Paradise Hacked (First Circle Club Book 2) (20 page)

"If you don't do what I say," Kyle said, "I'll give this man a new smile from ear to ear."

"Go ahead."

"Huh?"

"Just get it over with so we can get down to business," Virgil said.

"You're serious?" Kyle said.

"As serious as a funeral. Hurry up."

Virgil's gaze drained Kyle of all his confidence. Those eyes had seen unspeakable horrors. Kyle felt profound desolation and loneliness. The jaws of oblivion were snapping at his feet.

He slowly drew the knife across Alfred's throat. Alfred just stood without struggling. When Kyle was done, he stepped away.

The wound was deep and wide, but white liquid leaked out instead of blood. It flowed like yogurt and glowed slightly. Alfred didn't seem to be in pain. His skin began to close up while Kyle watched, and a minute later, Alfred was healed.

"We're Martians," Virgil said, "remember? Enough screwing around. Who do you work for? What do you know? What do you think you know?"

Kyle swallowed. He had done three tours of duty in some of the most dangerous places on Earth. He had killed terrorists and rebels. He had fought when any sane man would've run.

This was different. Kyle had never felt so intimidated.

"Captain Dirk Kyle, United States Army, and that's all I'm telling you."

Alfred put a hand on his shoulder. "It's OK," Alfred said in a soothing voice. "We're not your enemies. There is no reason for us to fight. You're involved in something you don't understand. I can't give you the details, but it's a catastrophe in the making. Our job is to stop this mess from getting any worse and identify the people responsible. Ideally, we can find a peaceful resolution. Help us do our jobs, please."

That voice went straight into Kyle's brain. He felt profound peace and friendship. God loved him. It was exactly the opposite experience as Virgil's gaze.

"Your tricks won't work on me," Kyle said in slow, measured words. "I will never betray my commander or my country. I would die first."

"I respect your position," Virgil said. "I really do, but your loyalty is badly misplaced in this case. Let me tell you something."

He walked over to the iron hatch in the floor and stared at it. The metal was black with age. Even though the inscriptions were completely unfamiliar to Kyle, he somehow knew the words warned of death.

"I've never served in a real army," Virgil said, "but I have answered to commanders. I've faced many situations that were... ethically ambiguous. Sometimes simply following orders isn't the honorable choice. Real courage isn't always found on the battlefield. The most difficult, most frightening choices are always about principles. What is the best way to serve our leaders? What goals are most important? How do we promote the common good when we are being told to do otherwise? The questions aren't easy, and the right answers can feel like betrayal at first, but true heroes distinguish themselves at these critical moments."

He continued to gaze at the hatch as if it had profound importance.

"Why are you telling me this?" Kyle said.

"Because if you really care about honor and duty to your fellow man," Virgil said, "you'll help us put an end to this insanity. What's happening is very wrong. Innocents are dying. The people you work for are the bad guys here."

He spoke with a clarity and a passion that was very human. Kyle was confused.

"You're Martians," he said. "Why do you care about human lives?"

"I hate that lie," Alfred said. "We're not Martians. We're as native to Earth as you."

Virgil gave Alfred a sharp look.

"Then what are you?" Kyle said. "You're obviously not human."

Virgil continued to glare furiously at Alfred.

"All that matters is we're here to help," Alfred said. "We're not foreign spies or criminals. We're not enemies of the state."

Kyle believed Alfred, and it wasn't because of his mind-control power. Alfred had a sincerity which couldn't be faked.

Kyle remembered seeing the corpse of Corporal Hartmann, and Kyle had heard about the death of Sergeant Hill. Prior test subjects had simply gone missing. The scientists clearly had no idea what they were doing, but they were happy to throw the bodies of good men at the problem. Kyle couldn't ignore his gnawing doubts about the project as a whole.

"OK," he said at last. "I'm willing to accept the possibility that you're not my enemy despite the fact that you abducted me."

"Hey," Virgil said, "you spied on us. You stole that corpse. We were minding our own business until you came along. What were your orders tonight? You were going to capture us, right? I don't want to hear any whining about abductions."

