“Control, are there any abnormal energy signatures within our radar sweeps?” Peter asked just as the countdown hit ten.
Control responded quickly. “The area is clear. Operation sweeps have already been carried out before final launching procedures. You are good to go!” the voice replied with high confidence.
Peter sighed. He shook his head, trying to shake off the wavering thoughts. This wasn’t a time to start doubting. Corson was counting on him to perform this exact role. Regardless of it being sprung on him, Peter wasn’t about to drop the ball now.
3 . . . 2 . . .1 . . . 0!
“Launch!” Control bellowed.
Peter eased the throttle he held forward and engaged the massive thrusters to the giant black plane. The massive beast lurched forward, forcing Peter back in his seat. As the aircraft gained terminal speed, blazing down the tunnel, Peter saw the black hole created by the Worm Gate drive appear just outside the hangar doors.
He smirked with renewed spirit. It was only during flight that he ever truly felt alive.
* * *
[January 7th - Virginia - Limit Zone 246 - Night]
Corson eyed the night sky as he heard all the wildlife scream and dash in terror from the deafening roar of an airborne AI unit. He stared fiercely as he saw the soaring entity pinpoint his location and begin to descend.
The lovebirds sure took their time, he scoffed to himself.
Seconds later, Lambda slowed to a hover as she came close to the ground, allowing Zack to touch down easily. She followed suit, finding herself at the center of everyone’s gazes. During her absence, all the squads had returned. All eyes were trained on her now. No one said a word.
“Heard you threw a hissy fit while I was gone,” Laura joked, holding back a snicker.
Zack scowled. “Have you ever tried to use tact before?”
Laura chuckled. “I’ll get right on it,” she replied sarcastically.
Nerine broke in. “Everything is set, Leader. Python has just entered the wormhole. It will be here within minutes.”
“Good.” Corson turned to the squads before him. “It is time you all knew what you have been working for,” Corson said boldly. “Beneath us is one of the high tech prisons of Babel, the Hex Cube. It is here that they throw all that oppose them!” Corson’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “Today, we take back the Key!”
There was a moment of silence as all the squad members simply stood like statues. Zack wasn’t sure if this was what Corson was going for, but the delayed reaction was nothing short of deafening.
“For the glory of Stigma!” roared the squad members.
Zack was stunned. The entire crowd of soldiers all seemed to be re-energized with this news, so much so that it appeared that they had forgotten where they were. However, Zack did note several soldiers with confused looks on their faces. Zack had a feeling that not everyone knew what he meant.
Amidst the roaring approval, Zack looked to Corson. “How exactly are you breaking into this Hex Cube prison?” Zack probed.
Corson turned slowly to Zack, pointing to the sky. “The first part is on its way,” Corson replied smugly.
Zack’s gaze hardened. “And this will liberate the people of this Limit Zone?”
Corson looked to Zack and Lambda. “It will be the start of a new tomorrow. These people don’t deserve this fate. They deserve better.”
Zack could hear the passion in Corson’s words. He could tell that Corson felt he was just in his declaration. Zack knew Corson would never allow anything to get in the way of his mission. The look in his eyes and the confidence in his voice spoke louder and clearer than anything Zack could deduce from Corson’s actions up to this point.
A sudden burst, followed by a massive crackling noise, ripped through the sky. Zack followed the source, watching a massive slit in the sky break open, spewing black chaos. The dimensional slit pulsed and sparked wildly as it grew in size. Zack was so entranced by such a large wormhole that he didn’t even notice Krieg approach from behind.
“This better be worth it, Leader.” His words felt alarmingly intense.
Corson turned and glared sternly. “I don’t know what your father sees in you, but out of respect for him and his title as Elder, I will forget that I heard that comment.”
Krieg’s visor shimmered from the lightning storm above. “Most appreciated, Corson.”
Corson didn’t hear Krieg’s words as he gazed at the turbulent sky above.
“Nerine! How are we on time?!” he commanded.
