The Project Eden Thrillers Box Set 2 Read online

  The Project Eden Thrillers

  Box Set 2 | Volumes 4 - 6

  Brett Battles

  ASHES Copyright © 2012 by Brett Battles

  Cover art copyright © 2012 by Jeroen ten Berge

  EDEN RISING Copyright © 2013 by Brett Battles

  Cover art copyright © 2013 by Jeroen ten Berge

  DREAM SKY Copyright © 2014 by Brett Battles

  Cover art copyright © 2014 by Jeroen ten Berge

  All rights reserved.

  ASHES, EDEN RISING, and DREAM SKY are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For more information about the author, please visit www.brettbattles.com.

  For more information about the artist, please visit www.jeroentenberge.com.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Ashes

  What Came Before

  December 24th

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  December 25th

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  December 26th

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  December 27th

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Thank you for reading ASHES

  Eden Rising

  Chapter 1

  December 31st

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  January 1st

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  January 2nd

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Thank you for reading EDEN RISING

  Dream Sky

  January 3rd

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  January 5th

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  January 6th

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  January 7th

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  January 8th

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Thank you for reading Dream Sky

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Brett Battles

  Ashes

  A Project Eden Thriller | No. 4

  What Came Before

  THE UNTHINKABLE HAS happened.

  Using an extensive network of specially equipped shipping containers, Project Eden has unleashed the Sage Flu upon the world, intent on wiping out over ninety-nine percent of the human population.

  Despite its best efforts, the group known as the Resistance was unable to stop this horrific act from happening, and found itself under attack by a squad of Project Eden commandos.

  Caught outside the Resistance’s hideaway, Brandon Ash raced through the woods in search of safety. But all he found was a woman dealing with her own demons, and he was forced to move farther and farther away from his friends.

  Twenty-four-hour curfews spread around the globe as people everywhere did what they could to keep themselves and their families safe.

  Martina Gable and her family headed for a cabin in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the high desert of California, desperately trying to isolate themselves from those who might be carrying the disease.

  In India, after Sanjay inoculated Kusum, the girl he loved, he reluctantly took her back to her family in Mumbai. He then went in search of more vaccine, while Kusum led the others out of the city. Once Sanjay found what he was after, he, too, went back to the country, where, after a panicked night apart, he found Kusum again.

  And then there was Project Eden itself. Its leadership apparently dead, a new principal director emerges, one who has no intention of ever conceding the job to anyone else.

  In a desperate race back to the Resistance headquarters from where he’d witnessed the destruction of Bluebird—Project Eden’s base above the Arctic Circle—Captain Daniel Ash arrived only to find his son missing. Out searching for Brandon, he came across a house in the wilderness that Brandon had visited earlier. But while his son had been able to get away from the woman who lived there, Ash was caught in the explosion that destroyed her house. He was rushed back to the Ranch, barely clinging to life.

  Meanwhile, throughout the world, the sound of coughing grows louder and louder…

  Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust…

  Book of Common Prayer

  December 24th

  Christmas Eve

  One

  TEMPORARY OFFICE OF PROJECT EDEN’S PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR

  NB219, LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO

  8:53 PM MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME (MST)

  PEREZ HIT PLAY.

  It was the fourth time he’d watched the video. He wasn’t one hundred percent happy with the piece, but changing it at this point would mean an unnecessary delay of at least a week.

  “Fine,” he said to Claudia, his assistant. “Approved.”

  “And the proposed date?”

  It was three days away.

  “Also approved.”

  “I’ll let the communications team know,” she said. “Do you want this on automatic or would you like to activate?”

  He gave it only a second’s thought. “When the time comes, we’ll do it from here.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  Two

  PCN BROADCAST

  11:13 PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)

  “FIREFIGHTERS BELIEVE THE blaze started in a grocery store on 22nd Avenue before it quickly
overtook the surrounding buildings,” Candice Mandel said.

  She was reporting from St. Petersburg, Florida. The camera revealed flames rising from nearly every building along the avenue. Firefighters ran up and down the street, pulling equipment from trucks and spraying water on the flames, but it was clear their efforts would not be enough.

  “One official we were able to speak with said that the rapid spread of the fire indicated it had been set intentionally.” The camera panned to the left until Mandel was in the picture. With her free hand, she adjusted the surgical mask covering her mouth and nose before adding, “A mandatory evacuation of the residential area directly behind the fire has already begun. Unfortunately, the effort is hampered by residents’ fear of leaving their homes.”

  The image of Mandel cut to prerecorded shots of the evacuation.

  Police wearing gas masks normally used in riot situations were knocking on doors and moving people to buses parked along the street. Before they boarded, the evacuees were handed masks similar to the one Mandel was wearing. While most people seemed to be cooperating, a few could be seen struggling with the officers.

  The picture cut to a shot of a front door as police knocked on it. It opened an inch, but no more.

  “Sir, how many people are in the house with you?” one of the officers asked.

  “Just me and my wife. Why?”

  “You both need to come with us.”

  “Are you kidding me? We’re not going anywhere,” the man said. “Not with that bug out there.”

  “Sir, there’s a fire on 22nd Avenue that’s threatening to spread this way. We need to evacuate the entire neighborhood.”

  “Sorry, buddy. We ain’t leaving!” The man started to close the door, but the officer jammed a foot across the threshold.

