The Infinite Evolution - Conversion (50 page)

Oliver gave a simple, “Yes,”
turned over his documents, and said, “I like your choice of
colors.”

The officer ignored Oliver’s
comment, scanned their vehicles, and replied, “I understand you are
here to assist with medical treatment. Is the vehicle behind you
also part of your attachment?”

Again, Oliver replied, “Yes,” but this time held his
wise remarks.

“
Understood, protocol dictates all personnel
and their vehicles be scanned for foreign objects even if you are
carrying diplomatic cargo when entering a biohazard zone. You and
your medical team will need to exit your vehicles now,” said the
soldier forcefully.

“
Ok,” said Oliver.

“
It states on your travel documents this is
supposed to be a group of five, I’m only counting three. Where are
the other two?”

Oliver realized lying was not
going to assist him in this particular encounter, so he decided to
tell the truth. “We had a problem earlier, I believe they were
kidnapped. We didn’t see who took them, nor do we know how. This
occurred when we encountered a large hole, which looked
manufactured. It was approximately one hundred feet in
diameter.”

“
Fascinating,” replied the
soldier who was not showing any empathy. “You will need to report
your incident to command - welcome to Fort
Darwin.”

“
Aren’t you going to scan us and isn’t Darwin
a city? When did it become a Fort?” asked Oliver.

“
You’ve already been scanned. As
for the designee of this facility, ask someone who cares. Your
vehicles will be placed in our custody. You may enter through the
gate to your right. You have been remotely tagged with
transmitters. Your location, what you say, and what you see will be
monitored twenty-four/seven, now move along.”

Oliver showed frustration with
losing his cargo and being tagged like a wild animal and replied,
“I’m sorry if I’m speaking out of turn, but I’m responsible for
that cargo, and I never authorized anyone to tag us. May I ask when
this tagging took place? I didn’t see or feel anything.”

The soldier looked straight into
Oliver’s eyes with an irritated look and commanded, “Move on or be
detained.”

Oliver obediently moved along,
after signaling Karl, and realized he was not going to be able to
communicate with them when it came to their mission. This was not
factored into the plan, so improvisation was going to be
necessary.

Once all three entered the two
story concrete facility, they were directed to hand over their
clothing. Then all three were ordered into three separate chambers
for decontamination. The facility itself was visually sterile and
certainly efficient. All three were assigned an orange and white
jumpsuit with black boots before they exited their chambers. As
Melissa looked around she noticed jumpsuits of different colors and
concluded that each color represented a different assignment,
medical being orange. All three were directed to a makeshift
courtyard and ordered to board a transport. Destination, Darwin
airport. During their trip the only physical signs they saw read
either, “Stuart Hwy,” or “Do Not Enter - Biohazard Zone.” Not one
person on the transport spoke. Instead, everyone just stared out
the window and processed their new surroundings.

As they arrived it was clear to
Oliver the airport was the base of command by the number of vast
resources, and traffic. After exiting the bus, they were escorted
to a small white tent, where they were scanned once again for any
foreign objects they may have acquired since leaving the
checkpoint. While Oliver tried to hold his composure, Karl looked
over to his right and noticed the crate they were transporting
earlier was in the process of getting off loaded. In an attempt to
get Oliver’s attention, Karl simply flicked him in his shoulder and
without saying anything, directed Oliver’s eyes towards the crate.
When Oliver noticed the crate and saw the diplomatic seals were
still intact, this gave him a bit of comfort.

“
Welcome,” Oliver quickly
turned around and noticed a tall, slim, dark man with a white lab
coat standing next to him. “I’m
Dr. 
Philip Hathaway of the
International Medical University…” Oliver quickly interrupted “Yes,
yes, I know, you’re part of the Major Infection Disease task
force.”

“
Oh, so you’ve heard of
me,” smiled
Dr.
Hathaway, ignoring Oliver’s ill tempered
behavior.

“
Yes, and I would just like to say…” before
Oliver could finish his statement Melissa interrupted, “It’s a
pleasure to meet you. My name is Melissa, this is Karl, and this is
Oliver.”

“
The pleasure is all mine. I
thank you all for traveling such a long way. I’m sure you are tired
and want to rest.”

Unable to control her father,
Oliver spoke out. “Rest! You are kidding me! After the way we have
been treated! My medical supplies were taken, we were stripped
down, treated like prisoners, and on top of all that, we were
tagged without our consent. I have a fair mind to turn around and
leave.”

Dr.
Hathaway looked over to Melissa and Karl who both showed
signs of embarrassment, and then looked back at Oliver. “I do
apologize, these types of operations tend to lack in manners. But I
do promise you, from here on out you all will be treated with
respect and courtesy. In regards to you being tagged, that’s not in
my power. You see all civilians and military personnel inside the
quarantine zone must be, it’s part of protocol. So if you still
have a desire to leave you will be detained until the virus is
terminated.”

Having more of a diplomatic
personality, Melissa spoke, “We completely understand, we’re here
to help in any way.”

“
That’s great to hear,”
replied
Dr.
Hathaway while Oliver stood there biting his
tongue.

Moments later a medic came
running over to
Dr.
Hathaway showing signs of exhaustion. “Sir… I have to tell
you this in person… there’s no way you were going to believe me
otherwise.”

“
What is it?”
Dr.
Hathaway asked
with anticipation.

“
The patients who are infected with the Weed
Virus are showing signs of significant improvements.”

“
How significant?”
asked
Dr.
Hathaway.

