Catalyst (Breakthrough Book 3) (40 page)

“Right.”

“Which also means it would have to be on a planet with a climate compatible with their own DNA…”

Clay stared at Borger.  “So you’re talking about redundancy.”

“Exactly!  If they came all this way, why would they build just one vault?”

Borger continued, faster.  “Our planet is covered in tectonic plates which affect everything, including things like volcanos, storms, and tsunamis.  You name it.  The conditions are constantly changing.  So they had to build their vault where it would be safe.”

“But given enough time, nothing is safe,” Clay replied.

“That’s right!  Which means you’d need redundancy.  Another, in case one was lost.  A backup.”

“Or a Plan B.”

Borger smiled at Caesare.  “A Plan B.”

“But we’re just theorizing at this point.”

“Not necessarily,” replied Borger.  “Think about us humans.  We build redundancy into almost everything around us, especially our technology.  Even a simple DVD disk arranges data in a way that protects it against damage like scratches.  It’s called Reed-Solomon and the code is used in a host of other technologies.  Like memory sticks.  Or electrical circuits.  Even our cars all carry a spare tire.  Life is unpredictable, and if we know that, then whoever built that vault did too.  And it was supposed to be here for a
long
time.”

“Okay,” Caesare said.  “So the argument then changes from could they have built another to…
did
they?”

This time, Borger didn’t reply.  Instead he turned to the admiral, who in turn looked to Neely.  “Commander Lawton?”

With arms folded, she stepped forward.  “There’s something else.”  She smiled at Alison.  “A little more than a week ago, when Ali told me about what had happened at her lab with that young girl, we took blood samples from Dirk and Sally.  What we’ve noticed has to do with a number of genetic markers that are common between humans and dolphins when it comes to brain makeup.

“In fact, a paper published a few years ago by a researcher at the Center of Molecular Medicine has identified a commonality among certain large-brained animals called the
big brain trio
.  The similarities strongly suggest a convergent evolution among three very specific animals: dolphins, humans, and gorillas.  Similarities in brain size and functionality are more than evident when you image them.

“In other words, a long time ago, something appears to have caused our three brains to evolve in a very similar way.  Not exactly the same, but similar.”

“You mean some kind of intervention.”  Caesare leaned back again in his chair.

“That’s right,” smiled Neely.  “And given the genetic influence of what we found, both in Guyana and now under the water near Trinidad, this substance could very well be the
catalyst
responsible for our similar brain evolution.”

“Hold on,” interjected Clay.  “If what’s in the water really did influence the development of a dolphin’s brain, it doesn’t necessarily mean it affected either gorillas or humans.  The other two-thirds of the big brain trio.”

Now DeeAnn stepped forward.  “You’re right.  It wouldn’t explain why our brains developed very similarly.”  She turned to Borger.  “Unless…”

“Unless there is a second vault,” Borger added.

Clay and Caesare looked at each other.  “And where would that be?”

“I don’t know,” he shrugged.  “But if someone came here to build not just one, but two vaults, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t put them next to each other.  In fact, I suspect they would put them as far away from one another as possible.”  Borger smiled.  “Maybe even on another continent.”

“There’s only seven,” said DeeAnn.  “And one of them, we already know, is where gorillas and humans originated.”

“Africa!” whispered Alison.

DeeAnn nodded.  “Africa.”

The room grew quiet.  Finally Langford spoke to Clay.  “As you can see, John, it’s not over.  Not only do we have a ship to dissect and a bacterium sample to study, but it seems we may also have a second vault to find.”

Secretary Miller spoke up in a deep voice.  “Hence the need for a very small and very secret team.”

Caesare looked at Miller.  “Who else would know about this team?”

“No one.  Just the admiral and I.  There would be no official records and no official funding.  Whatever you need, we will find a way to provide it.  Which shouldn’t be hard given what a mess our current budget is.”

“True,” Langford replied.  “Fortunately, the federal budget is designed for hiding things.”

Caesare looked dubious.  “If only you two know about this team, what happens when the two of you…retire?”

Miller crossed his arms.  “In the event that both of us leave our posts, for whatever reason, it’s over.  The team dissolves immediately, and Mr. Borger erases every trace.”

Caesare nodded and looked at the others.  “So I guess the question now is…who’s in?”

“I am,” answered Neely.

Borger grinned.  “Same here.”

Caesare looked to DeeAnn.  “Dee?”

She took a deep breath.  “I’m more surprised than anyone to be saying this, but I’m in.  After seeing what they did to that mountain, what the stakes are, I get it.  I see just how far some people are willing to go over this.”

Caesare was stunned.

She smiled at him.  “Besides, I’ve always wanted to see Africa.”

Clay looked up at Alison.  “Ali?” 

Without a word, she displayed a wide smile. 

Epilogue

I

The rusted red steel of the aging oil rig stood in sharp contrast against the Caribbean’s emerald-blue water.  The Valant, one of the first deep ocean production rigs, was small in comparison to the newer and more powerful mobile rigs.  Yet it still dwarfed the Pathfinder, anchored just a quarter mile from the Valant’s pillars, which towered high above the ocean surface.

Transocean’s skeleton crew had already been evacuated once the rig was securely in place, replaced by an even smaller Navy crew.  A crew comprised almost entirely of engineers, most of who were transferred directly from Captain Emerson’s ship.

The group of eight stood in line atop the Valant’s upper platform.  They watched as the Sea King helicopter slowed and approached the helipad in front of them, clearly marked by a bright-red painted circle.

With only a wisp of a breeze, the Sea King landed smoothly with a gentle bounce, followed by the sound of the rotor’s decelerating.

The door slid open and a younger man jumped down onto the deck.  Beneath the wind from the spinning blades, he trotted across the small pad, wheeled a small set of stairs back to the chopper, and placed them in position. The second person out was older, in his sixties, carrying a black duffle bag in each hand. 

