The Deaths of Tao (11 page)

“Tao is a hypocrite,” Baji snapped. “He rants that our influence over the humans is just as bad as the Genjix. That we are the cause of as much misery as they, yet he wages a personal war that cuts a path of destruction as wide as Sherman ever did. Now, with Roen a willing accomplice, he is a loose cannon no one can control. At least Tao’s previous host, Edward, had a good head on his shoulders.”

“But you heard Stephen,” Yol mused. “He found truth in Tao’s claims. That means Camr does too. Stephen is cautious and Camr even more so. We cannot ignore the facts. Global temperatures have increased three percent since the turn of the twentieth century. Carbon levels by nine. The Genjix are pushing for the industrialization of humanity in the most inefficient way possible. That cannot be coincidence.”

“It is the path of least resistance.”

“That’s the curious thing. It is not; everyone knows that. The Genjix are playing a cruel joke on this planet. Humanity could advance far quicker utilizing more efficient means of industrializing, yet the Genjix take the most toxic path possible.”

“You give them too much credit. The Genjix do not care about being cruel to humanity. That would imply that they cared enough to be cruel. Their only concern is the Return. The evil they do is simply a byproduct of their means.”

A thought occurred to Baji. She turned to Yol. “What is the longest you have ever survived in this atmosphere?”

“Thirteen minutes during Waterloo. I had to jump among nine French military officers, including three captains and a general. It was a messy day.”

“Back during the second Ice Age, we lost hundreds of thousands of Quasing to the atmosphere. Survival outside of a host depended on seconds. Now, it is minutes. With the current ultraviolet levels and carbon levels, the rate the planet is increasing in temperature...”

Yol shook her head. “It will still be five hundred years before we can survive an hour. Not even the Genjix could be so ambitious.”

“Ambition is something the Genjix have ample supply of.” Baji stood up. Jill’s leg ached from the wound she had sustained last week, and she had forgotten to take her antibiotics. More often than not these days, Jill was forgetting to take care of herself. She went to the counter, took two pills from a small bottle, and popped them in her mouth. Then she paused. Tao had ranted for a year leading up to his disappearance. Now, Yol was here with the same conspiracy theories.

She squinted at Yol. “Are you Tao’s mole?”

Yol laughed. “That is the second time this week you have accused me of that. I will tell you again that I am not. And if I were, I would not admit it. From what I can tell, the only thing Tao has done with the information is look after Jill.”

Baji waved her off. “I would love to plug that leak. I do not care if Camr is using the mole to spy on Roen as well. Tao is just so smug about always appearing at Jill’s missions.”

“He saved her life more than a few times,” Yol countered. “We ask a lot of our hosts. They make sacrifices most others would not dream of. Do not be so hard on Roen, or Jill, for that matter.”

Baji walked to the window and looked at the night sky. The stars were rarely visible from the city. Tonight was no exception. On the horizon, a thick layer of clouds sped east. They would be directly overhead shortly, and with them, rain. The swamp in the nation’s capital would be rising tonight.

“Part of the reason I have not embraced Jill to the same extent as my previous hosts is because I do not think she will survive long with things the way they are. Her area of expertise is political, and they are always the first to the headsman during regime changes.” Baji bowed her head. “I should have kept her in the Midwest.”

Yol chuckled. “Maybe you should worry more about getting a mole into the Genjix Council than finding one working for Tao in Prophus Command.”

“It is not just that.” Baji turned to her. “When I had Sonya, Tao chastised me about not giving her a life outside the Prophus. With Jill, I tried to not lay a heavy hand upon her. Jill marries Tao’s host, and then he abandons her!”

“At least it was not for another woman,” Yol shrugged. “From what I understand, she kicked him out, yet he still hovers in the shadows protecting her. It was not like he ran off with his secretary.”

“Whose side are you on?” Baji snapped.

“Everyone’s, obviously.” Yol shook her head. “I have known you for a very long time. You were not like this a hundred years ago. Take a step back and look at what has been happening. You need to forgive yourself for Sonya and open up to Jill.”

