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The Stepping Stone
Chapter Five: Dawson Meets Leeson
Scott A. Gese
Chapter 5
Dawson Meets Leeson
Darcy and her father rolled into John's driveway right at six. After a brief introduction, they all got into John's car and drove off. On the way, there was a lot of small talk. Dawson wanted to find out everything he could about Leeson, Anna, and the place they were about to visit. Darcy felt slightly apprehensive about returning but was relieved that her father would be there with her this time. John was actually excited about the trip, treating it like a vacation.
The sky was beginning to brighten when they arrived at the logging road entrance, where John parked the car. Before they got out, John questioned Dawson. “I understand you have a plan to get up to the top of the stairs. Would you mind sharing it with us? I don't want to just walk in on these people. I've recently experienced what they can be like, and I'm not looking for any more of it. If you could let us in on what you have in mind, I would appreciate it.”
“I'd be glad to fill you in,” replied Dawson. “When Darcy looked at your trail cams the other day, there were two men in uniform at the turnoff from the logging road and more at the steps, correct?”
“That's right,” answered John.
“Darcy, take a look at your cameras now. If anyone is there, my plan has failed, and we'll call this whole thing off.”
Darcy pulled out her laptop to take a look. John and Dawson watched. When the images appeared, Darcy could hardly believe it. “There's no one there. I don't get it. Why would they leave?”
John looked up at Dawson. “I think we need an explanation.”
Dawson decided to elaborate. “Look, as you've been told, I have a certain way with computers. I'm very good at what I do. Some people think I'm the best there is. That's not me bragging; it's just a fact. As a freelancer, I have many clients. Let's just say the NSA owes me a few favors, and I've recently called in a couple of them.”
The comment triggered John. “You're the reason I was let go.”
“As I said, they owe me. We shouldn't run into anyone this morning, but that doesn't mean they aren't watching or listening in on us. Keep that in mind. Are you ready to go?” Dawson opened the door and stepped out.
It was a beautiful morning as they walked along the old road. It was shaping up to be a warm day. Dawson and Darcy were happy to spend some quality time together, and John was glad to be heading back to the Stepping Stone. They each had their own ideas about what might be in store for them later in the day, but none knew for sure.
The hike in was upbeat. They were making good time and would reach the Stepping Stone in just a couple of minutes. John wanted to be cautious as they entered the area, so they took it slow for the last quarter mile, hoping not to run into anything unexpected. An ambush wasn't out of the realm of possibility as far as he was concerned.
They reached their destination without any problems. Dawson was amazed to see a set of stairs so out of place in the middle of nowhere.
John called Dawson and Darcy over. “Dawson, when you step through the portal, be sure to keep your eyes closed. It's very bright. I'm told it could blind you. We only have a few minutes before it opens. Are you ready?”
Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, a man stepped out from behind a clump of nearby bushes. It was an NSA officer. Dawson recognized him. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Dawson. The plan has changed. I'm going with you.”
Dawson became irate. “The hell you say. That's not the deal.”
“That is the deal. Certain people don't fully trust you. I've been instructed to tag along.”
Dawson told John and Darcy to get to the top of the stairs; he would be right along. When they reached the top, John tossed a rock. It fell to the ground below. The gate wasn't open yet.
Dawson continued to argue with the officer as John tossed another rock. It disappeared. “It's open,” he shouted. “We have to go.”
Dawson sucker-punched the officer mid-sentence. He didn't see it coming. Dawson bounded up the stairs, and the three of them stepped through the portal. The officer staggered to his feet and ran after them. He reached the top of the stairs and jumped, but the gate had closed, and like his coworker before him, he fell to the rocks below.
Dawson, Darcy, and John stepped onto a bright green manicured lawn. The sky was a vivid blue, and the temperature was perfect. It was exactly as it had been when they left a week ago. Leeson stood before them. He immediately closed the gate before he spoke. “John, Darcy, it's good to see you again.” He extended his hand toward Dawson. “And you must be Dawson. I've learned many good things about you. Thank you so much for agreeing to come. Follow me. We need to get to the house.”
