The Plan -2

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3:50 hours  

Agnew had worked out the first part of his plan well and was now eagerly awaiting the call from Emanuel. That man had no choice. But for him, it was either money and power or fame and much more. It was a win-win situation.

It was obvious that the young man focused mainly on the EEG like outputs. What Van Guerin had failed to realize was that his device had developed the uncanny ability to absorb high energy particles which found their way into earth. How it had the power would be revealed only after subsequent tests.

He had withheld the self sustaining ability of the device from Emanuel. The aim was to show him that there was the technology to use cobalt on one hand while the ability to communicate with outer space thanks to “the device” was on the other-giving Emanuel the impression that he had developed a technique as well as means to refine it by establishing contact with those who he believed were forerunners of the procedure involved.

Van Guerin would have been taken care of by Henry. When Henry was back, he would have to steal the brain from the lab. Van Guerin’s body parts would be of help there. That part was a success. The third and final part involved Emanuel. He had weighed his options. Before all that, he had to give Landau solid proof. The papers Van Guerin brought would help him. It all seemed to fall in place

“If Emanuel agreed to help, then I would take the credit for inventing the brain and I can use it to channelize communication with the entire Area 51 at my disposal. That would enable me establish E.T communication. If he does not agree, I can still use the brain to generate cobalt, it will take some time. Two more bursts, I will have enough Cobalt to sustain USA for a month.”

***

3:55 hours  

Norman Landau.

That name brought in disgust to Emanuel’s insides. He owned 55% of United. He was the one who used every chance to slur Emanuel as an idiot who stared impassively into outer space anticipating a bolt from the blue. Everyone laughed not wanting to offend the billionaire. Now it became clear.

“Agnew would sell the plans to Landau. A new company would be started after Landau sold his stakes in UP. When Agnew is done with things UP will become worthless, along with other petrochemical companies. That makes me a pauper. But to prevent that, he wants me to hand him the control over Area 51. That would make things official”

“He could monitor the space. If the extraterrestrial beings were friendly, he would perfect the procedure. More than that Agnew would be able to monopolize energy trade if he lays hands on the cobalt supplies. If not, he would still have the credit of having communicated with the green skinned many eyed morons.”

The voices inside his head grew louder and clearer. It was however incomprehensible and from what he thought he had understood, he knew he’d be dumped into the asylum without a question if he told his perception to anyone sane. More than that, he’d lose his job. He decided to put the voice’s urge away or at least for the time being, it would occupy the back of his brain and no more.

He could not help but appreciate the genius but he had other plans.

As much as he hated it, he had to accept that it was time for that very important call.

***

4:01 hours  

Mike was unable to cope up with what the female was telling though he barely let her talk. He flooded her with questions to make sure it was not a trick. And a bar brawl meant they could not continue discussing for quite some time as Mike refused to move outside the bar as he did not want to freeze to death. Her tale seemed to be straight from some fiction. He could not believe her. But then the price to be paid for not heeding her seemed enormous.

“So you think the escaped convict is after the brain?”

“Yes.”

“And then they would take this OMEGA thing…”

“OMEGA is a person.”

“Whatever. And that means that the world is going to end?”

“Precisely…”

He was not sure if it was the drink that made him dizzy.

“And what purpose would that serve?”

“Maybe to use it as a resurrection stone…?”

“Can’t you explain things properly?”

“Then, let me explain”

“Wait. I have a question.”

“Fire away”

“Where do you come from?”

“From outer space...”

 ***

 <Continued>

The Plan- Part 1

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3:40 hours 

Every time he heard that low frequency mumble, he would start sweating and on occasions he even blacked out. He had learnt to live with it but he never hid his desire from the voice-he wanted a life free from it. Despite the crippling nature of the voice, he had never let it get the better of him. He initially thought it was some kind of communication. Probably from someone from outer space who wanted to credit him for his endeavors to identify intelligence in the vast emptiness of space. Whatever that was, he never found out and with time, he had learnt to listen beyond the voice.

Emanuel had always lived a life worth envy. His surname commanded respect and right from his young age, he had got what he had wanted, at least almost. He was blessed intellectually. Some of the most bizarre dreams in his childhood probably accounted for the mild eccentricity with which he was associated. His father was influential and had fought the Second World War. It came as no surprise when Walter Emanuel Junior fought the Vietnam War and was decorated on return. He spent close to a decade in the Warfield or rather the skies above it before being one of the last members to leave the belligerent field. That, he was sure, was the longest stretch he had gone without the voice disturbing him.

