Chapter 6

Octavian Karr

"What is it? What did she find?" Commander Karr approached Handler Meechum and stood behind her, hands clasped behind his back.

"Just got the file, Sir," said Handler Meechum.

Karr had Meechum moved to a private control room after the Syth-L's last transmission. The last thing he needed were tongues wagging about classified information.

At her terminal, the handler's hands flew across the touch screen, hitting multiple buttons. A viewing screen popped up. One swift touch and it started playing.

"This is what she sent about twenty minutes ago, Sir. I don't know what these creatures are." She tapped the screen. "They're like Gollums, but they're huge. Her data indicates this herd will reach New Therian in less than forty-seven hours."

Commander Karr watched the video.

The Syth-L's ocular lens had obviously recorded the data. It showed a group of humans fighting with a small band of 2.0s.

"Stop," said Commander Karr. "Go back. Who is that?" The Commander pointed to a man swinging a sword in the foreground. The handler reversed the video. "Is that the package?"

"Yes, Sir," the handler said. "That's Julian Bless. Package contact confirmed."

Commander Karr stepped back. "So, she has found them - him."

"Yes, Sir. The file looks like she did a blood analysis of one of these creatures. She also sent multiple files of physiological data, bone measurements, all kinds of information."

"But she has not given an extraction time, has she?" Karr paced the floor in a three-foot radius.

"No," the handler said. "In fact, she has made repeated warnings about the humans that would die if this herd of large Gollums attacked New Therian."

"That's odd." He smoothed the neck of his collar. "How can she bypass mission protocol by not requesting an extraction window?"

Handler Meechum touched the screen again, and her finger scrolled the display to read over lines in a manual. "The only way I know a Syth-L can override mission protocol is if the original protocol compromises the safety of a package. At that point, she has to shift."

"Explain yourself."

"Yes, Sir. She cannot allow an injury to occur to the package, even if that prolongs the mission. So technically, she's not bypassing protocol. She is finding a way to fulfill both the mission and protect the package. She's a clever one."

"Well, I'll be damned." Karr leaned back. "She's done it." He turned on his heel, then walked away.

Twelve minutes later, he headed toward Dr. Drayson's conference room.

Pausing outside the door, he straightened the buttons of his gray uniform, then took in a deep breath. He was tardy, but he needed the extra time to collect the data before he spoke. Heartbeat slow and under control, he strolled in with purpose.

Inside the bleak, gray room, Representative Bachus sat next to Dr. Drayson, sucking up as always. The doctor sat at the head of the table, and four other Representatives were already seated.

"Commander Karr, thank you for joining us." Dr. Drayson pointed to the only empty chair in the room.

No one said a word until Karr sat down.

Dr. Drayson's white hair was slicked back like always. He peered down his long nose. His steely eyes and sunken cheeks gave him a sickly look that would have killed most men. "And what is your report of the operation?"

Commander Karr cleared his throat and sat up straight. "Approximately three weeks ago, a new faction moved in the Autonomous Zone. The group calls itself Elysium. They appear to be some kind of rebel cult. Their leader is Julian Bless."

"Bless? Our Julian Bless?" Representative Bachus, elbows on the table, leaned forward as if to soak up each word.

"Yes," confirmed Karr.

"We should have exterminated that whistleblower when we had the chance." Representative Bachus let out a heavy sigh.

Karr continued, "This Elysium cult has declared ownership of Sectors 15 through 29 and shows no sign of slowing."

"How many are in this group?" One of the other Representatives, a woman with slicked back hair chimed in.

Karr recognized the woman but didn't know her name. "About a hundred-and-thirteen people. Last week, we assigned a Syth-L to infiltration. We had actionable intelligence that indicated one Julian Bless was operating inside Sector 9. The Syth-L's mission was to locate Julian Bless, infiltrate his band of followers, arrest him, and bring him in - dead or alive. As of today, she has successfully infiltrated his people and made contact with Bless himself."

"We should assassinate him immediately." Representative Bachus acted like a hawk in the most extreme ways. He glared at Karr with his deep-set eyes. There was nothing but disdain in his face.

Karr lifted a finger. "That was not the directive." He paused a moment, then continued, "And now, the order is to extract him alive at all cost."

"Why? Julian Bless is the one man that could expose the origins of the virus." Representative Bachus pointed his finger and jabbed it on the table. "If the people find out what he knows, there would be a large-scale revolt from numerous sectors. Not even our private troops could stop a full-force rebellion. Why take the chance? We should just kill him now and get it over with."

"Because it appears we've just learned some additional information," said Dr. Drayson, nodding to Karr.

"Yes, Sir," confirmed Commander Karr. "This morning, our Syth-L sent DNA evidence of the 2.0s along with this video." He motioned to the screen on the wall, and the same clip of Bless fighting the Gollums played with no sound.

"And how many 2.0s did they encounter?" Representative Bachus sat, wide-eyed, gaze glued to the screen.

"She said there was initially a small group of thirteen. That's what you see here. But she also sent a video of a herd numbering close to two hundred approaching New Therian from the western hills."

"Two hundred? That's impossible," said another representative.

"She sent the thermal scan data as evidence, and satellite imagery confirms," said Karr.

"If this Syth-L has proof that the 2.0s exist, we have a major problem," Dr. Drayson's deep voice shuttered through the room. "If they leaked this to the public - Operation Goldfish, the existence of the 2.0s, the knowledge of what Bless already has about the Microbiology Task Force - it could be unrecoverable for the Federation." The doctor rested his chin on his hand.

"How did she find the 2.0s?" Representative Bachus' knee bounced under the table.

"This was most unexpected," said Karr. "We had no idea any Gollum 2.0s were near those sectors. And to have such a large herd can only mean they're reproducing at alarming rates. Rates too great for our forces."

"Does anyone else in the city know about the 2.0s?" Representative Bachus shifted in his seat.

"No. Only the handler assigned to me," said Karr.

The men looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes, then both of their gazes landed on Dr. Drayson. His stoic expression was the same as always. His face didn't move, but his beady little eyes were concentrating.

"Do we have any other assets inside Bless' group?" The Representative poured water out of a silver-lined crystal decanter into a frosted goblet.

"No." Karr shook his head.

"I'm afraid Option A is no longer our best course of action." Dr. Drayson rolled his chair closer to the table. He folded his hands in front of him on rested elbows. "With Commander Karr's new intelligence, I'm afraid we are going to have to eliminate Option A."

"And do what?" Representative Bachus smacked his hands against the table, creating a thunderous boom in the room.

"We will have to move forward with Order 505," said Dr. Drayson. "And Doomsday Protocol."

The room went silent. Everyone looked at each other.

"That will cost the Federation plenty of credits," said Representative Bachus. "There is a significant, uhm, investment we have in our assets."

"I am aware of our investment," retorted Dr. Drayson. "But we have no choice. It must be done."

Commander Karr leaned forward. "Are you sure, Sir?"

Dr. Drayson nodded his head with the power of a commanding yell behind it. "Absolutely."

"Yes, Sir, understood." Commander Karr rose, then pushed in the chair. "I will tell the handler to expedite the mission."

With a nod of Dr. Drayson's head, the meeting was over.

Karr was thankful to get out of the room. Once he did, he made his way back to the handler's control room. He would release the drone when and as ordered.