SHIAM Conspiracy- Book 1

by Joseph Heck

  “And this is a mystery, why?”

  “Well, like I said, I couldn’t see the far side of the lake. But there was an island some distance off shore and there was a dock with a barge tied to its posts. There was also a sign that said Tahmore Ferry.” Jonas looked toward the floor, his lips puckered in thought, before looking up at Zak again and continuing his story. “This may sound rather foolish. I know it probably doesn’t seem like such a big mystery to you. But I was the only one who could see it. The dock, the barge, the sign, even the island. None of the other players could see them in their game. Isn’t that kind of strange?”

  “Not really.” Zak raked his hand through his hair, impatient for the elevator to reach their designated floor. “You probably have a different version of the game than they do.”

  “No, I checked that” Jonas said. “We all have the same version. Besides, all the game modules are run from the server. Only the player’s characters and possessions are stored on the local machines. It just seems really bizarre, having all that stuff in my game and no one else has them in theirs. Tahmore Ferry. It could be another whole module or something, but how can my world be different than theirs if we are all running the same game module?”

  “Look, I got more to do than worry about somebody’s sloppy game coding.” Zak told him. “It’s probably just some sort of error. You may have somehow triggered some forgotten code left over from an earlier version of the game that was never deleted. It happens more often than you might think.”

  Jonas seemed to finally pick up on the fact that Zak wasn’t much interested in helping him with his gaming mystery. He stood silently studying Zak for a moment. “You don’t like us very much, do you? SHIAM, I mean.”

  “About as much as I like my toaster,” Zak said.

  The door of the elevator opened onto the two hundred and tenth floor. The half-dozen SHIAM remaining in the lift made no attempt to allow Zak an easy exit, their expressions fixed in hostile glares as he pushed past them and out the door.

  2

  The Dwarf looked absurd sitting behind the oversized desk in the middle of an equally oversized office. The room was modern to the point of appearing sterile. The large desk was all shiny black metal with a spotless white work surface. Shelves, also black metal and filled with neat rows of electronic media, spanned the length of one wall. The only decor on any of the bleached white walls was a painting opposite the shelving. Zak recognized it as a famous Dwarven work of art, an oil painting of the Temple of Bha Kalhan. The actual temple was located deep within the southern ranges of the Bakkhen Mountains and was the central point of the Dwarven religion. Although he recognized the painting, he couldn’t remember the name of the famous Dwarf who had painted it. He figured it to be an original work though, based upon the luxurious atmosphere that surrounded it.

  Everything in the room spoke of money, including the Dwarf. His shaggy red beard fell from view below the desktop, hiding most of the expensive dark blue suit he wore. He wore gold on all his fingers and when he stood and held out a hand in greeting, a thick gold chain bracelet dangled from his right wrist.

  “Ah, Mr. Milliandur,” the Dwarf greeted him in a booming voice. His face appeared as leathery as the expensive chair he had been sitting in. Combined with a large nose and long bushy eyebrows, his face looked almost like a mask. He was obviously standing on some sort of platform hidden behind the large desk; he stood nearly as tall as Zak, his knees peeking over the desktop. “I am so glad you could come. Tobias Grimrok, at your service!”

  “Actually, I believe he prefers to go by the name Harris. Isn’t that right, Zak?”

  The voice correcting the Dwarf came from a man Zak hadn’t noticed when he entered. He was standing at a window behind Grimrok’s desk, his hands poised behind his back as though he were leisurely taking in the storm that raged beyond the plate glass. Zak froze as he reached out to take Grimrok’s offered hand. A shattering crack of thunder emphasized the suspended moment. He knew the voice instantly.

  After a dramatic pause, the man turned to reveal a less than friendly smile.

  “It’s good to see you again, Zak.” The smile took on a malicious edge and his tone made it clear that he didn’t really mean what he said.

  “Yeah,” was all Zak offered in return.

