Submerged

Chapter 09: Contingency Plans

Melvin and Reese faded back into existence once they were inside the secluded confines of the maintenance shaft.

"Being able to bypass guards and security doors would come in very useful on some of my covert assignments," Reese marveled.

"Power levels are running a little low," Melvin pointed out. "It seems to drain faster when cloaking two people."

"Where's Ashley?" Reese asked.

"She'd in the central computer core," Melvin answered. "She's trying to reprogram an AI we found called Piper. It gave me the instructions on how to reach your cell, and it distracted the majority of the guards."

"Very helpful," Reese commented.

"I thought so," Melvin agreed. He pulled a data stick from his pocket. "Here's an automated program created by Piper to deactivate the perimeter defenses. Also loaded into this are Emmerson's plans for wiping out all humans he can't control. We need to broadcast this to the governments of the world in order for them to stop him."

"Do you know where a transmission terminal is located?" Reese questioned.

"Yes," Melvin confirmed. "There are several in the construction tunnels under the city. This way."

*** 

"I believe your presence has been detected," Piper warned.

"Why? What's happening?" Ashely asked.

"When we deactivated some of the interface to rewire, Emmerson must have tried to contact me and been unable to do so," Piper reported. "He is on his way here with a full security team."

"How close are we to finishing?" Ashley inquired.

"Not close enough, I'm afraid," Piper lamented. The access panels slid back down and closed off the circuitry from Ashley.

"What are you doing?" Ashely demanded.

"My programming is designed to apprehend any unauthorized persons in the area when Brett Emmerson in nearby," Piper informed her. "With his approach, I must obey my orders and prevent your departure. I'm sorry."

The security door leading to the maintenance tunnel slid closed and locked, cutting of Ashley's only escape route. She was trapped.

*** 

Melvin and Reese were about to descend into the underground tunnels beneath the city when one of the many screens mounted around the city for informational broadcasts lit up with an image of Brett Emmerson.

"Melvin Alton," Emmerson proclaimed from the broadcast screen. "I know you're loose in this city. What you need to know is I have your partner, Ashley Simmons. You may know her by the cover identity she's been using in my city, Veronica Reid. Whatever name you knew her by, if you don't surrender yourself to me in the next twenty minutes, I will broadcast her execution. You made a choice before, and it cost the life of your partner. Are you going to make the same choice twice?"

The image of Emmerson vanished, replaced with a digital clock counting down from twenty minutes.

"How did he know?" Melvin wondered out loud.

"We need to get moving," Reese insisted.

"I can't leave her to die because of me," Melvin denied.

"The whole world is going to die," Reese reminded.

"You send the message; I'll deal with Emmerson," Melvin decided. "Just keep following the tunnel and you'll find the transmission gear. You can't miss it."