Prisoners of Eden

By C. Fenway Braxton

Kidnapped to a secret government installation, Dr. Audrey Simondson finds she has been chosen as one of the few lucky ones to survive the destruction of the planet. When she learns that another scientist has thought of a way to avert the disaster she butts heads with officials who don't want to hear about it. The government has decided there is nothing that can be done.

She and a handful of dedicated souls have to escape the safe refuge in order to try and save the world, despite constant interference from their own government. Of course, the treatment they want to administer is not without some level of risk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Martian Publishing
• Release date: Feb 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301240111

Book preview

PRISONERS OF EDEN

By C. Fenway Braxton

MARTIAN PUBLISHING

Copyright © 2013 by Martian Publishing Company

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved.

No portion of this volume may

be reproduced in any format

without the express written

permission of the copyright holder.

This is a work of fiction.

Any resemblance to persons or

organizations, living or extinct,

is entirely coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

KIDNAPPED

She woke to the sound of banging downstairs.

Uncomprehending, she looked around and saw the familiar dimensions of her own room, the streetlight near the house coming through the window assured her everything was normal. Yet there was banging.

A door opened, not hers she noted. Probably her father from the bedroom next door. His voice came from the hallway. Yes, Molly, I'll be careful. But you call 911 now. His grumbling could be heard descending the stairs. Something about who in tarnation and this time of night but the rest was indistinct.

Meanwhile, she wondered if it was that crazy Manuel, a little too high on whatever he was into at the moment. It had ruined his first chance at residency and if he didn't get it under control, all those years of med school were going to go down the tubes.

Regardless of his employment prospects, she had been quite firm in telling him it was over. No one hits her and stays on her good list. Especially not her partner.

Her mental admonishment to Manuel was cut short when she heard her father.

Oh, my god, no! You get out of here this instant! She heard footsteps coming up the stairs, followed by her father's voice sounding like he was still on the lower floor. Molly, lock the… His voice was cut off by an oof sound that usually accompanied getting the wind knocked out of you.

She was out of the bed before the footsteps reached the upper hallway and slipped into her bathrobe. She pulled the terry-cord across her stomach and knotted it.

Almost simultaneously, the door was slammed open. The overhead lights came on, blindingly.

Soldiers, carrying arms but not aimed at her, stormed in. One stepped through the ranks that stopped and signaled to her. Dr. Simonson?

She nodded, frightened. What's the meaning…

He motioned to her. Everything will be explained later. Right now our orders are to get you to StatComm One immediately.

She clutched the collar of the robe close around her throat. Had her mother made the call yet? Was a cruiser on the way to their house now? But… but, what for?

He motioned again. No time for that now, Miss… Doctor. Let's get going. Seeing that she made no sign of moving, he signaled a couple of the soldiers who stepped for and took her arms.

Wait! You can't do this! She struggled but to no avail. What about letting me get dressed first? They started down the stairs.

No time, Miss. You'll have everything you need as soon as we get to StatComm.

Struggling against the much stronger arms was futile but she pulled and complained on the trip down the stairs. In the entryway, she saw another pair of soldiers holding her father immobilized beside the foot of the stair.

Don't worry, Audrey. He struggled against his captors but she knew those thin arms would not prevail against the much younger ones. She shook her head at him as though to tell him not provoke them. No telling what they might do!

Once outside, she was hustled down the sidewalk and into the back seat of a camouflaged Hummer, one soldier pushing her head down to help her get in. Yes, just like the cops did when putting a handcuffed suspect in the back of the squad car. She glared at the soldier as he climbed in after her. The door slammed and the driver burned rubber, followed by a troop carrier.

A block away from the house, they passed the speeding police car, lights flashing, going to answer the 911 call, Audrey assumed.

What the hell was going on here? Wasn't this America?

Things like this didn't happen here.

The drive was more than an hour but it felt even longer than that because she was crammed into a small space with a bunch of soldiers, could not move, and they would not answer her repeated questions. The Captain just kept responding, You'll find out everything when we get to StatComm. As if that was supposed to mean anything to her.

After a time, she got tired of asking and simply resigned herself to being a prisoner – for the moment. When they reached wherever it was they were going, she would let someone have an earful.

She had no idea where she was going. Not only was it a moonless night, the windows had been darkened. She assumed the only window with any visibility was the front windshield, but they had her facing the rear and had repeatedly stopped every attempt to turn around.

The stern faces kept their eyes forward and there seemed no friendly face in the group. One attempt at turning around had caused her robe to slip off one of her legs. That had drawn a few eyes for a moment before they snapped back to their unbroken forward gaze. She could probably disrobe and they would no react.

The longer she sat, cramping, the madder she got.

Yes, someone was really going to get an earful!

