The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (40 page)

Zack looked to the ceiling of the giant hangar, his eyes still sparkling with wonder.

Corson’s influence . . . is legendary.

[20]

Havoc

[January 7th - Washington D.C. - Isolated Area - Day]

Karen marched down a long flight of stairs, leading further into the dark underbelly of a remote location. She couldn’t help but smirk as she took each step. After all, getting to this point was just too easy.

“I can even impress myself still,” she mused.
      

She doubted that Richard or Charles had even realized she was gone. Naturally, she knew they had their hands full with keeping Epsilon contained, an issue she would soon address given what she had in mind for the unit.

The stairs kept on going deeper into the earth as she pondered her next objective. Presently, she was in one of the many storage warehouses she had leased through different aliases over the years. She had overhauled one of these storage garages to enable appropriate storing of data towers within the compound for backup and emergencies. Beneath the ground, they were kept cool and had low risk of overheating. The underground facility was powered by her own personal generators and siphoned energy from the neighboring electrical companies by
tapping into their lines. Down in this little hole, Karen was basically invisible to the world above. It was the perfect getaway.

Karen smirked as she flipped a large switch upon coming to the end of the descending stairs, bringing to life the massive towers in the dark basement. The flickering lights radiated with blue auras as the machines roared with life. The floor was full of mist from the cooling agents given off by the high-tech ventilation system and dry ice machines. The basement was kept at a low thirty-eight degrees at all times.

At the end of the basement, a large monitor booted up and several additional screens appeared around it. Karen walked over to the hovering screens and waved her hand past them as she sat down at the large terminal before her.

“Now, to business,” she said, still smiling.

Her words fell on deaf ears. This hardly bothered Karen. She was fond of the silence. It never had an opinion, and never spoke back.

She pulled out a small thumb drive and inserted it upright into the terminal. The drive glowed bright red and instantly generated twenty different screens around Karen as she flipped through them with her hands. She stopped when she found the screen entitled “Project Lambda”
.

Her expression quickly turned grim as she stared intensely at the screen before her.

“It continues to learn even now . . .” Her eyes burned. “I underestimated the unit. I had hoped I could use Zack to control it.” She bit her lip in frustration. “If only I could have disappeared then . . .” She shook her head. “No use trying to fix what is irreversible.”

She noted Lambda’s location to be unknown. She shrugged, knowing its most probable location.

“So, Corson was able to get what he wanted.” She leaned forward, gazing at the monitor with possessed eyes. “Too bad it will only lead him to ruin.”

Her fingers blazed over the many keyboards, quickly pulling up several other screens. This time, the image was a display of a different AI unit.

Karen smirked. “It’s awake, but not fully.” She sneered with malefic intent. “It appears I need to give it a hand.” She chuckled as she thought of one of her favorite quotes from T. S. Eliot. “The tiger springs in the new year. Us he devours,” Karen purred with sinister delight.

She went to work. A dark force hung over her head like some lurking shadow. She could only think of how all would be turned to dust in the moment that Epsilon clashed with Lambda.

She smiled widely. “Havoc is coming.”

*
      
*
      
*

[January 7th - Abingdon, Virgina - Stigma’s Underground Facility - Day]

Corson leered down the several levels of Hangar 3 as he watched Lambda closely. He couldn’t help but feel uneasy with such a force moving so freely around his base despite his confidence in keeping her on a short leash.

To think the most powerful weapon of man is at the command of just a boy,
he thought as he peered upon Zack with hardened eyes.

Peter, standing next to Corson, noticed his fixation. He could sense the disapproval radiating from him.

Peter then received a mission update over his Com-Linker. He looked to Corson. “Corson, all the squads are beginning their final preparations. They will be ready shortly.”

Corson’s eyes broke from below. “Good. Is everything in place as I ordered?”

“That depends. I’ve only just been informed we had to scramble our Black Hawks and our B-52 for departure to Limit Zone 246. How do you think things are going with sudden updates like this?” Peter didn’t try to hide his criticism.

