-Chapter 56: All Good Things.-
-En route...-
The huge airliner skidded across the Florida coast, en route to Cuba. Escorted by four Harrier jets, the HCF commanded luxury plane fought the raining storm ahead.
"Hi, Marie, it's me." Ada said into her cell phone as Julia went over the mission plan with her HCF bodyguards.
"Ada, my god where are you child?!" An elderly woman's voice replied. Ada was both relieved and anxious talking to Jack's mother, however she needed to assure her everything was going to be all right.
"I'm at work right now, I can't go back home." Ada lied.
"Of course.well we're all flying down to see you soon Ada, are you holding up alright?" The woman asked.
"For the most part.listen Marie, I'll have to call you back.stay in touch." Ada finished, hanging up the phone before she said something she would later regret. Julia glanced at Ada, wanting to say something in comfort yet held back words. Finally, silence was broken.
"All good things." Ada whispered.
"Excuse me?" Julia responded, reading alone now at her chair. Ada looked up and then back down at the floor, finding words to explain what she had said.
"All good things come to an end Julia.All.." Ada trailed off.
"A foolish sentiment Ada, nothing more. We promised you that we would help you find your family, and Marcus and I continue to honor that pact. If all good things come to an end, then it'll have a hell of a fight." Julia consoled. However Ada wasn't referring to her family, but Biotech. Questions plagued her mind, never letting go. What was she doing? She might as well be going into a hopeless battle firing blind. Could Biotech be the real good guys? Could everything she worked for be for nothing at all? So much work, so much time. Now there was even more work to be done, and little to no time.
"I know you will honor the pact." Ada almost seemed to be threatening then agreeing. As the silence continued, the green light on the wall blinked and beeped with its buzzers wailing, informing the passengers on board that landing would be soon.
-Havana, Cuba.-
There they were, Julia's two guards with MP5's in hand, and Ada holding a briefcase. Julia was the first to approach the motorcade, leaning down to the limousine window as it rolled down. "Get in." A familiar voice said inside the car. Julia nodded for her bodyguards, and Ada, to follow her inside the car. As Ada sat in her seat, Dylan held up a Champaign glass.
"Pleasure to see you all again.hello Ada." He drank from the glass, squinting his eyes in delight as the sensation of the smooth, pleasurable liquid flowed down his throat. Ada could only sit there and count how many ways she could kill him and escape the now moving car.
The car stopped outside a fabulous mansion estate, complete with an expansive and very expensive fountain in the center. Ada scanned the perimeter of the yard, being sure to memorize the guard locations and patrols before the limousine proceeded down the ramp into the underground parking lot.
"Get out." Dylan said after exiting the car. Julia stepped out first, padding herself down to remove the wrinkles in her suit. Ada was last, and as she leaned for the door, Dylan's hand outstretched to help her out.
"Bite me." She whispered, getting out on her own and walking away from him.
"My employer couldn't be here for security reasons of course, however I'll be happy to forward the negotiations on their behalf." Dylan danced around words, hiding the fact that his boss was too frightened to be there.
"The Director couldn't be here, how unfortunate." Ada commented, stepping into the elevator after Julia.
"Indeed it is, they looked forward to meeting all of you." Dylan kept referring to the Director as multiple people, which concerned Ada for some reason.
"Please wait here, while Ms. Sterling and I conclude the deal in private." Dylan ushered the bodyguards and Ada to have a seat in the lobby of the conference room beyond. Ada handed Julia the briefcase she carried, and took a seat. Two Biotech guards remained in the room, fully armed.
Five minutes past and it was time for Ada to make her move. As she paced around the room reading various sculptures and credentials on the walls, she approached the guards.
"Do you guys have the time, my watch seems to have stopped." Ada held her watch close to her face, and then leaned it towards the guard. As he leaned in to check her seemingly broken watch, Ada activated the hidden switch and closed her eyes. Suddenly, a high powered light flashed from the watch and sent the guards into a daze. As she opened her eyes, the two Biotech agents remained standing yet almost motionless.
"We've got five minutes before the effect wares off, it'll seem to them that they were daydreaming. You're with me." Ada pointed to one of the bodyguards and opened the door, peering in both directions for any life outside in the corridor.
