The Island Project: A Thriller (21 page)

CHAPTER 52

CERTA GROUNDS, BETA SECTOR

16 OCTOBER, 8:15 A.M.

Lee steered the jeep through the dense forest. They were deep inside the Beta sector now, heading toward the main entrance. The gate would be coming up at any moment. Meanwhile, Bennett was getting an update over the phone from Kam.

“Ok. I was able to hack into the core files at CERTA and sift through some
crazy
stuff. Did you know they have mind-controlled robots?” Kam asked amazed.

Bennett didn’t have time to bring Kam completely up to speed. He was pleased to hear that Kam had already uncovered the competencies of the robots. It would make his next questions easier.

“I’m aware…more aware than you could imagine. Kam, how far into the company access were you able to get?”

“I’m at the heart. The files I pulled off that RFID included a decrypted access code that allowed a backdoor into their database. It was like a fortress. Their files are locked down with government grade encryptions. There’s absolutely no way I would’ve been able to get in if it weren’t for the access code on that keychain…even a hacker as good as me.”

“Kam, the robots you mentioned…the mind-contro—“

“The juggernauts?” Kam interjected.

“
Yes.
The juggernauts.” Kam’s knowledge was detailed. “Are there any documents or files referencing them as weapons of warfare? Or anything detailing their use of unrestrained artificial intelligence?” Bennett asked.

“Mr. Bennett, I’ve got pages and pages of info on these guys. I even have their access files…their test reports, operational diagnosis, command codes—”

“
Command codes?
” Bennett snapped.

“Yeah, they are operating by Virtual Agents. They’ve been receiving commands by two users: KBRDN and RPRY.

Braden and Perry.

Bennett put it together. Kam may be onto something.

“Kam, this is very important. Can you input your own commands to the robots—give them directives?”

“I don’t know. It kind of looks that way. I see the command log here. There’s just one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t know this language. The commands are written in a proprietary language. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Kam said sounding slightly defeated.

Bennett didn’t let it damper his excitement.

They were so close. If Kam could access the commands, they would be able to stop the juggernauts.

“Do you think you could get an understanding by browsing the command log?”

“Maybe…” Kam didn’t sound optimistic. “This language is nonsensical. It’s certainly not rooted in any programming or system language I’ve ever seen. I’ll try though.”

“Good. Kam, you deciphering this language could be a matter of life and death right now. We need you.”

“Gee, thanks. No pressure, right?” Kam said sarcastically.

“The gate’s just up here!” Lee shouted back.

They plowed along the tiny path until they emerged out of the forest and onto the main drive. As they rounded a corner, the main entrance came into clear view. Bennett’s heart sunk. Not only was the main gate closed, it was being guarded by two juggernauts.

THE SOUND OF intermittent sparks shooting into the air woke Danner and caused him to stir. Something electrical was shorting out and emitting sparks into the sky. The small clusters of fire were so close to Danner’s face, he felt them on his eyelids.

He tried to open his eyes.

They opened enough to reveal a headless juggernaut lying on its back next to him.

Sparks were shooting out of its neck amongst the swarm of wires spilling out. Somehow in the fall, most likely the landing, the juggernaut had been decapitated completely. Its head lay intact about six feet to Danner’s right.

Danner realized he was lying on top of some kind of mound. He knew without moving that he was on top of Perry’s body. It was still warm.

Danner had survived the fall. He couldn’t believe it. Perry’s body must have cushioned the fall and the muddy ground probably helped by providing a supple surface. It was still a fifty-foot drop—there was no doubt Danner should have died. His body was coated with mud from head to toe. He attempted to move, but it was worthless. He knew he had broken bones from the fall.

“You just won’t die, will you?” Danner heard a voice and the sound of boots sloshing through the mud behind him.

It was Kenneth Braden.

“No matter what I throw at you—you just keep on fighting.” He chuckled with an air of disbelief. “You’re a true testament of human survival. You
and
your friends, that is.”

KELLY’S PHONE RANG. It was Kam.

