The Fusion Cage

XLIV

‘I’ve been waiting for this moment.’

Special Agent Hannah Ford sat opposite Ethan Warner in the interview room, smiling as she glanced at the hand cuffs around Warner’s wrists, manacling him to the table.

‘So have I,’ Ethan replied. ‘I don’t feel we got off to the best start in Virginia.’

‘Running away does that,’ Hannah pointed out.

‘It wasn’t like we were on a date.’

‘Thankfully.’

‘You’d have been disappointed if I’d run away?’ Ethan asked with interest.

‘Mister Warner, you’ve been embroiled in an international conspiracy that has resulted in several deaths.’

‘I killed nobody,’ Ethan replied. ‘I did however see Huck Seavers before what happened in the tower. You know … ’

‘The incineration,’ Hannah confirmed. ‘We didn’t recover much.’

‘And Stanley Meyer was almost certainly murdered by a man named Aaron Mitchell, who escaped the scene at Crescent Dunes. Nicola Lopez, Mary Meyer and I were witnesses alone to everything that happened.’

Hannah looked down at her notes.

‘The District Attorney won’t see it like that. You left Saudi Arabia without a passport or papers, entered the United States illegally and then proceeded to injure several people, acquire a firearm for which you were not licensed and commit a homicide for which the FBI have been hunting you.’ Hannah grinned. ‘And that’s the way I’ll be presenting it.’

‘You ever considered the fact that you might be missing the larger picture here? Aaron Mitchell is behind all of this. He’s working for a cabal known as Majestic Twelve. They are dangerous, this isn’t a game.’

‘And this supposed fusion cage,’ Hannah replied as she glanced down at her notes. ‘Which cannot be found.’

‘The solar array at Crescent Dunes produced energy for a brief few moments before those solar panels lined up on the tower,’ Ethan replied. ‘I take it that Vegas got its power back before the solar plant was producing electricity?’

‘I checked that out for you,’ Hannah replied. ‘Turns out the salts atop the tower retain their heat for up to twelve hours after the sun’s gone down, providing power even when they’re not being directly heated. As soon as the engineers corrected what Mary Meyer had done, the plant operated as normal. As for this Majestic Twelve — I think you’ve been watching far too many episodes of The Blacklist, Mister Warner.’

‘Check it out on the Internet for yourself,’ Ethan muttered. ‘Documents pertaining to MJ–12 have been available for decades. This isn’t some kind of new conspiracy. Bilderberg is the same, it even has its own website.’

‘So does Santa Claus I expect,’ Hannah replied, ‘but I’m not about to go to Lapland to arrest him for illegally crossing borders now, am I?’

‘Check the pistol you took from me,’ Ethan insisted. ‘It will have my prints on it, but it will also have those of Aaron Mitchell.’

‘The other assassin?’ Hannah asked airily. ‘Lots of assassins in your story, Ethan, and yet you expect me to believe that you have killed nobody. According to your testimony you and your partner, Nicola Lopez, work for the Defense Intelligence Agency and are merely the innocent victims of a multi — national cat and mouse game of corporate espionage.’ She sighed, tilted her head to one side. ‘How adorable. And you’re also James Bond in your spare time?’

‘Bilderberg is real, it all stems from there.’

Hannah’s grin didn’t slip as she stood.

‘It appears to be nothing more than one of many international political conventions.’

‘Talk to the DIA,’ Ethan said. ‘They’ll confirm who we work for.’

‘I already did,’ Hannah replied as she slapped her files down on the table. ‘Nobody at the agency has ever heard of you.’

Ethan felt his blood run cold.

‘Seriously?’

‘Seriously,’ Hannah uttered. ‘We have historical documents of your involvement with the DIA but nothing suggesting current support from that agency. I’m not surprised, of course. You’re a fantasist, Warner, living some kind of bizarre dream. I’d have thought it just the act of some loser who couldn’t face real life if it were not for the fact that people have died for being a part of your little charade here.’

‘There is no charade,’ Ethan snapped. ‘We’ve been burned. Assim Khan is dead and with Mitchell gone, there’s nobody to corroborate our story if the DIA have decided to drop us.’

