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The Stepping Stone
Chapter Eight: Panic Mode
Scott A. Gese
Chapter 8
Panic Mode
Leeson didn’t sit still for long. His status as an Elite was possibly on the line. If what he had on his hard drive ever became known to his superiors, he would be “disappeared.” He wasn’t going to allow that to happen. He called his technician once again. There was nothing to report other than the issue was still being worked on. He understood it was a high-priority situation for both Leeson and himself.
Leeson hung up with his technician and called his contact again. There was nothing new to report. It would be a long night as Leeson waited for good news, but none was forthcoming. He had a meeting to attend in the morning, and he was not looking forward to it. He called his technician one more time—there was no answer.
The technician was well aware of Leeson's predicament as well as his own. He knew that in order to protect himself, he needed Leeson out of the way. Aware of Leeson's unauthorized computer system, he anonymously tipped off his superiors. Now he would lay low until Leeson was picked up and out of the picture. As far as he could tell, it would only be a matter of hours.
Leeson's contact became aware of what was unfolding and informed him. The information sent Leeson into a panic. He ordered security to detain his technician. He needed to come up with a cover story—and fast.
The technician didn’t realize Leeson knew about the anonymous tip. He did anticipate being picked up for not finding the hard drive, so he had left his post. He decided to hunker down away from security cameras and figure out his next move. He wasn't hiding very well; he was seen by security. Darcy, who was monitoring one of the security cameras for Quest, also noticed him. John was bored and paying little attention.
Darcy could tell the man was nervous as she watched him. Sensing something wasn't right, she asked the woman in charge to take a look. The woman stared at the screen. “He looks familiar,” she muttered, trying to place him but failing. She called a coworker. “This guy looks familiar, but I can't place him. Can you?”
The coworker took a look and zoomed in on his face. “I don't know his name, but I know who he is. He works for Leeson. He's one of his technicians.”
“He's in some sort of distress,” remarked Darcy.
The coworker leaned back from the screen. “How do you know that?”
“For one thing, it’s the way he acts. Plus, I can feel it; my intuition says this isn't going to end well for him.”
“Well, let's hope you're right. I'd love to see that son-of-a-bitch go down. Any flunky of Leeson's is no friend of mine.”
As they watched, they could hardly believe what they were seeing. Two security officers approached him, scuffled with him, and subdued him. He lay on the ground as they cuffed him. The two coworkers began to cheer, drawing the attention of Quest, who walked over to see what the celebration was about. When he saw who was being detained, he sensed something was in play. They continued to watch as a security vehicle arrived and took him away.
Quest called an Unknown who was closer to the situation and learned that Leeson was in a panic over his missing hard drive. That bit of information put a smile on Quest's face. He was also informed that Leeson's superiors now knew about his unauthorized system. Questions would be asked at his next morning meeting.
After the call, Quest asked Darcy how she knew to question someone about the man she saw on the screen. Again, she explained that it was his demeanor and her gut feeling that something wasn't right. Quest made a mental note and commented on Darcy's observation. “Intuition is a gift not everyone possesses. You should cultivate this ability; it will serve you well in the future.”
Darcy thanked Quest for the compliment and returned to her task. John was growing bored with his work. As a writer with several assignments nearing their deadlines, he felt increasingly confined in the windowless building. He needed to get back home before he began to lose clients.
He approached Quest and Dawson, watching over their shoulders for a few minutes.
“Excuse me. I hate to interrupt, but is there any way I can get back through the portal that brought us here? I have important assignments due, and I don’t want to lose clients or gain a bad reputation for not fulfilling my commitments.”
They both paused and turned their attention to John. “That's a good question,” Quest replied. “Right now, the answer is no. Leeson controls that gate.”
Dawson added, “We need to prioritize this. I, for one, want an exit plan. If your conflict with the Elites escalates further, I want to exit this place quickly. I also have personal concerns about what we might encounter when we return. My guess is the NSA will be waiting for us. Quest, are there other portals that could get us back home?”
