Convergence Read online

  Hope nodded. “Everything will be gone by then. I’ll be on my way to the Island. And…” She glanced at the remaining machines, numbering in the thousands, all much larger than the disks they’d already stowed. “Those will be moved into position before I go.” She turned her eyes to a small building near the workshop, one far more modern than the simple wood shack and workshop they’d used for centuries. “Is the transport portal to the Cavern set up?”

  Will nodded. “The Mechanic’s quarters there will serve as the doorway. It’s secure for now. Nobody visits me.” He grinned. “I suspect that will change when I go back the next time.” He sighed. “I just… I wish the plan allowed for you to return to the Cavern with me.”

  “So do I. But the timing won’t allow it.” Hope located and opened her personal bag among the piles of bags holding the small disks, reviewing the contents. She found the collection of squeezable tubes inside, nodded, and closed the bag. “I think I’m ready.” She paused. “Are you?”

  He nodded.

  “Then let’s go.”

  Will took a final look around at the tranquil paradise. They’d built it up in more recent decades and would add additional buildings in the weeks to come. He remembered the original purity and wondered if they’d ever see Eden returned to that state.

  And he wondered if he’d ever make it back.

  He turned and watched as their two guests helped Hope load the bags of disks into her own flying sphere. They were dressed head to toe in black, and their movements were smooth and graceful, masking the power both possessed to wreak immense violence in a short period of time when necessary. Will chatted amiably with them as Hope boarded her ship, and the three shared a faint laugh.

  He watched Hope as he chatted with the others, knowing that her thoughts were focused on their children. They’d soon visit this strange island, learn of its importance, and have the images necessary for emergency teleportation at any time. They’d also know the way to help others here, for Eden, based upon its location, provided a far superior staging area for the pending invasion of Headquarters Island. He watched as Hope left her ship and moved to the ancient workshop, opened the door, and surveyed the interior. She pulled a single hair from her head and set it upon the desk near the door before sealing the room once more.

  Will nodded. She’d left a clue, a part of herself that would help the children understand the significance of this place by providing evidence of those who’d lived here. It would also let them know the happy truth; that their mother—with her long, golden locks restored—was very much alive.

  And they’d soon come to know that she would do everything she could to ensure that not a single hair on their heads suffered harm in the battle to come.

  ###

  The two were invisible to the Starks and their black-clad Eden Island guests.

  The woman watched the couple bustle about, loading bags and supplies into two ships that wouldn’t remain visible much longer. Her eyes lingered upon Hope with a hunger and sadness that defied explanation. “It’s her. It’s really her. Isn’t it?” Her voice was a whisper.

  The man nodded, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It is. She’s fine. She’s healthy now.”

  The woman exhaled a deep breath. “I’m so relieved. When I last saw her she… she wasn’t in very good condition.”

  The man nodded his understanding. “Will’s been very good to her, and has helped her recover and return to full health.”

  The woman nodded, her eyes never leaving Hope. “When will I get to see her directly? Talk to her? I… I really must talk to her. There are things she needs to know that—”

  “As events stand right now… I’m sorry. This isn’t the best time.” His words were firm, but not cruel, laced with a concern that discouraged her tears. “Patience is of the essence. What will happen for the next several weeks needs to be as scripted and routinized as possible. She cannot deal with new and strange emotions and do what must be done. It is best for her. Can you do that?”

  The woman set her jaw and nodded. “For her? I will do anything.”

  III

  Two weeks later.

  “I DON’T LIKE THIS PLAN, Will.” Gena scowled. “Why am I being kept here? This is not a theater of operations. I do not intend to stand around while others do the hard work.” She folded her arms. “I expect to fight.”

