The voice came from just off camera. Evangelista turned and walked to where Holly was sitting, being checked by medical personnel.
“Oh, baby, thank God you’re alive! Are you okay?”
“I’m safe, but it was horrible. The entire base has been destroyed. We lost a lot of good people, and we’ve lost everything we worked our entire lives for.”
Holly burst into tears.
“It’s okay, Holly,” Jeff said, trying to comfort his distraught wife. “You’re not going to believe where I am now.”
Paulson held up his hand, asking Jeff to stay silent.
“This location is still classified; you can’t say anything about it over a com-line. She’ll find out about it soon enough.”
Jeff turned back to the holo.
“Holly, they’re going to take you out of there. We’ll be together soon. I promise you.”
Paulson jumped in. “Holly, can you tell us what happened?”
Holly briefed them both. Paulson was glad she’d made it out alive. She was certainly a fighter. He knew that from the very first time he met her. Paulson was glad to hear that Chen made it out as well, with just minor but treatable radiation burns.
When Holly got to the part about who rescued her, she paused.
“Jeff, you may remember the person who saved me. Mattie Tedrow.”
Jeff was too excited that his wife was alive to take in her revelation. Paulson had told them Mattie had escaped after the fight in San Diego all those years ago. In reality he’d had him the whole time. Mattie had agreed to become a part of his team, and become a part he had. In some cases he was the whole team. Mattie’s abilities were nothing short of superhuman.
After finishing school on base, where he lived with his mother, Mattie received Special Ops training and went on to participate in a wide variety of missions all over the world. He and Paulson had become close over the years. In many ways, Paulson thought of Mattie as another son.
In addition to his incredible healing abilities, strength, speed, and stamina, Mattie possessed a photographic memory and the ability to learn at an accelerated pace. Then there was the whole aging thing. Mattie was fifty-one, but didn’t look a day older than twenty-five. None of the experts could say what his lifespan would be.
Mattie had chosen to stay in the military and had steadily risen through the ranks to colonel. He could easily be a general by now, but he enjoyed the field work, and there was the whole issue of his youthful appearance. It simply brought up too many questions. Plus Paulson was cautious. Even though Mattie had never shown any disloyalty or strange behavior, Paulson had long wondered what would happen when the nanobot swarms returned. Would Mattie lose control and become a puppet controlled by the unknown enemy?
Paulson was never one to leave anything to chance, so he kept Mattie in the field, far away from Chronos Two today. Plus he kept a man close to him, ready with a special EMP weapon, just in case Mattie turned.
“Wait, did you say Mattie Tedrow?” Jeff looked at Paulson, brow raised. “So you had him this whole time? What’s he been doing for you?”
“I’m sorry, Jeff, that’s classified. Let’s just say that Colonel Tedrow has been an integral part of the team.”
Jeff frowned at Paulson and furrowed his brow, then his expression eased into a half smile. “Very well.” He turned back to Holly.
“Holly, I’ll see you soon, dear. I love you.”
“I love you too, Jeff.” She blew him a kiss, then moved off camera. Evangelista came back into view.
“I assume you have a hypersonic transport ready to pick them up and bring them here?” Jeff asked.
“After the medical team finishes with them and clears the survivors for travel, we’ll get them on the plane,” Paulson said. “They should arrive here in plenty of time.”
“That’s cutting it close, but I trust you to get the job done.”
Jeff patted him on the shoulder.
“I think I’ve had enough excitement for now. I need some rest. We have another long night ahead of us.”
Jeff looked tired, but the uncertainty over Holly was gone, and his body had lost its brittle stiffness. Paulson had no doubt he’d be able to sleep for a few hours.
“My assistant, Melinda Rider, will escort you to your quarters.”
He called Melinda in and directed her to take Jeff to his room, then he turned back to Evangelista.
“Is the transport ready to go?”
“Yes, sir. We’ve already started loading the staff onto helicopters to take them to Holloman. We should be in the air within the hour.”
“Very good, Tony. I need to talk to Colonel Tedrow now. Paulson out.”
Paulson closed his eyes and brought up his link to Mattie. He came into view on the holo. His face was darkened from burns, but his skin healed even as Paulson watched.
“Colonel, your assessment?”
“In addition to the bomb, the base was also sabotaged on the ground level. The control panels on all freight elevators were fused shut. I was lucky enough to be able to get through in time to rescue most of the people in one of the elevators. The others didn’t make it.”
Shit, they’d lost thousands.
Mattie squeezed his lips together and stared firmly at the camera.
“Sir, this was an inside job. Only someone who knows the base’s security protocols would’ve been able to disable the elevators like this. Would’ve even thought to do it. I’m sifting through footage now to figure out who is responsible. I’ll catch this traitor or traitors, sir.”
Paulson’s stomach churned at the thought of another spy. In the videos he’d received from his future self, there was talk of an undiscovered traitor who’d placed a bomb on Air Force One, killing nearly everyone on board. He wondered if that same traitor could be working against them now.
“Keep a close watch, Colonel.” Paulson paused to consider his options.
