Xn

by Clint Townsend

“That … will … do,” Cain bellowed, still unwilling to look the man in the eye.

  Dr. White silently stood and motioned his head to the side. The investigator, taking the visual cue from Dr. White, backed away from the table, bowed slightly, and abruptly exited the room.

  “Get Garret for me,” Cain ordered, tossing the report on the table. “I want this matter resolved now.”

  ***

  ‘I just put the radar fabric on my shoulder. What now?’ Euclid wrote.

  “Chloe, locate and identify the cameras for the Nest on Arena One,” Armada coolly instructed his wife. “Also, we’ll need the camera feeds from the Arena, EVA Dock, and both of the dormitory corridors. Once you’ve opened live feeds, put them on the monitors.”

  Chloe diligently perused the extensive list of surveillance camera numbers and their locations as Armada contemplated the most effective defense strategy for his friend.

  ‘Stay next to the terminal but don’t move,’ he typed. ‘Wedge your right foot between the kiosk frame and the wall. You must remain perfectly still and totally silent for thirty seconds. After half a minute has passed, the lights and surveillance cameras will automatically go into temporary hibernation. Just stay put and watch the terminal screen. I’ll keep you posted.’

  “I got the Nest and Arena,” Chloe alerted her beaux as he dispatched the instructions to his brother.

  Armada spun his chair around and watched the real-time broadcast of Euclid hovering in front of the Arena communication kiosk.

  “Activate the microphone,” Armada requested.

  Both Chloe and Armada observed Euclid reading the message, then glance up to his left at the motion-sensitive video camera. Just as he was ordered, Euclid sandwiched his right foot between the inner wall of the communication station and the Arena shell.

  The statements ‘We can see you’ and ‘Don’t move a muscle’ suddenly appeared on the screen in front of Euclid.

  “Armada, look,” Chloe anxiously stated.

  Armada turned back to the wall of tablets just in time to watch Garret dart into the Nest. It was more than obvious that he was speaking with someone on his headset.

  “Activate the camera mic.”

  The action in the silent video footage took on a whole new meaning once Chloe accessed the embedded microphone in the video camera.

  “Yes, sir, I already did that,” Garret shouted as he buckled himself into his command seat. “Yes, I’m pretty sure they’re all in there. A WATCHER scan? No, but … yes … yes, yes, sir, right now … hold on for a moment.”

  Armada quickly typed a note to Euclid, warning him, ‘Garret’s running an RFID scan right now. Stay still,’ and clicked ‘send.’

  Through the infrared capability of the camera, Chloe watched Euclid as he read Armada’s warning.

  “He got it,” she said.

  “Do you have the EVA Dock yet?” Armada impatiently inquired.

  “Putting it up now, baby,” she calmly answered.

  Armada turned around to see one of the tablet screens make the switch from an exterior shot of a CARBEL platform to an overhead interior look at the EVA Dock. There they were, Armada’s brethren, all one hundred ninety-eight of them. Huddled together in multiple hovering clumps, the clones behaved as if nothing irregular had occurred.

  “Turn on the camera mic.”

  Armada faced his computer tablet and pecked away as he and Chloe listened to the chatter of the unassuming men.

  “What’re you doing?” Chloe asked.

  “Almost done, sir,” they then heard Garret announce.

  “I want to see the results of Garret’s scan,” Armada informed Chloe.

  Armada hurriedly opened the WATCHER program files on the Master Server and retrieved the scan history.

  “Here we go,” he said confidently as he accessed the report.

  Chloe stood and leaned over the table to see where WATCHER had placed the RFID chips on Arena One. Much to their pleasure, the scan recognized the clone’s implanted tracking devices as being located in the EVA Dock. Euclid’s RFID chip wasn’t acknowledged.

  “Okay, scan complete,” they heard Garret declare. “I was right, they’re all in there as we speak. No, they’re fine, uh … well, you know … normal, everyday behavior, I guess. You want me to what? Would you repeat that, please? You’re joking … right? With all due respect, sir, I … I don’t understand this. But … yes, but … no, sir.”

  “He’s gotta be talking to Wyczthack or White,” Chloe theorized, then asked, “Would Garret authorize or initiate a scan on his own?”