Corson groaned under his breath, making no effort to answer Peter.

Peter sighed. “All is progressing normally.” He paused, his expression turning hard.

“I still think it’s unwise to keep everyone in the dark about the operation, especially at this point. Ever since you revealed the location to be Limit Zone 246, the entire crew is anxious to learn more. Can’t you at least give up more of the plan? At least tell them what the B-52 is carrying to the drop site.”

Corson’s eyes didn’t waver. His tone was harsh. “I didn’t put you in charge of the men to ask questions. Do your job. I will hear nothing more of this until the operation begins.”

Corson spun on his heel and marched off, leaving Peter distraught and offended. His expression quickly turned coarse as he leered at one of the large monitors above him. Displayed over his head was the twenty-mile operation zone Corson had laid out, Limit Zone 246 being the center.

Just what exactly is there that is going to help us achieve our goal, Corson?

Peter turned and glared at Corson’s back. “We all follow Leader, huh?” Peter whispered.

With a huff and a turn, Peter broke his heated stare at Corson’s back and continued about his work. He knew he would get his answer soon.

*
      
*
      
*

Zack still stared dumbstruck at what surrounded him. He was still trying to take everything in when an arrogant voice cut his bewilderment short.

“Close that gap on your face. We don’t have time to sight-see,” barked Laura as she marched forward.

Zack groaned under his breath. “It’s because of that attitude I bet you’ve never had a guy before,” he mumbled.

Laura’s ears perked. She turned her head slowly to glance back at Zack, her eyes full of bloodlust.

Zack felt sweat starting to form on his brow as he waved back cheekily. Laura rolled her eyes as she stomped onward. Zack and Lambda followed close behind.

As they walked, Zack couldn’t help but feel the strange stares from all the people around him. It appeared to be a mix of resentment and rage. However, he could see another emotion wavering in the many eyes of those he passed—fear.

Are they scared of Lambda?

Zack’s thought was quickly put to the test as a woman carrying a wooden crate brushed shoulders with Lambda. The sudden impact caused the woman to lose her balance and fall to her knees. The scene didn’t cause pause for anyone around except Lambda and Zack. Everyone continued their work like nothing had happened, like an automated assembly line. It was when Lambda went to aid the woman that Zack got his answer.

“Back off!” the woman yelled.

Distraught, Lambda recoiled, stunned, as she stepped away from the woman. The sudden explosion and elevated tone confused her. She had no idea what she did wrong.

The woman took to standing once again. Her eyes quivered as she glared at Lambda.

“Soulless monster,” she huffed as she marched off, not once turning back.

Lambda stood cemented to the ground. The woman’s outburst didn’t make any sense. She had never met this woman. She didn’t even know her origin or name. Yet, this person showed extreme hostility and hate, the likes of which Lambda had never seen. She just kept repeating what the woman called her in her head.

Soulless monster. . .

Zack tried to bring her around. “Lambda, don’t mind her. I’m sure the stress from-”

“You two are slow,” burned the words of Laura from behind.

Zack shot Laura a dirty look as he ignored her words. This only served to increase Laura’s growing hostility.

“Perhaps I’m being too lenient with you, boy. You could use some reeducation,” she said with a snap to her words.

“That won’t be necessary,” Lambda calmly replied.

Laura stopped, caught off guard by the lack of intensity in Lambda’s words. Frankly, they sounded completely submissive.

“I was at fault. We won’t keep you any longer,” Lambda finished with her head tilted to the ground. It looked like she was in pain.

Zack could see it in her eyes. The experience with the woman was weighing heavy on her mind. She was agonized over the “Why”, constantly looking for a solution. She couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Corson’s heartless words cut the thick air. “Perhaps Commander Richter has a point. I have a schedule to keep, so stop lagging behind,” he finished ruthlessly.

Zack glared in his direction as Corson came down the steel stairs from above.

“We wouldn’t want that, now would we?” he retorted.

