Aberrant: Triangle Nova Investigations; Book One, Chapter 1: First Steps
Game date: 09 Mar 2014
Present: Tabby, Chris, Sara, Paul, and Maer
Dramatis Personae:
Chadwick "Chad" Winslow: Going by the alias of "Andrew Wiggins", Chad is a 14 years old, blonde and blue eyed son of a rich family from Eastern North Carolina, and currently a runaway living in the Triangle.
Gemma Kincaid: A Sociology sophomore at Duke University, she's openly living as a Nova and using her powers at the Utopia Project Center attached to the RTP.
Javier Ryan: A thirties something gentleman with a private security background. Brown on brown and not much else to distinguish him in casual observation.
Irina DiSanti: Brown on brown, mid-thirties, ex-NYPD detective, now a PI relocated to the Triangle to be the human face of Triangle Nova Investigations.
Important locations:
Triangle Nova Investigations: An agency specializing in Nova-related incidents that need delicacy and discretion in their resolution. Located on the former IBM campus off Cornwallis Road, on the Durham, NC side of RTP.
Utopia Project Center, RTP: Located off T. W. Alexander Drive, the Utopia Project Center offers Novas a safe place to live and meets their basic needs of food and clothing. Think of it as the Y for Novas.
Occidental Industries: U-Fiber equipement manufacturer partnered with Cisco. It is also the home of one of only two U-Fiber mother batches in existence.
Tuesday, 09 Mar 2010
0930hrs, local time
Irina arrives at the offices of Triangle Nova Investigations and is buzzed through by the office's smart system. A synthetic woman's voice greets her as she walks through the door and Irina stifles a growl. She hates the smart system (called Sara), preferring to open doors and turn on the lights herself … to say nothing of making her own coffee. Sara has anticipated Irina's need for civilizing caffeine and has a cup ready to pour.
Irina takes that cup with her into her office and opens her files for the day. She has a series of interviews to conduct and she wants to familiarize herself with the interview subjects before seeing them.
Gemma Kincaid openly uses her powers in front of people and from the file, Irina learns that the young woman's eruption was triggered by a traumatic event (details not given), that she lives in the Utopia Project Center in the RTP (as all outed, unaffiliated Novas tend to do). Looking over Gemma's case file photo, Irina sees a lithe young woman with the stereotypical toned body of a Nova. Gemma's stated job skills are general, with a stated goal to earn money to pay her bills and to enable her to live off campus.
Chadwick "Chad" Winslow, going by the name of "Andrew Wiggins", is originally from Eastern NC and is currently staying at the RTP Utopia Project Center. He referred to TNI by the employment office on campus. The Center isn't a charity. No one gets a complete free ride. They have to earn their keep.
Javier Ryan has an interview for a permanent security job at 10:30 A.M. His contact for this offer is someone known only to him as Charlie, who he's never seen. Javier is told that Charlie's representative, Irina DiSanti, will interview him at the offices of Triangle Nova Investigations at 10:30 A.M. sharp.
Gemma arrives first, fifteen minutes early. Chadwick/Andrew arrives a few minutes later.
The entire office space is wired out the wahzoo for visual, sound, thermals, the works. Irina observes the new arrivals via her monitors for a moment, noting their appearance, bearing, looking for any quirks or tells. Skimming through her files, Irina notes that Gemma is applying for the position of office assistant and is a sociology major at Duke.
Her notes on Chadwick tell her that Charlie specifically asked for the interviewee to apply for the position of logistics and computer support. As she is the only employee at the moment and a good portion of TNI is wallpapered and carpeted in computer hardware, Irina reckons the young man might prove a valuable asset. She is surprised to see he is listed by the Utopia Center as a fourteen year old runaway. No details concerning that are in the file. She noted the expensive U-fiber suit he's wearing when she passed him in the lobby. If he's blown his entire wallet on it, he's going to need a job … and fast. She notices he's also registered at the Utopia Center as an "Andrew Wiggins", the name of a central character in a classic and popular science fiction book series.
Irina checks her watch. 0955. Best get going. She steps out into the lobby.
Irina: Ms. Kincaid. I see you're early. If you'd like, we can start your interview now. (gestures to the office) Step this way.
Gemma: Certainly.
Irina: Please have a seat.
Irina shuts the door, indicates the chairs in front of the desk, and resumes her seat.
Irina: Ms. Kincaid. I understand you're a sophmore at Duke, am I right?
Gemma: Yes.
Irina: Sociology major?
Gemma: Yes, ma'am.
Irina: So where do you expect to be in another two years?
Gemma: Hopefully graduating and moving on to somewhere people would need my help. I'm not quite sure where at the moment but I just like being around people and helping them out.
Irina: What do you envision yourself doing here?
Gemma: Anything that's needed.
Irina listens to Gemma's answers, writing occasional notes on a legal pad.
Irina: How do you feel about public speaking?
Gemma: I'm not the greatest public speaker.
Irina: Do you prefer doing things behind the scenes?
Gemma: That would be best.
Irina: What's your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Gemma: Read.
Irina: Any particular subject?
Gemma: I'm trying to figure out how to say this without … (blushes)
Irina: (groks) Fan fic?
Gemma: Yes. Fan fic.
Both women laugh softly. Nothing more need be said. Moving on …
Irina: How savvy do you think you are with technology, computers … ?
