“But you have a starting point?”
“I do.” He focused on the chancellor and smiled. “So tell me, Mr. Rayne, with what you’ve seen and the prospects for the future, what do you think of my project?”
“I think it’s incredible.” He looked around the city again “The potential is limitless. What you have created here, Alex, it is the future of the human race, not only business or sciences.”
“Finally, someone sees my greatness.” The young man chuckled. “You seemed to insinuate a fair amount the other day. What are you offering me now, Chancellor?”
Merrick looked at the professor, who had certainly found his ego now. But given what he had made, it was certainly deserved. “I want to bring you into the Nexus Academy. We have recently unshackled ourselves from the World Council and have a surplus in our resources. I want to make this our next priority, with you at the head.” He shouldered his rifle and walked up to Laurie to proffer his hand. “Are you interested?”
Laurie flipped the screen again and pressed a button. The buildings around them began to vanish and the streets crumbled and drifted into the air. “We should finish this back in the real world,” he said, although Merrick glimpsed a small tear falling from his eye. “Just so I know that I have finally accomplished something that is mine alone.”
Chapter Three
The next three years flew by for Laurie. He left his father’s company and took over the Nexus’ R and D sector, newly constructed after their parting with the WC. In a year, with the help of over a hundred technicians, engineers, and other assistants, he was able to get a mass model version of the project prepared—now with project dropped from the title and simply called the Animus.
In the beginning, it was impossible to get volunteers from the student body to test it. Some thought it was too good to be true, while others were merely frightened at the possibility that a machine could mess with their minds. They only had fifty pods for the first few months, all in the R and D building, but it didn’t take long for word to spread of the simulations. By the time they had about a dozen more pods ready, they had to schedule up to a week in advance simply for a trial.
From there, they expanded to a hundred pods, and the first two floors of the Animus Center were built to house them. Laurie was also able to finish his EI upgrade, a unique model for the Nexus students to better help with the Animus integration. Soon, the word of the academy’s new tech spread, and submissions increased almost fivefold. As much as he loved the reputation he had gained, he now found himself constantly courted by other companies and academies. Ironically, the attention he once desired so much was now something of a hindrance, both because he constantly dealt with messages and calls that interrupted his work and because he could tell it was hollow, for the most part. They merely wanted access to the new genius. He had little patience for those who should have seen it long before now.
Granted, he did have some sense of loyalty to the Academy, and specifically to Merrick. He was the man who finally saw what he could contribute, who saw the genius hidden in the shadow of another genius. There was no valid reason to abandon them, with the added plus that the Academy would be the best proving ground for his next ideas and gadgets.
But that was Laurie’s experience as a technician. What about as a person? That had, unfortunately, fallen by the wayside. He had developed a habit of staying within his own office and lab more and more. This was partially due to being able to run free with whatever flight of fancy called him, but also because he wanted to avoid all the new runarounds that constantly bothered him. Finally, feeling a little claustrophobic, he decided to take a walk one night. It was a decision that would result in him meeting a man who would affect his life more than he let on—and if he felt charitable and was a teensy bit drunk, he would admit he’d righted his course as well.
Laurie sat on the edge of the fountain and focused on the stars. He could hear a few students in the plaza some yards away, but most seemed to have turned in for the night. It was pleasant to get some fresh air after nearly two weeks of being cooped up, and it had been even longer since he’d had a night on the town. He should call up a few old friends at some point, but he wondered if they still wanted anything to do with him. A couple of them hadn’t actually talked him to since he left for the Academy years before.
“Pardon me,” a low, studious voice said. Laurie glanced at a well-groomed young man, who wore dark oculars even though it was night. He was probably only a few years younger than himself, he realized. “I might be mistaken, but you are Alexander Laurie, are you not? The creator of the Animus system?”
He offered the student a smile and noted the rank on his coat. “I am indeed, good sir. You seem to be a marksman adva by the looks of it.” He then noted the bronze circle armband. “A special case as well?”
“Yes, rather special in my circumstance.” The student sighed. “My name is Sasha Chevalier.”
“It sounds French, but you speak with a rather German accent and yet are more tanned than I’ve seen anyone from eastern Europe.”
“Genetics is a rather wild thing, isn’t it?” he asked sarcastically. “I merely wanted to make your acquaintance. I’ve used your system rather frequently over the last two years. It’s been an incredible experience.” He offered a hand.
Laurie, amused, stood and accepted the handshake. “I’m glad you think so. I’ll be sure to put your glowing praise on the box when I make a commercial model.”
“Do you see practical uses outside of learning?” Sasha asked.
“I think that’s only the beginning.” He tapped his chin and his lips twitched as he considered the possibilities. “Although, I suppose I must admit I can’t see one that won’t turn it into a virtual community or some sort of gaming system.”
“That does seem a diminished use of the Animus.”
He nodded. “Hmm…you’re right, but the Animus will probably be out of my control one day. I have to think about the future and all that.”
Sasha nodded and followed the professor’s example to gaze into the night sky. “Might I ask what brings you out here?”
