The White Death (35 page)

“When does she expect it to be ready?” asked Pluto. He was already issuing instructions on his pad for an emergency meeting of the Kbantu finance ministers.

“Two hours,” said Freda. “She is making full use of Section 51’s computers. But our work here is just beginning.”

Grace read an update on her communication pad as Freda, Killinger, and Pluto discussed the implications for the Alliance if the Bernay decided to leave it.

“We have a problem,” said Grace.

“Another one?” asked Pluto.

“Sensors have recorded a massive launch of nuclear-based missiles from the United States and numerous points around the world.”

“Japan,” said Freda.

“No,” said Grace. “This is a worldwide launch.”

“How many?”

“1,291.”

“Oh God,” said Freda. “He plans to destroy the planet.”

“Who?” said Pluto.

“The President of the United States. He’s the most powerful human on Earth. He must think we want the planet.”

“When really we wanted the humans,” said Grace. “But I can understand his thinking. They have no idea what greatness is ahead of them.”

“It’s more simple than that,” said Killinger.

They all stopped, looking at the elder warrior.

“They want to die together.”

Freda felt like a light bulb had been switched on in her mind.

“CIM,” said Pluto. The
Experian
’s computer system was almost identical to that used on Section 51. “Planet health?”

“88.34 percent atmospheric and biological damage.”

“If those bombs go off, there’ll be no going back,” warned Grace. “Earth will be a toxic wasteland for thousands of years.”

“We might be able to neuter those warheads,” said Grace, looking at Killinger and Pluto. “Let’s get to the bridge!” said Grace.

“Wait, let me try something first,” said Freda. “Humans have a built-in deactivation protocol. Transport me to the surface. I’ll reason with the president directly.”

Chapter 67

“We have missile impact in four minutes, sir,” said Branch. He stood behind the football case. A 3D projection was displayed for everyone in the Oval Office, showing the progress of the missiles toward their final destinations. It amazed Thomas how he could go so long without blinking, watching as each missile dot crept closer and closer to every continent on the planet.

More packed into the Oval Office—cleaners, cooks, advisors, everyone. They formed a thickening semicircle around the desk, watching.

Thomas wished for only one thing—that he could have explained his course of action to the people of Earth. It was impossible, but he felt the need to justify his action.

“Three minutes thirty seconds.”

Thomas looked at Branch and then the briefcase, when suddenly, everyone in the Oval Office stepped back in fright. Freda’s sudden, unannounced arrival had brought some life back to the room. Most had descended into deep thought, thinking of their now-sudden mortality.

Thomas didn’t budge from his chair, remaining planted down.

Secret Service personnel advanced quickly, their weapons aimed. Even with death minutes away, they still protected the president.

“Put your hands in the air,” they shouted loudly and repeatedly. It mattered not to those who protected the president what age or gender you were. If you posed a threat, you would be eliminated.

Freda rose her gloved hands up as the shouting continued.

“Stand down,” said Thomas to his team. To his surprise, Richards didn’t join him. He hadn’t jumped to Freda’s defense.

“Thank you, Mr. President,” she replied, lowering her hands and straightening her coat.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” Thomas’s tone was cold and unwelcoming. Many in the room looked shocked to see someone just appear out of thin air.

“Mr. President. I know you don’t hold me in the highest regard at the moment, but I am here to help.”

He listened to every word and how it was said. She was being ever so careful, respectful of him and the office.

“You can’t help us now,” he said.

“You have to deactivate those missiles, immediately.”

“I am not prepared to continue blowing up cities, one after the other, until only Washington is left.”

“Sir, Doctor Ursula Barrington is at Section 51 now, finalizing a bio agent our starship is prepared to release into the atmosphere. We’ll be able to vaccinate all those uninfected within two hours at the very most. That will, I promise you, protect everyone from infection.”

“But that does not solve the immediate problem,” shouted Thomas. “This virus is coming to us now.”

“What if I promise you we could stop anyone reaching your shores?”

Thomas eyes widened a little, curiosity perking up. “How?”

“I have a starship in orbit,” said Freda, “that can release an attack on Japan and the entire Pacific Ocean, frying all electronics.”

“An EMP,” said Richards.

“Yes,” she said.

“Two minutes,” said Branch.

Thomas knew every eye was on him. His hands rested on the desk, and he desperately tried to ward off being bogged down with philosophical arguments.

“Mr. President, we can start putting things right,” said Freda. “If you let us.”

The countdown timer, red and unforgiving, continued to drop in front of him.

“Mr. President,” she pressed, “this isn’t just about saving who is left anymore. We’ve discovered those who are infected can regain their humanity.”

His head shot up. “What?” he asked.

Everyone looked to her, stunned.

“The effects of this virus can be reversed. They’ll regain everything. I’m giving you the chance to save lives—billions of them, Mr. President,” said Freda. “Please don’t walk away from that.”

Thomas turned his head slightly to catch Richards’s eye, wanting to read his thoughts. He knew in that one instant, Richards was prepared to take the chance. He had known Freda much longer, and the chance of saving those infected was too great to ignore.

