Paradox

Chapter 10: Las Vegas, Nevada

If there were ever a time he had considered murdering a child, Willis was sure this was the time. He chased after the annoying blond who had just burst into his life. His heart still pounded from their previous confrontation with the explosive woman at his six. He had heard his hostage call her Connie, but that name sounded too dainty for her. The presence surrounding her shifted the atmosphere of the room. Demanding of respect and attention. Willis failed to stifle the shiver from dwelling in his mind for too long. 

They took the stairs to the second floor, walking through the warehouse space on catwalks. Clint pointed ahead, “these are the main server rooms. This will give us the best access in the building.” He opened the door letting it fall shut on the others.

Willis pushed in, holding the door open for Connie. Just barely though. She still didn’t sit well with him.

“Pull up the statistics from the past 48 hours, then compare them to the statistics from the past 6 months,” Clint instructed.

Connie logged into the computer system, “are you looking for the frequency charts?”

“Yes. Exactly. You should have access to all of it.”

Willis raised an eyebrow, “how do you know that? Do you know her?”

Clint looked over to her, “Constance Bomber, working under the biochemical division. Government security clearance.”

“And if I had to guess you’re Clint,” Connie stared back, “Professor Pace’s son. I mean Professors.”

He had to bite his tongue, “the world’s ending. We have better things to be worrying about,” Clint motioned for Willis, “who are you?”

“Willis. My father worked as a mechanical engineer at the Seattle facility.”

“So what do you know?”

“Generators.”

“Excellent. You can check the sustainability of the individual generators.”

“You realize there are like two types of generators, and three of each. Not including the rows of small convertible power cells.”

“Yeah. Can you do it?”

“It shouldn’t be too hard.”

Connie cleared her throat, “I think I found where the anomaly started.”

Their attention pulled towards the colorful graphs on the screens. After a short time, the door to the room opened again. Willis glanced as Dallas walked in after Landon. He joined them at the computer, silently listening. Willis shifted just enough to keep Tucker in his vision, moving to the corner of the desk. He tried to understand everything Connie and Clint were discussing. Much of it went over his head. It was all chemical talk. The one thing he never cared enough about to pay attention to. 

“Did you hear that, Willis?”

He focused on Connie’s words, “no. Sorry, can you say that last part again?”

“We need you to start checking the generators, so we can start a manual shut down.”

“Okay, and why exactly?”

The glint in her eyes suggested this might be the second time she was saying it. Clint cut in, waving her off, “we’ve come to the conclusion that there must have been a problem activating the Anibus. It had never been tested on such a large scale. The element integrated itself into the world, but there is still a distinct difference in what was there before and what came after. It’s as if the Anibus began to pull itself together to duplicate things except there were already the items in its place. As a result creating another dimension to fit the matter it formed. If we can shut down the facilities then it should thin the distance between the worlds enough to open a door into our world. From this facility, we should be able to shut down most of the others. Hopefully it’s enough.”

Willis blinked hard. Clint thought he might have to try again then Willis asked, “how was it so finely integrated into the earth?”

“They began introducing the Anibus into the ecosystems about 8 months ago,” Connie stated, picking at her fingernails.

“Why? I thought this project was firstly about energy transfiguration, secondly about the mental illness thing.”

“What energy transfiguration?”

“That’s what my father was brought on to work on.”

“When?”

“Almost two years back. When were you brought on?”

Connie looked to Clint. She stood taller, “I was under the assumption this project began 9 months ago.”

“I as well,” Clint ran his finger through his hair, “who honestly cares. All we can do is try to fix this mess before it becomes permanent.”

“Permanent?” Dallas asked quietly.

The entire room sat in heavy silence. Landon was asleep against Devin and Tucker slept against Landon. The white haired boy watched them. He had been listening in for a while. This was a question plaguing all of them.

What would they do if it was permanent?

“It isn’t going to come to that,” Connie took a hair tie from her pocket, pulling her long hair up, “we have work to do.” She was determined to make it back. Her mother would be excited to meet her new friend.

Willis nodded, “Tucker,” he called to his friend. The boy was up in a second, jostling Landon in the process. Tucker and Willis headed out of the room down toward the generators.

“Landon, come help me with this.”

He joined Connie at the computer. Devin bristled following. He didn’t want Landon near her, but apparently she was helpful. Considerably more helpful than he could be. She showed Landon how to read the one graph. Devin clenched his teeth, making his head throb. 

Clint seemed to teleport to his side, “Did she do that to you?”

Devin nearly jumped out of his skin, “what?”

“Your head.”

“Oh. No. What would give you that idea?”

“You look ready to kill her.”

He scoffed, “not yet.”

Dallas studied her, “I wouldn’t. There’s something not right with her.”

“I need your names,” Clint said.

“Devin, and he’s Landon.”

“Clint and Dallas. Now just go along with me,” Clint returned to the computer. He stayed there for a few minutes before turning to the room. I need Devin and Landon to go to the security station for some radios. Then give one to Willis.”

Landon stepped towards his brother, “Whose Willis?”

Clint explained, before showing the directory on the wall where they were to go. Connie waved to Landon, and he waved back. The two left. The room returned to silence, only filled with the clicking of keyboards.