Chapter 5

NATO and the Eastern Alliance have officially agreed to a ceasefire in light of recent scientific breakthroughs, allowing solar energy to be harnessed at a much greater level than ever before. We have world-renowned scientist Robert Jayson to thank for this. He claims to be among several individuals with exceptional powers

-English news broadcast, January 7th, 2070 CE

IN A WINDOW across the bustling Earth street, a light flashed twice, then twice again. Eve took a deep breath at the sight of the signal and focused on the crumpled photograph in her hand.

Slowly, the long, dark hair on her head retracted until her scalp was bald and speckled with brown spots. Her hands grew larger and gnarled. Her legs lengthened, her spine bent, and her skin grew pale, loose, and wrinkled.

In the span of five minutes Eve had completely transformed into Nory Glasshand, one of the richest men in all the New Human Sovereignty. She was uncomfortable in the oversized men's suit and shoes she wore. The tie was the worst part. She felt like she was being strangled by it whenever she took a breath.

Ignoring her joints, which were slightly sore from the transformation, Eve hoisted herself through an open window and closed it behind her. She quickly looked around and was relieved to see no one else was in the dark bathroom she had entered.

Eve tapped the tiny communications device in her ear and gave a few test coughs.

"Okay," she said in the scratchy voice of Nory Glasshand. "I'm in."

The bathroom door creaked as Eve stepped out into a darkened hallway. She made her way to the nearest elevator and stepped in, pressing the button for the very top floor. A slit opened just above the button, followed by a computerized voice: "Retinal identification required."

Eve bent down to the slit and a red beam slid across her right eye. The slit closed, and the computer beeped happily. "Welcome home, Mr. Glasshand."

The elevator lurched upward and began a steady ascent towards Nory Glasshand's penthouse suite. Eve coughed a few times, loud enough for her earpiece to hear.

Eve's partner, Cal, took the hint and began to relay information about Nory Glasshand's penthouse. "Okay, so this jackass keeps all his goods locked up in cyberspace, just like we knew. Fortunately, as we also knew, his voice is the key.

"When his withdrawals hit their limits, I'll reset the counter for you. I'm also keeping an eye on the building's security for when it's time to bug out."

Eve shifted her feet and replied in Nory's voice, "Sounds good to me."

The earpiece went dead, and Eve waited for the elevator to hit the top floor. The doors slid open to reveal paradise.

Small, potted palm trees sat in nearly every corner of the entrance on (what looked like) solid gold tiles. Bright lights illuminated the hallway leading into the living room where several expensive leather couches were arranged to face an enormous TeleNetwork screen, which occupied an entire wall of the room.

Eve walked through the suite, not so much looking for Glasshand's computer as admiring the sheer luxury surrounding her. Eventually she found the computer sitting on an oak desk in a safe-like stainless steel room. The computer was top of the line hardware, equipped with its own six-month power supply and a flawless transparent screen encased in a beautifully engraved gold chassis.

Eve touched the middle of the screen and an image of a microphone appeared. "Vocal identification required."

"I'm a jackass."

"Welcome, Mr. Glasshand, sir."

Eve began sifting through Glasshand's files and found all the codes to his funds within a matter of minutes. She wrote down the codes on the back of her wrinkled hand for easy access.

She pulled up a page on the computer that would allow her direct access to his funds (with the input of the codes) and tapped her earpiece.

There was static for a few moments before Cal picked up. "Are you ready for me?"

"Yes. One moment."

"Good. Say when."

Eve pulled an electronic debit chip out of her jacket and linked it with the computer's network. She put in the codes one by one until the screen displayed: How much would you like to withdraw? Eve typed in max amount and watched the screen on her debit chip display numbers into the thousands, millions, and billions. She lost track after 900 billion C's and sat back until the computer screen read, End of withdrawal for today.

"Now," Eve said into the earpiece.

Almost immediately the computer screen went black and reappeared a few nerve-wracking moments later, again displaying How much would you like to withdraw?

Eve smiled Nory Glasshand's crooked smile and set about taking the rest of his money.