“That’s enough for now.” She kissed me again and then stood up. Offering a sly smile, she extended her hand.
I grasped it and pulled her back down. I kissed her passionately. Her body melted into mine and I felt her heaving breasts against my chest.
I held the embrace for an extra moment. Then I slid out from under her and climbed to my feet. She stared at me with longing and exacerbation for a few seconds. Then she took my outstretched hand and I pulled her up from the ground.
I took one final look at the Grueler. My body hurt and my strength felt sapped. But it was worth it to see the robotic beast lying in the pit, broken and defeated.
“Cy.” Beverly’s voice was soft, serious.
“What?”
“Look.”
She pointed toward the station. Staring hard, I saw a bright light spread across the runway. “What’s that?” I asked.
“It’s light from inside the hangar. They must’ve opened the gate.” Her eyes turned hard as steel. “I hope Dutch and Carrie are in position. Because those drones are about to take off.”
Chapter 89
The spotlights, coupled with the hangar’s bright lights, lit up the runway. Simona stared at the bodies, which had been dragged to either side of the pavement. It was over.
She’d won.
In a few short minutes, her drones would lift into the air. They’d deposit their Miasma payloads into the upper atmosphere. Their job complete, they’d crash into the ocean.
The Black Death would be reborn.
A flickering image on her laptop caught her attention. It came from one of her island cameras.
Looking close, she saw two people, a man and a woman, standing near a giant pit. The Grueler lay in a heap at the bottom of the pit. She squinted, confirming the people were Cy Reed and his female companion.
She had to hand it to Reed. He’d survived every obstacle she’d thrown his way. Even the Grueler had fallen before him. Not bad for a salvage expert.
“Simona.” Tessie cleared her throat. “The planes are ready for take-off.”
“Excellent.” Simona cocked her head. “Did you hear back from the security detail?”
She nodded. “They reached your office. They said it looked like someone had been using your computer. But they couldn’t find anyone.”
Simona breathed through her nostrils. Minutes earlier, she’d caught someone trying to infiltrate her model. She’d quickly shut it down and sent a team to take charge of the would-be hacker. Unfortunately, the hacker, who she assumed was with Reed, was still at large.
She glanced at her laptop. Her sensors showed the tunnels were flooding right on schedule. Soon, the foundations would crumble. The station would break apart, destroying all evidence of what she’d done.
“We should go,” Dr. Mychelle Besson whispered.
Simona frowned.
“They might not be able to stop your planes. But more troops will come here soon. They’ll be looking for you. And if they catch you, well …”
She didn’t finish the thought. She didn’t have to. Simona knew very well what would happen to her if she didn’t leave Pagan. She’d be locked in a cell, trapped while industrialization collapsed all around her.
Over the last eighteen months, she’d secretly diverted a significant sum of money from Eco-Trek. She’d used that money to purchase and fortify a new home on a private island. With Tessie and Mychelle at her side, she’d wait for Miasma to run its course. Then she’d use her resources and knowledge to help start the rebuilding process. This time, industrialization would be avoided.
This time, humanity would be righteous.
But before she left, she had one other thing to do. Within mere hours, soldiers would be combing the island. It wasn’t enough to just destroy the station and everything in it. She had to make sure all evidence of what she’d done was erased.
“Is my reservoir ready?” she asked.
Mychelle nodded. “I personally oversaw the installation.”
“Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.” Simona stared at the many employees occupying the hangar. Few if any of them knew the full picture. But a smart investigator could piece it together with their testimonies. “It’s too bad none of them will see the new world.”
Chapter 90
“You wanted to see me, sir?”
President Walters looked up as Alex Foster strode into the office. Foster appeared agitated. His eyes were puffy. His normally immaculate attire was slightly wrinkled. “Yes, Alex,” the president said. “Come in. And please shut the door behind you.”
Foster closed the door. “Why is the media here?”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. But it’s a little late for that.” The president unfolded his hands and pushed himself back from the desk. As he stood up, he studied his longtime friend. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”
“What’s going on?”
“I want to thank you for your service.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will.” He exhaled. “I’m about to make an announcement. After that, I’m finished.”
Foster stared at him in disbelief. “You’re resigning?”
“Not exactly. But I won’t be sitting in this office next year.”
“Talk to me, sir. I can help.”
“Not this time.” President Walters offered his hand. “Again, thank you for everything. You’ve been a loyal advisor and an even better friend.”
Foster shook the president’s hand. Then he turned around. Shaking his head, he walked to the door.
“Oh, Alex?”
Foster whirled around. His face turned hopeful. “Yes, Mr. President?”
“Please send in my guests.”
Foster stood still, clearly shell-shocked. Then he walked to the door and opened it wide.
The president frowned as reporters piled into the Oval Office. He still didn’t know what he was going to say. He wasn’t even sure what he was going to do.
Throw his support behind Senator Gar? Or bite the very big bullet known as Eco-Trek?
The president sat down. Folded his hands on his desk. Patiently, he waited for the reporters to get settled and the cameramen to set up their equipment. “My fellow Americans.” His voice thundered through the Oval Office. “Thank you for your time. I’m here today to …”
Chapter 91
I strained my ears, listening for engines. But all I heard were voices and churning machinery.
Holding my breath, I snuck along the station’s northwest side. My pistol felt slippery in my sweaty hand.
I checked on Beverly. She stood a few feet behind me, her pistol at the ready. Her eyes were hard, determined.
As I paced forward, I thought about Simona, about the people who’d supported her. Undoubtedly, they were eco-warriors to the core. They’d thought they were building a better world. Little did they know her so-called better world required billions of deaths.
I couldn’t stop her, not by myself. I didn’t have the manpower to take down her guards. Hell, I barely had enough bullets for a decent duel.
Fortunately, Graham and Carrie were on the case. Most likely, they’d already taken control of Simona’s drones. But I wasn’t content to wait at a safe distance. In the event something went wrong, I needed to be able to launch a distraction. And the best place to do that was inside the hangar.
We strode along the edge of the building, passing over well-trampled dirt. I paused at the edge. Then I peeked out. Thirty guards, armed with rifles, stood in front of the hangar entrance.
About half of them were staring straight at me.
“Freeze!”
Yeah, right.