Back in the United States, he sought to join the intelligence and years later he got his desired move-he became a part of the paradise ranch. Getting into Sector 51 needed more than just scientific credentials. It needed acumen to tackle with meticulous caution, the questions lesser mortals asked. Area 51 had fascinated him ever since his childhood. He fondly remembered and told anyone who would listen about his very own conspiracy theories. That was before he rose rapidly through the echelon and learnt that a few of the “conspiracy theories” were more than just theories. He did his best to keep the secrets the way they were before he took over. He enjoyed every moment of it.

No joy comes without a price. The voice had insidiously occupied a greater part of his time which made things difficult. He had consulted psychiatrists who were baffled as they were sure he was absolutely normal. He convinced himself it was probably the pain of having lost his mother early in his life. His inexplicable disregard for women meant he had remained a bachelor all his life. Having busied himself with his job, he enjoyed the importance hard work earned him. What he did not know was that every movement of those who worked in Area-51 was closely monitored by the NSA.

Another fact he was ignorant of was the cause of disappearance of one of his workers-the man had brought to his notice an abnormal reading. Emanuel knew it was about with elevated cobalt levels in the sky, something he had tried to account for, but success eluded him. He had not shared the information about cobalt with the missing man.

The voice had made him an insomniac and he was thankful for that. The most ingenious ideas occurred to him in these hours. While he was gleefully lost in thought, the telephone rang.

***

3:41 hours  

The stillness of the woods was disturbed by the low rumbling noise of the posh car. Glazer was a proponent of the notion that luxury asked too much from those whose who sought it. Van Guerin remembered his tutor once lambast Agnew for the latter’s liking of meaningless stuff others thought was cool. It was now evident how Diablo-a sports car had found its way into the sheds of a scientist. He instantly thought of the altercation between Lamborghini and Enzo Ferrari. Van Guerin wondered if the hostility between Agnew and Glazer had originated from a similar dispute in the past. They sped past the place where Van Guerin’s car had refused to move. It was obvious that the butler had noticed a look of surprise in Van Guerin’s face.

“Your car has been sent to the mechanic. You’ll have it by dusk tomorrow”

“That is kind of you”

“Oh it is not me whom you should thank.”

“Maybe...Tell Dr. Agnew that it has been an honor.”

“I certainly will.”

“Your master is a very kind man indeed.”

“You are wrong. He can be a cruel man if I fail in his errands.”

Van Guerin did not know what to say.

“Can you guess what my latest chore is?”

“No idea”

“Master has always wanted to have his own way. You must know that he refused the Nobel just because he had to share it…”

“…share it with Dr. Glazer. The two men loathed each other”

“That I do not know. But master hates sharing honors.”

He continued

“The life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

Van Guerin knew what was going to happen next.

The car screeched to a halt in the midst of the woods. A mild thud followed a muffled bang as the man fell down dead.

The car sped off to the manor after the body was dumped in the woods.

 ***

3:42 hours 

“No abnormal movement you know of? Are you sure you aren’t lying, Walter?”

“So what if I did”

“Too bad all these years have not taught you manners”

“Shut up Agnew. You are nothing more than a lunatic well past his heyday.”

“Maybe… Maybe not... Why don’t we talk about your stakes at United Petrochemicals?”

“Still going great… Too bad I mentioned it to you. I thought you were alright then”

“What would happen, imagine, if we are able to use Cobalt to light New York?”

“It still astounds me how well informed you are”

“Does it? Then I’ll tell you what is going to happen. Check your mail box. Call me back if you find anything interesting.”

The line went dead.

***

3:45 hours  

Walter Emmanuel was not impressed at all. He had enough issues to break his head over. There had been a sudden rise in Cobalt’s level in some parts of the country and the select few who were aware of it agreed it was nothing a human could have done. If it was indeed the aliens were behind it, it was his domain.

He had always refused to accept in public that non human life forms did exist. There was sufficient evidence, such as this one, that supported the theories of many men world over. But then, everyone knew what would happen if people were told that crop circles were possibly the random acts of some raving lunatic from outer space. More than the panic, he would lose his job. He loved his job where he reported only to The President.