“Yes, there are other gates, but they are currently closed off. If we can locate one, maybe we can figure out how to open it.”
“Can we work on this first?” Dawson asked.
“Absolutely,” Quest replied. “John, is there anything I can do to assist you?”
“Can I have access to a terminal where I can do some writing?”
“Yes, we can arrange that.” Quest motioned to a young woman in the room. “Please set this young man up with what he needs to write. Take him to the garden area so he can work in the sun.”
“Thank you. I could use some sun.”
“Good luck with your writing,” Quest said.
John and the young woman left the room. Dawson and Quest then turned their attention to locating files containing information on a gate that would lead them home.
Once outside, John asked the woman, “So, why are there no windows in this place?”
“Because we're deep underground,” she replied. “By the way, my name is Kara. So, you're a writer. What kind of things do you write?”
“Mostly technical stuff. You probably wouldn't be interested.”
Since John didn't elaborate, Kara dropped the subject and found an electronic writing pad for him. “You won't be able to transfer from this device to yours, but you can either print a hard copy or transfer it to a thumb drive. I'm afraid that's the best I can do.”
“That will work just fine, thank you. You mentioned we were underground. How far underground?”
“I’m not really sure. This place used to be a deep underground military base, destroyed many years ago. The Unknowns found a way past the rubble blocking the tunnel and realized it hadn’t been completely destroyed. They took control and began clearing it, transforming it into what it is today. I was actually born here.”
“Really? Have you ever been outside?”
Kara laughed. “Many times. This is not a prison; it’s just where I live. We all work together here and in various locations around the globe. I’ve visited several of them.”
The small talk continued until they reached the garden area, which was much larger than John expected. It resembled a small park with grassy areas and walking paths lined with an assortment of beautiful blooming plants and trees. John and Kara quickly felt at ease with each other. They sat at a small table and chatted for a few minutes before Kara had to leave. “I’ll be back to get you in a couple of hours. There’s a replicator down this path where you can grab something to eat or drink if you want.”
“That sounds good, thank you.”
Kara hesitated before turning back toward John. “I know this may sound foolish, but I have a request.”
“Ask away,” replied John.
“Do you... would you mind if I felt your facial hair? I've heard of beards, but I’ve never actually seen one. They're not allowed by the Elites, and the Unknowns don’t grow them since we have to go out in public at times.”
“No, I don’t mind.” John stuck out his chin for her.
She slowly rubbed her hand down his cheek and across his chin. “It’s so soft. I didn’t expect that.” She pulled her hand back and smiled. “I’ll be back to take you to your room in a couple of hours.” She turned and left him alone.
John stood there smiling, unsure of what to make of the encounter, but he knew he liked it. He found the replicator and got himself a cup of coffee, then returned to his table to catch up on work.
That evening, Leeson received word that the technician had been apprehended and was now in custody.
“Good! Don’t question him until I get there,” replied Leeson.
Earlier that day, he had strategically planted evidence that would implicate the technician in the rogue system operation. He wanted to be there for the questioning. Dropping what he was doing, he headed to the location where the interrogation would take place.
The technician's name was Markus. He had worked for Leeson for several years and considered it an honor to maintain such important computers. The day Leeson threatened him over the loss of his personal computer was the day he knew his life was about to change. Leeson had demanded the impossible from him. When Markus realized he couldn't meet Leeson's request, he panicked, made an anonymous call, and left his post, hoping to lay low until things blew over. He was picked up almost immediately. Now, he was about to be questioned. He knew Leeson would never admit to his own carelessness and would do whatever it took to avoid trouble. Putting himself in Leeson's shoes, Markus understood he would have done the same.
The questioning was difficult; Markus adamantly denied any involvement. Leeson presented the fabricated evidence. Markus had no way to prove his innocence. He had been framed and hung out to dry by the man he once admired. The admiration had quickly turned to hatred.
Markus was placed in a holding cell and officially removed from his position. In the morning, he would be chipped as the newest member of the Slave class.
