Reckoning of Delta Prime (Cyber Teen Project Book 3)

by D. B. Goodin

  “Could there be a message somewhere in this jumble of code and data?” Melissa asked.

  “It’s possible, but I need more time to find it.”

  Chapter 15

  New York City, October 21st, 10:03 p.m.

  Solomon Friedrich walked across the yard of the metropolitan correctional center. The bite of the chilly fall air was a bitter reminder of what his life had become. A chilly breeze blew his wispy white hair around in a haphazard fashion.

  Maybe I can meet my grandson someday.

  Solomon sighed. His grandson was five and had never met him.

  I shouldn't get my hopes up, that’s what I get for trafficking in nuclear material.

  A push thrust Solomon out of his thoughts. He looked back at a burly guard named Smalls, if his name tag was to be believed.

  “Playtime is over, it’s time to go, Sol,” Smalls said.

  The guards lined him up behind two other prisoners, and Solomon followed a man who looked like a human tank and another smaller skinny man. The guards left the prisoners chained in a featureless hallway while Smalls discussed something with another corrections officer just out of earshot.

  “Hey, buddy, are you with us?” the skinny man said.

  “What?” Solomon said.

  “Bubby and I are making a break for it. Watch for the sign.”

  Before Solomon could respond, the guards herded the men onto an oversized and reinforced bus. They separated the prisoners. The guards placed the large balding man in the back of the bus, Solomon in the middle, and the smaller man in the front. Soon the bus was moving toward the Hudson.

  “How long until we reach USP Canaan?” Smalls asked.

  “A few hours, maybe less,” the driver said.

  Solomon held his breath as they entered the Holland Tunnel. The idea of having so much water above his head was a little unnerving. He released a long breath once the bus cleared the city.

  About an hour later, the skinny man turned in Solomon’s direction. He nodded his head, Solomon looked toward the back of the bus. The larger man appeared to be staring straight ahead toward the front of the bus. If he was communicating with the skinny man, it wasn’t obvious.

  “I don’t feel so well,” the smaller man said.

  “You look fine to me. We will call ahead for a doctor,” Smalls said.

  The skinny man clutched his stomach. “Argh, the pain!” Then he started foaming at the mouth.

  What the hell is going on here? Solomon wondered. Is this part of the diversion?

  “I think he needs a doctor, he is foaming at the mouth,” Solomon said.

  “Pull over,” Smalls said.

  “There’s no room. Hold on—I’ll try to find a place to pull over,” the driver said.

  Moments later, Solomon noticed the bright red glow of flares burning on the road. Cars were strewn about haphazardly.

  An accident?

  “Something doesn’t feel right—you better call it in,” Smalls said.

  “Dispatch, we have an accident and a sick prisoner, request local help,” the driver said.

  Moments later, Solomon was thrust into a world of confusion. The bus rocked, throwing Solomon into the side of the bus. Blood squirted everywhere as the skinny man’s head bashed against the window. The glass shattered inward, pelting everyone with an array of shards. The bus was rolling off the road. Solomon covered his head. His hands, neck, and arms were distressed in flames of agony. The bus came to a stop. The world became blurry, then faded.

  Sometime later . . .

  Solomon awoke to a flurry of pain and confusion. He opened his eyes. Smalls was checking on the skinny man; he wasn’t moving and appeared to be dead. Seconds later, the guard started bleeding from his neck and chest, and then his head exploded.

  What the hell is going on?

  Another yelp came from the driver, and then silence. Solomon tried to turn his head around to get a better view, but pain shot through his neck and back. The world of consciousness began fading away.

  Solomon tried opening his eyes, but the intense light above interfered. He blinked as he adjusted to the bright light.

  “Doctor, he is waking up,” a female voice said.

  Doctor? Solomon thought.

  “He can take one more dose, but no more. He is too important, and I will not let him expire before his work has begun,” a man’s voice said.

  Solomon watched a man in a white suit, but he couldn’t see his face because he was wearing a mask.