He decided to check what the old man was talking about. The mail was long and it mentioned something like a kind of device which absorbed energy and amplified it. It did little to astonish him. There was then another part which showed plenty of complexity. But he was able to make out what it meant. If the equations worked in more than paper, the old man had just won a Nobel and the world had its most reliable source of energy. The issue of finding cobalt in such quantities to enable a feasible energy extracting operations would be circumvented with the amplifier-which had an element of oddity about it.

The output data seemed odd to be coming out from an amplifier. There were signals which seemed familiar but he was unable to interpret it. Then it hit him finally. The device could also communicate with the aliens. Clearly the output matched the data obtained from random readings taken from the cosmic outbursts. That meant the old man had developed a technique to interact with aliens and he would possibly perfect things.

Emanuel wondered what Agnew’s bargain was all about. Was he so sure that this technology would work that he sensed that United Petrochemicals’ stocks would plummet down? There was only one man who could afford to fund a new procedure such as this-Norman Landau.

***

Same time elsewhere

“Damn it”

He was angry for his ally’s apartment was locked. He could have banged the door open. But that would enable his enemies detect him with ease. He would never make it easy for them. Waiting here would be a pathetic idea as they might suspect this location to be on his agenda. He also had to protect his ally. For, without him, his actions would be futile. It was his friend who had the list. The list would enable him locate his target. That would be easy with the code he was given by the oracle. The old man met him when detained. It was indeed a close call. Had they taken him to the prison, it would have taken another comrade and a lot of time to free him.

He decided to leave a note to his friend-one that no one else could decipher, so that when his mate returned, he will know what task awaited them. He left the building in the taxi which still housed its driver’s lifeless body.

 ***

<Continued Here>

Tick Tock

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1 ½ hours ago

Inspector Wren Hall was having a horrendous time. He was easily the best in the business and eventually got the perpetuators of injustice. But he always took his own time. Here he was working against time. Conspiracy theorists had already started telling that it was the Federal Government that had eliminated both Landau and Emanuel due to difference in issues relating to U.P. What they did not know was that another important person had also been murdered.

It was Agnew-a man whose exploits in Physics were unmatched, except maybe for Glazer. He had been killed in his villa and the butler had been missing ever since. No doubts over who the suspect was. Adding to the mystery was the fact that there was a state of art eavesdropping device in the kitchen, possibly used by the butler. Wren had been contacted by the NSA which confirmed his guess.

Henry, the butler had secretly provided information regarding Agnew’s activities to the NSA. More than the deaths, what worried the NSA more was the fact that Henry had not reported for the past two days. Evidently, they feared that some terrorist organization had a hand in the issue after learning something which, even the NSA had failed to discover. Wren feared their intervention might be more of distraction than help. However, they had asked Wren to investigate and provide them with preliminary details.

It was not the first time the NSA had contacted him. Hatridge Terrell’s disappearance a week ago was a mystery and when Wren had learnt that the man worked for Area-51, the NSA contacted him to tell that Terrell had “stolen classified information and had to be terminated”. As the question of national security arose, Wren dropped that case and accepted a large sum of money as an award for “Services to the State”.

What complicated the case even more, was that both the big heads of UP had talked to Agnew-their last conversation. There was another concern for him which he could not share with anyone else. It was barely over 6 hours and everyone expected him to find out where Emanuel was. The last thing he wanted was the fourth estate to sense about the scientist and his butler.

“Thank God that man had chosen a villa in the wild.”

It was the tip from an anonymous caller, who took care to hide his identity and location that alerted them of the death. Hall was not sure where he ought to start. That was when another call came.

“…”

“Sgt. Hall. Who is it?”

“Is this line secure?”

“Yes” Wren was indeed surprised.

“I want to talk to you on the burning issue of the missing men”

“Men…? Who are you?”

Wren knew that the man would tell in fancied words that he wished to remain anonymous. But he was in for a surprise.

“Emanuel... Walter Emanuel”

Wren was ready to leave to the deserted villa in the end of Vettori Line. He had an hours’ time in which he had another issue to attend to. He knew his visit had to be discrete, what he failed to notice was that his conversation had been overheard.

 ***

½ an hour ago

He was sure his plan had worked. He did not have time to listen to television reporters to learn his victims’ fate. He had seen the frozen look of terror on the face of the old man and the other unsuspecting victim who died hearing him quote Marx

“Bellum omnium contra omnes”

 He was not even sure if that commoner understood Latin. That did not matter. All that was important was he had succeeded, again. But that was not the end. No sooner had he finished his task, he had to prepare for his next target’s elimination.

