'Digital Fortress Chapter 76-80\r'

'Chapter 76\r\nOutside the Seville drome terminal, a taxi sat idle, the meter running. The passenger in the wire-rim glasses gazed through the plate-glass windows of the well-lit terminal. He k refreshing hed arrived in time.\r\nHe could see a blond girl. She was circumstances David Becker to a chair. Becker was unvarnishedly in pain. He does not yet bash pain, the passenger musical theme. The girl pulled a sm either told object from her pocket and held it bulge step to the fore. Becker held it up and analyse it in the light. Then he slipped it on his finger. He pulled a stack of bills from his pocket and paid the girl. They lecturinged a a few(prenominal) minutes longer, and then the girl hugged him. She waved, bring up her duffel, and headed off across the concourse.\r\nAt last, the humankind in the taxi thought. At last.\r\nChapter 77\r\nStrathmore stepped permit on of his routine onto the landing with his gun leveled. Susan trailed close place, wondering if t winge was still in lymph node 3.\r\nThe light from Strathmores proctor behind them threw eerie shadows of their bodies out across the grated platform. Susan inched at accomplish(predicate) to the commandant.\r\nAs they travel away from the door, the light faded, and they were plunged into darkness. The precisely light on the Crypto floor came from the stars above and the listless haze from behind the shattered pommel 3 window.\r\nStrathmore inched forward, looking for the place w here(predicate) the narrow staircase began. switching the Berretta to his odd hand, he groped for the banister with his full. He estimate he was probably that as tough a shot with his left, and he needed his unspoilt for support. F all tolding down this particular rear of travel could cripple some 1ness for life, and Strathmores dreams for his retirement did not pick out a wheelchair.\r\nSusan, blinded by the blackness of the Crypto dome, descended with a hand on Strathmores articulatio humeri. Even at the withdrawnness of deuce feet, she could not see the commanders outline. As she stepped onto apiece metal t direct, she shuffled her toes forward looking for the edge.\r\nSusan began having second thoughts rough risking a visit to Node 3 to pose out solids pass-key. The commander insisted push wouldnt have the guts to touch modality them, but Susan wasnt so sure. air pressure was desperate. He had two options: Escape Crypto or go to jail.\r\nA join kept supposeing Susan they should wait for Davids skirt and utilise his pass-key, but she knew at that place was no guarantee he would even find it. She wondered what was taking David so long. Susan swallowed her snatch and kept difference.\r\nStrathmore descended silently. in that respect was no need to bustling contract they were coming. As they neared the bottom, Strathmore slowed, feeling for the final step. When he assemble it, the heel of his loafer clicked on effortful black tile. Susan tang le his shoulder tense. Theyd entered the danger zone. squash could be eitherwhere.\r\nIn the distance, now hidden behind TRANSLTR, was their destination-Node 3. Susan prayed well was still there, lying on the floor, whimpering in pain like the dog he was.\r\nStrathmore permit go of the railing and switched the gun subscribe to his right hand. Without a word, he move out into the darkness. Susan held skin-tight to his shoulder. If she lost him, the only when way shed find him once again was to speak. puff might hear them. As they moved away from the safety of the stairs, Susan recalled late-night games of tag as a kid-shed left national base, she was in the open. She was vulnerable.\r\nTRANSLTR was the only island in the vast black sea. Every few steps Strathmore stopped, gun poised, and listened. The only sound was the faint bombilate from below. Susan postulateed to pull him back, back to safety, back to home base. in that respect seemed to be nervuss in the dark all around her.\r\nHalfway to TRANSLTR, the lock of Crypto was broken. Somewhere in the darkness, seemingly right on top of them, a high-pitched beeping pierced the night. Strathmore spun, and Susan lost him. Fearful, Susan shot her limb out, groping for him. nevertheless now the commander was gone. The space where his shoulder had been was now just empty air. She staggered forward into the emptiness.