25. Savior

25

SAVIOR

“ A rgh,” I groaned, wishing we hadn’t agreed to a zero-eight-hundred start time today. I doubted I’d slept more than one hour. Sullivan probably hadn’t gotten much more rest than that.

“Go back to sleep,” she mumbled.

“We cannot. Fallon is arriving at eight, remember?”

“Bloody hell,” she moaned, rolling over. We hadn’t made love last night or this morning, and while I’d say yet , we had very little time to dress and report to the castle as it was. My body—my cock, in particular—ached with need.

“David?”

“Yes, my love?”

“Can you please contact Con and ask him to delay?”

As much as I wanted to give in and do as she asked, there was an urgency, based on Sullivan’s theory about AIWS, that couldn’t be ignored.

“You know we cannot.”

She rolled to face me. “You’re a taskmaster.”

“And you’re a brilliant, beautiful, inquisitive, investigative genius.”

“Compliments will not get me out of bed any faster. In fact, the opposite is true.”

When I stood and held out my hand, her eyes traveled the length of my body, stopping at my midsection.

“We could take a quick shower,” she suggested.

“I fear the only way that would help is if it’s ice cold.” I wiggled my fingers. “Come. The sooner the meeting is over, the sooner we can return to our love nest.”

“How can I deny such sweetness?” She scooted closer to where I stood.

When she got up and pressed her nakedness next to mine, I suddenly didn’t care if we kept the others waiting all damned day. “A shower it is,” I said, pulling her with me.

“Only if it’s warm.”

“Not warm, Sullivan. It will be scorchingly hot.”

She rolled her eyes but followed me anyway.

“Ready?” I asked when we were about to leave for the castle.

“Not really. The truth is, beyond my theory, I don’t know that much about AI and how it relates to weaponry. What if they all think I’m crazy?”

“I don’t think you’re crazy. That must count for something.”

“Of course it does.”

“Like everything else, we’ll present it to the group for consideration and see where it leads. Okay?”

“Okay. Oh, and there’s one other thing.”

“Yes?”

“Labyrinths.”

“Go on.”

“While at Glenshadow, Fallon found monastery records that showed drawings of an elaborate system of tunnels believed to have been built during the Jacobite Rebellion. That led us to consider what others exist in Scotland, primarily in Edinburgh. According to her research, there are endless passageways that some believe are urban myths, but others believe are functional to the point they’re still being used.”

“You said Fallon found drawings of tunnels while at Glenshadow?”

“That’s right. Why?”

“A few days ago, before we left for Glenshadow, Con, Gus, Tag, and I were reviewing the plans for the cottage. This cottage. One page of the drawings was of a similar tunnel system.”

“David, I don’t think?—”

“Hear me out.”

“Sorry. Go on.”

“During the discussion, Con hinted that Gus already knew about tunnels that led from the castle to this cottage. Gus denied it, of course.”

“You think it’s Mairi who knows.”

“I do. She might even know something about those in Edinburgh. If she doesn’t, I’d be willing to bet she knows someone else who does.”

“Brilliant, David. See? You’re not so bad at investigative work, after all.”

I checked the time and groaned. “We best be on our way. It’s half eight already.”

“There you two are. We thought you’d forgotten our meeting,” said Con when we joined them in the castle’s library.

“Yes, well, we’re here now, aren’t we?” I snapped. “If you recall, I was not the one to suggest we meet at this ungodly hour.” I looked about the room. “By the way, where is Fallon?”

“Here,” she said, walking with a tray of fruit. Mairi followed with pastries.

“Bless you,” I said, wishing I could reveal who she really was to me. However, I wouldn’t push. Telling the Ashcroft staff would not be easy for her.

I poured tea for both Sullivan and me, then sat beside her. “Are you ready to get started?”

“I am, but I’m wondering if we should ask Mrs. Drummond, err, Mairi to sit in or if we should wait until we’re ready to discuss the Edinburgh tunnels.”

Given even the most seasoned intelligence agents in the room would likely be shocked by Sullivan’s theories, I couldn’t imagine how Mairi might react. “I think it would be best to wait.”

“Right.”

“If I could have everyone’s attention, we have a great deal to discuss this morning. Before we do, has everyone been briefed on the information Tag relayed last evening?”

