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2000.01.04 13:00 G.M.T. 8:00 E.S.T.
c27 Dad & Mom
A few minutes later Sammy's father returned.
"Listen Sammy, I've got to go to work?"
"No dad. You can't go. I don't want to be on my own. You can't leave me alone."
"I have to go Sammy. It's real important. I've called your mother. She's coming over to look after you. You do understand don't you? I'd never leave you unless I really had to."
Sammy nodded as she got up and ran to her father to embrace him.
"I'm scared daddy."
He comforted her but in his mind he sounded the words 'We all are Sammy, we all are.'
Sammy's father got dressed and put on his coat. Sammy always liked running her fingers around the embossed crest on the front. 'A1 Security. A1 Security For All Situations. A1 Security At All Costs.'
She was proud of her father but part of her wished he had a different job. His shifts were long, and sometimes she missed him very much.
Harold sat down on the hall chair and spoke to his daughter while he waited for his ex-wife to baby sit. It was difficult for him to raise his child alone, but it would have been even more trying for his wife. In the circumstances they had made the amicable decision that he would take official custody, but she would visit whenever possible. The arrangement worked; it wasn't perfect but, but to both, it was better than living together.
Just as he looked at his watch for a second time, the doorbell rang.
"Okay Sammy, I've got to go now, but I should be back late tonight. Please don't act up with your mom. You know it's not good for her. Promise?"
Sammy nodded solemnly.
"Okay."
The doorbell rang again just as he opened it.
"Hi, is everything alright? I'm sorry I'm late. It's nuts out there."
"Don't worry about it. Everything's fine. Sammy's going to going to watch the meeting tonight. That alright with you?"
"No, not really, but what am I gonna say?"
He turned to say goodbye to his daughter. She looked very much like she was putting on a brave face but fighting back tears.
"Don't worry Sammy. It'll be okay. A1 Security's on the job."
He gently raised her down turned chin until their eyes met and she gave him a faint smile.
"There. That's better. Mom'll make you some supper. I'll see you in the morning."
He kissed her on the top of her head and smiled at his ex.
"You guys look after each other. I gotta go. Bye."
His ex stood behind Sammy with her hands on her daughter's shoulders. Both looked tired.
"Bye Harry. I'll see you tonight. Look after yourself."
Sammy just waved. Slowly. She loved her mom very much. But daddy protected her.
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2000.01.04 17:23 G.M.T. 12:23 E.S.T.
c28 The Long Shift
In the loading bay of the factory-cum-lab Leonov and Barrow filled the inconspicuous grey panel van with their fruits of their labour. Geremy was not quite finished his work, and was still in the lab when Leonov appeared.
"Hurry Geremy, we must leave now."
Leonov was tense. And Geremy was late. What was he doing?
"Yes, yes. Do want this thing to work or not?"
"We must go now, it is scheduled. Finish what you are doing on site."
"Okay. All right. Here, take this to start."
Geremy passed a unit to Leonov, and continued on until Barrow appeared.
Barrow said nothing. He was quiet and observant. It worried Geremy.
"I'm coming. If you take this case I can manage the rest."
Barrow took the box but only nodded confirmation to
Geremy. As Barrow went out the door Geremy examined his programming for the last time. He frowned, squeezed his eyes tightly shut and exhaled. It had to work. He powered down his laptop, gave a last checking glance around and followed the others.
The forty minutes it took them to travel to their destination were no more filled with discussion than the last three thousand. For the first time since they began to work as a team, they had the luxury of free thought and reflection. Yet the three continued to be united - in their silence.
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2000.01.04
c29 The Coliseum
Within only 48 hours the scene around the 'Dome had changed drastically. It had not taken long after Julia's call to her editor for the news of the meeting's location to break. Don had kept the news quiet for the best part of the day, but once he had managed to confirm that special arrangements were indeed being made for the area, he broke the news via his television, web and radio news affiliates.
The area around the 'Dome was now a beehive of activity. Film crews, construction workers, police, security teams, hot dog vendors, and so many others flocked around the 'Courthouse' as one reporter had fashionably dubbed it in view of the judgment that many felt may be passed from within its curved walls.
Security for the Tower was now almost as intense as for the 'Dome itself, for not only did its position provide a tremendous position from which to wreak havoc, but, as Julia had observed, the heart of the city's telecommunications equipment resided behind its rubber 'donut'. This equipment would be used as an intermediary link to the satellites that would carry video, audio and data coverage of the event around the world.
Engineers and technicians were everywhere but only those with an allotted time for their work would gain access to the Tower.
Geremy, Leonov and Barrow walked up to the entrance to the service elevator together. As protocol dictated they were stopped and questioned by security.
