72 Book 4 - Chapter 130 (1/2)
Chapter 130: The Defenders
Y: 2143 - M2
Daedalus Financial Position: +14,340,000 bitcreds
Daedalus left the building.
The committee sat in stunned silence as the members from Daedalus stood and filed out of the room. Nothing like this had ever happened before in their long history, nothing that had been recorded in any case.
”I will contact the police,” the opposing counsel stated.
And within a moment several members of the committee shouted, ”No!”
The opposing counsel sat with an apprehensive look on his face. He recognised from their response that the suggestion of malfeasance held water. Otherwise the local authorities would be on their way - if not the ADF military police. (ADF is American Defence Force which constitutes all of North and South America)
”Leave,” the chair ordered the opposing counsel, ”And you are under a gag order for all that transpired here today.” Unlike Daedalus Military they did not use threats.
The five committee members were unnerved and began a frenzied discussion.
”What will we do?”
”We have no choice.”
”The corporations will not be pleased.”
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”Daedalus is their problem! We don't need to make it ours as well.”
”I never knew they were so… how did they dig up all this dirt so quickly? I was unaware of some of it! And I've been here for twelve years!”
”It doesn't matter. They are a tsunami and we are but a little boat. We will move out of the way and survive. We will navigate the corporations after we survive Daedalus.” The Chair spoke.
”Do you think they will cut us from the exodus?”
”They can't. If you own space on the spiral, it's a fait accompli. You only need to be aware and be able to afford space on a craft.”
”Unless you are deemed a destabilising influence.” The second chair said with a wary tone.
”I feel like leaving now,” the fifth, and youngest, chair said.
”Until the spiral is complete, it is far from cheap. Do you have an extra hundred million?”
The fifth chair hung his head, ”I can't even afford the initial. I needed the extra income this chair provides.”
”What if you sold everything?”
”You know we are forbidden to liquidate; the economy will collapse, and all assets will be worthless.”
”Hmm, I thought someone your size may be able to get away with it,' the second chair stated.
”There is an organisation that is watching us all closely,” The Chair stated. ”Do not act rashly.”
”This day just keeps getting better,” the fifth chair said, ”and which one of you degenerates is raising clones only to kill them?”
There was a blank stare and absolute silence in response.
”I don't think that is an appropriate subject for discussion,” The chair intoned before he moved the meeting on.
”Daedalus' entry into the regional southern European division. All in favour?”
A unanimous, ”Aye,” followed.
Daedo ordered the hovercar to the offices held by Barran's family in New York. Barran sent a message to everyone as the group. They were in two cars, which zipped underground before zig zagging seamlessly through traffic to their destination.
Barran: you can wait in the foyer or nearby, but only Daedo and me are in the meeting. They haven't agreed to more.
Barran's nerves had been building since he agreed to meet with his family. As soon as he found out about the New York trip, he responded to his families repeated attempts to contact him. He had applied and succeeded in his effort to emancipate, but his family still wanted to meet and discuss.
As the autocar pulled up, they could see the building was named Huawei.
”This is it,” Barran stated.
Vannier asked, ”Their offices are in the Huawei building?”
Barran nodded.
She looked at Daedo, he didn't seem phased by this revelation or perhaps had he known all along. And even if it did concern him, would any of that concern show on his face.
Barran arranged access for himself and Daedo and they left the rest of the group behind as they made their way through the restricted area to the travelator.
Due to the massive downsizing of the human white-collar workforce the officers were spacious or packed with computing appliances. Some were off-net to protect company intellectual property. These were physically protected with radio frequency and other electronic protection as well as physical breach prevention measures.
The entire tenth floor was Barran corporation. It possessed living areas, meeting rooms and entertainment areas. When in New York the Barran family conducted business and stayed in the one location.
They were guided by a robot to a windowless section which overlooked the city. It was an indoor-outdoor lounge that possessed a veranda stretching out an extra ten metres from the building with no visible edge protection. There were a few other floors like this above and below.
They were met by the familiar sister; Morganne. She was an attractive seventeen-year-old U2 cadet this year and would turn eighteen during the year. Her long blonde hair had been cut to shoulder length, and it bounced as she walked towards them.
”Merry Christmas little brother,” she said smiling and showing her pearly white teeth.
Barran replied, ”Funny har har.” He'd missed the family Christmas gathering.
”Come. Sit, relax, we can begin in a minute. Would you like drinks?”
”Water. For both of us,' Barran replied knowing exactly what Daedo's response would be.
”Boring,” she said and with a flick of her wrist as she ordered the drinks.
Daedo put his finger into the glass and around the rim. His bodysuit sampling the contents for immediate analysis. The act did not go unnoticed by Morganne who peered at him. She didn't appear offended nor apprehensive, just curious.
”I guess water is easier to test for foreign elements,' Morganne observed.
Huawei were known for their expert espionage technology and they were in the Huawei building.
”Not testing your's brother?” Morganne asked.
Barran grinned while he downed his water. ”Why would I? Anyone who dared to drug me better kill me.” Instead of putting his empty glass down for a robot he handed it to his sister.
She sighed at his immaturity and took the glass like a good host, they both knew, she was ordered to be. She placed it down on a surface for a robot to retrieve.
Instead of handing her back her glass Daedo threw it at the open space. It flew like a missile until it hit an air wall which pushed it up into the sky and into a waiting automated retrieval system which consisted of hundreds of elastic tubes.
”Hmm,” he said as Barran and Morganne gawked at him. It did not take long for Barran to burst out laughing at the seemingly spontaneous, out of character act.
”I see our systems are being tested,” Reece Barran, CEO Barran Corp stated as he arrived upon the trio. ”We can begin as soon as Lady Alvia arrives.”