Asterion (16 page)

Christine nods in agreement. “Yes, that’s true.”

Looking back at Jacobs for a second, then he turns back to them, “Some labeled each of you as monsters, hell-bent on playing God. I wanted to meet each of you to see for myself. Your presence here proves that they are wrong in their assertions.”

Christine replies, “Thank you for meeting us before forming an opinion.”

Taylor reiterates, “Yes, we’re indebted to you for your help.”

“Son,” He said, “You are indebted to no one except God. We help out of love and concern. You and Christine have given up all that you have in your former life to do what is right. That is not an easy thing to do. It takes courage that comes from faith. I commend each of you. What do you need of us?”

Taylor says, “We plan to escape with Asterion to the safety of South Central.”

Jacobs interrupts, “You plan to help that monstrosity, that aberration.”

Christine cuts him off, “Uncle Bill, you don’t know him like we do. He may have a soul. We just don’t know for sure. Even if he doesn’t, he deserves to live free and not as a captive puppet of Burnsom.”

Jacobs responds with an incredulous look on his face, “A soul! How can you say that? What have you and Taylor done?

Christine replies, “We intended to engineer a beast. Just as people cross-bred their livestock to make them better in the past and alter them genetically now.”

Jacobs shakes his head, still trying to wrap his mind around this revelation.

Taylor looks at Christine with a puzzled look, “Uncle Bill! One of these days, someone is going to have to get me up to speed.”

Christine apologizes, “Sorry dear, busy and stuff.”

Bill continues, “You two are the only ones that understand these creatures.”

Taylor replies, “Well, there is only one so far.”

Bill smiles, “We do have to catch you up. Unfortunately, there are thousands of them. Burnsom used your research to start creating creatures a month ago. Don’t risk capture to help the creature. We need the expertise each of you possesses. Burnsom needs him. He will not harm him. We could rescue Asterion later. We have many, unknown to Burnsom and his prying eyes ready to spring into action. From our stronghold in the province and with the commitment of allies, we can mount a formidable defense of ourselves. Freedom’s tentacles meander through the back roads of America. The government never knew how to implement the big government business model in these areas. Local tradesmen and women still function like the old days. They are regulated and taxed, but their day-to-day activities give them a lot of autonomy. Businesses that harvest the natural resources like fishing boats, trappers, and others in nontraditional occupations make up a vast network of freedom lovers in the Liberty Movement. They consist of Christians, libertarians and nonbelievers that desire the freedom to make their own decisions. You will have no trouble finding help for your journey. With God on our side, we will prevail. Each of you has to believe and remember that one truth. God has a plan for you. After all, you are here and you are here together. Think it is random chance or something larger than each of you?”

Christine replies, “We’ll be careful and thank you for the encouragement.”

Jacobs reaches in his pocket. “Good,” Then he hands them a communicator. “This uses an encryption method that the government has not broken because they don’t know about it.

Taylor examines the device. “How can they not know about it?”

Jacobs replies, “It requires a DNA match that is unalterable. Each person’s DNA signature is a different encryption key. Any attempt to dismantle the device triggers a meltdown that fuses the communicator into a pile of plastic and metal. It communicates on the heartbeat signal that connects the government systems together. It causes some annoying delays, but it gets the job done.”

Cameron grabs Jacob’s shoulder. “We better go. In this area, we cannot stay in one place too long or we risk discovery. We’ll say goodbye for now, stay safe and Godspeed my friends.” They leave Taylor and Christine standing at the door and disappear into the night.

Taylor walks out on the balcony and looks at the nearby base. Christine joins him and they stare out into the distance. A man walking by wearing a hat catches their attention. He strolls by with a familiar walk. They look at each other and simultaneously whisper, “Trent!”

The figure stops, turns around and looks at them. It is Trent. He attempts to run away, but Taylor and Christine catch up to him. Taylor says, “Well, well, it all makes sense now. You altered the project and stole the information. I guess Devin or Milar are in on it.”

Trent pushes back, straightens his clothing, smiles and replies, “You know, for a couple of smart people, you guys can be pretty dumb. Devin is a lackey. Put a carrot on a stick and he will follow it wherever it’s pointed and Milar, well let’s just say she has her own problems.” Trent continues his annoying snicker, “You two are too trusting. Like a wildebeest drinking from a stream you ignore the two eyes looking at you, just waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

“Huh,” Taylor interrupts, “Milar is not government issue?”

“Apparently not, but I don’t know anything else about her. My guess is she is an agent for some enemy of the government, but I really don’t care. She’s probably already dead or maybe exchanged for one of ours.”

Christine confronts him. “I guess you don’t care much about anyone or anything.”

Trent shoots back, “Hey, go back to your lab and keep quiet. Maybe I won’t say I saw each of you.”

Taylor and Christine realize that he’s right. If seen here, it would be obvious they know what is going on and they would certainly disappear as so many dissidents have in the past.

Taylor admits defeat. “Okay, checkmate. You won’t see us here again.”

Trent smiles as he exercises his newfound power. “Good. You guys are showing a little smarts now.” As he walks away, he waves at them with the back of his hand and says, “Now be good and go away.”

Their anger swelled, but they held their tongue. Taylor looks at Christine. “We need to go. I don’t trust him not to tell someone.”

Christine replies, “Yes, and quickly, before we’re discovered.” They begin to gather their things.

Trent picks up the phone in his office and calls Burnsom. “Sir, I just encountered Taylor and Christine outside the base at a motel.”

“What, how?”

“Obviously some tracking device on Asterion, that’s the only way.”

“Did they take off?”

