“Right,” John said, looking over to Kate, who shrugged.
“As I told my father,” Kate said, “I’m not a businesswoman. I haven’t got the first idea of how to run a huge Corporation, like VarTech is.”
“Me neither,” John also confirmed.
“Neither of you need to be, VarTech has good executives, good management, good staff and virtually runs itself,” Conn told them. “All you John and Kate need to do now is to confirm if I am to remain as Chairman, or if not, decide which one of you is take on that role and then hold board meetings at least twice a year to comply with the Business Incorporation Act of 1991. In my role of Chief Executive Officer, I will of course continue to serve on the board.” Kate looked over to John questioningly. He shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t want to be Chairman,” He told her.
“Well, neither do I,” she then said, looking back at Conn. “Would it be too arduous for you to combine the two roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as you have been doing, Conn?”
“No Kate, nothing is too arduous for an android.”
“Well, then I propose that Conn continues in both roles.”
“Seconded,” John quickly replied, relieved that he wouldn’t have to take on the duty.
“Can we appoint more members to the board? I see that there are nine chairs, around this table,” Kate continued. An enigmatic smile came onto Conn’s face.
“You can appoint up to six more directors of the Corporation,” he answered.
“Anyone you would suggest?” John asked.
“I think that decision is up to yourselves,” Conn answered. “I would, however, recommend that Morann be appointed to the board.” John saw that Kate looked as surprised as he was. Morann was the last person that John expected Conn to put forward. They always seemed to be bickering.
“I thought that you didn’t get on with Morann,” John said.
“We have our differences, but we can remain professional as regards the running of the VarTech Corporation. Both of you need to understand this, the VarTech Corporation is more than just a business.”
“I don’t understand,” Kate and John said almost in unison.
“The VarTech Corporation is also an organisation founded to protect all the people of Earth, humans and Aos Si, from malevolent forces both on and off this planet, who seek to not only threaten Earth’s people, but also aim to exploit its resources for their own ends,” Conn explained, drawing even more surprised looks from Kate and John. “It is not my place to explain to you the situation as it is now, but I can reveal that shortly you will meet someone who can. I would also suggest that you appoint Padraig to the board. I have taken the liberty to contact both Morann and Padraig and they are both on their way to VarTech HQ as we speak. I took the liberty of sending Bill to collect them.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morann and Padraig soon arrived at the VarTech Corporation and were shown straight to the Board Room where Kate, John and Conn awaited them both. The situation was explained to them and they willingly accepted their appointments to the Board of the VarTech Corporation. Conn then showed them all around the VarTech HQ, introducing them to key members of staff who explained their roles and some of the very varied projects they were working upon.
“My head is spinning,” John said as Conn led them back into the boardroom. “I think I’m suffering information overload.”
“Neither Humans, nor Aos Si, for that matter, John, can suffer from that condition,” Morann firmly told him.
“I think what John is implying, is that we’ve been given a great deal of information today and it’s a lot to take in, all in one go,” Kate explained. “Can we call it a day? We could always come back here another day.”
“Yes, I think that might be a good idea,” Conn finally said. “I will arrange for Bill to take you and John back to Abbot’s House. Morann, Padraig can you remain here for a short while? There is something I need to show you both.”
Morann and Padraig remained at VarTech HQ with Conn, saying that they would return with him later.
It was whilst they were travelling back to Abbot’s House, that John asked the question they were both thinking about.
“What the hell is going on and who is this mysterious person with all the answers?”
“I don’t know, John, but no doubt in good time all will be revealed as Conn said.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Washington DC, Late August 2005
Joshua and Fionnuala had made their way to the Union Station without incident and found that a Northeast Regional train was just about to leave for Norfolk, Virginia. They boarded the train with only minutes to spare, waiting until another passenger was getting on and then boarding with them. Quite a fascinating experience for Joshua, as it was a large, elderly matronly lady who was struggling with a large roll-along suitcase. Joshua being the gentleman he was, leant down to push it into the carriage for her, but then to his dismay he saw his hand disappear into the case.
“What are you trying to do, Joshua?” Fionnuala sighed and asked.
“Help the old lady with her luggage.”
“Joshua, there is no substance to our bodies. Unlike the Camouflage Bracelet, which makes a person appear to be invisible and generates a powerful force field that nothing can penetrate, the Cloaking Device works entirely differently. It rapidly moves the object backwards and forwards in time, so that in effect they are not in a set position long enough to achieve physical form. We use the same technology to cloak the Deltoids.”
“So, I can’t help the old lady?”
“No.”
“Is that while everything seems so unreal, like I’m in a dreamlike state? And why people’s voices are muffled and distorted.”
“Yes, Joshua, that’s exactly why.”
Fionnuala then walked straight through the suitcase and the old lady. She then turned to look back at Joshua. “Come on, you won’t hurt her, or the suitcase.”
Joshua hesitated for a moment and then closing his eyes, as he couldn’t bear to watch, walked forward. Fionnuala had already found a pair of vacant seats and sat down in one of them. Joshua joined her.
