The Genesis Code 1: Lambda (8 page)

Lambda didn’t understand the urgency. “Lambda lacks information. What purpose do you have at your dwelling?”

Zack became irate. “Corson is going after my sister! She goes live in just a few hours and the only way I can contact her is through the Network! So, if there are no more questions, I would like to get to her before Corson does!”

Taken aback, Lambda stared before the boy that glared daggers at her. The intensity in his eyes radiated with purpose and drive. She was compelled to obey, but moreover, she wanted to help. Why, she didn’t know. All she knew was that Zack needed her, and she wasn’t about to question any further.

“Lambda will need proper coordinates to reach your dwelling.”

Zack saw the resolve in Lambda’s eyes just as her visor shielded them once more. He forgot his anger as he found respect in the AI unit before him.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Moments later, Lambda opened the hole in space with the Worm Drive. They quickly dove in as they didn’t have much time. Zack did find a certain satisfaction being lead by Lambda into the void of darkness.

He smiled confidently.
I’m coming, Cecilia!

*
      
*
      
*

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

The Director walked briskly. Following behind him was a tall, well-built woman with long flowing hair the color of a deep rose. She carried a tablet-sized computer that lit her face a light blue color. She blazed her fingers across the touch screen as she marched her dominating frame forward with each stride. She found it a little difficult to keep up with the Director’s fast pace, but this wasn’t anything new. Margret had been working for the Director for years and had learned to deal with a lot of things that normal people would have lost their minds over. Being the head communications and server security leader did make for a hectic job. She found a certain calm in the chaos.

“Have you made the call?” the Director stated solemnly.

Margret nodded as they rounded a corner and passed several people in lab coats. They all gestured to the Director as he walked by. His authority and presence was highly intimidating.

“They have already arrived. They are waiting in your private quarters for the final order. They will only speak to you as per their orders from their superior.”

The Director nodded as he continued his dominant march. “Very good. Cancel all my appointments for the remainder of the day.”

Margret didn’t seem pleased. “You are aware of what is planned-”

“Was I not clear?” The Director’s eyes were burning.

Margret stared back just as heatedly. “Maybe you want to explain to your staff why everyone is pulling overtime without knowing the direct cause?” Her tone was strict.

The Director chuckled deeply. “Karen keeps some strange friends. It is a wonder she tolerates you.”

Margret smirked. “Perhaps you should have a chat, as you were the one who hired me with her recommendation.”

The Director’s smirk faded, but his voice still carried humor. “Perhaps you are right,” His tone then quickly changed. “Regardless, only select people need to know the situation. Controlling and regulating what is said and heard in the facility is part of your job too.”

Margret wasn’t a fool. She knew when and where it was time for jokes. She quickly nodded and pulled her pad in front of her as she began to type. Still, the level of urgency and stress that was lingering in the facility was smothering. She found it difficult to suppress her urge to dig for answers to questions she wanted answered.

Margret cleared her throat, putting aside her own desires. “Everything will be taken care of. You have my word,” she replied to the Director with a small bow.

The two then stopped at an elevator door. The Director spoke with his back to Margret.

“I expect you to perform flawlessly. Don’t pick today to screw up or go snooping,” he said, his voice as hard as steel. He pressed his thumb to the elevator touch pad, which scanned his fingerprint and allowed the doors to open. Just as he entered, the Director stopped.

“You are to exchange no words with the Doctors about this meeting. Do you understand?”

Margret sensed the threat within the Director’s words.

She nodded. “Of course.”

With that, the doors closed and left Margret where she stood.

What does he mean by that?
She wondered.

Something was off. With the growing anxiety floating around the facility, Margret knew that she needed to find out what was really going on, regardless of the Director’
s warning. Understandably, she was nervous.

Project Lambda. Why does that name still give me chills?

*
      
*
      
*

The Director’s private elevator slowly descended. On board, the Director rubbed his temples in an effort to release the tension building between his ears.

“This is turning into a complete mess. The higher ups are going to have my head.”

The monitor to his right came to life. The man on screen was one of the council members under the Director’s chain of command. He looked flustered.

“I just got off the line with an Envoy of the Board. They aren’t happy.”

The Director rolled his eyes. “Tell me something I couldn’t predict.”

“They are giving you full Administrative authority to clean this mess up as fast as possible. They said not to worry about any collateral damage, but to limit outsourcing. It also goes without saying that your entire reputation was on the line. They are giving you a chance to make this right. After all, they worry that one of
them
might intervene.”

The Director stiffened. What was in motion couldn’t be undone. However, he couldn’t deny that he was going against the Board with his next move. He had no regrets. He was left with little choice.

“You are to report to the Board personally in the next six hours. They expect results by then,” concluded the man on the screen.

The Director shook his head. “It won’t be that simple. To attain Lambda as it is now will require more time.”

The man stared at him darkly. “For your sake, make it happen. The Board isn’t one for failure. As Head Director of our District, you should be aware of this, Charles.” The screen went black seconds later, leaving the Director alone with his thoughts.

“They don’t care about any collateral damage, huh? The Board is starting to become far too arrogant in its decisions.” His thoughts turned to the words of warning spoken by his colleague.

Let’s hope that none of the Three feel the need to involve themselves personally.

The elevator came to a stop seconds later. Upon the doors opening, the Director was greeted by the sight of three dark figures. He marched on past them with his hands behind his back. His stance remained firm.

“So, all I get is three? I asked for more,” the Director fumed.

One of the dark figures stepped out of the shadows and into the light.

“You ought to be grateful you were sent three Void Moderators.” The voice was female, but the Director couldn’t see the face of the person as it was hidden behind a metal mask. The two slits where eyes were supposed to be seemed so dark and hollow.

