The Begining (The Navigator Book 1)

by Ben Winston

  “Please excuse me while I handle the paperwork, will you be making a withdrawal today?” Hans asked.

  “I hadn't planned on it, besides, I can just transfer it if I need it, right?” Laura asked.

  “That is correct, however, if you decide to transfer a large amount, you may wish to speak with an American financial adviser and perhaps an attorney before you do. The United States has very specific laws regarding the import of large sums,” Hans offered. "I'll return in a few moments.”

  When the door closed, Laura fell back into the chair. “If he had all this money all along, why have we been struggling just to get by?”

  “I'm sure there were some very good reasons, Laura. I know for a fact that not having money to pay all the bills really bothered him. On the other hand, even if he only transferred a hundred thousand every year, you two would have had more than enough to live on,” Jed said.

  “None of this seems like the man I knew. Yeah, he told me about his past, but all of this is just way too 'James Bond' for me, you know?” Laura said.

  “So, that would make you 'Moneypenny'?” Jed asked, trying to get her to smile.

  “Well, if everything he told me was the absolute truth, then that role would have been filled by the woman, Sharon, that left that note,” Laura replied. “Honestly, I think I'd like to meet her someday.”

  “Well, if she's looking over you like she said she was, then you might get your wish. If I may ask, why would you want to meet her anyway? I got the impression from Joe that he wasn't too fond of his superiors back then.”

  “Oh, he wasn't. But I got the impression, from listening to him talk about her, I think he was in love with her. I mean, he hated her for what she had to do, but loved her because of what they'd become to each other,” Laura said.

  Jed cocked his head at her. “I'm afraid I don't follow you. All he told me was that she was his controller when he was on missions.”

  “She was much more than that. One of the ways they taught their people how to deal with pain was to train their minds using sex. He explained it to me that, during sex there are these chemicals that get released into your body. Chemicals that help the body overcome fatigue and not feel pain as much,” Laura explained.

  Jed nodded. “Endorphins. But they are a response, not something you can train to happen when you wanted it to.”

  “Apparently they did. Do you remember that scar on Joe's forehead?” When Jed nodded, she continued. “Well, that happened about a month after we got together. He hadn't really told me about any of this yet, but he got that scar in an accident that could have killed or blinded him.

  “He was burning papers and old magazines in someone's old fire-pit. He'd gone through all the stuff we were getting rid of, so he knew there wasn't anything explosive in there. Now, you'd think that, if there had ever been anything explosive in there from before, it would have already exploded. Well, that wasn't the case.

  “I was doing dishes, and I could see him right out of the window over the sink. He was about seventy-five yards from the house, anyway, I heard this big explosion, and the windows in the house shook. When I looked out the window, I saw that Joe's head was surrounded by a huge fire-ball.

  “I dropped what I was doing and ran out to see if he was alright. He wasn't; part of the metal from the can that exploded had sliced open his forehead, and blood was shooting out of an open vein. He was dazed but was still on his feet. I helped him get back to the house.

  “I got a rag and managed to slow down the bleeding, but it was clear he needed to get to the hospital or he was going to bleed out. The explosion had also burned one of his ears, shattered his front teeth, and cut one of his hands. The hand was bleeding pretty good, too, but nothing like his head was,” Laura said.

  “Head wounds are a bitch; you don't know how much damage has been done, and they bleed profusely, so it always looks worse than it usually is,” Jed replied.

  “This was as bad as it looked. I had to write a rubber check for gas, but I managed to get him as far as his parent's house. From there, his father took us over to the Emergency room. All in all, it took almost an hour and a half to get him to the hospital, and he was starting to slowly go into shock.

  “However, he knew he was going into shock and helped fend it off. They wouldn't let me go back in the room with him, but his dad told me later that even when they stitched it up, Joe never once complained about pain. Through all of that, he also never said how badly it hurt,” she finished.

