S Ison - Russian Doomsday

“I know it may never happen too,” Margo said. “We might be acting like idiots. But I can’t help feeling like something’s going to happen. I don’t know why. I’ve never felt this way before. I mean, I see stuff on the news all the time. I know about the threats from North Korea and Iran, all those places. But this thing with POSEIDON has really hit me. I’ve not told anyone, not my friends, not even my parents. I feel bad, but what if we’re wrong and, even worse, what if we’re right?” she said, her face sad.

Pike hated seeing her sad, but she was correct. There were no right answers. He reached over and patted her hand gently. “All we can do is all we can do. For ourselves. I told my folks and they patronized me, but at least I told them. At least they’re in northwestern Tennessee and not on the coast. Maybe you should tell your parents as well. That way, you’ll not feel horrible if something does happen. Like my parents, they are adults and will do what they will. Just send them the information on POSEIDON and at least give them a chance to make up their own minds,” he advised softly.

“Thanks, Pike. I know you’re right. I’ll call them now. I’m heading to bed anyway, as I need to get up early to get to work.” She smiled, and his heart melted. “I’m glad you are here, I don’t feel so alone now with all of this.” She leaned over and gave him a hug, and it was so hard for him to release her.

He got up from the couch, took his plate to the kitchen and washed it in the kitchen sink, then went to his room to unpack. It felt weird to have arrived finally. He still felt a bit twitchy.

He opened his suitcase and took out several shirts and jeans. Then he sat at the end of the bed and looked at his hands. They were trembling. He’d not thought he was so keyed up. He’d made it. He’d been half afraid the world would explode before he got to see Margo. And she looked great, quite beautiful.

When he’d held her in his arms, she’d felt so good and she’d smelled wonderful. He wished he could keep hugging her without being creepy. He was here now, and with her, and that was all that mattered. He just needed to keep out of that friend zone. That would end all his dreams. Where there was time, there was hope.

He went into the small bathroom and smiled. It too was frilly and girly. Margo was a girly girl, for sure. He got into the small shower and let the hot water ease the muscles across his shoulders and back. He tried to let the stress of the last few weeks fall away. He had to keep reminding himself that he was here. There was time. At least, he thought there was time.

Later, he crawled into the daybed, which was soft and comfortable. He propped his head on his arms and stared up at the ceiling. He’d head out tomorrow and check in with the agency, then go find a job in the meantime. He needed to get that cabin as soon as possible. He couldn’t breathe easy until they were moved in. He turned over and closed his eyes, his mind drifting to Margo in the next room. He fell asleep with thoughts of her swirling around in his brain.

Margo lay in bed waiting as the line rang, her feet curling with nervousness.

“Hello?” It was her mom.

“Mom? Hey, it’s me. How are you and Dad?”

“Oh, honey, your dad and me are doing fine. How are you doing, baby?”

“I’m okay, Mom. I’m calling because I saw some disturbing news and wanted to tell you and Dad about it.”

“What is it, honey? I can hear the worry in your voice.”

Margo tried not to cry, though her lips trembled. She took a deep breath and blew it out. “Mom, Russia has made a new weapon. It isn’t really new, but it’s dangerous. I was reading about it online, and it’s a very powerful and deadly nuclear weapon.”

“Oh honey, don’t cry. Just tell me what you need.”

“It may never be used, Mom. But if it is, it’ll obliterate the coastline. There will be nuclear fallout. I think you and Dad will be safe in Murphy. I’m glad you don’t live in Georgia any more. Mom, I don’t know if I’m being paranoid, but I would feel better if you and Dad can maybe put food away, make you house more secure.”

“Honey, I know you wouldn’t worry if there wasn’t something going on. Trust your gut always. I’ll talk to your dad. We live out in the country and there aren’t many folks near us. We should be okay. But I’ll start putting food away.”

Margo choked, tried not to cry. “Thanks Mom. I know it doesn’t make sense, but something about this really scares me. I don’t know if you remember Pike from high school? He just got here, and he and I are going to work together to make sure we are safe as well.”

“I always say trust yourself, that is God breathing on your shoulder. I’m glad you have Pike, I don’t remember him, but I’m glad he’s there with you. Give me a call when you guys come up with a plan, honey, and don’t worry about us. I’ll get your dad started on it first thing in the morning.”

“Thanks Mom, thanks for listening.” She blew out a shaky breath. “And thanks for believing me.”

“You’re my littlest heart, honey. I love you and I know if you are worried, baby, then you should follow what you need to do. Like I said, I’ll get your dad on his toes with this. It’ll give him something to do.” Her mother laughed, and Margo smiled.

“Okay Mom, thanks. I’ll let you go. Talk to you soon. I love you, Mom.

“I love you, heart. Sleep tight and don’t worry, baby.”

Her mother hung up and Margo let out a long breath. She sagged in her bed and wiped an errant tear away. She should have known her mother would listen. She smiled. She felt a lot better. Now, with Pike here, they could get started.

Alexei Borin looked at the file. It contained info on Dina. He wanted to make sure he knew everything about the beautiful young woman. Her background check had been flawless. She’d gone to ITMO University in St. Petersburg. Looked like she had good grades. Nothing about lovers or boyfriends. He was pleased about that. She wasn’t a whore.

Flipping through a few more pages of her dossier, he saw no red flags. He shook his head. It would seem that she’d been working in research and development for a couple years. He wondered why he’d not noticed her.

Alexei sighed and sat back comfortably in a leather chair behind a massive mahogany desk. Spread over the desk were numerous contracts, diagrams, schematics, everything a shipping mogul needed. Around the spacious office were model ships, his life’s work. He was proud of his accomplishments.

Photographs of himself and Orlov were also distributed around the room and on the credenza, which held several crystal decanters and cut crystal tumblers. Twenty-year-old Scotch, excellent Vodka and a bottle of Jack Daniels Sinatra Century. The room of a powerful man.

Alexei knew his place in the world, and it was above all men but one. He accepted that, he reveled in it. At a word, men disappeared, and though he knew he was under surveillance himself – who wasn’t these days? – he commanded the highest respect and fear.

Like Alexei Borin’s progenitor, Andrei Sakharov – the designer of thermonuclear weapons, the RDS-37 was at the top of his game. However, Andrei Sakharov had, in due course, become disillusioned and turned into an advocate for civil liberties and human rights.

Alexei had heard, and read via secret documents, that Sakharov had been under surveillance by the KGB. Not surprisingly, he died just before he was to give an important speech. It was said to have been of natural causes, but Alexei knew otherwise. With human rights agitators, it was never natural causes. As with any thorn, they had to be plucked, and so Sakharov was plucked out of existence.