Machinations and Sacrifices

Chapter 3

––––––––

Conguise’s footsteps echoed in the hallways of Level Five. He’d been released months ago but this was his first visit back to the scene of his life’s work and his greatest failure. The cameras stared down at him, still and accusing. Everything was gone. No scientists walked the halls and no whisper of movement from behind the closed doors of the now empty lab.

“Professor, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Gruder stepped out of his office. The younger Almighty looked haggard—his brown hair longer than normal and mussed as if he hadn’t combed it that day, his clothes rumpled and hanging on his slender frame.

Conguise would’ve never allowed Gruder to come to work looking so disheveled, but times had changed. “I may no longer be able to perform experiments, but I wanted to speak with you.”

“Yes, I heard about the terms of your release.”

All he was allowed to do now was teach. He should’ve had Hugh killed the moment he’d realized the other Almighty had seen what he’d been doing on Level Five, but he’d trusted Jason and the system. He’d been a fool. “I wouldn’t have been released if not for you.”

For months he’d sat in that prison cell, waiting to die by the hands of Hugh and his Allied Classes. Oh, how he despised that name. The lower classes were as much allies to the Almightys as he was with an ant when he dropped a crumb of bread. Yet those ignorant and shortsighted imbeciles would decide his fate and destroy everything he’d accomplished.

“It wasn’t just me.” Gruder held open the door. “Please, come inside. I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”

“I do.” He walked into Gruder’s office.

“Sorry. I wasn’t expecting company.” The other Almighty moved a pile of papers off the chair near his desk. “Would you like something to drink?” He walked to a small refrigerator.

“No. Thank you.” Sitting in front of the desk of his subordinate was another new experience, but none of it mattered. He was still in charge both here and in the larger world and everyone would realize that soon enough.

“Okay.” Gruder sat behind his desk. “Most of the specimens are safe and secure in facility R.”

“Yes. I’ve seen the reports.” His jaw clenched a bit. “Thank you again.” He was not one for espousing gratitude, but this was deserved.

“As I said, it was a team effort.”

“But you are the one who gathered the team and led them.”

Gruder shrugged. “I wasn’t going to let them destroy what we created.”

“And they would’ve. They’re ignorant of the future we face when our enemies come from beyond the sea.”

“Of course.” Gruder nodded.

The other Almighty placated him, but he didn’t care because he was right. He’d read the journals from the Great Death. It was inevitable that one day the others would come to kill them as they’d tried to do centuries ago.

“Have you been to the secondary site yet?” asked Gruder.

“I was there this morning.” He’d gone the first chance he’d had. Traveling through the sewers had been distasteful and dangerous, but it’d been the only way to be sure he wouldn’t be followed.

“It’s a bit cramped, but everyone is doing their best to keep things progressing.”

“I saw that some of the specimens didn’t make it.” Their decomposing bodies had littered the dark corners in the sewers, filling the tunnels with ghastly odors and terrifying shadows.

“We had to make hard choices in a difficult time, but we kept the best specimens and euthanized the rest. Destroying the remains of course.”

“Destroying?” Lie number one.

“We burned as many as we could, but time was not on our side.” Gruder shrugged again.

“Hmm. That was true, but there’s time now.” There had been for months. “Send someone into the sewer to burn the rest.”

“Of course.” Gruder nodded, but his lips thinned a bit. He’d been in charge for a while now and it seemed he wasn’t thrilled about relinquishing control.

“But...” He thrummed his fingers on his thigh. “I wasn’t talking about the creatures we had in abundance who didn’t make it. Those can be recreated.”

“Then which creatures?” Gruder’s eyes narrowed in thought for a moment. “Oh, the Accipitor.” He frowned. “Yes, that was a sad misfortune. We tried our best, but as you know, she had a weak heart. The sedation was too much for her.”

“I see.” Lie number two. “Odd that no one remembers the destruction of her remains and she’s not one of the carcasses in the tunnels.” His eyes locked with Gruder’s. “I looked. Checked every pile.” It’d been disgusting but necessary. Now more than ever he must distinguish between those truly committed to the protection of their world and those who only pretended.

“She wasn’t left in the tunnels, but”—Gruder smiled slightly—“you can rest easy knowing that no one will find a trace of her. I took care of her remains myself.”

“Really?” Conguise was impressed with the other Almighty’s skill at lying—no aversion of the eyes, not even a small flinch.

“Yes. She was my responsibility.”

“That’s right. You did inherit her, didn’t you?” His fingers stilled on his leg. That was another mystery. “Still no word from Bing?”

“Bing?”

“Yes. I thought that since the war was over, she may have appeared. The two of you were close, were you not?”

