SHIAM Conspiracy- Book 1
Page 7
He picked up his pace as though he could outrun the demons that haunted his memories. When they reached Shelbourne Street, Zak and Ke’aira turned around and headed back up the beach the way they had come. The round trip run was about two kilometers. It was a routine run for them both. They had been doing it nearly every night since Zak found Ke’aira, although it had been a much slower trip back when she was a pup, with Zak carrying her most of the distance. In spite of working to stay fit, tonight Zak felt both physically and mentally exhausted.
Between dealing with the mystery of the Grimrok break-in and the puzzling attack at Underworld it had been a long day. By the time they again reached the boulder where their run began, the painful memories of his mother’s death had retreated back to the edges of Zak’s consciousness, but the emotional drain had added to his sense of fatigue. He pulled up next to the stone marker panting for breath.
“Damn, I’m getting too old for this, girl!”
Ke’aira whined as she nervously paced next to him.
Then the storm returned with a vengeance.
8
In spite of his weariness, Zak forced himself to jog home in order to escape the wicked weather.
Ke’aira followed him into the loft and through the maze of plant-life to the bathroom. In spite of her water repellent coat, the dog was as soaked as Zak and they both left a trail of water. His refusal to use magic forced him to use the more conventional method of towel drying for both himself and Ke’aira. When he was finished, he went to the bedroom area for dry clothes.
“Computer, Windows: night setting, privacy level two,” he said.
“Night setting, privacy level two confirmed,” the computer responded in a pleasantly female voice.
The glass windows transformed into opaque shields, the outside world disappearing, leaving only the rumbling thunder and pounding rain as a reminder of the raging storm. Ke’aira sat uneasily by the bed watching Zak dress, her ears twitching with each clap of thunder that rose above the steady splattering of rain upon the roof. Once dressed, Zak cleaned up the trail of water he and Ke’aira had made and then headed for the kitchen. Ke’aira remained close by his side the entire time.
Zak found the loft quite comfortable for the two of them. He owned the entire building. He had purchased the old four-story structure shortly after leaving ASID. Originally he had made the purchase as an investment, never intending to settle in Sol Kappur. Slough Street had been one of the original industrial areas in the city, but most businesses had long since migrated to areas east of the spaceport or to the more upscale areas of Sol Kappur West. When Zak originally looked at the property, the area was just becoming fashionable with a segment of the population that the media had labelled as the trendies. The trendies were primarily young white-collar workers who spent most of their time trying to find new ways to redefine their lifestyle. When the trendies began buying up the old warehouses and commercial buildings in the area, converting them into lofts and apartments, Zak saw an opportunity to make some money.
He had originally moved into the building intending only to fix it up before reselling it. He had used most of his funds making the purchase, so restoring it became a long-term project and he opened his network security business to help finance the project. As he slowly brought back the original flavor of the building’s architecture, he became attached to the place. He couldn’t really remember consciously making the decision to stay, but stay he did.
As he entered the kitchen area, Zak’s stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten since lunch. He suddenly had a craving for generous portions of meat and vegetables, but an examination of his kitchen brought him quickly back to reality. He rarely cooked so there was no fresh food in the place. As he looked into the refrigerator, he fought down the urge to eat the last generous portion of roast boar he found there. The meat was for Ke’aira and so he turned hopefully to his food processor, but was reminded that he hadn’t restocked it for some time.
His only choice was a single helping of beef stew that was left in the processor. He pressed the selector for the stew and began dicing the roast boar for Ke’aira while he waited for it. Normally the dog would be watching him intently, her mouth-watering as she impatiently waited. But she was instead standing with her snout in the air, sniffing again at some unknown scent that Zak failed to detect.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” he told her, putting the diced meat into her bowl and placing it on the floor in front of her. “Go ahead and eat.”
She hesitated, glancing around nervously as though she doubted what he said. Finally the aroma of the reheated roast was too much temptation for her and she attacked the meat with relish.
Ke’aira finished eating before Zak and sat patiently waiting for him to give her the last of his stew, which he did. He refilled his coffee mug and then made his way to the small office he’d set up in the far corner of the living area. His main business office was on the third floor of the building. After renovating the lower three floors, he rented out the first and second floors to tenants, but decided to keep the third floor for himself. He didn’t use the third floor offices much, except to meet with clients and the subcontractors that he sometimes hired to assist him with his larger corporate contracts. He preferred using his home office for most of his work.
Ke’aira’s nervousness had returned, although not as intensely as before. She curled up close to his chair, occasionally lifting her nose and sniffing the air as she watched him work.
“Computer, run search. Collect all information available on the EAST Group, Elves against SHIAM Technology.”
“Searching...” the computer responded.
As tired as he was, he just couldn’t resist following up on the only lead he had at the moment. Skrole was the kind of guy who heard things that no one else heard. Zak didn’t trust the Goblin past the greed that motivated him, but Skrole had never given him false information. If he said there was a rumor involving East Group, it was worth checking out.
