to stay on top of all the new
Modifications. These people are turning up everywhere. They're going to make my
job a lot harder in the future. Not that it's easy now.
The nature of
the security work had taken a definite detour since she had started with Open
Sky. She was originally hired to oversee security at the launch sites, keeping
terrorists and industrial spies at bay. But the company had grown so large so
fast that she had been forced to deal with entirely new security situations.
These hyper-modified thieves were only the latest, but the most discouraging.
Besides their brutality, they had attacked so brazenly, so unexpectedly,
exposing holes in Open Sky's security that she was certain would ultimately be
pinned on her.
Angie 6 was
starting to resign herself to the idea that her original goals were never going
to be achieved. She had been attracted to the job as a way to get off-planet.
She was no pilot or asteroid miner, and possessed no particular scientific
expertise that could be expected to land her a spot through the usual channels
on one of the off-world stations. But Open Sky's asteroid mining operations
employed whole communities, requiring support personnel of all types, including
law enforcement and security. Everything she had been working for since hiring
on was aimed at positioning herself for one of those assignments. It was her
best shot seeing the world from space, her oldest dream.
She rubbed her
forehead. It had been a long night. She called her second over.
"I need a
couple hours shut-eye. I'll be on a couch in one of the executive offices down
the hall."
He nodded and
spoke quietly into his com, updating the other security team members.
She left the
room and headed down a hall to her right. She was turning a corner toward a
quiet-looking conference room she had scouted earlier when she came
face-to-face with Allen Venway, the president of Forward Aeronautics. Speaking
of creepy eyes….
She had met him
before — he was one of Mr. Rohm's inner circle, and was at headquarters
frequently. Rohm had about a half-dozen high-ranking associates in various related industries that he met with
regularly. She had plotted the security requirements for many of their visits.
Angie 6 was
never very comfortable in their presence. There was something about them that
threw her off. Venway especially. Like Open Sky's CEO, he had that peculiar
stare, as if his focus was boring into you, but also occupied somewhere else.
"How is the
information retrieval proceeding, miss Angie?"
"Well
enough, thank you. We have them all identified, basic bios, day-to-day patterns,
and leads on some associates. One of them was definitely a part of the assault
on our offices."
"Very
good," he said, then slightly cocked his head as if listening to another
voice. "When you are
finished, I should like to hear your evaluation of our own security, in light
of the capabilities of these new Modified men. But you are tired, I see. Please
feel free to set up in conference room 4. There is a suite with facilities
there, and a most comfortable sofa."
"Thank
you," she said tightly. And thanks for the crack about looking tired,
old man.
"My
pleasure. In the meantime, I wish to observe these men under questioning. And
then I wish to examine them. I have never encountered men altered in such a
way. I have certain… instruments… in another area of the building that will
reveal much."
She tried to
conceal her surprise. Was he some sort of doctor as well? She had never known a
corporate CEO to make such an odd, hands-on request. This whole operation was
getting stranger and stranger.
"The men
are separated, of course. My second, Mr. Keith, is interrogating one of the
uncooperative ones in room 15a. Feel free to observe. As for a more invasive
physical examination, I have no objections if it is alright with Mr.
Rohm."
He closed his
eyes briefly. As he opened them, a satisfied smile settled on his face. "I
have made my request, and
Modifications. These people are turning up everywhere. They're going to make my
job a lot harder in the future. Not that it's easy now.
The nature of
the security work had taken a definite detour since she had started with Open
Sky. She was originally hired to oversee security at the launch sites, keeping
terrorists and industrial spies at bay. But the company had grown so large so
fast that she had been forced to deal with entirely new security situations.
These hyper-modified thieves were only the latest, but the most discouraging.
Besides their brutality, they had attacked so brazenly, so unexpectedly,
exposing holes in Open Sky's security that she was certain would ultimately be
pinned on her.
Angie 6 was
starting to resign herself to the idea that her original goals were never going
to be achieved. She had been attracted to the job as a way to get off-planet.
She was no pilot or asteroid miner, and possessed no particular scientific
expertise that could be expected to land her a spot through the usual channels
on one of the off-world stations. But Open Sky's asteroid mining operations
employed whole communities, requiring support personnel of all types, including
law enforcement and security. Everything she had been working for since hiring
on was aimed at positioning herself for one of those assignments. It was her
best shot seeing the world from space, her oldest dream.
She rubbed her
forehead. It had been a long night. She called her second over.
"I need a
couple hours shut-eye. I'll be on a couch in one of the executive offices down
the hall."
He nodded and
spoke quietly into his com, updating the other security team members.
She left the
room and headed down a hall to her right. She was turning a corner toward a
quiet-looking conference room she had scouted earlier when she came
face-to-face with Allen Venway, the president of Forward Aeronautics. Speaking
of creepy eyes….
She had met him
before — he was one of Mr. Rohm's inner circle, and was at headquarters
frequently. Rohm had about a half-dozen high-ranking associates in various related industries that he met with
regularly. She had plotted the security requirements for many of their visits.
Angie 6 was
never very comfortable in their presence. There was something about them that
threw her off. Venway especially. Like Open Sky's CEO, he had that peculiar
stare, as if his focus was boring into you, but also occupied somewhere else.
"How is the
information retrieval proceeding, miss Angie?"
"Well
enough, thank you. We have them all identified, basic bios, day-to-day patterns,
and leads on some associates. One of them was definitely a part of the assault
on our offices."
"Very
good," he said, then slightly cocked his head as if listening to another
voice. "When you are
finished, I should like to hear your evaluation of our own security, in light
of the capabilities of these new Modified men. But you are tired, I see. Please
feel free to set up in conference room 4. There is a suite with facilities
there, and a most comfortable sofa."
"Thank
you," she said tightly. And thanks for the crack about looking tired,
old man.
"My
pleasure. In the meantime, I wish to observe these men under questioning. And
then I wish to examine them. I have never encountered men altered in such a
way. I have certain… instruments… in another area of the building that will
reveal much."
She tried to
conceal her surprise. Was he some sort of doctor as well? She had never known a
corporate CEO to make such an odd, hands-on request. This whole operation was
getting stranger and stranger.
"The men
are separated, of course. My second, Mr. Keith, is interrogating one of the
uncooperative ones in room 15a. Feel free to observe. As for a more invasive
physical examination, I have no objections if it is alright with Mr.
Rohm."
He closed his
eyes briefly. As he opened them, a satisfied smile settled on his face. "I
have made my request, and
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