Eleven Graves

by Aman Gupta

  “You know why they call me the most powerful man in the world, Gary?” asked Victor.

  “Because you have powerful friends,” said Gary.

  “No. Because I once had powerful enemies. Men devote their entire lives to insipid things like Respect, Love, Fame, Money, and Power. Some succeed, some fail. Those who manage to succeed, learn on their deathbeds that they wasted their entire lives for shallow objects that don’t give any meaning to your existence or legacy. All of these are driven by a common motivator. You control that and you have the rest of your life to do unimaginable things. I learned that without the journey,” said Victor.

  “What’s that?” asked Gary.

  “Fear, Gary. It manifests into anger, pain, love, respect, revenge and hatred. Take revenge for example. We’re always seeking revenge. It’s brought down civilizations, built dynasties and established superpowers on the backs, blood and life of people who didn’t want anything to do with it. And it will continue to be the way of life unless something meaningful is done about it,” said Victor.

  “You want to build a peaceful world without fear. Is that it?” asked Gary.

  “No, of course not. Hell, can you imagine how boring would that be!” said Victor.

  “So what, then?” asked Gary.

  “I want to use it,” said Victor.

  “How would what we are doing, going to help you to use it?” asked Gary.

  “You lack imagination, Gary. You create things for me, I’ll give them value,” said Victor.

  “I’ll pray for you,” said Gary.

  “Pray for what?” asked Victor.

  “That you make the journey,” said Gary.

  “Maybe you should focus your energy on our project. Fate of the world and some very powerful people depends on it,” said Victor.

  “I’ll get right on it,” said Gary.

  Later in the day, Jay went to meet Gary Odine to brief about the company’s department meeting earlier on the day.

  Gary Odine was a loner, he never married, didn’t father any children and didn’t have any family member who was alive. He never got himself an assistant or a secretary, a fact that was proudly shared by many experts and news anchors whenever they talked about him. The real reason of lack of trust in humans, was unknown to many.

  Jay entered Gary’s office but couldn’t find him there. Since it was their first meeting, he didn’t know whether to stay or come back later. It was a bit late in the evening and the work was to be started immediately, so obtaining Gary’s approval the same day was paramount. He decided to stay for a few minutes.

  Gary came out of a side door nervously and was surprised to see Jay there.

  “Who are you?” asked Gary.

  “I’m Jay Miller, I work in your department?” said Jay.

  “What are you doing here? Did Victor Daulton send you?” asked Gary.

  “No, I came by, to discuss a few things. I don’t think Victor Daulton knows me. Why would he send anyone? Wouldn’t he just call you up to his office?” said Jay.

  “I suppose, you’re right. The guy’s lot of things except humble and grateful,” said Gary.

  “I never had the pleasure,” said Jay.

  “Right. What do you want to discuss?” asked Gary.

  “In the department meeting today, they told me that they need 25,000 servers. The final configurations just came over. These are some high specs, so I need you to approve them so that we can start working,” said Jay.

  “You’re at Verati, kid. We’re all about high specs here. I made sure of that,” said Gary, proudly.

  “Some of the components being asked are still being tested in our factories. So is it a good idea to deploy them so soon?” asked Jay.

  “What are you talking about? Let me see the specs,” said Gary.

  Jay handed him the specs file which Gary looked at, for over five minutes.

  “Why would he want that!” exclaimed Gary.

  “Who? Victor Daulton?” asked Jay.

  “No, this looks like the work of Anthony Arnold. He’s always thinking ten steps ahead,” said Gary.

  “So, what should I do?” asked Jay.

  “What’s the purpose that they have mentioned?” asked Gary as he flipped over the pages.

  “None. They just want us to set it up. They’ll generate the access codes themselves too,” said Jay.

  “What are you up to, Anthony Arnold?” uttered Gary.

  “Should we delay the deployment?” asked Jay.

  Gary looked at Jay. The kid doesn’t know Anthony Arnold, he thought.

  “No, that’s an unnecessary headache,” said Gary.

