The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (46 page)

Zack’s harness hadn’t even released him before Corson flung his door open and exited the metal beast, leaping out with poise. He turned back to Zack with a look of glee shimmering in his eyes.

“It all starts here,” he said firmly.

Zack and Lambda rolled out of the chopper along with Nerine and Cecilia at their heels. Nerine kept her close as they moved and gathered around Corson.

Laura broke from the crowd of armored men and took to standing next to Corson as the squads all converged from their choppers around their Leader.

“Listen up!” bellowed Laura. “You were all briefed on your mission assignments. Squad Commanders are to take point and follow your instructions to the letter. There is no margin for error. We have under forty minutes to prepare for the Python Package. I expect flawless execution,” Laura boomed.

Zack found it uncanny being surrounded by so many faceless people in black. They all stood so straight and tall that he felt like he was being swallowed by shadows. If it weren’t for the lights off the choppers, he was sure the night itself would devour him.

A lone figure broke from the ranks, taking a stern stance before Corson and Laura.

Laura’s eyes narrowed. “Any problems, Krieg?”

Krieg merely shifted his weight while holding a large metal case. Zack noted that several men also carried similar cases with them.

Krieg looked to Corson. “These cases contain signal amplifiers. We were instructed to set these up along a perimeter just a few clicks from here.” Krieg paused, noting Laura’s glare.

Corson faced Krieg, his eyes unwavering. “A wonderful summary. Perhaps you should be commander of your squad,” Corson said dismissingly.

Zack could hear Krieg growl behind his mask.

“So, even now you will keep quiet of what the mission goal is?”

Corson turned his back to Krieg. “All Squad Commanders are to move out! Keep contact with the citizens to a minimum. Only the Elders are aware of our plans.”

“Yes, Leader!” resounded the roar among the masked men of midnight.

Corson leaned to Laura and whispered gently into her ear. Zack didn’t hear his words, but noticed Laura’s softened face as she nodded with a small smile.

She turned to a group of men to her left and waved her hand. “You heard Leader! All squads move out!” she hollered, racing ahead of her squad.

Zack didn’t even get a word out before the shadows of men burst in all directions, as if they were cockroaches having light shone onto them. Zack did notice Krieg’s hesitance to move as he stared into Corson’s back, though he too wisped away, chasing after his squad. Before long, all that remained was Zack and Lambda as they leered over at Corson and Nerine. Cecilia was still tucked tightly next to Nerine. She seemed to be afraid to say a word.

“Well, boy, is it everything I told you it would be?” Corson boasted sinisterly.

Zack didn’t answer, but gazed up at the tall smokestacks attached to the factories he could see just above the tree line. Even in the dark, the harsh environment made him feel filthy.

“Do you understand now? Do you see what we are fighting for?” came the even voice of Nerine. She still didn’t have the spring in her step that Zack remembered, but she looked to be getting back her stride.

      
Zack eyed Corson darkly. “Is what I see supposed to justify your actions?” His words were heavy and stern.

Corson moved toward Zack, towering over him and looking down into his eyes. Zack could feel his presence crushing him as he stared back into the hollow eyes behind his mask. He found the silence that lingered almost deathly. It took him almost everything to keep himself from falling to his knees as he waited for Corson to speak.

Corson broke his stare, turning back around.

Zack exhaled deeply, but quickly picked up on what caught Corson’s attention. He looked ahead, toward the edge of the woods. He could see several lights flashing and moving as low chatter could be heard from afar.

Zack’s eyes perked.
Is this part of Corson’s plan?

Zack took note of Nerine’s expression. She seemed defensive as she held her hand on one of the handguns at her hip.

Corson turned back to Zack. His glare was intense. “Yes,” he said flatly.

Zack’s eyes widened, realizing what Corson meant.

Corson didn’t let Zack speak. “Everything you are about to witness justifies my actions and decisions.” He turned to face the crowd closing in on them. “
Everything,
” he finished in a harsh whisper.

