“Take the morphine by choice or force, son,” President Green warned.
“Please,” Tom urged Jacob, taking a sip of hot coffee.
“Please,” Jessica added in a pleading voice.
Jacob looked deep into Jessica’s exhausted but beautiful eyes. And that’s when he realized, deep down in a secret place within his heart, that he had fallen in love with the woman.
“Fine.”
“That’s good,” Staff Sergeant Rearbanks told Jacob. He inserted a morphine shot into his shoulder and went to work. “I expected worse,” he confessed, disinfecting the wound. “It’s clear the hand of the Lord has been with you. This wound should be far worse than it is.”
“I...guess,” Jacob confessed, feeling the morphine beginning to take effect.
Sergeant Rearbanks went to work stitching up the wound. Jacob winced at the pain but managed to deal with it.
“Keep this arm in this sling,” he ordered Jacob, gently placing Jacob’s arm into a blue sling. “And you do the same,” he told Alvin. “You are both truly blessed.” Sergeant Rearbanks looked at President Green. “Sir, I’ll be back to the check on them every four hours. In the meantime, they need to rest. When the morphine wears off, I’ll begin administering a lighter pain pill.”
“Thank you, Sergeant,” President Green said, as the two soldiers who helped Sergeant Rearbanks began cleaning up the medical supplies on the table. Sergeant Rearbanks checked Alvin’s sling one last time, patted the man on his good shoulder, and left the room with the two soldiers.
Jessica watched Jacob check his shoulder and then reach for his coffee. “We must act,” he told President Green, feeling fuzzy headed. “We have less than twenty-four hours.”
“Son,” President Green stated, looking around the meeting table at four concerned faces. Then, he bowed his head. “I made a deal with the Russians. It was the only way. If I use the AI virus, the Russians may attack before the Chinese can.”
“The Chinese are planning to attack, Sir,” Jessica told President Green, and very cautiously retrieved her husband’s journal, while deliberately keeping the disk containing the AI virus hidden in her coat pocket. “Sir, please read it.” Jessica opened her husband’s journal to the part concerning the Chinese attack and handed it to President Green. He took the journal from Jessica, making the poor woman feel as if she was losing a piece of her heart, and began to read.
Tom took the time to urge Jessica and Alvin to drink their coffee. Jessica reluctantly agreed, keeping her weary eyes on Jack’s journal. She took a sip of hot coffee, finding very little comfort in the hot liquid, and waited while watching President Green read every word her husband and written. His eyes were patient but extremely concerned. After around twenty minutes, President Green lowered the journal and focused on Jessica.
“My dear lady, do you have the AI virus?”
“I do,” Jessica confessed, “but I will not turn it over to you, Sir. You must promise me, this very minute, that you will use my husband’s virus for good, not evil,” she demanded in a weak, desperate voice. “Is your heart evil?”
President Green stared into Jessica’s mysterious eyes and placed the journal down on the table. “The heart is evil above all things,” he confessed and touched his chest. “I am mere flesh and blood, capable of great evils. I am a sinner, ma’am, saved by the grace of a loving God, who sent His only Son to die for me. To redeem me. To teach my heart. Through His holy word, to do good.” President Green sat down at the head of the meeting table with a heavy sigh. “Have I done evil? Yes,” he confessed again. “I wish I could state that my hands are clear, but they are not. However, at the age of forty, I repented of my evils and tried to learn to do good. I have been forced to make extremely difficult choices that make me seem evil, like the deal I made with the Russians. I made that decision in order to stop Roger Alden from destroying America.”
“Dad—” Jacob began.
President Green held up his right hand. “Right now, the satellites we have orbiting above the earth are sending us constant images of what is taking place within the cities across America. Right now, millions are dying. Cities are burning. It’s a nightmare.” A tear slipped from President Green’s eye. “In the end, the American people, not the government, will make the choice to live or die. By making the deal with the Russians, I gave them that freedom to choose for themselves instead of being controlled and turned into soulless puppets. Yes, millions will die. In the end, the American people, not the enemies of America, will be given a choice to stand up and take their country back or die. At least they have that choice. It was a choice I never explained to the Russians.”
