Dawn of Tomorrow

by Kevin Douglas

  With the canopy overhead, the fog and spitting rain disappeared. The air was very heavy, and the tires smooshed their way along, no longer gathering layers of mud.

  “Wow it’s dark in here and you’re right, it’s very spooky.”

  Leo wound his way on the dirt road, the occasional splat from drops falling from the tree limbs. He knew they were getting close to the gate, and with it, another encounter with Fox One. He gripped the steering wheel tight in anticipation and then relaxed his fingers. His patience would soon be tested no need to tense yet.

  Leo rounded a corner that revealed the massive, iron double gates, blocking their entry. He turned off the engine as he did last time and the noises emerged in the engines absence. Birds chirped, groaning tree limbs swayed in the breeze, and not to disappoint, the owl hooted out for them, keeping the tension in the air.

  “Is this the gate Fox One startled you?”

  “It sure is.’”

  Leo craned his neck around to see if Fox One was around.

  “That gate is something else. Wow look at it. Why is it glowing? It’s kinda like the entry before your cottage. When the pizza guy came.”

  “It’s some kind of security measure, I think.”

  A voice came from an indiscernible location, “Well, well, well if it isn’t Krueger again, with one in tow. She isn’t gonna like the extra company. Was this run by her already?”

  “Run by her? I am here to find out what happened to a book.”

  “Book? I thought our last talk ended in you telling me you were empty-handed. What kind of book?”

  “Umm…for a class I’m taking. I actually don’t have it.”

  “Hmmm, riiiight.” The Phantom appeared from the road’s edge behind some trees not more than fifteen feet away.

  “Now you’ve spiked my curiosity. I’m going to call ahead but I’m gonna need to search the vehicle this time,” he said with a sinister smile, his teeth a glowing white in the dark forest.

  As he came from the shadows, Sarafina saw his bulk, his arm curled for his comms button, his muscles flexing and the other arm holding the automatic rifle.

  “Dang Leo you weren’t kidding,” Sara whispered

  “Sullivan this is Fox One, position twelve. I have Krueger requesting entry again and one in tow, a female. Krueger mentioned a book. I’m gonna need to complete a full search. You wouldn’t happen to know what he is speaking about, would you?” he said in a slightly sarcastic, accusatory tone.

  “Ah, Mr. Krueger,” Mrs. Sullivan voice could be heard through Fox One’s com. “I knew he would show up today. I was expecting him. A female you say, well she will not be joining us. Oh, and you won’t be searching his vehicle, a simple wand scan for guns, knives, and explosives is all that is needed.”

  “Mrs. Sullivan do I really need to tell you that with a facility like this it doesn’t take any of those items to compromise data or do harm. I hear that Mr. Krueger may have some of our equipment. He mentioned a book.”

  “We did discuss a book on our last visit, but as for any details or equipment, none of what goes on in here is of your concern.”

  “You’re absolutely correct Mrs. Sullivan but seeing as the tablet is in play I will be searching and seizing any company property. It will be released when I have ensured it is clean and will not contaminate this facility.”

  “Who do you think you are? I said stand down and let them through, and as to any equipment that is in play, I will deal with it.”

  “I’m just doing my job ma’am and my orders to seize have been in place for quite some time from Mr. Sullivan. You should be more careful when he is in the house, next time.”

  He heard screaming over the mic; the words undiscernible like a screeching cat. Fox One reached up to his comms button switching it off ending the babbling noise emanating from his speaker. Leo couldn’t hesitate, and his mouth got the better of him.

  “Ex-girlfriend or?”

  “Well aren’t you the jokester, outta the car, Krueger.”

  “I’ll hand over the tablet, but I’m not stepping foot outside this car with you here.”

  The Phantom strode toward the vehicle, raised his weapon and racked a round into the chamber. He leveled the MP5 at Leo’s head and pressed the barrel tip against his temple.

  “Hand it over, tough guy.”