"Agent Sterling, we're proceeding with phase two, e.t.a. five minutes." The remaining bodyguard said into his hidden mic which was sent into Julia's ear piece. As the bodyguard turned back to the direction of Ada and the second bodyguard, they were gone.
"Stay here, and keep out of sight." Ada ordered while picking the lock to the office door. The bodyguard hid behind a corner as Ada entered the office. Darkness flooded her vision, disturbing her senses. Ada pushed the old-fashioned light switch, shedding light on the misty room. Proceeding quickly to the computer console, Ada began hacking the system.
"I'm in the system, stand by for uplink." Ada whispered to the HCF squad several blocks away from the estate, all sitting beside a computer and awaiting download.
"Agent Wong, get out of there. Two incoming." The bodyguard outside warned. Ada hit the screensaver back on the computer and hit the light switch just as the door began to open.
"I don't trust the HCF operatives here, is there any sensitive materials in their reach?" A man said to his secretary as she wrote down his orders.
"No sir, all access terminals have been secured." The woman stopped as the phone rang at his desk. After a short conversation, the woman turned to her boss who was just now going for his computer.
"Sir, we're needed in the munitions lab, another problem with the new guidance systems." She informed. Without any more words, they exited the room and allowed Ada to drop down from above.
"What's our time?" Ada whispered into her mic.
"Two minutes until the guards are alert." The bodyguard answered as he sat in the lounge outside the conference room. Ada jumped back on the computer and began typing madly.
-Biotech Frontiers.
System LOCKED-
Ada placed the hacking device back on the terminal and released the lock on the system.
-System UNLOCKED
Welcome.
Search Engine ready.
Please type in any information or key words.-
"Biotech Headquarters." Ada said as she typed in those words.
-Search Complete.
Results found, 1.
File #568201: Biotech HQ coordinates &%*!#%&.
WARNING, INFORMATION CLASSIFIED.-
"Damnit, we've got a problem." Ada informed as she read the repeating, blinking words.
"We copy Freelancer, we're assessing the situation now, stand by." A man back at the HCF safehouse replied.
"Wait, I have an idea." Ada began typing in new codes.
-Now closing Search engine.
Communications system activated, please type in the global coordinates or listed name of the recipient.-
"Biotech Headquarters." Ada typed. Seconds later, the communiqué was established with Biotech HQ.
-Trace system activated, tracing and triangulating recipient.- The computer informed as Ada waited impatiently in the dark. Finally, what she searched for came up.
-Trace coordinates confirmed.
Location: Costa Rica.
Global grid coordinates: 574 by 85.
Triangulated position: Costa Rica northern plantation.
Satellite linkup traced: Establishing trace.
Satellite access codes established: 00101010100101010100001010111010101010001010101000101.-
Ada took a moment to memorize the satellite access code, realizing with this HCF would have even more of an advantage. As she closed all the programs, Ada deleted her requests with ease and raced for the doorway.
"And how is everybody holding up." Dylan asked while exiting the conference room with Julia following. Ada sat reading a magazine casually, secretly catching her breath from the mad dash back to the lounge. Dylan began walking out of the lounge conversing with Julia while the Biotech agents shook off their daze, believing all they had been doing was daydreaming.
"010101000101." Ada finished while one of the HCF agents wrote down the memorized satellite codes. After leaving the estate, the team had proceeded directly back to the airport and onto the plane. This time however, Dylan and his entourage were on board in a secure location. Julia was overlooking the files Dylan had provided when Ada turned to her.
"Satisfactory?" She quipped.
"Very, this will help us immensely." Julia answered, looking up at the last second.
"I meant this." Ada nodded to the piece of paper with the access codes on it.
"Oh.Ada that's more then we ever thought we could get. The safehouse team informed me of your last minute call on getting the location of the HQ, nicely done as always." Julia smiled, trying to get Ada in a better mood. However, Ada was unimpressed. To her understanding and belief, Ada had done enough to get the help she needed in finding her family. Too many times that day and even then Ada fought the urge to take Dylan by the throat and snap him like a twig-she was more then certain Dylan knew the location of her family. Still, she made a pact, and she would stick by it. Ada would help in the overthrow of the High Council, and as soon as her family was back home safe, Ada would be gone from HCF.
"All good things." She whispered, staring out the window at the dark, dreary skies.
