by Erinn Price
Power Hunt (ArcMed Book 1) by Erinn Price
© 2018 Erinn Price
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
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Proofreading done by Mark Schultz (www.wordrefiner.com)
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ISBN: 978-0-6399504-5-7
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
~~EPILOGUE~~
Chapter 1
I took a deep, silent breath, knowing I needed to school my emotions. I needed to only show the emotions they expected. For some reason they seemed determined to play out this farce and for now I needed the time it gave me. How they thought I would not notice the inconsistencies I do not know, but I was not about to question it. My life and that of my parents hung in the balance. People who went to the trouble to organise all this, are not the type to shy away from burying a few bodies to get what they wanted.
I was just glad that Alex was safe. Her call to me last night, asking if she could use my virtual reality pod, was a blessing. She did not know it, but my pod was state of the art and had added safety features. No unauthorised person would be able to access it or remove it. If they broke into my apartment, the house AI would secure the pod and alert ArcCorp, the company I worked for. Not having to worry about my little sister, meant I could fully concentrate on getting my parents and myself to safety.
With a grim, sad look on my face, I turned to face those in the room with me, “Any idea what happened, what caused these comas?”
“No, unfortunately we have no idea. Therefore, we are taking the treatment slowly, to ensure we do not make matters worse. Not knowing the cause, means we need time to investigate and find out exactly what is going on.” Came the practised response. “We have ruled out toxins and injury as possible causes. Next, we will see if some parasite or bacteria is the cause, we should get those blood results back in a day or two.”
On the surface, everything looked and sounded correct. If I did not know better, I likely would have believed them. As a scientist I should not know much about biology, but I was a nanotechnologist, specialising in the biological application of nanites for medical purposes. The people behind all this, had to know this. How they thought I would be fooled, I did not understand. Either they needed something from me and were willing to try fool me before resorting to force, or they needed time and this whole situation was their method of getting it.
What I did know, was that I did not have much time. Induced comas were never a good thing and had a strong chance of leading to complications. I knew my parents’ comas were induced, by the machines in the room and the fact that their intravenous drips contained barbiturates to keep them under. They also had lung machines to help them breathe, drug-induced comas often needed these. They had everything in place to monitor my parents correctly, which relieved some of my stress. Induced comas were dangerous, and the patients needed to be constantly monitored. Not making it obvious, I glanced out the window, as if I was deep in thought. I was actually making note of landmarks to be able to place my parents’ room from outside. I wanted to know in which room my parents were from outside the hospital. I could have gone to the window and arranged the curtain or something like that, but I did not want to be obvious. If they wanted to play this game, I was more than willing to play with them. I would give them all the time they needed, so that I could have the time I needed to get to the bottom of this. The time would also enable me to arrange things that would allow me to get us all out safely.
As an expert in nanotechnology I had more than a few tricks up my sleeve. I might specialize in nano development for medical purposes, but that did not mean it was all I did. ArcCorp, gave me a lot of leeway and over the years I had been able to broaden my expertise and develop numerous other items including the application of my nanites. Most of them, were just things I was interested in, or things where I was curious to see if it could be done. ArcCorp gave me anything I wanted and did not force me into a compartment, they allowed me to think and work outside of the box. It is how I have been able to develop most of my innovations, especially my advanced nano system, which I called INSLs (Integrated Nano System Links). They were developed combining my medical nanites with a computer program I designed to hack into systems. The program, tweaked just a bit, had allowed me to integrate the nanos into my body in such a way that I had complete control over them and could communicate with them through thought. You could basically say that I hacked into my own brain. It was not like using my NNDs (Nano Network Disks), which was basically controlling nanos through an interface system. Like ordering robots through a computer interface to do specific tasks. NNDs were more restricted in their capabilities and functionality. INSLs felt like an extension of myself. Any INSLs I created could perform a wider range of actions and had greater responses to any situations because the responses happened through me and at the speed of thought. It was through working with my INSLs and NNDs that I discovered I had an extra-ordinary ability to manipulate and work with technology. I knew it was the reason I could control and work through six INSL at the same time. My mind seemed to be able to co-ordinate and assimilate immense amounts of data, without getting overwhelmed.
I had spent a lot of time playing around with what I could do with my INS. I found that I could simultaneously control up to six separate INSLs, without it straining my brain too much. More than that gave me headaches and nosebleeds. Controlling the INSLs really were just like controlling parts of myself. I had not made this knowledge public as I still needed to work on the system and think about the ramifications. This type of technology and control over nanos, in the wrong hands could cause immeasurable damage. For now, it was better for all if I alone had this capability and technology. My INSLs and NNDs gave me a distinctive edge and was why I was not concerned about playing a cat and mouse game with the people behind my parents’ so-called accident and current condition.