  “Not likely,” said Armada, adding, “He’d only do it if ordered.”

  ‘Scan over. Nobody knows. You’re safe,’ Armada typed, sent to Euclid, and resumed watching the monitors.

  “Gentlemen, gentlemen…,” a voice suddenly echoed throughout the enormous EVA chamber. “Good morning. This is Dr. Cain Wyczthack, CEO of the Engenechem Corporation.”

  The brothers in the docking bay abruptly halted their conversations and looked about as they listened to their commander and creator.

  “On behalf of Dr. White and the Engenechem global family, I want to extend to each and every one of you a sincere and well-deserved thank you.”

  ‘Cain’s addressing everyone in the docking bay. Hold on,’ Armada informed Euclid.

  As Cain continued his speech, Chloe noticed something peculiar.

  “Baby, look at Garret,” she suggested, and asked, “Is it just me, or does something seem wrong with him.”

  Armada shifted his attention to the tablet streaming the live feed from the Nest. Although he was securely buckled into his chair, Garret was fidgety and restless. He repeatedly crossed and uncrossed his legs and gripped at both armrests. From their vantage point, it looked as if Garret was intentionally trying not to look at the Nest’s video monitors; like there was something he didn’t want to see or acknowledge.

  “Yeah…,” Armada agreed. “Cain probably jumped him pretty good for something he didn’t do or did incorrectly. From what I’ve heard, Wyczthack can be brutal with his critiques.”

  “I don’t know … looks to me like he got more than just a verbal lashing. That’s not your typical ‘Oh, I’m in trouble with my boss’ body language. He’s acting more like ‘Uh-oh, my boss came unglued.’”

  “Maybe, but if Wyczthack were going to….”

  Armada stopped short of completing his thought when Cain’s tone made an abrupt and noticeable change.

  “And now we come to the real reason for this little gathering,” Cain commented. “As you’re all well aware, roughly four months ago, whilst you were entering the first stage of construction on Cloud Eight, your brother, Evan Armada Nine, disappeared … vanished … without a trace.”

  Chloe stood close to Armada, wrapped her fingers around her husband’s bicep, and gently squeezed.

  “He, along with an accomplice, managed to evade detection, and have, thus far, eluded our surveillance systems. But I’m proud to inform you all today that we’ve made a discovery … one of great importance and significance.”

  Armada and Chloe exchanged a brief but worried glance.

  “It has been brought to my attention that one of you … has come in direct contact with Armada Nine. Five weeks ago, one of you received multiple messages on your holographic visor….”

  Armada turned back to his tablet computer and frantically typed, ‘Cain knows we’ve been communicating. He’s interrogating everyone. Did you tell anybody?’

  “Oh, my gosh, Armada!” Chloe exclaimed and began pacing. “He knows! He knows! He knows! Wyczthack knows we’ve been talking to Euclid! He’s gonna….”

  “Sshh!” Armada hissed and wrapped his arms around her, “Sshh. Listen….”

  “… didn’t identify a specific helmet transponder,” Dr. Wyczthack continued, “But did record several messages relayed to one of you via the POG. So, effective immediately, all EVA endeavors will have designated, assigned, specific POG comm-links that
are to be considered permanent identification markers, along with transponders.”

  Without warning, the sound of Cain’s voice was suddenly absent from the audio feed. However, Armada and Chloe could still hear the clones speaking with one another.

  ***

  “Call Garret back and tell him I said ‘now,’” Dr. Wyczthack firmly ordered Riggs.

  Riggs picked up the phone resting in the middle of the conference table and did as commanded as he, Bianca, and Dr. White traded uncomfortable stares.

  Garret raised his right hand and pressed the tiny button on his earpiece, connecting the incoming call.

  “Now,” Riggs flatly stated.

  ***

  “Look at Garret,” Chloe nervously peeped, watching him closely. “He’s talking to somebody.”

  “But…,” they heard Garret mumble, “but … there’s gotta be another….”

  He began crying and breathing heavily.

  “Please!” he begged and blubbered. “Please, Riggs, not that. I can’t … I … I just can’t!”

  “Ooohhh, Armada!” Chloe whined, unable to stop shaking. “Baby … baby … what’s happening?”

