Chapter 32

                After Lock’s training jaunt back to his own past, he parked the Probe just out of sink with the current time stream, using the safety and security of time’s flux to direct his attention to other things.  Waiting for his superiors to contact them had turned hours into days.  Many of those hours had been spent studying every aspect of the bridge’s equipment and controls.  He was sitting in the command chair on its raised platform, studying the various sensor capabilities when he was interrupted.

We have been contacted by the Center’s Directorate Manager, Andrew Kenfer, directly.  It seems that we are to be used as bait to ferret out the party or parties responsible for our current dilemma.  Mr. Kenfer has asked that my system verify his command code, providing proof positive that we have no further doubt as to the authority now communicating with us.  I have done as requested and found his code to be genuine.  His orders are as follows.

Forty eight hours from the end of his last communication, we are to travel to a coded location.  When we arrive we are to scout the area for security purposes by syncing with the local time line, checking the area and then phasing back out while keeping watch using our monitors.  The meeting that will take place there will need to be free from local interference to be successful.  The stakes are literally the continued survival of the Center’s Projects and the future of the Time Program as we now know it.  Kenfer is sending another Probe to pick up Davis Keller’s body and sealed equipment to download the communication logs that will be used to unmask our enemies.  The assigned Director of the Probe we are meeting with has yet to be determined for security reasons.  This entire operation will be accomplished outside of normal channels and known only to Kenfer, his aid Lee Melman and the Center’s Founder Jordan Keller, all of whom I have informed you about earlier.

                “Why is this exchange taking place at a secretive location?  I know there is someone out there trying to take control of the Center but can they really guarantee our safety?” Lock rubbed his forehead displaying his concern.

I am satisfied beyond a doubt that our orders have come from Directorate Manager Kenfer.  The communication code used is randomly generated by my own system and matched by Kenfer’s system using facts only he and I can know.  As to whether they can keep the operation a secret on their end will be proven out in time.  We must practice our due diligence and maintain the utmost care during the meeting.  If it turns out a failure, it will not be our fault.  It is good that you have been perfecting your operating skills, when the time comes it is always better to depend on knowledge rather than luck.

                As Melman followed Kenfer out of his office, he was walking on automatic pilot with dozens of thoughts whirling through his mind.  It took him a few moments to realize that during his trance Kenfer had made an unexpected turn, leaving him quite alone and totally surprised.  Backtracking, Melman found an unfamiliar office door standing open with sounds of fingers playing across computer keys drifting out into the hall.  With nothing to lose, Melman entered and found Mr. Kenfer using an ordinary shipping terminal.

                “Pardon me Sir, but you do realize that station is a common shipping terminal used by everyone on this floor and that you have no expectation of privacy should you be communicating anything of importance.” Melman caught himself tapping his foot as he spoke, like a mother scolding her child.

                “Quite right Mr. Melman, just what I’m hoping for.  I’m thinking that with our in-house communications disrupted from the recent attack on the Center, using this terminal will not be suspect, as a temporary measure only.  The information that I have just forwarded will play nicely in my plan for the undoing of those who have been plaguing us.” Kenfer seemed very pleased with himself.

                “You’re telling me this is part of a plan?” said Melman.

                Kenfer was already up from the desk and heading out the door when he answered. “All will be revealed when we convene down in the emergency bunker, no stops this time I promise.  Benson and his minions should be ready and waiting for us when we hit the door.  I have also arranged for Mr. Keller to be present via closed circuit video and audio link up.  A sort of high level conference call, if you will.”

                Melman was completely surprised when he heard Keller’s name and caught himself involuntarily stopping a moment but hurried to catch up with Kenfer before he got out of sight around any one of the many turns they were making during their trek to the bowels of the Center.

                “Mr. Keller has never interfered with the day to day operations of the Center.” Melman found himself saying slowly, “I guess I’d have expected him to know and even be silently directing efforts to solve this mystery but I can’t think of a single time when Mr. Keller has taken part so actively.”

                “The only thing I’ll say for now, at least till we get to the meeting, is that we have a fox in the hen house and every measure is being taken to trap or if needed…. kill him.”

                Melman thought Kenfer put an awful lot more emphasis on the word kill, which was not to his liking but he also knew without being told that when a Probe shuts down there are only two reasons, a systems malfunction or the death of that particular Probes acting Director and with the violence he had witnessed to date, it wasn’t a stretch to assume that Kenfer and possibly even Keller believed that whatever you sow, so shall you reap…….

