Myst and Ink, Book 1

by HD Smith

  DEXTER: Dude, learn some subtlety

  Donovan rolled her eyes. “I’ll let you figure that out. I’m sure you’re resourceful.”

  “I’ve not agreed to take the job, Ms. Donovan.”

  Donovan smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I thought we’d decided not to play games?”

  DEXTER: Don’t screw with her, Liam. A guy I know well just disconnected from my chat when I mentioned her name. There’s something we don’t know. Take the job to find the CME, but let her guys worry about stealing it

  LIAM: CME only has one known use

  DEXTER: I get that it can be made into a bomb, but we can always notify the WLA anonymously before you give her the info

  I had to play this carefully. I didn’t like dealing with people when I didn’t have all the information. “You’ve come to my office asking me to steal from a major corporation within Tau, a planet I’ve decided to call home. That wouldn’t be—”

  Donovan interrupted me. “You’re only as good as your last job, Mr. Anderson. Do you really think the elites of this city will do any business with you if I tell them not to?”

  “Are you threatening me, Ms. Donovan?”

  She laughed. “I’m beginning to think you don’t know who I am.”

  Dexter took himself off mute. Speaking only to me, he said, “We have a problem.”

  No shit, I thought.

  Dexter continued, “My intel was missing a key detail. She runs the entire underworld—not some small Tau operation—the whole Lucy-damn thing, across multiple worlds.”

  Holy hell.

  I smiled. “I’ll agree to find the CME, but I’m not stealing it for you. If you want that kind of heat from the WLA and House Cortez, that’s on you.”

  Donovan’s smile turned smug. “I think you should take the whole job. This is going to be a time-sensitive matter. Involving my other team will just slow things down. Don’t you agree?”

  “And if I refuse?” I asked.

  Mrs. Donovan kept smiling. “Did you ever see my late husband play Major League Danger Ball?”

  I shook my head. My upbringing on Gemini hadn’t included watching sporting events.

  “Archibald Donovan was one of the best. He then became a Senator working on Vale, representing the great planet of Tau. He was loved by billions of people across the Known Worlds. He was a fair, honest man. A good leader and legislator. Unfortunately, he refused me once, too.”

  She let her voice trail off. I understood what she meant. If I refused, she’d have me taken care of, similar to the way Old Earth mobsters used to let someone sleep with the fishes. I wasn’t sure she had any idea of who I was—but I didn’t think she cared. She wanted the CME and thought I was the best person to get it for her.

  “I understand,” I said.

  “Good, I’m glad we’ve reached an agreement.” Donovan stood, dropping a blank paper card on my desk. “Don’t keep me waiting long.”

  I waited for her to leave my office, then looked at the card with my ocular implant. There was an encrypted comm address that disappeared as soon as I read it. I stored the value in my contacts.

  Dexter’s holo-vid appeared in the office. “That was more than an idle threat.”

  “Yeah, fairly direct. Take my job or I’ll kill you. Can I assume the video of her threatening me is garbage?”

  “Yep.”

  “Where did you get the new intel?”

  “A source I have on the Dark Stream. When my buddy dropped our comm at the mention of her name, I knew there was more to her story. I pinged my DS contact, and they gave me the scoop.”

  “Stealing CME from Mage Ink will have to wait until after I get building security and the business license sorted out. Start a preliminary search to see what you can find. I’d like to know why the CME was made and what Donovan plans to do with it.”

  “I’m on it, but there’s really only one use for CME,” Dexter said.

  “One known use, and as far as homemade bombs go, it isn’t the best option. There are seven other components that would be easier to get to make a bomb. And three of those aren’t even regulated on Canis. So why the hell would anyone generate CME?”

  Dexter shrugged. “Hey, are you wearing that suit to the guild?”

  “Hell no, I’m changing, then I’m heading out.”

  Dexter laughed, then disappeared. I went back upstairs to change. I’d be taking an AutoDrive to City Center. Donovan already knew I’d accessed a highly secure House compound to steal a book. I doubt she knew how I’d done it, but that probably meant she’d try to tail me and figure it out. For now, my best option was to use mundane means of travel and assume I was being watched.

  10

  M13 Lab A, Tau, Tuesday, 10:00 LTZ

  Gen

  I’d gotten up early to start my day. Susan9 made all the research documents available from the computer terminal in my apartment, so I’d not yet been down to the lab. I discovered that food delivery within the Towers was free, which meant I didn’t have to figure out grocery delivery or wait in line at any of the eateries on site. I decided not to test the theory that I couldn’t leave. Susan9 was well informed. If she said I couldn’t leave, I assumed it was true. Plus, I had nowhere to go, and if I left, I’d waste valuable research time. I was determined to figure out what Rosenblume had discovered that got him killed. I needed this information if I was going to survive the vultures at the M13 lab who were trying to pin the failed patent on me.

  I’d asked Susan9 to connect my Link to the building surveillance system. This allowed me to see what was happening in the lab, and it also reminded me that I was always being watched. I searched the list of cameras for my apartment address, but didn’t find anything listed.

  “Interface. Are there surveillance cameras in my apartment?” I asked.

