The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (50 page)

“Corson, the amplifiers are set to engage!” Laura shouted as her wrist began to blink.

Corson nodded. “We are ready for you, Peter. Drop the package!”

“Here goes something!” Peter’s voice echoed in Corson’s ear.

As the dark slit in the sky sealed closed, the giant plane sprung open its pod bay doors and released a massive metal object that hurtled towards the Earth at terminal velocity. Corson quickly pushed aside his coat and pressed a button on his belt. Everyone watched as the large object sprung what had to be the largest parachute ever designed. The massive black fixture had to span nearly a thousand feet, and had four smaller shoots just above the largest. What was even more amazing was how the metal commit still continued to fall rather quickly, but instead of flopping around in the sky, it was balanced and even for its touchdown.

Corson huffed triumphantly. “Victory.”

The large package slammed into the ground just moments later, kicking up a huge dust cloud. The crater left by the device was nearly twenty feet wide, but miraculously, the massive structure remained upright on the ground as the huge shoot released and floated off to land about fifty yards to its left. Zack was more impressed at how it missed the helicopters that were still grounded.

Corson bolted to the giant metal structure. Everyone soon followed, anxious to see the main piece of the operation.

“Peter, don’t linger in the air. Reengage the Worm Drive and return to base. Get that bird out of the sky,” Corson said hastily.

“How long does he have?” Laura asked, a little worried as they made it to the large generator. It stood nearly fifteen feet tall and almost a hundred feet long. It was as large as a bus, maybe bigger.

Corson ignored her question, brushing away dirt and rocks away from what appeared to be a control panel. He quickly keyed in a twelve digit code and crouched down to allow his retina to be scanned. The panel sprung open to reveal a large terminal displaying over twenty screens.

“Looks like it sustained no damage during the fall. The reinforced hide we designed for it worked quite well,” he muttered. He began typing on the hovering keyboard before him, bringing the machine to life. It growled with ferocious power as the entire device began to emit blue light from all its vents. The large piston at its center began to heat and move like a turbine engine. Its howl was earth-shaking.

Corson looked up, noticing Peter still in the sky. He now seemed irritated as he turned to Nerine. “Explain to me why Peter hasn’t reengaged the Worm Drive?!” he shot sharply, turning his focus back to the many screens waving around him.

Nerine
seemed a bit frazzled. Zack could also see that several others looked to be a bit worried by the statement. His eyes fell to his sister, who stood frozen among everyone. She seemed lost in a trance as she watched the events unfold before her. Now, with all that was happening, she could only stare, utterly bewildered at what she was seeing. Zack knew she was petrified.
      

“Corson, something isn’t right,” Peter’s voice echoed over Corson’s ear.

Corson didn’t stop focusing on his task, though he did note the grave tone in Peter’s voice. “Be specific. What is wrong?” he said, fingers still blazing.

“Something is jamming my navigation system. I can’t lock on to my return point to engage the Worm Drive.”

Nerine joined in on the call. “Have you tried a system reboot on the navigator software?”

“I have, twice!” Peter replied firmly. “What, is this Limit Zone’s Zero Barrier blocking my signal?”

Nerine shook her head. “Python is a modified B-52. I designed it myself. It should be able to operate its software within the Zero Barrier. The only way it could be jammed is if someone zeroed in on the individual aircraft’s signal from a close proximity.”

Laura looked perplexed. “There isn’t anything on our radar, though,” she said as she tapped her forearm, pulling up a hologram of the entire map grid of the Limit Zone and almost fifty miles out. “Nothing in the area is close enough to block the Python’s navigation signals.”

Corson suddenly stopped typing. He turned his head slowly to his company. The look of utter wrath raged like a furnace primed for cremation. “Who here would dare-”

The massive generator before them suddenly went dark, slowing to a halt. It still radiated vast heat, but now lay silent.

Zack heard a faint click of a button followed by a high pressured humming noise. He couldn’t pinpoint the sound’s origin before the area about a hundred yards from them started erupting with explosions. Each detonation went off in a circular formation, the ring of bombs exploding just beyond the forest clearing. As the bombs shook the earth, confusion began to spread like wildfire.