“One minute, twenty seconds,” said Branch. The colonel’s forehead was shiny now, dripping with sweat, but he hadn’t reached for a handkerchief just yet.

Thomas was surprised no one had spoken up.

Freda came right up to the desk, placing her own hands on it.

“Thomas.”

Their eyes locked.

“If those missiles go off, then we all lose. Earth and everything that makes up human civilization and culture will be lost, forever. We’re teetering on the edge of this cliff. Pull us back from it before we all go tumbling down together. I beg you.”

He turned to face the window, like so many times the past few days.

“Fifty seconds.”

Richards and Gail moved in beside him. Normally, he’d have felt their support, but nothing like that mattered now. He didn’t bother trying to include the views of anyone assembled. There was no time for that. Again, the final decision would be his, made with haste.

“Freda,” said Thomas, turning to look at her. He’d never seen her look so on edge, remembering back to their first meeting when she was apologetic but confident. “Can you guarantee me you’ll stand with us?”

“We will,” she said.

Thomas turned back to the window.

“Sir…” said Freda.

“Colonel, deactivate the nuclear missiles.”

“Can you confirm that?” said Branch professionally.

“Do as I command,” he ordered.

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“Forty-five seconds,” said Richards as Branch set to work. Thomas could feel the sweat run down his neck and back. He shut his mouth, not daring to breathe. The watch his father had given him counted down each second, and he watched the hands with an intensity never felt before. He still hadn’t turned around. The office may have been full, but he felt alone.

“Come on,” whispered Gail.

Thomas remained quiet. He’d danced with destiny a lot this week, and he was now in the final waltz.

“Mr. President, do you authorize the deactivation of the nuclear missiles? Loudly and clearly, please.”

“Thirty-five seconds,” said Richards.

“Colonel Branch, I authorize their deactivation.”

“It can take up to a minute for the signals to be received,” said Richards. “With so many missiles…”

“Give us just one break,” said Thomas. He wasn’t a God-believing man, but now was the time to believe in anything. The seconds continued to fall, and Thomas felt everyone move closer, including Freda.

“Freda,” said Grace, through her brooch. “I have a transporter lock on you…”

“No,” she replied, watching the countdown. “If these bombs go off, I’m going with them.”

That one remark increased her standing with Thomas tenfold. That she was prepared to die with them said much more than the actions of a corrupt Council.

“Estimated deactivation in twelve seconds,” said Branch.

“Detonation in sixteen seconds,” said Richards.

Thomas put his hands together, and closed his eyes. Gail pressed folders to her chest.

“If those missiles go off…” whispered Richards.

“Then we’re out of a job,” replied Gail.

“Nine seconds.”

“Deactivation complete,” said Branch.

Thomas turned around, red dots on the radar screen disappearing all across the planet, including the two heading for Washington. He didn’t allow any time for celebration, and no one attempted to anyway. They were only halfway through this now.

“I’ve done what you asked, now do as you promised,” he said, daring Freda not to.

“Yes, Mr. President.” Freda nodded, tapping her brooch.

“Freda to Grace. Objective accomplished.” She sounded breathless. “Launch.”

Thomas was glad to know he wasn’t the only one holding his breath.

“Attack launched, Freda.” Grace watched as a dozen blue bolts sped past her view screen and toward Earth.

“Report?” said Freda urgently.

Everyone in the room now had their eyes fixed on her, waiting for confirmation.

“Hold,” said Grace, waiting for her own staff to report. Her tactical officer nodded.

“I’ll have no hair by the end of this,” said Gail.

“Confirmed, Freda. Attack was a success.”

“We did it,” said Freda, barely loud enough to be heard. “I think you just saved Earth, Mr. President.”

Thomas wiped his forehead.

Richards and Gail went to confirm from their end that the attack had indeed been successful.

“That was damn close,” said Thomas to Freda. “Too damn bloody close.”

His heart was thumping.

Freda’s cell phone began receiving a direct call.

“Christopher?” she said.

She smiled, hanging up.

“Mr. President, I’m glad to inform you that Section 51’s team, who rescued Dr. Barrington, are safely on their way back to the United States.”

With the EMP attack, their attackers had fell into the ocean like dead weights. Bertha, however, was shielded and much more advanced. They now had a clear path home.

“What a day,” said Thomas to everyone. His eyes certainly weren’t dry.

“But we’re still standing, Mr. President,” said Freda.

Thomas looked up at her, then at everyone assembled. They had disagreed, but every single one of them had done their duty. He smiled, his first genuine one since this all began. The room broke out into applause, knowing humanity may have just prevailed.

“Gail, get me the remaining world leaders. It’s time to start spreading the word.”

“Yes, Mr. President,” said Gail, with a beaming smile.

Richards came up to him, but Thomas didn’t need words. He simply extended his hand, which Richards shook.

The Oval Office erupted into deafening applause and congratulations.

Chapter 68

Six Months Later

“Employment?” said Thomas. He and Gail sat in the back of his luxurious, nuclear blast-proof presidential limousine. The sun was strong, and the skies were clear and blue. The atmosphere had been cleansed, reversing decades of human damage. The new Council thought it was the least they could do for Earth.

