Part 17 (1/2)
Ryan thought about how he had acted before he had left Isis and winced. ”Yeah, me too,” he broadcast sheepishly. ”I was the biggest jerk ever.”
”Yeah, you were,” agreed Regan with a grin. ”But it wasn't your fault. And you saved all our lives-so you've got that going for you.”
Ryan smiled. ”Hey, I owed you one. I told you I'd make it up to you.” He paused. ”Well, it's a huge relief everything worked out. Hopefully we'll be able to get you off Isis by Sunday. But I have to get going. I left Alyssa and Kelsey Cooper outside the zoo building almost an hour ago.”
Regan smiled. ”Good one, Ryan. It's nice to see your sense of humor come back.”
”I'm not kidding.”
”Come on, Ryan. Alyssa? Inside Prometheus?”
Ryan chuckled. ”It's a long story, Regs. But I have to get going. Next time you're on Earth I'll tell you all about it.” With that Ryan stepped through the portal and severed their connection, wis.h.i.+ng he could see the startled look he was certain was now frozen on his sister's face.
CHAPTER 29.
A Lethal Decision
Ryan rejoined Alyssa and Kelsey and apologized for leaving them alone for so long. They hadn't minded at all. The unique architecture of the city had continued to captivate them the entire time.
As he drove away from the zoo building Ryan considered telling Alyssa that he had lied that morning when he said he was an expert in cla.s.sical and operant conditioning. He had done it so he would have something in common with her, but it was still a lie. He was getting very good at making up elaborate stories. It was true that much of the time he didn't have a choice, and telling creative lies had saved his life on a number of occasions, such as when he had bluffed the mercenary in the woods earlier that evening. But just because there were many times he had to lie didn't mean he should make it a habit. It meant that he should make even more of an effort to be honest when he was able to be.
Just as he decided he would tell her, he realized it wouldn't matter anyway. Carl would be sure to use his amnesia inhalant on her very soon. This inhalant, developed by a team of scientists at Carl's insistence, would erase the previous ten hours of a person's memory. Carl thought something like this was vital to protect the secrecy of Prometheus. When he used it on the Cooper sisters, they wouldn't remember anything about Prometheus. If he used it soon, Alyssa wouldn't remember her dentist appointment or her earlier conversation with Ryan either.
Ryan sighed. This was unfortunate, but there was no use dwelling on it.
He decided he should turn his attention to another matter anyway. Something was bothering him. Something Regan had broadcast to him when he had gone back to Isis, although for the life of him he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. He had a nagging feeling it was something critically important, though, and he had learned to trust these strange hunches of his in emergency situations.
Hopefully he would figure it out, but right now they needed to reconnect with Carl. His ground a.s.sault team should have arrived long before to secure both Proact and Prometheus. Given that certain air force jets could travel well over a thousand miles per hour, Ryan wouldn't be surprised if the decorated colonel was already back in the city.
Sure enough, when they arrived at the entrance to Prometheus, Carl was facing a group of about twenty soldiers, issuing orders. Each was wearing full commando gear and carrying a.s.sault rifles. Although Carl was in civilian clothes, he carried himself with such confident grace and easy authority he had the instant respect of the soldiers. If not for the streaks of silver in his hair, no one would have guessed he was in his fifties. When he had finished giving orders the soldiers quickly dispersed to carry them out.
”Ryan!” said Carl warmly upon seeing him, his eyes lighting up. ”Boy am I glad you're okay.” He clapped Ryan on the back affectionately and turned to his two companions. ”And you must be Alyssa and Kelsey.” He leaned forward and shook each of their hands. ”I'm Colonel Carl Sharp. But please call me Carl.”
The girls shook his hand and said h.e.l.lo.
”Good timing,” said Carl. ”I just entered the city a minute ago. I need to reset electronic security down here. Follow me.”
Carl began walking toward the security headquarters building that was very near the entrance to the city. The building projected a different holographic image around itself every day so it never looked the same twice. Today it was white and shaped like a tear-drop.
”I'm relieved you made it down here before your unexpected company came calling,” said Carl as they walked. ”Where did you go?”
