The Wasp Initiative

By Travis Barr

In the continuation of The Spider Agenda, we find that little Jessie has has now grown up and is coming of age--the age that she she is supposed to be handed over to the soulless vipers of Pearson and Paul. But before that happens, she faces a deadly threat in the form a darker chosen named Bernard, whose malice toward her is unbound. Meanwhile, her uncle Dean embarks on a perilous and insane mission to try and find a way to save Jess from the Pear-Paul fate that awaits her. And in the midst of this spring membranous-winged terrors that roam the night's skies signaling the piercing doom of those who try to threaten Pear-Paul's corporate hegemony! No executive is safe and no one can stop these assassins who swoop from the darkened sheath of night to inject their poisonous stingers....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Travis Barr
• Release date: Oct 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310151750

Travis Barr

Travis Barr grew up in Southern California and went to CalState University of Long Beach. He graduated with a BA in film then furthered his education with a teaching credential. Travis has always held a fascination with the fantastical and suspenseful in storytelling. With his second novel and first part of The Chosen Trilogy, "The Spider Agenda," he has taken that wonderment to new levels of gripping tension and spellbinding adventure. "Agenda" sets the scene for what is to come in the second installment, "The Wasp Initiative" and is the seeds for which will come to full climactic fruition in the third tale, "The Hornet Operative." Travis still lives in the California area with his family and good friends, and enjoys the beaches of his youth. His favorite TV programs include "The Walking Dead," "Falling Skies," and "The Strain." His most cherished novels of all time include Peter Straub's classic tale, "Ghost Story," Bill Blatty's "The Exorcist," and Stephen King's "'Salem's Lot." His favorite film will always be George Lucas' "Star Wars."

Book preview

Chapter 1

Three days after Erin and Jessie nearly lost their lives in Cantor Woods, Stanford Jordan was informed that his genetic prize, Janice, had been killed.

This shook him from within though he was outwardly calm. He had been sitting in his office chair and looking over proposals for future endeavors—including a few that were being prepped for Jessie to carry out one day. But now that he knew of the disturbing truth and fate of his precious pet project, he couldn’t concentrate on anything else.

He always knew that circumstances could arise to the point where Janice might be cornered, overwhelmed, bested by too many opponents with the proper armory. But to learn that his gifted prize had been outwitted and destroyed by a crippled young woman was almost too much for his intellect to fathom.

Once again, Erin Belaski had astounded him with her courage and tenacity. He swore to himself that he would not underestimate her or her family ever again.

But it wasn’t just the loss of Janice that now caused unnerving internal alarm; it was also what that loss now represented in the hearts and minds of his brethren, his business associates. Who were also forever his wasp-like competitors.

Oliver, he knew, would have a right field day with this at the next conference meeting. Though if Stanford was thinking hard about it, he could always mention the fact that the girl got the drop on Oliver as well. That in reality, Erin and her brother had made fools of them all.

Regardless of this fact, however, Stanford had to realize that in the eyes of Foster, his faith in his cherished underling had been called into question.

Unless Stanford came up with a bonafide miracle alternative in the way of an effective and clever assassin—and fast—he would be usurped or passed over for that all-important executive promotion. Phillip would be the one to look out for. Oliver would too, for Stanford knew they would likely work together to see that his faltering would be their gain. He did not despise them for this, merely understood the cut-throat manner of the mentality. For if the situation were reversed, he would clearly make the same moves to advance; to step on the backs of the bruised and the fallen.

Stanford was vulnerable now, that was apparent to him. What wasn’t so clear to him was how he would repair the damage of this embarrassing fiasco and reclaim his executive standing within the company. Within the eyes of Foster and his answer-to man, The National CEO of Pear-Paul: Nelson Carnegie. Lord, how Stanford dreamed one day of allotting himself in Carnegie’s deeply revered position of power, the ultimate seat to the massive corporate kingdom known as Pearson and Paul. The supreme nest of hornets…

…Or wasps…

Why…could that possibly be it?

It just might work.

Where a genetically spruced-up arachnid failed, a flying genetically spruced-up insectoid might succeed.

If they’ll even hear me out on it, he sobered his bout of inspiration in his crouching thoughts.

It was, of course, no surprise to his psyche that he went with another eerily segmented creature for his possible saving grace in the eyes of his comrades. As a boy growing up in Calgary, Canada, he adored all things of an exoskeletal, crawling nature. If it creeped and skittered in multi-eyed glory, then he was intrigued, enthralled, hooked. If it flew with membranous wings of zipping, buzzing fury, he was immediately entranced. He was an insect and arachnid man and always would be.

And if he could usher in a new era of evolution—of their psychological and physiological development—as he had done with the enhanced version of the black widow spider in Janice—then he was unequivocally in.

Janice had taken two years to develop at a cost of four million—though only two was reported in Pear-Paul’s financial statements and ledgers. Stanford, himself, had financed the rest. And, of course, he would have, possibly more if it was needed. He was committed to the cause, to the New Evolution as he saw it.

