Rhea’s Vault by D. M. Pruden

Author:D. M. Pruden [Pruden, D. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Fuzzy Slipper Publishing

Chapter Sixteen

We pass through two additional automated security stations. Both require a retinal scan, but to my relief, no more blood samples are taken; I was worried I would run out of fingers.

Each identity check admits us to a lift that takes us deeper into the facility. By the time we clear the last validation, I estimate we must be several kilometres beneath Rhea’s surface.

Breaking the silence of our ride in the elevator, Donovan says, “The deepest level is dedicated to the needs of the Five.”

“What the hell requires this degree of security?”

He shrugs. “Filthy rich people’s shit, I suppose.”

I turn from facing the door to glare at him. “Don’t try to tell me that you don’t know, because I don’t believe you.”

He smirks but keeps his eyes forward. “Think about it, Mel. What would be the one commodity people like them value above all else?”

“You should see my apartment on Luna. How the hell would I know how these assholes think?”

I consider the question further as we continue in silence.

“Information?” I say tentatively.

He nods.

“What warrants this level of paranoia?”

“The kind that can topple governments, crash stock markets, start or end wars... The sort of stuff that can get you killed if certain people learn you possess it.”

“Secret nanotech research?” I say.

“Yup, and these people trust nobody. This place was constructed as a way for the Five to keep tabs on each member.”

“So this is just an obscenely expensive facility to support their paranoid game of bullshit?”

“No, there is real information in these vaults. Sometimes they declare openly what is stored; a mutually declared arms race. But they all hold a secret weapon that can potentially destroy any of the others.”

“Or possibly all of them,” I say. “I was told Willis is in league with one of them. He controls a technology that can take out all the others.”

“The nanotech you mentioned; the same that infects your friend?”

“You are well-informed.”

Donovan smiles. “Umbra told me what I need to know. My understanding is that we are talking about a cannibal nanite; one that consumes and replaces the loyalty bots the Jovian Collective employs. If that is unleashed within their ranks, chaos will result.”

“Yes, and I hope the research for it is in one of the vaults. I just don’t know which one, because—”

“Because you don’t know which of the Five is aligned with him,” says Donovan. “I could have ideas about that.”

“You believe you know who it is?”

He shakes his head. “No, but two of them are more likely to be involved in such a plot than the rest. Those will be the ones we’ll look in first.”

“With all the security just to get to this level, won’t there be additional measures in place to keep one another out of them?”

“Of course, but there are a few tricks left in my trunk.” He winks and points to the bag I carry.

Nodding toward the opening door, he unnecessarily announces, “We’re here.”

I step into darkness, expecting lights to activate as on previous levels. This time, there is only blackness.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.