Chapter 23

                Kenfer, now totally drained, watched as the Elders filed out of the conference room.  He knew and dreaded that he only had a few hours to make good on the promise to enlighten them further.  On automatic pilot he found and entered the employee lift, selecting the executive level without looking at the control panel.  He longed for the comfort of his apartment and the hot shower that was awaiting him.  The motors outside the lift car hummed quietly as it surged upward with Kenfer staring numbly at the inside of the sliding doors.  Hearing an odd thunderous type noise from above Kenfer looked up and what he would later learn was an explosion, caused the lift to accelerate upward suddenly and then fall a few yards before it stopped with a grinding wail.  Kenfer was sure that after the feeling of brief weightlessness from the short fall, his stomach was now in his throat.  Having crumpled to the floor after the abrupt stop, he found himself looking up at the ceiling panels again as sharp pain in his left arm told him he was still very much alive.

                Melman was in the Center’s employee lounge eating a late lunch, when the floor heaved and shook toppling many of the room’s tables and chairs.  Glass from the windows showered in on him.  Melman, now on the floor in shock, pushed his table off himself and rolled over onto his elbows.  The lights were out but emergency lighting provided just enough light for him to see that damage was heavy and light smoke filled the room.  Speakers in the ceiling were spewing instructions to move without panic to stairwells at either end of the hall outside.  Keep low to the floor the automatic message said, do not breathe in any smoke if possible.  Melman reached for his personal com by instinct and keyed in Kenfer’s code number.  He suspected that this attack had something to do with the investigation into the errant Probe and hoped Kenfer had not been its target.

                Kenfer was lying on his side, cradling his arm when his com chirped for his attention. “Kenfer here,” he said, while trying to read the callers name on the com’s display.  The dim emergency lighting of the lift car was working but barely bright enough to see anything.

                “Sir, this is Melman.  There has been an explosion somewhere in the building, are you ok?  I’m currently stuck inside the lounge, lying on the floor and rolling around in my lunch.”  Without realizing it his voice had climbed a couple of octaves.

                “I’m alive but injured.  I was on the way up to the apartment attached to my office for some R&R when the lift tossed me around quite handily.  It seems to be stuck at an odd angle in shaft number six and I think I might have a broken arm.” Kenfer spoke remarkably matter of fact.

                “I can hear emergency personnel yelling for survivors close to the lounge entrance out in the hall.  They should have the doors open momentarily.  I don’t seem to have injured anything but my pride.  I suggest that you end this call and contact security, letting them know your situation and the lift number you’re in.  They have a priority emergency management plan which includes the locating and rescuing of all senior management officials ASAP.  That should get them humping your way.  Make sure they know about your arm so they will have medical with them.  I’m going to try to reach Benson, that explosion seemed awfully close to the Communications Department.” Melman was gathering his wits about him and moving toward the outer doors when Kenfer ended the call.

                Benson had just received storage crystals from Karl and Dean.  A currier delivered them to him with a note, and was waiting for him to read it.

                <YOUR FILTER PROGRAM HAS RUN ITS COURSE USING THE INFORMATION YOU GAVE US.  AS YOU INSTRUCTED WE KEPT OUR RESULTS SEPARATE AND SAVED THE INFORMATION ON THE CRYSTALS NOW IN YOUR POSSESION.  WE DIDN’T FEEL COMFORTABLE USING THE CENTER’S INTERNAL NETWORK TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE, NOR DID WE WANT OTHERS TO SEE US TOGETHER JUST YET.  WE ARE WATCHING OUR BACKS AS WELL AS COVERING OUR TRAIL ON THIS ONE AND WE SUGGEST YOU GIVE SERIOUS THOUGHT TO OUR DISCUSSIONS EARLIER FOR YOUR SAFTEY TOO.  THE CURRIER WE HAVE JUST SENT THINKS SHE JUST GAVE YOU GREAT NEWS ABOUT YOUR FAMILY SO SMILE, ACT CHEERFUL AND TIP HER GENEROUSLY. RESPECTFULLY, KARL & DEAN>

                “This is wonderful news.”  Benson lied and reached into his pocket for the curriers tip.  As the currier left his office and the door shut behind him all hell let loose.  Luckily he was not out on the main communications floor in his own cubicle when the explosion erupted but the force of the blast collapsed the adjoining wall to his office pushing him to the far side still in his chair with desk and all wrapped around him.  Debris from the collapsed wall and the falling ceiling now covered him and a thin powder of white dust and smoke filled the air causing him to cough violently.  After catching his breath by holding a handkerchief he always had in his back pocket over his face, he forced himself to calm down and take inventory, realizing he must protect the information crystals just given him.  Benson’s com suddenly demanded attention.

                “Benson here,” he said still coughing a little, “I hope this is important, I have to report an explosion.”

                “Benson! You’re not dead, I was sure that this attack was centered in or near communications.” Melman was relieved to hear his friend’s voice. “Several of the upper floors seem to have taken damage but I’m ok and I just talked to Kenfer.  He sustained injury but rescue will have him safe soon and I think it’s time we all meet in a safe place to compare notes.”

                “The bomb went off right after I received the raw Probe information via currier that I had running thorough my filter program on non network personal comps.  The next step in the process will boil it down to the code needed to access the Center’s archives.  That’s when we’ll get the answers we want.  I’m doing this myself, we can’t trust or risk anyone else at this juncture.” Benson was already feeling better as he brushed himself off creating a cloud of dust.

                “Ok, get whatever you need, even if you have to use the executive supply room.” Melman said with authority in his voice. “I’ll check in with Kenfer to see if he’s been extricated from the lift yet and find out the extent of his injuries.  I want him to preside over our meeting.  Are the friends you used as helpers safe?  I’m guessing the extra program help you needed involved them.”

                Benson was not surprised that Melman had figured out how he was able to get such fast results using his new software program and still stay under the Center’s radar. “Their office is only on the third floor and the damage appears to have been directed at the communications department on the eleventh floor but I will check in with them after this call.”  The note and the currier Benson realized, had been a waste of effort.  The person or persons responsible were playing hard ball now and Melman’s meeting of the minds was just what they all needed to solidify the next step in their plan.

                Benson contacted both Karl and Dean and as he thought, found them safe.  The Center building was under lock down by safety and security teams but he advised them that they would be coming with him to a meeting and to await his call.

                High over the Center complex, Loomis watched the chaos ensue throuh the tinted windows of his personal flyer……