by JC Ryan
The cherry on the cake was the rumors that people were planning to hold a protest march in DC, which would end at the White House.
“Lucas Nguyen, you spineless coward! You couldn’t tell me to my face that you didn’t have the guts to execute my orders, so you went AWOL instead. You, my most trusted confidant and friend since childhood, we graduated from West Point together and we always looked out for each other. How could you, of all people, do this to me Lucas?
“How the hell am I supposed to run this country without a cabinet,” He whined. There was no one in the office with him, but his voice was raised as if there was.
While Hayden berated the disappearance of his four most senior cabinet members over the past forty-eight-hours, cursing them in frenzied outbursts of rage, the Secret Service agents outside just glanced at each other and shook their heads. Nothing had to be said—the new President was coming apart at the seams.
A few hours later, Colonels Cameron Stillwater and Howard Baum stood silently before Hayden, waiting for his rage to erupt.
“You’re telling me that between the two of you and the entire Secret Service, no one can find a trace of Generals Frayser, Nguyen, Potter, or Neeley?”
“That’s correct, sir,” Stillwater answered timidly. “No one has seen or heard from Frayser or Nguyen since their last meeting. As far as we can tell, Neeley went to dinner at an Italian restaurant and disappeared. He was seen leaving, but no one knows where he went. And you were the last one to see Potter.”
This can’t be happening! Hayden’s face was red; his eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, his hair was disheveled, his movements were stuttered—he looked deranged.
“I want every person who reported to each of those men in here with a status report in two hours. They must know where their superiors are. I want my protection doubled. Is that clear?”
“Yes sir,” they replied.
“Good, add yourselves to the Secret Service protection detail and make sure you both make it to that meeting in two hours.”
They nodded and left the Oval Office knowing that there were no Secret Service agents left to assign to Hayden’s protection detail let alone assigning some of them to their own protection.
As the two of them left the Oval Office, Hayden punched a button summoning his aide. “Dean, get Frank Sterling over here on the double.”
Dean recognized the name of the Army psychiatrist immediately. “Yes, sir, right away.”
When Dean was gone, that dreaded voice spoke again, “what’s the matter, Tommy? Having a few psychological problems?”
Hayden looked up to see George Miller standing next to Laurie.
“Oh God, not another one!” Hayden exclaimed. “Just get out of here and leave me alone!”
“A psychiatrist isn’t going to be able to help you Tommy,” Laurie said. “You can take all the drugs and psychotherapy you want, it won’t help. We aren’t imaginary voices in your head, Tom. We’re real and you can’t make us go away.”
“You really shouldn’t have killed us, Tom,” George said. “You’re never going to get rid of us.”
“We’ll see about that,” Hayden shivered as he covered his ears and lay his forehead against the desk. “We’ll see.”
Daniel and his leadership team were watching. He looked at Sam. “Time for the final stage?
Sam nodded. “Yes, Jack and I believe we have to make the move soon.”
Jack nodded.
“Good, let every team finalize their part of the plan and let’s meet in three hours to put it all together.” Daniel said.
***
Baum caught Stillwater’s eye as the two of them exited the Oval Office, he winked and asked, “Coffee?”
Stillwater nodded and followed.
They got themselves a takeaway coffee from the kitchen staff and found a secluded room in the basement which they were sure was not monitored. Of course, they had no way of knowing that Roy had attached a spyder to each of them earlier.
“Cameron, I… I…” Baum started with a stutter, “I don’t know how to say this…”
“Howard, we’ve known each other for a long time, just spit it out and let’s take it from there.”
Baum nodded slowly. “The thing is, Cameron, I’m not sure what is going on in this place lately. It’s as if everything has started going to hell in a handbasket the last few days.
“Hayden has gone off his rocker; he’s hearing voices and seeing things—dead people. He’s talking to himself, not just talking, screaming and shouting. And now the generals have disappeared—absconded if you ask me.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed. Stillwater replied hesitantly. “I’ve noticed all of it, and I’m as concerned as you are.”
“I take it you know he had George Miller killed so that he could be the next in line for the presidency?” Baum asked.
Stillwater nodded.
“And to crown it all,” Baum sighed, “I have it on good authority that the people out there are planning a protest march to the White House. I don’t have to tell you how that’s going to end, do I?”
“Nope you don’t; I know, it’s going to end in chaos and bloodshed. And I don’t blame the people, we are to blame. We’ve not delivered on our promises. Robert Falcon Scott said, Hunger and fear are the only realities in dog life: an empty stomach makes a fierce dog.”
Baum nodded. “You’re right about that. People become ungovernable when they’re hungry, they will only stoke violence. And, Hayden has made it clear, he wants to shoot his way out of it. I don’t know about you Cameron, but I want no part of that.”
“Neither do I,” Stillwater interjected.
The two men stopped talking and stared at each other for a long while. As if to ask, what now?