[23]

Abomination

[January 7th - Babel HQ - Main Hangar - Night]

Dead Eye whisked into a colossal armory where he was accompanied by a small group of soldiers concealed by their metal helmets and visors. They moved with fierce purpose as they marched toward a Boeing AH-64 Apache Helicopter the color of
coal. Dead Eye’s smile was alarmingly large.

“I see they are pulling out all the stops for me. How sweet of the Twelve,” he purred with maddened glee.

“Dead Eye, sir,” a soldier called out from one of the fighter jets lining the bay. “Everything has been arranged. We depart in twenty minutes.”

Dead Eye’s smile remained plastered on his face. “Wonderful. Have the Twelve arranged what I requested?”

The soldier nodded. “The Twelve have already processed your requests through the World Moderators. They will be there upon us getting to the drop zone.”

Dead Eye snickered. “Marvelous. Make sure that-”

Dead Eye stopped as his wrist began to ring. His grin didn’t fade.

“Carry on, men. I need to take this,” he said playfully.

“Yes, sir!” echoed the men in unison. They all quickly sprung past Dead Eye to aid in the final preparations for the coming departure. Dead Eye found their scurrying around like ants to be most appropriate given the role they were to play.

He focused his attention on his call. “I hope you are ready on your end. I’m about to bring the fireworks,” he said with a crazed stare.

“Dead Eye,” came the heavy voice of Ares. “You did promise security in our agreement. This won’t change that, I hope,” he finished firmly.

Dead Eye’s voice broke. “So long as you deliver on your end,” he scoffed.

Ares’ tone quickly turned hard. “I’m not too confident with a response like that.”

Dead Eye’s eye bulged. “You will be silent. Remember who controls the fate of your
security.
Do I make myself clear?” Dead Eye spoke in a deep, resonating tone that could rattle the bones of the dead.

Ares spoke gravely. “Are you saying that you won’t honor our agreement?”

Dead Eye sneered. “We will just have to find out.”

Ares was quiet for a moment. “If so much as a single scratch is done to my-”

Dead Eye snapped. “You have your orders. Prepare for my arrival. After all, I’m bringing the finale,” he finished wickedly.

Ares grunted. “As you wish . . .” Ares trailed off and was silent.

Dead Eye’s eye widened powerfully after the line between them ceased. “How interesting to bare his fangs now.” He cackled lightly.

With a spin of his heel he marched to the massive helicopter that would lead him to his grand stage of carnage. Dead Eye’s smile nearly reached the corner of his eye.

*
      
*
      
*

[January 7th - Virginia - Limit Zone 246 - Night]

Zack remained frozen and unsure as the group of people continued to advance toward them. They hadn’t come into the spotlights from the helicopters yet, but Zack couldn’t help but feel wavering trepidation lingering in the air.

Zack turned to Corson. “Who are these people?” he asked with growing concern.

Corson continued to stare forward. “The Elders that built this prison,” he responded coldly.

Zack’s eyes widened. He then glanced back, watching the crowd starting to break into the light. They were mostly men and women in their mid to late forties and fifties. They appeared to be following a set of three individuals at the front. Judging from the tattered clothes that they all wore, Zack didn’t seemed convinced that these people were these “Elders” Corson spoke of.

Zack tried to hide his doubt. “These people built this place? Why, and how? It had to take a great deal of time to construct these walls and the structure of this place.”

Corson huffed arrogantly. “It was simple, really. These people were tricked into creating their own prison by the world governments and the Twelve. They didn’t question at the time; after all, they were just happy they had jobs and were making money again. As far as they were concerned, they were happy. Ignorant, but happy.”

Zack stared bewildered. “So, these people here are the founding fathers of this place?”

Corson nodded. “Yes. Not only that, but the talented engineers that got stuck here due to bad luck were the ones that created the high-tech prison that allowed Babel to throw their “trash” in as well. That was the true purpose of the Limit Zones, the Hex Cubes.”

Everyone turned to Corson. The gleam in his eyes showed great confidence. Zack was no fool. This was Corson’s true objective all along.

