The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (12 page)

[6]

High King

[January 6th - Washington D.C. - Pentagon, Underground Chamber 34 - Night]

Charles stood firm as he stared at the metal doors of the elevator he was riding in. Slowly, the steel cage was moving to an area that few had access to.

Just beneath the Pentagon was a large amount of private chambers that were used by high-level government officials as secure conference rooms. These rooms were designed in an effort to keep top-level secrets from reaching the wrong ears. At the moment, the Director was about to join a large group of very powerful men from all over the world to discuss the state of their project and the plans for Lambda’s future.

Charles shook his head. “This is too soon. The Board isn’t going to like what I have to report,” he said, letting out a heavy sigh. Before, he was told that he had six hours. In the end, he was barely given three.

The elevator stopped and retracted the doors. Charles marched forward where he was greeted by a giant room with a massive table at the center. The room looked to be made of black glass and reflected lines of blue light from along the square-shaped pieces that made up the room. Charles took a seat at the end of the massive table. There was only one chair in the room. The emptiness of the vast area was soon filled by Charles’ words.

“Web link engage, server code: L11 - 12113241.”

“Server code accepted. Commencing data link. Welcome back, Director 13,” awoke a voice from within the room of black glass. The mechanical voice had more of a human touch to it, but still had a lingering emptiness in its tone.

Charles waited patiently as he watched the long table quickly be filled with dozens of monitors that floated in place. Each screen displayed a different person, represented by the overseeing Director. Men, women, Asian, Russian, English; not a single person or place was left unrepresented.

“Let’s just get on with this,” started Charles with an imposing stare. “So, who would like to go first?”

The long line of monitors was silent at first.

“Where do we stand in the operation?” The prominent voice belonged to one of the Directors located on the western side of the United States. Charles couldn’t remember his name. The man’s features were old and looked to have far too many miles on them; yet his shined head and nicely pressed suit gave him a look of importance.

“I have enlisted aid in the effort to bring in Lambda. As far as damage control, the public is unaware of the events involving Lambda’s escape as of now.”

One of the monitors grew in size and appeared in front of Charles. It was the second District Director located in Hong Kong. His eyes looked like a cobra, hidden behind his thin pair of glasses.

“This
aid
of yours, they are part of your reserve?” the man probed.

Charles sighed. “They are Void Moderators from Babel.”

The monitors began to chatter. Charles groaned, knowing what was to come.

“So, then Babel is aware of your failure.”

Charles scowled. “Mr. Ling, I’m aware of the circumstances, but Babel was going to find out about this either way. Better to enlist their manpower than to try and fix a problem we simply can’t solve by ourselves. Without the Void Moderators, it would be like fixing a dam with duct tape,” Charles responded powerfully.

Mr. Ling fell silent, but only for a moment. “Have you heard anything directly from the Twelve or the High Kings, given current matters?”

More of the monitors began to chatter and murmur words of discontent.

Charles’ stare darkened as he peered up at the monitor displaying Mr. Ling. “I have received no words from the Twelve or the Three. Given this, I’m sure that they are confident that we can fix this problem without their direct involvement-”

Mr. Ling’s monitor vanished and was quickly replaced with a new image before Charles. The man on the monitor wore a patch over his right eye and had short, jagged, black hair darting out like a spiked mace. Charles found the man unsightly as he had a thin face with a rather sickly grin, hindered only by his sucking on some kind of candy stick.

Charles stared at the man intently. He noted the emblem on the man’s breast. It was a picture of a gold planet with a silver ring around it that complemented his white uniform. It was the emblem of Babel. The other observation Charles noted was that below the emblem was a fixture attached to the gold pin. It looked to take on the shape of an eye that appeared to be inflamed. It was then that Charles lost some color in his face.

“District Director 13, Charles Baldwin,” the man hissed with a smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” The man continued to smile with his sick grin. It disturbed Charles.