  “It is against House Cortez company policy to post surveillance cameras in living quarters.”

  That was good. One less thing to worry about. Of course, it was probably against company policy to frame an employee for a failed research study, so maybe I shouldn’t be relieved just yet.

  “Also,” Susan 9 offered, “House Cortez systems are unable to record when I am present. The technology to display my holographic contradicts the surveillance features. And my holographic has higher priority in this building.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was amazing or just another level of what-the-fuck I should be concerned with.

  Then I remembered what Vera had said about my shielded chip. Was I invisible to cameras at Cortez Towers too?

  “Interface. Does my shielded chip hide me from the sensors in this building?”

  “No. This building has the latest tech available. Only older buildings that have not been retrofitted with the latest building security have the shielded chip bug.”

  “Okay, so there are only records of me when you aren’t round.”

  “That is not completely accurate,” she said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I record all supervisor interactions.”

  “You have video of me from every time I’m with you?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  I suppose that should have bothered me, but so many things were different now that the knowledge that my personal holographic recorded our conversations and saved them to my private data core wasn’t even surprising.

  “Interface. Please show me where the archived footage is located.”

  My Link switched to a folder on my data core. It contained dated files, which started a few weeks ago. I opened the oldest one. It was Miko introducing Susan9 to the lab.

  [Dougie was in the back, his arms crossed over his chest. He and Jeff were asking questions, some of which sounded accusatory.

  “Is she recording us right now?” Jeff asked.

  Miko ran his hand through his curly red hair, then lied. “No, but as I’m sure you’re aware, building security records everything that happens in this lab.”

  “That’s illegal,” D
ougie said.

  Miko laughed. “Douglas, if you check your employment contract, you’ll see the disclaimer you signed, stating that you’re aware video surveillance is used as a theft deterrent on all House Cortez properties.”

  “No, I mean the bot—she’s illegal AI,” Dougie said.

  Miko pushed his glasses up his nose. “She’s simply a tool to improve research performance. I use her as an interactive search mechanism to filter data quickly. It’s the difference in me being able to review one hundred pages of research in a day and ten thousand pages of research in a day. Her programing is harmless.”

  “That’s what the AI would want you to say,” Dougie grumbled.

  Jeff gave Dougie the side eye, then turned to Miko. “Will she be here when you aren’t here?”

  “No, she’s my research assistant. She’ll stay with me,” Miko said.

  “So she isn’t going to spy on us?” Dougie asked.

  Miko sighed. “No, she isn’t going to spy on you.”

  Dougie opened his mouth to say something else, but Miko held up his hand to stop him.

  “I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding,” Miko said. “I’m here to discover what’s wrong with this study. There will be some hard questions to answer, and I’ll uncover any deliberate attempt to circumvent processes and procedures. If the technology can be saved, we will save it.”

  “What if the premise is wrong?” Jeff asked.

  “Conor Cortez was a brilliant scientist. If this product is a failure, it would be his only failure in the thousands of products he built over his short life. Now, please, return to your work.”]

  The video ended. I opened the last video, recorded a few hours before Miko was relieved of duty.

  The video opened with Miko in his office. His brown eyes were partially dilated. His curly red hair was sticking out in all directions, as if he’d run his hands through it too much. He licked his lips as if his mouth were dry.

  [“Suz, something’s wrong. I don’t know why I went off on Jeff. I’m having heart palpitations now. I’m seeing double and having a hard time concentrating. I think they’ve drugged me.”

  Miko’s gaze darted around the room, but Susan9’s vantage point didn’t change. Miko rubbed his eyes then returned his focus to Susan9.

  “I’ve forwarded my preliminary report to Dr. Monroe, but he doesn’t want it to get out. My comms out are now blocked. He doesn’t want me to tell anyone that I’ve traced back all the lab failures to decisions he made. In every case, he was the deciding factor. He’s stopped promising research and results from moving forward, and promoted procedures that weren’t working. He destroyed all the video of any study he didn’t advance, and he tried to delete the paper files, too. But data archiving backs up everything. If it hits the private stream, they put a copy in long-term offsite storage. He can’t eradicate it all. I’ve requested physical copies of the studies I already downloaded, but I fear they’ll get here too late. I’m changing your programing, because I see no other way to get the message out. When they replace me, you will assist the new person and treat them as a supervisor. You will give them access to my files if they request them. Greet them and provide information. No data restrictions.”

  A noise sounded and Miko looked up, startled. A second later, he turned back toward Susan9’s interface.

  “If my replacement doesn’t intend to send my report to Marissa Cortez or tries to destroy the data, you must send the report along with the physical hard copies I’ve requested to the House Cortez legal team. Dispatch digital copies to the corporate employee hotline and Marissa Cortez’s personal comm. The mole can’t scrub everything. Once you have all the data, it must get to the right people.”

  Miko stopped, turning his head to look back at something. His eyes were wide when he faced forward again.

  “I think they’re here. I think they’ve come for me. Hide yourself. Follow the new protocol. If a solution presents itself, save me too.”]

  The vid-feed dimmed and then steadied. Did that mean that when Susan9 was invisible, she was still recording?