  “One more thing. They want us to install FV-compatible speed ports as well. Why would they use that? Even we don’t use them yet, do us?” said Jay.

  “No, we don’t,” said Gary.

  Gary thought about it for a minute and asked Jay to go ahead with the order. Jay exited the room as Gary looked at the surveillance camera on the front top left corner of the room.

  Olivia and Jay started hanging out every other day, mostly outside office. Jay even asked her to attend his upcoming wedding but she politely refused saying it’d be the worst thing that she would have to go through.

  “It might piss off your fiancé a little though,” joked Olivia.

  “Why?” asked Jay.

  “You know..because,” said Olivia.

  “She doesn’t even know who you are,” said Jay.

  “You’re kidding,” said Olivia.

  “Let me think how that would go – Hey Sarah, I met Olivia the same day I met you. She’s funny, passionate and cares for her friends and family. Just like you. We’re great friends, though most of the time, she’s flirting with me. If she had come back after one month instead of two, just like she promised, who knows, we might’ve not gotten engaged. So you see, you were right. The universe had a plan for us. And you both share the hair color too,” said Jay.

  Olivia laughed.

  “You’re right. Too soon,” said Olivia.

  “Thank you,” said Jay.

  “But I’ll invite hers to mine,” said Olivia.

  “Why? You getting married? Do I even get to meet the guy? Do I know him? It’s not Brad, the microbiologist, is it? Please tell me it’s not Brad,” said Jay, in a hurry.

  “I was just kidding, but good to see how much you care about me,” said Olivia.

  “Of course, I do. Just because you’re older than me, doesn’t mean I’ll let you fend for yourself,” said Jay.

  “I’m not older than you. We’re the same age,” said Olivia.

  “Tell that to the wrinkles on your face,” joked Jay.

  Olivia threw hot coffee on Jay’s shirt and gasped, “Sorry, I thought it was cold.”

  “I was wrong. You’re not older. You’re a child. Great, now I have two kids,” said Jay.

  Olivia laughed, but then asked, “Two? Who’s the other one?”

  “Oh, I forgot to mention that. Sarah has a 7 year old kid too,” said Jay.

  “Oh, now I get it,” said Olivia.

  “Get what?” asked Jay.

  “Why she agreed to marry you. In this era, when people run away from the thought of having kids, she got a younger guy who loves her 7 year old,” said Olivia.

  “What are you, dumb? That’s not what it is. She loves me and I love her,” said Jay.

  “No, I think she loves the fact that she got a father for her kid. And I think that’s why you liked her too. She came as a package. A family. Something I guess you didn’t have much all your life,” said Olivia.

  “No, that’s not true,” said Jay.

  “Well, I hope not. But if it is, I’ll wait for you,” said Olivia, holding Jay’s hand. She burst into laughter a few seconds later.

  “You’re terrible,” said Jay.

  “I never got the full name, though. Sarah who?” asked Olivia.

  “Some generic name. You don’t want to know,” said Jay, as he looked away.

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nbsp; “You know, it just happens that I happen to know a Sarah who has a kid,” said Olivia.

  “Who?” asked Jay.

  “Daulton. But you wouldn’t go after that family. That’s suicide, career and maybe life,” chuckled Olivia.

  Jay wasn’t laughing.

  “Oh my god, it is her,” said Olivia, after looking at Jay’s expressions.

  “Just don’t say it to anyone else,” said Jay.

  “You’re an idiot. What, you got a death wish?” said Olivia.

  “Why do you say that?” asked Jay.

  “Oh, what’s her father’s name? I forgot. Let me ask literally anyone else in this bloody restaurant or the entire city or any city in the entire world,” said Olivia.

  “He’s not that bad,” said Jay.

  “I was right. You do have brain damage,” said Olivia. “Wait, does he know?”

  “I doubt that. Not like him to spend a lot of time looking into his daughter’s life,” said Jay.

  “But he cares about money,” said Olivia.

  “What do you mean?” asked Jay.

  “Sarah Daulton turned 29 recently. You know what happens when she turns 30?” said Olivia.

