Binary: The Novelettes of T. E. Mark - Vol V

By T.E. Mark

A cyber anarchist will attempt to use a genetically modified boy, who can control computers with his mind, to turn the tables on the spy agencies and politicians, denying them their privacy rights. BINARY
What is real or merely the appearance of reality is explored in this mind-bending, thriller with a gifted young programmer, on the run from everyone, designing adult-themed, virtual playgrounds for wealthy executives. NET 2.3
In this explosive Sci-Fi Adventure, Agent Charli-5 must find her way back to World Security, the secret organisation governing all new technologies, to uncover why she was sent to remove (assassinate) the wrong person at Escape Inc. – a company experimenting with teleportation. CHARLI 5
“What a ride. Each story is a movie.” Writers Intl.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.E. Mark
• Release date: Sep 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005077013

T.E. Mark

T. E. Mark is an Anglo-American Science Writer, Screenwriter and Editor. He has studied Architecture, Music and Literature in the UK and in the US and has been penning stories since childhood. His first novel, Fractured Horizons, set in the wonderful of Bath England, was written at the age of 12.Mark has written novels for young and adult readers and a selection of science articles for national and international magazines. He also writes and edits academic papers on a variety of subjects for universities, governmental and non-governmental organisations.Follow T. E. Mark at:temarkauthor.wordpress.commthomasmark.wordpress.comtemarkurbanscratch.wordpress.comContact T. E. Mark at: [e-mail].

Book preview

(1)

CHARLI 5

SPRAWLING SUBURBAN OFFICE

ESCAPE TECHNOLOGY Inc’s summer gala in Palo Alto California. A massive single storey complex set at the edge of a rural office park. 120 well-dressed employees roam the gardens behind the building. Trees stand in the distance interrupting a clear ocean view.

A string quartet plays Bach on an elegant platform draped in white and silver. Caterers in black carry trays. The air is fragrant with the smells of barbeque and expensive cologne.

This is a posh affair.

A woman of (30), business dressed, strolls the grounds with a glass of champagne. This is CHARLI FIFE, Escape’s new project specialist. She’s attractive and intelligent. The school maths club president and campus hottie rolled into one.

Charli appears edgy strolling the grounds in her classy suit, heels, silk shirt and pearls. It’s a searching look.

(CONT’D)

‘Charli.’

She steps out of her shoes, grabs them, and crosses the lawn to her immediate supervisor, an older exec who is pleasantly buzzed.

‘Mr Gilbreth.’

He gives her a blatantly flirtatious smile.

Charli is an attractive woman with sand blonde hair, intelligent eyes and the body of a girl who majored in beach volleyball.

She catches his eye – it makes her smile.

‘You need a drink, Charli.’

She holds up her champagne. ‘This doesn’t count?’

‘Nah…’ He sips his Scotch. ‘…that’s something aristocratic old ladies mix with orange juice and drink at brunches!’ She chuckles. She liked him day one. ‘…hey! Why are you alone?’

She sips her champagne – turns and looks out over the party. ‘I just got here fifteen…’

‘…No.’ she turns. ‘You know…’ He eyes her again. ‘…alone, alone.’

Again, she catches his eye and reaches a hand to his forearm – squeezes it and leaves it there.

‘You’re sweet, Michael.’

He shakes his head. ‘What?’ He gives her a wry grin.

She returns a smile. ‘I’m going to mingle a little.’ She gives him the eye – it’s a bit playful – but it makes him shine. ‘I’ll come back for a real drink later… if you’re still available.’

‘Deal.’

He continues watching after she turns and walks back into the party.

(CONT’D)

Charli walks for a while. Mingles into small groups then moves on.

When she makes it to the south end of the property, she spots a familiar face – a woman in her department chatting with others. She wanders over. They make room for her – offering kind smiles.

‘Hi everyone.’ They return warm hellos. ‘God…’ She turns to the trees out beyond the estate’s fenced acreage. ‘…I love it here.’ She stares – faraway in thought. ‘This is where I spend my breaks. It reminds me of…’

The very pregnant Human Resources manager follows her gaze across the lawns ringed with flowers and fruit trees.

‘What Charli?’

‘Yes… tell us,’ adds a stocky project manager, puzzled by her apparent departure. ‘We’re a small lab. 128 employees.’ He eyes the others. ‘We’d like to get to know you.’

Charli twitches… she heard him, but… the voice was far away… she sees a…

FLASHBACK – RURAL SCHOOLHOUSE

…country schoolhouse with attached buildings set back from a road in a serene valley. Snow-covered mountain peaks – lush, grassy hills – a cloudless sky – it looks like a painting.

