Hidden Nature
Page 11
Sara interrupted. “They’re unaware we have working models. They think it’s all in development still. We have recordings that confirm that. Their information pipeline is closed at the moment. I’m sure they’re scrambling to open it again. Right now, they’re proceeding along the original plan; replace you and put in anyone else they can control. Their frantic now though because they see how much they’ll be hurt. Skeins will crush their plans. This is no longer about greed and power for them but in staying afloat with their assets intact. They need time to dump their industries that will take a hit. Oz did the math. They need twelve years minimum. They can’t just dump everything. People would notice and their stock would plummet. If they want to recoup a fraction of their investments, they must go slowly and stick together. Their finances are too deeply meshed to allow otherwise. They’ll try again to replace you, they have to.”
Oz said, “Their businesses are profitable, but these are greedy power-hungry men who were willing to murder to rig an election. Now that they realize their infrastructure is at serious risk, who knows what they’ll be willing to do? They could cause enormous amounts of trouble legally, and I don’t mean by speaking against you but by manipulating the market by letting their own businesses fail. Millions of people work for them. They have their hands in banking both here and abroad. Liniar is setting himself up to rule the world behind the scenes and he’s close to success.”
Sara frowned and shook her head. “We disagree on what they’ll do. I think Liniar’s ego won’t let him allow his business to fail even if it would help his end game. Sure, he’d write off a few, but to destabilize our economy he’d have to intentionally ruin himself.” She shook her head again and changed the picture on her screen. “No, his next move will be an attack. If he can put his man in office, and the man himself is irrelevant— he just needs someone he can control. If he gets his man in, he can manipulate the market and foreign affairs to position himself as the world power. Oz has worked up the most likely physical attacks. I’ve produced public opinion and economic attacks scenarios. I really think it’s their next hit.”
Oz showed the president another graph. “Billions and billions of dollars are at stake here. Joy found their plan to hit our existing pipeline in Alaska. They’re in the process of ruining Exon, specifically their ability to ship oil. They need the price to rise to sell their own investments. They’re doing everything they can to insure it does and it’s working.
“Unfortunately, a lot of what they’re doing is perfectly legal. Set guards immediately on the pipeline. They can’t afford to be caught. We have a list here of at-risk installations sorted by probability of attack.
“We also have a plan that will make whatever they do irrelevant as far as price gouging goes. As to them attacking you physically, you have a few options. The one that would work best you’ll like least. Meet and work with them to preserve their assets as best you can.” Sara held up a hand. “I know it’s distasteful. Let them know you know the entire score. Our economy will take a hit as the United States changes power sources, it’s inevitable. People will lose jobs as the new technology replaces the old. There’s no reason we can’t go slowly enough to let as many as can convert gradually enough to hold those employees. Mr. X Y and Z will still take a hit, but they could recoup some of their investments.
“You could release Liniar from his lease. It might be enough that he drops the other two to fend for themselves. If he drops the other two, they’d flounder and sink within five years. Oz has graphs to show the probable repercussions worldwide of that.”
Oz flipped the screen to show his report. “On the other hand, you could make him keep those leases until he’s bankrupt, which by my calculation would be in fifteen years if you do nothing to help him. If you try, you could ruin him in six years.” Oz gave the president a tight smile. “We could always assassinate them. That’s my favorite plan. Their inheritors will fight over the companies and probably not even notice they’re going broke until it’s too late.
The president frowned. “No.”
“Yeah, I knew you’d say that.” Oz heaved a heavy sigh, looking disappointed. “Sara has been working on the best way to move to the new technology, not just for us, but worldwide. Whatever you decide to do, we recommend meeting with all current power suppliers to give them time to prepare. We’ve been running simulations and can guarantee an extremely bad outcome if they aren’t told privately with assurances for help.”
Sara said, “Even with help we can’t guarantee a smooth transition. Some of our existing power infrastructure can be repurposed, but most will be obsolete. I’ve put suggestions in there on how to retrain the employees to work with modern tech and the sorts of jobs that might be available in the future. My report has my recommend approach to the change with math backing it up. You should have Pierce’s people look at it. I’m not a trained psychologist and have very limited experience with people. My plan needs to be vetted by people with experience.”
Oz handed the president a folder. “We also think you need to order our full security package. Having our security just inside the White House won’t be enough. You’re at risk everywhere you go, and we can minimize that risk. We would absorb the cost ourselves, but you need everything to do with us to be clean as a whistle.
“Our recommendations, costs, and timeline are in here.” He tapped the blue folder. “Sara included a graph showing the improvement in your life expectancy with our security in place. We put in the minimum amount you could do with the maximum protection. If congress won’t allow it, you could afford the minimum yourself. We really recommend you do it for the first lady’s sake.”
“Consider it done,” the president said. “Get me the minimum installed as soon as you can. Bill me personally. My wife’s safety is your top priority.”
“We’ll start tomorrow.” Oz touched Sara’s hand, letting the magic feel the relief as well. A blue glow surrounded their hands and was gone in seconds. “Read that report so you know what we’re going to do.”
