The Immortal Harvest (35 page)

The swirling clouds had a distinct purplish hue as they sped overhead. Michael looked on in despair at the state of ruin the entire city appeared to be in, and to make matters worse, he appeared to be the only human inhabitant. He sighed and shook his head.

Another dead end
, he thought as he subconsciously squeezed the wormhole generator with his hand. He had created the device after the sudden disappearance of Oolax. He enjoyed feeling its odd cold smoothness.

He sat on a charred park bench and wondered what could have happened to this world. It was obviously not the world where Sylvan and Justen resided and it was also not his own world.

He had traversed through at least a dozen incarnations of Earth since he had begun his quest to find Justen and Sylvan. He had seen a multitude of different variations of Earth. Some of the Earths had a version of Sylvan; some of them had a version of Sylvan with a child to another man. None of them had Justen.

Had it not been for the fact that inter-dimensional jumps, such as the ones he had been making, took virtually no time, he would have been absolutely distraught.

He realised with an ever growing sense of despair, that there were an infinite amount of Earths to search. He took a deep breath and held out the device to undertake his next jump; it was then that he noticed the almost imperceptible red glow emanating from the centre of the sphere.

He drew his arm back in and took a closer look at the emanation. He focused his mind and wound his way inside the molecular structure of the device.

His mind ploughed deeper and deeper into the device. The red glow became brighter and brighter until at last he seemed to be bathed in the light. A face coalesced from the light. He recognised it immediately.

Oolax, you’re here, how is that possible?

Michael used his mind to pose the question. Oolax responded in kind.

Is it so hard to comprehend Michael? This device that you created used molecules from my Universe. I merely tracked them
.

I am pleased that you have found me Oolax, I am lost.

You are not lost Michael; you are where you intended to be.

Michael was a bit annoyed by this statement. He most certainly was not where he intended to be. He should have found the Earth that contained Sylvan and Justen. Instead he had been caught in a fruitless search which was becoming more and more like a fool’s errand.

You are becoming angry Michael for no reason.

Once again Michael realised that even his deepest thoughts were an open book to Oolax. He decided not to prevent his intrusion, he needed guidance.

I am sorry Oolax. I guess I’m just frustrated with my failure to find Sylvan and Justen.

Why should you be frustrated? You have not failed, you have found Sylvan on many occasions. Is that not a success?

Yes, it is I suppose, but I need to find Sylvan and Justen and they need to be on the Earth where the Immortal Harvest is occurring.

You understand so much Michael and yet know so little.

Michael felt his temper start to rise. He had no time to play games.

If you’re not going to help Oolax then just leave me alone. I will find them eventually
.

Michael was just about to sever the tie with his friend when he noticed that the image of Oolax had morphed into a double helix image which was floating in front of his mind’s eye. He could plainly see the double strands of the DNA molecule slowly rotating, each individual base pair of Adenine, Cytosine, Thymine and Guanine. The effect was mesmerising.

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Michael. He noticed the strand disappeared and was replaced with the image of Oolax again. Michael could not help but notice the pleased look on his friend’s face.

It seems that once again I owe a debt of gratitude to you my friend. I am sorry that I displayed my ignorance. I am also sorry that I may never get to show my son the wonders of your Universe.

Never is a very long time Michael, but only if you allow it to be.

Michael was about to respond when Oolax disappeared. He shook his head and smiled as he held out his portable Traverser and focussed on his son.

This time he focussed on the fundamental aspect that truly separated Justen from all other Earths – the unique DNA they both shared.

The storm over Washington had fully developed by the time Baxter and his team had arrived at the last known address of Chrystal Meth.

Black bulbous clouds hung heavy over the buildings, like soggy sagging canvas casting a pall of ominous gloom over the city. Sheets of rain, driven by gusts of wind swept over the FBI van.

Justen stared out of the van’s rear window through the downpour and was the first to notice that his building was actually missing.

“I don’t understand Mummy, where is our building? Where are Chrystal and Leroy?”

Baxter also stared out of the window of the van at the vacant block.

“Are you sure this is the right address Thomson?” He asked as a deafening crash of thunder exploded above them. He felt the vibration penetrate his skull causing the sparkles of light in front of his eyes intensify.

“I don’t understand Boss. This is where Agent Cambridge and I came when we were looking for Ms Meth. The boy is right; this is supposed to be The Paradise Apartment block. It must have been demolished.”

Baxter rubbed his temples to try and alleviate the pain. The medication he had taken at the hospital was already beginning to wear off. His pain was intensified when he saw the van in which Durning was driving, pull up next to them.

He saw that Durning was in a hurry to talk to them. The agent had quickly exited his vehicle and had made his way over to their van.

Baxter could see that Durning was smiling.

Why is he always so goddamn smug,
Baxter thought as he waited for Durning to tap his window before he wound it down.

He realised that he had a child in the back of his van so he consciously kept a tight rein on his anger. He took a deep breath before he spoke.

“Agent Durning, what have you got to report?”

“I just spoke to the guys at NORAD; this is definitely the location of the ionisation radiation spike. To be absolutely accurate the spike originated from the building at the end of this block. It’s a new homeless shelter apparently.

“As you requested Boss, I have sent the EPA guys down to clear the area of bystanders.” Durning said, raising his voice to be heard above the relentless rain which was drenching his service issue all-weather jacket.

Baxter could see that there were two EPA vans at the end of the block and he could see their agents in protective clothing, ushering some of the homeless away to a safe distance.

He could tell by the body language of some of the homeless that they were not happy being told to move on from their fire that they had established as a shield against the biting wind and rain. He wondered why the poor souls weren’t taking advantage of the shelter.

He knew firsthand the hardships of being homeless. He briefly thought about his two friends Gummy and Joe but then pushed the grief down inside so that he could focus on the task at hand. He would have time to mourn later.

