Extermination Day by William Turnage

re-create my theories on mini black holes, but they’d even been able to develop an idea that had been in my head for years, almost like they were reading my mind. I’d always thought there must be a way to stabilize the mini black holes so they wouldn’t decay instantly and release Hawking radiation.”
    “Okay, now you’re talking over my head,” Jeff said.
    “You see, a stable mini black hole in the right containment field could theoretically bend space and time. Dr. Chen was able to design a machine that would create microscopic black holes, large and stable enough to manipulate, but not so large that they suck up the planet.” She chuckled lightly.
    “Wow, amazing. And what did they start using these black holes for? Were you able to peer into other dimensions?”
    Holly stared at him, one eyebrow raised, her fingers tightening on her coffee cup. Jeff had hidden away his guest badge, so she couldn’t see his security credentials, but he was obviously moving into sensitive territory with his questions.
    “What part of the project did you say you were working on?” she asked.
    The lady was not only smart, but shrewd. He didn’t think now was the time to pretend he was some type of engineer; Holly would probably ask him to solve a math problem and that would be the end of his ruse. He didn’t want her to stop talking; he’d gotten only a tease of what was going on, but no real answers yet.
    “It’s okay, Holly,” Dr. Chen said from the door. “The congressman is just curious about what we’re doing here.”
    “Congressman!” Holly said, leaning away from him. “I thought you were a project engineer.”
    “I never said that,” Jeff replied, smiling. “I was just interested in you and your work.” He pushed his empty plate to the side. “I’m a congressman and a lawyer, two occupations most people hate. So when I meet someone, especially an attractive young lady like yourself, I try not to just blurt that out.” Sincerity with a touch of humor would work best here, he thought. “I just want to help out on this amazing project in any way that I can.”
    Holly wasn’t buying his BS, but he tried to smooth things over anyway. Collecting friends was always good. And Holly was pretty hot too. If he was going to be trapped underground for any length of time, he could think of worse-looking women to be stuck with.
    “Yeah, I’d be embarrassed too,” Holly snapped back, frowning.
    Dr. Chen stepped closer. “Congressman Madison, I apologize for my rude behavior earlier. But I’ve just been informed that the president has given you full security clearance. It seems that no other elected members of the federal government can be located and are presumed dead, which leaves just you and President Paulson. I’ve been ordered to provide you with full access to this base and all the background information you need. Follow me.”
    Chen still seemed angry that Jeff was there, and he definitely didn’t like be ordered to do something. Jeff could tell that the man had a real distaste for authority figures. Chen walked out into the cavern and Jeff and Holly, trailed by the Secret Service, followed him along a walkway to a construction platform on the side of the control tower. Chen pushed a button and the platform rose until it stopped several feet above the control tower.
    “We can see just about everything from here,” Chen said. “So, Congressman, how far did Miss Scarborough get in her explanation of our project?”
    Jeff looked from Chen to Holly. She met his gaze with a direct one of her own. “Well, she was talking about mini black holes and other dimensions. But she didn’t say if you actually found anything.”
    Chen smiled at Holly. “Her theories were dead on. Amazing, I might add. I was able to take what she discovered and amplify the effect.”
    “You mean you created giant mini black holes?” Jeff asked. “Isn’t that dangerous? And what would you use them for?”
    “Don’t worry,