“Mattie, I don’t need to tell you that the traitor could be standing right beside you. It could be anyone. Whether they are being controlled in some way by nanos or acting of their own free will, we have no way of knowing. Be vigilant. Stay aware of anything out of the ordinary.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll finish reviewing the information in transit to the airport. If I find anything, I’ll let you know. Tedrow out.”
The holo of Mattie faded, leaving Paulson alone with his thoughts. He was worried about what would happen to Mattie when the meteor storm arrived. Even though all the scientists said he was now immune to any type of mind control exerted by the nanovirus still coursing through his veins, there was a lingering doubt about what would happen when the virus was reintroduced to Earth’s atmosphere.
Would he be able to resist the pull on his mind?
The last thing anyone wanted was for Mattie to turn into a raging homicidal maniac. Despite Paulson’s feelings for him, if Mattie turned, he wouldn’t hesitate to give the order to put him down.
They would know soon. There were just a few hours left before they discovered whether their preparations were enough or humanity would end.
Paulson said a quiet prayer and began striding toward the base control center. He still had details to take care of. For the most part they’d been ready months ago, in case the attack happened early. But despite having decades to prepare, like always, most chores didn’t get done until the last minute. The difference now though was if they weren't ready, they never would be, because they'd all be dead. With that thought in mind, Paulson picked up his pace.
The marathon had turned into a sprint to the finish—one that he had to win.
Chapter 21
7:30 a.m. Local Time, January 15, 2038
En Route to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
Colonel Mathew David Tedrow felt the rattle in his seat as the Chinook lifted off from the Chronos base. They were headed to Holloman Air Force Base, where a hypersonic military transport plane was waiting. From there they would travel to Paulson’s secret base.
He could also tell from Paulson’s reaction to the destruction of Chronos and from experience that the old man had a backup. So Mattie quickly surmised that the secret base was in fact another time travel facility. And while his deductive powers were far from ordinary and not many other people in the world could figure that out, someone could. If they’d been able to destroy Chronos, then they would likely go after a second base as well. He hoped Paulson was ready.
He surveyed the haggard group surrounding him. Most had minor skin burns, but a few had to be treated on the spot for severe radiation trauma. Those sad few were in stretchers at the back of the copter. He doubted many of them would make it.
The thought at the top of his mind, however, was that one of them could be a traitor. The sabotage had to have been an inside job; someone who worked at the base had sent the bomb through the vortex from the future. That person would not have died in the blast, which meant they were sitting somewhere on one of the copters, waiting to strike again when the opportunity arose.
Mattie turned to Holly Scarborough, who was sitting beside him. It’d been thirty-six years since he last saw her, but he remembered the day well. She looked very good for a woman in her seventies. The anti-aging treatments of the day did an amazing job. He liked the white streak flowing through the middle of her blond hair. It was a nice touch that added intellectual maturity to her appearance. She turned to meet his gaze.
“So, Mattie. It’s been a long time. How long have you been working for Paulson?”
“A while now, ma’am. I find the work...interesting.”
Mattie certainly did like the adventure his job involved. Plus he felt he was doing his country a great service. But at times he missed a stable life. He was constantly on a mission and had very little downtime. His duties made it hard to have a long-term relationship. Melinda Rider, Paulson’s assistant, was the exception. They were together for nearly two years, and she’d wanted to get married, but Mattie shied away and broke it off. In the back of his mind he’d always taken a wait and see approach—wait and see if the world ended today, wait and see if he lost control of his own mind. Not exactly solid supports on which to build a marriage and a life with someone.
If they had a happy ending and survived this crisis, then maybe Mattie would look at scaling back his missions and settling down. Yet he felt that a happy ending for him was just a pipe dream.
“Colonel, we have some strange activity on the ground,” the pilot interrupted his thoughts.
“What type of activity, Captain?”
“Well sir, it’s . . . Maybe you should get up here.”
He hastily unbuckled his belt and bolted to the front of the copter. Stretching out below them and to the horizon was the Lincoln National Forest—trees blanketed with newly fallen snow.
But something instantly disturbed the tranquil scene.
The white trail of a missile zoomed toward the Chinook flying beside them. It hit the copter, and a giant ball of fire pulsed outward, debris erupting through the sky. A propeller blade shot over and slammed into their cockpit window, cracking it open. Rushing wind filled the copter as it jerked violently to the side. The pilots struggled to keep control, and Mattie grabbed onto a strap hanging overhead.
“Evasive maneuvers now,” screamed one of the pilots.
The Chinook swerved to avoid the fireball and debris.
“Mayday, mayday! We are under attack! This is transport Tango Alpha. Tango Beta has been struck by a SAM and destroyed. Request immediate assistance!”
The wind from the broken cockpit window blew into the helicopter like a tornado, whipping papers into a frenzy. A flash of light, a reflection off a metal surface on the ground, caught Mattie’s attention.
He tapped the co-pilot on the shoulder and bellowed, “Countermeasures now! There’s another missile launcher down there!”
