Prologue
Gideon Rhodes, the Director of Network Security Operations at Hyperion, had all the patience in the world. He’d built a career on being patient.
But right now, his patience had left the building, and the waiting had his heart pounding against his ribs harder than when he’d been handed a parachute and told to jump from a perfectly good airplane.
The overhead lighting in his office had been purposefully dimmed. The glow from his massive computer system and screens illuminated the space. He leaned back in his gaming chair, hands gripping the armrests as he swiveled back and forth. The top three screens—and not just any screens, as they were more like good-sized televisions—ran code for various programs. A few documents were open in the bottom right. Web browsers, data connections, router points, and other connectivity components were on the left-hand side. But it was the center one with the communications tab running in front of interoffice functions that had Gideon’s full attention.
This should be the last test of the ETHER Telemetry System and the HELIOS wearable monitoring device of the drug VALKRY, better known as VKR-1, given to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. These weren’t just any kind of battle injuries. These were life-threatening. Loss of limbs. Multiple gunshot and shrapnel wounds.
Gideon’s colleague, Darwin Oswald, developed the drug. The idea was to ease pain and suffering and increase adrenaline-type functions, so it was easier to bring the soldier to safety and seek medical attention. HELIOS monitored the soldier’s vitals because VKR-1 had serious side effects and required a safety dose of KARTHSIS or KTH-1. The antidote needed to be injected within a specific timeframe. Without it, the treatment would cause damage at the cellular level and eventually kill the soldier. Monitoring the soldiers’ biofunctions was key to its success.
Currently, a version of HELIOS was in use, but it only transmitted back to the soldiers’ stationed location, and one of the biggest concerns was protecting soldiers’ identifying and medical information.
That was what ETHER was for. Once Gideon's system proved effective, the Canadian government would connect it to AEGIS, a top-secret checkpoint system that Gideon had created during his time in the military. This would save lives and it was why he’d taken the job.
Gideon reached for his coffee while he stared at the communications, doing his best to be patient.
Ding.
It wasn’t the ding he’d been listening for, but it was one that always pulled a smile to his lips. He snagged his cell and pulled up the gaming messaging app.
Hopper: Game tonight?
Her screen name implied so many things, but what he loved about it most was that it paid homage to the real Grace Hopper who’d co-developed COBOL. That said so much about the woman Gideon had been gaming with on and off for the last couple of months.
And was now having private conversations with.
Of course, his screen name said a few things about him, too.
MacGyver: If all goes well at work today, I should be.
Hopper: You don’t sound too convincing. Is there a problem?
MacGyver: Only my entire career. Speaking of which, what do you do again, and what’s your real name?
Hopper: Thought we agreed to keep it to gaming?
Gideon had a million rules for gaming. But mostly, he enjoyed being anonymous. However, something about Hopper made him want to break every rule he’d ever created for his work and personal life.
MacGyver: We did. But I’m curious, and I’d like to meet.
Hopper: We’re probably on opposite sides of the world… and I gotta run. Duty calls. Hopefully, I’ll see you tonight. I’ll try not to kill you too many times.
Gideon chuckled as he set his phone on the desk and snagged his coffee. Few people intrigued him like Hopper had, but whoever this chick was, she was certainly entertaining.
And damn good in the gaming rooms.
Knock. Knock.
He jerked, sloshing some coffee over the side of the mug. "Shit," he muttered as he glanced over his shoulder.
"Rhodes." Isaac Young stepped into his office. Though Isaac could be as difficult as a sugar-fueled toddler ordered to bed, he was an exceptionally skilled Senior Security Analyst.
He was a former military demolitions and communications specialist, which was an interesting combination. He was smart. Took initiative. However, he could be a pain in the ass, and Gideon got the impression that Isaac didn’t enjoy working under someone younger than him.
"Isaac." Gideon found a napkin in his drawer and wiped off his hand before he took a quick glance at the screen.
Still nothing.
