Fortitude, page 4
No need to waste.
He tipped the inch of liquid into his mouth, immediately feeling the warmth cascade through his body, and felt that maybe he would make it to Alaska and to the woman he loved.
Lies…
He had been down this road before. Allowed the alcohol to bathe him in hope of a better future. It was the same after Clara died. There were whole weeks which he had no recollection of, but whatever happened got him through to the next, and then the week and month after that. The difference this time was, it wasn’t just his world that was ending, but everyone’s.
He didn’t hear the footsteps as Shayne leaned around the pillar from the hallway. “Come on, we’re leaving,” he said then disappeared back outside.
*****
You sure you can’t make out where we are? thought Alexis to her invisible companion. Her view of the world was confined by a black bag that had been placed over her head.
“I’m scanning the audio, electromagnetic, olfactory and what little there is, visual landscape around us, and—”
Wait… you make me sound like some kind of Mars probe… although that’s kind of cool.
“From the animal sounds I have picked up, and the smells, combined with the duration of our journey and general heading, I would say we are approaching the small mountain town of Crystal Lake. Which was once a mining community, but was abandoned in the 70s. It’s also the location of a military black site, one which even I was not able to gather much information on when I was inside the Cheyenne Mountain databases.”
As if on cue a shriek was just audible from an eagle, circling somewhere high above her vehicle and despite her confinement, for a moment she felt free, imagining herself soaring—
“Woah!” she exclaimed from her lips. She was no longer inside the back of a humvee but flying high above a snow covered landscape of forests and peaks.
What the hell! What’s happening!
“You were imagining yourself to be a bird of prey, so I am running a simulation in your mind to help you better experience that…”
Alexis started to object at the intrusion into her thought process, but then as she felt the breeze in her hair… or was it feathers? She relaxed and glided…
She jolted forward then back and the scene before her eyes returned to black.
“We’re here,” said Travis.
The bag was pulled from her head. She looked at Cody who was in the passenger’s seat in the front. He immediately looked away, taking the bag with him. Surprisingly she was alone in the back. They were at a checkpoint. A pole lifted into the air and a heavily armed soldier outside waved them past. The narrow gravel track they were moving along was bordered by evergreen trees, which were covered in a smattering of snow, and rose up steep slopes on both sides. Alexis felt as if they were driving into the heart of the mountain, as the road climbed and wound. Suddenly it fell away on her right, allowing her a view into a valley a thousand feet below, and beyond, a blue white river, before another mountain rose up a few miles away, equally covered in forest. She wasn’t sure how high they were but the air felt clear and fresh. She was about as far from an artificially created world as it was possible to be. And that was a relief.
For a moment the beauty of the scene calmed her thoughts. She had pushed her oncoming demise to the back of her mind, a psychologists coping mechanism to be able to do what needs to be done. Otherwise the grief from her impending doom would be crippling and… well… the AI would win and she wasn’t about to let that happen.
The road then steered them back into the forest. From the impossibly steep slant of the trunks on both sides it was obvious that as soon as the winter deepened, there would be no way in or out of wherever they were heading. The road began to decline slightly, the banks on both sides becoming more shallow. Finally they stopped at another checkpoint, this one an entrance in a high metal fence which was bordered by two camouflage painted concrete octagonal towers, which looked out of place to the natural surroundings.
A figure walked forward wearing some kind of all body covering suit. Like a hazmat suit, but leaner, more close fitting. “All phones and electronic devices must be left here.”
“We were briefed,” said Cody. “We don’t have any with us.”
A soldier’s face was just visible through the dark visor. Alexis felt him looking at her. He stepped back as the double gates were pulled open, and they moved on. She noticed a rusting sign half hanging from a wooden post, covered in weeds, mentioning a town and a population but the words had faded.
As they continued, equally rusted and weathered pieces of machinery were sat within the bark and mud of the forest, and wooden structures began to appear nestled within the pine covered branches.
The track became firmer, the trees thinning out to reveal houses, single and two stories, with small gardens, and then as they rounded a bend, a small town came into view, packed with people. Most in uniform, but some not, milling around and walking, visiting stores and other buildings. It was as if they had driven into a frontier town from the late nineteenth century. Some of the people were even dressed in furs and hide.
I didn’t think places like this still existed.
“I am not detecting any technology, more recent than fifty years. Everything here appears to not be networked, or even have that many integrated circuits.”
Folsom wouldn’t like it.
“They are completely off the grid from what my records indicate. He may not even be aware of its existence. Which is why it was chosen.”
The humvee continued through the busy street and then after weaving around some trucks, back into the woods, but this time the track became much steeper for a mile or two, before leveling off, and their destination became obvious. A part of the mountain was carved away, revealing an initially dark tunnel which they drove into. It was not unlike the Cheyenne Mountain entrance but on a smaller scale. A group of soldiers in a column jogged past, while they drove the opposite way, deeper in, then down a slope until finally they came out to an underground parking lot, with many military vehicles already filling it. Instead of finding a space, they drove to a brightly lit entrance, at which five kitted out soldiers were standing.