  Just listening to Garret weep was enough to make her begin to cry as well.

  Armada looked at Euclid on the other screen and saw him staring up at the camera, obviously concerned with not knowing what was occurring a few meters away.

  ‘Hold on, buddy,’ Armada pecked out on his tablet keyboard. ‘Just be still and patient.’

  “So … I will be most appreciative to know who it is among you that sought to assist Armada Nine with his escape,” Cain coldly commented.

  The confused brood of identical brothers turned to one another and started whispering.

  “Riggs!” Garret painfully shouted. “Riggs! Please tell Cain … tell him … tell him I can’t…. Oh, my God….”

  “You have sixty seconds to surrender the traitor’s identity,” Cain added.

  “Baby?” Chloe squeaked and covered her mouth.

  “Aauugghh!” Garret screamed, lurching up and forward, and slapped at a control panel above his head.

  “Oh, no!” Armada muttered and fell to his knees as he watched the video stream from the EVA Dock.

  Chloe sunk down next to her husband and watched in helpless horror as the enormous interior steel door connecting the EVA docking bay to the Arena personnel corridor began closing.

  “No, no, no, no!” Armada repeatedly roared at the tablet screens.

  Garret’s sorrowful moans nearly drowned out the cries and shouts of panic and fear from the clones once they realized they were being locked in.

  Armada quickly stood and walked in a small circle, clutching his fists up behind his head.

  “Aauugghh!” he painfully shrieked. “Cain! Cain!”

  “Thirty seconds,” Dr. Wyczthack was heard to say.

  Cain, Bianca, Riggs, and Dr. White sat in complete silence while listening to the panic-stricken pod of clones.

  “Use your ID lanyards!” the sequestered brothers shouted at one another as they attempted to open the thick, metal door. Try and try as they might, the security panel repeatedly rejected their credentials.

  “Garret! Garret!” the brothers cried. “Help! In here! Open the EVA door!”

  Garret sat in his chair, twitching and sobbing uncontrollably as the screams penetrated his brain and soul. He struggled to keep his eyes closed in order to not witness the clone’s impending demise on the video monitors.

  “Help them, Armada!” Chloe pleaded, still on her knees.

  “I can’t, Chloe!” he angrily shouted, raising his hands. “The moment I generate an emergency override to release the magnetic locks on the doors, Cain will trace it. They’ll find us … they’ll kill us.”

  “Warn Euclid then!” she yelled, twisting to look at him.

  “Then they’ll figure out it was him that’s been communicating with us and they’ll kill him as well.”

  “Put on your suits!” one of the clones hollered.

  Armada collapsed beside Chloe.

  They gazed upon the tragic madness unfolding in the Arena One EVA Dock thirty miles above them.

  “Time’s up, gentlemen,” Dr. Wyczthack sarcastically declared. “Who … helped … Armada?”

  “We don’t know!” and “Nobody’s spoken to him!” the brothers screeched, peering up at the cameras.

  Several of them had managed to swiftly don their EVA suits, while others continued to fiddle with the security panel in hopes of opening the door.

  “Well?” Cain sternly called out.

  Dr. White caught a glimpse of Bianca wiping her eyes. He stared at Cain until his glare was acknowledged. Riggs watched Dr. Wyczthack as Dr. White discreetly darted his eyes toward Bianca. Sensing she was being watched, and in an effort to hide her tears, Bianca turned her chair away from the conference table, ever so slowly.

  Cain leaned forward to ensure that she could still see him, albeit peripherally.

  He focused on Bianca and spoke at her while gruffly instructing Riggs, “Get Garret on the line!”

  Bianca clenched her eyes shut and quickly cupped her fingers over her lips.

  “Help them! Please!” Chloe begged, peering up at the ceiling. “Can you hear me? Please, please! Do something!”

  Armada crouched down in front of their wall of tablets and scoured the shifting timed images.

  “What’re you doing?” Chloe sobbed.

  “The Aerie … I need to see the Aerie. I need the Aerie, CARBEL, and Halo cameras,” Armada barked.

  “Very well then,” Cain drably commented to his captives.

  “Tablets seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen,” Chloe gurgled, pointing at the top far left corner of the tablet grid.

