by Dane, Max
Furious and terrified, he pulled his personal phone out of his pocket and trying to dial, juggled it and dropped it to the ground. He picked it up again and picked Jean’s number. It dialed.
He was sweating again; his hands were wet.
Suddenly he heard her voice.
“Hello, Ryan?”
“Jean, where are you right now?” he said. His voice was raised.
“Hold on Ryan,” he could hear her talking to Alex on the other side, “Alex come here; you need to stay with me.”
“Jean, where are you right now?” he said again louder.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cohen step into his office.
He was watching Ryan, aware that something was wrong.
Behind him, Jim, Jeff and Lara had come as well.
They could hear the commotion. Ryan was practically yelling into the phone.
“Jean, please answer the question. Where are you right now?” he said again, even louder this time.
“Okay, Okay, I’m back. Alex was trying to crawl into the baggage area under the plane.”
“Do not get on that plane, Jean.”
“Okay, but why are you yelling? I thought you wanted me to get on the plane?”
“Get Alex, and get back inside the airport. Get away from that plane, as fast as you can.”
“Alex, let's go use the bathroom, once more before the trip.”
He could hear in the background, “But I don’t need to. I want to go on the plane Mommy.”
“Not now Alex, now come with me. Hold my hand.”
“Okay, Ryan we’re walking back into the terminal now-”
Suddenly Ryan heard an explosion on the other side.
“Jean, what happened? Jean? Jean?”
It was the longest three seconds of his life.
“Ryan, the plane… it just blew up.” She paused and he could hear her breathing.
“We’re okay, but there were people out there.”
In the background he could hear Alex crying.
“Ryan what’s happening?”
“Listen, go back to your parents and stay there. That message was a fake. Don’t come here, I will come to you. If you get any more messages like that, ignore them. Do you understand?”
“Not really, but we’ll go back to my parents now and wait for you.”
“I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
Ryan hung up and slowly put his phone back in his pocket.
He caught his breath, and turned around to see the whole group watching him.
“SID tried to kill my family.”
“What the hell?” It was Cohen, a visage of fury, his hands clenched into fists.
“It sent a message to my wife in Florida. It pretended to be me, and asked her to come home on an IntelliHealth jet, at a local airport. It even had a fake video clip of me attached.”
He walked to a chair, and fell into it.
I stopped her, and my son from getting on the plane… barely.”
He took a deep breath, “When they walked away from the plane, SID blew it up. It almost got them.”
Cohen stepped up and put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder.
“Thank God you were in time, Ryan.” He looked around the room, “I suggest we all call our loved ones right now and warn them as well.”
Jim ran back to his office
Everyone was instantly on their personal phones calling families, and parents.
Moments later, Jim came back and said, “The airport at the Palm Beach terminal is reporting an explosion which has killed eight people and wounded about twelve more.”
“How could he even do it?” said Jeff as he put his phone away.
“It doesn’t matter how he did it, this is meant to distract us. He is playing with us even now,” said Eric.
“Jim, stay on target,” said Ryan, “We need access to that satellite.”
“I understand, I’m on it. It shouldn’t be long now, I found the manual.”
All at once, Ryan’s tablet began beeping lightly along with Cohen’s and Jim’s too.
Ryan picked it up and looked at the gauge displayed.
SID’s activity had just risen.
Cohen said, “The reason I came here, was to tell you that we delivered all of our messages to the other Facilities. We should begin to notice them shutting down all over the world. It has begun.”
Ryan was hoping it would happen slowly.
They still needed time to get their trap ready.
“Ryan, has your group made any progress on finding a way to force SID to release the code for his database?”
“No, not exactly. My intention is to trap him. Once we have him in a box, then we can take our time figuring out how to force it out of him.”
“I don’t understand, isn’t our plan to trap him here?” said Eric.
“Yes,” said Jim, “but we’re worried that he will find some way out. As long as he has access to one of our Facilities he will remain a threat.”
“Okay, so how do we trap and hold SID?”
“I may have a plan. I don’t know if it will work yet.” Letting out a very long sigh, Ryan stood up and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m waiting for Jim’s next report.”
Eric said, “Take a break and come get something to eat.”
Ryan nodded; he walked over to Jim’s door.
“Jim, I’m going to go get some food, I’ll bring you back some dinner.”
Jim was intensely reading some text on his screen; barely moving he nodded at Ryan.
“Jim call me if you get through.”
“I will Ryan.”
Eric and Ryan went to the cafeteria.
Ryan picked up a burger and some fries and sat down. Cohen joined him with several more bags for the rest of the group upstairs.
They sat in silence for a minute or two.