The four of them walked swiftly along the path that led toward the road and on to Leeson's house. Once inside, Leeson offered everyone something to drink. Once that was taken care of, he sat down.
Dawson spoke up. “This is amazing. It looks much like Earth, except the colors are so vivid.”
“Yes, this is much like where you came from,” replied Leeson, who wasted little time getting to the point. “So tell me, Dawson, our computer system is much more advanced than what you are used to. Do you think you'll be able to maneuver your way through it?”
“I've worked with some highly advanced systems. I've been coding quantum algorithms since the system first became available. I've written scripts for combining code, equations, and visualizations. I've even done some work with quantum encryption keys. I can also hack them. Apparently, you think I have the necessary skills for whatever it is you need me to do, so my guess is yes, I'll maneuver my way through it.”
Dawson continued. “I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind. Please don't take this as being rude, but I'd like to know exactly what it is you want me to do, who I'm doing this for, and why you want it done?”
“Rude? Not at all. I would expect you to ask these questions if you were a businessman worth his salt. Let me start by telling you a little about our political situation here, and then I'll tell you about myself—at least as much as I think you need to know.
“Our true history shows that many years ago, our political environment was much like yours is today. Certain people wanted total control of this world. They changed its history to suit themselves. They took control of the monetary system. They passed laws that benefited them, and that was just the beginning. Eventually, they gained control of the people. They wanted the world to be their personal playground and the people their personal slaves. It wasn't easy, but they ended up getting everything they wanted. You are witnessing the end result.
“Let me tell you how it will turn out for your world. Riots will continue until everything is in ruins. Food, energy, and fresh water will all be in short supply. Starvation and sickness will overcome millions. The elites want to reduce the population. This is how they will succeed. Those who manage to survive will give up everything they have left to bring some semblance of normalcy back into their lives. The elites will have everything they want. They will rebuild the world to their specifications—not only the physical structures but also the political and monetary systems. Those who remain will become slaves to the elite.”
“When you have the opportunity, take a look around you. On the surface, everything appears normal. However, if you take a deeper look, you will find that not everything is as it seems. The citizens of this world are highly controlled; they have no spiritual, mental, or physical freedom. They have been implanted with devices that ensure their allegiance without question. If they resist, they will never be seen or heard from again.
“As for me, I hate to admit it, but I am one of the elites of this world. I am a high-ranking government official who has grown to despise what he sees over the years. The elites here, much like your own, thrive on the energy generated by the darkness below—what you would call evil. They use this energy to hold back the light and goodness that bleeds into this universe from above. We are called Keepers of the Light, signified by the pieces of jewelry we wear around our necks.”
Leeson leaned forward to allow Dawson a better look. It was a tight necklace with a radiant jewel in the center, resting just below his Adam's apple.
Leeson continued, “The masses think we keep and dispense the light to them, but in reality, we keep the light away from them. We intentionally keep them in darkness so we can more easily maintain control over them.”
“Some of us are fighting to give that light back to its rightful owners. What we need to do is cut off the evil energy leaking into this universe. In your universe, it flows through gates similar to the one you came through. We refer to these as the Gates of Hell. We have gates as well. They were supposed to be sealed, but certain individuals within the government have found ways to open them temporarily and harness the energy flowing through. They use this energy for nefarious purposes. We need someone like you to hack into our computer system and seal these gates shut for good. Doing so will significantly weaken the dark forces that depend on them. If we can weaken these individuals, they will be much easier to overcome. I hope that answers your questions.”
“That goes a long way,” replied Dawson. “You are asking me to help you close these Gates of Hell. How do I gain access to your system, and how close to the relevant files can you point me?”
“Yes, we need help closing these gates and eventually your own. You will need to access our system's mainframe. What I have here at the house is monitored. All computers, including government ones, are under surveillance by the mainframe.”
“How do you plan to get me into the mainframe?”
“That will be the tricky part. If we could somehow cause the system to need a full diagnostic, I should be able to get you past security. I’m not very savvy with computers, so I’m not sure if this is even possible.”
“Anything is possible. I'll need access to a computer to familiarize myself with your system—one that can't be monitored.”
