by John Carrick
"I don't know. Let's see." Geoff closed his eyes. The lights went off.
"So, no." Ashley said.
In the dark, Geoff opened his eyes. "You have to concentrate."
Ashley set it back on the table. "You can have it.”
"I want to try something." Geoff closed his eyes. A moment later he said, "Okay, I'm in. I want you to take it way over there." Geoff pointed to the furthest part of the basement.
"Okay," Ashley answered. She picked up the device and carried it across the basement. She didn't rush, she walked kind of slowly, prepared to stop whenever Geoff might object, but he didn't.
When she set the device down, Geoffrey screamed and jumped up. Ashley ran back over to him, the device forgotten.
Geoff was gasping for breath and looked panicked.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm ok," Geoff replied. "What happened?" he asked.
"I just set it down," Ash answered.
"Wow. It did not like that," Geoff said. "Where is it?" he asked.
Ash led her brother back to the device.
He picked it up and handed it to her.
"You can hold onto it," she said.
"No, It's yours. I can use it, but you have to carry it," Geoff said.
"Whatever." Ash returned the amplifier to her pocket.
Geoff staggered and rubbed his head. "Man!" Geoff shook his head.
"What's wrong?" Ashley asked.
"Nothing! It's …" Geoff paused to catch his breath. "Hold on."
"When you're holding it, damn! It's strong. The signal is so strong. But..." Geoff moved across the room. "Only if I'm right next to you.”
"Then why don't you carry it?" Ashley asked.
"Are you kidding? No way! This is tons better!" he said, smiling.
Ash got nothing more out of him that afternoon. She flipped though bad video streams while Geoff lay on the couch next to her, eyes closed, but never asleep.
Sunday Evening, July 27, 2308
As Von Kalt fell through the night sky, he took advantage of the opportunity to smile.
Boxes of meaningless records streamed past like shooting stars burning up in orbit.
Everything about the past twenty-four hours had kept him on his toes. He was honestly glad Stanwood had left him alone most of the time.
Using the Metachron, he was never at a loss for intellectually stimulating activity.
When they boarded the Midway, Von Kalt had kept their personal transport nearby and idling, ignoring the staff’s invitation to take advantage of the nearby docking branches. Now he was thankful for his obsessively paranoid and suspicious nature.
Using the Metachron, Von Kalt piloted the car while simultaneously plunging toward the earth at a hundred, twenty miles an hour.
He activated the side hatch and swung the vehicle under the director. Von Kalt caught his supervisor with the anti-gravity car and then set about to rescuing himself.
The Metachron was in his hand as he entered the car and set his feet on the deck. He took a deep breath as the hatch closed. He felt his gravity return as the vehicle pulled out of its dive-bomb maneuver and set a course for the west coast.
Stanwood was sprawled across the back seat, his legs and arms extended, clutching the seat and floor as if it could in some way help him.
Von Kalt leaned into the turn, smiling wryly.
Stanwood noticed the amplifier in Von Kalt’s right hand.
Von Kalt looked Stanwood in the eye and asked, “You still want to chase down Henry Charles Porter and Johnny Wyndham?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
Stanwood paused.
“So you did take it from him?” he asked.
“Of course, I did,” Von Kalt replied.
“I’m glad.”
“You are?”
“It’s all a part of the plan,” Stanwood said.
Von Kalt laughed hard and long. “The plan, huh?”
“I still have one more ace up my sleeve, one more card to play. We’re not done yet,” Stanwood answered.
“What makes me laugh is how a dead guy still has you chasing your tail.” Von Kalt took the pilot’s chair and leaned back, chuckling as he closed his eyes.
Ashley’s Journal, Monday July 27, 2308
When I woke up this morning, I checked the security feeds, like Ross said. Then I spent like an hour in the shower and bathroom. Still haven't seen any life signs from Free Bird.
A couple of years ago, Geoff wanted to go on a camping trip with his class and when it came time to go, mom was crying. Geoff was only like five and this was his first night away from home.
He said, “Don’t cry Mom, I need to be a Free Bird.”
I laughed my ass off.
Mom and Dad laughed too, but for a whole year, I don’t think I called him Geoff once. Mom had to outlaw it, or I’d probably still be calling him Free Bird today.
Ashley found Ross in the kitchen, preparing a generous breakfast.
"I let you guys sleep in today. Tomorrow that stops." Ross set a cup of juice and a few slices of fruit before her. "I have to run a bunch of errands, so today is the last day of the rest of your... of your old life.”
"And that means what exactly?” Ashley asked.
"I don't know, eat cereal, watch cartoons, keep the shotgun in the brace and keep the line tied to the knob till I call you.”
"Till you call me? Why don't you just knock?”
"I had a buddy who knocked once. It was just enough to knock the line off the knob, cut him in half. Don't ever knock. If you do have to knock… Whenever you knock on a door, stand off to the side. That way he would have maybe just lost his hand. They can get you a new hand.”
Ross gave Ashley a phone. "There's one number programmed into this; emergency use only. Don't even open it unless it rings. You got me?”
Ashley nodded, picked up the phone and looked at it.