“I hope you take all of our reports seriously.” Sara leaned forward. “Our math is sound. Our proof solid. You must decide very soon on a course of action. I wish you could wait until after the election, but that isn’t an option. Keep the report somewhere secure. I’ve put in a scenario if our secret is leaked. The information we have from your secretary makes it unlikely, but not impossible.”
“Thank you both.” The president stood, shook their hands, and lead them to the door. “I’ll read it carefully. Just knowing who my enemies are is a weight off my mind. I’ll personally hand the report to Pierce.”
* * *
The president read the reports and called Pierce in for a meeting. “They’ve already run their own scenarios and want your teams to look them over. I want your recommendations as soon as possible. I won’t be dealing with my enemies. They get the same consideration as anyone else.” The president laughed shortly. “Sara’s recommendations for that are her most complete and in-depth ones. She knows me well.”
“Personally, I like Oz’s recommendation,” Pierce said as he glanced through the summaries.
“This office will be above reproach while I’m in charge,” the president said firmly. “I could order the death of someone, but not for personal gain.”
Pierce cleared his throat and rattled the paper he held. “These are very bad, corrupt men. This isn’t the first time they’ve funded terrorists. Their greed has cost thousands of lives. Killing them would be a public service.” He stood to leave and shook the president’s hand. “As always, it’s been an honor.”
- 12 -
Normalcy
“So, have you made any plans yet?” Sara grinned at Stasia as they worked on a new configuration of her shield emitters on her model of the Truman.
Stasia laid her screwdriver on the desk and smiled dreamily. “As soon as I graduate we’ll have a private ceremony. Just us two, and we’ll take our first vow. We’re debating on whi
ch magic wielder to ask to officiate. They’ll need to get a license to do it.”
Sara frowned down at her desk and began neatening the files scattered across it.
Stasia nudged a pile of notebooks aside and muttered, “You guys with your books.” She shook her head laughing when Sara snorted and picked up her screwdriver.
Sara said, “So we like physical books…” She took the notebook from Stasia and placed it lovingly with its fellows. Floor to ceiling shelves to the right of her desk held identical notebooks. “It helps me think when I can see the work,” she said defensively when Stasia snickered.
Stasia said, “You need more help and to slow down. You have crap everywhere.”
She took a stack of spell bracelets that needed to be refilled from Sara’s desk and put them into one of the storage cabinets that lined the wall by the door.
“I leave them out until I get around to filling them.”
Stasia rolled her eyes and said, “Valory, put a sign on that cabinet door saying recharge needed and remind Sara to fill a bracelet every two hours.” She returned to the desk and began neatening the tools. “It isn’t like you need to do them all at once. You need a system. We need to give Valory hands so she can bring you things. Think how much more we could do if Valory could do physical work too.”
Sara resumed work on the model. “Don’t change the subject. What about the wedding? Aren’t we invited?”
Stasia said, “We’ll hold a reception, but we want our vow to be private.”
“A captain of a ship could do it legally.” Sara absently tapped the tool she held on her desk as she spoke. “We have a captain in the know. Is all he’d need is a ship, and we have one of those too. Captain Sanders could stand on one end with you two on the other.”
“Sara, you’re a genius!” Stasia hugged her. “You won’t mind if we use your boat? We don’t know what our magic will do when we take a vow.”
“No, we’d love for you to marry there.” Sara hugged her again as their magic mingled. “You’ll be Mrs. Hayes before me. I’m jealous of that.”
“Speaking of Mrs. Hayes, are you two okay?” Stasia picked up the screwdriver and returned to work, glancing at Sara from the corner of her eye.
Sara sighed. “Yes and no. She loves me and I love her. I know she must resent the harm I do to her sons. Just because I don’t mean to do it doesn’t make it less painful for them.”
“I’m sorry I ever said a mean thing to you. I didn’t understand how hard it is to stop the magic when it wants something. It’s hard to even know when it’s manipulating your feelings.”
Stasia let her magic loose so Sara could feel her remorse. “Rick and I’ve talked about children, and we’ll include that in our vows. You’ve helped us so much. I’m so grateful. Every painful lesson you learned we can avoid.”
Sara smiled ruefully. “I wish I could be as confident as you are that the magic will understand. My biggest lesson is, don’t ever go far from him.”
“We’ll be careful,” Stasia promised. “Joy and Drew have no problem being separated, magically, I mean. They miss each other, but the magic is fine with him being away. Brenda and Mike can also separate. She needs warrior magic more than he needs hers. I think it’s because she loves him and he doesn’t love her.”
Sara nodded sadly. “She knows. It breaks my heart. He knows she loves him too. That must be so awkward for them. Is she having a hard time with him dating others?”
“He isn’t as far as I know. He does like her. He could fall in love. Not everyone does instantly.”
Sara shrugged. “Maybe. I’m sure Liz is watching the situation. Mike could be in for a shock. Brenda goes to Marcus a lot and he’s a great guy. She could learn to prefer him.”
“What a mess.”
Sara snorted. “It is. I’m staying out of it. As long as she leaves my warrior alone, I don’t care which one she picks.”
