End Kimberly's view...
Zax entered Apartment G as they walked by, and then he paused, came back out, and greeted them. "Hello."
Kat held her ribs as she said, "Hey, Zax wasn't it?"
He nodded and then he questioned, "Are you all right? You look like you were in a fight." He noticed she wore body armor.
"Umm..." Kat started.
"Racket ball accident," Kim interrupted. "We play a mean game."
"Oh. Well, you better let a doctor take a look at that." Zax walked into his apartment, and the door slid shut behind him.
"Who's that guy?" Kim asked.
"A new neighbor. I met him several days ago. He seems nice."
"Nice." Kim chuckled and then said, "You do know you're not supposed to trust strangers."
Kat glared at her as she replied, "According to you, I'm not supposed to trust anyone."
Kimberly's view...
"Oh..." I'm shocked at first by her comment. "That's right. Trust will only get you killed." That woman doesn't respond to my remark, so I look to Apartment G.
This is weird now that I think of it; I've never seen any of the other residents since I moved into Nexus two years ago. I always thought it was because of my odd hours. We walk to Apartment H and go in.
Katharine's view...
Mentally and physically weary, I move on to the couch, drop my backpack beside it, and sit. I stare at the TV for a few seconds, then remove my Ravlek Vest and jacket, and drop them to the floor. I lift my shirt and examine my bruised ribs. On the taxi ride over, I listened to the music box, went into the Drifting Time, and allowed my body to heal. A few marks remain. I pull my shirt back down and examine my shoulder. I need to listen to Unfinished Melody a few more hours, and then I'll be fine. I lie back.
I don't think I can do this. I don't think I can be partners with Kimberly anymore. I glance at her reflection. I don't trust her, so what am I doing here? Can I really accomplish my goals with someone I'm afraid will betray me again? No, this isn't going to work.
End Katharine's view...
Kim paused in the kitchen and then went to her bedroom. "I'm going to take a bath." After about an hour, Kim walked out wearing a bathrobe and a towel wrapped around her head. The door bell rang, she glanced at the woman who was fast asleep on the couch listening to the music box, and then Kim questioned, "A.C.S., who is at the door?"
"One moment, Ms. Griffin. It is Marc from the security desk. He has two messages," the Apartment Computer System replied.
"Tell him to leave them at the door."
"At once," A.C.S. replied. After a few minutes, A.C.S. stated, "He has left."
Making her way to the front door, Kim pressed the button and the door slid open; she grabbed the messages and returned to the kitchen. One message was for her and the other was for Kat. Kim placed Kat's on the kitchen counter and opened her own. "Kimberly, if you could please stop by my office tonight. There's something I would like to discuss with you. Signed father."
Kimberly's view...
What does he want? Is it another attempt to bond with me? I go to my bedroom, put on an aqua pant suit, grab a purse, and place the PPK in it. I glance at that woman who's still sleeping. No need to wake her. I'll write her a note. I finish writing the note and head out.
End Kimberly's view...
After about forty-five minutes, Kat woke, sat up, and closed the music box. She lifted her shirt and checked her bruised ribs; they had healed. She leaned back and noticed the apartment was quiet.
"Kimberly?" No answer. "Kimberly?" She checked the apartment, found the note and message on the counter, and read the note.
"Katharine, I had to go out for a while. Marc delivered a message for you. It's on the counter. If you get hungry, call down to the security desk, and they can order a pizza for you and charge it to the apartment. Signed, Kim."
Katharine's view...
I pick up the message that's addressed to me, surprised that Kimberly's worried if I'm hungry or not.
I don't know if I want to work with someone like her; someone who only sees the dark side of things.
I open the message and read, "Dear Ms. Kat, I thought about our discussion and would like to talk with you more about organic-mecha at your convenience. Come anytime day or night. The Genesis Arboretum security will let you in. Signed, Adam Greenhouse."
