“Perhaps these components should not be in an unsealed housing,” said Stealth.
“Not much to it,” said Cerberus. The titan had dropped to one knee and bent close to the dead man. “A few flash memory cards, micro-transistors, batteries...” The thick metal finger traced wires for a few moments before the armored skull turned to Freedom. “This thing lets you control them?”
“Sir,” Smith said to the colonel, “perhaps I should see if Doctor Sorensen can spare some time away from his current work?”
“Please do, Mr. Smith. The captain and I will answer as best we can in the meantime.”
Smith adjusted his tie, gave a quick smile up at the Cerberus armor, and headed out the door. One of the sergeants followed him.
“Company,” called Freedom. “About face.”
There was a pause, and the undead shifted with a thump of boots.
“Five paces, march.”
The exes took five stumbling steps and stopped again.
“About face.”
Stealth stiffened. Even with the armor, Danielle’s reaction was apparent. The colonel glanced at them. “Something wrong?”
“Last time we saw a bunch of exes moving in sync,” said the titan, “it didn’t... it didn’t work out well for one of our friends.”
“You’ve seen them act like this before?”
“The same superhuman who damaged the Cerberus armor,” said Stealth, “also had an ability to control ex-humans.”
“Where’s this person now?” asked Shelly.
“What’s left of him’s at Melrose and Gower,” said Cerberus. “I burned all the big pieces.”
“Sir,” said Freedom to the colonel, “if you’ll pardon me I have a drill in ten.”
“Of course, captain. Dismissed.” The two men exchanged salutes, and Freedom bowed his head to Stealth and Cerberus.
“The immediate question,” said the cloaked woman, “is why?”
“Why?”
“Why have you developed a method of controlling the exes?”
“Why wouldn’t we?” countered the colonel. “If we can’t contain the ex-virus, we need a way to control it.”
“But why use them as soldiers?”
“We were short-staffed,” Shelly said. “At the start of the year we were down to nine hundred soldiers, and over six hundred of those were our barely-trained civilian recruits. They’ve come a long way since then, but it still left us with a lot less than a base like this needs. Doctor Sorensen’s work is going to be a huge benefit to the United States.”
“It would seem the risk of losing control would cancel any possible benefits.”
“There’s no risk,” he said. “Besides, at the moment we’re only using them for low-pressure jobs like sentry duty.”
“Of course,” said Stealth. “The large numbers at your perimeter.”
“That explains why Zzzap didn’t see anyone,” muttered the titan. She looked back at the rows of silent exes. “I’d love to get a better look at those control boxes.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” said Shelly. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time to go over all the specs with Doctor Sorensen once you’re set up. We could even move your lab into the main building near his.”
“It’s better if I stay out here so the suit has easy access,” she said.
The colonel gave her a look. “Well, that won’t be your concern, though, will it?”
“Sir?”
“Dr. Morris, you were never intended to be the pilot of the Cerberus suit,” said Shelly. “We both know that. If it hadn’t been such a time-intensive, crisis situation you never would’ve worn it into battle.” He shook his head. “Now we can get you back in the lab and working on improvements to the system. That’s what you want, too, isn’t it?”
“But...” the armored giant looked at Shelly, then over at Stealth. “It will take months to get anyone up to my level of proficiency. It’s better to have Cerberus out on the front lines, isn’t it?”
“Of course, and Lieutenant Gibbs has been studying the suit’s specs for some time. We even got him a working copy of the simulator you designed.”
The Air Force lieutenant stepped forward. “I’ve logged over fifteen hundred hours, ma’am,” he said. “You’ve built an amazing weapons system.”
“I didn’t think the simulator was ever built.”
The colonel smiled. “Some of our tech boys have had a lot of time on their hands. I think you’ll find Gibbs is qualified and ready to take over as the Cerberus pilot.”
“If,” said Stealth, “we decide to leave the armor with you.”
Shelly took in a breath to respond and bit his tongue. “Yes,” he said. “If that’s what we all decide.”
Her head tilted inside her hood. “It strikes me as suspicious this point has not come up before, colonel.”
“Is it, ma’am?” He looked up at the armor. “If I recall, Doctor Morris, the only reason you agreed to put on the suit and fight during the outbreak was because you were worried someone else might damage Cerberus, correct?”
“Well, yes, but I wanted to help—”