Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension Read online

  A stern voice sounded behind her: “Don’t move.”

  Olivia went deadly still. Fuck. She never heard the door open. She did hear the click of the gun being cocked and probably pointed at her head. “Easy,” Olivia said. “I work here.”

  “No, you don’t.” The Cadre tipped his chin down towards his shoulder where his radio was attached. “We have a sit—”

  Olivia whirled around smacked the Cadre with the case. He released a startled grunt, and Olivia hit him with the case again, hard against the side of his head. The man hit the floor, but the case opened and the rod spilled out, clattering to the floor and rolling halfway across the room as if it was trying to get away from her.

  The radio on the Cadre’s shoulder echoed out: “Brian, do you copy? We’re coming downstairs.”

  Growling, Olivia kicked the fallen solider in the stomach, then touched her earpiece. “Red, do you read me? Set off the fire alarms, now. Hurry.” She jerked her eyes over to the crystal, just as the Cadre groaned and started coming out of his daze. She wanted to run over and grab it, but she couldn’t risk getting caught. She would have to leave it. She rushed out of the lab room to the sound of heavy footsteps coming down the spiral staircase, and pulled the gun from her back. She lifted the weapon and started firing towards the stairs, the bullets striking metal and sending off sparks, the noise of gunfire halting the Cadre coming to check on their comrade. Olivia squeezed the trigger a few more times as she slammed her shoulder into the stairwell door, pushing through it. Just as she got there, the fire alarm went off, an insanely loud, annoying noise. She tore off down the stairs, and people started filing in with her. She hid the gun back under her lab coat, ducked her head down, and blended in with the crowd.

  Once outside, Olivia broke past the crowd just as fire trucks screeched to a halt in front of the building. She was at the van when she heard the shout for her to stop, and saw the Cadre running towards her.

  Smirking, she fired a few rounds in their direction before she closed the door, snapping at the agent in the driver’s seat. “What are you waiting for? Go!”

  The young man looked startled at the live gunfire but peeled out, tires squealing. Olivia ripped off her wig, and climbed into the passenger seat. She patted the man’s arm comfortingly. “Well done, Agent.”

  “That looked a very real, ma’am.” The Agent shot Olivia a sideways glance.

  Olivia smiled “It’s supposed to. How else will I determine how well you can react under duress? Take us back to the office.” She needed to get in touch with Dominic.

  §

  November 25, 2012 - 3:33 PM

  Alcyone Island

  Dion Corporation Headquarters

  “Someone broke into SVT Think Tank.”

  Vasco sat behind his desk and arched a sharp brow at Caleb. “Continue.”

  “They didn’t steal anything. Luckily, one of the Cadre assigned to Robert caught the woman as she was trying to take the crystal.”

  “Anyone hurt?”

  “No, nothing serious. She got away, though, and we can’t make out her face on the security cameras.”

  Vasco clucked his tongue thoughtfully. “All right. I want the whole operation moved to the Compound. Do it quietly, very quietly.”

  “Yes, Mr. President.” Caleb turned to leave, but paused. He looked back at Vasco. “Sir, about the gag order.”

  A subtle smile touched Vasco’s mouth. “I imagine it must get harder every day.”

  Caleb matched Vasco’s smile. “Yes, sir, it does.”

  “Soon, Caleb. A few days more soon. Let me know once our braniac team is at the compound.”

  Hope and anticipation flared hotly in Caleb's gut. “Yes, sir.”

  §

  November 30, 2012 - 9:12 PM

  MIEC

  The Octopus

  “I was right in my assumption. The crystal has made ELMINT stronger.”

  Alex smiled as he and Enlil waited for the underwater train to arrive. “That’s good news, my Lord.” Fucking Anunnaki, Alex thought. There had been a two hundred year period the Anunnaki had left the planet, and put sole control in the hands of the Brotherhood. The Anunnaki had had matters on their home planet to attend to, and they wanted to explore the inside of the Moon. Earth’s moon was a giant space vessel built specifically to monitor the planet. At some point in the galaxy’s history, it had come under attack, as visible by the many craters on its surface. Whatever race had built it had vanished without a trace, but the technology they left behind was of some curiosity to the Anunnaki.

