Madness (7 page)

How long she’d been unconscious, she couldn’t fathom. The car she was in was unfamiliar, not the car she’d taken from the airport. She recognized her surroundings.
She'd parked on the south side of Loomis’s condominium. Yes, she needed information, and Loomis could provide that.

S
he abandoned her car, ran to the side entrance, and up to the third floor where Loomis lived. She crouched down in the short hallway by the exit door and waited. After what seemed an eternity, she heard footsteps approaching from the elevator.

Through the glass Peacock held to see round corners, she observed Loomis, her target, unlocking the door to his living quarters.
She cast no shadow from the place she stood. He wouldn’t spot her. She’d been here before and knew Loomis’s work schedule. As he opened his door, which blocked his view of her attack path, she flew around the corner and swung into his room knocking him out with a well-placed fist.

She tied his hands and feet, emptied his pockets, and searched his room. Pulling the curtains closed, she
read the contents of his briefcase. Peculiar, she thought, his calendar had eleven o’clock only twenty-one hours from now circled.

At the bottom of the calendar was
scribbled,
Don’t touch Laverna.

Nothing else of significance was in his briefcase. Which was as it should be for a good
double agent.

She studied the note intently. Reed’s words resounded clearly, “Pendleton instructs me that if a hair on your head is harmed, I will die,”

The note said,
Don’t touch Laverna.

Her mission had been to discover the plot to kill
Monroe. Now she was sure she had. Loomis was to kill Monroe without her interfering. According to his calendar, that would be at eleven o’clock tonight. Names of her targets flashed about in her mind. She’d released herself from pursuing anybody’s enemy but hers. She’d kill Kolb slowly and painfully, and Nyugen simply to remove him as Kolb’s replacement. Major, whom she suspected ordered Ursa to keep her from her son, would be first on her list. Ursa had questions to answer before she decided if he should die. Of course, she’d kill anyone else who got in her way.

Peacock noticed part of her mind created a thought and another part of her mind reacted and responded to the stimulus.
Was she thinking with two parts of her brain at the same time?

Loomis groaned and tried to roll over.

“Before I killed Reed, he told me my husband ordered you not to harm me.” She surprised herself hearing the cackle-like tone of her voice.

Loomis grunted out, “No chance of that now.”

“Talk to me. You’re not my enemy. In fact, I respect you. What happens when you kill Monroe?”

“I’m to meet your husband and help him find you.”

“For what purpose?”

“How the hell do I know, Laverna? I’m like you. I follow orders.”

“Not now I don’t. I’m following my own orders.” Her headache spiked. She grabbed her hair and pulled. “Guess as to why he’s looking for me.”

“He loves you. At least he loves the woman you were before the villains screwed with your head. My guess, he wants to save you and take that probe out.” She pulled Loomis into a sitting position. “You know too much about me.”

“I’m not a threat. I was a Son of Tiw like you
were
a Herculean.” He shook his head. “You almost broke my jaw.”

“I have to take care of my business now, so I can be with my son later.”

Loomis cocked his head. “What’s that you say?”

“They took me from my son. I want him back.”

“And Monroe promised you he’d make that happen. Now what I heard makes sense.”

“
What you heard?”

Loomis sighed. “Sherman and Monroe headed into the Oval Office after some meeting I
didn’t have clearance to go to. The last words I heard were, ’I had to promise she could see her son. I don’t like lying.’”

Peacock grabbed him by the collar and squeezed. “Tell me the truth.”

“I am.”

Monroe now topped her list of enemies.
Polaris’s words rang harsh in her head. “Trust no one.”

Peacock flung a metal-based lamp across the room, sending it smashing into the open bathroom door.

“I can help you,” Loomis said. “Let me loose. I’m not your enemy.”

As she untied his hands and feet, her brain fired out of control. The emotional soup from Kolb’s infernal instrument mixed with a need to release energy.
Instantly, she panted like a caged animal. She could smell Loomis sweat. Like with Pendleton, her body and mind melded and bent toward gratification. She attacked him.

#

Polaris studied his monitor as Nyugen, Ursa, and Kolb, examined Peacock’s readouts. “Heart rate is 120,” Nyugen said. “Brainwave readings are unstable and highly erotic, but not harmful for now.

