Shades of Learning (The Athena Lee Universe Book 1)

by T S Paul

  I opened the snack pack, crinkling the package. “How are your classes going?”

  “I guess they are OK, I’m not fond of the track and field stuff. Can you help me again with that?”

  “I can do that. It means you have to get up with me in the morning again. Can you do that? For such a little woman you are a real bear in the morning.”

  “If it means passing the class, I will do it.” She patted herself down. “Damn. Did you see my tool kit this morning?”

  “The one in the red case that you left sitting on my desk last night?”

  “Is that where it is? Could you get it and bring it by the lab for me? It has a few things in it that I really need for this project I’m on.”

  I looked all around and then back at Lina. “I meant to ask you. How is that going? Is that thing Dad gave you what you thought it was?”

  “It is! That is why I’m so busy. Because of my mechanical background I’m the only one around here that can understand what it does. That combine of your father’s is a similar system but civilian not military. That may be how it ended up in that closet. Your grandfather mistook of for a tractor part. It does look the same. We just about have all the crap cleaned off of it.”

  “Was it bad? I mean it looked bad.”

  Lina shook her head at me. “If I had a blue box like the Doctor, I would go back in time and do a Gibbs Maneuver on that idiot of a Grandfather of yours. Whoever convinced him that sinking a positronic computer into a can filled with corn oil was a good idea is an idiot! It will be at least tomorrow before the bacteria I sprayed it with finish the cleanup job.”

  “Bacteria? Are they dangerous?”

  “It is something they cooked up in the lab. They do a good job on toxic messes but if you get any on you, it can cause a serious rash and turns your skin bright blue.” She giggled.

  “Is that why the leader of your project is out sick?”

  “Yes. He stuck his hand into the can after we added the bacteria. His whole arm and part of his face where he scratched is now a bright sky blue. It will fade but what he did was really stupid, so he took a few days off.” The ad-libbing was starting to get stale. We were running out of things to say.

  “Lina, I better go get you that toolbox. You have class in less than ten minutes! I will give it to the guard at the door to your lab. Is that OK?”

  She nodded her head, and we parted ways. I really did run back to the dorm and get the toolbox. Funny how it was now on my desk. Quietly I sent Artemis a message. She was still sitting on the bed but I needed confirmation. “Did someone come in and bug the toolbox?”

  She sent back a message. “Yes. Good work. You guessed correctly that they would bug the bag. They removed each item and scanned and copied it before placing the bag on your desk. I have scans of their faces, fingerprints, and uniforms. Records show that one is a Militia member and current security specialist. The other is not in the schools database but my records show that he is the son of a local Politician. I have taken the liberty of uploading all the information collected to Commandant Yannos and his team. They did not leave any other devices.”

  I was amazed that the plan was working. Lina needed to be guarded! They might still come after her. I motioned to the cat, and she followed me out of the room. I jogged over to the laboratory building and entered the lobby. A large imposing desk sat in the front with two security guards. “Excuse me. I have a tool bag for Cadet Angelina Eberly. I’m her roommate.”

  The older of the two guards looked me over and checked his scanner. There must be detectors in the booth. “Cadet Tisiphone?”

  “Yes, Sir.” I held up the tool bag and set it on the podium.

  “Cadet Eberly left instructions. Follow me please.” He led me down a long hall to a series of lifts. We took the last one down to the sub-basement. There was a large metal door at the end of the hall. He pressed a buzzer twice and a red light above the door began to flash. Slowly the door opened.

  Lina stood in the doorway. She smiled at the guard. “Thanks Johann.” She looked at me and held out her hand.

  “Lina you work here? This is like a bank vault!” I handed her the bag and winked at her. Hopefully we were stalling enough for Artemis to get into the vault-like room.

  “It’s pretty cool. I would show you but Johann would not be very happy. I’ll bring you sometime when we aren’t working on anything. Thanks for the bag. Go ahead and eat without me tonight. I have a lot of work to do. We had a change of plans and Militia leaders are sending someone from Freedom Station to take the project up there. Good news is I have tomorrow off. Maybe we could go fishing or something.”

  “Sounds good. I need to get to class. See you later.” She went back inside and the big door closed behind her. Johann escorted me from the building. I sent my report to the Special operations team. We were taking a chance moving the timetable up, but we had the fish on the line and we needed to reel them in.

  Chapter 18

  Lina watched the big metal door close shut. She had seen the wink that Tis gave her. She hoped that meant that this charade would be over soon. She almost regretted making herself the target. Lina set the tool bag down on her worktable and removed the tools. At the very bottom of the bag a hastily sewn tiny pouch held the listening device. This part of the building was heavily shielded for possible explosions so the bug should not be able to send out a signal. Just to be sure she placed the bag in one of the RF security pouches. The mock-up computer module sat on a work table in the center of the room. A strong bright light was directly over it. The model would fool most non-engineers, and maybe a few of those too. Positronic systems were not as rare as many thought them to be. The school's computer center actually had four of the older models sitting in a backroom. The oldest one took one for the team and was dismantled for the decoy.

