SWNOVELS Chapter 14
“...human cloning continues to advance and the breakthrough in this unethical and morally questionable science is around the corner.” - Mike Pence
It was a typical Nevada summer morning; excessively hot and dry, nary a cloud in the sky. But the dynamic duo slept through it, hermetically sealed within an air conditioned condo cocoon, tucked between sateen sheets - sleeping the sleep of the just. That is, until Franklin’s cellphone ringtone played several bars ad infinitum of an Oscar winning song from a 2083 campy cult movie classic. On the thirtieth ring he rolled over, on the fiftieth ring he stuck his head underneath a pillow, and on the sixtieth ring he slowly opened one eye. Who knows how many rings it took before Franklin picked up his cellphone from a nightstand and after a prolonged yawn answered, “Franklin Pierce here.”
“Hello, I’m Rebecca Nasov, assistant to Solomon Nasov, CEO of Janitorial Services, Incorporated. My father..., (coughing)...I meant the CEO, asked me to congratulate you for successfully hosting our company’s annual seminar. Past seminars tended to be more of a vacation for the attendees than an educational experience. Evidently, you broke the mold. Janitorial Services has been receiving lots of favorable reports, some of which we forwarded to the Board of Directors. And the phones have not stopped ringing. There were two government observers in the auditorium. They are considering reviving the Supreme Soldier project, using your methodology to instill loyalty.”
“I would like to know more about the Supreme Soldier project, particularly their reprogramming and motivational techniques. I understand the automaton transformation process takes place in an underground facility at the southern end of Groom Lake, 125 miles from where I am currently staying in Las Vegas. But we are finished with the seminar and I do not know how long I will be here. I gather that depends on my next assignment. Am I going to be here long enough to take a side trip to Area 51?,”
Franklin inquired.
“I have never heard of Groom Lake, but if it’s within Area 51, it must be Top Secret. You cannot just go wandering around up there. They are liable to shoot you. You could get arrested or sent to Guantanamo. You definitely do not want to do anything rash,” cautioned Rebecca. “There is a chance I can arrange a tour of the facility. The government wants to know more about your methodology and you want to know what they are doing.”
“The company was supposed to ship my car from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. I’m still waiting. Also, I need to know how much longer the company is going to foot the bill for me to stay at the Eclipse Resort,” Franklin appended while pouring himself a glass of pink lemonade.
“You will get your car today,” promised Rebecca. “There was a mix up and the driver dropped it off at the wrong address. As for your condo at Eclipse Resort, the lease doesn’t expire until the end of the month. I will try and arrange a tour of the facility. I’m not familiar with Grim Lake. I cannot find it on Lexis Nexis.”
“It is Groom Lake, spelled G-r-o-o-m; most of the year it is a dry basin. The nearest site of any importance is Homey Field, a Central Intelligence Agency airstrip,” Franklin corrected.
“I located Homey Field. It is a dirt airstrip. Lexis Nexis shows a collection of steel buildings a little beyond the southern end of Groom Lake. No mention of an underground facility. However, there is an enclosed swimming pool. It says Groom Lake was a Top Secret aircraft testing facility in the late 19th century. I do not know what the government is using it for today. Look, I will contact the CIA and a few Nevada Congressmen to see what I can set up and I will get back to you by tomorrow afternoon.”