“What happened?” Kolb asked, going over the data a third time.

“Her brainwaves say she was communicating to someone. Something was said and she exploded. She either killed, sexually assaulted that person, or both.”

Ursa shook his head. “I never should have allowed her to be modified. She was a fine agent
left as she was, and you’ve turned her into a maniac. Hercules would have been better off letting her be herself. We’re fighting a losing battle anyway.”

“What do you mean a losing battle?”

Ursa remained silent.

“If you were Peacock, what would you do?” Polaris asked.

“She wants to see her son. She’ll look for a way to reach him,” Kolb said.

“Interesting,” Polaris responded. “If I were Peacock
, I’d find a way to kill
you
.”

Kolb paled. “She’s doing neither right now. I’d say she’s sleeping.”

“I think you’re in denial. What if Polaris is right? What if she wants revenge?” Ursa pointed a finger at Kolb.

Kolb stiffen
ed. Her strut and posture always showed confidence. He’d never seen Kolb unsure of herself until now. Watch your opponent’s body language and actions. That’s what his training told him. Bold mannerisms and decisive action defined confidence. Kolb exhibited neither.

“If Peacock has any unchangeable characteristic, she’s loyal.” Ursa sat on the edge of a workbench and wrote down names. “Even enraged, she finished her assignment and bought back what she could from Reed’s compound. So who has her loyalty?”

“She’d protect Magnus, Felicia, and her team at Room 1515,” Polaris said.

“And
she’d protect you,” Ursa added. “On her new team, she speaks highly of John Sherman and Agent Loomis.”

“What about you?” Polaris asked. “Does she still have loyalty to her old boss?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure you’re safe unless you try to harm her. I think we should bring Magnus and Felicia here to protect this unit.”

Kolb crumbled into a chair and put her head in her hands. “I tried to be her friend.”

Polaris swiveled his wheelchair away from the monitor. “Bullshit. You wanted to be God. But you’re not.”

#

Peacock woke and shot into a sitting position. Loomis stood naked, his back to her, pouring coffee. She sighed. A feeling of relief filled her. A feeling she hadn’t experienced since making love to Pendleton. She vaguely remembered being unable to shut down her libido until Loomis slapped her. Of course, he paid for the slap but she slept soundly.

“Pour me one,” she
ordered.

He practically fainted at the sound of her voice.

She felt amazingly proud of that fact. “Let’s have a cup or two and figure out how to get what we each want. Just remember, Alan, I could kill you and Sherman regardless of your training.”

“You almost killed me last night.”

“Well, that’s over.” She wanted him to understand he meant nothing to her but a toy. “When do you report to work?”

“In two hours,” Loomis said and b
rought her some coffee. “God, don’t tell Pendleton about our time together.”

“Humph,”
Last night was just sex—a weapon in her arsenal. All Loomis did was allow her to turn her rage into lust. If he hadn’t, he’d be dead. Pendleton left a far greater impact on her when she was with him. He touched her soul and she realized the difference. The device apparently remembered as well, because she didn’t feel pain thinking about Arthur now.

“You’re not circumcised.”

“No.”

“It doesn’t affect your performance, but be sure to clean under the foreskin.”
Strange, hearing herself say what she was thinking. Another oddity, she had no social compass. If she thought something, the thought easily spilled out of her mouth.

“Is your son circumcised?” Loomis asked.

“I don’t know.”
Don’t bring up my son.
“Let’s get the planning over with.”

“There are two scenarios,” Loomis said as he plopped down on the bed. “Monroe speaks to the nation in an hour. If Monroe turns America’s military might over to Pendleton
when Pendleton arrives here, Pendleton will bring Monroe into our fold and America as well. If not, I’m to kill him.”

“I’ll stay here at your place long enough to hear what Monroe decides. I’ll leave Monroe to you. In any case
, I’ve got certain business of my own tonight.”

She finished her coffee.

Loomis looked longingly at her and for an instant became aroused.

“You have a job to do
.” Peacock grumped, seeing his erection. “If I fly into a rage later, I’ll look you up.”

