*Denotes dual Departments with mutually shared interests, and while only one committee expert represents the department, there were two sub-committee experts who worked together to make sure each department section was given the proper attention they required.
In the beginning of the reformation process, there were those who remained steadfast and entrenched in the old ways. Survivors of the fall who crawled out from under the wreckage of a withered world became very territorial over whatever niche they carved out for themselves. Whether it originally belonged to them or commandeered through their own form of eminent domain, they were not too willing to give it up for someone else’s grand design. Upon fully squashing a few violent uprisings, the precedent was soon set that resistance to the new government would be futile, and much like the American Indian, these native land dwellers didn’t stand a chance either.
4
Michael traveled to New York City under the auspices of a special branch division of the DOS charged with providing safe conduct and logistical needs for all expeditions beyond the border walls outside of the safe zones. Once on site though, Michael enjoyed a jurisdictional freedom to move about under the aegis of the Bureau of Archeological & Anthropological Research Studies (BAARS), a joint branch of the DED&E and the DM&P. Although all departments contributed to each other in one way or another, the designated authority remained with the division in charge at the time, which did not mean someone’s independent actions couldn’t break the rules and be subject to sanctions. Then again, Michael’s propensity to follow his instincts like a bloodhound hot on a trail after catching a scent, may not have led to the breaking of any rules, but he sure could bend them a good bit.
“Good morning, Mr. Rose,” GP Sally greeted Jacob in a cordial manner. In an unprecedented move, the GAC re-assigned his personal Guardian Protector to watch over Jacob. The forty-seven year old, 6’3”, 220lbs, bull of man was a throwback to the clean-shaven, crew-cut, jarhead U.S. marines of yesteryear, and now Harvey Sally, bound by a similar code of honor, safeguarded Jacob with the same vigilant commitment to duty.
“Morning, Harvey. I will reserve judgment on how good a morning it is after you tell me how things are moving along?”
“Right on schedule, Mr. Rose,” Harvey assured him before turning his attention to Michael, who he addressed in a gruffly blunt manner. “Mr. Angel, I certainly hope I will not be hearing about anymore un-chaperoned trips into unstable regions.”
“I don’t mean to be derogatory, GP Sally. But technically, everything beyond the border wall is considered an unstable region, and according to the BAARS’ edict, I am given the autonomy to make field decisions if the potential find is deemed worth the risk.”
“Someday one of you BAARS guys are going to regret using that loophole, since you seem to believe everything is a potentially important find,” GP Sally said in retort as Michael and Jacob made their way onto a waiting speedboat at the end of the boat dock ramp that led down to the water from the cliffside-mansion base camp.
“Michael, I see you still have a knack for making friends wherever you go. Must be your charming personality,” Jacob said in a snarky tongue, before adding. “But when you are right, you are right, and right he is, Harvey. And please, how many times do I have to tell you to just call me Jacob, okay?”
“All right, sir, please take a seat. I will get you there, a.s.a.p.” GP Sally remained placid in his professional cadence as they got onboard the speedboat, which already had Jacob’s Go Bag in it. Michael stored his next to it.
While crossing the expanded width of the Hudson River, Michael smiled to himself as he reflected back on his (much harped upon) last excursion across the river yesterday morning in the early hours just before dawn. His stealthy mission was really more a hunch he had to follow, deciding it would be better if nobody knew about it in case it didn’t pan out. A nagging gut feeling started building up inside him the moment he got the detailed reports on why they moved the expedition up. Something he had seen or read before told him something just did not fit. Using his specially programmed notepad with a direct link to CHAD, Michael was able to brush up on his knowledge of the (now rotten) Big Apple on the way to the dead city. The animated man popped up on the notepad’s flat screen laid prone on Michael’s lap as he started to ramble off pertinent information from factual records, fictionalized stories, and rumored urban legends surrounding the government’s infamous bio-lab.
That was when it hit him.
His hunch had to do with an old website making ludicrous claims that sent his Spidey senses tingling, not from any authenticity the site may hold. Instead, it was the deviously deceptive notion of a false website pointing the finger in the wrong direction would be just the kind of thing the old government would conjure up. A distraction from the real laboratory, hidden in plain sight, right under one of the most popular attractions in the city, Rockefeller Center—where a well-known and publicly used underground subway concourse already existed with shopping centers and restaurants.
