Corps Justice Boxed Set: Books 1-3: Back to War, Council of Patriots, Prime Asset (12 page)

At the time I didn’t know exactly what to do but I
knew I had to help the guy. We were little more than casual
acquaintances but he’d always been a great friend. I called my Dad
the next morning and explained the situation. Luckily Dad was at
the Charlottesville headquarters and asked that I setup a meeting
with Neil. I agreed and somehow got a very hung-over Neil into my
car and out to Camp Cavalier.

The coffee on the way seemed to revive him a bit but
pulling into the main gate really woke him up. Long story short, my
Dad instantly liked him and outlined his plan for Neil. He wanted
Neil to lay off the partying and finish up school. Then he’d bring
him on in the company’s brand new R&D department. I think this
might’ve done the trick, but Dad threw in a kicker. He promised
Neil that if he came onboard, SSI would do anything within its
power to find the men responsible for the Patels’ murder and bring
them to justice.

BRIAN
(dumbfounded): No shit?

CAL
: Yeah.
By that time, Dad had some pretty serious contacts internationally
and within most of our government agencies. Not to mention SSI’s
intelligence gathering capabilities were really ramping up. Neil
jumped at the chance and didn’t let my Dad down. Six months after
Neil graduated, the terrorist cell that took credit for Neil’s
parents death were killed in a raid by Pakistani special forces.
Justice was done.

BRIAN
: So
Neil stuck around after that?

CAL
: Yeah.
He and my Dad really hit it off. Plus, in no time Neil was leading
the R&D department with some pretty heavy technological
advances. My Dad kept trying to get Neil to take a new title like
Head of R&D or Vice President for R&D but Neil always
refused. He always said he’s just a developer.

BRIAN
: What
kind of things does he develop for you guys?

CAL
: You
name it. It started with little tech gadgets for the military:
small cameras, light weaponry, tactical gear. The guy was a triple
engineering major. He’ll tell you which ones but I’ll tell you
they’re all way over my head. Anyways, he and Dad figured out
pretty quickly that rather than develop stuff for individual jobs,
why not develop technology that SSI could license out to other
entities. THAT’S when the company really starting making a ton of
money. Dad made an agreement with Neil that Neil would keep fifty
percent of the sale or ongoing licensing fee from any of the stuff
he researched and developed. Neil didn’t want the deal, but Dad
felt it was only fair. Let’s just say that Neil will never have to
worry about money ever again.

BRIAN
: So
the guy knows his stuff, huh?

CAL
: He
does but he still tries to play the part of Indian gigolo. I never
know how many girlfriends the guy has. Let’s go introduce you to
Neil.

Cal directed Brian to walk straight ahead
towards a long corridor lit by fluorescent track lighting. He could
see some kind of room at the very end. They neared the room at the
opposite end of the hallway and Brian inhaled sharply at the size
of the place. It looked like a huge cavern.

BRIAN
: What
the hell is this place?

CAL
: I told
you, it’s the Bat Cave. Head over to the left and that bunch of
tables.

Brian did as instructed. A slim man in glasses
looked up from his work. This had to be Neil. He stood about six
feet tall, slim and looked like he could’ve been an actor in
Bollywood. He was not the nerdy developer that Brian had
expected.

Neil took off his glasses and walked over to
Cal, bent down to wheelchair level and hugged his friend.

NEIL
: I’m
so sorry Cal.

CAL
:
Thanks.

NEIL
: Is
there anything I can do?

CAL
: We’ll
get to that in a minute. First, I want you to meet my new
friend.

Neil nodded and stood back up. He looked
over at Brian and extended his hand.

NEIL
: Hey
doc, I’m Neil Patel. Welcome to the Bat Cave.

Brian tried to hide his surprise as he shook the
man’s hand.

BRIAN
: Good
to meet you Neil.

Neil smiled conspiratorially and
explained.

NEIL
:
Travis sent over your file before you got here. I know all about
you.

Brian looked a bit uncomfortable with the
lopsided conversation but kept his mouth shut.

Cal stepped in before Neil could make Brian
feel even more awkward.

CAL
: What
are you working on?

Neil gestured grandly to the nearest
table.

NEIL
(in a
mock British accent): My new toys are waiting for your inspection,
good Sir.

Cal shook his head and rolled himself over
to the table.

CAL
: What
is that? One of those remote control helicopters from the
mall?

Neil made a face of mock indignation and
continued in his English accent.

NEIL
: How
dare you accuse me of such a thing, Sir? What you see is the latest
in nano-drone technology. Courtesy of yours truly.

Cal picked up the small helicopter-looking
device. The thing fit in the palm of his hand and couldn’t have
been more than the size of a silver dollar in diameter.

CAL
:
Where’s the remote?

Neil pulled off a pair of sunglasses from
around his neck.

NEIL
: Right
here.

And handed the black shades to Cal.

