by W. R. Hobbs
“What are the current readings on the frontal cortex firings?” Hauer asked one of the technicians.
“We have the highest levels thus far. Exceeding expected projected delineations,” the technician puffed as if he had something to do with the results.
Dr. Hauer glared into the chamber at what seemed to be a perfectly normal human male roughly 30 years of age but really only three years old in the doctor’s time.
Perhaps you will be the one.
CHAPTER 02
Sacramento, California
Seventy miles northeast of the Oakland ROC daily life held a distinct contrast in Sacramento. This area was designated as a NAU ‘Protected Commerce Zone’ or PCZ. Although the people in the Sacramento PCZ enjoyed limited forms of their old freedoms, very few considered themselves actually free.
These NAU zones combined various infrastructure related industries and businesses, as well as the local banking mechanisms located in strategic cities with the highest asset value. The workers that lived within the these zones experienced a more comfortable existence but were still highly controlled.
The hustle of citizens on the roads and sidewalks, going to and from their jobs and destinations, no longer existed. The traffic consisted primarily of windowless military cargo vans transporting workers to their jobs in specified sectors of industries deemed vital for NAU infrastructure. And it was the scientific community that possessed the highest number of citizens within most PCZs.
Courtney Leroux, a tall brunette in her early 40s who wore thick black rimmed glasses that obscured her hazel eyes, was originally from North Carolina. She moved to Sacramento after completing a five year stint in the genetics program at Duke University. The Jackson Laboratory had opened its larger California facility back in 2009 and quickly established itself as the epicenter for cutting edge genetics research and that’s where Courtney was destined to establish her career.
Dr. Leroux considered herself fortunate to be selected for the institution’s Computational Biology and Bioinformatics research department. After the NAU formed, the Jackson Laboratory was repurposed for a specific subclass of genetic research and Dr. Leroux was eventually designated lead researcher in the field.
Other than the strict curfews, Dr. Leroux’s daily life in the new NAU reminded her a lot of when she lived on campus in her dormitory. All of the scientists working at Jackson were now housed in the downtown Capitol Towers building which had been a residential apartment building prior to the economic collapse and superflu pandemic.
A small fleet of white vans would be waiting in front of the lobby at 5:00 a.m. each morning, seven days a week. Dr. Leroux and her colleagues caught glimpses of the outside around the apartment building before being escorted into the vans by armed personnel. It was a brief chance to observe the world before beginning their highly regimented day at the lab.
The trip to the lab this morning was silent as usual - the scientists were instructed not to converse personally or professionally. The silence did not bother many of them as they were most often singularly focused on and consumed with the new directives assigned to their individual departments at the lab.
The van came to a stop in front of the Jackson lab, jarring Dr. Leroux from her contemplation. She attended to her pony tail and straightened her glasses before filing out of the van with the five other researchers, all of them clad in their white lab coats. Before reaching the front door to the lobby, one of the security guards walked hurriedly in her direction.
“Dr. Leroux, Administrator Pennington would like to see you in his office as soon as possible.”
“Okay Tony,” she politely responded.
What is it this time? She wondered as she entered through the mirrored glass door to the lobby and walked across the pristinely polished marble floor toward the executive elevator.
Courtney pressed her palm on an opaque white bio-metric panel which produced a bright horizontal light beam that went up and down twice scanning her right hand and enabled the panels to slide open. When the elevator reached the third floor, she checked to see if her coat was buttoned to the top and brushed off any potential lint before she exited and turned right, heading down the hall. She took a subtle deep breath before walking into Pennington’s office.
The administrator was a short, older man that had spent the better part of four decades as a corporate bureaucrat. He and another man in uniform were both seated, awaiting Dr. Leroux’s arrival.
“Good morning Dr. Leroux. I would like for you to meet General Straka, the military liaison for Project Splicer,” Pennington said as the doctor entered the office.
“Nice to meet you Dr. Leroux,” Straka said while remaining in his seat and nodding his head.
General Straka was a ruggedly good looking 48 year old native of California. His tan complexion was accented with dark brown hair and light brown eyes. General Straka’s most prominent characteristic was his pronounced baritone voice. When he spoke it seemed inherently more impressive in his deep, rich tone. Even though he had been the military liaison to Jackson for over two years, this was the first time Dr. Leroux had met him in person.
“Dr. Leroux, can you have your current findings ready for presentation by 0600 hours?” asked Pennington.
“I believe so sir.”
“Splendid! You will be briefing General Straka and a panel of additional officers in a teleconference. You may utilize the staff for your preparations and let me know if you need anything.”
“Yes sir.” Courtney replied, doing her best to offer a reassuring grin as she nodded to both of the men and walked out of Pennington’s office.
Why are they requesting a briefing so urgently?
Once she arrived back in her lab, the doctor sat down at her desk feeling completely overwhelmed. The main laboratory was a large open space populated with the latest in conventional and experimental genetic research equipment: DNA/Automated Sequencers, Multiplex PCR Thermocyclers, Mass Spectrometers, Protein Sequencers and a collection of newer non-commercial tools of the trade. She stared at the various scientific utensils and thought about how much knowledge she and her team had gathered.