The U. S. government always denied the existence of the secret bio-lab or any connection to the crazed environmentalist, who left an internet video manifesto stating how the government betrayed him, its own people, and everyone around the world with their lies. However, the prime motivating factor behind the new government allocating resources for these historical research projects came from the positive spin Jacob’s specials had on public opinion—a real propaganda machine. Otherwise, they might not have even bothered.
Michael docked the small outboard motorboat he commandeered for his early morning mission to the Atlas monument setting in front of the Rockefeller Center 5th Ave entrance. He tied the boat off to the top of the universe the famous Greek god bore on his shoulders for eternity, which was the only part of the fifteen-foot tall, seven-ton, cast-bronze sculpture not under twelve feet of water. Checking his specially insulated diving gear—a full body suit that kept your core temperature warm in frigid waters, like the chilly combination of the Atlantic Ocean freely mixing in with the Hudson River—Michael was determined to make sure this trip would not be all for naught, which led to his daring journey down into the depths of the unknown.
As he went over the side of the boat with a high-powered light to guide his way through the dark, murky water, Michael knew Jacob would back his play if he could deliver the goods. They had been fast friends ever since he started working for Jacob at the Luxor Hotel in old Las Vegas four years ago. Jacob took a real shine to Michael after he was able to find the facts on an important story no one else on his crack staff could, becoming his top researcher and best friend ever since that day.
Making his way up 50th street, avoiding a blockade of debris clogging up the Channel Gardens, Michael found himself appreciating the fringe benefits his friendship with Jacob earned him. Getting approval for expeditions outside of safe zones, such as New York City, was not easy, but Jacob had some real pull with the network heads. His special investigative programs were even more popular than his nightly news & talk show and a personal favorite of the GAC. Heading down twenty-five feet deeper into the sunken ice skating rink, Michael just knew if he could be the guy who found what others could not, then this whole trip would be worth the journey. Swimming around the glided-cast-bronze sculpture of Prometheus, the 6th century quote from Greek dramatist Aeschylus, carved in the red granite wall behind it, seemed to confirm Michael’s fortitude as the words spoke out to him. “Prometheus, Teacher in Every Art, Brought the Fire That Hath Proved to Mortals a Mean to Mighty Ends”.
Continuing on, Michael gained access into the underground concourse through the Sea Grill Restaurant entrance, giving new meaning to the fresh fish menu with the catch of the day swimming around the dining room. Following the guiding beam of the flashlight, Michael swam down a series of passageways leading to restaurants and shopping mall variety stores, eventually ending up at the northbound platform of the 49th street subway station where his intrepid voyage flourished. The initial force o
f rushing water through the subway system must have reached its zenith by the time it swept up under the defunct BMT train. Lifted off its tracks, it had been slammed into the subway tunnel wall and cracked open a hidden treasure.
Michael realized by the end of the first week Franklin was not going to see the error of his way or listen to reason. But when he sent word of his find later on that Friday morning, Michael thought it would take at least two weeks to prepare the site for exploration. So when they arrived at the loading dock platform floating on the surface of the water, directly over the skating rink, his shocked expression must have been somewhat akin to the look on Franklin’s face after someone informed him of Michael’s discovery.
“What, you didn’t think they were going to sit around on their hands after getting confirmation of this being the real thing. Accuracy can be a real motivating factor,” Jacob said as they pulled up to the loading platform and stepped out of the speedboat with GP Sally grabbing Jacob’s Go Bag, leaving Michael to fetch his own.
Franklin, a pigeon-faced man wearing a bow tie, was in intentional earshot of Jacob’s comment. He had been reduced to overseeing the dock construction, readying the site for entry by the lucky few who got to go in, which Franklin knew wouldn’t be him.
“I didn’t think it could be set up so fast.” Michael admitted.
“Everything is secure and watertight, Mr. Rose,” Franklin said, giving Michael a scowling gaze after Jacob passed by. “The moment we heard you were coming I had everybody work straight through the night.”
“Good work, Franklin,” Jacob threw him a bone, which he quickly soured the taste of. “But I would certainly hope you would be as vigilant in all your work. Maybe then we might not have wasted two weeks surveying the wrong site.”