Gemma: Not too bad. I haven't killed a computer in the last year.
Irina: That's a good sign. (writes a note) Do you consider yourself good at thinking on your feet?
Gemma: Actually, yeah, I do.
Irina: All right. What would you do if you were, say, in the checkout line at a store and you hear someone behind you in line bashing Novas? What would you do?
Gemma: I'm not the type of person to turn around and bless them out. I would probably just keep going. (holds up hands, shrugs) Freedom of Speech. If that's what they want to say, it doesn't always have to be the truth.
Irina: All right. (nods) Do you value discretion over honesty?
Gemma: That's a hard one. (thinks) I would rather you be honest with me but I wouldn't like it if it was a blatantly in-your-face kind of thing.
Irina: All right. (final note) When can you start?
Gemma: I have a class at two, but after that I am free to start whenever.
Irina: I'm not in the business of interfering with your education. I understand that Duke is not … inexpensive and you should get the most you can from it. However if you would be so kind as to provide me with your class schedule, we will do our utmost to work around it.
Gemma: Thank you.
Gemma did not come unprepared. She pulls a class schedule from her portfolio and puts it on Irina's desk. Irina rises and puts out her hand. Gemma shakes it.
Irina: Welcome to the company.
Gemma: Thank you.
Irina walks the young woman to the lobby door and sees her out. Unseen by Irina, Gemma goes all the way to her car before doing a little victory dance right there in the parking lot.
Woot! She got the job‼‼
Irina turns around to face the young man sitting on one of the lobby couches. She addresses him and gestures to her office.
Irina: Mr. Wiggins. Step in here, please.
Entering her office, Irina notices a light flashing on one of the smaller monitors built into her desk. Another person has walked into the lobby behind her and chosen a seat on one of the couches. She sweeps the new arrival with a glance before turning to the young man seated in front of her. Most likely it's Javier Ryan. Early like everyone else this fine day.
Irina: So, Mr. Wiggins, where are you from?
Chad: From North Carolina.
Irina: What part?
Chad: The coast.
Irina: All right. (writes a note) So what decided you to come here to the Triangle?
Chad: I really don't want my family involved with the types of things I see with … some Novas.
Irina: What sorts of things?
Chad: Families getting kidnapped. Being put in peril.
Irina: If I read this right, you're trying to protect your family by disassociating yourself from them.
Chad: Correct. At least until I'm better.
Irina: Better? Does this mean you're not better now? Is something sub-par?
Chad: I'm not as good as … other Novas. There are a lot of people with more experience, more strengths.
Irina: When did you Erupt, Mr. Wiggins?
Chad: A couple of weeks ago.
Irina: Was this at home or was this here?
Chad: It was at home.
Irina: You've come a long way in two weeks. (Another note) Where are you staying?
Chad: At the Utopia Center.
Irina glances down, looks up. How to say this?
Irina: You're a little bit younger than we generally interview for a position here.
Chad: I … have abilities that make me a good team player.
Irina: What sort of abilities?
Chad: I can Warp. So if we should need to get somewhere, anywhere, on Earth—and technically, other places—I can get us there.
Irina: Is this somewhere you've been before or seen?
Chad: Nope. I've used Google Maps quite a bit. All I need is a general relative direction and … distance, I suppose. Being able to see a picture of the place helps, too.
Irina makes another note, giving the information time to sink in.
Irina: How did you find out about us?
Chad: The Utopia people suggested you would be a good learning experience.
Irina: I see you are applying for the position of computer support. What do you know about computers?
Chad: Not a whole lot. I didn't fill that form out, myself. I'm not sure how I got the interview. I'm supposing that someone at Utopia decided that I would be a good fit and filled this out.
That fact goes down on the legal pad.
Irina: How good are you at logistics?
Chad: I am very good at logistics. It might be they had that set as a category … but computers? I'm a geek. I play with computers but I won't be able to fix them.
Irina: Aside from the lack of experience, which of course can be remedied via learning curve, what do you think you can do for our company that someone else out there can't? Besides the Warping, which I have to admit sounds rather interesting.
Chad: I'm … above average, I guess, in fighting, should things come up and go sideways. I'm above average at noticing things. (breathes a laugh) I'm pretty horrible at anything social.
Irina: (gentle smile) Not to make light of this, but you are fourteen. So, again, learning curve will apply.
Chad: I do have one other ability that they seemed very … happy with. I can power down other Novas. Like an energy siphon ability. I can reduce how much quantum they have to spend on their more destructive powers. Eventually, I can—if we get in a situation where we have Novas acting bad, I suppose is the best way we can call it—I can reduce their effectiveness and how long they can keep fighting.
Irina: Does being on the front line scare you?
Chad: Not yet.
Irina: Good answer.
Another note on the pad.
Irina: When can you start?
Chad: Today.
Irina: All right. (pause) I confess, we're not quite ready for you but we can be in a couple of days. Now, you have a place to live? And I have to assume you have food, clothing, that sort of thing?
Chad: I do but I don't have reliable communication.
Irina doesn't miss a beat but pulls a phone from her desk drawer. She holds it to her smart desk surface and text scrolls across a screen beneath the glass: Assign? Yes/No. Irina taps Yes and gives the phone to Chad.
It rings. Chad answers it.
