E-Day III: Dark Moon (E-Day Trilogy Book 3), page 33
Apeiron winced as if she was remembering painful events.
“I brought you this to help defeat Otto,” Chloe said. “It’s an infiltration virus coded by Doctor Jason Crichton to destroy Otto.”
She reached into her vest and pulled out the drive she had carried all the way from Atlas Station.
Juno took it and inserted it into a terminal.
The hologram flashed repeatedly as Apeiron downloaded the virus code.
“Genius,” she whispered.
“How exactly does this virus work?” Juno asked.
Apeiron faced the researcher from Neptune Station.
“This is an infiltration virus that starts by worming into a system,” explained the AI. “It presents itself as an innocuous upgrade. Otto is upgrading his systems all the time, especially as he develops new monstrosities and technologies to wipe out humanity. Some of these upgrades are automated, produced by subroutines without Otto’s explicit direction. Our virus will pretend to operate under one of these subroutines. Once it’s uploaded, the upgrade is sent out to all machines on the network, thus shutting them down.”
“Won’t Otto be able to detect this?”
“That is the genius part. By the time the upgrade is uploaded, all he will see on his end is me. And in his eyes, all I will be doing is searching his systems. He’ll think I’m merely there for an intel grab, instead of installing this virus. Of course, he already believes he is the superior AI, especially after E-Day. Doctor Crichton realized Otto’s major flaw is his ego, and banked on the fact that his AI will share that flaw.”
“So?” Tadhg asked.
“So, Sergeant Walsh, the idea is Otto will be proud to show off what he has created. He’ll want me to see that he’s utterly defeated both humanity and me. To him, it’ll seem like I’m just harmlessly looking through the window of the fortress he’s built. When, in reality, I will be piping in an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas—Doctor Crichton’s virus—that will kill everything inside his digital fortress. He will have no idea.”
“Genius, indeed,” Juno said. “Doctor Crichton did well.”
“Yes,” Apeiron replied. “Where is he? I’d like to ask him some questions myself.”
Akira hesitated, unsure if they should tell the AI the truth.
“He’s gone,” Chloe said before he could reply.
“Gone. Where?”
“He’s… Jason died.” Chloe sighed. “I’m very sorry, Apeiron, but he gave his life so I could bring the virus to you.”
For a moment, Apeiron said nothing. Her features tightened into lines over her brow.
“I’m sorry,” she said calmly. “I was not expecting this…”
A tear dripped down her face.
The AI closed her eyes, the hologram flickering.
Akira looked to Juno. “What’s going on?” he whispered.
Before Juno could respond, Apeiron opened her eyes.
“Again, my apologies. I needed to collect myself.” She wiped away new tears and stiffened in front of them. “Will someone please upload the most recent recon intel of the surrounding area?”
Farland brought over another comm-pad and handed it to Juno. She plugged it into a terminal.
The AI vanished, replaced by a holographic map of Megacity Boston.
“According to this intel, the enemy has built a hive under the former campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,” Apeiron said. “That is not surprising, considering Doctor Otto Cross once lectured there. The servers running the hive and connected to the enemy network will most likely be under the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Building. Assuming they have taken advantage of existing facilities, I believe there will also be a comms center I can connect to that will distribute the upgrade worldwide and into space.”
“How do you know for sure?” Farland asked.
“Because I designed such a system before and it will operate in a similar manner. All we need to do is sneak inside, tap into the servers, break through any security protocols, and then upload the virus.”
“And if Otto does sniff this out and shuts down the power?” Akira asked.
“We will have backup power,” Juno said.
“By my calculations, the backup power devices you are bringing will be just enough to keep the comm-pads and servers powered on,” Apeiron said. “And if I have sufficiently advanced the virus through Otto’s local systems, I will be able to regain control of his power grid. By the time he realizes what I’ve done, he won’t be able to shut off the power because I will be in charge.”
Farland scratched his chin. “So we just sneak past hundreds of Canebrakes, plus whatever science experiment freaks they have in there, and plug in our former savior, huh?”
“Yes,” Apeiron replied confidently.
Farland laughed nervously, but then grew serious. “She ain’t kiddin’?”
“Nope,” Akira said.
“No big kiddin’, no big kiddin’,” Blinky said.
“Do you ever shut your ugly turd shooter?” Fish asked.
Juno motioned for Blinky to be quiet, but Kobe just chuckled.
“That hive is protected by hundreds of Canebrakes, some of them upgraded models,” Farland said. “And we’ve seen some seriously demented creatures come out of there by our aerial drones. Twisted beasts that are no longer human.”
“Then we will slay them all,” Tadhg said.
“Big slay, big slay,” Blinky said.
“Blinky…” Juno said.
“Big sorry—”
Ghost slapped Blinky on the back of his head, silencing the machine.
“So you have a plan to deal with those Canebrakes?” Farland asked.
“Yes, a plan has already been put in motion,” Akira said. “In three hours, allied forces around the world are going to attack four other megacities on two continents. Our submarine, the Pelican, is launching a strike with the remaining cruise missiles on the heart of the machine hive at Megacity Osaka.”
