by Thomas Fay
The professor’s eyes lit up. ‘Yes, of course! I had assumed up to now that the anchoring mechanism was intended only to allow the Flux Cell to be transported from one location to another within our reality. That is only part of it. The main purpose for the anchoring mechanism must be to prevent the singularity from being drawn into the dimension it is pulling energy from.’
‘And if someone found a way of disrupting the anchoring mechanism contained within a Flux Cell?’
‘Then the device would be pulled into the dimension it is accessing at the moment of disruption. Depending on the amount of energy being drawn, it would take a proportional amount of matter with it.’
Socrates turned to John. Before he could speak, John held up his hand.
‘Don’t bother explaining—I got the most important part. It looks like your robotic cousin figured out how to disrupt the Flux Cell.’
‘That is a highly plausible assumption,’ Socrates said.
‘How many of them are there, anyway?’ John asked.
‘The number of active Flux Cells currently in use around the world is approaching three billion.’
John was actually speechless as the full implications of the Flux Cell surge dawned on him. The world was completely reliant on Flux Cells for energy. If someone had the ability to disrupt them, they could effectively plunge the world back into the dark ages.
The door to the laboratory opened and Simone walked in.
‘What did I miss?’ she asked.
‘Oh, not much. Just the end of the world as we know it,’ John replied.
‘Is he being serious?’
‘While John is prone to exaggeration and emotional outbursts, in this case his statement is not entirely untrue,’ Socrates said.
‘You’d better tell me what’s going on.’
‘The professor and I have determined that someone has figured out a way to disrupt the Flux Cell anchoring mechanism.’
‘Disrupt the anchoring mechanism? But that would result in the singularity being drawn into the alternate dimension. It would probably take a chunk of matter with it.’
‘That is correct. We witnessed such an event earlier today, whereby the Flux Cells installed in several vehicles, along with perfectly spherical sections of their engine compartments, were removed from this reality.’
Simone’s eyes opened wide. ‘Does my father know about this?’ she asked.
‘Yes. Alara filled him in. She said he sounded worried,’ John said.
‘Worried? I’ll say. Do you know what this means?’
‘That someone could sabotage the world’s energy supply?’
‘Yes! Can you imagine the chaos? We’d be right back in the midst of the GEC.’
‘Can’t the Iona Corporation do anything? The Flux Cell is your product, after all.’
Simone shook her head. ‘The Flux Cell was built to be tamper-proof. This shouldn’t be possible.’
‘Hang on, the professor managed to open one.’
‘Only because my father showed him how.’
‘Why?’
Simone motioned John to the side, away from where the professor was standing. Lowering her voice, she said, ‘Because he wanted to see how a human would react to the technology.’
‘Why?’
‘To see if humans were capable of understanding the science behind the technology in preparation for the day when he planned to transfer the Ionians’ knowledge to humanity.’
‘Your father mentioned something like that to me, years ago.’
Simone nodded. ‘His vision was always of an Earth where Ionians lived openly amongst humans. Where our technology benefited everyone. Equally.’
‘Looks like someone doesn’t want that to happen.’
John’s phone buzzed once. A message. Checking his phone, he opened the attachment. It was a photo of the lighthouse in Vaucluse. He understood its meaning instantly.
‘I need to go.’
Nineteen
The two-storey red-brick house in the back of Vaucluse had not changed much in the last eight years. John paused on the doorstep, his hand on the door handle. He took a deep breath. Memories of his uncle, of spending time in this very house, filled his mind. He realised they were some of the best memories he had of growing up. He had always had his suspicions about his uncle’s work, about who Nathan Tesh really was. Those suspicions had finally been confirmed eight years ago when his uncle had helped him take down the rogue agent known as the Rainmaker. Unfortunately, his uncle had been forced to flee Iona once he revealed himself to the intelligence community. Now he was back.
John took another deep breath. He opened the door. Making his way through the house, he reached the kitchen. His uncle was there, leaning against the counter. He was older, his hair grey, his face more wrinkled, but it was still the same man who had helped John come to terms with the death of his parents.
‘Hello, John. It’s good to see you again,’ Nathan said.
John took a step forward and hugged his uncle, suddenly overcome with emotion. His uncle clapped him on the back and held him close for a long moment.
‘Are you alright, John?’
‘It’s been a long couple of years. A lot has happened.’
‘Tell me everything but, first, do you want some coffee?’
John smiled. ‘I thought you’d never ask.’
‘Coming right up.’
Nathan prepared the coffee while John watched him in silence. A part of him couldn’t believe his uncle was back. Another part, the investigative part that never rested, had a lot of questions.
‘Here you go,’ Nathan said, handing him a steaming cup of coffee. They drank in silence, savouring the flavour.
‘Lauren left me,’ John said, staring at the half empty cup in his hands.
‘I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?’
‘I guess, in hindsight, it was inevitable. Being a police officer was dangerous. My promotion to the Sentinels didn’t change that; if anything, it made it worse. The Rainmaker’s agent threatening her life was the final straw.’