“Nearly 100 percent,” said Gail. “I never thought we’d see these figures, ever.”

“Everyone is pulling together,” said Thomas. He couldn’t stop smiling these days. It had been six months since “that week,” as everyone referred to it. The world was still recovering, and they had yet to enter into Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to begin the rescue program, but it was all coming.

“It gives you that butterfly feeling, doesn’t it?” she said. “I mean, look at these figures, sir. Out of everyone of a working age classified as disabled, eighty-three percent have now joined our work programs. There’s a sense of unity out there.”

“I can feel it, too,” he said. “People know we have a lot of hard work ahead, and they want to help.”

The twenty-car presidential motorcade roared into a small suburb in Washington, visiting one of the newly converted schools.

“Our first stop is Britain,” said Gail. “Their prime minister is eager to get started.”

“William is a good guy,” said Thomas. The prime minister had survived infection, being evacuated. With a vaccine following quickly afterwards, the country had suffered far less than those before it. “As soon as we’re ready, we move in.” Those free from infection now demanded their governments ride in to assist the billions who had been left mere shadows of their former selves. For the first time in recorded human history, all of humanity was united under one banner. A piercing light of global pride had swept across the world following the president’s victory address.

“We can do anything now. Our economy is going through a true golden age, sir. We’re booming. Growth, innovation, development, and employment figures are off the scale. Britain actually registered one hundred percent employment this morning.”

“I owe William a pint,” said Thomas, laughing. “I bet the PM we’d get there first.”

They both laughed. How things had changed.

“In seriousness, though, I wish it hadn’t taken a worldwide tragedy to unite the human race.”

“I know,” said Gail. “But now, we can make real change. To think we could have gone along with either of the two strongest opinions of the time.”

“Grant rights to everything including earthworms or forbid anyone who wasn’t perfect from reproducing,” said Thomas. “I shiver at what kind of society we may have turned into.” The orders he had issued to ‘silence’ Bloodworth would live with him forever. But it was just one of many moral quandaries he would have plenty of time to debate in retirement. His memoirs would probably never be published.

“We still keep tabs on Hashcroft, but he’s withdrawn from public life, it seems.”

“Better safe than sorry,” said Thomas. He waved through the window to the crowds who had already started forming a good distance from his actual destination.

“I agree.”

“We have so much to do,” said Thomas. Section 51 had been tasked with combating genetic illness, and they were already making great progress with Roberts and Barrington working together. Infant mortality had fallen forty percent, with Barrington confident she could double it within five years.

“You know, I feel like we’ve been given a second chance,” said Gail.

“One we cannot waste,” said Thomas. He was determined to shape the world into a better place now. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to weed out all the social and planetary problems that affected humans so badly just months ago. They’d had the slate wiped clean.

“We won’t waste it.”

He agreed, happy to have her by his side. Neither of them had any family at all, and they both believed that had allowed them to make the difficult decisions required during “that week.” The nation had to come first, and it was impossible for them to be influenced by personal matters.

Even through the inches-thick bombproof glass, Thomas could feel the excitement of the community and the country. It had been a long time since things were truly moving forward. Alliance leadership had granted Earth immunity from any more interference and also provided a substantial aid package to let the remaining countries rehabilitate the infected.

“I never thought we’d be doing this again,” said Gail with big smile.

“Visiting schools?” asked Thomas. He sipped some cold water before they slipped out of the limo.

“Yes,” she replied. Flanked by the Secret Service, he and Gail were instantly recognizable and once inside met two very familiar faces.

“Glad to see you looking well, Christopher,” said Thomas, winking at him.

Christopher was as busy as ever, with Freda and he helping to coordinate relief efforts across the globe. Thomas knew Freda’s deputy wouldn’t retire until death took him. For this, he was privately grateful. It was clear Freda relied on him.

“It’s amazing what a cup of tea will do for you these days,” said Freda politely.

The group made polite conversation as they walked the hallways, admiring student artwork. His relationship with Freda had improved a lot since that week, and they’d both worked hard to keep building it. Her speech to Earth, as the first acknowledged alien, had been a major coup for him and the government. She spoke of a bright future and gave encouraging words when they were most needed.

“The budget?” asked Freda.

“Final Congressional approval tomorrow,” said Thomas. “But it will pass.”

“A multitrillion-dollar budget for us to recover Europe and Asia,” said Gail.

Freda smiled. “Well—and I speak for the Alliance, as well, here—we are more than glad to hear you will be leading humanity into this new dawn.”

Thomas nodded graciously, before entering one of the new classrooms that was teaching children. A five-year-old girl in a wheelchair came up to him.

“This … is … for you, Mr. President,” she said carefully. She handed him a white lily. She would never walk, until Section 51 cured it. Thomas looked at her with a solemn expression. They had come so close to losing everything. He touched her hand.

“Thank you,” he said, kindly. Standing up, he looked at Freda.

“Every child, Freda, has the right to life. A great human once said that people must learn to hate. In this new world we’re building, hate will never be taught. Whatever differences divide us, our humanity will now always unite us.”

Freda flashed him a spectacular smile, knowing humanity was in safe hands.