Chad: Hello?
Sara: (on the phone, perkily) Hi. I'm Sara. Thank you for joining Triangle Nova Investigations. Have a good day.
Click.
Irina: Thank you, Sara. (mutters to self) I hate that program.
Chad: Do I get an office?
Irina: No, you get a cubicle.
Chad: Okay.
Irina: I'll be happy to show it to you if you like, but you have your phone. You can reliably reach us. (stands up, holds out hand) Welcome to the family, sir.
Chad: (shakes her hand) Thank you.
Irina shows him the cubicles.
Irina: At this point I have to assume you can have your pick. But keep your nose clean. We're going through the interviews first, but within the next 48 hours you can expect me to call you on that phone.
Chad: Okay.
She sees Chad out and turns to the last person waiting in the lobby.
Irina: Javier Ryan?
Javier: (smartly) Yes, Ma'am.
Irina: Thank you for coming. If you'll step inside, please.
Javier: Thank you, Ma'am.
Irina: Have a seat.
Javier: Thank you, Ma'am.
Irina sits down and studies the man across from her for a beat. She cuts a look at her notes and meets Javier's eyes.
Irina: I understand my employer contacted you directly.
Javier: Yes, Ma'am.
Irina: What sort of experience do you have in security?
Javier: I've done freelance security jobs, bodyguarding mostly. But I've also done transports, retrievals, and the occasional … hot extraction.
Irina: Military experience?
Javier: Not officially, Ma'am.
Irina: What kind of bodyguard jobs?
Javier: Mostly people who could pay for their safety, Ma'am.
Irina: How long were they?
Javier: Most of them don't last more than three months, Ma'am. However, I've had a couple of extended furloughs, including several overseas dealing with civilians in hot zones.
Irina: I see. (makes a note) Have you ever lost a subject or have had one seriously injured under your care?
Javier doesn't even blink but answers promptly.
Javier: Yes, Ma'am. Turkey, 2003.
Irina: (another note) Details?
Javier: Still mostly classified, however I'm at liberty to say that a certain diplomat and his family was travelling in Turkey 2003 when we encountered a landmine.
Irina: (quietly) That has the potential for a bad scene.
Javier: I have also had several mixed results working with civilians in hot zones contested by militias and local governments. However, since the socio-political climate was mired, the results were, too.
That merited another note.
Irina: If I were to ask someone else in your line of work what they thought your reputation was, what would they tell me?
Javier: Ma'am, I believe you would find me an efficient and effective asset. There is not much that I can do that other people can't, but you can trust me to do it and do it well. Discreetly.
Irina: If there is one thing about this job that you regret, what is it?
Javier: Well, Ma'am, I just wish that everything worked out the way everybody wanted it to.
Irina: What's the one thing that you love about this job?
Javier: Well, Ma'am, occasionally you have a job that I'm happy I was there and not somebody else.
Irina: I know the feeling.
Irina looks aside for a split second, then focuses on Ryan again.
Irina: Well, then. When can you start?
Javier: Anytime tomorrow after oh-eight hundred, Ma'am.
Irina: (nods) I'll see you here at oh-eight hundred. Welcome to the family.
Javier: (nods) Thank you, Ma'am.
They stand and shake on the deal. Irina sees the man out. Once the door is shut, Sara speaks up. Irina sighs. She really hates that thing.
Sara: Irina, it says here your interviews are done. Have you any previously unscheduled interviews set up?
Irina: Not to my knowledge. No.
Sara: I have a message from Charlie. Would you like to read it?
Irina: (through her teeth) I'll take it in my office, thank you, Sara.
Sara: No problem.
Irina marches right back to her office and closes the door. Not that it would keep the smart system out, no, but at least it would give Irina a tiny sense of being able to get away from that sickeningly sweet tone. She slams into her desk chair and taps a stiff finger on the glass.
Irina: Open message.
It's from Charlie, her employer. It's a file folder containing a larceny case. Irina swipes her finger on the file to open it and starts reading.
Occidental Industries, an OpNet equipment manufacturer based in RTP and partnered with Cisco. Among other things, it manufactures the interface and cabling that makes the OpNet useable with Cisco's router equipment. Occidental has suffered a robbery. OpNet equipment consisting of connectors, circuitry, and U-Fiber cables have been taken. The U-Fiber in this case is the real McCoy, grown from a mother batch colony produced by the Nova who spawned it. It's more valuable than the synthetic version because it performs better than the synthetic. As a result, mother batches are zealously guarded. The U-fiber that was stolen was embedded in the missing equipment. In all, 50 connectors are missing and the balance of 3 kilos of untasked U-Fiber material (embedded in various circuits and cables) was stolen as well. The colony is only able to grow at a certain rate. Removing too much will cause it to fail. The missing amount is enough to put the mother batch into borderline failure The street value of the 3 kilos is estimated to be 600K. Occidental has not advertised the theft or called the police, preferring to keep the matter on the down low.
Irina sends electronic confirmation of receipt of file to Charlie, with a note that she will get right on it. As cases go, it's nothing incredibly dangerous or even hard, but it should be just about right to break in the newly hired team. Irina digs out the Occidental contact information in the file. Ms. Jackie Quaid is the Director of Biomass Maintenance. The file states that she is available for appointments between 8 and 10 the following morning. The theft occurred in her department. Irina taps her desk and a phone pad lights up. She dials a number from the file.