“What’s wrong?” Doctor Blayr Hewlett asked. Blayr and Courtney were very close. In fact they were intimately close despite the fact that Courtney was technically a married woman. Over the years after she arrived in Sacramento alone, Courtney and her husband grew further and further apart to the point where they both silently acknowledged that their marriage was over. They just never made it official.
“The briefing has been moved up and scheduled for 6:00 a.m. today,” Courtney informed.
“Are you prepared?”
“As much as I can be. The question is are they ready?”
“Our research must certainly possess a purpose for which they understand better than us,” Blayr reassured.
“That is what troubles me the most. I'm not sure what frightens me more. The fact that they initiated this project or how the result will be utilized. Blayr, I know you can appreciate the ramifications of this data.”
“We would be well served to not discuss the particulars,” Blayr reminded her.
“I know. Well, I will let you know how things go later today. I love you,” Courtney whispered as she stroked his hand carefully.
“I love you too.”
Courtney wiped her eyes to prevent a full flow of tears. When she regained her composure, she focused her attention to the task at hand. She had previously compiled the data in a presentation in order to be prepared on a moment’s notice. Her forethought was paying a huge dividend this particular morning as she called over her assistant to perform a final review of the data.
CHAPTER 03
Dugway Facility
After General Bracken’s early morning inspection the lab had emptied out with only three technicians remaining behind at the bio-medical array. As the GEO continued to float in the chamber, he had no explanation for why his perceptions were becoming exponentially more acute. But thr
ough the liquid he could now observe his entire surroundings with complete clarity.
The maturation chamber was in the center of an immense laboratory. Resembling the cargo hull of a container ship, metal bulkheads reaching 30 feet high supported the polished steel walls that were crisscrossed with a plethora of pipes and wires. Two glowing power reactors were located behind his chamber with hoses of various sizes and colors connected to it. In front of him and to his left, he vividly observed the technicians; one of whom was analyzing a diagram of his full body readout on a wall viewer.
For the first time in his brief memory, the thought of getting out of the chamber crossed his mind. At that instance, tiny electrical arcs momentarily sparked from his fingertips. The technician in front of the diagram swiftly alerted his coworkers to the full body readout that had registered the event.
Let’s try that again , the GEO determined.
With his focus simultaneously on the bio-medical array, the dozens of needle electrodes in his body and the chamber lid, he exerted a more conscious effort.
Suddenly, an enormous burst of energy emanated from within the chamber and webbed through the room, disabling the terminals and throwing the technicians violently backwards. The electrodes immediately retracted from his muscles and ejected into the green gel just before the lid flew open, hissing from each side with its hydraulics spewing exhaust.
The green gel sprayed through the air off his naked body as he leapt from the chamber. When he landed on the floor he immediately dropped to his knees. This was in fact the first time he breathed air and it stung his lungs with searing pain. It took three more deep gasps for him to acclimate to his new atmosphere. Each time the pain became slightly more bearable.
He struggled back up on his feet and stumbled over to the technicians lying unconscious on the floor. Although he was at least six inches taller than any of the men, their oversized bio-suits, resembling a hybrid of a thin spacesuit with plates of strategic body armor served him adequately.
Accessing the only remaining operative computer panel located beside the bulkhead door, he fumbled through the menus and directories until he found a facility schematic.
This place is massive.
The map indicated an underground structure with over 200 levels and the scale readout specified it at over one mile wide and six miles deep. He determined that he was currently located on Level 176. After mapping a route to the nearest elevator bank, he used the panel to disable the locks and the doors were released.
As the lab doors slid apart, he stepped into an extensive corridor. At that moment an alarm sounded and red fiber-optic lights which lined the corridor began to flash. A rush of adrenaline coursed through his body and he started jogging and then running.
Considering he had just walked for the very first time only a few minutes earlier, the GEO was impressed with how quickly his legs moved. The elevators were about 1000 feet away from the lab but he was approaching them in less than 12 seconds.
In the primary command center, several dozen levels above, General Bracken was sitting in his office with one of his subordinates discussing the logistics of their upcoming plans when his desk viewer abruptly interrupted the conversation.
“Sir, we are indicating a breach on Level 176. A GEO has escaped the laboratory,” Colonel Osborne alerted.
Bracken jumped to his feet, rolling his chair backwards so fast that it tipped over. He hurried out of his office to an enormous array of displays just outside his door and growled loudly, “Where is he now?”
An officer seated at one of the displays pointed at the screen. “He is still on level 176 but he is already in section H near the elevators.”
“What? How the hell did he get that far that quick?”
“All of the systems were disabled in the lab but his locator chip was detected when he breached the bulkhead door. He was in Section H about 11 seconds later. The elevators on that level were immediately locked down after the lab breach. He is now headed east toward Section G,” Osborne explained.
