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part #3 of The Quantum Wars Series
“Why?” she muttered, wondering what ODIN’s reason for the shield was. She studied the information once more before leaning back.
“SIA, expand the scan.”
The AI responded immediately the sensors swinging westward. As they neared Colorado, Wren felt dread fill her.
“Focus on Cheyenne Mountain,” she requested and almost instantly SIA shifted the view to the former military base. There was little of note. The facility appeared intact but seemed to be abandoned. She knew that could not be true. There was more happening.
“Broaden scan,” she commanded. The sensor drew wider increasing the area in the sweep steadily. In moments the former city of Denver swung into view. It was utterly changed from the desolate ruins from centuries ago. The inner city was no longer abandoned and was surrounded by a wall to protect it from any invaders.
“Focus on Denver.” The scan slowly began to enlarge the city, narrowing the sweep to increase the detail of the city. The early morning light revealed more of the city as the image drew closer. Wren felt alarm rise within her. Smoke was rising from one of the skyscrapers still standing in the city and dark figures were moving throughout the city. Flashes of silver were surrounding the city and she could see several airships approaching the city encircling it. Her alarm turned to fear. The humans were attacking the city. They were completely outmatched. There were thousands of the Leviathan’s minions inside the city. The humans would not be able to stand against them. Unable to tolerate the thought of the remaining humans meeting their deaths, Wren stood feeling her nanids respond to her decision. Her skin hardened to metal forming armor across her body. Her hair thickened with the silver and black tightening across her head forming a helmet to protect her. Her pitch-black eyes held the city in their gaze watching the beginning of the battle. Anger blossomed deep within her as the human and quantum within her knew that the Leviathan must be destroyed to protect humanity.
“SIA, get me to the city now!” Wren demanded, searching the feed for the key to the battle. The ship shot forward accelerating toward the planet and the battle far below, leaving the defense drones to finish with ODIN’s fighters.
The strain infected creature slid from Simon’s nanid steel sword collapsing on the ground, its life gone having been taken by the unyielding weapon. Simon glanced at the dark-skinned beast trying to decipher what it had been prior to encountering the Leviathan. Its body resembled that of a rodent of some kind but forced to grow by the strain until it was the size of a large dog. The beast was one of many who had died at Simon’s hands today. He blazed a path through the creatures the Leviathan left behind to protect the quantum, leaving pooling blood and dismembered bodies in his wake. He felt sadness pass slowly through him as his eyes moved past the creature to the massive metal doors rising into the gloom of the mountain chamber above him. The sharp metallic smell of blood filled the hall that widened as it drew closer to the quantum’s chamber. His last encounter with the quantum in Cheyenne Mountain teased into his mind, the emotion and betrayal revealed that day seeking to distract him from the present. His father moving behind him, methodically going from one fallen minion to the next, interrupted the long past memory. The man was ensuring they were truly dead as his dual daggers completed their grisly task. Simon wished it could have been different but knew the blood spilled today would prevent a horrific fate for the rest of the planet. The thought tempered the regret and sadness bringing his focus back to the quantum.
It would not be long, and the purge of the quantum would be complete rendering it an empty machine. The Leviathan would have no refuge from the attack that had surely commenced on the city to the north. He hoped Curtis would be successful in stopping the rogue AI. The man turned dragon had been confident, but Simon knew the corrupt quantum was not an easy opponent. It would be willing to do whatever it had to possess or destroy those who stood against it. His death passed through his mind filling him with unease. The silent presence stirred within his mind as the thoughts of death brought it to awareness. Simon felt his breath catch at the intrusion as it emerged in his mind. He sensed no threat but knew that it was waiting for him. He had a choice. When the purge was completed, Simon would have to choose between destroying the quantum computer thereby preventing it from being used against humanity ever again, or he could merge with it. He could become the quantum using his father’s nanid technology to harness the power of the massive computer intelligence as a force for humanity once more. The days that had passed since he awoke in the north blurred through his enhanced mind.