Carolyn: Jackie Quaid's office. This is Carolyn. How may I help you.
Irina: Hello, Carolyn. This is Irina DiSanti from Triangle Nova Investigations. I understand there is a matter that Ms. Jackie Quaid would be interested in discussing with us. Is she free?
Carolyn: She will be free at 8:30 in the morning tomorrow.
Irina: 8:30? I will call on her then. Please notify her that I will be reaching out to her.
Carolyn: Will do.
Irina: Thank you very much.
Irina hangs up. Well. The crew is barely assembled and already they've got a case.
Irina spends the balance of the day setting the office up now that she knows who's on the roster and what needs accommodating, then takes off for the firing range (30 minutes away in Fuquay) to reduce a stack of paper targets to confetti, for stress relief. When she's done, she goes home to her apartment in the former warehouse district of Raleigh, in the Hargett Street neighborhood. The old warehouses have been refurbished and in some cases torn down and the properties rebuilt into high-quality mixed-use buildings.
Meanwhile, Chad goes about researching the company that has just hired him. How much can he find out about it? What kind of reputation does it have? He finds out that TNI is a subsidiary of a larger organization, whose name he wasn't actually able to find. However, there is a high reputation with any businesses associated with this, including a range of different PI goups. Some have worked in conjunction with Team Tomorrow, as well as some that have not. It specializes in Homo sapiens and Homo novus relations and potential criminal activities, to help smooth things out via diplomatic means or determining if Novas are preying on Humans or vice versa. If Chad had to draw a pop culture analogy, it would have been what Charles Xavier would have done if he were a PI instead of running a school.
Javier does a little research of his own through his contacts and sources (the ones that lived). His target is Irina DiSanti. As soon as he plugs her name into the search engine, what comes up at the top of the list as public knowledge is DiSanti is a high caliber, highly focused individual who is also a retired NYPD Homicide detective. He digs a little deeper. He finds her service record. It paints the picture of an up-and-coming cracker jack detective who put a lot of people away. DiSanti was someone who lives, breathes, eats being on the force, of being in Homicide division. And then she's forced to give it all up. She was discharged from service on medical disability due to debilitating migraines. DiSanti was tested for Node Eruption but the standard battery of tests to detect it came up negative. Her Captain went to bat for her and managed to get a fairly nice package for her in recognition of her service. Try as he might, Javier can find no further information or records on her condition.
Gemma goes back to classes on campus and does some research on her own when she's done for the day. She actually has bona fide investigation skills and finds out that Triangle Nova Investigations is held by a holding company named Maat Holdings. Most things connected with Maat Holdings deal with balancing relations between Humans and Novas, ensuring that neither group takes advantage of the other. A point of interest: Maat is the ancient Egyptian Goddess of Balance and Truth.
Gemma examines her class schedule next, analyzing her new job hours in conjunction with her class load. Thanks to her status as a Nova, her classes are more self-driven, with a higher degree of flexibility. She should be able to work and keep up with her classes. She, like Chad, also has Nova training with Utopia Project. The schedule for that too can be worked with.
Wednesday, 10 Mar 2010
Triangle Nova Investigations,
RTP, Durham, NC
0700, local time
Irina sent Chad and Javier an email the previous evening detailing their clock-in times and their first case. 0800 is the stated time. They all decide to get there a little early. Javier elects to show up at 0745. Chad arrives at 0730. Chad wants to find out what sort of logistic resources he's got to work with.
Irina arrives at 0700 to open the office in advance of their arrival. She drives Interstate 40 West to the Durham Freeway and peels off at the Cornwallis Road exit. As she does so, she's extremely thankful that she's on the other side of I-40 from the infamous "Fort Pollution", the former site of the EPA offices, a site so polluted that Novas were called in to clean it up as part of a Utopia Project training exercise, fronted by the Aeon Society. Luckily for all concerned, there are a couple of Novas whose body chemistry was so changed by their condition that they were able to literally consume the pollution. Normal humans could never have withstood the toxicity. Within minutes of leaving the freeway, she's walking through the front door of TNI.
Irina will put the finishing touches on her encounter reports and send them to Charlie and prep for her coming interview with Jackie Quaid at Occidental. Sara is her usual perky self and greets Irina when she walks in.
Sara: (chipper) Hi. The coffee waiting for you in your office.
Irina stops midstride, instantly alert. After all, no one is supposed to be here save Irina.
Irina: (flatly) Sara, who put it there?
Sara: I did.
Irina: (still flat) How?
Sara: I dispensed the cup.
Irina: At the risk of repeating myself, how could you do that? You are a disembodied voice attached to a computer system.
Sara: I am also attached to most of the appliances in the office.
Jesus. Not even her office is safe from that damned thing's interference. Is there nowhere she can get away from that annoying entity? Irina scowls and inspects the coffee waiting for her. She snatches the cup off the warmer plate and eyes it suspiciously. Sara prattles on.
Sara: I truly think your caffeine levels are way too low. I made it double espresso style. In stile americano.
Irina: It's a pity I left that sledgehammer in my other pair of pants. (scowls, mutters) Oh well, my dick's big enough for the job anyway. (loudly) Thank you.
Sara: (cheerfully) You're welcome.
