Chapter 10
Matt sat in his car staring nervously at the white stone building before him with ISO printed in large red writing across the top of it.
He thought he could handle the man called Mr Gearer trying to bribe him into quitting his job, but then the man started to take a different tactic, and then to top it off he discovered that Mr. Gearer worked for Galactor. When he told him this piece of information during one of his 'visits' to Matt's office he knew he was in deeper than he expected, and he had to think about the welfare of his wife and son.
He slammed his hand on the steering wheel to let out some of frustration of finding out Galactor wanted him to work for them. Galactor is dangerous and Matt had experienced it first hand on a bridge that came close claiming the life of the only family he had left in the world- Natasha and Dyami.
His senses went on high alert as he stepped out of the car. He felt that every person that walked past him could be an agent of Galactor.
He had made several calls to the ISO to try and make an appointment to see him, but all he got was a run around and help desks.
Are they spying on me? He thought looking at a man wearing sunglasses that smiled in his direction as he walked up to the large glass front doors.
Shaking his head he tried to push the paranoid thoughts from his mind. He had to focus on what he needed to say to the only man he felt that could help him get out of this situation.
Trying to walk normally with his bad leg and appear he didn't have a care in the world was harder than it used to be for Matt. Having a family changed his priories forever. When he flew fighter jets he could be selfish in his own needs and wants. The accident during a skirmish changed him, and then getting married soon after and recently becoming a father completed his turnaround from being a man who took risks to being a man who didn't.
Seeking out this man was a risk, but not seeking his help could amount much worse.
The middle aged woman at the reception desk smiled in a professional as he approached her.
Matt cleared his throat as she waited for him to address her.
"I'd…I'd like to see ." Matt politely requested.
"Do you have an appointment?" She asked.
"No, but it's important…" Matt said trying not to reveal too much of his reasons for needing to see Dr Nambu, the new director to a receptionist. "Its…I have some information that he'd find important to his work."
"Can you give me any more details?" She asked looking away from him.
"I can't talk about my reasons here." Matt tried not to appear impatient, he was already late for work, but his family came first
She paused for a minute and looked at something on a computer screen, and then she picked up a clip board and pen and handed it to him.
"What's this?" He asked as he began to skim over it.
"Fill it out and when the doctor gets a chance he'll call you." She said flatly.
Matt drew his lips into a tight line. "This won't wait- my family is at risk…"
"He's a busy man- he has about fifty people a day call him with urgent business…" She sat down behind her computer and then indicated to lounge seat close by for him to get comfortable and start filling out the form.
"This is ridiculous…can't you call him…it has to do with Galactor." Matt hoped the mention of the organisation would give her the idea of how urgent it was for him to see Dr Nambu.
She merely looked up like the word Galactor didn't phase her one bit. "We have many people who come in and proclaim to have information about that organisation…often it's the media trying to get in and look at our facilities…and hopefully spot the famous Science Ninja Team."
"Fill out the form, if its genuine then I'm sure he'll be in touch with you as soon as possible." She said in a neutral tone.
"You're not serious…" Matt felt his anger brewing- he had been threatened only this morning by Galactor. Two black cars forced him off the road, men in green told him he had one last chance to come willingly or he would lose his family. Matt knew he had to act and fast.
Mat put the clip board down, and in a last attempt at controlling his frustrations he looked at her and said. "My family is in a lot of danger- I need to see him urgently…"
She didn't react- casually she pointed a pen at the form. "Fill it out and then we'll see."
Matt eyed off the security barrier…if he could get through there then maybe…just maybe he could bolt up the fire stairs and loom for his office. How many floors are there he wondered, from the high of the building there'd be at least 100 floors. He continued to entertain the idea when she interrupted his thought pattern.
"While your standing there thinking your wasting time that could be spent filling out the form." She said glancing in his direction and then she went back to typing something on her keyboard.
Matt leaned over the counter deliberately picked up the clip board hoping to spot a registry of personnel. They're good he thought- nothing that could be a security breach in sight. He casually moved around the desk to sit on the plush neutral coloured leather lounge keeping an eye on the desk.
The receptionist didn't move, Matt kept a keen eye on her security pass and waited for someone to walk up to the desk. If he could just get into the main building he could find Dr Nambu and enlist his help.
She leaned over to pick up a pen, Matt moved as fast as his bad leg would allow him to and in desperation he grabbed her security tag successfully, and walked very fast towards the security guards. He picked a group and joined them flashing the pass in hope they wouldn't look to closely.
As he walked past and headed towards the lifts alarms went off sending people into a panic. Matt looked around to see several burly security guards bearing down on him. He hit the floor hard sending sharp pains shooting through his body- one of them picked him up by the scruff of his shirt collar.
"Nice try…scum bag." The man snarled and looked over at the receptionist. "Thanks for tip off Rita…"
"Damn bloody reporters…That's the second one to try that trick today to get to the director for an exclusive." Someone said in disgust.
Feeling dizzy from the fall and out of kilter Matt tried to walk, except the man wouldn't allow it, dragging him out of the building and he threw him clumsily on the pavement outside.
Embarrassed by his attempt at getting past security he gingerly pushed himself into a seated position.
"Hey buddy…you okay?" A kindly young male voice made him look up. The kind voice belonged to a youth with an ample frame and unruly brown hair wearing a T-shirt with a large number five printed on it.
"I'm fine…I ahhh…." Matt fumbled, not really knowing what to say to this kind young man.
"Here, let me help you up, whata you to make those guys angry?...I'm Ryu by the way." Ryu extended his hand to assist Matt to his feet.
"Ryu…well I just went in to meet someone and it looks like that's not gonna happen." Matt sighed heavily. The young man studied his face.
"Have we met? Something about you looks familiar." Ryu scratched his head in thought, Matt just shook his head.
"I don't believe so…have a good day Ryu." Matt said in a kinder tone to only person who had offered him any help at all that day. He straightened up his suit. With no one left to turn to it meant taking matters into his own hands. He needed to go home and have his family pack up their bags. They would be on the run from Galactor, and he had to get started before they tried to threaten him again.
"Oh…my mistake, have a good day." Ryu said in a friendly voice with a smile before walking into the building.
Matt vaguely heard him, red tape and security… he thought angrily. They're not even interested in information about Galactor. The ISO isn't going to help us. Matt thought sourly as he got behind the wheel of his car. Turning on the engine he set the course for home.