Manos raises a thumb. “The timing is perfect, Gareth. I’m heading to Google now to take the reins. This is a great opportunity to restructure the company and develop a new pipeline. Let me see what I can do for you.”
“Thank you, that’s patriotic. The President is counting on you to deliver. The country needs this, Manos.”
“My pleasure. Let’s negotiate the contract. Perhaps $10B for every cyber virus we design for you? I’m willing to be generous.”
Gareth frowns. “I thought you would do it for free.”
Manos laughs. “Are you kidding me? Everything in life comes with a price.”
“Okay, we need something soon. Please be in touch ASAP.”
“Will do.”
Manos ends the call. “Another win for GoldRock.”
Felina smiles warmly. “You are brilliant, Mr. Kharon.”
“Indeed I am.”
The helicopter arrives at Google headquarters and lands on the executive helipad. They exit the chopper and walk across an empty parking lot.
“What a beautiful place,” Felina says.
Manos walks with a flat expression. “This a dump. You should have seen the old Google campus.”
“What was it like?”
“Imagine an adult amusement park with gourmet food and amenities. It was heaven. I interned there decades ago.”
“What happened to it?”
Manos points down the hillside. “It’s under water with the rest of Mountain View.”
They approach the tallest building on campus and find its doors locked. Manos calls his Chief of Staff. “Seth, we’re here at Google. I need access inside.”
Seth appears in the view. “Okay, I’ll program your way in. Tell me when you’re ready.”
Manos removes a blank ID card and holds it above a scanner, which beeps and flashes red. “Come on Seth, hurry up!” Seconds later the light turns green and the door opens.
“Magic,” Felina says as she follows her boss into the building. They take an elevator to the top floor and enter Beth’s office suite, beholding the magnificent view of Silicon Valley.
Manos notices empty desktops and frowns. “Where are the computers?”
“They’re gone.” She opens drawers and finds them bare. “It looks like Andrews took everything with her.”
“What a bitch!” He spots a wireless port. “Felina, get us online and connect me to the Google servers. Hurry, we don’t have a lot of time.”
“Yes, sir.”
Through his smartglasses, Manos talks to his Chief of Staff. “Seth, we’re here in my new office.”
“Mr. Kharon, I have some bad news.”
“What’s happening?”
“I can’t get hold of the Google management team. It appears they’ve gone into hiding.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
Manos shrugs. “Don’t care. That’s wonderful news to me. Let’s replace them with the GoldRock team. It’s the easiest coup I’ve ever seen.”
Seth pauses. “Sir, it’s more complicated. I can’t access the private network. Their files are missing.”
“How is that possible?” Manos screams. “There must be hundreds of exabytes of data on their extranet. How does that disappear?”
“…I don’t know, sir. I wish I had answers for you.”
Manos slams his fist on a desk and throws a chair across the room. “Andrews sabotaged our transition. I want you to find her, Seth. This is a crime! I’ll make sure she goes to jail for stealing company secrets. We need to locate the missing information and bring it back online immediately, do you understand?”
“Yes, absolutely, sir. I will trace her location.”
“Hurry and find her.”
Manos ends the call and barks at Felina. “Did you get online?”
She stares at a laptop. “Yes, but the networks are gone. They’ve deleted everything—”
“Those bastards conspired against me!” Manos shouts. “How can they do this to me?”
Flush with anger, Manos runs to the wall and grabs a portrait of Beth, hurling it across the room. It shatters against the wooden floor and sends glass shards flying. He picks up an autographed baseball bat and slams it. “You bitch!”
Felina grins and removes her fur coat. “Would you like me to contact our lawyers, Mr. Kharon?”
Manos smashes a floor lamp and destroys a painting of Larry Page and Sergey Brin. He throws the bat at a Google emblem on the wall. Wheezing as he pants for air, he clenches his fists in rage. “I’ll…destroy her!”
His smartglasses vibrate and his Chief of Staff appears on the screen. “Sir, I have an update.”
“Seth, did you…find her?”
“Mr. Kharon, it seems Andrews went underground.”
Manos catches his breath. “Where is she?”
“Apparently she’s working on a secret project.”
“It must be that stupid energy fiasco. Find her immediately!”
“Yes, sir, I’m tracing her location now.”
Manos turns to Felina. “Get the lawyers on the phone.”
“Yes, Mr. Kharon.”
“I’ll teach Andrews to mess with GoldRock. I’ll mutilate her and all her weak underlings. They’re all going to jail when I find them!”
25.
IN THE LIVERMORE laser facility, Austin stands next to a two-ton zirconium cube containing six pounds of frozen deuterium and tritium. He inspects the makeshift fusion reactor with Pete Nelson, head of the National Ignition Facility, overseeing the world’s largest laser.
Austin checks the time – 11:29 p.m.
Six more hours until the gravity wave hits.
Panic overcomes him.
Where is Beth?
Pete inspects the cables anchoring the reactor to the ground. “Your welders did a great job. This is aligned perfectly with our laser.”
“I’m glad something worked,” Austin mutters. Unshaven and visibly tired, he avoids eye contact. “We have a long way to go.”
