Renegade World: Future Past (27 page)

“Please to meet you, Rhett. I know that your implant and
glasses were just cleaned, but I’m going to need access to your ports again. We
don’t want our opponents to know that their virus has been removed. I’m going
to reinfect you with a mutated version.”

Miguel opened the briefcase. “You’ll just need to put this
in your office somewhere that has a decent wireless connection. In our office,
because of wireless lockdown for non-employees, I’ll need to hardwire you to
upload the software. In your office, it will upload the software wirelessly.”

“I’ll just lock it in one of my desk drawers.” He laughed.
“They’re all empty except for the one with a bottle of Scotch.”

Raul plugged a cable into the port behind Rhett’s ear. “Locked
in your desk will reduce suspicion, but you should know that once I lock the
case, it will be armed. If anyone tries to open it, they’ll receive a rude
shock, literally.”

“How will I charge it?”

Miguel disconnected the cable. “You won’t need to. Half of
the case contains a power source.”

R
aul’s mom picked Raul and Naami up after Tae Kwon Do. 
Though Camila didn’t work for Naami’s family on Saturdays anymore, she did use
the Schmidt’s SUV on Saturday, frequently to chauffeur Raul and Naami. The car
rolled to a stop in front of Rebeka Lee’s range, and Raul and Naami got out. Naami
took her bow, the arrows, and the other accessories out of the back. Camila
waved at them and drove off.

“Your mom was trying really hard to keep something from
us.”

“I wondered about that too, and I wonder why Rebeka Lee is
going to give us a ride home instead of my mom. What’s she up too?” Raul
shrugged. “Oh, well. We’ll figure it out sooner or later.”

Naami grinned. “We always do, don’t we.” She handed Raul
the bow. “You go first.”

He took the bow. “I forgot to tell you yesterday. My dad
decided we’re going to switch to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit instead of
St. Joseph.”

“I liked St. Joseph when Father Collins was there, but I’m
glad we switched to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. I like the Monsignor, and
I like Father Johnson even more. He didn’t get mad at me when I told him I
thought the Bible was written to teach people lessons about God and people’s
relationship to God and that it was written in a way that made sense based on
what those ancient people knew or didn’t know.”

“Have you actually read the Bible, Naami?”

She nodded. “I’ve read the new testament and the old
testament.”

Raul shuddered. “Yikes. My mom reads the Bible to me. Some
of it is interesting, but I don’t think I could read it all.”

Naami pointed at the target. “Let’s go.”

They shot for an hour and a half, the last half hour with
Rebeka Lee watching and making suggestions, mostly to Raul. From 40 meters,
Raul hit the center ring with twelve out of twelve arrows on his last round. 
He brought the arrows back to Naami. “I’ve had enough for today. Don’t you ever
get tired or sore?”

“Not very often.” She looked at Rebecca Lee.  “I’m going to
shoot twelve more, and then you can take us home.”

“I’ve got a surprise for you before I take you home.”

“What?” They asked at the same time.

“We’re going to visit Miguel at his research building.”

Naami put the arrow back in her quiver. “I guess I’ll stop
now. Let’s go.” She had always wanted to see the inside, especially after three
years of trying to hack into it.

The research building was just over a ridge from Rebeka
Lee’s house, only a couple of minutes by car. As Rebeka Lee drove into the
almost empty lot, both kids marveled at the imposing concrete structure.

They walked up to the massive steel door, and both grinned
as it slid open for them. Raul measured the width of the door with his hands.
“This door must be three feet thick. It’s so cool.”

As the door closed, Naami turned to face the inner door and
then scanned the cameras and other sensors embedded in the ceiling and walls.
The inner door, also a meter thick, finally slid back a meter into the thick
wall. 
Abraham, I’ll still have better luck hacking into this that breaking
into it.

I agree, and I have some new information to share with
you.

Tell me later.

As they walked through the warehouse portion of the
building, a door automatically slid open to the lab area where Miguel waited.
He shook their hands. “Hi, Naami. Hi, Raul.”

