The Nothing (36 page)

“Oh yes Agent Kent.
Could you please remove him and set him in an office down the hallway. The Attorney General should be arriving soon and will take custody.”

“Yes Sir.
Will there be anything else?”

“No Agent Kent, that is all.”
Agent Kent was intimidating with his six foot three frame of a linebacker. He motioned for Dr. Abernathy to walk out the exit door on the opposite side of the Oval Office from the Presidential desk. Agent Kent wasn’t going to touch or walk in front of Dr. Abernathy. He was only to follow and make sure there is no escape. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it has been policy that if a detainee, or suspect inside of the White House attempts to escape, orders of shoot to kill are authorized. Dr. Abernathy began to walk out of the exit door in front of the agents. He felt disappointment, but was hopeful that things for him wouldn’t get any worse. Dr. Abernathy knew that he had himself covered and that he wouldn’t have to take the blame alone, or at all.
My staff and I came up with every possible scenario. And this was one of them. But I just hope the Attorney General has better sense than the President. But otherwise, so far so good!

“Oh Doctor?
” President Moore bent to the floor to pick up the disclosure documents. “Don’t you want your so called disclosure forms?” Dr. Abernathy looked back and shook his head. “No Mr. President, those are your copies. I have the originals back at the institute and another set in the safe at my hotel.” Dr. Abernathy then turned back around and continued walking out of the office with Agent Kent and Agent Olsen walking behind him. President Moore felt panicked. He doesn’t remember signing disclosure forms but remembers signing a bunch of papers for Dr. Abernathy when he came in several months back. He had been quick to call Dr. Abernathy’s bluff, but felt he needed to read through the papers on the floor just to make sure.

The exit door made a smooth latching sound as it shut behind the agents.
President Moore bent down and grabbed every piece of paper off the floor that had been slapped from Dr. Abernathy’s grip. Forty pages made for a long read to anyone with a hectic schedule. Often the President had to go on the word of someone else as to the legitimacy of anything he signed or hope that his secretary would notice. But we are talking hundreds of signatures a week.

Like I had time to read all of this shit!
This was a scientist recommended by the committee with a resume’ that carried a long list of achievement. I have had to trust everyone in my cabinet at one point or another to read or verify something that I put my name on. Every minute of everyday counts in the White House. I had assumed that Bob Austin had read the documents. Or that Jodie had gone through them. If I have signed forms that permitted illegal actions, then I will be prosecuted along with Dr. Abernathy.

President Moore sat
down at his desk and began to flip through each page. He would scan the page and see at the bottom his very recognizable signature. On page four, ‘Authorized implantation of augmenting software on Department of Defense satellite ORB-6573,’ with President Preston Moore’s signature at the bottom. On page seven, ‘Authorized dissemination of inhibitor code to global servers for purpose of initiating interruption.’ Every few pages, there would be the description of an action that is against the law. Then the President’s signature would be at the bottom authorizing it.

Page twenty sent chills down his spine.
At the bottom, right above the signature, it read ‘It is hereby granted, that actions for the purpose of national and economic security, may circumvent federal legislation and regulation with the authorization of the President of the United States by way of Executive Order.’ And of course the next page was Executive Order 44-12, also signed by President Moore. It was basically executive permission to break any law necessary to get the job done.

A loud knock
on the door by his secretary jostled President Moore. Attorney General Leonard White was looking at him through the glass. President Moore’s legs felt weak. He waved for the Attorney General to enter. Leonard White was a serious man, who many say lacks any sense of humor. A fervent workaholic since he was a teenager has led to three divorces and two sons that barely speak to him.

“
Leonard thanks for coming. I know you have been really busy.” Leonard stuck out his hand. As soon as the palms had touched, Leonard took a seat in one of the two armchairs in front of the Presidential desk. President Moore took a seat in the chair next to him. “Mr. President, I was told this was urgent and that Dr. Abernathy was in custody. What happened?” Leonard being straight to the point caught President Moore off guard.

