EVO Universe 1: The First (37 page)

“Wait…you’re saying…,”It became clear to Mark who had barely any knowledge of science.

Rosen cut him off wanting the big reveal for himself, “You’re not the first super human Ms. Dennison…your daughter is…”

He pointed at her still sitting on the ground, “The missing ingredient which we’ve tried to avoid, but obviously couldn’t get around was fresh…new…cells…, the virus just didn’t like consuming and replicating aged cells. We found that the younger the subject the better the replication process, and as you can image there’s only so far we can “ethically” go when it comes to test subjects. The night you and your husband did the deed, was the night the virus within your husband found what it really wanted…fresh new cells to consume and replicate from.”

“I don’t understand,” a confused Mark asked, “So how did she…”

“Our good Dr. Zimmermann’s hypothesis is some form of symbiosis occurred between her and her daughter during the nine months of pregnancy,” The Director cut Mark off again wanting to hurry this conversation along, “It probably detected stress levels within you which could have led to a miscarriage. I guess there is nothing more stressful than being on trial for the murder of your husband with a possible death sentence. Therefore, as a defense mechanism it replicated all of your cells to ensure that you were able to carry her to term.”

“It was also how we were able to figure out your daughter was still alive,” the Director informed her, “There’s no way you could be who you currently are and she not survive.”

She did not answer him as she just sat there looking at the ground.

“Very clever still how you were able to fool all of us, even the General,” Rosen wagged his finger at her in admiration, “It wasn’t because we didn’t have the technology or the information within our grasp to find out. It was because the General didn’t believe you were sneaky or smart enough to pull off something like faking your own daughter’s death. Guess the joke was on him.”

She still did not answer him.

“Currently your genetic make-up is superior to hers because of all the trials and tribulations you went through,” the Director continued, “but from the blood sample we took from her, it shows she has to potential of reaching your capabilities and far beyond you if “pushed”. The cool part for us is that through the whole ordeal you endured,” a smile formed on the Directors face, “the cells within you can and will replicate all aged cells. But to answer your question; your daughter saved your life…not your husband.”

Sophia remained silent trying to wipe her face with the sleeve of her jacket, her dreads now covering any visible expression she had on her face. Rosen now so tired of the dramatics clapped his hands together to “liven up” the atmosphere.

“Okay, now that we have done the whole James Bond tell all master plan crap…time to get down to business,” he snapped his fingers pointing at Mark, “You…we’re going to put into a little cell for now. Until I decide whether it’s best to lobotomize you or just kill you for being so damn nosey and unruly.”

He then pointed to Dennison, “And you, are going into a shiny egg like container were we have a nice little sharp pointy device capable of piercing that thick hide of yours so we can take enough samples to make more of you.”

“You’re not going to do anything to him,” she said plainly, “and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Excuse me…? You seem to forget we have your little girl…,” he reminded her of his trump card.

“Yeah you do…for all I know she could be dead the minute I step into that “egg,” she shrugged.

“She could be dead right now…so what’s to stop me from breaking these restraints and killing every last one of you in this room…except for him,” Sophia motioned to Mark.

Mark nodded with appreciation, “Thanks.”

“If you’re expecting me to bring her in here as proof,” Rosen pointed to her, “
You
out of your goddamn mind…”

“No…I know you’re too smart for that…but I also know everyone in here is terrified of what I am capable of,” she smiled, “Especially if I think I have nothing to lose…so here’s the new deal.”

“He lives,” she gestured to Mark again, “I see him walk out of here with my little girl…and you can do whatever you want with me…as you said…my genetic makeup is currently superior to hers…it’s what you need to make more of me…so you really don’t need her…”

Director Rosen narrowed his eyes pointing at her again, “You promise to play nice…?”

“Like a good little “girl”…” she said coyly.

“Fine,” he sighed, “You got a deal…”

Sophia glanced over to Armitage, their eyes locking briefly, they knew as soon as they got her in that chamber; they were going to try and kill her, and they were definitely going to kill him.

#4 brazenly walked up to her, pulling her to her feet, “Come on sweetness…time to…”

It was over in one motion; the once standing #4 fell like a slab and lay dead at Dennison’s feet with half his skull caved in along with his neck snapped. Considering the fact that Sophia’s hands where still shackled with the heavy high-powered restraints it was clear she killed #4 via a head-butt.

“Holy…fuck…” was all #1 could utter.

Sophia shrugged her shoulders with a disturbingly innocent look on her face, “Oops…”

A beyond enraged #3 pulled out her side arm walking up to Dennison to empty a set of rounds in her face.

Until the Director denied that order, “Holster your weapon #3…”

“But sir,” she screamed, “this fucking bitch…!”

“Killed #4 in front of us…yeah I saw that,” he said dryly almost bored, “Nobody told his dumb ass to get that close to her when she clearly said on live TV she wanted to kill the four of you …now holster your weapon before you send a ricochet around this place hitting
me
.”

#3 with teeth bared trembled as an evil sinisterly grinning Sophia looked her dead in the eye. She did not need to utter a word, as #3 knew all too well, what she was thinking…two down.

Director Rosen stepped over the body of #4 moving #3 out of the way to face Sophia, “Do that again…and I’ll have Mr. Slater over there cut your daughter’s little head off with a dull hacksaw…and have it play over this facility’s PA system for you to hear while you tear this place apart searching for her. You wouldn’t want any more blood on your hands…like your friend Dr. Hampton…or Lieutenant Scott and his entire family…”

Sophia’s eyes widen in shock as she gave off a nervous laugh, tears formed in disbelief at what her ears were hearing, “You’re…you…you didn’t…”

“Yes…I very much did…” he said with a sarcastic sadness, “Dr. Hampton knew way too much about your physiology …while Lieutenant Scott now knew way too much about the D.E.A.D than he already knew thanks to you…”

“But his wife…children…” she shuddered.