“The wormhole signal is being blocked for now! Once the Python exits the wormhole, it won’t be detected within the Limit Zone for about ten minutes because of my jamming program. Any longer and we risk being detected by Babel and the God Mod Cycles.” She looked down at the dozen monitors hovering around her. “The Python should be arriving any second now!” she shouted.
“Right! Begin the amplifier startup sequence. The moment the payload arrives, I want the field up and running immediately,” Corson quickly replied.
Zack felt Cecilia cling to his arm as a massive bolt of lightning sparked from the wormhole, followed by a deafening boom. He hardly had any time to reassure her as the massive B-52 burst from the black hole of pulsing chaos. The rigid aircraft sliced through the air with incredible speed and power for such a massive machine. It dashed alarmingly low above the Limit Zone and was slowly beginning to circle around, marking its drop zone.
“Peter, do you read me?” Corson spoke, tapping his wrist.
“Loud and clear, Leader. Your package is gift-wrapped and ready for delivery,” Peter replied back, a little perturbed.
Corson ignored Peter’s sarcastic tone. “Circle around and make the drop. Let’s make this quick and clean. Time is critical.”
Zack looked to the sky, alarmed. “You couldn’t give this thing a bigger window to deliver your centerpiece for the entire operation?!” Zack cried out, his pulse quickly elevating.
Corson was unmoved. “It is fine. Everything is accounted for. As long as we are quick, nothing can go wrong.” His tone turned grave. “This is the most vulnerable part of the operation.”
Zack found Corson’s calm nature disturbing. “And what do you plan to do if Babel detects your plane and sends an army of God Mods here?” Zack shot as the engines of the B-52 continued to rage in the sky, getting closer to its drop point.
Corson peered over his shoulder at Zack, his one eye burning. “Nothing to worry about. We have Lambda, right?”
Zack gnashed his teeth. “She isn’t some weapon you can just use for your own security,” he shot heatedly.
Corson turned to look up at the tormented sky. “Her role in all of this was never security.” He glared back to Zack, eyes blazing. “It was for infiltration,” he finished strongly.
Zack’s eyes widened. “That’s what those amplifiers are for . . .” He looked to the black plane above and then back to Corson. “What that plane is carrying is meant to allow you to get into the Hex Cube undetected!”
Corson paid little attention to Zack as he carefully watched Peter’s handling of the B-52.
“It was quite difficult to get a working Zero Barrier generator that could create a large enough field while amplified to cover the massive prison that lies beneath our feet.” He chuckled lightly. “Nothing I can’t make work with a little money and ingenuity.”
“So, that’s what you had your squads set up,” Zack deduced.
Corson nodded. “You’re quick. Can’t outfox you,” Corson replied, his tone ever so belittling.
“Corson, the amplifiers are set to engage!” Laura shouted as her wrist began to blink.
Corson nodded. “We are ready for you, Peter. Drop the package!”
“Here goes something!” Peter’s voice echoed in Corson’s ear.
As the dark slit in the sky sealed closed, the giant plane sprung open its pod bay doors and released a massive metal object that hurtled towards
the Earth at terminal velocity. Corson quickly pushed aside his coat and pressed a button on his belt. Everyone watched as the large object sprung what had to be the largest parachute ever designed. The massive black fixture had to span nearly a thousand feet, and had four smaller shoots just above the largest. What was even more amazing was how the metal commit still continued to fall rather quickly, but instead of flopping around in the sky, it was balanced and even for its touchdown.
Corson huffed triumphantly. “Victory.”
The large package slammed into the ground just moments later, kicking up a huge dust cloud. The crater left by the device was nearly twenty feet wide, but miraculously, the massive structure remained upright on the ground as the huge shoot released and floated off to land about fifty yards to its left. Zack was more impressed at how it missed the helicopters that were still grounded.
Corson bolted to the giant metal structure. Everyone soon followed, anxious to see the main piece of the operation.
