Darren Wearmouth - Second Activation

“We would’ve kept you alive,” Jack said.

She dropped her smoke and crushed it with her boot. “If only things were so simple, Jack.”

“What about HQ?” I asked. “Do you have any idea what’s coming?”

“Everyone’s guessing at the moment. Jerry reckons they’ll have their hands full in the UK. I’m not so sure. The tech guys speak to their people over there and are terrified about their arrival.”

“Haven’t some already arrived?” Jack said. “Two jumbos landed a hundred and fifty miles north of here the other day.”

Her eyes widened. Not by much, but I noticed and thought her reaction curious. “Surprised by the revelation, Lea?”

“I heard their ship is arriving tomorrow. Nobody mentioned anything about a plane.”

“Seems like we’re not getting the full story,” Jack said. “How many are on Hart Island at the moment?”

“The Ops team number about forty. I don’t know exactly. I know five of them didn’t make it back yesterday.”

“We took them out,” I said. “Three of them to save Judas Morgan.”

“He told us they got into a big firefight with the local defense force on the water; said that’s how he lost his men.”

“That’s bullshit,” Jack said. He dropped his guard and turned to face Lea. “That so-called ‘defense force’ was a boat full of kids and a woman.”

Lea looked nervous, and I started to question whether we should continue this meeting. I didn’t give a rat’s cock about her time on the road with GA; I only wanted to know how we could destroy them.

“What was the second activation all about? I thought they were supposed to be processing people,” Jack said.

“They are, but not here.”

“What do you mean?”

“When Anthony caught one of the scavenging teams from the stadium and confirmed you were around, he ordered the device in Manhattan to be programmed with the same instructions as the previous activation. So it’s only localized in this area.”

“The rest of the country is being processed?” I asked.

“The official second activation was launched nationwide in all other areas. One of the guys mentioned a team in Virginia.”

“That’s still going off plan, right?” Jack said.

“Right. I heard Anthony debating it with Jerry and Martina. Jerry said they could slit your throats when you came in for processing. Martina knows I want you alive, so she proposed that we just leave you to rot in the city; then GA could sweep you up when the situation was back under control.”

“But Anthony went for Plan C: Take us out with a local activation, and come in after to make sure the job was done?” I asked.

“He’s not letting this one go. I’d bet you a million dollars that he’s breaking down Bernie’s door at the moment.”

“What about the tech team?” Jack said.

“A guy on the other end of the sat comm knew they’d configured Manhattan for a first activation. He told them to move down to a safe house outside Atlantic City…”

“They’re going today?” I asked.

“They might have already gone. I think they’re nervous about traveling through New York, but they’re heading out tonight.”

“You’re not mentioning Martina much. What did she say about all of this?”

“Martina went along with it and supplied the launch codes. She asked to be left alone when she punched in the sequence. She had to do it; it keeps me alive.”

“Doesn’t she realize the number of people who have died because of the activations?” Jack said. “If she’s against this thing, why didn’t she run?”

“And have Anthony tracking us? No way. Besides, we’ve come up with another idea.”

I’d been waiting for the point of this whole story. As interesting as it was, we weren’t standing here for a casual conversation. I knew Lea had found us for a reason, but I didn’t know why.

“Come on, Lea, what’s the plan?” I asked.

She didn’t reply and rubbed her face. I considered her loyalty.

“We’re not stupid,” Jack said. “You’re in bed with these fuckers. What do you want?”

“This is where you two come in. We’ve thought of a way to end this.”

“We had a way until this morning. And who is we ?”

Lea paced around and stopped in front of me. “Martina and me. We all want the same thing. I’ve told you how fragmented this whole thing is. We’ve got an opportunity.”

“So where do we come in?” I asked. “I take it Martina doesn’t know you’re here?”

“She does, actually. We’ve got a small window to bring down the local operation, with your help.”

At last she got down to brass tacks. I’m sure she didn’t take us for fools. Any kind of reveal like this usually led to consequences.

“Cut to the chase. Why are you really here?” I asked.

“We’ll only be free if we eliminate Jerry, Anthony, and the control unit.”

“When you say we ,” I said, “I take it you mean you and Martina?”

“Fuck off, Harry. I mean all of us. I’m giving you an opportunity to wipe out the leaders of the local team. Are you in?”

“What kind of opportunity are you talking about?”

“Tonight. Anthony likes to send night patrols out to check for anyone sneaking about in the local area. We’ll probably only have to deal with Anthony, Jerry, and a few guards. I’m sure you two can handle that.”

“And Martina?” Jack said.

“She’s going to keep them busy in the control room. I’ll pick you up at City Island, just to the right of Pelham Cemetery, at ten. It’ll be dark by then…”

“Sounds like you’ve got this all planned out,” I said. “Forgive me for being skeptical, but you’re in with a bunch of toads.”

Lea placed her hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. “It’s our chance. They won’t see us coming. Come in black clothes. You’ll be on top of them before they know what’s happening. I’m a familiar face, remember?”

“Yeah, but we’re not,” Jack said.

“Just walk behind me. Whoever it is won’t be able to tell in the dark. Anthony likes to have two guards stationed outside the control room, but I’ve seen them all go out on patrol.”

“And if the patrol doesn’t go out?” I said.

“We do it tomorrow, or the day after. They won’t be staying on the island for too long. HQ will figure out Anthony’s bullshit.”

“What’s Martina doing once we’re on the island?” Jack said. “I can hardly remember what she looks like from that picture.”

I could tell he had the same reservations as me. This was the second time he’d asked about Lea’s partner. Her plan all seemed a little too convenient.

“Don’t worry about her. She’ll join in as soon as we attack.” Lea slipped a creased photograph out of a wallet and handed it to Jack. “You take out the guards and move inside for Jerry and Anthony. They’ll be in the control room with Martina. Blow the control unit, and we get the hell out of there before the patrol comes back.”

“Brett said it was in a tough protective casing,” I said.

“Martina’s going to get a tech to take off a side panel. She’s thought about everything.”

I had nagging doubts about her plan, but the opportunity to kill Anthony and Jerry had a strong appeal.

“You’re sure Anthony and Jerry will be there?” Jack asked.

I knew he would jump at the opportunity to have a crack at them. Perhaps that’s what they wanted? To lure us in by using Lea. I dismissed it as being too intricate for their brutal brains.

“Harry, are you in?” Lea asked.

“You haven’t exactly given us a lot of details. We show up at a dock tonight, you pick us up, and we kill Jerry and Anthony. Is that it?”