Unstable Serenity - Chapter 14, A Reunited Bond
Max's POV
My entire body felt sore, and I was aching in pain. It must have been from the previous moments that happend to me while I was in Russia and Gitmo... And I'm starting to feel the effects of pain now. I sat up from my bed and tried to ease the pain, but it only hurt more. I slowly stumbled out of my bed and opened the curtains. The sun was just rising from the east. I realized that it was 8:00, but I had nothing to do. I wasn't working or going to school anymore... I simply had no more purpose in this life.
All I could do now was start my day... Or try to at least. I began by taking a shower. I stripped naked and set the water temperature to a comfortable setting. I was used to the five minute showers that I was limited to while I was in the navy. But this felt different, this time I was able to relax, and feel the nice warm water trickle down my body.
After showering, I ate breakfast; toast and coffee. It wasn't much, but I wasn't hungry, and I was still in pain. I got very bored fast. All I did was turn on the TV and check my e-mails. I didn't know what else to do. I didn't have any games anymore, as I had sold them before moving out of my house. I was not very fond of video games after high school, I was just focused on life ahead of me.
I heard someone knock on my door, and I immeiately went to see who it was. Standing infront of me was a small grey wolf. She only looked like she was about seven years old.
"Hello there, mister. Would you like to but a cookie?" She spoke.
She was probably enrolled in some sort of youth program.
"Yeah, sure. I'll take a cookie" I said.
"Thanks, mister! They're the best in the state. My father makes them over at Cripplet's factory down in the big city" she said.
"Really now? Well then, in that case... I would love to try some!" I enthused.
"Five dollars a box" she said.
I reached in my wallet to grab a five dollar bill, and proceeded to hand it to her.
"Thank-you sir! You will not be dissapointed!" She said happily before making her way down the street.
I looked at the box and smiled. "Cookies" I said to myself.
I closed the door and turned around, only to be disturbed by the sound of knocking once again.
I turned around, opened the front door again and spoke "did you forget any - holy shit!" I was surprized.
Standing before me was a Russian fox who would probably be caught dead by the American authorities if this country knew he was standing right here in my doorstep.
"Viktor" I spoke softly.
"I did not forget about you, comrade" he smiled.
I pulled him in my house and closed the door. "Do you realize what they'll do to you if they know you are here!?" I said.
"But they don't know I'm here. That's the fun part" he smiled.
"Fun!? How the hell is this fun! You're going to get arrested!" I exclaimed.
"For being a Russian citizen?" He questioned.
"No, for being a Russian General! They'll think of you as a spy!" I said.
"Relax, Max" He cupped both my shoulders.
I took a deep breath and asked; "what are you doing here?"
"Very good quesiton. How about we sit down, and have some... Cookies" He smiled.
I rolled my eyes and gestured him to come into the kitchen with me. We popped the package of cookies and I offered him coffee.
"No thanks, I'll have tea" he responded.
"What are you British?" I joked.
"Close, I'm Russian in case you haven't noticed" he joked back.
"How about you, Max? Where does your heritage take you?" Viktor asked.
"Well... Since you asked" I sat down.
The two of us then had a long conversation about anything from our interests to our heritage. I found it quite intriguing learning about Russian history and culture from an actual Russian. I never actually got the chance to sit down with Viktor and actually talk to him normally without being interrupted by terrorist attacks or serious upcoming events involved in such activity.
Viktor then got down to business with me. He told me that the Russian governemnt was trying to reach out to Washington and propose a joint counter-terrorist effort against the Cevenda. However, Washington wanted nothing to do with Russia. I didn't understand why the Russians wanted our help so bad, as they were more than capable of taking down the Cevenda if they really wanted to. I simply could not wrap my head around it.
"So, what do you say you come abroad with us and help us out? You're the only American that will listen to us" Viktor suggested.
"That's because I have nothing more to loose, Viktor" I replied.
Viktor said, "Well, you could simply work with us an-"
"What!? No! I am trying to get my country's trust once again I can't work with you! They'll think I'ma a traitor!" I exclaimed.
"They already have," Viktor replied.
I felt uneasy. Either run off with the Russian military and have my home country believe that I am a traitor or make pitiful attempts to re-gain my nation's trust.
"Fine" I spoke.
"So, you're willing to come along now?" He asked.
"Yes," I confirmed. "What else do I have to lose?"
"Well... You have a nice house" Viktor joked.
The two of us quickly vacated the house, and he took me to his rental.
"Come on Max, we have places to be" he said.
"...And furs to see" I replied as I shut the passanger door of the car. Viktor then drove down my street and we headed off for this mystery location.
"So... Where are we going exactly?" I asked.
"We have a lead in Kabul, some sort of formula" he replied.
"What? Like a mathematical formula?" I questioned
"No, no. A chemical formula, read up on it in the glove compartment" he told me.
