The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (51 page)

Krieg became flustered. “Impossible!”

Corson’s eyes flared. “Impressive, Peter,” he uttered in a deep, threatening voice. He spoke as if Peter was right beside him, delivering the final blow.
      

Zack felt like all the oxygen in the vicinity was being sucked away. At that moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten how to breathe as they all watched the missiles come deadly close to their target.

Are we going to win?!
thought Zack, almost in shock.

The Python’s missiles were mere meters away when a yellow beam of light blazed across the sky just beyond the helicopter, incinerating the missiles that had locked on to it. The beam continued its path of destruction until it crashed into the Python with massive force. The impact of the beam severed its right wing, causing the plane to tailspin out of control. The sheared-off wing spun into the air as it came hurtling to the ground only yards away from where everyone stood. The shockwave from the impact created a massive quake in the ground and shot debris everywhere. Everyone was startled by the event except Zack and Corson. Both saw this as a chance.

“Lambda!” Zack yelled, looking to her fiercely.

Lambda didn’t have to be told what Zack was getting at. With lightning-like speed, Lambda dashed toward the armed men and drove her foot into the side of the soldier holding Cecilia, ripping her out of his grasp. The man was sent flying backwards with extreme velocity, so fast that the other soldiers barely had time to respond. They could only look on in utter shock as Lambda held out her hand before them.

“Appear, Chaos Weapon 66: Impulse Quake!”

Krieg and his men didn’t have enough time to defend as they were thrown back by a massive burst of electrical currents in the form of a white shockwave. Lambda could hear the impact of the blast break several bones of the men hit by her attack, their bodies sent flying high before crashing to the ground several yards back.

Zack was still reveling in such a turnaround, having completely forgotten the spiraling B-52 coming dangerously close to them. As he turned to the growing noise of the screaming turbines, he froze in horror as he saw the plane come smacking into the ground wing first, like a black blade of destruction. Every muscle in his body told him to dodge, but he couldn’t move one inch. He only stared down the approaching plane grinding into the ground, quickly approaching him.

“Move, you fool!” bellowed Corson as he tackled Zack to the side. The plane smashed on past, just narrowly missing everyone. It continued on past, ripping through several of the grounded helicopters brought by Corson. The resulting collision intensified the explosions as flames billowed off the destroyed B-52, which came to a screeching halt at the edge of the forest clearing.

Corson rose to his feet, brushing off the rubble and kicking up dirt from his coat. His eyes fell to Zack, who was still in shock by what had just happened.

“Did you just save-”

“Shut up, boy. Don’t read into it,” he responded harshly while running off to the burning wreckage, leaving Zack to stare in wonder.

Don’t read into it, huh?
He couldn’t help but see something in Corson’s eyes in that moment when he dove to save him. Was it pity or perhaps . . . guilt?

“Is everyone all right?!” Laura yelled out as she began to survey the damage around them. From the look of things, it appeared that everyone was uninjured. Although she couldn’t locate Krieg and the men that were in league with him. She hoped Lambda’s attack had taken care of them, but there was nothing concrete she could grasp that could clear the lingering doubt she felt.

“Well, that was terrifying,” Nerine said, struggling to rise. “But I’m afraid that we have bigger problems,” she added with warning. She stared up at the sky, noting the descent of the chopper. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not too overly fond of Krieg’s cryptic joke from before.”

Laura nodded in agreement, looking in the direction that Corson was running.

“I’m going to help Corson! You four stick together!” Laura shouted as she raced after Corson.

An explosion lit up the night as the remains of the Python burned with an intense fury. They all could tell that it wouldn’t be long before it all went critical.

Laura was halfway to the burning wreckage when she saw Corson leap into the plane.

Laura gasped. “Corson, wait!” She sprinted faster, not paying attention to her surroundings. That’s when Zack saw the shadow of a figure within the black smoke. Illuminated by the raging flames, the figure took aim at Laura.

“Laura, on your left!” he screamed, but it was too late. The echoing fire of a weapon ripped through the air, smashing into Laura’s upper leg. She fell instantly, reeling in pain from the wound.

Krieg emerged from the smoke, his helmet shattered and blood running down his face. He limped slowly as he held his side with his free hand. His contorted look of anger masked most of his pain.

