Chapter 13: Holo-floor

*Somewhere on Earth in a location with an unknown address. The place seemed deserted, but there was music and drinks. It was actually a karaoke where young people gathered to sing. Usually, teens meet there after school to relieve tension and stress, while others arrange dates with their girlfriends, sometimes ending up in a more intimate setting. These places are quite popular in Korea and Japan, and they are discreet locations. On that day, a young man with brown hair entered the building. He wore a leather jacket over a white T-shirt, simple pants, and a pair of sneakers.*

"I'll take room 106," he said to the receptionist.

"Um, we don't have 106 rooms, sir."

"Sorry, it's a thing between me and my buddies. I want room 7, please," he said with a smile.

*She checked on her computer and then handed him the key.*

"Thank you, ma'am. Have a good day."

*The young women at the reception watched him leave, intrigued.*

"Who is this young man?"

"He's cute. Is he a foreigner? He speaks Korean strangely."

"Go ask for his number."

"Are you crazy? I would never dare."

*The young man, Douglas Sherman, actually Eagle Stowe, wasn't there to sing. On the contrary, he reached the designated room, swapped the numbers with the adjacent room, and entered. Inside the room, there were five other people project with hologram.*

"Yo," greeted Sullivan.

"It's unlike you to be late. What's your excuse?" asked Gael.

"I have none, and it would be great if we could start as soon as possible," he said urgently. "Adjudant," he added with respect.

*He sat next to Sullivan, just in front of them were Nikto, who had sprawled on the couch, and Warner, who was lying horizontally,a book covering his face. Those two formed indeed a strange duo. On the other side, Gael stood in front of the TV screen, while Gaines, sitting in a corner, had crossed arms.*

"Since everyone is here, let's get straight to the point," Gael said, displaying the screen. "As you suspect, we are here because we've somewhat identified our target. Assuming some of you have done their jobs."

"It's been more than a month since we're here," Nikto said. "Major, what did it serve us to integrate ourselves like this?"

"Because the mission has multiple objectives, and there are too many variables to consider," he replied. "That's the answer I'd like to give, but truthfully, I just wanted to do a bit of sightseeing," he said with a slight smile.

*Warner sighed, and Nikto didn't press further. Sullivan was surprised that they let him off with just that explanation.*

"Let's move on to the information our two newcomers gathered in Ivory Coast."

*He displayed a map of Abidjan and zoomed in on a particular building.*

"What you see here," Sullivan began, "is a building of a mining excavation company named... What's the name again?"

"Bognan Industry," said Stowe.

"Yes, as he said. After extensive research in Africa, it turned out that despite all the excavations carried out on this continent, there is not a single Reactive Opal Krysalid. It's strange because the radar was going crazy in Africa."

"Then what did all those blips on the radar mean?" asked Nikto. "I thought it was precisely in Africa that it was spiking."

"Exactly, there are many rare and precious metals of different types on this continent. Many of them have signatures that resemble the R.O.K."

"But, in reality, it will never go beyond a certain stage; it's too weak to serve as an energy source," Stowe added.

"So, what's the connection with this company in Ivory Coast?" Warner asked.

"I'm getting to that."

*Stowe took out the cartridge that served as the battery for Roger's smartphone from his pocket and placed it on the table. Everyone stared at it with wide eyes, except for Warner, who remained unmoved.*

"Don't tell me it's..." Nikto started.

"Our proof," Gael added.

"The kind of cartridges we use in our devices every day. It's still in the experimental phase, but it's clearly the same," Sullivan explained.

"And this company in Africa manufactures it? America is behind the times, it seems," Nikto mocked Warner.

"Bognan Industry is just a small fish in the pond, but it is directly linked to something bigger," Sullivan explained. "Which brings us to the point of this meeting."

*Gael moved his hand, and this time the graph showed a tall tower, a skyscraper in the middle of a city center. At the top, it was written "ARC-HIVE."*

"Archive?" Warner asked.

"Arc-Hive," said Gaines. "For the sake of my ears, let's just call it ARC."

"I agree. I like it short."

*Gael began to scroll through a series of images and graphics.*

"ARC is a company we could qualify as... naive," Gael said. "Indeed, they are involved in many charities; they build orphanages and hospitals for the less fortunate."

"I don't see how that's naive," said Sullivan. "It's even admirable."

"Well, real Samaritans," Warner added.

"But concretely, what do they do in life?" Stowe asked.

"Research," Gael replied. "And not just any research. ARC-HIVE is at the forefront of technology on Amadori. They have a health branch that is already eliminating some diseases. On the surface, it's a pharmaceutical company trying to save the world, but secretly they are also developing other devices like communication means, utility vehicles, or even prosthetics for amputees."

"Basically, what we have at home," Warner said unimpressed. "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."

"But I've learned from experience that you don't get rich without getting your hands dirty," Nikto said. "And this world is no exception. This company must have a lot of enemies with all that."

"Indeed, it was to be expected with such a job. That's why the company enjoys the protection of a major private security company named Global Grid."

*This name made some people in the room react, including Stowe and Warner.*

"Global Grid?" Stowe asked.

"Does it ring a bell, Warner?" Gael inquired.

"I worked with some of their guys during a rescue mission."

"And?"

"They're good, but nothing to be alarmed about. I can handle them."

"They ensured our security when we were in Iraq," Stowe explained. "I didn't have the chance to see them in action; it was peaceful."

"Anyway, all this to say that we are dealing with a very particular multinational conglomerate. And all this is thanks to one man."

*Gael displayed a photo of a man. Instead of showing the man they came for, he showed a man with curly black hair, an Asian-looking face, looking timid with round glasses on.*

"Uhh. Gael, who is this?" Nikto asked.