“We knew his wife knew everything, especially since she saw you ripping their door off its hinges with your bare hands,” he continued with his sardonic gloomy act, “The children were…unfortunate collateral damage…but we had to make their deaths look like an accident…and aren’t there enough orphans in this country?”

She lowered her head weeping as her body shook, her restraints cricked and creaked with its feeble attempt to keep her secure. She wanted to slaughter everyone in the room save for Armitage; saving the Director for second to last, the safety of her daughter was what kept her weak and feeble…obedient.

“I’m going to kill you…,” she whispered loud enough for him to hear her.

“Yeah….no…I don’t think so…” Rosen said dismissively.

“You forgot people know I’m here in Oregon, they’re looking for me. There’s evidence of what you did,” Mark reminded him.

“No they’re not,” laughed the Director, “You went rogue Special Agent, you disobeyed direct orders, and now you’re being hunted by local and state authorities.”

Rosen delivered his version of what could possibly happen to him, “Whether you turn up captured or dead is entirely up to us. As far as evidence goes…you have none. I told you there were higher powers behind this; and you should just let it go. You think you’d learn your lesson after your daughter Penny…”

Armitage’s eyes widened, as the Director’s words knocked him on his ass.

“Read your psyche files after your mandatory sessions to see if you were still deemed fit to remain a field agent,” Director shook his head in disgust, “You just couldn’t let that interrogation go to pick up your own daughter…”

An irate Mark lunged at Rosen screaming at the top of his lungs. The soldiers flanking him again overpower him.

He frothed at the mouth clawing the air to get to Rosen, “You son of a bitch! I’ll kill you! I swear to god I’ll kill you for saying her name!!”

“Wow…everyone wants to kill me today,” Director said acting hurt, “Giving me a complex…get him out of here, and get her prepped. We’re already behind schedule with this nonsense.”

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Mark was lead down a hallway by a triple arm guard pass a series of cells, his initial rage over the Director conjuring demons within him had subsided; he had to focus and figure a way out of there. If what the Director told him was true about no backup coming because of him labeled a rogue agent, there was a chance he was not leaving this place alive. He would be lucky if he ended up like poor Eric Dunbar although his fate appeared to be worse than a death sentence.

One of the guards opened the cell while one trained his rifle on him as the third removed his restraints and shoved him into the cell. No chance of fighting his way out of this situation; he had to wait for another opportunity, as they closed the cell door behind him, and walked away.

He examined the cell, looking for a way out which clearly had none, when he heard a groan from the cell across from him; right now, a fellow inmate could be a fellow ally in situations like this, “Hey! Hey! Anyone there? You with me buddy?”

Shuffling heard from behind the cell door as the person he was attempting to communicate with struggled to get up. Two hands finally gripped the bars in front of the small window of the cell door as Mark’s eyes widen, while staring into the face of a dead man.

“Doctor Hampton?” Mark said in disbelief, “They said they killed you!”

Badly worked over but very much alive was Charles Hampton from what Armitage could judge despite the limited view he had.

“Those bastards damn near tried,” he groaned, “I was at home watching the news about what happened in DC…next thing I knew I passed out, and I woke up to a right cross from a big nasty looking son of a bitch with a horrible disposition.”

Mark figured it must have been Slater; he fit the bill for cruel and unusual punishment.

“Why’d they take you?” Mark asked.

“They’re looking for the samples and data I have on Sophia. She told me to destroy them and I was, but something kept telling me it was too valuable to destroy,” he sighed a bit disappointed he did not do what she asked, “So I sent them off for storage which trust me is not easy to do in an age where everything is tracked and you’re almost watched 24/7. It’s probably why I’m still alive, because I think they would have killed me if they found it.”

“Like they killed Lieutenant Scott and his family…” Mark said in disgust.

“Are you serious?” Charles asked in disbelief.

“From what I can tell yeah, and it looks like we’re stuck here till we can find some sliver of a chance out,” Mark said running his hand across the door to his cell, “So how about passing the time by telling me why you helped Dennison fake her daughter’s death?”

Charles drew a sigh, which only made him cough due to his battered ribs. Since his fate was clearly up in the air, it was time for Agent Armitage to hear his confession, “Four months into her pregnancy she started to have dreams…reoccurring dreams of her daughter as an infant crying hysterically looking for her…while walking around aimlessly in a warzone littered with corpses wearing nothing but just a bloody American flag. She said every time she had the dream it was the same, except the flag got bloodier and bloodier, the bodies started to look like friends and family and were stacking higher, and her cries louder to the point of shrills. In her culture…recurring dreams were omens…she was sure that the dream meant she had to keep her daughter away from the General at all costs.”

“Her father-in-law”, who Mark now realized was the center of all this madness for sure.

Charles nodded, “General Matheson’s entire family legacy is military dating back to the Civil War I think…all four branches and all serving in every known conflict. He’s the only one ever to achieve the rank of four star General…she knew if he had his way he’d influence her daughter to join the military, and she didn’t want him to do to her what he did to Robert.”

“She married a soldier, but hated the military?” he said not understanding her logic.

“Exact opposite…she respected the military a lot, and she loved Robert; but she knew that he wasn’t meant to be a soldier,” Charles explained, “Physically he had all the makeup of one, but it wasn’t in his heart she said; Robert was just doing it to please his old man; he had all the love and respect for him…”

Charles shrugged, “He figured he’d do his four years, have it under his belt, get his dad off his back, get his trust fund, and start the custom car restoration company he wanted. Who knew 9/11 was around the corner. Let it be said he wasn’t the same man coming back.”