Legacy of a Mad Scientist (13 page)

“Anyhow, I suppose we’d better get back to the issue
at hand,” President Conway said.

Von Kalt nodded. “Yes, sir.” He stepped back, out of
frame, leaving the terminal to Director Stanwood.

“What was it you wanted, Joe?” This time the
President’s use of Director Stanwood’s first name did not sound
friendly at all.

“Sir, I forwarded a data package to your office a
couple of days ago. I’d like to move forward with that proposal
today.”

“I thought you were moving forward?” Conway
asked.

“They are moving forward,” Phillips called out, off
screen.

“Sir, I’m referring to my suggestion that Doctor Fox
be taken into custody immediately. The Attorney General can
schedule a hearing...”

“A Hearing? I thought this was just a briefing, Joe.
Don’t you also have a massive interagency mole-hunt going on? I
thought that’s what you were calling about.”

“No, sir. I mean, yes sir. That operation is still
going on, but the aim was to find out who’s leaking intelligence
from
us, not so much
to
us.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Conway
asked.

“Sir, the mole hunt is not what I’m concerned
with.”

“Oh, that’s right, you want to arrest Fox. You think
he’s a threat.” Conway rolled his eyes, as if indulging an
obnoxious child.

“Sir, I believe that allowing Dr. Andrew Fox into a
room with almost a dozen of the countries’ most influential
lawmakers could be a disastrous mistake. If we had a repeat of
Epsilon…”

“Joe, I was made to understand that this detonation
would in effect consume an entire metropolitan area. Is that
correct?”

“We believe so, sir, given the discussion between Dr.
Fox and Dr. Te, yes sir, that is a distinct possibility.”

“So, if we have a repeat of Epsilon, only in a more
densely packed area, the kill radius could be a hundred miles,
instead of ten. Correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well then what difference does it make? There is no
safe zone
. In fact, arresting Dr. Fox might very well be the
event that triggers this sort of cataclysm, don’t you think? It
seems to me, the last thing we should want to do, is rock his boat.
Don’t you agree?”

“Sir, I believe that if we separate him from his
personal amplifier, by whatever means necessary, that will
neutralize his ability to detonate the pure terillium contained
within.”

“What do you base that assumption on? We’re talking
about a device that can be detonated with a thought, Director. How
can your men be faster than a thought? It seems to me that, at
least for right now, even giving this Fox fellow a dirty look could
be a tragic mistake. I don’t recommend bringing the full weight of
the Federal Government to bear, as you suggest in your memo. You
really do enjoy the flowery language don’t you? I had to have John
translate half of what you were saying.”

President Conway raised his hand. “This is what I
want you to do. Secretary of Defense Croswell is down there, along
with a few other guys I trust. And I still trust you, Joe. I’ve had
my doubts at times, but you’ve made a few friends here and there.
And you’re a man with a reputation for being able to keep a secret
and that’s worth something in this town.

“But Dr. Fox is a golden goose, and that is a damn
sight more valuable than someone who can keep their mouth shut.
Without people like Fox, people like you have nothing to keep your
mouths shut about.

“So, when Secretary Croswell joins you, I want you to
keep everything we just spoke about to yourself. That’s the
intelligent thing to do, and you are the Director of National
Intelligence.

“Jim is the Secretary of Defense. See the words in
his title tell you what he does, he
Defends Our Secrets
.
That means he’s liable to get Defensive if you start talking about
things you shouldn’t.

“Now, the investors are bringing a considerable
amount of money to this briefing. I want you to take responsibility
for these funds and forward them to Treasury, as usual.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Was there anything else?” President Conway
asked.

“Well, if um… If Fox shows signs of becoming
emotionally unbalanced, in that case… I’d like permission to at
least immobilize him, for his own safety, not Kill him… just, say,
shoot him in the knee?”

“If he goes nuts, sure, treat him like any other
crazy person. But if Fox doesn’t lose his shit, don’t you go losing
yours, Director.”

“Yes, sir.”

