Alice I
04-20-2005, 12:17 PM
Title: Run the Numbers
Author: Alice I
Rating: PG13 I think. (No Sex, No Profanity but there is Violence)
Summary: Charlie is kidnapped by two ruthless men who force him to decode encrypted data that was stolen from a Biogenetics laboratory.
I do not really like the title (It is from the end of chapter twelve) and am willing to take suggestions. I would greatly appreciate any comments or constructive criticisms.
Chapter One
Don Eppes sat in Assistant Director Walt Merrick's office with two nervous looking men; one of whom was wearing a white lab coat over an untidy shirt and wrinkled slacks. There was a company name embroidered on the breast pocket of the lab coat that read Bio-Genesis Technologies Inc. and he kept running his hand through his unkempt hair making it stand up in odd directions. The other man was dressed smartly in a three piece suit with neatly combed hair yet a bead of perspiration ran down his slightly receding hair line belaying the confidence that his attire attempted to portray.
Walt Merrick sat down at his desk and turned to Don. "This is Doctor Martin Shaw, the leading genetic engineer in the biological research department of Bio-Genesis Technologies Inc." he said indicating that the highly agitated man in the lab coat should take a seat. Before he could say anything else the man in the suit sat forward and said "My name is Robert Slocum; Director of R&D at Bio-Gen. We have come to the FBI because of a theft in our bio-research division."
Don sat up a little straighter in his chair. If this company had come to the FBI the theft was serious and his first thought was that a dangerous substance may be loose in Los Angles. Mr. Slocum placed a picture of a man with dark hair in his mid thirties on the desk.
"This is Dr. Trevor Baker. He was an R&D researcher for Bio-Gen, until he was terminated two months ago." Then he placed another photo on the desk of a slender black man with short cropped hair and glasses. "This is Michael Reed. He is one of our systems analysts and is responsible for computer systems security in the R&D laboratories."
Then he placed a still image taken from a surveillance video that showed both Dr. Baker and Michael Reed as well as a third man that was dressed in a janitors outfit. He had dark curly long hair pulled back in a ponytail but his face was obscured by the bill of a baseball cap. His right forearm was visible and had a large tattoo of a green and red dragon-like serpent snaking up his arm and disappearing under the sleeve of his shirt.
"We do not know who the other man is but on the day that this surveillance video was taken the three of them gained access to our top security laboratory and Mr. Reed hacked into the system, and shut down the alarms and blinded the surveillance cameras leading into the lab. Mr. Reed then defeated the extra security firewalls that had been added to the labs computer system and downloaded the development research of a biological compound that Dr. Shaw has been working on to a palm pilot and they disappeared before we were even aware that the break-in had occurred. Fortunately the information that they downloaded had been encrypted with an extremely complex algorithm as an added security measure only days before the break in."
Don looked at both men then said "So they can't read the stolen information?" Doctor Shaw sat forward in his seat and said "Not immediately. They would need to decode the encrypted material first. Reed may be an excellent computer systems analyst and hacker but you would need to have tremendously advanced mathematical knowledge to decipher the encryption on the data. It would be very difficult, but not impossible. The problem is, we don't know who this other man in the photograph is. If they are able to break the encryption…" Mr. Slocum shot a look at Dr. Shaw and interrupted him saying "The point is we need to have these men apprehended as quickly as possible. That data could be sold, and Dr. Baker would have the contacts to accomplish that."
Don knew that Mr. Slocum was hiding the nature of the data stolen but he was certain that Dr. Shaw would spill the beans. He fixed the scientist with a piercing stare and said "What kind of data did they steal?" Dr. Shaw ran his hand through his hair again and Mr. Slocum spoke up "It was bio-genetic research. I'm afraid that the information itself is top secret. The point is to catch these men."
Don turned quickly on Mr. Slocum and said "I will not get my people into a situation without all of the facts. You are both too nervous about this. The nature of the data will be the key to finding these men. Who would they sell it to? What is on that palm pilot Doctor?"
