Traveller Probo
22. USA

“Nice view,” muttered Mel as she gazed out of the plate-glass window at the hazy sunset of the great city. She hadn’t visited her uncle’s Chicago office since Helguard had moved to their more salubrious location. The trappings of wealth were evident, from their impressive location, to the photographs of Peter Conti posing, all smiles, with various celebrities, including the President of the United States. Mel was uncomfortably reminded how her status had also changed over the past years, how she was now a member of the social elite where she could also rub shoulders with the powerful, though she never thought of herself as anything out of the ordinary. As her husband often reminded her, a recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize was always extraordinary but in her heart of hearts she still thought of herself just as little Mel Chandler.

Zak smiled as she looked out at the view and suggested, “You too could have a view like this, if you wanted.”

Mel smiled at her husband and nodded. “If I wanted,” she agreed and went back to her watching. Zak’s comment was a familiar joke as they had long ago made the decision to retain their humble head office in the old timber house where Woomera Technologies had been first established. Now the office housed only the Woomera directors and immediate support staff, for the main research office had moved to an industrial warehouse a few kilometres away. There, most of their physical research took place, while manufacturing was largely managed by Helguard who had the first rights to purchase their innovative technologies. So far, none had been refused.

She heard her uncle enter his office but continued to watch for a few seconds, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of prompt acknowledgement.

Peter Conti stood by a large fish tank where coral reef fish swam in special lighting that emphasised their gaudy colours. Mel hadn’t spoken to her uncle for over a year. She looked her uncle in the eyes. “Hello Uncle Peter,” she said quietly and was gratified to note that he flinched. Just a little but it was there.

“Mel, my darling. It’s so good to see you, and Zak too. You look so well!” He approached with his arms open and she was forced to acknowledge that he was trying, so gave a perfunctory hug and peck on the cheek. Conti looked a little hurt, so he quickly turned to shake Zak’s hand.

“Can I make you a drink?” he offered. While he poured himself a scotch, Mel and Zak accepted sodas with slices of fresh lime. Mel could tell her uncle was stalling for time, his mind actively preparing for whatever his niece could say. He was off-balance, for they had been the ones to initiate contact and then make the considerable journey to his home-turf.

“Welcome to my humble office,” he smiled, for humble it was not. The luxury Italian leather lounges were in a space that looked more like an exclusive club. It was an abode for the mega-wealthy, created as a show of affluence rather than a place of work. But appearances were deceptive. Peter Conti was a workaholic which, together with a certain ruthlessness, accounted for much of his success.

Mel decided not to beat about the bush. “I wish I could say how nice it was to see you uncle but I would be lying.” Conti flinched again and Mel recalled how he had always thought of her as his favoured niece. “We’re here on business, and it’s important enough that we throw aside old differences and sort this out together.”

“Look Mel, we can’t keep going like this. Okay, I admit it, yes, it was controversial and yes, perhaps not quite ethical,” explained Conti. “I should’ve consulted with you and Zak first but I didn’t. It just happened.”

“I didn’t fly all the way to Chicago to discuss Phil, though it does have something to do with what’s now happening,” Mel continued, her voice cool, calm and professional.

“Well let’s get the elephant out of the room before we continue, okay?” continued Conti. “I didn’t initiate the discussion with Phil. He and I were at dinner and the conversation turned to the Transporter, as it always does.”

“Do we have to do this?” asked Mel as she rolled her eyes.

“Well, yes we do!” continued Conti. “You haven’t spoken to me for over a year and while you might have a right not to talk, please let me say how things happened from my side.”

“The media certainly had plenty to say on your behalf,” added Zak quietly. “This isn’t a family feud here, Peter. Your actions could have crippled Woomera Technologies by scalping our chief engineer. Phil was a founding partner and an integral part of the innovations we sell to Helguard, and you know it.”

“Yes, understood,” nodded Conti, “but my intentions weren’t to take Phil away from you. He offered to work with me.”

“We’ve heard that version uncle but Phil keeps quiet on that,” interrupted Mel curtly.

“Have you had a chance to talk with Phil over the past fifteen months?” asked Conti.

“Phil avoids the subject like the plague,” replied Zak. “He never talks work anymore, not to us at least. Now, he’s a media God, and that’s the way he likes it.”

Conti pulled a face. “Yes, Phil does like the limelight but that isn’t where his heart is. He’s been stung on quite a few occasions at the accusations that the Transporter is a fluke that can’t be duplicated. He only wanted to join Helguard to head up our R&D division to duplicate the Transporter, to make another that can allow a safety backup, just in case the original Transporter has an accident, a breakdown, or, God forbid, is damaged in a terrorist attack.”

“Perhaps you could have approached us all on that count,” interrupted Mel sharply. “It seems you need reminding that the Transporter is not owned one-hundred percent by Helguard. We do own half, you’ll recall, and we’ve also been trying to determine what makes the device tick. We might have made further progress if Phil was still a member of the team, or at least if Helguard and Woomera had joined forces and worked on this together.”

