Inferno (The Glitch Book 2), page 12
Becky looked at Elias. “What happened?”
He gestured towards Mike. “He shot her.”
“What?”
“She was infected…”
“Shit… sorry about that, I know you two were old friends…”
“Who’s this?” said Alexis.
Becky turned on the older woman with a sneer. “What’s it to you?”
“Calm your horses Becky. This people are on… our side.” Elias looked back to Mike. “You said you had a place to stay? They mind a small dog as well?”
Mike nodded. “Probably not. Yeah, a motel nearby. We have some rooms there. You are welcome to stay in one of them… and Becky, if she wants.”
Becky looked ruefully at the man and woman.
“Yeah, we’ll do that,” said Elias.
Mike looked back at the police chief. “Can you take care of everything here?”
Gill nodded.
“I’m going to go the army headquarters and see about getting Constance and Kevin released.”
Elias let out a exasperated breath. “I’m tired!” he said to another section of floor where nothing resided. He looked at Mike. “He wants to go with you. He wants to see what the army is up to. Wants me to use my rank to help get you in, otherwise he said… there’s not much chance of you seeing the two kids again.”
Mike smiled. Somewhere locked within the old army major was his son, and finally they were together.
*****
The Roswell sidewalk was a noisy throng of humanity. Some were in a rush, others stood and chatted while a few looked lost, their eyes betraying the memories playing like a movie in their minds.
Mike, Elias, Alexis and Brad pushed past the crowds, moving past stores that were either boarded up or completely empty of anything useful. It was good that the army headquarters was not too far from the station. Mike just hoped that Constance and Kevin hadn’t already been shipped out. His destination was obvious as soon as they left the station, being the tallest building in the city and as they neared it, he tried to focus his thoughts away from his son. Knowing it was possible to talk to him, even if it was through the older man had consumed him since he found out. New introductions and questions came and went each feeling wrong, or insufficient.
They got to another of Main Street’s junctions, and finally got to see the headquarters up close. A series of military vehicles were parked in the street alongside and around its base. One of which sandbags were being unloaded from and piled into makeshift walls by a team of soldiers.
Mike and the others crossed the road, then approached the well guarded entrance. “I’m special agent Mike Richter. These are my colleagues. I’m here to speak with Colonel Holland.”
“Wait,” said the soldier, then spoke into his headset. The soldier then nodded to himself, and looked back to Mike. “Go to the counter in the lobby behind me, and wait for your security clearances.”
Mike wanted to protest at having to gain clearances, but at least they were going inside. He nodded and the four of them moved past sandbags, more soldiers, and then pushed the glass doors open to the busy lobby. Small groups of people, some in uniform others in suits were in huddles chatting. On seeing Mike and Alexis, most hushed.
Mike walked to the counter and went to talk when a female soldier raised her hand. “I’m creating your badges right now.” The military personnel in the large lobby area kept throwing glances in their direction making their targets uncomfortable.
An elevator opened not far off, and a smart looking male officer appeared with a prepared smile. “I am here to take you to General Silva.”
They collected their security passes and followed the officer into the elevator, then waited as it rose eight floors to the top. The door slid open to a cacophony of noise. Beeps, mixed with anxious conversation and the constant sound of people rushing between desks in a large open plan office, with smaller rooms off to the sides. The officer did not pause and walked forward, his visitors in tow and they all moved around the edge of the space. Mike and the others did their best to take in as much of the scenery as possible, especially what was on any computer monitors they passed. Some contained maps of the continental United States, while others were just spreadsheets.
They arrived at the door in the far left corner. Someone had written ’General L. Silva’ in marker on the wooden surface. After a knock and a reply for them to enter, the officer pushed the door back and wavered everyone inside while he closed it.
A stout man in his mid-fifties, wearing fatigues looked at all of them with a smile. “Welcome all of you.” He then looked at Elias. “I don’t know who you are?”
The older man stood up straight. “Elias Chambers, former major with the seventy-fifth.”
“Ah a ranger.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And why are you here major?”
Elias went to reply but Mike beat him to it. “Elias is an old friend. He knew we were heading to Roswell, so came to help.”
“I see… well good to have you. We can certainly do with all the help we can get in this city.” He gestured towards the four chairs. “Please, sit.” He did the same behind a desk covered in paper, including two computer monitors and one sturdy looking laptop which Mike recognized as being military issued. “I should first say that all matters regarding the AI—”
“You’re admitting the AI exists?”
“Not publicly, not yet no. The cover story is still in place, but obviously we know different. But as I was saying, all matters relating to the AI, are now under the jurisdiction of the military. Law enforcement agencies and FEMA are being used to help with civilian issues. So if you are here to take up your old role—”
Mike shook his head. “That’s not why we’re here.”
The general looked confused. “Then why are you here?”
“We traveled here with two others. Young people with autism.”
“You are referring to Constance Nguyen and Kevin Riley?”
“Yes.”
