Atlas

by Alanna K Puzak

  The cameras had shown nothing, there was no evidence of how it was stolen, and there was nothing backing this story up. This type of case is what we called a come find me. You can probably see why.

  He went on to explain the oddness of how it worked. This person had to know how to read the algorithm. There was one person in this world who developed the language who was unfortunately dead, but there was one other who could understand it.

  This new electronic bomb that they decided to start calling the nuke had been created from a new metal found from Jupiter that once put into a liquid state, could transfer into an electromagnetic energy. This metal was called Harishma, named after the person who discovered it on a launch to Jupiter about five years ago.

  Years ago Harishma experimented on the element for months on months. She finally saw how this element could be transformed into electricity and used to destroy everything she knew and loved by traveling faster than the speed of light to get into any system anywhere.

  She realized if put into the wrong hands, it could and would destroy the world as we know it. She was the one who developed the algorithm. That way nobody could ever deploy this brand new weapon and have control over everything.

  A few weeks later she went missing. The elements were stolen. And the rage began. This is where Radinson thought the drive was created. “We think they must have made her create the drive and once she refused to deploy the attack, they killed her,”

  Anyway, like I said this metal was transformed into electricity. Its main point was to be ignited into the electric wires that our world revolves around causing a wipe across the world, all the information then delivered to the place where the drive was located, uploading onto whatever system the hacker wanted.

  The person controlling the attack could then decode the algorithm and order any attack, steal from anyone they would like, secrets revealed, resources destroyed, and the control of us all. Sounds crazy right? My guess was the government stole this, so they could be in control of not ending the world.

  “Excuse me, sir …”

  “This is a no questions asked mission, agent.”

  He went on to tell me that there was also a way to destroy it. He said the person who could decode the algorithm was the only one who knew the fault in the codes. This person could destroy the entire plan or completely destroy the world.

  “I am sorry sir I am not going to stay quiet. I am confused, how does this weapon work?”

  “Well, agent imagine this … there is one password in the world for everything. Just one. But to get that one, you need to know hundreds maybe even thousands that change every few seconds. Say one person was smart enough to crumble those passwords and then could decode the larger password in a second. That is what the algorithm does; it reads the language and tells us what to do.”

  He took a sip of scotch and continued, “The metal, once transferred into electricity, can travel faster than the speed of light. This is why that is so important and has never been done before. People could never figure out how to be fast enough before something detected them. Now with this new form of electricity by the time they are detected, we would all see a bomb deployed into the sky, everything we know wiped out, everything classified distributed. We would be fucked.”

  He took a lingering breath while setting his emptied cup filled with melting ice down, “Once this is decoded, they would be in access to everything. Now imagine the person who owns that property that hacker just got into. They are trying to stop them but the algorithm then creates thousands of new passwords every ten seconds, so they can never fix the problem. Do you get it?”

  “Ok…So what do you need me to do? Find this guy and bring him in or find him and destroy the drive or what?”

  “Exactly agent.”

  “Huh?”

  “I just need you to do as I say when I say.”

  The reason I had been picked was because nobody knew who I was. I knew the ins and outs of all the systems and agents and had never been called by name by anybody. I was the perfect loner to become a celebrity. I knew exactly how a come find me mission worked and I was the one to solve the puzzle, crack the code, and save the day if you will.

  “This flash drive must be recovered as soon as possible Mel. It needs to be found and given back to me here before anyone can get their hands on it.” He sat me down and handed me a classified document covered in bread crumbs and grease.

  “This is Atlas.” He went on, “He is our main target. We need to know everything this man does. I want to know what he eats for breakfast and where he goes to drink at night. Hell, I want to know what deodorant he uses, who he fucks on the weekends, and when he brushes his teeth!”

  He went explaining the main points of Atlas. How he was an ex-Airforce Pararescue who had become the spy of all spies for RED, maybe even a double agent, and blah blah blah. “He has missions in Rio almost 50% of the time. We think he is the main link between the developer and the buyers. We think he might be the one who can crack the code.”

  “Why is that?”

  “He was the one who killed Harishma. He was on his last mission as a Pararescue and it was to find her and bring her back. The next minute his commander came in and saw her dead, and his gun being put so slowly back into his uniform. This makes us think he was taught the way and then killed her so he could control it all.”

  He continued, “it is said that the person who killed Harishma was then attacked by the ones holding her captive. The person was then branded on the back of the right shoulder. It was the branding of the Diablo’s. The gang they believed to be working with the drive.”

  In my head I am thinking, “So this man who apparently was a hot shot for the Air Force, fucked them over, didn’t get imprisoned, and now is a hot shot for RED and has been in Rio 50% of his time and nobody knows why? They think he is the guy who is going to end the world, but he is still out and about running around?” It was not all adding up quite yet, but I figured just go with it and I can figure the rest on my own later.

  Pacing back and forth, he finally sat down. “I need you to just watch this guy. Get close but not too close. We need to know if he is the man who killed her. If he is the man who knows how to deploy this weapon. I want you to be able to get information from him but when you leave, have him forget he ever met you.” “Do you understand agent?”

