Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The capital had awakened to a rain storm that drenched the city. In Ulaanbaatar, the news was coming so fast that the population had very little time to digest it. The prevailing thought among the populace was the fact that there were two different armies seemingly ready to invade their country. After the United Nations debacle, the president of Mongolia strengthened his border guards. However, the soldiers placed there were out-numbered by close to six thousand to one.
The current president of Mongolia had been elected on a democratic platform, thus distancing his government from their once close ally; The Peoples Republic of China.
“Yes, Mr. President, my orders will stand. Any assault by Chinese forces across our southern border will be met by Mongolian patriots. Any outlaw move will cause considerable trouble as my people are virtually unanimous about the correctness of my decision. I thank you for your call and it is my sincere hope beyond measure that you heed my warning.”
The president hung up the phone and faced the large, rotund man in the chair in front of his desk. Doctor Leoniv Vassick nodded his head, indicating in his opinion, the message was well put to the president of China.
“You do realize my meager forces cannot begin to even delay the Chinese forces if they move past the southern wall?”
“They will be delayed by many hours trying to breach the passes through the Altai Mountains. Dirt trails and harsh terrain is not a friend to heavily armored vehicles.” Vassick stood up and presented the president with a small envelope. “This will go a very long way in supporting your new infrastructure bill in your government.”
The president opened the envelope and examined the card inside. There were several sets of numbers and a monetary amount that eased the conscience of the man only two years in office.
“Your assistant can verify the payment to your treasury through electronic means. All roads that would lead to our assistance have been well covered,” Vassick said as he returned to his chair.
“I will give the order to my northern command to not interfere with your crossing of the border. My official statement, regarding the volunteer Russian forces here to assist in preliminary mining operations, is already been sent to the press. I do expect very angry complaints from other members of the United Nations Security Council over this decision.”
“The council has always been a toothless tiger, Mr. President. You will have little trouble with them, our people have seen to that. They have muddied the waters so much that it will take weeks to figure out our play in this matter.”
With little remorse, the president of Mongolia placed the envelope aside and commenced setting his nation on a far more prosperous course for their future.
He may have felt differently if he had seen the smug look on the Russian’s face as he left the presidential office.
Chapter Nine
Altai Mountains, Mongolia
It had been a sleepless night since the revelations from Master Li Zheng. The Group had many questions to ask, and that is what cost them all needed sleep.
As Sarah and Anya watched from the high vantage point where they were quartered, Shangri-La was just beginning to wake from its slumber. They watched through glassless windows, three hundred feet up overlooking the city center, at a few of the populace as they started their day. They watched men in ceremonial garb come and go. To the trained eyes of Sarah and Anya, these men and women looked to be soldiers.
“What we were told is hard to believe,” Anya said, as she finally turned away from the window and poured herself a glass of water from an ornate glass decanter.
Sarah was about to comment about the lessons the Event Group had learned over the years that nothing, not even immortality, could be shrugged off as legend, but stopped her rebuke when a light knock sounded on the thick wooden door. Sarah moved from the window and opened it. She saw Master Li and another ornately dressed man with a feather plumed helmet, standing there. The colors of the ceremonial uniform were, at the very least, impressive with their brightly hued blue and red leather and steel armor. The man had a heavy beard and stood rigid next to his master. The long sword was secured by jeweled leather. The two men stepped aside as several young women entered with steaming bowls of food.
“I have taken the liberty of bringing you breakfast,” Master Li said.
Sarah and Anya heard grumbling coming from behind the two visitors to their quarters. The saw Li Zheng gesture for someone to enter before him. Shaking her head at the cursing coming from outside, she was not surprised to see Jason Ryan, flanked by a sleepy Charlie Ellenshaw, as they came into the room.
“Also, I took the liberty of asking your friends to join us.” Both men followed a complaining Ryan and Charlie inside. “Please, sit.”
Sarah, Anya, Charlie, and Jason sat at the large round table. Li Zheng and his guest stood for a moment until all were settled. The steaming bowls of rice and eggs were ignored for the most part.
“I don’t suppose you have anything other than tea?” A bleary-eyed Ryan asked as he sniffed at the tea pot placed in the center of the table.
“I could use some coffee myself,” Charlie added.
Ryan looked at Charlie indicating maybe something a little stronger. He figured he needed a few shots of alcohol after the ridiculous claim made last night by Li Zheng.
The Master nodded his head at the last young lady placing food on the table. She bowed and was back two minutes later with a pot of coffee served in a beautiful pot that had to be at least five hundred years old. This small detail was readily pointed out by an ever-scholarly Charlie Ellenshaw. Ryan poured the coffee for all. Both Li and his guest deferred to their tea.
“Where are Professors Birnbaum and Anderson?” Sarah asked as she sipped the rich coffee, grateful to Ryan for asking for it.
“I believe they need not be a part of our discussion,” Li said, as he too savored his own drink.
“I am sure you have many questions, and in the short time available to us, I will attempt to answer them.”
“You can say that again,” Jason said sarcastically as Charlie lightly elbowed him in the side.
