“You’re saying the two species aren’t the same?” Gabby asked.
“Dr. Holland,” Anna said. “Would you mind uploading the genetic results for me?”
“Of course.” Which he did, still waiting for Jack to explain.
“I’m saying that each time one of those things trashes the planet, it’s carrying the same genetic cargo, tweaked slightly here and there to accommodate shifting conditions.”
“Then would the same not be true of Plesiadapiformes?” Grant said.
Jack rubbed his hands together, chasing away the numbness creeping into the tips of his fingers. “It would. Look, I’ll be the first to admit it’s a hard concept for our delicate human egos to accept. On some level, human beings take for granted that all other species ever to have graced the planet were merely the opening act to us, the main attraction. No doubt, the species who lived here probably believed they too were special.”
“Dr. Greer, I’ve completed an initial comparison between the Mesonyx genome taken from the Atean ship and the one extracted from the bone sample.”
“How close are they?” Grant asked.
“Close enough to show a common ancestry, as you have already indicated. However, with one noticeable difference. The inhabitants of this city appear to have had Salzburg syndrome, while the specimen from the ship shows no signs of the disorder.”
“Are both the 47th and 48th chromatids present in the leg bone Grant analyzed?” Jack asked.
“I’m afraid not. The 47th alone is present, though it contains all four of the disorder’s known genes.”
“What do you think that means?” Grant asked.
Gabby frowned. “It means genetically speaking, they were facing the exact same biological and planetary threats we are today.”
“And we know how the planetary threat part ended for them,” Grant said, trying not to sound glib.
“I’m afraid there is more,” Anna said. “I was able to utilize the prime number solution to decipher the version of Salzburg detected in the bone specimen.” Without needing to be told, Anna patched the image into each of their glasses.
At a quick glance, the pixelated image looked very much like the same pulsar map and entity representation they’d decoded from the 47th chromatid found in humans. Jack asked her for a detailed comparison.
“I am afraid the pulsar map shows a different planetary system,” she replied. “Working backwards, I have calculated the star’s location to be one thousand light years from Earth. Furthermore, given the galaxy’s rate of motion and the changing pulse frequency of the celestial bodies in question, this map was created approximately two hundred and fifty million years ago.”
“That date lines up with the Permian extinction,” Jack said, excitedly. “Which means another one of those ships struck the earth two hundred and fifty million years ago, wiping out life and releasing a set roster of species into the ecosystem. Each of them then fought and struggled for survival, but only one rose to dominate the planet.”
“The descendants of the Mesonyx,” Grant said.
“Exactly. Then sixty-five million years ago, another ship crashed into the planet, killing most life on Earth, including this thriving civilization of dolphin people, only to lead to the emergence of humans.”
“The cycle repeating itself,” Gabby said, “over and over.”
“That implies it is now our turn to go extinct,” Anna indicated.
Gabby shook her head in disbelief. “It’s as though they keep running back the clock and letting evolution play out over and over again. On more than one occasion in our own history, humans were on the brink of extinction. Run the tapes a thousand times and in each one a completely different scenario might play out. But why?”
“Maybe they’re looking for something and aren’t finding it,” Jack proposed.
Grant straightened his back. “So much for evolutionary destiny.”
“I believe there is a complicating factor you have not addressed yet,” Anna interjected. “Either the Ateans have spread throughout the Milky Way galaxy, or each of the extinctions has been caused by a different extraterrestrial species.”
“That is a complication,” Jack said, staring down at the cracked femur lying on the floor. “Any thoughts on the matter, Anna?”
“Unfortunately, at this time there is not sufficient data to draw any firm conclusions.”
“Wherever they’re coming from,” Jack said, “one very important question remains. Why does it keep happening?”
Just then the sound of gunfire echoed down the stone hallway.
Jack hailed Mullins and the others on the radio, but all he got back was static.
Chapter 51
Rome
Mia spent most of the trip back to the Saint Andrea Hospital trying to wrap her brain around what they’d just seen. “Do you think it was some kind of trick?” she asked, hating the idea of being fooled, while doing her best to stay open to anything, no matter how outlandish it might at first seem.
