September 14, 2000
20 years before the system's fatal crash started, and 10 years before the system's inception.
Target found:
Evaluating Target
Everything was going to be okay "Breath in, breath out" that was the mantra he had been repeating since two days ago when the letter arrived. Johnathan Williams was going to be the new genius of this century, at 25 years old he was among the youngest minds to graduate from one of the most prestigious universities in the world. He had almost all that could be bought and could bring him just a little better odds to raise into one of the best and brightest minds.
His black hair was well groomed in the finest hair saloons he could get a slot in, not too long nor too short. His current ensemble was the year's choice for most successful business minds in the top-seller magazines of the capital city, a classical black business suit, a fancy gold-colored watch (The best imitation luxury watch one could get), and black leather shoes to go with. He was dressed for war if said war was looking as best as one could. He just needed to go into the building.
How hard could be to go into a building? Well, not that hard if it was a normal building.
This wasn't one normal building...
This was the HQ of The Saintsworth Conglomerate. A nuclear bomb could go off in their doors and the building wouldn't feel it. Even if said door was open it would be the same. And that wasn't a joke, it happened....or so the gossip said. Johnathan couldn't be so sure about it, he was a scientist above all, even if his field was skewed to weapon development and manufacturing.
Granted there was indeed the chassis of a nuclear missile in the middle of the waiting room in the building. But that may be a weird joke made by the PR department.
At least he hoped so, but he was digressing and the guards on the door were starting to look at him weirdly "Here goes nothing..." said Johnathan finally gaining enough courage to go into the building "Good morning, I have an appointment" said and with one smooth (Almost looked practiced) motion he brought an envelopment to the girl manning reception.
"Okay, we will check and call you when needed, do you wish for refreshments or snacks while waiting?" asked the girl, to which Johnathan wasn't ready since that wasn't part of his simulations
"I... It's okay, I will wait on the side" Of course the girl didn't say anything. She was used to this kind of thing.
It was a really big reception, Johnathan couldn't imagine why would they design it like this, so much wasted space.
It was imposing, and the fountain that used the chassis of that old-era nuclear missile was ingenious. But still...Okay, he could see it now, imposing. It was a message for the world. They could afford to waste this space. Now he kinda wished for those refreshments, but they might ruin his white teeth and that could take points from his presentation.
"They are ready for you Mister Williams." said the girl in reception taking Johnathan from his musings, he was now sure she was messing with him...Not that he could do anything, even if he got employed by The Saintsworth Conglomerate, that reception girl would probably still tower him on the pecking order. After all, he would probably be sent to a satellite site without the emblem. And she was donning said emblem. An ornated yellow bird with a black background on it.
So she was bound to be high on the pecking order, not many people here had it on their clothes after all "Thank you" so he was polite to the girl who was obviously having fun with him.
"The elevator will take you to the meeting room" and so he walked to said elevator...Even if it looked nothing like that. The girl pointed him to a circle in the middle of the room, it looked more like someone had dropped a metal plate in the middle. He thought it was more decoration, but since that girl pointed him this way and the guards at the door were pretending to not look at him he went that way.
It was thanks to his rehearsal the night before that he managed to not look surprised when the plate started rising to the ceiling. It was mostly a panic attack that prevented him from showing on his face the fear of being crushed into the ceiling when said platform didn't slow down and hit the ceiling. And it was luck that he didn't lose his conscience on his way after said event. For now, he was just admiring the scenery. It looked like this elevator had sent him toward one side of the building since he could see the exterior instead of the middle of the building.
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It showed a nice sunset and a virgin jungle "Aaaand we aren't in Kansas anymore..." of course, that wasn't possible, this building was in the middle of the capital. And this capital didn't have that kind of jungle near it, neither The Saintsworth capital nor the official capital had jungles near them. "Arriving at the meeting, please keep hands and head inside the vehicle," said a mechanical voice bringing Johnathan out of his reverie. Right, he had to get ready for his presentation.
With a mechanical *thud* the plate ended his ascent leaving him in a rather normal-looking and boring office, only a desk with a blonde man manning it. It wouldn't be that imposing if said man wasn't the most powerful man in the world. Johnathan was proud of all that he had achieved in his life, but that man had done at least ten times more than him, even if he doubled his age...The number of achievements to his name would dwarf anyone, and was part of the reason why he didn't have any hope of getting the Title of "Genius of this age".
As long as one was born within 100 years of that man then one could only live in his shadow "Welcome Mister Williams, to my humble abode" said the Scion of The Saintsworth Conglomerate, a man that radiated the aura of an emperor or a king, even if he doubled his age Johnathan couldn't help but wonder why he looked almost as young as him, a chiseled body that couldn't be hidden by his rather lax gray suit, an almost shining blonde hair that even while messy it looked quite good on him, and a pair of sky blue eyes that couldn't be natural to finish it all.