Dr. Shaw glanced quickly at Mr. Slocum but turned back to Don. "It is a bio-chemical/bio-genetic compound that chemically binds to its host at a molecular level. The compound will then begin to genetically alter the host's DNA. These alterations happen at a molecular level and can not be stopped once the process has begun. This is the beginning research on a catalyst designed to alter genetic defects but it is years from completion. If this compound were to come in contact with living tissue the genetic mutations that would occur would be unpredictable and devastating to the host. As the formula stands now this compound could be used as a bio-weapon in the wrong hands. That's why we had such high security on it."
Don and Walt Merrick just stared at these men for a moment. Dr. Shaw said "We were trying to develop the means to change the lives of the genetically deformed. Image what it would be like if we could cure Down Syndrome or Spina Bifida or any other genetically devastating condition. We are not in the business of creating weapons; we are trying to save lives."
Merrick sat back in his chair and said "We must notify the NSA. This is clearly a condition of National Security." He looked at the photos and said "You said that Reed had disabled all of the surveillance cameras leading to the lab so how did you get this image?" Dr. Shaw said "I have been concerned about the security of my research since Baker left so I had a private contractor that was known only to myself and Mr. Slocum put in a separate surveillance system that was not linked to the Bio-Gen mainframe." Merrick turned to Mr. Slocum and said "We will need complete footage from that surveillance system. Don, get your team up to speed on the situation." Then he looked directly at Mr. Slocum and said "I am certain that you will be hearing from the Congressional Hearing Committee. I don't care whether you call it humane or life saving research, you have essentially created a devastating bio-weapon and now the formula to create that weapon is out there for sale to the highest bidder."
Don got up to leave the office but turned back to Dr. Shaw "Why take the data related to this compound? Why wouldn't they take the compound itself?" Dr. Shaw said "Because there isn't any to steal. Once I observed the initial test results on living tissue I destroyed the samples and was taking the compound back to formula. The genetic mutations were too unpredictable. It needed more research, more work before it would be ready for initial testing again. That is why Dr. Baker was fired. He didn't want the samples destroyed. He snuck into the lab to try and steal a sample of the compound but I suspected what he was going to try to do and he never got close to the samples."
Don regarded this scientist for a moment. The fact that this man had taken responsibility for his research and destroyed the actual samples of this compound gave Don a respect for him that he had not previously felt.
Author: Alice I
Rating: PG13 I think. (No Sex, No Profanity but there is Violence)
Summary: Charlie is kidnapped by two ruthless men who force him to decode encrypted data that was stolen from a Biogenetics laboratory.
I do not really like the title (It is from the end of chapter twelve) and am willing to take suggestions. I would greatly appreciate any comments or constructive criticisms.
Chapter One
Don Eppes sat in Assistant Director Walt Merrick's office with two nervous looking men; one of whom was wearing a white lab coat over an untidy shirt and wrinkled slacks. There was a company name embroidered on the breast pocket of the lab coat that read Bio-Genesis Technologies Inc. and he kept running his hand through his unkempt hair making it stand up in odd directions. The other man was dressed smartly in a three piece suit with neatly combed hair yet a bead of perspiration ran down his slightly receding hair line belaying the confidence that his attire attempted to portray.
Walt Merrick sat down at his desk and turned to Don. "This is Doctor Martin Shaw, the leading genetic engineer in the biological research department of Bio-Genesis Technologies Inc." he said indicating that the highly agitated man in the lab coat should take a seat. Before he could say anything else the man in the suit sat forward and said "My name is Robert Slocum; Director of R&D at Bio-Gen. We have come to the FBI because of a theft in our bio-research division."
Don sat up a little straighter in his chair. If this company had come to the FBI the theft was serious and his first thought was that a dangerous substance may be loose in Los Angles. Mr. Slocum placed a picture of a man with dark hair in his mid thirties on the desk.
"This is Dr. Trevor Baker. He was an R&D researcher for Bio-Gen, until he was terminated two months ago." Then he placed another photo on the desk of a slender black man with short cropped hair and glasses. "This is Michael Reed. He is one of our systems analysts and is responsible for computer systems security in the R&D laboratories."
Then he placed a still image taken from a surveillance video that showed both Dr. Baker and Michael Reed as well as a third man that was dressed in a janitors outfit. He had dark curly long hair pulled back in a ponytail but his face was obscured by the bill of a baseball cap. His right forearm was visible and had a large tattoo of a green and red dragon-like serpent snaking up his arm and disappearing under the sleeve of his shirt.