Charles regained his composure as he straightened. “The honor is mine,” Charles said with a small bow as he sat. His darkened eyes didn’t quiver as he glared up at the looming man in the screen.

Why now?

The man pulled out the piece of candy he was sucking on and tossed it to the side.

“The Twelve felt that I should be a part of this meeting as I’m the acting commander of the Void Moderators that have been sent to aid you,” the man said playfully.

One of the monitors spoke up. “Since when do High Kings oversee their own Void Moderators personally?” The voice of the man speaking was a Director from India.

The man glared. “You ought to show a little respect to your superiors, old man. One whisper to the Twelve and I can have you on the street.”

The man said no more as Charles drew the attention back to him.

“If you are indeed here on orders by the Twelve, can you contribute to the cause in bringing in Lambda?”

The man seemed intrigued. “Ah, yes. I’ve had my eye on that creation of yours ever since it managed to escape. So tell me . . . how fares Babel’s little Enforcer?”

The room fell silent. The man’s words seemed to ring ominously in the glass chamber.

“What do you mean by Enforcer?” Charles could tell right away that the man before him knew more than he was letting on.

The man in the screen didn’t seem pleased as he peered down at Charles.

“You are a smart man, figure it out,” he replied harshly. He shook his head and started laughing. “At any rate, the Void Moderators I sent will be able to get the job done. You have my word. That should suffice, no?”

Charles was doubtful. “Lambda brought down Class Five God Mods like it was nothing. No human could possibly bring it down so easily, even in the Network.”

The man taunted as he waved his finger at Charles. He found it insulting.

“I’m Dead Eye, the second High King. You will never hear anyone question my ability.”

Charles felt his whole body racked with chills. “And why do I not feel comfortable about that?”

Dead Eye sneered. “Because they are all dead.”

Charles shuddered.
Add one more problem to the list.

*
      
*
      
*

[January 6th - Washington D.C. - Cyber Research Plant - Night]

Karen eyed her Com-Linker strongly as she stared at the screen on her wrist. Her thumb was hovering over the send button. There was a contact on the front screen and the “call” tab was highlighted. She didn’t like having to resort to calling a friend for something in this manner, but given the circumstances, she felt it would serve her interests well.

I’m sure she will rise to the occasion.

She pressed the button. The earpiece lit up within her lobe as the call was sent. She waited silently as the rings continued to climb in count. Four rings, five rings, six rings-

“Karen? This is odd of you to call with this number-”

“Margret, I need your assistance.” She was still rigid from her encounter with Charles, but she managed to keep her composure, speaking calmly.

Margret was a little surprised by Karen’s call. Her relationship with Karen and Richard went back quite far, and she knew them from the years they attended the same university. She always knew Karen as an odd person at times, but there was something a little off in how she spoke. Just vaguely, she felt like Karen was distracted.

“Karen, what is it?” she asked with a little concern.

Karen was quick to respond. “First off, what has the Director told you about the current situation?”

Margret was a little perplexed by the question. “As much as you, I would imagine. The Director is currently in a meeting with the Board regarding possible countermeasures in bringing in the Lambda unit. What are you getting at?”

Karen moved to the point. “Lambda has fallen into the hands of my son. Something just doesn’t feel right. I need you to find out how, and why.”

Now Margret was confused. “I’m no genius, Karen. I’m just the Head of Communications and Data Security-” She stopped, fully processing Karen’s words. “Did you say your son has Lambda!?”

“So you didn’t know,” she replied curtly. “Listen to me, Margret, there is something very sour surrounding Lambda. I’ve felt this way since we built it. Zack’s involvement now only makes me wonder more.”

Margret’s voice seem to grow quiet. “What do you mean, and why are you telling me this now?”

Karen brushed her hair behind her ear. “Because you have a right to know and because you are a friend.”

Margret seemed genuinely surprised by Karen’s words. “Are you okay? Did something else happen that I don’t know of?”