“Sit tight.
He
is about to arrive,” he said, his words deep and heated.

Zack couldn’t get a good look at Krieg from the distance. However, he could feel his words of malice from a mile away. He shuddered thinking of who was coming.

Zack’s trance was broken when he saw the chopper above slowly touch down about fifty yards away from them. At the same time, Corson burst from the burning B-52 holding Peter over his shoulder. Zack watched as Corson rushed from the burning plane, never losing speed in each stride. He was terrifying to look at, but the way he strongly held up Peter while sprinting away from the impeding explosion behind him gave a certain gallantry to the scene.

Corson had only just noticed Laura reeling in pain on the ground when he stopped immediately, seeing Krieg’s gun trained on him.

“I should have just killed you . . .” Krieg held his gun alarmingly still, despite his pain.

Corson glowered at him with heated passion. “Unfortunately for you, I’m not exactly easy to kill.”

Krieg gave a smile smeared with blood. “All in time.”

A miniature explosion occurred from the plane, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Krieg winced. “Damn!” He dove into the trench left by the aircraft without another word.

Nerine’s eyes grew the size of basketballs. “Corson, get down!” shouted Nerine. “The Python is about to go critical!”

Corson turned behind him and saw the plane begin to spark widely, more small explosions erupting around the plane’s base. Without another thought, everyone dove for cover as the plane combusted into a massive column of flames. The shockwave from the blast ripped the night apart as the entire area was lit with the roaring flames of the exploding aircraft. Flaming pieces of the plane’s debris flew in all directions. Everyone covered their heads, praying that they wouldn’t be hit by a stray piece of shrapnel.

The explosion itself was deafening. Zack could only hear a constant ringing in his ears as he uncovered his head to gaze at the blazing crater that was left by the explosion. The flames still raged on, with no intention of stopping. The intense heat that the flames gave off burned Zack’s face and eyes as he staggered to a standing position.

Zack looked to Lambda and Cecilia. Cecilia laid safely beneath Lambda’s protective arms. Immediately, he rushed in their direction.

“Lambda, Cecilia! You guys all right?!” He could only hear a light muffling of his own words as he spoke. To his relief, Lambda looked up right away and nodded with a reassuring smile.

“She is safe, Zack,” she responded reassuringly.

Zack looked to where Corson was, but froze completely as he noted an approaching figure in white. Lambda caught Zack’s alarmed expression. She had never seen him so afraid.

Lambda focused on the man approaching as she rose to her feet with Cecilia. His one eye looked to dance and glow from the light of the flames. Lambda’s focus quickly shifted when she saw four armed soldiers next to him train their guns on everyone.

“I must say, you people have put on quite a lovely show for me. I’m almost touched,” the man said with a sniff as he wiped away fake tears from his eye.

Corson rose from the ground, the look in his eyes was enough to melt steel. “I was hoping Krieg was joking. So, the mighty Lord of Pandemonium is pulling the strings,” he spat with overwhelming disgust.

Dead Eye erupted in a sea of laughter. “Always with the jokes, Corson, but that aside . . .” His expression turned alarmingly serious. “Enough of the games, insects. I win the game.”

Laura winced as she stood, the sweat from her brow making her hair stick to her face. Zack could tell she was in great pain; yet she stood her ground, glaring at the man before them.

“You have forgotten that you are just a man with some thugs. We have the most powerful weapon in the world on our side. You coming here only made the task of killing you easier for us,” Laura said confidently. It took all her willpower to stand, but she still managed a snide smirk.

Dead Eye shrugged off Laura’s speech with minimal concern. “Child, you are an ignorant little worm. I’m very aware of what you possess. It’s one of the reasons I’m here,” he finished with a wide grin.

Krieg leaped out from the trench just to Dead Eye’s left. He did his best to ignore his limp as he approached the man.

“That could’ve have gone better,” he said disapprovingly.

Dead Eye laughed. “Embrace your survival skills! Of the men you had, only you seem to be up and moving—not that it matters—but here’s to your good fortune, right?” he joked playfully.

Krieg didn’t appreciate the joke. “I did as you asked. Corson’s plan was stopped before you got here. I held up my end of the bargain. Now it’s your turn to deliver.”

