Waking Gods

  —Should we tell the General?

  —Not if you don’t want to be locked up in this room with half a dozen guards at the door.

  —You think so?

  —They’ve been planning this all day with just about everyone from the Army to the Coast Guard. I don’t think they’ll be really impressed when we tell them we wanna crash the party because the ten-year-old with a chip on her shoulder had a vision, while watching the Walking Dead, I might add.

  —I was just asking. There’s no need to be mean.

  —I’m sorry.

  —It’s OK.

  —I mean, I’m sorry that this is your life. You should be playing with dolls or something.

  —I hate dolls.

  FILE NO. 1631

  MISSION LOG—BRIGADIER GENERAL EUGENE GOVENDER, COMMANDER, EARTH DEFENSE CORPS

  Location: Shadow Government Bunker, Lenexa, KS

  —We’re missing someone. Where’s Jamie?

  [He went to the bathroom, General. Here he is.]

  Nice of you to join us. Anything else you need to do, or can we get started?

  [Sorry, sir. Won’t happen again.]

  Damn right it won’t. All right, folks. Let’s get this show on the road. We have a full room today. As you know, we have no satellite capabilities. These boys in the white shirts over here are on loan from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, UAS division. They are our eyes and ears. Fellows, welcome to the EDC. How many drones do we have?

  [Four, sir. One tracking your vehicle. Three standing by at Riverside Park.]

  Get them in the air now. I want drones at the northern corners of the park, the other one on the 102nd Street crossing. I want the robot on every screen in this room before Dr. Franklin gets within two miles of that thing. How are we doing on the ground?

  [Special Forces are in position at Bellevue Hospital. We also have an STS team standing by in case we need air evac.]

  That was Lieutenant General Alan A. Simms, visiting us from Fort Bragg. He is in command of our extraction team. Thank you for joining us.

  [Happy to serve, General.]

  We couldn’t find anyone from special ops with the genetic makeup to survive a gas attack so these men will keep their distance. We did find one NYPD officer with the right DNA. I forget his name. Jamie?

  [Officer … something.]

  Thank you … Jamie. Thank you so much … Officer … something … is standing …

  [Langdon!]

  Dammit, Jamie! Officer Langdon is standing by at … Park and 110th. He can get Dr. Franklin out of there if this turns into a smoke fest.

  Speaking of … Dr. Franklin flew to Davison Army Airfield in Virginia earlier today. She left for New York on a UH-72 and landed at Bellevue Hospital about twenty minutes ago. She is driving the rest of the way, alone. Plan is: She’ll approach the robot on foot. We want them to see her. She’ll spray bacteria on whatever section of the robot she can reach. If she’s right, that should disable it within a few minutes. If she’s not … Let’s just hope she’s right. Is that her on number four?

  [Yes, sir.]

  Put her on the big screen. She’ll get off the FDR at 96th … there … she’ll enter Central Park at 97th. Put her on audio. Dr. Franklin, you’re with us?

  {Yes, sir. Had to go around a few abandoned cars, but I’ll make it. Two minutes.}

  Good. We have you onscreen. Let us know when you get there.

  All right people! You heard the lady. Two minutes! Remember, this is her show. If she asks for something, don’t look at me, just do it. You see anything, you let her know.

  {General, I’m entering Central Park.}

  Roger that. We’re ready when you are.

  Everyone. Stay sharp. I wanna know if that robot so much as farts in her general direction.

  {I’m getting off here, General.}

  Very well. Rescue team is standing by. Holler if you need anything.

  {Thank you. Wish me luck.}

  Luck is believing you’re lucky. Go get ’em.

  She’s having a hard time getting the containers out of the car. Jamie, how much does this bacteria stuff weigh?

  [About 160 pounds.]

  Thank you … How the hell do you know?

  [That’s how much a beer keg weighs. I figured, they’re both liquids … ]

  We’re lucky to have you. All right, she’s moving towards the robot. Any sign of movement?

