The Phoenix Variant: The Fifth Column 3 Read Online Free Page A

second thoughts may?
    MAY: Fifth thoughts. What happens if things go south? We’re toast.
    TERI: don’t think about that. don’t ever think about it.
    HUGH: Death, man.
    MAY: Ya think Hugh? Because I didn’t sign up for that.
    TERI: yeah well who did
    HUGH: They’re psychopaths, all of them. You’ve read the research, right? Owen transcribed it to English, he knows better than any of us.
    HUGH: Nothing is off-limits.
    MAY: Is there any way to restore them? You know, make them human.
    OWEN: No.
    [NAVEEM CONNECTED]
    NAVEEM: DIE UNSTERBLICHEN
    TERI: goddammit Naveem will you stop blazin that shit
    NAVEEM: ???
    HUGH: Ok let’s change the world brothers!
    HUGH: And sisters.
    TERI: you’ve always been the sister, H!
    HUGH: Breaking my heart here.
    MAY: Yep, one marriage at a time
    TERI: right on
    OWEN: Naveem, are you ready?
    NAVEEM: Just setting up guys …
    NAVEEM: Sorry I’m late. Couldn’t attract suspicion, had to be cool.
    OWEN: We’re all here. Tell us when you’re ready.
    HUGH: Do you think Denton knows?
    TERI: unlikely
    HUGH: He knows everything. That man is crazy on wheels.
    TERI: he’s not a man
    HUGH: I hear that.
    MAY: Cleaned your ears this morning Hugh?
    HUGH: No but I actually hear something. Just the wind I hope. You in the lab?
    MAY: Yeah. Graveyard shift with Valentina. OpCenter is a little too quiet.
    HUGH: At least you’re not home alone with strange noises outside.
    TERI: been smoking again, H?
    MAY: No seriously guys if Denton finds out we have the virus code we’re done for.
    OWEN: Now is not the time to scare yourself. Stay focused. Stay on task. Everyone.
    NEVEEM: OK, it’s raw and ready.
    TERI: i bet
    OWEN: May, enter your access with Valentina.
    MAY: Standby.
    HUGH: If this is the end, I just want to say I love you guys.
    TERI: shut up H
    TERI: we love you too
    NAVEEM: DIE UNSTERBLICHEN
    HUGH: I swear Naveem will you stop with that German shit!
    TERI: is he telling us to die? not cool
    NAVEEM: I told you, it’s not me.
    NAVEEM: I’m not doing it.
    MAY: And … we’re in!
    OWEN: Naveem you see clearance?
    NAVEEM: No. I don’t.
    TERI: great
    NAVEEM: Disregard that, I have it. I’m in.
    OWEN: Excellent.
    NAVEEM: OK, ready to transfer.
    TERI: waiting for it baby
    MAY: Um, guys?
    HUGH: What??
    OWEN: Is everything fine?
    MAY: Not really. I’m seeing activity from under Grand Central terminal that isn’t Naveem.
    HUGH: What the hell does that mean? The OSS base?
    OWEN: Is it ours?
    MAY: Definitely not. 
    OWEN: Have Valentina kick them from the mainframe. Now.
    MAY: OK on it.
    OWEN: Naveem, I’ll need you to check the logs after.
    NAVEEM: Will do.
    MAY: OK we booted their ass. You’re good to go!
    HUGH: Let’s blow this taco stand!
    HUGH: I could go a taco right now.
    NAVEEM: Sending. Teri, you should see it soon.
    TERI: I see it alright
    TERI: wow this is some crazy virus
    HUGH: You can read that?
    TERI: no not really
    HUGH: Outer space. I bet it was aliens.
    HUGH: Siberian aliens.
    MAY: It is not aliens, Hugh. It’s from a mountain in Siberia for God’s sake.
    TERI: two decades of analysis
    TERI: Denton gonna be pissed!!
    OWEN: He’s already been assigned to a new project.
    TERI: how do you know that
    MAY: We aren’t Owen’s only friends on the inside, Teri. He knows other people.
    TERI: oh so betrayed right now
    MAY: What project is ol’ Denton on?
    OWEN: Project Genesis. Another enhanced soldier program.
    MAY: Like Phoenix? His father’s project?
    HUGH: Hey, if you believe the rumors, his father is actually him.
    TERI: shut up H. yeah except this project isn’t based on some fairytale written on silk
    HUGH: So, not like the Bible then?
    TERI: would be funny if this Phoenix code we’re risking our lives for didn’t even do anything
    HUGH: Yeah. Hilarious, Teri.
    MAY: We can’t risk Denton testing it.
    OWEN: We can’t risk Denton even knowing he had it in the first place. He’s been hunting them since WWII.
    HUGH: Hey the Phoenix virus could just be the flu!
    TERI: shut