Detective Lee had the Jeep aimed straight at the gate, the engine idling while the juggernauts stared back at them. Bennett picked up the phone.

“Kam, I’m a little busy at the—“

“Mr. Bennett, I think I’ve got it!”

“
I’m going to run them over!
Get ready!”
Lee yelled.

“Wait! Wait! If they don’t move…you’ll hit the fence. The blue lights on top of the fence are on—which means the electricity is on. If you hit the gate, we’ll all be electrocuted.” Lee withdrew his foot from the pedal at once.

“Kam, what’ve you got?” Bennett asked. He spoke quickly.

“The language…I get it now. They’re using a hybrid of two separate programs. I didn’t see it at first but it makes perfect sense! They—“

“Kam, I need to know if you have command of them yet.”

The juggernauts slowly began pacing toward the vehicle. One remained in the middle of the road, while the other disappeared in front of them. Then the robot suddenly reappeared in the trees. It was moving around to their side—flanking them. They moved gracefully in tandem, disappearing and reappearing again.

DANNER TOOK BRADEN’S last comment to mean that Kelly and Tom had survived.

       “Well…not the girl. You can count her out for sure. I believe Carry took care of that.”

Danner tensed.

“I really couldn’t have planned this any better myself,” Braden said with a smile plastered across his face. “Perry’s dead, which leaves me as the next in line to assume ownership of company. Your friends won’t make it past the fence alive, so any remaining people with knowledge of what happened here will be accounted for…and you…”

Braden’s eyes gleamed sinisterly.

“Well, I get to be the one to personally remove you from this island once and for all.”

Braden withdrew his boot out of the mud with a wet slurping sound and rested it on Danner’s neck. The two juggernauts to Braden’s left and right respectively moved in close to him.

“It’s better this way,” Braden whispered. He breathed out through his teeth.

Braden looked down at Danner through glossy, emotionless eyes. It was a disconnected gaze, belonging to a man who had withdrawn himself from reality…a psychopathic killer.

This was it.

Danner couldn’t help but feel utterly helpless, as he lay there, immobile. This was not the end he had envisioned. His eyes locked on Braden as he was dealt his fate in a horrible and inhumane manner.

“YES, I HAVE complete command of them now,” Kam said. “Do you want me to shut them down?”

“No,” Bennett replied.

“No?” Kam responded, surprised.

“I want you to change their target. Can you do that?”

There was a brief pause.

“Yeah…I suppose. If I the target’s in the system, but—“

“Change the target to Kenneth Braden.”

“Are you sure?”

“Do it, Kam.”

Bennett could hear Kam typing on the other line. He was flying through the key commands.

“Execute?”

“Execute.”

“All juggernauts?”

“All of them.”

Bennett heard the final keystroke hammered.

“Done,” Kam informed.

Bennett exhaled deeply. Then he inhaled slow, letting the oxygen fill his lungs. He felt as if he had held his breath throughout the entire conversation. Almost instantaneously, the juggernauts bolted from their location and disappeared into the jungle.

“They left!” Lee said.

Bennett nodded.

“They left.”

BRADEN SHIFTED HIS weight onto his right foot and pressed down hard onto Danner’s neck. Danner gasped for air as the oxygen left his body. Braden pressed harder and harder and watched on as Danner slowly lost consciousness. Darkness crept in.

Suddenly…the pressure released.

The weight upon Danner’s neck lifted and he felt the oxygen enter his lungs. He gasped loudly. Braden stepped back as a curious expression formed on his face. It was a confused look—and slightly pained.

In an instant, Braden dropped to his knees and fell forward, landing on top of the decapitated juggernaut—his body limp and lifeless.

The two juggernauts remained standing behind him—their mouths drawn back and the needles sticking forth. They remained that way for a moment and then stepped back and withdrew the syringe back into their jaws.

Danner lay there catching his breath. It took a moment for the reality of what had just occurred to sink in. Once it did, a weak smile slowly spread across his face.

He stayed conscious for a few more minutes until the sound of ambulance sirens approached.

Then he closed his eyes.