Fallon was among those murmuring they had, which was all I’d wanted to be certain of.

“One of the things discussed was, if our theory is correct that Weber is trafficking weaponry, it would stand to reason it would either be chemical or biological. Sullivan brought up another option worth consideration.”

She cleared her throat. “We’re all in agreement that Weber knows a well-timed and targeted raid on even one of Tower-Meridian’s shipments would put an end to his operation. I’d like to suggest we consider that it might not.”

“What do you mean?” Fallon asked.

“If what he’s developing is something we’ve never seen or know nothing about, then a raid would be fruitless.”

I knew the moment Con realized what she was about to suggest. He sat back in his chair, raised his hands to his head, and briefly closed his eyes. “Bloody fucking hell,” he said under his breath.

“What am I missing?” Fallon asked.

“Keep in mind what I’d about to suggest is considered science fiction presently and I doubt very much it’s reached the stage of more advanced development.” Sullivan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “What if Tower-Meridian is trafficking AI weaponry or rather, AI weapons systems?”

My eyes met Con’s, and he nodded.

“Good Lord,” Fallon said, leaning against her chair like Con had. “Do you truly think it’s possible?”

“It is,” Con responded. “Terrifyingly so.”

“You mentioned Labyrinth as a possible project code name,” said Sullivan.

Fallon raised her head. “Are you suggesting Weber is using tunnel systems for transport?”

“A logical assumption,” Con commented.

“What exactly are AI weapons systems?” Fallon asked.

Sullivan looked at Con. “You’d be better able to explain than I would.”

He nodded. “Think about the technology in the same way you would drones. The difference being that there isn’t a need for a person to be sitting in a bunker, making decisions about what the drone should do. Instead, neural weapon controls—self-learning combat systems, if you will—would be employed.”

“With no oversight?” Fallon asked.

“Not necessarily. However, AI systems could adapt and employ battlefield strategies instantaneously, among many, many other things.”

His somber tone was indicative of the mood in the room.

Fallon’s eyes widened. “Are you suggesting military organizations are already employing these technologies?”

“No, not extensively anyway. To put it in perspective, it took what was then the USSR four years to establish nuclear weapons after the US first developed the capabilities.”

“But you believe Weber is already selling it to Russia and China,” Fallon pressed.

“Possessing the technology to put a man on the moon is quite different than successfully launching a rocket,” Con countered.

“But it’s only a matter of time.”

It was like watching a tennis ball being volleyed between the two. However, if Fallon hadn’t been the one to ask the questions, someone else would have.

“Yes, it’s only a matter of time. Which means, Weber must be stopped.” Con looked up at me. “This is bigger than us, Ash.”

I agreed. “I’ll alert Typhon.”

“Viper as well, and they’ll need to come to us,” said Gus.

“Roger that,” I responded.

Fallon stood. “I need to do something productive, or I’ll go mad.”

“I’d like to explore the tunnel idea more in depth,” Sullivan offered.

Fallon nodded.

I turned to Gus. “Regarding tunnel systems, Con alluded to you being an expert on them.”

Gus raised a brow and smirked. “He did no such thing, and you know it.”

“Who, then?”

“Sod off, Ash.” He got up and left the room, but I expected he’d be back within a few minutes.

“Gentlemen, should we leave the library to the ladies?” I asked while we waited for Gus to return.

“Good idea,” said Tag.

“Be there in a minute,” said Con, approaching Fallon after I kissed Sullivan’s cheek and Tag followed me out of the room.

“What’s going on with those two?” I asked.

Tag chuckled. “While our friend knows more about AI weapons systems, Fallon knows more about everything else.”

“Kicking his ego to the curb, is she?”

“No more than Sullivan is yours.”

“Excellent point. However, I’m in love, mate.”

“You don’t say?”

“Don’t say what?” Con asked.

I smirked. “That Fallon is more intelligent than you are.”

“In what universe?”

“What are you gents talking about?” asked Gus, who’d come in and shut the door behind him.

“Fallon is smarter than Con,” Tag responded.

“No question.”

“While you’re all terribly amusing, need I remind you of the matter at hand?”

“You’re right, Con. Let’s get down to business,” I said, taking a seat and motioning for them to as well.