  “I'm sure a lot of that was endorphins, but a lot of it could have simply been because of the amount of damage. Something like that would tend to numb the area, helping the injured man to get assistance,” Jed said, trying to find another explanation. "Endorphins alone wouldn't have kept him from feeling the pain for that long.”

  “No, they wouldn't have, unless he had been controlling them. Hell, even the nurses I overheard talking about him commented on how strange it was. But that wasn't the only time I saw him do it, but it was the most dramatic.”

  “I find it really hard to believe, much less understand how a resistance to pain can be 'trained' into someone. It actually sounds like something from one of the story's Joe wrote,” Jed said.

  “Well, it did work. I saw him do it a few times. However, I think the Crones Disease finally broke that conditioning. The last few years he was in almost constant pain. Honestly, I don't understand why they took him. What value would he have to them now?” Laura asked.

  “Who knows? But remember, we really shouldn't talk about that while we're away from home. We have no idea who's listening,” Jed replied just before the door opened, admitting Hans and another man that was carrying the box.

  It was bigger than Laura thought it would be, and she once again wondered what could be in it.

  “My apologies for taking so long Frau Anderson. I had to return to my office to get this.” He help up a small device that looked like an SD card for a computer.

  The man set the box on the table and Hans thanked him. The man bobbed his head at Hans, smiled and bowed his head to Laura and Jed, then left.

  Hans then carefully slid the small device into a small receptacle on the front of the box, which then beeped. “Now, if you would press your thumb to this pad,” he indicated a small scanner pad. “It will realign the lock to your thumb print and then you can open the box.”

  Laura did as she was instructed, and it beeped twice.

  “There, now simply press your thumb to it again and it will open for you. I'll leave you so you may explore the contents in privacy,” Hans said, bowed and headed for the door. “Please, take all the time you need.”

  Once the door closed, Laura stood and pressed her thumb to the plate and the lid popped open. She lifted the lid all the way open, looked surprised, and then confused. Seeing the look on her face, Jed stood too so he could see into it.

  The first thing that caught his eye was the gun. It looked like a customized, silenced FN Five SeveN. When Jed picked it up, he was surprised to discover that it was not made of metal. “Well, this certainly isn't something you can buy at the local gun store.”

  “What do you mean?” Laura asked taking more of an interest in the weapon.

  “This is basically a standard FN Five-SeveN, but I can honestly tell you that they never made any weapons like this for sale,” Jed explained. “Other than the bullets, I don't think this one has any metal in it at all.”

  “Well, it looks brand new. But the question is, what are we going to do with it? We can't take it back with us,” Laura said.

  “Take the bullets out, box it up, and ship it home.”

  “I didn't think you could send stuff like that?” Laura asked.

  “Don't tell them. We can buy an ornate box or something to put it in, and no one will be the wiser,” Jed said shrugging.

  Laura looked back in the box and saw a couple felt bags. “These can't be what I think they are!” She lifted one of the bags out of the box, and pulled it open
. Inside all she saw was sparkling diamonds. “Where did he get all of this stuff? From the way he described his missions, he was never really out very long. When did he have the time to buy all of this?”

  “You don't honestly think he bought all of this do you?” Jed asked.

  “No, I suppose not,” she said as she took a stack of Euro's out, and a few passports in a bundle held by a rubber band. Finally, she took out the folders, handed a couple to Jed, while she looked at the rest.

  “Holy shit,” Jed said softly. “He's got at least another couple million in bearer bonds here. What's in yours?”

  “I think it’s a stock portfolio; I don't know; I've never actually seen one before. I always thought stock portfolios weren't actually physical things,” Laura said, handing the folders over.

  “Normally, they’re not.” He said looking at the first folder. “Okay, this is a brokerage listing of his account, and history of trades.” He looked in the other folders. “These are basically the same thing, only broken down by each investment. I haven't been keeping track of the market, but I bet his little start up here is worth some money by now. So how do you want to handle all this?”

  “Uh, how about we leave the passports and the diamonds in here for now. We take the rest back to the hotel and figure out how to get this stuff sent home,” Laura said.

