"They told me that they needed the device and its software to be capable of handling vast amounts of information," Purdue said, "because the intention is to collect every possible shred of data about an individual in one place. Imagine, if you will, a social network that handles all aspects of your life. So far no one has managed it. Google has come closest — for many people, Google manages their email accounts, their calendars, their travel plans, and their Internet searches. Facebook has also made a valiant attempt. Either of these services allows you to log-in across multiple websites, collects information from the sites you log onto and the searches you conduct, then uses that information for marketing purposes.
"But imagine that one such service could handle everything—your diary, your formal and informal communications, the thermostat in your home, your dating site profile, your job hunting, your educational records, your medical records, everything! Imagine no longer having to enter anything in your diary, because the device in your pocket listens and makes entries on your behalf. It will tell you when your cat's next check-up at the vet is due, because it will remember what you were told at the last visit. If you use the device to scan an item at the supermarket, it will cross-reference that item with your medical records and warn you if there is a reason you shouldn't have it. It will alert you if there have been any product recalls of which you are not yet aware. It will tell you whether you could get a better deal elsewhere and, if so, how far you would have to go to get it. It would not only record every purchase you ever made, it would also listen in and monitor how you spoke about them to determine what to market next to you.
"Of course, apps already exist that fulfill all of these functions — broadly, at least. However, not only would FireStorm provide something much more specific and individually tailored — it would also provide it all in just one app, on a device that had been created with the intention of ensuring that the FireStorm app ran smoothly on it."
Sam's mind was reeling. He was torn between wishing that he had got on board with modern technology and got a smart phone ages ago so that he might have had some idea what Purdue was talking about, and being extremely glad that all of this made little sense to him. He got the gist — FireStorm wanted to harvest data, but on a massive scale and with the users providing everything freely in exchange for convenience. How they planned to convert technophobes like him, he did not know, but he had little doubt that it would prove extremely popular if they were able to make it work — and with Purdue involved, he was certain there would be a way to make it work.
"It just so happened," Purdue continued, "that I had been working on something rather similar. Not just the device, because that part is comparatively simple — for me, at least. I had also been tinkering with a design for software that would allow for all of these things."
"But why?" Sam asked. "Why would you do that if it wasn't for anything specific?" Or was it? Judging by the sort of company Purdue had kept before, most notably organizations set on ruling the world from a minority, his question was mostly out of interest for Purdue's point of view. He had decided his own opinion on it.
"Why not?" Purdue looked genuinely perplexed by the question. "It was something to keep my mind occupied — a thought experiment, if you will. I needed something to take my mind off the misadventures in the Antarctic, and subsequently the unforeseen perils on Deep Sea One that resulted in unfavorable light with powerful people. So I opened my folder of unfinished thoughts and selected one to work on. I've played with this idea on and off for years, which meant that Sara and her companions were able to bring forward the date of this Mind Meld by nearly two years. I think they were quite pleased about that."
"Right. Yeah. I'm sure they were… " Sam trailed off, his head too full of new information to offer more of a contribution. Surely there were ethical and legal considerations that would prevent any organization from ever accomplishing this kind of world domination? Surely they couldn't pull things together so quickly, or if they could, why would they require the smoke screen that was the Vision Quest? Still he was desperate to follow up on the details he recorded for Purdue's quest for the Spear of Destiny and when he was planning to pursue that devastating revelation to the world. Question after question lined up in his head, all equally eager to be asked, but as he opened his mouth to speak, Nina nearly collapsed into the tent.
"Nina!" Purdue reached her first. She fell into his arms and he helped her down onto the floor. Her tank top was torn and smudged with dirt, and there was a long streak of brownish-red where she had wiped her hand after touching the partly-congealed blood. Her face was dirty and tear-stained, and most of her dark hair had escaped from its stubby ponytail and now hung in matted tendrils around her face. The pale skin of her arms and legs was covered in insect bites and scratches, and her left ankle was puffy and violently pink.
"Get her some water," Purdue took command, settling her on a blanket and dropping to his knees to examine the damage to her ankle. Sam grabbed a waterskin and pulled out the stopper, then held it to Nina's lips and helped her to take a sip. As he slipped an arm around her shoulders he could feel her trembling. He longed to ask her what had happened and to ascertain that she was unharmed, but evidently that would have to wait. Before anything else could happen, they would have to get her calmed down.
Only seconds behind Nina, the two acolytes burst into the tent. Without a word they pushed Sam and Purdue aside and began dragging Nina to her feet. Sam kicked out at the legs of the male, knocking him off balance, while Purdue leaped up behind the female and attempted to pry her off. The duo had their hands full with Nina, who was lashing out in all directions, but reinforcements were on their way. Cody was right behind them, ready to take the struggling Nina off their hands and leave the acolytes to deal with Sam and Purdue.
"Freeze." They had not reckoned on Kai, always a strategic distance from Purdue. He materialized right behind Cody, and in a flash the barrel of his gun was pressed against the back of the young man's neck.
Cody relaxed his grip on Nina, but did not release her. "This is for her own good," he gasped, as he felt the cold metal on his skin. "She's a danger to herself. Let me go, and we can resolve this without getting our security involved."
To Sam's surprise, Purdue made a quick gesture at Kai and Cody was released. I haven't seen any security, Sam thought, but whatever they have, it's enough to worry Purdue. That's not good.
"Thanks," said Cody, as Kai holstered his weapon. "I'm sorry to have to do this, but I'm worried about Nina. During our one-to-one session she attacked me and ran off into the desert. Who knows where she went? It's dangerous out there, and I think she's having some trouble staying stable. It happens sometimes. We do intense work with people, and it's too much for them. They struggle for a while. They need help. Especially considering what the poor woman had had to endure after almost losing her life on the North Sea."
"Fuck you!" Nina yelled. "I don't need your help."
Purdue and Sam both seemed perplexed by Cody's last statement. What did Nina endure after Deep Sea One? Why did neither of them know about it?
"Cody, if Nina says she doesn't need—"
"Sorry, Sam," Cody blocked Sam's attempted intervention, "but my options are limited. Nina physically attacked me. Either you let her come quietly with me, and we'll get her some help, or I call in our security team and then radio for the police. What do you think, Nina? Which is it to be?"