“Maybe we can join forces,” Loomis said, as he dressed. “You take care of your business. I’ll take care of mine. We team up again afterward. Where shall we meet?”

Peacock considered the possibility of outside help. Keep communication with Loomis and see how plans developed. Neither of them might be alive by midnight.

“I ditched my government
cellphone,” she said. “But I know your number. I’ll figure out a way contact you.”

“Good luck,” Loomis said before he left. “Pendleton loves you. Can I let him know you’re all right?”

“Tell him not to look for me when he gets to Washington. I’ll find him.”

When the door closed, Peacock dressed and focused her attention on the television. At precisely nine in the morning, the President addressed the nation.

“My fellow Americans, pressure by our former allies in Europe has been intense, urging the United States to enter into the present conflict in Iran which has now spread into Iraq and is approaching Syria and Jordan.”

Monroe looked shaken and frail. Peacock marveled at the change in him over the last few days.

“They promise to ease our financial burden if we join with them in supporting the Russians as they drive into the Middle East.” He bowed his head and with a grim countenance said, “After long discussions with the leaders in Congress, I have decided to decline their offer of financial support. The United States will remain true to our beliefs and keep our independence, our freedom, and our honor. We are committed to defend the Nation of Israel. If the Russians proceed past the border of Iraq and threaten Israel’s sovereignty, we will respond militarily.”

Peacock turned off the television. Monroe had set his course. Now she had to determine her own.

#

Polaris couldn’t believe his eyes as he studied the data with Doctor Nyugen. The brainwave activity patterns were sharply different from three months ago, even from three days ago.

“Such a complex creature Man is,” Polaris said.

“And adaptable beyond even my imagination,” Nyugen echoed. “The inflicting of pain has been rendered ineffective. The device’s programming and her pathway system have worked out their own networking.”

“Her brain’s like a gigantic transportation control system,” Kolb said, and Nyugen nodded agreement. “The best example is Open Architecture Train Control. The implant’s pain generators shock her brain, then reroute and dissipate. She feels them, but their impact is decreasing. Her normal brain functions act like commuter trains, typical speed and efficiency.”

“But there are three areas of hyperactivity,” Nyugen pointed out.

“In layman’s terms,” Kolb said. “These are emotional express trains. She and our implant decided to clear all other objects off those tracks. She becomes an id-like creature when something sets her off, and with her emotions on overdrive, the transformation is immediate.”

“Magnus and Felicia will be here any moment,” Ursa said. “We’ll even the odds.”

Polaris didn’t bother to respond. Even in his best day, Polaris couldn’t match what Peacock had become. If he were whole in body and mind, standing beside Magnus and Felicia to do battle, he wouldn’t bet on his side winning. However, he did trust Peacock’s loyalty. She would not betray friendship. He prayed to God that she didn’t consider him an enemy.

Pendleton climbed out of his limousine in front of the Old Palace in Canterbury. He straightened himself and brushed off imaginary pieces of lint. Feeling good about his personal appearance gave him an air of righteousness. The soon-to-be ruler of the world must also be right with his faith and reassuring to his spiritual mentor.

Inside and outside, the renovated building sparkled. The colors in the landscape and freshness in the air gave a warm feel to his visit. He hoped the Archbishop would agree.

“The Most Reverend, Lord Archbishop will be with you momentarily, Mister Pendleton. Please come in and make yourself comfortable.” The Church Secretary led him into a long, rectangular foyer. Pendleton sat down in a comfortable red chair
, and two of his bodyguards positioned themselves by the door.

The next forty-eight hours would be entirely without sleep except for what he might get flying to Washington. Loomis was in place to eliminate Monroe. He
directed his most trusted friend, Hans Van Meer, to check on Reed. At last report, Latovsky’s forces approached the Jordanian border, having swept through Baghdad with little resistance.

Iran,
particularly Tehran, posed a different problem. Iranians fought hand-to-hand for every inch of soil with massive casualties on both sides. Israel fired several missiles disabling Iranian nuclear facilities, only to have the ungrateful Russians destroy Israel’s missile defense headquarters in Ashkelon.

