I hope you all can understand what is happening in this chapter. It is pretty complicated but I tried hard to make it clear. I threw in a little stream of consciousness with Gabriel that I hope is not annoying. I just needed a way to show that his exterior calm was misleading. I'd love to hear what you think!

Chapter 3

Clockwork Armageddon

VAUGHN RANCH

NEAR NORTH EAGLE BUTTE, SOUTH DAKOTA

Michael is startled awake by a voice.

"You have entered secure air space. Identify yourself or you will be shot down," Gabriel says.

"Riley," Michael shouts, "Riley wake up!"

"Can you hear me? Identify yourself or you will be shot down," Gabriel says.

The drone has no radio. I can hear you but you can't hear me, Michael thinks. He uses his chip to search for a way to communicate with the voice, letting his mind wander the paths of the Internet. He begins to panic as he wends this way and that way with no success. Finally, he finds a radio communication device for the deaf.

"This is your last warning. Identify yourself or we will shoot you down," Gabriel shouts.

Frantically Michael makes the connection between the communication device and the channel the voice is broadcasting from.

"I'm Michael Strand," he says using the computer generated voice, "Who are you?"

"I'm Gabriel," he says, "Michael Strand? Are you related to Lillian?" Gabriel asks.

"Yes, she's my Mom," Michael says.

"How old are you Michael?" Gabriel asks.

"I'm six," he says.

"No offense, but isn't Lillian a little old to have a six year old son?" Gabriel asks.

"I'm adopted. I have the 4U7-R gene mutation and adopting me was the only way my mom could keep me safe," Michael says, "I'm with my friend Riley, but she's been shot and I can't get her to wake up!"

"Riley Neal?" Gabriel asks sharply.

"Yes, she's my protection and we were doing a drill called the G2G protocol, but I don't really think it's a drill anymore!" Michael says.

"You really did you research didn't you? Creating a scenario that's sure to get my guard down and bring me running," Gabriel says.

"I'm not creating scenarios," Michael says.

"Do you really expect me to believe this computer generated voice on the radio belongs to a six-year-old who just happens to be my ex-fiancée's protection assignment?" Gabriel asks.

"Yes," says Michael.

"So it's just a coincidence that you show up less than 8 hours after every intelligent representative at the United Nations meeting in New York was killed by a monstrous power surge and every cyber agency in the world is on red alert?" Gabriel asks.

"Does that mean you don't believe me?" Michael asks.

"Yes, that's exactly what it means," Gabriel says.

Michael pauses trying to figure out how he can convince Gabriel.

"I have a chip in my head just like you," he says.

"Jesus kid, how old were you when they chipped you?" he asks.

"I was just a baby. I don't even remember not having a chip," Michael says.

"Saying you have a chip in your head doesn't prove anything. This could still be anyone," Gabriel says.

"If you'll render with me, I can show you what happened," Michael says.

" Why not? Render away," Gabriel says.

Michael shows him images: Riley watching Michael play chess, Riley looking at her phone screen reading, "Execute G2G Protocol", Riley sweeping the parking garage then calling for Michael to come to her, Riley driving and turning to look over her shoulder, Riley saying, "… you can trust Gabriel. He's a good man. One of the best I've ever known and I know he will do everything he can to protect you.", Riley zipping Michael into his body bag, then nothing but sounds, the sounds of Riley stalling the security guard, a struggle, a shot fired, a dragging noise, and the sound of a drone's engines humming.

A flood of emotion overwhelms Gabriel. He has spent the last seven years disciplining himself never, ever to think of Riley Neal. He only thinks of her now very occasionally in unguarded moments when he wakes up in the middle of the night, or when a happy memory dislodges from the depths of his soul and floats to the surface of his consciousness. He steals himself and begins to analyze the data in the images of Riley, looking for proof that Michael's story is real.

After a few moments of concentration Gabriel says, "I'm sorry Michael. There is no data here that confirms your story as fact.

Michael says, "Well … Riley says sometimes you have to stop listening to the data and listen to what your heart is telling you."

It is enough. The balance tips, the damn breaks and Gabriel can no longer hold himself aloof even if this is a trick. He has to get to Riley!

Gabriel presses a button on an intercom shouting, "Mac get down here and bring your kit. I need you to treat a gunshot wound."

