The Persona Protocol

by Andy McDermott

  ‘Hell yes, it has to remain under the radar!’ Levon insisted. ‘You know what would happen to me if I got caught accessing data above my security classification?’

  ‘The same thing that would happen to us,’ said Bianca.

  ‘Not quite! Irreplaceable intelligence asset; pretty white lady; black guy. Who do you think’ll come out worst of those three?’

  ‘But you won’t get caught, will you?’ Adam said. ‘You never have been before.’

  ‘Again, I don’t know where you got the idea that I’ve been doing any . . .’ he couldn’t hold back a hint of pride, ‘awesome hacks.’

  ‘So you can do it?’

  ‘Hypothetically speaking,’ said Levon, straightening, ‘there ain’t a system built I can’t get into. Speaking purely hypothetically, of course.’

  ‘Of course,’ Bianca echoed with a smile.

  ‘How long will it take?’ asked Adam.

  ‘Well, with the security that STS runs, if I were trying to get in from the outside it could take days, even weeks. But since I’m sitting right here . . .’ He gestured at his monitors and grinned.

  ‘You’ll help us?’ said Bianca.

  ‘Yeah, I’ll help you. Hell, after what you did in Russia, everyone in America should be doing favours for you. You got hold of all al-Qaeda’s secrets! Even if you didn’t manage to bag al-Rais himself, we’ve still got enough to kick their asses. Plus, Holly Jo and Kyle wouldn’t shut up about how awesome you were when you scared off those fighter planes. Almost wish I’d been in the field to see that. I figure saving their lives is worth something. Well, Holly Jo’s, anyway. Kyle? Eh.’ He waggled one hand in a so-so gesture, then smiled to assure them he was joking. ‘So, you want it right now?’

  ‘Can you do it?’ Adam said.

  Levon snorted. ‘“Can I do it?” the man says. Weren’t you listening?’ He turned to his computer and started typing, fingers flicking over the keyboard. ‘Give me a minute here.’

  More of the project’s day-shift members had arrived in the Bullpen. Adam saw Kyle approaching, on the way to his own workstation, and was concerned that he would be curious – but then he veered off to start a sports-themed conversation with someone else.

  ‘Okay, here we go,’ said Levon, pointing at a particular file. ‘This might be what you’re after. It’s the index of all the recordings of people’s personas.’ He opened it and quickly scrolled through. ‘All these here, they were done early on, when Tony was in training. Once he went active, there were only a few done at the lab, like if they needed an expert in something specific. Then, after the project was suspended, there’s obviously a gap – until it started up again with you, Adam.’

  Adam regarded the screen intently. His name leapt out at him from the list. The date beside it was ten months earlier – less than two weeks after the car bombing in Islamabad. ‘Is there any more information?’

  ‘One sec, man . . .’ Another rapid burst of typing. ‘Yeah, here.’

  Bianca examined the new text. ‘They did record your persona. So what happened to the disk?’

  Adam had already read on. ‘It doesn’t say – but I know who can tell me.’

  Twenty minutes later, Kiddrick arrived at his office – and like Levon, found someone waiting for him. In this case, it was Adam alone. ‘Good morning, Dr Kiddrick.’

  ‘Morning, Adam,’ said Kiddrick, mildly surprised. ‘Something I can do for you?’

  ‘I need to ask you something. In private.’

  ‘Of course.’ Kiddrick opened the door. ‘Come in.’

  Adam followed him inside. Kiddrick’s framed qualifications were mounted prominently on the wall behind his desk, positioned to be the first thing a visitor saw on entering. The other walls were home to photographs, also in frames: Kiddrick shaking hands with prominent figures from the scientific and political worlds, the latter including Harper and even the Vice-President.

  The scientist took his place at the desk and airily waved for Adam to sit before him. ‘So, how’s the interrogation of al-Rais proceeding?’

  ‘It’s going well,’ Adam replied. ‘We’ve got a lot from him. But that’s not why I’m here.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I wanted to ask something about the PERSONA procedure itself. Specifically, about when I joined the project.’

  Kiddrick’s demeanour changed, a subtle wariness creeping over him. ‘Yes?’

  ‘I noticed in the lab that there’s a recording of Tony’s persona. Is there a disk containing mine too?’

