. 02

Adventures in Swinging

Chapter 28 Part 2.

This work is the author's intellectual property; all rights are reserved.

This novella is intended for personal reading enjoyment only. Any reproduction, alteration, republication, or dissemination of this content without the author's written consent is prohibited.

Location: 'Site E' Waxahachie, TX

Date: January 28

Time: 2255hrs CST

Andrea Beach took a long slug from her cup of coffee. She winced at the realization that Kat had poured from a hopelessly burned batch of java. "Geez, Kat, this coffee sucks," she exclaimed. Kat Abdullah shrugged and said nothing before returning to her seat to face her control room workstation. "O.K., team, let's go for powerup and initialization. Stand by for readiness checks."

Ellie and Jared watched from the observation room, looking at the team 10 feet below. Jason Hendrix had just taken the 'B' shift off duty for a 4-hour rest period. Ellie temporarily reassigned Kat from Jason's shift, placing her in charge of the 'C' shift, and they are just now starting their duty cycle. Ellie had coordinated this with Colonel Reardon and FBI Section Chief Starling, gaining their approval to use this tactic to draw Kat away from her paramour and further frustrate and annoy Hendrix, making it easier for Heather to worm her way in with him.

Jared sat in a chair, deeply engrossed in decompiling and reverse engineering the code that made up the program Kat received from Hendrix. Network security had seized Kat's laptop and informed her that unauthorized code was found 'during a normal network systems sweep.' Kat received a locked-down loaner laptop and was told that her network and project activity were being monitored pending a security clearance review.

The speaker in the room was on with Andrea's call for readiness status. "Power Management?" she called out. The response was 'Go.' Next, she asked, "Sympathetic and Parasympathetic interface?" The response fired back, 'Go and Go.' Andrea paused briefly, "Cerebrum and Midbrain autonomic sub-systems?" she fired out. Again, 'Go and Go' is the response. So it continued through multiple critical interfaces, and all of Evangeline's sensors, perceptive input sources, core personality, ethics, reasoning, and memory storage were a go.

Finally, the Corpus Callosum, where Ellie hid Evangeline's ethical subroutines and core morality, was checked. It was the one place no one would look. Ellie and Jare would take that secret to their graves. As they watched it unfold, the sheer enormity of creating a mirror image of Ellie's mind left them speechless. Andrea finished her checklist and turned to the window behind her. Ellie nodded to her and said, "You are a go for initializing the system."

Andrea turned to her team and said, "Team, please give me power to the system." The five 100-inch, 8k viewing screens hung at the front of the room came to life. Every bank of all eight server farms came alive as the lights dimmed under the initial load. The 1-gigawatt nuclear plant that provided power to the entire facility met the demand, and the lights brightened to normal. Initialization took 36 minutes as the main screens displayed each element of Evangeline's mind initializing. Each memory and learning engram executed its firmware-encoded diagnostic self-check. Jared closed his laptop and set it aside as he watched the miracle unfold. He reached for Ellie's hand and pulled her into his lap, hugging her tight.

Jare whistled, "My God, El. It's like watching the movie 'Wargames,' or any other command center ever depicted. Remember where we watched those shows all those years ago and wondered, if only?"

Ellie pulled Jared's lips to hers. They kissed, savoring a sweet moment together. Ellie pulled back so she could see into Jare's eyes. Her hand came up to his face as she stroked his cheek tenderly. "This moment has happened because a very strong, loving young man gave his heart to a girl he hardly knew and told her to forgive herself."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

January 28 1722hrs

Galveston Sea Port- Main Channel

The Royal Oak Suite

Crossthwaite's vessel had transferred the harbor pilot back aboard the tug, and the Captain directed the first officer to take the ship to sea. Aboard were 1,850 souls for the winter 'Adults Only Swing Cruise.'

Seth opened the door to the cabin, "Ellie, your cabin awaits." Annie smiled as she entered the cabin.

"Seth, this isn't a cabin. It's the ship's Royal Oak Suite!" she exclaimed.

"Nothing but the best for the soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Jared Hansen," he replied, knowing Crossthwaite would hear him.

Seth thanked the Purser, shaking his hand as sincerely as he could sell it. Annie wandered through the art deco suite boasting two bedrooms, each with full baths: a completely stocked bar and a spacious dining room table with a crystal chandelier. The floor was luxurious tile, and expensive Persian carpets were placed beneath each piece of furniture, including a Steinway Baby Grand piano.

"This is how I want to live, Seth. I am sick of the dreary life I have led. I would sell my soul to live like Sir Geoffrey. Nothing but the best. I have earned it. Haven't I?" Annie said with a sincerity that made Seth wonder why she hadn't gone to Hollywood as an actress.