Conti’s eyes flashed in irritation and then he reluctantly nodded. “Point taken, however I don’t need to be reminded. It was a very human moment and we’d had a few drinks and Phil mentioned his discontent. I made an offer he couldn’t refuse, and he didn’t. Sometimes, when we act on instinct, we get the best results. I know, I should’ve consulted with you first. I admit that and I’m sorry about how that poor decision has damaged our relationship. I’m sorry!”

Zak raised his eyebrows and looked to Mel who sat, angry and unmoving. He nodded, “Well that’s a big start, thanks Peter. That does mean a lot.”

Mel nodded but after nursing the anger for over a year it seemed a difficult burden to simply cast aside.

Conti took a deep breath and nodded to Zak in appreciation and then continued, “Look, this has been a real shame. I know I should’ve handled things a little differently but the enormous expansion of my business and the influence of Helguard, perhaps, went a little to my head, you know? My casual discussion with Phil was never meant to turn into a job offer but it did and when that happened and was accepted, well, it was done, wasn’t it? I never really thought about the implications and I’m sorry to have hurt you, both of you, and Woomera.”

Mel struggled to look at her uncle and nodded. “Well I’ve no choice but to accept your apology and explanation but that doesn’t mean it won’t take a while before I stop feeling angry at you. I’ve always been grateful to you, Uncle Peter but what happened hurt and felt like betrayal, not only by you but also by Phil.” She sighed and shrugged before she continued, “But that’s not why we’ve really come to visit, though I’m glad we can move to reconcile this at least.”

Zak continued, eager to move on. “Peter, we know Phil has been looking after your R&D division and has also been Helguard’s face for the Transporter. Hell, he’s now one of the best known faces in the media. How is your research progressing by the way?”

“Well not too badly,” replied Conti with a non-committal shrug, “though we’re still stuck on the final configuration of the fused ganglia in the scanner’s master controller. There doesn’t seem to be any progress as yet and we’re still reluctant to pull the only working Transporter apart, especially following the New Zealand debacle.”

Mel just nodded and Zak looked to his wife a moment and placed his hand on her arm in support. Conti started, aware of his faux pas and exclaimed, “Oh God Mel, I’m so sorry. You were the supervisor for the project. I’ve seen the footage. I … my God, I’m sorry! I should’ve thought!”

Mel just shook her head, held Zak’s hand and gave her husband a fleeting smile. “That’s okay. I have to live with it. I still have nightmares. It’s the smell I can’t forget, and that head on the white floor.” She shook her head and looked up and momentarily there was a flicker of naked fear and horror before she brought her memories under control. “Thankfully I have a good therapist,” she murmured with a grimace and Zak smiled and placed his arm around her shoulders. She gave him a quick smile.

Zak held her as he fished into his suit pocket to extract a small display case; a flat, clear plastic cylinder similar to those used for costume jewellery. He leaned to Conti and handed it across. “This is a new development of ours, something in which you’ll certainly be interested.” Conti inspected the item, which was a tiny, black, electronics chip about the size of a coffee-sugar cube. In the office down-lights, the surface gleamed with blue metallic hues. Conti stood and walked to his desk to collect a pair of reading glasses and a magnifying glass. He inspected the chip as he returned and then looked to Zak for clarification.

“As you know, Woomera Technologies has been responsible for the development and supply of Helguard’s most innovative scanners and security technologies,” explained Zak. “While that has obviously been most profitable, we’re fortunate that a few of our best engineers seem to share Phil’s penchant for bucking the system. They had a bet to see who could design and develop a means of blocking the tech we’ve created, especially the security systems. Sure, some of their efforts are also to target the competition, though most competitors in the industry now use similar technologies to ours. I’m not going to tell you all of their results but this is one that you’ll be interested in,” he suggested with a small smile.

Conti leaned slightly to better access the down-light beam and carefully inspected the tiny chip. “So, does this block our scanners?” he asked.

Zak smiled, “Yes but not all of them. This little chip creates a field that prevents the blocking of any signal from our own surveillance bugs. We’ve specifically targeted the effectiveness of our personal bugs. Much more discreet than those used by the Travellers, our new bugs track movement and broadcasts sound, and sometimes vision, from the person wearing it. As you know, Helguard’s protection systems prevent such bugs from operating in sensitive areas, preventing their ability to record or broadcast. These have been a very profitable range for both Woomera and Helguard.”

“So, this chip allows the bugs to operate?” confirmed Conti.

Mel nodded and continued, “It allows the bugs to bypass our signal blockers, so you can understand how incredibly sensitive this little invention is. If your clients knew we’d developed a bypass to their expensive surveillance blocking systems, well, they wouldn’t be pleased.”

