The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (29 page)

“D-don’t look at me like that . . . it m-makes me f-feel uncomfortable.” Her words were hushed and every other word wavered. She stood there holding herself, unable to explain what had just happened inside her head.

Zack pondered what he should say.
Is she developing emotional impulses so quick that she can’t understand? Is this possibly jealousy, or perhaps a form of resentment?

Zack wanted to think on the issue more, but time was something they had continued to squander. He had barely gotten any rest during all this, and daybreak was just an hour away. At this point, they had to move and plan on the go. They didn’t have the luxury of stalling for any longer.

“I’m not sure what you are going through, but we can’t stay here much longer. I feel it would be in our best interest to change locations. Regardless of a plan, keeping on the move will at least keep our pursuers off our trail,” Zack said, trying to move the topic to a more constructive and dire one.

Lambda paused for a second. When she spoke, she seemed unsure.

“I-is it okay for me to still be with you?”

Zack at first was a little surprised by the question, but soon smiled lightly. After all, he really couldn’t get mad at her. She just seemed too innocent and overwhelmed by the world around her.

“I’m in too deep to pull out now. Besides, in a lot of ways, I brought this upon myself,” he said softly.

Lambda stared silently as she looked upon Zack’s calm features and small smile. She couldn’t place this feeling of admiration she felt or the warmth she found in Zack’s smile. At the least, it made her feel a little better, even if she didn’t know why.

“I’m not leaving. We are partners in this, you and I.” Zack said, holding out his hand.

Lambda seemed confused.

Zack chuckled as he pointed to her opposing right hand. “It’s called a handshake. A symbol of trust and union, as well as a form of greeting.”

Lambda slowly held up her hand, hesitantly taking hold of Zack’s. She wasn’t sure what she was taking part in. All she could focus on was how Zack’s hand was much larger than she had thought.

“I’m in your hands, Lambda, and you mine. Let us work together to get out of this mess,” Zack said with confidence.

Lambda peered into Zack. She was unsure of his words, but could feel a small smile form on her face. She nodded in approval.

At that moment, they were at peace. Neither wanted the moment to break. It was a brilliant display to behold, as the warm sun broke the night and shimmered on the water behind them.

*
      
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*

Atop a lone building, overlooking the breaking dawn, Overseer watched with focused intensity. She rose to her feet and tapped her temple.

“Target acquired. Prepare the Zero Barrier.” She spoke with a terrifying calmness. The cool morning wind rolled over her metallic body as she leered down below at the tranquil scene shared by her two targets.

She slammed her fist into her hand. “Game over, Zackary Allan Knight.”

*
      
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*

[January 7th - Washington D.C. - Cyber Research Plant - Day]

Margret’s footsteps echoed through the white halls of the research plant. Each stride pressed down with considerable anger and frustration. Her blood was boiling and even her own vision appeared to distort from the sheer disgust she felt. After speaking with Karen and Richard, she was brought into the fold in just how little she knew about Project Lambda and its origins. What stuck with her more was Karen’s resentment to the idea of keeping her in the loop. It didn’t add up given how she started all of this. Still, Richard’s insistence eventually broke Karen down, but that didn’t soothe Margret’s distaste for her at the moment. She could still hear the words she had said during their conversation.

“This much you should have been able to figure out on your own,” Karen had said then.

Margret clenched her teeth.
Then why even bother bringing all this up?! What is your angle, Karen?

Margret didn’t think anymore of their previous conversation. Now, she was on the march to see the Director. She was done being treated like a fool.

She hadn’t gotten too close to the Director’s meeting chambers when her Com-Linker began to spring to life. She was so lost in her own thought that she barely noticed it in time. Not only that, she completely forgot to glance at the incoming caller on the display.

“Who is it!?” she shot viciously as she came to a screeching halt. She could hear odd static on the other line.
Poor signal strength?
She looked down at her wrist and immediately became suspicious.
Unknown?

“Hello!” she yelled again, still irritated.

There was still no answer. She was now beginning to grow impatient.

She snarled as she put on a robotic voice. “The party you are trying to reach is not interested-”

“Mar-ar- . . . i-it- . . . Ma-r-ac-us . . .”

Margret, despite the bad signal, recognized the voice.
Marcus?

“Marcus, is that you? You’re fading in and out, I can’t understand you.”

“L-ea-ve- . . . c-om- . . . you-”

Margret struggled to hear what he was trying to say.

“Marcus? I can’t understand. The signal is bad-”

“D-. . . on’t make-. . . eye-. . .
contact!”

The static silenced as the call was dropped, leaving Margret hanging on the line with a mixed expression. She didn’t like the feeling she was getting, and her instincts were telling her that something wasn’t right. She silenced her Com-Linker and rushed toward the Director’s chambers. It was unlike Marcus to use an unregistered number to contact her. He also sounded like he was warning her of something.

What could he mean?

Margret was still deep in thought as she approached the two soldiers guarding the entrance to the meeting quarters of the Director. They made no opposition in stopping her as she stood before them. They merely stepped to the side and allowed Margret to pass. She didn’t take notice to lack of resistance in her driven state.

Without a word, she entered through the metal doors. When she entered the room, all eyes shifted to her with an increasing rate of disgust. Margret didn’t like the vibe she was getting.

“Odd how you appear just moments before we decided that you were to be summoned,” one of the council members said dejectedly.

Margret stood confused.
What are they talking about?

The Director raised a hand to silence the whispers spreading across the room.

“Margret, we have received disturbing intelligence that you have been feeding outside sources with information regarding Project Lambda, as well as secrets retaining to other operations done within this facility.”

Margret’s eyes widened with shock.
Is this what Marcus was trying to warn me about?! I’ve been set up!