It was a tricky mission. But he was too good to fail. All he needed to do was make sure his explosive apparatus escaped detection. That was easy for him, for he specialized in ‘fireworks’. He took the files which Agnew had neatly arranged and put them in a briefcase which bore the ‘Agnew symbol’. It was alpha and omega intertwined and it was extremely popular.

He then placed his beauty, a small vial with liquid hydrogen inside. It was substantially above its atmospheric boiling point and was stored partly in liquid form, with a gaseous vapor above the liquid filling the remainder of the container.

The files were self explanatory. They were plans which Agnew was trying to sell to Landau. And the sealed letter said that Agnew hoped the blueprints reached Landau, as promised, before the flight took off. It was evident that Landau was expecting Agnew’s messenger.

All he had to do was play the messenger of death.

***

20 minutes ago

De Laury felt uncomfortable. He could have his shot at fame. His Sgt did not like being followed. No Superior did. But then he had to take a chance.

He decided to pay Vettori Line a visit, even if it meant he would be dismissed for tapping his senior’s line without permission.

 ***

15 minutes ago  

It had taken her another two hours to get Mike back to normal and his usual self.

“Listen. I was about to explain you certain facts. But you collapsed-first in the bar then in the house. I paid your bills…”

“No... I paid the bartender…”

“You overran your advance.”

“No…Wait…if that is what you want... I have money…”

“That is not what I need from you.”

“Then what is it?”

Then he remembered what she had said before his blackout.

“I think you said you are an alien.”

“From outer space…? Yes. Alien? NO!”

“Explain”

“That is exactly what I have been trying to do.”

“Please proceed.”

“Promise me you won’t faint again. You have robbed me almost a day…the day…”

“Promised”

She spoke slowly, as if wanting him to catch every word she said.

“I am from the future”

Mike was not sure how he had escaped passing out this time.

 ***

10 minutes ago

Earlier, when the caller had asked him if this mission was within his abilities, he replied

“I BLEVE so, yes I can”

That was how he had got the idea.

 His explosive was, as such, weak and could fail. He had to make it fail proof. He used Semtex to do the job for him. He molded around the vial, which now resembled a battery. Now his model was almost complete. BLEVE (boiling liquid expanded vapor explosion) would initialize the process before Semtex, with RDX as well as PETN would finish his job. He chose this mechanism despite its complex nature because it could not be detected by the devices currently used by the Governments. He was not even sure if this method had been tried earlier. When the case was opened, the vial would break. Then it would be complete decimation due to Semtex. A smile lit up his face in remembrance of a fact he thought he had forgotten.

He found out that Landau was going to board his private jet. He had to use the courier service. He approached the nearest courier office. The owner was a grumpy man in his late forties and he was the only man who worked in the office.

 He had to be careful as he stressed the importance. He paid well in excess to ensure that the briefcase reached Landau in time. He also explained him that his package was fragile. He had to choose this man mainly to avoid detection.

The man reached the airport and said he had a package for Mr. Landau. Though they initially thought it was a joke, the ‘Agnew symbol’ convinced them that the shabby man indeed meant business. They decided to check the briefcase. There was nothing the scanners could find apart from papers. Apparently, they failed to notice the flat 5 mm vial and the surrounding plastic explosive. They then called an attendant from Landau’s crew and handed him the brief case.

The assassin waited outside the airport and saw the grumpy man come out. The courier guy noticed him and waved. The assassin asked him to come closer. He obliged. No one heard of the grumpy-forty-something-man, who owned a courier shop close to the airport, ever after.

Landau had now been taken care of.

He finished reminiscing. Now, there was one target he had to eliminate before returning to routine life. His bank had sufficient money to sustain his life and ambitions. He had double checked everything before leaving to Vettori Line.

***

<Continued>

Wheels in Motion

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4:11 hours  

He wanted to live a dual life and when he got his heart’s desire, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. One catered his basic needs and another fed his passion which was his quest for the perfect murder. With a solve rate for murders being under 15%, this indeed was the perfect place for him to hone his craft. He had never failed on a task.

The dual lives he lived were painful, for the joys were a few and far in between. It had been quite a long time since he had been consumed by this fervor. His instincts were intact. The call had fuelled the fire in him.