Karen ignored her question. “I told you my concern in confidence, Margret. I’m leaving this place soon, and I want you to be on my side. Can I trust you?”

Margret huffed with pride. “Of course you can trust me, but what are you planning to do?”

Karen rubbed the back of her neck. She felt so stiff. “I can’t say for sure, but I felt it was only fair that you knew first before things became too complicated. You’d best tread lightly. The shadows that lurk around Project Lambda are not to be taken lightly.”

“Wait, Karen, what do you-”

Karen ended the call. She cracked her neck and began to march off down the white halls of the research plant. Her hard eyes never blinked as she powered her way toward her next move. She only spoke briefly, quoting Walter Scott. Her terse words echoed through the vacant halls like dark sirens.

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”

*
      
*
      
*

Margret was still in a daze as she listened to the dead space of the call that had just ended abruptly. She was still trying to sort out everything she had just heard, but couldn’t really grasp the gravity of what she was told. One question plagued her mind as she thought of the words of warning left by Karen.

“Just what exactly is Project Lambda’s purpose?”

She knew its specs, its design, but not its reason for existing. To what end was such a powerful AI unit developed? Military might? A new line of God Mods? The questions only continued to pile up as Margret racked her brain to find an answer. Karen had hit a cord within her. It had spurred her dark desire to know anything that she couldn’t answer. Karen was right to confide in her, for Margret’s connections ran deep through her many years of covert communications and sensitive data handling.

She smirked. “So, I’m being looked down upon. If the Director thinks he can write me out, he is sadly mistaken.”

She let a small laugh slip through her curled lips “Don’t worry, Karen. You can count on me to find the dirty laundry. The shadows that surround Project Lambda only get my juices going more.”

She switched off her Com-Linker and pulled out her tablet. The device sprung to life as she grazed her finger along the screen. She tapped a small folder labeled Contacts that began to generate a massive list of names. Before the list could even finish loading, Margret was prompted to key in a six digit passcode as well as identify herself through voice recognition.

“Margret Powers,” she said strongly.

“Voice recognition match. Welcome back, Margret,” echoed a stale voice over her tablet speakers.

Margret scrolled down the massive list before her, stopping about halfway down the list. She tapped the selected contact and pulled up the number registered in her database for the individual. She then clicked her Com-Liner once more and dialed quickly.

“What dirty secrets are you hiding, Lambda?”

*
      
*
      
*

[January 6th - Cyber Network, Server 346 - Concert Hall - Night]

Zack was trapped within the compounds of the giant Concert Hall that was to be used for Cecilia’s big performance. He was lucky enough to get access to the backstage, but was forced by security to stay much farther away than he had wished. He couldn’t help but worry when Cecilia left his line of sight.

The amount of people running around preparing for the show was incredible. Never in his life had he seen so many people doing so many things at once. The vast amount of work and preparations that went into this event made Zack understand why Cecilia didn’t want to cancel the concert, but only to an extent. In addition, the dull roar of thousands of Account Holders just beyond the Hall made Zack feel tense. Lambda’s erect posture didn’t make the feeling of stiffness any better.

Zack let out a deep sigh. “She doesn’t get it at all. What if Stigma shows up now?”

“They have no way of taking your sister in the Network. Her physical body doesn’t exist here. With so many acting bodies, it will be difficult for Stigma to make a move,” Lambda stated. Her words were meant to be reassuring, but they sounded too forced to Zack to have any nurturing effect.

Zack groaned. “That doesn’t make me feel better. If Stigma is unsuccessful here, where do you think they will move on to?” Zack felt a little irritated. He cursed himself for not forcing Cecilia to understand the plight they were in.

“If Stigma fails here, they would have to completely regroup and expand their operations to bring your sister within their grasp. The likelihood of that happening is just under four percent. Their rate of success to hack Cecilia’s account is just under thirty four percent. Lambda has concluded that your sister has a high chance of remaining undetected by Stigma.”