He sighed. “Honestly, I simply wanted to get out for a while. I’ve kept myself so busy lately that I haven’t seen the sun in weeks. It’s obviously night, so that won’t happen, but I prefer the moon anyway.” Laurie studied the adva and noted a fresh cut on the back of his hand when he adjusted his jacket. “Did something go wrong in field practice?”
“Practice?” Sasha frowned at the injury. “I suppose that was deeper than I thought. The gel should have made the mark fade by now.”
“You soldiers are a tough bunch, but you should be concerned about injuries. They might get infected, and we don’t know what something like that would do in the Animus. You would still feel the pain at least,” Laurie warned.
“Thank you for your concern, Professor.” Sasha held one hand over the other to hide the cut. “But I’ll be fine. I’m accustomed to pain.”
“Your teachers should be more careful.”
This drew a laugh from the other man. “I don’t think that would be helpful to soldiers. It’s not like the enemies we will face in our future will be as considerate.” He looked at the professor and the dark shades changed to clear and revealed silver eyes. “I didn’t get this here, anyway. I’ve been doing side work during my free time.”
“Side work?” Laurie questioned. “A part-time job or something? It seems an intelligent move, a way to have extra credits for personal fun to relax away from the academy life—which must be a job in and of itself.”
“You would be right. But I have my own reasons outside of simply having liquor money.” He tilted his head, his expression speculative. “Out of curiosity, Professor, are you any good at hacking?”
He eyed the adva, not sure whether to be alarmed or intrigued. “That’s a rather random question. I’m capable, certainly, and spent time during my teenage years learning the craft. I don’t practice it as heavily as I once did. Adm
ittedly, I went through something of a teenage rebellion when I decided to start hacking in the first place. My father’s private files were my end goal, and that took much longer than I thought it would.”
“But you succeeded?” Sasha asked.
“Eventually. I’m still rather proud of that moment. Although my father eventually caught on, he might have known to begin with and merely allowed me access to get me to stop. But if that was the case, he could have made it easier.” Laurie tapped his chin for a moment, then flicked a finger into the air as if something just came to him. “Ah, I’m sorry. I was caught up in nostalgia. Why did you want to know?”
“Merely curiosity, for now—making small talk.” The young man shrugged casually. “It seemed better than talking about the weather.”
The professor chuckled. “I would certainly agree with that.” He redirected his gaze to the stars. “I’ve been so busy, I’ve really taken for granted how pretty the world can be. I should improve the textures in the Animus now that so many are using it—make sure they have more beauty to look at amongst all the training.”
“That sounds rather nice, Professor,” Sasha agreed.
He placed a hand on the adva’s shoulder. “Please, dear Sasha, call me Alex.”
“It seems too personal for me,” he responded but offered a comforting smile when Laurie's hand shook and he wondered if he’d overstepped his bounds. “I’ll keep it formal, Mr. Laurie.”
“I’m not old enough for that yet.” The man huffed and blew some hair out of his face. “Meet me in the middle here—how about Laurie?”
His companion nodded. “That sounds fine. It was a pleasure to meet you, Laurie.”
“Likewise, Sasha.” They lapsed into silence, both simply enjoying the scenery before they said their goodbyes a short while later. The young professor had a sense that their meeting had somehow been serendipitous, and time would prove him right as the marksman would soon have a request of his new acquaintance.
Chapter Four
“Professor?” Laurie looked up from his monitor and at the assistant who hovered, waiting for him to respond.
“Yes, Moira? Did something crash again?”
She shook her head. “No, sir. Everything is running smoothly with the mainframe update.”
“That’s good news. I’d rather not have to explain why the Animus keeps changing the sky to shades of pink.” He chuckled and folded his hands on his desk. “What can I help you with, my dear?”
“A student wishes to see you,” she said quickly.
He cocked an eyebrow. “A student? I don’t remember an appointment.”
“You don’t really make appointments, sir,” she reminded him and walked up to his desk to hand him a tablet. “He says he spoke to you before. His name is—”
“Sasha!” His caution vanished when he saw the picture on the tablet. “Go ahead and bring him in. It’s rather nice of him to drop by.”
She nodded, took the tablet, and hurried out of the room to summon the adva. Laurie stood and hurried around his desk to grab one of the chairs in the room and drag it closer. He made a mental note that he needed to add more furniture for visitors, rare though they might be.
He had barely resumed his seat when the doors opened once again, and Sasha entered. “Thank you for seeing me, Professor.”
“It’s nice of you to come by. I had a good feeling about you, so I’m glad to see it was mutual.” He motioned to the chair and the other man nodded and sat. “What can I do for you? If it’s about some of the oddities in the Animus, we’ve had some hiccups uploading those new textures and maps I mentioned the other night. We’re getting to it, but it will take a couple more—”
“No, it’s not about that,” his visitor interrupted. “I’ve had a pleasant experience in the Animus and haven’t run into any of these ‘hiccups’—at least not yet.”
“Oh, good, so it’s not widespread,” Laurie said thoughtfully, then remembered his guest. “What are you looking for, then?”