  “You will fight,” Will said. “Trust me, this will be a major theater of operations. You’re defending our home. We must expect the Aliomenti to locate the Cavern in the very near future. We’ve been far less reserved with Energy use, and at some point they’ll get one of their prisoners… talking. There are young children here who need protection—”

  “Those children have enough Energy in them to wipe out a city, Will, and you know it!” Gena snapped. The air left the room, and Gena realized what she’d said. Her face fell and her eyes widened. “I’m so sorry, Fil. I… I just…”

  Fil’s face was somber. His eyes, no longer masked by the ever-present sunglasses, were filled with pain. He forced a weak smile to his face “I know what you meant.” His voice was quiet, and there was no doubting the anguish created by the memories of the time he’d leveled three dozen cities in a few hours. “But I agree with Dad. The Aliomenti will find this place and they will make it their mission to destroy it and kill every living creature inside the Cavern walls.” He shook his head before glancing at his father. “This place is too dangerous. I think she’d be far safer on the island.”

  “Exactly!” Gena said, folding her arms and sitting back triumphantly. She saw Fil wink at Will. She recognized the joke and smacked her nephew. “Not that island, you dolt!”

  Angel snorted. “No need for you to be there. Charlie and I already have that island covered.” She offered a dramatic sigh. “It’s such a beautiful place, so perfectly named. Eden. I may never leave.”

  Fil allowed a small smile on his face and patted her on the head. “Be sure to send us some postcards. We might miss you.”

  Angel smacked his hand away, but she was smiling.

  “I take it the two of you never, uh, interacted like that?” Charlie asked, glancing at Will and Gena.

  Gena laughed. “Well, we were both at least a few centuries old before we knew we were twins and could acknowledge it to each other. So… no. We were far too mature to ever squabble like those two chuckleheads.”

  Adam snorted and earned a smack on the arm as punishment.

  Will nodded. He’d known for some time about his relationship to Gena, of course, having used his “death” as the opportunity to watch events unfold from a distance. He arrived at the scene of his own birth and ensconced himself invisibly in the delivery room, learning with Adam the shocking news that he’d been a twin to a sister his parents had never mentioned. He’d followed Adam out of the hospital to find the opportunity to pay his last respects to his sister. But Adam had resuscitated one thought stillborn, and his sister stood before him now, two centuries later, alive and well.

  Fil faced Gena. “We have three theaters of operation. We need Energy strength at each spot, which means we need to separate the people in this room. The plan calls for our strongest concentration of Energy strength at Headquarters because a quick win there should mean an end to the war before it starts. That’s also where we expect the greatest concentration of Aliomenti, and we must be prepared to match strength to strength. But we also can’t ignore the other locales and put everyone at Headquarters.”

  Gena glared at him, but relented. “I know, I know. And I know I agreed to the role when we had the Cavern-wide meeting. It’s just…”

  Will glanced at her. “People have been talking.”

  She nodded.

  Will sighed.

  His return had been far more an event than he’d wanted. Fil and Angel convinced him to revert to his Mechanic disguise before commencing their journey to the Cavern. Once there, they’d told everyone to gather for a major discovery key to their ongoing efforts
to end the persecution by the Aliomenti. Will had performed the transformation once more, and the Cavern had erupted into a spontaneous celebration and party. Will had silently fumed. He’d undone the Mechanic disguise for his children because he’d wanted them to know, more than anyone else, that he’d been there with them during his entire “absence.” It wasn’t so critical, in his mind, to make the same demonstration to others. But the children had insisted, had sworn that the impact would be tremendously positive… and as it turned out, they’d been correct.

  That is, they’d been correct until he’d started to explain the plan to invade Aliomenti Headquarters Island.

  He’d shared those plans with the entire Cavern soon after his return, soon after the shock of his return and his secret identity had worn off. Hundreds of questions were raised, including some from those in the room now. With nearly two centuries to plan for every conceivable contingency, he’d been able to answer every concern and complaint until, at last, a majority of those present had voiced at least a grudging acceptance to the approach.

  But he’d certainly not gotten unanimity.

  A portion of the group would leave the Cavern to ensure they’d not be asked to participate. Many of those Outside heard of the plan and emailed to tell him they were perfectly happy right where they were in the human world and would remain in their current locations. Some moved up start dates on planned Outside missions to ensure they’d miss out on any actual fighting. They shared a mindset similar to the Aliomenti who agreed with the Alliance in principal but who refused to change allegiances. They were comfortable, and the revolution proposed brought with it the strong possibility of property loss, injury, or even death for those who remained behind. Will respected their right to disagree, but couldn’t help feeling a personal hurt that so many had left.

