Visions Project

By Daniel Afflerbach

A tale of two men with a vision for the world and the resources to make it happen. But in their path is a man who seeks revenge for a life he believes should have been his. A venture into that past opens wounds that have never healed and turns a tortured man’s vengeance into a quest for justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 7, 2001
• ISBN: 9781469760469

Daniel Afflerbach

Daniel Hugh is a Seattle native who enjoys and respects the country in which he lives. From the Puget Sound to the mountains you can find him writing about and enjoying the rich history and beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

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Visions Project

Dan Afflerbach

Writers Club Press

San Jose New York Lincoln Shanghai

Visions Project

All Rights Reserved © 2001 by Daniel Afflerbach

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher.

Writers Club Press

an imprint of iUniverse.com, Inc.

For information address:

iUniverse.com, Inc.

5220 S 16th, Ste. 200

Lincoln, NE 68512

www.iuniverse.com

ISBN: 0-595-19232-7

ISBN: 978-1-4697-6046-9 (eBook)

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedication

1  

2  

3  

4  

5  

6  

7  

8  

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10

11

12

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About the Author

Acknowledgements  

The following people contributed to this novel and I appreciate their efforts and talents.

Marilyn Bailey; Editor

Davis Aites; A thanks to his technological input, his visionary thoughts, and his creation of the World of Visions preface

Randy Seibert and Diane Glimp for their input and advice

Dedication  

This book is dedicated to the lives and memory of two people. One was family and both were close friends.

With selflessness and bravery they each lived their lives with optimism and a smile while fighting a horrible disease that eventually overcame them. They showed many of us how precious life is and the value of enjoying it everyday. Those of us that witnessed their struggles have learned from them and will always remember them. They taught us to appreciate life and all that it has to offer.

To Jay Yarr and Monica Small

No man that does not see visions will ever realize any

high hope or undertake any high enterprise.

—Woodrow Wilson

World of visions-c. 2010

a brief summary of the last ten years

The explosive growth of the Internet in the nineties was to be nothing compared to the kind of changes we’ve seen in the first decade of the new millennium.

In the early 2000’s, we saw;

Integration of connectivity into every aspect of our lives

At first people didn’t see the point and thought that a refrigerator with an integrated web browser in the door was a cute toy for the terminally postnouveau-riche geek. They didn’t realize the implications and benefits of all the tools that we use in daily life communicating to each other and with us. By increasing the average intelligence of the inanimate world around us, we allowed ourselves to spend more time working in ways that we wanted to work, while our tools learned to do the menial and repetitive tasks for us.

Wireless

We forget, now, that even the simplest communication device used to be connected by a physical wire. We take for granted our phone knows who is holding it and where it is. We even sometimes forget that we surrounded ourselves with an electronic identity, that picking up items and walking out of stores with them used to be a crime, not a method for purchasing. Our PHC’s (Personal Handheld Communicators) know when and where they are, and can always be in touch with the rest of our lives. Out of milk? The refrigerator will always be sure to remind you through your PHC. Instant communication became widespread, rather than limited to the digerati, allowing the sharing of ideas and thoughts that stimulated the evolution of society.

Improved Interfaces

Those who became addicted to building a virtual world eventually realized that the interface to the digital world extant at the time (a keyboard, mouse, and monitor) basically sucked and could even cause injury if used for long periods of time. We take for granted, again, now, that the virtual world is tightly integrated with the real world-in fact some are beginning to question if there is a difference-and very easy to use. Much the same way a hammer has some intuition about it, so do the interfaces now.

1    

Lights from the surrounding city buildings softly illuminated the darkened room revealing leather couches, glass tables and environmental art and décor. Along the back wall Larry sat at his expansive, walnut desk and asked for an Internet address. He then gave a quick glance out the picture window across the room while the computer circuits called the Internet, and searched out the website Larry wanted. He was briefly mesmerized by the lights of Seattle glistening off the calm waters of Elliott Bay; a lonely man whose mind was easily set adrift. Then, from the desktop, lights began to swirl and rise and Larry turned his attention back to the materializing image. A face appeared in front of him and flickered briefly. Then Rachel was there as clear as if she were actually in the room. Larry smiled at her. She smiled back. He leaned back in his leather chair and brought a control pad into his lap with both hands.

Hello Larry, Rachel said with a wide smile and seductive voice.

Hi Rachel. How have you been?

I’ve been well. And I’ve been waiting for you. I see that look in your eye, Larry, what could you be thinking? She said in a teasing voice. I, uh, no. I just wanted to see you. I wasn’t… Larry. I was just teasing, honey. Relax. He still had that bit of bash

fulness. To Rachel it was cute. She remembered how shy he had been in the beginning. He was not unlike others in that regard, but there had been something different about him that did intrigue her. It was an intelligence and a gentleness that other clients didn’t have. So she gave him more leeway and had more patience with him then she had given others who were initially shy. And in those early sessions, as Larry struggled with his emotions and physical desires, she guided him and nurtured his self-confidence. It had actually become a challenge, a game for her, and she enjoyed it. As Larry became more comfortable conversing with her and his shyness began to fall away his repressed sexual drive came out. And it was a man’s sexual drive that she was most experienced in dealing with.