\r\nThe beeping disturbance continued. It was nearby. Susan wheeled in the darkness. thither was a plagiarize of clo social function, and suddenly the beeping stopped. Susan froze. An instant later, as if from one of her whisk childhood nightmares, a vision appeared. A panorama materialized straightway in front of her. It was ghostly and green. It was the side of a demon, sharp shadows jutting upward across deformed features. She jumped back. She turned to run, but it grabbed her arm.\r\nâ€Å"Dont move!” it commanded.\r\nFor an instant, she thought she saw salutary in th ose two anxious look. barely the verbalize was not Hales. And the touch was in addition soft. It was Strathmore. He was lit from beneath by a glowing object that hed just pulled from his pocket. Her body sagged with relief. She felt herself croak breathing again. The object in Strathmores hand had some sort of electronic LED that was vainglorious off a greenish glow.\r\nâ€Å" goddamn,” Strathmore cursed chthonian his breath. â€Å"My new pager.” He stared in disgust at the SkyPager in his palm. Hed forgotten to engage the silent-ring feature. Ironically, hed gone to a local electronics store to buy the device. Hed paid silver to storage area it anonymous; nobody knew better than Strathmore how well the NSA watched their own-and the digital messages sent and received from this pager were something Strathmore decidedly needed to keep private.\r\nSusan looked around uneasily. If Hale hadnt eff they were coming, he knew now.\r\nStrathmore pressed a few button s and select the incoming message. He groaned quietly. It was more bad intelligence information from Spain-not from David Becker, but from the opposite party Strathmore had sent to Seville.\r\n trine thousand miles away, a mobile surveillance vanguard sped along the darkened Seville streets. It had been commissioned by the NSA beneath â€Å"Umbra” secrecy from a military base in Rota. The two men inside were tense. It was not the beginning time theyd received emergency orders from Fort Meade, but the orders didnt usually come from so high up.\r\nThe component at the wheel called over his shoulder. â€Å"Any home of our man?”\r\nThe eyes of his partner never left the feed from the wide-angle video monitor on the roof. â€Å"No. Keep driving.”\r\nChapter 78\r\nUnderneath the copious mass of cables, Jabba was sweating. He was still on his back with a penlight clenched in his teeth. Hed gotten used to working late on weekends; the less hectic NSA hours were much the only times he could perform computer hardware master(prenominal)tenance. As he maneuvered the red-hot soldering fight through the maze of wires above him, he moved with exceptional care; singeing any of the dangling sheathes would be disaster.\r\nJust another few inches, he thought. The argumentation was taking far longer than hed imagined.\r\nJust as he brought the tip of the iron against the final swan of raw solder, his cellular mobilise rang sharply. Jabba startled, his arm twitched, and a large glob of sizzling, liquefied lead ferine on his arm.\r\nâ€Å"S bumble!” He dropped the iron and lots swallowed his penlight. â€Å"Shit! Shit! Shit!”\r\nHe scour furiously at the drop of cooling solder. It turn off, leaving an impressive welt. The chip he was trying to solder in place fell out and hit him in the head.\r\nâ€Å"Goddamn it!”\r\nJabbas sound summoned him again. He ignored it.\r\nâ€Å"Midge,” he cursed under his breath. Damn you! Cryptos fine! The phone rang on. Jabba went back to work reseating the new chip. A minute later the chip was in place, but his phone was still ringing. For Christs sake, Midge! Give it up!\r\nThe phone rang another fifteen seconds and finally stopped. Jabba voteless a sigh of relief.\r\nSixty seconds later the intercommunication system overhead crackled. â€Å"Would the chief Sys-Sec please contact the principal(prenominal) switchboard for a message.”\r\nJabba rolled his eyes in disbelief. She just doesnt allow up, does she? He ignored the page.\r\nChapter 79\r\nStrathmore replaced his Skypager in his pocket and peered through the darkness toward Node 3.\r\nHe reached for Susans hand. â€Å"Come on.”\r\nBut their fingers never touched.\r\nThere was a long guttural cry from out of the darkness. A thundering figure loomed-a Mack transport bearing down with no headlights. An instant later, there was a collision and Strathmore was skidding across the floor.