Transient Reality – Part 6

MB barely noticed as he stepped through the labyrinth of metal detectors, x-rays, card scanners and palm scanners that effectively guarded the entrance into the main lobby of the WorldEx, New York branch. He was focused elsewhere, designing and formulating a plan to track down the true owner of the black van that drove off with Katie and Jake Bartidge in the back of it.

He cleared out of Ami and Kevin's not long after River arrived in his state of almost complete panic. Not that MB blamed River for being shaken up by the events of the afternoon; the past few years had been quiet and safe for The Tomorrow People. MB didn't actually think that any of the newer breakouts of the last three or so years had to contend with people coming after them for their abilities. And perhaps that was the problem, things had been so quiet and so safe that they had all been lulled into a false sense of security.

Or maybe it was just cyclical. Whatever the case it would make an interesting algorithmic study – after they found Katie and Jake.

MB left the calming of River and communication with the others to Kevin and Ami, they were better at that type of thing anyway, and took off for his Manhattan loft and secured network the moment he managed to wrangle a van description and license plate from River. Unfortunately, the resources he had at his disposal at home were severely limited, particularly if he was trying to keep off of the radar of the super hackers and super programmers in the hacking world.

Which was why MB now found himself making idle chat with the Saturday afternoon security guard at WorldEx while the man checked his identification badge, signature card, and waited for MB's prints to be confirmed by the computer database. He peeked over the guard's console, catching a glimpse of a college football game and smiled slightly.

"Unless I miss my guess, I'm the most excitement you've had all day," MB remarked to the man, indicating the television screen with a nod of his head.

The guard startled and grinned, a wave of embarrassment radiating from him although no sign of it showed on his features. "Usually Saturdays are a bit busier, but today is definitely quite. Everybody must be taking advantage of one of the good weather. It won't last long."

"That's for sure," MB agreed, tapping his fingers impatiently against the desktop. He really wanted to get to his office and tap into the resources that WorldEx put at his fingertips, but security protocols had to be maintained. For a brief moment on his way into the office, he actually debated just skipping the rigamarole for once, but then realized that he really didn't want to have to deal with his father or Frank Addison when they realized precisely how MB had gotten around security.

"You're all clear, Mr. Damon." The guard returned his badge to him with a smile. "Have a good afternoon."

"You too," MB thanked the man and turned away heading for the elevators. The elevators, which while visitors and fellow employees alike commented on the speed of the things, they were no nowhere near as fast as teleportation. At times like this, when speed was of the essence, MB longed for the days when he couldn't have given a rat's ass about security, protocol and keeping up appearances. Then again, those were the days when a different danger reared its head around the Tomorrow People on what seemed to be a quarterly, and sometimes monthly basis. It was only with age and wisdom and the realization that in order to protect themselves they would have to work harder than ever to hide themselves from prying eyes.

Yet somehow, somewhere along the line they clearly neglected to impart that important bit of knowledge to the younger Tomorrow People. MB wondered how many times Katie and River teleported to the Spaceship, buried a mile under the sands of a deserted Pacific island, without even giving a second thought to whether or not they might have been spotted. With the amount of time that Katie spent either at the 'Ship, or in London trailing around after Jade or Lisa, it had to have happened frequently. Not that he was blaming her for what happened; if anyone was at fault it was the older Tomorrow People for being so lax with the younger ones.

MB paused only briefly when he reached the Information Services department, taking time to note if anyone, other than the weekend network monitors, were on the floor. Not that he was worried about someone looking over his shoulder; he was one of the top security administrators and programmers in the department. He could cover his tracks with the best of them, if anyone bothered to check and see what he did and where he went with the security codes and clearance that WorldEx gave to him. No, the reason he double-checked was because he really wasn't in the mood for small talk, and he definitely didn't want to deal with anyone offering to "help" him. This was a personal and private matter, and though he could lie about the true reasons, he just preferred to avoid the complication at all.

He noticed the light on and open door further down the hall and winced. It would have to be Reed at the office on a Saturday afternoon. Reed, whom was always trying to make a name for himself and move up the corporate ladder. Donovan Reed who had decided that apparently the best way to get ahead was to attach himself at the hip to the son of General William Damon. Praying that fate would allow him to avoid Reed, MB unlocked his office, ducked inside and closed the door behind him. After a moment of consideration, he locked the door as well.

It wouldn't really help if Reed discovered MB was there and truly wanted to talk to him, but hopefully it would slow him down long enough for MB to erase what he was doing before Reed decided to check up on him.

He dropped his carryall next to his desk and turned on his workstation, his eyes briefly darting around to take in the clutter that lined his desk and office. Snippets of code, comics and programming code decorated the walls of his office; Mary Ann, the administrative assistant, always complained about the mess that MB had in his office.

"What you call mess, I call organized chaos," MB always told her with a bright, boyish smile meant to charm her from her head to her toes. It had to work, because Mary Ann always wandered off with a blush to leave him to his own devices.

Reaching out a hand, MB straightened his MIT Bachelor's Degree and a few assorted pictures, mostly of he, Kevin and Ami and turned his attention back to the computer as it finished all booting up and came to his logon screen. Less than three determined minutes later, he had skipped through all the security protocols, verified and re-verified himself, started the program that he wrote specifically to ghost and stealth his way through WorldEx's systems and began looking for the driver's license.

It was not a moment too soon.

MB, did you get anything on that license yet? Kevin's words rang out in his head.

Not yet, MB responded, expanding his search beyond Colorado. At least nothing useful. All I could get from the Colorado DMV was that it was registered to Santian Corporation.

Then you did get something. The second voice belonged to River, who actually sounded considerably calmer than he had when MB left him with Kevin and Ami.

Yeah, but I'm betting my X-Box that Santian Corporation either doesn't exist or is a front for something else. I want to dig around a little more before going out on a limb on this.

There was a pause while the others considered his words. Then Kevin's voice came again, Do you have an address for this Santian Corporation?

Ami's words followed on the heels of Kevin's, her voice softer, the timbre and tone telling MB that her words were directed to him and only to him. River needs to do this, MB. We'll just take him over and take a quick look at the place.

One minute, I'm checking something out, MB told Kevin and River, and then added to Ami, And if it's not a dummy corporation?

Trust us.

Famous last words. His response was immediately greeted by the image of Ami rolling her eyes in exasperation. He stuck his tongue out at her in a stunning display of maturity and 'pathed the address back to them openly. I'll keep you posted if I learn anything else.

With gracious thank you's, MB felt his friends recede from his mind and he threw his full concentration on the task at hand. Tracing the true source of Santian Corporation and trying to learn who these people were and why they kidnapped a Tomorrow Person.

End of Part 6