The Spire

by Peter F Smith

  Jacob felt a splash of cold fall down his spine and his stomach tightened. Chen continued, “He found an error in the coding. He said that on first, hell even second glance, it just seems like a piece of inconsequential material that caused a slight amount of inefficiency in the sharing of commands from one system to the next; however, he ran a simulation and with a little bit of manipulation that very same error could be used to create a back door into our mainframes and allow an enterprising hacker the ability to take control of our operating systems.”

  Murmurs ran through the group. “But don’t worry, you all have yet another reason to worship me as a living god. I had that same guy create a patch, took him a few days but…” He waved his hand toward the members of the table. Jacob received a file in his virtual vision with the patch. “Here it is. I’d recommend that you install it as soon as possible.”

  George looked at Chen suspiciously, “How do we know that this isn’t an attempt by you to seize control of our systems?”

  Chen grinned and said, “You don’t, but feel free to let the US military take control of your Spire and drag you out for a summary execution in the street.”

  Jacob ran the patch through his AI and verified its authenticity. It returned a quick result, noting that it did in fact fix the error in the code… the error that he had placed there intentionally. “You don’t need to worry. I’ve just verified that it is genuine and that it will not allow Chen to have access to your system. For once, he’s on the level.”

  “Why, thank you Jacob. That was very big of you to acknowledge.”

  The two minute alarm popped up in his vision. “Make sure you install the patch,” he said and closed out the conference. The moment they vanished from his vision, he shot up from his chair, grabbed it by the back, and hurled it across the room. Twice now, twice Chen had forced him to alter his plans. The first time nearly cost him his wife and daughter and this time Chen added years onto his timeline possibly even longer. His heart pounded in his chest, and his finger nails dug into his palms. He looked up at the roof taking a deep breath as he did. This tantrum he had just thrown would not help him initiate his contingency plans, and he needed to see his daughter and the love of his life. He straightened his hair, tucked in his shirt, and left his office.

  Aaron Miller

  Miller and Natalia carried Walter off, one at either end of the stretcher they were using to transport him down the ramp, with Tommy slowly following alongside. Eva had insisted that she and Maria get off after Miller and his team exited. He had of course protested, but she made it perfectly clear that she wasn’t negotiating. So as they reached the bottom, a team of both robotic and human medical technicians swarmed them. Miller waved off their attention for himself telling them that he would check in once he had gotten everything organized. His team was carried and, in Tom’s case, wheeled to the nearest elevator that would take them from the cavernous hangar that existed two thirds of the way up the Spire.

  Miller turned back toward the plane and saw the Pattersons, the older two on their knees so the they could embrace Maria. His eyes shifted from the sight, to the vista that was framed by the hangar doors. New York City was the backdrop for the Patterson family reunion and he found himself focusing hard on the lights of the city below, given enough time it might actually distract him from the feeling or jealousy that was stirring deep within. The few times he allowed himself a break during the work day, he would come up here when the doors were open, staying out of the way of the ground crew as they serviced the air craft entering and departing, and enjoy the vista below them. The wind continued to blow through the space, in one side and out the other, and shifted his sweat matted hair. The smell of distant flowers and trees made him smile. Laid out before the Spire, almost like a fine rug, was Central Park. MNR had paid enough money in legal fees, lobbying and, Miller suspected, back room deals, to be allowed to place their corporate headquarters in one of New York City’s most iconic locations.

  It wasn’t one of the tallest building in the nation, that honor was still reserved for the buildings in Lower Manhattan, but it was one of the largest due to its impressive footprint. Protestors had hated the idea of building in Central Park so much so that the MNR board had nearly reconsidered placing their flagship office somewhere else. But Patterson’s influence was impressive and he managed to convince them that the long term symbolism of technology existing harmoniously with nature would outweigh the short term public relations nightmare, that and the not so subtle hints that he would leave the company if they didn’t acquiesce. He had been right. It had been twelve years since construction had ended and most of the uproar ended within a year after finishing. It helped that the building appeared to almost be a tribute to nature. It had flowing and twisting lines, almost like the branches of a mighty tree reaching toward the sun. Terraces existed across almost the entire outer surface. Vines dangled from them and were maintained by a small fleet of agricultural drones and a built in water and nutrient system.

  Almost every window had a view of New York City, with the verdant green of the dangling plant life accenting the views. The vines were genetically engineered to survive year round on the building and would produce flowers that were color coded to each season, so during the summer, they were brilliant yellow, during the fall the color of red and brown leaves, the winter stunning white, and the spring an almost golden hue. This had gone a long way toward impressing the people of New York, but what had really pushed the needle into acceptance was the seasonal Color Festival when MNR held an all-expenses paid event for a week around the Spire featuring seasonal appropriate games for the kids, good alcoholic beverages for the parents, and food for the whole family. Tommy, ever the cynic, had referred to the whole event as “Bread and Circuses,” but Miller disagreed. Patterson genuinely loved nature and had committed his entire adult life to preserving it and making life better for everyone. The fairs were just one more way to do that. While they didn’t see eye to eye on the matter, it didn’t stop Tommy from enjoying the free beer and participating against the local kids in sack races.