“You seem distressed.”
Austin bellows. “Time is not on our side. I sense an impending failure...I’m sorry if I sound pessimistic.” He tries to shake off his anxiety. “Thanks for granting us access to your facility.”
Pete smiles. “Don’t mention it. We ran fusion experiments here for decades. Sadly, nothing ever worked. I’m excited by your plans, though. I never thought of gravitational waves as an energy source.”
“Well, let’s see if it works.” Austin frowns. “It’s a long shot.”
“It’s worth a try. Have some optimism.”
“I’m sorry, I wish I could be more positive, but the event happens at 5:30 a.m. and there’s no sign of the particle accelerator. Without a titanium field to boost it, the beam won’t reach 100 million degrees.”
“I’m all too familiar with the limitations of our equipment. Is there anything I can do to help you?”
Austin turns. “Sorry, no. I have to go.” He walks along a chalk outline running perpendicular to the laser, forming a large cross in the warehouse.
Anxiety consumes him.
It’s come to this.
A surge of stress cripples him.
When this fails, I’ll be out of a job.
Someone yells from across the room. “Dr. Sanders!” Anil runs towards his boss. “I have some news for you.”
Austin’s posture eases. “What’s going on?”
“Diego found a supply of titanium. He’s delivering here it now.”
“From where?”
“New Mexico. The same supplier as before.”
Austin tenses. “What good will it do without an accelerator? We’re six hours away from the event!”
Anil’s voice lowers. “Dr. Andrews hasn’t found one?”
“No. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like talking.” Austin abruptly leaves, walking along the laser’s scaffold and heading for an office. He closes the door behind him.
I can’t take this anymore.
>
Fear strikes him.
I’m having a panic attack.
He places the smartglasses on his face. “Isaac, I’m overwhelmed. Help me.”
His A.I. speaks with a reassuring voice. “Have you taken your Provega pill?”
“No.”
“Would you like me to contact your psychiatrist?”
“No.”
“There are other remedies for depression.”
Austin rolls his eyes. “Like what?”
“When practiced correctly, meditation will relieve your anxiety. Would you like to try a mindfulness exercise?”
“Get lost!” Austin removes the smartglasses and throws them on a table. He stares at the ground in silence.
Olivia, I need you.
A wave of depression slams him. He takes out a pack and lights a cigarette, shaking as he holds in his tears. He takes a deep drag and closes his eyes. The smoke fills his lungs, calming his nerves.
Project Bodi, you were my only success in life. I wish I could go back in time.
Beth’s words come to him. “Be here in the moment. Liberate yourself from fears and worries and tap into your subconscious mind.”
Maybe she’s right. I need to let go.
He closes his eyes and puffs on the cigarette, holding in the nicotine as the tension dissipates. It provides a temporary relief. He remembers Shiv Patel, the former CEO who inspired him to think differently.
I tapped into my subconscious mind to solve Project Bodi. Maybe I can do it again.
Austin places the glasses on his face. “Isaac, I’ll try your exercise.”
A garden appears in the view, the sounds of a river in the distance. The A.I. speaks softly. “Please take a few deep breaths.”
Austin inhales deeply.
“Close your eyes and focus. Be aware of the sounds in your environment. Breathe normally and pay attention to your chest as it rises and falls. Be here now.”
Austin hears a power generator humming and a hammer thumping. Thoughts arrive.
Olivia, where are you? I need to speak with you.
“The purpose of mindfulness is to develop awareness. When memories or emotions disturb you, watch them without engaging them. Give them a name. Don’t allow them to control your actions and continue where you left off. This is how wakefulness develops over time.”
Austin heaves a sigh. He shakes off his feelings and returns to deep breathing, listening to the hammer and the electrical whir. He focuses on his chest rising and falling with each breath, and then more interruptions appear.
If I can only call Olivia…
He grits his teeth.
Another intrusion.
“Isaac, I can’t do this anymore!”
“Do not give up, Austin. The key to developing mindfulness is persistence. Be patient. Awareness will bring tranquility.”
“Okay, fine.” He stretches his neck and cracks his knuckles, then closes his eyes and breathes deeply. He listens to the sounds outside and the sensation of air entering his nostrils.
Olivia, I need to talk—
This time he catches the disruption, labels it as “negative anxiety,” and allows it to float away. He continues the exercise.
Seconds later, another fear-laced memory breaks his concentration. Again, he labels it as “bad emotion” and breaks free from it. Slowly the tension dissipates.
Subconscious mind, give me the strength I need to face my problems, just like during Project Bodi.
Austin tries to maintain focus on the now. Every few seconds, inner chatter shatters the calm and triggers stress, giving him the urge to smoke a cigarette. He fights back.
I must overcome these distractions.
He grows determined to maintain a mindful state. The interruptions continue but he finds himself able to snap back more quickly. As his resolve deepens, the mental loops diminish and he relaxes.
Olivia—
Negative emotion.
His agitation subsides. He becomes aware of the surroundings, listening intently to the hammering and the electrical whir. He feels cool air enter his nostrils and warm air exit his mouth. For the first time in months, his mind rests quietly. Peace finally arrives as he tunes out the inner noise.