  “I know who you are . . .” Solomon tried to say.

  They placed something over his mouth and nose. The world blurred again.

  Bromwick Hotel, the next morning, 5:54 a.m.

  Ezekiel opened the door to Chen’s master suite. It was the largest in the Bromwick, and it took most of the top floor. He put the tray on a battered antique desk.

  “Do you want to dine at your usual spot at the desk, or would you prefer to enjoy your breakfast in bed this morning?” Ezekiel asked.

  “I’d prefer the bed this morning, if you don’t mind.”

  Ezekiel set up the breakfast tray so Chen could have everything in easy reach.

  “Is there anything else, master?”

  “Sit—I would appreciate the company this morning.”

  Ezekiel took the chair from the desk and positioned it so he could be of service in case his master required it. Chen opened the lid to his breakfast. The steam escaped from his two poached eggs and dry toast.

  “I’m not sure if you know the history of this place, but the Bromwick Hotel is one of the oldest in the region. Its roots go back to the days of George Washington,” Chen said.

  “Many ghosts reside in this hotel.”

  “Indeed, that’s one reason why I have invited all the members of the Cabal to discuss our problem. This place has power and serves as a reminder for those who wish to betray us, unless they want to become ghosts themselves.”

  Ezekiel nodded.

  “The roots of our organization go back to the same year America was founded,” Chen said. “Two months and three days, if I remember correctly. Do you remember which city the Cabal was formed?”

  “Ingolstadt?” Ezekiel asked.

  “That’s correct. Our group is called the Cabal, but do you know its original name?”

  Ezekiel thought for a long moment.

  “Quintessence Society?” he replied.

  “Excellent, you know your history well. The Quintessence Society started with five principal members. It is fitting there are only five members who remain,” Chen said as he chased a runny egg with a piece of dry toast.

  “Societal norms have changed since the forming of our group. People are different,” Ezekiel said.

  Chen thought about this for a long moment.

  “Yes, people are different, but not in a good way. We need a reset—it’s time to revisit the work Jeremiah started. Perhaps people will treat each other with respect again after losing everything they perceive to be important.”

  Ezekiel didn’t respond at first; he seemed conflicted. Then he asked, “How confident are you with Jeremiah’s plan? A pair of teenaged hackers defeated him.”

  “Many of Jeremiah’s decisions were flawed because he let his emotions get in the way. So I have hired some of the world’s best computer programmers and hackers. Jeremiah’s plan is ready. We just need a scapegoat,” Mr. Chen said.

  “Something tells me you’ve already accounted for this contingency.”

  “I have indeed,” Mr. Chen said, smiling.

  Chapter 16

  Later that afternoon

  Mr. Chen decided to wait for his guests in the parlor of the hotel. It was massive and could hold at least thirty people. Like everything in this hotel, it was old and built to withstand the test of time. Mr. Chen liked to think he shared that distinction. He checked his carefully prepared agenda.

  I need the full support of the other members of the Cabal, Chen thought. I cannot do this alone.

&nbs
p; “The guests are arriving,” Ezekiel said.

  “Excellent, I will receive them in the parlor.”

  Moments later, four women entered the parlor. The first woman strode into the parlor with an air of confidence. Her long black hair was braided and fell to one side. She had a very intense look about her. She looked deadly and unforgiving.

  The Black Heart has arrived.

  “Dahlia, it is good to see you again,” Chen said.

  “Chen,” she asked, “how is paradise?”

  “It’s magnificent as ever, but I’m glad to be back in the Bromwick.”

  “I agree it’s good being back in this historic place, but I always feel I need to watch my back here. Like there’s always something lurking in the shadows,” Dahlia said.

  “Yes, but you are always protected within these walls.”

  “Hell, having such a high position and nefarious reputation is an invitation to danger.”

  “I suppose it is. Care to introduce me to your crew?”

  Chen analyzed how the three women were positioned at strategic locations around the room, like they were prepared for almost anything.

