was a solemn event, after all. Seven billion people were about to die.
“The vote is to move forward,” he said. “May the new world we create be a lasting tribute to the old.”
As if on cue, the other Directors began standing. One by one, they made their way to the DOP and shook his hand. As each Director finished, he headed out into the Cradle to be in place when the DOP entered the code that would make what they’d just voted for a reality.
Finally, it was just the DOP, the Principal Director, and Rosemary.
“Are you holding up all right?” the Principal asked as he shook the DOP’s hand.
The question was unexpected. “I’m fine, sir.”
The Principal looked at him for a moment, then said, “Good. Let’s start our new beginning.”
As they walked out, it finally hit the DOP what the Principal had probably meant. In minutes, it would be by the DOP’s hand alone that the order to exterminate ninety-nine percent of the human race went out-a genocide unlike any genocide the world had ever seen. He would be the one directly responsible.
But he’d long ago come to terms with that. It was the greater good that was important.
For the first time since he’d woken up that morning, he allowed a smile to grace his lips.
While the vote was going on in the room at the back of the Cradle, security officer Phillips frowned at his monitor. One of the indicators on the screen had just switched from Red to Green, letting him know someone had entered Bluebird through the emergency tunnel. He clicked on it to bring up the details.
AUTHORIZED ENTRY: ROWAN, BENJAMIN-SECURITY DETAIL RANK 2
Phillips signaled Ross that he wanted to speak with him.
“Yes?” Ross said over the intercom, his voice impatient.
“Rowan’s turned up, sir.”
“Rowan? Where?”
“He just entered through the tunnel.”
“He’s been gone for hours. Where the hell has he been?”
“I haven’t been able to talk to him yet, sir.”
Ross paused before responding. “Send someone to check on him, and recall the search team.”
“Yes, sir.”
40
I.D. MINUS 4 MINUTES
BLUEBIRD TIME 10:56 AM
Olivia held up a hand, stopping everyone.
In the distance, they could hear footsteps. She looked around quickly, and pointed at a door fifteen feet back the way they’d come. Without wasting a second, they filed into the room and closed the door behind them.
They heard the footsteps enter the hallway where they’d been, and walk past their current position. There was only a single set.
Olivia pointed at two of her men, then opened the door wide enough so they could slip out.
When they returned forty-five seconds later, they were carrying a man with a sidearm strapped to his belt. Though there were no obvious wounds, it was apparent the man was dead.
Once the body was on the floor, Olivia said, “Everyone ready? We’re not going to have time to stop again.”
Nods all around.
“They’ll all be in the Cradle.”
“The Cradle?” Ash asked.
“It’s what they call the command center. There’s bound to be some security there, but not much. The rest will be upstairs covering the ground entrances. Once we have the Cradle secured, I’ll lock them down so they can’t get to us.”
“We’re going to have to deal with them at some point.”
She smiled. “Trust me.”
Ash frowned, uncomfortable, but said nothing.
“Any other questions?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“So we can go?” she asked.
“Please.”
As they reentered the hall, Ash couldn’t help but think there was something she wasn’t telling him.
41
I.D. MINUS 2 MINUTES
BLUEBIRD TIME 10:58 AM
As the dop entered the Cradle from the conference room, everyone sitting at the monitoring stations stood. There was no applause. Silence seemed to be the appropriate response to the moment.
Solemnly, he made his way to the empty station that sat by itself, front and center in front of the monitor wall. Once he reached the desk, he turned and faced the personnel of Bluebird. Along with the Directors who were standing in front, and those at the stations, there were two dozen others squeezed in along the walls, nearly everyone at the outpost who wasn’t needed on security detail elsewhere. All eyes were on him.
He felt a surge of pride. These were some of the most dedicated members of Project Eden, most had been a part of the organization for at least a decade, and many of them for more. What he was about to do was as much for them as it was for everyone else.
Though it wasn’t part of the plan for the day, he felt he needed to say something, something everyone would remember. He’d been wrestling with what that should be for days. Finally he decided to just go with the first words that came to mind.
“Our actions here today are meant to accomplish only one thing-the ability for humankind to reach its full potential. With your dedication, heart, and service, we will achieve this.”
All right. Perhaps it wasn’t
He looked at the digital clock on the wall. They were eighty-three seconds away, less than a minute and a half until the time finally arrived.
42
They paused at the junction, each of them listening closely for anyone who might be in the intersecting hallway.
For several seconds there was nothing, then a distant voice drifted toward them.
“…here today…meant…one…for…to reach…potential…”
Ash glanced at his watch. It was almost eleven a.m. If Olivia was right, they were seconds from being out of time.