Corson continued. “Nearly every Limit Zone has a Hex Cube built underneath the rubble it resides in. It was a convenient and masterful way of getting those who didn’t see eye to eye with Babel and the rest of the world out of the way,” he finished menacingly.

Zack didn’t understand fully. “How? What about the families of these people? Friends, coworkers, and neighbors? The government can’t just make thousands of people disappear.”

Corson chuckled. “Protesters and activists are normally dispersed easily by the government and city guards. The real criminals, the ones that try to sabotage the Network, are the ones locked away in the Hex Cubes underground. The rest are the poor people that can’t keep up with society and are lured here by the false promises of Babel.” Corson continued, his stance becoming more intense. “Once the world accepted the Cyber Network, those who were against it never created waves, unless they got violent. Thus, people like us were labeled as terrorists. The media does the rest by controlling how the people see the Network and defacing those who oppose it,” he finished sharply.

Zack felt like a house with a foundation giving way to a sinkhole.

“If what you say is true, then how come there’s no law enforcement or military oppression here?” Zack pointed out.

Nerine stepped forward, her cross expression heavy. She merely pointed her finger toward Lambda.

“That is how Babel keeps the Limit Zones in check. Combat AI designed to be harbingers of war, abominations made to suppress the people here so the secrets of Babel can never get out. Your little
Lambda
is the source of their tyranny and power.”

Lambda stared with wide eyes. Her mouth opened to speak, but Nerine didn’t let her utter a word.

“The Network aside, if things like this weren’t ever created, Babel would have never been able to secure the Limit Zones like they did. That thing, the thing you so strongly and ignorantly defend, is the very reason why Stigma exists,” Nerine finished with a strong note.

Zack didn’t get a retort in as the group closed in on Corson. As they now were upon them, Zack could see a number of the people whispering and talking as they approached their group. It wasn’t long before one of the people spoke out as they stopped before Corson.

“I was right! It is one of those God Mods! He brought one of those vile machines here!” howled one of the approaching men of the group.

Zack felt a bolt of fear race through his body. He could feel their malice from where he stood. Such unbridled rage emanated from the people. He was unsure in what Corson was planning in waiting for these people.
      

As if on cue, Corson took center stage.

“People, there is no cause for alarm. This is all for your own-”
      
“You never said anything about bringing one of those monsters here! Haven’t we suffered enough from their daily cycles?!” a woman cried, just short of breaking down.

Zack could feel the sanity of the group pushing in the wrong direction. He legitimately was fearing for his life.

Corson tried to calm the crowd again. “Let me speak. Have I steered you wrong yet? Is this the way you treat the people who have risked being caught by the AI units to bring you food, medicine, and clothes? Do you no longer trust us?”

Zack could feel a sudden decrease in tension through the air after Corson spoke. He could see it in a number of the people as they realized that they were projecting their hate onto a man that had helped them. Zack found Corson’s words utterly revolting, but couldn’t refute the fact that these people saw Corson as a man worthy of respect.

Before Corson could speak again, one of the three men at the front stepped forward. He scratched his gray beard, stained yellow from hundreds of cigarettes, as he approached Corson.

“We agreed to allow your men to discreetly implement your plan, a plan you have told us nothing about, as a token of our gratitude for what you have done for us . . . however,” he added, moving to a much harder tone. “As one of the Elders of this community, I can’t in good conscience have you bring
that
thing to this place,” he finished strongly, pointing to Lambda.

Corson heeded the man’s words with respect. “You had a right to know what I was bringing here, but I’m afraid that the AI unit you see before you is necessary for my plan to succeed,” Corson replied.

The Elder scrunched his face in disapproval. “You speak bold words like ‘future’ and ‘liberation’. Those are ideas people here have long given up on, as we suffer the tyranny of the God Mod Cycles. I only hope you know what you are doing, Corson.”

Another Elder spoke up. “We represent what little governing body we can bring to this rotten place, and those with us now represent the people. You bringing this emissary of death here is a bad omen.” He looked to Lambda, then quickly back to Corson. “It frightens me that that monster is currently obeying you.”