Lazarus Protocol

Chapter 9: The Defector

With practiced efficiency, Alexander searched her body, finding a phone and a small notebook. He pocketed both, then stood, his eyes scanning the area for any other threats.

"Clear," he reported. "But we need to move. Local authorities will be here any minute."

"Roger that," Jack replied. "I'm on Janus' trail. He's heading for Ponte Sisto. Rendezvous there in five."

Alexander took off at a run, his mind racing. The presence of a Chimera hit squad meant their window of opportunity was rapidly closing. If they couldn't extract Janus soon, the defector would either be silenced or scared back into Chimera's fold.

He reached the Ponte Sisto bridge just as Jack emerged from a side street, half-dragging a panting, wide-eyed Janus.

"Any trouble?" Alexander asked, falling into step beside them.

Jack shook his head. "Clean getaway. But we're not out of the woods yet."

As if on cue, the distant wail of police sirens began to echo through the Roman night.

"This way," Alexander said, leading them off the bridge and down a set of stone steps to the banks of the Tiber. A small motorboat was moored nearby - their escape route, arranged by Dr. Petrova.

They piled in, Jack starting the engine as Alexander untied the moorings. Within moments, they were speeding down the river, the lights of Rome blurring into a golden haze on either side.

For several long minutes, the only sound was the hum of the engine and Janus' ragged breathing. Then, as the adrenaline of the chase began to fade, the defector spoke.

"I... I didn't think you'd come," he said, his voice barely audible over the water. "When I saw that woman, I thought..."

"That we'd set you up?" Jack finished, his tone sharp. "If we wanted you dead, we wouldn't have gone through all this trouble."

Janus flinched at the harshness in Jack's voice, but Alexander could see the fear and desperation in the man's eyes. Whatever his reasons for defecting, they were genuine.

"We're here to help," Alexander said, his voice gentler. "But we need to know what you know. Everything about Chimera, about Project Lazarus, about Dravenko's plans."

Janus nodded, swallowing hard. "I... I was part of the research team. Not high-level, but I saw things. Terrible things. What they're doing with the Lazarus Protocol... it's not just about creating perfect spies anymore. They're trying to reshape humanity itself."

A chill ran down Alexander's spine. "What do you mean?"

"The memory manipulation, the personality overrides - they're just the beginning," Janus continued, his words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "Dravenko believes he can create a new species, one that's perfectly loyal, infinitely adaptable. Soldiers who can be reprogrammed for any mission, politicians who can be molded to fit any agenda. And you, Mr. Kincaid... you're the prototype."

Alexander felt the weight of Jack's gaze on him, heavy with suspicion and concern. He forced himself to focus on Janus. "What else? What are their immediate plans?"

Janus hesitated, glancing nervously between Alexander and Jack. "There's... there's an operation. Something big. They call it 'Prometheus.' I don't know all the details, but it involves simultaneous attacks on major financial centers. New York, London, Tokyo, Frankfurt. They're going to crash the global economy, create chaos on a scale we've never seen before."

"Jesus," Jack muttered. "When?"

"Soon," Janus said. "Within the next two weeks. That's why I had to get out now. I couldn't be part of it anymore."