"Hmm. OK. I'll tell you a few things, stuff you probably already know."

"Go on," Virgil said.

"A scientist discovered a gateway to an alien world. We've been sending test subjects through it, but they haven't come back alive."

"A gateway?" Virgil looked at Alfred.

"It's an interesting twist on the truth," Alfred said. "Technically, the gateway does lead to another place."

"I suppose." Virgil faced Kyle again. "Where is the gateway? What's the name of the project? Who is the commander? Most importantly, who is the scientist? He is probably the cause of all the trouble."

"You don't know where the gateway is?" Kyle said with surprise.

"If we did, it would get closed! We spent all day trying to figure out which one you guys were using. We figured it had to be one of them."

Kyle realized there was more than one gateway. He had a revelation.

"Is that a gateway?" He pointed at the hatch in the floor.

Virgil narrowed his eyes. "That kind of insight could get a person into trouble. Just tell me which gateway was compromised. I promise you it doesn't lead to an alien world. It offers no military advantage, if that's what the Army is hoping for. No human can use it and live."

Kyle considered what information he wanted to reveal. He wasn't ready to spill his guts, but his attitude was shifting. Virgil reminded Kyle of good soldiers he had known in the past.

"It's in a place called McCormick Woods in Riverside," he said. "I'm not sure of the exact location."

Virgil furrowed his brow. "You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. Why do you look confused? You didn't know about it?"

"No, and that in itself is a big, red flag. Let's move on. What else are you willing to tell me?"

"The scientist is Dr. Theodore Harlow," Kyle said. "He's some kind of physics genius, but I've heard some creepy rumors about him. I definitely could believe he's not on the level."

"And how did he discover the gateway?" Virgil said.

"I don't know."

"We need to find him. What else? Who is your commander?"

Kyle looked down at the filthy floor.

"Well?" Virgil said.

"I don't think you need to know that."

"I need to know everything! This is not some harmless little experiment. Dr. Harlow is stirring up a hornet's nest of trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Kyle narrowed his eyes. "Where does the gateway actually go?"

"It's not a place you need to worry about right now. The people who use those gateways are friends of humanity, and they've been doing it for thousands of years."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because I'm telling the truth!" Virgil said angrily. "We need to find a way to resolve this situation. I would really like to talk to your commander, but I just spent the night being chased by men with guns. I think the opportunity for peaceful meetings has come and gone."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Alfred said. He turned to Kyle. "I have a proposal. If we promise not to harm anybody, will you take us to your headquarters?"

"I'm not going to betray the location of my comrades," Kyle said.

"What if we go unarmed?"

"But you can't warn them we're coming," Virgil said. "We don't want to walk into an ambush without even a gun for self-defense. By the way, how many Special Forces operatives are attached to this project?"

"Several squads."

"Against the two of us?" Virgil said. "Even with the advantage of surprise, I'm not excited by this idea."

"It won't be a problem," Alfred said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Once we start to talk to them like adults, I'm sure they'll listen."

Virgil shook his head. "I'm not so sure. We'll meet the rest of the team first. I want my side to be at full strength before we try this insanity."

"I never agreed to this idea," Kyle said.

"You want more bloodshed instead? More death? If we don't end this soon, you're going to see a lot of soldiers with toe tags."

Kyle contemplated the proposal. He noticed the massive stone casks again. "What are those barrels for?"

"Medical supplies."

Kyle raised his eyebrows.

"He's serious," Alfred said, "but the supplies are for him, not me."

"Here's the plan," Virgil said. "We'll hang out here for an hour or two. Then we'll sneak past the police and steal a car. The meeting with the rest of the team is at noon."

"Maybe the stink in here is making me crazy," Kyle said, "but I'll accept your proposal. I will facilitate a peaceful resolution provided I don't have to reveal any more secrets. I would appreciate an opportunity to sleep though. I've been awake for thirty hours."

"We'll work that in."

"Thanks. Are you tired?"

"We don't sleep," Virgil said. "Ever."

