The Foresight Feint
A month had passed since signing the deal with Yotron. In that time, Amon and Sonia had roamed France, laying the groundwork for their counteroffensive.
"Good work."
"Whew. Haven't slept properly in a week. Sonia's been up for days too."
"You guys have been through hell."
"Still, having you around kept it to this level. Yawwwn. Ah, sorry."
"No worries. Go crash."
"Got it. Hanging up."
Amon let out one last yawn and ended the call. Kashi hung up too, chuckling to herself. She could picture him rubbing his eyes the whole time.
Tap-tap. Kashi straightened the stack of papers with a few raps on the desk, tucked it under her arm, and slipped out of the office. She headed straight for the elevator.
> Good morning, Director Kashi. Where to?
"To the Executive Director. Oh, and AI."
> Yes, Director?
"After the Executive Director boards, go dormant until I wake you. Black box off too."
> Understood.
The elevator arrived at the Executive Director's floor. When Kashi entered the office, the director lay in his capsule, eyes closed. As she approached, his eyes snapped open.
"What brings you, miss?"
"Director, it's time."
"Already?"
He glanced at his watch in surprise, unplugged the cable from the back of his neck, and rose from the capsule. The two boarded the elevator. No AI query this time. They rode in silence. Midway to the chairman's office, Kashi gave the security chief the same order.
"No one through until we come back. No appointments or emergencies today."
The Executive Director added that lethal force was authorized if needed. The chief nodded.
Under tight security, they reached the chairman's office.
"You're here."
The chairman, idly watching TV with nothing on his plate, greeted them. Kashi sighed at the sight of her father.
"Not working?"
"You two took all my work. What am I supposed to do?"
"You still get paid. Do something."
"My girl, workload is power. You sure that's fine?"
"Someone might think I'm usurping you and turning Dad into a figurehead."
"Aren't you?"
Kashi glared. "Fine, I'll drop it."
"Haa..."
Even after Kashi became director, her father remained chairman—to cover for her if issues arose. But over time, he'd dumped all the work on her, leaving himself with nothing. The perceptive had caught on that he was prepping for retirement.
"So you two came about that. Spill."
He spoke casually, like it was someone else's problem, but his face was dead serious. Kashi matched his gravity and began her report.
"All known victims secured so far. About 37 rescued."
"Target number?"
"Minimum 50. More the better."
"Miller Pharma side?"
"They suspect something, but not us. Amon and Sonia are handling it."
"They'll move soon. Send private troops or mercs to clean up victims first."
"Told them. Now it's about cover-ups."
"That guy's style."
The chairman nodded. Kashi and the director did too. His combat skills were still debated for chief-level, but concealment and assassination? Undisputed.
"Plenty of breathing room until we hit Neville Pharma."
"Got it."
The chairman nodded. "Neville's status?"
"They're dying over there. Constant raids, no rest."
This revealed Neville's game. No assassination attempt on Amon and Sonia. Just wear them down until they left Europe. Even the strongest needed rest. Relentless anonymous attackers would break anyone. Dropping the case or fleeing Europe achieved their goal. Knowing Neville was behind it, Amon and Sonia pushed on through sheer will. Without that intel, they'd have retreated to regroup.
The chairman nodded slowly. "Neville plays dirty."
"Told them not to neutralize anymore. They just suicide anyway."
"Smart. But odd, huh? Not mercs—elite guards? Thousands sent by now."
"I wondered too. Where'd they get that many...?"
"Clones?"
"Amon and I considered it. But other possibilities, so no conclusions yet."
"Fair."
The chairman nodded. Rushing to judgment could backfire. No urgency, so caution ruled. They held the initiative—no need to rush.
He reclined slightly. "That's all on Neville?"
"Yep."
"Then why bring the director?"
"After his report."
Kashi glanced at the director, who began.
"1,758 hacking attempts on the company so far. 1,102 targeted the areas you warned about, miss. All started after Amon began operations in Europe."
The chairman's eyes sharpened.
"Hackers' skill level?"
"Couldn't ID if multiple or solo. But definitely not Neville or Miller."
"Hmm... No clue who?"
"No."
The chairman stroked his chin, pondering, then addressed the director. "Good work. Company survived thanks to you."
"No, miss warned me ahead. I'd have been toast otherwise."
"Still, it could've escalated without you. Thanks."
"My apologies."
"No need. Not curious about the puppetmaster?"
The director glanced at Kashi. "Figured the miss had reasons for not sharing."
He replied evenly. The chairman turned to Kashi, eyes asking, What do you think?
Kashi shrugged. "Wasn't holding back. Couldn't."
"Pardon?"
"Not peeking at the future right now."
The director looked stunned, hearing this for the first time. The chairman's face didn't change.
"Someone interfering?"
"Yeah. Different vibe from Owen, but same feel. Saw Neville attackers' futures—locked eyes with someone."
"I get the sense."
"That's why I came to you."
She pointed at the director's report. "Hackers connected? Any guesses, Dad?"
He shook his head. "None."
"You said you knew the feeling."
"The feeling, yes. Who? No idea."
"Even a hunch...?"
"Got one."
"Tell me."
"Was gonna anyway."
He clasped his hands at chest level and began. "Happens now and then. When I peek, static, wrong outcomes, whispers in my ear."
"First for me."
"Not in California—our turf. Step out, control slips."
Some sway in the U.S., none abroad.
"Distance-based, probably. I manage variables here; they do too."
Kashi balked. "Others see the future besides us?"
"Why not?"
Recetio history spanned centuries. Thousands in branches. Naive to think none awakened prophecy.
"Vatican priests have it. Others awaken too."
"Suspected, but experiencing it... disorienting."
"Told you not to over-rely."
"Not that. Just confirming."
Kashi noted something calmly, as expected. The chairman nodded too.
"Alright then."
"How'd you handle it?"
"Dodged."
No digging. Fly too high, burn up. Avoided seer clashes. Same reason he never forced Amon's future.
"Don't wanna be a snail."
Kashi gave a wry smile at his words.
"Can't be helped then."
"Helpful?"
"Turned suspicion to certainty."
"Won't quit, huh?"
"Obviously."
"Figures."
He knew her well. No dodging fights. She'd thrash against the sun, even unto death.
Wonder who she takes after...
He recalled his wife briefly, then shoved it down, forcing cheer. "So, what's next?"
Kashi smiled at the question. "Already cut precog."
"Huh? Why?"
"They can't see Amon's future."
Reason unknown, but only she saw it. Not family, not even the patriarch.
She was certain.
"If I don't peek at Amon's, they can't either."
"They can infer from your moves."
Her smile deepened. "Haven't commanded since the forge contract."
She analyzed Amon and Sonia's reports, passed them as "foresight." They acted on their own judgment, convinced. She'd never confirmed post-events as visions, yet they charged ahead assured.
Amon's European moves were purely his calls.
"Mix in bluffs like orders or reports? What happens?"
She beamed proudly. The chairman marveled.
"My daughter, but such steel nerves."
"Why show hands with a joker up my sleeve?"
"Couldn't pull that off. Vegas sometime?"
"Maybe later with Amon and Sonia."