Raul gaped at all of Miguel's projects. “Thanks for
letting us visit. The building and this stuff is really cool.”

Naami winked at Raul and walked toward Miguel. “This isn’t
even the good stuff, Miguel.” She caught Miguel’s eye. “Where are the
prototypes of the stuff you’re sending to the moon? The good stuff is
underground, isn’t it?” She continued to stare into his eyes.
Yes, there’s
something under here! Come on. Tell me!

Raul hesitated, but Rebeka Lee scolded, “Naami, you know
that that we can’t talk about that!”

Naami shrugged.
I think Miguel might have answered me if
she didn’t jump in. What have they got going on under here? I’m going to find
out.

“It’s OK. Naami likes to tease me. I remember she used to
tell me every couple of months that she was going to hack me.” He grinned. “Did
you give up yet?”

“You wish!” She giggled.
I’m getting a lot closer than Miguel
thinks. Right, Abraham?

Yes, Naami.

Raul asked, “Can you tell me about all of the cool stuff
that I see here?”

“Sure.” Miguel led them around and explained what all the
things were. Many of them were only half built or partially torn down. He
pointed at a small vehicle that was up on a lift, one of its tracks removed. “This
is an older version of one of the vehicles we currently use on the moon.” He pointed
out a scaled down version, just over a foot high. “This is the original
prototype. I use it to fetch parts.”

The small vehicle rolled down the aisle, slowed as it came
to the corner, spun ninety degrees on its treads, and disappeared from sight.
About a minute later, it reappeared, towing a small cart.

“I’ve got a couple of presents for you.” He pulled two
backpacks from the cart and handed a black one to Raul and a pink one to Naami.
“These backpacks are even tougher than the backpack than Naami has now.  It
will even stop 223 rounds. Of course, the impact will still hurt.”

Raul felt the inside of the backpack. “Cool.”

Miguel grabbed two bomber style jackets, handing one to
Raul and the other to Naami. “These jackets will stop most handgun rounds to
the body. They also will stop most knife stabs to the body and knife slashes
everywhere.”

Naami looked at the black exterior and then the interior
liner. “Will they stop an arrow?”

“I haven’t tested it against arrows. I can’t guarantee that
it would totally stop a seventy-pound bow with special arrow heads from up
close. Put them on and zip them up.”

“Would this have prevented the glass from cutting me when
Mr. Connolly threw me out the window?”

“Yes. In fact, I started this project right after you guys
were attacked at the skating rink, but I got real busy with other things. I finally
found some time to finish it.”

The lights went out, and Miguel switched on a powerful
flashlight. “Watch what happens when I shine the flashlight on Naami.” He
pointed it at her, and the jacket was not illuminated at all. “The jacket
absorbs over ninety-nine percent of the light.”

The lights came back on. “Naami, I just sent you the key to
access your jacket’s controls. Turn on active camouflage.”

Turning it on, Naami.

Miguel pointed to a large display. “Stand in front of the
screen.”

She walked in front of the display, and the color of the
jacket changed to match the color and pattern displayed on the screen, a field
of grain. The display changed to a field of corn, and the jacket changed to
match it. Naami pulled up the hood and tightened the drawstring, adding
camouflage to her head. She turned her face away from the screen.”

Naami moved, and Raul pointed at the screen. “When she
moves, I can tell something’s there.”

“That’s because there is a slight time lag as the coat
adjusts to the new background.”

 Naami stayed completely still. “Are there matching pants?”

“Yes. They have active camouflage, but like the arms of the
jacket, they have fewer layers of anti-ballistic material. The jacket and pants
also have infrared camouflage.”

Naami took off her jacket and examined its exterior. “You
mean it can hide our heat signature?”

 “Yes.”

Raul asked, “Can I get the key to mine?”

“Sure, but we need to upgrade your buds and glasses first.
Yours don’t have enough processing power.”

“Cool! I’ve wanted an upgrade for a long time. Thanks,
Miguel.”

“Anything for family.”

“You are family?” asked Naami.