For the first time, he felt sorry for his target. But then he always had to do what he was asked to do. That was how he had earned his riches. He had to remain invisible. A nanosecond of extra attention and he might be entangled in the spindles of deceit he had spun. And he knew it and that metaphor kindled memories-some old and the rest not so.

He had sniped some of the richest businessmen and powerful politicians. He checked his bank accounts. He had fourteen accounts in as many banks. The money had been wired. That meant he had to get on with the task. He had very little time to complete his task. He checked information regarding his first target.

 A few minutes later he had a plan.

***

4:15 hours  

The phone rang and Agnew was sure who the caller was.

“Agnew. You have lost the plot.”

“Emanuel…?”

“Yes. Your plan would never work. I know you and your friend Landau are trying to scare me out of business. No I won’t buy it”

“Why are you so thick?”

“Better luck next time.”

Emanuel cut the call leaving Agnew flabbergasted. It was not what he had expected but nothing he had not anticipated. That meant Plan B would now come into force. He heard the door open.

“Ah...Henry…I have a job for you…”

There was another faint thud.

 ***

4:30 hours  

Landau was lost in thought. He was sure that the old man was honest in issues pertaining to science. He was the one who had helped United reach the zenith it had now attained. Agnew never wanted to be remembered as the business man. But now the proposition he put forth was amazing. All he asked was for more resources. Landau was never short of funds. Besides, the time asked by Agnew was just a little more than a week. If he succeeded, it meant trillions. More than that, what interested him was Plan B. That involved Emanuel.

It looked as if Emanuel had something that Agnew needed. No doubt it had something to do with Emanuel’s ties with Area 51. If he did not relent, Agnew suggested Landau sold his stakes in United and invests it in another company-one in which Agnew would have 45% stakes. And when their technique was perfected, United would become another Enron. But then Landau had to wait. He could not afford to be the laughing stock if the plan failed and Emanuel became the emperor of Energy business. It was worth a gamble. Unlike wile and vile, Agnew’s project motives were slightly hard to comprehend. Nevertheless, Agnew had promised to make his plans clear in a little while.

“Sir, you said we have to reach Antwerp by 5:45 pm, local time, sir”

“So?”

 “Sorry sir. But we have to start now to reach on time”

Landau decided to ponder over Agnew’s issue a little later. He was always of the opinion that there was no better place to get a nice idea than his Dassaut Falcon 2000. Nothing was more inspiring than its posh interiors. Club seats Buffalo Bill leather, Fig Cedar veneer with light Mahogany hardwood molding, Milkweed ultra-leather headliner, lower sidewall beige silk and brown leather, Satin Bronze plating. All this came for a little more than 25 million dollars. He was not an advocate of luxury, but this was a necessity. He travelled thousands of miles and a jet with a speed close to one mach was no more than what he deserved.

Just as he was about to leave, another attendant brought a small briefcase.

“Sir, this one was sent by Dr. Agnew”

No doubt it was details regarding the new plan, Landau said to himself. He chose to go through it on his way to Antwerp.

***

10.30 hrs(2 hours ago)

When Mike woke up and a swift look at the clock told him it was half past ten, surely he was going to be late. Van Guerin would be mad at him. But then the events of the previous night came flooding. It was a dream he thought. A pathetic dream... He could only blame his work load. He had gone 28 hours without sleep before he was asked to take the day off. The day off became an off day as it had then gone from bad to worse when Anne refused to take him seriously. He remembered finding solace in the bar He could not remember how he had got home. He convinced himself he had taken too much tequila. The television was running. It was a good looking brunette who looked bewildered.

“The latest news coming from Nova Scotia...The remains of the plane have been found out and no one is known to survive the crash. That makes United Petrochemicals’ day even darker. Earlier, we had reported that Mr. Emanuel, another of the highest echelon in U.P and also a known member of the Government’s Space project had gone missing. He was supposedly travelling from Ohio to an undisclosed destination. Now it is Mr. Landau….”

“Holy shit”

Mike could not believe it. Two influential men of a powerful conglomerate had disappeared.

“And this could just be the start. You have shortened the time we have”

Mike was aghast to hear that voice. It had not been a dream, after all.

His vision blurred. The tiredness of the previous days combined with the odd aura in the apartment.

And he fainted, again.

She groaned.

***

 <Continued>