Conti raised his eyebrows. “Agreed! It becomes a kind of arms race, blocking the blocker and such.” He inspected the tiny chip further and then paused a moment to think. “But is that the reason for your visit? While I appreciate the news on the latest developments, that could have been fed through our normal corporate communications. I also appreciate our opportunity to reconcile, I really do but there’s more, isn’t there?”

“This chip is a game-changer,” replied Zak. “You need to know about it. But yes, there’s more to this, as you realise.”

“It’s about Phil,” said Mel.

Conti paused and removed his reading glasses. “Meaning?” he asked cautiously.

“So, I’ll ask again, how effective has your research into another Transporter actually been?” inquired Zak.

“Well, like I said, we seem to be stuck in the same issue that I think you are, which is the examination of the fused ganglia in the master controller,” Conti reiterated.

“Hmm,” replied Zak. “Well we’ve been looking at that tiny structure for years and have been trying to duplicate how it was made. I was the one who caused the fault in the first place you know.”

“Yeah, so I’ve heard.”

“But in going back and examining my actions that evening, and trying to work through my alcoholic haze and any facts I barely remember, our efforts in replicating the error have not had any results. We hope to carefully analyse the structure of the ganglia with high-energy x-rays to determine the crystalline micro-structures so we can attempt duplication,” continued Zak.

“Okay but what’s this got to do with this little chip here?” asked Conti.

“Well, we’ve been trying to access a high-powered x-ray that has been developed by Harvard,” explained Mel. “It seems this system is especially important because it’s highly mobile, incredibly accurate and able to target areas only millimetres across. We’ve seen documented success in the new system having identified individual atoms in real time. We decided to book some time with the x-ray and conduct our investigation. Obviously, we’d need to work with Helguard and share the results.”

Zak continued, “So what we did was attempt to book the x-ray but we’ve been unable to, because it and the specialists who control the device are contracted for the next month by the US government to be used at the Lincoln Laboratories in Massachusetts.”

Conti shrugged, “So?” he asked.

Mel glanced at Zak and then asked, “So you have no involvement with the government at the Lincoln Laboratories?”

Conti shook his head, “Well, we will have installed security systems there of course but that’s all.”

Mel interjected, “Uncle, Phil has booked the Transporter for a few days over that time. We decided to hire a private investigation company to monitor him, to see what he’s up to.”

Conti frowned in confusion. “Why? Why would you do that?” he asked, surprised.

“For some time, Phil has been involved in research at the Lincoln Laboratories. We’ve documented his comings and goings and have supportive images to prove he’s been in attendance at the facility, on and off, for about six months,” explained Zak. “Not only that but you can guess where the Transporter was to be shipped.”

“What? So you can prove this?” asked Conti quietly. Mel noted he looked surprised and hurt rather than angry.

“Because of his possibly questionable activities, we decided to test this chip,” continued Zak. “We secreted monitoring modules on his clothes and inserted the chip into buttons on five of his jackets. We then had a team of specialists track his activities, especially when he went to the Laboratories. We soon realised he removed his jacket to wear a lab coat. But that wasn’t before we caught images of the main lab area, of his team, and of his computer screen.” Zak paused a moment to let his words sink in.

“So, I’m guessing you have some of these images?” asked Conti, his eyes narrowed.

“Yes we have images,” continued Mel. “It seems the chip works very effectively. May I suggest we don’t make the chips available to your clients?”

Zak reached into his pocket and offered Conti a data stick. “Take a look,” he suggested. “I’ll log in for you, as the files are encrypted but we want you to come to your own conclusions.”

Conti collected his tablet from his desk and soon carefully inspected at the images that included the laboratory layout, some of the research team, and of a whiteboard. The evidence was clearly incriminating. “So, it seems our friend is working for the US Government in seeking another Transporter solution,” muttered Conti through gritted teeth. He looked angry. “As you appreciate, this makes for an extremely delicate situation. Phil’s the face of Helguard and the Transporter, and is the conduit for Helguard government sales globally.” Conti looked out of the glass wall for a moment. “Okay, he hasn’t yet been successful in duplicating the Transporter but he has grown Helguard’s market by over four-hundred percent. He’s on first name basis with the worlds powerful and elite. Because of Phil, business growth hasn’t even looked like levelling off.”

Mel watched her uncle closely. His frustration was obvious. “I doubt that the government is thinking of sharing any results. But what are they up to, I wonder?” she murmured, almost to herself. “The Transporter is our property and we would have sued them for billions! What is it that makes this sub-rosa research so worthwhile?” She watched the reflections of the incriminating images on Conti’s glasses. Zak had long suspected what Phil was up to. Didn’t he know Phil better than anyone? Yet their time apart was beginning to show. Zak had often mentioned how he really didn’t understand Phil anymore, how he felt the larrikin surfer had been traded in for shallow fame or money. Mel and Zak had discussed a few solutions but none seemed to be effective, until now.

“I have a suggestion which I think might solve this,” Mel offered. Zak and Conti looked up from the screen.

She had their attention.

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