“There is an old saying, I believe by Winston Churchill. Americans, after doing everything the wrong way, will however, eventually come to the correct conclusion.”
“Not an exact quote, I believe,” Anya said, as she sampled the rice and eggs. “Although the Israeli government professes the same belief, just not in those words.”
“And just what are we slow about concluding?” Sarah asked.
“That there are forces in the world who have no goals, desires of land, ideology, or even of property. Americans believe that everyone has a goal, or dare I say, a plan.”
“Don’t they?” Charlie asked, stirring far more sugar into his coffee than anyone had ever seen before. Including the man sitting next to Li. He eyed Ellenshaw and quite rightly decided that the man was very strange.
“Professor, this is not the conclusion I have come to after four thousand years of study.” Master Li Zheng leaned forward like he was about to deliver the largest conspiracy theory in history. “It is my conclusion, after many thousands of years, that some men just want to watch the world suffer.”
“Are you saying that we, the United States, have that tendency?” Ryan asked, growing angry at the way this bizarre explanation had started.
“Not at all. I accuse you and many others of trying desperately to draw conclusions as to the why’s of evil men. Take Hitler, he had no desire to help his people. He had a natural hatred of those he could not control. That is not a plan, Mister Ryan, it is insanity. You,” he looked from person to person, “all of you, try for a reality check on that insanity. What is the purpose? The reasons are simple. There are men and women in the world that defy explanation as to that insanity. They just like to watch things burn. This is what you are up against with this new threat your organization now faces. The men you pursue are those that want the world to burn so they can rul
e from the ashes they themselves have created. You have to fight them accordingly.”
“You sound like a couple of men we all know,” Sarah said, shaking her head.
“Ah, yes, Colonel Collins and your,” he looked at Anya, “Captain Everett. I and my General have read their reports on this Siberian Group. They are not far off the mark in their general conclusions. Only their report did not go far enough. They too search for logical explanations as to this group’s aims. There are none. At least my antagonist has a clear goal.”
“And just who is that antagonist?” Charlie asked while chewing some rice.
“Over two thousand years ago, I died for the first time. It happened on the banks of a river where I made a stand to finally deliver my people to their new home here in the mountains of Mongolia.” He placed a hand on the shoulder of the man to his right who was slowly drinking his tea. “I was pierced by so many arrows, I actually felt the relief of death. This man, disobeying his orders, came back for me. His intent was to bury me in my homeland. He brought me back home to the mineral which sustained for two thousand years before that fateful day. I was reunited with my wife and newborn child, my son, Lee.” Li Zheng stood and turned to the window and watched his people starting their day far below. “My first conclusion was as your Colonel Collins. I believed there was a purpose to my half-brother’s murderous attempts on my life and those of my people that stemmed from avarice, or a military goal. Not at all. His was to extend life beyond the borders of death. I had two sons, Lee, and one other, the youngest, Tai Li. This boy was captured three hundred years after my death at the river. This led to a betrayal of all that I loved. My wife, driven mad by the circumstance, offered Emperor Qin Shi Huang that which he sought, the mineral in a large shipment, for his life beyond death, as ransom for my child. He showed his gratitude by murdering my wife and my son.” He turned back to face the others. “This is how I know that such men have no desire for the future. They just wish to watch the planet burn for their own enjoyment. Now Qin Shi has that ability at hand.”
“Why the object lesson?” Sarah asked.
“No lesson, just a warning. There are forces that are gathering to destroy what it is we have here. Your Professor Ellenshaw calls it Shangri-La, while not quite the vision of beautiful mountains and serene valleys of legend, we are still quite fond of our home. I am here to tell you that all of this will be destroyed within three days.”
All four Event Group personnel didn’t stir as the room fell silent.
“This is General Chang. My oldest and dearest friend, and the man who saved this immortal’s life. He will explain why, after two thousand years of life, my city will be destroyed.”
Chang stood up and then half-bowed to Li. He removed his helmet and placed it on the table as he faced the four visitors. His demeanor told them that the general believed all of this was set in motion by the men and women before him that day.
“Since your incursion into our country, forces are swelling that will spell the end for us. Out of our long history, this is the greatest threat we have ever faced. Forces of which Master Li has told you about are gathering to strike at the heart of this city. We cannot defend it. Russians to the north, Chinese to the south. The Russians believe that, with the mineral, they can make the world burn. The Chinese? They are mere puppets to the man that has been, since his birth, the greatest threat to human existence in history.”
“Who?” Anya asked as she was starting to get the military chills.
“My half-brother, Emperor Qin Shi Huang,” Li Zheng explained.
Charlie spit out his coffee. “You mean the first Emperor still exists?”
“Long ago he claimed his prize for long life, now is his time for military conquest since he now knows the exact location of our home. A home he failed to find for over two thousand years. Thanks to your expedition, he has done just that. With the Dragon Asteroid, he can rule with very little effort. He can expand, as you have proselytized Captain McIntire, beyond this solar system with the power supplied by the Dragon Mineral. This we cannot allow. Our time is over, and we need your assistance to ensure the mineral from this asteroid is destroyed.”