Ollie glanced at her rapidly before returning to the road. “I don’t see how. I suppose they could have had microphones in the rooms and earpieces plugged into each girl’s ears, but what would be the point of that? Just to waste our time? If that were the case, it would mean that Dr. Putelli, Felli, the two girls and the graduate students evaluating them were all in on it. That to me sounds a lot more farfetched.”
“We need to get those girls back to the research hospital as soon as possible and run a whole battery of tests,” Mia said, rubbing her hands on her cargo pants. “Dr. Putelli worried the girls had gone insane, but maybe there’s a scientific explanation for what’s happening.”
“A scientific explanation for telepathy?” Ollie replied. “Because that’s what it was. Barring the possibility the two of us just got punked, you’re talking about genetic changes that have allowed two people to communicate with their minds.” He slapped the wheel several times. “I just don’t believe it.”
“I don’t either,” she said, cracking the knuckles on both of her hands. “But I can’t explain what we witnessed. Which is precisely why we need additional tests. To ensure what we saw was real and not a product of magical thinking. Back when they discovered the Atean ship, Jack told me several of the scientists on the rig had already closed their minds to the possibility it was of extraterrestrial origin even before reviewing the evidence. That’s where we’ve come to in our society. Everyone’s so scared of looking foolish, we’ve stopped pushing the boundaries. Cynicism masquerading as skepticism, stifling the emergence of new theories simply because they don’t conform to our current understanding. That’s not to say the scientific method isn’t working as it should, because it is, but science requires investigation to occur before conclusions are formed, not the other way around.”
“And what if the final stage of Salzburg syndrome has somehow opened up a form of communication humans have never known before?”
Mia was not sure she agreed with Ollie’s premise, but she went along anyway. “I’m not sure how new this is. If you look at the rest of the Salzburg chromosome, many of the genes do little more than accentuate existing abilities. Some of us live longer than others. Some of us have denser bones. Some of us are born with genes which seem to be harming us. The spread is relatively even and often random. The same might be true for telepathy. Since at least the mid-twentieth century, scientists have attempted to prove that it was at least possible. From 1978 until 1995, the CIA had a program called Stargate where they utilized subjects with so-called extra-sensory perception to spy on the Russians. I’m saying, what if our evidence was weak because our telepathic abilities themselves weren’t very well developed or understood? The circumstantial evidence is there. How many times have you dialed someone important in your life, only to find they were trying to call you at the very same time? What if all HOK3 did was to strengthen something that’s already within us? If we’re right, then it means those girls and anyone else like them may represent a new sta
ge of human evolution.”
He shot her a sideways glance. “I know that look,” Ollie said with alarm. “You wanna take those girls to Greenland, don’t you? Well, forget it. There’s a war going on.”
“I’ve already sequenced their DNA,” she argued, holding out the thumb drive she kept with her at all times. “I’m not the type to go on a hunch, but something is telling me that’s where they might be needed.”
“Needed or not, you’re giving me a headache,” Ollie snapped, flipping on the radio to the international news station.
“In Nevada, what started as an act of defiance has turned into full-blown sedition after a group of cattle farmers, supported by local militia groups, declared their own independent government. With the bulk of the country’s military and police forces struggling to maintain order in increasingly lawless urban centers, state and federal authorities simply lack the manpower to end a bloody standoff that has so far claimed over a hundred and fifty lives.
“In other news, a medical examiner in Richmond has determined the remains found in the trunk of a burned-out Cadillac are not those of famed geneticist Alan Salzburg, but his assistant Dr. Gregory Abbott.”
Mia went to turn it up, but the news had already switched to President Myers and his new commitment to utilize the full force of the country’s nuclear arsenal to keep the planet safe.
“What does that mean?” Ollie asked.