I reached infront of me, opened the compartment and obtained the documents inside. Viktor had failed to realize that I could not read in cyrillic, so I didn't understand a single word written in the document.
"Viktor," I spoke.
"Is there a problem, Max?" He replied.
I looked at him and held up the documents. "I don't speak or read Russian."
"Well then, simply allow me to explain this chemical" he started. "It's called Red Sodium, a modified chemical which can be used for holding information."
"Where can you get this stuff?" I asked.
"You're not supposed to know it exists. But the only reason I'm telling you this is because we need to work together, and you're the only American willing to help us."
"Well, what does this chemical do?" I puzzled.
"It stores information... But not like your average USB" he answered.
"What kind of information?" I asked.
"One mililiter can hold up to 3 petabytes" he added.
"That's 3000 fucking terabytes!" I replied.
"It costs more than two billion dollars to make one mililiter of that stuff, and not to mention billions more just to figure out how to manufacture it" Viktor explained.
"How much is in Kabul?" I asked.
"We don't know, but it's enough information to hold a master list to every sensitive document issued by every single government out there. And here's the kicker," he pointed at me "there's only a few ways to insert and extract the information from the chemical."
"And what would that be?" I asked.
"One way is to expose it to radioactive material. Once it has been penetrated by radioactive materials, it grows unstable and begins to boil. As this matter boils it releases energy and information. Certain computers are able to insert and extract this information" he explained.
"...And the other way?" I asked.
"The other way is to mix it with Sodium Permangate and boil it to 160 degrees celcius" he replied.
"How do they not manage to melt these computers?" I questioned.
"These are special computers remember, you must not underestimate the technology of this generation" he said.
"Believe me, I am well up to date on today's technology. I fly a multi-million dollar machine that's hooked up to a giant catapult which literally throws me forward from 0 miles per hour to 120 miles per hour in less than three seconds in the middle of the ocean - or at least... I used to." The thought of being discharged made me sad once again. Maybe I can prove to my country somehow that I'm worth keeping.
Viktor's Private Jet - 5 Hours Later
Viktor's POV
I was always taught as a child to treat my guests as if they were me. So, I offerered my American friend a glass of vodka, aged fourty years and an express flight to Kabul.
"You are a man of your liquor, I presume" Max complimented as he sipped soviet vodka.
"This is older than you, I bought this when I was working for the KGB. My commanding officer recommended it to me, and I have savoured every drop of it" I explained.
"I'm sure we can discuss our tastes in alcohol later, but I still need to know a little more about this chemical... And who would make it and why?" Max asked.
"You like to get right to the point I see," I set my drink on the table next to me. "You see, in December of 1979 the Soviet Union sent in special forces troops to storm the Tajbeg Palace and kill president Hafizullah Amin. Russia had commenced a raid on the country. During this time, a Soviet scientist named Markóv Vaandeer, an elk who worked for the KGB was manufacturing Red Sodium at the time. Just when he discovered it, Afghan spies managed to steal the formula and the scientist. They brought him to Kabul and questioned him."
"That's a fantasic story" Max took another sip of vodka. "What happens next?" He seemed real interested in the topic, so I continued anyway.
"Markóv had put very valuable information into the formula, and he was told to re-create the computers that were able to extract the information. They tortured him when he refused. However, soon enough he gave in and right now somewhere in Kabul hidden very well is the computer than can extract the information, and the formula that has the information" I explained.
Max took a moment to take everything all in. I could see he was a bit stressed.
"Do we know where to look?" Max asked.
"The Afghan authorities found the hidden computer and formula buried under a small buliding in 2000. But to this date no foreigners are granted access to it. Only high class authorities and special guards are to be let in" I finished.
"How are we going to get in?" Max asked.
"We're going to have to break down the door before the Cevenda get to it. It's better in our hands than it is in theirs" I stated.
Max had finished up his drink, "I really like this. You do have great taste in your liquor" he complimented.
"Why thank-you" I smiled.
"So... About the Red Sodium... What kind of information is in it?" I asked.
"Well Max... I really shouldn't be telling you this but, if I'm going to get your help I should give you everything you'll need to know" I sighed. "The information inside the formula is the nuclear launch codes and programming sequences to the Red October."
Max stared at me in disbelief, but I didn't blame him.
"You're telling me that the Red October exists?" Max questioned.
"We've had this conversation before, Max. Nobody is supposed to know it exists, furs only know about the novel itself, not the actual ship. It's classified" I told him.
"Well, why aren't they after it?" Max asked.
"They are," I replied. "But you see, they need the information in the formula first. Not only does it contain the nuclear launch codes, but it also contains the exact coordinates of where the Red October actually is. It's technology was state of the art at the time, but is also outdated, which makes it virtually impossible to hack into its computer systems."
"So... You're telling me that the Cevenda are after a ship that almost no one knows about, and they'll have access to deadly nuclear weapons that even the most sophisticated technology won't be able to track down..." Max restated.
"Exactly" I confirmed.