ESCAPE FROM MARS

by G. T. Appleton

  Magnus extended his hand and shook Carter’s.

  “Magnus, I wish you’d stick around.”

  “Tell the senator that I will testify against Grayson. But for right now, I need to go.”

  Carter nodded. “Good luck.”

  “And to you, too.”

  Johnson sat at his desk and pressed a saved number on his cellphone list.

  “Yes? What is it Senator Johnson? I saw the news report. Good job. I’m quite impressed.”

  “I have even better news, sir.”

  “What is that?”

  Johnson chuckled softly. Something he had not done in quite some time. “Outside my office are Dr. Carter and the escaped con.”

  “Really? Why are they with you?”

  “They’ve asked me for their help.”

  “Help? With what?”

  “They want to stop the prisoner trade. Dr. Carter wants Sylvia released. Magnus wants to testify in court against you.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Senator Johnson, can you bring them in?”

  “I can do a lot of things, Mr. Grayson, provided you do something for me.”

  “Joe?”

  “Yes,” Johnson replied coldly. “Let him and Sylvia go. I want video proof that Joe’s been released from the mind control chip. You do that, and I bring these two in for you.”

  “Consider it done.”

  “I need proof, Mr. Grayson, or I swear I use these two men to bury you beneath piles of legal actions. Money cannot buy your way out of a Congressional Hearing. You understand that?”

  “Finally growing a backbone, Ralph?”

  “You crossed the line with my family. When I have proof that Joe is free of that chip, send me video via my phone.” Johnson didn’t wait for a reply. He ended the call. For the first time in a long time, he felt powerful and in control. He wished he could have stood up for himself a long time ago.

  Senator Johnson stepped outside his office and noticed Magnus was gone.

  “Where did Magnus go?”

  “He had some personal business to take care of.”

  Johnson shook his head. “No. That’s not good. No. We need him. Maybe we can find him if we hurry.”

  “He said that he’d testify in court against Grayson.”

  Johnson stormed past Carter and out the doors.

  “Did you contact Grayson?” Carter asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And he agreed to meet?”

  “He did, but he won’t be happy that Magnus has left.”

  “We don’t need him to get Sylvia.”

  Johnson shrugged. “Maybe not, but Grayson will be suspicious that Magnus isn’t with us.”

  As they neared the senator’s limo, they noticed both of Johnson’s bodyguards are unconscious on the sidewalk.

  “Dammit!” Johnson said. “I should have kept a guard on him.”

  “He’s not violent. He didn’t even take one of their guns.”

  “It’s obvious that he doesn’t need a gun. He’s probably more dangerous than you ever gave him credit for.”

  “No, I’ve been around him for nearly seven months. He’s a gentle giant.

  “Yeah, well, tell that to my men. Mars was probably the best place for Magnus to have remained.” Johnson headed to the limo and opened the rear door. “Come on, Dr. Carter. Grayson’s patience is less than my own.”

  Carter looked at the rear door nervously.

  Johnson sighed. “Well, do you wish to free your sweetheart or not?”

  “Coming.”

  After an hour, a short video arrived on Johnson’s phone. He hit ‘play.’ Joe spoke and informed Johnson that he was okay. He seemed groggy and believed he had just arrived at Olympus Mons. Grayson had kept his word. Johnson relaxed with an internal sigh of relief.

  “Where is the virus?” Johnson asked.

  “As soon as I know that Sylvia is okay and no longer under the chip’s control, I will hand it over.”

  The driver turned the limo into the rear parking lot of Grayson Enterprises. Two of Grayson’s large guards approached the rear of the limo. Carter noticed the sudden nervousness in Johnson’s eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” Carter asked.

  “Nothing. Let’s get this over with.”

  “I need my briefcase,” Carter said.

  Johnson picked up the phone and told the driver to pop the trunk. Then he and Carter exited the rear of the limo. “Get your case and let’s hurry.”