Once the interrogation was over, Leeson returned home. He contemplated Dawson. This would have been the perfect opportunity to integrate him. Now, he had to think about who would replace Markus. As far as his morning meeting was concerned, he was off the hook.
As for his hard drive, he knew it would never show up. The Unknowns had possession of it, and he had no way to retrieve it. His only hope was that they would be unable to access any of the important files. Leeson had a bad habit of underestimating the resolve of the Unknowns.
He also underestimated Markus's capabilities and his in-depth knowledge of the security system that held him. He shouldn't have. After all, it was part of Markus's job to understand everything he could about security systems. This was what attracted Leeson to him in the first place. The past three years had been an intense training ground, and Markus was a fast learner.
He waited until late evening. Circumventing the keypad on the electronic lock of the door that held him was child's play. He knew that at two in the morning, the cameras would go offline for one minute while they uploaded their memory chips to the main computer. It was at that point he made his move. Once at the exterior door, he was out of camera view. He circumvented the lock and went outside. The darkness provided a shield, and he used it to his advantage. Keeping low, he stealthily moved further away from the building and into the city, avoiding areas where cameras were likely to be. He eventually came to a parking garage and ducked inside to contemplate his next move. He was well aware of his chances. They were slim, but he was determined not to get caught again.
The parking garage just so happened to be the same one Dawson and the others had been brought to the morning before. The Unknowns worked in shifts. There was always something to be done, and security was a high priority. The person watching the security monitor was aware of Markus hiding out in the parking garage but didn't realize who it was. A coworker was watching as well. She recognized Markus from earlier in the day.
“I've seen this person before. That's the guy who was picked up this afternoon. He works for Leeson.”
“Something's going on. Get Quest in here. He needs to know about this.”
Quest was at the terminal in less than ten minutes. “Yes, that's the same guy. Why is he here? How is he here? I saw him get picked up. He should be in custody, not hiding here in the dark in the middle of the night.”
“He won't be there in the morning,” replied one. “Any bets on when he gets picked up again?”
“We're not going to wait for that. Get someone to drive in and pick him up. Hood him and take him to the safe house by the river. Get Alex to interrogate him.”
“Alex... the bone breaker?”
“Yes, this is all too coincidental. It could be a setup, and we're not falling for it. My guess is Leeson is looking for his hard drive. I want to know exactly what the hell is going on here. I'm going back to my room. Let me know if anything develops.”
Markus was hiding in a dark corner when a car drove up and stopped next to him.
“Oh shit,” he thought. “That didn't take long.”
Someone in the back seat jumped out, grabbed him, and threw a dark cloth bag over his head, then quickly scanned him for any electronic devices on his person or implanted. Nothing showed up. He was thrown into the back seat and pushed to the floor. Not a word was said. Markus thought for sure he was about to disappear for good. He knew it had happened to others. Being one of them had never crossed his mind until now.
The car drove around the outskirts of town until the driver was sure he wasn't being followed. Once at the safe house, Markus was ushered inside and strapped to a chair. The bag was not removed. Not a word was said until Alex walked in.
“You're not chipped.”
Markus didn't answer. Alex kicked him in the ankle to get his attention.
“I said, you're not chipped.”
“No, I'm not.”
“Why?”
“My work doesn't require it.”
“You work for the Elites. You work for Leeson. You're one of his technicians.”
“Yes, I am... I do, yes.”
“You were picked up by security forces. Why?”
“For something I didn't do.”
Alex hit him on the leg with a baton. “If you don't answer more specifically, I'll start moving up your body until I get to your head. It won't be good for you if I get past your leg. Now let's try it again. Why were you picked up by security forces yesterday?”
“Someone stole the hard drive from Leeson's computer yesterday. He tasked me with finding it, and I failed. I anonymously informed his superiors of his unauthorized computer system. I thought they would pick him up, and I would be off the hook. He turned it around and framed me for the system in order to keep himself out of trouble.”
“How is it you were out on the street in the middle of the night?”
“I escaped from security.”
Alex hit him with the baton again, this time on the thigh. “No one escapes from security.”