Baum spoke first. “I’m not going back to my office. From here, I’m going straight to my car. I’m going to pick up my family and I’m going to disappear. Maybe he will find me and court martial me, that’s okay. I’ll face that if and when it happens but for now I’m getting my family and getting out of harm’s way.”
Stillwater was staring into blank space when Baum stopped talking. His voice was croaky when he spoke softly, “I… well… I haven’t thought that far yet... but… I think there is no other option for me either. Whatever we do it’s going to end badly for all of us. If Hayden gets hold of us we’re dead, if the mobs get hold of us it will be the same.”
Daniel looked at Sam on the screen against the wall and then at Jack across the table from him. “What do you want to do? Grab them or let them go?”
Before Sam or Jack could answer, Nigel said, “Daniel, I apologize for interrupting, I know you haven’t asked me, but if it is possible we must try to keep them alive… and their families. If we abduct them Hayden might go after their families.”
“I agree, let’s hear what Jack and Sam think. Up till now Hayden has not harassed the generals’ families, but he might just get it in his sick head to start doing so. My only proviso is that we don’t jeopardize the operation. Jack, Sam?”
“I can get Tectus to pick them all up and take them to different safe houses. It should be quick. None of their families have protection details.” Jack replied.
“You agree with that Sam?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, as long as Jack can make sure that it’s done quickly and efficiently and that our main operation is not compromised.”
“Good, gentlemen, make it happen. See you in a few hours,” Daniel ended the connection and turned to Jack. “You sure about this Jack?”
“There are a lot of variables here, six different families in as many locations; it will require a bit of coordination. But I am confident Tectus can pull it off. I’ll let them run it as an independent operation as they see fit. That way we stay out of it and whether they pull it off or not won’t have any impact on what we are planning.”
“Excellent. Please keep me posted.”
***
Hayden was throwing the mother of all tantrums when no one
turned up for the meeting he had ordered Baum and Stillwater to arrange. He yelled at the Chief of Staff, the Secret Service agents and anyone else in sight, but all to no avail; none of them had seen Baum and Stillwater since they left the Oval Office earlier, and none of the staffers working for the vanished generals had any knowledge of a meeting they were supposed to attend.
Half an hour later someone checked the videos recorded by the security cameras and saw that both Baum and Stillwater had left in their cars not long after their earlier meeting with Hayden. This last bit of news drove Hayden to edge of insanity as he realized that he was the only one left.
Chapter 78- Reduce the transfer rate
Siasha and Tawndo were in their room silently cuddled in each other’s arms. When they had left the lab, they had all agreed to meet back there in six hours. The idea was everyone would rest, but Siasha couldn’t. She’d sat at the table in their room going over the original experiment data several more times before she settled into the comfort of Tawndo’s arms.
She was quiet for a few minutes before she started talking. “Tawndo, I’ve got something to say, and I want you to hear me out before you comment. Agreed?”
He looked at her cautiously, “Do I have a choice?” When she just smiled at him, he said, “Very well, agreed.”
“I’ve gone over the original experiment documents several times. I think a merge between Tawndo and Robert is possible.” She explained to him in the simplest possible terms what it meant and what risks he would take if he agreed.
After hearing her out, Tawndo simply said, “I’m ready. Talk to Linkola and get him to help you do it.”
“Tawndo, if you do this, there is a chance your feelings for me will change when Robert is activated,” she started to cry softly, “I don’t want to lose you again.”
He tightened his arms around her and kissed her gently, “I will always love you, Siasha. My body may change, and the mind that merges with mine may change things, but as long as there is a bit, however small it may be, of Tawndo left in me after this, I will always carry the love I have for you with me.
“I hope you are wrong and that I will still be in control, but if something should happen, know that I love you and with your help, I will fight as hard as I can to bring that to the front so that we can be together as we have always been.”
She snuggled closer to his side, tucking her head under his chin and clung to him while she listened to his heartbeat.
He caressed her cheek gently and willed her to feel his strength and his love.
They drifted into an uneasy sleep, lost in their hopes and fears, holding tightly to the love they shared.
***
Linkola started to object, but she stopped him, “You agreed to hear me out.” Siasha said. “Tawndo’s body does not have an elevated level of adrenaline in it, and he is not in fear for his life.
“Robert’s synapse patterns have faded quite a bit, but many of them are still there and will still work for him. Tawndo’s are dominant and will likely allow him to maintain the mind during the merge. He is also fully aware of the procedure and what will be happening to him.
“I believe, given all this, if we temporarily suppress the secretion of Adrenaline and restrain him during the initial merge, it could be done successfully.”
Linkola was frozen with anger. “You already know how I feel about this and yet you want to try again!”
“Yes, I do know how you feel. I’ve again studied your original research and theory about the merge process. They lied to you and forced you to use the information prematurely, and the result was a disaster.
“You believed in this process once, Linkola. You are a good scientist, and your research is solid. The theory is sound. Merging is possible, and you know it.