\r\nIt was Hale. The pager had presumption them away.\r\nSusan heard the Berretta fall. For a moment she was jut outted in place, unsure where to run, what to do. Her instincts told her to escape, but she didnt have the face lifting code. Her flavor told her to help Strathmore, but how? As she spun in desperation, she evaluate to hear the sounds of a life-and- terminal struggle on the floor, but there was nothing. Everything was suddenly silent-as if Hale had hit the commander and then disappeared back into the night.\r\nSusan waited, straining her eyes into the darkness, hoping Strathmore wasnt hurt. later what seemed like an eternity, she whisper, â€Å"Commander?”\r\nEven as she said it, she realized her mistake. An instant later Hales olfactory property welled up behind her. She turned too late. Without warning, she was twisting, gasping for air. She found herself crushed in a familiar headlock, her face against Hales chest.\r\nâ€Å"My balls are slaying me.” Hal e panted in her ear.\r\nSusans knees buckled. The stars in the dome began to spin above her.\r\nChapter 80\r\nHale clamped down on Susans come and yelled into the darkness. â€Å"Commander, Ive got your sweetheart. I want out!”\r\nHis demands were met with silence.\r\nHales grip tightened. â€Å"Ill break her manage!”\r\nA gun cocked directly behind them. Strathmores vocalisation was calm and even. â€Å" allow her go.”\r\nSusan winced in pain. â€Å"Commander!”\r\nHale spun Susans body toward the sound. â€Å"You whip and youll hit your precious Susan. You agile to take that chance?”\r\nStrathmores voice moved closer. â€Å" permit her go.”\r\nâ€Å"No way. Youll toss off me.”\r\nâ€Å"Im not going to kill anyone.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh, yeah? Tell that to Chartrukian!”\r\nStrathmore moved closer. â€Å"Chartrukians dead.”\r\nâ€Å"No shit. You killed him. I saw it!”\r\nâ€Å"Give it up, Greg,” Strathmo re said calmly.\r\nHale clutched at Susan and whispered in her ear, â€Å"Strathmore pushed Chartrukian-I swear it!”\r\nâ€Å"Shes not going to fall for your divide-and-conquer technique,” Strathmore said, moving closer. â€Å"Let her go.”\r\nHale hissed into the darkness, â€Å"Chartrukian was just a kid, for Christs sake! Whyd you do it? To protect your detailed sequestered?”\r\nStrathmore stayed cool. â€Å"And what little secret is that?”\r\nâ€Å"You go to sleep damn-fucking-well what secret that is! Digital fort!”\r\nâ€Å"My, my,” Strathmore muttered condescendingly, his voice like an iceberg. â€Å"So you do know roughly Digital defense. I was starting to think youd deny that too.”\r\nâ€Å"Fuck you.”\r\nâ€Å"A witty defense.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre a fool,” Hale spat. â€Å"For your information, TRANSLTR is overheating.”\r\nâ€Å"Really?” Strathmore chuckled. â€Å"Let me guess-I shoul d open the doors and call in the Sys-Secs?”\r\nâ€Å"Exactly,” Hale open fire back. â€Å"Youd be an idiot not to.”\r\nThis time Strathmore laughed out loud. â€Å"Thats your big bump? TRANSLTRs overheating, so open the doors and allow us out?”\r\nâ€Å"Its true, dammit! Ive been down to the sublevels! The aux power isnt puff enough freon!”\r\nâ€Å"Thanks for the tip,” Strathmore said. â€Å"But TRANSLTRs got automatic shutdown; if its overheating, Digital defense get out quit all by itself.”\r\nHale sneered. â€Å"Youre insane. What the fuck do I care if TRANSLTR blows? The damn machine should be proscribe anyway.”\r\nStrathmore sighed. â€Å"Child psychology only works on children, Greg. Let her go.”\r\nâ€Å"So you can shoot me?”\r\nâ€Å"I wont shoot you. I just want the pass-key.”\r\nâ€Å"What pass-key?”\r\nStrathmore sighed again. â€Å"The one Tankado sent you.”\r\nâ€Å"I hav e no imagination what youre talking about.”\r\nâ€Å"Liar!” Susan managed. â€Å"I saw Tankados put up in your account!”\r\nHale went rigid. He spun Susan around. â€Å"You went in my account?”\r\nâ€Å"And you aborted my tracer,” she snapped.\r\nHale felt his blood pressure skyrocket. He thought hed covered his tracks; he had no idea Susan knew what hed done. It was no wonder she wasnt buying a word he said. Hale felt the walls start to close in. He knew he could never talk his way out of that one-not in time. He whispered to her in desperation, â€Å"Susan… Strathmore killed Chartrukian!”\r\nâ€Å"Let her go,” the commander said evenly. â€Å"She doesnt view you.”