The Origin Point: A Future Tech Cyber Novella by Case Lane Read Free Book Online Page B

could be accused of altering the
data."
    "You would need cyber forensic scientists on
top of cyber forensic scientists to investigate for the
manipulation of the code."
    "Absolutely."
    "We are dealing with a real, but distant,
possibility. Not only are those hacker guys...mostly guys,
super-competitive, but they are also all over the world, and by
definition, independent."
    "You would need one who saw this coming and
started mobilizing forces right away."
    "Yes if any of them are even aware of our
plans, his work is set, and he should be preparing a response right
now."
    *
    Apex repositioned her back against a tree in
a park across the street from the Horizon building, and tried her
access program again. After the fourth timeout message, she cursed
the limitations of mobile technology, and began slowly walking back
towards the shopping mall parking lot where she had left her car.
Her phone rang. Glancing at the displayed name, she stated,
"finally" as she answered.
    "You shouldn't keep calling me," Carter
Harden, the founder, president and CEO of technology industry giant
Initium immediately chastised her.
    "We have a problem."
    "You have to deal with those problems. You
know I can't, I run a public company."
    "Don't be so rude, if you want to keep
running your precious company you'll listen to me."
    Carter took a deep breath. "Okay?"
    "Dallas Winter."
    "Who?"
    "Dallas Winter, the journalist who picked up
the files."
    "And?"
    "I don't think she easily scares."
    "Then find another way to intimidate
her."
    "She knows she has a story because your
buddy Marco Manuel basically told her she had correctly guessed the
source for the files."
    "You've got to be kidding me?" Carter looked
up and rolled his eyes. "How do you know?"
    "She recorded the conversation and I had a
listen. I'll send the file to you. Manuel did not directly tell her
but he's also not very good at denial."
    "But why would he give up the
information?"
    "They're old friends and he thinks he can
control her."
    "Seriously? Okay any guesses on her next
move?"
    "Nothing yet, but who knows what's she's
thinking. I have not yet developed mind-reading applications."
    "Too bad, you'll have to pursue her the
old-fashioned way. Be a stalker."
    "Fun. And how are you going to handle your
friends?"
    "I'll see if I can rein in those Washington
dopes. Like I need more complications. Stock is flat-lining, I've
got a thousand interview requests, and I have to deal with
incompetents who do not understand a straight-forward mandate to
implement the technology foundation for the next hundred
years."
    "Not everyone has your cold calculating
brainpower, some people care about their friends."
    "Their friends will get us killed, literally
and figuratively. If the press learns of our plans the publicity
will set us back decades."
    "But my work will be done."
    "No, your work will re-double. The U.S. is
going to go forward with an integrated surveillance system in one
form or another. The idea is too tempting. Imagine the ability to
not only track every single human being on earth, but also to use
the information gathered about them to provide daily life
instructions. Most people are complacent, risk-averse and
followers. The idea would work perfectly if the project were fully
rolled out. Your work will not end because you will have to stay on
top of governments and make sure the system never comes
online."
    "You have to make sure too. You're the guy
with the technology they need."
    "They'll never get my technology...my real
capabilities. They might not understand that right now, but I'm not
giving up my brainpower to governments."
    "They still believe you're one of them?"
    "Yes, of course. And believe me, a lot of
guys like me will align with them. Most guys will not be able to
resist those lucrative government contracts."
    "The work goes on regardless of the
information Winter is able to uncover?"
    "Absolutely. We have a duty to humankind to
prevent this project, we have to stick to our