Markus screamed in pain. “I'm not lying. I'm Leeson's lead technician. I know the system. I circumvented it and escaped.”
“I think Leeson wants his hard drive back and you're helping him find it. I think you're lying.”
“NO! No. Don't hit me again. I swear to you I'm not lying. That son-of-a-bitch was going to have me chipped. He framed me to save his own ass.”
The questioning continued until dawn. Dawson was back at the board and Darcy was at the terminal when Quest got the call from Alex. He sent Quest the video of the interrogation. Quest watched it but remained unconvinced. He decided to get Darcy's intuitive opinion. He called her over to a private table.
“Miss Darcy, I need your opinion. I need you to watch...” He suddenly hesitated about Darcy watching the interrogation. It was not a pretty sight. “No, I want you to listen to this and give me your opinion on what might be the intention of the person being questioned. I'd like you to use your intuition to formulate your answer.”
He started the video and let Darcy listen. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. As she listened, her intuition began to provide strong opinions.
“Well, what do you think? What is your gut telling you? Do you think he's being truthful? Is he holding anything back?”
“Yesterday I told you I thought he was in trouble, and as it turned out, he was. Today, I think he's in even more trouble, at least from the sound of his voice. But that anxious tone I'm hearing could be due to the situation he's in. My intuition tells me he's a man in trouble with nowhere to turn. He's desperate, and that makes him dangerous. I would be wary. I don't know if that was much help.”
“Yes, it confirms my own beliefs. Now I need to figure out how I can know for sure. Thank you for your help.”
Quest got up and went to a secure area where he checked in with the team working on Leeson's hard drive. They were dissecting its files, but several remained inaccessible. One of them was titled Gates. Quest decided to try something. He touched base with Alex to see how things were proceeding.
“I'm not sure if we are going to get much more out of him,” Alex relayed.
“I'd like you to change tactics. Remove his hood and give him something to eat and drink. Let him know if he wants us to believe his story, he needs to give us something. He needs to provide the code to one of the files on Leeson's computer. I need the code to open the file titled Gates, and I need it within the hour.”
Alex did as he was told. He removed the hood and allowed Markus to eat and drink. Markus was wary and took his time, which took about forty-five minutes. As Markus finished, Alex got in his face. “Now that I've given you something, I need something in return.”
“I figured that. What are you after?” Markus questioned.
“On Leeson's hard drive, there is a file titled Gates. I want the code to open it. You better know it. You have fifteen minutes to give it to me.”
“Yes, I know it. Is that all you want? I'll give you the code to every damn file on his computer. Like I told you before, the son-of-a-bitch tried to chip me for no other reason than to save his own ass. Give me a pad, and I'll write it out. I'll gladly give you the keys to his entire kingdom if we can work something out.”
Alex handed Markus a pad, and he wrote down the code. Alex forwarded it to Quest, who then gave the code to the technician working on Leeson's computer. “Before you use this, check it to make sure this isn't some sort of trick. I don't want those files to be corrupted in any way. I don't completely trust the source.”
The code was checked and double-checked before they decided to give it a try. It opened the file perfectly. The technician informed Quest of their success.
“Wonderful!” Quest was ecstatic to hear the good news. He had the file forwarded to his screen. Dawson began to pore over its contents. Quest made a phone call to Alex. “Just letting you know the code worked.”
Before Quest could continue, Alex interrupted. “He says he's willing to give you more information, but he wants something in return.”
“What?”
“I’m not sure, and we may not find out. We have a situation developing here. Security is patrolling the area, looking for something. I’ve seen them using radar equipment to look through the walls of several nearby buildings. We may have been compromised. I’m not sure how. I’ve scanned this guy twice for everything possible, and he’s clean. We’ve moved to the basement. I need you to tell me what to do with him.”
“Get him into the tunnel and take him to unit two.”
There was a crashing sound from above as security forces broke down the front door. “They’re here.” Alex disconnected the call. Heavy footsteps echoed above their heads as Alex opened a secret door and pushed Marcus ahead. He secured the door behind them. A car was waiting in front of them. “Get in,” he demanded.