It was this forum, via the Internet, that had made it easier for Larry to explore a relationship with a woman. One stroke of a key or voice command and she was gone when things became too much for him. It was the quick escape that gave him the bravery to go farther each session. And with each session he struggled less and less with his sexuality and as Rachel guided him through the process, having accepted the challenge, she had grown fond of him.

As she sat looking at him she wondered how he would be if they met face to face. She had been in this business a long time and she had begun to want something different. Sex no longer was her primary need nor did it stimulate her. In a sense she had become desensitized to it, the physical side of it anyway. She needed other stimuli and she found it in intelligence and knowledge, yes the euphoria of knowledge. It was an attraction of hers now. Knowledge was power and she was drawn to those who possessed it. I’ve missed you Larry. It’s been over a week since you’ve called.

I know. I‘ve been busy finishing a big project for my partners.

I understand, Larry. Your work is important. I know that. But I do thank you for the gift you sent me. I appreciate you thinking about me. She paused and grinned lustfully, then with a throaty voice said, I’m wearing it now. As she said it her hand, with long, red fingernails, caressed her throat then slowly traveled down taking the camera along as Larry manipulated it from his control pad. She arched her head back and moaned lightly.

Larry slowly licked his lips and watched as she unbuttoned her blouse and exposed the black negligee he had sent her. Her head disappeared into the dark room as he directed the camera to follow her hands down her body. She leaned forward to further expose her ample cleavage and as she brought her hands up to her breasts Larry interrupted her and quickly guided the camera back up to Rachel’s face.

Wait. I want to ask you something first.

Rachel opened her eyes and leaned back out of her pose. What is it?

Larry rubbed his balding head with his hand and his chin quivered briefly before speaking. I wanted to, uh, tell you that I enjoy our times together. With a relieved exhale he looked back at Rachel for a response.

She smiled demurely. Larry, I enjoy it as well. You’re very sweet and I look forward to our times together.

Really? Larry asked with enthusiasm in his voice and a twinkle in his eye.

Yes. You like to talk, spend time telling me about your thoughts, your work, and things you wonder about. I enjoy that and I don’t get that kind of an experience from my other clients. She chuckled a little. I don’t get that in my life at all. Mostly, you know, it’s just the sexual part.

Larry smiled shyly. I like to spend time and talk with you also. He shrugged his shoulders. I really don’t have anybody else. But, what I wanted to ask is if I could send you another present?

Larry, you’re too kind.

It’s a trip. Perhaps you’d like to go somewhere warm, like the Caribbean.

I’d love that. Rachel responded with a happy squeal. What girl wouldn’t?

Okay, I’ll send you a package for two, open dates.

For two?

Sure. I wouldn’t send you somewhere alone. Take anyone you like.

How about you?

Me? Larry asked, his eyes suddenly wide.

Sure. We enjoy our time together. Maybe we could spend real time together.

Larry gulped again. Well, uh, if that’s what you want? But I’m not sure the club will allow…

Don’t worry about the club, Larry. That’s what I want, she said firmly.

I’ll send you the tickets anyway, in case you change your mind.

Oh, Larry, you’re so sweet. She smiled devilishly and licked her lips seductively. Now let me do something for you. She then proceeded to remove her clothes. Larry leaned back in his chair and watched, manipulating the camera with his control pad and enjoying every curve on her body. His heartbeat quickened and blood flowed to his groin.

Soon Rachel was naked and caressing and fondling herself as she watched Larry enjoy her, and she expertly brought him to the height of passion.

2    

The tropical sun bore down on the Caribbean waters creating a steamy heat that enveloped Matt as he climbed out of the sailboat’s air conditioned cabin and into the cockpit. Renee was stripping off her weight belt and air tank. Matt picked up a towel and handed it to her.

How was it down there? He asked while he reached up and steadied himself with the boom. Beautiful. You should have joined me. She paused and smiled. A dive is great after sex.

Well, I had to catch up on work. I’m only in semi-retirement, you know. Matt looked out across the blue Caribbean waters and saw an offshore breeze slowly beginning to build.

It should be full retirement. You have enough money. Why even bother with it? True. But the money comes with responsibilities. Particularly to those who created the opportunity for me to get that money.

And how is Nathan Morgan?

Matt smiled and took a seat in the cockpit on the fiberglass bench. Nathan’s fine. Busy as usual and making sure I’m keeping up on my responsibilities. She shook her head as she toweled her sun-bleached hair. I can’t imagine what keeps him going. He dominates the software market; his operating system is the world standard; he can buy anything he wants; he controls millions of people’s lives. How much more power can a man obtain?

Don’t be smart now. He’s truly a good person and it’s not about power. He’s simply doing what he enjoys. Matt leaned forward and pulled a couple of bottles of flavored seltzer water from a cooler. He opened one and handed it to Renee. He loves technology and seeing new things develop, then bringing them into the world. You see, he has this vision of how the world should be; how we should work; how we should play. And he wants his vision to become a reality. Technology would be his hobby if it wasn’t his job.