Ok, have to tread lightly here.
I trust this man. He has had dinner with my wife and I many times. But I know how serious he is when it comes to the law. Leonard White loves the law and hates any man who breaks it. But he hates most of all, any man that attempts to cheat or use power to avoid the law. I am not sure how he will react whichever way I go with this. The question is, do I detail what Dr. Abernathy has done? Do I admit the mistake of signing documents authorizing illegal activity? Do I burn the copies I have and send my agents to acquire the other copies? Should I do what many past Presidents have done before me, cover it up and keep it quiet. I could let Dr. Abernathy go and not say anything. But his research centers on events that he initiated with illegal tactics that I authorized. Hell, routine audits may reveal my signature on these documents, especially with the annual fiscal review. I have no choice. I have to tell Leonard everything that has happened and follow his lead. Plus Dr. Abernathy told Jodie that he could turn everything back on. She will be questioned regardless. Just have to go with the flow here.

“
Zachariah Abernathy and his team implanted software on one of our defense satellites that in turn disseminated viruses, or inhibitors, to all wireless receivers. We are talking every cell tower, every ground based satellite and every little antenna. It is then implanted in the processors that run any type of wireless technology. And who knows what else. But the fact is that this virus software has shut down all air-based waves. That is why nothing wireless works. No radio’s, cell phones, cable and satellite TV, and even those things that you push a button to unlock your car with. Even television remotes. It is all here in these documents.”

Leonard crossed his legs and sat silently looking off to the side while he was thinking.
Without a word, President Moore leaned forward and handed Dr. Abernathy’s forms to Leonard. “Um Mr. President, this all looks cut and dry. No question that Dr. Abernathy’s actions require scrutinizing. But there is much to do right now as I am sure you know. Your cabinet is, at this very moment, debating martial law in seven states. I can have my staff review these forms and file charges. Even detain him for as long as we need. But right now….”

“Please Leonard you need to see these forms.
Have a look at pages four, seven, and twenty.” With a shrug Leonard said, “Alright Preston, if you feel it’s that important.” He proceeded to flip through the small stack and stopped at the pages President Moore had mentioned. “This is along the lines of what you told me. If these documents need more analyzing, then I can pass it along to my staff and.…”

Leonard
suddenly uncrossed his legs, leaned forward and said, “Now wait a second. Hold on one minute here.” Leonard was looking at page twenty. Then he flipped back and forth to several pages. He took off his reading glasses and looked sternly at President Moore. “Preston, your signatures are at the bottom of these disclosure forms authorizing illegal action. You signed an executive order authorizing the circumventing of federal and state laws. And at the bottom, your real and recognizable signature!”

“I know Leonard.
I signed every one of those forms in good faith and Jodie notarized them. I didn’t read them.” Leonard shouted, “Mr. President, Preston, how could you do this? Your signature authorized actions that have caused us to lose control of overseas missions going on right now. We have no way to call anyone anywhere. We are cut off from the rest of the world right now! Your signature helped Zack Patton escape! Tell me you know nothing of a Sergeant Raymond Diaz.”

“No Leonard, I only recently heard that he is MIA and his entire team was killed while holding Zack Patton.
Should I know more about this Sergeant Diaz?”

“Shit yes Mr. President.
We are starting to think he orchestrated the escape and killed his entire team. We don’t have many facts, but are working on it. We have no way to communicate or coordinate with anyone over there or anywhere else outside our borders. They are gone and so is our international intelligence capabilities. At least we can rest assured that since wireless capabilities around the world are down, that he won’t be able to do too much. Hell we sure can’t! All because you signed documents that you should have read. This could have all been stopped if you noticed what you were signing!” Leonard jumped up and almost screamed as he continued, “Do you realize that you could become the most disgraced and hated President in the history of all mankind? What you have allowed to happen will cause the people of this country to tear this government down. Our allies will never trust us again. This will most definitely lead to war. I hope you know that.”