‘There is no DIA involvement,’ Hannah snapped. ‘You’re going away for a very long time, Mister Warner. I’ve made it my personal mission to see you pay for your crimes, that’s if the Saudis don’t manage to extradite you.’ She leaned on the table, looked into his eyes. ‘What would you prefer? A ten year stretch here on US soil, or the end of your life in some Saudi hell hole instead?’

‘I’d prefer to be freed, actually,’ Ethan replied.

Hannah stood up. ‘Not before hell freezes over.’

‘I can wait.’

The cell door opened and two FBI agents walked in.

‘Take him away,’ Hannah ordered.

‘You’re not going to believe this,’ Mickey Vaughn said, casting an uncertain glance at Ethan.

‘Believe what?!’ Hannah snapped.

‘Orders from Langley, we’ve got to cut him loose.’

‘He’s our suspect!’ Hannah shouted. ‘We’ve got evidence, witnesses and … ’

‘Presidential pardon,’ said Vaughn in reply. ‘For all of them.’

Hannah’s jaw worked for a few moments but no sound came forth.

‘Presidential pardon?’ she finally managed to echo. ‘Who the hell has the authority for this? The president doesn’t even know about what’s … ’

‘That’s classified, Defense Intelligence Agency and well above your pay grade,’ Ethan cut in, enjoying himself immensely as relief coursed through his veins. ‘But I’ll happily chat to you about all of this over that drink.’

Hannah glared at Ethan with such ferocity that he thought for a moment she might burst into flames like Assim Khan had done. Then she whirled and stormed away, leaving the two agents to free Ethan and lead him out of the room.

Ethan saw two more agents appear ahead, Nicola Lopez wedged between them and looking equally bemused. They said nothing to each other as they were led to a parking lot outside the FBI building. A black SUV was waiting, and as they climbed aboard Doug Jarvis was waiting for them.

‘I thought you’d been forcibly retired?’ Ethan asked as he climbed aboard.

‘I have,’ Jarvis admitted. ‘But I wanted to come down here and pick you both up. You tell them anything?’ he asked as soon as they were on the move.

‘Everything,’ Lopez replied. ‘I figured any chance to get this out in the open was a good one.’

‘Did they buy the story?’

‘Nope,’ Ethan said. ‘Special Agent Hannah Ford thinks it’s all bunkum and wants our asses in a federal prison as fast as she can manage it.’

The SUVs drifted down the I95, headed south.

‘Good,’ Jarvis said.

‘Good that she wants our asses in prison?’ Lopez asked mildly.

‘Good that she doesn’t believe it,’ Jarvis corrected. ‘The world’s not ready for this yet.’

‘How are the DIA going to cover all of this up?’ Lopez asked in disgust as she rolled her eyes.

Jarvis glanced out of the windows as he replied.

‘Both of you have been pardoned by the president himself, despite FBI Director LeMay’s protests, your saving of Isaiah Black’s life all those years ago finally paying off. Huck Seavers was killed by a Saudi assassin by the name of Assim Khan, who also murdered Stanley Meyer. Huck Seaver’s wife has inherited the family business, which has secured its mining rights in Missouri due to the population of a town named Clearwater voluntarily moving on after a generous re — housing initiative funded by Seavers Incorporated. I’ve heard that the old town has already been levelled by Seavers Incorporated’s explosive tests before the mining begins.’

‘Christ,’ Lopez muttered as she shook her head. ‘Your boys sure do move fast.’

‘What about the FBI?’ Ethan asked. ‘Hellerman said that they were onto our case, sounded like they wouldn’t let go.’

‘Director LeMay backed off as soon as he heard that Mary Meyer was in FBI custody,’ Jarvis replied. ‘With the fusion cage no longer in danger of reaching the public sphere, his work is complete. But he got his message across real well. He’s all in with Majestic Twelve.’

‘Amber?’ Ethan asked. ‘Mary?’

‘They have been apprised of the situation and now understand that the introduction of a device like the fusion cage cannot be carried out overnight. The socio — economic shockwave would create just as many problems as it would solve. The technology is coming, that is without doubt, and one day the fusion cage will be as ubiquitous as cell phones and fast food — just not today. It’s my hope that with the fusion cage gone and Mary Meyer effectively controlled, Majestic Twelve will pursue her no longer, the risk of exposure now presented by taking her out too great.’

Ethan rubbed his eyes with his fingers as he spoke.

‘Stanley Meyer died to give that thing away. You really believe that the corporations and governments involved in this will let that happen? They’ll annex the technology and make money from it, just like always.’

