Chapter Two:
"As of today, the gun and bomb are obsolete," Joel Lowen, CEO of Systems Operations said confidently, "Welcome to warfare in the 21st century."
Lowen glanced around at the men in the room and smiled. There were representatives here from several large weapons manufactures and from the U.S. military. He was pleased by the turnout, and now that Project Radiant Thunder was about to get underway, his worries about Charlie McGee...and Rainbird's sanity...were minor issues before the profit he saw in his future.
"What we'll see tonight," he continued, "...is a coordinated attack on a single standing structure. In this case, a bank. Any other weapons system would result in unacceptable civilian casualties. Our operatives will achieve their goal with no collateral damage and complete deniability..."
As Colonel William Stryker sat listening to Lowen's sales pitch, he had been doubtful of the man's assurances about Project Radiant Thunder.
He did not doubt Lowen's words anymore.
Stryker walked through the ruins of River Mead, regarding the destruction around him with calm indifference. Civilians and police officers, as well as many firefighters, were running around the small town in confusion, doing their best to make sense of the previous night's events.
However, Stryker was less interested in the anarchy around him as he was in the cause of it.
He glanced around and spotted some of his people gathered near a ruined ice cream parlor. They were dressed in street clothes, just as he was. No need to make the military's presence known here...at least, not until the media got bored and moved on.
Stryker approached his troops, who did not salute, but still stood at respectful attention as he addressed them.
"Any new information?" he asked one of his lieutenants and she shook her head.
"No, sir," the lieutenant replied, "Most of the files from Systems Operations were lost in the fires, but we have a team en route to their main offices. There should be no resistance to military control there...considering both Mr. Lowen and Mr. Rainbird are dead."
Stryker nodded and almost looked disappointed. Lowen had been an executive, a business man, nothing more. But Rainbird had been the one who truly controlled Systems Operations. Stryker had known him long before today.
Twenty years ago, John Rainbird had been the most deadly assassin the government had ever employed. Stryker had collaborated with him on more than a few occasions. Then, Rainbird became involved with the SHOP, a covert part of the Department of Scientific Investigations that specialized in the study of psychic abilities in human beings.
It had been no secret, even twenty years ago, that reports of children being born with extraordinary talents had been increasing. Very soon after scientists identified a chromosome they called the "mutant" gene, those same scientists began experimenting with it. The results had been varied, but mostly failures. Until the Lot Program was developed. Until the Lot 6 experiment.
After that, Rainbird's interests became solely focused on the Lot Program, and the enhancement of the "mutant" gene. He believed, at the point of death, he could take a mutant's powers from them...to become powerful himself. To become a god.
Unfortunately, one small girl put a stop to Rainbird's ambitions...twice.
"Have any of the Radiant Thunder boys been located?" Stryker asked.
"Only one," she replied, "But he seems to be in shock. He has not spoken to anyone and does not respond to outer stimuli..."
"Keep searching for them," Stryker said firmly, "I want all six boys accounted for before sundown."
"What about McGee, sir?" another of the soldiers asked and Stryker mused a moment before responding.
"Have Logan's team begin monitoring train stations and bus terminals around the area for anyone matching her description," Stryker said, "From what Rainbird told me, she's been on the run for a long time, and is extremely difficult to apprehend. For good reason..."
Stryker extended his hands outward, indicating the burning wreckage around them.
"For now, my main concern is Systems Operations and the Lot experiment," he said, "McGee's been on the loose for over ten years and, until yesterday, never used her power openly. Those boys, though...Rainbird taught them how to be survivors, and they won't be as hesitant to use their powers against us if we seem like a threat. Be nice to them...be friendly...and get them back home to Sys Ops offices...without too much of a commotion."
"Yes, sir," the three soldiers replied, and headed off to organize the other troops.
Stryker glanced through the smashed window of the ice cream parlor and saw half of an automobile sitting on the front counter, among the melting flavors. A strange frown formed on his face as he thought of those boys, and of McGee.
Children did this...for God's sake, they're just children. And in one night, they did as much damage as an invading army. And more like them were being born everyday. Not in a controlled lab, but out in the free world, where their powers would go unchecked and uncontrolled...
Well, Stryker thought as he marched down River Mead's former main street, If they can't be controlled...we'll have to come up with another solution to this... 'mutant problem'...
