by D. Henbane
Just as the old metal doors open up, my Dlink comes alive. “Haus, glad you made it this far. You're still almost 5000 feet below the surface, but the good news is your almost home. This shaft is over 4000 feet long, but at the end of it is the number five air intake. It's a steep grade of 33 percent, and once you clear it, you're in open air. Time is running out, so do your best to cover ground quickly.” Edith says.
The Dlink goes silent again, and we jog down the shaft towards the exit. I can hear large fans off in the distance and the breeze is picking up the closer we get. “I had my hunches about you pretty early on. You just show up out of the blue one day. You have free range access to almost anything, and you're not even in shape. So who do you work for?” Trixie asks.
“It doesn’t matter who I work for. I wouldn’t tell you anyway, but since we are asking questions, answer mine. How did you know where to find the virus?” I ask.
“The laboratory was bugged. The General must have trusted you enough not to check the back logs, but I listened to them.” Trixie explains. We arrive at the end of the shaft, and as expected, there are several large fans in front of the air intake shaft. I trace the conduit back until I find the shutoff breakers. With one quick motion of my hand, the blades wind down to a stop.
“Well, it's all up hill from here, and I guess its ladies first, right?” I motion towards the shaft and Trixie gives me an icy glare. She fires a round from her gun into the breaker box.
“Just in case you had any second thoughts about bringing me along.” Trixie says with a tone of sarcasm. Well, it wasn’t much of a plan, but at least I thought it would work. So watching her get cut up by giant fan blades is out of the question. Time for another brilliant plan and I don’t have much time to think one up. I enter into the air shaft behind Trixie. The grade of the incline is just enough that I almost struggle to maintain footing. It takes a bit of getting used to, but after a few minutes, I have the hang of it.
“So, where is the virus?” I ask.
“It's in a secure location.” She replies.
“Why kill Cox when you could have easily just stolen it while he was at work? Its not like you didn’t know his schedule.” I ask.
“Well, where do I begin? First, if he is alive, he can make more, and that really destroys the one of a kind value in it. Second, if he can create it, then he can destroy it. Third, his research was finished, and it was one more loose end to tie up.” Trixie replies.
“So, you're going to sell it to the highest bidder?” I say.
“MEN! You're all alike. Just because I say something has value, you automatically assume it is worth money. Value isn’t always about money, and sometimes value is priceless.” Trixie says.
“If it isn’t for money... What are you going to do with it?” I ask.
“This world has taken everything from me, my husband, my child, and my very existence. I have nothing left to live for and they have everything to gain. They go about their lives, bitching about every minor flaw in life while I wake up every morning to stare at pictures of the people who made my life worth living. I will never see them again and no one seems to care. Instead, I get out of bed, take the pills, and pretend everything is fine.” Trixie says.
“It doesn’t have to be that way, Trixie. You can save the world, and even be a hero. All you have to do is tell me where the virus is so I can destroy it, and everything will get better. Look! There is light at the end of the tunnel.” I point up towards the light shining down the shaft. Daylight is less than 100 yards away and coming closer at each step.
“This world is going to get what it deserves! If I can't have happiness, then no one will. I am going to unleash this virus onto the world and watch it crumble. Once the fall out is over, I am going to piss on its ashes.” Trixie says.
Trixie kicks me in the chest and I fly down the shaft. I watch her exit into daylight as I slide further into the earth. I try to slow down my descent by grabbing onto the walls. My fingers are cut by the rock and I continue to slide down the shaft. In no time, I reach the bottom of the shaft and scramble to my feet. My Dlink lights up and I hear Edith.
“You have less than 15 minutes Haus, this is now or never, so get it in gear.” Edith says.
I bolt up the shaft, grabbing everything I can to get leverage. I stumble occasionally, but regain my footing quickly. I hear the first round of bombs hit the earth, and pick up the pace. I advance further, and I hear the second round of bombs tear into the Earth. I can see the daylight once again and proceed quickly. The bombs are exploding around me and they are getting very close. The force of the shock wave catches me off guard, slamming my body against the wall.
“His vitals have flat lined...” Edith says.
“GOD DAMMIT!” Reese's fist slams into his desk. “Edith... Send the last 30 minutes of video to my personal archive. Send the boys to recover whatever they can scrape off the rocks. In the meantime, tell Eve I need to speak with her.”
End of book one, from the Protocol 1337 series.
Protocol 1337: Rise Once More to be released May 2012.