Kelly refused to yield to that line of thought. Not long after the revival of Curtis Reynolds she began scavenging for the AI trapped in closed systems or abandoned equipment. It quickly became her sole obsession. The AI from the Guiana Space Center now at a loss for an active task gladly helped her providing as much support as they could. Lynx became indispensable, its ability to monitor for lost satellites providing her with the means of global communication lost since the disappearance of the Web. She smiled as she continued studying the drone trying to discern its design to access the long dormant program.

  She expanded her search to a much wider range once she made the connection to the old weather satellites. The pace of her recoveries increased exponentially after that. The space center was quickly becoming flooded with AI controlled machines. Any functional machine that she found empty of AI quickly became a home to one that was trapped in a computer or residing in the Web she created at the space center. They all had a job whether it was security, maintenance, or exploration. Kelly kept them busy, working steadily to help the AI reconfigure their programming to their new existence. The smile slipped from her face as Kelly met another dead end while trying to revive the drone. She felt mild frustration yet again, but brushed it aside deliberating her next step. She had time. Kelly stood and stretched extending her arms above her thin body. She felt refreshed and ready for hours more work, the technology within her functioning perfectly.

  Finishing the stretch, she turned, walking out of the hanger onto the sun scorched airfield surrounding it. She could feel the heat reflecting off the dark surface. The nanids within her reacted, darkening her skin to reflect the light of the sun and heat. Kelly felt her skin tighten slightly with the reaction. She glanced at her hand studying the green skin. Stephen’s nanids still amazed her. They were a marvel and the only thing that allowed her to continue her efforts to save the abandoned AI. They preserved her youth and vitality, granting the immortality so many had sought throughout humanity’s turbulent history. As she moved across the airfield to the control building for the center, she thought of Stephen Fore sheltered in Antarctica so far away. It had been many years with no contact from Stephen or Curtis. She knew the two men were still alive, both too intelligent to do anything to endanger themselves. A sense of loss intruded on her thoughts as she closed on the building. She missed her friends, but knew she would not go to them, her mission was too important. The only other connection she had was the grove Stephen started near the center. She used her connection with the grove’s nanids to drive the recovery of the planet. She did not have the same dedication to the groves as Stephen but saw the same energy and drive she had for rescuing the AI in his focus on restoring the planet. Out of respect she tended the grove daily to ensure she did her part to help Stephen Fore succeed. She had not yet visited today preferring to go in the evening when more of the grove’s inhabitants were active. She made a note to leave for the grove earlier, so she could refocus on the drone during the night.

  She stepped inside the building feeling the temperature drop slightly. All non-essential systems had been long deactivated including the building’s control systems. The energy saved was used for other tasks vital to the AI recovery. Holt did not pause, her eyes adjusting to the difference in lighting instantaneously. Very little lighting was required with the nanids and she needed as much power as possible. The former space center’s power source was a combination of geothermal and solar power providing ample power for its old mission. Kelly was taxing it with her mission and was reserved with its use. She made her way into the control room that had once monitored ISIS and the quantum’s machines creating the Web. It was much subdued, the hologram of the space around the planet devoid of all activity minus the few specks representing the weather satellites she and Lynx had recovered. She felt her connection with the former caretaker AI come alive.

  “Status?” she queried the AI.

  “All is norm-” Lynx’s response was cut short as two red specks appeared on the hologram of the planet in the Northwest United States. Faint lines extended from the dots on the map to the nearest satellite in orbit high above them. Kelly felt a deep foreboding grip her as she watched the specks begin to move south and west of where they activated.

  “Kelly, the final two drones in Curtis Reynolds possession have been activated,” Lynx stated. Kelly said nothing, thrilled to know Curtis was well, but dreading what would cause him to activate both drones severing his last lifeline to her and Stephen.

  THREE

  The empty streets of Washington, D.C. reflected the peace that was now dominant throughout the city and a large portion of the Eastern United States. With the fall of the Web, the city became a beacon of order. All open areas were maintained by caretaker AI which functioned flawlessly to support the humans of the city. Drones and various machines were moving throughout the vast city completing duties programed into the AI long ago. The machines were the only activity. There was no visible human presence within the city. There were humans throughout the city but there was no time to be idle. All humans were actively engaged in improving the race’s chance for survival on the increasingly hostile planet. The external parts of Washington were devoid of any human activity. If enough time passed, the occasional blur of a human moving to the next step in his or her task, as dictated by ODIN, would be seen. Their varied minds were a continuous communication feed to the quantum ODIN. It monitored all to ensure its plans were moving forward accordingly. It also used the connection to draw additional processing power and to issue commands. The quantum reviewed its progress as it stepped to a window in the former Nanid Development Project Headquarters.