I place the message on the counter. Should I wait for Kimberly to come back? No, Adam didn't necessarily say she had to come, anyway... I feel the emptiness of the apartment, and I don't know when Kimberly will return and this could be important. It could shine some light on my past or maybe on Theresa's murder. I decide I'll go and see why Adam wants to speak with me, and it'll give me some time to think about trust. Can my partnership with Kimberly work without it? I glance around the apartment. Is this where I'm supposed to be?
I clear my throat and say, "A.C.S."
End Katharine's view...
"Yes," it replied.
"Can I leave a message with you for Kimberly?"
"Yes. What is the message?"
"Tell her..." Kat paused and said, "Tell her Adam Greenhouse wanted to speak with me, so I went to Genesis Arboretum. Tell her, I should be back in a couple of hours."
"Message saved," A.C.S. stated.
"Thanks." She went into the bathroom, freshened up, and then Kat put on a new t-shirt. She grabbed her backpack, made sure she had the music box in her pocket, and walked out the door.
Chapter Fifty-two
DR-C Oil
11:01 P.M...
The boundary of the Hellenistic Sector...
The Factory...
The Rogue stood in the Hidden Room, staring at the black stones and wondering what Pandora was doing at that very moment.
"Mr. Pinchbeck," Maven Crackerjack spoke as he walked in. "Oh good. You're here."
"Yes, what is it?"
Maven lifted a H.H.C. and said, "I have some documents that need your signature."
The Rogue took the device and scanned over them. "What are you buying?"
"I have found a small collection of Arcamedes' papers and art."
The Rogue signed the documents with a pen stylus.
Excited over the purchase, Maven took the H.H.C. "The collection should be here the next day or so, then I can dig deeper into the mind of Arcamedes." He placed the device in a pocket inside his suit jacket. "I can find out more about the Rushlight we're both looking for."
"Both?" the Rogue turned to him. "Is your drive as great as mine?"
"It would be hard to say since we both seem like men vehemently pursuing his quest, but I believe maybe mine is greater," he answered. "I want to know about the truth, and I have since I first read about Ginn L. Irynkissgthie and Arcamedes when I was a boy." Maven paused and asked, "Do you know about drive, Mr. Pinchbeck?"
"Yes." The Rogue thought of Pandora as it continued, "You could say I am fixated on one thing." It walked out of the room and Maven followed. "Mr. Crackerjack, as a safety precaution, I would like the most valuable pieces of our collection brought into the Hidden Room. It is more secure in there."
"Yes, of course, Mr. Pinchbeck," Maven said. "I think we need a new name for the room. It isn't so hidden anymore."
"I will leave that to you."
"I'll keep it simple then. How about the Exhibit?"
The Rogue said, "Excellent."
They exited the passage and entered the Gallery, and two S.C.Ms. stood guard there. The Rogue and Maven left the Gallery and entered Research Lab Five; the room once filled with cobwebs and dust was clean as an operating room. All the equipment had been removed and the walls stripped bare so that the room could be converted, and eleven workstations stood in a line. The Rogue set up its own network of ten analysts with one supervisor. There were three such groups that worked in eight hour shifts. Each of the analysts wore an ebony jumpsuit with white stripes on the sides, and the s
upervisor wore a white jumpsuit with black stripes.
A female supervisor approached them and said, "Mr. Pinchbeck, we were able to retrieve seventy-nine percent of the Factory's Central System after the T-3s deleted it."
"Excellent." The Rogue looked to her hand and questioned her, "Do you have something for me?"
"Yes, here is the current information we've retrieved on the Pandora Project." She handed over the H.H.C.
"Thank you." The Rogue paused, scanned the information, and continued toward the exit. "Fascinating. I will go over this in my office." It left the converted room now known as the Analyst Cove.
Maven said, "I'm going to fax these documents right away. The sooner they receive these, the sooner we'll have the Arcamedes Collection." He also entered the hall, and Maven walked one way.