They drove through the tunnel at breakneck speed for two miles. The end of the tunnel was in sight, but Alex kept his foot on the throttle. Marcus grew concerned as it looked like Alex was going to slam into the wall. To his relief, the tunnel opened before them. Alex drove onto a secluded road and headed toward unit two. It was a close call, but they had managed to slip through the security forces’ fingers.
Leeson was livid when he learned that Marcus had escaped his grasp once again. He berated and threatened his security forces for the botched job. It was beginning to look like the Unknowns had him. If that were the case, the chances of finding him were as slim as locating his hard drive. The Unknowns had a reputation for being more secure than the Elites themselves. That didn’t deter Leeson. He put his security forces on double shifts until they found him. There was intense grumbling and complaining behind Leeson’s back. It seemed double shifts would not be ending anytime soon.
Alex pulled into the garage of unit two and closed the door behind them. It was a secluded house on a seldom-used road, and they would be safe there as long as security forces continued their search within the city. He led Marcus into a small room and set him down on a hard chair. The pain in his leg was difficult to handle, but at least he was alive and still not chipped. Alex called Quest to let him know they had arrived.
Quest was anxious to hear what Marcus had to say, but it would have to wait until things settled down. For the moment, security forces were on high alert, which was a dangerous situation.
He turned his attention back to Dawson, who was deep into code. His brain was in overdrive, and he was beginning to figure something out. “These gates are amazing. There are dozens of them. I’ve located one close to where I’m from, near a place called Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know it,” replied Quest.
“No, I don’t suppose you would. The good thing is, with the right code, I can place the entrance on this side almost anywhere. The code has to be here. Leeson had access to one. So where did he find it?”
“You need to keep in mind, Dawson,” replied Quest. “Leeson knows security, but he doesn’t necessarily know code. At least, not to the extent necessary to put a gate into operation. He most likely got it from someone.”
Darcy, who was nearby, blurted it out before Quest had a chance to think of it. “Marcus! It makes perfect sense. Leeson wants to shut him up because he knows too much. He not only holds the keys to what’s on Leeson’s hard drive, but he most likely holds the keys to the Elites’ entire security program.”
Dawson stopped what he was working on. “Marcus did say he held all the keys. If that’s the case, security is in the process of changing everything. You can bet on it.”
Quest abruptly walked off to a private spot and called Alex. “What does Marcus want? Let me talk to him.”
Alex handed the phone to Marcus. “Okay, Marcus. What do you want?”
“And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?” Marcus asked, already knowing the answer.
“Don’t screw with me, Marcus, or I’ll chip you myself.”
“Why, is this the mighty Quest? Such a pleasure to hear your anxious-sounding voice. What do I want? I want my freedom, and I know you can give it to me.”
“Look, the only way you’ll get your freedom is if we all get our freedom. So, the price for your freedom is the keys to all the files.”
Marcus knew he had the upper hand. “I hold a lot of keys. I’m not sure what you mean by ‘all the files.’ You’ll have to be more specific. I’m sure you realize time is of the essence here.”
Quest was well aware of this. “The security system consistently creates new security codes. By the time we find a way in, the code has been changed.”
“That’s right. How do you like that? It took me years to wrap my head around how to achieve such a thing of beauty. You have two minutes to use the latest code. What you need is the program that creates the latest code.”
“Then I want the key to that program.”
“That key is the key to everything, and only I have it. Even Leeson doesn’t have the full version. He thinks he does, but he doesn’t. Only I do.”
“Why didn’t you tell him that when he threatened to chip you?”
“Torture is not something I really want to experience. He would have gotten it from me and chipped me anyway. I know how he operates. So, like I said, I want my freedom.”
“What do you consider freedom? Do you want us to just let you go on the street? I’m not sure what you’re asking for.”
