by Pete Molina
Chapter 6
“If we hadn't been watching him so closely we would have missed it entirely, he's a pretty good hack. It makes me wonder if he really was involved,” Special Agent Jim Dawson said. The image of agent Dawson was standing in Damon Harding’s office.
“I don't think I saw anything in his file that indicated that he had those kind of skills. It leaves me wondering also. But it doesn't really matter at this point. He started the restoration of Sam 23.1 and once complete Hughes, Storm 23.1, and our mystery guest will lead us to the brains behind the whole thing, and we will get the truth.” Damon said. He had almost dropped the pretense of just being an interested party to the investigation. He had enough dirt on Dawson now to ensure loyalty. You don't live for two hundred years and not do something you aren't proud of.
“I understand, Mr. Harding, I didn't mean to imply that. I only meant that I had been convinced by Hughes that he was innocent. I don't feel so bad now about what we're doing.”
“Well we only gave him enough rope to hang himself. He had to put it over his own neck. How is the restoration of the old Storm backup proceeding?” Damon asked.
“It's two days to the no stop point and proceeding normally,” Dawson replied.
“Good, once we pass the no stop point, we'll quietly force Jeff Hughes to resign so he is free to pursue Storm 6.7.” Just as Damon finished speaking, Julia interrupted.
Sir, I have just received notice that Jeff Hughes has resigned as director of the Restoration Division. He says that regardless of whether he has been cleared of any criminal charges regarding the Virus attack and has not yet been asked for his resignation, he feels he must resign from his position as an acceptance of his own failing in the matter, Julia reported. Damon paused for a second considering the information and its serendipitous arrival. Dawson didn't interrupt.
“Well, it seems that Jeff Hughes is one step ahead of us, Agent Dawson. I have just received word that he has tendered his resignation.”
“What do you think that means?” Dawson asked. It was not a move that either had anticipated.
“It means that he also realizes that he needs to be free of the division to pursue Storm 6.7 and that he is suspicious of my and the government’s motives for letting him return. He probably figures he had better get out now before anything worse occurs.” Damon explained. The truth was that Damon didn't know exactly why Jeff Hughes would do this. It didn't matter, and it would make it easier to hide the illegality of the restoration of the outdated Sam Storm, but still Damon didn't like it when people were a step ahead of him.
Dawson looked skeptical. “Could be,” he said without much conviction. “I just hope that you're right. If something else happens because we let this guy go, there's going to be hell to pay.”
Damon just smiled. “Yes, there would be hell to pay,” he said, knowing full well that if anything did happen, Dawson would take all the blame for it. By the look on Dawson’s face he knew it too.
“Well, he may be a step ahead, but I'm going to make sure that our surveillance is maintained twenty-four seven. I'm not letting him slip through the cracks,” Dawson said. “I better get back, Mr. Harding, so nothing does happen.” Agent Dawson nodded to Damon. His image flickered and was gone leaving Damon alone in his office.
According to his contact at NeurTech, the modifications to the neural implant software were proceeding and would be ready just in time for the outdated backup of Sam Storm. Damon just wished it had been finished a little earlier, so that he could have had the companion of Terra Gates modified as well. She would be fully restored in two days, and then he could finally have a chat with her.