by DuBoff, Amy
Wil noticed that Michael was glaring at Kevin. “What’s this about, Michael?”
Michael hesitated, glancing at Saera. “Some of them had a bet going, about who you were with.”
Wil scanned over his men. It was obvious by the downcast eyes and red faces who the offenders were. He was disappointed to see Ian among them. “I’m pretty sure we went over this before.”
“It was innocent,” Ian voiced in the group’s defense.
Unbelievable. Wil was about to object when Saera spoke up.
“How did you make the list?” she asked, looking somewhat amused by the whole thing.
Kevin kept his gaze on the floor. “It was a three-component overall attractiveness rating based on looks, academics, and ability level. We each came up with an algorithm—”
“Enough!” Wil cut in. “This isn’t the time. We’re under attack, as far as we know, and the first thing that comes to mind is that you won a stupid bet? Shite! Foking children.”
He waited several seconds for the offenders to adopt suitably shamed expressions. “Now, Headquarters is in lockdown. The only way in or out is through the central elevator shaft. That means we’re protected, but also trapped.”
“What are your orders, sir?” Ethan asked.
“I see that you’re already dressed, that was good thinking. Pack bags with emergency rations, blankets, or anything you have on hand in case we need to evacuate. There should be provisions in the cabinets along the back wall.” Wil stepped around the sectional couch to the round table toward the back of the room. He activated the holographic projector at its center. “Anyone who’s interested in watching me hack the Mainframe can stay here.”
No one moved.
Wil groaned as he logged into the system. “Pack, then observe!”
Saera offered him a sympathetic smile.
“I swear, normally they’re competent,” he told her silently.
“I’m sure.”
Wil blocked out the flurry of activity around him and focused on creating a backdoor into the Mainframe. A web of code suspended in the air above the tabletop—a visual representation of the system architecture.
The main security blockade was represented by a wall of shifting blocks, each one changing position along the wall and morphing through various polyhedron forms. Such visual representations were simply a way of expressing the underlying code, which Wil had devised for his own projects within the Mainframe. The only way to get into the system was to create a mirror of one of the blocks to slip into the wall, but to do so required matching the ever-changing position and morphing. He’d done it before on numerous occasions, but that had been under ideal conditions. Pulling off the feat on half a night’s sleep with an audience would test his abilities.
Tom gaped at the display. “How do—”
Saera waved him quiet, to Wil’s relief.
Wil focused in on his target polyhedron. The shape morphs were considered random, but it was technically a piece of programmed software. Any software had some underlying operating parameters, even adaptive AI.
He watched the morphing of the cube and tried to discern a pattern. It did seem completely random, but his trained eye caught telltale signs of the hidden programming. Working through the upcoming iterations in his head, he began to craft the mirror that would allow him to gain entry. Entering the code on the surface of the table, the corresponding mirrored polyhedron formed near the security wall. The polyhedron shifted shape like the target object, and as Wil entered the code its shape began to more closely resemble the shifts of its original counterpart. After several minutes of furious entry, the model was complete.
There was no time to thoroughly vet the code. Wil went all-in.
Carefully, he dragged the holographic representation of the target polyhedron to the edge of the wall. He then took his own model and brought it toward the original, placing it on top. The mirror polyhedron kept perfect time with the other. With it in place, he dragged out the original code.
Wil waited for an anxious minute while a full security sweep completed. It didn’t flag his mirror. He let out a relieved sigh. “I think that did it.”
The men around the table gave quiet cheers of support. Saera nodded and rubbed his back.
“All right. Now let’s see who else is in here.” Wil quickly entered a scanning routine to plug into his newly created back door into the Mainframe. It would allow him to access the root files and security logs to identify the source of entry for the breach.
Once complete, the scanner only took moments to deploy. Wil brought up a projection to watch the results compile.
Something’s not right. The results of the system scans all came back normal. Wil narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
“What is it?” asked Saera.
“These readings are showing typical functionality in the systems. There’s no evidence of a security alert,” Wil replied.
“But there’s clearly an incident in progress,” Michael commented.
“Exactly.” Wil crossed his arms. “Which means the infiltrator has the ability to overwrite those logs. That’s beyond even my capability.”
“Or,” Saera ventured, “they have authorized clearance.”
Wil pondered the suggestion. “A ghost user.”
Saera nodded. “Not in any user bank, but a clone of the highest level administrative account.”
“I don’t know how it’d be possible. I completely rebuilt the system five years ago.”
“Using what?” Saera questioned.
Wil shrugged. “Well, it’s based on the original architecture for all Taran computer systems.”
“The same one used by the Priesthood?” Saera asked telepathically.
“Yes. but they wouldn’t break into the system like this.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Why not? There’s plenty you might hide here.”
Wil’s stomach dropped. If they don’t trust me or the rest of TSS Command…
“What are you two talking about?” Ian cut in, recognizing the signs of a telepathic conversation.
“Hypothesizing,” Wil replied shortly.