Marcus’s tone began to soften. “To be honest, I believe the only truly free people are the Unknowns. That reason alone is why the Elites hate you. The Unknowns can’t be controlled. I’ve been controlled all my life. I thought I was free, but that turned out to be an illusion. It’s the same illusion the Elites feed to the slave class, except they get chipped. I was lucky enough not to get a chip. At least, not a physical one. Even so, I’m still nothing more than a pawn. Expendable if it suits their purpose. I’ve seen it happen, but I never thought it would happen to me. My eyes were opened to that false reality when Leeson framed me. I’m done playing their game, and I want out. I want what you have: real freedom.”
“You talk a good talk. What you don’t understand is that we’re not as free as you think we are. We can’t be out in the open. We have to hide in the shadows for fear of being arrested. If we dare show ourselves, we’re squashed like common cockroaches. That’s not freedom. Real freedom will only come when we are all free from the tyranny of the Elites.”
“Let me help you with that,” replied Marcus.
“Do you think you can just ask, and we’ll welcome you into our ranks with open arms? Do you take us for fools?”
“I know better than that. I’ve already given you something, and I am willing to give you more. What do I need to do to earn your trust? I have everything you could ever want.”
Quest realized Marcus had the upper hand and was willing to bargain with him to a degree. “I’ll admit you may have more of what I want, but neither of us has what we really want. Giving me the ‘key to everything’ will go a long way in your favor.”
“I won’t give you everything now, but I will give you the version I gave Leeson. It will open many doors for you, but not the door to the kingdom itself. You’ll only get that when I have your guarantee of acceptance.”
“I may be able to wipe your slate clean. Maybe even give you a new identity in some far-off place. I can’t guarantee that acceptance will be available to you.”
“I’ll give you the key I gave Leeson. Once you realize its significance, we’ll go from there. Is that acceptable?”
“That will have to do for now. Give the key to Alex. Once I can verify its legitimacy, we’ll talk again.” Quest hung up the phone and returned to talk with Dawson.
“Things are moving in our direction. How are you coming along with the gate?”
“I’ve finished. It was easier than I thought. The coding isn’t much different from what I’m used to, just much faster. I had to learn a few things, but I picked it up. The new coding techniques will be invaluable to me when I get back home.”
“So what is your plan for that?”
“Well, as far as the gate is concerned, I’ve learned how to place the entrance on this side anywhere I want. I was thinking of moving it to the parking garage where we were dropped off, if that’s okay with you.”
“That may not work. If security can see it move, they’ll be all over it. Let’s not move it just yet. Wait until the time comes to leave.”
“I’m willing to work with you for another day or so, but then we have to be on our way.”
“Fair enough. Let's get back to hacking into the chip program. We have a whole class of people to set free.”
“We have a whole world to set free,” replied Dawson with a smile.
Kara stopped by John's room to pick him up. As they strolled toward the garden, they fell into deep conversation. Kara seemed very comfortable around John, and he was enjoying the evening filled with good food and conversation. The lights in the garden began to dim to simulate evening, followed by darkness, which was necessary for the plants. A small light on the table set the mood for the rest of the evening. Everything was perfect.
Kara decided to end the evening by suggesting they take their time strolling back to John's room. At the door, she rubbed his beard once again and told him she had a wonderful time.
John leaned in and kissed her. She didn’t pull away. He asked if she would walk him back to the garden in the morning and have breakfast with him. She happily accepted the invitation. With a quick wink, she was off. John watched her until she turned the corner. It had been a long day, but he didn’t feel the least bit tired.
The following morning, John was up early and ready to go. Perhaps too early. Kara didn’t knock for another hour. She was all smiles when he answered the door.
“Ready to go?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to having breakfast with you.”
Kara was less talkative on their way to the garden. John thought she might be tired. At breakfast, she kept the conversation light, but John could tell something was bothering her. “Are you okay? You seem quiet this morning.”
Kara picked at her food without taking a bite. “I didn’t sleep well last night. Truth is, I had you on my mind. I like you, and I’m enjoying my time with you.”
“It sounds like there’s a 'but' coming up here.”
Kara smiled. “But... you won’t be here for long, and I don’t know how involved I want to get with you.”