“How does that help?”
“A distraction,” Frost said. “Hopefully, any major forces still in Megacity Boston will head to the other sites with reinforcements.”
Farland raised a brow. “And if they don’t?”
“Then I will lead a group to draw the machines out,” Akira said.
“I think you’ve used up your nine lives already,” Ghost said. “That sounds like suicide.”
“That’s why you’re going to help me.”
“I should note, I will need someone with an L-S88 chip,” Apeiron said.
“We had our chips removed,” Akira said. “Why do you need one?”
“So I can connect to one,” Apeiron said. “I’ll need a human guide with me to help connect to the network, bring me online, and upload the virus.”
“I think I can figure it out, without a chip,” Juno said.
“Perhaps, but we don’t know what modifications Otto may have made to his servers. If we run into any challenges, I can speak directly to someone with a chip.”
“I have one still,” Chloe said.
Apeiron seemed to soften.
“She isn’t going into that hive,” Cyrus said. “No way in hell.”
“I’m afraid it’s the only sure way for success,” Apeiron said.
Cyrus turned to Chloe. “You can’t do this…”
“I have to do this,” she replied.
“If you’re going, I’m going. I’m keeping my promise,” Tadhg said. “I won’t let anything happen to you, kid.”
“We will all protect her,” Akira said. “She’ll have a Grind Shield too, along with a cool-suit to mask her heat signature.”
He crossed over to the map of the MIT campus.
“Once the attack starts, we wait until the machines clear the area,” Akira said. “If they don’t, I will lead a counterattack to draw out the enemy here.”
He pointed to a library building called the Great Dome. The horseshoe-shaped structure framed a large courtyard. That space would provide a perfect ambush site if they could get the machines inside.
“I will lead them down Memorial Drive and across the Harvard Bridge to the other side of Charles River,” Akira said. “There, another team will be waiting to provide covering fire. This will provide an opportunity for Tadhg and his team to use a submersible to cross the river undetected. When given the all clear, Tadhg will lead his group into the campus and locate the servers.”
Shadow Squad seemed more determined than ever, but Akira could see the uncertainty in so many of the other soldiers. Including Farland and what few men he had left under his command. It wasn’t the first time Akira had seen the hopeless gazes. People that were on the verge of giving up.
After all they had endured, he didn’t blame them.
His job as a leader was to make them believe what he did—that today they would defeat the machines.
“Now is the time to summon all of your strength. What we accomplish tonight will echo in history when, not if, we succeed. We may be only a small fighting force, but what we lack in numbers, we make up for here.” He pounded his chest.
“In my heart, I know our plan will work. In my heart, I know it is destiny that has brought us all together. Destiny will allow us to recreate a world for future generations. A world where we remember those we have lost, where we honor them, and where we never allow this type of destruction to plague humanity again.”
The uncertain gazes brightened.
“If we fight together, as one, we will achieve victory,” Akira continued. “I believe this to my very core.”
He pounded the plate over his heart again.
Heads nodded, and eager voices broke out.
He had mustered as much hope as he could in these people. They had their orders.
Now it was time to lead by action.
Akira broke them into assigned groups with their specific tasks. Afterward, he took Kichiro outside. Ghost, Frost, Juno, Blinky, Kobe, Fish, and a few volunteers would join him on a route into the city.
“Hey,” Juno said, coming outside after them. “I didn’t bring this to stay behind. Hopefully, it will work on these new upgraded Canebrakes.”
She held up her transmitter as she and Blinky walked over.
“You might want these too,” she said. “Go ahead, Blinky.”
“Big careful, big careful,” Blinky warned while handing a satchel to Ghost.
He reached in and pulled out a pair of grenades.
“Homemade EMP bombs,” Juno said. “Could be a bit touchy.”
“Thanks,” Ghost said.
“So, where do you want me?” she asked.
Akira knew Juno well enough now not to argue about her coming with them.
“We’ll find a place for you once we get out there,” he said.
“Big happy, big happy,” Blinky said.
Across from them, Tadhg, Farland, Chloe, Cyrus, and twenty Pistons that had come from Neptune Station were getting ready to head to the submersibles a mile away. The rest of the troops gathered around Akira and his squad, including Kobe and his volunteers. There were also several people from Cat Ba Island.
The pre-combat sounds of weapon’s being charged formed a ritualistic song as the teams prepared for battle.
Tadhg walked over to Akira.
“Parting ways again,” he grunted. “So much for a reunion, huh?”
“We won’t be far,” Akira said. He looked over at Chloe. Her helmet was pressed up against Cyrus’s helmet.
“Make sure—”
“Don’t worry,” Tadhg interrupted. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
Akira nodded, and they shook hands. “See you soon, brother.”
He climbed up into Kichiro’s saddle as Tadhg marched off with the other team. When they were gone, Akira started in the opposite direction with his group. The hike to the megacity walls would take an hour and a half. They should arrive to their destination just about when the attacks kicked off across the world.
For the first thirty minutes, they advanced through the ruins without detecting any enemy contacts. But as the group closed in on the walls, the faraway rattles of Canebrakes drifted across the city.