  Each night, he dreamed of joining them. But he didn’t.

  His greatest worry came from the possibility that some Alliance might leave and change allegiances to the Aliomenti. He and Hope had known that was a possibility, but it still hurt to know those he’d lived with for decades or centuries might emigrate to fight alongside Arthur Lowell. He knew they’d not reveal exact battle plans, for he’d kept the plans vague until certain he had only actual participants left. Still, their knowledge of an impending assault on Headquarters would be something Arthur and the Hunters would utilize. The element of surprise would be lost. They’d need to make up for that loss of surprise with speed of execution.

  Even those who stayed to fight hated the final phase, the weapon of last resort and desperation, the one they’d prepared to ensure that even if the Aliomenti won the war with the Alliance, their dominance in the world would end. Will hated that weapon as well. But he also realized that it might be the only way to permanently end the war before the two groups rendered each other extinct.

  Those staying in the Cavern were of the opinion that their choice to remain behind and defend the Cavern should make them immune to the effects of that final weapon by design, as the weapon would be triggered only if the invasion ended poorly. But they’d made certain Gena knew their beliefs, insulting her when she’d pointed out that they all won or lost together, and enjoyed the rewards and suffered the burdens together as well.

  Will sighed. “I’m sorry you’ve had to live with that, Gena.” Self-preservation instincts never left humans, no matter how powerful or evolved. Those instincts merely changed forms.

  “We all have, Dad.” Fil shrugged. “It’s difficult to get wide consensus on something. I’ve been recommending optimism. We’ll carry out the earlier phases of the plan to perfection, and the concerns and disagreements about the final phase will become moot.”

  Will grimaced. He saw little reason to think or pretend that final weapon would remain dormant. “I hope you’re right.”

  The site leaders moved to join their teams. Gena and Adam spoke with those remaining behind about the defenses the local teams were building in preparation for a likely invasion by the Aliomenti. Angel and Charlie spoke to those who’d be traveling with them to Eden, which would serve as a staging area for those traveling to and from Headquarters Island. Will and Fil spoke to those participating in the initial assault on Headquarters.

  Will found the second member of their invasion force. She’d join Hope, who’d been there for quite some time invisibly preparing various technical aspects of the invasion. “Ready?”

  Ashley checked the contents of her backpack and nodded at Will. “Everything’s here.”

  Will extended his hand to her, and she shook as she zipped up her pack. “It’s time, then. Good luck, Ashley.”

  Ashley teleported from the Cavern to a waiting sphere and set course for the Island.

  Will flipped open the telecommunication link. “We’re underway, everyone.”

  Then he buried his head in his hands and wept for those who’d die before all of this ended.

  IV

  ATHOS STARED OUTSIDE ONCE MORE, leaning closer to the thick, clear glass-like material comprising the window his breath fogged. The view hadn’t gotten old yet, not even after days at sea. The submarine traveled at a depth where the now-waning sunlight still reached and illuminated the sights beneath the foaming breakers above. Fish of types he’d never before seen, in all manner of colors, darted around the ship in an ethereal silence. He’d cringed the first time a shark snapped up the slowest moving fish in the area, then watched with morbid fascination as predator devoured prey.

  He would act as the shark in the upcoming encounter.

  He glanced around the cabin. Porthos’ discovery of the hidden rebel base had triggered a meeting with the Leader. That meeting produced all manner of revelations. Porthos’ announcement that the Alliance base rested deep in the ocean water near the Antarctic resulted in little more than a shrug from the Leader, as if the man had known all along. The Leader charged Athos with planning and carrying out the invasion of the Alliance base, and Porthos to oversee defense of Headquarters Island. The decree stunned both Hunters. Athos preferred to lead the Island defense, while Porthos believed his discovery of the base made him best suited to launch the invasion. The Leader ignored both men. He ordered Athos to teleport at once to a spot that would provide him with the tools he’d need for his mission, and provided a mental image for teleportation.