Raul pumped his fist. “Finally! Something she didn’t know
before me. Miguel, you are my dad’s second cousin, right?”

“Second cousin once removed. So you and I are third
cousins.”

Naami pointed at Rebeka Lee. “Rebeka Lee and I are second
cousins once removed.”

Rebeka Lee nodded. “That’s right.” She folded her arms
across her chest. “Let’s talk about your presents. You can try out the active
camouflage, but not in front of anyone besides your families, and don’t tell
anyone else that the jackets and backpack can stop a bullet or a knife. Promise
me?”

They both nodded.

J
acobus bit down on his lip to keep from swearing at
John, Thaddaeus, and Simon. “You used a True Disciples bank account to pay for
a hit against one of the children of a Vice President of ANT?” He bit down
again. “That was reckless.”

John said, “Relax. That was three years ago. Even though
the hit failed, it was never tied back to us.”

“Until now.”

“What do you mean, until now?” asked Thaddaeus.

“I just received word that the FBI and DEA are planning a
raid against two of our safe houses, the two you used to set up the deal to
kill Naamah Schmidt and the same two with the computers that receive the information
coming from your virus. Lucky for us, my government source reported it to me
first.”

“I make a motion that I be given the complete and exclusive
authority to clean this up.”

The James avatar raised his hand. “Second.”

Jacobus raised his hand. “All in favor?” Eight other hands
went up. “Opposed?”  John, Thaddaeus, and Simon raised their hands.

Jacobus point his finger at their avatars. “The motion
carries. Stay out of it.”

Jacobus logged out of the meeting and took off his sensors.
Loose cannons! Now I have to call Samael.
He blew out a breath.
I
might as well get it over with.

Leandro, speak to me.

We have a situation.

Go on.

Three of the True Disciples took it upon themselves to
arrange a hit on Naamah Schmidt.

When?

Three years ago. They used a Mexican cartel to arrange
the job. The cartel wanted vengeance against a former policeman whose son is a
friend of Naamah Schmidt. The idea was to kill both of the kids together so
that it would look like Schmidt was not the intended target. I just got word
that the FBI and DEA are planning a raid on two of the True Disciples safe
houses.

Cut off the arm to save the body.

My thoughts exactly. If you are in agreement, I’m going
to blow the two safe houses, manipulate the True Disciple John into killing the
former policeman and his family, pin it on the cartel, and kill John in the
process.

That’s a complex plan.

I can pull it off.

OK. You screw up, and it’s your neck.

I won’t.

N
aami, you asked me to remind—

Go ahead.

After reviewing the data from the New Age Energy meters
for the past four weeks, Big Brother has uncovered anomalies.

Continue.

On many occasions, more power is flowing into the
kinetic storage devices and ultracapacitor units than is being generated by the
windmills.

And it’s not coming from the grid?

No.

Well, that would seem to indicate that they are
generating it another way. Any idea how?

Not that would account for the large discrepancies.

How large?

Four to twenty megawatts on most occasions, but as much
as forty megawatts on one occasion.

They have to have a reactor.

They have never purchased any fuel for a reactor.

How about fuel for a fusion reactor?

Fusion reactors of that size don’t exist.

But if they did?

Deuterium and tritium would be the most available fuels.
Helium-3 is another potential source, but it is extremely scarce on Earth.

But the moon contains helium-3, doesn’t it.

Yes, it does.

Alright, have Big Brother dig into this possibility. You
hinted at another anomaly.

Yes. There have been eight occasions during the last
month when something used a tremendous amount of power in a short period of
time.

How much?

The first two times the draw was a hundred megawatts for
five minutes. The last time was double that for four minutes. So it drew
everything available from the windmills, the ultracapacitor units, the kinetic
storage, and the possible reactor?

Yes, and a couple of megawatts from the grid as well.

What high-demand devices or processes would require that
much power?

Smelters use a lot, but I think we can rule a smelter
out. Naami, I have insufficient data to answer your question. Shall I have Big
Brother research this as well?