Nathan steepled his fingers and gazed across the table as if preparing for a game of chess. “Same thing, Michael. Pick any ten samples from the table and place them in the order you chose them.”
“Again?” Michael gave a resigned shake of his head. “This is pretty boring, Nate. What’s the point, anyway?”
“Just indulge me. I promise to explain it all when my data is complete.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Michael sighed and selected a sample. Then another. He continued in a manner that appeared completely random. Elena glanced at Nathan. As usual, he had the look of a kid waiting for his favorite cartoon to start. He sat at the edge of his seat with eyes that practically gleamed with giddy anticipation. It was as if the repetitive exercise was the most important event in the history of mankind.
He paused and glanced at her. “I’m sorry about belittling your dad, Elena. If anyone understands father issues, it’s me. I lashed out at you when I was really stressed over my own situation. No excuses, though. Wrong is wrong.”
He turned back to the samples before she could answer, leaving her flabbergasted from the sudden change of attitude. In that brief moment, he had actually seemed genuinely apologetic.
She was relieved when the tap at the door gave her a chance to excuse herself from the bipolar atmosphere. She stepped out at a gesture from Sid Damon, the head of security operations. The dark-haired man might have been handsome were it not for the intensity of his face, a perfect Nazi villain profile complete with prominent cheekbones and wide, glassy eyes that tended to shimmer with barely-controlled violence.
“Private Ruiz.”
“Yes, sir?”
He handed her an envelope. “You’ve been reassigned.”
“Reassigned? Did I do something wrong, sir?”
“No. I thought you wanted to use your skills in the field, Private. Am I misinformed?” His heated stare made it clear what her response should be.
“No, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“That will be all, Private.” Tucking his hands behind his back, he strode down the hall.
Elena took a backward glance through the narrow window, where Nathan still conferred with Michael inside. She placed a hand on the door handle before pausing to wonder why her first instinct was to share the news with him. She doubted he’d care one way or the other. Probably would be glad to see the last of her.
Tearing the envelope open, she withdrew the paper and frowned at the message. “Mr. Damon, what is—?” She stopped, realizing Damon had already turned the corner. She scanned the confusing text carefully a second time, but it still didn’t make any sense.
What in the world is an Aberration?
Chapter 4: Pernicious Emprise
True to its namesake, the Hive was abuzz with scurrying movement. As the central information center for Chimera Global, it required a massive amount of severely screened personnel and security to keep it running and relatively impenetrable. The building was a tall, oblong strongbox of pierced stone that took its place on the grounds of the historic Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle. The view outside the east window of the Command Hub was of mass reconstruction. Since acquiring the site, Chimera wasted no time in upgrading and restoring the buildings. The military training facilities and on-site university would soon be up and running. Students pursuing careers in the armed forces would be recruited, trained and loyal to Chimera Global before they even set foot on a US military division.
The opposite view was of the building’s interior. The main lobby of the Hive was sprawled out under the watchful eye of the Command Hub. Hundreds of streamlined desks and cubicles were categorically arranged, each occupied by a hardworking research assistant. They were assigned to tasks ranging from intel to surveillance, receiving imagery and messages from posts all around the world.
Alexander Blackwell watched the flurry of activity from his vantage point. There was a harmony to the staff worker’s movements, as though they danced to a melody just outside of hearing. It was all synchronized, smooth as a well-oiled machine, reliable as clockwork.
He focused on the chaotic scene displayed on the main console directly in front of him. Traffic completely stalled, police and emergency vehicles assisting terrified people after a brutal exchange of gunfire in the middle of a crowded intersection. Old feed, but he constantly pulled it up because it irritated him. A simple mission that went completely haywire because he had underestimated his quarry. That didn’t happen very often.
“Any leads behind your completely unnecessary show of force?”
Blackwell’s mouth twisted when he turned to face his father. Senator Blackwell’s face took up nearly the entire display screen on the main wall. He often positioned his camera too close on purpose, finding it unnerved those he wished to intimidate or rebuke. Blackwell smiled. He was far beyond such obvious tactics.
“I don’t know what show of force you’re referring to, Senator. The tragedy that took place in San Francisco was the direct result of a rogue FBI agent transporting data stolen from AIT databases. Her attack on government-sanctioned forces resulted in an unfortunate exchange of gunfire that injured civilians, one of them critically. It definitely raises questions on the screening procedures the FBI employs. The heat is focused on them, not Chimera’s private military corporation. Thanks in no small part to your inquiry on Capitol Hill, demanding answers and accountability.”
Senator Blackwell grunted. His thick, dark eyebrows nearly smothered his eyes when his frown deepened further. “It took months of arm-twisting and favor-collecting to clean get your name clean. This is the last time I pull your ass from the fire, Alex. You still haven’t realized cowboy tactics only get the liberals more involved in trying to make headlines by targeting gun laws and sequestering privatized military operations. And who’s got to deal with those spineless cowards? Not you, that’s for certain.”
“Yes, I’m sure it’s terrible.” Blackwell’s hand hovered over the End button. “Anything else you need, Senator? I’m sure you have plenty to occupy yourself with other than checking up on the corporation you cut all ties with.”
Senator Blackwell leaned closer, until the entire screen was dominated by his scowling visage. “You’re still determined to pursue this outlandish theory? Have you forgotten the financial dent you absorbed when you sent the Gorgon into the Triangle? The only prototype manned probe of its kind, designed to break all deep sea diving records, and you sent it to it to the one part of the world where things just vanish. Decades worth of time and funding — wasted. “
“Not to mention the five specialists on board. Especially Dr. Rosen and his wife, both assets who will be hard to replace. I haven’t forgotten, Senator.”
“All the capitol you’ve invested on this hypothetical energy source — it’s fool’s gold at best. You’ll shipwreck Chimera in a matter of months if you keep at this obsession.”
“The face of the future is sculpted by daredevils, Senator. The timid just watch it happen. Give my regards to the President.” Blackwell allowed himself a tiny amount of satisfaction at the startled look on his father’s face when he shut down the connection.