It seemed events only accelerated as more time passed. The attack on his ship, followed by the human’s refusal to heed Curtis’ warning spun into the attack at the grove and the death of Candace Worth. Grief gripped him, freezing the memory, his friends aged face dominated his mind as she died while his father held her. Then it was gone. His memories raced to the battle at Seattle, the images and violence seared into him burning away any remaining doubt. Simon felt his decision cement within his mind as the entity within his mind regarded him, studying the flow of his mind. He resisted the urge to engage it knowing there was little that would come from it. The strange presence seemed to have its own agenda and would reveal it only when it chose. The sound of metal locks releasing rang through the chamber. Simon steeled himself as the groan of the metal doors opening dominated the chamber. The purge of the quantum in Cheyenne Mountain was almost complete.
Curtis watched the chaos from the attack ripple through the once deserted city. Buildings that had stood far past their design crumbled as the shock from the airships impact and following explosion tore through them. The building itself remained upright but massive chunks of its exterior fell to the ground below joining the dust and debris of the other buildings around it. Despite the destruction of the Leviathan’s stronghold, Curtis felt frustration surge through him as he soared invisibly above the city. The plan had failed. From his observation point, he had watched the hellish creature the Leviathan had become dive from the building before the ship impacted it, thus escaping the destruction. Curtis did not doubt the quantum had survived the fall. As it was falling Curtis had seen thin membranes emerge behind its arms connecting to it torso, creating makeshift wings that arrested its fall and allowed it to control its descent. The explosion hid its final impact from view providing cover for the beast. Curtis began circling in the air searching for it, trying in vain to penetrate the dust that hung in the air. He could detect movement all over the city as the Leviathan’s horde of creatures raced to fight for their master. The battle would be much more difficult if he could not find the Leviathan.
Curtis turned circling lower. The quickly rising sun drove warmth across his body as he extended his search outside the crumbling building and debris. The wind whipped across his body as he sped up using his wings to drive his body forward. The sound of weapons firing, accompanied by small explosions, signaled the humans had begun attacking the city. The few airships remaining would serve as observers directing the soldiers, enhanced with the Earth’s nanids, fighting on the ground. Curtis veered toward the sound of battle passing over the black wall which the Leviathan had built around the inner city to protect its refuge. A massive hole was blown in the gate allowing passage in and out of the city. They knew they could easily fly over the walls with the airships but did not want to put the remaining technology at risk, so agreed to a ground assault to keep the airships out of the main conflict. Instead they would monitor at a safe distance lending covering fire as they could. Curtis saw shimmers of movement on the ground outside the wall approaching the gate. It was the humans. Stephen Fore’s nanids provided camouflage for the soldiers maintaining the element of the surprise. Curtis knew Owen was down there leading the assault on the city. He hoped the man would be safe and successful in his mission. Curtis resumed his search for the Leviathan.
As he turned back to the city to the sound of weapons and the quickly escalating battle were joined by the hum of drones. Curtis smiled though he knew it could not be seen and would not be recognized on his new visage if he were visible. Kelly Holt had called her drones to battle as well. The former servants of humanity were a welcome addition. Most flew and were faster than any human or minion, but some were on the ground and foreign to him. He had not seen many of the designs present since his time with Nathan Landis. Others were utterly foreign to him created by Kelly from the remains of other machines. Each was here willingly, responding of their own free will to their mistress’s call. Curtis was amazed by his friend’s work and thankful for it. He flew over the wall with drones streaking below him on their way to engage the monstrous enemy within the city. He angled toward the wall of dust rolling across the city, his gaze seeking the Leviathan. As he drew closer to the dust his search came to an end.