“What the . . . these explosions are coming from the Amplifier sites!” cried out Laura as she stood perplexed by what was happening.

Zack heard Cecilia scream and cover her head, only to be snatched up by one of Corson’s soldiers during the confusion of the explosions. Zack’s eyes widened with horror as he watched multiple men raise their weapons.

“Checkmate,” came a boastful voice.

No one had a chance to react as the generator behind them suddenly began to discharge massive electric currents, sparking wildly like a cut power line. Seconds later, the generator let out a sudden burst that sent Corson flying backwards, crashing into Laura and Nerine.

Zack and Lambda were pushed back by the shockwave, but before Zack could even open his eyes, Lambda pushed him to the ground as a fury of bullets rained down upon the unsuspecting squad members. Zack could only listen to the screams of horror and pain as several members of Corson’s men slaughtered the bewildered squad members not in league with them.

Betrayal! Now?!

The bullets ceased seconds later. Besides the roar of the B-52 above, all was silent. As Zack moved to gaze at what had transpired, he was horrified to see the number of dead squad members that now littered the ground. What struck even more terror in him was the sight of Cecilia being held by one of the dark soldiers.

He acted on impulse from there. “Don’t you lay a finger on her!”

“Wait, Zack!” yelled Lambda.

Zack almost blacked out in terror as a bullet blazed by the side of his head, nearly nicking his ear. He remained completely frozen, as he felt like his life had just flashed before his eyes. He hadn’t noticed Cecilia cover her face or Lambda rise to his side.

“Don’t do anything rash. I hate to be forced to do anything to your sister,” came the foreboding words of the soldier that had nearly shot Zack.

Zack recognized the voice right away. “Krieg . . .”

Krieg stepped forward. About twelve men behind him followed closely. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be. You or your sister were never supposed to be part of this.” He almost seemed sorry.

Zack clenched his fist tightly. “For every hair on her head you damage, I will-”

“Spare me the theatrics and heroic words of valor, would you?” Krieg shot, now seeming detested. “You can’t and won’t do anything, and neither will that AI of yours.” Krieg’s attention quickly shifted to behind Zack and Lambda.

Corson was nearly to his feet. Peter echoed in his ear. “Corson! What the hell is going on down there? Several explosions-”

The transmission was cut, leaving only static on the line. Corson stared at the ground for a moment. He looked to be breathing deeply. Zack could have sworn he saw steam radiating off his mask. It almost seemed like it was white hot from pure rage.

“You have some nerve to undermine me like this.” His body shuddered. He was absolutely consumed with hate.

Krieg merely taunted him with the weapon he held. “No, it is you who has some nerve! If you didn’t see this coming, you’re not only blind, but a fool.” His tone deepened. “You have long since lost the right to lead this organization.”

Corson’s eyes burned. “Oh? So destroying what I worked towards makes you fit to lead instead, Krieg?” His hands twitched with overwhelming rage.

Krieg didn’t flinch. “Who said I wanted to lead? Stigma’s true purpose has long since been lost. It’s only natural we look to other means, rather than be led by a tyrant like you.”

Zack watched with alarm and shock as Laura bolted to her feet from under two dead soldiers. She reached out her hand, summoning a black rift in space. “I won’t let you have-”
      
All guns were trained on Laura now. Her mouth hung agape as she stood next to Corson. She didn’t have a chance to summon her weapon.

“Enough of this,” Krieg said heartlessly. “Throw all your weapons down now.” Krieg’s gaze turned to Lambda. His blank visor of darkness hung on Lambda ominously. “Don’t move,” he finished darkly.

Lambda glared back with a face of stone.

Krieg ignored her fierce stare and turned to the sky where the roaring jets of the B-52 above split through the air as the vast aircraft made its rounds above. Krieg eyed the black beast carefully as it appeared to be circling them like a flock of vultures.

Amongst the bodies, Nerine rose to her feet. She looked completely pale as she gawked at the bodies that laid everywhere, soaking the earth with fresh crimson.

She looked to Krieg. “H-how could you . . .”