  “What?” asked Jay.

  “She gains an additional 20% shares of Verati on top of what she already owns, effectively making her the single largest shareholder. You think no one cares who the husband of Verati’s largest shareholder is?” said Olivia.

  “So you mean Victor Daulton might already know I am getting married to his daughter,” said Jay.

  “Not just Victor Daulton, everyone whose world hinges on Daulton’s,” said Olivia.

  “I’ll handle them all,” said Jay.

  “I hope so,” said Olivia, a bit concerned.

  ◆◆◆

  “What was your work at Verati?” asked Emma when Vik was looking at her stitches while Eric, Joey and Kate were at Marrow’s.

  “Who told you about that?” asked Vik.

  “Sheriff,” said Emma.

  “He wasn’t supposed to do that,” said Vik.

  “Why?” asked Emma.

  “It’s a life that I have left behind me, and I intend to keep it that way,” said Vik.

  “So, I guess that means you won’t be going after Kate anymore?” asked Emma.

  “That’s different,” said Vik.

  “How? Jenna is Kate’s past just like Jay’s yours. If you get to leave it behind, why not her!” said Emma.

  “Are you taking her side?” asked Vik.

  “No, I’m just trying to understand you,” said Emma.

  Vik didn’t reply for a minute.

  “What? Say something!” said Emma.

  “Kate’s the reason that life is behind me,” said Vik.

  “Then why haven’t you done something about it?” asked Emma.

  “I will. Just not now,” said Vik.

  “When?” asked Emma.

  “When all of this is over,” said Vik.

  “She’s my friend. She has looked out for me ever since I got here,” said Emma.

  “I know,” said Vik.

  “I wouldn’t have said this in front of her. But I won’t let you hurt her,” said Emma.

  “I know that, too,” said Vik.

  “So what will you do?” asked Emma.

  “I hope next time I’m right around, when you’re bleeding to death,” said Vik.

  “I let my guard down. I won’t anymore,” said Emma.

  “I hope so. All of us have flown as high as we could. Now, coming down is all that’s left,” said Vik, as he got up and left.

  Emma followed him.

  “I refuse to believe that,” said Emma.

  “There’s nothing to refuse. It’s the truth. Refusal to face the truth doesn’t alter its existence. It just stops us from moving to a position of strength,” said Vik.

  “But we have a choice. You have a choice. We can all go live somewhere far off and no one has to die,” said Emma.

  “I’ll make you a promise,” said Vik.

  “What promise?” asked Emma.

  “If everything goes to plan, one day, you’ll get to decide if I live or die. I want you to remember this conversation when you’re holding the gun,” said Vik. “Nothing’s black and white when you’re in my shoes.”

  “Sometimes, I don’t recognize the person in front of me,” said Emma as she turned around and left.

  “Good,” uttered Vik.

  ◆◆◆

  Olivia had returned to Atlantis after meeting her brother and Vik at Stanton Road Prison. Pacing up and down in her office, she was waiting for a phone call. Soon, her phone rang.

  “Hello, Anthony?” said Olivia.

  “So I guess he still hasn’t called?” asked the man.

  “No,” said Olivia.

  “Do you think something happened?” asked the voice.

  “No. I don’t know. Anthony planned everything to the point. Nothing was left to chance. Something changed,” said Olivia.

  “What?” asked the voice.

  “I don’t know. I think someone got to Jacob,” said Olivia.

  “Who?” asked the voice.

  “I don’t know. But I’ll find out soon,” said Olivia.

  “Good,” said the voice.

  “There’s something else,” said Olivia.

  “What?” asked the voice.

  “Jay’s alive,” said Olivia.

  “Where?” asked the voice.

  “He’s up at Stanton Road,” said Olivia.

  “I’ll take care of it,” said the voice.

  “What will happen to him afterwards?” asked Olivia.

  “Better you don’t know. You once had a thing for him, didn’t you?” said the voice.

  “I have devoted my life to this. I won’t let a guy get in the way,” said Olivia.

  “Good,” said the voice.