He doubted that a new specimen would cost as much to create; many of the necessary genetic enhancers were already in place and, as far as he knew, would be compatible even with the DNA/RNA variation inherent of the wasp species. Instead of years and more millions, it should only take a few months to a half a year to put into play…with minimal cost to Pear-Paul’s monetary reserves.

He just had to sell it to the board, to Foster.

If he could just do that….

Chapter 2

Erin was true to her word with her older brother, Dean. She would go out with Curt Hey Girl Melendez and had. Their rendezvous for coffee one evening proved awkward and tentative at first as both were fleshing each other out. Of course they knew one another and for years now, but only as acquaintances—with, it seemed at the time, peripheral and comically masked attractions. And now that they were faced with their feelings head on, it did provide a certain air of uncomfortableness that needed to be overcome should they choose to proceed further with their association, with going out as they say.

They tried the requisite Do you like this? Do you like that? What’s your favorite whatever? with the usual calm and collected demeanors. They found that they had a few things in common such as the fact that they both enjoyed classic rock music. A few tastes in food were shared between them, namely Couscous and Fried Tempuras. Both were into running—and held each other to a session of jogging at Bittner Park when they could find the time.

A few more dates ensued as the weeks went on, and thus far, things were going well. Curt had even cut back on his girl referential habit where Erin was concerned. By the fifth date, a bit of kissing began. But before it got any further, Erin had to clear a crucial matter with her hopeful suitor.

She had to discuss Jessie.

She needed to make him fully aware that if they were to proceed with a real relationship, Jessie would have to be a full consideration and not just some separate entity in Curt’s sphere of interest. Erin and Jessie would be a complete package deal—and Curt needed to maturely accept that should he want things to concretely develop between them.

To Erin’s mild surprise, Curt had no issues with what she had laid down as the relationship law. He informed her, and with a smile no less, that he had fully anticipated that things would go down like this, and he would be ready. As Dean indicated, the once free-spirited persona of Curt’s had done some serious soul searching in the days following the Pear-Paul near-death experience. He even took a few personal days off from work to retreat into himself for some crucial spiritual reflection. And in that time he realized that it was foolish not to acknowledge just how much he truly cared for Erin simply because neither had hit the age of thirty yet.

And he knew that he simply adored Jessie and, in a sense, already felt that he was in some way an honorable uncle of the precocious little one.

So for all intents and purposes, Curt was already in, already committed to the full package deal.

This made Erin inwardly and outwardly smile.

The next date after, Erin and Curt went to bed together. Initially, it was, like their first date, a bit awkward. But not for long. Soon, it was natural, comfortable, invigorating, intense. And ultimately satisfying in the end.

When Curt wasn’t working, and Erin wasn’t finding a job while judiciously letting her leg heal, the two were spending as much time as they could with Jessie. And since the small child had never known her true father, Curt had become the only father figure she had to emotionally attach herself to.

Months into Erin and Curt’s relationship, the three had become somewhat of the closest thing to a family. Eight months in, they moved into Curt’s apartment.

A year later, discussions of getting engaged and planning a future wedding were frequent between Curt and Erin. Usually the talks were met with unending smiles from both.

Yet one conversation resulted only in straight and grim expressions. The one regarding the absolute protection of Jessie where the Pear-Paul devils were concerned. Both knew it had to be discussed, that there had to be a plan in place should those filthy bastards try some sort of retaliation.

But Erin was most trepidatious in bringing up the horrid subject for now it had to be revealed what Jessie truly was to Curt. This was the thing that Erin feared most above all other concerns or hang-ups she might have had over the relationship. How would Curt react to learning this life altering—hell, reality altering—revelation about Jessie’s identity as a chosen? Would he even believe it? Well, here was her chance to find out.

After she had finished explaining the whole astounding story, Curt merely sat there on their couch, speechless and a bit wide-eyed. When he finally spoke, he told her that he wasn’t entirely sure he believed that that sort of thing could be true…but he wasn’t going to argue the matter on and on until things turned ugly. If Erin proclaimed it as true, then he was prepared to accept it on faith. And whatever precautions she felt were necessary to ensure Jessie’s safety, he would unquestionably go along with.

It was after this very important discussion that they admitted to each other the depth of their love. They had said I love you several times already, and had talked of future plans, of course. But it was only now that they could reveal the extent of their feelings, how far entrenched they were to one another’s souls.

And so the years went on, with their plans to one day get married and have Curt officially adopt Jessie as his daughter. This last thing was accomplished only after Jessie had reached the age of three, and the two adults had specifically talked the matter over with the child. At that point, they figured Jessie would be cognizant enough and able to accept Curt as a positive influence in her life.

Jessie agreed to the adoption after they explained exactly what was involved. In that space of time, all three were happy in the decision, and four months later Curt officially and legally adopted Jessie as his daughter. And even though Erin and Curt were not married yet, the little girl became Jessie Bedelia Belaski-Melendez.