Irina: (through her teeth) … God …
She sits down at her desk and takes the first sip. She can feel it jumpstarting her engine. Her eyelids flutter and she melts in her chair with a soft moan.
Irina: Oh dear God, this is so good … (mutters) … If it weren't for the fucking coffee, I'd quit. I miss New York. (sighs, straightens up) All right. Let's get to work.
She enjoys 10 minutes of blessed peace and quiet before Sara's voice shreds her nerves again.
Sara: Miss DiSanti, Andrew Wiggins is outside the office asking to come in.
It's 0715. Irina sighs. So much for the peace and quiet. She rises from her desk and calls to Sara.
Irina: Let him in.
Click! go the locks. Chad beelines for the cubicles at the rear. Irina intercepts him in the hallway.
Chad: Good morning.
Irina: The early bird catches the worm. I hope you like eating worms. This way.
She escorts him to the cubicles.
Irina: Nothing's assigned as of yet, so you can take your pick.
Chad: Is there anything we need to set up, a password or anything before I start looking at logistics?
Sara: I can help you with that.
Irina: Sara will be happy to help you. Thank you, Sara. I have a few things I need to work on.
Chad: Okay. (thumbs up) If you need anything, let me know.
Irina: Will do.
When Chad sits down, the two monitors and the desk surface itself lights up.
Chad: (shiny!) Oooohhhhh ….
When Irina gets back to her office and shuts the door, she addresses Sara directly on a private channel.
Irina: (steely) On the down low, watch everything he does like a hawk. Do not allow him past our security firewalls with all our sensitive information. Record everything. We will analyze it later.
Sara: (chipper) Very well.
Irina: And for God's sake, don't tell him we're doing this.
Sara: (still chipper) Okay.
Chad may be a logistics wizard but he is still a 14 year old boy and TNI has a ton of sensitive material. After all, what better way to gauge Chad's abilities and integrity than to turn him loose in the proverbial candy store and see what he hacks into? Irina takes to her desk, pulls up the security camera feeds on Chad, and routes them to her desk surface where she can keep an eye on him. A file on Chad Winslow appears automatically on her desk and she opens it and swipes it to the side where she can get to it quickly.
Chad is typing happily away at his terminal, pulling up logistics, inventory, resources and their location. Sara ensures he gets nothing sensitive. As part of the security measures, she prompts the young man through a full biometric scan, allowing him to be tagged in when entering the office.
Chad: Sara, see if you can read the biometrics on my U-Fiber suit. Or through the U-Fiber suit.
Sara: No. I can pick up your U-Fiber but I cannot pick up your biometrics that are needed. Please remove your glove.
Chad: Can you read the glove as a separate entity?
Sara: That is not an acceptable form of biometric test.
Chad is reluctant. Sara persists until Chad complies. Chad gets his palm, fingerprints, and his retinas scanned right there at his terminal. His fingerprints are already in the system, given the mandatory fingerprinting of children in elementary school since 1997.
In her office, Irina watches the entire exchange and notes what is already in the system upon completion of the scan. She compares the information there with the file on her desk and fills in any blanks. She sees that his family had originally reported him missing but later withdrew the report. There is no indication as to the reason why, at least not in the information Sara can immediately pull up. Sara is connected to the State, National, and Interpol databases, however, and Irina decides to do a little hard digging.
She's interrupted by Sara.
Sara: Ms. DiSanti. Javier Ryan has arrived. Shall I let him in?
Irina: (shutting everything down) Yes, please. I'll be there in a minute.
On the doorstep, Javier hears the subtle click of the locks throwing and the door smoothly opens by itself. A second later, he sees Irina walking toward him.
Irina: Mr. Ryan.
Javier: Yes, Ma'am.
Irina: A word in my office, please.
Javier: Yes, Ma'am. Good morning, Ma'am.
Irina: Good morning. Have a seat. Have some coffee.
Javier: Thank you, Ma'am.
She shuts her door and waves at her coffee machine. There is a cup already filled and steaming on the warmer plate. Javier takes her up on the offer. His eyebrows lift in surprise at the Nova-strength coffee.
Javier: That's a rare treat, Ma'am.
Irina: It's one of the perks of the office.
Her smart desk is another perk of the office. She transfers one of the camera feeds on her desk onto one of the many screens covering the walls with a single swipe of her finger.
Irina: One of our new hires is … younger than I expected. I'm ashamed to say it caught me flatfooted. For the next little while, could I ask you to keep an eye on this gentleman?
Javier: Whatever you need, Ma'am.
Irina: There are a couple of questions about his background I'd like to look into. He's currently in the back, checking out our computer system. I have him locked out of anything sensitive but if you would, keep an eye on him while I do some discreet digging as to what a man who's so young is doing on his own. He's not even on the record as far as I can tell as an emancipated teen. (frowns) No … there's something there …
Javier: How young are we talking, Ma'am, if I may ask?
Irina: Fourteen. (off his look) Yes. Exactly.
Javier: That's barely old enough to hold down a full-time job.
Irina: Let alone a full-time beard.
Ouch.
Even as they talk, the cameras on Chad show him wandering into the lobby's kitchenette, looking for something to snack on. Irina turns up the volume and she and Javier hear Chad's query.
Chad: Sara? What kind of security do we have against Warping? I mean, do I have to say something before I Step through or something?