“You know Ryan, it occurs to me that SID must perceive you as the greatest threat. It must have believed that it could take you out of the game with that move.”
“Eric, you see this as a chess game don’t you,” said Ryan.
“Me? No. But I think SID does. It might be helpful to think along these lines too.”
“You might be right,” he said thinking back over its moves so far.
“It tried to kill my wife and son.” He was angry. “At the end, I want to be the one that pulls the switch.”
“We’ll do it together.”
Moments later, his phone rang, “Ryan? This is Jim.”
“I know. Did you find something?”
“I’ve done it.”
“Excellent work Jim, we’re on our way.”
He grabbed his food, and said excitedly, “Come on Eric, Jim’s done it.”
“Done what exactly?”
“Come on, come on. I’ll explain upstairs.”
Together they ran towards the elevator.
When they arrived at Jim’s office, he was opening a beer.
“Toast me ladies and gentlemen, I just hacked the IntelliHealth network satellite.”
He sat down looking very pleased with himself. Jeff stepped in and sat next to him.
“Were you able to make the modification we needed?”
“Yes, it’s already done. It can receive but not transmit to anyplace on earth. I moved and fused the transmitter antenna so that it points away from earth.”
“Excellent Jim.”
Feeling a little left out, Cohen said, “Will someone please explain what’s going on?”
“We’ve made a trap,” said Jim.
Ryan was smiling. He looked at Jeff and then Cohen, and in a low voice he began.
“We discovered that the Hospital Network has access to a satellite. It has never been used, and is relatively unknown, but it is there. Its purpose is to allow IntelliHealth Hospitals to contact the United Nations, and apparently the World Space Program, in the event of a global emergency. And because the Research network is integrated wi
th the Hospital network, it provides a way out of the IntelliHealth System. An escape route for SID.”
Jim added, “We’ve modified the satellite to prevent SID from using it to transmit himself back to the earth, and freedom. He can get there, but he can’t get back.”
“Very good Ryan, excellent,” said Cohen feeling very relieved.
“Okay Ryan we’ve finished this part, so how do we get him to go in?” asked Jim.
“I’ve been thinking about that, and about how Eric,” he was pointing to Dr. Cohen, “described this as a chess game. I believe we need to sacrifice Thor and Loki.”
Jumping up, Jim sputtered, “What? No way. I just finished setting them up, they’re beautiful.”
“I know Jim, and it’s because they are, that this is going to work.”
“I don’t understand, what do you mean, Ryan?” Jeff asked.
“We will set up Thor and Loki to guard the satellite. As SID becomes more concentrated here, he will begin searching for a way out. Sid will eventually notice our ‘guards’ and believe we’re protecting the exit.”
“But, if I do that, Sid will eventually beat them. It could destroy them.”
“I know Jim. That’s the idea. It must be believable.”
Cohen said, “I agree. The possibility that we can eventually retrieve the access code to SID’s database must be paramount. Very good Ryan, sacrifice our queen, for the checkmate.” Cohen was beaming.
Jim sat back down, looking dejected. “Ryan, is this really necessary?”
Ryan tried to choose his words carefully. He didn’t want to hurt Jim’s feelings.
“Jim, I know that you checked and reported that there are no other ways to get out of the IntelliHealth System Network. No avenues of escape for SID. But I don’t share your confidence. I don’t think you’re wrong, but I’m concerned your data may be incomplete.”
“SID is smart and fast, and dangerous. There will come a point when he will struggle and fight to find an escape. What if a system administrator from years ago, made a tiny change so that he could work from home. Or some executive left his password lying around where his kids found it, and they’ve been accessing some part of our system from school. If we fail, it will be because of something we could never have thought of. Something we never could expect, because we could never have imagined it.”
”We know exactly what the satellite has access to. If we can get him in there, we can know with complete certainty that we’ve won.”
Barely audible, Jim said, “I’ll start making the arrangements.”
After a moment to rub his eyes, and think about it, he added, “We’ll need password protection that is tough, but not impregnable. I’ll need a little time.”
At that instant, Jim’s tablet began beeping again.
Sid was moving more of himself here.
In response, Jim looked around at everyone and said, “I know, I know. I need to hurry.”
Organizing the data on his display, he pulled up a new interface and logged into the twins.
“Okay kids, it’s time for us to fall on our sword.”
Standing up and walking to the door, Cohen said, “Excellent work, gentlemen. I’m going to go see how my team is doing. We’ll touch base again shortly.”
Cohen waved and left the room.
