Chapter 6: The Connection
Author's note: I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!! Yes, I know. It's been a while. I've been busy yes. But now I've updated. Enjoy! And also look out for my other fic, The Good The Bad And The Dead. (Rated R.)
When one reads of something in science fiction, the mind gives one the idea of huge consoles and a large complex. In this particular instance, that was actually rather accurate. It was a huge underground complex with complex experiments and huge control consoles.
"This is our main chamber." De Vries said. "It is where most of our main experiments take place. Also, there is a power station as well as a charting division, a radio division, a weapons division, a whole plethora of divisions as a matter of fact."
Joanna cocked her left eyebrow. "Why would an exploration company require a weapons division?" She asked innocently.
"Mostly just for deflectors for our satellites to protect them from space debris, but also a light arsenal for the guards similar to that of your Institute." De Vries said. "But I'm not sure how you do things in North America, but here it is considered impolite to insult one's host."
"I'm sorry." Joanna said. "I thought we were talking about technology."
"Mr. and Mrs. Riley, do you know of Jonathan Dark?" De Vries asked.
"I've heard of him." Jonathan said. "Mostly just rumors though. Never really knew who he was."
"Well, he is a spy for your Institute." De Vries said. "Apparently, when he was in Honduras, the government saw him as an invasion of privacy and told him his head would be cut off if he ever returned."
"I've heard that." Jonathan said. "But it wasn't his hands."
"No?" De Vries said. "Then his hands perhaps?"
"It wasn't his hands." Jonathan said. He still remembered it vividly. "It was his…" He looked where his legs conjoined. "It was… a misunderstanding."
"Precisely what we have here." De Vries said. "Well, I'm afraid I can't stand here and babble about. I've got work to do. I hope you will be all right left to your own devices. Vlodnikov?"
The big Russian came up.
"Please arrange for two security keycards for our guests." De Vries said.
"Da, Comrade De Vries." Vlodnikov said and moved off.
Six O' Clock came rather quickly, bringing dinner with it. It consisted of the traditional Russian borsht as well as caviar and some sort of fish.
The next three hours passed rather quickly and Joanna decided to go to bed. She fell asleep rather quickly, but Jonathan just stared out into the open for a while, watching the snow fall and contemplating his next move.
Someone else in the large Interplex compound had trouble sleeping too. Lawrence De Vries walked down a path no one else knew about. It was dark, but he knew his way. And he was scared. He reached the high security door and inserted the small key into the slot.
The room was dark save for a single spotlight shining on a chair in the center of the room. He went and sat in the chair, sweating bullets.
"Why are you here?" A deep rasping voice came from the dark.
"You wanted me to report every two weeks." De Vries said. "It's that time now."
"So it is." The voice said. "Deliver your report. Are the satellites near completion?"
"Yes, and outfitted with the weapons you specified and ready for the Maian deflector shields" De Vries said. "Our personal weapons are also near completion."
"What of the two newcomers?" The voice asked.
"They claim to be researchers from the Carrington Institute." De Vries' brow was completely wet. He brushed a small bead of sweat away from his eyes. "My chief of security is looking into their profiles."
"I have reason to believe they are spies." The voice said. "If they do turn out to be, let them leave. Then, capture one of them. Kill the other."
De Vries nodded and the voice dismissed him. He walked out at a steady pace, but once the security door was closed, he ran back to his office as fast he could.
He slept very badly that night, his subconscious mind wrought with nightmares.
He was so happy for the coffee next morning and the news Vlodnikov came back with.
"Comrade De Vries, we have readout on the two newcomers' profiles."
"And?" De Vries asked.
"They are two spies from the Carrington Institute." Vlodnikov said. "The best they have, part of the elite Dark squad. What do we do now?"
"We'll let them live for now." De Vries said. "Let them stay their welcome and let them leave. The, capture one of them and kill the other one. I don't care which."
The next week went past rather quickly. Joanna and Jonathan had collected all the information the needed and saw off one of the satellites. But it was over. They bade everyone they knew farewell and left in the BMW.
Not five minutes after they had left, De Vries spoke two words to Vlodnikov. "Do it."
End of Chapter.
Don't worry, I'll update soon. It's one of My New Years Resolutions. C ya!