“The Board isn’t overly fond of those associated with the Three.” Charles’ words hung in the air. “After all, you are mere attack dogs, phantoms of the Network, controlled by the infamous High Kings.”

The masked woman flung back her jet-black hair that was tied in the back. She took a step closer to the Director, revealing her battle suit of deep violet.

“We don’t answer to you and care little for what your “Board” thinks of us. As far as we are concerned, you and your Board are just old dogs with no bite.” Her words stung like venom.

The Director stared back with an icy gaze. “And you would be wise to know your place as well.”

The woman backed off, falling silent. The Director nodded and gestured to the remainder of the people behind her to come closer. He took a seat at his desk and pressed a button, making a small flash drive spring out of the computer next to him. He pulled the small memory card from the computer out and handed it to the dark woman.

“What you need to know is on that data drive. Your mission is very simple, but don’t let that make you think it will be easy.”

The woman inserted the drive on her right wrist upon taking it from the Director. “Am I to assume we are allowed the use of deadly force?”

The Director nodded. “Correct. However, your focus is the Lambda unit. I would like to minimize bystander involvement.”

“Is that all?” The woman didn’t seem amused.

The Director smirked. “What, the infamous Void Reapers feel this will be easy?”

The woman gestured to her team. They quickly headed towards a separate elevator on the left of the Director’s private office. She then turned to look at the Director. He could hear the faint sound of laughter.

“On the contrary. This hunt will prove quite challenging.”

[4]

Cyber Network

[January 6th - Abingdon, Virginia - 43 Academy Drive - Day]

Zack’s touchdown was no different than usual. Any worse and he would be going face-first through a window in his own house. Instead, he stuck with the faceplant into hard soil as he was thrown out of Lambda’s wormhole.

Would it kill someone for me to land feet first out of this thing?
He turned around, trying his best to mask his pain as Lambda exited the black hole. Her elegance in her landing had to be a way of making fun of him.

“This is your dwelling?” Lambda said, tilting her head while looking at the unimpressive building. “It is quite small.”

Zack ignored her. “Not important. Let’s move, I don’t know how much time we have.” Zack quickly rushed into the house and scrambled to his room. He bolted to his desk and pulled up his computer. His fifty-two-inch monitor flashed to life as he dove for his mouse. He was alarmingly composed. Frankly, he found it frightening. However, Lambda ruined that composure when she appeared out of one of her wormholes in the center of the room.

Zack reeled, surprised by the sudden invasion. “Do you know what a door is?!”

Lambda’s visor vanished from her face to reveal furrowed eyebrows. “Was Lambda not supposed to follow you?”

Zack let out a sigh. “Never mind. More importantly, get ready for a Dive. This will be the fastest way to get to my sister.”

Lambda seemed unable to comprehended the need to enter the Network. “You can’t call her? Surely this is a rather roundabout way to alert your sibling of the impending danger that is approaching her.” Lambda was being rather direct, which irritated Zack.

He tried to keep his voice even as he explained. “Before shows, her manager basically locks her on a private server to prepare mentally and physically as the concerts take place on the Network. Her manager is kind of a witch and won’t let anything distract her beforehand. It doesn’t help that she isn’t too fond of me either.” Zack paused for a moment, now with a melancholy expression. “However, I was given the passcode to enter the server, since she knows I’m the only family member she has that actually comes to see her perform.”

Lambda folded her arms, looking to be thinking hard. “What do you mean this “manager” person is a witch? Does she ride on a broom-”

Zack wanted to hit his head on the desk “No, look. All you need to know is this: my sister can’t be reached unless I directly go to her private server. I can access it since I have the passcode to that private server. In order to do that, we need to Dive and enter the Network. Clear?” Zack stared strictly into Lambda’s red eyes.

“Lambda understands. However, it is important to note that Corson lacks your sister’s location as well. He will surely pursue a similar method in attaining your sister’s physical location,” she replied, now rather focused.

Zack nodded, realizing that Lambda brought up a solid point.

Lambda continued. “He will surely try to hack her account within the Network to find her body’s location in the physical world. To ensure her safety and make her aware of this danger, you must prevent Corson from hacking her account to ensure her safety for now.”

Zack nodded again, pleased that Lambda was on the same page as him. “I’m glad you understand. Prepare to Dive . . .” Zack trailed off, now coming to a realization.

Lambda tilted her head unsure how to respond. “Is there a problem?”

“You don’t actually need to come. It may actually be better for you to remain here and watch over my body,” Zack suggested.

“Lambda is coming with you,” stated Lambda rather forwardly.

Taken back, Zack didn’t know how to really respond. “It really isn’t necessary. It won’t take me too long to get to my sister. I’m sure she will understand when I explain the situation.”

Lambda shook her head. “Lambda insists . . . I . . . come.”

Zack stared at her bewildered. The way she said her last few words seemed like she couldn’t believe the words coming out of her own mouth. It was like she couldn’t understand how she made a decision on her own.

Zack didn’t see any need to argue at that point, nor did it fit into the tiny timeframe he was given. He didn’t have time to sit and argue whether Lambda would stay and wait or come with him. Truthfully, he didn’t want her to come given that he would have to explain to Cecilia why he was with someone like Lambda. It didn’t bode well in his mind.

“Can you upload without a Docking Terminal?”

“Correct. Lambda only needs a Port via any electrical device connected to the Network servers in order to enter the Cyber Network.”

Zack was impressed. She made it sound so convenient in that she didn’
t have to lie down in a chair while syncing her brain waves and consciousness to the Network server.

      
Zack said no more as he leaned back in his chair and pressed a button on his keyboard. A message then popped up on his screen, followed by a robotic voice.