  I nodded. Piece of cake. I am great at disappearing, so this should be a walk in the park.

  “You will still transfer to RED as you are too much for the CIA to handle. But until the transition is complete you will be working for the both of us.”

  We shook hands and he informed me he would send me the information on re-location this afternoon. I walked back slowly over the bridge again reading the file as if my eyes were glued to the pages. I sat back down, put the file away, and finished playing my game.

  As I was sitting there conducting an online mission of Tetris I could not stop thinking about this mission. Why me? Is it just a coincidence that all of this is happening at the same time? I wanted to get to the bottom of everything. I need to keep an open mind, clear my head, and see every string in the story. I knew it would all come to me eventually, I just needed to wait.

  Later that afternoon while eating in the cafeteria, I was again reading the files while finishing my food. I glanced at the newly remodeled café with hanging spiral lights, nothing but windows, and white furniture everywhere, but I could not get this mission out of my head.

  I was thinking to myself, “This could be it, the moment I have been waiting for.” This felt like the chance I had been hoping for. The chance to get higher than the CIA, to do good for the world, to get out and make a life for myself out of this desk.

  After I was done eating I threw my salad in the trash and was heading back up to my desk. I walked over to the elevator frantically pushing the button. I wanted to get back up to the 10th floor so bad so I could finish packing and figure out where my new mission would start tonight.

&nb
sp; When I got there, I was sent all the information. I opened the document that had been sent to me and started to read more. Tomorrow was the social gathering for RED. This was to meet and greet everyone who would be in the same training as me. The training to become a RED agent. This was working out oh so perfect for me.

  I finished packing all my things, said goodbye to everyone, had a traditional goodbye toast and I was off. Clinching the new information in my hands, I rushed home to pack my bag. I already did not have much, and it was not like I was leaving this place for good, so I just got everything I could possibly need for now and left. I figured I could just come back when I needed something. Training was not that long anyway.

  As I was finishing zipping the couple of suitcases I had I got a page on my phone. I finished turning off all the lights and shutting all the blinds, I slammed the door grabbing my keys to quickly lock it. I ran down the stairs having to grab the edges to catch myself and find the RED cab that they provided. Location was too much of an issue that they did not want just anyone knowing who was coming in and/or going out, so they always provided their own drivers. My mission was to find out everything I could about the system, Atlas, the drive, and report back to the CIA.

  I walked outside of my apartment building and waved a kiss goodbye. I was finally onto the next chapter in my life. I looked at my phone that Radinson had given me. Only he knew the number and it was untraceable. The car that Radinson had ordered me was right in front of me according to my GPS on my phone. It was a very nice all black SUV, tinted windows, black rims, complete cliché spy looking car if you ask me.

  I got in. The cab driver handed me a new badge for RED. “This is for you to get in and out of everywhere of where I am taking you. This is your life, do not lose it.”

  “Wow, well thank you Mr…”

  “Just call me John.”

  “Well thank you, Mr. John”

  We went on and talked for a little bit. You know just cab talk. He was a nice guy.

  About fifteen minutes later we pulled up to a small plane. This plane was an all-white Challenger 300. High class if you ask me. We both got out of the car and walked towards the jet.

  Mr. John came with me. I figured he was more than just a cab driver. More of a guy to keep his eye on me to make sure I was getting to where I was going and not going to run off and sell the information. Not for the well being of me but more for the CIA’s protection.

  This plane was nice. All white leather interior, a nice big TV in the back, and plenty for us to do for the flight. I walked on, got in my chair, took one last look outside, and went to sleep.

  I was woken up by the bumpy turbulence just a little bit from landing in New York. I looked over at it looked like John had fallen asleep too. There were only a couple flight attendants and both talking over by the bar. They saw that I had woken and came to me with a scotch on the rocks.

  I quickly rubbed my eyes and re did my hair before they got to me. I lifted the flap on the window just as I saw John waking up. We were here. I gazed over the foggy bright city night. It was time for a new chapter in my life and I could not wait to start it. I took a sip of my drink and just smiled.

  Mr. John and I got off the plane and into a car that looked identical to the one that picked me up. “Real selection here guys,” I whispered to the window. From the airport, it only took about five minutes to get to the building where I would be staying.

  We pulled up in the dark night to the glistening building pointing to the night sky. Windows all the way up and about 50 stories high, if not more. It looked like nothing but mirrors. Lush vines, sparkling flowers, and freshly blooming trees filled all around it. No other buildings close by, nowhere to park, only one entrance that happened to be the same exit. Fences were all around blocking anyone from getting in without a gate key. I took a deep breath and opened the door. It looked like a Beverly Hills prison, but one you wanted to be in.

  I looked at my new RED ID and I was labeled on the 24th floor. I opened the heavy steel doors, a huge blast of humid wind brushed through my hair waking me up. I looked back at Mr. John and waved goodbye.