Erin eventually got another job, oddly enough, as an executive assistant at her old place of internship, Coleman Designs. They had actually called her about the position and seemed highly interested in her joining the company. Which initially gave her pause in wondering if someone from Ell-Bau hadn’t put in an extremely good word for her. But no matter, it was a decent paying job and further in the direction of what she really wanted to do, which was concept art for advertising.

Curt had become the second man in charge at Consumers Now and gained his own office next to Palmer’s. This, however, presented two problems. One, the position was given to Curt on the express agreement that they avoid any more investigation into Pear-Paul. Palmer was paranoid about the death they had caused and didn’t want it coming back on them. The second difficulty stemmed from now not sharing an office space with Dean—which both longtime friends resented. But both knew that Curt would be stealing time working with Dean whenever he could. In the end, nothing much had changed. Even Palmer agreed that the arrangement was beneficial to the organization…but again, the two had to swear on a stack of bibles that neither would do any probing into Pear-Paul. Let that rabid dog lie, he demanded. Reluctantly, they agreed.

Besides, there were plenty of other organizations to focus on, many other cheaters and crooks that would constitute the variety of corporate white collar crimes in America. Con-Now had kept busy.

Jessie, of course, kept busy as well, as she grew to schooling age. She adapted well to a classroom setting, socializing with several of her fellow Pre-K students. The teachers had found her charming and rarely combative or fitful. In this period of her educational exposure, none of her brethren chosen good or bad had surfaced in her life.

It was, in fact, not until the second grade that Jessie was to fully experience one of her own. And fortunately for her positive development at such a crucial age of growth, it was an honorable and kindred soul in the form of Pahti Afahri.

Pahti had just moved to the United States from his homeland of Pakistan after his mother and father had found work in the area. Both parents were physicists and lucked out on being accepted for two coveted positions at the city’s university.

Pahti was quite afraid of the move knowing that there would be a massive shift in social practices and visual environment. Pahti would miss his cherished friends from his own country—even though at this point he hadn’t met any chosen either.

When Jessie and Pahti met each other, there was an instant pull. The immediate reaction and realization that they were two of a kind, and that they should know each other as soon as possible.

I’m Pahti Ahfari, the boy announced to Jessie at the first recess of school day.

Jessie Belaski-Melendez, she gave back with a trusting grin.

I like your name—Jessie—because it has the ‘ee’ sound at the end like mine.

"Jessie and Pahti!"

Ee-ee-ee!

They giggled together.

Then Jessie said, Silly.

I am silly, yes.

We’re different, aren’t we? You feel it, right?

We are. It feels strange yet good. I had to say hi.

I know, me too. Where do you come from?

Pakistan. Khunali Village. My parents got jobs at a school here so we moved. I miss all the people I knew in my country. But now that I’ve met you, I don’t feel so bad.

I know a lot of kids here. I’ll show you around so they can meet you.

That is nice of you, thanks.

And that’s where it began for them.

The two were a playful and mischievous duo at times, though they were never mean to others or sadistic in their actions. Which, of course, made them targets for the more aggressive and ego-fueled factions within their social and educational settings. Particularly with Pahti. Often he would have to endure jibes about his unusual name: Hey Pahti, is it St. Pahti’s Day yet? or Hey Pahti, do you like to par-ty? or the ever-favorite among the bully sect: It’s Pahti, the Pot-ty Boy!

The young Pakistani was usually quite tolerant of the ribbing, choosing to avoid the kinds of frustrations that could lead to bodily harm—namely his. Typically, he would try to be diplomatic about it by creating his own clever joke depending on which version of the verbal ribbing was thrown his way. But predominantly, he would retreat back to the friendly sphere that was Jessie and those she knew and trusted—that which held no ridicule. It usually came to pass that at least once a week someone or other was giving them some sort of wholly unnecessary grief.

Yet none of these childhood social traumas could prepare the two for their first encounter with the darker, more malevolent chosen.

Which came in the form of ten-year-old Michaelis Bernard, a blond-headed extrovert who transferred to Jessie’s school after the Christmas break.

The effect on the other fifth graders of the school was, of course, negligible—to them, Bernard was just another new kid at school. Big deal, it happens a lot; many other kids also transferred in halfway through the school year. But to Jessie and Pahti, Bernard was like news of a new disease or a vicious, unstable animal that should be avoided at all cost. The revulsion was palpable and felt on both ends; Bernard made no attempts to approach either of his opposite and was loathe to look their way. It seemed as if all three had come to some unspoken agreement to keep their distance and go about their business. Jessie and Pahti, of course, had talked about Bernard’s presence at length and wondered what he could be to be such an obvious offense to their senses.

You feel it, don’t you? Pahti asked.

Of course, I do, Jessie replied.

What do you think he is?

"I don’t know…not us, that’s for certain."

I agree with you there. It’s weird, I can feel him here at school, especially when I walk by him in the hall…but when I leave for home it fades away.

I know, it’s almost like a smell would be, isn’t it? The closer you are, the stronger the smell gets.

"Right, exactly."

So, do you think…he’s like the opposite of us?

"He must be. I mean, you and I, we were