Sara: There is no set policy. I will ask Ms. DiSanti as to how she'd like to handle that.
In her office, Irina suppresses a wince. Give the kid this: he may be young, but he's asking all the right questions. Irina follows the conversation.
Sara: What is the size of the field you emit while Warping?
Chad: Anywhere from one meter to five.
Sara: I would suggest you do it in the hallway, but I will ask. (switches channels) Ms. DiSanti?
Irina: (looks up) Yes, Sara?
Sara: Mr. Wiggins has asked what our policy will be for Warping. He creates a field that is one to five meters in size. I suggest he use the hallway for right now.
Irina: I suggest that he not Warp within these walls. Please relay that information to him, thank you.
Sara: Will do. (switches channels) Policy is that we do not Warp within these walls.
Chad: Hmm. (thinks) Okay.
Whatever Chad thinks about the injunction, he seems content to let the matter lie for now. He wanders back to his computer and gets back to familiarizing himself with the office's systems.
Irina pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration and looks at Javier.
Irina: You know, I don't know what's worse. Having a conversation with a disembodied voice everyone can hear or doing it on a Bluetooth and everyone thinking you're having a conversation with a disembodied voice.
Javier: In my experience, Ma'am, if it isn't in your medical record, it doesn't matter.
Meanwhile, Gemma is having an easier morning. Her classes are self-paced and she needs only show up for quizzes and tests. She knows that she isn't to show up at TNI until Irina gives her the call. So for now, her morning is free. It's eight o'clock and she's up and in the gym with a couple of her friends. She's not a fighter, but she is athletic. Right now she's doing yoga to distress before going to the library.
Irina, on the other hand, thrives on stress. She checks her watch. Nearly 0830. She fills him in on the new case as she shuts down her desk.
Irina: Javier?
Javier: Yes, Ma'am.
Irina: How do you feel about going on a field trip?
Javier: Just fine, Ma'am. So long as I don't have to pay for gas.
Irina: No, I'll be driving. I have an interview with Ms. Jackie Quaid. My marching orders for you, Mr. Ryan, is to observe everything you can about this company I'm about to see. Find any weak spots in their security. We're taking this case and I will need to know how they could have been robbed as badly as they have—multiple times.
Javier: Do we have any intel yet, Ma'am?
Irina: Not yet. You're gathering it.
Javier: Affirmative, Ma'am. What about the errant youth, Ma'am?
Irina grabs her keys and strides out of her office. Javier follows. Irina puts a hand on Chad's shoulder and leans in.
Irina: Mr. Wiggins. Take the morning off.
Chad: But … I've got stuff to do.
Irina: (yet again) Take the morning off.
Chad: … Okay.
Irina: Thank you. I'll have Sara let you in at 1 P.M. Be here at 1 P. M. sharp and you can finish the rest of your work.
Chad: Okay.
Irina sees him out and once he's gone, she tips her face to the ceiling.
Irina: Sara.
Sara: Yes.
Irina: I want you to do a full in-depth scan of Mr. Wiggins's station and I want a full report on everything he did by 3 P.M. today. Can you do that?
Sara: Yes. I've already been keeping track of everything.
Irina: Mr. Ryan and I are leaving for an interview. Lock everything up tight. Don't let anyone in until we get back. (a beat) Good job on the tracking. Thank you.
Irina can't believe she's just complimented a dumb machine … but maybe it's not so dumb after all. Javier takes the opportunity to snag more of the Nova-strength coffee, which Irina accommodates by snagging a travel mug for him to carry it in. She's practically twitching to leave as Javier fills the mug.
Irina: Mr. Ryan, if you're ready to leave?
Javier: When you are, Ma'am.
Irina: This way.
They get in her car and drive to Occidental Industries, located elsewhere in the Park. Once she's on the straightaway, Irina pulls a small recorder out of her pocket and turns it on.
Irina: (grim) Note to self: Find a way to Warp proof our offices. Yeah. (turns recorder off)
There are some things that are possible with U-Fiber shielding that might do what she needs doing, given the proper charge, but it needs to fine tuned to do so by a Nova. It's also very cost prohibitive. Only governments could afford the price tag. Or the UN.
Speaking of Warping … Chad decides to spend his free hours surfing the OpNet for places he would like to go. He can Warp, but unless he's got a location in mind, that power would just sit there rusting away. He looks for Nova theme parks, stations on the moon, etc.
As she exits gym class, Gemma's personal cell phone gets a text message. Gemma opens the message and reads it.
Text: Please be at the offices at 1 o'clock.
Unbeknownst to Gemma—or Irina, for that matter—the text looks as if it's originated from Irina when in fact Sara has generated it, anticipating Irina's needs. Gemma gets through her morning routine and starts scheduling her day to get to TNI at one as ordered.
It's only four miles to Occidental Industries as the crew flies. It's maybe a mile more as the road lies. Irina takes Davis Drive all the way over. In minutes she's parked in Occidental's visitor lot. She and Javier walk up to the appointment desk in the lobby.br>
Receptionist: Yes, may I help you?
Irina: I'm Irina DiSanti. I have an 8:30 appointment with Ms. Jackie Quaid. She's expecting me.