  [Two men in hospital scrubs walked in, followed by an older man dressed in a crisp white lab coat. The third man was tall, with graying auburn hair and two rows of glyphs starting at his temple.]

  From the picture I’d seen, I knew this was Dr. Robert Monroe.

  [Miko straightened in his chair, but his demeanor was still jumpy and erratic, as if he couldn’t sit still.

  “Robert, how are you?” Miko said, but his voice was too high-pitched to seem natural.

  “Miko,” Dr. Monroe said, “we’ve had some complaints from the lab techs. Your behavior is concerning. The company would like for you to be tested for substance abuse.”

  Miko laughed, but it didn’t sound like the laugh of a sane man. “Robert, are you serious? I’ve had nothing but a perfect record. I can assure you my work is beyond reproach.”

  The two men in scrubs stepped forward. Miko picked up a tablet from his desk and started swatting at the two men. They looked back at Dr. Monroe, who nodded for them to proceed.

  “Now, Miko, calm down,” Dr. Monroe said. “You’re not making a good case for yourself. You’ll be tested, and then allowed to come back to the lab as soon as you’re clean.”

  There was a struggle, and Miko started screaming.

  “You won’t get away with this. I’ll tell Cortez.”

  “Get him under control,” Dr. Monroe said.

  The orderlies finally got Miko in a hold, and Dr. Monroe stepped forward with a syringe. He injected Miko, who immediately went limp in the men’s arms.

  “Take him to the 17th floor. Dr. Beverly Randal will be waiting there for you. I’ll stay here and clean up,” Dr. Monroe said.

  The orderlies left with Miko. Susan9 didn’t follow them.

  Dr. Monroe wiped the syringe down and placed it in Miko’s desk. He then took out his own Link and typed out a message before leaving the office.]

  I wonder who he texted?

  Miko had changed Susan9’s protocols. He must have seen it as the only option to get the truth out.

  “Interface. Did Miko Rosenblume regain consciousness?” I asked.

  “No. He was sedated.”

  “Interface. Did Marissa Cortez ever see Miko’s report?”

  “No. Dr. Monroe buried it.”

  The Link beeped. I looked and saw that someone had finally entered the lab. It was Jeff. I checked the time. It was ten after ten in the morning. I needed to get to the lab, or he might start wondering where I was and what I was doing.

  “Interface. Stay with me but stay invisible. Message me on my Link if you need to communicate with me.”

  SUSAN9: Understood.

  I left the apartment and made my way back to the lab.

  On the way, I saw a woman who reminded me of Vera, which immediately had me thinking of the K12 lab debacle. It made no sense that Dr. Lyle would have created so much CME if he didn’t have a plan to sell it. But there were no significant uses for CME, so who would even buy it?

  Out of curiosity, I texted Susan9.

  GEN: Search the House Cortez stream for any mention of a use for Concentrated Myst Extract. Check any data you have access to. Alternate references: CME

  SUSAN9: Beginning search now

  Dougie was in the lab working at his station when I arrived. Jeff was in the back at my desk, looking around as if he were searching for something.

  “Can I help you?” I asked, startling him.

  “Oh, no. Sorry. I thought Dr. Monroe might have come by and left a file for me,” Jeff said.

  “On my desk?”

  “Umm, no,” he laughed, “of course not, what was I thinking? I see you’ve gotten settled in.”

  Jeff had ignored my accusation, choosing instead to carry on as if nothing was wrong. Was he in cahoots with Dr. Monroe, or was he an innocent bystander being told to act as if nothing was wrong? Or maybe he had his own concerns about the lab. Had he found out that Mi
ko was now dead?

  I smiled, not wanting him to see my concerns. “You mentioned yesterday that you’d show me how to prepare the treatment?”

  “Right. Yes, I can do that.” Jeff stepped out from behind my desk. “I’ll get everything we need prepared,” he said, “and call you over in just a minute.”

  Jeff walked away, leaving me there to wonder what he thought he’d find at my desk. I took my seat and scanned the area for anything that looked out of place.

  My Link beeped.

  Checking the screen, I could see a new message from Susan9.

  SUSAN9: A recording device has been left under your desk. Shall I disable it?

  GEN: No, not yet … I don’t want them to know that I know it is there. Will it record me when you are around?

  SUSAN9: Yes. Only video protocols have been configured to disable when my holographic is present.

  Interesting. So if she and I talked while she was invisible, would the cameras record that?

  GEN: Are the cameras recording now?

  SUSAN9: Yes.

  GEN: Is anything else different from last night?

  SUSAN9: No.

  Jeff came back. “I’m ready when you are.”

  I followed Jeff to a lab table with several supplies already laid out. He pointed to a small white box with a vial, containing a silvery liquid, sitting on top of it.

  “This is the sample we’re using today. It’s the original X86 sample.” He pointed to four needle-based syringes. “You put a quarter of the serum in each syringe.”

  I nodded glad that I still had my company-issued dampening bracelets. I’d just need to avoid sticking myself with the silver needle.

  “They’ve already been programmed with the correct amount. They will auto-fill to that level,” he said, “so you just insert the needle into the ampoule.”