  [No, sir. Nothing on infra—]

  Goddammit! What’s Themis doing there? Gimme that radio! Couture, is that you?

 

  You goddamn son of a bitch! Get your dumb ass out of there before you get her killed.

 

  Don’t you hang up on me, son! Don’t you dare hang up on me! Jamie, get him back.

  [General, the alien robot is firing on Themis.]

  Yes, I can see that! Come on, Vincent, the shield! Dammit, put your shield up! Good boy! They’re gonna get slaughtered. Dr. Franklin. You need to get out of there!

  {Yes, General! That’s what I’m trying to do!}

  They’re getting pounded. Does the kid even know how to fire the weapon?

  [Not as far as I know, sir. They only practiced walking.]

  Goddamn, that was stupid! Why is Dr. Franklin still there? No! No! Leave the damn keg!

  [She’s running now, sir.]

  It’s about time.

  [Themis is up.]

  What the hell are they doing?

  [What are they doing, sir?]

  Is there an echo in this room? They’re … They’re giving it a bear hug! Dammit, Couture! They’ll never be able to hold on with a ten-year-old controlling the arms.

  Jamie, tell Officer Langdon to drive north as fast as he can, I have a bad feeling about this.

  [I’m on it, sir. He’ll be—]

  What just happened?

  [Sir, we lost video, communications— ]

  Goddamn! Everyone listen! We’re deaf and we’re blind. That is unacceptable. Jamie, call Dr. Franklin on her cell. FBI, can you get more drones in the air?

  [Ten minutes.]

  We don’t have ten minutes. This will be over in two. Jamie! How about that call?

  [It goes straight to voicemail. Cell towers must be down near the park.]

  Keep trying. General, is there a camera on that chopper of yours?

  [There’s one with STS, but it transmits via satellite.]

  Get it airborne anyway. One of your men must have a cellphone with a camera. They couldn’t have knocked out every cell tower in Manhattan. Jamie, can you get a video call on the big screen?

  [In the next minute, no. I can show it on my laptop. It’s in my locker.]

  Then what the hell are you still doing here! Gentlemen, I want eyes on in two minutes. Two minutes!

  I’ll call the president.

  FILE NO. 1632

  MISSION LOG—VINCENT COUTURE, CONSULTANT, EDC AND EVA REYES

  Location: Somewhere in Missouri

  —Vincent! What are you doing?

  —What does it look like I’m doing? I’m getting us to New York so we can do … God knows what and save Rose.

  —We keep reappearing on the same highway.

  —Well, yeah … We don’t have GPS anymore. If I transport us somewhere far, then … well, then we’ll be far, and we won’t know where we are. We can’t exactly stop for directions, you know. So I’m following the highway.

  —Won’t that take forever?

  —I’m jumping about two miles every three seconds. We’re not exactly standing still.

  —I don’t think we have enough time.

  —Not enough … That’s twenty-four hundred miles an hour! We’ll be there in thirty minutes.
r />   —We need to go faster.

  —How do you know? Do these visions of yours come with a time stamp or something?

  —Please!

  —You wanna go faster? How about … this?

  —AAAAH! Where are we?

  —We are … in the Atlantic Ocean. I just jumped twelve hundred miles due east. If I’m correct, we’re off the coast, somewhere near Atlantic City. If not, then I don’t know. But I got the water part right. We’re definitely in the ocean.

  —I can’t see anything! I’m—

  —You’re a little freaked-out, aren’t you?

  —Can you get us out of here?

  —Sure … Pretty sure.

  —Please! Please! Go!

  —Hey! You’re the one who wanted to go faster! I was perfectly fine on the highway, but you thought three times the speed of sound was too … leisurely.

  —GET US OUT OF HERE!

  —OK! OK! I’m turning us around! There! We’re moving again!

  —We’re still underwater!

  —Now! There we are. Well, that’s not Atlantic City, but it’s the shore and we’re south of where we’re going. We’ll just follow the coast to New York. Here. Enjoy the view. You’ll be able to see New York in a couple jumps … Look! Over there. That’s Manhattan.