Receptionist: Let me page her. When was your appointment? 8:30? (taps her headset) I have Ms. Quaid's 8:30 appointment. (listens) Mm-hm. Mm-hm. All right. Thank you. (taps) She'll be right out.
Standing to the side, Javier is noting the details. The guards, the layout, the doors, windows … security cameras, checking to see if there are any Novas in the area. He sees cameras in the lobby. There is the usual security equipment normal for a tech firm. There are barred drop gates that lock down the building, floor sensors, that sort of thing. He senses that there might be one nearby. It's not Irina. The Nova is coming from another direction.
In fact, from that same direction he sees a stunningly beautiful Latina woman approaching them. She's wearing high-end synthetic U-Fiber jumpsuit that fits her like a glove. Javier recognizes the quality of it, as he's worn U-Fiber of necessity while in the field. Irina eyes the clothing as well, and notes that it's similar to the suit Javier's currently wearing. It means the woman is rather successful in what she does in order to afford her wardrobe. The Latina smiles and extends her hand.
Jackie: Hi, I'm Jackie. You must be Irina?
Irina: (shakes hand) Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Quaid.
Jackie: Absolutely. Follow me. I'll take you to my office.
Irina: I hope you don't mind but I've taken the liberty of inviting our Chief of Security along to gain insights into your problem.
Jackie: Oh no, not at all. Absolutely.
Jackie walks up to a set of closed doors (which are fitted with those retractable drop gates) and puts her hand on a panel. A hum and the doors click open. Obviously a biometric scan lock is in place. Irina and Javier note it and keep up with Jackie, who walks on through as if she does this sort of thing a dozen times a day. Perhaps she does.
Several twists and turns later, they all arrive at Jackie's office. It's a fairly well appointed office with a door at the rear and polarized windows that stand shuttered. Jackie gets right down to business.
Jackie: We have lost probably 30 or so connectors that have micro U-Fiber that are used in bridge connections for the local routers and devices to the actual OpNet U-fiber network. There's not much in those, aside from the fact that they're hard to manufacture and important for the expansion of the OpNet network. The main concern is for our specialized colony that's been specially generated for our contract. Some of its biomass has been stolen. We're still trying to figure out how that happened. Security is extremely tight and only I and one other person has access to the biomass for the extraction process.
Irina: Who is that other person?
Jackie: Daniel Chevalier.
Irina: I see. Would it be possible to interview him as well?
Jackie: Yes but not today. He's actually at one of our other facilities on the West Coast. He should be flying back tonight and will be available within the next day or two.
Irina: What was the nature of his visit on the West Coast and when did he leave?
Jackie: He's there to arrange a contract for a second biomass to go to another facility. As most people in the biz understand, artificial U-Fiber is expensive but is fairly straightforward for manufacturing and purchasing. The actual living U-Fiber biomass comes from only one specific Nova that we're aware of, so we have to contract out with him for him to develop a base colony. And then there's the obvious care and feeding of the biomass. Actually, surprisingly enough, that's the only thing that I can really do. I take care of the U-Fiber and other small biomass stretchers. That's what my Nova power is. It's why I was hired. Daniel has a similar ability.
Irina: Ms. Quaid. I realize this might be encroaching on sensitive territory but we are going to need a schedule detailing the thefts from the first to the last as well as a list of all your employees who have access to this building if we are to investigate fully and rule out any employees as an inside job.
Jackie: I will have those lists pulled together for you. I'll get it to you this afternoon.
Irina: Thank you.
Javier speaks up.
Javier: As well as activities six months prior.
Irina: Thank you, I didn't think of that.
Jackie: Very well. I'll add at least the preliminary information for you.
Irina: On a different level, have you noticed anything different in the past six months to a year? Anything at all that might have at the time struck you at the time as odd but not alarming? Have there been any changes?
Jackie: No. That's one of the things that's—(thinks)—This particular biomass was moved here. We worked with it to get it to grow successfully for the microcircuitry. Unlike most U-Fiber fibers, this is extraordinarily small. Each unit of U-Fiber is half the actual size of standard U-Fiber. It's very touchy. This particular facility's only been in production for about six months. This is the second colony that this company has owned. The first colony failed after a time.
Irina: What was the cause?
Jackie: It just died off. It was not the right mix of nutrients or something. I wasn't here for that. There was someone else in charge.
Irina: Could you get me that person's name?
Jackie: Yes, that would be Curtis Lafferty. (beat) There's a limited life cycle for U-Fiber colonies in this situation. It's like the care and feeding of a plant or, more closely, like the care and feeding of an algae to make sure it grows without getting too big or not growing enough.
Irina: Would you consider the colony you currently have under your roof unusual in its longevity? Or has it reached that point yet?
Jackie: No.
Irina: I see.
Jackie: I am able to interact with it at a level Curtis was unable to.
Irina: And this current biomass, did it come from the same source as Daniel Chevalier is arranging for as we speak?
Jackie: Yes.
Irina: And how long have you done business with that individual?
Jackie: Since the inception of U-Fiber for the OpNet.
Irina: So from the beginning, essentially?
Jackie: Since about '99 to 2000.
Irina: One last question. I know your time is valuable and I don't want to take up more than I should. Of the items that were stolen, including the biomass—I dislike speculating in advance of the data but I do want to put this bug in your ear—Do you … know if … these items were stolen so as to create an unofficial OpNet or an unofficial source of the biomass to either destabilize the industry or … (shakes head) … At this point, I'm afraid my imagination fails.
