Read Known Afterlife (The Provider Trilogy: Volume I) Page 12

Chapter 6

  Compared to most days, the lab was a flurry of activity. Designed to accommodate dozens of lab technicians and their respective workstations, the spacious room somehow felt confining to its only occupant. Stalling and Antone sat in one of the many ergonomic chairs positioned around the main lab table and made a point of not getting in the way.

  Jennifer jumped from one virtual station to the other with dizzying speed. She had acknowledged their presence, extending a curt fist with index finger pointing skyward, saying loud and clear: “Don't interrupt me!” Based off the volume of data her link visor streamed across her green eyes, Stalling appreciated her need to concentrate. He leaned into his chair and waited.

  The northern end of the room was a half hexagon constructed by three walls of thick glass with lab tables built along the length of each. Computing equipment lay assembled across the rectangular tables. At one time, the computers managed every component of the project. Now, after laying dormant for the past decade, the machines had become obsolete relics.

  In the beginning, a bastion of technicians mined data around the clock coming from the various stations. The link visor was one of the first re-engineered byproducts of that data. Overnight, the link visor supplanted the current technology. The link visor accelerated the development and commercial consumption of every product derived from the project thereafter.

  From day one, the project exceeded the expectations of everyone except for Stalling.

  A new round of data, flitting across Jennifer's tense face, triggered a new set of anger-laden “humphs” and heavy sighs from his top scientist. Forced to find more patience, Stalling settled deeper into his chair and gazed across the massive server farm.

  The farm occupied the farthest reaches of the underground warehouse located on the other side of the glass walls. No one, outside of Jennifer, was more intimate with each box that was as much organic being as machine. From trivial maintenance, to the smallest upgrade, to a mysterious power spike, he knew the experiences of each server better than most parents do their children.

  Miles of vine like cable pulsed with golden light, connecting each server to the stalagmite shaped mainframe stationed in the middle of the room. Stalling visualized the chamber located directly under the mainframe and its precious contents therein. The energy from which all else flowed had lain dormant for too long. Stalling battled with the fraternal impulse to protect, driven as if a soul mate bent on sparing a brother from life's crueler realities.

  That familiar and welcome flutter in his chest, confirming vision and actions remained aligned with the Universe, helped summon the strength not to act on the urge. He had overcome too much, too often, up to this point to lose focus now. Stalling continued to calm down as he looked back at how fast his epic vision had materialized. Despite all the contrary views and beliefs from his most trusted advisers, he never wavered in the faith, purpose or definiteness of his vision.