The guard scanned their ID badges and checked them against the computerized worksheet and schedule for the day. As a final confirmation their holographic pictures were compared against their faces. Everyone checked out.
"Thanks guys. Alan here will accompany you to your work area. Have a good day."
"We'll need some help with our equipment?"
"I'll get a couple of guys on to it now. If one of you would like to stay here for a minute you can show them what you need to have taken up."
Geremy paused to check the name of the security guard.
"Thanks?Harry. I'll wait."
The others were ushered to the elevator, and within a few minutes found themselves surrounded by a cramped but vast array of communications equipment.
"Just to remind you guys, this room is a 'microwave hot area' so you should limit your time here accordingly."
Dr. Barrow responded.
"Yes, we know. Thanks."
"I'll leave you to it then."
"Oh, when will our equipment be up?"
"Should be just a few minutes guys. Okay?"
"Yes. Thanks."
Leonov had already located the position for the emitter, and had started to work on the power supply.
As promised, within fifteen minutes Geremy appeared with two other guards who carried the equipment that had been so hurriedly yet carefully assembled.
The help was quickly dismissed and as soon as the units were unpacked the real work began.
Their cover was the setup of a new satellite up link, and, to all but another specialist engineer the work looked genuine. The units themselves were not in appearance unlike those used in the transmission of television signals, their secrets well disguised.
The group worked well together. Not only of necessity, but also by design, for each talent complimented the others perfectly. With only three doing the work of many it had to be that way. Again they worked feverishly, but this time figuratively and literally. Within minutes the microwaves had raised their temperatures as the radiation that usually cooked their dinners now slowly heated their bodies instead.
Apart from sweating profusely, the work was done with coolness and efficiency. Everything went surprisingly well. Geremy had finished installing the contr
oller interface and after three hours he was ready to test the component. He plugged in his laptop and ran the diagnostic tests. Everything worked perfectly except?that the timer component that Geremy had devised to power down the unit would not function. At first there was no particular cause for alarm. Geremy was sure he could fix the problem quite easily. Probably an errant sub-routine. Soon it became apparent that it was the hardware and not the software that was at fault. The beads of sweat that were easily dispensed of before now trickled into Geremy's eyes making him blink in heated frustration. By now the others had completed their tasks, and for Geremy to try and fix that which had to appear invisible when the whole system was checked would be impossible without attracting undue attention.
Reason prevailed, as it had a little less than twenty-four hours ago, when it had washed over Geremy as if a revelation, that the only reasonable course to take was to sabotage the plot of errant loyalty. He made the only decision possible. He would have to return to repair the device.
Within two hours of their arrival everything - save that which Geremy deemed most important - was complete.
Leonov ran the final tests, and with a faint smile upon his lips he spoke.
"My brothers, it will work."
The minds embraced and shook hands. Geremy was inwardly surprised at his own genuineness. But then, the device itself was a true achievement. A project to be proud of. The kind of pride felt, he was sure, by the engineer of a fine handgun. The murderer killed, not his weapon. But surely disillusioned pride, for without the means the victim would not cry and his body would not die. Slowly Geremy's pride disappeared and with it, any trace of a smile.
Barrow spoke.
"Let's go."
The men were unanimous in their actions.
Within a few minutes they were packed and ready to leave.
A few miles north of the Tower they drove in to a parking lot and bought a month's pass. Having shed their overalls for normal clothing they said their good-byes and parted. Leonov and Geremy spoke last.
"God be with you Geremy."
"And you."
Geremy waved goodbye to the others and they waved discreetly in return.
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2000.01.04 7:15 G.M.T. 2:15 E.S.T.
c30 Commuting
To Geremy's knowledge there were no immediate plans to recover the van, and so, after waiting patiently for half an hour, Geremy checked carefully for observing eyes and returned to the vehicle. Fortunately each team member had been provided with a key.
The traffic near the area of the 'Dome was horrendous. Police had blockaded the immediately surrounding area, with only vehicles on official business allowed within. Geremy's credentials still held enough weight to allow him in, which, with no back up plan was fortunate. It had taken him two-and-a-half hours to travel less than ten kilometres, and with each passing moment and metre his frustration had grown. The time was frantically passing and dangerously near.
Returning again to the parking area for the Tower, Geremy quickly gathered together the tools and equipment he required to try and fix the malfunction.
He then, as nonchalantly as possible, made his way back to the service entrance.
As before he was stopped by security. Even though Geremy was sure the guard remembered him, nothing in the procedure changed. Geremy presented his identification. Harry checked the engineer's credentials, and then checked the work log and schedule.
"I'm sorry sir, but there's no report of a malfunction listed here. Can you tell me who authorized the repair?"