With all
Pendleton’s plans flying together, Lovey took center stage. A message from Loomis said she’d bolted from Hercules and was operating rogue. Loomis trusted her, and Loomis would watch her back after Monroe died. He warmed inside at the idea of Lovey being a willing ally.

At that moment, Pendleton’s
cellphone vibrated. “Yes.”

“Sir Jarvis here, Arthur. I need half-a-sec.”

“Go on.”

“Former MI6 operatives in charge of
media elimination
want to know how the communications satellites are being handled. Since you haven’t told me, I can’t answer.”

“Think of the re-targeting program. U.S. Missiles will destroy all but two systems. Our people on the ground will control the remaining two until we put our own satellites in orbit.”

“Can I say so?”

“Assure them the situation is well in hand.”

As Pendleton closed his cell, the Archbishop’s inner door opened.

“Arthur, so good to see you
, please come in.” The Archbishop positioned himself in the doorway to his study and waved Pendleton inside. His plastic smile said he wasn’t at all pleased to see Pendleton. “Did you see the new stonework? Since the church renovated the place in 2006, I’ve enjoyed both visiting and now staying here. Just a short walk from Canterbury Cathedral you know.”

“It’s good to see you again, Lord Archbishop.”

Once the door closed, the Archbishop pointed a finger at Pendleton. “Are you trying to destroy the world? If so, you’re doing a good job of it. Stop this madness.”

“No, I’m trying to preserve the world,” Pendleton said, and pointed a finger back. “I’m here to confess my faith, not to listen to a sermon. Religion condemns us. Jesus saved us from that condemnation. Will you listen? Or am I wasting my time?”

The Archbishop’s face reddened into a shocked expression that said he’d received the message. Both men sat down.

“First,
” Pendleton stated. “I’m a loyal believer in Jesus Christ. I’m a member of the Anglican Church by birth, not by choice. Because I’m a Brit, I’m a member of the Church of England. Nonetheless, as of next week, there will be no England. So you will have to change all your materials and websites to reflect the Anglican Communion only.”

“Other than that, why did you bother to come all this way to see me?”

“To express my faith in Christ and ask for your prayers and blessing.”

“You have my prayers. You must earn my blessing.” The Archbishop leaned forward and took in a slow breath. “Only Christ can be an enlightened ruler. Only He can solve all the world’s problems. Whatever you’ve started, stop it. Wait on God, Arthur.”

Honestly said, Pendleton thought. Deserving of an honest response, “You have no argument from me, Lord Archbishop. I agree fully. I’m not perfect. Nor will my government be perfect. But my government will turn this planet around, because l will abolish money, treat all men equally, and take the steps necessary to stop the destruction of the world.”

“Millions are going to die, Arthur. Over a hundred thousand
souls have died already, maybe more. The slaughter going on in Iran is unbelievable.”

“War is not my creation. A greater war than this is more than likely if I don’t act. My objective is to put an end to nationalism and religious bickering, and instead expand the potential of all human beings. There is no other way to accomplish this.”

“Really, you see no possibility of Humankind working together?”

“Good God
, no,” Pendleton said with a laugh following. “Put two people in a room and you have a disagreement, three a fight, thirty a mob. Politicians all say they speak for the people. Bull! Everyone wants a handout, but no one wants to pay for the privilege. Our planet is dying. Without a unified world, humanity is doomed.”

“There must be some other way.”

“Tell me what you’d propose. Capitalism promotes greed. Socialism promotes laziness. Communism and Neo-Nazi dictatorships promote terror and poverty. Enlighten me with an alternative or stand aside.”

The Archbishop rose. He shook Pendleton’s hand. “I’ll pray for you. I’ll pray for the world. I’ll leave it to God to bless you. If He’s with you, I’ll be with you. If He’s against you, no blessing from me will help.”

“Since, I’m only a man. I will gladly leave divine action in God’s hands. Until that occurs, I’m taking the steps necessary to save the planet before man destroys himself.”

Pendleton turned and left the Old Palace. The Archbishop did not see him out.

#

Hans Van Meer’s Saab pulled up in front of Thomas Reed’s house. Reed’s front door
swung open and creaked in the wind. Van Meer exited his car and headed up the walk. He noticed a tennis shoe print in the soft soil off to the left of Reed’s porch.