“In the knee, huh?” Secretary Croswell asked as he
entered the office. Croswell arrived without assistant, attaché or
bodyguard, as was his preference; he’d always kept his own
counsel.

Stanwood waved but didn’t break eye-contact with the
President.

“Hiya, Jimmy. Keep this joker in line, will you?”
President Conway called out, having heard Croswell’s voice.

“My pleasure, Mister President,” Croswell
answered.

“Thank you, Director Stanwood.” President Conway gave
a backhanded wave and switched off his terminal.

“You’re a real piece of work, you know that?”
Croswell said, shaking his head. He took a seat on one of the two
facing couches in the less formal section of the office.

Stanwood sighed but didn’t answer.

Fox and Kendrick had arrived near the docking
coordinates some time ago. It was only a twenty-minute flight from
his home. King had found them while they were riding the halo, the
highest set of cables, a freeway roundabout, anchored above the
center of Angel City.

The city itself was composed of five interlocking
districts, around a sixth central hub. The hub, also known as
Executive District Zero One, was a cylindrical assemblage of the
tallest buildings, anchored together at the center of the
anti-gravity metropolis.

ED served the higher functions of the city-state. It
housed the most exclusive restaurants and hotels. It was designed
for and populated by the richest of the rich. Simply appearing out
of place was enough to invite investigation by the hyper-alert
security guards. Having the wrong answers to their questions
guaranteed a quick ride down the gravity well.

Around the central hub, the other districts were
composed of rolling sheets of terillium, stacked above and below,
and then programmed to hold to specific coordinates and elevation,
resembling steel and glass petals of some massive urban flower.

King and Fox invisibly descended toward the central
hub, where Fuji Dozo would be docked.

Fox had requested a secure ground route to the
meeting, as well as isolation of the prerequisite docking lanes.
Consequently, the access streets and the local cafes around
Executive Suites West were packed with black-suited professional
thugs.

Unseen, Fox and King landed on the main street, a
short distance from the circular canyon separating the central hub
from the media district.

“Looks like everyone here is gee-oh-vee,” King said.
“The regulars are smart enough to get the hell out of dodge on a
day like Mama Said.”

King gestured at the mercenaries infesting the area.
“I will give you a hundred dollars, if you can get one of these
ass-clowns to fire a shot in anger.”

Fox laughed. “How much time do we have?”

“An hour, at least,” King answered.

The well-dressed but heavyset young men had
deliberately parked their expensive cars illegally, up and down the
block, ready for a quick getaway. They laughed and joked amongst
each other, mock-fighting and teasing. There were few females among
the mercenaries, but those present appeared more dangerous than
their comrades.

Fox caught sight of a few execs stepping out of one
of the parking structures. They stopped on the sidewalk and
silently looked at the mercenaries occupying the benches and
chatting in small groups.

The executives had been heading for the closest
coffee shop, but seemed to be considering turning away and heading
toward their building instead.

One of the men pushed forward, while the other two
waved their goodbyes and headed for a business-building lobby.

“Here we go,” Fox said, invisibly falling into step
behind the young executive.

King laughed, which prompted the exec to look around,
but seeing nothing, he proceeded into the coffee shop.

The invisible Fox followed him, holding the door
briefly, for King.

King whispered to Fox, “A hundred bucks if you can
start a fist fight, doesn’t even have to involve gunplay.”

“Coffee first,” Fox whispered. He made his way over
the drink bar and waited in an empty corner.

King powered up his gravity harness jumped to the
ceiling, where he could watch without worrying about accidentally
bumping someone.

The executive who’d come in before them found himself
bullied at every turn. He was bumped, jostled and openly pushed,
all before he even got into line. The mercs then left the man in
peace, until his pocket was picked as he exited the shop.

Fox and King watched as the group of thugs went to
work on the executive’s credit chip, ordering drinks for themselves
and their friends.

Fox easily swiped a couple of the upcoming drinks and
delivered one to King, floating above the chaos.

