The Joanna Protocol
Chapter 8
"You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'd do anything to make you stay."
"No Light No Light" Song Lyrics
Jim and Gavin stepped out of the public transporter in New York City. So far, the trip had been uneventful. Jim's disguise had not provoked a single second glance from anyone during their two transport hops. The transporter terminal in Atlanta had been very busy, and so was the one here in New York since both were important hubs to almost anywhere in the world. The good thing about transporters was the speed of travel, the bad thing about transporters was the queues and the expense. Transporter travel cost twice as much as shuttle travel; one had to pay extra for speed and convenience.
Gavin looked up at the digital displays until he found the NYC to Bern schedule. "We have a layover here, Jim. We won't be able to transport for another hour. You want to get a cup of coffee?"
"Yeah, coffee sounds good. I could use a pick me up," Jim said.
They found a coffee shop, filled their mugs from the selections on the counter, and picked an out of the way table so they could talk without being overheard. Jim looked around, there was no one sitting close to them, but it was best to take no chances.
"So, you and Violet, huh?" He grinned at the sudden slight flush on Gavin's face. "I'm really happy for you, Gavin; Violet and Davy too, of course. You're a lucky man," he said, his face turning serious.
"I know it," Gavin said, just as serious. "I think I fell in love with her the first time I saw her at your house," he smiled. remembering. "I didn't believe in love at first sight, but she proved me wrong."
"Yeah, as I recall, you were pretty taken with her from the beginning. When do you think you'll get married? If you give me enough advance notice, I might be able to swing a couple of days of leave to attend the wedding. I wouldn't want to miss it."
"We haven't decided on a date yet." Gavin looked up and met the hazel eyes, his own gray eyes pensive. "There's some stuff we have to work out; like where to live and our careers. Violet has a very important job, and I travel an awful lot. We've also talked about my adopting Davy legally. Violet and I would make sure he'd never forget his own father, what a good man he was, but I love that little guy like he was my own. Also, you and Winona know just how dangerous my job is;1 Violet's already lost one husband, and it's not fair to her to have to deal with the knowledge that I may not come back from some mission gone wrong." He sighed; he loved his job, the challenges, the danger, the sense of pride he felt serving Star Fleet, but it was hard on loved ones and significant others. "At least we'll be officially engaged as soon as we can shop for a ring after we finish this mission. When we set the date, we'd love for you to be there," he added. "Neither of us have much family left, I only have my brother, and Violet only has distant relatives, so it would mean a lot to us if you, Winona, and Peter were there."
"Ma and Peter won't miss it for sure, and I'll try my best to be there, I promise," Jim looked at his friend, his voice soft. "You and Violet will figure it all out, Gavin. Violet is an amazing woman, and Davy is a son any man would be proud to call his own. He already loves you like a dad. I have confidence that things will work out." They sat in comfortable silence, mindful of the throng of people walking close to them. The overhead speakers announced the first call to Bern, and they got up and walked to the transporter station.
They handed their tickets to the attendant and stepped up to stand on the large public transporter pad. The attendant went to his console, put in the coordinates and Jim felt the slight disorientation that always accompanied beaming. They both materialized in the designated beam-in location in front of the Hotel Pension Marthahaus, which was centrally located and close to the Bern bullet train station. The hotel was also within walking distance to the United Federation World Bank.
Jim and Gavin went into the lobby where they were welcomed warmly by the clerk. The clerk looked at his hotel registration computer. "Welcome, to the Hotel Marthahaus, gentlemen. Your suite is ready for you, Mr. McCall and Mr. Corrigan. It has two bedrooms, an office area with two desks, two comm stations, and a comfortable living room as well as a small kitchenette. We have a few larger suites for longer stays, and I believe this one is just what you requested. I understand you will be staying for a few days?" He looked up at them, his gaze bland and uninterested.
"Yes, that's correct," said Gavin, handing over his credit chip. "We're bank auditors and it's time for the yearly audit of several of the Bern banks."
"Ah," said the clerk, "a thankless task, I'm sure." His Standard was flawless, Jim noted. Bern was a worldwide hub for banking and politics, so being fluent in several languages without the use of the universal translator was a big asset.
The clerk pushed a button and a young man appeared. The clerk smirked noting Jim's surprise. "Our hotel does not use robot gurneys to transport luggage. We believe in personal service and face to face interactions with all our guests. Stanislaus, please show these gentlemen their rooms, and take up their bags."