  —Where are we?

  —New Jersey. The highlands. That island over there is Sandy Hook.

  —You’ve been there?

  —No, but I saw brochures when I was a kid. Maybe a year or two younger than you are. My mother always wanted us to go. We never did. But I liked the brochures. Let’s see if I can eyeball us across that bay. Meh. Second time’s a charm. We’ll stay in the Hudson River until we get as far north as Central Park.

  —We won’t see anything!

  —Sure we’ll see. It’s shallow. Look! Our ass is above water. It won’t get deeper than that. We’re almost there, anyway.

  —Can we walk the rest of the way?

  —I’d rather not. God knows what’s down there. There are at least a couple tunnels in the Hudson between here and where we’re going. Here’s one. And … I think we missed one. What do you think? Think we’re far enough?

  —I don’t know! Why don’t we walk on land … like normal people?

  —Normal people can walk without tearing down every electrical wire. We can’t fit anywhere in the city. We’ll get stuck, destroy things. I’m gonna try and jump straight into the park. Google maps say it’s about five thousand feet from the river. If we’re in the right spot—

  —You’ve been looking at your phone all along?

  —Did you bring a map, Eva? Didn’t think so. Let’s do this. Are you ready?

  —Go! Go!

  —And … we’re there. Err … Maybe not.

  —We’re in a river again.

  —More or less. I think we’re on what’s left of a bridge. We’re in Harlem, we must have gone too far. I’ll turn us around. One more jump and we’re there, for real. Ready?

  —You can stop asking. Just go … Holy shit! We’re right behind him!

  —Damn! That guy is huge!

  —Back up, Vincent! Back up!

  —I am! Rose! Are you there? It won’t work! You need to turn around!

  [Vincent! What are you doing here?]

  Eva saw it. It won’t work! Get out of the way!

  [Get out of here, Vincent! They’ll kill you!]

  I said it first, Rose. Go! Run!

  —Vincent. He’s turning around! Back off! Back off!

  {Couture, is that you?}

  —Yes, sir. Me and Eva.

  {You goddamn son of a bitch! Get your dumb ass out of there before you get her killed.}

  —Vincent! He’s gonna hit us. What do I do? Vincent?!

  —Eva! Raise your arm! I can’t talk, sir. Bye … I’ll give you the shield. Raise your left arm, Eva. Like you’re … Yes, like that!

  —AAARRGH!!

  —That asshole knocked us on our ass again. Eva, you OK?

  —It hurts! Make him stop! Can we leave?

  —Not with the shield on. But let’s see if we can return the favor. Raise your right arm. Point it at … You’re good at this! Firing! Again! Again!

  —It’s not doing anything! Vincent!

  —We’re not done yet. Rose! We’re gonna try to knock his shield off for you with an energy burst, like we did in Denver. Do you understand?

  [Wh … I need more time!]

  No can do. Get as far away from us as you can. Eva, keep the shield up! When I tell you, push us off the ground with your right arm. I’ll get us up.

  —What are we doing?

  —Something your mother and I did once.

  —Did it work?

  —Well, we killed Rose. Now! Push! OK, we’re up. I’m running at him.

  —We’re gonna hit him!

  —Exactly. Wrap your arms around him and hold on!

  —Like that? I’m scared, Vincent!

  —Just hold on to him, Eva!

  —I can’t!

  —You have to! Just a bit longer!

  —I CAN’T! He’s too strong! What are you doing?!

  —I’m taking my helmet off. I’m coming to help you. Don’t let go!

  —Who’ll control the legs?!

  —We don’t need to use our legs. We just need to hold on. Themis will do the rest.

  —Hurry! My arms are—

  —We’re gonna die if you let go, Eva. I’m almost out. Pretend you’re in a storm at sea, and he’s the only thing you can hold on to.

  —I’m not strong enough! I’m sorr—

  —I’m here! I’m here, Eva! I’m gonna wrap my arms around you and we’ll hold on together.

