Chapter 7: The Uniform From Eight Years Ago
Harris did not step away from Ruby.
The older officer stood beyond the chain barrier, hands folded behind his back as though he were inspecting a routine security post.
But his eyes never left the child.
Harris recognized him.
“General Mercer.””
Mercer smiled.
“It's been a long time.””
Amelia's grip tightened around Ruby's hand.
“Don't talk to him.””
Mercer looked at her.
“You were always dramatic, Amelia.””
Harris stepped forward.
“You're wearing an obsolete uniform.””
Mercer's smile disappeared.
“You notice details.””
“I was trained to.””
“You were trained by me.””
Harris's jaw tightened.
“And Daniel was trained by you.””
A silence fell.
Mercer glanced toward the soldiers surrounding the entrance.
“Everyone lower their weapons.””
Lewis didn't move.
Harris raised one hand.
“No one lowers anything.””
Mercer looked at him.
“You're challenging a superior officer?””
“I'm protecting a civilian.””
Mercer laughed softly.
“You have no idea what you're protecting.””
Ruby stood between Harris and Amelia.
She looked up at the general.
“Do you know my dad?””
Mercer's expression changed.
“Yes.””
“Is he dead?””
Mercer stared at her.
“No.””
Ruby's breath caught.
Harris stepped forward.
“Where is he?””
Mercer looked at him.
“Still asking the wrong question.””
“Then give me the right one.””
Mercer nodded toward Ruby.
“Ask who she really is.””
Amelia pulled Ruby behind her.
“She is my daughter.””
Mercer smiled.
“Biologically?””
Amelia said nothing.
Harris's eyes narrowed.
“Amelia.””
She shook her head.
Mercer took one step closer to the barrier.
“Daniel discovered something eight years ago. Something buried beneath this base's intelligence program.””
Harris said, “What?””
“A list.””
“What list?””
“Children.””
Ruby stared at him.
Mercer continued.
“Children born under identities that never existed.””
Harris's expression hardened.
“You're talking about witnesses.””
“No.””
Mercer looked directly at Ruby.
“I'm talking about assets.””
Amelia stepped forward.
“She's not an asset.””
Mercer replied coldly, “She was never supposed to survive.””
Ruby's face went blank.
Harris's voice dropped.
“What did you say?””
Amelia grabbed Ruby and pulled her close.
Mercer sighed.
“This is why Daniel disappeared.””
Harris stepped through the barrier.
“Explain.””
Mercer didn't move.
“Daniel discovered that the program had been creating false identities for children connected to military families. When those children became inconvenient, their records were erased.””
Harris stared at him.
“And Ruby?””
Mercer looked at Amelia.
“Ruby was the last one.””
Harris's eyes went to the little girl.
“What does that mean?””
Amelia's voice broke.
“It means she was born during the operation.””
Harris turned toward her.
“You knew?””
“I knew enough.””
“Who is her biological father?””
Amelia looked at Ruby.
Then at Harris.
“I don't know.””
Ruby's eyes widened.
“You don't know who my father is?””
Amelia knelt.
“I know the man who raised you in my heart.””
“But that's not what I asked.””
Amelia couldn't answer.
Mercer interrupted.
“Daniel knew.””
Harris turned.
“Then where is he?””
Mercer smiled.
“You're finally asking the right question.””
He reached inside his jacket.
Lewis immediately raised his weapon.
Mercer stopped.
“Relax.””
He removed a small folded document.
Then he held it up.
“This was signed by Colonel Harris eight years ago.””
Harris stared at the signature.
His signature.
Beneath it:
*TRANSFER OF CUSTODIAL AUTHORITY — SUBJECT R-08.*
Harris's face drained.
“R-08.””
Mercer nodded.
“Ruby.””
Amelia shook her head.
“No.””
Harris grabbed the document.
“This isn't my signature.””
Mercer said, “It is.””
“I never authorized this.””
“You were unconscious.””
Harris looked at Amelia.
“You knew.””
“I tried to stop it.””
“You let them use my name.””
“They had already taken your authorization codes.””
Mercer smiled.
“Enough.””
He pointed at Ruby.
“Hand her over.””
“No.””
Mercer's expression hardened.
“Colonel, this is no longer your decision.””
Harris stepped in front of Ruby.
“It is if you want to get to her.””
Mercer looked at Lewis.
“Guard.””
Lewis remained still.
Mercer's voice became colder.
“You will stand aside.””
Lewis looked at Harris.
Harris nodded once.
Lewis raised his weapon toward Mercer.
“Sorry, sir.””
Mercer's face changed.
Then the base alarm erupted.
Red lights flashed across the entrance.
A computerized voice announced:
*UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED.*
Mercer looked toward the gate.
“What did you do?””
Harris answered, “Nothing.””
Lewis checked his radio.
“Sir, someone is inside the command network.””
Mercer turned sharply.
Amelia whispered, “Daniel.””
Harris looked at her.
“You think he's here?””
“No.””
She stared at the security cameras.
“I think he wants us to find him.””
One monitor suddenly flickered back on.
A grainy image appeared.
A man stood in a dark room.
Older.
Bearded.
Wearing a plain gray shirt.
Ruby stepped closer to the screen.
“I know him.””
Harris stared.
“How?””
Ruby pointed.
“He came to our apartment once.””
Amelia's face went white.
The man on the monitor looked directly into the camera.
Then he spoke.
“Ruby, if you're seeing this, your mother finally brought you home.””
Harris moved toward the screen.
“Daniel?””
The man smiled sadly.
“No, Colonel.””
He lifted a photograph.
It showed the soldier whose face had been torn from Ruby's original picture.
This copy showed his face clearly.
And the man on the screen said,
May you like
“My name is Michael Reed.””
The screen went black.