* * *

Lisa was walking quickly through a neighborhood on the outskirts of Chicago. It was a semirural area with small homes spaced at wide intervals. The lawns were relatively enormous. Most of the houses were made of red brick, a tradition in the Midwest. She didn't see anything taller than one story.

She was looking for a car to steal, and she didn't have a lot of time. Dawn would come soon. Theft was best done in darkness.

She stopped to let Mei catch up. The poor girl was so tired, she could barely lift her feet. She had slept at most an hour in the car. Being traumatized by her father's death didn't help.

While Lisa waited, she thought about that death. She had never been a fan of Mammon, but she had felt some respect for the demon at least. It was a prince of Hell after all. One didn't get that job by being weak. Killing Mr. Li had stripped Lisa of any positive feelings. She now saw Mammon as a prince of scumbags who deserved only disgust and hatred. If there was any justice in the universe, Mammon would pay for the crime.

Mei finally caught up. "Can we stop to rest?" she panted.

"If we stop, you're going to fall asleep on me, and I'll have to carry you. Let's just find a car. You can sleep on the back seat."

"OK, but we've already been looking for a while."

"I'll try the next place," Lisa said. "Wait here."

The next house on the block had blue walls made of wood. A detached garage was built out of cinderblocks, and a tan minivan was parked on the driveway.

Lisa liked that minivan. It wouldn't attract attention, and it could carry a lot of stuff.

She padded over to the front door and peered through a window. Car keys were lying on a table near the door.
Bingo,
she thought.

She tried the door, but it was locked. She walked around the house until she came to a window that slid upwards. She pushed with all her strength, and a cheap latch broke, allowing her to open the window. She slipped into the house and silently closed the window.

Lisa hurried back to the front door and grabbed the keys. Just to be nice, she removed the car key from the ring and put the rest back on the table. She left the house.

She ran to the minivan and opened the door. She didn't want to start the ignition so close to the house because it might wake up the owner. Instead, she put the car in neutral and pushed it down the driveway. When it was in the street, she climbed in and turned the key. The engine purred nicely.

Mei climbed in on the passenger side. Lisa drove off.

"Don't you feel guilty about stealing a car?" Mei said.

"I'm just borrowing it," Lisa said. "Once things have settled down, I'll make sure the police find it and return it to the owner."

"What if that doesn't happen?"

"That's what insurance is for. Listen, this car is just a thing. It's much less important than the mission or your life. Focus on what matters."

Mei looked down. She didn't seem happy with that answer.

"The next problem is finding a place where you can be safe," Lisa said.

"For how long?"

"I don't know. Until this mess is fixed."

"I don't want to be dropped off like a bag of garbage," Mei said.

Lisa glanced at her. "Did you see what just happened at that gas station? Guys with guns want our asses. You might be hot stuff at a computer keyboard, but in a fight, you're a liability, and there will be more fights."

Mei rubbed her eyes. Tears dripped down her cheeks.

"I don't mean to be harsh," Lisa said softly. "Virgil told me to make sure you're safe, and that's what I'm going to do."

"You're meeting him at noon."

"That's right, if he makes it."

"I want to see him again," Mei said. "I didn't really get a chance to say goodbye before."

Lisa sighed. "You're making this complicated."

"If he still wants me dropped off, I won't complain."

Lisa made a sour face. She had planned to put Mei in a cheap motel somewhere far from the action, but there was no rush. Sticking together for a few extra hours might not be a bad thing from a safety point of view. Mei certainly wasn't in a good condition to take care of herself alone. Virgil would also appreciate seeing his girlfriend safe and sound.

"OK," Lisa said. "We'll find a motel near Aladdin's Castle. You can sleep for a few hours while I keep watch. When we meet Virgil, he can decide what to do with you."

"Thank you." Mei paused. "I hope Sara is alright."

"I'm sure she is," Lisa said confidently, but she was also worried.

Chapter Twelve

Sara saw a sign for the Illinois Army National Guard. The soldiers were taking her into a military base.

The Humvee stopped at a guard post. A guard came out, and his eyes widened at the sight of heavily armed soldiers and one captive. He waved the car through, saying they were "expected."