  “You should take the diamonds then too. If you tried to take those on the plane with you, I'm certain they would nail you for smuggling,” Jed countered. “You put the gun, diamonds and cash in your purse, and I'll ask if there is a folio we can use for the files. If not, I'll just hand carry them, very tightly mind you, back to the hotel, and we can put them in your luggage.”

  Laura nodded agreement, and started loading her purse while Jed stepped outside to find Hans. They very quickly got everything loaded up, got all the information they'd need from Hans, and headed back to the hotel.

  When they arrived, Jed walked Laura to her room.

  “Jed, I think I'm gonna go take a shower and maybe rest a little. I think I would definitely like to join Jill, Brianna, and Darryl in the whole power shopping thing,” Laura said as she unlocked her door.

  Jed handed her the nice leather Folio the bank had given them for the files. “Be sure to put all this stuff in the room's safe,” Jed said smiling. “Well, that should be easy enough, you've got a couple hundred thousand Euro's to shop with!”

  “Thank you so much for helping me with all of this, Jed. This would have been impossible on my own.”

  “Laura, it's hard to lose someone you love; especially with how close the two of you were. He was my friend too; so don't think anything of this. Now, go rest. This has been a busy, albeit short, day.”

  “Well, why don't you take your wonderful family out to dinner tonight? Just you guys. I'll find something for Darryl to do, so he doesn't follow Brianna to your family dinner,” Laura said chuckling.

  “You know, I don't know for certain who's following who there. I'm pretty sure if Bree wasn't getting married soon, we would have only needed three rooms!” Jed said waving as he walked down the hall to the suite he shared with Jill.

  “Do we really have to kill this guy?” Hal said, as he and his friend made their way to the Hyperspace Lab complex.

  His partner Thom, nodded. “Yeah, we do. I'm starting to think Jared might have finally gone around the bend.”

  Hal softly swatted him on the elbow. “Don't say that shit aloud! He'll hear us!”

  “He's on the Citadel, Hal, he ain't here. How is he supposed to hear us?”

  Hal looked a little sullen. “I don't know, but that man has a very uncanny ability to find out exactly what has been said about him.”

  “That's true, which is the only reason this guy has got to go.”

  “Yeah, but this is a fuck of a lot worse than eavesdropping, or stealing a file for him. Which is what we agreed to. I'm not a murderer!” Hal said getting more upset with each step.

  Thom stopped and looked at his friend. “Look, why don't you go back to work and I'll finish this. You know we have to do this, or he'll kill Carne and Jess.” He paused and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. “I didn't know this would get to you so badly. Go back; you can help cover my absence while I'm gone, okay?”

  Hal nodded. “Just... be careful, Thom. I know he's supposed to be unconscious, but I heard he was some kind of black-ops super-soldier back on Earth. Those folks are a whole new level of scary.”

  “Like you said, he's unconscious, how's he supposed to stop me?” Thom explained. “Go on, I'll do this, and be back before you know it."

  :NanoSySquery?> Potential threat approaching; Request threat analysis.

  :MedComSySreply/> Unauthorized person approaching patient. Unauthorized person is armed. Recommend defensive protocol Alpha06.

  :NanoSySComCon/> Command Systems are online. Activating DefPro A06... DefPro A06 now active. Req MedComSyS Security Alert.

  :MedComSySreply/> Silent Security Alert initiated... SecComSyS reply; ETA 06 minutes.

  :NanoSysComCon/> Data accepted. DefPro A06 draining patient energy. Terminal event in 04 minutes. Request Auxiliary External Power Source be supplied.

  :MedComSySreply/> Activating external Defib. Power Setting?

  :NanoSySComConreply/> 150mA – continuous for duration of emergency.

  :MedComSyS/> equipment not designed for continuous use. MedComServSys request for maintenance sent.

  Thom pulled the doors to the medical suite open and saw his target lying on the bed in the center of the room. Stepping inside, he pulled the doors closed and quietly chambered a round on the silenced pistol he'd been given.