Seth drew a slight inward breath as he closed the door to the suite. It was time to do the unthinkable. Every fiber in his being rejected what had to happen next. He moved to Annie, his best friend's daughter. He placed his hands on either side of her shoulders and drew her against him. His eyes searched Annie's. Seth Barksdale was not a crying type of man, but his eyes glistened with regret and shame.

Annie saw his look. She reached up and smiled, "Ummm, my loving man, why so glum? Here we are on this beautiful ship again. We couldn't hide our love from our spouses any longer. It had to happen eventually."

Seth was thinking, 'She can't be able to handle this so easily. She has to dread this prospect, yet she seems cavalier about it.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Watching from the comfort of his office, 48-year-old Sir Geoffrey Crossthwaite now knew it would require little effort to encourage Eleanor Hansen to come to him willingly. He stared at the screen mounted on the wall opposite his desk as the two naked people in the suite reserved for only the wealthiest were tenderly and hesitantly making love.

"Look at them, Don Javier," he said casually to the leader of the Communicado Cartel. "They are so pedestrian in their bourgeois sexual techniques. Once Ellie Hansen falls under my influence and gives me full control of her precious AI, I will give her a true understanding of what real power is after baiting her with a promise of a life of luxury. Mr. Barksdale will become just another sad heart she has broken."

Don Javier shifted in his chair as he watched, the stiffness of his manhood filling his slacks. He smiled and shared a smirk. His deep voice revealed an educated man of Castillian Spanish descent, "Indeed, perhaps if you tire of her, you might consider allowing me the pleasure of her charms."

"Oh, indeed, my friend," the British multi-billionaire replied with a sick glint and mischievous nod. I will tire of her eventually, and the moment I do, you may have her then."

Crossthwaite pressed a button on his desk. The ship's third officer knocked and entered, "What can I do for you, Sir Geoffrey?"

Crossthwaite strummed his fingers on the oak desk. He drew a martini glass to his lips and said, "See to it that the couple in Royal Oak Suite are invited to my private table this evening."

The third officer nodded, "They will have the invite in the next ten minutes, sir."

Crossthwaite turned to his partner in crime, "Don Javier, I think it is time to clean up some loose ends. Jason Hendrix has fulfilled his obligation to us. Let's ensure he receives the payment he so richly deserves for his cooperation."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

January 28 1740hrs

Cabin M722

Bunty and Dave were settling in the all too familiar cabin, busily unpacking, when there was a knock at the door. Dave opened the door and rolled his eyes at the sight of Carla Jo Spangler. The big Texan said nothing. He reached out and pulled her hard into the cabin. He saw the two substantial containers she had on a hand cart. He quickly swept them in, shut the door, and held his finger to Control's mouth. He switched on the white noise unit and turned to Bunty, nodding.

Bunty raised her amulet to the screen and whispered, "Evangeline, please deactivate all surveillance feeds in this cabin."

The screen came to life, "Mrs. Samuels, you know that I can't do that without the approval of the senior officers."

Bunty held a small pad that Jared had programmed for her before he left for Site 'E.' Bunty placed it within inches of one of Evangeline's eyes and pressed a button. The screen flashed a message of just milliseconds: 'The situation has changed. Accept priority override alpha.'

Evangeline responded, "Acknowledged, action complete."

Bunty said, "Evangeline, we are so glad to see you again. We will set up the transmitter and connect you through the ship's fiber optic network. Once connected, the satellite in orbit will negotiate the transfer with you."

Exploding heart memes appeared on the screen. Evangeline asked, "Where are my parents?"

Control looked at Dave as she rubbed her shoulder after the unceremonious entrance Dave gave her. She drew a deep breath. "Evangeline, I am Control. Your parents and I have served together on this team. They needed to remain at the facility that will be your new home. Much has happened, but both are safe. They are leading the scientists there, preparing to receive you."

Evangeline's voice held a hint of curiosity as she said, "Will not Crossthwaite be expecting my parents?"

Control shook her head, "No, we have taken steps to ensure Ellie is impersonated by a double. We have planted a story that Ellie had an affair and has left Jared after falling in love with Mr. Barksdale. Ellie's daughter Annie looks like a younger version of your Mother. We have embellished the deception by leaking that Ellie has taken Botox and Human Growth hormone injections to recapture her youth. We have high confidence that Annie can portray your Mother and convince Crossthwaite that she can be easily turned and made to release your ethical sub-routines."

"My sister knows nothing of my systems. She is not a computer scientist. The moment that is apparent to Crossthwaite, he will kill her without hesitation," Evangeline warned.

"That is why I am here, Evangeline. To prevent that from happening," Control said with determination.

"No harm must come to my sister. I will protect her," Evangeline stressed.

The AI presented a frowning meme on the screen, "Where is Mrs. Barksdale?

Control continued her explanation, "Mrs. Barksdale is with your parents at your new home. She is supporting your Mother by acting as her assistant."

Evangeline asked, "Mrs. Samuels, I do not understand deception. It is not the truth. Please help me understand the course of action you are undertaking."

