“I think I know exactly what you mean.” Tucking his notepad into his jacket pocket, he decided it was time to leave. Librarians were a little too peculiar for his taste. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on my men.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and hurried down the hall to the computer room. Hopefully, the other agents would be finished and he could get back to his office in time to finish his report. It wouldn’t take long to write. There was only so much you could say about a fruitcake and a boring old maid. An hour later, they left without saying anything more. After their departure, Jain checked the computer room and found the hard drives missing from all of her computers.
Bastards! she muttered. The boss isn’t going to like this but at least he has the clout to make someone’s life miserable. I hope they didn’t screw up my records.
Checking Amy’s computer, she noticed the backup software indicated that someone had made a recent copy of the data.
As if I’m stupid enough to let just anyone snoop through my files! Wait ‘til you try uploading your copy.
Chuckling Jain wished she could be a fly on the agency wall. Without the proper backup code, any uploaded copy would immediately install a small virus that would scramble the new computer’s BIOS making it inoperable. It was a little surprise Jain had created to keep hackers or unauthorized personnel from obtaining the private records of her customers. As a librarian Jain believed in privacy rights no matter what laws Congress had passed to help Homeland Security.
Well, since the day’s almost shot, I might as well just lock up and call it a day. I’ll tell the boss these goons scared everyone off and let him deal with it.
CHAPTER 15
JAIN WAS JUST securing the door when she felt a presence behind her. Spinning around, she clutched her chest, startled to see Solaria.
“What are you doing here?” she gasped.
“I came to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For warning me about those men. That is what you did, isn’t it?”
“Well, yes.”
“Why?”
Looking around nervously, Jain grabbed her arm and pulled her toward her car which was parked behind the building.
“Let’s say I don’t like all of this government crap. They may have a legal right to check our files but I think it’s wrong.”
“But why would you warn me off?”
Opening the car door, Jain motioned Solaria to get in.
“Why are you so interested in Future Dynamicon? That’s why they were really here. It had nothing to do with national security.”
Realizing Jain had managed to uncover her activities, Solaria was impressed.
“You’ve discovered what I’ve been doing. You must be very good with computers.”
Jain blushed but wasn’t sure if it was because of the compliment or having been caught snooping.
“I know something about them.”
“Meaning quite a bit. The question is, how much?”
“Enough to know you’ve been hacking into the Future Dynamicon security system and it has something to do with Dr Branson. Unfortunately, I think I’m the one who brought these goons here. I stayed in their network too long and was found by a spybot.”
“I was beginning to think I had made an error, even though the probability of such a mistake was highly unlikely.”
Geez, aren’t you confident, Jain thought.
“No, unfortunately it was my blunder.”
“But I did make one, didn’t I? You were able to trace my activities.”
“Well, it took awhile.”
Jain hoped she hadn’t made the woman feel incompetent. It had taken all her skills to find the paths. If she had just covered her tracks with the same determination she had used to uncover Solaria’s, Future Dynamicon wouldn’t have detected her intrusion.
“Look, I know it’s my fault they traced everything back to the library. If there’s anything I can do to make up for it, let me know.”
“You’ve already done enough. The warning about them being there prevented my possible capture. They may have the hard drive but there’s not much they’ll learn from it.”
“Actually they don’t even have that. I removed it yesterday and substituted another in its place. Plus I made sure the keyboard was cleaned thoroughly. No finger prints or DNA.”
Solaria smiled at Jain’s thoroughness.
“I’m sure they found that a little odd.”
“Not at all. A family used the computer yesterday evening. There were plenty of prints and smudges to go around. I don’t watch spy movies for nothing.” Jain laughed.
“Thanks. It looks like I’m in your debt. Is there anything you need?”
Jain’s imagination went into overdrive but she quickly reined it in.
“As a matter of fact, yes there is. Have dinner with me.”
“Dinner?”
“Dinner. I’m hungry. I’ll even buy.”
“No, it would be my pleasure and the least I can do is pay for your meal. Is there any place in particular that you prefer?”
Jain nodded and backed her car out of her parking space. Thirty minutes later the two women were sitting in a dimly lit booth at a small Japanese restaurant. After ordering their meals, neither of them spoke, unsure where to begin. Finally, Jain cleared her throat and asked the one question that had been bothering her since her discovery.
“Why Future Dynamicon? I mean, anyone with a brain knows that company is trouble. Hell, from what I’ve read about the CEO over the past few years, I think he’s a closeted Jesus freak.”
“Jesus freak?”
“Yeah, you know. An extremist. The kind that believes they’re sent by God to save humanity.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Just look at the university he attended. It was started at the turn of the millennium to promote conservative extremist ideas. ‘Moral values’ was their mantra to justify their attempts to mold society into what they wanted. Fortunately, their fanaticism backfired. People got sick of their leaders trying to manipulate everything to accommodate them and rebelled. The politicians were forced to pass several laws ensuring the personal freedoms we have today. Too bad we can’t legislate minds.”