  The image cut back to Mandel standing in front of the fire. “That couple was eventually escorted to one of the buses, but the man wasn’t the only one to express that kind of sentiment.” She paused. “Choosing between running from a fire or exposing themselves to the Sage Flu virus now spreading around the world is not what these people thought they’d be doing on Christmas Eve. Back to you in New York, Henry.”

  Mandel was replaced on screen by PCN anchor Henry Nash. “There have been reports of looting and acts of destruction throughout the country, but so far these have been isolated events that authorities have been able to stop.” Nash fell silent for a second, his eyes becoming momentarily unfocused. When he looked back into the camera, he said, “We’re going to take you to the White House briefing room and correspondent Shelley Barnes. Shelley?”

  The new image was a wide shot of an empty podium with the White House seal hanging on the wall behind it. In front of the podium were several rows of chairs, each filled with a member of the press. Most were wearing surgical-type masks, while a few went as far as donning full gas masks.

  After a second’s delay, the unseen Shelley Barnes said, “Henry, we’ve been told that a White House spokesman will be delivering an important update on the situation at any moment. So far, we’ve only been hearing—” She paused as a door at the front of the room opened. “It looks like the brief is about to start.”

  There was a rustle in the crowd as four men entered and spread out on either side of the podium. As soon as they were in position, the president himself walked out. He was followed by the majority and minority leaders of both the House and Senate, and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

  A murmur of surprise arose as all the reporters stood until the leader of the United States was behind the podium. The president’s normally vigorous and youthful face looked drawn and tired. He stared at the gathered press for a moment before he began.

  “Ladies and gentleman,” he said. His face turned even grimmer. “In the last hour, I have received confirmation that deaths in the US directly attributable to the Sage Flu are in the thousands and climbing rapidly. I wish I could tell you these were confined to a particular location, but I cannot. The cases are spread throughout the country. In addition to the dead, tens of thousands more have already reported suffering from flu-like symptoms.

  “I have been in touch with leaders in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and throughout Europe, and, without exception, all are experiencing similar outbreaks.

  “I have told the director of the CDC that there is no higher priority than the creation of a vaccine to defeat this deadly virus. All resources of this government are at their disposal, and I have been assured scientists in labs throughout the world are working around the clock until that goal is met. Something that I am confident they will achieve.

  “It will take time, however. Months. Perhaps up to a year. My mission is to see that you, the citizens of the United States, are still here to receive the inoculation.” He glanced over his shoulder at the congressional leaders who had joined him, then said, “As a first step to make sure that happens, and in consultation with both parties in Congress, just moments ago, I signed an executive order suspending the Constitution of the United States, extending the twenty-four-hour curfew indefinitely. The only people exempt are those needed for essential services—military; emergency personnel such as police, firefighters, doctors, and nurses; those needed to maintain utilities such as power and water; and others in positions critical to maintaining the health and safety of our nation. Anyone outside of these individuals found breaking curfew or otherwise risking the safety of others will be arrested and forced to spend the duration of our state of emergency in a holding facility as a guest of the United States military. Food and other needed items will be dispersed in an organized, scheduled manner, with strict instructions on how these items are to be retrieved. We ask that everyone please be patient and understanding.

  “We are all in this together, and together we will see this through.”

  SITUATION ROOM, WHITE HOUSE

  11:16 PM EST

  EVERY CHAIR SAVE the one usually occupied by the president was filled, all eyes on the monitor at the front of the room displaying the press briefing.

  All, that was, but Dr. Michael Esposito’s. He was glancing at his boss, Dr. Marston, head of the CDC. The man looked thoughtful and supportive as he watched the president speak, an expression Esposito couldn’t bring himself to match.

  Dr. Marston had been in Washington advising the president since not long after the shipping containers found around the world began spewing their deadly cargo. He had then flown Esposito up that afternoon on a government plane. Esposito had protested, saying he needed to stay at the labs while his team continued trying to find some way to combat the Sage Flu virus. The new strain, which they were calling Sage Flu B (SF-B), was subtly different from the SF-A virus that had broken out in California the previous spring, and Esposito’s team was just beginning to make some progress on what those differences might mean.

  “The work won’t stop if you’re not there,” Marston had told him. “Get on that plane and get up here now.”

  Upon arriving in DC, Esposito was rushed to the White House by a police escort, an unnecessary step given that the streets were all but empty. There, he’d been led to an office his boss was using.

  Marston immediately stood. “Finally. Come on.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To brief the president.”

  “I could have done that over the phone,” Esposito said, unable to hide his annoyance.

  Marston pressed his lips tightly together, then said, “No, this is not something you could have done over the phone.”

  Esposito held up a hand in defense. “All right, all right.” He dropped his jacket on the guest chair and followed his boss to the door. “So what are we supposed to be talking about?”

  Marston’s hand was on the doorknob, but he paused without turning it and looked back at Esposito. “A vaccine.”

  “What vaccine?”

  “For the Sage Flu. What do you think?”

  “There is no vaccine.”

  “I know that, and so does the
president. What he wants to know is, when will it be ready?”

  Esposito gaped at him, hoping this was some kind of joke. “You know I can’t put a date on it. Maybe it’ll take a couple of months, maybe it’ll take twenty years! Look at HIV, for God’s sake. How long have we been working on a cure for that?”