Cody didn’t waste any time getting out then opened the rear door. Alexis stepped out, awkwardly, the manacles around her ankles not making the movement any easier. “These soldiers will escort you to your quarters.”
She nodded. She wanted to say something to the captain. To apologize once again for what her body if not her mind had done to someone he cared for, but she knew it would only make things worse. She walked forward as the heavy green door behind slowly opened, revealing a long bland corridor at the end of which was an already opened elevator and standing in front of it were Denise and Brad.
Alexis let out a breath, her legs feeling a little weak and tears came to her eyes. She was convinced everyone on the first ship had died. The big man returned Alexis’s grateful smile, but the woman next to him remained stony faced. Another she had betrayed. But at least she was alive. Alexis’ entourage walked to the two who were waiting.
“You’ve alive!” said Alexis to Brad.
He nodded. “I was with the only group that got out. It was pretty dicey there. The AI almost got us. If it wasn’t for you—” He stopped on seeing Denise throw him a look.
“Are Constance and Kevin here?”
The doctor replied before he could. “I am glad to see you here, Alexis. Is Travis aware of this conversation?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, good. We have much to discuss. Your morning briefing has given myself and my team—”
“Your team?”
“Yes, I am now running the scientific team at this base.”
“Who’s in charge?”
Denise turned to the side, gesturing toward the open elevator. “We are going to see General Bell, now.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The room Alexis was in reminded her of the one in the other mountain complex, the one Dyer had murdered the high command in, but was smaller and more modern in appearance. A series of monitors lined one side, with a simple wooden table taking up the center. She was sitting at the far end, with Denise and Brad nearby, while Cary stood at the opposite side, discussing with other generals in hushed tones. Strangely she had no problem hearing their conversation. Something which Travis must have had something to do with. Her two man guard stood either side of her, and her hands and ankles were still shackled.
Cary’s expression was one of a man under pressure. His usual cheerful appearance being replaced with an older man’s face, one where the wrinkles of his middle age were obvious. He nodded to the nearby officers, who left, and turned to Alexis.
“I’m glad you made it,” he said, sitting down.
She nodded.
“I’ve been briefed on what you told those in Anchorage. You and… Travis believe you have a method to end this madness?”
“He… we do, yes.”
“Travis will infiltrate the AI… somehow, and will instal a virus?”
“Not exactly. Travis himself will be the virus. He will integrate with the AI.”
Alexis sensed Denise’s heart beat increase, although she also wasn’t sure how she knew that.
“And what will happen to you, if he does that?”
Alexis briefly looked down, then smiled, looking back up. “I will die.”
Cary looked shocked. “You’re willing to do that?”
“Am I willing to sacrifice myself to save the world? Yes, I am willing to do that.” She noticed Brad looking down, not wanting to meet any of the other eyes in the room. “It… is a risk for him as well. He does not know for certain if he will succeed, but he says for humanity to stand any chance of survival he has to try… and I support him in that.”
The general let out a small breath, before nodding. “Okay. And how would this happen? What do you need?”
“I am just going to repeat what Travis is saying. It will be quicker that way. So… We need to lay a trap for the AI. This base and its command infrastructure is the last of its type for the United States, at least on the mainland. Which makes it the most highly sought after location for the AI to compromise. It will find a way in.”
Cary scoffed a little, but then stopped on seeing Denise did not share his confidence. “I’m told—” he briefly looked at the doctor. “— that it is impossible for the AI to penetrate this facility. That it’s security is even higher than before because of what happened at Norad. No electronic devices are even allowed within ten miles of this location, and even if they were, the walls are tens of feet thick, with a non-insulating lattice making it impossible to penetrate by electromagnetic radiation. The only way in would be via human beings, like how you walked your way in to Cheyenne Mountain. And that will not be allowed to happen a second time.”
Alexis continued. “You are correct on all counts. It is almost impossible for the AI to get into this facility, but it will still find a way to do that. It is inevitable. So rather than expending ever increasing resources to try and stop that, it is better to use the eventuality as an opportunity.”
“Wait… you want to invite that thing into this place? The only hope we have of stopping the AI?”
Alexis looked off to the side, shaking her head. “Let me explain,” she said to herself. “I can make them understand…. Yes yes, I know.” She looked back at her audience. “He says currently there is a ninety-eight percent chance of all human life on this planet being exterminated by the AI, before the end of the year…” There was a sharp intake of air from all in the room. “Unless we take the one shot we have at defeating the thing.”
“Other countries have command facilities. And we still have some not on the mainland.”
“Yes, but this is the most important. If you lose control of this place to the AI, its grip on your infrastructure will grow exponentially, making it impossible for any other governmental power to stop a complete AI take over. The AI will expect to control this place within a week from now. What it will not expect is for Travis to stay loyal to humans… I mean, us. Travis says the AI expects him to change sides, knowing that defeat for the humans is almost a hundred percent certain.”
“And what if he does change sides?” said Brad. A question that was on the mind of the other two.