"Yes sir, please come with me, gentlemen." He led them to the lift and to the third floor. Their suite was not far from the lift, and Stanislaus opened the door by keying in his code. "Here you are," he said, handing each of them their entry code cards. "It's one of our nicer suites. If you need anything, please push this button here," he said, indicating the front desk all call button. "Dinner begins at 8 pm Bern time and the dining room is directly adjacent to the lobby. We dine late here in Bern. There's water, snacks and fruit in your refrigeration unit in the kitchenette. Maid service begins at 7:00 am, but if you don't want to be disturbed just press the privacy button here," he said pointing to the door. "Room service is by beam in; just call the front desk to give your order."
"Thank you, Stanislaus." Gavin handed him some credits and closed the door behind him and locked it. He and Jim looked at each other. "Okay, glad that's over with. Let me con Sonnai and tell him we're here. He said his room was next door to ours. Maybe we can unlock the connecting door and Sonnai won't have to keep going out to the hallway. The less we're seen the better."
He opened his communicator and connected with Agent Connolly immediately. "We're here, Sonnai, come on over, we're right next door."
There was a knock on the door almost immediately and Gavin let in the SIS agent. He stepped in and shook hands with Gavin and Jim stepped forward to be introduced.
"Captain Kirk, an honor, Sir."
"Jim, please. No formalities here."
"Yes, Sir and I'm Sonnai. I've been truly looking forward to working with yae."
Jim heard the very faint Gaelic accent; he saw a tall, slender young man, younger even than Gavin. He looked like, what in ancient days, would have been described as 'Black Irish' with his dark hair and dark eyes, uncommon in the usual fair Irish genotype. Since the Kirk surname had its origins in Scotland and Ireland, Jim, at one time, had done extensive research into Gaelic and Scottish names. He remembered reading that The Black Irish were once thought to be decedents of the Spanish sailors from the Spanish Armada, or from a group of Spanish soldiers who served under Irish chiefs around the 1500's and stayed long enough to father children. Hence, the dark hair and eyes and darker complexion in some of the Irish of today.
"Come sit, Sonnai," Gavin said, as he ushered him into the living area. "Tell us what you've done so far."
Sonnai brought out his working padd and sat down. Jim and Gavin sat across him in the armchairs also brought out their padds. "I'm sending you the updated list of all the bank officers and other pertinent information about the bank's assets. It's got quite a portfolio, and it caters to very wealthy individuals who insist on privacy and anonymity. The bank is known for that, they protect the privacy of their clients tooth and nail. It's a very conservative bank and has an excellent, honest reputation in their monetary transactions and the bank's own portfolios. So far, there hasn't ever been a whisper of wrong doing by the bank itself, but I'm sure some of their larger accounts are the products of illegal activities. The bank asks no questions of its depositors, no matter how big the deposit is."
He looked up from his padd. "I've made sure our credentials are above suspicion, but be aware that they won't be happy to see us. In the past, there have been some efforts by law enforcement agencies to get financial information about some of their clients, but they have all been unsuccessful. The bank stonewalls, delays and puts legal roadblocks in the way of any deep investigations. There hasn't been a Forensic bank audit in almost 10 years. This really isn't unusual, there are just too many banks in the Federation, and even on Terra, and there just aren't enough Forensic bank auditors to go around. There is a general audit every year, as required by law, but it's just a superficial audit conducted by private Bern auditors done just to submit paperwork to the World Bank Commission. A true Forensic audit is something very different, so be prepared for no cooperation and even some animosity."
"They won't have a choice," Jim said grimly, 'and neither do we. We have to do this, we have to stop these terrorists some how, and the bank officers can't be worse than angry and uncooperative Klingons. We'll manage."
Sonnai sputtered with laughter. "I'm sure there's no comparison, Jim."
Jim grinned. "We'll see," he said, scratching at his itchy mustache.
Gavin glanced at him and smiled. "Take it off, Jim. You won't need it on again until we go down to dinner and I can put it back on quickly."
Jim pulled the mustache off with a jerk and sighed with relief.
Sonnai went on. "The bank opens at 9:00 am for their staff and at 10:00 am for business. We're expected at 9:00 am. The bank general manager is our liaison, and his name is Theo Bichel, he's been with the bank for 12 years." He sat back. "I think that's it; everything else that I thought might be relevant, I've forwarded to you."