  “Artemis? Are you in here with me?”

  “Meow.”

  The sound came from behind her and she jumped in surprise. “By Texas and St. Bowie! You scared me Artemis! I’m glad you made it inside before the door closed. I have my stun gun but that won't stop anyone. Since we are going to be here for a while I am going to do some school work and finish up a project I’m working on for Tis.”

  Lina sat at her workstation and pulled out her class assignments. Several hours into the work the buzzer rang on the door. Lina checked the time noting that it was very late and only the night shift guards should be in the building. Special Operations was supposed to be around, but not in the building. She got up and checked the monitor. A lone guard stood by the door. It was Johann from earlier.

  “Artemis, one of the guards is outside. It looks like Johann one of the day guards. I’ve never seen him here at night. He might be the one, get ready.”

  Lina triggered the door release, and the door began to open.

  “Johann, why are you here this evening? I thought you only worked days.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you Lina. I saw on the sign in that you were still here. I meant to ask you something and forgot earlier. Sometime next weekend could you take a look at my old Mark 31 air car? The anti-grav is acting up again and you are the only one who fixes it correctly.”

  Lina began to laugh. “Of course I will Johann. I will make a note of it. Remind me on Friday, I might still forget.”

  He thanked her, and she closed the door. “You can relax Artemis. Johann just needed air car repairs. I fixed his old car for him last month and it’s still acting up. His air car needs a new anti-grav module but they don’t make the kind he needs anymore.”

  “Meow.”

  “Boring I know. I’m glad it wasn’t him. I like Johann.”

  Lina sat back down and went back to work. She was building a special gauntlet for Tisiphone and wanted it to be right. She was starting to yawn and realized that whole night had crawled by without any attacks or attempts on her lab. Maybe they got spooked.

  The communication system inside the lab lit up and the red light was blinking. That surpris
ed her because she had been told by the director of the lab, Professor Hathaway to never use it unless it was a dire emergency. She pressed the answer key. “Hello?”

  “Cadet Eberly? This is the front desk. There is a team of specialists from Freedom Station here for a pick up? They say that you are aware that they are coming.” Lina frowned. There were no specialists. She and Tis made that part up when they ran out of things to say. Sneaky sneaky. Those Cabal agents.

  “Artemis, how many of them can you handle at once?” The CATT meowed three times. Lina could maybe take out one. If they sent more than that she was screwed.

  She keyed the system again. “Thanks for letting me know. All I know is that a unit was suppose to be here this morning. Do their credentials check out?”

  “Yes, Ma’am. They match the ones sent by the station.”

  “Well, bring them down please. I will open the door when they get here.”