She quickly gathered her thoughts and controlled her expression. Now was not the time to act surprised. She needed to remain unfazed in order to prove her innocence.

“What sort of joke is this? I’m monitored twenty-four-seven when I’m in the facility and my whereabouts can be-”

Charles pressed a button on his monitor. A large screen was blown up in the middle of the long table of council members. The video footage made Margret’s blood run cold.

“Care to explain what you were doing in this garage complex? From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like you two are just chatting about the weather.” Charles’ expression could kill a lion.

The video was a security tape of her and Marcus during their meeting. What scared her was that access to the security cameras from the garage complex were not connected to the facility in any way. Moreover, the garage was over ten miles outside of the facility and owned by a private business. They shouldn’t have been able to gain access to this video documentation . . . unless they knew about her meeting.

She tried her best to hide her nervousness. “This doesn’t prove anything. What you see is me talking to another person. I never exchange anything to them.”

The Director’s voice deepened. “True, though you do receive something from them.”

Margret’s eye twitched. She didn’t want them to know she was digging for information, though it appeared that it could be to her advantage to say that she was, upon reflecting on the idea.

“I’m not allowed to acquire information? Last I checked, I was forbidden to sell, or give information regarding the projects and research done here, not seek information. Maybe if you were up front with me from the start, I wouldn’t need to resort to these measures,” she added harshly.

The Director’s body straightened. “Maybe so, Miss Powers, but there are certain “unwritten rules” that we scientists and researchers abide by. You seem to be lacking in that knowledge.”

Margret clicked her tongue. “Obviously. All I’ve been finding is more and more secrets that haven’t been brought to my attention given current events. Care to explain that to me?”

The council began to whisper in hushed tones again. They silenced when Charles began speaking.

“There is a time and place for everything. You didn’t need to be informed on certain subjects.”

Margret slammed her foot down forcefully. “And preparing the unstable Epsilon Combat AI to retrieve Project Lambda is something I don’t get a say in?!”

The room was silent. Margret’s eyes glowed with contempt.

“Your input doesn’t matter on that given issue. Only the Board makes those types of decisions,” Charles growled sternly.

“Given how it puts this entire facility at risk, I beg to differ, sir,” Margret said with enough sass to make a cat twitch.

Charles grumbled under his breath. “That matter aside, the suspicion of you leaking information is the topic at hand. Should you be proven innocent, you will be brought up to speed on Project Epsilon’s status. Until then, you will be confined to quarters. Do I make myself clear?”

Margret scowled. “And how long do you plan on this investigation going? By the time you “conclude” your inspection, I will no longer need to be informed of anything, am I right?”

Low whispers could be heard again. Charles made no effort to silence them this time.

“Understand that this was brought to our attention by Babel. We have very little say in the matter. If you wish to protest this injunction, then I’m afraid you will have to take it up with them.”

Margret eyed Charles cautiously. He seemed more on edge than normal. She found the nature in his behavior odd given the strict manner he normally held himself to.

“So, I have to convince Babel that I’m not selling information on their little projects? Lovely,” she added with detest.

Charles nodded. His stern gaze never faulted.

Margret grunted in annoyance. “Fine. I have nothing to hide. I know I’ve done nothing wrong. So, how long do I have to wait to schedule a hearing with them?” she shot heatedly.

Charles remained erect and stern. “A representative of Babel is presently on his way to the facility now. He will be arriving soon.”

Right away, a warning sign went off in Margret’s head.

“Who did Babel send?” she asked reluctantly.

“One of the High Kings. The one known as Dead Eye,” Charles stated flatly.

Margret felt like her soul left her body. She could hear the words of warning from Marcus echoing in her mind over and over again.

Don’t make “eye” contact . . .

*
      
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[January 7th - Undisclosed Location, Stigma HQ - Day]

Cecilia awoke slowly. Her entire body felt like lead and her vision was distorted. It appeared that she was in a bright lit room, but she didn’t even know her own orientation with all the bright lights around her. She did hear some voices around her, but they were mainly jumbled to sound like mere noise as her hearing was monopolized by a strange humming noise.

Is this a dream?

Her vision was still blurry, but she could feel the lightheadedness going down a little. She tried to recollect what she remembered last.

I was on the stage . . . I was taken to my room to rest . . . Sarah was worried . . .

She tried to move her body again, but was met with no success. Although, she could now feel her body more as if she was coming off anesthesia . . . in fact, the more she thought about it, that was exactly what it felt like.

But I just went to sleep . . .why would I . . .

She tried to move her arms again, now with less numbness. As she moved her arms, she could feel that they were being constricted. Immediately her heart began to race.

What?! Am I tied up?!

Cecilia’s vision was now starting to come through and she now could hear the voices around her more clearly. She then noticed that that both her arms and legs were latched to a bed via metal cuffs. No amount of struggling could ever hope to free her from their grasp. Still, she tried, now eclipsed with terror.

Where am I!?

She screamed the question in her head, but quickly caught on that she was gagged. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes as she frantically tried to escape from her shackles. She was so confused, and had no way of knowing who was the culprit behind this abduction.

Sarah! Did they get Sarah too?!

Her thoughts quickly turned to her manager. She hoped that no harm had come to her, but she had no way of knowing if she indeed was taken as well. All she knew was that she was being held in a metal room, with nothing but four air ducts to circulate the air around her, and the bed she was chained to. One dark individual in the room began calmly speaking into her earpiece. Her long blonde hair fluttered with every movement of her head as she listened to the person on the other line.

“It appears the hostage is awake. Should I begin?”

Begin?! Begin what?!

Cecilia began to struggle again. It was all she could think to do. Every thought went to her freeing herself, but despite that, one thought did slip through.

Zack! Help me!