Dark Matter (36 page)

10:15
              17 December  [15:15  17 December GMT]

Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations, New York, USA
.

Jay sat awkwardly at her desk.  The broken ribs, the punctured lung, the shattered arm and the bruising were all giving her cause to complain.  She didn't however; she remained tight lipped about the discomfort she was feeling.  The one concession she had made was to agree to small press interviews here in her office rather than a larger one elsewhere where she would have to stand.  She knew that she should be lying down, but this was too important to postpone.  The world needed to see her, and she needed them to see her.  Not all of the press were going to be able to see her, but they were trying to accommodate the majority by having them interview in small groups. 

The questions beyond how she was feeling and who else had been shot all centred on Who was behind it and Why.  The shout of Free Earth given at each shooting gave the media enough to be able to build a reasonable Why.  Some people didn't like the arrival of aliens and the leaders who dealt with them.  The Who was more difficult.  They knew the names of each individual; they had their backgrounds, but no clue as to how or why they coordinated their attacks.  The only know link was that they were all bodyguards to leaders dealing with the Sunarr.  How could they have organised themselves so quickly and without raising any suspicions?  Jay did her best to field all the questions, however having no clue herself she could rule nothing in or out.

William ushered out the last group of journalists.  Jay's personal bodyguard, Pete, wanted to see her.  Will insisted that anything she needed to know he could pass on.  The bodyguard declined and pushed to see her.  Will stood his ground, but seeing that the bodyguard wasn't going to back down, he tried a different tack.

'You will leave your weapon out here.  I will accompany you into her office.  It is either that or I will have you reassigned.'  The bodyguard was considerably larger than Will, fitter too and with extensive training in unarmed combat.  The bodyguard looked down at Will, looked at his watch, and then removed his handgun, placing it in the drawer William had opened for him.

'Let's go.'  He growled.

William, shaking slightly, led Pete into Jay's office.  Jay looked up from her desk and slightly recoiled in her seat.  Some of the fear she felt crept into her voice as she spoke.

'What… what is it William?'

'Pete has a message for you, which he wouldn't give to me.  It’s OK he is unarmed.'

This brought a rather unpleasant smile to Pete's lips,
I could probably kill you with one blow, maybe two, you jumped up little fraction of a man
.  Despite thinking this, he was actually quite impressed by William's protection of his boss. 

'Can I speak in front of....'  Pete began, searching for the right phrase '...this individual?'

'You can.'  Jay replied simply.

'In that case I have been instructed to take you to a meeting, due,' Pete checked his watch, 'in three minutes.'

'What meeting?  Where?  I haven't anything on your calendar for now.'  William said, annoyed that scheduling might involve someone other than himself.

'I' began Jay, but she lost the thrust, 'damn it.  Look, just come with me and I'll explain along the way.'

Leaving her office behind she lead the three of them down the corridor to the lift.  Inside Pete slid his key into the mechanism and punched the ground floor button twice.  The lift started to ascend.  Jay did her best to explain in a short a time as possible.  William, for his part, didn't question her. 
Time enough for that later,
he thought.

             
Jay exited the lift on her own and took her place in front of the screen, which, after a few seconds, illuminated showing the group sat at the large conference table.  Most of the faces she recognised, a few she didn't and some others were missing. 
So, the group must be larger than this, with members attending when they can
.  One of the members spoke directly to her.

'Jayanti, good to see you’re alive.'

'Thanks.'  She doubted whether this group truly cared about her wellbeing.  'Look excuse me for being blunt but what on Earth is going on?'

The man smiled at her unintended pun, then his face went quite serious.

'We don't know.  We have spoken about this and it is clear it was not our doing.  We doubt that this was a human initiative, that is very unlikely.  Our best guess is that the Sunarr are working with the elements we told you about, that they organised it amongst themselves.'

'But to what end?'  Jay's tone betrayed her feelings.

'We don't know that either I'm afraid.'  He looked down when he said this, showing that he was truly frustrated not knowing.  The other members all had similar looks on their faces.

'What should I do?'  Jay asked, feeling inadequate to the task whatever it may be.

'The best we can suggest is to gather more data.  We have analysed what you have sent and this looks promising.  We will have to see how the situation develops.  We will be in touch.'

The screen went blank leaving Jay alone in the room again. 
Bugger
, she thought,
I don't like this sitting about doing nothing.  Why can't we do something?  The trouble is,
she realised
, I have no better idea of what to do than they do.

11:27
              18 December  [16:27  18 December GMT]

Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations, New York, USA
.