  “Ten,” Cain said, devoid of all emotion.

  “Cain!” Garret painfully shouted.

  “They need a POG!” Armada snapped. “That’s their only chance! Without a POG to connect to, they’ll suffocate!”

  “Nine.”

  “A POG?” Chloe confusedly asked. “How can they get a POG in the Arena? I mean, they’d have to open the….”

  “Eight”

  Then, like a ton of bricks, it hit her.

  “Cain’s gonna make Garret open the outer doors. Isn’t he?”

  “Seven.”

  Armada couldn’t force his voice to speak. In utter dismay and bewilderment, he gazed at his wife with his mouth agape.

  “Six.”

  “Wait! Wait!” Armada’s brothers screamed. “Cain! Please! No!”

  “Without a charged POG close by to connect to, they’ll die,” Armada informed Chloe.

  He then saw a shot of the Aerie suddenly appear on tablet nineteen.

  “Platforms one and two are equipped with a POG!” he excitedly commented, pointing at the screen. “Three, four, and five are in dock-lock. That means one and two are either on the way up, or they’re descending.”

  “Five.”

  “What about a POG on a Cloud?” Chloe inquired, wiping her nose. “Can’t they attach themselves to one of those?”

  “Crap!” Armada grunted as the Halo video camera streamed a live feed of Platform One pulling away from the massive frames. “The Clouds are too far away. They won’t make it in time.”

  “Garret! Help! Help!” the trapped men pleaded.

  “Four.”

  Bianca couldn’t stifle her tears or whimpering.

  Dr. White and Riggs watched Cain as he squinted his eyes into angry, narrow slits. He furrowed his brow as he watched his trusted assistant succumb to her feelings.

  “Bianca,” Dr. Wyczthack said calmly and softly, then patronizingly asked, “Why are you crying?”

  She was incapable of facing Cain, let alone to look him in the eye.

  “Three!” he blasted, slapping the table.

  Bianca jumped in her seat and let out a frightened squeal.

  “Can’t they hold on to something?” Chloe suggested. “Use the tether cords
or….”

  “Comm-link tether lines are used in conjunction with a POG,” Armada interrupted.

  Bianca rose from her chair and briskly walked toward the conference room door.

  Cain turned to Riggs and nodded his head. Riggs sprang to his feet and dashed after Bianca, catching her just as she pushed down on the conference room door handle.

  “Two!” Cain bellowed.

  Riggs placed his palm on the door and leaned into it with all of his weight.

  “Where ever are you going, Bianca?” Dr. White casually inquired, rising from his seat.

  Armada scurried to his tablet and frantically searched for the Arena One camera numbers, specifically, the exterior EVA cameras.

  “Forty and forty-one,” he snapped and crawled back next to Chloe.

  “One!” Cain yelled.

  From within the EVA Dock, everything became instantly still and eerily silent.

  Chloe raised both hands and shielded her eyes.

  Armada’s brothers hovered about the bay, nervously anticipating Garret’s and Dr. Wyczthack’s next move.

  Armada watched Garret unfasten his seat restraint and pull himself to the Nest’s central operations control panel. Still whimpering and trembling, Garret reluctantly looked up at the video monitor. He placed his shaking fingers on the button to disengage the magnetic locks on the EVA Dock’s external doors.

  “I’m sorry,” he whined before pressing the button.

  The computer system immediately disabled the locking mechanisms, thereby allowing the vacuum of space to pry open the five gargantuan bay doors.

  “No!” Armada howled, springing at the wall of tablets.

  The suction and depressurization forces were so tremendous and sudden that the clones were flung across the cavernous holding bay like rag dolls. Their bodies collided with the thick metal walls and doors before being hurled into the frigid void. Within seconds, Armada’s brothers turned into lifeless, frozen mannequins. It would be only a matter of minutes before inertia and the planet’s gravitational force would draw the icy cadavers into a violent collision with Earth’s dense atmosphere.

  Cain extended his right arm above his head and snapped his fingers. Riggs reached down and forcibly removed Bianca’s hand from the door handle. He firmly grasped her wrist, and in one swift move, twisted her arm and folded it up high behind her back. She grunted and winced from the blinding shot of pain that radiated through her shoulder.