Temple of Fire

by Christopher Forrest

  It was Demetrius Caine, Catherine’s husband.

  Running to her spouse’s side, Catherine broke into tears and hugged Demetrius.

  “The cavalry has arrived, my love,” said Demetrius, “thanks to the good men and women of the Polk. I’ve just been to our base at Lehua to oversee its upgrade. To use a cliché, you’re going to love what Titan Global has done with the place. And by the way, the Secretary of Defense extends his thanks to you and Titan Six for responding to the delicate and dangerous matter in Nevada with such swiftness.”

  “We’ll be sending him information on the site as soon as it has been collated,” Caine said.

  Caine turned back to Eckersley. “Why did you mask your sub’s identity?” she asked.

  “The Chinese followed us shortly after we put out from Pearl Harbor. They knew we had your husband aboard and were going to rendezvous with the Alamiranta after news of the Nevada explosion started circulating in intelligence circles.” He paused. “Speaking of the Chinese, there is the delicate matter of Commander Aiko.”

  “Yes?”

  “Given the current political climate regarding foreign prisoners and rendition, the Secretary of State would prefer that Titan Global handle any debriefing and then report your findings to her. She trusts your discretion in the matter. Any leaks about China’s aspirations could be very volatile.”

  Caine nodded. “Assure the Secretary that Titan Global will handle the matter with delicacy and relay any pertinent data.”

  “Meanwhile,” said Demetrius, “I’d like to get some work clothes on and take a few crewmembers down below and help with repairs on the inside of the ship while divers from the Polk work on the outside.”

  “I’ll have some champagne chilled for later,” Caine said.

  Demetrius kissed his wife and winked.

  “Sounds lovely.”

  The Gallery

  Aboard the Alamiranta

  The Gallery was one of the most private — and most luxurious — areas on the Alamiranta. It was a spacious two-thousand meter area with three separate levels bordered by glass walkways that seemed to float in the air beneath blue-tinted light that lent to its otherworldly ambience.

  It was part library and part museum, with rare books and artifacts that ranged from dinosaur skeletons to astronaut suits that had been worn on the moon. Walnut bookshelves could be accessed by bridges connecting the maze-like platforms, and many a privileged guest marveled at the treasures suspended from the ceiling, such as a Mercury space capsule and a pterodactyl skeleton.

  The Gallery was also where Catherine Caine conducted meetings related to her business empire as well as the paramilitary missions of Titan Global.

  Demetrius Caine, Titan Six, Captain Nikos Papagantis, and Doctors Madison, Ambergris, and Grace Nguyen sat at the mahogany conference table on the far side of the Gallery. The gathering was presided over by Catherine Caine.

  “First, let me congratulate Titan Six on a job well done in Nevada,” said Caine. “My sincere thanks is also extended to Pyro for his bravery and skill in dealing with the Chinese torpedo that was lodged in Cargo Hold 6. Furthermore, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge Captain Papagantis’ skillful handling of the crisis with Beatrice.”

  Applause erupted from both sides of the conference table.

  Caine then opened a brown leather folder and sifted through a sheath of papers. “Next, I would like my science team to report on the information collected from the blast crater.”

  Dr. Madison opened a dossier and began. “Abiogenic oil was the holy grail that U.S. Petroleum was looking for,” he said. “They clearly found it, but they were reckless and shortsighted in drilling over ruins that Ground Penetrating Radar clearly indicated existed.”

  Madison smiled. “Given Titan Global’s experience in oil and gas exploration, we believe that we can also locate abiogenic oil. The geological data collected by Titan Six and myself will give us a leg up in pursuing this energy source more safely.”

  Demetrius Caine clasped his hands on the table and leaned forward. His presence was that of an elder statesman who commanded the highest respect.

  “Ever since we learned of U.S. Petroleum’s efforts,” he said, “I’ve been negotiating drilling rights at several locations around the world. For their recklessness, U.S. Pet will be dropped from our portfolio of clients. Their loss, our gain. The U.S. Department of Energy has revoked all of the company’s pending abiogenic drilling permits. But I believe we have some rather startling news to cover now. Is that right, Catherine?”

  “Yes,” Caine said. “Joshua, you have the floor.”

  Ambergris was beaming. “While Titan Six was boots on the ground in Nevada, I examined their video footage carefully, looking for anything meaningful or familiar. I found a few things of extreme interest.”

  “Let’s have it, Doc,” said Hawkeye. “I’m hoping that getting a really bad suntan wasn’t for nothing.”

  Titan Six members laughed. They had all suffered from extreme exposure to the sun despite their helmets and combat suits.

  “I found a symbol,” Ambergris continued, “that many of you have seen before.”

  He motioned for the assembly to look behind the table at the conference room display screen. It showed two entwined serpents, similar to the medical caduceus.