“Peter, don’t linger in the air. Reengage the Worm Drive and return to base. Get that bird out of the sky,” Corson said hastily.
“How long does he have?” Laura asked, a little worried as they made it to the large generator. It stood nearly fifteen feet tall and almost a hundred feet long. It was as large as a bus, maybe bigger.
Corson ignored her question, brushing away dirt and rocks away from what appeared to be a control panel. He quickly keyed in a twelve digit code and crouched down to allow his retina to be scanned. The panel sprung open to reveal a large terminal displaying over twenty screens.
“Looks like it sustained no damage during the fall. The reinforced hide we designed for it worked quite well,” he muttered. He began typing on the hovering keyboard before him, bringing the machine to life. It growled with ferocious power as the entire device began to emit blue light from all its vents. The large piston at its center began to heat and move like a turbine engine. Its howl was earth-shaking.
Corson looked up, noticing Peter still in the sky. He now seemed irritated as he turned to Nerine. “Explain to me why Peter hasn’t reengaged the Worm Drive?!” he shot sharply, turning his focus back to the many screens waving around him.
Nerine seemed a bit frazzled. Zack could also see that several others looked to be a bit worried by the statement. His eyes fell to his sister, who stood frozen among everyone. She seemed lost in a trance as she watched the events unfold before her. Now, with all that was happening, she could only stare, utterly bewildered at what she was seeing. Zack knew she was petrified.
“Corson, something isn’t right,” Peter’s voice echoed over Corson’s ear.
Corson didn’t stop focusing on his task, though he did note the grave tone in Peter’s voice. “Be specific. What is wrong?” he said, fingers still blazing.
“Something is jamming my navigation system. I can’t lock on to my return point to engage the Worm Drive.”
Nerine joined in on the call. “Have you tried a system reboot on the navigator software?”
“I have, twice!” Peter replied firmly. “What, is this Limit Zone’s Zero Barrier blocking my signal?”
Nerine shook her head. “Python is a modified B-52. I designed it myself. It should be able to operate its software within the Zero Barrier. The only way it could be jammed is if someone zeroed in on the individual aircraft’s signal from a close proximity.”
Laura looked perplexed. “There isn’t anything on our radar, though,” she said as she tapped her forearm, pulling up a hologram of the entire map grid of the Limit Zone and almost fifty miles out. “Nothing in the area is close enough to block the Python’s navigation signals.”
Corson suddenly stopped typing. He turned his head slowly to his company. The look of utter wrath raged like a furnace primed for cremation. “Who here would dare-”
The massive generator before them suddenly went dark, slowing to a halt. It still radiated vast heat, but now lay silent.
Zack heard a faint click of a button followed by a high pressured humming noise. He couldn’t pinpoint the sound’s origin before the area about a hundred yards from them started erupting with explosions. Each detonation went off in a circular formation, the ring of bombs exploding just beyond the forest clearing. As the bombs shook the earth, confusion began to spread like wildfire.
“What the . . . these explosions are coming from the Amplifier sites!” cried out Laura as she stood perplexed by what was happening.
Zack heard Cecilia scream and cover her head, only to be snatched up by one of Corson’s soldiers during the confusion of the explosions. Zack’s eyes widened with horror as he watched multiple men raise their weapons.
“Checkmate,” came a boastful voice.
No one had a chance to react as the generator behind them suddenly began to discharge massive electric currents, sparking wildly like a cut power line. Seconds later, the generator let out a sudden burst that sent Corson flying backwards, crashing into Laura and Nerine.
Zack and Lambda were pushed back by the shockwave, but before Zack could even open his eyes, Lambda pushed him to the ground as a fury of bullets rained down upon the unsuspecting squad members. Zack could only listen to the screams of horror and pain as several members of Corson’s men slaughtered the bewildered squad members not in league with them.
Betrayal! Now?!
The bullets ceased seconds later. Besides the roar of the B-52 above, all was silent. As Zack moved to gaze at what had transpired, he was horrified to see the number of dead squad members that now littered the ground. What struck even more terror in him was the sight of Cecilia being held by one of the dark soldiers.