Yol stood up and followed Baji to the window. The two of them stood side by side, looking up at the darkened sky. “I am tightening the sloppy DC operations for our operatives. Adams was versed at policy but useless in matters of security; it is a dangerous combination. Any success in the political arena just pushes the Genjix toward solving the problem with a knife instead. I need Jill to help push policy while I address our defensive position. Expect a visit from Marco in the next few days.”

“Ahngr was never my friend, but I do not question his host’s competency.”

“I will see you soon then,” Yol gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and walked out the door.

“At least I hope so,” Baji said before turning off the lights and going back to bed.

 

TEN

PRISONERS

The Prophus argue that we cannot treat humans as we do the other beasts on this planet. They say that humans are complex and not driven by instinct, that their evolutionary level required a new set of standards of judgment.
 

I find that assertion preposterous. All animals are motivated by pain, pleasure, and self-preservation. Humans are no different. When the rift occurred among our ranks, the Council decided to be merciful and only commanded all the Prophus vessels imprisoned or killed in order to keep the betrayers out of the way. After all, we were all still Quasing.
 

Zoras

 

Enzo watched from the upper platform as the tugs dragged the
Atlantis
into drydock, his knuckles white as he gripped the hand rails. It was a massive sub, the only prototype of its kind. Originally christened the
Scimitar
and commissioned through the Soviet Navy, the Prophus had pulled a coup and stolen it the night before her maiden voyage. Now she was returning home. While she might be showing her age − some of the newer submarines were faster or heavier armed – none had the sheer scale and imperial might of the
Atlantis
. Yes, she was back to her rightful owners.

“Close the gate. Get the Red Army out,” he ordered. Standing next to him, Yuki, Admiral of the Genjix Orient Fleet, ordered the gates closed. Two massive gates that made up one wall of the drydock rolled shut with a jarring squeal.

Yuki paused at the next order. “The situation is volatile, Father. We may need the extra manpower if the Prophus resist.”

“Your concern is noted,” Enzo remarked. “This is Genjix business. Get the humans out. Assemble a defensive perimeter around the
Scimitar
. Non-lethal force only. We need the vessels.”

He watched as his minions scurried like ants on the ground level. The Chinese commander raised a ruckus about being ordered out, but eventually, he and his men were ushered out at gunpoint. He might claim jurisdiction, but he knew who wielded the real power here. The Prime Minster wasn’t a vessel yet, but it would only be a matter of time before a Genjix assumed that mantle of leadership. Regardless, there were already enough of theirs in the upper echelon of the party for them to operate unhindered.

When all the Chinese soldiers were gone, the Admiral called for “all phasers on stun”. Technically, the guns weren’t phasers and didn’t stun anything. The small gas pellets they fired released a neurotoxin that could knock out a rhino. And in case the targets wore masks, the pellets were hard enough to pierce flesh, directly injecting the toxin into one’s bloodstream. “Phasers on stun” was a tribute to Yuki’s Holy One, Galen, whose previous vessel created some silly television show an odd half century ago.

Respect your predecessors. Each vessel’s role in the Genjix is different. Devin never fired a gun in his life. Not all excel militarily.
 

“Apologies, Zoras. I meant no disrespect.”

An engineering crew approached the primary armory bay, originally designed for a nuclear payload. Enzo doubted
Atlantis
had those in her hull. The weak-willed Prophus would never have the gall to use a weapon of such power, so why bother lugging them around? It was the largest opening in the sub and gave his men the widest bottleneck to work with. A laser cut straight around the hinges should take less than an hour. He leaned forward eagerly and watched the sparks fly.

Hand the responsibility of the prisoners to Yuki. You must prepare for the meeting with the Council tonight. Your place among them rests on their acceptance.
 

“I am an Adonis Vessel, Zoras, raised only for this purpose. Why would the Council not accept me? I am the epitome of the human and Quasing merger.”