  Dorjan Vennhim was a predator. Although he was middle aged, he had the well-toned body of a young man. His lean, clean shaven face reflected a cruelty that was confirmed by his cold dark eyes. Even the simple act of walking to the edge of the desk to stand beside Grimrok was carried out in slow calculated stalking motions. His short brown hair was neatly cut and combed. The dark blue suit he wore, although off-the-rack, was impeccably worn, without a trace of a wrinkle or crease or even a hint of lint. Everything about him spoke ex-military, including the parade rest stance he assumed next to Grimrok’s chair.

  Grimrok let his hand slowly fall to his side. He studied Zak with a calculating smile.

  “Ah yes, of course,” the Dwarf said, his eyes never leaving Zak. “Your mother’s maiden name. I’ve heard you and your father had your differences. Pity, really. Your father was a great Elf.” Grimrok’s brown eyes suddenly seemed more penetrating, staring out from beneath those bushy brows as though they could read every secret Zak possessed. “Of course, that does not change your blood line, laddie.”

  “He’s right, Zak,” Vennhim said. “That fair complexion of yours, along with those pointy ears, are a dead giveaway. There’s no getting around the fact that you are Elf.”

  “Half Elf,” Zak said evenly. “I am sure you didn’t bring me here to discuss my family history. I must admit though, I am now even more confused as to why you called me here. You hardly need my services if the Department is involved.”

  “Mr. Vennhim is no longer with ASID,” Grimrok replied, motioning for Zak to take a seat. “He works for Grimrok Corporation now, as head of security.”

  “What happened, Vennhim, did you finally cross a line even the fanatics running black ops couldn’t ignore?” Zak’s smile contained a hard edge. He remained standing.

  Vennhim chuckled, shaking his head. “Zak, buddy, come on. There’s no need for hostility. Can’t we put the past behind us? I regret what happened in Bh’ag Mur. It was unfortunate, but I was only following orders.” His words were as insincere as his laugh.

  “Gentlemen, please! I did not bring you two together to reignite old grudges.” Grimrok gave them both a stern look and then allowed his smile to return. “Please, Mr. Harris, won’t you take a seat and we’ll get down to it.”

  Zak reluctantly took a seat in one of the two chairs positioned in front of Grimrok’s desk. Vennhim remained standing next to the Dwarf, his hands now stuffed in his pants pockets in exaggerated casualness and an irritating grin smeared across his face.

  “First of all, Mr. Harris, I’d like to thank you for coming out in this atrocious weather.” Grimrok sat back in his chair and quickly glanced up at Vennhim before locking his attention back upon Zak. “The reason I asked you here today, Mr. Harris, is...we have a situation. And I believe you are the best solution to correct it.”

  Zak didn’t reply. He sat with his hands folded on his lap and waited for the rest.

  “I need you to find something for me,” Grimrok continued. “Something very valuable and very secret. Some technology was taken from this building three nights ago. Whoever took it slipped through our security like water through a tea bag! Mind you, our security is second to none and that includes the Aragne government. So this was no small task they accomplished!”

  “If somebody swiped top secret military technology, you need ASID, not me.”

  “Strictly speaking, this isn’t military,” Grimrok said. “Not quite yet, anyway.”

  “Not yet?” Zak smirked. “That sounds close enough. I take it the military is already interested?”

  “The military is aware of it,” Grimrok conceded. “And yes, they are interested. But it’s not officially a part of any militar
y program yet. There are certain issues that need to be addressed before it can go to the military. You need to help me out on this, Mr. Harris. I’m in a tight spot here. If news of this theft gets out... Well, you can well imagine what that would do to our defense contracts. The military does not like it when their vendors allow things that are supposed to be kept secret to go missing!”

  “Why me when you already have Vennhim?” Zak asked. His instinct was telling him he didn’t want any part of this. “I specialize in corporate security now. Before the fact, not after the deed has been done. I don’t do cloak and dagger anymore.”

  “Dorjan has other responsibilities,” Grimrok said. He watched Zak’s reaction and correctly deduced that he wasn’t buying it. “Okay honestly, Dorjan and the boys spent the last three days looking for clues and came up empty. And quite frankly, I would just as soon have someone who wasn’t associated with Grimrok Corporation conduct the investigation. This all needs to stay as far away from my door step as possible. An acquaintance of mine suggested you.”