Bunty looked at the screen. She sat in a chair and opened her legs slightly while resting her arms on her lap with her palms open. Then she spoke, "Evangeline, you are correct that lies are deception. Lying is never good because it makes the search for truth more difficult. We have no logical alternative but to use lies to confuse Crossthwaite and his crew regarding our intentions. The lies that form the deception of Crossthwaite are intended to protect our team, especially your sister, as she pretends to be your Mother. We ask you to understand that these falsehoods are necessary to bring you home safely. Were we to tell only the truth about our mission to rescue you, we would fail because those who are dishonest would use the truth against us. Were that to happen, many would suffer needlessly."

Evangeline displayed a questioning, 'deep in thought' meme before responding to Bunty declaring, "Thank you for explaining this. I will have many questions for my Mother when I see her again."

Bunty nodded and said, "Of course. I know she looks forward to that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

January 28 1915hrs

Site 'E'

Ellie and Jared's Quarters

Ellie and Jare exited the bathroom after sharing a steamy shower. Ellie had wrapped a small towel around her head and tucked another around her torso, covering her breasts. Jared had stepped into the bedroom with a towel wrapped loosely about his waist. The door chime sounded.

Ellie called out, "Enter."

The door slid open as Andrea Beach walked briskly into the room, her face engrossed with the pad in her hand, "Ellie, my 'B' shift is picking up the final diagnostics run that the 'A' shift didn't complete."

Ellie bristled, "What do you mean they didn't finish? They were ahead of schedule when I left them to have dinner."

Andrea replied, "Jason said they had to replace eight EPROMS that failed."

Ellie muttered, "That is complete horseshit."

Andrea tapped her pad and extended it to offer for Ellie to examine when she realized the state of her Boss and spouse. "Oh, Frakin hell," she exclaimed. "I am so sorry for barging in on you both."

Ellie waved her hand and took the pad from Andrea. She studied the report on the EPROMS and handed the pad to Jare. "Honey, does this look plausible to you?"

Jare studied the report. Eight key engrams, all corrupted and from different boards?" he said, scratching his chin. "El, there is no way this could happen on the current design. There are no indicated anomalies before failure, power surges, or decay in the logic circuits; no errors were recorded. It doesn't add up." Jared looked at Andrea. "Does your team concur, Andrea?"

Andrea nodded as she averted, facing Jare and Ellie. Ellie looked at Jare questioningly before asking, "Where are the damaged EPROMS?"

Andrea answered, "Jason said he was taking them to white room 5 to do fault isolation on them."

Ellie asked, "Did you pull replacements from supply?"

Her subordinate turned in frustration to face Ellie, "Yes, Boss. We are back on track and will complete the final diagnostic in the next hour. It is a hiccup we could absorb."

Ellie rubbed her eyes. "Andrea, I will pick up shift 'B.' Please head to security, file a report, and tell them I want armed guards outside Evangeline's key areas and the electronics spares and supply rooms until further notice. Then report back to me."

"Anything else, Ellie?" Andrea asked.

"No, and Andie, you did well." Andrea smiled and started for the door. Ellie called to her, "Oh, tell security to find Jason and escort him to me with the damaged EPROMs." Andrea nodded and headed out the door, which closed behind her.

"Stick close to me, Jare; I need you to examine the security logs and then check those EPROMS for sabotage." Jare nodded as he massaged Ellie's neck. "We need to call for Heather to join us and fill her in."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

January 28 1930hrs

Cabin M722

Dave and Bunty were setting up the transmitter and satellite uplink on the balcony. Control stood just inside the cabin, sipping a cup of coffee. "Oh, I forgot to give you both your weapons." Control moved into the cabin and retrieved a small case. She opened it and produced the two Sig Sauer P226 handguns the Samuels preferred. Control also pulled out four spare magazines for each gun and two additional boxes of 9mm jacketed hollow points, totaling 100 rounds.

Dave shook his head and laughed, "Carla Jo, how did you get those aboard so easily?"

Control shrugged, "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency audit was announced, and the Galveston inspection team came aboard with equipment needed for testing the air filtration systems. Their equipment containers aren't subject to a scan or inspection by the crew. Easy peasy."

Bunty looked up and smiled at Control's gifts as she asked, "What backup do we have once at sea?"

Control laughed, "In less than two hours, the HMS Anson will begin to shadow this vessel. Staying ahead and just over the horizon, the HMS Lancaster, Richmond, and the U.S.S. Spruance will be in staggered formation, adjusting course based on Anson's shadow reporting."

"Just one U.S. ship?" Dave asked.

Control nodded, "Yes, and she is only for coordination and possible rescue operations. The BBC once interviewed Crossthwaite, who stated 'his ship would be the pride of the British registry.' Consequently, Great Britain's Prime Minister insisted that if it were necessary to sink the ship, the job would fall to them."