Nightfall

by Peter Hoole

  It was James who’d insisted that each of the colonies followed the same design. While it had been tried and tested in Zone One, and found to be a suitable design for their purposes, James also believed that having the same design among the group would assist with the focus of the people.

  James believed that, if everyone followed the same structure in the same environment they would subconsciously always be aware that they were not alone, and that they were part of something bigger.

  It was a simple concept, but an effective one.

  Every person who was indoctrinated into the society James had created believed in him, and his work.

  Almost everyone.

  Isaac was one of the exceptions. He’d been recruited into the organisation by John several years before. He was pulled out of the heart of one of the world’s great, recent conflicts.

  Back then, he’d been fighting for the cause because he was told he should. Since then, he’d been working for a cause he thought he believed in.

  Isaac had been told all about Phase One, and most of the details of Phase Two.

  The rewards had come at a cost – he hadn’t seen his family or friends since he’d been recruited. But he assumed they would have all thought him dead anyway.

  Still, he had an opportunity to see the future. And the sacrifices he’d made were well worth the reward, and he’d been happy with his destiny.

  All that had changed, when John arrived.

  Having been absent from the Berlin colony for the previous twelve months, Isaac had eagerly anticipated his supervisor’s return. Soon after his conversation with James, John had arrived via one of the jets.

  The following day, as soon as John touched down, Isaac knew his supervisor had concerns. Not the normal, everyday concerns.

  These ran much deeper.

  After some prodding, John had revealed the issues he was having concerns with. He had told Isaac about the next part of the plan. John had told him about Phase Three – the details of which had changed Isaac’s entire perspective.

  While he was aware that people were being killed to further the plan, those people had always been a direct threat. They were people who were out to use the serum for their own means.

  The next phase changed all that. The next phase was about much more than that. It was about changing the very fabric of the world – and Isaac knew he had to stop it. He was happy to make the sacrifices himself to progress the plan, but Phase Three would affect so many innocent people, people who had no choice in the matter. And that was something Isaac could not live with.

  It was then he’d decided that the people he’d been working with all those years had to be stopped.

  And a few hours earlier, he’d found his opportunity. John had returned from the conference call with James.

  As he walked into the communications room, he knew what he had to do. He couldn’t change anything, but he knew the people who could.

  He only hoped that when he made the call, the right people would answer.

  Darcy sat at the communication station, searching through the information on the screen. She was searching through the Kite’s ‘Information Search Program’. Similar to the internet search engines that are ubiquitous to the lives of everyday people, the key aspect of the Colonials engine was that it was able to combine all the information and extrapolate the data into usable documents. Essentially, it was able to summarise everything with the click of a button and the entry of a search term.

  It was an excellent tool for monitoring the mainstream news networks and news websites. What differentiated the Colonials search program, was the fact that it also incorporated results from other government databases. Everything from the Pentagon to Mossad.

  Darcy wondered how they could have gotten access to such exclusive databases, but given the reach the Colonials had demonstrated so far, she wasn’t surprised. They seemed to have people everywhere.

  Darcy entered the first thing she could think of. She typed in her own name.

  After a few seconds, the program sorted through every piece of information that was available to the world, and summarised Darcy’s life. Part of her was amazed that they knew so much about her. Another part of her was annoyed that it all was summarised in just a few paragraphs. She started reading the information they had on her.

  ‘Darcy Hannah Chamberlain. Born 8 August, 1979 in San Diego. Graduated from San Diego High school in 1996. Earned Journalism Degree at San Diego State University. Intelligence Quotient of 139. Rated a low-medium risk on the Molyneux Scale. Current whereabouts estimated to be East Coast United States.’ LOW RISK???

  While she was not surprised the information was there, she was surprised that it went as far as estimating her current location.

  She read further down the page. At the bottom, a flashing, bright red sentence drew her attention.

  ‘Update – Apprehend on Site. Eliminate if Necessary.’

  Darcy knew then that word was starting to spread among the Colonials. She had been targeted, and would have even more people after her. Not being shocked by any of the information, she tried a new search. She typed in Caleb’s name.

  As with her, Caleb’s sheet read normally.

  “Caleb James Jackson. Born 23 September, 1979 in San Diego. Graduated from San Diego High school in 1996. Enlisted with the Marine Corps in March 1997. Intelligence Quotient of 131. Current whereabouts unknown.”

  Darcy was taken aback by the last line. She reread the small amount of information. She hadn’t misread it. Curious about the entry, she spoke up. “Caleb,” she said. “Come take a look at this.”

  Caleb came to join her, alerted by tension in her voice. “What have you found babe?” he asked.

  As she was about to speak, the screen changed. ‘Incoming Communication – Zone 4’ was flashing across the screen.

  Caleb and Darcy watched the screen, not sure what to make of it. “Mike, Murphy…” Caleb began, “need you over here.”

  As the other two approached, the message continued to flash. With each flash, the tension mounted in Caleb’s shoulders. If they answered, and they were not expected, they would give up their element of surprise.