Before Mia could gather her thoughts enough to form a coherent reply, they pulled into the hospital parking lot only to find the place swarming with the pulsing blue lights of Carabinieri police cars. Ollie slammed on the brakes.
“Do you think there was an attack?” Mia asked. She might not have said the word Sentinel, but it was clearly on the tips of their tongues.
“Not worth taking a chance,” Ollie replied, throwing the car into reverse and pulling backwards. From out of nowhere, two police cars swept in from both sides, blocking their escape. Then two more did the same from the front. With weapons drawn, officers approached the driver and passenger side windows, waving at Mia and Ollie to cut the engine and exit the vehicle. With no hope of escape, they did as they were told and were promptly taken into custody.
•••
Mia found herself waiting alone in a small windowless room in an Italian police station for what felt like hours, sipping on a sickeningly good cup of Illy coffee. The handcuffs had been loosened slightly after they sat her down, but that didn’t make them comfortable to wear, especially since they were laced through a ring on the desk. She and Ollie had each been booked and placed in separate interrogation rooms. A single camera peered down at her from the corner of the room. But the space she was in lacked more than just visual warmth. The air conditioning was sending waves of frigid air charging up her arms. She couldn’t help wonder what all this was about. As she waited, dozens of scenarios played out in her mind. Either way, she felt innocent of any wrongdoing since she and Ollie had been on the other side of town and had missed whatever had gone down at the hospital.
The door opened and a man sauntered in. Late fifties. Silver hair with black streaks. Small upturned nose and smooth skin. This guy spent a lot of time taking care of himself and wanted others to know it. He slid into the seat opposite Mia and extended his hand.
“Commissario Vicario,” he said, in the kind of suave manner that might have been appealing if she weren’t wearing handcuffs.
His hands were soft and perfumed with lavender.
“You’re probably asking yourself why you’re here.”
“You took the words right out of my mouth.”
Vicario smiled, flashing a set of perfect teeth. “I regret to inform you that Dr. Putelli is dead.”
“Dead?” Mia repeated, the words hardly making sense.
“Murdered.”
Mia’s back pressed against the back of her chair, her very being filled at once with shock, surprise and anguish. “Oh, no, when did it happen?”
“That’s what we were hoping you could help us with. We couldn’t help but notice you and your friend were driving Dr. Putelli’s car.”
“He loaned it to us,” Mia said, distinctly aware how lame that sounded, even if it was the truth.
Vicario nodded. “Of course he did. Italian men in Rome are known to share a meal and sometimes clothing with good friends. But there are two things they never share. The first is their women and the second is their cars. So do you wish to amend your answer?”
Mia’s eyes hardened. “I told you what happened.”
“Perhaps you would care to watch the footage from the hospital’s security system.” Vicario snapped his fingers and a muscular man in a tight suit brought in a tablet, set it before Mia and clicked play.
A black and white video showed a pair who looked very much like Mia and Ollie ambush Dr. Putelli near the seventh-floor elevators. They stabbed him repeatedly, leaving him lying on the floor in a growing pool of blood. Then one of them reached into the pocket of his lab coat before fleeing down the stairwell.
“Was that when you stole his keys, Dr. Ward?”
“Why on earth would we want to steal Dr. Putelli’s car? I didn’t even know what he had.”
“Perhaps the car was only a trophy,” Vicario suggested. “Perhaps the two of you had professional differences. Was there any tension between you?”
“If scientists aren’t disagreeing, then they aren’t doing their job.”
“A note on Dr. Putelli’s desk mentioned he was going to confront you about an issue he had. Did that ever happen?”
Mia suddenly felt as though the room might not be so cold after all. In fact, it was starting to feel downright hot.
“You’re sweating,” Vicario said, offering her a handkerchief. “Is it too warm in here? I can have them turn up the air conditioning.”
“I’m fine. Dr. Putelli and I talked and worked it out. He wasn’t used to a woman taking charge. I think it made him feel uncomfortable.”
“You thought of him as a misogynist. Was that it?”
“I thought of him as a fellow scientist with a blind spot to anything out of his immediate experience.”