  He snapped back to reality as Patterson walked up to him thrusting his hand out. Miller took it and Jacob shook it fervently. “I can’t repay you Aaron. Thank you for getting them back safe.”

  “I’d do it for free,” Miller replied.

  “Your team, are they going to be okay?”

  Miller nodded his head. “Don’t worry about us sir. We’ll be up and combat ready within forty-eight hours." He paused, not sure how to broach the idea of he and his team taking a leave of absence from their position to temporarily re-enlist. He wasn’t even sure yet if he wanted to. He knew Tommy would, and he suspected Natalia and Walter would as well. “Sir, when you have a minute, I was hoping to speak to you about something personal.”

  “Absolutely, meet me at my office in an hour?”

  “That works.”

  “In the meantime, I need you to head down to the ground floor entrance and assist Mr. Allan with securing the main doors and other points of access. He’s placed all of our security down there. He’s smart, but he doesn’t have your perspective.”

  Miller frowned. It wasn’t often that he told his boss no, but this was going to be one of those moments. Fortunately when he did, Patterson often listened to him and took his experience seriously. Essentially, they had an unspoken agreement. Patterson respected his experience in the field, and he would only override him when absolutely necessary. “Respectfully, sir, I’m not a hundred percent yet myself and now that your family is secure I need to see to my team. Tommy took a pretty serious hit and blood clots are still a risk for Walter… plus just having this conversation with you hurts like hell."

  Patterson’s eyes darted away for a brief moment, as if he were working hard to contemplate what Miller had just placed on him. “Check in on your team and get yourself checked out, but I need you working with Allan on the main floor once that’s done.”

  He nodded and began to turn when
he was hit from behind, low and at the knee. He twisted slightly to see Maria, her arms wrapped around his leg and her face looking up into his own. Her eyes were frantic and she implored him to not leave, “Don’t go Mr. Miller.”

  He smiled and knelt down in front of her. The pain that shot through him threatened to overwhelm the pleasant expression he had on his face. “I have to go check on our friends sweetheart.”

  “I can come. Tommy likes me.”

  He laughed warmly, “That he does, but they need to get some rest and if you’re there, then they’ll want to spend time with you when they need to be getting better."

  She took a moment, her mother and father coming up behind her, and replied, “I understand.”

  He began to stand, but her small hand reached for and gripped his fingers. “Mr. Miller, if I’m not with you, the bad people might get me.”

  Miller watched as Patterson winced for an entirely different reason than he had. Eva dropped down and wrapped her arms around Maria. “Mr. Miller will take us to our suite,” she assured and looked up at him.

  He nodded confirmation and said, “You’ll be safe there from anything."

  “Daddy, you should come too. The bad people may want to hurt you too.”

  “I need to make sure the bad people never get here to hurt any of us,” he said, water starting to form around his eyes.

  Miller noticed and was struck by a sense of empathy. He remembered having a similar conversation with his own daughter during his first deployment, what felt like a life time ago. “Maria, give your daddy a hug.”

  She wrapped her arms around her father’s neck, and they embraced silently for a moment. Then she separated and took Miller’s outstretched hand, and the feelings he had been suppressing for years came rushing back. Patterson was a good man and damn sight better father and husband than he had ever been. Miller had been responsible for family security for years and in that time he could count on one hand the number of times Patterson had failed to fulfill family obligations because of work, and, as the CTO of the largest company in existence, that was a feat. He respected Patterson and loved Maria too much to even entertain the idea of playing any part in damaging their family, so he took the emotion and the embers of jealousy and suppressed them without further thought. The three of them left Patterson and boarded an elevator to the upper section of the building, where the executive suites could be found.

  ___

  Floors below the hangar contained a menagerie of office spaces, meeting rooms, research labs, and manufacturing facilities while everything above the hangar was designed to help one forget that work existed. The elevator deposited them in a large multi-level garden that took up the center section of three floors. The outer walls were absolutely translucent, allowing the sun to flow in and provide the trees, vines, and flowers with the solar energy they needed to survive and, most importantly, stimulate the minds of those that were taking advantage of this close access to nature. In the evening, as it was, it allowed for a perfect view of the city below.

  The sound of flowing water cascading down the three story tall rock wall feature had the immediate effect of decreasing stress and was complemented by the sounds of birds that lived here. The waterfall was directly opposite of the elevator and tucked behind it was a grand staircase that the three of them ascended toward the fourth floor. The staircase ended and transformed into a long walkway, the same breathtaking view of New York, visible to the left, and a continuous beige wall to the right. Both ended abruptly at a section of wall that blocked their path with no visible way of entering.

  When Eva, holding Maria, was within a few feet, a section of the wall lit up, and she used her free hand to type in her personal passcode. As she did, the gentle sound of fans could be heard blowing wind past all of them and ushering some of their loose skin cells into a genetic material analyzer ensuring that the people at the key pad actually were who they were supposed to be. An AI also monitored a video feed of the space continually comparing facial recognition data and subject behaviors against known profiles.

