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Authors: Richard Bard
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violent nature that nearly took it down. We have to
learn how to stop killing each other before worrying about a humanistic
revolution .
“They encountered a roadblock,” he added. “So they came to
you for help because of the work you’re doing at Area 52.” They both knew it involved
way more than the simple brain-mapping project the government had publicized.
Doc had asked for Jake’s help several times, and Jake had refused.
Doc nodded begrudgingly.
“They talked Eloise and the professor into assisting them under
the table,” Jake continued. “She told us she did it for the science, remember?
It probably started out with a relatively innocent transfer of information on
the mapping project. But it’s no stretch to figure that a technically savvy
group could’ve manipulated her or the professor as an unwitting accomplice to
gain access to your internal network. There are a dozen ways they could’ve done
it. Hell, all it would’ve taken is an infected thumb drive and they would’ve had
everything on your system, including information about me.”
“I’m sorry,” Doc said, shaking his head. “We worked so damn
hard to keep your identity a secret.” His expression tightened and he grabbed
Jake’s smartphone off the nightstand. “I’m going to bring the full force of our
government to bear—”
Jake stayed his hand, taking the phone. “No way, Doc. Not
with my family and friends unaccounted for. Until we know how deep this goes,
we’re on our own.”
“But what the hell can the two of us do?”
“Plenty,” Jake said, his mind still reeling over the loss of
the mini. It had become his lifeline in ways he’d never revealed to anyone.
Without it, his body and mind would shut down in a matter of days, which meant
he needed to strike hard and fast.
He pointed a finger at Doc. “First off, you’re not going to
budge from this room ’til I contact you.”
“But—”
“No buts. We’re going to do this my way, which means you
need to remain off the grid for now.” He motioned toward Eloise. “Besides, she
needs your help, and I need you to manage the only ops center I can trust right
now.”
“Ops center?” Doc asked, glancing around the small room.
“We’ve got high-speed Internet and I’ll use cash to get you
the computer equipment you need to keep up with what’s going on out there.”
“And you?”
“I’m catching the next flight to Amsterdam.”
Chapter 11
Hong Kong
J IAOLONG SETTLED INTO the elevated command
chair positioned at the rear of the control room. He’d modeled the chair after
the one used by Captain Kirk in the Star Trek series, and he enjoyed the
feeling it gave him as he oversaw the bustle of activity in the room. His
people performed their jobs well, thanks in large part to Zhin’s management
style.
He watched as she and Lin shared a private conversation a
few steps away. He never begrudged them their time together, especially when
the third part of the whole—sister Min—was out of the country. The triplets
depended on one another in unique ways he would never truly comprehend. They
looked so much alike, but beneath the surface the differences they’d
intentionally honed were stark. Lin—the lover—was soft and alluring. Zhin—the
strategist—was rigid and relentless, a mastermind with no patience for failure.
Min—the tactician—was swift and agile, a master of martial arts and a merciless
competitor. He envied their closeness, and still remembered the thrill and
amazement he’d felt when he was invited into their circle so many years ago.
That life-defining moment had evolved into more than he could have ever hoped
for.
Now they shared his vision for the future, as well as his
passion for wringing vengeance from Jake Bronson and the others who had been
responsible for the death and destruction on the island. He vividly recalled
the despair he’d felt that day over his grandfather’s refusal to accompany him
to the sanctuary. His
learn how to stop killing each other before worrying about a humanistic
revolution .
“They encountered a roadblock,” he added. “So they came to
you for help because of the work you’re doing at Area 52.” They both knew it involved
way more than the simple brain-mapping project the government had publicized.
Doc had asked for Jake’s help several times, and Jake had refused.
Doc nodded begrudgingly.
“They talked Eloise and the professor into assisting them under
the table,” Jake continued. “She told us she did it for the science, remember?
It probably started out with a relatively innocent transfer of information on
the mapping project. But it’s no stretch to figure that a technically savvy
group could’ve manipulated her or the professor as an unwitting accomplice to
gain access to your internal network. There are a dozen ways they could’ve done
it. Hell, all it would’ve taken is an infected thumb drive and they would’ve had
everything on your system, including information about me.”
“I’m sorry,” Doc said, shaking his head. “We worked so damn
hard to keep your identity a secret.” His expression tightened and he grabbed
Jake’s smartphone off the nightstand. “I’m going to bring the full force of our
government to bear—”
Jake stayed his hand, taking the phone. “No way, Doc. Not
with my family and friends unaccounted for. Until we know how deep this goes,
we’re on our own.”
“But what the hell can the two of us do?”
“Plenty,” Jake said, his mind still reeling over the loss of
the mini. It had become his lifeline in ways he’d never revealed to anyone.
Without it, his body and mind would shut down in a matter of days, which meant
he needed to strike hard and fast.
He pointed a finger at Doc. “First off, you’re not going to
budge from this room ’til I contact you.”
“But—”
“No buts. We’re going to do this my way, which means you
need to remain off the grid for now.” He motioned toward Eloise. “Besides, she
needs your help, and I need you to manage the only ops center I can trust right
now.”
“Ops center?” Doc asked, glancing around the small room.
“We’ve got high-speed Internet and I’ll use cash to get you
the computer equipment you need to keep up with what’s going on out there.”
“And you?”
“I’m catching the next flight to Amsterdam.”
Chapter 11
Hong Kong
J IAOLONG SETTLED INTO the elevated command
chair positioned at the rear of the control room. He’d modeled the chair after
the one used by Captain Kirk in the Star Trek series, and he enjoyed the
feeling it gave him as he oversaw the bustle of activity in the room. His
people performed their jobs well, thanks in large part to Zhin’s management
style.
He watched as she and Lin shared a private conversation a
few steps away. He never begrudged them their time together, especially when
the third part of the whole—sister Min—was out of the country. The triplets
depended on one another in unique ways he would never truly comprehend. They
looked so much alike, but beneath the surface the differences they’d
intentionally honed were stark. Lin—the lover—was soft and alluring. Zhin—the
strategist—was rigid and relentless, a mastermind with no patience for failure.
Min—the tactician—was swift and agile, a master of martial arts and a merciless
competitor. He envied their closeness, and still remembered the thrill and
amazement he’d felt when he was invited into their circle so many years ago.
That life-defining moment had evolved into more than he could have ever hoped
for.
Now they shared his vision for the future, as well as his
passion for wringing vengeance from Jake Bronson and the others who had been
responsible for the death and destruction on the island. He vividly recalled
the despair he’d felt that day over his grandfather’s refusal to accompany him
to the sanctuary. His
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