  “The woman to my right is Blanka. She is my primary lieutenant, and my most capable commander. When my . . . son died, Blanka took the initiative. She has been training with me since she was a toddler. By the time she was a teenager, she had defeated one of the world’s deadliest assassins. She has completed many solo missions with minimal resources or help.”

  Chen gave her an appraising look.

  I’m impressed. She is both a beauty and a beast in one dangerous package.

  “The girl with the long red hair is Vedrana. She has trained with me since she was five. Blanka has taken her as a mentee, and she shows much promise.”

  Something stirred in Chen at the sight of Vedrana, an almost insatiable lust he had not experienced in a long time.

  She is a dangerous beauty. When cultivated, she will be one of D’s deadliest of assassins.

  “The girl at the door with the short-cropped hair is Eva. She grew up with Vedrana and is one of my deadliest pit fighters. She has defeated foes with her bare hands.”

  Chen gave Eva a respectful nod.

  Any of these women would be a worthy foe. Combined, they are a force to be reckoned with.

  Ezekiel gave Chen a nod, then left the room.

  “I know I’m the most recent addition to the Cabal, but I’m concerned about the timeline for the plan’s execution,” Dahlia said.

  “That is one item on the agenda. We lost years’ worth of progress when Jeremiah went off task. He was foolish to use Dr. Ash’s technology for personal gain. He paid for that mistake with his life. We were all lucky when Nas recommended you to the Cabal,” Chen said.

  A moment later, Ezekiel reentered with the Sultan. He had three men with him.

  “Marhaba, Nas, it’s so good to see you,” Chen said.

  “Shukran, Chen,” the Sultan said.

  “Ahlan, Nas, it’s good to see you again,” Dahlia said.

  “Hello, D, the pleasure is all mine,” the Sultan said.

  The Sultan introduced his lieutenants.

  “Nico Gratzano is my new first lieutenant, and his father was Tony Gratzano, my former lieutenant, who passed away. Nico has not only taken over the family business, but he also has the confidence of all families on the Eastern Seaboard,” the Sultan said.

  Loyalty is important in our line of work. Having a mobster who controls unions is important for our plan to work, Mr. Chen thought.

  “The other two men are my other lieutenants,” the Sultan continued. “I believe you already know Seymour, but the older gentleman with him is General Frank Kurtzen—he commands the preppers in all of North America, including Canada and Mexico.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, General,” Chen said.

  Kurtzen returned Chen’s greeting with a stony look.

  “Is Tage here?” Dahlia asked.

  “He will be with us—I believe he just checked in,” Ezekiel said.

  Why is the kid nearest the school always late to class?

  A moment later, Mr. Tage entered with two men. One was a middle-aged, and the other was much older, perhaps in his late sixties.

  “Mr. Tage, so glad you could make it,” Chen said, trying to keep his tone neutral.

  “Greetings, Chen,” Mr. Tage said.

  “Please introduce your lieutenants to the group.”

  “The young man you see before you is Rick Watson, and before you ask, he is Nigel Watson’s father. The other man is Solomon Friedrich. He’s a former inmate at New York’s metropolitan correctional facility and a nuclear physicist. I suspect his skills will come in handy during our proceedings.”

  “Wait—how long has Tage been a member of the Cabal?” Dahlia asked Chen.

  “For a long time,” Chen said.

  “You mentioned I replaced Jeremiah Mason as a member of the Cabal,” she said.

  “Yes, that is correct. From your tone, I sense this might be a problem for you?” Chen asked.

  “No problem, it just makes sense now.”

  “What does?” Mr. Tage asked.

  “That you pretended to not know who Jeremiah was. The assault on his island fortress cost Black Iris dearly.”

  No one said anything for a long moment.

  “I’m sorry for not bringing you into the fold—I had to keep my cards close to the chest because I only knew you by reputation,” Mr. Tage said.

  “Let us put this unpleasantness behind us. We all have sworn a blood oath to our cause,” Chen said.