“We were but sadly, I have not heard from her.”

“Hmm.” Good, he had the other Almighty on edge. He had every intention of keeping him there. “Ableson tendered his resignation.”

“He did what?” Gruder’s eyes widened. It was the first unpracticed expression the other Almighty had made.

“He met me at my house the day I was released and quit.” Conguise shrugged. “First time anyone has quit Level Five.” And lived was the unspoken message he wanted Gruder to hear. “Apparently, some of the scientists thought they couldn’t quit. According to Hugh, Parson faked his own death to leave.” He studied the other Almighty closely. He’d been sure Gruder had arranged for Parson’s and Bing’s death, but Parson was alive. Bing may also be.

“Unbelievable.” Gruder shook his head. His face once more a mask of polite indifference.

“Exactly. The extremes some will take to leave a position when all they have to do is tender their resignation.” He frowned. “It’s not like Parson stole from me.” He looked directly at Gruder. “Were you alone when you destroyed the Accipitor’s remains?”

“What? Oh, Accipitor1. No. Silo assisted me.”

“Hmm.” His fingers drummed his thigh again. “Strange. No one has seen him since the lab was moved to the new facility.”

“That can’t be right. I’m sure I saw him the other day”—Gruder’s brow wrinkled—“or that could’ve been a week or so ago. We’ve been very busy.” His eyes met the professor’s. “Hiding everything for you.”

He’d already thanked the other Almighty for that. He would not be obsequious. “If you did see Silo, then once again you are the only one.” He raised his brow. “That seems to happen a lot with you.”

“I’m sorry?” Gruder’s face was placid, but ice filled his tone.

“You seem to be the last one to see many. Crackderr. Parson. Bing. Accipitor1. Silo.”

“I spend a lot of time in the lab, and I’m very observant.” Gruder’s tone changed. “My memory isn’t great though, so I keep a lot of notes.”

“One should be careful about that.” Conguise almost smiled at the thinly veiled threat. “Paper ignites quickly. Poor McBrid learned that the hard way when his house caught on fire.”

“I don’t keep my notes at home. They’re somewhere much safer.”

“There is nowhere that’s one hundred percent secure.” And nothing he wouldn’t do to protect his work.

“Including Facility R. Ableson assisted with the transfer from Level Five to Facility R.”

“I trust Ableson.” He didn’t trust Gruder, and right now, he couldn’t risk having anyone around whom he didn’t trust completely. There were too many options in this new world. One word to Hugh and Conguise would be back in jail or dead.

“Really?”

“I know his secrets.” Conguise leaned forward. “Just like I know yours.” He was impressed. Gruder’s breathing barely changed. “Where is she?”

“Bing? I told you. I have no idea where—”

“Not Bing. Accipitor1.”

“I told you that too. She’s gone.”

“She belongs to me. She belongs in the lab.”

“She’s gone.” Gruder almost snarled.

“I will find her.”

“She has been destroyed. There is no trace of her anywhere.”

“What do you think the public will do to her when they see her? Someone will eventually. Do you think they’ll understand? Do you think they’ll see her beauty? Her uniqueness?” He shook his head. “They won’t. All they’ll see is a monster. A predator. She’ll terrify them, and the ignorant always kill what they fear. She’s safer in the laboratory.”

“You were safer in prison.” Gruder stood. “I forgot to mention that I’ve spoken with Hugh.”

Conguise’s heart skipped a beat. Had this been a trap? He forced himself not to look around for the ambush, not to run.

“I’ll be joining the team on the alternative meat initiative. So, like Ableson, I’m also resigning. Effective today.”

His heart stopped slamming against his ribs, but he’d been around too long not to know that the second threat was coming.

“I have no intention of uttering a word to anyone about what went on here,” said Gruder. “If I wanted the world to know, I would’ve left everything as it was.” He leaned on the desk. “Just like Ableson, you know my secrets, and I know yours. Let’s hope neither of us are ever forced to tattle because I have proof to back my stories, and you have nothing.” He strode toward the door.

“You’re right. I have nothing.” Conguise didn’t bother to turn when Gruder’s steps faltered. “That’s why my life means little. Whereas, if I’m not mistaken, you have much to live for. Don’t you?”

Gruder remained silent.

“If you tattle, as you say, I’ll die, but if I tattle, you’ll lose what you love the most.” This time he did turn. “Trust me. That’s worse than dying.” He choked down the ball of hatred over what Hugh had done to Viola. “I’ll keep your secret, but she’d be safer at facility R.” He stood and strode past Gruder. He’d find her eventually. She was his creation and she belonged to him.