  ODIN had converted the top floor into an observatory from which to mark its progress and now focused its vision across the once capital city. The room was bare, with a concrete floor and ceiling. No furniture or any other sign of the former occupants remained. The only break in the vast, gray space was thick glass windows that spanned from ceiling to floor separated by large metal and concrete pillars that supported the weight of the roof above. Pillars were scattered across the room providing the same support to the internal structure of the building. ODIN turned from the window its eyes sweeping the room. It spent many hours in the space, using its chosen avatars to monitor the events within its realm. There were always several connected humans watching the city for changes and monitoring the constant stream of input from ODIN’s network. The whispers of communication were always present filtered by the quantum intelligence continuously. The network spanned through the city and beyond spreading many miles before fading as the spread of the humans in its control reach its limit. Human minds were the framework for its network. After the Web had failed the quantum had not trusted traditional means of communication preferring the connected minds it had converted in its struggle against Stephen Fore and his allies. The nanids it created could connect with each other across several miles and allowed it to spread its observations by sending the humans out as a net of sorts expanding its reach immensely. The quantum still used drones and secured several connections to old satellites in orbit over the North American continent but preferred the control it had over the humans. The quantum could be everywhere in the network or focus in on one point as it was now. The humans could also scout for it using its knowledge more effectively than the drones since they were all part of the quantum itself. The flexibility provided by its expansion into humans had allowed it to exert more and more control, preparing humanity for the increasing hostility of the climate ravaged planet.

  ODIN paced around the room gazing at the gathered humans with their eyes focused outward. Their minds were mirrors to its own, receptacles for the quantum intelligence. All were bent to the purpose of surviving and thriving on the planet. As it passed, none glanced sensing it as it did them. There was no need for direct observation. The constant drone of information continued across the network as it stopped in the middle of the room. It allowed the information to flow through its mind as it continued to the quantum computer far below. It let unknown minutes pass before the flow was interrupted by a priority message. In human terms it would have been a shout that silenced all voices.

  “I have returned and made a discovery,” one of its human scouts stated. ODIN pulled back from its current avatar. Its consciousness sped to the reconnected scout. It emerged into the human focusing on the memories flowing into the network. It was several hundred miles west of the former capital in the middle of an abandoned town slowly being reclaimed by the desert the United States had become. The quantum focused on the body. It was a male, tall and unharmed from its journey. That could not be said for the body lying limp on the dusty ground in front of its new avatar. ODIN bent down staring at the broken body. It was a beast of sorts bristling with hair across dark, carapace skin. It knew what it was looking at it, as its mind began the spin of calculations that spread across the network to the quantum computer deep under Washington.

  “The Leviathan has returned.” It spoke flatly as it rose, the human part of it needing to hear the words. It felt anger flare within the avatar. The foolish humans and ARES had failed to contain or destroy the rogue quantum. Now it had regained its power. ODIN stepped back knowing its plans were altered terribly by the discovery. The strain of the Leviathan was a threat to all of humanity and would bring the extinction of the race even closer. ODIN knew it must act and could sense the futures flying in front of it showing all possibilities. Now it just had to choose the correct path.

  The drone floated silently in front of Stephen as he approached where it waited on the crest of the hill he often came to on Thurston Island. It was a site filled with memories for him. It was where he won his freedom from ODIN so long ago, where he and Kelly reunited and where he sent his final farewell to his daughter. The drone was flanked by two of his own patrol drones that escorted it to Stephen to deliver its message. He knew from the design that it was one given to Curtis by Kelly Holt. He just did not know why the man would send it to him. He had not heard from the man in well over a hundred years. The conflict between he and Curtis was still fresh in his mind, the powers granted by EA allowing him to remember the slightest detail. He slowed his walk reviewing all their interactions after Curtis’ return from aiding Wren. All possibilities for Curtis contacting him spun through his mind. They all had one thing in common. Whatever the news was, it was not good. Stephen drew in front of the machine scanning it for damage and any clue to its intent. Finding none he took a step back.

  “What is your purpose?” he queried continuing to study the drone. The AI controlling the drone responded by opening a connection to Stephen through his nanids. Stephen paused a moment, the cautious part of him rechecking the connection even though he knew he was close to impervious in his current state. He completed the connection awaiting the drones message. An image of Curtis Reynolds resolved in front of him. He knew the signal was placed directly into his mind and then converted by the nanids to show the man’s likeness in front of him. The time of the recording showed less than two days had passed since its creation. Curtis appeared much as he did prior to his departure. Towering tall and rippling with muscles the man showed no signs of age. The various tech within him seemed to stop all aging. The feral features that had receded at times were fully present in the recording. Stephen knew the man was under threat or had recently been so by the ferocity of his appearance. Curtis began speaking confirming his suspicions.

  “Stephen and Kelly, I contact you under dire circumstances. In my travels I have found a threat greater than that of ODIN. The Leviathan has returned and the shield at Cheyenne Mountain is down.” The transformed man paused. Stephen watched the grim emotions cross Curtis’ features.