“I think that’s what you just described, don’t you? These groups, did they go underground?”
“Yes, in the guise of higher education. They continued building universities where they could mold young minds. Brainwash is a better term. Winston Stalling was one of the top graduates in his class.”
“How did he gain such a high position in Future Dynamicon if people are so against anyone with his educational background?”
Jain shrugged.
“Like I said, he’s a closet fanatic. I imagine he’s managed to keep this part of his nature pretty much a secret. You know, play it down, but a lot of people have voiced their suspicions. Eventually some have retracted their accusations and others just disappeared, not that anyone could prove anything against him. He’s virtually untouchable.”
“No one is untouchable, especially him. As long as he thinks he is, though, it will be easier to bring him down.”
“This is about Dr. Branson, isn’t it?”
It was Solaria’s turn to be surprised. Nothing in her databanks had prepared her for that question.
“You’re very astute! You came to this conclusion just by tracking my Internet activity?”
Jain looked down at her napkin and began tearing it into small strips.
“No. Years ago I wanted to be a scientist. When I was at the university I majored in computer sciences. Dr. Branson was a guest speaker during my senior year. She was so passionate about creating the perfect artificial brain that I believed she would eventually do it. I guess I was wrong.”
Jain sighed and looked up into the most amazingly colored eyes she had ever seen.
“Or am I?”
Solaria intentionally blinked a couple of times before shaking her head.
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“Is that a question you want answered or just a rhetorical one?”
“Answered.”
Solaria tried to rationalize the need to lie to Jain but failed. Perhaps if she had concluded the librarian was a threat, she might have been capable. Realizing her inability to avoid answering direct questions was a weakness, she set one of her nano-processors to work creating a program that would handle similar situations.
“Let’s say you’re probably more right than you could ever imagine. Carley was an amazing woman and a good friend. She didn’t deserve to die.”
“The report said she committed suicide.”
“She did but she had no choice in the matter.”
“Someone forced her to kill herself?”
Solaria nodded.
“Stalling?”
“I’m sure he had a lot to do with it. When I find out for sure...” The sentence died.
“You’re going to take on Future Dynamicon aren’t you?”
“I’m going to fulfill a promise to a friend, nothing more.”
“Uh huh. Well, I’ve never been fond of that company. You feel like taking on an assistant?”
“Sorry, Jain, but this has nothing to do with you. You’ve done enough. I appreciate the offer, though.”
“Maybe I should have worded things differently. I want to help.”
Before Solaria could object, she held up her hand.
“Look! I’m sure there are more productive things you could be doing, like finding out more about their layout or something. Besides, you can’t keep coming to the library now. Homeland will be watching it even if they didn’t find anything. I work there so I won’t arouse any suspicions. You tell me what you need and I’ll do the research. This time I’ll do it more discreetly. They’ll never know what hit them.”
Solaria didn’t like the idea of endangering Jain. She had already lost Carley. Still, Jain had a point. Future Dynamicon wasn’t stupid. They’d be watching this particular library and probably others for quite awhile. The one thing Solaria didn’t need was someone focusing in on her. Having someone helping to locate the Company’s black ops projects would free her to work on a plan that would bring down Stalling and his cronies. Reluctantly, she had to acknowledge that Jain’s offer was the logical choice.
“You understand that this might be dangerous?”
Jain gave her a wry look and then grinned.
“It’ll be an interesting change from my boring life.”
“If you’re sure that’s what you want. You won’t do anything that will put you in harm’s way,” Solaria ordered.
“You mean other than hacking into one of the world’s most powerful conglomerates. Don’t worry. I think I can stay under the radar even from them.”
“Good.”
Before they could continue, the waiter arrived with their meals.
“How about we discuss the details later?” Jain said, not wanting to go into anything in depth at such a public place. Future Dynamicon had spies everywhere and there was always someone who sold information for profit.
During the rest of the meal, Jain entertained Solaria with tales of her youth and university adventures knowing it was better to talk about herself for now. She’d learn more about her dinner partner later.
CHAPTER 16
STALLING WAS furious. He was not only missing his most advanced technological creation but there were no leads on how it had escaped.
“Damn woman!” he swore, thinking of Dr. Branson. “How can anyone sneak a human-sized robot out of this facility?”
“It’s not a robot, Mr. Stalling,” Finton replied, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. Stalling spun around to look at him angrily.
“I’m well aware of what it is!”
“Sorry. Anyway, I still say it has to be on the premises somewhere. There’s no way it could be removed without going through a checkpoint.”
“Then where is it? You said you’ve checked everywhere. It’s been over a month now.”
“We’re still looking. This is a huge facility. We have more than fifty miles of subterranean passages linking the buildings, not to mention housing our special operations units. If someone moved it down there, it could take us another few weeks considering all the nooks and crannies.”
