by Bryan Tann
“And how do you figure on doing that?” Matheson asked.
“I have developed a booster to their Nano Hives. The booster will boost their nanobytes’ production and allow them to be able to destroy Baker as he adapts. Continue to overwhelm him until there is nothing left to overwhelm.”
“Echo!” Matheson roared. “Did you at least deliver the package?”
“Sir, yes, sir!” Echo replied in a mechanical tone.
“Well that is at least something. Not completely a FUBAR,” the commander growled.
The Nano Squad remained in attention. Alpha’s fist clenched tightly as the scientist and the Commander spoke of him and his brothers as though they were not there. Yet training and conditioning would not allow him to speak.
“Dr. Tee?” Karen Denton asked politely, “Perhaps we should provide them with their injections and allow them to rest. It will take a few hours for the booster to work properly and they are due for feeding.”
“Of course, Dr. Denton, you are correct,” Dr. Tee replied. “Nano Squad…”
“Just a goddamn minute here!” Matheson roared, a thick vein throbbing in his forehead. “I give the orders around here, not the two of you! Do you get me?”
“Of course, Commander. I do apologize, I was not attempting to step on your toes,” Dr. Tee replied.
Matheson regarded the Japanese doctor. He remained as cool and calm as ever, and Matheson knew at that moment that he was losing his control. He took a deep breath and looked to the Nano Squad. “Men. Load up. Get some chow and rack up,” Matheson replied.
The five of them brought their hands up in salute in perfect formation, holding the pose.
Matheson nodded.
“Good hunting today, boys. We’ll know some joy tomorrow. Get your boosters. Alpha, I want you and your men to bring me that bastard’s heart on a plate. You get me?”
“Sir. Yes, sir,” Alpha replied before the five of them made their toward the nearby transport vehicle.
“Alright men!” Matheson called out. “Work in shifts. We’re heading to the nearby F-O Industries building a few clicks out to rest up. I want regular patrols in the area! Drake!” Matheson roared.
“Sir?” Drake replied stepping forward.
“Find out where that train is going, where we can intercept, and when it stops next. Chances are the bastard will leap it and find transport elsewhere, but we won’t leave any stones unturned. Is that understood?”
“Sir, yes, sir!” Drake replied. “However sir, if I may?”
“What is it Drake?” Matheson asked mid turn before he stopped short.
“Package was delivered, sir. If I may suggest a silk glove over an iron fist?” Drake asked calmly.
“Monitor. Keep me posted. Wheels in motion and up on command.” Matheson went to his awaiting vehicle and looked to the Corporal behind the wheel and nodded as he got into the back of the Jeep. “Fucking science projects are going to be the fucking death of me,” Matheson grumbled.
“Dr. Tee?” Karen asked calmly as they made their way to their own Humvee.
“Yes, Dr. Denton?”
“Should we continue to encourage Commander Matheson that killing John is the right course of action? Dr. Newton wanted him back and…”
“Enough.” Nobu Tee looked to her dangerously. “He has a Queen. I want his heart. The rest of him if inconsequential. We get the heart, we can dissect it and see if there is a way to control the Queen. However there is no way that we can control him, nor is it safe to try and control him.”
“But, Dr. Tee!” Karen protested.
“Dr. Denton if I were you, I would be quite careful,” Tee answered dangerously.
“What are you talking about?” Karen demanded, her eyes narrowed.
“I am saying that the reason why The Invincible Heart Project is roaming free is because of you. I would suggest that you stay on target with the program on hand, otherwise you will perhaps make myself and others curious about your loyalties.”
“Dr. Tee I am now your colleague. I am not the same nurse that you could just bully months ago!” Her eyes narrowed defiantly. She’d finally reached her boiling point. “I will not have my loyalties questioned by you, or by anyone. I was attempting to adjust the probe and it had become dislodged. Period. I have told you and the Commander this story more times than I care to and I will not defend myself against your allegations any longer!” Her chest heaved while her heart hammered.
“Your objections are duly noted. I apologize if you feel disrespected. I simply do not want the wrong impression to be had of you. That is all, Doctor.”
“I appreciate that, Doctor. Now if you do not mind, I would like to go back to the facility and ensure that the boosters are prepared for those men. I have a lot of work today and very little time to get it finished.”
“Of course, Doctor Denton, I completely understand,” Nobu Tee replied.
Karen entered the Humvee and Nobu followed as the vehicle drove off along with the other military vehicles toward the awaiting Fuji-O’Hara Industries facility.
“I’ve made my decision, Doc,” Commander Matheson said sternly as he looked over his empty tray of food. The chicken bones were picked clean, the remains of baked beans were nonexistent except for smears of sauce.
“Do you believe this is truly the best course of action, Commander?” Dr. Tee asked as he sipped at his cup.
“Absolutely. The bottom line is, and while I’ve read your report I’m not too sure, your colleague has a lot to prove to me. She has a lot to prove to your company and to the President.”
“I understand, Commander. I am not in any position to deny that she does, but do you truly believe that sending her in the field is the best course of action?”