“Actually, I hoped I could get your personal help,” the marksman stated.
“Personal? In what way?” Laurie crossed one leg over the other and leaned back. “Are you looking for experience in the technician field?”
“That might have been helpful a couple of years ago, but I’m afraid I don’t have the time to brush up. Having a talented technician’s assistance would be better for me.”
He smiled. “Compliments are a good way to start. What do you need looking into? Do you have it on you?”
“No, it’s a few cities away—in Redmond.”
Laurie tapped his fingers on his arm and frowned a little as he considered this. “Redmond? Do you want me to make a repair run for a family member or something?”
“No, but that’s a kind offer.” Sasha retrieved a tablet from his coat. “Do you remember those side jobs I mentioned? I have one coming up tomorrow night and I could use your help.” He slid the device across the desk. Laurie caught it and looked at the screen. “I know it’s rather sudden, and I wouldn’t have bothered you if I could find someone else. But to properly take care of this, I need someone skilled in both hacking and knowledgeable in modern tech.”
“This is a gig contract,” the professor observed and fixed the other man with a startled look. “You’re a mercenary?”
“From time to time, and for the right price.”
“Well, it’s certainly more exciting part-time work than anything you’ll find in town, I suppose.” He set the tablet down and steepled his finger together in thought. This was certainly an unexpected development.
“I realize this might be something you are not comfortable with, but although we might not know each other very well, I respect your skills. I would honestly prefer to work with someone I’m at least somewhat familiar with rather than trying to find a random dark hat I can hire for a reasonable price.”
“That’s rather pragmatic of you.” Laurie looked at the tablet once again. “I will agree, it’s not something I’m accustomed to. Even with my skills and talents, are you sure you want someone like me with you? I wouldn’t be much help in a firefight.”
Sasha drew a deep breath and adjusted his oculars. “Actually, I’m rather surprised you haven’t simply kicked me out already.”
“I’ve been looking for a reason to get away, even if only for a night,” he confessed with a wry laugh. “And I’m always interested in new things. But that brings me back to my usefulness in this mission. I don’t have much combat experience—and by much, I should clarify and say none.”
“I wouldn’t want to risk the Academy’s lead professor in something violent,” Sasha promised. “I’m not sure how much you read, but we aren’t breaking into a merc compound or anything.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” Laurie said with a melodramatic sigh.
“I simply need to break into Vista Corp and download some data.”
He instantly sucked that breath back in. “Vista? That won’t be a brisk walk, Sasha. Not to mention that they are partnered with—”
“Your old company? Yes, I’m aware of that.” The marksman removed his oculars and placed them on the desk. “Do not take that to mean I’m trying to exploit you. If you do not wish to accompany me. I’ll understand.”
“Even so, you must realize telling me this is a rather large risk. What if I decided to inform security of your intentions?” he countered.
“I would have to relocate you and keep you unconscious until I finished my gig and fled the state before informing anyone of your location,” Sasha stated flatly.
Laurie blinked at him and his heart beat faster in real concern.
“That was a joke, Laurie,” his visitor added finally after a long, tense pause. The professor exhaled a loud breath of relief.
“Oh, good—that got too real for a moment.” His tone was both jolly and uncomfortable.
“If it makes you feel better, this is a contract by Vista themselves,” Sasha explained and caught Laurie’s atten
tion again. “It’s to determine the effectiveness of their new security measures, both in the building and in their system.”
“I see. Well, that means my ass is covered if it fails.” He focused on the ceiling as he tried to make sense of it. “You said this will happen tomorrow night?”
“That is correct.”
Laurie nodded, his mind made up, and smiled at his companion. “If you don’t mind babying me, this sounds like it could be fun.”
“I’ll be sure to watch over you, but as I said, I hope I’ll do most of the groundwork. Once I get into the system, I can use a drive to transmit the system information to you, and you can work from a safe distance,” the marksman confirmed. “Once we get to the main office, we should be in and out within three to four hours if all goes well.”
“I’ll come up with a good excuse for my absence.” The professor leaned forward on his elbows. “When do we depart?”
“Meet me at the carrier station at six. We’ll take the carrier out, and I’ll have transport ready to head to Redmond.”
“So, that means we should be done by eleven or midnight?”
“Most likely,” Sasha agreed.
“Wonderful. Afterward, I have to take you to a bar I’ve wanted to try in the area. Drinks will be on me in celebration.”
The man gave him an odd look before a small smile formed on his lips. “I look forward to it.”
Chapter Five
“Are you almost done, Sasha?” Laurie asked. He kicked his feet up onto the console in the cockpit of the transport and frowned at the screen.
“Possibly. I will give Vista credit. For what their security lacks in difficulty, it makes up for in tediousness.” The marksman sighed, and faint footsteps echoed over the comm link. “Hold up for a moment—another guard.”
“You can’t simply go around?” he asked, opened the top of his water container, and sipped slowly. “I do feel rather bad that these gentlemen are involved in all this.” A shot cracked over the link as Sasha tranqed the security officer and the professor sighed. “I suppose that’s a no.”
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