Since the Hatchery’s inception, only a handful of Adonis have been blessed. Its record since the Second World War has been inconsistent. The first two programs produced catastrophic failures. There are those in the hierarchy who still question its product. You must not make a bad impression upon them.
 

Enzo dismissed that dated theory. “The program was perfected years ago. The early Adonis recruits were poor samples. Training back then was imperfect. I am living proof of its success.” He unclenched his fist on the railing and then clenched even tighter, his excitement replaced with growing irritation. It was insulting to question the Hatchery’s effectiveness.

We shall see.
 

“Father,” Yuki said, bowing. “Myyk is asking to meet with Zoras.”

“Abrams wishes to speak terms?” Enzo chuckled. “What terms could they possibly offer?”

All information is useful. It is wise to know your enemy.
 

“As you wish, Zoras.”

He took the phone from Yuki. “Admiral Abrams,” he said respectfully.

“A young man by the sound of it,” Abrams’s calm, aged voice spoke on the other line. “This is Zoras’ new vessel then? Last time I spoke with Devin, he was hacking up a lung.”

“A pleasure, sir,” Enzo turned on the charm. “I am the new vessel of the Holy One.”

“How unfortunate.” There was a pause on the other line. “Devin was formidable. Though on opposing sides, we shared a mutual respect. I am saddened by his passing.”

“Thank you for your kind words. Father Devin is greatly missed.” Abrams’s voice reminded him of a doddering old man, nothing like what an admiral’s would be. “I offer you the opportunity to convey your condolences in person at your surrender.”

“We haven’t discussed terms yet, son.”

Being called son only reinforced his image of the old feeble fool. Enzo blocked it out of his mind and pressed on. “Apologies, Admiral, but there is little you can offer. If you value the lives of your crew...”

“You do not want to have to board the
Atlantis
.”

Enzo masked his growing annoyance. “Abrams, the
Scimitar
is in a military naval yard surrounded by a thousand Genjix and twenty thousand Chinese soldiers. Your defeat is not in question.”

Offer him terms of surrender.
 

“Why bother, Zoras? He is trapped in the tin can. Unconditional surrender is his only recourse.”

Whichever entryway we cut through will be heavily defended. Our casualties will be high. You also want to take them alive, so that rules out incendiaries. There is also the question of nuclear armaments on board.
 

“Casualties are acceptable. They are only humans.”

Abrams continued speaking as if he were talking about watering his garden. “I never said victory was an option. However, taking
Atlantis
will prove difficult. The
Atlantis
will bleed you before you take her.”

“My men will do what is necessary to take the
Scimitar
,” Enzo accentuated the true name of the submarine. “You still have nothing to offer.”

“I offer the lives of the men you will lose if you take
Atlantis
by force.”

“Forgive me if that incentive holds little value to me. I am a vessel of the gods. The lives you offer are there to be expended, so here are my terms. Come out unarmed and surrender unconditionally. You have until we cut through your doors to decide if you want to save your crew’s lives.” He handed the phone back to Yuki and continued to stare intently at the work below.

That was inelegant. You should have listened. You have much to learn.
 

Enzo grunted and continued to watch the dancing sparks of the laser as it bounced off the submarine walls. Six minutes into cutting, the bay doors made a clicking noise and began to lift. The engineers stopped and took a few steps back.

“See, Zoras? The Prophus are weak and have already given up.”

The door stopped a quarter of a meter off the ground, making a booming sound that bounced off the drydock walls and echoed through the room. Half a dozen metal objects rolled out from the opening, followed by the sound of automatic fire. The engineering crew was cut down immediately while the guards surrounding the submarine scattered. Two of Enzo’s bodyguards pulled him down to the ground. The resulting explosions rocked the drydock.

He heard the screams of men and the creak of metal as another explosion shook the building. Red lights flashed, and in the distance, a siren wailed. Enzo threw his men off and scanned the carnage over the railing. Smoke was everywhere and several dozens of his men lay dead.

Yuki walked up to him cautiously and held up the phone. “It’s for you, Father. The Prophus wishes to discuss terms.”