After stowing their gear, Michael and Jacob got on an electric cart driven by GP Sally and headed over to the center of the platform dock, where a five-foot wide ramp led into the water through the PMN tube snaking down to their ground zero.
“Let’s head on down, Harvey.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Rose,” GP Sally said as he pulled away leaving Franklin with a sour puss.
Made from a flexible, shape-shifting, waterproof material, the Polyesthylene Morphogenic Nano-fiber tube formed a hard, flat surface to move along on before expanding up to create arched ceiling walls, providing a highly durable, protective shell. Designed to level off gradually on an inclining downgrade all the way to the bottom, the PMN tube furnished a sturdy, smooth, scenic ride through its transparent, fluorescent shell, which gave off an illuminated view of the aquatic environment. As they traveled to their destination, Jacob and Michael were able to get a good sense of their surroundings.
“Michael, it must have been some wild trip navigating your way down here in the dark all by yourself.” Jacob said looking around at the treacherously immersed terrain. “Weren’t you at all concerned about making it back, or do you just have nerves of steel?”
“Truthfully, it never crossed my mind. I guess I just sort of followed my nose, fixated on my quest for knowledge.”
After snaking their way through the skating rink restaurant entrance and down the concourse passageways to the subway platform, a vacuum-sealed docking station separated the end of the PMN tube from the tunnel wall where the removed subway train had rammed into it many years ago. Mounted on the wall and attached to the end of the PMN tube, the docking station fashioned a protective connecting link for them to safely blast through the site wall, especially when there were unknown factors involved—like what was on the other side.
“You know, I sometimes find myself questioning the statistical accuracy claiming we gained the ability to access another ten percent of our brain’s potential capabilities over the last hundred years when applying the data to someone like Franklin,” Jacob said offering his opinion as they stepped out of the cart. “On the other hand, I usually don’t have a problem in relating the increase to you, but there is a fine line between being brave, being stupid, and being dead.”
“You make a very good point, Mr. Rose.” GP Sally agreed with Jacob.
“I must have been caught up in the moment, carpe diem, if you know what I mean. It was the first time since leaving I did not have Eve on my mind.” Michael said as he walked over to the docking station door with Jacob.
“At least your head was clear of any distractions. Remember, only cats get nine lives.” Jacob concluded before giving his attention to what lay in front of them.
The five-foot wide containment center mounted onto a cleared out section of the cracked opened subway tunnel wall revealed a large steel door hidden behind it. A strip of High Density Burn cord, made from a clay-like substance similar to C4 plastic explosives, arched around it forming a designed entry point. Affixed to the sealed door and triggered by a computer chip implant, the HDB cord could burn through six inches of steel in a matter of minutes without any of the blowback from an explosive blast.
“Well what do you say we crack this baby open and see what is on the other side,” Jacob said as he reached in his pocket and came out with a little black box.
“Do you want to go live with the entry shot, Mr. Rose?” GP Sally asked.
“I’m not so sure that is a good idea, Jacob.” Michael warned. “I mean, we do not know what is on the other side. It could be flooded.”
“You might have a good point there. We will go with a digital recording for the entry and use the video glasses to film inside.” Jacob said before pressing a few buttons on the digital keypad attached to the docking station door.
The sound of the door’s vacuum seal being released created an audible hiss from the air flowing into the previously oxygen deprived area as the door swung back a few inches. Opening it the rest of the way, Jacob walked inside, opened up the black box, and removed the igniter chip. Sticking it onto the soft clay-like HDB cord to complete the signal circuit sensor, Jacob stepped back through the docking station door and sealed it.
The lights on the electric cart brightly illuminated everything in front of them. After retrieving a video camera from a side compartment, GP Sally readied himself behind the wheel with the camera propped up and pointed at Jacob.
As Jacob started mentally preparing himself to go in front of the camera, his cell phone’s ringtone jingle played out the opening theme music from his nightly show—its familiar melody heard by millions every night. Removing his phone, Jacob glanced at the caller identification, and sighed before answering the call.
“Hello, Bob, I am kind of busy right now. We are about to enter the site.”
Michael listened, having a good idea what the topic of conversation might be.