I just think enough is enough.

Well, sure if all this was about was money. But it isn’t. To make Nathan’s vision a reality we have to change the way our government thinks and how companies do business. Change has come slow despite the technological advances that are available. It is my job to entice the government to embrace change and to stand up against traditional corporate America.

You can only do so much. Renee said.

If Nathan thought that I wouldn’t be where I am today.

She shook her head, sat down across from him and put her lean, suntanned legs over his. What other mail was there today? Anything fun? Anything for me?

No. But there was a message from Larry. Matt said with a solemn tone and a distant gaze that looked past Renee and out over the Caribbean waters.

Bad news?

I don’t know. Matt took in a deep breath and returned his attention to Renee. Disturbing is more like it. I’m going to head back to Seattle.

Oh, Matt. What about the race this weekend?

Take the boat yourself. We have plenty of crew available. I’m very concerned about what he said. I really should go back to see him. Matt paused and looked for understanding in her eyes. Some things can’t be handled via e-mail. He waited for her agreement. Instead she started to pout.

Larry Thompson is a grown man leading his life as he wants to, she began. You’re not his big brother. He doesn’t need someone watching out for him like he’s an invalid. She slid off the bench and lowered herself onto his lap. With her hands wrapped around his neck she looked into his eyes and gave him her puppy-faced look.

Matt laughed, picked her up, and laid her down on the cockpit floor. Then he stripped off her one-piece suit.

3    

Alight, misty rain beat on the windshield as Matt drove up the interstate from the airport toward Seattle. Every time he came back here his mind was flooded with memories. It was where his life as an enterprising young man changed in 1989 when he, with two others, and after years of development, founded the software company, Digitech. Their start-up firm wrote and marketed the computer operating system, Visions, that thirteen years later, in the year 2002, and after much heated debate, was designated by the Federal government as the standard operating system to be used in all computers and networks in the United States. Soon thereafter the rest of the countries in the world adopted similar legislation. This public decree helped to unite all computers into a single giant network, enabling companies and individuals to transfer information with ease as all computers now spoke the same language using the same protocols and file sharing technologies. And with the end of competition in that market companies ventured out and created technology and networking advances that took the entire digital community forward in leaps and bounds.

But to be able to have this monopoly, Digitech was tightly regulated and former competitors were paid annual dividends. Video and audio standards were established that made worldwide transmission easier and cheaper and accelerated the implementation of low-cost communications via a satellite system launched by a group of entrepreneurs which Nathan Morgan and Matt Walters were a part of. This system was able to relay audio and video data through all phones, computers, or other hand-held devices because of the universal base operating system, Visions.

Matt smiled to himself realizing that he had helped create the world he now lives in. A world that was now reaching the end of the first decade of the new millennium and utilized devices including small, digital communicators and mobile phones with satellite transmission to laptop computers with built-in cameras and microphones. Powerful home computers controlled every aspect of a home: heating, security, cooking and appliances. And with a link to the world of the Internet, anything was available.

Companies were able to do away with mainframes as a myriad of smaller networked computers were fast enough to do number crunching once done by supercomputers and they were secure enough through Vision’s multi-level encryption that all personal and business financial transactions were done on-line. A trip to the bank was a thing of the past.

Matt’s efforts afforded him an early retirement from Digitech and he made headlines in national newspapers as the country’s most eligible bachelor. He had broken the top twenty of the world’s wealthiest men when he retired and could have followed Nathan to the top if he had stayed. But being the richest man in the world was the least of his goals. Enough money was enough money, he didn’t need any more.

His two partners remained with the company and Nathan Morgan continued to lead Digitech with exemplary vision, developing software products that enabled businesses and individuals to be more productive at work and at home. Nathan lived outside Seattle having built an immense mansion in the foothills east of the city.

The third partner, Larry Thompson, lived as a virtual recluse in a penthouse condominium in downtown Seattle while he continued to write code for Digitech. He was a brilliant programmer but was socially introverted. He had been raised in a foster home with six other kids in southern Oregon. Whatever had caused Larry to become reclusive was unclear to Matt, but it must have occurred during his life as a young boy because his relationship with his foster parents was wonderful. They were two simple, kind people who farmed for a living and they home-schooled their kids. Larry was very attached to them. When his foster parents recognized his intelligence they got him into Stanford under a government grant with help from the State of Oregon’s Child Services division that had paid for Larry’s upbringing.

It was at Stanford that Larry became heavily involved in programming and where Nathan took him under his wing. Larry wrote an operating system, Matt and Nathan refined, enhanced it, and brought it to market. Larry then moved to Seattle to work with Nathan and Matt.

The millions Larry made drew more attention to him and he withdrew even farther away from the public. This behavior only seemed to get worse despite Matt and Nathan’s efforts to bring Larry out of his shell. Offers of clinical and psychiatric help went unanswered. Larry was happy sitting in front of a computer developing programs and writing code, and of course his efforts made Nathan and Matt wealthy men. So they left him be, for the most part.

Matt had a unique relationship with Larry.