Ross finished with the pancakes and set a short stack in front of Ash. "Where's your brother," he asked.
"Sleeping. Guess yesterday was a lot for him.”
"You're probably right." Ross rinsed a few dishes and piled a few others. "I have to go. Lots to do. Make sure he eats, yeah?" Ross said.
Ashley nodded.
Ross came around from the back of the small kitchen counter and patted Ashley's shoulder. "It's going to be okay.”
Ashley smiled, but something dangerous in her eyes made Ross pause. "What?" he asked.
"It is going to be okay," Ashley said. "I can just feel it." She took a bite of her pancakes, grinning.
Ross laughed.
Chapter 50 – The Wolf Pack
Monday Morning, July 27, 2308
Von Kalt sat in the chair reserved for bodyguards and flunkies while Stanwood took the seat in front of Senator Miller’s desk.
On the far left of the room, a sheet of plywood filled the space where one of the floor-to-ceiling windows had been knocked out.
Stanwood noticed but said nothing.
“What can I do for you, Joe?” the Senator asked. Miller didn’t even bother to look away from his monitor. He held a stylus before the screen, occasionally tapping or dragging one section or another.
“I presume you’ve kept abreast of events?” Stanwood asked.
“Somewhat.” Miller tapped the screen with the stylus, like some kind of digitally interested bird. “If there’s something specific you’d like to address, please cut to the chase, I don’t have a lot of time.”
“The warrants on Fox’s properties were served,” Stanwood stated.
“Ah, yes. The committee is greatly looking forward to putting several of his technologies on the fast track. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
“Well, Sir, that’s why I’m here.”
“This doesn’t sound good at all.” Miller put the stylus down and clicked off the display. He held up his hand. “Let me stop you before you begin, Director. You wouldn’t believe what happened while I was out at lunch the other day. The window, that
one,” Miller pointed at the sheet of plywood, “It just blew out, all of a sudden. And then, the security team says, all my files, my personal belongings, everything, just started flying around the room. Sounds kind of crazy, doesn’t it?”
“It is a problem sir.”
“Obviously. Otherwise, you would not be here, would you?”
Stanwood cleared his throat. “We severed over seventy warrants for properties belonging to or even associated with Doctor Andrew Fox. Not one of the addresses yielded anything worth noting.”
“NOT ONE?” Miller was on his feet. “Are You Frigging Kidding ME!” He was screaming; his face had grown beet red.
“We spent years accumulating that data! There was not one FALSE LEAD in the Bunch!” He was leaning all the way across his desk, his index finger in Stanwood’s face.
“What Kind of incompetent morons did you put on this job? Do you REALIZE YOUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE? You let these idiots smash up my office! You let them make fools of the both of us! Do I have to tell you how much hot water you are in right now?” Miller paused to catch his breath. “WE ARE TALKING TREASON!”
The Senator withdrew to his plush leather chair and took a moment to adjust himself. “This is treason, Joseph. You killed one of the countries leading scientists, and I will see that you are prosecuted for murder in the first degree.”
Von Kalt suspected that, years ago, while Stanwood was still new to government, this sort of outburst might have unsettled, or even frightened Director Stanwood. Von Kalt certainly wasn’t impressed. These sort of idiots get people killed. He wondered how Stanwood had tolerated the buffoon for so long. That must have been eight long years.
“I have a plan, sir.” Stanwood sounded as cool as could be.
Von Kalt had heard that kind of cool before.
“I’d be more than happy to share it with you. But I understand that you are a busy man.”
Von Kalt placed the vocal pattern, the tonal nuances and implications. He smiled; Stanwood was biting Fox, biting Fox’s personal speaking style.
Miller blinked.
Stanwood read this as an invitation to continue. “We know that Fox had conspirators, inside the highest levels of the Republic.”
“So?”
“So, now Fox is dead. We are in control.
“You don’t seem very…”
It was Stanwood’s turn to get loud.
“We Are In Control.” The man was hypnotic.
Miller calmed down.
Von Kalt was impressed.
“We will put the word out that we are in possession of Fox’s research and that it is being put under lock and key, for further consideration. In this, we show our humility and our ambition Not To Become Tyrants.”
Stanwood paused.
Miller waited.
“We will let our enemies come to us, curious to see what we do or do not know. Their own curiosity will undo them. Instead of walking into their traps, we will make some of our own.”
“So we turn it around on them. Okay, I like that,” Miller said.
“Good. Because this is where you come in, Sir.”
“How’s that?”
“We have two options. The first one is rather direct, but requires a significant sacrifice on your part.”
“Let’s hear it?” Miller sounded intrigued.
“Well, as we can see,” it was Stanwood’s turn to gesture to the plywood sheet. “Our enemy clearly has you in their cross hairs. We can exploit that.”
Miller cocked his head to the side.
“If you were to be heard bragging about the Fox operations. I think that might accelerate some sort of traceable reaction.”
“You’re talking about using me as bait.”
“If you want to be crass about it, I suppose that’s accurate.”
Miller snorted.
“”I do have one other idea, it requires significantly less of a contribution on the part of your office.”
“That already sounds better. Usually I’m the one asking for contributions.”
“I need the Wolf Pack.”