“No, Bob, I don’t think it is a good idea. There are too many unknown factors to consider broadcasting this live. I know you are the head of the network, but this is a field opt decision, and I am calling the shots down here. If you do not want to take my word for it, I can put you in touch with someone who will edify you on the subject.”
Michael raised an eyebrow over Jacob’s last statement.
“I thought you would see it my way. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to get to it, maybe we will get some terrific footage for the evening news.” Jacob said ending the call. “All right, let’s see if we can get this over before another century passes.”
Michael stood to the side as GP Sally started rolling film. “And, we are rolling.”
“Hello, this is Jacob Rose ready to take you on another incredible journey Uncovering Secret Lies and Hidden Truths from the Past.” Jacob pointed in back of him. “Right behind me is what we believe to be the hidden entrance to our old government’s bio-hazard laboratory where Alan Vanderbrock VI, a crazed environmentalist, created the virus responsible for over four billion deaths worldwide. The United States government always denied any connection to Vanderbrock and the existence of the lab, which we are about to prove were false claims hiding a sinister secret. But first I would like to introduce you to the man responsible for t
his remarkable find, my top researcher, Michael Angel.” Jacob finished his introductory presentation, adding the surprise twist taking Michael unaware.
Michael reluctantly walked over to the door Jacob stood in front of, and shyly appeared on camera. Unable to find his voice, he raised his hand and waved at the camera as Jacob continued his coverage.
“I owe Michael a great debt of gratitude for not only this discovery, but the personal sacrifice he made to be here at my request. I would now like to show him my thanks by granting him the honor of being the first to break into and explore this virgin territory.” Jacob acknowledged Michael’s contribution as he directed him to the keypad.
Finding his words, Michael humbly expressed his gratitude and acknowledged their friendship. “I do not know what to say. This is an incredible honor for me, and I want everyone to know, Jacob is not only my best friend, but he is also going to be the best man at my wedding when we get back.”
“And that will be my honor as well. Now I believe we milked this as long we could, it is time to get on with the show. So one press of that little red button will ignite the HDB cord and get this ball rolling.”
Michael did as directed and stepped back from the glass door to give the camera a clear shot of the burn process beginning.
A flash of sparks shot out from all around the U-shaped HDB cord as it started melting through the steel door. Jacob offered commentary while standing off to the side in a strategically calculated position to hit his mark and still be on camera.
“Now this should only take a couple of minutes as the HDB cord can burn through six inches of steel like a hot knife through butter, also instantly cooling off, preventing the extreme heat from burning anything else.”
The cord was set up to burn on an angle so that it would cause the door halves to fall inward, and in less than five minutes, they did. Landing with a heavy thud, the door halves fell inside, one on top of the other, revealing only darkness.
“Oh, yeah!” Michael let out an inadvertent victory yell.
“I could not have said it better myself. Now I will just check on the air quality inside.” Pressing a few more buttons on the keypad, Jacob waited a few seconds for the information report to appear on the small monitor screen above the keypad, which indicated the air quality was sufficient. “It looks like we are good to go.”
Michael walked over to the electric cart and removed his Go Bag from the back seat, also grabbing Jacob’s, too. Strapping the Go Bag on his back after handing Jacob his, who followed suit, the two mighty adventurers were ready for their journey into the unknown.
“For security purposes, GP Sally will monitor our movements using a tracking system programmed into our electric cart and linked to these wristbands Michael and I will be wearing.” Jacob said to a future audience as he handed Michael a red wristband.
“These tracking bands have a range of one hundred miles. This way if we get separated inside GP Sally can locate and safely guide us back out.” Jacob and Michael put on the wristbands, and then Jacob took out a pair of glasses and put them on. “And with these video glasses, you, the audience, can join us from the safety of your home.”
“All right, Harvey, that is a wrap for now.” Jacob said walking over to GP Sally sitting in the cart, still filming. Before turning off the camera, GP Sally zoomed in for a close-up of the new opening into the lab as Jacob stood over his shoulder watching through the side viewfinder to get a better look at what was inside.
“Sorry to say, sir, it does not look like much from here.”
“You might be right, Harvey. But we won’t know for sure until we check it out.”
Michael took a peek at the focused in on lab, revealing only a dark, empty space.
Turning off the camera and putting it away, GP Sally handed Jacob and Michael each a flashlight from the same compartment the camera was stored.