Johnathan wouldn't be ashamed to admit that he was mesmerized for a few seconds before moving to his seat "Thank you for having me, Mister Alexander" said Johnathan while moving to his seat with haste, one couldn't risk being rude to the man that single-handedly controlled the world economy.
For his part "It's okay, this is more of a formality than an interview" the blonde man said while writing something on his notepad, a few seconds later a floating drone brought a few drinking choices "While I don't drink alcohol I don't mind it if you do, some say it helps them when talking with me for some reason" said the blonde man taking what looked like an apple flavored soda.
Johnathan wasn't sure if the blonde was joking or not, but he took the heaviest hitter among the choices and drank it in one go anyway "Couldn't imagine why someone would say that sir" said the black-haired man before taking a second glass, but that one he drank only little sips "Couldn't imagine why" it wouldn't help if he got drunk after all. The blonde man didn't seem to mind it that much and ordered the drone to bring snacks too, it seemed that Johnathan had comrades in the world.
And while he was contemplating that, he finally noticed the blonde man was looking at him, almost as a predator waiting for his prey to do something "You okay? We can waste a few extra minutes if needed" said the blonde man with what in any other circumstances he would think was a mischievous smile, but this was Alexander Saintsworth, the top head of the most powerful organization on the world, no way he was playing him a joke....right?
"I'm fine thank you, sir, we can carry on...But if it isn't an interview...What is?" asked Johnathan, wondering if the alcohol had hit harder than expected, he had trained himself to handle alcohol in university, no way this one glass had carried him over the edge.
"Oh it's simple, I will inform you of your new workplace and then send you on your way." Said the blonde man nonchalantly while pointing with a remote to the painting on his back and pressing a button.
It seemed the normal-looking painting was a big monitor "We found a crystal a few days ago" said the blonde while pressing another button, this time on his desk "It's dated a couple of millennia older than our universe" said shrugging without a care in the world the blonde, like that was possible "Our current studies say this isn't possible, but the evidence says otherwise" and that they did. The carbon dating placed it way back than it should be possible. And it seems it could levitate if the pictures were right.
"That's...impossible..." was the only thing Johnathan could muster.
"And that's the thing, John, it's currently floating on a new dark site in the middle of nowhere." said the blonde, it seems he was now called John...And now he understood why this wasn't an interview.
"I'm a weapon developer, this looks like the work for astrophysics...I make weapons, not study nor create new sciences" said carefully the black-haired scientist wondering if coming here was the right choice.
"And that's what you will do, study that thing and make me weapons from it." said Alexanders while showing the planes for a rather big building, for a dark site it was rather big "We will have ten primary laboratories working on this thing" and so ten different complexes surrounding one containment chamber were highlighted "And another assortment of laboratories working on understanding the first evidence of something before our creation and that kind of bullshit the new kids like" finished Alexanders highlighting another series of buildings more to the surface.
"And if I say no..." said tentatively John, earning a predatory smirk from Alexanders.
"We will not kill you, John, we aren't savages" At least he had a choice it seems "We will however kill all the hopes of you working and coming near any kind of digital media, make sure no one believes a word you say and let you live outside civilization, can't risk this kind of thing going to the masses after all ♪~ " Aaaaand there it is, he might need another glass of alcohol after all.
"Good thing I liked the offer!" said trying to convince himself John. He liked the offer though, he just wished there were more choices to this.
At least he would be part of the more important work in this century...Even if he wouldn't be recognized for it "Great! The contract is here, we don't mind if you want to take time to read it or take it to a lawyer, we will see you on Monday. Sarah or Jennifer will take you to the site ~ " said the blonde man before pointing him towards the door. At some point, that weird metal plate had been reabsorbed into the building.
And now he was in a normal elevator going down again, no amazing panoramic view, just a normal contract.
"Welcome back," said the girl at the reception desk, now that he wasn't nervous he could see her naming tag.
"Got a pen?" asked John to the girl, Sarah. He might as well sign it and get it over with, no lawyer in the world would want to look into that contract after all.
"Here and welcome to the Saintsworth Conglomerate, Professor John" he should be happier. But for some reason, he couldn't.
"It's because you are now legally called John Williams, the big boss likes to do that sometimes. It makes it easier to assimilate into the dark sites you are sent" said the girl, it seemed that she knew about their meeting "By the way, your family is already informed and we can get you to the site, just go back into the teleporter and it will take you to your new office on-site" he really should be amazed of this. Technology that was originally stuff of science fiction was showcased like nothing.
But he couldn't help but feel the dread settle in "Thank you, do I just walk back into the elevator then?" said John Williams earning himself just a nod, before walking into the elevator he could see a black-haired woman walk into the building. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her. But that was life, and if she was already marked by that monster of a man, she, like him, didn't have a choice anymore. "What is a man to a king....."