Dead Eye’s eye quivered with excitement. “Indeed, but first . . .” His eye turned to Zack, his smile growing even larger.

“So nice to see you again, Zackary Allan Knight!”

All eyes fell to Zack. Even he knew what Dead Eye was doing. He felt his whole body turn to ice as he stood, bound by stares.

Corson’s intense eyes widened. “What are you playing at, Dead Eye?”

Dead Eye snickered. “A little slow aren’t we, my dear Corson? He’s the one from three years ago!” His wild sneer was terrifying.

Corson nearly let Peter fall hard to the ground. He eased him off his shoulder slowly, soon turning to Zack.

“You? All along, it was
you?
!”

Zack cringed before the rage emanating from Corson.

Dead Eye chimed in. “Come now, Corson, no need to-”

Krieg stepped forward. “Dead Eye! Enough of your-”

A fist traveled so fast through the air that Zack could have sworn he saw it create its own sonic boom as it connected with Krieg’s stomach. Krieg’s eyes nearly exploded from their sockets as he collapsed to the ground in pain. Dead Eye leered from above, rubbing his gloved fist intently.

“The adults are having a conversation. Be a good little boy and be
silent
!”

Zack winced as Dead Eye stepped on Krieg’s head, smashing it into the ground.

Dead Eye turned around, glancing back and forth between the man under his foot and Zack. Zack watched the man’s eye widen with a sick amount of glee.

“I just got a wonderful idea!” He reached down and pulled Krieg up from the ground. He leaned in close to Krieg and whispered harshly. “Why don’t you introduce yourself, my little war god?”

Krieg looked to be trying to give Dead Eye a scowl, but his pain was preventing any such expression from appearing on his face.

“Don’t feel like talking? Don’t worry, we are sharing secrets now, so it’s only fair that you contribute too.” Dead Eye brought Krieg more into the light from the flames as he ripped his shattered helmet off. His face, though bloodied, could be seen by everyone well.

Only Zack and Cecilia froze like a pair of deformed ice sculptures.

Lambda noticed their quickening pulses. She had never seen eyes so sunken on two people at the same time.

Zack could barely get out one word. “D-David?!”

*
      
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*

[January 7th - Virginia - Location: (ERROR)]

Blazing through the night sky like a red comet of war, Epsilon raced to its target. The black sky split apart as if the gods above had granted divine passage to the massive power that surged through the darkened sky. Fueled with overwhelming anticipation, Epsilon looked forward with a grin reaching from ear to ear.

“Digital signature confirmed. Location set.” She snickered, baring her white teeth. “I wonder who I should kill first—Lambda or that boy!”

Epsilon had been able to survey the area in which Lambda was located with her advanced sensory software. In addition, she was aware of multiple targets of the biological nature. This only made her tingle all over with excitement.

Epsilon’s thoughts turned to the boy. “Lambda is weak. Even now, she can’t detect that I’ve already invaded the private files she has stored away. She made it so easy for me to find her weakness. AI are all code in the end. It comes down to who can manipulate it the best!”

A red spark flashed over Epsilon’s face as she winced in pain. She clicked her tongue, now with a look of irritation.

“Now she notices, huh?” she scoffed snidely. “So slow and weak.” Her body began to glow red hot as she burst forward, breaking the sound barrier. The sonic boom caused the windows of the giant skyscrapers she passed to shatter and the millions of lights illuminating the city to flicker and surge.

Epsilon returned to smiling. “It’s too late, Lambda, I already know everything I need. Today, you are going to know what it feels like to lose everything!”

Epsilon blazed onward, lighting up the sky of fire as she raced to her target. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Lambda’s face when she ripped the boy’s heart out in front of her.

*
      
*
      
*

[January 8th - Virginia - Limit Zone 246 - Day (Dawn)]

A small shock ran down Lambda’s head. She held her face in pain as the lingering static sparked erratically. For all but a second, she could have sworn something was moving inside her. The feeling itself sent chills down her body. It felt like some spider under her skin, crawling around with a purpose. She didn’t quite understand what she felt, nor could she attach the feeling to anything she had learned up to that point. The only thing she could tell for certain was that it was unnatural. Though she was in a great amount of pain and discomfort, the others around her neglected to notice this.