  I looked at the tan tile on the floors and walls. The waterfall attached to the wall on my left, and the three elevators on my right. A gentleman in an all-black suit, one foot on one knee, not paying attention to anything, but reading the newspaper at the front. As I walked towards the elevators I could hear the ripples of water calming me down. They really wanted this place to be a Zen kind of place, didn’t they? Just like the CIA tons of windows around you, making sure you could see everything out, but nobody could see in. I pushed for up. It was go time.

  The elevator beeped and I was on floor 24. My name was on the wall right outside of the elevator. It had an arrow pointing right. I followed it. There were only six quarters on the floor. Three to the right, three to the left. I was the one straight ahead after turning right. I opened the door with my badge.

  Nothing but windows, everything furnished with gorgeous natural furniture, hanging lights that reminded me of the ones at the CIA’s new cafeteria, plants by the windows and fireplace. A huge television, a very nice black marble kitchen, wood floors, and the bedroom. Holy moly the bedroom. It was all dark wood and white with huge curtains over the window walls overlooking all of New York. This place was truly heaven! It reminded me of a forest mixed with a top-notch Las Vegas hotel room. Something of complete serenity and comfort.

  As I walked through the apartment to get a good sense of home, I noticed an invitation on the island. It was for a gathering tomorrow for all the newcomers to meet everyone already here. It had a note on it, “Don’t forget, Atlas. –R” Underneath of it was a truth pill. These were a new thing that the government officials had developed because they were so sick of all the lies being told by the government all the time. They worked kind of like a date rape. You would sneak it in a drink, it would dissolve in less than two seconds, and then about 30 seconds after that, the truth. They would last for a good couple of hours, but you had to know when to use them. I knew what I had to do tomorrow.

  Until then I was going to relax and enjoy myself in my new home. I threw all of my things down and jumped into bed. The covers ate me up like a wave. Time for a good night sleep before the shindig tomorrow.

  CHAPTER THREE: THE FIRST NIGHT

  T he next day was the time for Atlas and me to finally meet. It was the day of the shindig for everyone to well meet everyone. They held it at some underground high-class bar called Maulano in the middle of the basement of where we were living in New York City. Nobody knew about it except people of RED. It was just something so we could get away without being watched. Just your normal bar for everyday agents, wow that is something I thought I would never say.

  I was very excited about this event. I had never been the agent who got to do things. I always had to be in the shadows and always had to be unseen. So, to be the one who needed to be the hot shot of the night was super exciting for me.

  Also, side note, at this time I had just broken up with my fiancé, Gerald, of two years. I just never felt like he was the one. So even though this was the first part of the mission and my new life, I was just excited to let go and get out. It was a time to restart and recharge. No more fiancé, almost done with the CIA, a new place to live for a bit, it was all feeling so great!

  I should also mention that I originally found out about a job at RED a year or so back but I did nothing about it. I did this because I wanted to see where things were going with my fiancé Gerald. I wanted to see if I could make the love appear. I guess you can say I was too scared to let go and be alone that I thought maybe if I hold on my feelings, things would change. But if you are with the wrong person those feelings won’t change.

  Once I realized that I had to let go. Do not get me wrong, Gerald was such a great guy. A doctor for children in low-income families, a man who always was helping with charity whether it was money or his time, and he always put me first. I know he sounds like an ang
el, but he was just not right for me.

  After two years I realized that and decided to leave. He is probably still heartbroken as am I but I have to concentrate on me. It probably makes me sound like a bitch, but it is not fair to drag someone along if you know it will never work. That is one of the main reasons I chose to finally join RED. I wanted to help and focus on me and get off the grid for a while. Enough about my sad past, back to the story.

  I went to my closet and unpacked my luggage. I found exactly what I wanted to wear. Something that made me feel so beautiful and like nothing could stop me. I changed into my dress, put the final touches on my hair and makeup, grabbed my pill and my black silk clutch along with my invite, and was off to the elevators. I got in the elevator with many others. As the silver bionic doors shut, I thought to myself this is kind of nice that you do not have to think about anything besides RED for the time being.

  The elevator buzzed and opened to a huge bar and dance floor. Something you think you see in the 30’s mixed with a millennial point of view. It had hard antique dark wood flooring, with dark leather barstools and tables everywhere, but a diamond sparkle in every side eye. There were mirrors all around. The lights were dark enough to be romantic but light enough as you could still see each other’s faces. The bartenders had the old school paper boy look. The bow ties, hats, and upholstered pants. Candles everywhere and great jazz music playing in the background.

  I took a deep breath as I walked in smelling all the potent cigar smoke, cheap perfume, and lingering alcohol from everyone around. Me wearing a black laced spaghetti strap dress with a low-cut front and no back. My black heels came up to the middle of my calf with the strings creating x’s all the way up. My hair cutting edge dark and curled. Dark red lipstick that would make a rose petal look pale. A diamond necklace and matching bracelet to make me shine. I had not felt this beautiful for a long time. It felt good to get out and not have to worry about who was watching me and just try to find who I should be watching. It felt great to try to be seen.