Aftershock by Mark Walden Read Free Book Online Page A

must have been quite a shock for him.’
    ‘Yes, I think that’s safe to say,’ Nero replied. The lab door hissed open and Chief Dekker marched into the room. ‘Ahh, Chief, you said you wanted to see me.’
    ‘Yes, Doctor Nero,’ Dekker replied. ‘I want to request that I be allowed to put some new security measures in place in the lead up to the examinations. I’ve been running inventory checks and some unusual pieces of equipment have gone missing from the school storerooms. I’d like your permission to search certain students’ quarters and see what they might be hiding.’
    ‘Absolutely not,’ Nero said, shaking his head.
    ‘But, sir,’ Dekker said, ‘if we don’t . . .’
    ‘Chief Dekker,’ Nero said firmly, interrupting her, ‘you have only been with the school for a few months so I am aware that there are still certain things that you may find difficult to understand, so allow me to explain. H.I.V.E. is not a prison. Certainly the students are brought here against their will and they are most definitely not allowed to leave except under the closest of supervision but that is where the similarities end. The students are entitled to a certain amount of freedom and privacy and that is why I have made it the policy of this institution that students’ quarters are not to be searched unless there is unequivocal proof of a direct threat to the safety of the school. That may seem like a strange decision to you but it is my belief that if we treat our students like common criminals that is exactly how they will behave. What I want H.I.V.E. to produce is uncommon criminals. No searches without my explicit permission and that is my final word on the matter. Do I make myself clear?’
    ‘Yes, sir,’ Dekker said with a curt nod. ‘Understood. I do have one other concern though. I have reviewed the file on Otto Malpense and if everything that I read about his abilities is true I’m worried that there is no meaningful way to secure the school’s network against his intrusion. Given the sensitivity of the data that’s stored there, how do we ensure that he won’t be able to gain access to it?’
    ‘H.I.V.E.mind,’ the Professor replied. ‘You will have read, no doubt, about everything that took place during our final confrontation with Overlord. So you will know that H.I.V.E.mind was stored temporarily within the organic computer that is implanted inside Otto’s brain. One of the side effects of that has been that H.I.V.E.mind is now uniquely attuned to Malpense’s brain patterns. As long as H.I.V.E.mind is active there is no way that Otto can access the school’s networks using his abilities without being immediately detected. One of H.I.V.E.mind’s prime directives is to protect certain pieces of sensitive data at all costs. The examination papers are one such piece of data. Otto can’t access them with his abilities and he will know that.’
    ‘Nevertheless, my instincts tell me that he’s up to something,’ Dekker said with a frown. ‘I’m not sure what yet but if I could just search his quarters . . .’
    ‘You’re almost certainly correct, Chief,’ Nero said with a slight smile, ‘but, to be honest, I’d be more worried if your instincts were telling you that he wasn’t up to something. Otto Malpense’s default state is “up to something” and I would have it no other way. Is there anything else?’
    ‘No, sir,’ Dekker replied.
    ‘Very well. If you do find positive evidence of whatever it is that Mr Malpense is planning, then do please let me know. I’m sure it will be entertaining at the very least.’
    Dekker nodded and marched out of the room.
    ‘I don’t much like her, Max,’ the Professor said as the lab door hissed shut behind the Chief.
    ‘I didn’t think many people would. Chief Lewis was a difficult man to replace,’ Nero said. ‘However, she comes highly recommended and she’s exceptionally good at what she does and just at the moment I need someone who