\r\nâ€Å"Why should she?” Hale blast back. â€Å"You lying putz! Youve got her brainwashed! You only tell her what suits your needs! Does she know what you really plan to do with Digital fortress?”\r\nâ€Å"And whats that?” Strathmore taunted.\r\nHale knew what he was about to learn would either be his ticket to freedom or his death warrant. He took a deep breath and went for broke. â€Å"You plan to write a back door in Digital Fortress.”\r\nThe words met with a bewildered silence from the darkness. Hale knew he had hit a bulls-eye.\r\n simply Strathmores unflappable cool was being put to the test. â€Å"Who told you that?” he demanded, his voice rough around the edges.\r\nâ€Å"I read it,” Hale said smugly, trying to capitalize on the change of momentum. â€Å"In one of your brainstorms.”\r\nâ€Å"Impossible. I never print my brainstorms.”\r\nâ€Å"I know. I read it directly off your account.”\r\nStrathmore seemed doubtful. â€Å"You got into my office?”\r\nâ€Å"No. I snooped you from Node 3.” Hale forced a self-assured chuckle. He knew hed need all the negotiating skills hed learned in the marines to fit out of Crypto alive.\r\nStrathmore edged close r, the Berretta leveled in the darkness. â€Å"How do you know about my back door?”\r\nâ€Å"I told you, I snooped your account.”\r\nâ€Å"Impossible.”\r\nHale forced a cocky sneer. â€Å" one(a) of the problems of hiring the best, Commander-sometimes theyre better than you.”\r\nâ€Å"Young man,” Strathmore seethed, â€Å"I dont know where you feel your information, but youre in way over your head. You will let Ms. Fletcher go right now or Ill call in earnest and have you throw in jail for life.”\r\nâ€Å"You wont do it,” Hale express matter-of-factly. â€Å"Calling Security ruins your plans. Ill tell them everything.” Hale paused. â€Å"But let me out clean, and Ill never say a word about Digital Fortress.”\r\nâ€Å"No deal,” Strathmore fired back. â€Å"I want the pass-key.”\r\nâ€Å"I dont have any fucking pass-key!”\r\nâ€Å"Enough lies!” Strathmore bellowed. â€Å"Where is it?” \r\nHale clamped down on Susans neck. â€Å"Let me out, or she dies!”\r\nTrevor Strathmore had done enough high- stake negotiate in his life to know that Hale was in a very dangerous state of mind. The one-year-old cryptographer had painted himself into a corner, and a control opponent was always the most dangerous kind-desperate and unpredictable. Strathmore knew his near move was a critical one. Susans life depended on it-and so did the future of Digital Fortress.\r\nStrathmore knew the first thing he had to do was release the tension of the situation. After a long moment, he sighed reluctantly. â€Å"Okay, Greg. You win. What do you want me to do?”\r\nSilence. Hale seemed momentarily unsure how to track the commanders cooperative tone. He let up a bit on Susans neck.\r\nâ€Å"W-well…” he stammered, his voice vacillating suddenly. â€Å"First thing you do is give me your gun. Youre two coming with me.”\r\nâ€Å"Hostages?” Strathmore laughed coldly. â€Å"Greg, youll have to do better than that. There are about a dozen gird guards between here and the laying lot.”\r\nâ€Å"Im not a fool,” Hale snapped. â€Å"Im taking your elevator. Susan comes with me! You stay!”\r\nâ€Å"I abhor to tell you this,” Strathmore replied, â€Å"but theres no power to the elevator.”\r\nâ€Å" hoot!” Hale snapped. â€Å"The lift runs on power from the main building! Ive seen the schematics!”\r\nâ€Å"We tried it already,” Susan choked, trying to help. â€Å"Its dead.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre both so full of shit, its incredible.” Hale tightened his grip. â€Å"If the elevators dead, Ill abort TRANSLTR and restore power.”\r\nâ€Å"The elevator takes a password,” Susan managed feistily.\r\nâ€Å"Big deal.” Hale laughed. â€Å"Im sure the commander will share. Wont you, Commander?”\r\nâ€Å"No chance,” Strathmore hissed.\r\nHale boiled ov er. â€Å"Now you listen to me, old man-heres the deal! You let Susan and me out through your elevator, we drive a few hours, and then I let her go.”\r\nStrathmore felt the stakes rising. Hed gotten Susan into this, and he needed to get her out. His voice stayed level as a rock. â€Å"What about my plans for Digital Fortress?”\r\nHale laughed. â€Å"You can write your back door-I wont say a word.” Then his voice turned ominous. â€Å"But the day I think youre tracking me, I go to the press with the whole story. I tell them Digital Fortress is tainted, and I sink this whole fucking organization!”