A litany of prayer begins in his thoughts, "Please God, let her be alright!"

"Michael, what are your landing coordinates?" Gabriel barks.

"Latitude 45 North, longitude 101.27 West," Michael says.

"That will put you out in my back forty. How long till you land?" Gabriel asks, still praying, "Please God, let her be alright!"

"Approximately 8 minutes and 38 seconds," Michael says.

"Spoken like a true Intelligent. I won't be able to get to you that fast, but it's important that you don't open the drone till I get there. It's dark and it will be below freezing outside. If Riley is bleeding the smell might attract some nasty critters," Gabriel says, and he prays, "Please God let her be alright!"

A tank of a man with a salt and pepper crew cut and a Walrus moustache skids into the room bearing a medical kit.

"I thought you'd been shot," Mac says.

"Not me, it's a friend of mine who's about to land in the dessert near here," Gabriel says, "Bring some of my mother's blood with you." Please God let her be alright!

"Do you know your friends blood type?" Mac asks.

"O positive, but Mom's O negative so she's a universal donor, isn't she?" Gabriel asks.

"Yes, but if I need more than one bag I'd rather have a match," Mac says.

"Come on nurse, quit arguing and move! Get the blood and meet me at the helicopter," Gabriel says.

On the run to the helicopter pad Michael cybers the intercom in his mother's room, "Mom, Mac and I have to run out for a little while. Will you be alright?" he asks.

"Did you wake me up to tell me that?" she bellows.

"Sorry Mom," he says.

"Where are you going," she asks.

"There are some visitors in the back forty and they might be hurt," Gabriel says.

"Do these visitors have names?" she asks.

"One of them is Riley Neal," he says.

"Be careful, Gabriel," she says.

He climbs into the chopper and quickly begins to ready it for take-off. Mac jumps in with bags of blood in hand. Gabriel takes off and then cuts the helicopter violently to one side.

"Careful, Gabriel, I'm not going to be able to help anyone if you give me a concussion," Mac says.

"Sorry Mac, but no can do. Every second counts," Gabriel says. Please God let her be alright!

Even the helicopters rotors seem to be beating a tune to Gabriel's litany, Please God let her be alright! Let her be alright! Let her be alright!

The short ride feels interminable. Finally, he locates the drone using night vision.

"I see two heat signatures, both human, but only the little one is moving," Gabriel shouts over the noise of the rotors. Please God let her be alright!

Quickly, he brings the helicopter down within sight of the drone.

"Come on Mac," Gabriel yells as he jumps out, ducking under the propellers that are still turning and running to the drone. He locates the button that opens the drone's compartment and jabs it with his finger. Please God let her be alright!

Gabriel feels sick when he sees the blood stain on the body bag inside the drone. He lifts the bag carefully out of the drone carrying it back to the helicopter as quickly as he can. Please God let her be alright!

"You get the other one Mac," Gabriel yells over his shoulder.

Very gently he lays the bag on the floor of the helicopter and unzips it revealing a pale and white-lipped Riley. He checks her pulse. His body sags in relief. Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you, God!

Mac arrives carrying a tall, skinny boy who looks older than six.

"Get over here Mac. I'll take care of him," Gabriel says.

Mac bends over Riley listening to her heart beat.

"You must be Michael," Gabriel says trying to distract the boy from the sight of Riley lying helpless.

Mac slips a portable oxygen mask over Riley's head.

"And you must be Gabriel," Michael says.

Mac quickly examines Riley's wound, then he sticks an IV in her arm and hangs a bag of blood.

"She's lost a lot of blood," Mac says, "but I think we can take care of her."

"Ever ridden in a helicopter before Michael?" he asks.

"No. Mom says they are too dangerous," Michael says.

"Well, what Mom doesn't know won't hurt her. Climb in," Gabriel says.

Michael obeys and Gabriel fastens his seat belt, tightening it around his small frame. Gabriel climbs into the pilot seat and looks at Mac. Mac gives him the thumbs up and they take off back to the ranch house. Gabriel looks over at Michael who is hanging on for dear life.

"Don't worry little man," Gabriel says smiling, "Everything is going to be alright now."

And for the first time in a long time, Gabriel feels like it just might be true.