“You will keep me informed of any changes or updates?” I asked.
“Of course. If you give us the details, of where you are staying, to the duty nurse of this wing, we will contact you when we have more information.”
Her words reinforced my knowledge of things being wrong. The hospital had offered me accommodation in a hotel close by, but I had informed them I would make my own arrangements. The doctor should have asked for my cell number not my hotel details. They seemed very interested in knowing or controlling where I was staying. This meant they wanted something from me or needed me to do something for them. I just wished I knew what it was, so I could get it, or do what was needed before they knew. I hated not knowing or having a clue what was going on, it meant I had little or no control. The people behind all this obviously had a lot of money and a far reach. The hospital on the surface looked real, I even no
ticed state of the art equipment in some of the rooms.
Their mistake was that I worked with and even developed the majority of the equipment, so I knew what they were used for. The systems used, and the medical bio-nanotechnology were my innovations. I also developed the mind-scan system used on politicians to ensure they were not corrupt. The mind scan system was impossible to fool, one could not lie to oneself and the system picked up any inconsistencies. I had noted that a couple of the machines were incorrectly setup and a few of the patients were obviously not suffering from the illness the machines in their rooms indicated they had.
“Thank you for all you are doing and for letting me know about my parents. I will be back tomorrow to visit them.” I said to the doctor.
If they were going to continue this farce, then I would act like expected. I walked to the nurses’ station for the wing and waited while the nurse there finished whatever she was doing. Likely she was playing card games on the computer, trying to look busy. From what I had seen there was no actual work done on this floor. Unless there were other patients, like my parents, everything was fake. After a while the nurse looked at me and indicated she was listening.
“Hi, I am Morgan Dumont, my parents are in room 321B. Here is my business card, it has all my contact details on it. If you could please put it as the contact number, if there are any updates on my parents’ conditions.” I handed the surprised-looking nurse my business card, no point making it easy for them.
“Oh yes, of course. Where are you staying?” She asked. I just barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes. I doubt they could be more obvious if they tried. When I noticed another woman, in a nurse outfit walk behind the desk, I wanted to hit my head against the wall. She was wearing fancy, high-heeled shoes, I mean really? No way a nurse could be on her feet the whole day helping patients in those shoes. They were the fancy type of shoe meant for fashion, not comfort. It was a cliché mistake and just too obvious. I started worrying that they wanted me to realize this was a farce. If that was the case, then things just got a lot more complicated and serious. Why would people go to the trouble of setting up this elaborate situation and then purposely make it so obvious it was a setup? I might have to rethink my plans and readjust them accordingly.
“Oh, that won’t help. I won’t be staying there long. The hotel is too noisy, and I am planning on moving.” I replied with a smile. Playing with them was fun, I just had to ensure I knew the game and could stay ahead of them.
“We have accommodation close by, I am sure a room can be arranged for you.” The woman quickly and a bit too eagerly said.
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary. I am planning to try to do a bit of sightseeing while I am here. There is nothing I can do for my parents and I am hoping going sightseeing will help keep my mind off things. Sitting in my room just worrying won’t do anyone any good, especially for me.” I gave her a rueful smile, “I am afraid I do not handle stress so well and keeping busy seems to help.”
That was a bit of a lie, I did not struggle under stress, I struggled not being in control. That was why I planned things out before doing anything. I found this gave me more control over things and usually allowed things to go in the direction I wanted.
“Well, you can use the hotel as a home base and safely leave your things there while you sightsee.” The ever helpful and hopeful nurse said.
“That would be a good plan but seems a bit of a waste to rent a room just for my luggage. It will just be easier to take it with me. Luckily, I just brought two bags, so it won’t be such a hassle dragging them around.” I bit my lip and turned my head to the side, like I was thinking about something, “Talking of sightseeing, what places would you suggest I go see? I have never been here before and would like to see anything within an hour or two from here.”
I knew that she would think the time limit was because I wanted to be close by in case there was any change in my parents’ condition. Actually, it was because I wanted her to suggest I visit Eltz Castle. The castle was close to a river, which I wanted to see as I planned to use it as an escape route if possible. I needed to find out what was going on and when I did, be prepared to escape and thwart the plans of whoever was behind this.