“I told them to go back to the lab or I would report them. So I don’t think they will be in a hurry.”

Burnsom is enraged, “They must be stopped and eliminated. They are of no use to us now.”

Trent cautions Burnsom, “I would not send security forces to capture them. You touted Taylor and Christine as saviors of our way of life. The bad press from whatever happens could trigger more dissension among the populace.”

“What do you propose?”

“Send Asterion after them. It will prove his loyalty to you and if word gets out about their demise, it will be the fault of their own creation.”

Burnsom smiles, “Trent that is a great plan. It covers all the bases. You’re starting to think like me and that’s good for your future.”

Trent hangs up. He smiles in self-satisfaction and makes his way to Asterion’s cell.

Asterion lifts his head when he hears the door open. “Are we ready to go?”

“Change of plans. Burnsom has a job for you.”

“What is the job?”

“Taylor and Christine have been spotted near here. They are coming to eliminate you before you fulfill your destiny. Christers are like that. You chose not to believe. That made you a threat to them. You wisely rejected their myths and fables for the real truth.”

“What is the truth?”

“The truth is what you can put your hands on. The tangible things around you, not some pie in the sky story with no payoff in this life. Think about it. Do you want something while you are alive, or after you die?”

“I want it now. How about those two, you want them dead or alive?”

Trent coyly replies, “Your choice, but I do believe in one scripture, the one that says, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

Asterion laughs with a low bellowing sound that unnerves Trent. Trent leaves quickly as the security detail releases Asterion from the cage. They lead him to the nondescript transport truck he will ride in and assists him as he follows them. In the convoy, Asterion tracks them with his superior sense of smell and intuition. The soldiers look at Asterion with both amazement and fear. They look at each other and quietly think, “Something is not right with this.”

Burnsom orders the flight crew to take him back to Washington immediately and retires to his office. He watches as they ascend through the clouds. He sips Brandy from a glass and enjoys a cigar. He determines that there is nothing that stands in his way now. He dreams of grandiose plans of conquest and control. A world where there are no limits on his desires. Burnsom saw Asterion as a tool. Asterion saw Burnsom as a stepping-stone to total conquest. He is superior in every way to humans. His intellect, his powerful body, and his lack of conscience and restraint made him the perfect tyrant.

Taylor and Christine leave the motel and see Burnsom’s plane streak into the sky. They look at each other sitting side-by-side in their little electric vehicle and wonder who would prevail in this conflict. Will he have the power he appears to have, or will goodness win out with God’s help. They could only wonder as they pulled away from the curb and drove down the street. They stick to rural roads to avoid detection and using the communicator, find safe houses where they can rest for a while before hitting the road again. They try their best not to leave a trail of clues.

Trent returns to his lab and sitting at his desk, makes his plans for advancement. He leans back in his chair and enjoys the valuable artifacts he has collected. Daggers, derringers and spy tech sit on shelves in locked display cabinets. The tools of deception, deceit and treachery reveal his true nature. He knows he is playing a dangerous game. Burnsom must completely trust him. However, he knows that eventually Asterion will be powerful enough to vanquish Burnsom and he must show his allegiance to him without Burnsom realizing it. If he sides with Burnsom then Asterion will destroy him along with Burnsom’s entourage. That is inevitable. He must align with Asterion while encouraging Burnsom to utilize Asterion. It’s like living with a cobra. Keep it satisfied and keep your distance and you might live, but never take your eyes off it. For now, Burnsom has to be the one pacified.

He calls Burnsom. “Sir, the wheels are set in motion. Asterion will do our dirty work. You can take credit for saving humans from war and conflict and distance yourself from the messes that occur from time-to-time. The benefits will outweigh the few perceived mistakes the public might get wind of occasionally. Also, if they or their children don’t have to go into battle, they will put up with a few errors.”

Burnsom gleefully replies, “Son, this could not have gone better. Give the beasts your undivided attention. Maximize their numbers, we’ll need them.”

“Yes Sir.” He hangs up the phone and laughs softly under his breath. He saw them both as puppets to do his dirty work while maintaining clean hands.

CHAPTER 20 - FAMILY REUNION

Taylor and Christine arrive outside a little town in the south. Sitting on a desolate gravel road in the middle of nowhere they sit in darkness with only the symphony of the residents of the woods to keep them company.

Taylor looks at Christine. “Why did we have to meet them out here?”

“They need to check for tracking devices that may have been planted on us. When they are sure we are clear, then we will go with them for the night.”

“I think I saw a movie that started out this way.”

Christine laughed, “I know. This is about as spooky as it gets.”

Just them, they are startled by a light shining directly on them. They shade their eyes and try to catch a glimpse of their visitor.

A voice from the trees, “Are you Christine?”

“Yes, I’m here with Taylor.”

The light shines on the ground and they hear the crunch of grass and twigs as the person approaches. A middle-aged man dressed in fatigues leans in the window. “I’m Barry Thomason. Jacobs set this up.”

Barry shows the signs of working outside most of his life. A dark tan and cragged skin show the years and his rough hands reveal his work, “We need to check out your car, so you will come with me and my son will check it over before driving it to my house.”

They get into Barry’s truck and travel along dirt roads to his house nestled among the trees. Inside the house, Barry shows them their rooms. They set their stuff down and come into the kitchen where Barry’s wife is cooking for them.

She wipes her hands and shakes theirs. “I’m Mary. You two must be tired. Have a seat and pour yourself some tea. Supper is almost done.” Mary returns to preparing the meal. She is the quintessential southern woman. Manners and hospitality are her charm and her smile lights up the room.

Barry sits with them. “Jacobs says y’all are very important to us.”