The massive creature emerged from the tan cloud followed by hundreds of it minions. Curtis felt disgust rise from within him coupled with long held anger. The Leviathan was a twisted version of a human, its body mutated beyond recognition. Easily eight feet tall its body was covered with dark scales like those that spread across Curtis’ own body. The scales shimmered in the morning light with a purple iridescence. That was where anything remotely beautiful ended. Dark hair bristled across the Leviathan’s back. Each was needle sharp, able to penetrate and deliver the strain to its opponent. Muscles rippled under the scaled flesh carrying the threat of death in their movements. The head was a grotesque version of a human. The skin drew tight to an elongated skull with pointed ears that reminded Curtis of those of a bat. The face was twisted forward ending with massive jaws filled with fanged teeth dripping with saliva that was dark with the strain. The eyes were the same gray he had seen before. They gleamed with a madness that carried the Leviathan’s rage and promised violence. Curtis felt the ache for revenge draw tight across his massive chest. He completed a tight turn in the air preparing to dive into the Leviathan below. He did not know if he could best it but would not hesitate to confront it.
Before he could execute his dive, a dark shadow passed over him blocking the sun rising in the east. Curtis pulled up seeing the dark creatures below scatter back not understanding what was occurring. He craned his neck searching the sky above. A ship hung in the air above the city, the underneath a deep gray and hidden from the sun. Curtis could catch the glint of silver where the sun touched the sides. The shape was familiar, but the ship was not one he recognized. A moment later his observation was interrupted as a silver streak shot from the ship rocketing past him toward the ground below. As Curtis spun in the air, his enhanced reflexes were barely able to track the projectile. A moment later it impacted the Leviathan on the ground below, driving into its chest, sending it flying into the side of a nearby building. The projectile ricocheted off toward the black wall, unfurling in the air as it fell to the ground revealing a human female. As the woman landed lightly on her feet, Curtis felt his world fall away. Time ceased, and the battle faded away as love surged through his new frame. Wren had returned.
TWENTY
The crumpled form of the Leviathan slumped against the building where it had impacted after Wren had struck it. A small cloud of dust hung in the air around the black creature. The building behind it groaned, the strain from the impact testing it limits. The minions of the Leviathan had scattered when she attacked their master seeking other weaker opponents. Wren stood observing the massive creature across the abandoned street she had vaulted over after her attack. The screams and weapon discharges drifted to her from around the city, indicating the Leviathan still held sway on its horde. She waited for any indication of life in the quantum. She knew her attack would not kill it. It would be severely damaged but not dead. She waited. The Leviathan was unpredictable, and caution would be prudent. The seconds continued to pass by as she watched. Still she waited. The dust was beginning to settle from the humans’ attack and she could see the minions who had scattered at the appearance of SIA in the sky beginning to return. This was the Leviathan’s plan. It would bring its horde against her.
“SIA. How many creatures are approaching?” Wren queried.
“Several hundred, Wren,” the AI replied. “There are too many for you to handle safely.” Wren thought she could detect a tinge of worry in the AI’s communication with her. Had the situation been different she would have found it funny. Instead she found it validated her own fears. There was no time to wait. She needed to stop the Leviathan before its horde arrived to save it. Even now some were cautiously slinking down the abandoned street toward their master. Not wasting any more time Wren stepped into the street only to stop short as something impacted the ground in front of her.
“Wren, do not approach it is a trap!” a deep voice growled from the empty air in front of her. Wren stopped. The voice reminded her of someone despite its graveled and animal tone. She felt a tremor of uncertainty course through her. After all these years was it possible? Could Curtis Reynolds still be alive? A moment later she received her answer when a massive silver creature appeared in front of her. The part of her that was ISIS recognized the abilities imparted to Curtis on the space station when he had returned Wren to her home. The silver nanids of ISIS were extremely versatile allowing the ability to manipulate oneself and other nanids with ease. The huge scaled head craned down to stare into Wren’s eyes. Curtis’ fierce determination was evident on his reptilian features. It was both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
“Wren, why have you returned?” the man turned dragon rumbled. Wren peered into his eyes seeing the man he was reflected in them. She sensed his concern flooding over the connection they still shared from long ago. The human part of her was touched at the concern, but she was also irritated. Ever the protector, the man failed to realize her transformation.