Alexis looked at him. “You just have to trust me, Brad. I don’t think he will. He’s Mike’s son.” The big guy looked away.
“It will appear to the AI that Travis will go down fighting with the humans, and that may give us a small chance to infiltrate its network… just at the point when the AI thinks it has won.”
Cary wasn’t the only one to let out a breath. He shook his head. “I know the president was briefed on this, but authority to put your plan into practice was left to me and… I don’t know if I like the sound of it. You’re asking me to risk everything, for a chance to stop the AI…”
“Travis says if you do not follow his plan, there is no hope.”
*****
Mike looked out of the left side window of the winnebago. The corner of the drape was pulled back just enough for him to see the beige and brown landscape of spindly trees amongst a smattering of frost covered grass. The few hours of sleep he had managed to get hardly impacted the exhaustion that weighed on his limbs and worse, mind, but what was in his flask kept the neurons firing in his brain and thoughts of what he would do once he arrived in Anchorage came and went with the occasional truck and car that passed them on the two lane highway north.
He was sure the government would have Alexis locked down somewhere. Somewhere far away where the AI couldn’t get to her. Probably some underground facility in the mountains, which he didn’t have weeks to look for. Instead, he needed to convince them that he could be useful. Their only hope after all was his…
The rear door of the cabin opened and Dale came past, his cheeks flushed. Something was wrong.
“Hey, watch it,” said Paige as he knocked her leg which was hanging off the edge of the padded seats on the right. He ignored her and kept going to the front cabin, where Mike watched him lean between the curtain and whisper to Casey in the passenger’s seat. He couldn’t hear what was said, but her reaction was to swear.
“I don’t know! I’ve looked everywhere!” said Dale, Mike clearly hearing. More hushed words were followed by the large vehicle slowing.
“Why we stopping?” said Paige, sitting up. Her brother seated next to her, kept his eyes closed.
Dale stood back, while Casey emerged from the curtained area. Her eyes flicked to Mike then quickly to the small room at the back which she made haste to, closing the flimsy plastic door behind her.
“What’s going on?” said Mike in the direction of the room, which the sound of boxes and drawers being opened came from. He was sure he heard more than one expletive as well. The door opened again, and an exasperated Casey came out. She looked at Mike when the side door opened, Gregg walking up the steps.
“It’s not in the truck,” he said to Casey, then looked at Mike, joining all other eyes on the former FBI agent.
“Someone going to let me in on what’s been lost?” he said, looking across the accusing expressions.
“I reckon he’s got it,” said Jared, now standing in the entrance to the driving cab.
Casey studied Mike, his expression convincing her otherwise. She looked at Gregg. “Are you sure you put it in the—”
He frowned, while nodding.
“Fuck.”
“Maybe it’s gone invisible or something?” said Dale. “It’s an alien—”
Mike’s eyes grew large. “You had some of the AI metal?” He looked around the interior, scanning for any chrome surfaces, which there were plenty of.
Paige rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh, then flicked open the pages of a glossy magazine.
Mike stood, he had questions, but right now all he wanted to know was where it was. He looked at Casey. “What did it look like?”
“Few inches long. It was in a vial. Flowed like mercury.”
“How do you know it wasn’t mercury?”
She sighed. “Felix did some tests on it. I don’t know how he knew. He just said it was worth the hundred K we—”
“A hundred K!” said Page.
“Stay out of this, Paige. It was… it’s worth a hundred times that.”
“And now you’ve lost it!” She went back to angrily turning the pages of the magazine.
“You definitely brought it with you?” said Mike.
“Yup, it was in a small case, that was in a larger one that we put in the back. I saw the case myself when Dale put it in the drawer in that room.” Her expression changed to one of curiosity. “Why?”
Mike knew exactly what losing the AI metal meant, but in the moment he wasn’t ready to share. “It’s radioactive. Could harm anyone who spends too long with it.”
Casey swore again.
Dale looked at his mother then Gregg. “Maybe it’s good we don’t have it anymore, then?”
A thought then landed in Mike’s mind. “Was that what Aaron brought across from the States?” Casey nodded and he felt sick. Despite his attempts to escape the AI, he had been traveling with it all the time without realizing. He sat back down and pulled the drape to the outside world back again. He hoped his attempt to seem uninterested would work, and moved his hand towards his inside pocket of his jacket, but stopped dead. His flask was silver. What if it wasn’t that anymore? Sweat started to accumulate on his forehead.
Casey marched back to the driving cab. “Well, nothing we can do now. Let’s get back on the road.”
As the engine chugged and the motorhome lurched forward, Mike let his gaze slide across the two young people nearby, trying to see into their eyes.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Constance looked down at her open notebook and a page of neatly written names. It made her smile. An accomplishment. But then she turned the page and her smile became a frown. Only one page left. She sighed, closing the plastic cover on the fifty some lined pages. It was okay. She and Kevin who was seated next to her, knew the AI was coming to the secret base deep in the mountains, and when it arrived there would be no more recording names.