President Green wiped at another tear. “In the end, my dear lady, the American flag will be torn and nearly destroyed, but it is my prayer that the American patriots out there in that darkness will fight through the night and stand proud under the torn flag when morning light breaks.” More tears dropped from President Green’s eyes. “My dear lady, there will be no more computers, televisions, game systems, media, movies, music, schools, books or politicians controlling people. The American people will be given the freedom through bloodshed to be true Americans; the same Americans who stormed the Omaha and Utah Beach in June of 1944 to recapture their country from a great evil or to surrender. Right now, the patriots are scared and hunkered down in their homes. It is my prayer that they will wake up and fight to recapture America and raise her proud, high into the morning light.”
A tear slid from Alvin’s eye. “Sir, I want to be on that winning team, please.”
Tom wiped a tear from his eye. “As do I, Mr. President.”
Jessica stared into President Green’s sincere face. Carefully removing the disc holding her husband’s AI virus out of her coat pocket, she slid it across the meeting table.
“This is my husband’s virus, Sir. Do what you think is best, for God himself creates kings and destroys kings. It is my prayer that you are in a position of power for this very reason.”
President Green stared at the disc, and then looked at Jessica. “What if I make the wrong decision?” he asked in a trembling voice. “My dear lady, I am mere flesh and blood and—”
“Do what God tells you to do, Sir,” Jessica told President Green. To her own shock, she offered the man a warm smile that actually held life. “Mr. President, according to my husband’s journal, the Chinese will attack our country in less than twenty-four hours. You must do what you know is right.”
“Please, Dad,” Jacob begged, “we must act, now.”
President Green studied the disc, and then bowed his head to pray. After five minutes had passed, he said ‘Amen’. He stood and picked up the disc. After he took a moment to study it with weary eyes, he walked out of the meeting room without saying a word and left everyone sitting in a state of uncertainty.
“I’ll be back,” Jacob said. He struggled to his feet and left the meeting room.
Alvin grabbed his coffee and took a sip before asking, “Well?”
“We’ll see,” he told Alvin, and worked on his coffee as a sense of calmness washed though him.
Jessica studied the meeting room door and then sighed. Jacob was a man who still believed that the ways of man were going to save America.
“Poor man,” she whispered.
“What?” Alvin asked.
“Jacob,” Jessica confessed, as she took a sip of her coffee, and then looked into Alvin’s face; a face that was once meaner than a grizzly bear but was now filled with an unexplainable love and gentleness.
“Jacob is still trapped in the belief that the AI virus my husband created will save America. Only God can save this country now.”
Tom heard a tone in Jessica’s voice that concerned him. “Jessica?”
She put down her coffee and glanced around the depressing meeting room. “Pastor Braston, how many innocent babies have been murdered since 1973? How much rebellion has this country shown against the God of Isr
ael? Will grace really be extended?” she asked in an uncertain voice.
Tom lowered his coffee cup and pondered Jessica’s question. “I suppose it would seem that America is receiving a just and deserved punishment. While it is true that America has murdered the innocent unborn and rebelled against the one true God, not all Americans have agreed to this spirit of sin. There are millions of Americans, Jessica, that are pro-life, and millions of Christians and Messianic Jews that stand for the Word of God and follow Jesus Christ our Lord.” Tom offered Jessica a warm hope. “Perhaps the Lord will leave a remnant to recapture America and to rededicate this country to God. I would like to believe we haven’t journeyed this far in vain.”