A man’s voice – fluid and articulate with an Eastern accent echoes above the scene.

‘Your missions will be vital to the stability of our world.’

ESCAPE TECH INC. – SUMMER GALA (CONT’D)

They look at each other with concerned faces – wondering.

Charli blinks – jerks her head. About to turn, she stiffens when something catches her eye.

It’s as if she’s looking along the full expanse of a polished mirror; the yard split open with each side a replica of the other.

A young tech makes eye contact with the others before turning to Charli.

‘We considered a site in Marin…’ Again he shifts his eyes. ‘…chose Palo Alto for the taxes.’

Only half listening, Charli continues to stare. Her edginess has now graduated to tension.

FLASHBACK – CLASSROOM

A rural classroom. Ten 12-year-olds – nicely dressed – all races – elite – sit in an arc facing an elegant Japanese man.

‘How will we know if our actions are just?’ asks a girl in a pastel dress with blonde curls.

The man leans forward.

‘When you have finished here, Charli-5, it will be impossible for you to act any other way.’

ESCAPE TECH INC. – SUMMER GALA (CONT’D)

With her eyes still glued to the illusion, it’s like a landscape painting with one half intentionally blurred, adult Charli speaks from the side of her mouth.

‘I’m unclear about something.’

The company’s Chief Technology Officer, Je’ MATSUDA, (24), delicate and thoughtful – the studious-girl-on-campus look, appears confused.

‘What are you unclear about, Charli?’ Her voice is subtly protective. ‘You spent three weeks with Gilbreth… you also came to us with a background. If there’s something I can…’

‘…Yes.’ Charli tilts her head. ‘There is.’

FLASHBACK - CLASSROOM

The Japanese man leans back – the children watch and listen.

‘You are different. All of you. You are gifted, and thus you are tasked.’

ESCAPE TECH INC. – SUMMER GALA (CONT’D)

With the lengthy delay – still staring along that dimensional slice, Charli-5 holds their attention.

‘A qutrit was one thing.’ She shifts – tilts her head – identifies the start point – the building, the end point – the fence. ‘Moving minute amounts of data will not create the distortion. But… you knew that and even posted – publicly that the unknowns were yet to be satisfactorily addressed.’

She turns to a waiter, smiles, hands him her glass, thanks him then pulls a 9mm handgun from her blazer.

‘But you’ve moved beyond small amounts of data, haven’t you.’

The air fills with alarmed gasps and overlapping voices.

‘Oh, my God!’

‘She has a gun!’

‘Get down!’

ESCAPE INC. – SUMMER GALA (CONT’D)

Before anyone can react, Charli takes the technical officer’s wrist, forces her onto her knees and plugs the automatic into her head.

‘What are you doing?!!’ Je’ winces – holds her wrist.

‘You idiots…!’

On the raised deck, the chamber ensemble stops playing. Company security, stiff guys in suits, start moving through the guests. Conversations fall then turn into gasps when Charli takes the gun from Je’s temple and moves it to her ear.

‘I’m sorry…’ She looks left – right – down at Je’. ‘But I…’

‘…Don’t! Please!’ The slight CTO closes her eyes.

For a moment, it looks like Charli is going to do it… execute her in front of 120 witnesses. But… something happens.

Her muscles tense – she shakes. The aggressive conflict being played out in her head looks excruciating. She gets it together. Yells.

‘Where was the experiment?! Which lab?!’ She bends, grabs Je’s hair and pulls. ‘Tell me where… now!’

OFFICE INSIDE THE ESTATE

GORDON VORSICH, the corp’s (37-year-old) CEO is meeting with three suits – investment people – serious faces – everyone gazing at charts on laptops.

They look up when his aide pulls open the glass doors and steps half inside.

‘Mr Vorsich.’

Nothing more is needed – the look on his face and sudden quiet are enough.

‘Excuse me gentlemen – Ms Portis.’

Vorsich places his drink on the low table and stands.

SUBURBAN OFFICE ESTATE (CONT’D)

Charli scans the crowd – focusses on the security guards – breathes – decides.

‘Okay, babe.’ She grasps a handful of Je’s blazer and pulls. ‘We’ve got to go.’

‘What?!’

Charli glances at the weird anomaly only a few others are at the right angle to see.

‘…Ms Fife.’ A bearded security guard moves into view – he reaches for a gun.

‘Don’t.’ Charli looks him in the eyes – shakes her head – continues pulling Matsuda towards the rear fence – the end of the visual distortion.

The guard continues – they make eye contact again. ‘I said… don’t.’

But the guy reaches further into his jacket and takes a step forward. Charli turns the gun on him, and… Blam! …plugs him in the thigh.