  Leo cautiously pointed to the glove box and Sarafina removed the tablet. He handed it over and Fox One snatched it with his free hand, the barrel still pressed against Leo’s head. The Phantom looked over the tablet and turned it on. The tablet went immediately to secure mode, not allowing him access.

  “Authenticate it, Krueger.”

  “That’s why I’m here. It’s not working for me. I think Mrs. Sullivan did something to revoke my access. I’m just here for my geology book. I need it for my class. I don’t know what I’m caught in the middle of but I plan on detangling myself today.”

  Laughter came from the Phantom, a deep rumble.

  “Geology book. Riiight. No one comes here for a book for a class. If your access is revoked, you must have pissed her off. Good luck detangling yourself from them.”

  He released the weapon and let it hang by his side.

  Leo relaxed for a moment finally and Fox One crouched himself to look into the vehicle.

  “Ms…?” Fox One said.

  “The name is Sarafina. Sarafina Flaversham.”

  “Ms. Flaversham, you really should get as far away from Mr. Krueger as possible. I suggest you wait here outside the gates, before you too become entangled. The Sullivan’s are powerful people and they are not likely to forget a name that has crossed their path, let alone their infrastructure. You can definitely find another man.” He pushed away from the car and gave her a wink.

  She gave him what looked to be a forced smile. “He’s not m—never mind. I appreciate your concern, but we’re a package deal, and I doubt your intentions are entirely benevolent.”

  “Suit yourself, Sarafina. You’ve been properly warned. I will be happy telling you later I told you so. Let me scan the vehicle and then you two may enter. Sarafina must remain outside as instructed.”

  He shook his head at her before he rose pulling out his wand to scan the vehicle, then slowly and methodically made his way around the vehicle, which it seemed to take forever.

  “I’ll be requiring both your phones. Every precaution must be insured.”

  Leo and Sarafina starred at each other, neither one making a move.

  “Now!”

  He reached for his weapon and the two guests handed over their phones. This is our only line of communication if things go wrong. What the hell am I getting so paranoid for? He did feel a sense of apprehension, after all, he did just have a gun at his temple and the warning given to Sarafina was alarming.

  Fox One holstered his wand and spoke into his comms, “Fox Two, open the gates at position twelve. You are to keep eyes on the female subject. She is not to enter the building.”

  “Copy,” a voice said from the com.

  The gate’s green glow receded, and he heard a loud crack as they began to open. Leo was jolted out of his thoughts by this loud noise. The gate screeched open further with a loud crack to fully open. The posts were glowing green as before and Leo started up his car. He went back to his thoughts and one rose in his mind that he continued to ponder.

  “I’ll see you two shortly. Good luck in there, Krueger.”

  Leo put the car in gear and eased forward. He looked over to see open forest. The Phantom disappeared into the shadows from whence he had come. Leo’s question begged to be asked.

  Leo yelled out the window, “Fox One you took every precaution and gave Sarafina plenty of warning her first time here. Where was my warning on my first visit? Why didn’t you try to tell me to turn back? Why warn her and not me?”

  The Phantom reappeared, a smile on his face once again. Only his teeth betrayed his position.

  “I’d like to tell myself it was because of your at
titude and that I didn’t like you. But, in all honesty, nothing was going to stop you from coming here, and nothing was going to stop you from entering the Sullivan mansion. I especially wasn’t going to be the one to prevent you. You see Leo, you coming here was unavoidable. My dislike of you was not enough to disobey the plans put in place for you. You’ll soon understand that Mr. Sullivan gets what Mr. Sullivan wants, and no one stands in his way.”

  Fox One’s smile disappeared and his position with it. Leo now had reason to question things here at the Sullivan Mansion. It angered Leo that they had used him. How would dad handle this situation? Would he just cut ties and walk away, or fight for what’s his? No…I know he would stay and fight.

  Chapter 25

  Leo continued through the gates, with Fox One’s last words repeating in his head. Mr. Sullivan’s plan? And what did he think he’s getting from me? He had not even spoken with Mr. Sullivan and he had yet to be in attendance here. It seemed to Leo that Mrs. Sullivan had given the tablet to him unbeknownst to anyone, besides her Butler of sorts guarding the vestibule. If anyone was interested in his ideas wouldn’t it be Mrs. Sullivan?