  “The symbol is very recognizable, of course. It also was a common symbol used by many cultures throughout the ages to represent The Genesis Code. It was the Ancients’ way of symbolizing the double helix strands of DNA.”

  Ambergris next held up what appeared to be a golden broach for clasping a robe together. Two entwined snakes formed a piece of intricately carved jewelry.

  “It’s from one of Langhorne’s treasure packs,” Ambergris said. “The symbol can be found around the globe, although this is the first time I’ve ever seen it rendered in this fashion.”

  “So we now know with even greater certainty,” said Tank, “that the Nizia were descended from the Ancients?”

  “The Ruba-schal crystal also confirmed that,” Ambergris stated, “but here is something quite amazing. The high priest in the first Nizian Dynasty was named Ixmilan. His name and crude image were depicted on the walls of the Temple of the High Priest in numerous paintings. Every painting and carving of Ixmilan’s name and body is encircled by the entwined serpents.”

  “You’re implying that Ixmilan may have known the significance of the serpents,” said Hawkeye.

  “What I’m saying is that Ixmilan himself was one of the Ancients. I believe he was one of many who were charged with helping later cultures attain a faster rate of evolution.”

  Gasps could be heard from around the conference table.

  “Are you saying that Ixmilan lived for two hundred thousand years?” asked Gator. “That’s pretty hard to swallow.”

  Ambergris shook his head. “No. But his body is often depicted inside what appears to be a capsule of some kind . . . next to more crystals. The early Nizians probably discovered his body in some form of suspended animation made possible by a life-giving force issuing from the crystals.”

  “I made several scans of the Ruba-schal,” Quiz said. “I believe I can replicate it based on its molecular structure.”

  Ambergris raised his right hand, which held a small object wrapped in white cotton.

  “Here’s another little gem, pardon the pun, from one of Mr. Langhorne’s surviving treasure packs.” Ambergris unfolded the object he held. “It was a red crystal, similar to the Ruba-Schal, only shorter.”

  There was silence around the conference table as people tried to assimilate the ramifications of what Ambergris was holding.

  “Are we wise enough to use such a powerful crystal?” asked Tank.

  “What does it do?” asked Gator?”

  “It might enable a person to stay alive forever,” said Shooter.

  “It could lead the human race into technologies capable of producing unlimited energy,” said Hawkeye.

  �
��Patience, everyone,” said Dr. Nguyen. “We know that The Genesis Code contains vast quantities of knowledge, including information on many kinds of energy sources. Now we have reason to believe that Quiz and Langhorne discovered actual artifacts from the Ancients, ones that we are currently reading about in the The Genesis Code. Caution is certainly warranted, but one arm of Titan Global exists to pursue scientific discoveries to their furthest limits.”

  It was Demetrius who had the final word.

  “Titan Global advises nations and leaders around the globe,” he said, “and there’s a reason for that. We employ the best personnel in almost every field of endeavor. I have every confidence in those seated at this table.” He paused to stare intently at each face in the Gallery. “We’re going to do just fine, people. Just fine.”

  Main Deck

  Aboard the Alamiranta

  Quiz stood on the port side of the ship, watching divers from the Polk working from a submarine tender that had been summoned to the scene. The repairs were being carried out in calm waters, Beatrice a distant memory as it churned westward.

  So how do you sense things through my brain? And the pulling on the toggle switch while I was unconscious — how was that possible?

  * We had a previous discussion on the fact that we enjoy a symbiotic relationship. Correct? *

  Yes, but to me that simply implies that we have access to each other’s thoughts. You obviously have access to my thoughts, and I to yours.

  * It also implies that I have access to the gray matter in your cerebral cortex. I therefore have access to your gross motor skills, although I would never usurp them in anything but an emergency. *

  But the sensing thing. That’s a bit mystical.

  * Every human brain emits electromagnetic energy. It also can intercept electromagnetic energy as well. As physics states, everything is part of non-local intelligence. Some people are better tuned into this energy and intelligence than others. You certainly are. *

  So that’s how you’ve been able to give me guidance in the past.

  * I’m simply helping you to understand what your brain is already perceiving on a number of levels. *

  Do you think Hawkeye is suspicious of what happened below the temple of fire?

  * No. He simply believes that you passed out as you were putting the harness in reverse and that your hand remained lodged against the toggle switch. *

  Are you going to be with me for the rest of my life?

  * Isn’t it a beautiful day to be on a cruise? *

  Why can’t you just give me straight answers sometimes?

  * Because, my dear boy, I don’t always have them. *

  Catherine Caine’s Private Office

  Aboard the Alamiranta

  “Mr. Langhorne,” said Caine, “you present a unique problem.”

  Langhorne had been given clean clothes, but he still wore his dusty cavalry hat.