“I’m afraid that’s completely out of the question! Why would you ask me that? Why would you even suggest that? What is wrong with you? You must really be desperate.”
“Sir, I was just violently depressurized from thirty thousand feet.
“Earlier this week I activated the full forces of Scotland Yard to subdue a ninety-two year old curmudgeon, who thoroughly enjoyed it and later lectured ME on the evils of the Republic. After shooting my childhood friend in the forehead, I played golf with his Ghost of Christmas Future and shared war stories about our childhood. There’s not a lot you can do or say that would surprise me, short of giving me what I ask for and sharing a drink from that bottle in your lower drawer.”
“Do you really think this will work, Joe?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t, Sir.”
“It would be a lot easier to garner support if you had some kind of evidence.”
“I completely agree, Senator, but how long have you known me?”
“You’re whole career, of course.”
“Have I ever steered you wrong, Sir?”
“Of course not. What’s your point?”
“My point is; don’t I have something in the bank with you? Was all that time worth nothing? Don’t you trust me at all?”
“That is a one time ploy, my friend.”
Stanwood said nothing.
Miller smiled. “You’re usually so resourceful with this kind of thing.”
“A one time ploy, huh? The Wolf Pack would not exist without the work I did, for You! Illegal work, I might add. The list of illegal things I have done while working for This Office could choke a team of Clydesdales. This is not a one-time ploy, Sir.
“I only came here as a courtesy. I can get to Bergstrom on my own; I simply thought you might appreciate the opportunity to give your blessing to this endeavor.
“Our enemy, in this case, is smart and cunning. He knows how to cover his tracks and we’re not going to get what we want without some leverage.”
“What did you have in mind?“
“Something simple, something direct.”
“It seems if you went after one of these other fellows, Porter or Wyndham, they might be rather valuable, considering. Don’t you think?”
“That certainly is an option we can keep on the back burner, sir. But not the sort of immediate target I had in mind.”
“All right, Joe. I’m thinking maybe it’s time to bring Dr. Bergstrom and his Wolf Pack into the loop. What do you say?”
“Thank you, Mister Senator.”
Miller activated his communications terminal and called up Cedric in his contacts, placing the call.
Dr. Bergstrom’s system answered and asked if the Senator would like to leave a message. “Cedric, this is Senator Miller. I’m going to be sending Joseph to see you. He’s got a project I think you could really help out with. Thanks.”
Miller turned the terminal off. ”He’s probably just got his hands full.”
Stanwood nodded.
“Well, regardless, if you want to get right to it… He’s out on D13, Angel City. I’ll forward you the docking codes.”
“Thank you, Senator.”
“Would you take some water?”
“Some aqua vitae? What the hell, it’s six o’clock somewhere.”
Miller pulled out the bottle of Connemara and two glasses.
Chapter 51 – Feedback Loop
Monday, July 29, 2308
After eating, Ashley found a vacant space in the basement to stretch and do her exercises. The maintenance level / basement, beneath the garage, hadn't been wired as there was little point. It was almost entirely self-contained. There was one entrance, and despite some separation walls, it was open and empty.
When Ashley finally returned to the room she was sharing with her brother, she found him still stretched out on the couch. "Geoff, you missed breakfast. There are panc
akes out there if you want them. Pretty good.”
"Ash, how's it going?" Geoff's voice was calm, but distracted.
Ashley looked over at her brother, lying on his back, eyes closed.
"What's the matter with you? Aren't you getting up today?”
"I've been up," he said. With his eyes closed, Geoff maneuvered into a sitting position, letting the blanket cover his legs. "I barely slept.”
Ashley walked around the couch. "What? You're serious?”
Geoff reached out, picked up the black metal rectangle and flawlessly tossed it to his sister, eyes closed, like some kind of blind ninja.
Ashley remained silent until he opened his eyes.
Geoff smiled at her.
"Can you show me how?" Ashley asked.
Geoff nodded. "It's easy. Here, sit down.”
Ashley sat next to him, holding the device in her hands.
"Close your eyes and imagine a blank vid screen.”
"Okay," Ashley said, her eyes closed.
"First, you just see black space. Then one word is going to come up..."
Ashley was quiet for a few moments. "What word?”
"Just relax and wait for it," Geoff answered.
They both waited.
Then Ashley caught her breath. "Micron... Micronix.”
"That's its name," Geoff said.
"Its name?" Ash asked.
"Tell it your name.”
"How?”
"Just imagine the letters, then it opens an operating system.”
Ashley was quiet for a few moments.
Then it appeared. A screen in her head, filling her field of vision, it displayed a group of typical computer operating system of icons and folders. The system was named Micronix, below it, a second item with Ashley's full name - Ashley Erin Fox.
Ash focused on the icon above her name and found that it contained several common computer folders, applications, contacts, documents, networks, and utilities. The folder for applications opened, it was filled with basic skills, memory, comprehension, mathematics, reasoning. She opened contacts and a box headed with the words Micronix Op Sys opened and flashed 'Importing Contacts.'
Ashley felt a sharp twinge throughout her head and discovered four sub groups on the screen - family, friends, classmates and acquaintances.