Once again, Jacob walked over and pressed a few buttons on the keypad. The vacuum-sealed door hissed open, letting the musky, stale air move out into the PMN tube area. Everyone winced at the foul smell permeating the air. Removing a black bandanna from his pants pocket, Michael tied it around his neck. He then reached back in his Go Bag and came out with a faded, old, brown Stetson he wore on expeditions for good luck, even if it did make him look more like an old west cattle rustler than of an archeologist explorer. Jacob opted for a traditional dust mask to relieve the olfactory senses of rank odors.
“We should be able to get a good picture with a digital recording,” Jacob said as he switched on the video camera glasses. “Are you picking me up on the cart’s monitor, Harvey? Do we have audio and picture?”
GP Sally turned on the monitor and saw himself on the screen, since Jacob was looking directly at him. “Audio is good, and you got a beautiful picture coming in, if I do say so myself.”
Harvey’s stab at levity surprised Jacob. It was not part of his usual demeanor. ‘He must be worried about me’ he thought before replying. “Well then, take a still shot and send it to your mother.” Jacob turned his attention back to Michael. “What do you say, my good friend, once more unto the breech, and let slip the dogs of war?”
Michael smiled, laughing to himself as he followed Jacob through the docking station door. “You know, you sound so intelligent when misquoting things you don’t understand. It is really quite a gift.”
“Say, Michael, if this whole adventurer/researcher thing doesn’t pan out, you can always have a short-lived career as a mediocre cruise ship comedian.”
The two friends engaged in a light banter to steady their nerves as they entered the infamous laboratory.
Crossing over the threshold into another time of days gone by, abandoned and vacant with only dust silhouettes from long gone lab equipment remaining, phantom remnants of what once was, Jacob and Michael stepped over the fallen doors into a forgotten world. The cold, dead air filled their lungs with a foul, putrid stench. Their flashlight beams scanned the empty dark space, revealing only spider-webs with dust covered empty cabinets and countertop tables in what appeared to be the main lab area.
“Bob should be glad we decided against going live,” Jacob said looking around for anything to report, coming up with nothing else to focus on except Michael.
“I’m sorry it did not turn out to be anything substantial,” Michael said in a somber tone.
“Hey, it is not your fault, Michael. You proved there really was a hidden laboratory, you can’t be blamed for its condition or contents.”
“I know, I know, it’s just that I was hoping…..”
“You were hoping you would get to play that Illinois Jones character you like so much from those old movies about that thrill seeking archeologist.”
“Since we are on the subject, the name is Indiana Jones, and I don’t really like the movies, they are kind of silly, but I do like look.”
“You wear it well. Hey, Harvey, how is the picture and audio coming in out there? I seem to be getting some interference in here.” Jacob asked GP Sally.
“You are breaking up on both, but still coming through,” he replied back.
“Walls might be lined with lead,” Michael said.
“That would do it. So what do you say we do a little recon while we are down here? They might have left something behind to give us some answers.”
“They sure seemed to have left in a mighty big hurry, maybe we will get lucky.”
“Harvey, if we lose contact you will be able to follow our movements with the tracker, right?’ Jacob asked.
“Sure thing, Mr. Rose,” GP Sally’s voice said in Jacob’s ear. “I am getting a strong signal from the tracker. As long as you guys don’t go over fifty miles, you will be fine.”
“I do not think that will be a problem. We should be back in a couple hours, and we will check in every half hour just in case.”
“It would sure help give me peace of mind,” GP Sally answered.
“No problem, Harvey. You are like a den mother looking afte
r her charges, and I do appreciate it. Over and out,” Jacob signed off, giving Michael a coddled expression by rocking an imaginary baby in his arms. “Let’s do this then. Lead the way, Sherlock. Let’s see what else your nose can sniff out.”
“You know, if you are going to keep acquainting me to famous fictional characters, you should try someone like Superman, with his x-ray vision we could done in no time.” Michael said scanning the room with his light shining it off the dull grey walls. “But my Spidey senses are saying we should try those big double doors over there.”
“Wow, those must be some really acute senses, considering those are the only doors in the room.” Jacob said, also focusing his light on the exit, adding. “I wonder why the door we came through was sealed off in the first place. There must be another way in or out of this place.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Michael agreed as they headed out of the room.