He acted on impulse from there. “Don’t you lay a finger on her!”
“Wait, Zack!” yelled Lambda.
Zack almost blacked out in terror as a bullet blazed by the side of his head, nearly nicking his ear. He remained completely frozen, as he felt like his life had just flashed before his eyes. He hadn’t noticed Cecilia cover her face or Lambda rise to his side.
“Don’t do anything rash. I hate to be forced to do anything to your sister,” came the foreboding words of the soldier that had nearly shot Zack.
Zack recognized the voice right away. “Krieg . . .”
Krieg stepped forward. About twelve men behind him followed closely. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be. You or your sister were never supposed to be part of this.” He almost seemed sorry.
Zack clenched his fist tightly. “For every hair on her head you damage, I will-”
“Spare me the theatrics and heroic words of valor, would you?” Krieg shot, now seeming detested. “You can’t and won’t do anything, and neither will that AI of yours.” Krieg’s attention quickly shifted to behind Zack and Lambda.
Corson was nearly to his feet. Peter echoed in his ear. “Corson! What the hell is going on down there? Several explosions-”
The transmission was cut, leaving only static on the line. Corson stared at the ground for a moment. He looked to be breathing deeply. Zack could have sworn he saw steam radiating off his mask. It almost seemed like it was white hot from pure rage.
“You have some nerve to undermine me like this.” His body shuddered. He was absolutely consumed with hate.
Krieg merely taunted him with the weapon he held. “No, it is you who has some nerve! If you didn’t see this coming, you’re not only blind, but a fool.” His tone deepened. “You have long since lost the right to lead this organization.”
Corson’s eyes burned. “Oh? So destroying what I worked towards makes you fit to lead instead, Krieg?” His hands twitched with overwhelming rage.
Krieg didn’t flinch. “Who said I wanted to lead? Stigma’s true purpose has long since been lost. It’s only natural we look to other means, rather than be led by a tyrant like you.”
Zack watched with alarm and shock as Laura bolted to her feet from under two dead soldiers. She reached out her hand, summoning a black rift in space. �
�I won’t let you have-”
All guns were trained on Laura now. Her mouth hung agape as she stood next to Corson. She didn’t have a chance to summon her weapon.
“Enough of this,” Krieg said heartlessly. “Throw all your weapons down now.” Krieg’s gaze turned to Lambda. His blank visor of darkness hung on Lambda ominously. “Don’t move,” he finished darkly.
Lambda glared back with a face of stone.
Krieg ignored her fierce stare and turned to the sky where the roaring jets of the B-52 above split through the air as the vast aircraft made its rounds above. Krieg eyed the black beast carefully as it appeared to be circling them like a flock of vultures.
Amongst the bodies, Nerine rose to her feet. She looked completely pale as she gawked at the bodies that laid everywhere, soaking the earth with fresh crimson.
She looked to Krieg. “H-how could you . . .”
Krieg didn’t answer. Instead, his helmet began to blink. He gazed over to the billowing smokestacks and listened to the echoes of metal beyond the forest.
“I’m merely protecting those who I hold close. I don’t expect you to understand.”
Krieg then turned and tapped his wrist. “It is done. Bring the fireworks.”
A new wormhole split the darkened sky. It roared with madness, surging like a violent tornado. It almost sounded as if it was howling.
Corson’s eyes screamed with murder. “Who is pulling your leash?”
Krieg merely looked to the storming sky. “Pandemonium.”
[26]
Purgatory Flames
[January 7th - Virginia - Limit Zone 246. Python (B-52) - Night]
Peter stared in utter disbelief at the scene unfolding before him. Unable to get in touch with Corson or anyone on the ground, he was completely lost as events continued to spiral out of control around him. He was done pretending to think this was still part of Corson’s plan. What was happening right now only spelled doom in Peter’s eyes.
The Genesis Code 1: Lambda Page 39