“We can’t even convince our own government about this Siberian conspiracy, much less that a four-thousand-year-old wizard needs our help. They would laugh in our faces,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “Besides, you are correct, the only way to make sure this doesn’t fall into the wrong hands is to destroy it. But as I’m sure you know, introducing an explosive composite to the Dragon Mineral very well could blow this portion of Asia to bits.”
“General?” Li said.
“In my studies in foreign lands, I have come to the same conclusion, Captain. Any composite explosive will set the mineral off, resulting, in my calculations, in a million times more powerful a detonation than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The explosion would set off a chain reaction that would ignite the Pacific Rim. My figures have been verified by Professor Lee, Master Li’s son. This was the reason he lured you here. I was not in favor of it, as well as Master Li,” he looked over at his old friend, “but we were wrong. The evil men he spoke of are even now upon our doorstep, thus we must assure the mineral dies with us.”
“Until we learn how to destroy the Dragon Mineral without explosives, we will have to delay those forces with everything we have. Women, children, myself, my son, his wife, will meet the Russian and Chinese barbarians at our gate. All the powers of Air Bending will be needed. This will give you time to aid us in our quest. This you must promise.”
Sarah looked at Li and shook her head. She turned to Anya. “Any thoughts?”
“Yes, evacuate instead of fight. No matter what answers we find, there is no way to completely destroy the mineral. Even upon detonation, there will be enough material to survive that this exercise would be a complete waste of time. They will still get their hands on it no matter what we do.”
Li lowered his head. “Then all might truly be lost.” He thought for a brief moment, and then faced the group once more with a sadness that was clearly seen on his soft features. “If you wish, you may leave our city.” He turned, and the General stood to exit with Li.
“Perhaps since the gig is up here, we can take Major Pierce back home. I mean, why force him to stay if all of this is about to end?” Ryan asked as he thought about the brave and crazed B-29 pilot.
Li stopped and turned. “Forced?”
“Yes, you made him and his crew prisoners to keep your little secret,” Ryan said.
Li Zheng and the General Chang exchanged questioning looks. “Major Pierce was never a prisoner here, Mister Ryan. He kept his word about not betraying us. His crew, not just the man you found in the desert, left here after breaking their oaths about the mineral. Major Pierce stayed of his own accord.”
“Why would he do that?” Sarah asked, shocked that they had assumed all along that he was being kept here against his will.
“One month after the Pacific war ended, we received word from one of our family members studying in the States, that Major Pierce’s wife had left him for another man, taking his two children with her.” A pained look crossed Li’s face. “You see, his wife thought him dead after your government informed her of his being shot down. A little bit of the Major’s mind left that day and never returned. It was his choice to stay.”
The shock was on everyone’s faces.
“You never had any intention of keeping us here?” Charlie asked, with the coffee cup halfway to his mouth.
“We as a people, do not take prisoners and never have. The choice to betray us has always been in the hands of those who know the secret of the mineral. Maybe by sheer luck, or divine provenance, have we not been discovered. Every year we have expected it all to end. Now it has. Please, take Major Pierce with you if he wants to leave. The mountain is no longer anyone’s home.”
The two men left without another word after their hopes for a solution failed to materialize. The room was silent momentarily as every
one thought about what had just occurred.
“Well, we as a group finally did it,” Charlie said as he sadly placed his cup down on the table.
“What?” Ryan asked.
“The Event Group’s quest for knowledge and understanding of our history, our world, has undone a civilization that didn’t need anyone other than themselves.”
“Charlie, what can we do to repair what we’ve done?” Anya asked.
“Send that damn asteroid back to whatever distant universe it came from.”
“And how do we do that, Doc?”
Charlie turned and faced Ryan. “The only people and entity that I know of that can possibly have an answer is seven thousand miles away. Only there is no way to get in touch with them, or her, at the moment.”
“Damn it. Who, Charlie?” Sarah asked angrily.
“Niles, Virginia, Xavier and—” he started to say, but Ryan cut him off when the answer struck him.
“Europa.”
* * *
Novosibirsk, Siberia
Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia and the third largest in all of Russia. The city goes by unnoticed by most citizens who are far more concerned with what is currently happening in a city further away—Moscow.
Much of the world, including the citizens of Russia, don’t understand the city of Novosibirsk. Most are under the illusion that the city is unbearable and inhospitable. In actuality it is beautiful, and at the very least, misunderstood. The city on the Ob River is friendly and, for the most part, goes about its business in quiet slumber.
The façade of quiet slumber belies the fact the city of Novosibirsk has a secret buried deep under the Ob River in a complex that was built ten years before, right under the noses of its citizens. In all of Russian history there has never been a more secure site. The populace did not know that, for every ten dwellers of the city, there were two security men to match their numbers that guarded this strange facility. The complex was built a thousand feet under the Ob River and five hundred beneath the old Royal Conservatory. During a massive renovation of the three-hundred-year-old conservatory, after the fall of the old Soviet Union, the construction of the complex was well hidden amidst the renovation.
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