“Amen to that,” Alvin added. “Look at me. I was sleeping in an old morgue, waiting to die while running a ragged thrift store and making pennies by selling junk. I was surrounded by drugs, violence and gangs. Now, I’m married, and I’m sitting on the winning team; the Lord’s team. Who would have ever thought, huh? Not me, that’s for sure. I thought old Alvin was going to be gunned down by a drive-by shooting, or something along those lines. I was just waiting to die. Now, I’m alive. Even when we were in that cave, without hope…I felt hope. Way down deep. When we jumped into that river, that should have been it for us, but God made a way out.” Alvin rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve been thinking a lot about this. From the very first day until now, God has been protecting us. He’s been making our path clear, opening doorways, and performing miracles while testing our hearts.”
“But why?” Jessica begged Alvin.
“For such a time as this, I guess,” Alvin answered and offered Jessica a weary smile. “I guess we’ll know when we stand in judgment someday, huh? Right now, old Alvin don’t have the answers you need. All I do know is that the pastor is right. We ain’t come this far for nothing. No, God has His reasons, and we’re part of His reasons.”
Tom patted Jessica’s hand. “I suggest we all try and get at least a few hours of sleep while we can. There’s no telling what these next twenty-four hours may bring.” Tom stood up, looked around the meeting room, and then took his blanket over to a corner and laid down. “The floor is hard, but I’m too exhausted to care.” He yawned and covered up with the blanket. After placing his head down onto his right arm, he drifted off into a heavy sleep.
“We need to sleep,” Alvin confirmed, looking at Jessica. “That morphine has me feeling a bit relaxed. I think I’ll be able to drift off.”
Jessica nodded her head and helped Alvin find a place on the floor to sleep. She covered him up with a green blanket and said, “Sweet dreams.”
She found her own place on the floor and immediately feel asleep. Jack walked along a warm beach in her dreams.
((((((((((*))))))))))
President Green watched a team of skilled people who he called computer experts sit down in front of a wide television screen that was perched in front of a row of computers. The television screen had a series of numbered squares on it that were assigned to one specific computer terminal. Each computer terminal was assigned to a specific task.
“Are we ready?” he asked in a stern voice, placing his hands behind his back. A heavy hush fell across the operations room, as the team of experts logged into their terminal and then held up a green card.
“Terminal One is Green,” Major Michael Levi called out.
“Terminal Two is Green,” Captain Melinda O’Leary acknowledged.
“Terminal Three is Green,” Mr. Andrew Oshkins stated, wearing a set of thick glasses.
“Terminal Four is Green,” Mr. Peter Goldstein called out.
“Terminal Five is Green,” Captain Paul Bosley raised his green card into the air.
“Terminal Six is Green,” Major Lisa Edward’s stated and raised her green card.
“Terminal Seven is Green,” Mrs. Alice Arnold lifted her green card into the air.
“Sir,” Major Daily, a fifty-two-year-old man with a tight military cut said, standing beside President Green and wearing a Class-A uniform, “The Green Team is live. We are ready.”
President Green rested his hands on a wooden safety handle and studied the television screen. “We have one chance at this. If we fail, not only will the Chinese destroy us, but the Russians will follow. By standing here, I’m breaking the agreement I made with the Russians. They will not be happy about it. They will certainly attack in order to take control of the virus. If we fail, annihilation is certain. If anyone wishes to back out, now is the time.” President Green waited for the operations room personnel to answer. When silence followed, he nodded his head. “We have one shot to take back our country and destroy our enemies. Let’s make it count,” he stated, and then nodded at the Green Team. “Major Levi, insert the virus and get to work.”
“Yes, Sir,” Major Levi answered President Green. He pulled the virus that Jack had created out of a green folder, inserted the disc into his computer, and started giving operational commands.
Jessica squeezed Tom’s hand and watched all seven of the television screens turn from blue to black. A list of command codes that she didn’t understand appeared next.
“Pastor Braston, now is the time to pray.”
“I have prayed,” Tom whispered, holding Jessica’s hand while watching the television screen and waiting anxiously to see what events were going to take place.