Krieg didn’t answer. Instead, his helmet began to blink. He gazed over to the billowing smokestacks and listened to the echoes of metal beyond the forest.

“I’m merely protecting those who I hold close. I don’t expect you to understand.”

Krieg then turned and tapped his wrist. “It is done. Bring the
fireworks
.”

A new wormhole split the darkened sky. It roared with madness, surging like a violent tornado. It almost sounded as if it was howling.

Corson’s eyes screamed with murder. “Who is pulling your leash?”

Krieg merely looked to the storming sky. “Pandemonium.”

[26]

Purgatory Flames

[January 7th - Virginia - Limit Zone 246. Python (B-52) - Night]

Peter stared in utter disbelief at the scene unfolding before him. Unable to get in touch with Corson or anyone on the ground, he was completely lost as events continued to spiral out of control around him. He was done pretending to think this was still part of Corson’s plan. What was happening right now only spelled doom in Peter’s eyes.

“Python to Corson, do you read me?!” Peter yelled. He was at a loss. He already knew his shouts were pointless.

Dead silence echoed on the other end of his receiver.

He cursed under his breath and dove to the controls on his left. With a few clicks, he pulled up a monitor streaming video from outside the aircraft. He zeroed in on Corson’s location, magnifying the image to the max. What he saw took him several seconds to register.

Oh no . . . I didn’t want to be right . . .

He looked outside his cockpit window. The gaping black hole in the sky raged and grew in size. He knew it wasn’t his doing. It was only a matter of seconds before something came out of the wormhole. He had to think of something, fast. What could he do for those down below?

Peter’s eyes soon turned deadly as a dark grin curled onto his face.

Peter chuckled. “I’m such an idiot.” Peter dove to his right and ran his fingers along a switchboard before pulling on the steering column. His smile grew.

With a lurch, Peter turned the B-52. He now zoned in on the vast black hole and began to make his approach on the pulsing door of chaos. He hadn’t even come fully around when he saw three military jets dash from the blackness followed slowly by a lone helicopter.

Gotcha!

Peter ran his hands down several switches and pulled up several computer screens around him as his grip tightened on the steering column. As his target came into range, he heard a mechanical voice echo throughout the cockpit.

“Genocide Mode activated. Python combat system engaged.”

Peter’s smile only grew wider.

*
      
*
      
*

Krieg seemed to twitch with irritation as he stared above. “So, Peter, this is your play, huh?”

Zack too looked to the sky as the massive black plane reared its turn and began its approach of mayhem. The three jets that burst out of the wormhole darted by the giant aircraft and began to swing around, preparing for their assault as the giant wormhole began to shrink and close.

Nerine snickered, drawing Krieg’s attention.

“Disarm the plane,” he stated flatly as he raised his weapon to Nerine.
      

Nerine stopped laughing, but her smile still remained. “Sorry, but only Peter can do that now,” she replied smugly.

Zack heard Krieg growl behind his helmet, but noticed his return to a calm center. It worried him that this didn’t provoke Krieg more.

Why is he not pushing? Isn’t the person coming-

Zack’s thoughts were cut short as all eyes turned to the sky, watching the three fighter jets make their approach. All three launched two missiles apiece as the massive black ship continued to blaze towards the lone helicopter.

Krieg laughed. “I’d wager Peter is about to fail,” he shot, seeming confident.

Corson grunted as he folded his arms. “Ignorant fool,” Corson jabbed, his eyes still glued to the fight above.

Krieg couldn’t get a word out as dozens of flares burst from the Python. The ship itself began to dive, producing eight mini-guns on the top of the aircraft, now training on the jets behind it. In mere moments, the sky was lit with chaos as the jets darted to avoid the massive assault. Two of the planes were skilled enough to maneuver the rotating guns of death, but the third wasn’t so fortunate, the bullets shredding the plane as if it was made of tinfoil.

The Python then locked its sights on the helicopter. As it rushed the helicopter, a barrage of seeker missiles were launched into the air. Unable to assist, the two remaining fighter planes were forced to dodge the seeker missiles with no success as they were turned into flaming scrap by the missiles. Everyone below watched, stunned as the remaining missiles now dashed toward the lone helicopter.