‘I remember. That was a close one.’
‘I never really thanked you for that, by the way. You saved her life.’
‘Just doing my job.’
‘Anyway, she realised that that was how my life, our lives, would be. Lauren wanted a family, a more normal life.’
‘And has she found that?’
‘I hope she has. She’s remarried.’
Nathan looked at him for a long moment. ‘What about you?’
‘There is someone. She’s … different but also a lot like Lauren in many ways: beautiful, intelligent and driven.’
‘I’d like to meet her sometime.’
‘I’d like that too.’
They drank the rest of their coffee in silence.
‘Nathan, where have you been all this time?’ John asked.
‘It’s been an interesting couple of years. Most of which I spent in North Africa. I still have friends in the community and they found some work for me.’
John nodded. Then he frowned. ‘Why come back now? I got the sense that when you left it was permanent.’
‘I wasn’t sure how long I would be away. Taking down the Rainmaker and his agents declared to the community that I was back, that I was active again. I had to disappear for a while.’
‘Eight years is a long time.’
Nathan nodded. ‘I know, John, and I’m sorry it’s been so long.’
‘So why come back?’
‘Because I finally learned the truth.’
‘The truth?’
‘The truth about the Iona Corporation, about this city. John—it’s so much more than I could have ever imagined. The implications for our lives here, for this city, for the world, are overwhelming.’
‘What do you mean?’ John asked, unsure if his uncle really knew the truth.
‘John, I don’t even know how to say this without sounding crazy. The Ionians are …’
‘Not from around her
e.’
His uncle frowned. Then he smiled. Finally, he laughed.
‘How did you find out?’ he asked.
‘Now that is a long story,’ John said.
‘I’d better make more coffee.’
Twenty
John finished his second cup of coffee. His uncle was certainly a talented barista. Each cup was as good as the last and left you wanting another. The slight buzzing at the base of his skull suggested John had had enough caffeine for now. Or it could have had something to do with the fact he had finally been able to tell someone close to him the truth about the Iona Corporation. He had meant to keep some things to himself but when he started telling his uncle what had really happened in the last eight years, he found he couldn’t stop. It all came rushing out, the floodgates open.
‘So, let me get this straight—your partner is an android, your girlfriend is half human, half alien, and the Flux Cell, the same technology that saved the world from the GEC, is malfunctioning?’ Nathan asked.
John smiled, the absurdness of the statement coupled with the fact it was all true making him realise just how complicated his life had become.
‘That’s about it. On top of that the Ionians have weapons powerful enough to wipe us off the face of the planet. And IIA are looking for you.’
Nathan’s eyes narrowed. ‘IIA knows I’m back in Iona? Impossible. No one other than you knows about this house and I was extremely careful getting back into the city.’
‘Two IIA agents showed up at Sentinel HQ. They locked me in an interrogation room and tried to get me to reveal your location.’
Nathan nodded, deep in thought. ‘Did they tell you specifically that I was back or were they fishing to see what you knew?’
‘They told me you were back.’
‘Interesting.’
‘Why is IIA after you? You’re not a Sentinel or an Iona police officer. They have no jurisdiction over you. It makes no sense.’
Nathan smiled. ‘I’m not the target. You are.’
‘Me? Why?’
‘No idea. You’re the Sentinel—go find out.’
‘I’m not sure I am the target. They were pretty adamant about getting to you.’
‘What else did they say when they interviewed you?’
‘That’s the strange thing. They brought up a lot of things about watching me and Socrates, about how our actions have been questionable over the years.’
‘Makes sense.’
John shook his head. ‘No, it doesn’t. IIA would never wait eight years to build a case against an officer, even a Sentinel. I’ve seen them take someone down after less than a month’s investigating.’
‘You think someone else is pulling the strings?’
‘I’m almost certain of it. The Flux Cell malfunctions, the rogue android, it’s all building to something. I just don’t know what or who’s behind it.’
‘What will you do?’
John grinned. ‘Find out. That’s what I get paid for.’
‘Anything I can do to help?’
‘Figure out how IIA knew you were back in Iona. That might help us deduce who’s behind this.’
John’s phone rang. He checked the caller ID: Anna Sorensen. He flicked it open.
‘Tesh here,’ John said.
‘Can you talk?’ Sorensen asked.
‘Sure. What’s up?’
‘IIA just questioned me. The Chief told me a similar thing happened to you earlier today. This can’t be a coincidence.’
‘What did they want?’
‘They said they’ve been watching me and Tan, how we’ve handled cases. They claimed to have built quite a file on me. John—they threatened to suspend me if I didn’t cooperate with them.’
‘What did they want you to do?’
There was a momentary pause.
‘Sorensen?’
‘They wanted me to help them build a case against you.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes.’
‘What did you say?’
‘What do you think? I told them where to go.’
‘I’m guessing they didn’t take that very well?’
‘That’s the strangest part. They said they’d be in touch. Then they just left.’
‘Did you tell the Chief?’
‘No. You’re the only person I’ve told.’
John considered what she’d said for a moment. His uncle watched him but said nothing.