  He directed his disdain toward his reason for coming here today. It did seem like he had been manipulated, and that was a sore spot that left a bad taste in his mouth.

  Mrs. Sullivan had invited him the first time under false pretenses. The book was not hers to loan. The lessons, the inaccessible test, the strange textbook, his revoked access, and, the most audacious act, theft and uploading of his e-Frond creation were evidence of their manipulation of him. It became clear to him that the Sullivan’s must be in direct competition with New Wave.

  Sarafina’s voice broke his train of thought. “Leo…earth to Leo. Why are we just sitting here? You all right there?”

  “Yeah, sorry, I was just wondering why they want me here so bad. It’s weird.”

  Leo drove down the short windy road to the front door, his mud caked tires making the ride smooth and spongy. When they broke the tree line, the large 19th century mansion came into view.

  “Wow!” Sarafina said. “This is sweet. It’s probably just as creepy as the forest though, right?”

  Leo pulled the car under the portcullis and brought it to a stop turning off the engine. “Yes definitely.”

  Sarafina looked over at the carved gargoyles on the front door. On Leo’s side, a single crow was atop a cement orb. The crow studied him and let out a low squawk.

  “I have to wait out here?” She let out a nervous laugh. “I don’t know about this. You’d better hurry it up in there.”

  Leo opened his door and the crow took flight. The fog, sucked in from above the tree line, filling in the grounds around the mansion. He rolled up his window and shut his door, then walked to Sarafina’s window. He saw the look of uncertainty on her face.

  “Hey everything’s fine. I just need to figure out what’s going on with this book. I’ll be out in a minute. That security guard is just being overdramatic. I left my keys in the ignition. Lock up and jam out, whatever you want.” He gave her a smile. “Just don’t ditch me.”

  “I’ll be ready with the car for a dramatic Hollywood exit. Don’t worry I’m excellent behind the wheel.”

  Leo approached the mansion’s front doors empty handed. He hesitated as he raised the metal paw to knock. He felt it was foolish to risk this place for just a book. Things were different though, it was necessary due to the theft of e-Frond.

  He turned around to see Sarafina, now in the driver’s seat. He returned her wave, and then smacked the knocker on the strike plate. He heard a boom inside, followed by a semi-familiar voice that poured through the gargoyle’s wooden toothy snarl.

  “Mr. Krueger, I presume?” the man asked.

  “Sure is. I’m here to see Mrs. Sullivan.”

  The door unlocked and swung inward, the dark vast entry way offering little light except the lit car-size chandelier casting eerie yellow tinge on the lacquered wood expanse.

  “Where’s the tablet, sir? Mrs. Sullivan will be expecting it.”

  “Yeah, well…about that. It’s out of my custody. Your tough guy outside has it and Mrs. Sullivan is aware.”

  “Didn’t I instruct you that the device should remain unmentioned?”

  “Look. I’m not trying to be rude, but that is your guys’ problem. I need to speak with Mrs. Sullivan about something and I’ll be on my way.”

  “She is going to be upset.”

  “Yeah, it sounded like she was plenty upset. I bet she had plans for it, I’m here to talk about those plans.”

  “Yes Mrs. Sullivan mentioned you’d want to talk. She said to wait in the library. Wait inside the room and don’t go anywhere. I need to have a chat with Fox One about your book.”

  Leo caught a glimpse of the Butler’s hand moving to his holster, and hoped he had more composure than his counterpart did.

  The lights flickered in gas lamps as Leo’s feet tapped the wood flooring, echoing as he approached the fourth door on the left. He turned into the room and entered the library.

  Leo wondered if he would see Mrs. Sullivan in the flesh this time, as he scanned the first-floor cases of books. Moving closer, he noticed some of the titles were too blurry to read. He tried different angles and distances but no matter what they remained unreadable. He contemplated touching one of them to see what would happen.