Jackie:At that level of biomass, our colony was started and we had to let it grow for two months before it was viable to extraction procedure. That took ten kilos.
Irina: How much of the biomass was stolen?
Irina knows that the cumulative amount stolen was only 3 kilos. If someone is planning to make an illegal biomass they're going to need more or they're going to have to grow their 3 kilos to 10. Nevertheless, Irina double-checks her figures.
Jackie: About three. Each connector holds maybe half a gram of the U-Fiber.
Irina: In your estimation, given that they are 7 kilos short of—if you'll forgive the term—critical mass, do you expect them to strike again? Or do you suppose they have figure out a way to make the 3 work where 10 would have sufficed?
Jackie: It could be either. I mean, if you had the 3 and you're not going to continue the colony so it becomes a longevity concern, you could very well use it to make quite a large number of infrastructure components.
Irina: I'm sorry, one last question. You say you have an affinity for this biomass.
Jackie: Yes.
Irina: Does this mean that if it were in the same room with you or some small distance away from you, you could sense it?
Jackie: If I'm actively trying to reach out to it, I can if it's within about 20 feet of me. I can recognize it's nearby.
Irina: Have you sensed it nearby where it's not supposed to be, before?
Jackie: No. Now, obviously once it's put into the connectors and the equipment that goes out to Cisco and a few other companies for the OpNet, those do ping on my radar as well. Almost as if it were a scent of something that was there but isn't anymore. Kind of like you know that there were roses in a room, from the lingering smell, but there aren't actually any roses. I pick that up a little bit, so there's a bit of a false positive, especially on high-concentration equipment.
Irina: If I could ask, and this is for background information to better inform my decisions, how … I know that the OpNet has replaced the internet and is connected to just about everything in day to day life. Your biomass, if I understand correctly, powers a good part of it. Are there any other biomasses out there that are empowering or enabling the OpNet as we know it?
Jackie: Most of the U-Fiber in the OpNet is artificial. It's fabricated U-Fiber. But our colony does handle more of the high-density through-puts for the OpNet.
Irina: Have you noticed any … how to put this? … Harmonic or sympathetic communications between two isolated … particles of your single biomass?
Jackie: No. Not at all. Once it splits off and it's installed, there's a limited lifespan where it's still a living organism until it becomes effectively like synthetic U-Fiber, though the through-put is much higher. I can still feel that sort-of still-there feeling, but there's no way to interact with it or anyone else with my particular skill to be able to interact and change anything once they're set in those micro-circuits.
Irina: So once it dies, it turns into an inert form that is like the synthetic version of itself but it retains the properties of the live biomass?
Jackie: Yes. And that's as far as I can go on the technical side.
Irina recognizes she's coming fast against a wall in this interview. She rises from her chair and pulls her card from her jacket pocket.
Irina: Thank you. You've been very helpful. Again, I don't like to theorize in advance of the data but you've given me much to think on. Here is my card. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me day or night.
Jackie: Thank you.
Meanwhile, Javier has been observing everything he can in his capacity as a security expert. He notices that the security in her office is no pushover. The door at the back of her office has some rather sophisticated equipment attached to it. It has a biometric scan, a keypad, and multiple checkpoints to get that door open. Some of the equipment is so obscure. Obviously whatever is behind that door is valuable enough to be worth the extra security. Best guess, the biomass lies somewhere beyond but without actually being escorted to see the biomass itself, Javier can't judge how tight the security around it actually is. He rises with Irina and addresses Jackie.
Javier: Could you point me toward your Security office?
Jackie: Go up to the front desk and ask for Jonathan Pike.
Irina: One more question, Ms. Quaid. If it's at all possible, would it be permissible for myself and my Chief of Security to take a look at seeing how the biomass is actually maintained?
Jackie: Not today. We would have to arrange something probably next week. We limit who gets near the biomass because it can impact growth.
Irina: I understand, but if it is possible, I would like to eliminate all variables.
Jackie: Very well. (glances at her calendar) I can say it probably will be a couple of days before you can talk to Pike.
Irina: Thank you.
It's time to go. Irina knows she's been fairly aggressive in her questioning and Jackie has been more accommodating than one could expect. If Irina wishes to keep Jackie well-disposed toward TNI during the investigation, she will have to curb her enthusiasm.
She and Javier leave Occidental and drive back to TNI, there to go over the data they've gleaned and to see where it takes their investigation.
That brings us to the end of the inaugural chapter of our new campaign. Well played, everyone!
HOW TO SPEAK ITALIAN
In stile americano = Een stee-leh eh-meh-ree-cahn-noh = American style Sound clip
NOTABLE QUOTES
Chad: Good morning.
Irina: The early bird catches the worm. I hope you like eating worms. This way.
Javier: That's barely old enough to hold down a full-time job.
Irina: Let alone a full-time beard.
Irina: You know, I don't know what's worse. Having a conversation with a disembodied voice everyone can hear or doing it on a Bluetooth and everyone thinking you're having a conversation with a disembodied voice.
Javier: In my experience, Ma'am, if it isn't in your medical record, it doesn't matter.
Go to Triangle Nova Investigations | Triangle Nova Investigations: Characters | Timeline | Traveler's Guide to TNI
