Read #2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love Page 37

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Cerberus And The Council

  1:45 P.M...

  The Chamber...

  The door opened, letting light from the hall brightened the area, and the Council paused as a figure stepped in. Analysts hushed and halted their work, recognizing the one who entered. None of them dared make a sound. They didn't want to attract its attention.

  "Cerberus, you have returned," Mr. Morta said. "Did you track down Pandora? Have you been able to observe Pandora?"

  "Yeah." Stephanie closed the door, plunging the Chamber back to partial darkness illuminated by a computer-blue glow. "She isn't what I expected?"

  "Not what you expected?" Surprised by its statement, Mr. Decuma asked, "Did you make contact with Pandora?"

  "Yeah." Stephanie walked across the room and stood before them. "I learned a lot from my encounter."

  Disappointed, Mr. Decuma stated, "You were told not to make contact. Why did you disobey our orders?"

  "Actually, I was told not to kill Pandora, at least not yet. And I was told I could monitor her."

  Ms. Nona asked, "When did monitoring mean making contact?"

  "What better way to understand the prey than to get close, to study her habits, and to see why she does things." Stephanie added, "What better way to find her weaknesses."

  Mr. Morta's view...

  "Have you?" I ask.

  Cerberus is biting at its leash. We will need to keep a close eye on this experiment.

  I repeat my question, "Have you discovered Pandora's weaknesses?"

  End Mr. Morta's view...

  "A couple." Stephanie smiled, thinking of the boy. "I can use them to exploit her." She placed her hands on the table and looked into each of the Council's faces. "When will you let me kill her?" Stephanie glared at them as if willing them to give her the answer she desired. "How much longer do I have to wait? I want to kill her now!"

  Mr. Morta activated the center screen, and it lowered.

  "The bio-data we received from Pandora is inconclusive." Ms. Nona studied the outline of the female body on the center screen. "The readings seem to indicate Pandora has reached the Delta Phase, but..."

  "But there is no indication that Pandora ever reached Gamma," Mr. Decuma interrupted. "Without reaching that phase, there is no way it reached the Delta."

  "Does that mean our readings are correct?" Mr. Morta asked. "Do we have no further need of the Pandora Project or is something eluding our sight?"

  "Nothing eludes us," Ms. Nona said. "Pandora is a failure."

  Stephanie's eyes brightened. "Then you'll let me kill..."

  "Yes." Mr. Morta gave in reluctantly. "It means you can eliminate Pandora. We have no further need of that project."

  Stephanie clapped her hands like an excited child. "Finally, I thought I was going to have to disobey my orders."

  Mr. Morta caught her last statement; it seemed they might have more than one defiant project. He ordered, "Report to the Infirmary. You will go through one final checkup before your mission."

  "Awe... Come on! Do I have to?"

  "Yes," Mr. Decuma replied. "Do not make us repeat ourselves."

  "Oh, alright." Stephanie headed for the door. "But when I'm done, I'm going after her."

  After the experiment left...

  Mr. Decuma turned to the larger man and asked, "Why did you send Cerberus to the Infirmary?"

  "It will give Argus time to get into position. He is gathering his equipment as we speak," Mr. Morta said. "I want him to follow Cerberus. The experiment has an embedded tracking beacon, but still, I want no more unmonitored excursions into Noir. I have seen signs of insubordination from Cerberus. The experiment needs to be watched. We do not need a rogue."

  Ms. Nona and Mr. Decuma nodded.

  Mr. Decuma leaned back pleased with himself. "Cerberus will finally prove it is the superior project, and we will be rid of the useless Pandora."