Breakdown

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1:15 hours 

Henry-the butler got into the kitchen and quickly removed a few cups which revealed a red button. The device was very simple-no different from “The Thing” of the 1950s. The microphone was hidden in the “Moulin Rouge” painting.

It consisted of a tiny capacitive membrane connected to a small quarter-wavelength antenna; it had no power supply or active electronic components. It was a passive cavity resonator, became active only when 330 MHz radio waves were beamed to the device from an external transmitter-which was switched on by the red button.

Sound waves caused the microphone to vibrate, which varied the capacitance "seen" by the antenna, which in turn modulated the radio waves that struck and were reflected by device. The receiver decoded the modulated microwave signal so the sound that the microphone picked up could be heard, in the same way that an ordinary radio decodes modulated radio waves into sound.

It was very difficult to detect, because it was very small, had no power supply or active components, and did not radiate any signal unless it was actively being powered and listened to. The only catch was that the external transmitter and the decoder had to be within 50m radius from the microphone.

He pressed the button and put his head phones on. The next instant, he could hear his master speak to the young man. He recognized the gruff voice as his master’s

“What brings you here young man?”

“Sir, I was working on a…a….certain project. Then this happened”

Henry could visualize the man show something to his master. He was however surprised to see the excitement in his master’s voice. So many years since such an emotion had found its way into this house. He felt happy for his master. The two men then started discussing stuff he had never heard of before. It was obvious that this young man had brains-more than anyone of those who often came to visit his master with worthless ideas.

“That calculation is not right. Path integral formulation will not work here”

“Sir, but the Feynman diagram”

“Don’t bother you could have missed a term in the Wick’s expansion of the perturbative S matrix”

From what he grasped, he realized that the two men felt it took extremely advanced technology to have generated whatever they discussed and he was sure it was important. They seemed to think S.E.T.I had indeed borne fruits. At half past two the man took leave. Henry hurriedly left the kitchen to show the young man his way out. He made a mental note to report this meeting to those who had his allegiance-upon whose instructions he had killed a man who had visited his master a few days ago.

***

2:30 hours  

Van Guerin could not believe it. The idea he earlier thought was ridiculous was now indeed a probability. He was happy to have struck the right cord with the man whose connections could help him in his path of glory. He could become rich, popular and powerful. But before that he had to reassess his calculations. Agnew felt it was not Ectosium. The source of energy, according to Agnew was the Higgs’ particle and the old man’s calculations suggested that Cobalt was also present in his lab specimen.  Never had a man isolated pure cobalt in earth in such quantities as obtained in his lab. He was cursing himself for not waiting till dawn. He could have made a detailed calculation. Their meeting would have been even more fruitful. He was finding it hard to take his foot off the accelerator. His MP3 player was screaming

“My Heart's In Overdrive, I'm Feeling So Alive

I Feel the Power”

Yes. He could feel the power gushing through his veins. He could feel his heart pound in excitement

“It's Like a Guiding Hand, Part of a Higher Plan

I Feel the Power”

He was sure that there was a definite element of inexplicability involved. That was the first time in decades that he thought something more than science and its principles governed his life. He remembered his mother mention about the Moirae or Three Fates although he did not remember their names or what they did. He was sure that they were working in unison for his betterment.

“Well I Can't See the Future, but I Can Forget the Past

The Lessons I Remember Never Slowed Me Down

From Growing Up Too Fast”

Then all of a sudden, he felt something wrong was going to happen.

And it would.

***

Elsewhere

The elder of the two was apparently in a state of panic.

“You idiot! How could you let him escape? Did you forget what it took to apprehend him? We cannot afford to have OMEGA back here.”

“Sorry sir. I still do not know…”

“What made you wait all this while? I am sure you learnt it long ago?”

“I made a mistake. Just now I learnt his destination…”

“Shut up. Now I want you to establish contact and inform the most trusted lieutenant of the blunder committed. Do not compromise on discretion. I do not want the followers of OMEGA realize they have company.”

 There was just one person who could be entrusted with an issue such as this.

“I repeat. You can take all the help you want. You are authorized to break the code of silence if you have to. Just make amends later. All the best”

 The enormity of the error he had committed was, he still felt, beyond rectification. He could only hope it was not too late.

***

2:35 hours  

Van Guerin’s car refused to move. What had caused the dysfunction in his car, he did not know. It was too dark for him to be contemplating a walk back home. As he stood in the midst of the trees wondering what his next move should be, he saw a Lamborghini Diablo cruise towards him. There was no mistaking who the driver was. The bald man spoke.

“Thank God!  Mr.van Guerin, master wants to discuss a certain issue with you.  I presume your vehicle is in no mood to move. Now, if you’d step into the car….”

“Sure. But can we go to my place before getting back to Dr. Agnew? I need to get a few papers.”

“Definitely Mr. van Guerin”

 He took the seat next to the butler as the doors closed. They headed for the lab.

***

 <Continued here>