Exit 9

He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Ash. On it was a series of letters coupled together. Lower on the paper was what he guessed was the decoded version:

It’s a go. Sometime in the next seven weeks. Project Eden calls it Implementation Day.

Best location BB n of sixty-six. Sci fac.

“That was sent four weeks ago by the only person we have left on the inside.”

“Implementation Day?”

“That’s what they’re calling it.”

“How confident are you that this time frame is right?”

“Our man’s instructions were simple. The one and only time he was to contact us was if Project Eden moved into the active phase. Our confidence is one hundred percent.”

Ash stared at the message for a second, then looked at the others. “We have to let someone know. It’s the only way to stop it.”

“And who would that be?” Billy asked, as if the question was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard.

“The government. The military. The media. There’s got to be someone who’d do something.”

Matt stepped in before Billy could respond. “You’re probably right. There are good people in important positions who would try to step in and stop it. But they’d never get far. Your own experience should be proof of that. All the governments and military and media who could do anything are riddled with Project members in high positions who would do anything to protect the plan. The moment anyone tries to move against the Project, they’ll be discredited or even killed.” He paused. “I’m not just saying this because we think that’s what will happen. We know it will because we have tried. Many times. And each time we did, people died and nothing changed. We’ve even cut together news reports ourselves and uploaded them to the Internet, but they get pulled down almost quicker than we can put them up.”

Pax turned to Ash. “We’re on our own. Just like we’ve always been.”

“The last part of the message is perhaps the most valuable,” Matt said. “It gives us a ray of hope.”

Ash glanced at the paper again, and reread the last line. When he looked up, Matt touched the remote, and a map of the Arctic Circle appeared on the monitor.

“BB refers to Bluebird,” Matt explained. “That’s the name Project Eden uses for its main headquarters. N of sixty-six?” He touched a dotted line on the map. “North of the Arctic Circle, where there are dozens of science facilities-sci fac. Right after we received the message, we sent out several teams to the Arctic in search of the Project’s headquarters.”

The Arctic. It made a certain crazy sense to Ash. The isolation would provide not only a formidable natural defense against any rogue virus, but against man himself. And with technology these days, they could still maintain contact with their people throughout the world even in such harsh terrain.

“Did you find it?” he asked.

Rachel leaned forward. “We might have. One of our teams has gone missing. We sent another team to check on it. They found wreckage and a signal beacon, but no bodies.”

“So it was an accident.”

She shook her head. “The searchers believe that the debris was staged so we would think it was an accident. Looking back, there were also some irregularities in the last several contacts from the missing team. On the surface they could easily be explained away, but given what the searchers found, I think the real answer is something else.” She shot a look at Matt. “I think those transmissions were faked by the Project. I think our team was discovered at an earlier stop.”

“When they found Bluebird.”

She hesitated, then nodded.

“Where?”

She stood up and walked over to the map. “We’ve narrowed it down to what we believe are the two best possibilities.” She touched the screen. “Here on Ellef Ringnes Island, and here, on Yanok Island. After Ellef Ringnes, the inconsistencies become clearer.” She looked back at Ash. “Bluebird is where the orders to start will come from.” She drew a circle with her finger that included both islands. “Somewhere in here is where it will all begin.”

Matt nodded, his eyes also on Ash. “And that’s what we want to talk to you about.”

Ash had guessed as much.

“Let’s be honest,” Matt said. “At this point, our time is better spent using our resources to try and mitigate the damage. Stop the outbreak where we can, minimize the effects where we can’t, and get out as much of our version of the vaccine as possible. The only actual way to stop their Implementation Day from even happening is to cut off the head, but that doesn’t seem very doable given the location and time of year. Rachel, though, has successfully convinced us we need to at least give it a try. Logistically, it would make no sense to send a large detachment. First off, we need the manpower here, doing what they can to keep people alive. But, perhaps more importantly, the larger the team, the likelier its discovery before it even arrives.”

“How many people were on your missing scout team?”

Rachel took a breath. “Two.”

“Two,” Ash said, looking between her and her brother. “So unless you’re sending someone up there solo, there’s a good chance any-sized team is going to be discovered.”

“You’re right. But there’s no way I would send anyone up there alone.”

Ash was quiet for a moment. “You want me on the team.”

“We want you to lead the team,” Matt said.

“Lead the team?”

“I’m sure if you think about it, you’ll realize you’re the best for the job,” Matt said as if reading Ash’s mind. “You have the training and experience. You’ve gone up against these people before in tight situations. If you say no, we’ll understand, but, Ash…” He paused. “It would be a hell of a lot better if you said yes.”

A thousand thoughts crowded Ash’s mind, each vying for his attention. Foremost amongst them were his kids. How could he leave them?

Then again, given what he’d be trying to stop and keep them from experiencing, how could he stay?

“When?” he asked, his voice a whisper.

But before Matt or Rachel could answer, the door slammed open, and Jordan, one of Matt’s top assistants, rushed in.

“The Bluff,” he said. “We’ve lost contact!”

10

They rushed into the communications room, cramming around a computer station manned by a woman named Sarah.

“I’ve been trying to raise the Bluff, but I’m not getting anything at all,” she said. “There’s no connection. It’s as if they turned everything off at their end.”

“Try again,” Michael said, his tone desperate. He had left his wife Janice at the Bluff before flying out to the meeting. She was supposed to have come with him, but an illness had kept her at home.

Sarah did as he asked. Once more there was no answer.

Michael looked at Matt. “Is the plane still here? I need to go. I need to get out there.”

“Hold on, Michael. We’ll get you there, but I want to make sure it’s safe first.”

“I don’t care if it’s safe! Janice needs me, so I need to get out there now!”

Rachel glanced quickly at Browne and Solomon. The two men immediately moved in beside Michael.

“Come on,” Browne said. “We’ll help you get ready.”

“I am ready.”

“Michael,” Rachel said. “Just go with them.”

“If I can’t fly out right now, I need to be here so I know what’s going on.” His voice cracked as he spoke.