Finally, some quiet.
For a few minutes, he forgets about Project Titan and Olivia, freeing himself from the recurring thought loops. A deep awareness emerges as he immerses himself in the present moment, opening the communication with his subconscious mind.
Suddenly an insight arrives.
650-555-3235.
He opens his eyes.
Where did that come from?
His jaw drops and shivers run down his spine.
I knew her phone number this whole time?
“Isaac, dial 650-555-3235.”
A dial tone rings and goes straight to voicemail. “Hi, you’ve reached Olivia. I’m not available to take your call. Please leave a message.”
Austin stumbles. “…Olivia?” An overwhelming sadness consumes him. “I’ve been trying to message you for months.” He weeps and tries to hold back the emotion. “I miss you so much, Olivia. I think about you and Matthew every day…”
He disconnects as the floodgates open and an ocean of pain billows from his heart. He sits with his hands on his face, crying uncontrollably.
Minutes later, he grabs a tissue and wipes his tears. “Isaac, dial 650-555-3235 again.”
Austin closes his eyes and breathes deeply, trying to maintain himself. The phone rings and again goes to voicemail. He mumbles, “…Olivia, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you. I…made a mistake divorcing you.” He sobs. “I was hysterical after Matthew and my parents drowned in the Flood, and I took my pain out on you. Instead of opening up, I shut myself down and blamed everything on you. That was the worst mistake of my life. Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt you, Olivia. I want to see you again. Please accept my apology...”
The call ends and he gets up, wiping his tears with his shaking hands. After months of pain, a glimmer of hope shines. He throws the cigarette pack in the trash and smiles.
I’m free…it’s finally off my chest.
His smartglasses vibrate. “Austin, the camera has picked up motion outside. It appears someone is here.”
“What? Open the live video feed.”
A broadcast shows a helicopter descending in the night sky. Austin zooms in and spots a Google logo on the chopper’s tail.
“Isaac, tell the team to meet me at the front entrance.”
He bolts from the office and sprints to the exit, bursting open the door and running outside. He finds Beth emerging from her vehicle and shouts over the engine noise. “You made it!”
“Austin!” she screams, running towards him in the dust kicked up by her copter blades. “Guess what? I found a mini particle accelerator. It’s a linear version about thirty-feet long.”
“Really? From where?”
“Los Alamos National Laboratory.”
“You’re kidding me!” His eyes widen as he catches his breath. “What did it cost?”
“$20M. It’s arriving here in four pieces. We’ll have to assemble it.”
His excitement wanes. “In six hours no less. I’m not sure that’s possible, Beth.”
“Failure is not an option.” She leads him back into the warehouse. “Open the hangar. Some trucks will arrive soon with the cargo. Each piece weighs five tons. Get some cranes in here stat.”
“Okay, we’ll try our best.” Austin feels a rush of adrenaline as he runs to a control panel. “I can’t believe you found an X10.” He activates a key and the building’s giant doors slide open to the darkness of the night sky.
They head for the laser and Beth points to a chalk outline on the floor. “Are we assembling the accelerator on that line?”
“Yes.”
“Makes sense. So the laser beam will fly through the titanium before slamming into the reactor?”
“Correct.” He points to a red mark on the zi
rconium cube. “That’s the contact point.”
She approaches the generator and walks around it, pausing to inspect. “Nice job, but I don’t see any output cables. Where will the electricity go?”
Austin’s voice lowers. “We’re working on it.”
Beth smacks her forehead. “You’re kidding me. If the energy has nowhere to flow, it’ll explode like a nuclear bomb! We’ll destroy San Francisco from here. It will be the biggest catastrophe of our time!”
Austin pales. “I understand that. Let me explain. There’s an old power plant a few blocks from here. We’re planning to connect directly to the grid.”
“How? You’ll need an ultra-high-voltage cable—”
“We have an army of engineers building one. They’re working backwards from the station and should be here in a couple of hours.”
Beth gives a cold stare. “You have to make sure that cable connects to our reactor. Otherwise we’ll have an epic disaster on our hands.”
Austin takes a deep breath. “Yes, I know. I’ve never been so stressed in my life.”
26.
GARETH ALLEN enters the CIA Director’s office and approaches the receptionist. “The world’s ending, Holly. Shit’s hitting the fan.”
Holly sits with a blank expression. “Good morning, Mr. Allen. Where is the fan?”
He chuckles. “It’s an expression humans say to each other. It means that things are falling apart.”
She pauses. “I understand now. Please have a seat. Mr. Klein will be ready in a minute.”
“Thank you.” Gareth looks at her golden locks and white plastic skin. “Can I ask you a question, Holly?”
“Yes.”
“Have you dated a human before?”
“Yes, I schedule meetings for several staff members.”
“No, ‘dating’ means something else.” He leans closer. “Have you kissed a man, Holly?”
She looks at him blankly. “Why would I do that?”
“Let me ask you this. What do you do when the office closes?”
“I sit here and work.”
“Do you get tired?”
“No. I charge myself when my battery runs low.”
He stares at her intently. “What makes you happy, Holly?”
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