‘Why?’ Denton said.
An SAS soldier called out from his father’s body. ‘The rocks aren’t here, Captain. They’re not in his bag.’
Stephenson’s gaze fixed on the body. ‘Move to the castle, have everyone sweep the grounds.’
Denton watched a rivulet of blood melt the snow before him.
Chapter 4
Last message received: 07-Jun-1987.
HUGH: Guys this is bad
OWEN: What’s the problem?
HUGH: What isn’t the problem?
HUGH: This is getting crazy. I SWEAR they’re following me.
OWEN: It doesn’t matter. I need you to keep it together. Are you secure?
NAVEEM: DIE UNSTERBLICHEN
HUGH: As secure as possible, yeah. You got the lowdown?
OWEN: Everyone’s on the line. Guys, report in …
MAY: Just call it online, Freeman, not on the line. I’m on point in Denver. Valentina’s in the nest. Ready to blaze.
[TERI CONNECTED]
TERI: hiya guys
NAVEEM: DIE UNSTERBLICHEN
HUGH: What the fuck, Naveem?
OWEN: Naveem is gatekeeper at Desecheo. He’s off the line though, must be a glitch.
MAY: Offline.
HUGH: Off the hook more like.
OWEN: Teri, ready to download?
TERI: on the line in Brooklyn, born ready
HUGH: You mean Crooklyn.
OWEN: For the record May it’s two against one. On the line.
MAY: Whatever, my heart’s racing. Can we just do this?
OWEN: Just waiting on Nav.
MAY: Okay. Might pee my pants. Just a warning.
TERI: WOW thanks may, keep a diary for us!
HUGH: There was a van out the front of my place today.
TERI: and?
HUGH: Pretty sure it was there yesterday. They know about the Akhana, man.
TERI: that what we’re calling it now?
HUGH: That’s what Owen is calling it, yeah.
TERI: what the hell does it mean?
OWEN: Akhana is the female aeon of Gnosticism. It stands for truth.
TERI: fancy I like it
MAY: Is everyone … you know, ok with this?
TERI: having second thoughts may?
MAY: Fifth thoughts. What happens if things go south? We’re toast.
TERI: don’t think about that. don’t ever think about it.
HUGH: Death, man.
MAY: Ya think Hugh? Because I didn’t sign up for that.
TERI: yeah well who did
HUGH: They’re psychopaths, all of them. You’ve read the research, right? Owen transcribed it to English, he knows better than any of us.
HUGH: Nothing is off-limits.
MAY: Is there any way to restore them? You know, make them human.
OWEN: No.
[NAVEEM CONNECTED]
NAVEEM: DIE UNSTERBLICHEN
TERI: goddammit Naveem will you stop blazin that shit
NAVEEM:???
HUGH: Ok let’s change the world brothers!
HUGH: And sisters.
TERI: you’ve always been the sister, H!
HUGH: Breaking my heart here.
MAY: Yep, one marriage at a time
TERI: right on
OWEN: Naveem, are you ready?
NAVEEM: Just setting up guys …
NAVEEM: Sorry I’m late. Couldn’t attract suspicion, had to be cool.
OWEN: We’re all here. Tell us when you’re ready.
HUGH: Do you think Denton knows?
TERI: unlikely
HUGH: He knows everything. That man is crazy on wheels.
TERI: he’s not a man
HUGH: I hear that.
MAY: Cleaned your ears this morning Hugh?
HUGH: No but I actually hear something. Just the wind I hope. You in the lab?
MAY: Yeah. Graveyard shift with Valentina. OpCenter is a little too quiet.
HUGH: At least you’re not home alone with strange noises outside.
TERI: been smoking again, H?
MAY: No seriously guys if Denton finds out we have the virus code we’re done for.
OWEN: Now is not the time to scare yourself. Stay focused. Stay on task. Everyone.
NEVEEM: OK, it’s raw and ready.
TERI: i bet
OWEN: May, enter your access with Valentina.
MAY: Standby.
HUGH: If this is the end, I just want to say I love you guys.
TERI: shut up H
TERI: we love you too
NAVEEM: DIE UNSTERBLICHEN
HUGH: I swear Naveem will you stop with that German shit!
TERI: is he telling us to die? not cool
NAVEEM: I told you, it’s not me.
NAVEEM: I’m not doing it.
MAY: And … we’re in!
OWEN: Naveem you see clearance?
NAVEEM: No. I don’t.
TERI: great
NAVEEM: Disregard that, I have it. I’m in.
OWEN: Excellent.
NAVEEM: OK, ready to transfer.
TERI: waiting for it baby
MAY: Um, guys?
HUGH: What??
OWEN: Is everything fine?
MAY: Not really. I’m seeing activity from under Grand Central terminal that isn’t Naveem.
HUGH: What the hell does that mean? The OSS base?
OWEN: Is it ours?
MAY: Definitely not.
OWEN: Have Valentina kick them from the mainframe. Now.
MAY: OK on it.
OWEN: Naveem, I’ll need you to check the logs after.
NAVEEM: Will do.
MAY: OK we booted their ass. You’re good to go!
HUGH: Let’s blow this taco stand!
HUGH: I could go a taco right now.
NAVEEM: Sending. Teri, you should see it soon.
TERI: I see it alright
TERI: wow this is some crazy virus
HUGH: You can read that?
TERI: no not really
HUGH: Outer space. I bet it was aliens.
HUGH: Siberian aliens.
MAY: It is not aliens, Hugh. It’s from a mountain in Siberia for God’s sake.
TERI: two decades of analysis
TERI: Denton gonna be pissed!!
OWEN: He’s already been assigned to a new project.
TERI: how do you know that
MAY: We aren’t Owen’s only friends on the inside, Teri. He knows other people.
TERI: oh so betrayed right now
MAY: What project is ol’ Denton on?
OWEN: Project Genesis. Another enhanced soldier program.
MAY: Like Phoenix? His father’s project?
HUGH: Hey, if you believe the rumors, his father is actually him.
TERI: shut up H. yeah except this project isn’t based on some fairytale written on silk
HUGH: So, not like the Bible then?
TERI: would be funny if this Phoenix code we’re risking our lives for didn’t even do anything
HUGH: Yeah. Hilarious, Teri.
MAY: We can’t risk Denton testing it.
OWEN: We can’t risk Denton even knowing he had it in the first place. He’s been hunting them since WWII.
HUGH: Hey the Phoenix virus could just be the flu!
TERI: shut it H
HUGH: Yeah that is definitely not wind outside
HUGH: I’m going for the safe.
MAY: The safe?
TERI: he has a revolver
TERI: ok I think I have all of it
TERI: that’s all of it Owen
OWEN: Naveem, check and shut down.
OWEN: Forget the logs.
NAVEEM: Ok if you say so.
MAY: I have activity again guys
MAY: Definitely Grand Central
TERI: Denton?
NAVEEM: Shutting down now.
OWEN: Good.
NAVEEM: Gotta book, catch you later.
[NAVEEM DISCONNECTED]
HUGH: so I can’t remember the combination to my safe
TERI: hahahaha well done H
HUGH: It’s not funny. Or well timed.
TERI: like most of your jokes I guess
OWEN: Teri, what’s your progress?
TERI: packaging now. might take a sweet while for May to get it across the pond.