Leeson considered this for a moment. “I don’t know if that’s possible.”
Darcy, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up. “Will any computer work?”
“What do you mean?” asked Dawson.
Darcy pulled her laptop from her backpack and handed it to Dawson. He took it from her and opened it. “Well, it’s certainly not being monitored. I doubt it’s compatible or even capable of doing what I think needs to be done. So, Leeson, how powerful is your quantum system?”
“The system runs on two hundred qubits.”
Dawson looked surprised. “Wow, we’re not even close to that.” He handed the laptop back to Darcy. “There’s no way this laptop will work.”
Leeson interjected, “Before you do anything, we will need to embed you first. I have an idea on how to do this.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Our mainframe is maintained by a highly capable staff of computer experts. If we can create an issue that our staff cannot rectify, we will be forced to bring in someone from the outside. If you can cause such an issue, I will devise a cover story that will put you in a position to make the necessary repairs.”
“I’m willing to do that,” replied Dawson. “I would still need access to your system for a day or two to familiarize myself with it.”
“Then I'm afraid I have no choice but to admit I do have a personal computer on its own server. It’s not monitored. I’ll allow you limited access to it. The generalities of our system aren’t much different from what you’re used to, so familiarizing yourself should not be complicated. Once you feel comfortable with our system, I’ll begin the process of getting you access to the mainframe.”
“One more question. How advanced is your artificial intelligence, and how is it integrated into your system?”
“We don’t use AI in most of our computer systems. Many years ago, we started down that path but soon realized the danger of AI. The more we integrated it, the faster it began to take control. We decided to remove it from the system before it was too late. It was a struggle, but ultimately we took back control. We only use AI for tasks that don’t require it to be connected to the main system. We have a completely separate system for AI.”
John spoke up before the conversation could continue. “I hope I’m not being impolite. Is it possible to get something to eat? I’m starving.”
“My goodness, no. You’re not being impolite; I am. Where are my manners? Let’s take a break and have a bite to eat. What would you like?”
John and Darcy placed their orders for two very different meals. Dawson was confused. “Are we ordering takeout?”
“May I show Dawson the ‘box’?” asked John.
Leeson smiled at John’s infatuation of the replicator. “Yes, feel free.”
“Come with me, Dawson. You’ll love this.”
They went into the kitchen area and stood in front of a box-shaped appliance sitting on the counter. It was about the size of a small refrigerator. He opened it, revealing the food he and Darcy had just ordered. He removed it and closed the door. “What would you like for dinner? Anything at all.”
“Anything?”
“Yes, just name it.”
“Maybe some seafood.”
“No, that won’t work. You have to be specific about what you want. Anything at all. No maybes.”
“Okay, I’ll have poached red snapper with beans, rice, and fried plantain. Is that specific enough for you?”
“Open the door and see,” replied John, eager to see Dawson’s reaction.
Dawson opened the door, and there was the dinner he had just requested. John reveled in Dawson’s surprised expression. “Isn’t that the coolest thing ever? I want one of these.”
Dawson examined the unit. As they brought the food into the next room, he asked Leeson if the replicator was connected to a quantum computer system.
“Yes, but not the main system,” replied Leeson. “We have several dedicated systems, but everything is quantum.”
Dawson sat down at the table, still contemplating the unit.
After they had all eaten, John and Darcy decided to sit outside and watch the sun go down while Dawson and Leeson examined Leeson’s computer setup.
John was already outside when Darcy joined him. He was busy typing notes into his phone.
“What are you up to?” asked Darcy.
“I’m taking notes for a book I have in mind.”
“A book? Really? I thought you wrote more technical stuff.”
“I do, as far as my work goes. I also write other things.”
“I didn’t know you wrote books.”
“There are many things you don’t know about me. I’m thinking I’d like to walk into the city tomorrow while your dad plays around with Leeson’s computer.”
“Do you think that’s wise? Leeson might not want us to do that.”
“I want to learn more about this place—more than just Leeson’s backyard. It’s for research for my book. We won’t go deep into the city, that is, if you want to come with me?”
“Well, why not? This is an adventure, right?”
John continued typing as the sun set.
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