After racing along, she felt the vehicle slowing. Soon, they turned off the main road and, she could tell by the feel of the terrain that they were traveling down a much smaller side road. The speed had decreased and the amount of bumping and turning had increased.

And finally they stopped. She heard the driver talking to someone, speaking a sign and countersign – how vulgarly melodramatic, she thought. Big boys playing at games. Then the vehicle moved forward again and they entered a compound lit up well enough that she could see through the darkened windows. Soldiers and vehicles were everywhere, with other people dressed much like she was being herded into a building.

The engine shut off. the soldiers piled out, one taking her arm to assist her in getting out but she shook him off. The Captain appeared at the door and held out his hand. Doctor…

She looked at the hand and wondered a moment what they would do to her if she simply spat on the offering, but then she chose to ignore it and climb out under her own power.

It could have been a refinery they parked before or a secret spaceship base. She had no idea and was not given long to take in her surroundings before they hustled her along to a huge metal door. More precisely to a smaller door – people-sized – in the center of the much larger door.

There were people seemingly rushing everywhere around her but there was no time to take any of it in as she was being rushed along.

Once inside, the soldiers stopped while the Captain escorted her a little further to a group of women in uniform. He saluted one. Major, Doctor Audrey Simonson.

The woman returned the salute then raised her clipboard, scanned the page a moment, then made a tick with her pencil. Then she glanced up and smiled one of those technically perfect smiles without any warmth. Lieutenant Dickers will show you into the facility, Doctor. She turned back to the Captain and passed him a sheet of paper from the clipboard. Your next assignment. She passed an envelope to the soldier, who saluted and signaled to his companions. They raced back to the idling Hummer.

Wherever she was, she felt certain they were going to kidnap someone else.

And since this was military, this was big.

Audrey shook her head and looked at the female officer. So, who's in charge here? And what the bloody hell is going on?

The gaze returned was unmoved. Come this way, please. She led Audrey down a short corridor which soon opened into a much larger room. Lieutenant Dickers! She signaled and another female officer came at a trot.

Yes, Major Hirsch? The salute was snappy.

Doctor Audrey Simonson. The Major nodded toward the new arrival. See she is situated. She turned and left.

The short, stocky blonde smiled at Audrey. I imagine you would like a little explanation…

A little explanation!?! Audrey exploded. Heads all around the room turned in her direction. She didn't care. I am kidnapped in the dead of night by a group of terrorists and you wonder if I need some explanation?! Hell, YES!

The blonde had tried repeatedly to calm her down but it was not working. She glanced around nervously. You're upsetting everyone here…

WHO GIVES A FUCK?!!

Now activity in the room came to a standstill. Audrey returned some hard looks with the people around her. One woman had her hands over her child's ears as if to say mind your language in front of the children. The terse Major with the clipboard returned.

She lowered her voice to Audrey. Excuse me, is there a problem?

Is something wrong with everyone here? Audrey asked, still in a large voice. Where in America is it all right to kidnap people and expect them to 'act nice'? She looked around. What are the rest of you smoking?

The Major took hold of Audrey's arm and got an elbow shoved in her chest.

Let me alone, you bitch! Until someone tells me what is going on, I am not going to settle down!

The Major glared at the Lieutenant. The young officer asked, Should I get a sedative?

Don't you even think of it! Audrey hissed. You think you've got trouble now, just try and get me really pissed.

The Major tried a different tack. Doctor Simonson, if you will go with the Lieutenant, she will show you your quarters and you can get dressed. I am certain the briefing will be starting about the time you return. She smiled the mechanical smile for a fleeting moment and then nodded at the other officer.

Lt. Dickers turned and indicated the direction to her quarters. Audrey took another look around the room. Most those present had already returned to their previous discussions. She shook her head and motioned the officer to lead the way.

The blonde led along several corridors with frequent checks over her shoulder to make sure her charge was still following. From the feel of the place, Audrey knew it was inside the mountain and probably very heavily shielded. And if she knew anything about security, she would bet that this place was none other than the Mount Weather Facility, also known as Washington Two. Presently, they stopped at a doorway.

This is your assigned quarters for the present. If not found suitable, applications for transfer will be entertained later. Once you have changed you are free to move about the facility except for those areas marked 'Authorized Access Only'.

Audrey did not move. What about the briefing?

I am told there will be a general orientation after everyone has been assembled.

The officer turned and left and Audrey was left to figure out what that assembled part meant. Captured was the only translation that came to her mind.

She had moved off quickly before Audrey could step into the room… and explode again, which seemed likely given the circumstances.

She gritted her teeth and stepped through the doorway. Her quarters were about eight foot by eight foot with three sets of bunk-beds, a pair each along each of the walls other than that housing the doorway. A tag on one said Simonson in utilitarian U. S. Army stencil. The clothing they had promised was no more than a pair of fatigues. Naturally, there were no undergarments in sight.

