Yeah, Pat, I hereby accept the job. Please make sure that I get healthcare and other benefits, and let me know when I start. Please email me all the details, and I'll come down in a couple of days when you call to sign the papers.

Pat, now with a big smile on her face, said, "Sure, I'll call you soon," and then hung up the phone.

Jeremy drove over to Dustin's to tell him what happened. Dustin was floored, unable to believe it at first. He was a mix of jealousy and genuine happiness for Jeremy's good fortune.

Over the next two weeks, Jeremy quit his job, sold his house, and moved with his wife to California. For the next two years, Jeremy went from company to company as Google's "hatchet man." He was assigned to look for specific things, and whenever Google acquired a company, Jeremy would be sent in. He would liquidate most of the company, either electronically shipping all data to Google servers or physically sending hardware to a Google facility where it would be integrated into a project.

What no one knew was that everyone was afraid of Jeremy. After just a month, he found four types of people when he showed up as the hatchet man. The first type were people losing their jobs with nothing. The second type were people losing their jobs but with something to tide them over until they found a new job. The third type were people who would be retained and moved to another project. The fourth type, which Jeremy always sought out, were individuals working on private projects not officially on the books. Jeremy could identify these people by their fearless demeanor when they spoke to him.

Jeremy made a point of befriending these individuals because, having grown up in a poor environment, he always had some cash stashed away. Occasionally, he would meet type 4 people and purchase their projects with his personal funds, ensuring that no one else knew about these transactions. He even created a secret place to hide all this technology because he was also working on a project and needed these components. After two years, he had nearly all the parts he needed.

It wasn't until Jeremy received a call to pursue "Lab Derf" that he knew it was time for a major move. People in the nanotechnology industry knew Lab Derf because the lead scientist had published groundbreaking work. However, the lab had started to decline financially until only the original owner and scientist remained. Everyone knew the lab was on its way out, and someone at Google wanted a piece of it before others could get to it.

Jeremy arrived at Google's office, but instead of going directly inside, he parked and climbed a small hill overlooking the buildings. He sat there, smiling and dreaming. Unknown to him, the security cameras had detected him, and Betsy was informed of his presence. When Betsy saw Jeremy sitting on the hill, she became worried and quickly walked toward him. Jeremy only noticed her when she was almost upon him.

Once she approached, Jeremy looked at her and smiled. Before he could ask why she came outside, she handed him his paperwork and said, "What planet were you just on?" It was an inside joke between them, as they had once joked about visiting every planet in the universe together. Jeremy, with a glimmer in his eye and a smile on his lips, replied, "Mars." Betsy smiled and asked if he was looking forward to seeing it. Jeremy looked away, feeling a bit of self-conscious shame, and admitted he was because he had followed Lab Derf like a fanboy. The lab specialized in highly viscous fluid nanotech, self-replicating software, and control systems.

After a brief conversation, Jeremy drove into town to retrieve his stash for the next stage of his project. For the last two years, Jeremy had bet against the companies he was sent to dismantle, using connections with friends. He made half a million dollars, which he used to buy projects from type 4 people. He stored the data in a safety deposit box under the guise of keeping valuable comics he actually bought from a nearby store. He had even built a relationship with the bank manager, ensuring the box was under a dead man's name so no one would know it was there.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The bank manager had one condition: whatever was in the box had to be given to him personally because he wouldn’t provide Jeremy with a drop box. Jeremy agreed, understanding that it wasn't anything illegal. He would always include a comic book with the paperwork when he deposited items. When Jeremy called his friend, the bank manager, about emptying the box, he didn't know why it was needed urgently, but Jeremy had to explain.

As Jeremy arrived at the bank, the manager gave him a stern look, signaling that Jeremy needed to explain. The two men went into the manager's office. The bank manager closed the door and asked, "So?" Jeremy smiled and said, "Remember that secret I mentioned? I’ll explain once you have my items." The manager raised an eyebrow and requested the box. Moments later, a small metal box was wheeled in on a cart. The manager showed respect to his staff and thanked them before dismissing them.

With a grin on his face, Jeremy went to his cart, where his friend opened the box. Inside were at least fifteen comics and stacks of money. Jeremy transferred the money into a briefcase but left the comics behind. As his friend watched, Jeremy grabbed the comics and returned to his desk. He opened each comic, which was nearly voided of its warranty, revealing that each contained something valuable. After sorting through them, Jeremy handed all but three comics to his friend, then pulled out a stack of cash from the briefcase. He gave both the comics and the money to his friend and said, "Thank you. You must be wondering what all this is. Remember how I mentioned Lab Derf and my desire to meet their CEO? I’m on my way now to meet him, and instead of harming him, I’m paying him with my secret funds. And I'm not talking about the cash in the briefcase."

After their conversation, the bank manager understood that this was a good thing. The three comics Jeremy was giving away were the closest he could get to his dream. He wasn't giving them up to anyone except the person he hoped would help make his dream a reality.

Jeremy and his wife had grown apart but still loved each other. When he got home, she hadn't returned from work yet. She had become a temp at a movie studio, commuting two hours each way. With his flight not for another seven hours, Jeremy cleaned the house, prepared a big dinner, and placed three stacks of money under her pillow with a note saying he loved her and would be back soon.

Feeling euphoric as he neared the completion of his major project, Jeremy made love to his wife on the kitchen table after dinner. He then kissed her goodbye, cleaned up, and called a taxi to the airport, taking only his briefcase. He was used to traveling with large amounts of cash and went through the normal procedures without raising suspicion.

Using his frequent flyer club membership, he accessed the lounge, which was also a security checkpoint. The flight to Winnipeg, Manitoba, took seven hours.

As Jeremy disembarked from the plane, he was met with Jeb, who was visibly annoyed. Someone had tipped Jeb off about Jeremy's arrival, and his frustration was evident as he greeted Jeremy with a curt, “Turn around. I’m not selling anything. Thank you for coming, but leave now.”

Jeremy, however, remained upbeat and unfazed. His cheerful demeanor and enthusiasm seemed to only irritate Jeb more. Realizing that Jeremy was a fan, Jeb’s annoyance began to wane, though he still wore a skeptical expression.

Jeremy’s grin grew wider, almost reminiscent of the Joker’s, as he responded, “I’m not here to buy your company. I’m here to hire you for myself, not my company.”

Jeb looked puzzled. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

Jeremy explained that he wanted to hire Jeb to become the first human with nanotechnology integrated into his system. He had assembled enough components to ensure the process would be safe, with the goal of enhancing Jeb’s body and extending his life.

To prove his seriousness, Jeremy briefly opened his briefcase, revealing a glimpse of the money inside, and then directed Jeb to his car in the airport parking lot. They drove to Jeb’s lab.

At the lab, Jeremy fully opened the briefcase, unveiling a surprising array of contents. On top were some comic books, but beneath them lay various forms of payment, including checks and different types of paper money. Among these were scientific papers and research materials from multiple groups. Notable documents included studies on mapping the neural mind into a computer, AI integration, and a piece of technology designed to place a sensor on the head for facilitating communication between disparate software systems.

Jeremy’s collection was meant to demonstrate not only the feasibility of his project but also its safety. He had meticulously gathered these elements to ensure that the integration of nanotechnology would be both innovative and secure. As he laid out the materials, it became clear that Jeremy was prepared and earnest about his proposal.