Jessica glanced to her left and saw Alvin sitting down in a computer chair. He was watching the television screen, too. Jacob was standing beside him, sipping a cup of coffee and watching and waiting like the rest of them. His eyes were anxious, and he appeared in desperate need of sleep.
“Sir,” Major Levi called out in a quick voice, “operational codes, according to Jack Mayes, are now complete. The AI virus is now ready, Sir.”
President Green closed his eyes, said a prayer, and then looked at Jacob. His son barely had enough energy to stand up.
“Jacob, Son, give the command.”
Jacob lowered a brown coffee cup with a slow hand, studied the television screen, and then closed his eyes. “Please, dear God,” he prayed, and then said, “Major Levi, activate the AI virus and move forward with your orders.”
“Yes, Sir,” Major Levi answered Jacob. With a nervous but steady hand, he activated an artificial intelligence virus more powerful than any nuclear weapon ever created.
Jessica didn’t know what to expect. She nearly passed out when her husband’s face appeared on the television screen.
“Hello, Jack,” a voice that sounded like Clint Eastwood spoke through her husband’s mouth, “it’s been a while.”
“My name is Major Levi,” Major Levi spoke to the virus, typing in his every word. “Jack Mayes has given me permission to ask for your help today.”
“Is that so?” the virus asked. “What is the password?”
“ILJFCoffeeJ1929MWIL1978,” Major Levi typed in the password, while carefully articulating each letter, word, and number.
Jessica watched as her husband’s handsome face twisted into a thoughtful expression. “Yes, the password is correct. Where is Jack Mayes?”
“Away,” Major Levi answered.
“The password you gave me means that Jack Mayes is dead,” the virus answered back. “Is that true?”
Major Levi looked up at Jessica and saw that the woman was on the verge of breaking down.
“Yes,” he answered in a sorrowful voice.
“Jack Mayes said that I would receive a visitor after his death,” the virus told Major Levi, staring straight at the man. “You have given me the correct password. Please allow me to check your systems.”
Jessica watched as the face of her husband vanished, and an hour glass appeared on the television screen.
“Jack,” she whispered, as tears began to fall from her eyes. “Jack...”
“It’s alright, Jessica,” Tom whispered, squeezing Jessica’s hand. “Cry if you feel the need.”
Jessica kep
t her eyes on the television screen and waited for her husband’s face to reappear. She could control her tears. Without warning, her husband’s face reappeared.
“Your system is clear. What can I do for you today Major Levi?” the virus asked.
“We need you to disable the Chinese military defense operational systems, along with the Russian, Iranian, North Korean,...” Major Levi named off every single country that possessed military capabilities. “But first, we must begin with the Chinese and Russians. We have less than ten hours.”
“I will do as asked,” the virus answered. “Please insert code P97/Jhawk:989,17/Jopt.874-Com/act.”
Major Levi quickly entered the code. Once completed, a door appeared behind the face of Jack Mayes. Jessica watched in horror as the virus turned, spotted the door, and grinned.
“The code is complete. I’m entering the direct access codes to the Chinese Military Defense Operational Centers. They will immediately detect my attack. You will have less than ten seconds to get inside.”
“I will need only one second,” the virus promised in a voice that made Jessica feel very cold inside. She watched as his face ordered the door standing behind it to open. He simply vanished and was gone, but the door stayed open.
President Green glanced at Jacob. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my entire life,” he spoke in a low, concerned voice. “It’s...unnatural.”
Tom stood very silent, feeling as if he had witnessed a great evil, and then began thinking about what evil men could accomplish if they had somehow managed to control the virus.
“Please,” he prayed.
“Sir, the virus is inside the Chinese Military Defense Operational Systems. I’ve been kicked out. The virus is still inside, undetected,” Major Levi called out, as the rest of the Green Team went to work monitoring the virus, while sending additional attacks to distract the Chinese.
President Green lifted his hands off the wooden safety rail and rubbed his tired neck. “How long, Major?” he asked.
Green File Crime Thrillers Box Set Page 47