AMPED (33 page)

“I know what you look like now,” continued Jake. “So any reason not to put yourself on screen this time?”

“Yeah,” spat Kira bitterly. “My reason is that you want me to.”

It was true the colonel had been given false information, but he was also responsible for Jim Connelly’s death, something for which she could never forgive him. And the bullet Connelly had taken was meant for her. “You ordered your men in the Rockeys to shoot to kill, you bastard!”

“How can you act surprised?” said Jake calmly. “You know I see you as enemy number one. When I bombed what I
thought
was your headquarters, I was shooting to kill. So this is hardly a new strategy. The one time you had me promise to take you prisoner and not try to kill you, you, yourself, taught me this was a mistake. That you’re too competent and dangerous to capture.”

“You killed a great man,” she said, her voice a feral growl.

“I really am sorry about that. The evidence I have suggests you’re the one plotting power-grabs and massacres on a global scale, and that your followers are just innocent people sucked in by your lies and charisma. Adoring followers willing to drink poisoned Kool-Aid at your command.”

“What do you want?” snapped Kira.

 
“I’m calling to ask for your help.”

Kira glanced up at the bearded mountain standing next to her in disbelief. “Of course you are,” she spat. “How can I help?” she added sarcastically. “Wait a minute. Let me guess. You want me to blow my brains out. Or shove a bomb up my own ass maybe.”

Jake made a visible effort to remain calm. “Look, in my office, you suggested we were on the same side, and offered your help if I ever needed it. So you’re admitting that was just bullshit?”

“No. That was a real offer. But that was before you killed my friend.”

“Again, I bombed your headquarters to slag, intending to kill you and several others. My intentions were never a mystery. You knew that when you offered to help me.”

“What happened with van Hutten?” asked Kira, changing the subject.

“I interrogated him, of course. Like Rosenblatt before him, he believes you couldn’t be more compassionate. Although he also believes you’re dangerous and misguided. ”

 
“Did he convince you the aliens would ask to see me?”

Jake smiled. “Almost. He’s got some pretty wild ideas, but he’s nearly as persuasive as you are. But you have him fooled. He doesn’t believe for a second you’re meeting with terrorists and plotting a massive power grab. He thinks you want to turn us all into the Borg from Star Trek.”

“I know what he thinks!” snapped Kira with a scowl. “Do you still have him in custody?”

“No. After he torched your facility and kidnapped you, he’s not exactly an Icarus member in good standing—so he’s of no further use to me. We let him go. He’s a future Nobel Laureate, after all. We made him sign stiff confidentiality agreements preventing him from telling anyone about you or Icarus, for reasons of national security. But he’s free. We warned him you might retaliate for what he did but he didn’t seem the least bit nervous.” He leaned in closer to the camera. “Should he be?”

“Of course he should,” she said flippantly. “I’m the evil Kira Miller.”

“You’re also brilliant and know if you try anything, you risk giving me a lead.”

“And you’re a lot less intelligent than I once thought,” she said scornfully. “I could have killed him in the Rockies if I wanted him dead,” she pointed out. She gazed at the screen with contempt. “So what do you want? You have to be desperate to come to me for help. And crazy if you think I’ll help you after the Rockies.”

“I
am
desperate,” he admitted. “Have you heard about a microbe that’s contaminated some Petri dishes here and there?”

Kira shook her head. “No. I’ve been
busy
,” she said pointedly. “Can’t pay attention to everything.”

“Well, within twenty-four hours,
everyone
will be paying attention to this. More attention even than they paid to the alien craft.”

Kira’s face wrinkled in apprehension. “Bioterror?”

“Half bio, half not. But terror, definitely. Enough to get me to call you. They’re nanites. Alien nanites.”

Kira and Griffin exchanged stunned glances. “I thought the alien ship was pronounced totally clean before it was brought down.”

“It was,” said Jake. “It must have rained them down on us when it first got here. The nanites weren’t just random stowaways on the alien ship that survived decontamination. Infecting us was the entire purpose of the visit.”