  Carter leaned into the trunk and opened the briefcase. He grabbed the badges of his former coworkers on Deimos and shoved them into his left coat pocket. He carefully slipped the vials into the right pocket and then he pulled out the briefcase.

  The two armed guards escorted Johnson and Carter into Grayson’s high-rise office and then they stood beside Grayson. Carter held the briefcase handle with both hands, resting it in front of himself. Sylvia stepped from behind the desk and walked around to face Carter.

  Carter looked at her. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded.

  Grayson grinned. “As you can see, her Sleeper Chip has been deactivated.”

  “Good,” Carter said. “The senator and I are here to negotiate the trade.”

  Grayson smiled at Senator Johnson. Johnson looked down at the floor as he stepped away from Carter. Both guards pointed their guns at the doctor.

  “Sylvia is free to go,” Grayson said. “But I must insist that you continue working for me, Dr. Carter.”

  “That wasn’t part of the agreement,” Carter said.

  Grayson nodded to Henry. “Take the briefcase.”

  Henry did so.

  Grayson glanced at Carter. “It’s the best offer that you’re going to get.”

  “That’s where you’re mistaken.” Carter removed the virus vial from his pocket. He held it up and squeezed tightly. His eyes grew cold and narrow. His voice altered. “Sylvia and I both leave or you die.”

  The guards tightened their grip on their guns.

  Furious, Grayson flicked his gaze at Johnson. “You let him take the virus out of the briefcase?”

  Johnson raised his hands in surrender. “I didn’t know where he had it. He told me it was stored elsewhere.”

  “Let us go,” Carter said. “Or I swear I’ll crush it.”

  “Don’t be a fool,” Johnson said.

  Grayson smiled. “Listen to the senator, Carter. You break that vial and Sylvia dies as well as all of us. Is that what you want?”

  Carter looked at Sylvia. Tears formed in her eyes. His hand shook.

  “Why are you doing this, Carter?” she asked.

  “Because too many people have died because of Grayson. It needs to end now.” He reached into his other pocket and took the ID badges and flung them into the air. “This is what remains of my coworkers on Deimos. That’s why I will crush this if you try to force me to stay.”

  Perplexed, Sylvia stepped toward Carter. “You’d allow my death to do that? I thought . . . you loved me.”

  Sweat beaded on Senator Johnson’s forehead. “Carter, put down the vial. Please.”

  “You betrayed us,” Carter said to the senator.

  “No,” Johnson replied.

  “That’s how it looks to me. No wonder you got worried when Magnus left.”

  Johnson pointed at Henry. “Take Grayson into custody.”

  All three guards looked at one another with strange glances.

  “My men don’t answer to you, Johnson. You should know that.”

  “They had best, Mr. Grayson. If they don’t, and Carter bursts that vial, we’re all dead. There isn’t a cure. From the look in Carter’s eyes, he’s not bluffing.”

  “What makes you so certain he’s not bluffing?” Grayson asked.

  “Because he had the same look as you do whenever you blackmail me. That ends today, by the way. Justice will finally be served. Your reign over Mars and this enterprise ends, too. Either they cooperate and
take you into custody, or they’re looking at life sentences.”

  Henry took a set of handcuffs and approached Grayson. “Sorry about this, sir.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Johnson has no idea what kind of payback he’s facing now. You know what to do.”

  “Enough with your damned threats!” Johnson said. “I’m sick of catering to you.”

  Grayson’s jaw tightened. “Senator, you’ve made the worst mistake of your life. Trust me, this isn’t something you want to do.”

  “No, it’s something I should have done a long time ago.”

  With tears in her eyes, Sylvia looked at Carter. Hurt and betrayal softened her eyes. “I really thought you loved me.”

  “I do.”

  “No, if that were true, you’d never have made such a threat in my presence.

  “I came here to make certain Grayson released you from his custody. My threat was a bluff, nothing more. Magnus has promised to testify against Grayson and I will, too.”

  “I’d really like to believe you, but I can’t.”

  “I’m sorry, Sylvia.”

  “Me, too.” She walked past him toward the door.