“Sir, we don’t have countermeasures or weapons of any sort loaded. This was supposed to be an hour-long transport mission over U.S. soil. We weren’t expecting to be attacked.”
“Hell, I’m still in training learning how to fly this bird,” the other pilot yelled.
A distant spark ignited on the ground, and another missile rose up out of the forest to chase them, a thin trail of smoke following it. The pilot jerked the Chinook again, trying to evade the streaking missile. But Mattie could tell it was a heat-seeker. The Chinook transport wasn’t fast enough to outrun or outmaneuver it.
He had to do something.
Time slowed.
Mattie’s brain processed the situation and came up with the only solution available. Moving at his highest speed, he grabbed a plasma grenade strapped to his leg and hurled it through the broken cockpit window.
The grenade flew at the missile at tremendous velocity, striking it right on the tip, just a few hundred feet away from the Chinook. Both exploded in a ball of fire.
But the explosion was too close.
The Chinook flew right through the blaze, and the pilots lost control. The control panel beeped as the helicopter rocked and shuddered. The passengers screamed.
“The engine’s been damaged,” the pilot said as he struggled with the throttle. “And we’re leaking fuel.”
Mattie braced himself against the wall.
“Is there anywhere to set her down?”
“Not in this forest. Nothing but trees and rocky cliffs in this section of Lincoln.”
Mattie could see the treacherous terrain below.
“Can you keep this beast in the air long enough for everyone to parachute out of here?”
“I’ll try, sir,” the captain said. “But you better hurry. You can bet the attackers are loading up another missile.”
Mattie jumped to the back of the copter, his adrenaline pumping. He had no time to waste.
“We’re under attack by a missile team on the ground!” he yelled out.
Mattie held up his hands to quiet their replies as the copter swerved again.
“If you remain calm, my team and I will get you through this, but you need to listen to us and do exactly what we tell you.”
The scientists and engineers were already in shock after nearly dying from a nuclear explosion. Now they were under attack again. How much more could they take? Mattie hoped they could handle a lot more.
“We’re going to jump; we have parachutes for everyone. Reach under your seats and pull one out. My men and I will make sure they’re secured correctly.”
More gasps and wide-eyed looks of surprise came from the group. Mattie was certain none of them had ever parachuted out of the back of a Chinook.
“This is easy,” he assured them. “You can do it and we’ll help you. But we don’t have much time, so hurry.”
The group struggled to put on their chutes as his men helped a few of the older passengers. Mattie grabbed his own parachute and strapped it on. Back in the cockpit the pilots struggled to keep the copter level.
“Sir, what about the injured?” Evangelista asked.
“Strap them in tandem with the men. We’re not leaving them behind.”
They’d already lost enough people that day; there would be no more deaths on Mattie’s watch. Anger stirred in his heart as he thought about all those killed on the other copter as they’d thought themselves finally safe.
“Sir, the fuel is almost gone,” the pilot said. “Ten minutes maybe, then we go down. I’ll wait until the very end before engaging the autopilot in case another missile comes at us, then I’m getting out with you guys.”
Mattie helped the last of the passengers with their chutes, then started lining people up and hooking their static lines.
“You won’t need to pull anything. These chutes are designed to open when y
ou exit the copter. All you have to do is jump. When you land, keep your legs under you. The chutes carry beacons, and we’ll be able to find you.”
Looks of terror remained plastered on their faces. One older woman backed away from the line of jumpers and collapsed on a seat, hands shaking uncontrollably. Holly sat beside her. She spoke softly, with her arm around the woman’s shoulder, comforting and encouraging her.
They needed to go now.
“Start jump sequence,” Mattie ordered the master sergeant.
The back of the Chinook opened to reveal blue sky and a vast forest below them a long way down.
The Chronos survivors began jumping, one after the other out of the back of the copter. At any hesitation, the master sergeant pushed them. They didn’t have time for anyone to slow them down.
Soon they were all out and parachuting to the ground. Holly was the last of the Chronos group to go, and Mattie was left with the pilots.
The engine sputtered.
The pilots bolted to the back and dove out into the air. Mattie followed right behind them as the Chinook spun out of control. He’d skydived many times, but he always felt the same euphoria, the same punch to the gut as his body fell from the sky.
His parachute opened behind him and he looked down, trying to find a clear landing area, using the chute’s handles to guide himself. The air and wind were perfect for maximum maneuverability. The landscape was dotted with fir and pine trees poking up out of a recent snowfall. He hoped the others were lucky and found clearings to land in, but most likely he and his men would be pulling them out of trees.
They weren’t far from Holloman Air Force base in Alamogordo, but trekking through the forest in deep snow on foot would take them hours. He could only hope the base had received their distress call and would send a rescue team soon; otherwise, they risked getting caught out in the meteor storm, and he knew all too well what that could mean for him.
He continued scanning the landscape as he floated down. He could tell roughly where the others had landed, spread out over several miles. He also had a bead on where the rockets were launched from. That would be his first objective. The last thing they needed was someone hunting them down.
NanoSwarm: Extermination Day Book Two Page 17