  On Earth, during the time that the Anunnaki were gone, seven different alien races came to visit, and a few attempted to assist humanity in breaking loose of some of its chains. It was also while the Anunnaki were gone that the Brotherhood began to disagree with itself on how to handle the masses. A united core of thirteen split into three separate camps, and their internal battle lasted for seven decades. When the Anunnaki returned, humanity was breaking free, the Brotherhood was losing control, and it seemed the Ascension was finally imminent. It was because of Enlil’s skill as both a general and a leader that the attempt was thwarted, and the Brotherhood was put back together. Those were considered the dark days for the Brotherhood; several of the elite bluebloods were killed, entire families removed and replaced with the next waiting to be chosen worthy. It was because of the Brotherhood’s errors that Enlil had realized that the Anunnaki needed to be more effective at handling leaks of information. The public had suddenly known too much, and the only way to combat that was to give them alternative versions of the same story from seemingly credible sources. It had gotten to the point that they needed to control not just conspiracy theorists, but spiritualists, too.

  “It is. Everything is right on point.” Enlil stepped into the luxurious train cabin first, and Alex followed obediently behind him. Underneath the Statue of Liberty—which was a tribute to Isis, the wife of Enlil who died during one of The Great Wars—was the entrance to the underwater tunnel that connected the United States and Australia. It went straight to the Military Industrial Extra-terrestrial Complex, classified as a D2, called The Octopus.

  The Octopus was one of five M.I.E.C.’s on Earth. Anunnaki and Zeta scientists worked alongside select, mind-controlled, and cult conditioned humans. Contrary to conspiracy theorists’ beliefs, Dulce was no longer a joint alien/human base. After a group of rebellious Zetas and humans tried to burn it down, the Brotherhood and Anunnaki Council decided to keep all such bases underwater. The Octopus had two main objectives. The first was to perfect the Programmable Life Forms. Known as PLFs, they were robots with organic parts. The second base objective was mind control through channeling and false mystical experiences.

  Using an advanced form of HAARP, the Brotherhood frequently made NSA selected individuals believe they were channeling some mystical being. The target thought he or she was communing with angels or benevolent aliens, when in truth, they were talking to someone in the base who was literally reading a script. What kind of person was targeted and what information was fed to them was the responsibility of the Tavistock Institute and RAND Corporation. History proved how exceptional they were at it.

  Now that martial law had been declared nearly worldwide, the Brotherhood would need these machines much less. Alex looked out the window, watching the underwater tunnel blur by as the high speed train traveled at 1500 mph towards The Octopus. Alex often marveled at the things human beings were capable of; especially when he looked at things like the Octopus. Its design had come from human ingenuity. Alien technology made it possible. It was a huge dome, with six separate arms extending out from it, each housing a different function of the base. At this depth, the sun’s rays didn’t penetrate the ocean, making windows pointless. The only light that emanated from the dome was a dull blue glow that pulsed rhythmically from the roof.

  “Tell me, have there been any improvements in the escalation of violence because of martial law?” Enlil asked.

  Alex
shook his head and feigned annoyance. “No. It’s all gone, surprisingly, very peacefully, and we don’t understand it. The amount of violent outbreaks has been extremely low. Even in the camps, people are not combative. They’re angry, but they’re peaceful, forgiving almost. It’s very strange.”

  Enlil growled. “Damn this ascension. It won’t happen. I’ll be dead before I let it happen.”

  “Of course it won’t, my God. It’s impossible. Wait until after the winter solstice. The people will change their tune then.” Alex assured him.

  “Yes. Yes, they will,” Enlil promised with malevolent intent. “I’ve decided to move up the attack on Terenzio.”

  Alex didn’t miss a beat. “If you think that’s best. May I ask why, my God?”