  —I can’t see with you standing in front of me.

  —It’s OK. You don’t need to see him. Just look at me. Look at me, Eva. There. Biggest hug in history.

  —What’s that noise?

  —That’s Themis getting angry. She’s absorbing power from his energy field. That hiss means she’s about to overload. Rose! Ready or not! Close your eyes, Eva. It’s gonna get really bright.

  —AAAAAHH! What just happened?

  —His shield is out. Keep your arms around him while I get back to my station, then we’ll kick his ass.

  —No! Don’t go! I can’t … He’s out! Vincent! He’s out! He’s grabbing us! He’s gonna throw us down! I can’t stop him!

  —AAAAAARRRGGHHHH!

  —Vincent! Vincent, are you OK? Answer me!

  —I’m … not OK. I flew into the wall when we hit the ground. My shoulder … I think I broke my arm. My right leg’s all … bent. It won’t move at all. Roll us on our back, will you? I can’t see anything.

  —How do I do that? OK, I got it.

  —I’ll get to the console and turn on the shield again. He’s coming at us.

  —Can you get us up?

  —No. I can’t get into the controls. Let me get my helmet on … He looks like he’s about to punch us in the face. He is punching us in the … AAARGH! Calver! Can you hit him too?

  — …

  —Eva! I know this is scary but you need to snap out of it. Can you hit him?

  —Our left arm is pinned under his foot. I can hit him with the right.

  —Hit him in the gut.

  —I can’t reach his gut.

  —Doesn’t matter, I’ll fire when you get close. Now! Ha! That hurt, didn’t it?

  —Keep firing, Vincent! Again!

  —That’s my kid kicking your ass! You messed with the wrong ten-year-old!

  —Again! Again! Again! … Again! Vincent, keep firing! He’s still up!

  —I’m—

  —What?

  —We’re out of juice. We discharged, and now we’ve drain
ed whatever was left. She won’t fire.

  —Themis won’t move with me anymore.

  —I know. We can’t move. We can’t do anything.

  —Then what?

  —Then … I guess we wait.

  —For how long?

  —I don’t know. We’ve never drained her bef—

  —He’s coming back! He’s coming back! Vincent, there’s a … it looks like a disc of light in his hand.

  —Shit.

  —What is it?

  —I’m pretty sure that’s what erased half of London.

  —Do something!

  —I can’t!

  —Are we gonna die?

  —Eva, I—

  —I don’t wanna die … I wanna get out!

  —Eva!

  —HOW DO I GET OUT?

  —EVA!

  —GET ME OUT OF THIS THING!

  —EVA, STOP!

  — …

  —You’re a good kid, Eva. I’m glad I got to meet you.

  —Can you hold me again?

  —I wish I could, Eva. You can’t imagine how much I want to, but I can’t get to you. Look at me.

  — …

  —I’m right here, Eva. Look at me.

  —Dad …

  — … Yes?

  —I’m sorry.

  —There’s nothing to—

  —LOOK! He’s turning away from us!

  —I can’t see. I took my helmet off.

  —He’s looking at … There’s a pickup truck coming!

  —Does he still have his disc thing in his hand?

  —I don’t think so. Someone’s getting out of the truck. I think it’s Dr. Franklin.

  —WAY TO GO, ROSE!

  —There’s white gas coming out of … somewhere, everywhere.

  —What do you see?

  — …

  —Eva! What do you see?!

  —I see nothing. Nothing but white.

  FILE NO. 1633

  MISSION LOG—DR. ROSE FRANKLIN, HEAD OF SCIENCE DIVISION, EARTH DEFENSE CORPS

  Location: Central Park, New York, NY

  —General, I’m entering Central Park.

  [Roger that. We’re ready when you are.]

  This is awful. There are people lying on the grass … everywhere. It looks like they’re taking a nap. Cyclists on the side of the road. Someone should take care of them. I’ll stop here. I think that’s close enough. I must be … a thousand feet from the robot.