“I feel the same way,” replied John. “I’ve never met anyone like you. I’m really enjoying being with you; you’re so easy to talk to. Look, I don’t know how long I’ll be here either, but I’d like to make the most of whatever time we have together. Why don’t we agree to just be friends and not let it go any further than that? Let’s just enjoy the moment.”
“I can agree with that. Let’s just enjoy the moment. So, tell me more about your home. What’s this place called Oregon like?”
After breakfast, Kara had to get to her station. John decided to walk with her. He wanted to see how things were going with Dawson and Darcy. Maybe they had some good news.
“Are you sure you can find your way back here?” asked Kara.
“I don’t know,” joked John. “I may need your help.”
“We’ll see about that.” She rubbed his beard before they left the garden.
The previous evening, Alex had sent over the key code he obtained from Marcus. Quest handed it off to the team working on Leeson’s hard drive. “See what you can do with this and let me know what you come up with. Be sure to screen it first. I still don’t fully trust the source.”
The following morning, the key code was passed on to Quest. He and Dawson used it to open several files.
As John and Kara entered the room, they saw Dawson lost in a world of code. He looked like he might be onto something. He was intense, but that’s how he always worked. Quest stood by his side, pointing, making suggestions, questioning, and agreeing. They had quickly become a team and were now working together as one.
Leeson spent the morning working on damage control. First, his hard drive had disappeared, and if that wasn’t bad enough, now the only other person who knew how to access it had escaped custody and was on the loose. It was late morning when his phone buzzed. It was Astin, a subordinate of Leeson’s and a trusted contact within the security force. He had an update.
“Leeson, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’ve picked up a lead on Marcus.”
“How can that be bad news?” replied Leeson. “When you get him, triple his security. I want someone physically attached to him every hour of the day and night.”
Astin hesitated, knowing his next comment would send Leeson into a rage. He dreaded hearing Leeson’s reply.
“I’m calling to inform you we picked up a lead, sir. We don’t have him in custody, and quite frankly, we don’t expect to have him any time soon. This is where the bad news comes in. It seems the Unknowns may already have him.”
Just as Astin had anticipated, the intensity of the call quickly escalated.
“If you know for a fact that the Unknowns have him, you better damn well know where he is. There are two things I want to see in my office by the end of the day: my hard drive and Marcus. Let me make myself perfectly clear. If you can’t deliver what I’m asking for, I swear by whatever you hold sacred, I’ll chip you myself. This is no idle threat. I want results, and I want them today. You have until midnight. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir, you’ll have them both by the end of the day.” Astin hung up the phone, wiping away the sweat that had beaded on his brow. He knew his chances of finding either the hard drive or Marcus were slim. Finding them both in just a few hours was virtually impossible. He had no choice but to try. Being chipped was not an option. He made a couple of calls.
The search for Marcus was elevated to the highest priority. Everything else being worked on by security was put on hold. Every rock was to be overturned, every dark corner illuminated, and every lead, no matter how trivial, investigated.
On one hand, Astin put everything he had into finding Marcus and the hard drive. On the other hand, he began to make plans to disappear if he failed to deliver. He knew he had to stay two steps ahead of Leeson. Unlike Marcus, if he was taken into custody, there would be no chance of escape.
When Leeson got off the line with Astin, he threw his phone across the room in a fit of rage. He knew there was little chance Astin would meet his demands. Time was not on Astin’s side, nor was it on his. It was only a matter of time before his superiors discovered the gravity of the situation. His career was on the line. In fact, his very life could be in jeopardy. He wasn’t sure he wanted to wait around to find out. If Astin didn’t come through, he would have to activate his alternative plan. He still had access to a working gate. As he waited for Astin’s midnight deadline to arrive, he busied himself gathering crucial information on sensitive issues like security protocols and quantum computer systems. Considering what he knew to be his fate if he stayed, he was fully prepared to step through the gate and confront the unknown.