Silva smiled. “They are being well looked after, you have no need to worry about them.”
“We know the AI cannot affect people on the spectrum,” said Alexis.
The generals smile dissipated. “You know about that?”
“Yes.”
“I suspect,” said Mike. “That Constance and Kevin are not cooperating as you would like…”
The general studied Mike, trying to read the face of the experienced agent. “We have others who are cooperating.”
“But not like those two,” said Alexis. “They were deeply involved with events, and if we were allowed back in, I’m sure they would be happy to help with, whatever it is you are trying to do… here.”
The general paused, contemplating the offer. “I will think about it. Do you all have places to stay?” They said they did. “Good.” He pushed across the desk a small notepad and pen. “Write down the details.” Alexis started doing so, while the general looked back at Mike. “I presume you still have your phone?”
Mike had sat across from murderers, drug smugglers and every other variety of criminal and knew their tricks. Silva had left what he really wanted to the end of the conversation, as if it wasn’t important. Mike smiled. “Not on me.”
“But it is safe? What is on that phone could be extremely important.”
“It’s safe.”
“If you were to work with us, we would expect you to hand it over… and this time, the actual phone.”
“Of course.”
The general stood. “Good, then, we will be in touch.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Cute dog,” said Alexis, as Elias pulled open the rear door to his truck. The sky was awash with mauve and orange streaks as the sun had almost set on the New Mexican city. The small white animal jumped down onto the concrete of the parking lot for ‘Angie’s Inn’ and sniffed the air. “What’s his or her name?”
“Brillo, and it’s a he.” Elias put a leash over his dog’s head, and closed the rear door, then looked at the series of single story buildings which made up a small complex of twenty-four rooms. A large sign sat a slight angle facing one of the main routes into the city, and cast a long shadow across the lot.
Mike appeared, walking towards them from the front office, several keys in his hands. One of the nearby doors opened and Becky and Dawn emerged, but they were distracted by the police car that was pulling into the lot, driven by Hanson.
The officer got out, as did Daryl with a box. “Got the radios you wanted, gift from the chief,” she said.
“How is he?” said Mike.
“He’s been through worse. You can use those radios to contact the station, if you need too.” She got back into the car and drove away.
Mike handed out the remaining room keys then looked around. “Angie says there’s a diner across the road. It’s closed, but if we mention she’s sent us, they should open up.”
It didn’t take much persuasion for everyone to agree, as most hadn’t eaten since the morning, or longer. As they crossed the four-lane road, lights sparkled in the fields around them from the various tent cities that had sprung up.
“Angie think’s there’s at least another ten thousand people in and around the city,” said Mike, as they walked past an RV dealership. Some of the vehicles had lights glowing from behind their blinds, together with the muffled sound of voices.
“It’s the same in a number of cities in the midwest,” said Dawn. “Me and Brad caught a news report on the radio. They are flooded by refugees. The federal authorities are doing what they can, but…”
Mike stopped alongside a chain-link fence, which bordered a field. Dark rectangular shapes were just visible in the distance. “I think that’s the place across this field.”
All but Elias started to make their way to the gate, but he was standing and looking back to the west, where a glow sat on the horizon.
Mike walked back to him. “What is it?”
Elias shook his head. “Nothing. Let’s get some food.”
*****
An elderly man awkwardly walked across a tiled floor in the diner, with a tray in his hand. “This be the last of the bacon, reckon with you folks being who you are, you would need a good meal.”
Alexis got to her feet from the corner table they were all sat around, and helped the man distribute the five plates of bacon, some eggs and hash browns.
He turned around and headed towards the kitchen. “I’ll get more coffee on.”
“You got anything my dog could eat?” said Elias.
The man continued his journey to the swing door behind the counter. “I’ll see what I can find.”
Becky who was sat near the window eyed those around her nervously. Mike had offered to help her find a way out of the city and back east but she wanted to stay. He glanced at the former Major seated opposite and wondered if Travis was doing the same to him. Or maybe his son was alive in a nearby electrical device, somehow observing his father. The possibilities were as endless as they were perplexing, and neither were helping the current situation, or the people in the city.
“So what is the plan?” said Dawn between bites.
“We can do more than just help with crowd control,” said Alexis, then took a sip of her coffee.
Mike continued studying Elias who appeared to be ignoring the conversation and enjoying his meal. “What does Travis say?”
Most around the table paused what they were doing. Mike understood that they hadn’t fully gotten their heads around the concept of his son being alive inside another and if he was honest, neither had he. But if Travis was somehow alive, he didn’t want him knowing that.
Elias looked off to the side of the table. Some of the others’ eyes glanced in the same direction. “He says there’s danger inside the camp.”
“Camp?” said Brad sitting next to him.
Elias nodded. “That’s what he’s calling Roswell now. He got a peek into the systems at the headquarters, saw what the plans are. Roswell and five other cities within a hundred miles of the detonation are within the quarantine zone.”