“Well, she can’t have Rick either, he’s mine.” Stasia grinned, a fierce blue light in her eyes.
Sara laughed. “No one would dare. Everyone knows rogues own priests.”
Stasia laughed. “I haven’t thought of the Harpies in ages.”
Charlie and I ran into two of them in town at a dance club once.” Sara snickered. “They haven’t changed. Hannah calls Paul whenever she’s in town here. He’s stopped seeing her though. I’m sure that drives her crazy. I could live my entire life and never see any of them again and be happy about it.”
Stasia laughed again. “I hear that.” They returned to placing the sensors and running the simulation.
That Saturday Stasia and Sara went to the storage facility where Sara stored her mother’s clothing. “Any one you want except this one.” Sara held out an elaborately beaded wedding dress. “I’m saving this for our wedding. Isn’t it beautiful?” She held it in front of her and swirled around. The dress glinted and sparkled in the light.
“It must weigh forty pounds,” Stasia said as she ran her fingertips over the beaded bodice.
“At least.” Sara closed her eyes and smiled. “I’ll wear this dress and feel my mother’s presence at my wedding. If my mother where here, she’d want me to have someone to love as much as she loved my father. Even though he was a horrid parent, you can’t deny he loved her.” She opened her eyes and blushed slightly. “I want to legally be Charlie’s wife, to call him my husband in public and belong with him in all ways. This wait is so hard.”
Stasia stopped sorting the dresses and turned to Sara with a serious expression. “I’ll never liked your father. He gives me the creeps. He always has. I’m sorry your mother won’t be here for you but mine will be. She loves you.” She started going through the dresses again. “Christmas will come again before you know it.”
Sara shivered. “I sometimes wonder if Christmas is a bad omen for us. We hardly ever have a peaceful one.”
“Your wedding will be perfect. The dress is magnificent, and you’ll be beautiful in it.”
Sara nodded and handed Stasia a dress. “This would look amazing on you. There’s enough fabric to let the bodice out and the hem could be shortened easily.”
Stasia held it up, using her wristcomp to see her reflection. Sara held out a different one. They sorted through the large collection, pausing over their favorites. “Take all three,” Sara said when Stasia couldn’t decide which one she liked best. “We’ll have more dances to attend. Get them all fitted to you.”
“I couldn’t. One is more than enough. I know how much they mean to you.”
“I have so many I could never wear them all. I’d love to see you in them. Your mother is so important to me; I wish I had that for you too.”
The girls picked up their choices. Sara took the shoes that matched hers, but they wouldn’t fit Stasia. “I have jewelry to match them in my safe-deposit box and you can borrow whatever you like. Don’t worry, it’s all insured. Besides, Oz can find it all.”
* * *
Charlie waved goodbye to his roommates as he headed to the gate closest to their home. He’d gotten leave for the weekend and planned to spend it on the boat.
Sara, Oz, Stasia, Rick, Hawk, and Camilla were in the living room watching the news, which was unusual enough to make him join them.
The president was holding a press conference and showed a simulation of the skeins powering one of the new motors and made a speech about progress. He warned that progress would bring change both good and bad. He finished his speech by saying, “Progress can’t be stopped and change is hard. This nation has been blessed with more than material wealth. The wealth of her people’s industry and inventiveness will lead the world to a new age of prosperity. Clean, cheap, renewable energy will open our horizons. We’ve progressed from horsepower to gas power in the past and progress in all aspects of our lives followed. We’ll progress from here with unlimited potential to better the lives of man everywhere.”
“Wow!” Hawk said when the speech ended.
Oz blushed lightly and hugged her back. Rick brought out champagne and they toasted Oz and his invention.
Sara texted the commandant as Charlie drove them to the boat. ‘The new engines are Oz’s design. It was classified until now. I’m sure he’d be happy to speak with you, Sara.’
Charlie laughed at her. “I don’t think he’ll care.”
“I’m sure he’ll want to know what’s happening on his campus. I promised to inform him right away when possible.”
Charlie shrugged. He didn’t want to think about school or the secrets he was keeping from his commander.
“Let’s say we take the boat out instead of staying in dock?”
“Sure.” Sara picked up her small clothing bag and a much bigger hard-sided case from the trunk. Charlie grabbed his own bag and a cooler with food in it.
“Leave it. I’ll come back for it,” he said when he saw Sara struggling to carry it.
“I got it.” Sara set it down on its wheels and rolled it along. She did let him lift it onto the boat for her.
“What’s in here, rocks?” The case thumped to the deck, rocking the boat.
“New buoys I want to test.”
He picked Sara up and swung her aboard. Sam came up and took her heavy case. Tony saluted from a nearby motorboat. Sam brought Sara’s case below deck for her and tweaked her ponytail when she thanked him.
Charlie waited for him to rejoin Tony before taking the sailboat from its slip.
Sara glanced over her shoulder at the trailing motorboat. “I miss our privacy.”
“They face out, not in. Just ignore them. It isn’t rude, that’s why they’re there. I’m taking no more chances with you.”