  “Olivia confirmed that they have the second crystal. They are also building what sounds to me like one of Tesla weapons. I knew Stefano stole one, I just could not locate it.”

  “Good idea, then. Who did you send?”

  “Family against family. Except one side is going to have a little help.” Enlil smiled coldly. “After killing a few thousand humans, we’ve finally gotten the new PLF’s operational. They’re going to get their first test run against the Terenzios.”

  Chapter 14

  “To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”

  - Confucius

  December 1st, 2012 - 10:11 PM

  Alcyone Island

  Phoenix Resort Hotel

  *They were twenty days away. Twenty days from the end of this war, and the undeniable fact that someone would be proven right. It came down to a very simple, startling duality; the Ascension would happen, or it wouldn’t. There was no in between. No more walking the line for humanity, a choice had to be made. Even with that tension hanging in the air, the family decided to celebrate. Isabella had insisted. The triplets were thrown a birthday party, day of. And the elders of the family had spared no expense on the young heirs, the ballroom of the Phoenix Resort Hotel turned into a private, festive celebration that spilled out onto the beach. The majority of the family was there, except Amadeo and Olivia, but their absence didn’t surprise anyone.

  Security was on high alert for obvious reasons, and the area was patrol with Dion security, military police, and the Omega Cadre themselves standing in the shadows, against walls, and on either side of the open doorways. They prowled between the crowds of people on the dance floor, or out on the beach, watching the party-goers taking advantage of the free liquor, and doing the occasional drug. Every thirty minutes or so, the distant hum of a helicopter tainted the noise of the party goers, the music that thundered from the wireless speakers, and the steel drums and bongos played by the bohemians near the bonfire-lined ocean.

  Caleb was armed, but not dressed in the uniform of Dion security with the Phoenix symbol and company words bled in red on the right hand side of black suit jackets. He wore the fitted tuxedo Lucien had taken him to get hours earlier. His ear piece was in place, but it stayed silent. It was for emergencies only. Period. It wasn’t just Terenzio’s night for celebration.

  Caleb moved as fluidly as a Terenzio, but with his own unique style; the easy arrogance of the fighter pilot he had once been and the hint of charm that bled off a southern gentlemen; the confident way his body smoothly maneuvered through the crowd, because of who he was now; deceptively languid, but on complete alert. He was a man on a mission, a man who had bar¬ely taken his eyes off of Simone Terenzio, who was dancing with her older brother.

  At Simone's request Vasco had pulled himself from his corner of solitude and taken her out onto the dance floor. "You're not allowed to ask me again for a week. I promise I'm fine."

  Simone smirked softly, setting one hand in Vasco's and placing the other on his shoulder. "You've heard that tired old cliché, haven't you? About what 'fine' really stands for?"

  Vasco chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "That doesn't apply here. I'm just not colorful enough to use any other adjective." He led Simone into the simple step dictated by the rhythm of the music, but did confess something a moment after. "I miss her. That's all."

  Simone’s heart tightened with sympathy. So did her hands. "I know," she said quietly, glancing down at the square of dance floor beneath their feet. She, of all people, knew what it meant to truly miss someone. She felt the hollow ringing of loss—intensified, perhaps, because her soul's twin had seen fit to take another spin at this thing called life in none other than Caleb Kincade. Simone laughed, almost to herself, and shook her head as she lifted it. "Come on, Vasco. Be a Terenzio. Suck it up."

  "I am. I haven't cried once." Well, not since he had the first time, Vasco thought. "An urge my alter ego is horrified was ever an option." Amusement flickered briefly through his eyes. "How's life without Victor?"

  Simone laughed again, and it wasn't to herself. "It isn't dull, but I don't know how to describe it better than that."