Corson’s eyes flamed. “Mind your words, boy. You’re in my world now.”

Zack didn’t know what he hated more: the arrogant look in Corson’s eyes, or the fact that his terrifying form made his knees wobble.

“Laura, reconvene here after Peter updates you on the mission parameters. All commanders are to meet up with their squads and prepare to sortie.”

Laura nodded. “Of course, Leader.” She marched off without another word.

Corson’s eyes fell on Zack and Lambda. Zack felt that if he could see his face, he would be sneering.

“Are you mentally prepared to see the truth to the world you know nothing about?” he boasted proudly.

Zack snarled. “You keep saying that, but so far you’ve delivered nothing,” Zack shot back heatedly.

Corson chuckled. “You will see soon,
and
the Lambda unit will bear witness to how people see it as well.” Corson’s eyes gleamed as he stared at Lambda. “Although I wager it already is starting to get an idea.”

Corson’s words made Zack want to cleave out the man’s eyes, but Zack couldn’t help but feel this strange sensation through all the gazing eyes around him. It was odd how not a single one spoke as they passed them while Corson talked. All the men and women did as they were told, but all eyes quickly glanced away as soon as they fell on Corson. Most people had indifferent looks, but few had the looks of admiration that members like Laura displayed. To Zack, it seemed rather odd. For someone that was supposed to be this great “Leader”, Zack was getting the feeling that many of those under Corson were more terrified of him rather than respecting of him.

Zack dropped his line of thought as he backtracked to what Corson had said to Laura before. His tone quickly took on a rigid form.

“What’s this mission you were talking about?”

Corson’s eyes grew as he glared at Zack. “You will be briefed on the role you will play in time. For now, you are to keep your little guardian in check.”

Zack pushed on. He could already sense several men and woman easing up on their work so they could listen. It wasn’t every day someone talked back to Corson.

“Is that so? You may think of me as some kid, but don’t underestimate me. I’m far more capable then you think.”

Corson’s fist clenched. “Perhaps I need to remind you that your sister’s health and safety rests solely on your cooperation. Is knowing
that
good enough?”

Zack’s expression darkened. “Words of a coward,” Zack barked.

Zack suddenly heard metallic footsteps. He barely had the time to look in the direction of the echoes when he saw Laura leap down from the second level, having caught wind of Zack’s dialogue with Corson. Zack took note of the level of haste that rode her steps; and of Peter holding his head in his hand above.

“That’s enough!” she bellowed. She glared at the men and women around who had stopped moving.

“What are you all staring at?! Get back to work!”

The mass of people hastened as they saw Laura’s boiling rage. It was clear to Zack that the members of Stigma had a very similar opinion of both Corson and her.

“You’re a spirited one. I will give you that, boy,” Corson applauded. “However, you don’t understand the severity of the deteriorating state our world is in.”

Zack found Corson’s words to be troubling.
What does he mean by deteriorating?

“Tell me, boy, have you asked yourself yet why my men show nothing but contempt for your little AI bodyguard?”

Zack didn’t have anything to say. He offered only a face full of rancor.

“Your silence says enough. Perhaps you should start wondering why that thing standing beside you is the source of everyone’s hate here before you start worrying about our objectives,” Corson shot.

Zack grinded his teeth.
Says the man who rules like a dictator!

“All right. If that’s how you’re going to play it, then allow me to ask you this: what makes you so sure that me seeing this Limit Zone will change my mind about you or your organization?” Zack jabbed.

Corson chuckled lightly. “There is no certainty in this world, but I can assure you one thing . . .” He leaned in closer, speaking in a low, ominous tone. “I’m going to shatter that fragile little bubble of a reality you hold so dear.”

Zack continued to glare into Corson’s singeing eyes. He couldn’t understand why the people around him followed this mad man. It was beyond all logic as to why anyone could see that what Corson was doing was for some “greater good”. Yet no one questioned him, despite showing signs of wavering faith and doubts. Zack could see it on their faces and in their eyes. He had to wonder . . .