  “It could change a few things. Should we tell her?” asked Olivia.

  “Not yet. She doesn’t care about our work. If we give her what she wants before we get what we want, then it’s all been for nothing,” said the voice.

  “Has she made any contact?” asked Olivia.

  “Not for 6 months,” said the voice.

  “How’s the search for Josh?” asked Olivia.

  “Still searching,” said the voice.

  “What should I do while Anthony makes contact?” asked Olivia.

  “Continue what we started. The girl is the key. We need her to be perfect,” said the voice.

  “I’ll need more subjects,” said Olivia.

  “Deliver soon,” said the voice.

  “Bye, Anton,” said Olivia.

  “Bye, Olivia,” said the voice.

  Olivia disconnected the phone call. Thinking for a few minutes sitting in the chair, she called her assistant. “Tell Fischer. We’re officially on the last timeline.”

  ◆◆◆

  Anton went to his cabin and opened the safe. There was a box with a bunch of plastic boxes. He broke one and took out a piece of paper containing a phone number. He entered the phone number in an encrypted handset device with foreign military markings.

  “She doesn’t know about Anthony,” said Anton.

  “Good,” said the voice.

  “Talking about Jacob though,” said Anton.

  “I assume you took care of it,” said the man on the phone.

  “Yeah, dead end,” said Anton.

  “He had outlived his purpose,” said the man.

  “Said she found Jay,” said Anton.

  “Really? About time he resurfaced. But if she found him, that means he wants to be found. He’ll come for her,” said the man.

  “What are your orders?” asked Anton.

  “Keep an eye till I get there,” said the man.

  “When?” asked Anton.

  “Two weeks,” said the man.

  “Anything else?” asked Anton.

  “See what Natalie’s up to. See if she found it,” said the man.
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br />   “Sure thing, boss,” said Anton, as he disconnected the call, and burnt the piece of paper with his lighter.

  He sat in his chair and lit a cigar. He knocked on his table. Two guys entered his room.

  “New delivery for Atlantis,” said Anton.

  “New Bay?” asked one of the guy.

  “Yes. Any problem?” asked Anton.

  “Cops are there,” said the guy.

  “Still?” asked Anton.

  “Yeah, Morrow’s finest,” said the guy.

  “How?” asked Anton.

  “Mayor arranged it,” said the guy.

  “That fat bastard,” said Anton. “Then let’s pay him and his town, a visit.”

  “Okay,” said the guy.

  “And step up security at Atlantis. Looks like Olivia is getting a visitor soon,” said Anton.

  “Kill or capture?” asked the other guy.

  “Neither. Just stop him from entering for now. Tell your men to wait for instructions,” said Anton.

  “Why not go to Morrow now that the cops aren’t there?” asked the guy.

  “You know why I got kicked out of military school even after kicking everyone’s ass?” said Anton.

  “Why?” asked the guy.

  “I asked too many questions. This isn’t military school. You don’t get kicked out for asking questions. You get replaced,” said Anton.

  The two guys left.

  “Kill or capture! What a bunch of idiots. Man, I miss working with smarter thugs,” uttered Anton.

  Anton took out his phone and left a text, “Morrow Precinct. Top Weapons. Priority.”

  ◆◆◆

  Eric and Kate began questioning Troy Marrow while Joey began looking inside the house.

  “What do you want?” asked Mr. Marrow.

  “Where’s your daughter?” asked Kate.

  “Upstairs,” said Mr. Marrow.

  “Are you sure?” asked Eric.

  “What do you mean?” asked Mr. Marrow.

  “What color’s your daughter’s bike?” asked Eric.

  “Pink. Red. They all look the same,” said Mr. Marrow.

  “Why, you want one?”

  “Can we see it?” asked Eric.

  “We threw it away. Dizzy said it broke,” said Mr. Marrow.

  “Okay. Did Dizzy ever lend her bike to her friends?” asked Eric.

  “No,” said Mr. Marrow.

  “See, that’s a problem, Troy,” said Eric.

  “Why?” said Mr. Marrow