Chapter Sixteen – Under the Florida Sun
Jeff reclined in his seat having just finished a meal. Once again, he took in his surroundings. Certainly, the corporate guest side of things at the WSA had become very plush since his day. His eye was caught by some piece of artwork at the other end of the room. He realised that it depicted his most famous mission, that of the return to the moon on the cusp of the 21st century. The astronauts were painted in heroic postures, as if striding towards the future. Jeff tilted his head slightly. Geez, is that guy in the middle supposed to be me?
"Commemorative artwork," said his companion. "Pretty neat, huh?"
"Yeah. Really captures the spirit of the mission," Jeff lied, knowing with certainty that Virgil could have created something infinitely better than the misplaced, patriotic mess he had just had the misfortune to see. He tore his eyes away and looked back at his dining partner. He had known Malcolm Dunn since he first started working for the WSA, but it had been a few years since they had last seen each other. During the intervening time, Jeff had made Tracy Industries a global phenomenon and Malcolm had become a WSA director. Consequently, they were having a good catch-up and discussion about the latest WSA project.
"Well, this next generation shuttle should get some of that space faring spirit back in the air," Malcolm said.
"Anything that would enable easy colonisation of the moon, beyond the current scientific base up there, would certainly do that," replied Jeff.
"Sure would," Malcolm agreed. "If all goes according to plan, we'll be building a fully established space port on the moon first, the idea being that we'll have a launch pad for future missions to Mars and beyond."
"I'm looking forward to it," Jeff said. "To truly step out of the boundaries of our planet and grow… I almost wish I were still a true part of it rather than just supplying a few of the nuts and bolts." Malcolm grinned at him.
"Without those nuts and bolts, there'd be no space programme," he said. He grew solemn again as he leaned forwards. "But if you're serious, Jeff, there could be opportunities in the WSA developmental departments. With the EMESRY project at the testing stage, we're looking ahead to the space port and colony assignments. We could always use an innovative engineer such as your good self."
"That's tempting, Mal. But I've got enough on my plate these days," Jeff replied.
"Aww, come on. Surely it's time one or two of your sons did the hard work," Malcolm cajoled.
"They do more than enough," answered Jeff. Malcolm took a sip of his drink.
"Well, perhaps you needn't involve yourself directly. It could be a team from Tracy Industries," he said. Jeff nodded.
"I'll keep it in mind and when it's closer to the time, we can have a detailed discussion about it," he said.
"Okay. You've got first dibs on a potential contract with us," Malcolm told him, cheerfully.
"Thanks," replied Jeff, genially. There was a pause as the two men sipped at their drinks and looked out through the huge windows that gave an excellent view of general activity at the WSA buildings, and, in the distance, the launch pads from which many a rocket or shuttle had began their journey into space, including Jeff's own historic moon landing mission. However, if EMESRY was successful, those launch pads would eventually become obsolete, another curiosity to add to history's archive.
After some further small talk, they made their way down to the area where the prototype EMESRY was about to make its first ground tests as opposed to just being statistics on a computer simulation. If these were successful, flight tests would follow shortly. For now, the WSA was content to just do the introductions. Jeff looked around him. There were a couple of dozen people present, plus a few members of the press, whose numbers would no doubt increase if or when EMESRY made it into the sky, which would be when the new space vehicle would be introduced to the world at large.
"Ladies and gentlemen, many thanks for attending the first series of tests for the World Space Agency's innovative Earth Moon Express Shuttle Relay, or EMESRY. As you will know, vehicles capable of sub orbital flight have been commonplace for around ten years now. EMESRY goes one step further by being capable of reaching orbit without the aid of a rocket or tons of environmentally damaging fuel. More than that, EMESRY has been designed to make regular journeys between the Earth and its moon, as you may have gathered from the name. It is the hope of the WSA that EMESRY will revolutionise the way we think…" The voice faded into the background as Jeff half turned his attention elsewhere. He had the strangest feeling that someone's eyes were drilling into him. Carefully, he began to search for the culprit, if there was one. It could very well simply be that he was becoming paranoid with all this mystery stuff.
Of course, it wasn't as if he never possessed of a degree of paranoia in the first place, with keeping the secrets of International Rescue under wraps.
However, he was currently out and about in the open, away from the isolation of Tracy Island. He was also beginning to poke his nose into something that, in all likelihood, certain people wouldn't want him near. Jeff scanned the room. Everybody else seemed transfixed on the speaker espousing the wonders of EMESRY. Except… Jeff caught a well-groomed man in the act of averting his eyes. Some instinct told him that this was the guilty party. Being watched had always been something that bothered Jeff, even before he hit the limelight as an astronaut. He had always valued his personal privacy, and hated the thought of some stranger trying to peel back the layers of his character. He kept a wary eye on the man for the rest of the test and afterwards caught up with Malcolm.
