The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (53 page)

“Relax, Margret, I’m not here to finish the job,” came a familiar voice. The familiarity of the voice only intensified Margret’s need to find something to defend herself with.

The man closed the door behind him, not turning on the lights. He held two Styrofoam cups in his hands. “I know you like yours with two sugars, but I figure given the circumstances, you might want to consider taking it black.”

Margret faced the man now, anger growing in her body. “What’s your game, Marcus?! You have some gall showing your face before me now!”

Marcus looked behind him quickly, checking to see if anyone was alerted by Margret’s elevated voice. Luckily, the hospital was operating only on a skeleton crew at this hour. As far as he was concerned, less people equaled less questions at this point. He turned his attention back to Margret, a look of defeat and disgrace weighing on his face.

“I’m sorry, Margret. I didn’t want this. I don’t expect you will forgive me.”

“I don’t plan to!” she barked.

Marcus walked to her bedside and placed one of the coffees down. He pulled the remote from her bedside and turned on the television. The fifty-inch monitor sprang to life, allowing the news to split the silence of the room.

“You’ve got a strong will. I dosed you with a special chemical that artificially induces cardiac arrest. Its chemical makeup dissolves in the circulatory system and makes it near impossible to trace. Luckily, having you meet me in a crowded area allowed for a faster shot to a hospital,” he said reassuringly while watching the television.

Margret shook off a dizzy spell as she glared at the man standing casually at the foot of her bed. “Then, if you aren’t here to kill me, Dead Eye will soon find out you failed. He will send someone else to finish the job,” she said while glaring.

Marcus took a sip of his coffee. “I’ve taken that into account.”

Margret’s anger suddenly melted away as she fell into a daze. She realized what Marcus was getting at with his heavy words.

“I’m already . . . dead?”

Marcus nodded. “It was easy switching around the logs and body, but the actual data entry in the computers required me to pull a favor. As of yesterday at 7pm EST, Margret Powers died of cardiac failure. You are henceforth known as Jane Watts. That should suffice that snake Dead Eye, I hope.”

Margret let her head sag. “Why did you do this for me? Won’t this come back to bite you, allowing me to live?”

Marcus sighed. “You may find this hard to believe, but I still have a soul. Consider this my first step in atonement.” He turned and smiled. “And it was the least I could do for aiding in the death of a friend.”

Margret couldn’t help but grin. “So now what? Are you still under the thumb of that monster High King?”

Marcus took another sip of his coffee, now intently watching the current report by the anchor on the monitor.

“That remains to be seen. He seemed to be preoccupied when he ordered me to kill you.” He pointed to the television. “Something tells me this is all the start of what is to come.”

Margret looked to the large monitor in front of her. She was still a bit dizzy but could make out several phrases like “Rolling blackouts” and “Shooting comet” from the newsfeed.

“It appears that this area, and oddly everything stretching over a hundred mile line, has suffered some massive power surges from this “Red Comet” that was caught on video. Its appearance is far too coincidental given what has happened so far.”

Margret watched the news play the video Marcus was talking about. It showed a blazing comet ripping though the night sky at insane speeds. What Margret found odd about the video was how the comet didn’t look to be made of fire but red lightning.

Margret’s eyes widened. “It’s out . . .” she muttered under her breath.

Marcus turned to her. “What was that?”

Margret felt her body began to heat up as she percolated with a growing fear.

“Epsilon . . . is free.”

Marcus’ eyes wavered. His concern weighed heavy on his face. “Wait, that thing on the news is another one of those AI units, like the Lambda unit?”

Margret nodded reluctantly.

Marcus held a hand to his face. He breathed deeply, trying to make sense of what he had just heard. The day had only just started after all.

“What does this mean, exactly?” he asked, fearful of the impending answer.

Margret grew silent, falling into a trance while watching the news report. She knew so little about what was going on, but Epsilon’s appearance made it clear as day as to what was to come. She had to do something to stop it, but she barely had the strength to move her legs. It angered her to no end that she was useless, even now.

Be sure to put your feet in the right place and stand firm.

She had no idea why she suddenly thought of a quote from Abraham Lincoln. The true cruelty was she only knew it from all of Karen’s babbling and shooting off of famous quotes. For no other reason other than her own doubt, the quote just came to her, spurring a certain sensation of hope within her beaten body.

The irony . . .

She looked to Marcus confidently, feeling a renewed spirit within her. “Say, Marcus, you a fan of quotes?”

A little puzzled by the question, Marcus shrugged. “I guess. Why?”

Margret stretched and let out a deep breath. “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”

Marcus chuckled while nodding respectfully. “Roosevelt. Good taste.”

Margret’s smile faded soon after. “From here on, everything will be chaos.”

Marcus laughed halfheartedly, not seeing the joke. “Don’t know that one.”

Margret smiled weakly. “Wouldn’t expect you to. That one is mine.”