Read Online Brainrush 04 - Everlast 01: Everlast by Richard Bard - Free Book Online Page A

grandfather was a senior member of the Order and good
friend to its leader, Victor Brun. More importantly, Jiaolong’s father and
mother had already arrived on the island, and it was important that the entire
family be together during the crisis. But Grandfather had come to believe that
humanity would be better served through his work at Everlast than through the isolationism
professed by Brun. He would remain behind.
    The news had come as a blow to Jiaolong. He’d idolized
Victor Brun, but he’d loved his grandfather. He’d been tempted to abandon his
plans to deliver his progress with Passcode into Brun’s hands, and instead convince
his parents to travel with him to Amsterdam. But his grandfather wouldn’t have
it. He’d insisted that Jiaolong proceed to the island and remain there, arguing
it was the only way to ensure continuation of their family line in the event the
alien grid unleashed its power on the world.
    In the end, it had been the unified strength and
companionship of the triplets that had convinced him to follow his grandfather’s
wishes.
    But the next day, everything had changed. Their boat had encountered
mechanical problems less than two miles outside the cove, just as Bronson’s team
began its assault. Jiaolong had witnessed the island’s destruction, listening
over the radio to the screams and pleas for help from the fourteen hundred
people trapped in the underground cauldron.
    Including Mother and Father.
    He’d watched in horror from the boat as his parents—and his
dreams of a life of consequence—went up in smoke. Like his broken vessel, his
world was drifting at the whim of currents beyond his control.
    If not for Lin, Zhin, and Min’s compassion, he would never
have been able to pull himself from his depression. Their counsel had steeled
his resolve and brought clarity to a new vision. Judgment day had only been
delayed by the disappearance of the alien grid. The lack of available resources
on Earth would become the cause of humanity’s extinction. The math was simple
and irrefutable—population growth was out of control, and within his lifetime
the supply of food would become insufficient to support the masses. Global war
would be unavoidable, as would the use of weapons of mass destruction, smothering
the planet in a blanket of darkness and radiation that would snuff out life. The
vision molded centuries ago by the Order founders remained valid. Judgment day
was still coming, and it would require a leader of immense power and influence
to guide humanity from the abyss.
    Passcode would allow Jiaolong to become that man.
    And Everlast would allow him to maintain that position
forever.
    He would fulfill the oath he made that day on the boat while
the island burned: to mete out justice to those responsible for the murder of
his parents and the vast family of Order members who’d perished before his eyes,
including the triplets’ mother.
     Jake Bronson would be made to suffer as he and the sisters had
suffered, to feel the despair of a world lost to him, and the anguish of the
violent deaths of his loved ones.
    But first, Jiaolong would use Bronson and those dear to him to
help with the technological leap that would turn Everlast into a reality.
    And save Jiaolong’s grandfather’s life.
    Lin’s gentle touch brought him out of his reverie. “They are
ready. The live stream will be on the center screen.”
    Earlier, he’d reviewed the recording of the Tony Johnson
takedown in L.A. Pak had been correct—the man was a bear. The fight had been
fearsome, and the footage was already being manipulated in the editing room. He
couldn’t help but smile in anticipation of the final product.
    But in the meantime, he would enjoy watching this next
abduction in real time.
    TurboHacker was about to meet his match.

Chapter 1 2
Cavalieri Hotel
Rome, Italy
11:00 p.m.
    E VEN THOUGH MARSHALL had been to plenty of
these kinds of events, wearing a tuxedo with Lacey on his arm, they still
weren’t