A deep guttural groan. He grabs his leg and falls.

(CONT’D)

Moving quickly – still pulling Je’ Matsuda with her – Charli catches sight of three security guards making their moves through the guests. She gets to the point along the rift where the reflective images of the yard meet.

‘Ms Fife.’ The lead man has his gun out. ‘I need you to stop.’

Charli turns and sends two rounds in his direction, one catching him in the arm, then pushes Matsuda into the reflective distortion and follows her in.

They’re gone.

Like blipping people out of a scene with video editing software, they were there – and now they’re not.

The grounds are quiet.

Fog creeps in above the trees.

The guests look on in disbelief.

THE DECK OFF THE REAR OF THE ESTATE

Vorsich continues watching from the deck outside the office with his hands holding the railing.

‘Bobby.’

The chief executive’s PA, alarmed by what he’s just witnessed, turns.

‘Sir?’

‘Call the security chief. Tell him what happened and to expect my call.’ He turns back to the glass doors. ‘And find a polite way of sending these people home.’

He enters the office and moves quickly to his desk.

A DESERT – SOMEWHERE – DAY

With the sun white hot and scalding – cooking the sand into yellow paste, two women walk the crest of a massive sand dune.

Business dressed, skirts and blazers, the pair of executives look almost comically out of place.

THE DESERT – CLOSER

Moving closer, we focus on Charli – her revolver still out, now guiding Je’ through a desert – no longer dragging her through an outdoor gathering in lush and green northern California.

ESCAPE TECHNOLOGIES

Vorsich sits at his desk facing a computer while talking on the phone – white buds in his ears.

‘I have people with me now.’ he looks at the trio of investment bankers. ‘We killed the party… sent everyone home.’ He sends off an email. ‘I’ll need you to dig into her personal life. We don’t need missing person reports… police and all of that.’

He disconnects his call and turns.

THE DESERT

The sun is merciless. This is the driest furnace imaginable. Charli-5 and Je’ are bright red and exhausted as they continue walking in this desert. There is nothing – not a sign of human development in any direction.

ESCAPE TECHNOLOGIES

Vorsich looks at the serious faces staring back at him in his plush, black leather and polished stainless office.

‘I’m afraid we’ll need to reschedule this meeting. Possibly to later in the week.’ The investors stand and nod politely. They head for the door.

‘I’ll contact you within two days.’

He sits back concentrating on his desk while they leave. Then looks up to his department managers and physicists. He stands.

‘The data transfer lab… but I want another look outside first.’

He makes a direct trek for the door.

WORLD SECURITY – THE AUSTRIAN ALPS

A plateau ringed with snow-covered mountains – the sky is pastel blue – the trees hang with ice and snow.

It’s pastoral and majestic and a cover shot for National Geographic.

In the midst of this Alpine paradise is a complex of interconnected buildings covered in solar panels – a sprawling estate set within a perimeter of jagged peaks.

There are no roads.

No land vehicles.

Three yellow helicopters sit on roof pads.

WORLD SECURITY – CONFERENCE ROOM

A modern conference room lined with windows. The view of the Alps is stunning.

Twelve people, well-dressed, cultured, sit around an elaborate conference table. The walls are white maple inlaid with ebony and oak in visually challenging patterns.

A translucent curtain, charcoal and glimmering, projecting down from the ceiling, drapes the conference table and the meeting attendees.

Their focus is on an elegant man, (40s), dressed in stark white. ESAIS, the chairman of the World Security Council, set high in the Austrian Alps, speaks to the 11-member council.

‘Algeria. I performed the search immediately.’

THE DESERT (CONT’D)

Je’ appears more fascinated than freaked out.

‘This wasn’t what you were expecting, was it.’ Her feet are searing hot in the sand, and the sun has her arms covering her face. ‘What made you do it?’ She raises her voice. ‘Charli… wait.’

Charli ignores her and continues moving.

They drop from the crest to a steep incline, trudge down the slope in sand to their knees and are soon walking the natural valley between dunes.

WORLD SECURITY – CONFERENCE ROOM

A councilwoman: (30s), elegant, looks up at the stoic chairman.

‘North Africa? Why would she do that? Our scientists are still trying to comprehend the physics of the anomaly. The odds were against their survival. This goes beyond rebelliousness.’

The chairman pauses and thinks.

THE DESERT (CONT’D)

‘Charli.’ Je’ stops walking and shields her eyes. ‘What’s going on?’

Charli looks north. She speaks her thoughts in a low voice. ‘That was stupid.’

She breathes and turns – points with the gun.