  The door slid back into the wall revealing the family suite beyond and the impressive three feet thick steel beam which served as part of the door frame and ran vertically along the exterior edge of building, matching the depth of the door that had just effortlessly slid away. The door had silver pistons as wide as his fist set along its edge every foot up and down its height. Those pistons would push into matching circular cut outs in the steel beam to make this one of the most secure rooms on the continent. When the door was closed, it left a cavity in the wall, which was replaced by a panel that dropped from the floor above. Attempt to enter from above, below, or any of the exterior walls, and you’d find thick titanium steel plates presenting a nearly impenetrable barrier to protect those inside.

  He stepped in first, checking each room of the suite prior to letting them enter the space. He made certain to check the life support chamber, which was responsible for managing the small fusion reactor; air, water, and waste materials. The large stacks and piping located here, even though the space was excellently lit, could still provide hiding spots. After confirming that the room was secure, he called the two in. Eva set her daughter on the floor, and Maria bolted toward the kitchen. Miller watched as Mrs. Patterson stared off into the distance for a moment, her finger making slight movements that indicated that she was reviewing something in her virtual vision. He moved to go join Maria in the kitchen and make her a sandwich until her mom was ready. She had always loved his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, claiming them to be better than anyone else’s. In reality, he was just heavy on the jelly, and, just like most four year olds, he had a pretty significant sweet tooth he had never grown out of, so their tastes were very similar.

  “Aaron?”

  He stopped and turned, to find Eva looking directly at him. “Yes ma’am?”

  “Thank you, again.”

  He smiled and she continued, “No matter what you think, you are too good of a man, and we don’t deserve you."

  He looked down, uncomfortable with the praise, and responded, “Stop selling yourself short.”

  She looked away and for a moment he thought he saw guilt flash across her face. “We’re fine here. Maria and I can handle everything.”

  He nodded and strode toward the door. Once he passed it, he turned and smiled at her. The door had already begun to slowly slide shut; the pistons beginning to extend from it as if they were reaching for the steel frame. “I’ll check up on you both in a few hours.”

  This time he was certain he saw something similar to guilt or remorse, and he couldn’t figure out why. She had nothing to be concerned about in regard to him. He had known what he was getting into when he signed on. “Goodbye Aaron,” she whispered.

  The door sealed shut with a vibration that ran through the floor and up the soles of his shoes. He stared at the entrance to the family suite unsure of what had just happened. She’s just experiencing shock from the events of the day. He’d speak to the company psychologist that his team met with periodically and see if he could stop in to help her process everything she and her daughter had experienced. He had no idea how he’d have handled it if he were in her shoes.

  He stopped halfway down the staircase realizing he hadn’t checked in on his own daughter. He hadn’t checked in with her in months actually. He dictated her a quick message as he made his way back through the garden and toward the elevator. Using his virtual vision, he sent it off to her address and a moment later received an automated dialogue box informing him that the message had failed to send due to network issues. He shook his head and scheduled it to resend every minute until it successfully made its way through and turned off the notifications. The benefit of working at a place such as the Multi National Robotics Spire in New York City was that there were excellent computer technicians dealing with connection issues on a second by second basis. He had no doubt that it would reach her soon. His guilt at taking care of another man’s child whil
e the relationship with his own continued to atrophy grated on him. Yes, she was in her forties now, but his failure to be a first rate father to her was something he could never forgive himself for. He had always put nation and cause before his own blood.

  When he was a few feet from the elevator, its software took into account that he was walking directly toward it and sent him a small prompt asking if he would like to summon the lift. He accepted the offer and instructed it to take him to the medical floor, which was about half way down the Spire, making it quickly accessible to everyone in the building. He walked toward the doors and they whispered open revealing the car present and ready to whisk him to his destination. The elevator gave him an estimated time of arrival and let him know that, at this moment, no one else was requesting the use of the lift between his current location and his destination, meaning the trip should be speedy.

  He stepped in and enjoyed the New York City lights as the vehicle began to quickly lower itself down the outer part of the Spire. The elevator was actually still within the glass skin of the Spire, but it ran along the inside of the outer edge which afforded all riders with an amazing view of one of the most diverse and architecturally impressive cities in history. The lift itself was magnetically propelled up and down its track, no longer relying on lengthy stretches of steel cabling. Now there was no limit to how high the elevators could go; whereas, in the past, the strength of the steel had dictated how far up each elevator could ascend until riders had to exit and get onto a new car to go up the rest of the way.

  For safety MNR had installed six clamps, three on either side of the car, that hovered over the rails making sure the car didn’t go in an unplanned direction and if the speed of the elevator began to go faster than was safe, each would gently make contact with the rail and using friction slow it down until it had achieved a full stop. Not that Miller had ever experienced them being used. In the decades since Magnetically propelled elevator cars were adopted across the globe, he had not once had an unpleasant experience.