Extensis Vitae Read Online Free PDF

some papers on the desk. “ADMINISTRATOR MALCOLM T. SWANSON,” a plaque on the desk proclaimed.
    As if he had just noticed their arrival, Swanson looked up and beamed. “Ah, there you are! I hope the accommodations are to your liking?” He stood and extended his hand.
    “Yes sir, they are fine,” Reznik replied, shaking the administrator’s hand. Swanson’s grip was limp, and his skin clammy. Reznik ignored the urge to wipe his hand on his pants.
    “Shall I wait outside, Mr. Swanson?” Myrna asked.
    “No, my dear. I don’t think we will require your services anymore for the time being. Thank you,” he said in obvious dismissal.
    Myrna caught Reznik’s eye as she turned and left. He wasn’t sure, but her glance seemed to be a cautionary one. A guard closed the door behind her and the two posted themselves at either side of the door.
    “Please have a seat, my friend,” Swanson invited, gesturing to one of the chairs. He eased his bulk back into his chair. “I imagine you have quite a few questions. All will be answered in good time. I must confess, the deal that I am forced to offer you might not seem like much of a deal at all, but I’m hoping you are the selfless type that will accept.”
    “I suppose that depends on the deal,” Reznik offered. “Can you please start by telling me where we are? What is this place?”
    Swanson leaned back in his chair. “This facility is simply called Colony 12. It was established by the Extensis Vitae Corporation as a self-contained, self-sufficient facility impervious to the outside world. Whatever catastrophes and savagery and immorality go on in the outside world cannot affect us in here. This is a facility for those of us who are waiting for the opportunity to rebuild our society. We have some of the finest minds here—scientists, engineers, teachers—”
    “But not doctors,” Reznik added.
    “Very astute observation. You are correct. Therein lies part of our problem. Dr. Landers tragically passed away about a year ago from a stroke. And our other physician, Dr. Kane, whose daughter Myrna you’ve already met, has gone missing.”
    “And what does this have to do with me, sir?”
    “Well, we believe you might have the skill set we need to deal with our problem. Let us see here…” He rummaged through a sheaf of papers on his desk. “Master Sergeant Michael Reznik, United States Army. Weapons Sergeant, most recently assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command. Highly decorated, military honors include the Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, four Purple Hearts. Specialist in counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, air assault, etc. A regular John Wayne type, eh? That’s you, right?”
    Reznik listened to the laundry list and it began sounding familiar to him. “Yes, sir.”
    “Well, as I mentioned before, someone with your skill set can be very useful to us in our present circumstances. You see, we are a peaceful society here, and violence has no place in Colony 12—or any of the Colonies, for that matter. Thus, when an extremely unique situation of potential hostility arises, like this one, we are unfortunately a bit ill-equipped to deal with such things.”
    “Okay, I’ll bite—what’s the current situation that you want me to deal with? Something involving your missing doctor, I assume?” Reznik’s mind was racing trying to figure out what was going on. He still had no idea how he had gotten involved in this situation. He didn’t know what type of community this facility was, whether it was a cult or something else. “Am I in some type of sim? Where’s the military liaison?” he added before Swanson had the chance to reply.
    “‘Sim?’” Swanson looked blank.
    “Simulation.”
    “No, I assure you this is very real. We do not have any association with the military you are familiar with. We have lost contact with our sister facility, Colony 13. Usually we have regular communication with them and some trade, as well. After a