RABAN (The Rabanian Book 2)

by Dan Haronian

  "So do you think it's him? This rebel?"

  "Of course it's him. Who else could it be?"

  Itgass didn't answer.

  "Of course it's him," said Thesh again looking at the screen. "They are accusing the Mampasian government," he said shaking his head. "He did something to make them think it was us." He stood up and started pacing the length of the office. "Why can’t you get your hands on this bastard?"

  "Sir, I remind you that it wasn't me who lost him the desert."

  "I know," said Thesh in frustration. "And now he is here, in one of the cities." He walked back towards his desk. "Do you have any Desertians looking for him?"

  "Isn't that Silor’s job, Sir?"

  "What about Flyeyes. You have all the Flyeyes you could want. How hard is to it to spot a scarred, stuttering Desertian?"

  "Flyeyes?" wondered Itgass. "The Flyeyes are all busy with routine police missions."

  "So who the hell is looking for him?"

  "Thousands of policeman's, sir. They have all his description."

  Thesh shook his head agitatedly.

  "I didn't release the Flyeyes," said Itgass. "I didn't know the situation was that critical. There will be consequences though. Removing Flyeyes from their routine missions will increase the crime rate."

  Thesh walked towards the screen on the wall. "I order you to reassign all your resources to this mission. I want this man!"

  Itgass nodded. "I'll have Flyeyes start looking for him immediately sir. In parallel, maybe we should ask for clarification from Seragon. I still think it's all a mistake."

  "I will ask Silor to openly hunt down this scrambler," said Thesh, but he sounded unsure. "Exposing Silor will complicate things, but we must put an end to this."

  Thesh walked to the window and Itgass left the office thinking about the message from Seragon. It wasn't his fault that this crazy rebel had escaped from Silor. Still this failure was unusual for Silor. Itgass envied him. Silor’s people in the desert and in the cities offered him capabilities that Itgass could only dream of. If Silor hadn’t been a Desertian, he would probably be in a position of power in Mampas. Maybe even take Itgass’ place as the Minister of Defense.

  It is ridiculous that the Mampasian government is requesting clarification from us. The break-in took place from terminal 1860405 in building 44 on the fourth day of the Mampasian week at 02:50 Mampas time. The break-in lasted 1.02 Mampasian minutes. The stolen information included the design for an engineered molecule specifically designed to break down the gene sequence for the genetic subset know as the Dos tribe. Our sensors found that the information was decoded and saved in the private database of Thesh Monash. A military force has been dispatched to your area.

  This message was the first thing Thesh saw the next morning. A shiver coursed through his body at the mention of his name. He read the message again and again thinking that it must all be someone's sick joke. The designation for building 44 was familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it.

  Itgass’s face suddenly appeared on his screen. "Good morning sir," he said sounding cheerful.

  His voice almost made Thesh scream.

  "I see on you saw the message," continued Itgass.

  "Message?" Said Thesh.

  "The message from Seragon."

  "You received it as well?" wondered Thesh but the smugness on Itgass’ face made him think the defense minister was talking about something else. "I'm not sure we are talking about the same message."

  "Sir, it's the new message from Seragon. The one that starts with “It is ridiculous” and ends with talk of an invasion," said Itgass. "We have verified their claims. The information actually was in your database."

  Thesh looked at his name on the screen. He couldn’t make any sense of the message: stolen information, an engineered molecule, military force, and the Dos tribe. Who the hell was Dos? Then he caught up with Itgass’ words. "What was in my database?"

  "The information they mentioned. Building 44 is the one where Naan's embassy is located. The terminal they specified is in their archive. We traced everything back and this information was sent to you from there."

  Thesh look at him stunned. Itgass unusual efficiency and clarity about the facts surprised him. "Naan's embassy?!" he sputtered remembering Naan's plan for a new embassy building. Now realized where he remembered building 44.

  "Yes. The Dos tribe refers to the rebels, Dos was the ancestor of the Desertians," continued Itgass in a self assured tone.

  Thesh shook his head. "You think someone stole information from Seragon using a terminal in Naan's embassy and sent it to me?"

  "So it seems, sir."

  "And this information is about the Desertians. Something that can hurt them?" continued Thesh.

  "Yes, this is not my field of expertise, but it looks like something that could wipe them out."

  Thesh screwed up his face as if he’d just tasted something extremely sour. "Why doesn’t this story make sense to me? If it's only related to that distasteful rabble, why would he send me such information?"

  "It doesn't end there," said Itgass. He gazed at Thesh and it was clear that he was enjoying himself.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I checked to see who was in the embassy at that hour."

  "Yes?" said Thesh impatiently.

  "The man in charge of the archive was there all night, but he had a visitor." He smiled but Thesh's griming face wiped it away immediately. "A short while before this scrambling incident took place Naan entered the embassy."

  "Naan?"

  "That’s what the logs on the embassy’s main terminal shows. I don't know if he was in the archive, but he was the only one entering the embassy during the time in question."

  "Naan?" called Thesh again. "That’s impossible."