“Of course,” Matheson replied sternly.
“But why? The Nano Squad will be ready by the morning. I am showing a near two hundred percent boost of their productivity in the field.”
“Because, Doc,” Matheson replied calmly. “I trained Baker myself. It isn’t going to be easy for them to overwhelm him. He’s smart and resourceful. Perhaps going at him full force with them right at the gate isn’t the best of ideas. Maybe a more…gentle course of action is the best to take. What’s so damned funny?” Matheson asked defensively when the smaller Japanese man chuckled.
“Forgive me. However, it is strange for me to hear a military tactician, such as yourself, discuss a more ‘gentle course of action’?” Nobu Tee chuckled again shaking his head, sipping his water. “You are correct of course, Commander. He went out of his way to ensure not to cause her any lasting harm when he escaped the Oregon facility. Yet with the worry of her loyalties, are you sure that this is the best of ideas?”
“Absolutely. Do not worry, Doctor Tee. I have every contingency in place.” The commander gave him a slight nod. “She will prove herself an asset, or she will be made an asset.”
“Understood.” Dr. Tee nodded. “It is a very solid plan. When do you believe is the best to inform her of her mission?”
“As soon as possible. I already asked her to start doing research on him; to find any sort of weakness we can exploit.”
“That is pointless busy work, Commander. You know this.”
“Of course I know, Doc. However if you give anyone, even a traitor, a chance to feel useful it makes them feel like they can come back from it. Call it me giving her the tools to give herself redemption.”
“And if she uses her findings to aid the Subject?” Dr. Tee asked.
“Contingencies,” Matheson replied.
Karen sat at her computer, staring blankly at all of the files of the Invincible Heart Project with an exacerbated sigh of irritation.
“’Find me any wrinkle, Doc!’ Find me the slightest weakness, Doc!’ How about in your fucking numbskull! Goddamn cretin!” she raged.
“I know this damn project inside and out and you know that,” she hissed as she continued to go through the files, then stopped, arching her eyebrow curiously. “
Who the hell sent a file from my account?” she asked herself out loud noticing the small indicator at the bottom right of the window.
She hadn’t logged into her computer since before she’d freed John from his restraints. She knew that her loyalties were under fire, even before Nobu Tee informed her as such. When she tried to find her reasons for why she’d freed him, she couldn’t. Not even for herself.
“John. What were you doing?” she asked as she clicked the files and opened them and began to read. “Oh my God…”
She began reading through the files. She was not used to reading through John’s files without all of the ‘classified’ spots blacked out. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she read on.
“How did you get this?” she asked as she continued to read on. “Did you even read this? Wait? What in the…”
A second file sent was labeled ‘Project Mila’. She double clicked the file and began to read through it. Her eyes widened in shock.
“Oh no. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t!” she continued to read on, her eyes narrowed to slits. “Goddamn you. Goddamn you!” she roared her hands slamming down on the table in a rage.
She stood up quickly, her mind made up, going into her purse she put a tiny flash drive into small box connected to the monitor and began to save the file when a knock came from the door.
“Come in.” she called out, moving to click the power button on the monitor.
“Commander Matheson. This is certainly a surprise,” Karen stated calmly.
Korvin Matheson looked the same as always in his military fatigues with his name stenciled over his right breast pocket. His tightly cropped hair showed a little grayer than she remembered from even a few days ago. His hardened features reinforced along with the grayer hair.
“Yeah I suppose you’re right. We do not take much time to talk. You have your buffer Dr. Tee in the way,” Matheson replied closing the door slowly.
“What can I do for your, Commander?” Karen asked keeping her tone impassive.
“I won’t mince words with you, Dr. Denton. I need your help,” Matheson said firmly.
“You need my help? With what?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Denton? We are not going to be able to capture Baker with brawn on brawn. It just isn’t going to happen. He made it a point to not hurt you permanent with that little beauty mark he left you. Means that he has a soft spot for you, means that you can talk him down.” Matheson gave her a slight nod. “We need you.”
“So you want me to get close to him so you can kill him?” Karen asked incredulously.
“Yes,” Matheson replied with a slight shrug. “I won’t bullshit you, Doctor; it’s a dangerous run, but right now you need to do what is best for the President’s interests. What is good for the President’s interests is good for Fuji-O’Hara interests, which is very good for your interests.”
“So I need to put myself in harm’s way with the most dangerous man on the planet that was created by the government and Fuji-O’Hara Industries because the military can’t bring him down alone.” Karen looked to Matheson with venom in her eyes.
“That’s the tall and the skinny yes,” Matheson replied icily. “So what’s your answer, Doc? You going to be a team player?”
“Do I really have a choice, Commander?” Karen asked.
“There’s always a choice, darlin’. Always. It’s just up to you to determine how you’re willing to handle the aftermath of your choices,” Matheson replied with a slight smirk.
“Fine. I’ll do it,” Karen replied after what felt like an eternity of decision making that was really only a few seconds.
“Good. Real good,” Matheson replied.