  “Please, wait,” Carter said.

  Sylvia stood with her back to him. “No, I never want to see you again.”

  Senator Johnson turned toward Carter. “I need that vial, okay?”

  Carter looked at Johnson and then at the vial.

  “Carter,” Johnson said. “Don’t worry. I will make certain it’s incinerated before we leave the building.”

  Carter shook his head. His eyes grew distant and his voice changed. “No, I can’t. I came here for one reason. I can’t leave until Grayson is dead. I must do it for her.”

  Sylvia turned with a strange look on her face.

  “For Sylvia?” Grayson asked. “She’s free.”

  “No, not her. For the female alien that healed me. She ordered your death and I promised to carry it out.”

  Grayson frowned toward Johnson. “Can’t you see that you’re dealing with a lunatic?”

  Johnson nodded. “So it appears.”

  The intercom on Grayson’s desk beeped. Grayson nodded toward the guard closest to his desk. The man pressed the button.

  Shelly said, “I’ve finally decoded the block placed on the Deimos video footage. Uploading it to you big screen now.”

  Henry pressed the remote and the screen glowed to life. The footage showed Dr. Carter injecting sick patients with needles and the patients stiffening in death. In other clips he chased healthy staff members down corridors and battered them to the floor with a broom handle before injecting them with poison. Some of them he killed by slashing them repeatedly with a scalpel.

  In the last clip, Carter, obviously ill and deranged, sat on his bed with a syringe. His door opened and a nurse stepped to the side of his bed and placed her hand against his forehead, checking his temperature. Carter became enraged and choked her until she fell limp in his grasp. He lowered her to the floor and injected her with the needle. It was Wanda.

  80

  Senator Johnson, Grayson, Sylvia, and all the guards were stunned. Their mouths hung open.

  Finally Johnson said, “My God! You killed all those people.”

  Carter stared at the screen in disbelief. His arm lowered and his hand shook. Sylvia glanced at him. She covered her mouth with her hand and rushed through the door and down the hall.

  Carter shook his head. “I didn’t kill them. The virus did. It killed them all.”

  Johnson pointed at the screen. “The footage indicates otherwise.”

  “No,” Carter said. “She came. She healed me. The alien. She was there. She wants Grayson dead.”

  “You’re delusional,” Johnson said. “Insane. There was no one else. You killed them.”

  Grayson shouted, “Guards, take Carter down!”

  Henry fired, striking Carter’s shoulder. Carter toppled backwards and the vial spiraled up into the air.

  Johnson dove as the vial dropped. It landed into his outstretched hand. He carefully enclosed his hand around the vial.

  Grayson smiled. “Good catch, senator.”

  Johnson rose slowly with his eyes closed. He released a long sigh.

  Henry stood over Carter with the gun aimed between the doctor’s eyes. Carter blinked and shook his head. Blood seeped through his jacket.

  “What happened?” Carter asked.

  Johnson motioned the guards. “Take Grayson and follow me.”

  “Grayson, you’ve violated too many codes of ethics. It’s time you answer for your crimes against humanity. Money cannot buy your way out of everything.”

  “What occurred on Deimos wasn’t my doing. Carter is the madman. I didn’t cause a viral outbreak. Hell, I’d be willing to bet that there’s never been any virus at all.”

  “No, perhaps not, but you did try to hide it. Had the people that died on Deimos all been hardened criminals, I could dismiss your indifference. But some of them were doctors, scientists, and nurses. Their lives held meaning.”

  “You’re right, and I will make it right with their families.”

  “I’m afraid the cost is much more than money this time, Mr. Grayson.”

  “Is it now?” Grayson asked.

  Johnson nodded.

  “Shelly? You still on the line?” Grayson asked.

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Seems Johnson thinks he can usurp authority over me. Unless these handcuffs are removed in the next few seconds, I want you to release CD-943 to the press immediately.”

  “Yes, sir. Uploading the video file now,” she replied.

  Johnson loosened his tie. “What video is that?”

