Her eyes widened as the realization struck. “You mean Nathan Ryder.”
“Indeed. They’ve connected, grown a unique bond. Nathan will be thrown off balance when he’s offered an opportunity to investigate his theories firsthand. It’s in his nature to be suspicious, but his curiosity will get the best of him in the end. And if not, there’s always other ways to convince him.”
“Such as?”
He laughed at her expression. “So distrustful, Dr. Kelley. Not to worry, I won’t have Damon break his ankles. Did you evaluate the recordings of his interaction with Private Ruiz?”
“Of course.”
“Then you noted his apology to her for his remarks about her father.” He pulled up the video feed.
Mary Jane shrugged. “Yes. Nothing noteworthy in that.”
“Oh, but there is. Nathan is not the sort to offer remorse or politeness for the sake of appearance. If he apologized, it was because he meant it. Which means he has formed an attachment to our little babysitter.”
“All he’s done is ignore or insult her the entire time she was with him.”
“You underestimate the value of association, Dr. Kelley. Ruiz is the only real company he’s had in months other than his evaluations with Michael. He might play head games with her, but that’s only to distance himself from any feelings of connection. He’s used to having her around, and will miss her now that he figures he won’t see her again. Imagine if he found out she was on the security detail for our rescue mission.”
“You believe he’ll find it easier to accept your offer?” Mary Jane pursed her lips. “Which would almost certainly assure he could be convinced to take charge of Michael as well. Did you plan all of this out in advance?”
“Of course not. A man simply plays the cards he’s dealt the best he can. One must swiftly adapt in a state of flux, after all.”
Her severe stare indicated a shortage of patience at his banter. He smiled inwardly. Mary Jane was a master of logistics and a genius in her field of thermodynamics, but her straightforward thinking made it difficult to understand manipulation. Particularly when she was among the many being manipulated.
“If you’re serious about doing this, you have little time to waste.”
He rubbed his hands together. “It’s definitely crunch time. We need to assemble our team quickly, but carefully. In addition to Michael and Nathan, we’ll need a squad of around fifteen soldiers. Damon, you’ll be in charge of assembling the personnel. I’m talking the best of the best, capable of quick thinking in heavy stress situations. Include Private Ruiz in the roster. She’s inexperienced, but her only task will be looking after Nathan anyway. “
Damon folded his arms. “I’m not comfortable with civilians on a mission this volatile. Private Ruiz is a risk, too. She’s never been blooded, much less seen any heavy action.”
“No need for them to get off the ship. Once we find the place, I want only our people on the ground. Ruiz can babysit the others in the control room until we get back.”
Damon’s reluctance clung to his face, but he nodded. “I can get a unit together in a week’s time. When are we going in?”
“As soon as we’re sure of our findings.” Blackwell nodded to Mary Jane. “This is where you come in. I recruited you because of your expertise on thermodynamics. Someone on the cutting edge, not afraid to take risks on unproven theory. You did wonders with Nathan Ryder’s findings. I trust you can complete the entire puzzle in time.”
Only the tiniest curve of her mouth revealed her pleasure at the compliment. “I’ll get a team together now.”
She swiftly strode out of the office. Damon remained silent until the door slid shut before turning to Blackwell.
“You didn’t tell her everything.”
“I told her what she needed to know. And she didn’t need to know Dr. Stein went rogue and is directly responsible for the communication blackout.” Blackwell stroked his chin as the display pulled up feed from Michael McDaniel’s room, where Michael sat on his bedside, shaking his head as though talking to himself.
“Now I’m telling you what you need to know. I want you to secure a nuke capable of destroying the entire facility. Explosives have been successful in the past to shut down these Aberrations, including the mill where Michael worked. Our first priority is data extraction, along with biological samples Dr. Stein has compiled.”
“No priority on personnel extraction?”
Blackwell waved a dismissive hand. “Dr. Stein and his team will either be dead or infected by the time we arrive. We can’t take the risk of an insanity breakout or worse by extracting them. That’s his fault, not mine. The data is the most important thing. The only thing, in fact. If we can use it as I anticipate, Chimera Global will change the world.”
He glanced at Damon. “You have any reservations about what you might encounter on the ground?”
Damon shrugged. “Michael’s testimony indicates the creatures can be killed by standard weapons. If one guy with a couple of handguns can get out alive, I’m pretty sure an experienced military unit can make mincemeat of anything we find.”
“True, but you’re not going against gun-toting terrorists or enemy combatants. You’re more than likely going to see things you can’t explain. Creatures not found anywhere but in your nightmares.”
Damon lifted his head with a feverish stare. “I don’t have nightmares.”
Blackwell laughed. “That’s because you’re psychotic, Sid. The very reason why I employ you. Speaking of which, I need you to find the best military commander available. You won’t be leading the team. I need you personally watching my back on the ground.”
Damon’s head jerked in surprise. “You? You’d really take that risk, after everything you just said?”
Blackwell stared at the main screen, which had sectioned itself into dozens of feeds. Michael McDaniel taking medication. Nathan Ryder glaring at his chauffeur as he entered the hotel. Elena Ruiz’s eyes widening as she read her transfer papers. Mary Jane assembling a team of physicists. Senator Blackwell gesturing as he shouted at a room full of reporters.
But in the center was the aberrant cloud, smoldering amid static flickers and grainy snow. Somewhere in its midst was the next leap for mankind. Somewhere in its midst was Alexander Blackwell’s legacy.
“I can’t leave this in anyone else’s hands but mine. Someone might have to make a life or death call. I prefer that to be me. I have to be there, you understand? I have to be. The risk is high, but now and then you have to toss the dice and live with how they fall.”
He jabbed a finger at Damon. “Just remember — the mission is to enter the facility, extract the data, then blow the place sky-high regardless of who is left behind. Personnel concerns are secondary. Everyone is expendable.”
Chapter 5: Quiescent Duress
Michael winced. The sunlight was so bright it was nearly unbearable. The air was moist and cold, pricking his lungs like miniscule needles. Everything was so wide open that he felt positively exposed.
Get a hold of yourself. You’re not even off AIT grounds.
He sat at a table across from Nathan in one of the tightly manicured squares of greenery where employees could catch a smoke or a breath of fresh air while on break. There were no aides hovering nearby, no one timing his activity or waiting to inject him with some sinister, mind-dulling concoction. It should have been liberating.
“You can’t be serious.”
Nathan’s expression suggested otherwise. “Sorry, Michael. The proposal is obviously suspect, because of its origin. All I can do is lay out the terms. It’s up to you whether or not you want to accept Chimera’s insane offer.”