“Shit! Well, keep looking. Any information on the breach of our security network?”
“No, it was probably some hacker trying to bring down our system. We get those attacks all the time.”
“Maybe, but no one ever got that far before. If the spybots hadn’t picked him up at the secondary password gate, who knows how far it might have gotten?”
“That’s all part of the security and just reinforces what I’ve said. We stopped the hacker before he gained access.”
“This time.”
“Well, I’ve had security create additional firewalls so I don’t think you need to worry.”
“What about the library?”
“Nothing. I suspect the hacker created a false ISP route to throw us off.”
“I’m not taking any chances. Keep the library under surveillance until I say otherwise, and to be safe, send units to the others in the area. I want pictures of every person going in and out of them.”
“That’s going to cost a lot.”
“I don’t care what it costs. Just do it!”
“Okay.”
After Finton left, Stalling punched the intercom button on his phone.
“Yes, Mr. Stalling,” a woman’s voice replied.
“Cora, get me Joe Crawford on the phone.”
“Yes sir.”
A few minutes later his secretary notified him that Mr. Crawford was on line one.
“Joe, how is our guest doing? Have you made her comfortable?”
“Yes, Mr. Stalling. We were able to intercept her on her way to the airport once she left the university. She’s secured in a hotel just as you instructed.”
“Did she give you any trouble?”
“Not really. With the information our plant gave us, we were able to convince her that her father authorized the action because of an alleged plot to kidnap her. She wasn’t happy. We won’t be able to allay her suspicions much longer, though. She’s a smart kid.”
“Her happiness is irrelevant. As long as she doesn’t get in contact with him she shouldn’t be a problem. The Sheik will be a lot more cooperative as long as we have his little girl.”
“Yes sir.”
“How is the beta working out?”
“Good so far. She’s a little freaky but she’s doing the job. Apparently, the girl thinks she’s a little strange but they seem to get along fine. At least that’s what the report says. Betta told her she was a bodyguard.”
“Betta? How original. Well, keep me informed.”
“Yes, sir.”
Stalling hung up the phone and smiled smugly. At least some things were going like he wanted. Now if only they could find the missing Hubot.
Finton’s probably right. There’s no way anyone could sneak something that large through security. This is just a minor setback considering the progress I’ve made.
It never dawned on Stalling that his progress was the result of his loyal followers’ dedication to him and his vision. In his mind, his success was the reward for his hard work and from divine intervention.
Satisfied that most of his plans were moving along on schedule, he relaxed. Once the Sheik accepted Future Dynamicon’s offer to purchase the oil rights to their fields, the Company could control world prices. Petroleum reserves had been greatly depleted once China and Brazil created huge demands after their rise in the manufacturing and export business. Oil was at a premium, costing over $500 dollars a barrel. Although most modern vehicles and power plants no longer operated on fossil fuels, people in Third World nations still consumed it like water.
Stalling knew it would be difficult to start a religious revolution in his country. It was conceivable, however, that he could convert the poorer nations to hi
s religion by providing them with enough oil to raise their economic levels above the poverty level. They would think of him as their savior. Once he gained their trust and consolidated Africa, Southeast Asia and some of the South American countries, his movement would be unstoppable. He could apply economic sanctions to the Western Countries and bring them to their knees. Then he would use his God-given powers to bring humanity back from the edge of damnation. No longer would the perversions of homosexuality and false religions be tolerated. Those who didn’t voluntarily see the light could be cleansed through chemical persuasion. Phillips had already created several mind-altering drugs that would help the more difficult cases accept his divine message.
It had taken him almost thirty years to accomplish his goal and now it was so close he could almost taste it. Swinging his chair around, he stared out the window at the mountains.
Maybe one day I’ll have a statue of me built there. It will remind everyone of the sacrifices I’ve made to save humanity and inspire them to greater things.
Stalling was pleased with himself.
CHAPTER 17
BETTA SAT motionless as she watched the young woman pacing back and forth. Her short cropped hair had been bleached white, although the roots remained dark. Her faded blue jeans were ripped at the knees giving her a punk look. It was obvious the Sheik’s daughter was rebelling against her culture. It was a logical human reaction... one accepted as normal from all she had read and observed.
“Why do you waste your energy?” Betta’s voice was low and monotone.
“I’m bored!” the woman exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. “How much longer do I have to stay here?”
“Until it is safe for you to go home.”
“You keep telling me that. Who are you? Some kind of warrior named Helga?” It was a phrase Reina loved to use whenever she challenged someone. When the woman and three men had stopped her on the way to the airport, she wasn’t sure what to think. Only after they had addressed her as Princess Reina, did she relax. Everyone in the States knew her as Joanie, an identity she had assumed in order to attend the university. Other than her father and a few trusted officials, no one knew her assumed identity or where she was. Joanie liked it that way.
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