“Have you received any word from Lewiston and Roberts? Baxter asked Thompson who was scanning his phone.

“No Boss, not a word. I find that strange. I have tried both of their phones and both have not responded. I think they might be in a spot of bother.”

“Well I’m not sure if they are in a ‘spot of bother’ as you say Arnold, but I definitely know where they are,” Durning said as he proceeded to lean on the car near Baxter’s window.

“Cut the theatrics Durning and just tell us where they are and how you know what you know,” Baxter said, keeping his voice low so that his passengers couldn’t hear how angry he was becoming.

“It’s really quite simple boss, I have managed to talk the HQ nerds into seeding the Quantico building with Quantum Dots.

“I have an App on my phone that tracks them via satellite. I can tell you where everyone on our team is right now, see,” Durning said as he shoved his smartphone in Baxter’s face.

Baxter had to lean away from the device to see the screen. He could see different coloured lights on a city map background and could clearly see the five blips representing him and the other four agents.

He had to admit to himself that Agent Durning was undoubtedly quite brilliant – although he would never tell him. Still he wasn’t totally convinced.

“Are you sure that those two blips are Lewiston and Roberts? Supposedly those three blips are us and yet I have been nowhere near my office to receive any of these Quantum Dots since my abduction.

“How can you be sure that this device even works?” Baxter asked as he pushed the smartphone with Durning’s hand back out of the van’s window.

“Absolutely boss, I understand your concerns. This thing only has a range of about ten city blocks, for example I couldn’t tell you where Alicia and Drew are at the moment, and of course if they had done Quantico sooner, we would have located you a lot sooner,” Durning said as he wiped away a large droplet of rain from his forehead. “However, the clothes you are wearing now,
my clothes
, are laced with Quantum Dots.”

Baxter had to concede that the Agent had done his research. He begrudgingly nodded his head and subconsciously rubbed his hand down his suit jacket, imagining swarms of electronic bugs pouring through each fibre of his suit.

“Yes, well, as for my disappearance, that was unfortunate, but as far as Agents Webster and Cambridge are concerned, they are on an important errand, I wouldn’t worry about them. I asked them to join us back here once their tasks had been completed.

“At the moment, however, we need to investigate that radiation source and work out what happened to the Paradise Apartments,” Baxter said as he pointed to the vacant block.

“Yes Mr Baxter, can you please find Crystal and Leroy,” Justen said quietly from the back of the van.

Baxter turned to him, and despite the searing pain in his skull, managed a smile. “Don’t worry son, we’ll find Ms Meth and your friend. What I need you to do – is when the Agents and I go and investigate that building at the end of the street, you need to stay here in the van and protect your mummy; do you think you can do that?”

He could see Justen smile and then snuggle into his Mother. “I can do that Mr Baxter. My daddy taught me how to be brave.”

Baxter raised an eyebrow at Justen’s statement and shot an enquiring glance at Sylvan who then shook her head slightly as if to indicate that she had no idea what Justen meant.

He decided to let it go and turned back in his seat. He nodded at Durning.

“Ok thankyou Agent Durning we need to go and find Lewiston and Roberts. Keep trying their phones.

Agent Thompson can you please move us closer to that building.”

“No worries boss. You just follow me Arnold,” Durning said as he left Baxter’s window and made his way back to his van.

Baxter quickly wound his window up as the rain had changed direction slightly and was now starting to enter the van.

He sighed as he watched Durning enter his van and pull away up the street towards the burning rubbish bins. He could see the hesitancy in Thompson’s eyes.

“Just do as he says Arnold, we are going to have to trust him on this.”

Another flash of lightning sailed across the sky and caused an eerie illumination of the derelict edifices which lined the block. Baxter closed his eyes against the flash of light and continued to massage his temples. The pain was growing worse.

“Are you ok Mr Baxter?” He heard Justen enquire. “You don’t have to worry about the lightning – I won’t let it get us.”

Baxter smiled at the rather cryptic comment. “Thanks Justen that makes me feel a lot better,” he said as he looked at the reflection of the boy in the rear view mirror.

Maybe he was imagining things, or maybe it was the tumour, but he swore that the boy had a slight glow around him. He blinked his eyes and then noticed that the glow was no longer there.

Get a grip Baxter, you’re starting to hallucinate
, he thought as the van moved slowly up the street towards homeless shelter and the source of the mysterious radiation.

“What is it about the people on this world?

Ever since I started this endeavour I have found that everyone here are defective in some way.

“Agents Lewiston and Roberts, your curiosity is your defect and now you will pay the ultimate price for that defect.” Susan said as she leant over the gurney and pulled hard on the securing strap. She knew of course that neither agent would hear her as they were heavily sedated.

She moved to the other gurney and made sure that the straps were secure. She smiled as she ran her hand along the sheet which covered the young agent’s body.

She was very happy to have snagged two youthful and perfect specimens. She was certain that they would have a much higher quality of organs than the usual catch of homeless.

Most of their organs were sub standard and required a lot of gene therapy to bring them up to standard.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of two orderlies.

“Excuse me Ms Smythe, would you like us to prep these two for the extraction process?” The tallest orderly, who was also her personal assistant, asked as they each made their way to the gurneys.

“Yes Günter, take them away and run the scans on them. I want every healthy part taken.

“I want the girl’s organs for my next rejuvenation and the young male’s organs will be perfect for my Father and please tell the Doctor to be extra careful extracting them or he will be having a visit from Mr Stringer.” Susan said as she turned to leave the room.

“Oh and also let him know that I expect more specimens like this one. It won’t be long before these two are missed by their handlers.”

“Yes Ma’am, I will let him know.”

*     *     *

The gale force wind which accompanied the storm was now starting to drive small pellets of hail across the city.