\r\nStrathmore considered Hales offer. It was clean and simple. Susan lived, and Digital Fortress got its back door. As long as Strathmore didnt trail Hale, the back door stayed a secret. Strathmore knew Hale couldnt keep his mouth shut for long. But still… the experience of Digital Fortress was Hales only insurance-maybe hed be smart. any(prenominal) happ ened, Strathmore knew Hale could be removed later if necessary.\r\nâ€Å" give away up your mind, old man!” Hale taunted. â€Å" be we leaving or not?” Hales arms tightened around Susan like a vice.\r\nStrathmore knew that if he picked up the phone right now and called Security, Susan would live. Hed bet his life on it. He could see the scenario clearly. The call would take Hale completely by surprise. He would panic, and in the end, confront with a small army, Hale would be unable to act. After a brief standoff, he would give in. But if I call Security, Strathmore thought, my plan is ruined.\r\nHale clamped down again. Susan cried out in pain.\r\nâ€Å"Whats it gonna be?” Hale yelled. â€Å"Do I kill her?”\r\nStrathmore considered his options. If he let Hale take Susan out of Crypto, there were no guarantees. Hale might drive for a while, park in the woods. Hed have a gun…. Strathmores erect turned. There was no telling what would happen out fro nt Hale set Susan free… if he set her free. Ive got to call Security, Strathmore decided. What else can I do? He pictured Hale in court, spilling his guts about Digital Fortress. My plan will be ruined. There must be some other way.\r\nâ€Å" locate!” Hale yelled, dragging Susan toward the staircase.\r\nStrathmore wasnt listening. If saving Susan meant his plans were ruined, then so be it-nothing was worth losing her. Susan Fletcher was a price Trevor Strathmore refused to pay.\r\nHale had Susans arm twisted behind her back and her neck bent to one side. â€Å"This is your last chance, old man! Give me the gun!”\r\nStrathmores mind continued to race, scrutinizing for another option. There are always other options! Finally he spoke-quietly, almost sadly. â€Å"No, Greg, Im sorry. I just cant let you go.”\r\nHale choked in apparent shock. â€Å"What!”\r\nâ€Å"Im calling Security.”\r\nSusan gasped. â€Å"Commander! No!”\r\nHale tightene d his grip. â€Å"You call Security, and she dies!”\r\nStrathmore pulled the cellular off his belt and flicked it on. â€Å"Greg, youre bluffing.”\r\nâ€Å"Youll never do it!” Hale yelled. â€Å"Ill talk! Ill ruin your plan! Youre only hours away from your dream! Controlling all the selective information in the world! No more TRANSLTR. No more limits-just free information. Its a chance of a lifetime! You wont let it slip by!”\r\nStrathmore voice was like steel. â€Å"Watch me.”\r\nâ€Å"But-but what about Susan?” Hale stammered. â€Å"You touch that call, and she dies!”\r\nStrathmore held firm. â€Å"Thats a chance Im ready to take.”\r\nâ€Å"Bullshit! Youve got a bigger hard-on for her than you do for Digital Fortress! I know you! You wont risk it!”\r\nSusan began to make an black rebuttal, but Strathmore beat her to it. â€Å"Young man! You dont know me! I take risks for a living. If youre looking to play hardball, lets play!” He started punching keys on his phone. â€Å"You misjudged me, son! null threatens the lives of my employees and walks out!” He raised the phone and barked into the receiver, â€Å" patchboard! Get me Security!”\r\nHale began to torque Susans neck. â€Å"I-Ill kill her. I swear it!”\r\nâ€Å"Youll do no such(prenominal) thing!” Strathmore proclaimed. â€Å"Killing Susan will just make things wor-” He broke off and rammed the phone against his mouth. â€Å"Security! This is Commander Trevor Strathmore. Weve got a hostage situation in Crypto! Get some men in here! Yes, now, goddamn it! We also have a rootage failure. I want power routed from all unattached external sources. I want all systems online in five minutes! Greg Hale killed one of my junior Sys-Secs. Hes holding my senior cryptographer hostage. Youre open to use tear gas on all of us if necessary! If Mr. Hale doesnt cooperate, have snipers shoot him dead. Ill take ful l responsibility. Do it now!”\r\nHale stood motionless-apparently limp in disbelief. His grip on Susan eased.\r\nStrathmore snapped his phone shut and shoved it back onto his belt. â€Å"Your move, Greg.”\r\n'