Chapter 4: Next stop on the list

As we were driving along, I said, “Nick, we can’t keep this up. It’s exhausting and expensive as well. Not that I couldn’t afford it. You have a Doppelganger ready to pose as me.

“Yes, Sir, Mr. Wolfenstein,”

“Good,” I replied, “This is what I propose to do.” Then I laid out my plan. Smiles, you expected me to tell you the details of my plan to drop off the face of the earth. Okay, I was winging it, I had no idea what I was doing, and you can take that to the bank.

We were heading to a Robotics Facility. Innovative if you were to believe their press releases. Arriving there, it didn’t look any more impressive than any other commercial-looking buildings on this stretch of the street. Or even the one we had just left. Not even their signage proclaiming their name.

It was all a cooky cutter. Okay, that may not have been fair. But that was the norm and had been for as long as I could remember. But then who picks a product based on the attractiveness of their logo? So, I supposed that I was looking for something different. Something that would tell me why this company was on my grandfather’s list.

Pulling up, Nick stopped at the front entrance and unobtrusively looked about opened the door for the girls and me to exit. Yes, the girls were accompanying me. I was not greeted upon entering the lobby. That was to be expected. I hadn’t called ahead as I had last time.

After introducing myself, I was told that the Owner CEO wasn’t available at the moment as he was occupied. I was to be given a tour while I waited. He should be available by the time we are finished. Again, I hadn’t called ahead, so it was reasonable.

It was a rather good tour, and I saw a lot of things that impressed me. What I was shown was a wide range of robotics. Capable of, well, almost anything, from what I was told. From space exploration to deep-sea work. From crafting and repairing the most delicate devices.

The most troubling aspect about the company was that they hadn’t won any significant contracts with the government or industries that could have most benefited from his work.

I was led to believe that hardly anything was beyond their capability. While I was most impressed and would like to have this company involved with my own work. I was reasonably sure I wasn’t seeing anything I couldn’t have elsewhere by merely walking next door to the next company.

It seemed he hadn’t convinced others of his innovations. This didn’t really bother me. Having seen it happen before. Great idea, men, lousy salesmen. It was amazing how many of these people existed, creating companies only to end up being forced out of the once they went public. The question, why hadn’t he been forced out?

The CEO finally made an appearance. He was no typical CEO. This one was just straightening his tie that appeared to be recently redone. As he got closer and shook hands, you could see grime under his fingernails. His suit looked worn; his shoes scuffed. This was a man who worked for a living and took the inter-workings of his company very seriously. Not with personal appearances. Mother would have hated him. Which made me like him all the more.

I liked him already, and his problem was obvious. He was no showman.

He stopped, after shaking hands, “I was told Mr. Wolfenstein was here. You’re not him.”

“My grandfather passed away just recently. I’m his grandson.”

Martin Strong, the CEO, and owner of this company, froze. “Of, I’m so sorry to hear that. I hadn’t heard. I’m afraid I don’t keep up with the News media. Nowadays, it’s not news but sensationalism. I’m too busy for such nonsense.”

I could well believe that.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Wolfenstein? I take it you had the official tour. And you’re not here for pleasure.”

“Yes, I’ve had the official tour. You have quite an impressive operation here.”

“You haven’t seen the half of it.” He assured me.

Again, I could well believe that as it was on Grandfather’s list.

“I suppose you want to go to his office and collect his things.” Looking disappointed.

“Let’s go to your office first. I think we have things to discuss.” He brightened immediately. Martin Strong was an easy man to read. He loved his work, and I was beginning to gather that grandfather was the major shareholder and kept the company afloat. My grandfather was not into charity work. So, whatever was happening here was of immense importance to my grandfather.

The company again was not an apparent takeover offering. It simply had nothing that could be sold piecemeal and make a profit. If anything, whoever tried would most likely lose money in the effort or, at best, break even. Its greatest asset was Martin Strong.

As we talked in his office making future plans.

I blinked. This man was no slouch when it came to reading others as well. As we nailed down what we would do for each other. He may not have been a salesman, but he was a tough negotiator all the same.

“Now, I suppose you will want to see your grandfather’s office?” Getting up, he led the girls and me to an office similar to what I had seen in the medical group. Clear down to the ticker tape. It had all the earmarks of being another of my grandfather’s hidden messages.

From the way Mr. Martin Strong talked of it, it was actually an actual office where he would come to work. So now I had to figure out just what sort of work that was.