  Grayson smiled. “Need you ask? You know what it is.”

  Johnson’s face paled. “Shelly, send it to the press ASAP.”

  Grayson frowned. “What?”

  “My wife and I had a long talk this week. I told her all about my fling. At first I thought she’d divorce me, but after serious thought, she actually forgave me. So, go ahead, give it to the press. I don’t care. This is my last term in the senate. I’ve never worried about having a legacy, but you on the other hand? You’ve got a lot to answer for.”

  Johnson took the vial and held it up to the light.

  Grayson shook his head. “You can send that to my laboratory for analysis, but I have the feeling that’s there’s nothing except air inside the vial.”

  “No, Mr. Grayson,” Johnson said. “I believe it’s safer in the hands of the CDC.”

  Henry grabbed Carter and yanked him to his feet. Carter cried out in pain.

  “Where’s the other vial?” Johnson asked.

  “My pocket.”

  Henry pressed his gun against Carter’s temple. “Hands where we can see them.”

  Carter obeyed and Johnson retrieved the second vial.

  A group of men in military fatigues entered the room. Johnson addressed the squad leader. “Take Carter to a military hospital and keep him under twenty-four hour surveillance. Once his injury has healed he needs to be transferred to a mental ward for full evaluation. From the video we watched earlier, he’s a dangerous man and a serial killer.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Grayson frowned. His face flushed red. Henry placed his hands on Grayson’s shoulders, trying to calm him. “When are you going to release me?”

  “Henry,” Johnson said. “Escort Mr. Grayson to the sleeper lab, or whatever the hell it’s called. I think Grayson should receive the same dose of medicine as he had given Sylvia earlier.”

  “Henry,” Grayson said in a low threatening tone.

  Johnson glared at them. “Either Henry obeys, or these military men will take him into custody as well. Of course, if your guards decide not to stand down, it might get quite bloody here.”

  “Henry,” Grayson repeated.

  “Sorry sir.”

  “No, do what I told you earlier after you take me to the lab.”

  “I will, sir.�
�

  Once they reached the Sleep Lab, Grayson was sedated by a military doctor while several of the National Guardsmen stood by. Once the chip was implanted and programmed, Johnson told the men to make certain Grayson was on the next shuttle to Mars. He told them if they had questions about the orders to call Justice Watkins. They nodded.

  Johnson left the room and headed for the elevator.

  Senator Johnson smiled as he exited the front doors of Grayson Enterprises. Finally, he held the sense of triumph over Grayson that he had long hoped to achieve. Joe was freed from the Sleeper Chip, and Grayson was being sent as a miner to Mars. Freedom never seemed better. He made his way down the winding sidewalk steps, enjoying the cooler breeze as the sky became overcast and hinted of rain.

  When he rounded the last curve of the stairs two men quickly approached him. They weren’t massive men like the goons Grayson kept for bodyguards. Both men wore nice leisure suits, and for a moment, Johnson assumed they were federal agents to assist in Grayson’s apprehension. He stopped at the bottom of the steps. His limo was less than ten yards away, but too far for a man of his age to sprint toward.

  “Good evening, senator,” the older man said. His face was pocked and wrinkled. “Let’s, how do you say it in dis country? Go for a little stroll.”

  The other man pulled back the front of his jacket and revealed his gun.

  Johnson swallowed hard and glanced around the parking lot, hoping to see someone to call out to for help. No one else was in sight. “Who are you?”

  “Senator, what are names at dis point? But if it makes you more comfortable, I’m Viktor and dis is Parks. Let’s say dat Grayson has asked us to place you into early retirement.”

  “Permanently,” Parks said.

  “Grayson is no longer in charge,” Johnson said sternly. “I’ve seen to that.”

  “Have you now?” Viktor said. “Is that any way to show your loyalty?”

  “Loyalty? Grayson has always been underhanded and deceptive. He’s a ruthless man.”

  “He paid you well, did he not?” Parks asked.

  “I had no choice but to take the money.”

  Viktor laughed. “There are always choices, senator.”