  The humor in Vasco's eyes lifted from Simone to some point over her shoulder; more specifically to a figure moving through the crowd behind her. A subtle smile crawled across Vasco's mouth. Simone narrowed her eyes. Vasco only smiled like that when he was up to something. She opened her mouth to demand just what he was plotting, but Vasco interrupted her. "We can do better than that." He tipped his head close to Simone's and whispered, “He’s a little less of a pussy this lifetime." Vasco drew back and spun Simone out from him, releasing her hand.

  He knew. Vasco knew?! The whole fucking time, Simone seethed, Vasco knew the truth about Caleb, and he hadn't bothered to tell her? Fury licked up Simone's spine, stiffening it. That same fury dissolved in a tingling flush of anticipation as someone caught her hand. That someone was Caleb. Simone opened her mouth a second time, and still no words came.

  Caleb curled his fingers around Simone’s and drew them into his chest. He had been waiting for this moment for the stretch of his lifetime. A few hours ago, for whatever reason, Vasco had lifted the gag order. It hadn't come a moment too soon, either, because Caleb had been days away from taking matters—her—into his own hands. He slid his arm around Simone's waist, pulled her closer, and silently led her away from the crowd and back onto the floor. For the first time—openly, at least—there was nothing remotely professional about the way he was looking at her. He had never looked at her like that; not in this lifetime. "Happy Birthday,” he said quietly.

  Simone's body tightened as a heady rush of longing swept through her. For the last five months Caleb had been a permanent fixture in her life. He was always there—sometimes standing just out of sight—ever vigilant, but never obtrusive. The moment he took her into his arms, his presence overwhelmed her. He consumed each of her senses. Simone tightened her fingers around his before the current bore her away, and lifted her gaze to his. "Thank you," she said just as softly.

  He leaned forward, brushing his cheek against hers, and said, “Since you made me ask you to marry me twice, I decided to recruit some help with the dance."

  §

  December 1, 2012 - 10:11 AM

  Loyalty Airlines International Airport

  Cargo Runway #17

  Amadeo sat in the backseat of the sedan parked on the runway. Olivia was next to him, lighting a cigarette. He pressed the button to crack her window himself and asked, “What time is it?”

  Olivia looked down at her diamond and gold watch. “Fifteen past the hour.”

  Amadeo pulled the cell phone out of the inside of his suit jacket. “Is Kayla sure about this?”

  Olivia snapped her eyes over to him. “When did you turn into such a fucking pussy? Haven’t we been waiting long enough for this day? Make the call.”

  Giving his cousin a hard look, Amadeo pressed the speed dial button, and then brought the phone up to his ear.

  “Yes?”

  “Nicholas, where are you?”r />
  “On my way to the triplets’ party.”

  “We’ll all go together. Meet us at the airport. Runway 17.” Amadeo reached over for his cousin’s cigarette, plucking it out of her fingers, and pulled hard on the filtered end.

  “When?” Nicholas asked.

  “Now.”

  §

  December 1, 2012 - 10:22 PM

  Alcyone Island

  Phoenix Resort Hotel

  Simone closed her eyes, slipping her arm around Caleb's shoulders and digging her fingers into his shirt. A sharp peal of emotion knifed through her, and she released a hard, shuddering breath. He knew, too, she thought. Jesus Christ, he knew. And suddenly, every reason why she couldn’t have a happy ending with Caleb floated right out the window. She could have the now. Fighting the urge to fan her lips against his jaw, Simone turned her face into the warmth of Caleb’s neck. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "So, you're planning to ask me a third time?"

  Caleb couldn't have asked for a more perfect reaction. He turned his face into Simone’s hair and pulled her closer to him, his feet barely moving over the floor. "Only if you promise to say yes the first time."

  Simone drew back, but only as far as she needed to in order to hold Caleb’s face between her hands and look at him; really see him, because burbling through the tide of happiness that swept through her was a hint of misgiving. "You want to do that? Take a chance on a woman you barely know, for the woman she used to be?"

  "Not just because of the woman you used to be. Because of the woman you are now." Caleb pressed his face closer, so he could set his forehead against hers. "You can't hide from me, in any incarnation. I know you."