I had suspected Grandfather would have kept a sham office like the last one. Would there be others? I wonder how he managed it without the enemy learning about them. Or had they known? Just waiting for an old man to uncover his hand.

“Call me if you need anything. I will try not to be so busy that you have to wait long.” Then he left.

The girls placed themselves on each side of the door. And I was left to explore the room.

This time I had a better understanding of what I was looking for. However, in this case, the ticker tape machine was a dead end. Oh, there was a message there, all right. It was a scolding from my grandfather asking if I thought he was so lazy to use the same trick twice.

I was going to have to get better at this. My grandfather may be dead now. But that was no reason for me to think his thought processes were any less when he left me these clues. After all, he had been very much alive when he created these puzzles. There was also that nagging thought that he really wasn’t dead.

I would have to look for a different clue. Actually, I found it much more quickly than I thought I would. It was a star globe. I remembered when I had first seen the clear skies overhead in early 2020. When before, the smog was so thick that the city lights reflexed off it so much as to make stargazing impossible in the cities. I must have been seven then. Maybe I had mentioned this before.

There was a picture of the new Star Force Flag. Grandfather said it was a rip-off of the Star Trek franchise. There beside it was a picture of the then POTUS with darts centered around his face. The image seemed to have seen a significant amount of use. I pulled out the darts intending to pay my own homage to that man.

A chuckle from the room’s speakers stopped me short. I see you have found my little joke. I was not surprised. My grandfather never hid his dislike for the man. Governments often had puppet leaders, but my grandfather considered him the worst of the worst. I turned back and made my casts, were far off the mark. One didn’t even hit the picture.’

A voice inquired, “Is that the best you can do? I have half a mind not to let ... Ah, too late for regrets now. The desk drawers are now unlocked.” This was getting really creepy. It sounded again like he was very much alive.

With the desk unlocked, I read the files. I read them twice. I was quite sure what I was reading was impossible. But then so was being shot in the heart and surviving as I had.

I pressed what I thought was an intercom button. I had no idea who was on the other end, for I had seen no outer office for a receptionist.

I was surprised it was Martin Strong, the CEO, “Well, that didn’t take long, Mr. Wolfenstein, your grandfather said it would take longer. Looks like I won my bet.”

“Yes, yes.” My grandfather said in a disgruntled voice. Another lost bet? I will have a donation made in your name to that charity you like. Tax-deductible, I might add.” I had never known my grandfather to be a sore loser. Could I have been wrong about that?

Somewhat annoyed, “Have...” I never got to finish the sentence.

“Dr. Benton C. Quest is on his way to your office now.” So now it was my office. And he had known who I was going to ask for. Grandfather!

Was I the only one left out of the loop? Then, there was a knock on my door. “Enter,” Wind Song opened the door, and Dr. Quest entered.

Have any of you ever seen the Television show Johnny Quest? The Doctor looks nothing like the cartoon character. Okay, he did have a red beard, but that was it. He had no son named Johnny. However, he did have a daughter named Johnette.

Unsurprisingly I heard the computer voice say the room was secure.

What he looked like was really not relevant here. We went through a similar password exchange. Before we got down to business, he said, “Ah, I see you play darts.” He chuckled. It was then that I wished I had removed those darts. Rolling my eyes, “Guilty as charged.”

Then he filled me in on what my grandfather had found of interest here.

I half expected a sales pitch but was startled when he pulled out a gun. Oh crap, I thought, I didn’t feel like being shot again. But he didn’t point it at me, but at a curtain that had a water tank behind it. Shooting at the drape at almost point-blank range, not only had the water tank not been shattered, but the curtain didn’t seem to be disturbed at all.

I was invited to feel the cloth of the curtain, finding it soft and pliable. I immediately thought Dr. Quest had fired blanks and said so. He handed me the weapon, and I unloaded it. Checking the bullets and seeing that they at least looked real, He then had me reload. Next, Dr. Quest requested me to fire through the curtain. Again, it seemed like the curtain was undisturbed, and the water tank remained intact. Then he told me to shoot directly at the tank, not through the curtain. I did so. The aquarium tank immediately exploded with a shower of glass and spraying water. I jumped back in surprise.

I knew hype when I heard it, but after this demonstration, I was left believing. “Okay, how is that possible?” looking at and feeling the of the curtain again. It certainly felt like ordinary cloth. It had all the properties of a material. Clearly flexible, yet it hadn’t seemed to flinch when the bullet hit it. In fact, I saw two spent bullets on the floor under it from both shots. It had absorbed the energy. How?