  However, Caleb had figured long ago that, as with the ‘Bat, there had to be a similar tracker on the plane. He figured the people at the base must also be tracking them. Caleb mentioned his thoughts to the rest of the group.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right, Jackson,” Dunleavy said.

  “I’m thinking we need to answer,” Caleb announced.

  The others just paused and thought for a few seconds.

  “I agree, Caleb,” said Darcy, “but not you.”

  Darcy motioned to Dunleavy. “Mike. They already know you, right?”

  Dunleavy was surprised by the comment. “What makes you say that?” he asked.

  “I’m guessing they think you’re involved with us. Why else would it have been leaked out that you were in charge of New Light?”

  Caleb was impressed. He hadn’t even thought about that, and yet it made perfect sense. “Yeah Mike. You sit in the chair.”

  Dunleavy was nervous. Not because he doubted Darcy, far from it. He knew she was right in what she’d said. Indeed, they did know of him. It just wasn’t for the reasons they thought. Judging by the sounds of it, he reckoned they hadn’t even guessed his true motives. “Fair enough,” he replied, unable to think of an excuse not to sit in the chair.

  Darcy stood up, and Dunleavy took her place. He settled himself, and moved to press the ‘Accept’ button.

  Caleb put his hand on Dunleavy’s shoulder, motioning for him to wait.

  Caleb motioned for the other two to step to the side to ensure that the only face the caller saw was Dunleavy’s. There was no point in putting any of them at risk if they didn’t have to.

  Once Darcy and Murphy had stepped to the side, Dunleavy pressed the button.

  Chapter Forty-One

  The face that greeted them was not what they’d expected. Du
nleavy had seen several pictures of actual and potential Colonials, but the face he saw on the monitor was foreign to him.

  The person on the screen was a young man, no more than thirty years old. He looked upon Dunleavy. Once he saw the face of the former Chief-of-Staff, his face relaxed. It was almost as though he was relieved to see Dunleavy’s image in the monitor.

  “Good,” the young man said. “Obviously you made it, Mr. Dunleavy.” Isaac recognised Dunleavy from various briefing notes he had received upon John’s arrival in Berlin.

  “Okay,” Dunleavy replied. “Just who the fuck are you?”

  “My name is Isaac,” he continued, “And I am from the Berlin Colony. Or Zone Four, as you may know it.”

  Isaac scanned the area behind Dunleavy, trying to see if he had any accomplices. “Is anyone with you, Mr. Dunleavy?” Isaac asked.

  Caleb didn’t want to be revealed, nor did he want to further jeopardize Darcy. He could only hope Dunleavy realised this.

  “No,” Dunleavy replied.

  “Okay then, Mr. Dunleavy. I’ll have to take that for now,” Isaac replied, not believing that Dunleavy could have gotten away with everything without help, not to mention fly the plane as well. “We do not have much time…” Isaac continued.

  Dunleavy started to ask a question, but Isaac cut him off. “They are waiting for you in Minot. I imagine that, by now, they have two or three thousand troops ready with the serum. Their only mission right now is stopping you and your group.”

  Dunleavy looked over at Caleb, aware that Isaac had already guessed he wasn’t alone.

  “What do you propose?” Dunleavy asked, turning back to the screen.

  “I have sent a file. It will give you instructions on how to disable the tracker. Once complete, turn your plane to the south west. I will contact you again in sixty minutes.”

  A small message note appeared on the screen and Dunleavy opened the file.

  It seemed that Isaac was telling the truth. The file contained detailed instructions on how to disable the tracking device.

  “Why should we trust you?” asked Dunleavy

  Isaac looked directly at the screen, not wanting to appear deceptive.

  “Because, Mr. Dunleavy,” he replied, “I am the only chance you have. And you are the only chance I have.”

  With that, the brief conversation ended. Isaac disappeared from the screen.

  Dunleavy spun around in the chair. “What do you think, Jackson?” he asked.

  Caleb stared at the screen, barely able to believe the conversation. He’d assumed they would be waiting for them at the base. That was why he’d planned to use the air force base to land. Still, even without the element of surprise, they would never be able to get around three thousand troops.

  “Caleb,” Darcy interrupted her boyfriend’s thoughts, “We really don’t have a choice do we? The odds are pretty low on getting anywhere in North Dakota.”

  Caleb knew she was right.

  “I agree, sir. Better to listen to that guy,” said Murphy. “Worst case scenario, we get a bit more time.”

  Caleb had been convinced. “You’re right,” Caleb said, “Let’s do it. Murphy, Dunleavy disarm the tracker.”

  Dunleavy stood up.

  “It’s located just below the cockpit. Should be a hatch,” Dunleavy peered around the room, zoning in on a space near the Control Chairs, “right there”

  Murphy went to the spot, and lifted up the hatch door.

  She scooted down, and Dunleavy followed.

  “What about me, babe?” Darcy asked.

  “We’re going to use the communications terminal. I want us to find out as much as we can about these… Colonials.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  “Babe, you still need to look at this.” Darcy urged Caleb to refocus on the screen now that Isaac had disappeared. What she had found out prior to Isaac’s message had confused her. According to all the databases and searches in the world, her partner’s life came down to only three lines, with no real information.