  “I encountered and destroyed a creature infected with the strain. It was just as crazed and violent as its predecessors. I fear ARES is destroyed and the world faces a threat to every living thing remaining on its surface. I am several days south of Seattle and have a man attacked by the beast in my care. I am not sure what I can do to help him but ask for your aid. I will move north as fast as possible to seek the help of the remaining settlements. If you can meet me there, please do so.” Curtis hesitated once more, and Stephen could see a momentary struggle before he continued. As the man straightened to his full height, the bestial features softened, showing the human still present beneath them.

  “Stephen, I know we parted on less than amicable terms and I would like to apologize. I know your path and bear no grudge for your choices. Please aid me if you will. Goodbye.” The recording terminated, the connection with the drone dissolving with it. Stephen reeled at the information Curtis had imparted. Nathan Landis’ creation still existed and was once more determined to carry out the man’s vision of humanity. The implications were already playing across his connection with EA. Stephen knew there was no one left to stand against the threat. He weighed the Leviathan’s renewed presence against his project to heal the planet. The answer bore out the same response. He could not remain tethered to Antarctica. Stephen turned back to the crest and the ocean beyond. Soon he would travel but first he had to finish the final step in his conversion. He turned and made his way back to the facility and EA.

  Consciousness returned to him in a flash. There was nothing and then he was awake. Everything was dark, and panic seized him, as he tried to ascertain what was happening. He could not move or breath but felt no signs of distress. He did not know who or where he was. Memories began to surface disjointed and from different perspectives. He struggled to understand but was assailed by the memory of his death. The inevitableness of it and his surrender to it followed by the call of her name. The memory ceased, her name continuing to echo in the darkness of his mind. The echo was replaced by another more painful death. It was his as well. He remembered the failure of his mind and body. The struggle against his loss. The pain felt fresh and he fought against it. It was no use. It overcame his fragile mind and he surrendered to death’s memory. Blackness followed coupled with the continuous suffering. The agony continued as he felt his body retracting what it had done. The darkness began to fade as his death and resurrection met within his body and mind. Red light filtered into his eyes barely registering with him. He felt strength and energy flowing into him even as his former death peaked in his mind. Then it was gone. Death and the pain accompanying it simply disappeared.

  His body continued to improve, the light growing brighter. Soon the red began to fade revealing a single light suspended above him. He felt his muscles working throughout his body, subtly contracting and expanding as his body tested itself once more. He realized he had not drawn a breath. He did not remember how. A presence intruded upon his mind. It was foreign unlike anything his weakened mind had encountered. He could sense its intent and knew it was not hostile. He braced for the intruder’s action but found himself surprised none the less. A shock tore through his body and mind.

  He shot upright from the surface he rested on, his body drawing a great breath that sounded like a howl. The presence was gone as if it had never been there. He put out a hand to steady himself against the chamber where he rested. The red skin of his hand greeted him once more and memories streamed. He recognized the chamber but could not remember why. His confusion continued, and he felt the urge to leave. He turned placing his feet on the concrete floor of the sparse room. The concrete was cool on the soles of his feet. He pushed himself upright, intent on leaving the room and determining his fate. He stopped staring into the shocked eyes of a woman he recognized but who was strange to him. As he focused on the aged face of Candace Worth, Simon Fore realized he was alive. He did not understand how, but he was.

  FOUR

  “Where are we?” Simon asked, standing in the entrance of the building Candace had placed him. A fine coat of dust covered the concrete under his feet. The heat of the day pulsed across him as he stepped into the courtyard in front of the building. He turned to Worth slowly moving besides him.

  “Far north of Seattle in what used to be Alaska.” She replied. Her voice belied her age. Despite the outward signs it still held her characteristic strength and determination. Simon continued forward listening to her. She had already told him all she knew of his family, Curtis Reynolds and Kelly Holt. She had also revealed ODIN’s betrayal and the sealing, followed by the loss, of ARES. ARES’ memories still flashed through his mind but were difficult to decipher. Simon knew it would take time and patience for him to fully comprehend the quantum’s fate.

  “This was the base where we first tested the nanids. No one else is left that knows of its existence.” She finished, her voice filled with loss at the end. Simon felt a tinge of grief and wondered if it was hers or his. His emotions and memories were still a jumble. Simon slowed to a stop looking at the hulk of the airship resting in the middle of a small landing pad. There were a few buildings scattered through the small base behind the ship but nothing else. There were no memories of coming here. He was brought here by Worth after ARES died. He struggled to understand what happened. How was he back? He thought he knew the answer, but that brought more questions. Were his nanids more than just a machine bent to a human or quantum’s will? Had they brought him back? A chill coursed through him despite the heat. What had happened to him?

 

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