Could be a woman’s, he thought.

Once inside with the door closed, he called out. “Reed, old man, are you decent?”

Only the wind outside could be heard blowing particles of dust against the windows.

“Hello,” Van Meer called again.

He looked up to where Reed’s communications lab was and saw the light was on. As he climbed the stairs, the
gruesome scene unfolded in front of him. Reed, with what was left of his head dangling backwards over the top of his chair, sat lifeless, having bled out hours before.

Van Meer looked closely at the bullets
embedded into Reed. Hollow points fired at close range. Whoever killed him killed him in a rage. Not unusual for someone in Reed’s business to have enemies, but this person killed out of hatred. The cabinet drawer was empty. Papers? Electronics? Was theft the motive, if so, why such bloody violence?

He dusted the doors and handles. No fingerprints, this
attack smacked of a professional job. Questions still bothered Van Meer. The footprint in the mud turned in such a way it indicated a person leaving, not coming. A professional wouldn’t advertise he’d been here by not closing the door. The killer came in like a professional and left like someone chased by the devil.

Van Meer left the house as he found it. He was bound for Washington to meet up with Pendleton. He’d give his boss the details then. As he drove away, he called Haddington law enforcement and reported the break in.

#

Sir Jarvis Franks
dashed through the tube connecting the European Space Agency and the U.K.’s new International Space Innovation Centre in Harwell, Oxfordshire. He entered the command center for Project Stealth and proceeded to the main code sequencing room.

“Excited everyone?” he asked with a slight hip wiggle and twist of his moustache.

The project manager strolled up to shake Frank’s hand. “We’re more nervous than anything else. The technology is sound. But there’s always human error.”

“Except for the resistance in Iran, things are going swimmingly. Pendleton has the timetable moving. Nothing anyone can do will stop him.”

“Tell me the same thing twenty-four hours from now and I’ll believe you.” The program manager lowered his voice. “At least you’ll have a job after Pendleton takes over. I’m not sure I will.”

Franks knew much more than this fellow
knew. However, he couldn’t tell him everything until all the scenarios played out. “A man with your talent should have nothing to worry about. Now fill me in on the preparations.”

On the video screens overhead
, visuals of the countdown to firing and the actual video feed of the rocket banks played, compliments of Professor Cline. “As you can see, every rocket bank is monitored by a team. The U.S. operators will detect the first sequence of firings immediately. But we’ll have launched almost three hundred rockets at our predetermined targets before they can respond.”

Franks nodded. “The strikes against the radicals in both the Muslim and Jewish worlds will send a message that an impartial new leader now rules the world.”

“Maybe,” the project manager said. “If—and there’s a lot of ifs. If Latovsky stops advancing, if China remains silent, and if the world receives relief quickly enough to see the benefits Pendleton’s plan provides, then maybe things will work out.”

Latovsky would stop advancing, but not as Latovsky wish
ed. Franks twirled his mustache. He’d seen Pendleton in action. He’d seen former Prime Minister Grace Claymore dethroned overnight. He’d witnessed his new boss control the course of the world events. “No maybes about it, Old Chap. Even if the missiles misfire, Pendleton will climb out on top of the rubble.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Dial up, Professor Cline. I want to speak with him,” Franks said.

“No need. He’s connected with telemetry right now.”

The project manager guided Franks to a far corner and motioned to his technician to give him his headset.

“Sorry to interrupt, Professor. Sir Jarvis wishes to speak to you.”

“And I wish to speak to Sir Jarvis.”

“Roger that,” Franks said, “at your service.”

“Who is leading my protection team once I complete my task here in Huntsville?”

“Arthur has selected the best, a man named Hans Van Meer. He’s headed to the States as we speak.” Franks cleared his th
roat. “Are you interested in Arthur’s plans for you when this bloody mess is all over?”

“Yes, do you know them?”

“Indeed I do. If all goes smoothly, you’ll head the new World Space Academy.”

“Now that’s my ultimate dream. Communicate to my friend, Arthur, that I’m very pleased.”

Franks handed the headset back to the technician. He looked at his watch. In four hours, President Monroe would be dead.