  Lina had only a few minutes to prepare. She quickly reinforced her workstation and dimmed the lab lights. Only the big light over the decoy lit the room now. The door buzzed, and she walked over and pressed the button.

  ~~~

  I spent the night worrying like crazy for my friend. She was locked in a can while killers and spies roamed the land. Well, maybe not killers at least not here. It was almost dawn and after a very short cat nap I was ready to guard my friend from outside the building. I heard a roaring noise and looked up! A drop ship was descending and was about to land in the area in front of the labs.

  “Sergeant Zorba, do you know why there is a drop ship inbound?” I called the Spec Ops team.

  “Cadet we were not informed of a drop. Did you call the station?”

  “We didn’t. I wonder… Sergeant, have your commander check with the station. I will bet that the ship did not come from them. Lina, Cadet Eberly and I ad libbed in front of one of the bugs yesterday and mentioned that the station was picking up the decoy this morning. They have to be Cabal. There is no pickup.”

  “That makes sense. They must really want whatever that thing is. I will inform command. Hold tight.”

  I watched as the drop ship landed. Two flight officers climbed out and secured the ship. They slowly lowered the ramp. Four officers and a guard walked off the ship and approached the doors of the lab. If I did not know better, I would swear that they were real. The two flight officers reentered the ship for a moment. They reemerged carrying side arms and assault weapons. Things just got serious.

  “Cadet Tisiphone hold tight and stay out of the line of fire. We intend to capture the drop ship and take as many as possible alive. We have orders from on-high to keep you and Cadet Eberly safe.”

  The Special Operations team was very good. They surprised the two pilot/guards and disarmed them without issue. Several team members entered the ship, and I assume disabled it. I wish I knew what was happening inside.

  Chapter 19

  The big metal door slowly opened revealing a team of four officers and what looked like a guard. “Cadet Eberly? I’m Major Hollybush of Military Intelligence. Major Lee sent us down from Freedom to pick up the positronic computer. Is it ready for transport?”

  The officers pushed past Lina and entered the darkened lab. The guard remained outside the entrance. Out of habit Lina hit the button on the door and it began to close. “Hey! Leave the door open!” The guard braced himself against the door and tried to hold it open.

  “Careful you could get squished! I will reopen the door once it closes. I can’t stop it halfway.” The guard stepped back outside, and the door slammed shut. The complex locking procedure could be heard as the door sealed itself. Lina looked behind her, the officers were peering at her workstation and the lit up decoy.

  “Hey don’t touch that! It’s very delicate.” She walked over to her workstation and put Tisiphones present back in the lock box. “That is not for prying eyes. What you want is over there!” She pointed to the lit up decoy.

  “Cadet, what sorts of things do you have in here?”

  “Very fragile things. Mostly I work on school projects and the occasional tech upgrade. That thing fell into my lap so it has become my new project. Careful! Don’t touch it. It still has cleaner bacterium all over it. Your skin will turn a bright blue and give you a nasty rash.”

  Lina stepped behind her makeshift barrier and carefully and slowly reached for her stun gun.

  “Cadet Eberly can you turn on the lights, please?”

  “The light switch is over on the far wall by the door controls.” The ‘Major’ walked across the room leaving the other three bunched up in the middle of the room. Hoping that Artemis understood what was happening she pulled her gun and fired at the Major.

  Bzzzzattttak the souped up laser pistol had two settings stun and kill. She had it set for stun. The shot was a bright blue beam of light that hit the false major in the rear and caused him to shake and fall to the floor. The three men in the center of the room pulled weapons and turned to fire at her. The one furthest away screamed in pain as razor-sharp claws cut through his tendons and hamstrung him. He rolled onto the floor screaming. The man in the middle got a shot off at Lena before Artemis’s shock bolt paralyzed him and knocked him out.

  Lena dove behind her barricade just in time to dodge the first shot. She could hear at least one of the impostor’s moaning in pain. The third fake officer began firing his pistol. He wasn’t shooting at Lina but at the demon that had appeared in the midst of them. His shots went wide damaging much of the delicate equipment in the room. There was another bright blue flash in the dark and the room was quiet except for the moans and cries of the first man.

  Lina chanced a look over the workstation. “Artemis? Is it safe to come out yet?”

  She heard a cat meow near her and saw the CATT sitting on the floor looking over at her. Lina smiled, the plan worked!

  “Computer, lights. Nighttime setting plus four.” The lights in the room slowly came up. Everything in the room was in shadow. Three bodies lay on the floor in the center of the room. The man furthest away was bleeding heavily. She looked over by the door and the fake officer was no longer lying there! With a screech, the CATT attacked the man as he tried to get behind Lina. The light from the ceiling flashed on her claws as Artemis tore huge gouges out of the man forcing him to the floor. She pulled out her pistol again and calmly shot each of the men on the floor. All that was left was the man outside the door. She stared at the communications console. Could she trust the security officers upstairs?

  ~~~

  Once the drop ship was secure, the Special Operations troops entered the building. The security guards were held at gunpoint for a moment while their identities were confirmed.

  “Cadet Tisiphone. Can you come inside please?”

  “Is she OK, Sergeant Zorba?”

  “Just come inside please, we need you.”

  I entered the building very cautiously. I prayed that Lina was OK.

  There was an SO troop guarding the front doors as I stepped inside. Sergeant Zorba and the building security guards were having an intense conversation.

  “Cadet Tisiphone. Your friend is in the vault with at least five armed men. The security here allowed them to go down without escort.”

  The Sergeant was looking down his nose at the trembling officers. “Sergeant we did escort them down, we just didn’t stay with her. They checked out according to the computer. It said that they were Military Intelligence!”

  “Do you have cameras on that level and in the vault itself?”

  “We can show you the door.” The big screen on the wall lit up and a single armed man could be seen staring at the door.

  “That looks promising. We should be able to handle one man. What about the vault? Do we have any eyes in there?”

  “We don’t. At least I don’t think we do. Laszlo Hollyfeld, the Director of Labs might. He has private systems all over the building. He doesn’t trust anyone, not even us.”

  “What about from inside the vault
? Can Lina see us if we are at the door?”

  “Yes, there is a camera on the door lintel that points at whoever approaches the door.”

  “Sergeant, if Lina sees me she will come out.” The big man nodded his head.

  “OK Cadet. Here is the plan. We will take care of the lone gunman. You will only get off the lift when I tell you to, understand?”