Chapter 10: Chapter 10
David drummed his desk, trying to decide what course of action to take. "We're not sure Page Industries is involved. Tindall could be acting on his own simply out of revenge. Adam, you're going to have to go there and find out. Whether or not they really are involved, this company is at risk."
"Why's that, Boss? You can't let anyone else get a sample of my DNA?" the cyborg fumed, not in any state to censor his thoughts.
Sarif shot him a sharp look. "Both of my top security workers are being threatened, and if I lose my security, I might as well just sell the whole damn company! I don't need you taking this out on me, Adam. I genuinely thought we'd moved past this whole fiasco—that's why you continued to work for me. Now, get to the helipad, and I'll tell Faridah to meet you there."
About to argue that he was most certainly not over the huge violation the CEO had committed against him, the ex-cop shut his mouth when Pritchard nudged him, hard, in the side.
"I can just crack their systems and look for any information from my office. Why send Jensen?"
David sighed. "Look, Frank, if you find something, great. I'd still like Adam to go and get a feel of the place. I know you want to protect him, but I'm sure he'll be fine. Right, Adam?"
Having cooled down slightly, the cyborg obediently replied, "Right." He actually felt better at having something to do, rather than sit and hope for the best. The thought of Pritchard being threatened made his blood boil.
The computer tech looked helplessly to both men, mouth open like he wanted to argue the point, and then shut it as he resigned himself to the situation. Taking their cue from Sarif that they were dismissed, the two employees left, silent until they reached the elevator.
Grateful they were alone, the raven-haired man shoved his partner against the wall, kissing him needily. Two augmented arms wrapped tightly around him, the cyborg returning the kiss with equal ferocity. As the structure stopped on the correct level, they reluctantly parted.
"Jensen," the tech started, pausing to find the least awkward words to express that he was worried and wanted the brunet to come back safe and sound, "keep your infolink open."
The ex-SWAT smiled at the concern. "Be careful, Francis, and don't get yourself kidnapped. I'll be fine." Resisting the urge to make the 'goodbye' any sappier than it already was, he strode off toward Malik.
"Hey, Spy Boy," she waved at him with a smile. Faridah'd always been kind to him, and he was glad to count her as a friend. He didn't notice Frank practically growl when they hugged.
Adam retracted his shades to look at her fondly. "It's too bad the only time I see you is when someone's in danger."
"Jensen," came the tech's voice via infolink, sounding nothing but professional, "I have a layout of the building; I'm sending you the schematics now."
The cyborg crouched behind a box, feeling a sense of familiarity in such a position. "Thanks, Pritchard." Letting the Page Employee pass, he slipped into the vacant Human Resources Office and looked in the personnel file cabinet. Easily, the ex-cop found the T's and located Tindall's record.
Hired under request of Mr. Page. Defector from Sarif Industries with valuable information on augmentation technology and competitor security.
Just as the brunet was about to report the evidence to his co-worker, something caught his eye. Had R not been so close to T in the alphabet, he might never have looked in another drawer and found her file. Adam jammed Tindall's folder back in and hastily grabbed Megan Reed's. His heart thumped loudly in his ears and his throat felt as if it were closing.
Hired under request of Mr. Page. Defector from Sarif Industries. Currently assigned to the D Project.
His stomach dropped. Hand shaking, he pressed the communication button. "Pritchard, I found Tindall's proof-of-hire."
"Alright, Jensen, you'll need to find his office and-"
Adam cut him off, too angry to listen to what he already knew he needed to do. "-and Megan's. And Pritchard, her date of hire is the day I went to Panchea. She didn't care about whatever I was going to do there; she had her plan. She..."
The computer technician sighed, trying to keep his emotions controlled. "Adam," the barrier of professionalism broke as he spoke softly, attempting to calm his partner down, "if you'd like to come back, someone else can take this case. Sarif won't be happy, but he'll understand. But you can't be compromised. You just need to compose yourself long enough to get out of there."
Taking a deep breath, Jensen felt slightly better. He put the file back in and began heading towards either Dr. Reed's or Brian Tindall's office—whichever he could find first. "I'm okay, Frank, but... thank you. I'm the head of security, and this is my job." He hung up, not wanting to discuss the matter further.
"The nanite-virus chimera?" Sarif's baseball tossing tic became more frantic. "What the hell is that, Adam?"
The ex-SWAT crossed his arms. "I don't know, Boss. Based on the definition of chimera, I'd guess it has something to do with augmentation. Probably working with nanotechnology. But they didn't leave many traces of what it was around, and from what I found in Tindall's office, they need more of my DNA to work with it."
Setting the ball down, the CEO put his hands on Adam's shoulders. "Be on your toes, Son. If they can't get to you through Frank, I have a feeling they'll try some other way. If Megan approaches you, don't let your emotions get the better of you, Adam. You get the hell out of there."
"Don't worry, Boss. I've got it under control."
All the security chief wanted was to get down to his geeky computer nerd, and he hurried away as soon as David let him.
The tech greeted him with a tight embrace.
Brushing back Pritchard's bangs with a robotic hand, Adam retracted his glasses. "I'm sorry I worried you. It just shocked me to learn again that I never really knew her. Anyway, Sarif's assigning security around both of our apartments, so we should be fine to go home."
Frank looked away, fidgety. "You don't... suppose... he could save resources and just assign them to your place, do you?"
The cyborg glanced at his partner's hand, taking it gently in his own. "We can go get some of your things right now and grab some food on the way back."
"You don't really have take-out every day, do you, Jensen?" the raven-haired man inquired as they headed downtown, towards a multitude of restaurants.
Adam coughed. "Of course not. Most days I cook up a nice bowl of cereal."
The tech looked at him, disapproval covering his features. "That's disgusting, Jensen. Forget eating out, we're going to the grocery store. I'm going to cook for you—think of it as payment for letting me live with you for now." As the brunet opened his mouth, Frank cut him off. "Don't argue with me."
Pritchard glared at the brunet as the two emptied the contents of the grocery cart at the cash register. "Really, Jensen? Sneaking a box of Crunchy Pirates into the basket? How juvenile."
The cyborg pretended to ignore him, staring up at the ceiling with a smirk on his face.