“How am I supposed to find him?” Karen asked releasing a deep breath.
“Echo slipped a tracer on his backpack during the fight. We’re tracking him right now. When he stops, you’re on the first transport to his location,” Matheson replied firmly.
“Yes, sir,” Karen replied sarcastically. “Wait…why all of the hot air after he got away? Why the hours upon hours of decision making if there was a tracker placed on him?”
“That, my dear doctor, is classified,” the commander replied, his condescending smirk followed by his back as he exited the door.
22
John sat cross legged on the roof of the boxcar with his backpack sitting in front of him, shoveling handfuls of bear meat into his mouth, moaning at the feeling of the meat feeding his body.
“You did great, John.”
“We did great, Queen.”
“I do my part, you do your’s. We do amazing.”
“Absolutely.”
“What is our next move, John?”
“I’m getting off of here soon. Need to find a junkyard.”
“Why?”
“We can’t depend on trains to get to the East Coast. We need our own vehicle, and we need it right away. It won’t take them long to find our train route and I would rather not have to run into our new friends if I don’t have to.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“We get to a junk yard, I’ll piece us a vehicle together and we get moving. There is only one thing that I’m worried about.”
“What’s that?”
“We are going to need papers for it.”
“Get to a computer. I’ll take care of the rest.”
John nodded calmly, shoveling the last of the meat from one of the many sandwich bags he had stuffed in the backpack.
“How long do you think it will be until we reach the East Coast after we have our own vehicle, John?”
“A few days I expect. We’ll stick to the back roads as much as possible. As far as fuel goes, I’ll figure it out.”
“We have to get to Mila before the President can capture her, John.”
“He wanted me to kill her, Queen.”
“From the files I’ve been reviewing, while you were created to capture her, if she were to surrender you would have been instructed to take her in.”
“For what?”
“Project Mila.”
“What is Project Mila?”
“It is the President’s plan for absolute power.”
“Okay, Ms. Vague. I’m going to need a little bit more.”
“The President is planning a terrorist attack and it is to be blamed on Mila.”
“So that’s what all of this is about? Using Mila to blow up something so that he can scare the goddamn populace into giving him even more power than he already has?”
“Yes.”
“Goddamn. We need to get to her quick. We help her, she helps us. It’s a win win. She will probably want to kill me a thousand times over. Not sure I blame her.”
“No, John. She won’t. I explained in the files what happened. Things that you won’t let me tell you, I told her. They will understand. We will be welcomed. I promise.”
John closed his backpack and stood up, preparing for his leap from the train.
“We get to a computer, we find out where the nearest junk yard is, and we get there.”
“Sounds like a good plan, John.”
He leaped from the train, and took off into a dead run. The darkness surrounded him as he entered the nameless town.
“I need a watch too. This is ridiculous.”
“It is currently zero one thirty hours.”
“How did you know that?”
“I’m a bio computer, John. You don’t think I won’t know the time?”
John couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle as stayed to the shadows to avoid any law enforcement encounters.
“A library will have minimum security, John. Get to an office to avoid suspicion.”
After another ten minutes of walking, the town library came into view. Following Queen’s advice he made his way to the back of the building, checking around the rear windows.
“I see one security wire around the window nothing else. Seems safe enough to me.”
He reached to his hip to pull his knife, clipp
ed the wire then opened the window and climbed in.
“Pull your cord and jack in. I’ll do the rest, John.”
“What should I do then?”
“Eat with one hand.”
“But I’m not hungry,” John muttered pulling at his pinkie finger, extending his cord, plugging it into the computer to bring it to life.
“There is a junkyard not too far away from here. Only about ten miles or so. You can make that in no time at all. I’m also taking the liberty…”
“What liberty?”
“You need money. Since going to the machines are pointless, I am putting money into the junkyard’s account so that you can do everything you need to do without them bothering you.”
“That sounds like a plan to me.”
“The money will also include them making your new vehicle legal that will also allow safe travel.”
“Who is Dean Hendricksen?”
“That is your alias. Give me a few more moments and you will have a state driver license, a dummy residence, and everything that you will need.”
“Damn you’re good.”
“Thank you, John. I told you. I evolve and I adapt. It’s what I do.”
“If you weren’t pumping blood into my veins…and inside of my rib cage encased in bone I would kiss you.”
“Your affection is appreciated and noted,” Queen replied with her own variety of a chuckle.
“We’re finished here, John. Jack out and get out of here. Now.”
Not wasting a moment, he did as she suggested, remained in the shadows of the night and made his way to the junkyard and rang the buzzer.
“Who the fuck is it?” roared a male voice from the intercom after ten minutes of John ringing the buzzer.
“Dean Hendricksen. If you check your computer you should know that I have an account with you. I’m ready to get to work.” No voice came from the intercom for almost a full minute.
“Alright pull the door.”
John pulled the secured metal door open at the sound of the locks disengaging, stepped inside and let the door slam shut.
“Wow…it’s cleaner than I thought. I was expecting a disgusting shit storm.”