“Okay, watch this,” Fox said, as he descended again,
into the fray.

Fox inverted himself between two sets of occupied
booths.

Given their more expensive suits and lazy haircuts,
the men at the table to his left were most likely private security
officers, ironically hired by the very corporations whose employees
they had been terrorizing all morning.

While the table on his right looked to be feds with
the bureau, given their uniform haircuts and cheap suits.

One of the private security guys was telling a joke,
and just before the punch-line, Fox reached over and flicked a
fed’s ear.

The agent looked over his shoulder, just as the other
table burst into laughter. The ear-flicked agent didn’t even
hesitate, but slapped the long-haired security man hard enough to
bounce his head off the table; blasting through his cup of hot
coffee and splashing his friends in the process.

Fox leapt away from the table and heard King laughing
above.

Together they followed the arguing mercenaries
outside, where a vulgar-epithet-filled fistfight commenced.

The fight ended when the security man, whose face had
been burned, beat the ear-flicked man unconscious.

Their comrades had drawn their weapons, but no one
fired.

Floating above it all, King handed Fox a hundred
dollar bill, laughing as the regular civilians fled the area.

As they sipped their still steaming coffee, King took
advantage of the opportunity to question his old friend. “How long
have we known each other now,” King asked.

“Since eighty-eight,” Fox answered.

“I was still a corporal back then.”

Fox gestured and they ascended on a slow arc toward
Fuji Dozo.

“Twenty years, Tarn.” Fox addressed First Sergeant
King by the abbreviated version of his call sign, Tarnung.

King laughed. “And in all that time, I never once
suspected that we would end up filching coffee and causing trouble,
like seventh-graders with a death wish. I mean, we’re an hour from
being found out. And when they open those files, they will arrest
every one of us and have us put down. You know that. And we’re out
here, clowning around.”

“Hey now,” Fox said. “You think I have a death
wish?”

“Don’t you?”

“Yeah, well, don’t we all?”

“Look, seriously, I need to ask you, what the hell
are you doing here?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…”

“I’m not
doing
anything. I’m letting things
happen as they happen. One day at a time.”

“Epsilon?”

“A tragedy, complete tragedy. But I didn’t do it. I
wasn’t even there.”

“What bomber you ever met, sticks around to see the
bomb. The whole point of a bomb is
you ain’t there
.”

“That’s not exactly proof of guilt.”

“How many cabinet ministers and politicians have lost
their minds, due to Micronix exposure?”

“On record, zero,” Fox answered.

“Clever,” King replied. “Stanwood ain’t buying it
though. And that call to Dr. Te didn’t help your case any.”

“Hey big boss-man, don’t worry so much. They can’t do
anything to us. Trust me on this. Would you, please?”

“Ross is on his last legs, and correct me if I’m
wrong, but so are you, and so is Ana.”

“Oh come on, that’s six months, a nap is all that is.
Look around you. We are intergalactic my friend. We are stardust.
We are everywhere and nowhere. The nine of us, we have nothing to
fear from Stanwood, that mental midget, I wouldn’t let him wash my
car. He’s not an authority over us. He is not an expert. He’s an
alcoholic and an idiot.”

“He is going to unravel this whole thing if you don’t
stop him. He’s got the bit between his teeth and he is working it.
You need to put that dog down. Give the word and wham, he’s out of
the picture, out of the park, have a nice ride.”

“No. Don’t,” Fox said as he sipped his steaming brew.
“Damn this coffee is good.”

“So, if I may ask… Just what do you have lined up for
this little meeting we’re going to?”

“Nothing special,” Fox answered. “I’m kind of curious
about it myself.”

“Word on the street is… Stanwood has everything he
needs to get the warrant to put you down.”

“There is no warrant. If he flashes one at you, it’s
a fake.”

“Brother, he will never see me coming. Tell you that
right now.”

“If there is an ambush, don’t fire until fired upon,
I mean it.”

“If someone turns a gun on you, I will shoot that
someone.”

“Let them get off one round, first.”