“Computer, contact the Institute of Occult and Paranormal Sciences and request a level one sorcerer for consultation and assistance, Industrial Class, Confidential.” The trace of magic that he thought he’d detected at Grimrok still bothered him. He hoped that a certified sorcerer might be able to determine whether the traces were, in fact, actually there.
After several minutes the computer responded, “Institute Contacted. Level one sorcerer request confirmed and approved by the automated assignment service at the Institute. Availability: the ninth hour tomorrow morning.”
The sorcerers at the Institute were well trained and highly skilled professionals. Zak had come to rely on them for all his customized network protection spells. There were a couple of sorcerers he preferred to work with over the others, but the Institute had a strict policy of assigning their personnel based upon their own selection criteria rather than allowing requests for specific individuals. He’d just have to wait until tomorrow to see who showed up.
A short time later the computer added, “Search complete. Would you like the information on EAST Group displayed on screen or as a virtual interface?”
“Start with on screen,” Zak said.
Images appeared on the comm screen as the computer recited its narrative.
“EAST is an acronym for Elves against SHIAM Technology. EAST Group was founded by Dr. Elron Tetherstrol in the year 5108, two years after the first SHIAM units were introduced by Grimrok Corporation. Dr. Tetherstrol formed the organization while teaching as a professor at the University of Sol Kappur.”
A photo of a middle-aged Elf in a plain brown suit and red tie flashed up on the screen. He was standing on a podium in an auditorium with several other distinguished looking Elves sitting behind him. Although he wore his straight brown hair in traditional Elvish fashion, long and free flowing past his shoulders, his overly-large pointed ears stuck out at the sides. He had high cheekbones and a prominent forehead, which gave him a somewhat distinguished appearance.
This information was not particularly new to Zak. There had been numerous news casts concerning EAST Group and their protests. He wondered what ASID might have on the group. He hated the thought of asking Vennhim. Unfortunately, since his retirement he had lost touch with the agents he had known in ASID. There were a couple names that came to mind who he could possibly approach for information. He’d rather go to them than to Vennhim.
“Are there any known connections between EAST Group and any Elvish governments?”
“Searching...” the computer responded. Finally, it reported, “There are no known links to Elvish governments.”
“What about funding?” Zak asked. “Are there any money trails to any significant organizations?”
After a long pause, the computer said, “Funding is obtained through private donations. The EAST Group is currently on the verge of bankruptcy.”
That raised one big question. If EAST Group was responsible for the theft, then how did they fund it? A bankrupt organization would not have the kind of bankroll it would have taken to pull off the Grimrok break-in.
“Would you like background on Dr. Tetherstrol?”
“Go for it,” Zak said sipping at his coffee.
“Elron Tetherstrol was born on the twenty-fifth day of Ninth Month, year forty-three-fifty-two. His parents were Langdin and Myria Tetherstrol. Langdin Tetherstrol was a member of the High Elvish Council of the Elandria Tribes of the Mythnol Forest. Myria Tetherstrol’s maiden name was Myria Langalis. She was the daughter of the third brother to Duke Merlynne Elindale. Both parents are now deceased.”
Photos of Langdin and Myria Tetherstrol popped up on screen. Both Elves bore the same noble features they had passed on to their son.
“Dr. Tetherstrol graduated from the University of Taurelasse in the Mythnol Forest with a PhD in both Elvish Philosophy and in Natural Sciences. He immigrated to the Aragne Commonwealth at the age of twenty-six and attended De Khant University in the Zentan Province, where he received a PhD in Physics. He became a professor at the University of Sol Kappur at age one-hundred-fifty-nine. He continued to teach physics at the University until Ninth Month of last year, when he suddenly disappeared after a warrant was issued for his arrest by Aragne authorities in connection with the bombing of the SHIAM distribution center in Kornia.
“Shortly after Dr. Tetherstrol disappeared, the Orkensha Dhoraz claimed responsibility for the bombing. Aragne Special Intelligence Agents later arrested Ghadrean Khandri, a member of the Dhoraz sect, and charged him with performing acts of terrorism. The Dhoraz sect is a known Orkensha terrorist organization.”
“You don’t have to tell me about the Dhoraz sect,” Zak said bitterly. It was Dhoraz terrorists who had been responsible for the bombing that killed his mother. ASID believed the Dhoraz were actually a branch of the Ghanstap, the Orkensha Secret Guard, but there was never any undisputable proof of this. Zak didn’t much care one way or the other about proof. He had developed a hatred for all Orks and only barely tolerated them when the need arose to have any dealings with them. He pushed his emotional response to the Dhoraz aside and asked, “And what happened to the good doctor?”