Jake went on to give Kira—and without knowing it, Griffin—as complete a briefing as he had been given. “We obviously need to know what these things are up to,” explained Jake when he was finished. “So far they’re harmless. Maybe they’ll stay that way. Or maybe they’re about to become the most destructive force we’ve ever seen.” He paused. “We need your intelligence enhancement therapy.”

“You can’t have it.”

“I didn’t say that right. We need someone from your group who has experience being under the influence of your pills.”

“Who would you want, and what would you want them to do?”

“We want your top computer expert. Nanites are tiny machines. Machines that require programming. We need to figure out what that programming is. We both know any human with an IQ in the hundreds rather than in the thousands isn’t going to have a chance figuring this out. I doubt even an enhanced expert programmer could, but at least we’ll have a chance.”

Kira eyed Matt for several long seconds. Finally, he nodded decisively.

“And his role?” asked Kira.

“He’d head up the American team that’s been assembled to study this. No one would know about enhancement. We’d just pawn him off as an off-the-charts talent; a singular genius who was previously undiscovered. Like that Indian mathematician who went to Cambridge.” Jake paused. “He’d have immunity of course.”

“So you’re proposing a truce. A cease fire. We work together until this threat is resolved.”

“Exactly. If your man isn’t successful, I’m guessing there’s a good chance we’re all dead anyway. If he is, we let him blend back into the woodwork.”

“And then continue trying to hunt us down like vermin.”

“Unless you can prove to me that you’re innocent with as much tight evidence as I have that you’re a monster.”

“But once you’ve seen and worked with our computer expert, he isn’t anonymous anymore. What if he’s the type who stands out? That’ll make your job easier once he’s helped you, won’t it?”

“It can’t be helped. We both have to choose the lesser of two evils. You don’t want to expose yourself to me and give up your top man. I don’t want to have to work with someone I’m dedicated to bringing down. And you know how I feel about what your treatment does to people. I still worry the cure might be worse than the disease.”

Griffin got Kira’s attention and mouthed,
I’m going to jump in
. Kira nodded.

“Hello, Colonel,” began Griffin. “I’m the local computer expert. I just happened to be listening in on the entire conversation.”

Surprise registered on Jake’s face, but only for a moment. “Glad to hear it,” he said smoothly. “We don’t have any time to waste, and this saves me from having to repeat myself.” He paused. “What should I call you?”

“Matt’s as good a name as any,” replied Griffin.

“So will you help us?” asked Jake eagerly.

“Can I assume the
Copernicus
is mounting an international effort to study these bugs?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’ll help you,” said Griffin. “But only if I can head up the
international
effort.”

Jake looked confused. “Why?” he asked. “The American effort will provide unlimited resources to you and your team. Given that finding nanites to study isn’t exactly difficult, each country is fielding their own teams. And they’re each putting their best people on their national efforts. The scientists being sent to
Copernicus
, although still brilliant, are the reserves. That’s just the way countries think. Selfishly.”

“Well it’s not the way
I
think. If I make a discovery, I don’t want it bottled up. I want it shared with the world.”

“I can promise you that anything you learn will be shared with the world. What reason could we possibly have not to?”

“Who knows?” replied Griffin. “Reason and government rarely go hand in hand. But let me be clear: this is non-negotiable. I have to be a part of
Copernicus
. And not just because I’ve never been on a luxury cruise ship before,” he added with a half smile. “I have to be certain my findings will be shared. And being on a U.N. ship will make me feel more comfortable that you’ll keep your promise.”

“I’ll keep it,” insisted Jake.

“Can you vouch for the people you work with?” asked Griffin.

“Right now, I’m the only one who even knows I’m contacting you. If you agree, only my boss and my second in command will know anything about it.”

“I stand by my demand.
Copernicus
or bust.”

A deep frown came over Jake’s face. “Impossible,” he said firmly. “I can make you head of the American effort. I don’t have the authority or power to make you head of the international effort.”

“Come on, Colonel. I’m sure America still has plenty enough influence to make this happen. Eight of the twenty-one Nobelists are American. So is Madison Russo, who discovered the alien probe. So are a disproportionate number of scientists on that ship.”