"Who's that?" he asked, nodding subtly in the direction of the well-groomed man, who was mixing with several other equally polished looking individuals.
"That would be Xavier Remington," Malcolm replied, after a slight pause.
"What's his business?"
"He works for the Miami Technology Center."
"I see. They hold an interest in EMESRY, then?"
"Only a minor interest. The MTC are more attracted to playing a part in the future development of the moon. Say, I'm surprised that you haven't met at some point."
"I'd be a liar if I said that I knew everybody in the technological world," Jeff replied. Malcolm clapped him on the back.
"Well, I'll introduce you, then," he said. Jeff hesitated.
"Thanks, but I need to be going. I've got business to attend to," he said. "Maybe at the next test?" Malcolm gave his friend a slightly odd look, but then nodded.
"Sure. Looking forward to seeing you there."
"So far, so good," replied Jeff. The two men shook hands and then went their separate ways.
Once Jeff was away from the Kennedy Space Center, he dialled into a communications device that was secreted on his person.
"Hi Penny, it's Jeff."
"Good evening, Jeff. How are you?"
"Fine, thanks. I need to ask another favour of you."
"Have you got a lead of some sort?" Penelope's voice contained a quiet quaver of excitement.
"Not exactly," Jeff told her. "More of a gut feeling."
"That can often be as good as anything," Penelope replied. "And it is more than I currently have, regretfully."
"Never mind. I know that it's not for the lack of trying," Jeff reassured her. "I need you to try and chat up someone into checking the AIDD again."
"Who is it that you need the information on?" Penelope asked.
"Xavier Remington. He's based at the Miami Technology Center. He was at the shuttle test today. Seemed to be seizing me up."
"Is that so unusual? Perhaps he was simply looking for an opportunity to speak to you."
"No. It was more than that. Don't ask me how I know. I just do."
"I trust your judgement, Jeff. I shall see what I can come up with."
"I know I can rely on you, Penny. In the meantime, I'm going to find out more about the Miami Technology Center. I know a little bit about them, but not a great deal."
"Are you going down to Miami?"
"Not yet. I'll do a bit of distance learning first," Jeff said. "I'll let you know if I find anything relevant."
"I shall do the same if I am successful," Penelope replied.
"Understood. And I hope that you'll find Parker before too long," Jeff said.
"Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Jeff."
"You too, Penny. Goodbye." With the connection cut, Jeff continued on his journey in silence. Once back at the rented apartment, he started up the computer and began his investigation into the Miami Technology Center. On the face of things, it seemed to be a typical science and engineering institute and nothing particularly special. Still, there was nothing wrong with eyeing up potential competition, and despite the real reasons for his enquiry, he couldn't help but be interested in what the Miami Technology Centre was involved with.
It was around lunchtime the following day before he heard from Penelope. He was on his way back to Kennedy when she called.
"I was very fortunate in that the nice man, who was present when I made the enquiry into Natasha, was working when I returned to the local FBI bureau. Once again he was most helpful," she said.
"What did you find out?" Jeff asked. She hesitated slightly.
"There's no such person," she told him. Jeff almost swerved off the road.
"That can't be right. Xavier Remington was mentioned several times on the MTC information pages, in his role as a senior director. Malcolm identified the guy as Xavier Remington. He must exist."
"Not according to the AIDD, Jeff."
"Great. That's just great. How in the heck…" He shook his head and composed himself. "Well, Malcolm said that he'd introduce us today. Guess I'll just have to see what I can gather from talking to the guy."
"I'll continue to try and find some background information," Penelope said.
"Okay."
"Take care, Jeff. It would seem that we may be getting close to something. Whether that has anything to do with our concerns… Well, no doubt that it will soon become clear."
"I won't take any unnecessary risks, Penny," Jeff assured her. He arrived back at the space centre and sure enough, the man identified as Xavier Remington, who technically didn't exist, was there once again, chatting to people. But not Jeff. Malcolm, it turned out, had some matters to attend to in another part of the WSA, so never made his promised introduction. Jeff tried to get close to Remington, but somehow never quite made it. So it was that the day turned out to be a frustrating one. Jeff hoped that Penny would be more successful. He got into his rented car and prepared to return to his accommodation. There was a tap at the window. He turned his head at the noise, and saw Xavier Remington peering at him. Then Jeff noticed the gun held not too far away from the glass.
"Mr Tracy, I presume?" Remington asked. Jeff nodded, cautiously. Remington smiled mirthlessly.
"I hear that you've been looking for me. Shall we go for a drive?"