  Caleb stared at the screen. “That looks about right.” Caleb said, unsurprised that so much information was missing.

  Darcy was less convinced. “Caleb. This stuff comes from everywhere. No one has any record of you being alive after you were supposedly killed. No tax records. No flight records. No social security, credit cards, rent payment… Nothing.”

  Caleb thought about what she said. “It’s pretty standard, babe. The whole point of sending me, Murphy, and Casey, is so that missions could be completed and not be traced back to the people who gave the orders. It’s the nature of Black Ops.”

  Darcy looked at him, still unconvinced. “But… surely there’d be something… somewhere? These guys have people in the CIA, Washington DC Police. They have secret bases. They have cars and planes that are literally invisible. They can track every police car in Seattle. They can take down a commercial airliner and convince people the former Chief-of-Staff was behind it. Surely they’d know if you were dead or not. Especially as, from what you’ve told me, you’ve been working against them. Surely they’d know… something about you being alive.”

  Caleb thought it over. He knew she was right. The way she’d put it, it made no sense that these people, as powerful as they were, still had no idea where he was. “I get what you’re saying. And there’s only one person who can clear that up,” Caleb said, moving over to the open hole in the floor of the cockpit. He looked down the opening. “How much longer Murph?” he asked.

  “Not long, sir,” Murphy’s reply echoed up the short shaft. “These instructions seem to be accurate.”

  “Yeah, should be done in a minute or so,” Dunleavy added.

  Darcy could hear the pair working away down the bottom, their grunts and groans apparent.

  After a few more moments, she heard a large thud.

  “Everyone okay?” Caleb asked down the opening.

  There was a brief silence, followed by the sound of Dunleavy groaning.

  “Yeah, we’ll be fine,” Murphy said. “I just dropped the thingy.”

  “Right on my fucking foot,” said a clearly unimpressed Dunleavy.

  “Is it disabled?” Caleb asked, referring to the tracking device, and paying little heed to Dunleavy’s discomfort.

  “If it’s not dead, sir, it’s very unhappy,” Murphy jokingly replied.

  “Good. Now get up here and change our course.”

  Caleb stood back from the opening, allowing the others to ascend.

  Dunleavy came out first, with Murphy following. In her arm she carried a clump of machinery about the size of a small football.

  “That’s the tracker?” Caleb asked.

  “I think so,” Murphy replied, “it’s the thing that whatshisname pointed at in his instructions.”

  “Yeah… I think it worked.” Dunleavy was looking at his screen. “I can’t see us on here anymore.”

  Caleb walked to the screen, and confirmed the situation. They had vanished off the screen.

  “Is there any other way to tell?” he asked Murphy.

  Murphy thought. “He told us to turn south west, right?” she asked rhetorically. “If we do that, and we are being watched and tracked, then surely we’ll see another plane turning around and following us. I mean, they all have weapons on them.”

  Caleb thought, and agreed with his Lieutenant. “So, turn us around then,” he said.

  Murphy again sat down in the control seat. After a few seconds of studying the screen, she pressed a few buttons. The plane once again banked right. After several seconds, they levelled out. “Done,” she said. “We’re on course for the Pacific. According to the speed of the plane, we should reach the ocean soon.”

  “Good,” replied Caleb, and he turned back to Darcy’s console. “Mike, come take a look at this,” he said to Dunleavy.

  Dunleavy limped over to the console, his foot still sore from the impact of the tracking device.

  “Darcy, pull up what you had before.”
Darcy changed the screen back to the information about Caleb.

  Caleb pointed at the last line. “Can you explain this?”

  Dunleavy looked at the screen, “Oh. That?” he asked.

  “Yes, that.”

  “It’s standard procedure. When any member of the military becomes a part of black-ops, we need to erase them from the system. It’s quite simple to put everything back.”

  Caleb was confused. “But there must be a trail somewhere” he asked.

  Dunleavy thought about how to answer the question. “There really is nothing to worry about, Jackson. There is very little information out there about you. Your apartment is owned by the government, and you, apparently, have followed protocol perfectly. No social media, no credit cards. I meant what I said though. Once your career in the military – or at least where our work was concerned was finished – it all would have been restored.”

  Caleb looked even more concerned. “Mike. I don’t mean to be rude. But do you seriously expect me to believe that? As far as I can tell, you are the only one who gave orders to me and my team.” Caleb was struck by a thought. “Wait a sec. Murphy, Casey and the others?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid they will find themselves equally hard to find.” Dunleavy answered.

  Caleb was getting annoyed. “So… what was going to happen? Say we didn’t get the email from Paul, and none of this happened. I’d still be sitting on my ass, waiting for a call and basically not existing, right?”

  Dunleavy paused. Perhaps now was the time to reveal a little more. “Actually, Caleb, I wasn’t the only one making the decisions and coming up with the missions. There was another person. They would have helped you.”

  “You mean the President? He can’t really help me much now, can he?”

  Dunleavy looked at Caleb, ensuring he had his complete attention. “Caleb, I’m not talking about the President…”