  “I suspect, ma’am, that you could simply drop me off somewhere in Hawaii and pretend that I never existed. As far as I can tell, everything worked out for the best.”

  “But you have ties to a covert arm of the Chinese military . . . as far as I can tell.”

  Caine’s challenging tone wasn’t lost on Langhorne.

  “Well, I was married to Yang’s daughter, who, by the way, never told me that she was passing secret information to her father. If I’m guilty of anything, it’s of being a soldier of fortune looking for unclaimed treasure.”

  Sitting behind her desk, Caine reclined and looked at the face of the handsome mercenary. “I can understand your being at odds after the loss of your wife, but you didn’t have to continue her work. By he way, are you aware that appropriating treasure and artifacts from a site discovered on United States soil might be considered a felony?”

  Indignantly, Langhorne sat up straighter on the opposite side of the desk. “Now just wait a minute,” he said defensively. “I didn’t see any signs posted or a military presence.”

  “I’m sure you’ve heard of the concept of eminent domain,” Cain said. “The United States Government is appropriating the land as we speak. The timeframe of when you were there will probably not matter in court.”

  Langhorne raised his hands in resignation. “Then cuff me, Mrs. Caine. You’re holding all the cards.”

  “I am indeed, but I have a proposal for you, Dr. Langhorne. “Before the unfortunate death of your spouse, you were a well-respected scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey. If you’re open to the possibility, I can offer you a position with Titan Global.”

  Langhorne smiled broadly. “A clear case of ‘keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.’”

  Caine leaned forwards. “I’d like to think, Dr. Langhorne, that after a sufficient probationary period, you can become a valued member of Titan Global. In time, you might even help us with our search for abiogenic oil.”

  Langhorne didn’t hesitate. He took the copy of Roughing It from his pocket and tossed it on Caine’s desk. His days as a maverick were over.

  “It beats the hell out of a federal penitentiary,” Langhorne said. “Where do I sign, Mrs. Caine?”

  Aft Observation Deck

  Aboard the Alamiranta

  Catherine Caine and Saturo Aiko stood on the uppermost observation deck above the stern of the ship. The Alamiranta was riding true again, although Navy divers were still completing temporary repairs so that the ship could reach Lehua, Hawaii safely.

  “The Pentagon in Washington wants me to debrief you, Commander,” said Caine.

  “I am your prisoner, Mrs. Caine. You must do your duty as you see it. I can withstand whatever measures you wish to employ.”

  Caine leaned on the stern railing, her hair blown sideways by the gentle ocean wind.

  “We’re not going to torture you, Commander,” said Caine. “It’s not our way. Besides, you gave Titan Six help when they needed it at the blast crater. Mr. Hawke informs me that you even helped save Quiz’s life.”

  Aiko nodded. “My people have a strong sense of honor — usually. We promised to help prevent a disaster that could have had global ramifications. I did what I believed was right.”

  Caine said nothing for the next few moments. “Titan can always use someone with advanced military skills . . . and a sense of honor. Would you be interested in joining one of our elite special ops teams?”

  Aiko turned to face Caine, puzzlement clearly visible in her features. Her brow was furrowed, her head cocked to the side. “How would this be possible? Would I not always be under your watchful and suspicious eye?”

  “You would have to be debriefed — that cannot be avoided. Our paramilitary teams are likely to come up against Chinese forces again at some point in the future. Your government is obviously interested in The Genesis Code, and you and I would both need to feel secure in your allegiance.”

  “I have nothing to return to,” Aiko said. “I have no husband or children. I have a grandmother who is very old, but she no longer recognizes me.”

  “But where does your heart lie?” Caine asked. “There’s an old saying: A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

  Aiko didn’t hesitate. “My heart lies with honor. I am not comfortable with my country’s global agenda to begin with. Their betrayal of me has caused me to question their true motivations.”

  Caine sighed deeply. “I’m familiar with betrayal, Commander. I feel the pain on a daily basis.”

  “Dominique?”

  “Yes, Dominique. I fear that, despite her great intelligence and altruistic goals, she is quite naïve.”

  The two women began to walk along the deck, both of them quiet.

  “I will work with you,” Aiko said at last. “You were willing to put aside national differences for a greater good back in Nevada. The greater good is a master I can easily serve.”

  “Splendid. You will undergo a period of training with Mr. Hawke and his team. You will also be indoctrinated in several of our more cutting edge technologies by Dr.
Grace Nguyen. It will take time, but I believe you will become a valuable asset to Titan Global — and to humanity.”

  “I have one request,” Aiko said.

  “Yes?”

  “I have always wanted to eat an American hamburger.”

  Caine laughed. “That can be arranged, Commander. Welcome to Titan Global.”

  Lehua, Hawaii