‘Look… I’m…’ She exhales and shakes her head – points. ‘There’s a city. About three hours.’ She shelves her eyes. ‘I think it’s Algiers.’

Je’ turns to the elegant stone buildings – slightly fuzzy – swimming in a distant heat haze.

Sprawling suburbs reach out and away from the city’s central district.

Highways in and out are slow-moving caravans of trucks skirting the edge of the Mediterranean.

(VOICE OVER – THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WSC)

‘We must assume Charli-5 has already devised a plan to get to the nearest transport point. Our satellite facility in Madrid… or the Villa in Messina.’

THE DESERT (CONT’D)

Je’ struggles.

‘Algiers?! It took us to North Africa?’

Twin helicopters pass over their heads – their props cutting into the dry air tossing up sand and rumbling the ground.

Charli grabs her by the arm and races her to a dune, pushes her into it then ducks into the sand next to her.

Rolling onto their backs, they watch the black Apaches crease the sky above them.

‘We could call them.’ Je’ follows the helicopters with her eyes.

Charli shakes her head.

‘Do you have any money?’

Je’ blinks. ‘My bag is in my office.’

‘Passport?’

A head shake. ‘Same bag.’

‘Anything?’

Je’ shakes her head once more.

Charli falls back – holds her eyes closed and pulls her hair back… holds it off her forehead. ‘That’s an Algerian jail cell. And answering questions about how we got into the country and why we’re travelling without money or documents.’ She takes a deep, laboured breath.

Together they watch the helicopters sweep into the city and land on a municipal building set on the shore of the Mediterranean.

CONFERENCE ROOM – WORLD SECURITY

A councilwoman speaks to the Chairman.

‘What are your plans?’

‘I’m intrigued.’

‘We can see that.’

‘Her decision to use the rift created by Escape’s experiment… That… that’s unusual. And… irrational. (He pauses) I wish to see how she proceeds.’

‘But, Esais…’

He turns his to the councilwoman. His expression is icy cold.

‘Yes Anite´? You have a question?’

She raises her head – stands her ground. ‘A concern… one many of us share… A concern that she’ll find her way here. Messina – Madrid – Copenhagen. It’s in her nature. We built that nature into her.’

He casually massages one hand with the other.

‘You should trust that I will take measures…’

‘…what measures?’

His eyes narrow – he speaks slowly. ‘…measures to keep that from happening.’ He stands. ‘Now… if you’ll excuse me.’ They watch him turn and leave the council chambers through a book lined corridor.

WORLD SEC – CONFERENCE ROOM (CONT’D)

The councilwoman speaks to the others after Esais has gone.

‘I am concerned. And you all know my reasons. He discounts us. Assumes we are blind to his artful skills of deception.’

They listen intently.

But not one moves or chooses to comment.

ESCAPE TECHNOLOGIES – OUTSIDE

The sight of the visual distortion behind the commercial estate.

Teams are everywhere setting up diagnostic equipment. Maintenance workers have the area fully taped off and are constructing white, pole mounted canopies.

Vorsich weaves in and out stopping occasionally to chat with his scientists.

THE DESERT (CONT’D)

Je’ is quiet.

‘How did we get here?’

Charli shakes her head and stands. She extends a hand.

‘I’m not sure. It was idiotic. I risked both of our lives, and I can’t… Come on.’ Je’ takes her hand. ‘I know of someone in the city who can help us get to Madrid. He was a developer. Now he sells technology to anyone who can afford it.’

‘Madrid! Why Madrid? How well do you know this…?’

‘…of him. I know of him.’

‘But…’

‘…I know. Trust me. St James Park or a street corner in Manhattan would have been more convenient. But… it’s Algiers… and we’re just going to deal with it.’

Je’ takes a breath.

‘Yeah…’ They resume walking. ‘How’s your Arabic?’

WORLD SEC - THE CHAIRMAN’S OFFICE – LATER

An austere office punctuated with sophisticated artefacts: Persian, Babylonian, Greek and Egyptian statues, and fluted bowls set on glass shelves. Everything is white maple, ebony or rich golden oak.

Esais is a trim, bald (40) with an educated face – looks half computer genius and half Tibetan Holy Man. He faces a dignified elderly woman across his nearly black, solid ebony desk.

‘You play well, Esais.’

‘I’m hardly in the mood to justify my actions to you… Mother.’

(She studies him)

‘What do you plan to gain from this?’

He runs a hand over his head. ‘The strategy is sound. I’m certain you grasp the potential.’ His eyes remain fixed on his computer. ‘Don’t place demands on my tolerance.’

The former council woman shakes her head, makes it to the door and stops. She turns.

‘And if she defies the odds and finds her way here? Looking for answers?’