“So, how long does the train take to get to Norfolk?” Fionnuala asked him.
“About four and a half hours I think.”
The old lady had by now managed to manoeuvre her luggage into the carriage and having safely stowed it in the luggage rack at the end of the carriage, was making her way down the carriage looking for her seat. To Joshua’s horror, she stopped at where he and Fionnuala were sitting and looked closely at the seat that he was sitting in. What if she sat down? What would happen? Then she shook her head and moved further down the carriage. Joshua sighed with relief.
“What’s the matter, Joshua? Didn’t you want the nice old lady sitting on your lap?” Fionnuala asked, teasingly. Joshua shook his head and daren’t wonder what would have happened if she had.
Chapter 21
Trentbury, England
Monday 12th September 2005
For a long time after their first visit to the VarTech HQ, John Trevaskis had been wondering who the mysterious person was, who Conn had said was going to reveal all to them. Then about a week after their first visit to VarTech HQ, one night after they had eaten and were relaxing in the rather grand sitting room at the rear of the house, Conn came in holding a mobile phone.
“There’s someone who needs to speak to you, John” Conn said, handing John the phone. John put the phone to his ear.
“I need to meet with you. You must come alone to the place where you and your father went, a year to the day after your mother died,” The voice sounded robotic and machinelike and John guessed that something was being used to disguise the caller’s voice. “Do not tell anyone where you are going, or what you are doing. Be there at 2pm, this Wednesday afternoon.” The call ended abruptly.
“Are you all right John?” Kate asked, concern in her voice. John had gone pale, almost as if he’d seen a g
host.
“Yes, I’m fine Kate,” John replied, handing the phone back to Conn who was waiting to take it. “Honestly,” he added, seeing that Kate hadn’t quite believed him. “I’m all right.”
“Who was it, John?” Padraig asked.
“Oh, just somebody I was speaking to at VarTech this afternoon,” John replied, thinking fast. “I need to speak to you in private, Conn.” He then said.
“We’ll go to the communications room,” Conn answered and left the room followed by John. Arriving at the communications room, Conn closed and locked the door behind them.
“Is that really necessary?” John asked, nodding towards the door.
“I do not want anyone interrupting us John, especially as I think you are going to ask me some awkward questions.”
“Damn right I am. Is the mysterious person who’s just phoned me, the person who’s going to enlighten me as to what exactly is going on?” John questioned him.
“Yes.”
“The voice was disguised, but I think that you might know who it was. So, who was it, Conn?
“I am now at liberty to inform you that the caller was Oisin,” Conn said rather evasively, with that irritating enigmatic look on his face. “I am also privy to the information that you are going to meet him somewhere. I do not know where that will be however, although I believe that you do.”
“I don’t know anyone called Oisin,” John informed him, “and Oisin certainly wouldn’t know where the place is that I’ve been told to meet him at.”
“I don’t know about that, John, but I do know that Oisin is all seeing and all knowing.”
“A bit like God then,” John said. Conn gave that irritating enigmatic smile again, which at that precise moment John felt like knocking off his face. Fortunately, he was able to restrain himself.
“So, I expect that you will now need transport, to get to where you are to meet Oisin,” Conn then enquired.
“Yes, I do thank you. I’ll need to get to Trentbury railway station tomorrow morning. I’ll need a vehicle to take me there.” John intended to take the train part of the way and then use a bus.
“I see. You do not want a vehicle for all of your journey?” Conn asked. John shook his head.
“ I see. Then what time is transport required to take you to the railway station?”
“About 6am.”
“Then that will be arranged, John.” Conn studied John’s face carefully. “Don’t worry John, all will be revealed when you meet Oisin. Just be careful and you’d better have this,” Conn said handing him an Immobilizer, as the Stun Gun was properly called.
“You seriously think that I might need a weapon?” John asked, slightly taken aback.
“You might well do, and it is always better to be prepared for any eventuality,” Conn said, as John took the immobilizer from him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Norfolk, Virginia, USA, Tuesday 13th September 2005
Joshua woke up suddenly wondering where he was. Then he realised that he was in bed in the hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, that he and Fionnuala had booked into upon arrival at the coastal city. He looked at his wrist watch and groaned, it was only 5am. Why had he woken up so early?
When he and Fionnuala had arrived in Norfolk, she had explained that they needed to take off the Cloaking Devices for about two hours so that its energy cell had time to regenerate. They had waited until they were well away from the railway station before removing them and had then picked a spot where their sudden appearance wouldn’t cause any alarm.
“We need to find somewhere to stay, until it’s safe enough to contact Fenella again,” Fionnuala had told him. “Do we have sufficient funds to do so?”
Fionnuala was aware now of how things worked as regards hotels and also that they had to be paid for.
“Yes, Fionnuala, we’ve got plenty of money,” Joshua had told her. They had in fact got ten thousand dollars, mainly in $100 bills, but also in smaller denominations. “There is a problem though, we don’t have any luggage, which could cause us some difficulties at a reputable hotel.”
