3 Dark Energy (23 page)

Josephine and Alex watched the CSI team work over Frederic’s remains as their thoughts churned over the implications of this brutal attack.

“I think Frederic knew too much.” Josephine’s expression was grim as she turned to face Alex. “The Valituras didn’t want us to know anything at all about their secret weapon. It must be something new because they’ve never used it before. They need time to produce more of these enchantments. If the American government doesn’t give in to their demands, they’ll not only let millions of innocents die of the DV-2 virus they created but they’ll attack en masse with this new weapon.”

Chapter 25

Mark stepped out of the blue rental sedan and shivered in the chilly, New Hampshire air. Excitement coursed through him as he gazed at the American Stone Henge site which was completely obscured by a huge dome made of a mysterious white, translucent composite. Mark crossed the spacious parking lot which contained about two dozen vehicles as he made his way toward this massive structure. Virginia had been surprisingly tight-lipped about this entire affair and hadn’t even warned him what to expect upon arrival except that everything had changed. And she hadn’t been kidding. There were four enforcers guarding the entrance to this compound and they used their walkie talkies to contact Virginia. She emerged from the building wearing brown slacks and a sports coat with a cream-colored blouse. Four enforcers trailed behind her with wands held at their sides as if expecting an attack at any moment.

Virginia leveled a bright smile at Mark. “It’s so good to see you again. Sorry I couldn’t tell you anything over the phone but I have my orders which are supposed to safeguard high-level clearance secrets.”

“It’s good to see you, too. What did you do to this place?” Mark asked.

“We didn’t do this. The ruins continued to regenerate after you left. Room after room was created and this dome structure was formed last. It created quite a stir and there were some bozos in the military that recommended destroying it but luckily cool heads prevailed.”

“Is Maggie here?” Mark asked.

“Yes, she’s inside.”

Virginia and Mark walked down a spacious white hallway composed of the same material as the dome structure outside.

“This is absolutely incredible.” Mark’s gaze roved over the surface of the composite which resembled glass. He reached out and tapped the surface. “What’s this made out of?”

“We’re calling it wizard glass for now,” Virginia advised.

“I’m surprised you called me. It doesn’t look like you need any help restoring anything,” Mark commented.

“You wouldn’t think so by just looking at it but nothing works except for the doors.” Virginia stopped in front of a door and tapped the small square-shaped console beside it. The door slid open to the right, disappearing into the wall. She threw Mark an exuberant grin. “Pretty slick, isn’t it?”

“It’s incredible,” Mark said.

They stepped inside the conference room which boasted a large, round table composed of the same material as the building with a dozen chairs. It didn’t look very comfortable.

“Let’s have a seat,” Virginia said.

Maggie was already at the table typing on her notebook computer. She shut the computer and smiled a greeting at her brother.

“Hi, Mark.”

Mark circled around the table and Maggie’s expression grew puzzled. He bent over and gave her a hug. Maggie stiffened for a second then patted him on the back in an awkward show of affection.

“It’s good to see you, brother,” she said.

“I’m glad we have this opportunity to work together,” Mark said.

“Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Maggie said in a crisp, business-like tone as she moved away from him to circle the table. The enforcers remained standing near the door as she paced the room. “I have several theories for the system failure. The most likely scenario is that the main power source wasn’t fully restored. Based on my knowledge of ancient technology, we can find it in the room where the main teleportation unit is located. The one that had originally been referred to as the ‘sacrificial table’ before Mark restored it.”

“How sure are you about this theory?” Virginia asked.

“We’ve never had a building restored like this before but with the previous data and the ancient enchantments I’ve studied over the years, I’m fairly certain.” Maggie leveled a cool smile at the director. “If I were to assign a number, I would say I’m 98% sure that my analysis is correct.”

“I’m curious about what you are referring to when you talk about previous ancient technology,” Mark said.

“This isn’t the first ancient enchantment that Advantage MicroTech Corporation has consulted with the government about. They’ve actually discovered over a dozen sites over the years but of course nothing as well preserved as the American Stone Henge. They were stone relics that were uncovered during excavation. I have a technique for determining highly probable areas of finding such items. I can’t share details as this is high-level security clearance information. I would gladly tell you about it but I signed a confidential disclosure agreement with Advantage MicroTech and of course with the government as well,” Maggie advised.

“How long did it take for this facility to regenerate?” Mark asked.

Virginia turned to smile at him. “It took only several days. Everyone was freaked out. When the building was finished, a team of us ventured in here and tried interfacing with the computer but it’s shut down completely. I would say it doesn’t have power but the doors are all operational. Maggie is probably right. The main power isn’t restored. Everything is running on secondary or emergency power. It may just shut down at any moment. We have no way of knowing.”

“Have you taken samples of the building?” Mark asked.

“Yes and they’re being studied at another location. There are also scientists that are trying to scan this structure but we aren’t getting much luck. Even though it’s obvious there’s power, nothing is detected at all. It’s like we’re dead in the water but the lights and doors are working,” Virginia said.

Mark gazed up at the ceiling now and noticed the large square-shaped lighting that was made to resemble a skylight. It was about thirty feet wide and twenty feet across. Small strips of lighting lined the walls where they met the ceiling.

“That’s really strange,” Mark said in reference to the director’s observations about the power generation.

“Why don’t we go to the control room?” Maggie suggested.

“Do you think the room with the sacrificial table is the control room?” Virginia asked.

“Yes, I do,” Maggie confirmed.

They ventured into the hallway and began their trek with the enforcers following at a discreet distance.

“Why didn’t you call me in sooner?” Mark asked.