-En route...-
The huge airliner skidded across the Florida coast, en route to Cuba. Escorted by four Harrier jets, the HCF commanded luxury plane fought the raining storm ahead.
"Hi, Marie, it's me." Ada said into her cell phone as Julia went over the mission plan with her HCF bodyguards.
"Ada, my god where are you child?!" An elderly woman's voice replied. Ada was both relieved and anxious talking to Jack's mother, however she needed to assure her everything was going to be all right.
"I'm at work right now, I can't go back home." Ada lied.
"Of course.well we're all flying down to see you soon Ada, are you holding up alright?" The woman asked.
"For the most part.listen Marie, I'll have to call you back.stay in touch." Ada finished, hanging up the phone before she said something she would later regret. Julia glanced at Ada, wanting to say something in comfort yet held back words. Finally, silence was broken.
"All good things." Ada whispered.
"Excuse me?" Julia responded, reading alone now at her chair. Ada looked up and then back down at the floor, finding words to explain what she had said.
"All good things come to an end Julia.All.." Ada trailed off.
"A foolish sentiment Ada, nothing more. We promised you that we would help you find your family, and Marcus and I continue to honor that pact. If all good things come to an end, then it'll have a hell of a fight." Julia consoled. However Ada wasn't referring to her family, but Biotech. Questions plagued her mind, never letting go. What was she doing? She might as well be going into a hopeless battle firing blind. Could Biotech be the real good guys? Could everything she worked for be for nothing at all? So much work, so much time. Now there was even more work to be done, and little to no time.
"I know you will honor the pact." Ada almost seemed to be threatening then agreeing. As the silence continued, the green light on the wall blinked and beeped with its buzzers wailing, informing the passengers on board that landing would be soon.
-Havana, Cuba.-
There they were, Julia's two guards with MP5's in hand, and Ada holding a briefcase. Julia was the first to approach the motorcade, leaning down to the limousine window as it rolled down. "Get in." A familiar voice said inside the car. Julia nodded for her bodyguards, and Ada, to follow her inside the car. As Ada sat in her seat, Dylan held up a Champaign glass.
"Pleasure to see you all again.hello Ada." He drank from the glass, squinting his eyes in delight as the sensation of the smooth, pleasurable liquid flowed down his throat. Ada could only sit there and count how many ways she could kill him and escape the now moving car.
The car stopped outside a fabulous mansion estate, complete with an expansive and very expensive fountain in the center. Ada scanned the perimeter of the yard, being sure to memorize the guard locations and patrols before the limousine proceeded down the ramp into the underground parking lot.
"Get out." Dylan said after exiting the car. Julia stepped out first, padding herself down to remove the wrinkles in her suit. Ada was last, and as she leaned for the door, Dylan's hand outstretched to help her out.
"Bite me." She whispered, getting out on her own and walking away from him.
"My employer couldn't be here for security reasons of course, however I'll be happy to forward the negotiations on their behalf." Dylan danced around words, hiding the fact that his boss was too frightened to be there.
"The Director couldn't be here, how unfortunate." Ada commented, stepping into the elevator after Julia.
"Indeed it is, they looked forward to meeting all of you." Dylan kept referring to the Director as multiple people, which concerned Ada for some reason.
"Please wait here, while Ms. Sterling and I conclude the deal in private." Dylan ushered the bodyguards and Ada to have a seat in the lobby of the conference room beyond. Ada handed Julia the briefcase she carried, and took a seat. Two Biotech guards remained in the room, fully armed.
Five minutes past and it was time for Ada to make her move. As she paced around the room reading various sculptures and credentials on the walls, she approached the guards.
"Do you guys have the time, my watch seems to have stopped." Ada held her watch close to her face, and then leaned it towards the guard. As he leaned in to check her seemingly broken watch, Ada activated the hidden switch and closed her eyes. Suddenly, a high powered light flashed from the watch and sent the guards into a daze. As she opened her eyes, the two Biotech agents remained standing yet almost motionless.
"We've got five minutes before the effect wares off, it'll seem to them that they were daydreaming. You're with me." Ada pointed to one of the bodyguards and opened the door, peering in both directions for any life outside in the corridor.