  He walked closer to the sleeping man on the table, once he got about five feet away, he raised the pistol, and aimed at the man's head.

  “Dude, I am really sorry I have to do this to you, but it's either you or my sister and Jess. That insane fuck will kill them if I don't kill you,” he said softly. Tears were running down his face, and he argued internally about killing the man.

  :NanoSySComConalert/> Patient awake. Spacial anomaly detected. Stand by to release DefPro A06. Req. ETA for Security Personnel.

  :MedComSyS/> Security ETA now 04 minutes.

  “Son, it sounds like you have a real problem. However, if you lower your weapon, maybe I can help you with it,” Joe replied without opening his eyes.

  Thom was startled and almost fired the gun. “I'm imagining this. You're unconscious; the nanos are keeping you under until you heal. There is no way in hell you can be talking to me.”

  “If I sit up, will that prove it to you?” Joe asked.

  “You're going to fucking kill me aren't you? I know you're some kind of super soldier!”

  “No, I give you my word, I will not harm you. Honestly, I'm still far too weak to even beat off! Sitting up is going to be a chore.”

  “Uh, oh.. okay. Just go slowly, please,” Thom said.

  “Can't do it any other way, Son,” Joe said as he started to sit up, very slowly, he swung his legs off the side and used the leverage provided to help him get upright. By the time he was upright, he was almost sweating. Very slowly, he began opening his eyes.

  “Okay, so you're awake. That doesn't change the fact that I have to kill you. I don't have a choice,” Thom said.

  The room seemed a little bright, but not overly so. However, he was seeing a lot of extra... stuff. Almost like his eyes wouldn't focus, except that he could see everything very clearly. Weird, and something to ponder later; when there wasn't a nervous young man pointing a gun at my head.

  “Yeah, so you said. Would you tell me the whole story? Maybe I can find a way out for you that doesn't involve murder and will be safe for your sisters,” Joe offered. “By the way, what's your name?”

  “Thom and I really doubt it. But you asked, so here you go. My best friend's name is Hal. We moved here together from Earth a few years ago and have been friends ever since. We both have younger sisters that are also best friends.
/>
  “Shortly after Hal and I got jobs here in the lab complex. There was an accident in midtown. A defective plasma conduit blew out, and at first we thought our sisters had been right in front of it. In fact, that's the official story.

  “What really happened was that during the confusion of the emergency, our sisters got grabbed and taken to the Citadel. That psycho bastard Jared had them kidnapped. He contacted Hal and me a day later and told us that we were going to do a few things for him, or we would never see our sisters alive again. He proved what he was saying by putting them on the vid so we could see them.

  “Since then, we've been his spies here in the labs. We haven't told anyone like he said and so far we've done everything he's told us to do. Neither of us is a killer, Sir. He's just not giving us any choice though,” Thom finished sadly. He still had the gun pointed at Joe, but no longer at his head.

  “Hmm, you know, I think I might know a way out of this for you. But, you'll have to give me the gun before the security guys arrive, or they'll probably shoot you before anyone can stop them,” Joe said, holding out his hand.

  “You won't kill me?”

  Joe shook his head. “I gave you my word. Hand it over and let’s figure out how to save your sisters.”

  Thom tentatively lowered the gun, then slowly pointed it at the floor and handed it to Joe.

  Joe looked at the weapon. It was a newer model Glock with a silencer. He dropped the mag, and worked the slide to remove the chambered round. Surprising him he saw lines of text scroll up in front of his eyes, as if seeing the world through a computer monitor:

  :NanoSySComCon/> Emergency Alert is now concluded. Deactivating DefPro A06. Returning DefSys to stand-by mode. Req. discon. of ext. pwr. Returning to normal OpMode. Event Logged.

  Now that was just plain weird. He would have some serious questions for his Doctor after this situation was dealt with.

  Joe looked at the door and saw a man in a white lab coat restraining Becka from entering the room. He waved them in.