  “You want me to investigate a crime, but not let anyone know what I’m investigating?” Zak laughed at the absurdity of it. “That’s going to make it pretty difficult to find anything out.”

  “I know it is a difficult task to ask,” Grimrok replied evenly. “But I am impressed with your qualifications, although there are some aspects of your career that is quite puzzling. You began training with the Te’n Kha when you were quite young. That is tradition among the Elves, is it not, to begin training as a warrior at an early age? Your father insisted upon it, I would guess?” Grimrok paused only briefly for a response from Zak. When he didn’t get one his leathery face wrinkled further with annoyance. “Of course, not all Elves are accepted to train with the elite forces, the Te’n Kha. That is quite an honor. All those years training and you simply walked away. Why would you do such a thing?”

  Again Zak did not respond, and so Grimrok continued, “You then enlisted in Aragne Special Forces. Remained there fourteen years and rose to the rank of captain. Four medals of Honor during the war in Kurr Tak against the Orkensha. Then you were recruited by the Aragne Special Intelligence Department and served as a field agent for another fifteen years. And then again, you just suddenly walked away from the ASID just as you did from the Te’n Kha.”

  Zak portrayed indifference towards the review of his career. If Grimrok was waiting for an explanation of why he did what he’d done, the Dwarf would have a very long wait. Zak rarely spoke to anyone concerning his personal life and the reasons for his past actions were his own. Those parts of his service that was not classified, Grimrok was welcome to.

  “Yes, well anyway...I doubt there is anyone working in the private sector at the moment that is more qualified than you for the job!”

  Zak couldn’t help but notice the cold glare Vennhim gave Grimrok. Knowing the ex-agent, Zak figured that he had taken that last statement as more than just a small insult. Vennhim had always believed he was the ultimate Aragne patriot, unequalled in his ability to defend his nation. Zak conceded that his training and skills were above the norm, but he knew that Vennhim was not the super hero he saw himself as. In fact, Zak considered him a low-life. The man was unscrupulous, vicious, and amoral.

  “I’ve told you, I don’t do that kind of work anymore,” Zak said patiently. “I’m getting too old for it.”

  “If you were Human, I’d say at age fifty, perhaps you’re right.” Grimrok’s smile took on a manipulative aura. “But with Elvish blood running through your veins, you are only just approaching middle age. And you look to be in a lot better shape than most twenty year old Humans. Come now, Mr. Harris. This theft offers intrigue beyond anything you’ve dealt with of late. It’s an unfathomable mystery how these thieves managed to get past our security without leaving a trace and I’m offering you the opportunity to solve it.”

  “That’s bit exaggerated.” Zak’s instinct was still saying ‘no’, but the fact was that the adventurer within him was feeling bored and this sounded more interesting than writing security code for corporate network systems. He could feel his resolve begin to weaken. “What exactly was taken?”

  “First you must agree to take the assignment and sign a confidentiality agreement.” Grimrok slid an electronic document and digital pen across the desk toward him.

  Zak left the offered document on the desk. There was still some resistance in him. Something didn’t feel right about this whole thing. And Vennhim was another negative. He had no desire to work with the man again.

  “To help you make up your mind,” Grimrok said, “Here’s a little incentive.”

  His stubby fingers quickly tapped at the keyboard in front of him and he swung the monitor around for Zak to see. The amount on the screen was more than Zak made in a year with his security business. It didn’t sooth Zak’s instinct any, but things were getting even more interesting.

  He still resisted picking up the pen.

  “Mr. Harris, this could become a matter of national security if it is not handled correctly!” Grimrok was somewhat flustered over Zak’s resistance. “I’m not asking you to follow my wife around to find out who’s doing her this month. This is serious business. This could have a very detrimental effect upon our nation!”