The Rogue walked the other way, went to its office, and sat at its desk; it had been reading the H.H.C. the whole way there, "November 2, 30 A.D.C. Journal entry for Tech One-twelve. I have begun experimentations on bio-mechas with the DR-C Oil in room B10-104. The first test was disastrous. The K-99 unit went rogue and killed two techs. I suggested canceling the experiment, but the Factory hierarchy instructed us to continue."
The Rogue's view...
I pause from reading. The DR-C Oil could have something to do with why I disobeyed my orders and went rogue. I read on, "November 29, 30 A.D.C. Journal entry for Tech One-twelve. The DR-C Oil experimentations continue. I have requested more oil from the Minotaur Refinery. The last batch of DR-C Oil exploded in an accident in one of the loading bays. The new shipment will be here shortly. The experiment's on hold till then."
"May 18, 31 A.D.C. Journal entry for Tech One-twelve. The latest tests with DR-C Oil have been successful. The K-99s and Arachnoids' functions have increased by fifty percent. I believe the oil is ready to be tested on the Factory's new line of bio-mecha. They're called the Un-Men."
I examine my hand. This could mean the DR-C Oil is coursing through my artificial veins and may be why I am the way I am. I have to know either way, so I will go to this Minotaur Refinery and find out more about the oil, and I will have the Analyst Cove dig up the rest of the files on DR-C Oil while I am gone. I will get to the bottom of this.
Chapter Fifty-three
Techs And The Operative
The Sanctum...
11:04 P.M...
Maxwell and Peters hung out in their small room, consisting of a couch, flat screen TV, two beds, and a small bathroom. Maxwell sat on the couch, playing a video game called Corporate Acquisition. His thumbs flew across the wireless game controller as his player killed S.C.M. after S.C.M.
Peters lay on his bed, looking at magazines. He sat up, turned a magazine sideways, and stared at a flip down poster and whistled. "Look at the headlights on her."
Maxwell turned, seeing the latest model of the VX Corvette with six Noc-lambent Headlights. He shrugged and turned back to his game. "Yeah. Nice." Maxwell shouted at his player, "Come on, we gotta take out the Vice President!"
"Says here," Peters started. "The headlights can penetrate the darkest night, even the darkness of Tainted Rain." He lay back down and flipped through the mag. "That's amazing."
"Yeah, real amazing." Maxwell kept his focus on the game. "If only they would develop tires that gripped the road when it rains." He stuck his tongue out to the side as he blasted the Vice President. "The headlights might come in handy."
Someone knocked at their door.
"Who could that be?" Maxwell paused Corporate Acquisition, stood from the couch, walked to the door, and opened it. "Can I help you?"
A female supervisor in a crimson jumpsuit stood in the hall. "The Council requests your presence."
Peters jumped up from the bed. "What? Now!" He tucked his shirt in his pants.
"Yes," she replied. "Please come with me."
Sometime later...
Maxwell and Peters stood before the Council, not sure why they were there, and that made them a little wary.
"You are the men we acquired from the Factory?" Ms. Nona asked.
They nodded.
"You helped design and program the Un-Men?" Mr. Decuma questioned.
They nodded.
Mr. Morta asked, "Are you familiar with the T-3s?"
They nodded.
"We are placing you on a special task force to capture one of these rogue Un-Men," Mr. Morta said. "We have a few questions for them. Why did they attack our previous base of operations?"
"And why did they destroy the Factory?" Ms. Nona added.
"Do you understand your new assignment?" Mr. Decuma asked.
"Yes," they replied.
"Good, good. That is all," Mr. Morta said. "You may return to your room. You will be given further instructions later."
They left.
"Now that the T-3 operation is moving forward, we can focus on other things. What about Pandora and Cerberus?" Mr. Decuma questioned. "Has Cerberus taken out the wayward project?"
"And what about surveillance?" Ms. Nona questioned. "Are we keeping better tabs on Cerberus?"
"Everything is fine." Mr. Morta leaned back, folded his hands, and rested them on his chest. "Our best operative is on the case."
* * *
Hellenistic Sector, Cultural Vicinage...
Argus' view...