Geremy played it cool.
"The repair wouldn't have been requested, because the malfunction hasn't happened yet. There's a faulty chip inside the controller for the transmitter we activated less than four hours ago. It was detected during installation. It could go down at any time."
"Where are the other guys?"
"They had to leave, there's another link that has to go up tonight and they couldn't wait."
Harold considered the information for a second.
"I'm sorry sir, but without a fault log I'm not authorized to give you access."
"This is ridiculous! I only just installed the unit. I know what has to be fixed. I have the chip right here."
"Sir, I'm sorry, without authorization, I can only say, 'If it ain't broke, you can't fix it.'"
Harold felt just a little smug inside with his play on the phrase.
"You have no idea what you're doing."
"I'm just doing my job. If you leave me your number, I'll call you as soon as I have an official repair request."
"Look?Harry, do you realize what's going to happen if you don't let me repair this problem?"
The guard looked at Geremy with an expression that simply said 'What?'
"You and I are both going to be out of jobs, because I didn't repair the problem, and you didn't let me."
"Now you look?Patrick, you're not going anywhere."
Geremy could feel the beads of sweat beginning to form again on his forehead. But there was no choice but to argue.
"I can appreciate your rules but we have to resolve?"
The guard's phone rang cutting short the next round. Though irritated Harry went on public relations autopilot.
"Excuse me for a minute."
Geremy watched the guard as he took the call. While still on the phone Harry, obviously replying to a question posed by the caller, got up and looked around the corner of the doorway behind him that led to the service elevator.
Geremy seized his opportunity. Quickly and quietly he slipped through another door - the entrance to the service stairwell.
When Harold turned back to his desk to replace the receiver, the engineer had gone. He shrugged his shoulders and went back to filling in his security log for the afternoon.
Geremy was many things, but fit was not one of them. He looked up for a moment at the seemingly endless zigzag of stairs that converged in the far distance - long before they actually ended - and groaned under his breath.
Geremy set his mind to the task at hand, and after a few seconds consideration began to steadily climb the stairs, reasoning that after only a few minutes the tortoise tack would prove far more effective than trying to emulate the hare.
By the twelfth floor, even this approach gave rise to concern. While pausing to draw breath, Geremy recalled the height of the main observation level from his guidebook and did some quick and silent calculations.
'1,100+ feet, that's 110 floors. It's taken me about four minutes to climb the first twelve, plus this break, for, say a minute. Damn, it's going to take me over forty-five minutes to get to get up there, and that's if I don't slow down at all.'
He looked at his watch. It was already 5:24. Even if he made it to the array in forty minutes he would still be climbing the stairs during the arrival of the Alien, and there was no way of knowing when the device would be activated. There was nothing he could do but press on.
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2000.01.04 22:23 G.M.T. 17:23 E.S.T.
c31 Gathering
Even if not practical it was difficult to imagine a more appropriate looking building to house the meeting. From playing field to roof it rose thirty-five stories and looked like a dormant spacecraft. It was large enough to hold seventy thousand people, but on this night there would be no more than two thousand present including representatives from each of the worlds territories and their security. And security had been an issue.
The question had been asked more than once 'Why this venue?' From a planning viewpoint it was hard to justify. It was extremely difficult to bring a high level of security to the stadium. Its sheer size presented a logistical nightmare to those entrusted with the safekeeping of the dignitaries gathered within. The bomb sniffing modules had been deployed and hundreds of policemen, security and armed forces personnel ceaselessly combed the stadium for malicious devices and people.
Helicopters patrolled from above. T
heir spotlights weaving patterns of light on the streets below in the quest to display the unwanted, and there were many who wanted to be close. Too close. Many who would readily risk their lives to see Him. This, surely, would be the most memorable day in anyone's life. So people came by the thousand, and ten times more, and ten times more than that. They gathered and waited. Many brought radios or pocket televisions. Some had binoculars with which to view the Megatron screens that had been hurriedly set up outside the 'Dome to perhaps catch a glimpse of Him 'in the flesh'.
As evening approached, the SkyDome and the CN Tower themselves were illuminated - as if in a continuance of daylight - and appeared at the base of the city as bright, beckoning jewels. From the very tip of the Tower a laser's light rose as a slender column that pierced the early night and appeared as a beacon welcoming all visitors to that place of gathering.
Only a few hours earlier two of the 'lighting engineers' involved had installed a small relay in the roof of the 'Dome. A unit that had also been fabricated in that solitary lab, and was essential to complete the weapon which the three men had devised and that now gave so much cause for concern to Geremy. The visitors, however, cared nothing of the lights or devices. They would come and They would be heard.