"Agent Sterling, we're proceeding with phase two, e.t.a. five minutes." The remaining bodyguard said into his hidden mic which was sent into Julia's ear piece. As the bodyguard turned back to the direction of Ada and the second bodyguard, they were gone.
"Stay here, and keep out of sight." Ada ordered while picking the lock to the office door. The bodyguard hid behind a corner as Ada entered the office. Darkness flooded her vision, disturbing her senses. Ada pushed the old-fashioned light switch, shedding light on the misty room. Proceeding quickly to the computer console, Ada began hacking the system.
"I'm in the system, stand by for uplink." Ada whispered to the HCF squad several blocks away from the estate, all sitting beside a computer and awaiting download.
"Agent Wong, get out of there. Two incoming." The bodyguard outside warned. Ada hit the screensaver back on the computer and hit the light switch just as the door began to open.
"I don't trust the HCF operatives here, is there any sensitive materials in their reach?" A man said to his secretary as she wrote down his orders.
"No sir, all access terminals have been secured." The woman stopped as the phone rang at his desk. After a short conversation, the woman turned to her boss who was just now going for his computer.
"Sir, we're needed in the munitions lab, another problem with the new guidance systems." She informed. Without any more words, they exited the room and allowed Ada to drop down from above.
"What's our time?" Ada whispered into her mic.
"Two minutes until the guards are alert." The bodyguard answered as he sat in the lounge outside the conference room. Ada jumped back on the computer and began typing madly.
-Biotech Frontiers.
System LOCKED-
Ada placed the hacking device back on the terminal and released the lock on the system.
-System UNLOCKED
Welcome.
Search Engine ready.
Please type in any information or key words.-
"Biotech Headquarters." Ada said as she typed in those words.
-Search Complete.
Results found, 1.
File #568201: Biotech HQ coordinates &%*!#%&.
WARNING, INFORMATION CLASSIFIED.-
"Damnit, we've got a problem." Ada informed as she read the repeating, blinking words.
"We copy Freelancer, we're assessing the situation now, stand by." A man back at the HCF safehouse replied.
"Wait, I have an idea." Ada began typing in new codes.
-Now closing Search engine.
Communications system activated, please type in the global coordinates or listed name of the recipient.-
"Biotech Headquarters." Ada typed. Seconds later, the communiqué was established with Biotech HQ.
-Trace system activated, tracing and triangulating recipient.- The computer informed as Ada waited impatiently in the dark. Finally, what she searched for came up.
-Trace coordinates confirmed.
Location: Costa Rica.
Global grid coordinates: 574 by 85.
Triangulated position: Costa Rica northern plantation.
Satellite linkup traced: Establishing trace.
Satellite access codes established: 00101010100101010100001010111010101010001010101000101.-
Ada took a moment to memorize the satellite access code, realizing with this HCF would have even more of an advantage. As she closed all the programs, Ada deleted her requests with ease and raced for the doorway.
"And how is everybody holding up." Dylan asked while exiting the conference room with Julia following. Ada sat reading a magazine casually, secretly catching her breath from the mad dash back to the lounge. Dylan began walking out of the lounge conversing with Julia while the Biotech agents shook off their daze, believing all they had been doing was daydreaming.
"010101000101." Ada finished while one of the HCF agents wrote down the memorized satellite codes. After leaving the estate, the team had proceeded directly back to the airport and onto the plane. This time however, Dylan and his entourage were on board in a secure location. Julia was overlooking the files Dylan had provided when Ada turned to her.
"Satisfactory?" She quipped.
"Very, this will help us immensely." Julia answered, looking up at the last second.
"I meant this." Ada nodded to the piece of paper with the access codes on it.
"Oh.Ada that's more then we ever thought we could get. The safehouse team informed me of your last minute call on getting the location of the HQ, nicely done as always." Julia smiled, trying to get Ada in a better mood. However, Ada was unimpressed. To her understanding and belief, Ada had done enough to get the help she needed in finding her family. Too many times that day and even then Ada fought the urge to take Dylan by the throat and snap him like a twig-she was more then certain Dylan knew the location of her family. Still, she made a pact, and she would stick by it. Ada would help in the overthrow of the High Council, and as soon as her family was back home safe, Ada would be gone from HCF.
"All good things." She whispered, staring out the window at the dark, dreary skies.