  "On the one hand it makes perfect sense. He has been fighting the rebels as if they were his own problem, but on the other hand it definitely could be scrambled information. There is another interesting piece of information."

  Thesh shook his head and felt completely confused.

  "Do you remember the mass escape from the detention center two days ago?"

  "Yes,"

  "It was the same night. The man from the archive reported a break-in at the embassy. He said someone dressed in a prison guard’s uniform was there in the office saying he was a technician who’d come to fix something in the network."

  "A Prison guard? Fixing the network?" said Thesh.

  "It all made sense to me this morning. I went through this man’s report. He said that this guard stuttered and that he had scars on his face."

  Thesh stared at Itgass face and a sense of discouragement flooded through his body. "Stuttered?" Out of the corner of his eye he saw the door open and Essy standing at the entrance.

  "Naan is asking to see you," she said hesitantly.

  He looked at Itgass for moment. "Maybe Naan will have some answers," he said and turned to Essy. "Show him in."

  Naan stopped in front of Thesh’s desk several seconds later. “Anything new about the rebel?" he asked when he saw Itgass’ face on the big screen.

  "Maybe you can tell us," said Thesh and with a twist of his neck he pulled up the message from Seragon next to Itgass’ face. "Can you help us with this?"

  Naan looked at the screen and after a pause a smile appeared on his face. "Is this real?"

  "Do you see something familiar here?" asked Thesh.

  Naan wrinkled his forehead and looked at the screen again. "Should I?"

  "Building 44 houses your embassy and this terminal is in your archive."

  Naan looked at him and smiled. "You can’t be serious."

  "I thought at least you would recognize the building number. It should be easy to remember, it's all over your plans."

  Naan swallowed. His face turned pale at he looked back at the screen.

  "According to the embassy log there were only two people in the building that night. You were one of them," said Itgass.

  "
Me?" said Naan surprised. He laughed. "That night was like any other night, I was at home asleep. This is completely ridiculous."

  "These are the facts that we have," said Thesh.

  "Sir you know how much I detest all-" he paused for a few seconds. "Who else was there that night?"

  "Your archive guy," said Itgass.

  "And he told you I was there?"

  "No, but the next morning he went down to the detention house and told the man in charge that someone wearing a prison guard’s uniform was in the archive. This all happened the night the prisoners escaped."

  "How come I heard nothing about this? And who was this intruder, this guard?"

  "Someone with scars and heavy stutter."

  "A stutter?" said Naan excitedly. "And you still have doubts who it was?"

  "That is what he reported, but you know it makes no sense," said Thesh.

  "Why not?"

  "Because this scarred stutterer is a rebel. According to Seragon the information he stole and sent me was how to destroy them."

  Naan rubbed his forehead, trying to digest this information. "You're right, it doesn't make any sense," he said eventually.

  "On the other hand you have always been enthusiastic about eliminating the Desertians," said Thesh. He looked at Itgass on his screen. "You have acted as if they were your problem."

  "I was only trying to help," Naan defended himself.

  "And maybe you're still trying?" said Thesh.

  "Sir…” said Naan then trailed off into silence.

  "Maybe it's all a plot," said Itgass.

  "It's definitely a plot," said Naan.

  "No, I meant that it is your plot," said Itgass.

  "Mine? What exactly would I gain from this?"

  "That is yet to be seen, but I agree that it makes more sense that it was you in that archive and not this rebel," said Thesh. "If this information is real, it's extremely dangerous for the rebels. It would be insanity to send it to me. It is also clear that Seragon is on its way here and we have no way to explain why our enemies would send us information that could destroy them?

  "I have removed this information from your database. It's also no longer in the network so I guess it no longer can harm anyone," said Itgass.

  Thesh looked at him. He’d just remembered that he’d wanted to ask about this earlier. "You did the right thing, but the information was sitting there unprotected for at least a day. Anyone who wanted to could have downloaded it already."

  He looked at Naan. The man looked as though he was collapsing into himself. "Where is the information now?" he asked looking at Itgass’ image on the screen.

  "It’s on a memory card in my office's safe."

  Naan shook his head. "Someone is trying to frame me," he said.

  "Who?" asked Thesh.

  "I don't know yet."

  "Why would this rebel risk his life, and those of all the Desertians, only to frame you?"

  Naan shook his head.

  "What is going on between you and him?"

  "I don't know him," Naan almost shouted.

  Thesh looked back at the screen. "An engineered molecule specifically designed for breaking down gene sequence for the genetic subset known as the Dos tribe. This is crazy."

  "The information was decoded and sent to you," said Naan. "Why didn’t they stop him immediately?"

  "What are you suggesting?" asked Thesh.

  "Nothing. I'm just thinking out loud. Not only were they able to trace the person who committed the crime all the way here, but they know that he decoded information and sent it to you. If they could see all of that, why didn't they stop him?"

  "I doubt it was a real-time tracking," said Thesh. "Seragon would've stopped him if they could." He looked at Itgass. "We only have two days until the delegation arrives and I need some clear answers. Seragon is known to be impatient and quick to use force. They will not hesitate to start a war. And that is a war we will not win.