“
To the point where there are no
signs of any illness. There were patients who were literary
incapacitated, who are now walking around in the infirmary
healthier than before they contracted the virus.”

“
How is this possible? Have blood
screens been conducted?”

“
Yes, and there’s no sign of any
infections.”

Dr.
Hathaway looked over to Oliver and said, “You might be able
to leave sooner than I thought. I’m sorry, but I obviously need to
check into this, please go over to the bureau desk to obtain your
assignments. Take care.”

Dr.
Hathaway ran off to the main hangar of the airport while
Oliver, Melissa, and Karl stood there in disbelief.

“
What happened, why was I pulled out so soon?”
yelled Serafina.

“
I’m sorry ma’am, orders from Central
Circuit,” replied the commanding officer.

“
Orders, what orders? We were almost at our
intended location.”

“
Again, I’m sorry ma’am these orders came from
the top.”

“
Why am I not surprised? Every
time I get involved with you fools, you end up changing the mission
plan. What is my current location and how did I get here?” asked
Serafina now completely frustrated with the situation.

“
You are currently in a Central Circuit safe
house in Sydney, Australia and we used a displacement beam to
transport you.”

“
I see,” said Serafina annoyingly. “Get me on
the line with whomever issued those orders and do it
now!”

“
Yes ma’am,”

“
Also direct me to my quarters; I need to wash
up.”

“
Yes ma’am.”

“
And stop calling me ma’am, address me as
Serafina. Now where is Spencer?”

“
He is being contained in a stasis chamber,”
replied the commanding officer.

“
I see.”

As Serafina was guided down the hallway from the
displacement beam chambers, she was led into her private quarters
and advised the CEO of Central Circuit was online and this
communication was verbal only. Serafina entered her quarters,
sealed the door, and ran to the communiqué.

“
What happened?” asked Serafina.

“
Before anything is explained,
you need to answer some questions,” ordered Melchior.

“
Ok,” replied Serafina.

“
Do you remember holding any
allegiance to the Floaters, specifically to a man named
Oliver?”

“
No.”

“
Do you currently hold any feelings towards
Spencer Cade or his daughter, Jade?”

“
No, why would I?” asked Serafina with a
confused look. “May I inquire why you are asking these questions
Melchior?”

“
No! We pulled you and Spencer out of
Australia before the solar freeze occurred.”

“
What solar freeze?” asked Serafina
curiously.

“
Zaccai implemented a solar
freeze and took control of the council. Unfortunately, the
shielding we placed on the facility in Sydney was not effective,”
explained Melchior.

“
So how much time has passed?”

“
Approximately forty-eight Earth
hours, but that is of no concern. We no longer can cause the
outbreak on Earth.”

“
Why not?” asked Serafina
surprisingly.

“
Because Prime 2 has deleted the virus and cut
its connection with Earth. We can no longer upload or download any
programs or consciousnesses.”

“
Does this mean wherever we are that is where
we are staying?”

“
That is correct, I will not be
able to download to Earth to see this plan through. I, as well as
all council members, will be temporarily stranded on Tureis. All we
can partake in is verbal communication through subspace. This also
means you are the highest representative for the Guardians on
Earth. I have formally resigned my position as CEO and have placed
you as the new CEO of Central Circuit. Do not worry about the board
of trustees, they will follow along like good little lap dogs,”
advised Melchior.

“
So, if I am understanding you correctly this
means the stone was delivered as expected and Jade decided to free
her people?” asked Serafina.

“
That is correct. Everything had
gone as predicted except for Prime 2 disallowing all uploads and
downloads.”

“
How was Prime 2 able to prevent our personnel
off site facilities from uploading and downloading?”

“
By jamming the first and last
relay stations between worlds. We are currently trying to hack
through, but I am certain we will not be successful,” explained
Melchior.

“
Then how can we communicate
verbally?”

“
Because Prime 2 is allowing it,” said
Melchior with annoyance.

“
That means Prime 2 is monitoring our
conversation.”

“
Yes, as well as the conversations the
Floaters are probably having with Izri.”

“
So, why does Prime 2 not
intervene?”

“
Prime 2, as well as Zaccai, are
going to allow both sides to play their hand. The population on
Tureis is on the edge of breaking out into civil war. The factions
are growing and citizens are taking sides.”

“
So what do you need me to do?” asked
Serafina.

“
Zaccai ordered a Trojan to
be placed in Jade’s PIC called
Project
Illuminate. This program
successfully
integrated itself into her unconscious, so when she was uploaded to
Tureis she was able to take the Trojan with her. Prime 2 gave her
the choice, which would argumentatively benefit her kind. Either
inform the Earthlings of our involvement with their society or
allow us to continue to harvest their consciousnesses without them
knowing. Jade made her decision and placed the stone back into its
cradle. This decision, unknowingly to Jade, downloaded Project
Illuminate, not only to the Herders on Earth, but to all the
Herders on all the planets we harvest from,” informed
Melchior.

“
I am guessing when this Trojan was downloaded
she became aware of its intent?”

“
That is what I like about you,
Serafina, you know the answers before the questions, correct.
Unfortunately, Prime 2 felt it was necessary to transport her
consciousness back to her body after the merger of the stone. And
to make things even more interesting, I have recently learned that
Reece was also downloaded to his humanoid body as well.”

“
So, I need to secure Jade from the Floaters,
who will most likely know of this Trojan and its intent?”
speculated Serafina.