tripple. Maeve planned to once again break into the building to catch him off guard. She didn’t have time to schedule an appointment and she also didn’t want to risk Lee censoring his work before she got there.
At 11:30, when she had rested and changed into her black ops clothing, she entered the lab though the elevator shaft, accessed by the ladies restroom. She’d come in today pretending to be a passerby who just needed to use the facility, but she knew that the lady at the desk would grow suspicious after a few minutes. Maeve worked fast and got through the security room in almost half the time as before. But this time, when she entered the lab, her presence was immediately known and she found herself standing face to face with a confused but confident Lee Tripple. Instinctively, Maeve grabbed her gun from her waistband and aimed it at Lee’s head.
“Don’t shoot. I won’t try to stop you,” Lee said and stuck one hand in the air and the other in his pocket.
“What’s in your pocket? Did you alert someone? Take your hand out where I can see it.”
Lee did not obey her order and left his hand where it was.
“Perhaps I did alert someone. How did you get in here? I know you’ve been here before.” Lee said.
“It wasn’t hard…breaking in,” Maeve replied. Lee took a step toward her, squinted his eyes, and pursed his lips. She cocked her gun; ready to fire even though she had no intention of shooting the man she’d come to negotiate with.
“Are you going to kill me?” Lee asked.
“Maybe. Have you alerted someone to my presence?”
“That’s irrelevant,” Lee said.
“You’ve seen my face.”
“And you’ve seen my lab, so we are at an impasse.”
“Not really. I’m the one with the gun.”
“But not the only one. Isn’t that right, Dana?”
“That’s right, Lee.” Dana’s voice popped out of nowhere.
“Don’t try it, girl. He would be dead before you pulled the trigger. Then you still have to hit me. Are you willing to risk that?” Maeve asked.
“It’s a chance, and since you’re probably planning to kill us both anyway, I’ll take it. You won’t be the first government agent we’ve taken down,” Dana said.
“Well, aren’t you plucky,” Maeve said. Dana rolled her eyes and re-aimed her gun.
“What is it that you want?” Lee asked. “Because if it’s something other than our certain death, I can probably help you.”
“You knew I was coming,” Maeve said.
“No, just looking for a chance,” Lee said.
“A chance at what?”
“Put the gun down and we can talk about it. You do work for the government don’t you?”
“It’s complicated,” Maeve said.
“Things usually are these days,” Lee said.
“Who are you and who sent you?” Dana asked.
Maeve did not answer her, but thought of Ganesh, then Naja, and their cause. This man, Lee, who had, so quickly, found a way to disarm the biomachines could help Tyrine develop a weapon to win the coming war. He probably already had the answer to saving Tyrine, right here in this lab. She really did not want to off him just because there was a gun pointed at her.
“Look, both of you, I was not sent on a kill mission here. It’s unfortunate that you two are here and lying in wait for an ambush, which by the way, is a little odd for scientists,” Maeve said.
“We’ve been surprised before,” Dana said.
“I just want to talk,” Maeve replied.
“Camden sent you,” Lee said, mostly to himself, but both girls heard. Maeve looked confused.
“That’s ridiculous, Lee,” Dana said. “She’s here because the first thieves didn’t get what they wanted.”
“Maybe.”
“Of course, we corrected the security breach that Bearden established. I guess it wasn’t enough since you’re standing here,” Dana said.
“Which is why Camden had to have sent her,” Lee said.
“We take matters in our own hands now,” Dana continued, trying to intimidate Maeve.
“Impressive,” Maeve said. “ But you are wrong. I don’t know a Camden,” she lied.
“Whether you know him or not, he is the reason you are standing here…no other scenario is rational. Which makes you…for hire?” Lee asked.
“She’s not government?” Dana asked. “Why would Camden send someone to break in, and with a gun?”
“He needs something. And since we’ve lost Ser
geant Leitner, this is the only way,” Lee said.
“Something huge must be happening at TRU if Camden is this willing to risk your life,” Dana replied.
“I know what he needs,” Lee said.
“The virus code,” Dana said.
“Or more of it.”
“She’s been here before. It explains the missing vial,” Dana figured aloud. “Did you know?” She asked Lee.
“Of course.” Lee replied. “No one comes in and out of my lab without my knowledge.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Dana asked.
Lee shrugged.
Maeve sighed with shallow hindrance because she hadn’t been as slick as she’d thought and they seemed to forget for a moment that she was standing there pointing a gun at Lee. She wasn’t sure how to proceed with these two. They were definitely oddballs, but fascinating all the same. Since she was worried about what was in Lee’s pocket, she interrupted their conversation.
“What’s your name, girl?” Maeve asked.
“Dana Hanks. Fugitive.”
“So, it’s true that you don’t leave this building?”
“Yes, it’s true. Which means I am totally stir crazy and not afraid to use this gun.”
“I believe you. However, you are not the problem. He is.” She nodded to Lee.
“Lee? A problem? Believe me, you couldn’t be more wrong. I practically live with the man and can barely get him to talk to me,” Dana said. Lee scrunched his forehead and gave her a dirty look.
“Besides,” she continued, “He has no agenda. He could care less who you are. And if you really are working for Camden, you should let him help you.”
“Fine, let’s talk,” Maeve said. “On the count of three, let’s put down our weapons.”
Lee looked back and forth between the two women hoping that they really would put their guns down.