After nearly an hour of walking down long winding corridors with the flashlight beams guiding their way, everything seemed pretty much the same throughout the vast underground structure. There was only the relic remains of offices, x-ray rooms, a cafeteria, rest rooms complete with lockers and showers, even some rooms looked designated as sleeping quarters. There were also a series of smaller lab stations with a variety of protective cases equipped for different types of specimens no longer present. Eventually, Michael and Jacob found themselves standing at a crossroads as a divided corridor split down two unknown paths.
“Want to flip a coin?” Michael asked with a smile.
“A what...?” Jacob inquired, momentarily confused before realizing his meaning. “Do you think it is a good idea to split up? I have lost just about all audio, and the video is getting real patchy, too.”
“If we don’t, we will be down here all day.”
“True. But if we get lost, we are going to give poor Harvey a heart attack. I’m sure he is about ready to call in the core of engineers to dig us out if I do not contact him soon.”
“How ‘bout this, I will take the left, you the right, and we’ll meet back here in fifteen minutes. Sound good?”
Jacob went along with the plan, although they did not have to wait fifteen minutes. Because within five minutes of searching the left corridor, Michael came across something making him shout out. “Hey, Jacob, you are going to want to see this.”
Jacob came running and found himself caught by the same sight Michael still gazed upon in wonderment. “What the….” He muttered as he slowed his pace, stopping next to Michael. “What do you suppose could have brought that on?”
They were standing in front of the only place in the facility not carefully cleaned out, in fact, just the opposite. Their lights shined on a busted in metal security door that looked like it had been through a warzone.
“Whoever wanted in, wanted in badly. Check out the dents, gouges, and scrap marks on the lock and handle.” Jacob pointed out. “And those look like bullet holes.”
“Whatever happened here was not part of the program.”
“That is for sure,” Jacob acknowledged. “Let’s check it out.”
Still on its hinges, the door stood ajar. Jacob pushed it opened using his foot while shining his light inside.
Entering what seemed to have once been another laboratory, the door’s condition was not the only thing different from the rest of the facility.
“Say, do you think this could be his lab?” Michael asked walking around the dark room with the guiding beam of his flashlight revealing broken and smashed up cabinets, tables, and chairs scattered about, and even a sink torn off the wall, its pipes long since absent of water.
“Just might be,” Jacob contemplated the same thought. “It is the only place I have come across thrashed like this. Everything else looks like a moving company did it.” Seeing the broken sink, another thought sprang to mind. “And whenever they left, someone made sure to seal everything up tight or else this whole place would be flooded.
“I have not seen sign of another entrance or any other way out” Michael added.
“Another good point, Sherlock, we should come back with more equipment, and see if there is any trace evidence linking this place to The Environmentalist.”
Michael was walking about inspecting the layout of the room, when his light hit on something diverting his attention to what appeared to be a large walk-in closet with its doors ripped off. “Yeah, I do believe you have a good idea there, Watson. We are going to need some time to figure out the mystery afoot here.” Michael said while still walking towards the closet, stepping over broken glass, flattened cardboard boxes, and ceiling tiles leading up to and into the closet.
Stepping inside, he took a last look around before turning and shining his light on Jacob. “At least the trip isn’t a total loss.”
Almost on cue from the word loss, everything underneath Michael’s feet caved in, dropping him down through the floor. He could see his flashlight spinning down into darkness with his wristband tracker getting caught on the edge of a large piece of cardboard, tenuously snagging and hanging him up. The Velcro wristband started to come undone as Michael started losing his slipping grip on the sliding debris.
“Michael!” Jacob screamed as he leapt over towards his friend, dropping his flashlight and sliding along the cluttered floor. Jacob’s hand came within a fingertip’s reach of Michael’s a moment before the wristband tracker tore loose from its slip-sliding hold, sending him falling into the darkness below.
“M-I-C-H-A-E-L-!” Jacob cried out as he stared down into the abyss through his video glasses. Getting up on his knees, clutching the red wristband tightly in his hand, he noticed Michael’s Stetson teetering on the edge for a moment before it slipped in and followed him down into the darkness.
Bright Night Past Yesterday: Book One of Forever Tomorrow, Volume One of The Book of Tomorrows Page 6