“Those men took good research and defiled it by using it before the process was ready and in a deplorable manner. Don’t let their disregard and abuse of science stop you. Merging Tawndo and Robert could save this world from a terrible fate if they can stop the Re’an.
“I’m begging you to consider what I’ve said, evaluate it against your original research, and decide if it is valid. Will you at least do that?”
Linkola was silent for so long Siasha thought he was going to refuse to speak to her. At last, he bowed his head and answered her.
“I don’t need to evaluate it… your theory is sound. I too was up most of the night reviewing the data and have come to the same conclusion. I am just afraid to try it. Once the process is started, it cannot be stopped.”
Siasha considered this for a moment. “What would happen if we sedated Tawndo so that the two of them came to consciousness at the same time?"
“The synapses start forming patterns immediately. It is likely they would wake up equally, and we would have a repeat of the earlier experiments.”
“Could you somehow reduce the transfer rate to give Tawndo and Robert time to adjust to one another?”
It was Linkola’s turn to ponder the question. “Well, perhaps. There has never been a need to reduce the speed of the transfer, but maybe an adjustment could be made. I’ll have to think about that one. Let’s take a look at the equipment and see if it could be modified.”
Tawndo and Korda entered the lab just as they were opening the Itran unit.
“What are you doing?” Korda inquired.
At Linkola’s nod, Siasha recounted their conversation and concluded by saying, “so we are checking to see if the transfer rate of the Itran can be adjusted.”
Tawndo offered to work with Linkola, and, knowing his technical capabilities, Siasha was glad to step aside and let them figure it out.
Chapter 79- We found them!
Cliff Willis stepped into the command center at Raven Rock looking for Daniel and located him in a secluded office on the other side of the big room, deep in conversation with Raj and Roy.
“Cliff! Welcome, please join us.” Daniel greeted. “I was just about to go looking for you; I have some good news!
“Raj and Roy here,” he said nodding toward the two men, “were just telling me that their teams have successfully installed new software on the Skywalker satellites, which should give us the ability to locate the Trepang!"
“What!” Willis exclaimed in astonishment. “That is great news! Will we be able to communicate with them securely too?”
“That will take a little more work and adjusting once we find her,” Raj said, “but yes, I believe we will be able to.”
Willis grinned. “Well, fella’s, I can help you narrow down your search, but it sure would be helpful to be able to talk to them.”
Three pairs of eyes stared at him. “What do you have, Cliff?” Daniel asked.
“We have her location, but something seems to be wrong.
As you know, we haven’t received any contact from her for the past five days. However, about an hour ago, we received a ping from her on the agreed frequency at exactly one minute before the scheduled time, and again at exactly one minute after the scheduled time. Sending the signals as they did, one minute before and after the scheduled time is the code to let us know they are in some kind of trouble. Maybe it explains why she is also at the wrong depth and nearly a quarter mile off course.”
“Was there any other contact?” Daniel wanted to know.
Willis shook his head. “We’ve tried the prearranged frequencies, but she’s not responding.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Daniel said. “Guys, how soon can you use the satellite to have a look at her location?”
“Right now,” Roy responded moving toward a station a few seats down.
They all gathered behind him as he connected to the satellite and brought up an image of the Earth on the display monitor.
“Where is she?”
“Over the continental shelf in the Chukchi Sea,” Willis said and handed Roy a slip of paper, “here are the last known coordinates.”
They waited silently while Roy worked the controls. “That’s o
dd” he muttered.
“What?” Daniel asked.
“She’s still at the same coordinates; she hasn’t moved.”
“Can you tell if she has power, or see her through the water? Anything?”
“All we would get now is a dim outline at best. We’ll need time to make adjustments to the software to see more detail,” Raj replied.”
“Okay, let’s have a look at what you have now and then you can start work on the adjustments as soon as we’re done,” Daniel said.
Roy carefully zoomed in on the sub’s location. Raj was correct, what they saw was a dark spot in the ocean, oblong and it appeared to be hanging at an odd angle. There were also several small objects moving around it.
“Looks like she’s bow heavy,” Willis stated.
“How do you know which end it is?” Raj asked.
“The bow is larger and more spherical than the stern and it is now hanging lower than the stern—could be that she took on some water.”
“Not the normal position for a sub when stationary, I take it?” Roy commented.
“No, it’s supposed to be perfectly horizontal when stationary.” Willis replied. “Question is, what can we do to help them?”
“You said Admiral Johnson told you he was overseeing a project that’s produced something, which could be able to reach the sub if we could find her.” Daniel said.
Willis nodded.
“Well, I think it’s time he starts setting that in motion. In the meantime, Raj, Roy, I want you to try and get clearer images and put us in direct communication with that sub… top priority.
***
Admiral Johnson listened carefully to what Willis had to say while pacing thoughtfully back and forth in the room, his shiny black military shoes silent on the thick carpet. At last he spoke.
“Very well; I will set things in motion for a rescue. However, I think it’s imperative that I speak to Captain Locklin on the sub in person. Which means you’ll have to take me to the people who located them.”