"Excellent job, Sonnai," Gavin said. He got up and went to the connecting door. "Let me see if I can unlock this door so we don't have to go out in the hall." He pulled out his pocket tool kit, tinkered with the door, and opened it. "There you go, Sonnai."
"That was fast, Gavin. You could have had a thriving career as a burglar of jewel thief," Jim teased. "You'll have to teach me that trick. Spock can do it also, but not me. I usually just shoot down the door," he laughed.
"Always glad to enlarge your areas of expertise, Captain. You never know when these kinds of skills will come in handy."
Jim checked his chronometer. "It's almost time for dinner, but I want to check in with Bones and Spock before we go down. Excuse me," he said walking into the other bedroom.
Jim flipped open his personal communicator and waited for Bones to pick up.
"Jim, I'm here." Bones' voice sounded a little tinny. "How are things?"
"We made it to Bern just fine, no problems. We've checked into the hotel and the other SIS agent is here too. Bones, how are you, how are things there? Any more progress? How is Baby Girl?"
"I'm holding up, Jim. It's kinda hard to see my little girl like she is, but at least Jo is the same, she hasn't gotten worse, and neither has Jocelyn. The stasis was a good temporary solution until we find a cure. We've made a lot more progress this evening. Spock and I are in two separate labs; we're getting more done that way. We've identified the precise mechanism of interaction that triggered Jo and Jocelyn's strain of the disease. We're now in the process of identifying which allele is the alternative form of the gene that's located at a specific position on the specific chromosome that caused the tertiary gene involvement that triggered the disease. Once we have the answer to that, I can try the viral vector therapy to treat Jo and everyone else." 2 Jim heard him draw a deep breath. "Whatever the hell I have to do, to cure Joanna, I'm gonna' do it, Jim.
"I know you will, Bones, and I know you and Spock will find the cure. Did you manage to get some rest?"
"Yeah, I took a nap and Spock meditated for about an hour, so we would be alert doing this work; it's very exact and difficult work, but we're managin'"
"Good. I'll comm again tomorrow after our day at the bank to update you and Spock. Don't stay up too late. Good night, Bones."
"Night, Jim."
Jim closed his comm and immediately punched in Spock's code. He was happy Spock was in another lab so he could speak with him about Bones. The Vulcan picked up immediately.
"Spock, here."
"Spock. It's Jim."
"Captain, I am gratified to hear your voice. How is your mission progressing?"
"It's going well so far."
Jim brought him up to date on their day and Sonnai's intel and their plans for tomorrow. "Spock, I want you to keep an eye on Bones. He said you two are really getting someplace with your research, but you know how he is. Be sure he gets some sleep and gets some nourishing food down him, okay? He'll keep working until he collapses from lack of sleep and fatigue, especially since it's all for Joanna. I'm not there to keep an eye on him, so I'm depending on you to do it."
"I will endeavor to do so, Captain. However, Dr. McCoy is remarkably uncaring about his own well being, and very recalcitrant about taking measures to ensure his health."
Jim sighed, he knew Bones' stubbornness all too well. "I know he is, Spock, but I have faith in your powers of persuasion."
"I will endeavor to not disappoint you, Captain."
"Thanks, Spock; and keep me posted. It sounds like you're very close to a cure. "
"I believe we are, Captain. Thanks to the Vulcan research, we have accomplished in hours, what would otherwise have taken us days without it. I am certain a cure is not far off."
"That's fantastic news, Spock! I'll comm again tomorrow. Take care. Kirk out."
Jim went back to the living room and sat down. Gavin flipped his communicator closed.
"I just finished my report to Admiral Nogura. He said there's been no further communication from the terrorists. Also, he said the new infected victims are holding their own. They're being very closely monitored and if they get worse, they'll be put in stasis like Joanna and Ms. Darnell."
"Hopefully by tomorrow we'll have more intel," Jim said. He looked at his chronometer. "I'm getting hungry, shall we go down to dinner or order room service?"
"Let's order from room service. The less we're seen the better, and" Gavin grinned, 'if we stay in I won't have to put your mustache back on."
"That's motivation enough, for me," Jim said, and got up to call the front desk to see what was on the menu.
1 See "Ring of Treason"
2 More dubious Science thanks to Wikipedia