He descended the stairs, and upon reaching the bottom, dropped the bags at a safe distance.  He continued across the pad to where Captain Emerson was waiting.

Emerson moved forward and extended his hand, which the man accepted with a firm shake.  They spoke briefly, but could not be heard above the helicopter.  Instead, they turned toward the men and waited.

“Gentlemen,” Emerson finally announced in a loud voice.  “I’d like you to meet Mr. Les Gorski.  He’s one of the best commercial divers on the planet, and the man who is going to do his damndest to turn all of you into bona fide divers.  In case you have any doubts, it may help you to know that Mr. Gorski works extensively, training both Delta Force and SEAL teams.  He is uniquely suited for this as he not only knows a great deal about deepwater diving, he invented some of the equipment you will be using.”

Emerson looked back and forth among the men.  “We have very little time, which means that neither does Mr. Gorski.  So you can bet he will be pushing you men
hard
.  Let me also remind you that this rig and the Pathfinder are both under communication lockdown.  Anything you send or receive will be intercepted and heavily scrutinized.  So, if you want to get a message through to your loved ones and remain here, I suggest you make it short and sweet.  What lies below your feet is not some myth.  It’s not a conspiracy.  It is a bona fide alien spacecraft.  And be it luck or fate, you are the men who are going to get the first crack at it.  We will take every precaution but make no mistake, this is dangerous business, which is why Mr. Gorski is here.  He will teach you how to live and work at depth and if he can, he will also try to keep you from dying.”

Several of the men smiled at Emerson’s last comment but quickly realized there was no trace of humor on the captain’s face.  They watched as he turned to Gorski and nodded.

At roughly six feet tall, Les Gorski examined the group of men with his steely eyes, set behind a pair of dark framed glasses.  His face was weathered and hardened against years of sun and wind.  He kept himself from shaking his head.  The men he was used to dealing with were very different from those standing in front of him. 

He turned and glanced back at his two seasoned team members, methodically unloading heavy bags of diving equipment.  “All right men,” he said, turning back.  “Listen up!”

II

Lee sat quietly in the observation room, staring at the glass tank as if in a trance.  On the other side of the glass, Dirk and Sally were as quiet as he was.  They kept moving around the tank with the same slow, dour feeling as Lee and the others.

It had been just over a week since Juan’s funeral service, held at the church he’d attended since he was born.  His parents were there, listening to the sermon but never really hearing it.  His father stared at the floor, unmoving and devastated.  But it was Juan’s little sister that completely tore Lee’s heart out.  Her small figure leaned against her mother and never stopped crying.

Even now, Lee could not get the images out of his memory.  Back home, he sat in his black computer chair, mourning his friend.  A young kid, fresh out of college, who believed in what they were doing at the Center as much as any of them.  Someone who was always there to help, every time he was needed.

The room, along with the rest of the building, was virtually silent.  The only detectable sound was the soft hum of IMIS’s cooling system.  Beyond that, Lee wallowed in the solitude.  Juan had given everything.  He loved the team.  He loved their mission.  But more than that, he loved his family, and especially his sister.

Lee pressed his lips together, fighting to keep the tears in while he remembered Juan’s face.  He was such a good friend.  And smart. 
God, the kid was smart.
  But now, now he was gone…forever.

Although there was one thing left.

He looked up when he heard the sound of voices coming from the lobby, on the other side of the large double doors.  He immediately stood up and waited in anticipation.  A few minutes later, one of the doors opened and DeeAnn Draper entered.  She was followed by three people and then Caesare, who stepped inside and eased the metal door shut.

Juan’s parents and his little sister Angelina had come back for a final visit.  Each of the three examined the room again with pained expressions, as if seeing Juan himself for the last time.

Lee approached but said nothing.

DeeAnn brushed a short lock of hair back past her ear and bent down.

“Are you okay, Angelina?”

Juan’s sister nodded.

“It doesn’t feel the same here, does it?”

She shook her head.

“It doesn’t feel the same for us either.”  DeeAnn glanced at her parents.  They didn’t have to know how much the team knew about their daughter’s disease.

“Angelina, I know Juan brought you here a lot to talk to the dolphins.  And we brought you here because they wanted to say hello.”

Angelina managed a grin and looked to the tank, where Dirk and Sally were waiting at the glass.

DeeAnn knelt down.  “Do you like talking to them?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” she said.  She stole a look at Caesare, standing quietly behind them, and to Lee over her shoulder. 

“Angelina, how would you like to
swim
with them?”

III

The night was still, without even a hint of a breeze through the large habitat.  On a soft bed of grass, Dulce lay quietly on the ground, listening to the sound of Dexter sleeping overhead in a small rosewood tree. 

The young gorilla stood up and walked softly to the side wall, stopping at the large clear door.  After a moment, she stepped closer and studied the small security keypad that she had seen DeeAnn and the others use many times.  She tilted her head, then lifted her hand and pushed the same tiny squares in the way that they did.

Nothing happened.

Dulce tried again, more carefully.

A loud click sounded as the door’s lock disengaged.  She wrapped her long fingers around the handle and pulled.

She padded quietly down the hallway until reaching the double doors leading into the observation area.  She pulled one open and stepped inside, peering around at the darkened room. 

On one side stood a row of machines with hundreds of blinking lights and on the other was a floor-to-ceiling wall of water, held back by glass similar to that used around her habitat.

She approached the glass wall and stared into the dark blue water at the two dolphins.  One of them opened its eyes and moved gently toward Dulce.

For several minutes, the two mammals stared curiously at one another.  Until IMIS detected Dulce in the room. And powered up the monitor and microphone on the desk beside her.