Jay struggled with the report.  She hadn't slept well and trying to read one of the numerous reports that begged for her attention was not helping.  This was a follow up to the meeting she had had with Helen Dexter, the Head of Personnel.  Really, she knew that she had gleaned all she needed from the executive summary, however she was trying to trudge her way through the bulk of the report.  It didn't make for pleasant reading.  Unless drastic action was taken soon the budget over-runs were going to be huge. 
The trouble,
she thought
, is that we are not evenly balanced.  The need to consult with so many ambassadors and their governments places an immense bureaucratic strain on the UN; so much so, we spend more on that than actually doing things
.  Her mind wondered back to the Sunarr, back to the assassinations, to the group who she first thought knew everything, but are now unsure.  William knocked on her door; she welcomed him in, glad of the distraction.

'I have Jane Spencer-Brown and George Hamilton to see you.'

‘Thank you William, would you show them in.'

Jane and George took their seats, William made for the door.

'William, would you stay for this please?'  Jay asked.

'Of course.' he replied, taking the seat to the left of Jay's desk.

They sat there in silence for a moment, Jay gathering her thoughts.  Finally she spoke.

'You know,' she began, 'I always sought this office.  I wanted to make a difference in the world.  I thought with this office came the power to do that.  I was wrong.'

Jane and George shifted uncomfortably in their seats, unsure where this was going.  William looked at his boss, his face inscrutable, but his mind in turmoil.

'However, with the arrival of the Sunarr and the recent assassinations I believe that has changed.  The governments of the world are in awe and in league with the Sunarr, based on promises of technology and treatments as yet not delivered or proven.  William, as you know the Sunarr have taken over virtually all Gold mining activities worldwide.  They have built huge domes over the mines and are using human prisoners as slave labour.  All apparently with the tacit approval of the relevant countries.  This I believe shows the true nature of the Sunarr.  Jane, George what you are not aware of is that before the arrival of the Sunarr and just after my tenure as Sec-Gen began I was contacted by a secret organisation.  They knew of the impending arrival of the Sunarr before anyone else.  I know little else about them, but for reasons I can't explain I trust them implicitly.  I have been in regular contact with them.  It was they who suggested I involve you both in the arrival of the Sunarr.  They were also instrumental in your being assigned to investigate the Mexican camp.  I am deeply worried about where events are taking us.  I have to place my trust in someone, as I do not believe that I can trust the UN organisation, there are too many vested interests.  I am placing my trust in yourselves.  You will need to know whom you can trust with this information.  We need to expand and build alliances.  We need to know much, much more.'

The meeting carried on for nearly the full hour.  William, elevated by the trust his boss had placed in him began to grow from his previous role as aide.  Now it was agreed that he would be in charge of communications, acting as the central contact point.  Jane was all too aware that she was no longer a journalist, reporting the news, now she was going to be shaping it, making it.  It was George, as a Professor of Military History, that surprised them all.

'Let us be clear.'  George began, 'We are planning to work against our respective governments and others, in the belief that we are working for the greater good.'

'Yes, you could put it that way.'  Jay replied.

'It's not how I put it that matters.  If we are unsuccessful and are caught, we will be branded as traitors or possibly terrorists.  If we are successful, then history will judge us as liberators.'

That gave them all pause for thought.

'So what do you suggest?'  Jay asked.

'Let’s just make sure that we are on the winning side.'

17
Cures

11:30
              19 December  [16:30  19 December GMT]

Floor of the United Nations, New York, USA.

Some were still very nervous but the ambassadors were all assembled again.  All physical traces of the assassination attempt had been cleaned up, however the memories lingered.  The Sunarr had announced that they were making a statement, whether this was the one that they didn't manage to announce previously or a different one altogether no one seemed to know.  Jay stood in front, again at the lectern, introducing the Sunarr ambassador to the UN.  Shiwanevar was not yet on the platform.

Jay finished her introduction and stood there somewhat awkwardly awaiting Shiwanevar.  A thumping sound came from off the platform, it grew louder and realised itself in the form of Sunarr troops.  Everyone could see that they were armed.  A hush fell upon the room as they took position either side of the platform.  There were twenty in all, ten on each side, their faces obscured by visors they looked a formidable sight.  Shiwanevar followed behind and approached the lectern.

'Ladies and gentlemen,' she began, 'as you know I was due to make a speech to this esteemed body just three days ago, however dissident elements tried to kill not only myself but also your Secretary-General Jayanti Kapoor.  However, thanks to her excellent reactions she saved both our lives.  Others were not so lucky, many of your leaders and our people lost their lives at the hands of this traitorous element.  We cannot allow this to happen again.  I have therefore ordered that all Sunarr ambassadors will now travel with an armed escort.  I do not believe that this alone will be enough; I am therefore extending this offer to all world leaders and ambassadors.  I do this as an offer of friendship and in a spirit of peaceful cooperation.  No one should feel compelled to accept this offer, but I would urge you to as these terrorists seem to be everywhere and they want to kill the beneficial cooperation between our peoples.'  Shiwanevar paused to let this announcement sink in before continuing.