“Although Dr. Tetherstrol was cleared of the charges related to the bombing, there remain outstanding warrants for his arrest on charges of civil disturbance and fleeing the Aragne Commonwealth in order to avoid arrest. He remains at large.”
“Do the feds know where he is?” Zak asked.
“Aragne Special Intelligence Department public files indicate that he is somewhere in the Mythnol Forest. There are no current extradition agreement between the Aragne Commonwealth and the Mythnol Forest.”
Zak took a last swig of his coffee and put the mug down. “Do you have enough profile on Elron Tetherstrol to run a virtual clone?”
“Affirmative.”
“Okay, run it.” He picked up the virtual headset lying on the desk next to the comm screen and pulled it on. The thin band was similar to a speaker headset, but instead of speakers, two small bar-like devices were positioned just behind each of Zak’s ears. The technology was complicated, but simply put the transceivers in the headset created a connection directly with Zak’s brain. Through a sophisticated set of protocols, the computer was able to interact with the electro-chemical activity of his brain, creating a virtual world that seemed to come alive to all Zak’s senses.
“Good to go,” Zak said to the computer and his surroundings immediately dissolved.
He found himself standing in a virtual rendition of a small office belonging to Dr. Elron Tetherstol. Although generated by computer, the data input sent to Zak’s brain created sensory perceptions that were as real as anything he could experience in the real world. Virtuality had become so popular that both hardware and software support for it was built into all Comm Net services. Building virtual clones of actual people was one function provided by Comm Net’s support services. Of course, the virtual cloning was only as good as the information available within public archives found on Comm Net, which meant that the more well known the individual, the more accurate the clone.
Elron Tetherstrol was an Elvish traditionalist and his personality was reflected in the virtual setting Zak found himself in. The office was a recreation from the early years of the forty-eight hundreds, a time when real wood was still the norm for construction. Mahogany panelling covered the walls and the furniture was made nearly exclusively from polished wood. The only modern elements in the room were three comm terminals located on the heavy oak desk and the data chips that were scattered about next to them.
Tetherstrol was sitting behind the desk. He looked neither surprise nor displeased at the sudden interruption when Zak appeared before him. He simply looked up from the comm screen he had been studying. “Hello, how may I help you?”
“Tell me about EAST Group,” Zak said bluntly. He rarely applied social etiquette in his dealings with virtual constructs, although the virtual characters occasionally took offence to his lack of good manners.
“Are you interested in joining our cause,” Tetherstrol asked, apparently willing to overlook the lack of introduction. “Or are you one of those high tech bleeding hearts avowing free enterprise at the expense of sentient life?”
“Nope, not even close on either count.”
Tetherstrol looked at him more intently, contempt seeping into the Elf’s expression.
“You are a half-breed.” Tetherstrol said. He uttered the statement almost to himself, but in a clearly distasteful tone.
Zak knew that virtually cloned characters often said and did things that their real life counter-parts would never consider. It was a flaw in the programming that sometimes injected strong emotions and attitudes into the compiled dialogue and actions of the character, even when it may be out of character for them to verbalize it. This programming flaw was exactly why Zak was here. He was hoping that Tetherstol’s construct would reveal something to confirm EAST Group’s involvement with the theft or with the Orks.
“I’m not here to discuss my bloodline.”
“Oh, I mean no offense,” Tetherstrol said, clearly not meaning what he said. “It is simply a fact that the races of this world would be much better off remaining separate and pure to their own genetic code. Mixed blood does nothing to further the evolution of any race.”
“Is that a fact,” Zak said flatly. He was used to the prejudices from both sides, Humans and Elves alike. Well, perhaps used to it was not quite accurate. But he had been the target of these bigots on enough occasions to have learned not to let them get to him...at least not visibly.
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“In any event,” Tetherstrol let out a rather melodramatic sigh before continuing. “I assure you, I am not an Elvish Supremacist. I am a separatist. It is only by keeping the races separate and pure that they can be allowed to evolve and prosper in their own rights. Take yourself, for example. Due to your diluted Elvish genetics, your natural capabilities have no doubt been diminished to the point of...”
“Look, I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think about race purity!” Zak’s anger flowered into full bloom, but he did his best to keep it in check. He forced himself to continue more calmly, “I came here looking for information about EAST Group.”
“Very well,” Tetherstrol said as he sat back in his chair, obviously displeased at Zak’s abruptness. “What would you know?”
“Does EAST Group sanction criminal activities in order to further their cause against the SHIAM?”
“We are not criminals!” the Doctor said emphatically. “Our official policy is to operate within the law.”
“What about unofficially?”
“Every one of our protests was carried out with government permits. We have never inspired to riot. We obey the law.”
He was lying. EAST Group had organized numerous demonstrations. A number of them had been staged without permits and therefore were classified as illegal gatherings. Several had also turned violent.
“There are rumors going around that EAST Group broke into a high security corporation.”
“Rumors...you are here to ask me about rumors?”