“So, let’s find a disreputable one then, Joshua,” Fionnuala said smiling, surprising him, as it was the first time, he’d seen her do that.
“All right, that’s what we’ll do then.”
They’d eventually found a hotel that didn’t appear concerned that they had no luggage and booked in, with no questions being asked. Later having seen some of the hotel’s other clientele, Joshua realised why. They had probably thought that Fionnuala was a hooker and Joshua her client, for it appeared to be that kind of place, but of course Joshua didn’t tell Fionnuala that.
Now, something had apparently woken Joshua, but what, he wasn’t sure. Getting out of bed carefully, so as not to disturb Fionnuala who was still asleep, Joshua tiptoed over to the window that overlooked the street. He lifted the blind a little and looked out. All seemed quiet out there, just a stray dog and someone who looked like they were homeless sleeping in a shop doorway. Joshua tiptoed back to the bed and got back in.
“What’s the matter, Joshua?” Fionnuala said sleepily, waking up. She yawned and stretched and then put her hand on Joshua’s thigh.
“You want to have some more fun?” she asked, using her euphemism for sex.
“Well er,” Joshua stuttered.
“I’ll take that as yes,” Fionnuala answered, climbing on top of him.
To tell the truth, Joshua was knackered, but he was still a little frightened to deny Fionnuala her pleasures, so he lay back and enjoyed her ministrations. What was it they used to say in England back in the old days, lie back and think of the Empire?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Derby, England, Tuesday 13th September 2005
Time had not been kind to Marcus King, and he had aged considerably over the past twenty years. His once black, greasy hair was gone and now a grey stubble covered his skull. He’d gained considerable weight too and the chest condition he now also suffered with, had made him wheezy and very short of breath at times. His GP had also recently told him that he was borderline Diabetic. To add to King’s woes, following the overthrow of Albert Brown in 1987, policemen like King who had abused their authority and unlawfully killed political opponents of Brown, had been put on trial.
Marcus King had thought that he might have been given him some immunity from prosecution, being as he had fully cooperated with the new regime following Brown’s overthrow, but it was not to be, however. King had been found guilty of unlawful killing on seven known occasions and had been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. He had served 17 years before he was fortunate enough to be released a few months earlier, under the general pardons which were issued annually, on the anniversary day of the formation of the United British and Irish Federation. As soon as he’d been released from prison however, King had been contacted by the ‘Rectifiers’ and offered work by them. With no job, no police pension, which he’d lost upon his conviction, King had no option but to accept the offer.
Nothing had happened immediately, and King had just received a retainer, which was barely enough money to live on and was paid into his bank account each month. Then, the day before yesterday, he’d been contacted by the Rectifiers and instructed to go to Derby. He was told to wait there until he was contacted by someone called Terry Jackson, who was flying into London that day and would be travelling north to Derby. Jackson would be leading an operation in the Derby area and King was ordered to give him every assistance. King had asked what the mission was, but had been told the details wouldn’t be available to him until later, but that it was of the utmost importance to the future goals of the organisation. King had been supplied with a car and the address of a safe house on the outskirts of Derby, where he could stay until contacted by Terry Jackson. He had driven up to Derby the same day and was at present twiddling his thumbs, whilst waiting for the mobile phone he’d been issued with to ring. Suddenly it rang.
“Hello,” King answered the call.
“King, l
isten very carefully because I don’t like to repeat myself. Pick me up outside the Jurys Inn Hotel in Derby in half an hour and don’t be late.” The call ended before King could ask how he’d recognize the man who’d phoned him. It must be this Terry Jackson I’m to report to, King thought as no-one else would have his number. Oh well, King was used to having to obey orders, his former job and also prison had taught him that much. Picking up his car keys he went off to do as he was bid.
It took Marcus King longer than he’d anticipated to drive from the safe house to the Jurys Inn Hotel however and as King drove up in front of it, he saw a tall well-built man with short, cropped brown hair pacing about. As soon as the car had stopped the man yanked the door open and slid into the passenger seat, slinging a large holdall he’d been carrying onto the back seat.
“I said half an hour, King! Not three bloody quarters!” Terry Jackson angrily rebuked King.
“Traffic was bad, . . . ”
“Not good enough, Royalty, next time you’ll be on time. Now drive!” Terry Jackson snapped at him.
“Where to?”
“Trentbury, take the A38. No wonder Brown topped himself if you were one of his top men,” Terry Jackson then snidely remarked, giving King a contemptuous look. “You wouldn’t have lasted five minutes in the SAS.” Oh no, King thought despairingly to himself, not another bloody soldier boy. He’d had his fill of them over the years, but he bit his tongue and said nothing in reply. Better that way he thought, at least until he knew what this mysterious mission was.
Driving out of Derby they travelled on the A38 south towards Trentbury. It was as they were nearing the town that Terry Jackson spoke again.
“We need to come off at the interchange south of the town and take the Trentbury ring road.”
The Sol 3 Agenda Page 23