My parents had come to Germany for a conference. Alexis, my little sister was in her final year at school and as final exams were close, she had been unable to join our parents. I was glad that she was safe back home and not in a bed next to my parents. I knew, if worse came to worse, ArcCorp would take care of her. Like me, the company I worked for was more than what it seemed. I knew the Body Corporate of ArcCorp were playing a deep game of their own, though I had not been able to figure out exactly what it was. I did know that ArcCorp was on the right side of things, a gut feeling. I also knew my family was somehow tied to the fate of ArcCorp. I knew my parents worked for ArcCorp in their other division, ArcRaD. ArcRaD was the Research and Development Division of ArcCorp. I worked in the ArcMed division, which was the Medical Division of ArcCorp. My parents had tried to keep it a secret that they worked for ArcCorp but with my nanos, there were not many secrets safe from me. I had learnt to trust my gut, but that did not mean I would do so blindly. I had investigated ArcCorp when I began to realise that they were hiding things and when I learnt my parents also worked for the corporation.
It had been a gut feeling that something was wrong, from the moment I had gotten the message concerning my parents, that had led me to make preparations before even leaving home. I had spent my time, while on route, studying the area and making plans. All plans had flaws and I was hoping physically seeing part of my escape route would help me eliminate many flaws. First-hand knowledge and seeing things for yourself, is always better than going on second-hand information. Getting a look at the terrain would also be of benefit and if possible, I would place and organise for some support and items along the way. This would help if I needed to leave in a hurry.
I could see my query pleased the nurse. She would now know the most likely places I would go, if I followed her suggestions. I did not mind them following me while I was ‘sightseeing’. If they believed my ruse, it would be great and when I eventually made my move they would not be expecting it. The great thing about nanos and my ‘toys’ were that they were small. I would be able to place them without my tail being any the wiser. I also knew that no technology they had, would be able to detect my NNDs or INSLs. My technology did not give off its own signal, instead it kind of piggybacked on other signals, making it look like the original signal. On activation, my system would automatically look for the strongest and most active signal, it would then mimic it exactly, making it part of that system. If there was no signal close by it would act ‘dead’, not giving of any signal, unless activated by me or if any conditions I programmed into it were met. Any information I needed was hidden within the original and not discernible from the message and signal it was using for camouflage. The message would be coded and look the same as the information it was mimicking. Even hidden, if my message did not code itself to look like the information it was piggybacking on, it would be discovered.
The nurse wrote down the names of a few museums close by, as well as the park attraction an hour in the opposite direction I wanted. I was beginning to get worried as the list got longer and still no Castle. She was just finishing off and about to hand the paper to me when she thankfully must have remembered the castle. I took the paper from her and read it over.
“A castle?” I asked, sounding surprised. “I thought all castles were destroyed in the uprising 50 years ago?”
“Most of them were, because they were government owned. Eltz Castle has been owned by a branch of the same family for over 950 years. Only the castles and complexes owned by government institutes were destroyed. Now that Eltz Castle is one of the few remaining castles, it is protected along with the land it is on. The family still lives in sections of the Castle, but they open certain areas to the public. It also has a stunning restaurant and the surrounding area, h
as cabins that one can rent by the day. The river also has been deepened and widened to allow for barge travel along it.” The nurse answered.
“You seem to know a lot about the castle. Unfortunately, it is the furthest away, I do not think I will be able to visit it.” I said, sounding disappointed.
“The castle is stunning and the history behind it is amazing. As one of the few remaining ones, we all take pride in it.” The nurse informed me. “I try to go stay in the cabins at least once a year. Being on protected land, it still has that wild and natural feel. The castle owners have not allowed it to become over exploited and turned into another commercial holiday destination. They have kept the natural look and feel to the place. It is a great place for relaxing and reconnecting with nature.”
I was glad the nurse was so excited and knowledgeable about the castle. Eventually, when I gave in, she would think it was because of her.
“That does sound amazing, so few natural places left in the world, with land being so scarce.” I said “I wish it was closer. I do not want to be too far from the hospital, in case something happens. It sounds like the castle is a bit out of the way and will take a while to get to and back from.”
“Oh no, do not worry about that. There is a shuttle express that runs directly from our station here to one close to the castle. “If you use that it will be an hour max to get from there back here.”
“Really? That sounds great.” I said excited. “I wonder if they have any cabins available.”
“I can check for you if you want?” the nurse told me. It seemed they did not mind where I stayed, as long as they knew where I was.
Playing their game, I replied, “You would do that for me? Thank you.”
“Of course. Let me phone them and see what I can arrange. I have your cell number, so as soon as I have arranged it, I will let you know.” She had a huge smile on her face, happy to control me.
With a happy smile of my own, I said “Thank you, that will really help me out.”