"We do not know who the other man is but on the day that this surveillance video was taken the three of them gained access to our top security laboratory and Mr. Reed hacked into the system, and shut down the alarms and blinded the surveillance cameras leading into the lab. Mr. Reed then defeated the extra security firewalls that had been added to the labs computer system and downloaded the development research of a biological compound that Dr. Shaw has been working on to a palm pilot and they disappeared before we were even aware that the break-in had occurred. Fortunately the information that they downloaded had been encrypted with an extremely complex algorithm as an added security measure only days before the break in."
Don looked at both men then said "So they can't read the stolen information?" Doctor Shaw sat forward in his seat and said "Not immediately. They would need to decode the encrypted material first. Reed may be an excellent computer systems analyst and hacker but you would need to have tremendously advanced mathematical knowledge to decipher the encryption on the data. It would be very difficult, but not impossible. The problem is, we don't know who this other man in the photograph is. If they are able to break the encryption…" Mr. Slocum shot a look at Dr. Shaw and interrupted him saying "The point is we need to have these men apprehended as quickly as possible. That data could be sold, and Dr. Baker would have the contacts to accomplish that."
Don knew that Mr. Slocum was hiding the nature of the data stolen but he was certain that Dr. Shaw would spill the beans. He fixed the scientist with a piercing stare and said "What kind of data did they steal?" Dr. Shaw ran his hand through his hair again and Mr. Slocum spoke up "It was bio-genetic research. I'm afraid that the information itself is top secret. The point is to catch these men."
Don turned quickly on Mr. Slocum and said "I will not get my people into a situation without all of the facts. You are both too nervous about this. The nature of the data will be the key to finding these men. Who would they sell it to? What is on that palm pilot Doctor?"
Dr. Shaw glanced quickly at Mr. Slocum but turned back to Don. "It is a bio-chemical/bio-genetic compound that chemically binds to its host at a molecular level. The compound will then begin to genetically alter the host's DNA. These alterations happen at a molecular level and can not be stopped once the process has begun. This is the beginning research on a catalyst designed to alter genetic defects but it is years from completion. If this compound were to come in contact with living tissue the genetic mutations that would occur would be unpredictable and devastating to the host. As the formula stands now this compound could be used as a bio-weapon in the wrong hands. That's why we had such high security on it."
Don and Walt Merrick just stared at these men for a moment. Dr. Shaw said "We were trying to develop the means to change the lives of the genetically deformed. Image what it would be like if we could cure Down Syndrome or Spina Bifida or any other genetically devastating condition. We are not in the business of creating weapons; we are trying to save lives."
Merrick sat back in his chair and said "We must notify the NSA. This is clearly a condition of National Security." He looked at the photos and said "You said that Reed had disabled all of the surveillance cameras leading to the lab so how did you get this image?" Dr. Shaw said "I have been concerned about the security of my research since Baker left so I had a private contractor that was known only to myself and Mr. Slocum put in a separate surveillance system that was not linked to the Bio-Gen mainframe." Merrick turned to Mr. Slocum and said "We will need complete footage from that surveillance system. Don, get your team up to speed on the situation." Then he looked directly at Mr. Slocum and said "I am certain that you will be hearing from the Congressional Hearing Committee. I don't care whether you call it humane or life saving research, you have essentially created a devastating bio-weapon and now the formula to create that weapon is out there for sale to the highest bidder."
Don got up to leave the office but turned back to Dr. Shaw "Why take the data related to this compound? Why wouldn't they take the compound itself?" Dr. Shaw said "Because there isn't any to steal. Once I observed the initial test results on living tissue I destroyed the samples and was taking the compound back to formula. The genetic mutations were too unpredictable. It needed more research, more work before it would be ready for initial testing again. That is why Dr. Baker was fired. He didn't want the samples destroyed. He snuck into the lab to try and steal a sample of the compound but I suspected what he was going to try to do and he never got close to the samples."
Don regarded this scientist for a moment. The fact that this man had taken responsibility for his research and destroyed the actual samples of this compound gave Don a respect for him that he had not previously felt.