Before Ian could protest, there was a buzz at the door.
Wil looked around the table, and there was silent understanding for them to stay put. He approached the door with caution and checked the screen displaying the outside video feed. It was Banks.
Wil opened the door for him. “Sir, what—”
The High Commander stepped forward and Wil moved out of the way to let him through the door.
“I’m lifting the lockdown,” Banks stated.
“But we—”
“There’s no evidence of a physical threat, and we’ve regained control of the systems,” Banks cut in. “The danger has passed.”
“You know what it was,” Wil said telepathically to Banks.
The High Commander didn’t reply. “All classes and scheduled activities are cancelled for the morning. Regular schedules will resume at noon.” He left without another word.
“All right. Well, I guess we’re heading back to bed,” Wil told his men. Everyone still looked uneasy. “We’re safe here, don’t worry,” he added, hoping it was true.
“But what was it?” Ethan asked.
“A false alarm. I’ll meet you here at noon for freefall training. Good night.” Wil led Saera into the hall and closed the door behind them.
Saera examined him. “You have a theory.”
“The Aesir,” Wil replied. “I know next to nothing about them, but Banks’ reticence…”
“You’ve never talked about the Aesir before. Who are they?”
“A group of ancient Tarans, as far as I can tell. Banks said they may come to ‘test me’ someday.”
Saera took an unsteady breath. “Creepy.”
“But if it was them, I don’t know why they’d mess with Headquarters and then leave.”
“So, what—they could come back any day and take you for this ‘test’?”
�
�Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Wil,” she grabbed his hand.
He looked into her glowing eyes.
“It’s okay to be scared.”
Even if I can’t show it to anyone else. Wil squeezed her hand. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He walked Saera the rest of the way to her quarters through the empty halls.
“I guess everyone will know about us now,” Saera commented as they reached her door.
“It was time, I guess. Though, it would have been nice to do on our own terms.”
“Oh well.” She took a slow breath. “What should I tell anyone who asks about us?”
No sense hiding anything now. “The truth. We’re engaged.”
“Are you’re sure you want to put that out there?”
Wil nodded and took her face in his hand. “I don’t want to have to stay apart anymore.” He leaned in for a kiss and she pulled him close.
“We’ll face it together tomorrow,” she said.
Wil pulled out of the hug and gave her one more kiss. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
As soon as Saera was inside, Wil let out an unsteady breath. Can the Aesir really break the security safeguards without leaving any trail? The implications were terrifying.
He took a slow pace toward the stairway back up to the Agents’ residential level. Just when he was about to open the door, a voice inside his head stopped him in his tracks. “Next time, it won’t be just a test.”
* * *
Banks didn’t need the Priest to respond to know they were in trouble. The Priest’s drawn expression said it all.
“I don’t know what else it could have been,” Banks continued. “The coding was too sophisticated.”
“If the Aesir can gain access to Headquarters so easily, there’s no hiding,” the Priest said at last.
“Why wouldn’t they take him?” Banks asked. If it was the Aesir that had been at their doorstep, then there was nothing keeping them from walking in to take Wil, or whatever they had planned for him. No longer was it just idle speculation about their interest in him. To be so close without making a direct move was downright unnerving.
“Perhaps they don’t feel he is ready to be tested yet,” the Priest speculated.
“He went through the CR exam four years ago. I’d think that would have been the trigger.”
“The Aesir work on their own timeline. Just see that he is ready when the time does come.” The Priest ended the transmission.
Banks eased on to the couch in his office. He could only think of one reason worthy of delaying the test, and it had nothing to do with letting Wil’s abilities mature. He’d either pass their test or he wouldn’t based on his innate skills. Additional training was unlikely to change the outcome.
However, meeting with the Aesir would undoubtedly reveal the hidden truths that the Priesthood was so intent on keeping. The night’s strange events were just a precursor to gaining access to Wil when they deemed the time right. They must be awaiting the eve of Wil’s involvement in the war. But planning to tell him the truth so soon before he must act… It was either sabotage or a calculated move to fuel his motivation. Either way, Banks shuddered to think of what Wil would do when he learned everything that had been kept from him. Such fine lines between adversary and ally were difficult to tread.
CHAPTER 14
Elise had been watching Saera intently all morning, though she had yet to say anything. Saera knew her friend wanted an explanation for why Wil would come to retrieve her during an emergency, and why he would be holding her hand. The answer was obvious, but Saera needed to say the words to make it real. Yet, after years of keeping the secret, she didn’t know how to broach the subject.
By breakfast in the mess hall, it was obvious to Saera that she couldn’t stay silent forever. Other trainees were eyeing her from the buffet line with the same disbelief as her roommates, indicating that rumors were spreading. If left unchecked, those rumors could turn particularly unfavorable.
“So about last night…” Saera began, pulling Elise aside into the open area near the cases with pre-packaged meals.
The floodgates opened. “Wil Sights. Coming to our room. For you,” Elise burst out.
