Chapter 5 - The Family Secret
Laura stared in absolute, paralyzing horror at her treacherous father-in-law.
General Vance had been the exact man who solemnly delivered the folded American flag at her husband's funeral.
He had grieved deeply with her, held her hand, and promised to always protect their broken family.
Thomas, what are you doing? Laura demanded, bravely stepping through the heavy curtain.
Please let Leo go, he is your very own biological grandson.
The older man's dark eyes were completely cold and entirely devoid of any human familial warmth.
My son died because of your pathetic incompetence in the air, Laura, he spat bitterly.
You were his assigned wingman, and you completely failed to cover him during that classified test flight.
Laura shook her head vehemently, hot tears finally springing to her wide eyes.
That is an absolute lie, and you know it, she argued defensively.
His jet was forcibly taken over by that rogue autopilot software, and I could not possibly save him.
General Vance laughed loudly, a dry and incredibly hollow sound that chilled her blood.
I wrote that specific software, Laura, he confessed without a single shred of visible remorse.
It was a revolutionary cyber weapon designed to take complete control of enemy aircraft remotely from the ground.
We needed a live, unpredictable combat test to prove it truly worked to the skeptical military contractors.
Laura felt the floor completely drop out from underneath her as the horrific truth finally clicked into place.
You deliberately sacrificed your own son just to secretly test a software weapon? she whispered in pure, unadulterated disgust.
Thomas shrugged slightly, the heavy black gun never wavering from little Leo's head.
He was deemed an acceptable casualty for the greater, necessary good of our national security, he replied casually.
But you stubbornly started asking far too many questions after his official death, Laura.
That is exactly why I orchestrated this entire little hijacking operation today.
When this commercial plane violently crashes into the ocean, the world will simply blame a tragic mechanical failure.
My valuable software will remain a secret, and the only person who actively suspects the truth will be dead.
Leo sobbed loudly, reaching his small, shaking hands out toward his mother.
Mommy, please help me, the terrified boy cried.
Laura's deep sorrow instantly hardened into absolute, unyielding, burning rage.
She slowly took a confident step forward, her eyes locking fiercely onto the older man's face.
You made one massive, fatal miscalculation, Thomas, she said with deadly, chilling calm.
The corrupt general narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
And what would that possibly be? he asked mockingly.
May you like
Laura smiled coldly as the commercial jet suddenly dropped into a violent, deeply intentional freefall.
I told the First Officer to aggressively execute a zero-gravity combat dive, she announced triumphantly.