  

      

Chapter 31

                Loomis arrived at the rooftop landing pad on Lab 21 in the dark of night.  He told his driver not to wait for him but to return in the early morning being sure to call his private com before he actually landed.  Loomis planned to do his work before the on site tech’s had their morning meal and resumed preparations for the launch of the prototype probe.  Checking over his shoulder to see that his personal flyer had lifted as he shielded his eyes, he walked directly to the rooftop access point.  Loomis remembered that entry into the secure facility was available through the roof, having approved the labs original construction plans early in the Centers expansion phase.  As he pulled a ring of copied magnetic master keys from his coat pocket, his hand com vibrated for his attention.  Setting it to vibrate before leaving his flyer had now obviously been a good idea.

                “Yes?” Loomis had a tendency to be rather short with callers bothering him at inopportune moments.

                “Mr. Loomis? This is Dorey Mars over at the Government Services Office, I have some information you will want to hear.  It was necessary to wait until this late hour to contact you, in order to avoid others that might suspect our arrangement.”

                Loomis was frustrated that she had contacted him now but intrigued at the same time.”Miss Mars, of course, forgive my curtness but your call finds me at a rather difficult time.  Can you make this short and to the point?”

                “Of course Mr. Loomis, my contact within the Center’s offices has forwarded to me information of a special meeting soon to take place under the guise of an emergency planning session.  This meeting is supposedly the direct result of the damage inflicted on the central tower of the Center Complex, a successful attack I might add.” Dorey was sure this tidbit might prove her continuing worth to one of her best customers.

                “A meeting you say, who are the principles involved and what is it that you need me to know that couldn’t wait till the light of day?”  Loomis said slowly.

                “I believe you already know Andrew Kenfer and his personal troll Melman.  There is also someone helping to do their research, I think his name is Benson.  Benson has a couple of lackeys there too but the real icing on the cake if you will, is that the owner of the Center, Jordan Keller himself is going to preside over the whole thing.”

                Loomis stopped fiddling with his keys at the mention of Keller’s name.  He knew that if Keller was involved time was running out to get control of this whole mess.  He needed to get rid of this distraction and get on with his business here.

                “The only bit of information that I did not already know about is Keller’s involvement.  I’m glad you called when you did.  I need verification about Keller and while you’re at it, dig as deep as you can into the goings on at this meeting.  The next few hours are very critical to my success and I do not need any surprises at this juncture.” Loomis resumed with his efforts to open the roof door.

                “My inside agent already has instructions to forward any more information to me immediately.  I’ll sift through it and give you anything of importance as soon as I get it.” Dorey just had this conversation with Bella West only moments before calling Loomis. The line went dead without further conversation.  A standard Loomis trademark action that let you know he was done with you.

                Finally finding the right key, the door opened for Loomis without a sound.  He was grateful that some maintenance person had kept its hinges lubricated well.  Descending the stairs was easy enough but he was afraid to use his pocket light in fear that a technician might be wondering around unable to sleep or maybe looking to raid the kitchen for a snack and notice his unauthorized entry.  This part of the lab had a ceiling that was three stories high, which meant that Loomis had to change directions three times as he felt his way by hand rail and negotiated landings at each story mark.  As he stepped off the last steel mesh stair tread he stopped to get his bearings.  Using his hand com loaded with the building’s floor plan, he set off in the direction of the separate section used to house the Probe Project.  Pointing the face of his com forward afforded him with just enough light from its active screen to keep him form bumping into things and allowing him to hurry along.

                When he reached the entry point at the Probe’s enclosure he was expecting the Security Arch and the identification panel next to the door.  Reaching into the small backpack he had brought with him he dug out a small cylinder.  Removing the end cover with a few turns exposed a data crystal Loomis had preprogrammed earlier the day before.  When he pushed the crystal into the receiving port at the side of the entry panel the archway door moved quietly to the side.  Loomis then retrieved the crystal as he scanned his surroundings and passed unnoticed through the archway, the door sliding back to cover his entry.  Inside he headed straight for the raised platform housing the Probe’s control computer.  Without hesitation he opened the back of one of the seven redundant mainframe processors responsible for every single aspect of the Probe’s functioning.  The unit’s label read “BACKUP MODULE”.  Retrieving yet another cylinder marked with a red stripe this time, he removed and inserted it in an empty memory slot and hurriedly replaced the back cover.

                Loomis was descending the platform steps when his com again vibrated at his side.  Cursing he pulled it from its belt holder and flipped it open. “Sir? This is Henley, your driver, you requested that I check in before landing to pick you up.

                Loomis looked at the time in the corner of his com’s screen.  How could it have passed by so quickly?  He had been on his mission now for over two hours, incredible.  It would be light soon and technicians were notorious for being early risers.  He had to get out of here now.

                “Wait five minutes and then set down with the utmost care.  Use the sound suppressors if you must.  There cannot be a sound heard within the building.  I’m heading back now.” Loomis used the crystal to open the archway as before and made a beeline straight for the stairs to the roof.  At the last landing on the way up, he hesitated just long enough for a quick look around to satisfy himself that no one had detected his presence.  He was smiling as he climbed the remaining stairs to the roof……..