“Quarantined?” said Becky. “What does that mean?”
Elias looked at her. “It means you should have taken up the offer to leave when you had the chance.”
Anger spread across her face. “He said he would help me find my sister! That… he would leave you, and the same could happen to her!”
An awkward silence fell upon those around the table.
“He said a lot of things.” Elias hung his head to the side as if receiving orders. He nodded. “He says if you still want to find your sister he will help you, but you are not safe here.” Elias looked at the others. “He say’s nobody is safe here.”
“Because some inside Roswell are infected?” said Alexis.
Elias nodded. “Yup, but one in particular, goes by the name… well, I call him Mict, thinks he’s some kind of ancient Aztec god or something—” Confused looks passed between those around the table. “— He’s working as a kind of… leader, for the AI grunts, that are lying low for the time being.”
“Why are they here?” said Dawn.
He nodded towards Mike. “For him, and that phone with the program that messed up the AI’s shit…” He tucked into the remains of his food.
“What does Travis want to do with the program?”
“It needs to be distributed into the government systems, that way the AI won’t be able to infect them. It will at least stop it from turning the remaining Nukes and any nastiness on people.”
“So he wants us to hand the phone over to Silva?” said Mike.
Elias shook his head. “Nooo… some of the people at the headquarters have already been compromised. The phone needs to be directly linked, connected to one of the computers there. Then with some nudging by Travis, the program will spread.”
“So we just go back tomorrow—”
Elias shook his head again, interrupting Alexis. “No can do. It has to be tonight.” Tired gasps came from a few around the table.
“Why?” said Dawn.
Elias pointed upwards with his fork. “In roughly five hours from now, at approximately 2 a.m. It’s going to rain, and with it will come a shit load of bad news for this city.”
“What’s the big deal about it raining?” said Becky.
Mike looked out into the night beyond the diner’s windows, while Alexis’s eyes betrayed the plans she was making. “We have to warn them,” she looked at the others. “Evacuate the city.”
Elias, with a mouthful of food shook his head. “Too late for that. If we cause panic, more people are likely to get infected. Travis used longer words and numbers.” He glanced at Mike. “Your son loves himself some numbers, but that’s the long and short of it.”
Alexis persisted. “But half of this city are living in tents! In the desert! How—”
Elias dropped his fork heavily to his plate. “He’s done the math. There’s too many people to move. If they learned of the threat the roads would be clogged. A lot of those that came here, did not even come in a vehicle.”
“Yes but—”
He continued eating. “Some will get infected, but a lot less.”
“How about telling the military?” said Brad.
“They already know and have come to the same conclusion. Better if the city stays put and takes its chances.”
“Even if the ‘city’ doesn’t know what’s coming?” said Alexis.
“Yup.”
The room fell silent again, each person not wanting to imagine what was hiding inside the droplets that would be falling from the skies.
“Why couldn’t we have gotten into the armies systems while we were… you know, there last time?” said Alexis.
“We were being watched, by the intel people and the AI. Any attempt…” Elias nodded as he was hearing another before continuing. “To infiltrate the network would have been stopped before it had a chance to do any good. No… we got to break in there, and do it without them knowing.”
“And how are we going to do that?” said Brad.
Elias looked at Mike. “We’re going to need the police chief’s help.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Gill blinked at the intense beam from the soldier’s flashlight. They were at a military checkpoint not far from the police station.
“What happened to your arm?” said the soldier.
Gill smiled. “Some kids wanted a car that wasn’t there’s.”
The beam swung to Gill’s passengers. “They don’t look like kids.”
“Ah, no, these are some civilians that can help with the city’s supplies, but I need to get them to city hall.”
Mike in the front, and Daryl and Elias in the back did their best to look relaxed.
“City hall is pretty close to headquarters. How long do they need to be there?”
“Not long,” said Mike. “Maybe an hour.”
The soldier looked again at the others, then back to the driver. “Anymore than an hour and I send people to find you. Got that?”
Gill nodded. The barrier was raised, and the police sedan rolled forward. “Is an hour going to be enough?”
“It’ll have to be,” replied Mike.
Parking lots and flat block-like buildings passed by, all bathed in shadows, with only the occasional street light providing any view of the surroundings. “Power to the city has been rationed. So every few lights are allowed to be on for the streets. Not that there’s anyone out here who needs them, but at least it keeps the looters at bay,” said Gill.
They sped past a few more junctions, until a four story building appeared, someway back from the sidewalk, beyond though, just a block away, the army headquarter’s beamed bright amongst the night sky. Gill slowed to a stop near a concrete path which led directly to double glass doors, with ‘City Hall’ engraved in stone above.
They all got out and quickly made their way to the entrance, where Gill produced a set of keys and unlocked the doors, and they moved inside. Mike switched his flashlight on, as did Gill. They were in a large lobby area, with a staircase ahead, next to a high counter, hallways leading left and right and an elevator closer still.