'I would like to make the announcement that I was previously unable to.  Sunarr scientists working on your diseases have now isolated several that can be eradicated.  This first group, I have been assured, can be treated easily and effectively.  They are; Cancer, AIDS, Asthma, Diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.  I hope you will join me in thanking our scientists.' 

Some started to clap their hands together, others joined in, then more, soon the entire assembly were on their feet applauding furiously. 

15:30               19 December  [20:30  19 December GMT]

Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations, New York, USA.

The acceptances were coming in thick and fast.  It looked like all of the UN ambassadors were going to take up the Sunarr offer of personal security.  Jay expected that there would be a similar uptake amongst the government leaders and other senior officials. 
After all
, she thought to herself,
why shouldn't they?  Their own, our own,
she corrected herself,
guards can't be fully trusted.
  She snorted at that, guards who shoot the people who they are supposed to protect are the most duplicitous and dangerous of all.

Now she had to make her own decision.  The thought of having two or more military Sunarr with her, twenty-four hours a day, watching her every move, physically repulsed her.  Her own security detail provided exactly that, a secure environment within which she was free to work.  She didn't believe that the Sunarr would provide the same.  They would be watching, monitoring.  The problem, she realised, was that to refuse, especially after the attempt on her own life, could look extremely suspicious.  She tried to weigh up the decision, but the risk of coming under the spotlight was, she judged, too much.
I'm going to have to accept their protection,
she thought.  Her mind made up, such as it was, she turned her attention to more practical matters.  She realised that she was going to have to rely upon others more heavily.  Glad to have taken her aide William plus Jane and George into her confidence, she knew that the group would have to expand.  Either directly with herself, or indirectly through them.  William would have to take her place in the room on the fortieth floor. 
There is no doubt about it; this is going to complicate matters.

She decided that she still had some time available to her.  She had to contact the group.  This to both advise them of what she was planning and to see what they were doing.
  It is time for them to lay their cards on the table.

12:45
              20 December  [17:45  20 December GMT]

40th Floor of the United Nations, New York, USA.

She had never tried to contact them, she realised.  She hoped that the system was automatic and that by entering she would activate the communications, otherwise she didn’t have a clue what to do.  William was beside her in the lift, as too was Pete.  She looked at Pete discreetly out of the corner of her eye. 
Why was he in the service of two masters?  A long time protection employee of the UN, when and how had he been recruited by this anonymous group?  Where does his loyalty lie?
The humming of the lift ceased as they reached the fortieth floor, the doors sliding smoothly open. 

'You're sure now?'  Her bodyguard asked, concerned whether she was making the right decision.

'Yes, thank you.'  Jay replied, 'I believe it is the only way to ensure that....' she stumbled over her thoughts, '...that we accomplish our objectives.'  She finished.

What objectives?
She thought to herself acidly,
I don't yet have a bloody clue as to what we can do?  Moreover, we is only four people!

'What do I need to do?'  Jay asked.

'Just take a seat.'  Her bodyguard replied.

The screen brightened into life.  The words Stand By, displayed.  She waited anxiously.  The stand by message playing on her mind, although she didn't know why.  It took a couple of minutes then the screen resolved itself into displaying the conference table.  There were only three people seated, all she recognised.  The one sat closest to the screen spoke.

'Hello Jayanti, what is it?'

'Hi,' She replied, 'first I'd like to introduce my aide, William.  He will be contacting you from now on.  He will act as liaison between us.'

'Oh and on what authority have you made this decision?'

'My own.  You are no doubt aware of the offer of security provided by the Sunarr.  The take-up is almost universal and I have decided that to avoid suspicion I will have to accept it too.  I therefore have to have someone to communicate with you as I am sure you don't want your groups’ existence revealed.'  Jay's was cool but left it clear that it wasn't open for discussion.

'Very well,’ He replied, 'approved.'

'Thank you.  You should also know that I have taken Jane Spencer-Brown and George Hamilton into my confidence.  They now know what I know.'

'Why?'  The reply was not very warm.

'We need to build a network, alliances; we can't do that hiding in the shadows all the time.  I think you know as well as I what this latest move means.  The Sunarr are taking over, they will have eyes and ears everywhere that matters.  This means that my ability to act directly both within the UN and with world leaders has to all intents and purposes been curtailed.  Jane and George have proved themselves in the field, the information they brought back is considerable.  The contacts they have made in the Mexican camp with known field officers are invaluable.  I need them to go further though.  If we are to be successful then we will need others, most notably scientific and military.'