”We stopped off at the zoo planet,” replied Ryan.
Carl nodded. ”I thought as much. Hoping the expedition somehow made it across the lava. I a.s.sume you didn't see them waiting just outside the s.h.i.+eld or they'd be with you.”
”No. I'm afraid not.” The corners of Ryan's mouth turned up into a slight smile. ”But I'm glad I went anyway. I have the feeling they'll be just fine when we finally get to them.”
They had entered the security headquarters and now stood in front of Carl's office. He had kept it locked during his trip to Colorado and now entered a code into a touch-pad nearby. Several dead-bolt locks disengaged and they entered.
Carl motioned for the trio of kids to have a seat around a large oak roundtable in the middle of his office. They plopped into three of the four cus.h.i.+oned black chairs surrounding it. Carl sat behind his desk a few yards away and began entering commands on his computer, rebooting all security protocols.
Once he was done, Carl turned toward Alyssa and Kelsey. ”Do you know about your mother?” he asked grimly.
”Yes, she's a hostage,” said Alyssa.
”You have to get her back,” insisted Kelsey.
”Believe me,” said Carl. ”If we have any chance to do so we'll take it.” He frowned. ”But I won't lie to you. Her odds are not good.”
”But there has to be something you can do,” pleaded Alyssa. ”If you find this Nathaniel, can't you just give him what he wants to let her go?”
”I wish we could, but our hands are tied. Nathaniel has been cla.s.sified as a terrorist,” explained Carl. He shook his head somberly. ”America has a firm policy of not negotiating with terrorists.”
Both girls were stunned. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. This Nathaniel could announce he was killing their mother and no one would lift a finger to stop him. How could this be?
”I can't tell you how sorry I am this has happened,” continued Carl earnestly. ”Your mother is a valuable member of our team, and her safety is my responsibility, which I take very seriously. If I could trade places with her, I would. But I'm afraid her best bet is if Nathaniel realizes a hostage won't do him any good and decides to let her go.”
”What are the odds of that happening,” spat Kelsey in frustration and despair. ”Even if he doesn't want her as a hostage anymore, he'll probably just kill her, won't he?”
Carl lowered his eyes and nodded. ”Maybe,” he said. ”I could sugar-coat this, but I won't. I don't think that would be fair to you.” He paused. ”As long as your mother is still alive there is always hope,” he added. ”I only wish I could offer you more than just this.”
There was silence in the room for several long seconds. Both girls were horrified at their mother's slim chances of survival and angry with Carl that he couldn't-or wouldn't-do more to save her.
”Any problems retaking Proact?” asked Ryan, deciding to change the subject.
”None,” said Carl. ”The mercs who were closing in on you must have realized you were out of reach almost immediately. They were gone when the a.s.sault team arrived.”
”What is your team doing now?” asked Ryan.
”A thorough security sweep of Prometheus. I want an exact inventory of everyone who is pinned down by the Enigma Cube. If you're right, the effect should wear off in an hour or so. I also need to be certain there are no mercenaries still hiding down here. Next we'll do the same for Proact.”
Carl had recalled seven of his men who had been off duty on this particular Friday evening. He had also drawn from the thirty special forces troops that were part of Prometheus security but were always stationed outside the alien city. Because they were stationed outside of Prometheus, if the city were taken, these commandoes would be available to move in at a moment's notice, not having to obtain security clearance or be brought up to speed on this highly cla.s.sified project.
”Any news on Dr. Harris?” asked Ryan.
”Yes,” said Carl, brightening. ”He's in the hospital. They think he's going to be okay. I'm sure our miracle medical device had a lot to do with that.”
The landline on Carl's desk rang and he s.n.a.t.c.hed the receiver from its cradle. He listened intently for a long while, interjecting a question or two every so often. He seemed excited but at the same time extremely troubled.
”Prepare for an action along the lines that we spoke about earlier,” said Carl into the receiver. ”Call me back when you're in position.” With that he ended the call.
Carl stared at the three kids around his table for several seconds and rubbed his chin in thought. Finally, reaching a decision, he turned away and used a walkie-talkie to summon the nearest member of his team.