  "We’d better double check this information," said Naan. "Maybe it's false. Maybe these rebels are smarter than we think. We better know what is really included in the message from Seragon before the delegation arrives."

  Thesh thought for a moment. "Can you check into it?" he asked Itgass.

  "Yes, but the message from Seragon says it's decoded so I guess it will take a while."

  "I need to know how someone broke into the embassy. I don't remember any reports of a break-in," said Naan. "This rebel is making us look like fools. I need to find out how he got inside the building using my ID."

  "Go do your homework and come back with answers," said Thesh.

  Naan started to walk to the door. "How can it be possible? There is only one genetic ID pad, and he got past it. It's the new and improved version. How could he do it?"

  "A good scrambler can get past any barrier," said Thesh.

  Naan looked at him. His face was still pale. "I thought we eliminated all of them. Besides, since when have these rebels had such expert scramblers?"

  "Maybe since your guy taught them," said Thesh. "After all he’d been visiting Mampas for more than a year."

  Naan shook his head and left the office. He knew Raban was not involved with the rebels. This scrambler wouldn’t even know what Raban looked like.

  "Find out where he was that night," said Thesh after the door closed behind Naan. "And suck every bit of information you can out of this man from the archive. I want to know if he's lying."

  "He's an old man. He might not survive our interrogation."

  "We are also facing an interrogation that we might not survive, so forgive me for not caring. If we can’t find some answers for Seragon I don't even want to think about what all this will do to Mampas."

  "Yes sir."

  Thesh looked at him and nodded. "You did well today," he said.

  "Thank you."

  "You have definitely impressed me."

  "Actually I was impressed too. Everything went right for me today."

  "I hope that is a sign of good things to come. Any news about that rebel?"

  "Not yet, sir. The Flyeyes have received all of the information. I hope it won't be long before we track him down."

  The Chemical Industries Center that housed the Chemical Labs of Mampas was at the edge of desert near the belt Road for obvious reasons. The shift manager who received the order and sent it to the main production system for analysis of the production sequence saw nothing amiss. The molecule was bigger than the ones they usually manufactured, but this didn't arouse any suspicion. Besides the order had come directly from the Mampasian government two weeks before and had been pre-approved. He knew that the government sometimes tested new compounds that they felt might eventually turn into big profits.

  When the production system output the details of the required production sequence it was longer than usual. There were three hundred and sixty three steps, but the automated production system was one of the most advanced of its kind and it was easily up to the challenge. After transferring the credit to cover the production costs, the shift manager started the machine and set it to produce a small sample.

  Earlier that day Itgass stood in front of the genetic identifier at the entrance to Naan's embassy. He laid his palm on the surface and wondered what had really happened that night.

  "Welcome, Itgass Pim," a voice said. He pushed on the door and walked into the corridor. Although it made no sense he was sure the speaker had spoken Naan's name in the same way the night of the break-in. New information had continued to flow in almost without any effort on his part. For the first time in his life Itgass felt he was feeling worthy of his position. He’d gotten the job mainly through his personal connections. This fact, together with his mistrust of his surroundings had always been a constant burden on his heart. He knew he wasn't the only one who’d reached his position in this way. Still no one doubted Thesh’s capabilities, even though he’d only come into power through his vast network of connections.

  Itgass had never been close
to Thesh, and even now he wasn’t one of his inner circle. This made him angry and frustrated, especially since two of the people Thesh did include in that group were a Desertian with low accent and a dwarf of an ambassador from a backward planet. Recent events had given him hope that this was all about to change. He hoped these events might springboard him into a better position, one where everyone would see his true worth.

  He wondered if Silor had really lost the stutterer in the desert. They were both Desertians after all, they had a blood connection. That might be stronger even than his special relationship with Thesh. And now, this new data only strengthened the case for a conspiracy. Itgass could've sworn that Naan and this stuttering rebel were working together.

  These thoughts led Itgass to a new conclusion. If he could prove that Naan was involved in the Seragonian break in, it would prove that Thesh had entrusted the safety of Mampas to strangers. It might even force him to resign, and if that happened, it would open up even more possibilities for Itgass’ career path. All of this was in his mind as he entered the outer office for his meeting with Naan. He hoped his new understanding of the events would give him an advantage. It might be enough leverage to push Naan into a corner and force him to make a mistake.

  "Hello Itgass,"

  Naan's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

  "Hello Naan," he replied watching Naan walk towards him with his short little steps.

  "Welcome to Naan's Embassy."

  "Thank you and thank you for agreeing to this meeting."

  "No need to thank me, I am happy to help in any way that I can. We must solve this mystery and the sooner the better. I’m sure you know that Naan could be harmed by this just as much as Mampas."

  Naan led him into his office and waved him toward the couch next to his desk.

  "I don’t know," said Itgass. "Everything is happening here in Mampas. How could Naan be affected?"

  "We depend on Mampas," said Naan sitting down in front of him. "Our economy is tied to Mampas’ economy." He smiled. "We may live on our own little planet, but we are completely connected to our big brother."

  "Yes, I suppose that’s true," said Itgass. "But you also have your special skills. Things we don't have."