I exit a black sedan, walk to the sidewalk with my rubber tipped cane, and scan the surrounding buildings. I followed Cerberus here, and I remove a H.H.C. from my trench coat's pocket and double check the location of her tracking beacon.
Cerberus is tracking down Kat. I look to the Genesis Arboretum. Is this where the battle will take place, and can Kat defeat Cerberus or will she die by the new experiment's hand?
I start around a building to find a way in and quicken my pace. Can I keep my no interference pledge to the Council? How much longer can I stick with my oath when it concerns Kat?
Chapter Fifty-four
Father And Daughter
11:47 P.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Business Vicinage...
Kim drove the Corvette to the valet parking of the Sphinx Corporation Third Branch Office. A young man ran around the front of the red car and opened the door for her. He smiled at her.
"Welcome back, Ms. Griffin."
"Thank you." Kim handed him the key to the car as she stepped out of the vehicle and straightened her pant suit. The young man got in and drove the vehicle away to park it as Kim looked up at the massive building before her. She entered the main lobby and went up to Level 150 and then walked to Cathy's desk. The secretary wasn't there.
Kimberly's view...
Cathy must have gone home for the evening. I thought I worked long hours; Corporate life's harsh, working twelve to fourteen hours a day and seven days a week. I guess that's one good thing about being a Life Closer, I get to set my own hours.
I make my way to my father's office as I have no idea why he wanted to see me now and this late. It could have waited till tomorrow morning. I knock on the door, but no one replies, and after about a minute, I walk back to Cathy's desk, pick up a pad, and start to write a message.
End Kimberly's view...
"Good evening," a male voice said from behind her.
Kim turned, seeing the Head of Security. "Orthos, isn't it?"
"Yes." He bowed his head in greeting. "Are you here to see the Chairman?"
"I am," she answered. "But since you're here, my father said I could speak with you about my mom."
He nodded his head several times. "Yes, a terrible case. One I inherited. I'll be happy to go over the file with you. Call my secretary, and she'll set up a meeting."
"Thank you. Have you seen my father?"
"No. For now, follow me." He started down the hall toward the office. "The Chairman called and told me he would be stepping out for a few minutes and that he would be right back." Orthos patted the folders under his left arm. "I came
to deliver these for your father." They entered the Chairman's office, and Orthos walked around to the front of the desk, laid the folders down, and opened the top one. He couldn't help but grin, but then he regained his composure and looked to her. "The Chairman won't mind if you wait for him here. I'm going back to my office." Orthos paused at the door. "Do tell him I brought him more folders courtesy of the Second Branch Office."
He opened the door and left then dialed his cell. "The Vice President, please." Orthos paused, waiting. "Kimberly Griffin is here and as per your instructions, I laid the latest files on the Chairman's desk in front of her." His grin returned. "Yes, I believe she will notice. She has about fifteen minutes before the Chairman returns. She will see."
In the Chairman's office...
Kimberly's view...
I don't want to wait any longer. I want to go home. I glance at the folders Orthos placed on the desk, see the open one, notice a note on the top paper, and read the upside down message. It's a skill I picked up long ago in high school.
"Chairman, here are a few more folders from when you were Janus and over security for me. Signed the Vice President."
I gasp. Janus is my father? I pick up the folders, turn them around, and skim through them, and see that they're reports from Janus. I collapse back in my chair. My father can't be the Janus I'm after, but if he is, that would mean he ordered my mom's death or killed her himself.
I close the folder, turn it back around, and place it on the desk. I pause, contemplating if I should put it back as I found it, decide to do so, and open the top folder, exposing the note. I lose the cool demeanor of a Closer. My father can't be Janus, and he couldn't have killed my mom. It's a lie. Theresa was his wife, and he wouldn't have hurt her.
End Kimberly's view...
The door opened, and Mr. Griffin walked in, reading over a H.H.C. he had uploaded with all the information he'd uncovered so far on his youngest daughter. He didn't notice Kim when he first walked in; he had been debating all day if he should tell Kim she might have a sister. He peered up from the H.H.C. and paused half way in.
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