  He picked a large red volume that was blurry and touched the spine. The entire cabinet went black and a few seconds later, to his surprise, it was not a book. Mrs. Sullivan once again appeared behind her desk and Leo had to take a couple of steps back to see her clearly.

  “You know what happened to the curious cat don’t you?”

  “Yes, that pesky cat, I know just what you mean always getting into things that aren’t his, even stealing. That’s why I’m here today. Not only was my book revoked, but you have something else of mine that is definitely not yours.” Leo tried to calm himself, he could feel his blood pressure rising.

  “I will explain the revoked access, it’s not how I wanted to handle things, but it was necessary to get you here.”

  “Oh, it was, huh? It’s nice you have time to waste, but I do not. I paid for that book and need it for my class. Not to even mention your theft of proprietary information, which I am contractually obligated to protect.”

  Shifting in her seat with annoyance, Mrs. Sullivan pretended to look surprised. “What on earth are you speaking about my dear boy? I believe you have my interests mixed up with someone else’s. Contractual you say…What have you gotten yourself into Leonard?”

  Leo raised his voice. “You don’t know? Your cloud server sure does.”

  “Leonard, we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot today. I’m here to help you if you’re having a problem and I assure you that I have nothing to do with this theft you speak of. I would simply offer a sum if I wanted your mind’s fruit. I am fair I promise you. Now as for me wanting you here, I have to admit it’s not to fraternize.”

  “Then, why?”

  “You may have noticed that our book is not your average text. And, as you may recall I did mention showing you the original book if you returned. I would like to show you it today. Not only is it incredibly valuable, but it also has hidden gems.”

  “Yeah, I did notice coding and I was going to ask you about that. Before I entertain looking at this book, we must be entirely clear about my stolen software. It must be scrubbed off every place you may have stored it. I know it was uploaded and your denying only makes me trust you less.”

  Her disembodied voice said, “Again, I’m sorry I am unable to attend face-to-face. This business does keep you busy, I’m very rarely at the library and when I am, I feel like a ghost in my own home. I often wish there were more of me, but then again, they’d probably screw things up. Nothing better than the original, I always say.”

  The screen went blank and Mrs. Sullivan disappeared. In her place, the screen displayed a server’s contents list.

&
nbsp; Leo peered at the screen of folders and files. “What am I looking at here?”

  “Let me show you.”

  Mrs. Sullivan suddenly appeared at the end of the cases, out of thin air as far as Leo could tell. Something seemed off about her, but he was not sure what. Her hair bounced as she walked over with a quick pace. She stopped right at the screen next to him and smiled, reaching out her arm to the screen, to showcase the information like a model.

  “This is our server that monitors all equipment that has been activated or is in play, meaning out of this facility. Outside the perimeter that is. Your tablet would feed into here, geo tagging information on the half hour into this file.”

  Leo puzzled over why she was showing him their whole system, shocked at its complexity. She tapped a folder labeled FREE RADICALS with her fingertips painted a forest green color that matched her eyes. A sub group of folders pulled up. They read: ACTIVE, INACTIVE, PERMANENT, ARCHIVED, DELETED, and NEW. It just dawned on him her outfit is different…and something else.

  He didn’t want to appear to gawk, so he looked forward again at the screen and said, “Mrs. Sullivan how old are you, I mean is it just me or this dim lighting? You look fifteen to twenty years younger than the onscreen feed.”

  “Why thank you. You’re very kind.”

  “And you’re wearing a different outfit. Unless you’re a magician…or I’m hallucinating.”

  “Oh, I do have many looks. Take it easy though, you don’t need to check into the funny farm, yet.”

  She squared him up and moved toward him. An awkward feeling scratched in the pit in his stomach. She looked as if she was going to embrace him. He stiffened and braced for the unwanted hug. Her hands connected with his, and every hair stood up on his arms. It felt like every inch of him was being tickled. Her chest contacted his, and to his surprise, she kept walking, disappearing into his body, and then reappearing behind him.