He tilts his head back and draws in an exasperated breath. ‘Simply a new event. A new set of variables. With a new set of potential benefits.’

THE DESERT (CONT’D)

Je’ stands, picks up her blazer and uses it to shake sand off of her.

‘I have questions.’

‘No doubt.’ Charli shakes out her hair.

‘Who did this… you? Who are you?’ She spins taking in the Sahara Desert vista. ‘Where are we going?’

Charli shoves the revolver into her jacket, turns towards the city and starts walking.

‘Where else?’

THE DESERT (CONT’D)

Baking in the mid-July heat; Charli out in front, marching towards the distant city, Je’ raises her voice.

‘Hey.’ Charli continues walking. ‘Charli, wait.’ Charli stops and spins.

‘Look… just the short version all right? Instantaneous transport – quantum modulation isn’t something you should be playing with. Not yet. And there’s more you should know before you do. And, no, I’m not from the future or another planet. But…’ She looks more closely – squints. ‘Wait…’ It suddenly registers. ‘Wait-wait-wait. She stares into her timid expression. ‘You’re not the one! You didn’t… you didn’t come up with those equations – or write that code, did you!’

‘What are you talking about?! What code? I write lots of code.’

For a minute Charli stares her in the eyes. Angered, she turns and resumes walking. ‘I should have known. Fuck! How did I get it wrong?’ she’s stymied. ‘How could I have gotten it wrong?’

‘Get what wrong? What are you…?’

‘…Three weeks of research – everything and everyone pointed to you. I can’t…’ She turns to her – hot. ‘…I-can’t-make-mistakes. Not like this.’

Je’ gives her a look.

‘I can see that. I believe it’s something we share, but…’

‘You don’t know what you’re…’

‘…I do work on IDT… but… it’s data transfer. A bit 75 metres in San Francisco. Three kilometres last month in the Canary Islands. A Megabyte this morning to our lab in Richmond.’

‘Congratulations.’ Again, Charli shakes her head, angered with herself.

‘What are you saying?’

‘That someone in your company is farther ahead with this research than they should be. And I ended up with you.’

Je’ is stymied. They continue on in the sweltering heat.

‘You’re saying I was used.’

Charli spins – looks at her. ‘Nah. Bad joke.’ She turns and continues walking. ‘…forget it.’

‘Who are you?’ Je’ struggles to keep up.

‘Don’t ask.’

‘Come on. What was that back in Palo Alto? And how did you know we could…?’ She gazes off to the city. ‘My God. We… teleported.’

‘Quantum modulation… matter is energy, energy is data. E=MC². You know this stuff. Maxwell, Einstein, Boltzmann. Faraday, Morse and a bunch of other guys. The modulation is only slightly different than a radio transmission. But you may want to hold your excitement.’

‘What do you mean?’

Charli turns her eyes to the dunes – the sweltering desert oven. ‘Let’s see if we can get out of this…’ She throws her eyes to the distant city. ‘And into that. I’ll work on what comes next when I’m cooler. And closer to figuring out why I was picked for this.’

Her expression is thoughtful but also suspicious.

Je’ shakes her head and follows lifting her feet high in the sand.

Charli looks back and softens. ‘It is Algiers. And I’m sorry. You got fucked… just… not in a good way.’

A CORRIDOR AT ESCAPE TECHNOLOGIES

Gordon Vorsich walks briskly along a corridor through the lower level laboratories at Escape.

Following are his PA, a pair of scientists and JULIE HENDRICKS, his COO. Pure corporate, Julie is (35) with her hair pulled tight to her head. She’s someone who believes in rules and follows them to the letter.

‘Mr Vo…’

‘…Wait, Julie.’ The chief exec, a faded jeans and white dress shirt type, holds up a hand. They pass through the opening glass doors.

They turn into another fully glazed corridor. Beyond are the labs. Robotics, Software Engineering and AI. And a special project lab simply designated: Data Logistics & IDT where he stops and pulls open a security access panel.

‘I want you to dig. Find what you can on Charli Fife. And while you’re at it, dream up a way of keeping this quiet.’

He places his full hand on the glass rectangle, waits for the electronic recognition – the door slides right. He turns. ‘So… what are the questions?’

The younger man shakes his head – breathes while organizing his thoughts. ‘Where the hell did they go? And… the anomaly. I saw it. It was weird. Extending out from the building. Did we have anything to do with that? The experiment? It was there for nearly two hours.’

Vorsich looks at the other, older tech who has his hands woven together with his index fingers poking up into his chin. ‘Pierce?’

‘Just speculation. I’ll need time.’

‘How much?’

‘Plenty.’

‘You don’t