“Yeah, well—” Saera was still searching for the words when she spotted the other women from her Primus cohort heading over from the entry door. An audience, wonderful.
“I just heard the strangest thing,” Leila stated. “That you’re involved with Wil Sights.”
The secret is out. I guess I may as well own it. Saera met Leila’s suspicious gaze head on. “Yes, we’re engaged.”
Her friends took a collective gasp.
“No way!” Caryn exclaimed while Leila burst out laughing, Nadeen rolled her eyes, and Elise’s jaw dropped.
Saera waited for Leila’s giggling to subside. “I’m serious.”
Elise, having actually seen Saera with Wil, seemed most willing to believe the proclamation. “When did this happen?”
“We got engaged almost two years ago, but we’ve been together for about five,” Saera replied.
“I don’t believe it,” Leila maintained.
“No, he did come to our quarters for her last night,” Elise said. “I knew he had tutored you for a while, but… now you’re engaged?”
“Wait, he tutored you?” Caryn cut in.
Nadeen’s eyes were still wide. “How did you keep that a secret all this time?”
“It wasn’t easy—” Saera glanced toward the door when she felt the pull of Wil approaching. Their eyes met as he entered the mess hall.
Her friends fell silent, waiting for him to confirm her story.
“Are we doing this now?” Wil asked her.
“We sort of have to,” Saera replied.
With that, Wil headed straight for her. “Hi,” he said to the group.
Saera gave him a meek smile. “So this is Caryn, Leila, Nadeen, and Elise,” she introduced, motioning to each friend in turn.
Wil looked around the semicircle. “It’s nice to finally put faces to the names.”
Leila eyed him with suspicion. “Are you two really engaged?”
Wil nodded. “Yes, for some time now.”
“Stars!” Caryn breathed.
“Saera wanted to tell you all earlier, but, with my position, we needed to keep it confidential,” Wil continued.
“No wonder you’re top-ranked,” Leila muttered.
Wil shot her a stern glare. “And that way of thinking is precisely why we kept it private. I won’t stoop to arguing the issue with you, but take my word that Saera’s standings have not been inflated due to our relationship.”
“You have my word, too.”
Saera startled at the sudden voice behind her. She turned to see that it was High Commander Banks.
The Primus women snapped to attention.
“Their involvement was sanctioned,” Banks continued. “Wil is in a unique position that warrants exception.”
He may as well have just admitted that Wil is a Sietinen heir. Saera could see her friends thinking through the implications.
“Discovering a secret romance hardly seems like a reason to be late to class. But, carry on,” Banks strolled past them to the buffet line and picked up his breakfast.
“I need to get to practice,” Wil said, glancing at his men, who were watching the proceedings from their usual table. “See you tonight?” he asked Saera.
She nodded. “I’ll come by after my last class.” She thought about grappling him in a passionate kiss to really wipe the smug pout off of Leila’s face, but settled for brushing her hand against Wil’s instead.
Wil flashed her a parting smile and rushed over to have breakfast with the Primus Elites.
“Stars! And to think all this time I felt bad for you for never going on any dates,” Caryn breathed as Wil walked away.
“It still feels like a dream.” But Saera knew it could turn into a nightmare at any moment. They may be
envious now, but they’ll be thankful they’re not with him when we’re at the center of the war.
* * *
“That was quite an eventful night,” Cris commented as he sat down across from Banks.
More than you realize. “An anomaly. Nothing to warrant ongoing concern.”
Cris crossed his arms. “The alarm goes off in the middle of the night with no explanation and there’s no cause for concern? Right!”
There was no way to explain the Aesir to Cris without raising more questions. Dodging and distraction was Banks’ best option. “The system was tested, and everyone reacted the way we’d hope during such an event.”
“Except we didn’t initiate that test. What aren’t you telling me?”
Banks sighed. Cris always was too perceptive for his own good. “I don’t have enough information to make any solid claims, so I will remain silent on the matter.”
Cris glared at him from across the desk. “You’d tell me if it was a matter of general TSS security. That means it’s about Wil.”
Isn’t everything these days? “In a sense.”
“Is he in danger?” Cris asked after a moment.
“Of course. We all are.”
“I mean immediately. Does whatever happened last night change anything?”
Banks shook his head. “No. Wil already knows what’s coming. If he hasn’t said anything to you, it’s because he doesn’t want you to worry.”
“Wait, what?”
“Let it go, Cris.” Banks folded his hands on the desktop. “There’s nothing we can do about it, so let’s focus on what we can manage. Like how to handle the communication about Wil and Saera’s relationship.”
Cris silently fumed in protest for several seconds, but ultimately nodded his assent.
Still, Banks knew Cris well enough to recognize that the topic had not been fully put to rest. The best Banks could do was continue differing. “So,” he continued, “even though everyone knows Wil is young, it still looks unfavorable for an Agent to be involved with a student.”
Cris leaned back in his chair. “Yes, I’m already hearing whispers in the halls about them.”
Banks steepled his fingers. Whispers that could undermine everything we’ve built.