  Kiddrick’s gaze momentarily flicked up to one wall. Adam followed it to a large photograph of the scientist shaking hands with a distinguished-looking older man. ‘Why do you want to know?’

  The brief dart of his eyes had been unconscious, defensive. Was there a wall safe behind the picture? ‘Is there a disk? Is that where you keep it?’

  ‘There is no disk,’ said Kiddrick in a dismissive tone. ‘Why would there be?’

  ‘You recorded Tony’s persona.’

  ‘That was just a precautionary measure. It was the first time we’d tried the full procedure on a person, so we wanted a point of reference. We didn’t need to do the same with you.’

  Adam regarded him in cold silence. He knew Kiddrick was lying; Levon’s hack proved that. But how to challenge him without giving away his source?

  He stood and crossed the room to the photograph. The younger Kiddrick, hairline slightly lower on his domed forehead, beamed smugly back at him. ‘What are you doing?’ the present-day version demanded.

  Adam ignored him, pulling one side of the frame. The picture swung away from the wall, revealing a concealed safe. ‘What’s in this?’

  Kiddrick jumped to his feet, eyes bulging with outrage. ‘Classified documents! What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

  ‘I’m finding out the truth. I think you did make a recording of my persona. Is the disk in here?’

  ‘That woman put you up to this, didn’t she?’ Kiddrick said, scowling. ‘Distracting you from the project, poisoning your mind. We should never have gotten her involved.’

  ‘This is nothing to do with Bianca. But it’s everything to do with me. Answer the question. Have you got the disk?’

  ‘This conversation is over,’ snapped Kiddrick. He stalked around his desk to Adam, slamming the picture back to cover the safe. ‘I suggest that you drop this, right now. Otherwise . . .’

  Adam met his gaze without blinking. ‘Otherwise what, Nate?’

  The use of the diminutive made Kiddrick twitch with anger. ‘Otherwise,’ he began, his voice almost cracking before he cleared his throat and repeated himself in a lower register. ‘Otherwise, I’ll report you for security violations.’

  ‘What security violations would those be, Nate?’

  ‘Asking about a disk that’s above your security clearance, for one!’

  ‘A disk that you said doesn’t exist? Are unicorns above my security clearance too?’

  ‘You are spending too much time with that woman,’ said the scientist, his face tightening. ‘Now look! I don’t know what’s brought all this on, but I’d advise you to forget about it.’

  ‘I’ve forgotten too much already,’ Adam replied. ‘I’m trying to get some of it back.’

  Outright worry flashed across Kiddrick’s features before anger covered it. ‘I’ll remind you of something you’ve forgotten, for free: you asked us to erase your memory. In fact, you begged us to! We gave you something a lot of people would give their eye teeth to have – a clean slate, with all of that pain in your past wiped away. We did it before . . . and we can do it again. So drop it!’

  He glared at Adam, who stared back at him without emotion. Kiddrick was the first to look away, ire dissolving to discomfort under the other man’s level gaze, but it was Adam who broke the silence. ‘Okay,’ he said simply. He turned and left the office.

  Breathing heavily, Kiddrick watched him go. Even after the door had closed he remained still for several seconds, trying
to compose himself – then he hurried to his desk and picked up the phone, stabbing in a number. He waited impatiently for the call to be transferred from Tony’s office line to his cell phone. ‘Tony!’ he barked, on getting an answer. ‘Have you been talking to Adam?’

  Even through his tiredness, Tony’s sarcasm was clear. ‘Well, yeah. It’s a lot easier than using semaphore.’

  ‘What is this, comedian day? I meant, why did you tell him we recorded your persona when you joined the project?’

  ‘Because he asked? Look, what is this? I’m on my way home, but I can come back in if there’s a problem.’

  ‘No, no, there’s no problem.’ Kiddrick hung up without a further word, regarding the phone grimly as he pondered his next action before entering another number. ‘I need to talk to Admiral Harper.’

  Adam entered the Cube. ‘What did he say?’ Bianca asked.

  ‘Nothing helpful. And nothing I liked, either.’

  ‘Did he say anything about the disk?’

  ‘Only that there wasn’t one. But I know he’s lying. I’m sure he’s got it in his office safe.’

  ‘Maybe we should use the PERSONA on him to get the combination.’