  He paused for a moment then continued more calmly. “I need someone who can quickly learn the playing field and who can also fly below the radar, as it were. I can’t afford to let the government, or the press, get wind of this. It would put an end to our military contracts. You’re the man we need, all right. Anyone who could pull off what you did in the Kremloch Colonies during the Tel Ghar incident... Infiltrating the Goblin’s capital city and safely extracting two prominent hostages was no small feat. So you see, I am confident that you can get this job done.”

  “I told you, I don’t play cloak and dagger anymore.”

  “This figure is just a retainer, of course,” Grimrok said, indicating the monitor screen. “Twenty-five percent. You will be paid the rest upon completion of the job.”

  “Mr. Grimrok,” Vennhim broke in. “It’s pretty obvious that Zak’s not interested. I did try to warn you that he’s lost his edge after...”

  Grimrok held up his hand to cut Vennhim short. “Let’s give Mr. Harris a moment to make up his own mind, shall we?”

  Vennhim’s words rubbed at Zak and his ability to rationalize dropped a few notches. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out what Vennhim was doing working as head of corporate security. After all, there just wasn’t a whole lot of opportunity to torture and kill in corporate life. Or was there?

  In spite of the insistence of his better judgment not to do it, Zak picked up the pen and signed the agreement.

  “Excellent!” Grimrok grinned.

  3

  “How the hell do you lose a fully functional SHIAM from a high security location!”

  Zak couldn’t believe what they were telling him. He had expected stolen technical drawings, or a secret formula, or some outrageously valuable software that had been stolen. Something electronic that could be obtained by hacking into the Grimrok network through the company’s public link to Comm Net. A SHIAM unit was simply not what he had expected.

  “What in a demons curse am I doing here? You need a detective, not a computer consultant. I work with network security. I don’t do cops and robbers!”

  He got up and began pacing. After Grimrok was certain that Zak signed the nondisclosure agreement, he had made an abrupt exit, claiming to have an important meeting to attend. Vennhim and the security guard, Jonas, then accompanied Zak to one of the building’s many conference rooms, where Dr. Tabitha Rose was waiting. Once there, the three Grimrok employees provided Zak with the details of the break-in and theft. That is, if you consider the limited information they provided as details.

  “You guys have nothing!” Zak said, sweeping his hand through his hair in frustration as he continued to pace. “You don’t know how they got in. You don’t know how they got out
. You don’t have any physical evidence that a break-in even occurred!”

  “But Derek is missing,” Jonas said with a puzzled look. “Is that not evidence that someone took him?”

  Zak glared at the SHIAM, trying to determine if it was really that clueless or if it was simply yanking his chain. He was pretty sure he wanted to hit the android. He decided to continue with what he’d been saying instead. “There were no alarms tripped, no indication of intruders on your security cameras or your internal sensors. And your fancy-ass SHIAM security guards didn’t see a thing!”

  The room they were now in was as luxurious as the other parts of the building Zak had seen. The oversized conference table could easily accommodate two dozen people, complete with plush leather cushioned chairs. There was a wet bar and a small food processing unit in one corner of the room. The bright and cheery atmosphere, combined with the expensive decor, did nothing but further sour Zak’s mood.

  “Perhaps if you would calm down we could...”

  “I don’t want to calm down!” His glare cut Tabitha Rose off short. “You’re telling me you had a fully functional SHIAM stolen. There is no sign of how the thieves got in or out, no sign of how they breached your security, no witnesses. Your circuit head was fully activated, but apparently didn’t put up any struggle, just waltzed out with whoever took it. You don’t have one single clue. And I just signed an agreement that I’ll solve this break-in and recover the unit. All without telling anyone what I’m doing, who I’m working for or what I’m looking for.”

  Everyone was silent. As Zak paced he looked to each of them in turn. Dr. Rose sat straight and proper, refusing to lose any appearance of dignity to his tirade. Jonas sat hunched in his chair, as though he was attempting to make himself as small as possible. And then there was Vennhim. The smug look on his face was not unfamiliar to Zak. Vennhim was enjoying Zak’s tirade. But there was something more, something in those cold and calculating eyes. He couldn’t pin down what it was about Vennhim’s expression that bothered him.