Far from calming her, this little side journey only fueled the anger.

Once dressed, she returned to the large room. Immediately, someone waved to her. Audrey! Audrey! Over here!

She grinned at her old friend and classmate. Kate! She ran over and embraced her. So you got an invitation to this hullabaloo as well, I see. She glanced around. So what's going on here, anyway?

Kate shook her head. Hell if I know. Rusty and I were fast asleep when the door burst in and these goons were rousting us out of bed.

What about Rusty and the kids?

She laughed and slapped a hand to her cheek. Well, the kids started a ruckus like you wouldn't believe and…

No, I mean, where are they? Horror was rising in Audrey's mind.

Well, here, of course. I don't think Rusty would have let them take us without them. She laughed. But it was certainly a very noisy ride, I can tell you. I'm sure those soldiers were glad to see the last of us.

Audrey shook her head to clear her thoughts. Who cares what the soldiers liked or didn't like. Screw them! Why have we been kidnapped in the first place?

Kate blinked and shrugged. Well, I don't know. We were told there would be a briefing as soon as everyone was assembled. Until then, we can mingle and meet up with old friends and… She pointed to a long table at the side of the room. And there's coffee and donuts over there if you like. She patted her stomach. Can't touch the sweets myself, you know, but they have some fruit over there as well if you're a mind.

Thanks, Kate. As her friend turned away to go see someone else, Audrey wondered if this were nothing more than a bizarre dream. Her friend had been kidnapped along with her whole family and was acting like it was nothing more than a faculty tea or some other innocuous social event.

She meandered over to the refreshment table. Neither donuts or fruit appealed to her at this hour – in the middle of the night – but a cup of coffee would clear out some of the cobwebs.

She pried a paper cup from the top of an upended pile and put it under the aluminum spigot. While she depressed the black plastic handle, she heard an altercation coming closer.

I do not care if the Federal Government does not sanction such a thing, missy, it is in fact legal in the state in which I reside with my partner. I see other married couples are here with their mates… with their entire broods as well… while I have been forcibly detained without my spouse!

The gray-haired woman gestured adamantly to the female Major who still carried the clipboard. She waited until Audrey stepped aside to fill her own cup with coffee.

Like I said, Doctor Washeter, I will see what I can do about the situation. I'm sure it was all a simple mix-up. She turned and left, sipping her coffee.

Doctor Washeter? Doctor Elizabeth Washeter?

The woman turned to her, squinting. That depends on which rag you're writing for, Miss.

Aubrey gushed, forgetting her own anger for the moment. Oh, Doctor, I've been a huge fan of yours for years. You gave a talk at Columbia in my senior year on the photovoltaic properties of plants that was absolutely brilliant!

Then you're not from a paper? The older woman laughed. Of course, you're not with a paper. I doubt these bozos would have bothered capturing any of them. It's not an election year!

After a momentary pause, Audrey and Doctor Washeter both laughed.

So, Audrey asked after she regained her composure, do you have any idea why we're here?

The gray-haired head shook. I have no idea, young lady, but there was another person brought in here a short time ago that gave them what for. She chuckled. Everyone else comes in brain dead but that one. Hell, I think they had to gag her and drag her off to be sedated and shoved into a closet. When Audrey did not join in the laugh, she paused. Wait a sec. That was you, wasn't it?

Yes, and I don't apologize for making a scene, either.

Good show, dearie! I gave them an earful too when I arrived and got the same 'wait and see' they gave you. She looked around. All these other sheep appear to be Congressmen or socialites.

You mean 'worthless human beings'? Audrey laughed.

Doctor Washeter threw up her hands. Remember, you said that, not me.

Well, they aren't all socialites, Audrey said, pointing, that one over there with the red-headed children making all the noise was my roommate in college. She's a brilliant chemist though… well, Audrey shrugged, but even she seems a little short in the 'what's going on here' department.

Well, missy, the elder woman looked around the hall, as you and I seem to be the only two here with active brain cells, perhaps we ought to stage an uprising… that might get someone's attention, you think? She stared at Audrey a moment. Speaking of brain-dead, where are my manners? I am Elizabeth, as you know, but what is your name, dear?

Audrey Simonson.

Audrey… She brushed her hair back from her face a moment and stared closer. 'Evolutionary Decreases in Immunobiological Organisms of the Upper Jurassic' Simonson? Audrey nodded. Damn, girl! That was one helluva paper!

Well, I'm so glad you and the other person who read it liked it so much.

The older woman laughed. Don't sell yourself short, missy, I am certain a lot of other people took notice as well. Didn't you see than latest schlock from Beaulieu?

The Nobel Laureate Beaulieu?

Is there any other? Just ask him! She laughed again. "Honey, I think he used your thesis to catapult his next fund-raising venture. Not that you'll get