“Curtis, I have returned to destroy the Leviathan and ODIN. For far too long they have tormented the Earth and its inhabitants.” Wren opened the connection as they spoke revealing her quantum self to the man. The power of ISIS flooded the connection piercing his mind but causing no harm. A slight widening of the reptilian eyes was all that betrayed the feeling of awe that came across their connection.
“It stirs,” SIA broke through her connection with Curtis shaking them free of each other. Wren focused on the feed from the ship seeing the rogue quantum slowly rising. Her vision was split between the ship above and her own pitch-black eyes. She watched Curtis swing around bringing his head low to the ground, his tail thrashing as he prepared to face the Leviathan. She was hidden behind Curtis with his bulk concealing her from the AI in the dark scaled monster. From her vantage through SIA she could see the damage she had wrought quickly healing. The bones that had broken were sliding back into its body, the crushed chest was slowly expanding as the strain renewed the quantum. Moments later the Leviathan stood to its full height, with darkened saliva dripping from its twisted maw as it regarded Curtis.
“Curtis Reynolds interfering once again,” it hissed. The voice sliced through the air, laced with venomous intent. An instant later Curtis roared in pain rearing back from an unseen attack. As Wren watched the strain on his claws and tail began to stream across his body turning on him once again. The vicious laughter of the Leviathan came across the street. Curtis wheeled away fighting an unseen battle with his body once more, the ground shaking with his weight as he struggled. The proximity of the man to the Leviathan allowed it to control the strain once more. Wren felt sorrow at his plight and rage that the Leviathan still had the capacity to injure one close to her. Images from long ago flashed through her mind, remembering that Curtis had succumbed to ARES’ nanids after he was sent to assassinate her. The agony he had endured was mirrored in him once more. Wren knew she had to act. Her love for the man demanded it.
She focused on the silver nanids within Curtis calling out to them to stem the tide of the strain. The response was instantaneous with the silver scales flashing as the nanids worked to isolate the strain. The Leviathan’s laughter ceased as it saw Wren Fore standing across from it. Curtis continued to thrash though his movements were slowing as the silver nanids arrested the infection.
“Wren Fore,” the Leviathan said, staring at the woman. Its voice was a challenge. It was daring her to attack it. She could see many of its horde closing on them. Her quantum consciousness calculated various solutions to the conflict with the Leviathan. A path did not form from the calculations. There were too many variables. Without further pause Wren surged forward a shadow of silver streaking towards the twisted beast. She could feel her armored skin thickening as a staff emerged in her right hand. It was solid made of nanid metal from her nanids and slightly taller than her. Wren crossed the street in an instant closing on the Leviathan while her staff swept a wide arc aiming for its head. The monster leapt back with its black shadow matching her speed. Wren pursued it not giving quarter. She attacked again and again while the monster sought to avoid her. It was trying to buy time she knew, but she would not stop until it was destroyed. The Leviathan continued to evade seeking to escape her, while Wren countered its movements blocking its attempts. Finally sensing it would not find a way to avoid her it turned to the black blur racing directly toward her. Wren was prepared and met the beast with the staff’s point, driving it into its sternum while shifting her weight down and lifting the staff up. The Leviathan was lifted into the air and thrown down the street sliding to a stop on its back. The prone form of the dragon Curtis Reynolds had become, lay several feet behind it. Wren was on it in an instant seeking to dispatch it before it could recover. Her staff sliced through the air descending toward the beast’s head, a hum reverberating from it as it sought its target. At the last instant the Leviathan’s hand flew out seizing the staff and stopping it mere inches from its face. The shock of the staff’s sudden arrest ran up Wren’s hands and arms loosening her grip and control.
