71. Jack #2
The commander reached a hand into her breast pocket and withdrew a folded piece of paper. She handed it to the doctor, looking at Jack with a blank stare.
“I did some digging into the scientist you and Charlotte came looking for earlier today.” Doctor Livingston accepted the paper from his bodyguard and handed it to Jack.
“We did, in fact, employ an Aaron Jebson a few years back. His methods, however, were not on par with Livingston Industries’ ethical standards.
He was relieved of his duties some time ago.
The paperwork is stamped with dates and signatures of his hire, then eventual termination. ”
Jack opened the paperwork, examining the contents as he listened to the doctor’s explanation. Everything seemed in order. Once again, the doctor had a solid excuse as to why he had no part in the laboratory in Burrow Den.
A grunt from beside him drew Jack’s attention from the paper to the commander. She was grimacing. A gloved hand was pressed to her right temple as if she were trying to relieve the pain from an invisible attacker.
“Are you all right?” the doctor asked.
“I’m sorry, sir. Yes, I’m fine.” Commander Brookhaven opened her jaw wide, then closed it several times. “Just another headache.”
“Ladies and gentlemen.” The Queen’s familiar voice broke through the chatter of the crowd. “If I might have your attention for just a moment.”
Jack turned to a raised platform where the Queen stood addressing the room. Beside her, both Sloan and a much younger version of Edison Reeves stood by an intimidating man and woman. They were a pair of pale-skinned soldiers wearing the Queen’s uniform of black and grey.
Jack had to remind himself not to gawk as he took in Edison Reeves’ new appearance. He seemed to be the only one in shock as everyone waited to hear the Queen’s next words.
“Today is a special day as we celebrate our success in Burrow Den, marking yet another step toward uniting the Outland.” The Queen paused as the room broke into polite applause.
Jack couldn’t help noticing Berry Lovegood and many of his cohorts refuse to clap.
“We gather today to celebrate another advancement as well. To better explain the project, I will turn to Edison Reeves, the head of Advanced Machine Making and Observation.”
The Queen took a step back as another volley of applause followed. Edison was smiling wildly. He wore a black suit with long coattails and a top hat.
“Thank you, Queen Eleanor.” Edison rocked on his feet, heels to toes.
He smiled so wide, his lips showed off nearly all of his teeth.
“Before I start, I see a few shocked expressions. It’s called Phoenix Serum, makes me a few years younger.
It’s not on the market yet, before you ask.
All right, now that that’s out of the way, I am utterly, totally, most definitely beside myself to be bringing to you the future of our great city.
In collaboration with Livingston Industries, allow me to introduce to you the results of the Vampire Project. ”
Edison’s voice rose as he spoke. He threw his hands toward the pair of pale soldiers.
One of them, a female with long blonde hair and sharp features, stepped forward, and with a smirk, she ran to the opposite side of the ballroom faster than most eyes could track.
Despite all of his training, Jack even had a hard time keeping sight of her.
In the space of a heartbeat, she was standing next to the entrance doors, sipping on a glass of champagne. Astonished “ooohs” and “ahhhs” filled the air as attendees broke into a round of applause.
Jack felt someone nudge his arm. Abigail and Elizabeth had returned after their mutiny to stand beside him. He wanted to say something funny to Abigail about her running off, but his attention was rapt.
All eyes were directed on the man still standing next to the podium.
He was muscular, with shoulders like boulders, his neck disappeared in his collared uniform.
One of the servants brought him a steel rod.
The metal bar was at least an inch thick.
The soldier accepted it with another smile.
He waved to the crowd before bending the metal as if it were a pair of shorts he needed to fold to fit into a drawer.
Excited chatter ripped through the room, immediately followed by another loud round of applause.
“Privates Scarlet and Hunter are demonstrating for you the new levels of speed and strength our vampire soldiers are able to reach,” Edison explained as Scarlet returned to the podium and Hunter pulled the metal bar back into the shape of a rod.
“Our vampire soldiers are five times faster and stronger than any street thug or threat to our great city. With these advancements, our soldiers will be better prepared and better equipped to watch over our fair city of New Hope and its citizens.”
Fanatic applause descended on the room. Jack couldn’t help noticing the Lovegoods and their friends all clapping wildly at the unveiling of the vampire soldiers.
Edison continued to talk about the details of the super soldiers, but his voice was only background noise to the whispers in Jack’s head.
An army of these things created to protect the city. Protect it from what?
“This isn’t good.” Elizabeth poked him in the ribs with a bony finger. “I agree with your thoughts I’m not supposed to be reading. Bad news bears.”
“Come on, ground rules,” Abigail reminded her sister. “It’s not polite to go into someone’s head.”
“I know.” Elizabeth frowned. “It’s just now that you guys know, I can be myself. I don’t have to hide it anymore.”
“It’s okay.” Jack battled the nagging idea that something very bad was about to happen. “I agree with Elizabeth. This is bad news bears. We’re building an advanced army of super soldiers for a war that doesn’t exist.”