  ‘There’s an easier way.’ The coolly matter-of-fact way he said it made Bianca give him a curious, slightly unsettled look. ‘I think you were right, though.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘About there being some sort of cover-up. Kiddrick didn’t say anything outright, but he implied that he knew what had happened to me before I joined the project. So if I really am a traitor, then he’s involved in concealing it . . .’

  ‘And if you’re not, then there’s a lot more to whatever’s going on,’ Bianca finished excitedly. ‘I know which I believe.’

  ‘I know which I prefer. One way or another, though . . . I’ve got to find out the truth.’

  ‘How are you going to do that?’

  He thought for a moment – then made what he knew was a fateful decision. ‘The only person who knows what really happened is me – the original me, before I had my memory wiped. I’ve got to get that disk. Are you still willing to help me?’

  She nodded. ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘Whatever I have to do?’

  Another nod, though somewhat hesitant. ‘Yeah . . . although I’d be happier if I knew exactly what you had in mind.’

  He gave her a lopsided grin. ‘Really, you wouldn’t. But we’re going to need the PERSONA gear again. Can you get it from the lab?’

  ‘The whole lot?’

  ‘Yes. Do you know where the emergency stairwell is?’

  ‘The one past the break room?’

  ‘That’s right. Take the gear there and wait for me – I’ll meet you in about ten minutes. Oh, and . . . put your foot in the door to keep it open.’

  She cocked her head, puzzled. ‘Why?’

  ‘Just a precaution.’ He collected a jacket from the wardrobe and donned it.

  ‘And what do I say if somebody wants to know why I’m standing there with my foot stuck in the fire door?’

  ‘Tell them you thought you smelled smoke. Okay, I’ll see you there.’ He went to the door, then looked back. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Glad to help.’ Her smile faded. ‘I hope . . .’

  He left the room, making his way out of the Bullpen and heading for the armoury. His ID card opened the security doors; as lead agent, he had full access to STS’s inventory.

  He made use of it, first collecting a few items from the equipment storage area and putting them into a holdall before opening another locked door to enter the weapons room. A couple more objects went into the bag, then he collected a SIG-Sauer P228 and a magazine. He loaded the weapon and pulled back the slide to chamber the first round. He very much hoped that he wouldn’t need to use the gun, but he had a horrible suspicion that once he committed to his goal, matters would escalate very quickly . . .

  The door opened behind him.

  He didn’t look round, somehow knowing who it was. ‘Tony.’

  ‘Adam. Not planning something else crazy, are you?’

  ‘That depends on your definition.’ He slipped the gun into his jacket and turned to face the new arrival. While Tony appeared tired from the long night, his eyes were anything but, watching him intently. ‘I thought you’d gone home.’

  ‘I was on the way. Kiddrick called me. From the way he was ranting, it sounded like I needed to get back here.’ His gaze flicked to the angular bulge beneath Adam’s lapel. ‘I guess I was right.’

  ‘I’m not planning to hurt anyone.’

  ‘Glad to hear it.’

  ‘But I need to know the truth,’ insisted Adam. ‘I need to know who I am. This is the only way I can do that.’

  ‘Are you sure of that?’

  ‘Kiddrick threatened me with erasing my memory again if I didn’t drop this. He’s part of it – he’s actively trying to stop me from finding out what really happened to me in Islamabad.’

  ‘So you did get something from Qasid.’ Tony didn’t sound surprised – but there was clear disappointment at not having been trusted enough to be told.

  ‘Yeah. And I didn’t like any of it. Qasid had met me before – right before the Secretary of State was killed. I was connected to it, somehow. I’ve seen Qasid’s side of what happened – now I need to see mine.’ His voice became imploring. ‘Tony, please. I have to know what really happened. Someone’s trying to keep the truth about the bombing hidden.’

  Tony looked concerned. ‘Who?’

  ‘I don’t know. It might even . . .’ He hesitated. ‘It might even be me.’ At the other man’s shock, he continued: ‘That’s why I have to do this. Kiddrick has a recording of my persona from when I joined the project. The truth’s on that disk. But he’s never going to give it to me voluntarily.’

  ‘So you’re going to threaten to shoot him if he doesn’t give it to you? What if he calls your bluff?’

