by David Harp
Chapter 34
Quarantine
For the next few days after 9/11, the ORION Institute looked more like an armed camp than a college campus. In addition to military personnel, there were more men in dark suits than students or faculty. Secretive arrivals and extra security indicated the highest ranking officials were spending most of their time at the QBIFI. Entrances to the area were heavily guarded.
The Vice President was still fuming over Claude’s insubordination, but Claude had a few enigmatic friends who were even more powerful than the V.P.
The quarantine was partially lifted, allowing Steve’s friends to attend the Davis’s funeral. Steve left school to take care of personal matters and figure out what he was going to do with his future. Both of his parents were from large families, so there were plenty of aunts and uncles for support.
As teams of experts deliberated and debated the authenticity and utility of the QBIFI 9/11 prediction, they came to a consensus. Since the 9/11 readings registered three times higher than the earthquake in India which killed twenty thousand people, they concluded other attacks were imminent.
Based in part on that information, the Federal Government reacted much stronger than it may have otherwise. The QBIFI statistics had a direct impact on the length of time nonemergency civilian aircraft were grounded, implementation of the President’s Surveillance Program (PSP), Stella Wind data mining, the Patriot Act, and the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security.
After months of study, experts began to understand what the QBIFI does. It registers and records strong thoughts and emotions on the sub-atomic level rather than physical manifestations in the observable world.
“We screwed up,” a high-ranking official told the President. “We overreacted because that machine (the QBIFI) was simply reflecting people’s emotional response to the massive media coverage which included the death of people from seventy-eight different countries.”
It became clear that the Quantum Biomolecular Interactive Field Indicator was an effective tool for gauging the mood of the general population, but of little use in influencing human events.
“The machine may even enable us to predict the future,” a top scientist reported. “But processes we don’t understand at the sub-atomic level prevent us from changing the outcome. It’s like looking in a mirror. We can see what’s happening, but we can’t get ahead of it.”
Once the Feds realized the ORION Institute neither caused the 9/11 attacks, nor could have prevented them, their interest waned. Life at the Institute returned to as near normal as possible, but the nation struggled to make sense of senseless acts.
Despite the tragedy, first quarter classes were inspirational. Instead of demoralizing the students, the terrorist attacks intensified their desire to make a difference. It provided everyone with a sense of purpose. For most, it wasn’t a matter of getting a degree or making a profit, but doing something important. They couldn’t change the past, but they could change the future.
There were a couple things bothering Dan. The first was his inability to contact Haley, and the second was the uncertainty surrounding Steve. No one knew when or if Steve was returning to school.
Haley was working long hours in the vault. Security guards followed everywhere she went and wouldn’t let anyone near, even to visit. Her friends didn’t know whether they should be worried for her or be upset that she was ignoring them.
Steve was busy tying up loose-ends in Wildwood. Between managing the family household and keeping his parent’s medical clinic open, there was a lot to do. Fortunately, his Uncle Frank was a medical doctor and available to take over the family practice. Steve’s little sister Linda was taking accelerated classes and only a few credits short of her high school degree.
Despite all the turmoil, J. Alfred Weston invited Haley to take the first culture trip during the Christmas break. Though she had been enrolled for less than three months, Mr. Weston believed an excursion was needed to refocus after the terrorist attacks and the death of Steve’s parents.
The junket would be an eight-day visit to Sydney, Australia. His offer seemed awkward after the recent tragedy, but he insisted and promised to have Haley and her friends back home a full week before Christmas. Haley accepted the offer.
After Dan spent a couple days relaxing with his dad, a stretch limo carrying Matt and Brian pulled up to the Naidoo’s house. It was there to take them to the plane.
“Hey guys, where’s Chris?” Dan asked as he climbed in.
“He and Haley are going to meet us at the airfield.” Matt replied.
“Has anybody heard from Steve recently?”
“Yes,” Brian answered. “He’s doing fine, but I bet you can’t guess who has been staying at his house the last few days.”
“Gee, how should I know? Ashley from Science Camp?”
“Pretty close, but think red hair.”
“You’re kidding, Tammy? Tammy Taylor?”
“Bingo! They haven’t been separated on a weekend for the past two months.”
“That makes sense.” Dan was thinking aloud. “Tammy’s mother and father died in a car crash a few years ago, and it’s pretty clear she became the parent. Both Steve and Tammy were childhood prodigies and she is very pretty when you get past the red hair and freckles.”
“Am I detecting a little jealousy? Do you have a crush on the Wendy’s girl?” Brian teased.
“You don’t have to worry about Dan,” Matt said. “He only has eyes for Steve’s little sister.”
“She isn’t a little girl anymore!” Dan said.
It took the limo thirty minutes to reach the private airstrip located somewhere in Marion County. In that time, they managed to catch up on local hometown chatter and empty the snacks from the limo’s minibar.
They rode through thick woods for the last ten minutes before a large clearing revealed the private airstrip. Claude waived from the door of the gleaming new Gulfstream G200.
“I can’t believe this is real!” Brian said to Claude as they climbed the steps. “We are flying to Australia on a gas-guzzling private jet! I don’t think my parents would approve.”
Chris and Haley greeted them inside as they boarded. The boys were pleasantly surprised to see Steve and Tammy. Dan was particularly happy to see one additional unexpected passenger, Linda.
“This is gonna be epic!” Dan said as they greeted one another. Matt claimed one of the plush bucket seats.
“I counted eight individual seats. Looks like you are stuck on the couch Claude.” Matt kidded.
“I’m in the catbird seat,” Claude replied.
“What’s that?”
“I’m your pilot.” Then he said, “I hope you don’t mind having a ninety-three year old pilot.”
Steve thrust his arms in the air and wailed, “Oh my god, we are all going to die!”
Everyone was encouraged to hear Steve making light of the situation. After his parents’ accident, he sank into a depression. Even now, it was obvious he was hurting. He had bags under his eyes and tracks from his tears.
Haley smiled as she looked around the plane. As much as Steve needed his friends, they all needed each other. Something inexplicable was keeping them together.