  “Who is the fifth member of the Cabal? You mentioned five principal members before, during my initiation process,” Dahlia asked.

  “The fifth member has arrived and will be with us shortly. We will start without her,” Chen said.

  Everyone took their place at the long conference table, which was large enough to seat twenty.

  “As you all know, I’ve called an in-person meeting of the Cabal to address a matter of grave importance,” Chen began. “The chaos event planned early this year never happened. As a result, it delayed all other planned events.”

  “One mistake Jeremiah made was hiring such an unstable hacker for the delivery system. If he had planned half as well as he did for that cyborg, then the plan would have succeeded,” Dahlia said.

  “Yes, Jeremiah was a fool for not listening to me,” a woman’s voice said.

  Everyone turned to look at the newcomer. It was a woman in her sixties. She was accompanied by a woman in her mid-twenties whose white hair provided little contrast to her white leather outfit.

  “Dr. Ash, I’m glad to see you are back on your feet after your . . . ordeal,” Chen said.

  “You’re supposed to be dead,” Dahlia said.

  “My human flesh was dead for a brief moment, but the diligence of Nozomi, my lieutenant, made it possible for my transfer back into this vessel. In hindsight, I should have prepared a cybernetic body, but I’m attached to this form,” Dr. Ash said.

  Her eyes seemed to be looking at everything at the same time. The pupils were constantly moving; they reminded Chen of a camera trying to refocus.

  “Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, let us begin,” Chen said. “In less than a year’s time, Melissa Mason has used her father’s significant wealth to form a philanthropic organization to help those in need. The Mason Foundation’s charter doesn’t mention cyborgs, but that is their primary concern. She has hired some of the best minds in artificial intelligence and cybernetics to assist her cyborg daughter. April Mason has information buried away that we need. I believe Dr. Ash can shed some light on how we can leverage that information to put our plan back on track.”

  “Delta-51 was the first cyborg to be integrated with one of the most powerful artificial intelligences ever created,” Dr. Ash said. “The AI’s hunter-seeker functions are suppressed by the Mason Foundation’s imprisonment of the cyborg.”

  “Why can’t we sto
rm the castle and take her by force?” Dahlia asked.

  “They keep April in a guarded castle in Edinburgh—it’s walls are defensible. Our forces are needed elsewhere,” Chen explained.

  “I’m afraid we’ve already tried that approach. Nozomi nearly took out every guard single-handedly,” Dr. Ash said.

  The room fell silent as all eyes fell on Dr. Ash.

  “How long have you kept this from us?” Mr. Chen demanded.

  “It’s been a few days. Ms. Mason was supposed to be en route to New York. She escaped with Delta-51 before Nozomi could complete her mission. With Leviathan’s help, I’ve received some information, but I could not reestablish an uplink to the AI,” Dr. Ash said.

  “If she’s in New York—isn’t that good for us? We just need to figure out where she’s staying, then take Delta by force. Seems simple enough,” Mr. Tage said.

  “Perhaps, but she will be on high alert considering Dr. Ash’s earlier attempt. This weekend she will host a benefit gala. Security will be tight. But . . . perhaps some or all of her benefactors will decide they don’t want to invest in her foundation. We can give her more trouble than she can handle. The possibilities are endless,” Mr. Chen said, chuckling.

  Mr. Tage smiled. “Leave it to me, Chen. I know just the person for the job.”

  “I suggest we get back to the matter at hand. Have we been able to determine why the AI stopped updating?” the Sultan asked.

  “I’m not sure, but if we can’t re-establish the link, then I’m afraid we have lost the receiving infrastructure code. I believe the source died with Gregor,” Dr. Ash said.

  “I don’t think that is completely accurate,” Dahlia said.

  Chen urged Dahlia to continue.

  “I now have the loyalty of one of Gregor’s apprentice hackers, Freeman, and he is on my payroll. I believe he lives close to you, Chen,” Dahlia asked.

  “Good to know, in case I need my men to pay him a visit,” Chen said.

  “No need, he’s coming here.”