  ‘He won’t. This is Kiddrick we’re talking about.’

  ‘Point taken,’ said Tony with a wry smile. ‘But have you thought about what happens after he gives you the disk? And I don’t mean about finding the truth. I mean, what happens to you, personally.’

  Adam squared his shoulders. ‘I’ll take whatever’s due to me – whether for this, or for anything I did before. That’s a promise, Tony. But I’ve got to know, one way or another. I’m not asking you to help me openly – but I need to know if you’re going to try to stop me.’

  Tony looked back down at Adam’s chest. ‘I’d feel a lot better if I knew you weren’t going to pull a gun on anyone at STS. Even Kiddrick.’

  Adam was still for a moment, then took out the gun. His thumb moved to the magazine release, about to press the button . . . then he lifted it, extending his arm to the other man. ‘Here.’

  ‘How do you know I won’t take you in?’

  ‘Because I trust you to do the right thing.’

  Tony hesitated, then took the gun. The muzzle pointed at Adam . . .

  Then it disappeared into Tony’s jacket. ‘Okay,’ he said, voice somewhere between encouragement and resignation. ‘Do what you have to. Just remember what you promised.’

  ‘I will,’ Adam replied. He picked up the bag. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘I hope that what you find out is worth it,’ Tony said.

  Adam didn’t reply.

  39

  Catch the Wave

  Adam checked his watch as he exited the armoury and headed quickly through the building. Talking to Tony had cost him time. Bianca would be at the stairwell by now – and the longer she waited there, the more chance there was of her attracting unwanted attention.

  His destination was just ahead. He took a breath to prepare himself – then burst into Kiddrick’s office.

  Kiddrick jumped in shock at the unexpected intrusion. ‘What – what the hell do you think you’re doing? You can’t just—’

  Adam dropped the bag as he marched around the desk. He grabbed the scientist and yank
ed him to his feet, slamming him against the wall. The framed diplomas rattled, one dropping from its hook and falling to the floor with a crack of glass. ‘Open the safe,’ he growled.

  ‘Are you mad?’ Kiddrick spluttered. ‘I’m not going to—’

  Adam hurled him bodily over the desk. The computer and phones crashed down around him, scattered papers whirling like snowflakes. Before Kiddrick could recover, Adam rounded the desk and dragged him across the office.

  ‘Open it!’ he barked, swinging the framed photograph aside with such force that one of the hinges broke. He pushed Kiddrick’s face hard against the cold steel door.

  The older man tried to break free, but Adam was too strong. ‘Help!’ Kiddrick shrieked. ‘Somebody help me!’

  Adam was unfazed. ‘It’s a secure office,’ he reminded him. ‘Soundproofed.’ He shoved Kiddrick across the safe door until the combination dial was pressed hard into his cheek. ‘If it’s not open in ten seconds, I’m gonna smash your teeth out on that dial.’

  ‘You’re out of your fucking mind!’ Kiddrick croaked. ‘You won’t get away with this!’

  ‘And you won’t be eating solid food. Open the safe!’ He forced Kiddrick’s head harder against the metal with each word. ‘Five! Four! Three!’

  ‘Wait, wait!’ screeched the scientist. One hand clawed desperately at the dial. ‘I’ll open it!’

  ‘If you set off an alarm—’

  ‘I won’t, I won’t!’ He fumbled with the dial, squinting to read the figures etched into its surface. ‘Seventeen left, fifty right, and, uh . . .’ A gasp of fear as Adam pressed harder. ‘Thirty-eight left! That’s it, that’s the combination!’

  Adam pushed him away, sending him stumbling to the carpet, and opened the safe. If an alarm had been tripped, it was a silent one. He looked inside. Folders bearing the TOP SECRET: SCI classification, a small stack of optical disks and flash drives . . .

  And at the back, a plastic box like an extra-thick DVD case. He pulled it out. The label on the spine read GRAY, A. He opened it. One of the blocky memory modules was inside.

  He snapped the case shut and picked up the bag, dropping the disk inside. Kiddrick recoiled as Adam walked towards him and reached down, but it was only to pick up the fallen phone. He yanked out the cable and threw the handset against the wall. It broke apart, plastic pieces scattering. ‘Don’t move,’ he ordered as he went to the door, knowing that he would not be obeyed.