President Moore
rose to his feet, turned around, and solemnly looked through the oval office window. He wasn’t sure how many more chances he would have to look through such a precious window after this. He could see Pennsylvania Avenue with smoke way in the distance behind it. There were probably one hundred police officers and soldiers holding off an angry mob at the front gate. Leonard felt like being supportive. Even thought the situation is an endgame for the administration, he felt a personal connection to President Moore since he didn’t act with malice. So he walked around the desk to the window where President Moore was standing and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. The President turned back towards him and said, “I didn’t review the documents. I made a mistake and signed them in good faith. The good faith that I am forced to have in all of my staff. Yet I know these are just excuses. Excuses that any President before me would understand, yet not good enough to justify in any way, what we have happening around the world right now. My mistake has changed the course of our nation’s history. I guess my question for you Leonard is this; what are my options?”

Leonard
, in a gesture to convey calm, squeezed President Moore’s shoulder then walked back to his chair. “Preston, I am a man of the law. I have made the law my blood. I respect every word in every law that exists in America. Yet I also fight for the words that are in every law that should exist, but doesn’t. My first question for you is; are there any witnesses to you signing these forms that can testify, if needed, that you were influenced not read them?” A glimmer of hope came to President Moore.

“Yes!
Bob Austin, a Senator from Texas. He chairs the Committee for Consumer Spending and Practices. He and I both recruited Dr. Abernathy to do the study. Leonard, do you think that helps.”

“Yes it does
Preston. You may still be held accountable by the Justice department. At worse, you may be charged with something along the line of negligence. Or you may get lucky and your colleagues on Capital Hill will let you resign without penalty. But I can’t speculate for certain.” President Moore took a seat behind his desk. Many words were on his mind to say to the Attorney General. Finding the ones that could help his situation was a real challenge.

“Leonard, I am concerned about
the global ramifications. No telling what this has done to the markets. Our trade agreements with the Chinese and the Russians are off pending negotiations. Knowing that this virus originated on American soil will just infuriate the situations with them along with many other nations. Sadly, like you said Leonard, this will definitely lead to war. The Securities and Exchange Commission has been keeping everyone sitting still and waiting. They believe everything will back up and running soon. It won’t be long until the panic gets worse when no one can get to their money. But hey, Dr. Abernathy says he can turn it all back on. I would like for us to address him and make him fix this first. Then I will submit to a judicial inquiry.”

“Yes
Preston, first things first, we need to get the air buzzing again. Lets go have a chat with Dr. Abernathy.” Both men stood up. President Moore called Jodie, “I am accompanying the Attorney General to speak with Dr. Abernathy.”

“Yes sir.
The Joint Chiefs and your Cabinet are still in your conference room. Should I dismiss them or will you be joining them shortly?”

“I will be joining them shortly.
Thank you.”

Leonard patted President Moore on the back.
“That’s the spirit Mr. President. Keep the focus on your job and leave the other stuff to me. Trust me Preston, I will not throw you under the bus. I know how good of a man you are and I will make sure that the situation will work out the best it can for everyone.”

A tear dotted the corner of President Moore’s eye.
“Thank you Leonard. That means a lot to me.

***

I couldn’t imagine a better jail cell! I bet this desk cost more than ten thousand bucks. Plus I can smell the leather on that couch from here. And this is an extra office? Or is this what a jail cell is for people in the White House? Wow, looks like I am in for some rough terrain here! A lawyer or the Attorney General should be arriving anytime now. At least that is what Jeff told me would happen if everything went as planned. He also said if this gets out, I would be the most hated man in America. Even the world. But this is what I signed up for. I knew things might end in a manner like this. I didn’t expect to have a quickie with the President and then be sent on my merry way. Especially since I entrapped him. Yeah, it was wrong and unethical. And I can even admit that what I have done is treasonous. But in my heart it had to be done. People need the truth. I have showed them that the world is small and intimate. They just don’t realize how much they have enlarged the world and become more detached from what it is that humans should be focusing on. The Internet and cell phones have destroyed marriages, cause families to accept relationships with each other through Facebook, not in person. And children have become fat from exploring the world from behind a computer, instead of outside running around and playing with friends. If any of these things change, then my job is done. I can’t care if I am hated. It is the only way.