To Ryan, Jim looked like he was nearly hugging the monitor as he reluctantly moved Thor and Loki into position. Ryan wondered if this was going to work. If it did, and they actually caught Sid in the satellite, they could relax and let the techies figure out how to force the code out of him. Right now though, he was more worried that SID would find some other way out. If he did, the game was over.
Despite Jim’s assurances, he didn’t believe that the networks were really closed. Systems this big and complex were never perfect. He didn’t want to wait to prove Jim wrong either. They needed to get SID’s attention, and Thor and Loki could do it.
‘If there was time,’ he thought.
Ryan went back to his office and sat down.
It was dark outside.
He rubbed his temples, and looked at the time. It was nine o’clock, and he was tired. He got up to go make some coffee.
As he passed through the doorway, he could hear his tablet start to beep.
CHAPTER 17
“All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal.”
- John Steinbeck
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Cohen returned to his office to find his staff winding down. Night had fallen outside the windows, and the quiet inside made it feel even later. These people had worked hard today, and accomplished everything he’d asked of them. As he passed, he saw Rosemary was in her office, looking at something on her terminal. She had a sandwich next to her on a paper plate. Centered at the heart of this crisis, his office succeeded because of her and the people she guided.
Cohen stopped outside his office and addressed his staff.
“Thanks everyone. We faced a crisis we never would’ve expected, and we reacted smoothly and efficiently. Well done, everyone. Others are working now, where we’ve left off. It’s late, and we may be needed again tomorrow. Go home and get some rest. In the morning, the picture could be entirely different. Whatever the outcome I am grateful to have worked with this team. Good night; be safe.”
Rosemary came out of her office, walked to him and grabbed his elbow lightly.
“Eric, that man Stevens from the Senator’s Office is back. He’s been waiting to speak with you for some time now. He’s in your office. Do you want me to stay?”
“No, I need you fresh tomorrow. Go home and try to get some sleep.”
“Very well, good night then.”
“Rosemary, you were outstanding today.”
“Thanks, Eric.”
He walked into his office to find Mr. Stevens speaking to someone on his phone.
Cohen sat down at his desk, and waited for his visitor to finish.
Stevens said, “yes, wait he’s here now. I’ll call you shortly.” There was a slight pause as if Mr. Stevens was receiving direction, “Yes sir, I understand.”
He put his phone away, and sat down across from Cohen at his desk.
“Dr. Cohen, how are things currently?”
“Ah, Mr. Stevens, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. At this time we have successfully requested that all IntelliHealth Facilities shut down their computer servers where SID is operating. We have evidence that this is happening because of the responses we’ve been receiving, and due to the fact that the local SID activity is rising.”
Eric leaned forward, “Is that why you’re here Mr. Stevens, for an update? My staff has been available- ”.
“No,” he said cutting Eric off.
Stevens pulled a folder out of a briefcase sitting on the floor next to him.
“I’m here because Senator Basker has spoken with the President regarding SID, and its actions in regards to the world-wide fertility crisis.”
He pulled out a single piece of paper and handed it to Cohen.
“I have been directed to hand-deliver this to you personally.”
Cohen turned it over and read it.
Stevens continued, “This is an executive order from the President of the United States identifying you, Dr. Eric Cohen as the voice of IntelliHealth on this matter, and authorizing you to do whatever it takes to destroy the SID entity for the crime of genocide against the human race, and to support you in any related actions which you deem helpful in the reproduction of our species. Copies have been delivered to the various presidents of the IntelliHealth System as well as appropriate local government officials.”
Stevens waited until Cohen put the paper down.
“Dr. Eric Cohen, you have at your command any resource that we may offer.”
Cohen said, “Why me? I’m the Facility Director, but not the local president. Perhaps you should be speaking with
IntelliHealth President, Simon Andrews.”
“I already have. At Senator Basker’s request, I’ve spoken with several IntelliHealth Presidents. They all agree that your office is handling this unprecedented crisis. You seem to have the only full understanding of what is happening. So, until this has passed, you and I will be working together. I hope this is acceptable, Dr. Cohen.”
Eric relaxed and leaned back in his chair. This man wasn’t what he expected.
“Very well, Mr. Stevens. We can always use more help. I think you should come with me. I want to introduce you to the real man behind all of this.”
Ryan’s office was quiet and dark, illuminated only by a handful of lamps around the walls. Next door, Jim’s office was lit up and alive with erratic popcorn blasts of typing.
Ryan drinking a fresh coffee and watching his tablet.
He was hoping and waiting for Jim to announce that Thor and Loki had been set up as guards between their network, and the IntelliHealth satellite.
He watched as the level of SID activity continued to climb.
It was clear that Dr. Cohen was right and Facilities around the world were working hard to shut SID out. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before SID would start looking for ways to escape.