“That means he was moving over…”
“Yes sir, the internal sensors calculate he exceeded 60 mph.”
“Damn!” the general said with amazement. Bracken immediately began snapping out directives. “Issue a code yellow. Verify Level 176 is completely sealed. Lock down all elevators and order all non-essential personnel to their quarters. Direct the containment team to that level for a nonlethal capture. And get me Dr. Hauer on the com.”
Hauer was still on level 176 in his personal quarters. He had heard Bracken’s request come across his com panel, but instead of answering, he continued to monitor his escaped clone. As the GEO came closer to his proximity in Section G, Hauer stepped out in the corridor and pointed a thin silver pen like object at the fleeing man as he rounded the corner. The device instantly incapacitated him and he fell to the floor.
“Sir, we have lost his signal in Section G. Our men are on the way there now.”
Dr. Hauer's Quarters
This time when he awoke things were much different. There were no more needles, no more paralyzing gel. The doctor was sitting in front of him taking some readings from his handheld scanner.
Because he had never actually spoken a word out loud, he was not so sure about the process when he quietly said, “I have to get out of here.”
“Indeed,” Hauer concurred with a slight smile emerging as he turned around to look at him. “But we do not have much time. General Bracken has no doubt already sent his men to my quarters.”
“How do I get out of here?” the GEO interrupted.
“The main elevator shafts have been locked down. They eventually only go to level one of the facility anyway and not directly to the surface. There is however an emergency lift that travels straight to the surface. I will have it on this level by the time you reach its entry hatch. Look at this display. The lift shaft is located here. I have also programmed the necessary code for it to take you to the surface, but Bracken may intercept you. In that case I can only suggest that you improvise.”
The doctor walked over to a cluttered space near his bed that once resembled a desk.
“Take this data pad,” Hauer said after retrieving a thin six inch by three inch digital tablet. “It provides a schematic of the hanger where you will emerge and the aircraft that are located there. Interface this pad with the control panel once you enter in the cockpit of this type of ship.”
The doctor displayed an image of a black two seat experimental fighter and continued, “It will automate the controls and initiate the launch protocol. It will also enter the coordinates for your destination. I have also disabled the locator chip embedded in your right wrist. You should remove it as soon as you are able.”
A loud beeping sound came from one of the doctor’s panels before he warned, “They are almost here!”
“Why are you helping me?”
“It’s my belief that I and the rest of the world have a vested interest in your survival. And by any fair assessment of the situation, your survival is more doubtful if you remain here.”
“Before I go, I need to know - What is my name? Who am I?”
“Well, your official designation is GEO-0131. That stands for Genetically Enhanced Operative. You were the first specimen scheduled for maturation this year, thus the number 0131. But I personally always referred to you as ‘Taon’. Now, as far as who you are, that remains yet to be determined.”
Hauer squarely faced the GEO and placed his hands on the broad shoulders of Taon’s 6 foot 8 inch frame.
“It is important for you to know that you are extraordinary in so many ways. In ways no one truly yet knows– not even myself. Once you reach your destination it is a question we will all redress. You must go now. Continue down the corridor until you reach Section F. The emergency lift is there.”
The doctor opened the door, looked out in the corridor each way and signaled Taon in the correct direction. Hauer pushed his panel to close the door and walked over to the
closet in his quarters.
“Team leaders; be aware that one of the technicians on your level had his bio-suit removed and the target may be wearing it. We are picking up a readout about 60 yards from Dr. Hauer’s quarters. Converge on that location now!” Osborne commanded over the soldiers’ helmet coms.
The directive caused one of the pursuing groups to change course from one of the main corridors. As the troops neared the location of a nearby bio-suit signature they closed off all potential escape avenues. They approached the target cautiously with their weapons drawn. The lead soldier spotted the man in the bio-suit and yelled loudly, “Stop! You are contained on all sides!”
At that moment, Dr. Hauer removed his helmet and offered a perplexed look at the soldiers.
“Sir, it is Dr. Hauer in the bio-suit. The target is not here,” one of the team leaders informed command.
In the meantime, Taon had made his way down the corridor left vacant by Hauer’s diversion and reached the hatch to the lift. He pressed a red button above it and the access portal slid open. The lift was not a normal elevator. It was small in comparison with only three seats in it and was shaped more like a capsule than a box.
After he sat down in one of the seats, he pushed the panel in front of him and the hatch swiftly closed. Taon pulled out the data pad and began studying the schematic. As he analyzed the readout he was astounded once again. The display indicated the lift was about to travel over six miles in order to reach the surface. He initiated the instruction code Hauer had programmed and the lift shot up violently propelled from the bottom.
“Sir, the emergency lift in Section F176 was just reactivated and is almost to the surface!”
“Dammit! That section of lifts terminates in Hanger 14. Initiate an all stop on that shaft and release the Neuronium. Lock down the surface exit and move all personnel on the surface to that location. Make certain the hanger doors are secure. Put the visual feed of the hanger directly through to my office,” Bracken commanded as he hurried back to his desk.