"Victor Stracken. He is the CEO of ARC-HIVE, the man behind all these technical advances."

*They all let out a surprised "huh" as Gael sighed.*

"He's cute," Sullivan said with a flirtatious smile.

"He looks like a fragile one," Stowe replied. "With all due respect, Major, this guy is not Albert Shraken."

*Gael just nodded without responding.*

"Major, weren't you listening?" Sullivan asked as she saw him removing what seemed to be earpods, mumbling a song.

"Ahem, sorry, I already knew all of this. I was just waiting for Monty to brief you all."

"He's not even embarrassed," Nikto thought.

"Never seen an officer so laid back," Stowe said.

*Gaines, who was now part of the conversation, disappeared and suddenly appeared in the middle of the room, disturbing the two youngsters.*

"Victor Stracken, German scientist born in Strasbourg."

"That's in France," Sullivan pointed out.

*He gave her a silent look that said, "Don't interrupt me, kid." She quieted down, and he continued.*

"Our friend here is an orphan; he spent his life traveling from one foster home to another, didn't have an easy life, but found a way to graduate and still went to Stanford University in England. From there, he got recruited by MIT, went to the USA, then worked in a laboratory in China and disappeared after an accident during an experiment."

"Wow, a real traveler," Warner commented.

"The good Victor eventually reappeared, and two years ago, he formed what became the ARC-HIVE company. ARC, for short."

"But two years ago, he was a nobody, and today our friend is the leader in robotics and pharmaceuticals."

*Gaines swiveled his chair in the room.*

"Robotics and pharmaceuticals remind me of something, don't they?" Stowe said.

"Albert Shraken," Gaines added. "Do you think Shraken and he are the same person?"

"I think a lot of things, kid," Gaines replied.

"But let's go with this scenario. Our friend Albert landed on Earth, lost but welcomed by the benevolent Victor. The two become friends, maybe even close friends. Victor potentially learns Al's secret and decides to share his knowledge with this world. Al initially refuses but, under Victor's pressure, gives in and agrees. They form a company where Victor is the face, and Albert is the brains."

*Everyone stared at him stunned, but his scenario was the most plausible if one were to admit that Victor and Albert were indeed two different people.*

"Okay, Major, let's go with that," Nikto said. "But the int says he also stole an ORK reactor, which is not easy to hide at all."

"There's no record of a Condor theft on the day of his disappearance," Stowe added. "I've read the reports ten times. How did he move something so enormous?"

*Gaines smiled and looked at Sullivan.*

"Elisha, be an angel and explain."

"Well, it's confidential, but to operate the reactor, he just needs the core, which is just a sphere barely larger than a soccer ball. Once the right facilities are built, he can use it at will."

"But he'll die from radiation if he does it barehanded. And even with a suit, you need at least two people to..."

"Not if he does it with the Ajax he stole," she explained.

*Stowe stopped and nodded in agreement.*

"So, what's the priority, Boss?" Nikto asked, intrigued. "Now that we know all this, we need to define an action plan."

"First, we'll define the objectives," Gaines said calmly. "The top priority is to locate the reactor. To do that, we need to interrogate Stracken to find out where Shraken is."

"That's a lot of Kens," Stowe commented, remembering Ivory Coast.

"We find Vic, we find Al, we find the reactor."

"And the Ajax," Gael added.

"And the Ajax," Gaines confirmed. "Any idea where we can find our friend Victor? Or ideally, Albert would be better."

"Already done," Gael said.

"Fast," Stowe said.

*While he executed the briefing, White Star was tasked with flying over various known locations of the company. Since Victor is the CEO, and some of his movements are public, it didn't take long to locate him.*

"He's in Hamburg, Germany," Gael said. "In this building owned by ARC-HIVE. I mean ARC."

"Well, I think we have our target," Gaines said. "Who's up for it?"

*Suddenly, the sound of an airplane landing was heard. Stowe was surprised to hear it, but then he realized that Warner was in a hammock at the back of a C-5 Galaxy, and the book on her face was to cover her mouth. That explained why she hadn't moved since the beginning of the session.*

"Why didn't you turn off external sounds?" Nikto asked annoyed.

"Sorry, I was in the middle of a nap when this meeting started. No time to set it up."

"Guarneer, where are you right now?" Gaines asked.

"If I'm not mistaken, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany."

"He's already on-site," Sullivan and Stowe thought.

"Hamburg must be a good hundred kilometers away, but I can get there before the VIP leaves."

*Guarneer straightened up and looked at his special bag that he had brought for the occasion.*

"Need a hand?" Nikto asked.

"No need," he said, checking his watch. "I have enough resources available. How should I bring him, Major?"

"As long as he can talk."

"Okay, I'll make it happen."

"The rest of you, I'll have other missions for you."

*The conference ended, and the holograms disappeared one by one, leaving the young adults alone in the karaoke.*

"Well," Sullivan said with a sigh. "I thought Montferra was going to skewer me. Luckily, he's not really here."

"You said it. I also found it strange that Nikto let this guy lie on her lap."

"Is this your first holographic conference?" Sullivan asked, amused.

*He remained still for a moment, a series of flashes crossing his mind as his eyes kept moving in all directions.*

"Hey, are you okay? Flashes are normal at the beginning."

"Yes... I... It'll be fine," he suddenly said, breathless.

"Hey, want to do some karaoke?"

*He looked at her, unimpressed, and she disappeared with a smile. He leaned against the chair, sighing.*

"Except it wasn't my first time."

*End of the chapter.*