The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

- If they did, they would run.

He disconnected when he saw Maj. Marshall saunter into the facility, hands behind his back, self-assured. Even from this great distance, James saw the Major’s smug confidence.

Sexton Marshall fingered a cube and balled up his new design. He hurled it at James as if pitching a curveball. The cube splintered in front of James and evolved into a life-size rendition of the Major.

“Rather than yelling,” the Major said through his projection, “I thought we might have a civil conversation, James.”

“To talk us into surrendering so you can execute us?”

“Succinct summary, James. You have a way for tightening dialogue. No, I was thinking we discussed practicality.”

“Which would be?”

“You have no wish to surrender. Your aims are greater, I suspect. Otherwise, you would have escaped with your brother and Dr. Tomelin. You also know we will take great care before firing on you, given the inherent risks involved here. However, as we cannot allow the two of you to go free, the risks are acceptable. Once we open fire, you will hold us at bay for some time. You will kill, in my estimation, a third of my forces. By then, however, your rifles will be spent. Your armor will be weakened. It can only absorb and repulse so much flash energy before degrading. But you will never come to that.”

James wasn’t sure whether to play along. He tried to read the Major’s features, but this was far from the man he thought he knew while training at the GPM. No, this was an officer who held back for years, cloaking his ambition behind infinite patience, to snare his greatest prize. Marshall was terrified but also certain in victory.

“You recognize what we can do,” James said.

“Yes, but I believe you will not go there. James, whatever you think of this world or its people, or however you judge the creators who turned your life into pain – you must hold a shred of human decency in your heart. You have evolved into a new form of life, but you are also a Chancellor by birth and human by essence.”

“Chancellors are dying. We are the future. Die with dignity.”

The Major twisted a frown. “No need to become messianic. You have considerable abilities, yes, but there are only ten of you.”

“More than ten. You know what I mean.”

“The extended-lifers. Already in the thousands. However, they can resurrect. You and the other hybrids cannot.” He lifted a finger, as if testing the wind. “I will make you a guarantee in exchange for your surrender.”

“Why should a dead man believe in a deal from a Chancellor?”

The Major nodded, as if acknowledging a valid point.

“The unarmed Passaic Dawn is in a holding pattern five kilometers from this tower. I have two Scramjets awaiting orders to pursue. If I give them the word, they will chase down and kill your brother and Ophelia Tomelin. If you submit now, I will guarantee them free passage. If Valentin wishes to pursue the other extended-lifers, he will be free from prosecution to do so. Dr. Tomelin may raise the compliant hybrids. Your future will arrive but in less disruptive fashion. What do you say, James?”

Rayna scratched his mind.

- Father made deal with man like him. Last time I saw Father, he had red ring around his throat.

- He knows we won’t make a deal. He just doesn’t want to explain the mess to anyone.

- What of your brother?  Are you worried for him?

- No. He can take care of himself. If our plan goes wrong, he will start again. He understands who he is now.

- I wish to know Valentin better. He is not terrible man.

- He’ll appreciate the compliment. Time to finish negotiations. The Major seems impatient for my answer.

He disconnected.

“I’m considering your offer,” James said. “But one question first. All those years trying to set up Perrone. If you hated him so much, why not just have him killed? You could have taken his place.”

Marshall chuckled. “Why play elaborate games of deception and brinkmanship? Why not murder him as you did today? Short answer? Because this is what men such as me have to live for. James, behind our titles and power, we rot in perpetual monotony. Naturally, we crave the chance to leverage other lives. Call it the tragedy of the Chancellors, if you must.

“You deprived me of a more elegant end to Augustus Perrone, but I have only myself to blame. If not for me, you never would have crossed the fold.”

Marshall’s words cut deep. For a moment, the blast rifle felt heavier. Then James regrouped and recalled Ophelia’s admission.

“I already learned how you prevented my father from killing the Jewels three years ago.”

“Yes, there was an intervention, but I’m referring to another tactical maneuver. An error in judgment. Fifteen years ago, I was a colonel assigned to Special Services Division. I was also friends with a man named Walter Pynn. Or as you knew him: Walter Huggins.”

Sammie’s father. The first person I killed.

“Through him, I learned about the hybrids and became a believer. Before Walter went into exile with you and the observers, he complained about his fellow travelers. Paranoid, Walter was. He paid me to bring an additional level of security to the recovery day. Which I did. Two Shock Units.”

It made sense before Marshall said another word.

“I gave Ophelia no choice but to send them through, assuming she wished to maintain control of the project. Now that I have pieced together your story, I know you would have been killed, never resurrected, and all this prevented – if only I betrayed Walter. As I said earlier, James, I have only myself to blame.

“Time to decide. Surrender or die.”

The irony of it twisted James about. A father