“Whose idea was it to kill Dr. Putelli?” Vicario asked with brutal frankness.
“I’m done with this,” Mia said, crossing her arms, or at least trying to given her hands were bolted to the table. “Get me a lawyer.”
Vicario placed his soft hands on the table and stood up. “As you wish.” And with that he left the room. He hadn’t been gone more than five minutes before the door opened again. Mia knew there was no chance a lawyer or anyone else sent to help her had arrived this quickly. But when she saw his face, Mia was frozen in disbelief.
“Alan?”
Alan Salzburg strolled in with all the confidence of a king entering his throne room. Even at a respectable six foot one, his lithe form and narrow shoulders made him seem so much taller. His hair was thinning a little on top, and in the years since she’d last seen him, it had started to turn grey. The years had also dug heavy grooves across his forehead and along the corners of his mouth. A loose mound of skin hung beneath his chin, which jiggled slightly whenever he spoke. Alan sat down and removed his glasses.
“It’s been a long time, kiddo.” The smile on his face showed genuine affection.
“I don’t understand,” Mia said. “I thought you were dead.”
Alan stared up at the camera and curled his fist into a ball. “This is a private conversation,” he told her. “No sense inviting anyone else. There’s so much to tell you, but this is certainly not the time or the place for that. I’ve been following your work with great care since you left, Mia. And I know now that I was right in choosing you.”
Mia stared at him, a growing storm cloud of dread gathering within her.
He raised one finger and tsked. “You and Ollie are in deep, deep trouble. Taking another man’s life. Around here that’s at least twenty years. And with what we’re facing these days, it’ll be a miracle if you
ever get to see your daughter again. But, as always, Mia, you do have your fans. In fact, I was just speaking to one of them in Washington, D.C. A reporter for the Post. She knew all about the work you and Dr. Greer have been doing. A feisty little number named Kay Mahoro. I think you’d like her.”
“You set us up, didn’t you?” Mia shouted, the reality slowly dawning on her. “Don’t you realize the importance of what we’re doing here?”
“Probably more than anyone else on the planet. But here’s the good news. The State Department has already agreed to secure your release. All it took was a phone call from my personal friend President Myers. You’ll be coming with me now. And I hope you packed warm clothes, because you’ll need them where we’re going.”
“And the bad news?”
Alan’s face squished up as though he had eaten something tart. “I’m afraid Ollie won’t be joining us.”
Understanding flashed across Mia’s face. “Don’t you dare hurt him,” she screamed, springing out of her seat, stopped short by the cuffs chaining her to the table.
“Please don’t fret, kiddo,” Alan reassured her. “He won’t feel a thing.”
Chapter 52
Greenland
“Anna, have you been able to reach Northern Star yet?” Jack asked, adrenaline coursing through him.
She shook her head. “I am afraid not, Dr. Greer. We are likely too deep underground at this point to establish a clear line of communication.”
“Jack, even if the U.S. military has regained control, there’s no way they’ll get here in time anyway,” Grant said as he hurried to pack up the equipment and instrumentation.
The sound of gunfire continued to ring out in sporadic bursts.
“Let’s go,” Jack said, throwing his helmet back on. “Anna, you stay here. If none of us make it back, head for the elevator. At least that way what we’ve learned won’t be lost.”
The three of them charged out of the small stone room, leaving Anna behind.
The sounds of fighting grew louder as they entered an enormous chamber. The ceiling sat a hundred feet above them. It appeared to be some sort of supply storage area. The remains of rusted vehicles and pallets of food formed tiny mounds of debris scattered everywhere. Figures here and there popped up from behind the cover, firing short bursts only to disappear again. To their left, Jack saw that Mullins and the rest of the science team were pinned down. Dag rose up to return fire, only to be forced down right away by incoming rounds. Beyond the Israeli forces was an archway and a set of stairs. Could that be what the soldiers were protecting, a direct route to the pyramid and the source of the blast wave?
Extinction Series (The Complete Collection) Page 51