‘Perhaps,’ Jarvis replied, ‘but neither you nor I can control that. It would take the population of our entire country to stand up as one and say together that they won’t stand for it. If the people of America were able to do that, to down tools as one and demand action, they could have anything they want, just as could the population of any country on this planet. But none of them ever do and as long as that continues, governments and corporations will continue to hold all of the cards.’

‘Business as usual,’ Lopez uttered. ‘Same for you too, I see. I thought you’d been arrested.’

‘A temporary set — back due to risking my neck getting you two out of trouble, again. ‘

‘My condolences,’ Lopez shot back. ‘How does it feel to be working for governments and corporations that place profits above lives?’

‘I don’t choose the way our country works, Nicola, but I do try to do something about improving that country in whatever way I can,’ Jarvis defended himself. ‘However, unless the people themselves choose to act together and do something about it, nothing will change. The United States of America has become a business just like any other, and I can’t change all of that on my own any more than you or Stanley Meyer could.’

‘I take it that General Nellis has withdrawn his support for our work?’ Ethan said wearily.

Jarvis folded his hands and leaned back in his seat.

‘Far from it,’ he replied. ‘The administration has asked him to offer you more work through the DIA, with their promise of support. If, of course, you wish to undertake it?’

Ethan and Lopez exchanged a glance and both of them looked at Jarvis.

‘Yesno.’

Hannah Ford sat at her desk and stared at her computer monitor in silence. For the first time in over ten years she had found doubt within herself, doubt over the motives and methods of an organisation, a country and a government she had come to love.

Hannah was no stranger to international espionage and the tragedies that it could cause, for in her years within the FBI she had seen enough reports and files detailing politically motivated murders, organised assassinations, genocides, terrorist activities and the like. Intelligence was a dirty game, played by those who must constantly war with what is within and humane, and what is required of them in order to protect the humanity which they served.

But the pictures of the slaughtered civilians in the commune in Virginia were a step too far. Somebody was responsible. Ethan Warner was responsible, or so she had thought.

Hannah clicked on her computer screen, entered her access code and accessed once again the file that had been waiting for her upon her return to the office. It contained the bloodwork for the specimen she had discreetly obtained from the hotel balcony, near where Stanley Meyer had died.

To her amazement, the DNA profile of the blood had found a match in the system that the FBI had claimed had not been found via their own official sample obtained by forensics at the site.

Data spilled down the screen and Hannah read as rapidly as she could, absorbing information like a sponge as she read page after page.

An image of a dark skinned Afro — American, born August 12th, 1959 — Aaron James Mitchell. Mother; Florence Mitchell, nee Spencer, an American by birth, Detroit. Father; Jackson. J. Mitchell, former soldier, service record; Pacific Theatre, Iwo Jima, decorated veteran. Devout Catholics, both now deceased. No other siblings. Aaron Mitchell, service with United States Marines, Vietnam, decorated twice, two tours of active duty, two further tours as instructor …

Hannah had originally felt a deep sense of relief flood her nervous system upon reading the file. She had immediately believed she was reading the operational file of an all American boy and veteran.

Wife; Mary Allen Mitchell. Daughter; Ellen Amy Mitchell, born 1972, Oakland, California …

Hannah scrolled down, and once again the warmth of relief within her turned to cold slime as she continued to read.

… died, 1978. Interred Oakland, California.

Aaron James Mitchell; Diagnosed with acute anxiety and depression, revised as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Original PTSD from combat service enflamed via suppressed grief after loss of family. Two years medical hospital, San Diego. Released 1981. Registered CIA 1983.

Hannah scrolled down rapidly toward the physician’s report near the bottom of the file.

Physically impressive. Doctor’s note: Aaron J Mitchell is without a doubt the most powerful and dangerous man I have ever attempted to treat.

Then she scrolled to the bottom of the page.

Died, 1998, Berlin, Germany.

Ethan Warner’s words echoed in her mind as she stared at the face on the screen before her. Aaron Mitchell is behind all of this. He’s working for a cabal known as Majestic Twelve. They are dangerous, this isn’t a game.

Hannah stared into the middle — distance for a moment longer, and then she started making notes that began with three lines.

Majestic Twelve.

Aaron J Mitchell.

Ethan Warner.