“True, but I still can’t just demand that you be put in charge. You’re a complete unknown.”

“I’ve seen the news reports,” said Griffin. “Everyone keeps bragging about how
Copernicus
is a perfect meritocracy. No politics, just great minds working together. Well, use your influence with the Nobelists and others to run a worldwide contest to determine who leads the team. Two competitors from each country, chosen by their governments. Each devises software challenges for the others: puzzles and traps and mazes. The one who solves the most in an hour becomes the leader.”

Jake paused for a long moment and then a smile slowly came over his face. “I’ll say this for you, Kira, your people are impressive, even without your treatment. It’s a good idea. I could get this to happen. Who could argue it isn’t the fair way to choose the best for something this important? And when Matt runs rings around them all, he’ll instantly earn the credibility he’ll need for them to follow him. Far more so than if I had the ability to make him head of the project by decree, which I don’t.”

“Then I’m in,” said Griffin.

“
Thank you
,” replied Jake, visibly relieved. “How fast can you get to Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs?”

Griffin glanced at Kira. Any geographic information he revealed would aid Jake later on, but there might not
be
a later on if they didn’t get a handle on the alien bugs. She nodded. “Wright-Patterson in Dayton would be closer,” he said.

“Fine. I’ll have a jet waiting to fly you to
Saldanha
, South Africa the second you arrive. I’ll try to have the software competition scheduled for soon after you land, so no time is wasted. And we’ll be fueled up and ready to land you on
Copernicus
the minute you finish.”

Kira frowned. “I want David Desh to be allowed on board as well. Same deal. He walks when this is over.”

Griffin brightened immediately, obviously delighted by the idea.

“Why?” said Jake.

“Because I believe this is as important as you do. And I’d feel better if he was there. To help Matt and to keep you honest.”

Jake considered for several long seconds. “Okay,” he said finally. “Can Desh make it to Wright-Patt with Matt?”

“I’m afraid not,” said Kira, checking her watch. Where was he? He should have checked in an hour ago. “Have a jet ready to go at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, and I’ll send him to the guard gate. Make sure he gets VIP treatment.”

Jake nodded.

“And call back in exactly thirty minutes. I’ll have a few more questions, and we can discuss logistics.”

“Fine. Anything else?”

“Yeah,” said Griffin. “Think about by how much you want me to win the competition.”

“Are you kidding?” said Jake. “Blow them all away. This is no time to be shy. Shock and Awe is what we’re going for.”

“Shock and Awe,” repeated Griffin with a wry smile. “Good. That happens to be my specialty.”

48

As the
Codon
raced out of sight, saltwater bit at David Desh’s wound, and the blood rushing from his body created a red bloom around him; a clarion call to any shark within miles of his location.

Struggling to keep his head above water, Desh had no way to staunch the flow. He concentrated on maintaining a dead man’s float, but wounded as he was, even this was difficult, and he feared it wouldn’t be long until he’d be sinking to the bottom like a brick. A swell hit him in the face and he inhaled water, coughing as he did so, sending a paroxysm of pain throughout his upper body.

Both helicopters rushed to his location, and in less than a minute a small raft had been pushed from one, self-inflating as rapidly as a car airbag as it fell. Several of the mercs dropped from one of the low flying craft into the ocean, pulling Desh to the raft. When he was successfully on board, they turned him on his back. One of the men in the other helo dropped a medical kit down, which was caught by one of the mercs, and they immediately went to work dressing and bandaging Desh’s wound.

Desh gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the pain. He forced himself to think.
Why hadn’t Frey killed him?
He could have easily put a bullet in Desh’s head. For some reason Frey wanted him wounded, but alive.

Of course
, thought Desh. Frey wanted a diversion. A head start.

If the mercs killed Frey they’d get a massive bonus. But doing so and keeping Desh alive at the same time was even
more
rewarding. So both helos had stuck around to be certain he’d pull through. Which must have been exactly what Frey had wanted. The mercs would have no fear that Frey would get away while they were rescuing Desh. Where would he go? It was open ocean for miles and miles and there was no hiding a beauty like the
Codon
.