‘I’m going to come back to HQ. Meet me in the tech lab in about thirty minutes,’ John said.
‘Will do.’
John closed his phone. Placing it back inside his suit jacket, he turned to his uncle.
‘Looks like you were right.’
‘About what?’
‘Me being the target of the IIA investigation.’
‘What will you do?’
‘I need to get back to Sentinel HQ and figure out what this is all about. Given what happened with the rogue android and the Flux Cells, I really don’t have time for this but I can’t let them sideline me.’
‘I suspect that’s exactly why they’re doing this now. To take you out of the equation and clear the way for whatever is happening in Iona.’
‘It’s a shame they didn’t realise that being in their way is exactly what I want.’
Twenty-One
The taxi dropped John off at the corner of Martin Place and Phillip Street. Casting a glance at the austere black glass of Sentinel HQ, John made his way down Martin Place. Even though it was still early in the afternoon there were many people moving up and down the pedestrian thoroughfare. Reaching Elizabeth Street, John turned right. He continued for about ten metres until he reached a service entrance at the back of Sentinel HQ. A discreet biometric fingerprint reader was mounted next to the door. Placing his thumb on the reader, John was rewarded with a loud click as the door was unlocked. He stepped through. A narrow, well-lit corridor stretched out in front of him. He continued along until he reached a spiral staircase. Descending it, he found himself in front of a door marked B1. There was another biometric fingerprint reader, along with a facial recognition scanner. Clearing both, John opened the door.
‘What took you so long?’ Fernali said, the moment he stepped inside the tech lab.
‘Good to see you too,’ John said.
Fernali nodded. ‘Come on, the others are waiting.’
John followed Fernali across the lab floor towards the private VR booths. It was reassuring to have his former partner here. John knew that it was no coincidence that when he needed someone he could trust, he always called Fernali. With a sudden pang of sadness, he realised this would be one of the last times he could do that.
They reached the private VR booths. Inside, Sorensen was waiting for them, along with Socrates and James Gleason.
‘Good, you’re all here,’ John said, once the door was closed and the privacy seal engaged.
‘What’s going on, John?’ Sorensen asked.
‘Quite a lot. James, can you show them that quarantined footage?’
‘Sure, okay. Give me a sec.’
The holoprojectors sprang to life, flooding the area inside the VR booth with a dense field of photons. The scene at the airport played out. It froze the moment the android disappeared from sight.
‘What was that?’ Sorensen exclaimed.
‘Another android,’ John replied.
Sorensen cast Socrates a look. The android looked at her without blinking, his nanofilament eyes reflecting the light from the holoprojection.
‘You mean there’s more than one?’
‘Yes.’
‘Okay. I take it the other android is not on our side?’
‘Not exactly.’
‘What happened?’ Fernali asked.
‘Things got messy,’ John replied. ‘You need to see what happened earlier today. James, can you pull up the surveillance from outside the CTS warehouse you showed us before?’
‘Sure. Playing now.’
The holoproject
ion shifted to the scene on the street in front of the CTS warehouse. The android walked past the parked cars. A moment after they imploded.
‘Ah gud!’ Sorensen exclaimed in her native tongue.
‘Not quite. What you just witnessed was a Flux Cell malfunction. It resulted in the Flux Cells, along with parts of the cars they were installed in, being sucked into another dimension.’
‘Say what, now?’ Fernali asked.
‘I know how it sounds but it’s true. We spoke to Professor Holstein about it and Simone confirmed it was possible.’
‘Wait a moment,’ Sorensen said. ‘You’re saying the Flux Cells draw energy from alternate dimensions?’
‘Yes.’
‘And someone figured out how to sabotage them?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Ah gud! This could take us back to the GEC.’
‘That is our assessment also,’ Socrates said. ‘A world-wide Flux Cell malfunction event would effectively render ninety-six per cent of the world’s economy ineffective.’
Fernali looked at the frozen holoprojection. Then his gaze travelled to Socrates.
‘What about the android?’ he asked.
‘Destroyed,’ John said.
‘At least that’s one less thing to worry about.’
John nodded, even as his mind conjured up the image of the Ionian orbital strike. He hated the fact that he still couldn’t tell them everything.
‘What about the Internal Affairs investigation?’ Sorensen asked.
‘You too?’ Fernali asked, surprised.
‘It seems IIA have made their presence known to all of us,’ John said. ‘While I don’t know exactly what this is about, I strongly suspect it’s designed to sideline me and Socrates. Whoever is behind events transpiring in Iona doesn’t want us involved.’
‘I wonder why,’ Fernali said.
John grinned.
‘So, what’s your plan?’ Sorensen asked.
‘The usual—figure out who’s behind this, find them and stop them.’
‘He makes it sound so simple,’ Fernali groaned.
John’s grin widened. ‘Isn’t it always?’
Twenty-Two
The photons dispersed at the speed of light as the holoprojectors powered down. Sorensen and Fernali left the private VR booth. John and Socrates were about to follow when James Gleason motioned for them to hold back.