Quest was called away from the screen where he and Dawson were working. He stepped into a small room nearby. Several stations were set up to monitor the city not far from their base. The person in charge of tracking outside activities filled him in on what was happening.
“It looks like we have a situation brewing. Security forces seem to have consolidated their monitoring efforts. Houses and businesses are being physically searched. They’ve also increased their radar, microwave, and x-ray usage. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Leeson is in a panic. With both his hard drive and the person who holds the keys to its files missing, it’s only a matter of time before the situation escalates for him. If that happens, he knows he may be the next thing that turns up missing.”
“We can only hope,” quipped Quest. “In the meantime, make sure all of our security measures are in place and operational. I want people monitoring our systems around the clock. We need to take appropriate action at the slightest hint of a possible breach. Contact Alex. Have him move Marcus to the deep chamber. We need that man secure. He’s too important to let slip out of our control. By the way, when was the last time our codes were updated? Hacking into their camera software was a huge step forward for us. If they find it, we’ll be in the dark. I don’t want that happening.”
“Understood. We monitor their updates and make all necessary adjustments daily. In fact, thanks to the information we’ve gathered from Leeson’s hard drive so far, we just made a code change this morning. If they ever find the hack and try to trace it, it will lead them straight to Leeson’s office. Just the same, until things calm down, I’ll change the daily protocol to an hourly check.”
“Good move on the new update. Keep me informed.” With that, Quest returned to what he and Dawson were working on.
Throughout the day and into the evening, Astin closely monitored the search for Marcus and the missing hard drive. Midnight came all too soon, and the news was not good. Astin had come up short—he didn't have what Leeson was expecting. He knew Leeson was waiting for his call, and there was no way in hell he would make it. Grabbing a bag he had packed earlier, he headed for the door, planning to disappear. Unfortunately, it was not in the way he had expected. As soon as he stepped outside, he was confronted by two men directed by Leeson to monitor him.
“Going somewhere?” one of the men asked.
Astin was speechless. They grabbed him and threw him into the back seat of a car, then drove off.
“Where are you taking me?” Astin demanded.
“You had a midnight appointment with Leeson. We can only speculate that your phone wasn't working. We've been instructed to ensure you keep it. Leeson wants to see you in person.”
Astin sat in silence as he was taken to Leeson's office. Unsure if he could talk himself out of his predicament, he knew he had to try. It was all he could do at that moment.
When they arrived, he was led to Leeson's office and dropped off. Leeson closed the door. “Sit down!” he ordered, standing in front of Astin. “Where's Marcus, and where's my hard drive?”
With nothing to lose, Astin remained standing and confronted Leeson. “You knew damn well I wasn't going to deliver. We have yet to discover where the Unknowns are based. They have both; they might as well be on another planet. Your ass is on the line here just as much as mine, and if I know you like I think I do, you've been working on a plan to save it.”
“I may have a way to save mine,” replied Leeson, “but that doesn't help you. I'm a man of my word when it comes to threatening people. I'm still going to have you chipped.”
At a loss for how to proceed, Astin grasped at straws. “No, you won't. Not unless you want to expose yourself. Do you think I haven't put safeguards in place?”
“Safeguards? I highly doubt that. What safeguards could you have possibly implemented?”
The question gave Astin a glimmer of hope. “That sounds like doubt to me,” he replied. “I'm not about to tell you. You'll just have to take my word for it. I'm going to walk out this door and go my way. If you try to stop me, it won't go well for you.” Astin turned his back to Leeson and walked out of the office.
Astin knew too much, and Leeson wasn't about to let him go. He decided to call his bluff and instructed the two men who had brought Astin in. “Grab Astin before he reaches the front door. Erase his memory, chip him, and lose him somewhere he won't be found.” Astin was seized before he made it out of the building.
With news of an unsecured computer system and his top security official missing, Leeson's superiors would be asking questions. He knew it wouldn't go well for him. It was time to put his own escape plan into play. He gathered all the information he had on the quantum computer system he managed. His plan was to head to the gate and pass through, taking his chances with whatever he encountered on the other side.
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