CAL
: If
this was someone else I’d think they were pulling my leg. But with
you I’m pretty sure you’re not bullshitting me.

NEIL
: Nope.
Those sunglasses control the drone. Put ‘em on.

Cal did as he was told and put the glasses
on. They looked and felt like a normal pair of sunglasses.

CAL
: You
gonna tell me how this thing works?

NEIL
: Push
the emblem on the right side of the frame.

Cal did so and immediately the left hand
lens lit up. It looked like a freaking video game! He also jumped
back as the tiny blades on the drone kicked on and set it into a
hover.

CAL
: You
could’ve warned me about that!

NEIL
: But
then I couldn’t have seen the silly look on your face.

CAL
: OK. So
what do I do now?

NEIL
: You
see the screen on the left.

CAL
:
Yeah.

NEIL
: Use
your eye and tell the drone where to go.

CAL
: Dude.
I have no idea what you’re talking about.

NEIL
: Just
turn your head and look at something you want the drone to go
to.

Cal was still confused but once again did as
instructed. As he turned his head he could feel the drone lifting
higher. That’s when he noticed that the view in the left lens had
changed. He was now seeing from the point of view of the drone.

CAL
: Holy
shit!

NEIL
(beaming): I know, right?

Cal directed the drone to a nearby set of cabinets.
He realized that as he focused on an object, the drone would move
closer.

CAL
: How do
I keep this thing from running into stuff?

NEIL
:
That’s all built in. It has a proximity detector. With stationary
objects, it’s flawless. I’m still working out the kinks on
non-stationary objects in the drone’s environment.

Brian’s curiosity was peaked.

BRIAN
: What
do you mean non-stationary?

NEIL
: You
know, like people running around on the battlefield, cars,
animals…anything that moves.

BRIAN
(incredulous): You can do that?

NEIL
: Yep.
Pretty easy actually. Hey, Cal. The technology in this thing is
probably gonna make us all a lot more money. We’re thinking we can
equip cars with it. Imagine: no more traffics accidents!

Cal just shook his head. This little toy was
too much fun.

CAL
: How do
I can it to fly back?

NEIL
: Just
click that button on the side again and it’ll go back to its
charging dock over there on that desk.

He pointed to what looked like a miniature landing
pad on one of the desks.

Cal pressed the button on the sunglasses again. Sure
enough, the little drone found its way home without guidance.

CAL
(while
removing the glasses): How the hell did you come up with
that?

NEIL
:
Actually some of the technology’s already been around for a while.
Apache pilots have been able to control some of their weapons
systems with monocles for years. I just made the system
better.

BRIAN
: Who
are you building it for?

NEIL
: No
one yet. All the small spy drones right now are way bigger than
this little guy. I know there are some other companies in the hunt,
but I think ours will be the best. Pretty sure it’ll be an easy
sell.

CAL
: I
wouldn’t loved one of these over in the desert. Would’ve made
fighting house to house a lot safer if I could send this guy in
first.

NEIL
:
That’s our target market for this thing. I want to give the troops
something that’s cost effective and easy to use. A whole freakin’
platoon could have one of these things. Trav is talking to a couple
of commanders out in the field right now that are gonna try it out
for us free of charge.

CAL
: You
got one that I can borrow?

Neil cocked his head making sure his friend
wasn’t messing with him.

NEIL
: We’ve
got a few almost ready. You can take that one if you
want.

Cal nodded and changed the subject.

CAL
: What
are you doing for lunch?

Neil pointed to a nearby fridge.

NEIL
: What
I always do. Work.

CAL
: How
about you join Brian and me over at The Lodge around
noon?

NEIL
:
Sounds good. Should I wear my drinking boots?

CAL
:
Yes.

With that they left the Bat Cave to get
cleaned up.

C
al
took a long hot shower methodically washing all his wounds. The
damned things still hurt like a champ but the hot water helped to
sooth the pain. He had to stay out of that fucking wheelchair. His
whole body was stiff. It’d be good to move around more. Plus, he
had work to do.

TRAVIS
: You
in there, Cal?

CAL
: Give
me a minute, Trav.

Cal shut off the water and wrapped himself
in a big towel. He walked into the master bedroom and found Travis,
scotch glass in hand, standing next to Andy.

TRAVIS
:
Take a look at who the front gate guards found begging to come
in.

ANDY
: Very
funny, Trav. How you doing, Cal?

CAL
:
Better. It’s great to see you, brother.

Andy walked over and gave Cal a hug.

ANDY
: I had
over sixty days of leave time stocked up so I thought I’d come
visit the Music City, maybe hit a couple honky tonks.

CAL
:
Seriously, man, what are you doing here?

ANDY
: If I
know you at all, I know that you’re planning something.

CAL
: I
don’t know what you’re talking about.

ANDY
:
You’re planning to go after this Dante guy.

CAL
: Why
the fuck do you care?