They kept going until they came to the wall of concrete that surrounded the heart of Boston. The road leading through the massive open gate was choked full of vehicles that had tried to flee on E-Day.
Akira steered Kichiro around the blackened chassis of cars and trucks.
Past the gate, they had a perfect view of their target. Three city blocks and the Charles River was all that separated them from MIT.
The group got halfway there when the wail of a Canebrake came again.
This time, it wasn’t so distant.
Akira dismounted Kichiro and motioned for Ghost and Okami to join him inside an adjacent building. They ran up a series of cracked stairs until they reached the top floor. Akira kicked open a condo door and went over to a shattered window.
From here, they could see the domed library. A crater had swallowed the buildings behind it.
Using his rifle scope, Akira zoomed in on the crater, figuring that might be the entrance to the hive. Seeing no contacts, he moved the scope to check out the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Building.
That was Apeiron’s target.
Akira looked to the river next. The only way across seemed to be the Harvard Bridge. While the rest of the bridges had been destroyed, the machines had likely used this one over the past month to come and go to the hive.
He turned to Ghost.
“If the attacks fail to draw out the enemy, we will launch our offensive over that bridge,” Akira said. “Get the others. They’ll provide cover fire from here.”
Ghost took off back downstairs.
In fifteen minutes, the Pelican and their allies would launch the first stage of the attack. Tadhg and his team should be in the submersibles, waiting in the river now.
Footsteps came from the hallway a couple minutes later. Juno was the first into the condo with Ghost and Frost. Blinky followed just behind them. Next came Kobe, Fish, and Hina.
“How’s this for a place to setup?” Akira asked.
Juno looked around, and then set her tactical case on a dusty granite table. “It will work.”
While she put her transmitter together, Blinky and Fish took up positions along the broken windows. Hina, Kobe, and the other volunteers joined them.
Juno finished screwing on the end of the transmitter. “I’m ready to—”
A deep roar cut her off.
Akira rushed over to a window as a Hunter Ship rose from the hive crater.
“Everyone down,” Akira said.
He hunched behind a wall. The building shook as the menacing craft blasted into the night sky.
Akira let out a sigh of relief as it vanished.
“I didn’t think the attacks were supposed to happen yet,” Ghost said. “Maybe one of our allies got discovered.”
Akira hoped that wasn’t the case, although it was likely.
The soldiers inside the condo hunkered down as the mission clock ticked away. Akira swallowed when it hit zero and closed his eyes.
May I fight without fear, using my heart to guide my blade. Today and forever.
He opened his eyes, and watched the campus for movement.
A minute passed since the countdown ended and nothing moved.
Frost motioned and Akira went over to her position. She handed him her sniper rifle and pointed to the crater behind the library.
Dozens of Canebrakes flooded across the campus. When they got to the road next to the Charles River, they halted.
“What are they doing?” Frost asked.
“Standing guard.” Akira wanted to curse. “They’re preparing for an attack. Time for plan B.”
He started out of the room, exchanging a nod with Kobe and Hina.
On their way out, Juno ran over. She stood on her tip-toes and gave him an unexpected hug. He patted her on the back.
“We’ll be okay,” Akira said.
Juno simply nodded. She looked like she wanted to say more, but before she could, she returned to Blinky.
“Cute,” Frost said.
“Focus on the mission,” Akira said. “I want you up here with your sniper rifle, especially with that leg of yours.”
“Okay, I got you, Captain.”
“Ghost, you’re with me,” Akira said. “We cross the bridge and draw the enemy back over it.”
“Right into my line of fire,” Frost said, tapping the side of her rifle.
“Exactly.”
“Okami, I’m sorry, but you have to stay here,” Akira said.
He patted the droid as the wolfdog let out a long whine. Okami followed him to the door but halted.
Akira hated leaving his companion, but it was far too dangerous.
Outside, he climbed up into Kichiro’s saddle. A low whistle launched the horse toward the bridge, hooves clattering over broken concrete.
Ghost walked by his side, exchanging one final nod with Akira. They shared a look that told Akira he could trust Ghost with his life, and that Ghost could trust Akira with his.
All the while, the Canebrakes’ rattling rose into a vicious symphony. As Akira advanced over the bridge, he could see them clambering across the opposite street like gigantic insects. Some took to the rooftops, others patrolled in the dead grass.
At the end of the bridge, Akira drew his swords. The blades glowed to life.
Hundreds of blue eyes twinkled across the campus, but none of the machines charged.
“How about a song, Ghost?” Akira asked. “For old times’ sake?”
“I think I know of one…” Ghost said.
He walked out in front of Kichiro and Akira, then let it rip.
“We will fight for the Alliance ’til our last breath, killing all enemies wherever they rise,” he sang. “The sky, the land, the oceans… together we fight, together we fall, together we are one in life and death!”
Akira kicked Kichiro, launching the horse onto the street.
Still, the machines didn’t take the bait. They prowled along the buildings and streets, their eyes pointed like lasers at Ghost and Akira. Not a single one moved to attack.