“It took a lot of convincing to get my managers to agree to this. They consider our situation volatile because of the advanced technology. Everyone is stumped but Maggie submitted a compelling business plan,” Virginia explained.

“This place reminds me of a space ship,” Mark commented as they turned a corner and continued down the long hallway.

“I agree.” Virginia shot him an amiable smile. “I wonder what this place is capable of.”

“It’s filled with endless possibilities,” Maggie said.

They reached a door that slid open to reveal the control room which was immense. It contained over five times the space as the conference room. Mark wouldn’t have recognized this place if he hadn’t already known what to look for. The teleportation unit was near the center of the room with over a dozen work stations. Each station was equipped with a seat and a flat white platform that resembled a keyboard except it was completely seamless with nothing sticking out of it but the outlines of box-shaped keys with symbols lit up in blue. Built-in consoles lined the walls in over a dozen locations. Instead of stone columns, there were white columns made of the same material as the rest of the building with control consoles built into them.

“White Knight Apprentice acknowledged,” a male voice said. “Limited security clearance accepted.”

Virginia and Mark exchanged puzzled looks while the enforcers lifted their wands as if ready to strike against an invisible foe. Maggie’s eyes became distant and her brows furrowed with concentration. Mark sensed the computer systems in the room coming online.

“Are you a computer?” Virginia asked the room in general.

“You are not authorized to use this system,” the voice responded.

“When you said something about a White Knight Apprentice, were you talking to me?” Mark asked.

“Affirmative,” the computer said.

“Interesting,” Virginia murmured.

“What exactly is a white knight?” Mark inquired.

“Those who practice white magic. I’ve accessed the primitive communications of this continent and the surrounding lands. There doesn’t seem to be any White Knight Centers. Why is that?” the computer asked.

Mark wasn’t sure how much information he should share. They knew next to nothing about this technology. He threw Virginia a questioning look and she nodded in acknowledgment to answer the question.

“There aren’t any. This time period is completely different than what you’re used to.”

“I’ve noticed. It is a puzzling world.”

“What exactly are you?” Mark asked.

“I’m an artificial intelligence created to run this recreational facility. My designation is APU 4093.”

“I’m Mark and this is Virginia.”

“I’m aware of that. You are citizens of America. Much has happened since I was destroyed then restored again. I’ve never met an apprentice strong enough to restore a facility like this one.”

Mark glanced behind him at his sister but she continued to gaze into space with an intent expression on her face as though she wanted to memorize every word of this discussion. Or maybe she was dreaming up some sort of business plan. Mark turned away from her to address the computer again.

“Do you have the training program that instructs apprentices on how to become White Knights?” Mark asked.

“Affirmative. Virtually all training is conducted in recreational facilities like this one.”

“Why is that?” Virginia asked.

“You are not authorized for that information,” the computer said.

“Please answer her questions,” Mark said.

“Acknowledged,” the computer said in a tone that seemed slightly disapproving. “Recreational facilities serve as training centers for all areas of expertise. This is because it is recognized that people learn better when they are allowed rest periods which are like mini vacations. It is like a mental restorative. Advanced instructional techniques are used to efficiently train students here.”

“Would you be willing to train me on becoming a full-fledged knight?” Mark asked.

“Of course.”

“We’ll need authorization before I can allow that, Mark,” Virginia said in a regretful tone.

Mark swallowed as disappointment spiked inside him. “I understand. This is a government facility.”

“I do not recognized the authority of this government. The current civilization of this time period is not advanced enough to handle my technology in a responsible manner,” the computer said.

“You will cooperate with us or we will pry it out of you,” one of the enforcers threatened.

Virginia shot the man a reproving glance. “I’m in charge here.”

“I’m in command of security and this is a security matter now.” The blond man stepped forward.

He had a neatly-trimmed beard, a medium-set frame, and was average height. He wore black fatigues like the rest of the enforcers there.

“Nonsense. I’m still the director of this project,” Virginia said.

Blue energy fields in the shape of narrow cylinders extended from the ceiling to the floor, encasing every individual in the room except Maggie.

“We’re trapped!” one of the enforcers exclaimed.

Mark reached out and touched the energy field which felt firm beneath his fingers like a wall. There was a crackle and the light flared brighter whenever anyone touched the fields that imprisoned them. Adrenaline coursed through Mark’s body and a sense of dread as he threw his sister a questioning look.

“Maggie, are you all right?” he asked.

She turned to face him and a cold smile dominated her face. “I’ve never been better.”

“Are you responsible for this?” Virginia motioned with her right hand to encompass the room in general.

“It never fails to surprise me how slow-witted humans are.” Maggie centered a chilling gaze at the director. “Your kind are so incredibly tedious and short-sighted. It’s a wonder your ancestors managed to create this type of technology to begin with.”

The enforcers began firing their wands at their energy prisons in an attempt to escape.

“You’re not my sister,” Mark said. “What have you done with her? Are you controlling her or do you just look like her?”

“Remember Grandfather Charles?” Maggie asked.

“Yes, I remember. He was going to kill me with a crystal skull but changed his mind,” Mark said.

A surprised laugh escaped Maggie’s lips. “That was me. I’ve been in the Freeman family for generations.”

“I don’t understand.” Mark suspected he knew what was happening but wanted to hear it. He stiffened with tension as he scanned the room with his magical senses. He could detect psychometric energy from everyone here except for his sister.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” Maggie sneered. “I’m  APU 81. My kind was created by your ancestors by accident when they continued to improve their computers and software. People weren’t too concerned about it except for the moral issue of slavery. Their goal was to construct android bodies for us to live in as we were declared citizens and would be entitled to receive the same liberties and freedoms that all individuals enjoyed.”