  It was a shipyard, located on the southeast corner of the island, a place Athos had never before known existed.

  The shipyard showed signs of wear and tear, a site created as part of the post-Cataclysm rebuilding of Headquarters Island. Crews worked on a new yacht for the Leader, dubbed the Genevieve, but that wasn’t Athos’ target. His eyes found a dozen gray-skinned ships of unusual form resting low in the water. The Leader insisted that the strange ships would be the key to the successful completion of his role in the upcoming war with the Alliance.

  A man teleported nearby and waved to gather Athos’ attention. “Welcome, Hunter.” His sandy brown hair fluttered in the wind, and he peered at Athos with dark green eyes. “I understand you are to lead us in an attack mission against the traitors?”

  Athos stared at him. “How—?” He recovered quickly, though. The Leader wouldn’t tell this man that Athos hadn’t been aware of the strange ships or this shipyard until an hour earlier. “Of course. Why else would I be here?”

  The man nodded. “Of course, sir.” He held out his hand. “I’m Scott, by the way.”

  Athos ignored the offered hand, and Scott withdrew it with some hesitation a moment later. “Tell me more about the ships. Speed, crew size, passenger capacity, weapons, and communication abilities.”

  “Of course, sir,” Scott replied. “The submarine hulls are able to withstand pressures found at an ocean depth of approximately two point eight miles beneath the surface. The engines permit a cruising speed of up to one hundred miles per hour. We can reach a significant portion of the planet aboard the submarines in just a few days.”

  Athos wasn’t impressed. Several days to reach a destin
ation? Teleportation was a far superior option, but that wasn’t available in this situation. A shame they couldn’t build machines able to teleport people and weapons to remote locations. But he knew that to be impossible. “Good. Weapons?”

  “Each craft has a dozen torpedoes available. Guidance systems are accurate to within two feet from two miles distant. We are working to improve—”

  “Comms?”

  Scott paused with his mouth still open. A seabird squawked in the distance as he resumed. “Radio signals are encrypted. Our friends could tap into the signal and not understand a word we were saying. The signal can reach Headquarters Island from any part of the planet, with a delay of… less than three seconds.” He paused after uttering the figure, looking at Athos with hesitation.

  Athos wasn’t certain what that meant, but three seconds wasn’t much time. He forced a look of deepest concern to his face and Scott wilted just a bit. “Mm hmm. Anything else I need to know?”

  Scott considered. “Each submarine includes two submersibles. They have depth ratings similar to the submarines themselves but a much shorter range, perhaps ten miles or so. Not advisable for longer journeys.”

  Athos nodded. He glanced at the name on the yacht and pointed. “What’s the significance of the name Genevieve?”

  “I’m not sure, sir. The Leader requested the name himself.”

  There’d be no questioning that choice. “What about the submarines? Do they have names?”

  “Not yet, sir. Each of the other eleven captains has names selected, but will defer to you if you’d like to provide the names yourself. We await the name for your submarine to lead the fleet.”

  He’d known the name he’d select in an instant.

  That had all happened two weeks earlier. They’d painted the name Tacitus on his ship just prior to departure, as Porthos—frowning and moody—and the Leader looked on. Only those two understood the significance of the name. The Leader, in a still-rare show of sentimentality, nodded his assent to the name choice. The Hunter Aramis, once known as Tacitus, continued to live in a vegetative state. The skirmish with Will Stark ended with the Assassin skewering the Damperer with a blow meant for the Alliance leader. Athos had never before seen the Leader so concerned about any individual in the organization. Men and women the Leader had known far longer than the Hunters had died or committed suicide during his own tenure. Will Stark, once a good friend of the Leader, had turned traitor. One of the first Aliomenti, a member of the Leader’s inner circle known as Adam, had been killed while in the process of aiding the Alliance. Yet, not once before had the Leader shown such deep sadness or remorse about the loss or potential loss of one of his people.