Read Online The Secret War (Jack Blank Adventure) by Matt Myklusch - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Matt Myklusch
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work on something new. What exactly did you have coming in here from the outside world?”
One by one each member of the Inner Circle agreed that they, too, wanted to know more about what Smart was up to. Jack was impressed by how deftly Noteworthy had just turned the focus of the entire meeting onto his main political rival’s closely guarded plans.
“What’s going on here?” Smart asked. “I’m not the one on trial. Why are you questioning me instead of Jack?”
“This isn’t a trial,” Stendeval said. “It’s a complaint you are bringing against a fellow citizen that we have agreed to hear and pass judgment on. But you raise a fair point. We’re getting ahead of ourselves. We still need to hear Jack’s side of the story. Tell us, Jack, didyou purposely destroy Jonas’s property?” Stendeval asked. “If so … why?”
As always, Stendeval’s voice was kind and comforting. It put Jack at ease.
“I
did
purposely destroy Smart’s machine,” Jack confessed. “But I didn’t break it because I thought it was some kind of anti-Rüstov system. I didn’t even know it was his until after I destroyed it. I was just trying to keep whatever it was out of the wrong hands.” Jack looked up at Smart, trying to find some middle ground. “It was probably a bad idea to blow it up, I’ll give you that. But at least the bad guys don’t have it right now. That’s gotta count for something.”
Jack went into the details of the mission, describing for the Inner Circle how it all went down. When he was finished, the Inner Circle agreed it was the same story that Midknight, Ricochet, and Blue had each told them earlier in their reports. After a brief discussion they found Jonas Smart’s complaint against Jack to be without merit. Jack was free to go.
“You’re making a grave mistake,” Smart admonished his former colleagues. “The Rüstov threat hangs above all our heads like an ax ready to fall, and you do nothing.”
“To be honest, Jonas, I’m more concerned about this anti-Rüstov system you’re working on than anything else,” Virtua said. “You misspoke before when you said we merely discontinued your policies. The fact is, we condemned them. I think we need to know more about this new invention of yours.”
“Gladly,” Smart replied. “It’s called the SmarterNet, and it launches as soon as I can rebuild what Jack destroyed last night. His sabotage has set my schedule back somewhat, but I will not be deterred.”
“I told you, I didn’t sabotage anything,” Jack said.
“Quiet, Jack. Adults are talking,” Noteworthy said. “Just what does this SmarterNet of yours do, Jonas?”
Smart just shook his head. “The SmarterNet has been compromised enough already. I’m not going to jeopardize it further by going into unnecessary detail here, but I will share with you something the project has already uncovered.” Smart removed a handheld holo-computer from his pocket and held up the device for all to see. “I have in my hand a communication between an enemy agent here on Earth and Rüstov high command. It was intercepted just this morning.”
A jolt of nervous energy shook up Jack’s spine, and a hush fell over the room. Suddenly Jonas Smart had everyone’s undivided attention. He was easily dismissed when trying to stir up fears using vague allusions to faceless threats, but if he had real, tangible evidence to share … that was something else entirely. The members of the Inner Circle leaned forward, but Smart made them wait as he basked in the glow of their anxious concern.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to play you the raw data,” Smart told the group. “I don’t have an alien-language translator with me.”
“Of course you don’t,” Noteworthy said. “I suppose you expect us to just take your word for what this so-called message says?”
“No,” Smart replied. “Since you all trust Jack so much, you can take
his
word. Jack speaks Rüstov. Don’t you, boy?”
All eyes
One by one each member of the Inner Circle agreed that they, too, wanted to know more about what Smart was up to. Jack was impressed by how deftly Noteworthy had just turned the focus of the entire meeting onto his main political rival’s closely guarded plans.
“What’s going on here?” Smart asked. “I’m not the one on trial. Why are you questioning me instead of Jack?”
“This isn’t a trial,” Stendeval said. “It’s a complaint you are bringing against a fellow citizen that we have agreed to hear and pass judgment on. But you raise a fair point. We’re getting ahead of ourselves. We still need to hear Jack’s side of the story. Tell us, Jack, didyou purposely destroy Jonas’s property?” Stendeval asked. “If so … why?”
As always, Stendeval’s voice was kind and comforting. It put Jack at ease.
“I
did
purposely destroy Smart’s machine,” Jack confessed. “But I didn’t break it because I thought it was some kind of anti-Rüstov system. I didn’t even know it was his until after I destroyed it. I was just trying to keep whatever it was out of the wrong hands.” Jack looked up at Smart, trying to find some middle ground. “It was probably a bad idea to blow it up, I’ll give you that. But at least the bad guys don’t have it right now. That’s gotta count for something.”
Jack went into the details of the mission, describing for the Inner Circle how it all went down. When he was finished, the Inner Circle agreed it was the same story that Midknight, Ricochet, and Blue had each told them earlier in their reports. After a brief discussion they found Jonas Smart’s complaint against Jack to be without merit. Jack was free to go.
“You’re making a grave mistake,” Smart admonished his former colleagues. “The Rüstov threat hangs above all our heads like an ax ready to fall, and you do nothing.”
“To be honest, Jonas, I’m more concerned about this anti-Rüstov system you’re working on than anything else,” Virtua said. “You misspoke before when you said we merely discontinued your policies. The fact is, we condemned them. I think we need to know more about this new invention of yours.”
“Gladly,” Smart replied. “It’s called the SmarterNet, and it launches as soon as I can rebuild what Jack destroyed last night. His sabotage has set my schedule back somewhat, but I will not be deterred.”
“I told you, I didn’t sabotage anything,” Jack said.
“Quiet, Jack. Adults are talking,” Noteworthy said. “Just what does this SmarterNet of yours do, Jonas?”
Smart just shook his head. “The SmarterNet has been compromised enough already. I’m not going to jeopardize it further by going into unnecessary detail here, but I will share with you something the project has already uncovered.” Smart removed a handheld holo-computer from his pocket and held up the device for all to see. “I have in my hand a communication between an enemy agent here on Earth and Rüstov high command. It was intercepted just this morning.”
A jolt of nervous energy shook up Jack’s spine, and a hush fell over the room. Suddenly Jonas Smart had everyone’s undivided attention. He was easily dismissed when trying to stir up fears using vague allusions to faceless threats, but if he had real, tangible evidence to share … that was something else entirely. The members of the Inner Circle leaned forward, but Smart made them wait as he basked in the glow of their anxious concern.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to play you the raw data,” Smart told the group. “I don’t have an alien-language translator with me.”
“Of course you don’t,” Noteworthy said. “I suppose you expect us to just take your word for what this so-called message says?”
“No,” Smart replied. “Since you all trust Jack so much, you can take
his
word. Jack speaks Rüstov. Don’t you, boy?”
All eyes
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