The man smiled, it was not by any means a great smile, but it did at least convey the right impression.

'I knew we were right to bring you in.'  he said simply, 'We have been discussing this very issue, and whilst some of the more conservative members have been wary, we have agreed that it is time to build a full coalition.  You have the authority of the group to continue, however, we will be applying the honour system.  This means that any new associate has to be both vouched for and not in the slightest compromised.  We have a scientific resource, although he is not yet an associate.  He has been working for our group for a while now; you will have to have him recruited.  I will send him a message to expect a visit and to be assured that the visitor is to be trusted.  His name is John Deeth.'

'Jane has spoken of him, she met him in...' she searched for the right term, '... a clinic.'

'We are aware of both Jane and John's time in the clinic.  We all have pasts.’

'How should I refer to you?'  Jay asked.

'You shouldn't, but if you have to have a name, we are Group 79.'

10:33               22 December  [15:33  22 December GMT]

Flight BA 0178, JFK New York To London Heathrow.

Thirty two thousand feet above the Atlantic Ocean, flying at five hundred and fifty miles per hour they were on their way home, First Class.  A straight upgrade from Economy by the check-in assistant who recognised them from the news. 

I could get used to this
, Jane thought to herself as she relaxed, legs fully stretched out, a glass of champagne in her right hand.   The in-flight movie was on, but she wasn't really watching.  She couldn't believe how her life had changed so much in such a short period of time. 
What has it been now? 
She wondered to herself,
six weeks?  no seven weeks.
She knew she owed a lot to her Editor, more still to the wonderful staff at the clinic.
The clinic
, she thought,
I'm a card carrying lunatic.
The thought almost made her spray out a mouthful of champagne.  The truth, she knew, was that there was nothing wrong with having a mental health issue except denying it.  That's what she had been doing up until her Editor made her go and get some help.  The weeks she had spent there had radically altered her way of thinking.  About others and about herself.  The others were all just normal people with normal lives.  The only difference was that they had suffered some issue in their lives that wasn't physical.  The death of a loved one, traumatic stress, depression from personal or work issues, drugs, drink and one of the most difficult of all, a bad childhood.  Her mind wandered to John Deeth.  Although he had come in with traumatic stress, like her, they had both come to realise that how they had reacted to it was rooted in their childhoods. 

Jane always felt that she should have been born a boy.  Her father, Timothy, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Coldstream Guards, invariably treated her like a son, even though he already had a son, Frederick.  Timothy just didn't know how to relate to girls.  Therefore, she grew up a tomboy, delighting her father with her many sports achievements.  Things started to change around the time she was eleven.  The new school and the peer pressure to compete with the other girls found her changing into a young woman.  Her father always loved her, but found it hard to display this love.  Unable to understand the needs of a growing girl, he was completely at sea when it came to the things she now liked to do.  He focused on his son, the growing man, who became a solider like himself.  Unaware of the reason for her father's indifference towards her, she had tried harder and harder to win his approval.  Her need to compete carried into adulthood and saw her marry a man like her father.  It didn't end well but did bring her a daughter, Rebecca.  The second marriage with a fellow journalist ended because they were too alike, but this one had brought her Julia, her second daughter.

Two divorces behind her; she pushed herself ever harder in her job, seeking the most challenging, and dangerous assignments.  The death of her long time photographer had brought about her breakdown.  It was the trigger, but her upbringing had been the cause.

John's history had been similar in some ways.  However, it was his own approval he had always sought.  The word perfectionist didn't even begin to explain him.  Unfocused all his childhood, he had never been given any direction, or assistance.  Every achievement was his own, hard fought for.  His almost accidental entry into the academic realm was the best and worst thing to happen to him.  He found challenges worthy of his time and effort.  His perfectionism and need to understand everything as well or better than others though took their toll on him.  In his bid to be the best, he lost himself.  That was his first time in the clinic.  The second, when Jane met him, was after his lab blew up, his work had become everything to him and the thought of his losing it, especially before it was finished, was just too much.  He was still a slave to his past.  However, this time, with the help of others, he found a way forward.  He could still care passionately about his work, but no longer obsessed.

Jane fretted about meeting John again.  The thought of recruiting him into a secret organisation troubled her immensely. 
How will he react?
She wondered. 
Will he cooperate?  Will he agree?  Will he expose them instead?
  Jane didn't think so, but she knew John well enough to know that his mind worked in a completely different way. 
It should help that he is already working for them
…