Casimir

CHAPTER 50

The car pulled outside of the Centauri headquarters. Electricity surged through Ethan and

could sense the day before him. As all three entered the foyer an attentive receptionist hands Ethan all his mail that in turn hands to Ava. Armando was silent as all three walked into the elevator and stood at Ethan's side. Ava looked to Armando "You cause us any trouble your dead" she thought. Ethan looked at his watch 9.30 am and thought to himself "Plenty of time before the fun begins". Ethan out the lift stood in the middle of a large oval room, two stories in height and was surrounded by members of the Centauri group standing by banks of telephones and Computers ready to receive Orders. Armando looked up watching the giant overhead screen and noticed how the share price had been high for the last few hours before turning his attention to a satellite view of the Helix nebula as its brightness intensified. The prophecy was unfolding all was under way. Ava looked to Ethan admiring how he looked confident, powerful the man she adored and loved. Soon she would be as powerful as Ethan in money and power. Ava smiled thinking of the day ahead and the changes that would come the world's way.

Ethan turned looking out of the window. The sun was bright and it was a cloudless day.

"Perfect weather to conquer the world". Ethan thought before pulling out a cigar out of a metal case. He ripped open the cigar clipping off the end and lighting it with an ivory tighter. Ethan felt high with excitement and breathed out the first inhalation of cigar. Smoke rose up. Below people were looking up to Ethan before working on set tasks. Everyone had been given a specific job and started at 10 am exact. Ethan let out a smile as dozens of faces looked up at Ethan. Ethan bit down on his cigar and threw wide open his arms "Its show time ladies and gentleman". The eyes that stared Ethan dispersed focusing on the work before them

Ethan's walked into a side room to check on Armando and noticed the same took of unease on his face "I'm sorry about your son there was no way we could have done anything. The time is upon us the prophecy is about to be fulfilled. Over the next weeks companies, governments are going to be offering us billions for our technology". Armando smiled back at Ethan but Iittle could disguise the thought of his son not being with him n this moment of triumph and Armando wondered if he had sacrificed too much "What if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul" he thought. Armando considers this before putting the thought out of his mind.

Ava stood only few metres and looked to Armando doubts raged in her mind. She saw Ethan above silent and still. Ava walks up the steps and joins her lover on the balcony above. She grabs Ethan's hand and pulled him to one side her eyes were serious "I'm concerned about Armando. l know he's focused and you trust him but". Ethan looked at her "Ava l know your worried and l am concerned but l haven't seen anything in Armando to cause me doubt. But if he becomes a problem take care of it". Ethan embraces her with a passionate hug. Ava pulls back sensing Ethan's masculinity and seeing the intensity of his stare on her and she wondered what drove this man. Ava didn't care what drove him she was not letting him go.

Ava looked down on the floor below as Ethan held her hand before letting go to make calls on his mobile. Ava folded her arms her eyes still beamed at Armando. Armando had by now noticed Ava's stare and looked back and saw the look of don't try anything mister or your dead caught in the stare of her eyes.

Ethan looked to the screen, 11.05, action time. Ethan breathed in and looked around him.

Everyone looked him there was an air of enthusiasm amidst the seriousness of what was

going on. "Listen up we're going to announce the details of the reactor in 25 minutes. First we upload rumours to websites used by engineers, scientists and sites used by the general media. Only give them bits of information not the full details. Within seconds of Ethan's Orders, dozens of men and women Start up loading rumours of the Casimir Reactor. On a screen nearest Ava monitors preselected websites. Within seconds rumours Start circulating the rumours had generated interest. Ava turned back to Ethan "Its working we've got people registering interest and some of the science sites are registering thousands of hits per second". Ethan turned to back Ava "This is only the beginning wait until we make an announcement. Ethan turned to the screen seeing his share price rise higher and higher as news reached fever pitch over the announcement to be made at 11:30.

Ethan looked at his watch, 11.30. Let the show begin he thought and walked to a platform that overlooked the oval shaped room looking down he smiled "Ladies and gentlemen let the buying begin. Execute your instructions". Ethan typed in a password revealing the technology, the package on offer and a price for it. Within seconds of the information telephones sang with the sounds of Investors and businesses eager to have first bite of the cherry. Ava stood back joining Ethan on the platform. Both kissed each other passionately. Ethan looked at Ava and could sense the energy flowing between them "Ava this has not been possible without you". Ava thanked him before turning her attention to the hoards of workers receiving calls from hungry bidders.

Up above Armando kept an eye on the news already a picture of the nebula had been shown reacting in different ways. One man had his house in Glasgow raided where police had found African voodoo dolls, Nazi Propaganda and 100 kg of explosives. The news castor goes onto a explain of another device containing a nail bomb tipped with mercury and would have caused major loss of life. Armando chuckled to himself "The worlds crazy enough without us".

Solomon had gotten back to the Centauri headquarters, The journey had been swift having

managed to catch an early flight back to Birmingham. Now he stood in the building of the

Centauri headquarters. His ego swelled. He had made it after years of blood and killing he

was the top dog. Solomon was shown to his Office. It was large and was square and had all the trappings of an Office of a chief executive with a fridge, shower and plasma television. Solomon was shown a secret compartment where he could hide his weapons.

Ethan walked in on Solomon as he stood admiring the view below "Good to have with us. We thought you were dead". Solomon turned his head swelling with pride "I've still got a few more lives" his face beaming with self satisfaction. Ethan walked closer. Ava followed behind eyeing Solomon. A flick of lust welled up in her. "Solomon's a better lover". she thought quietly as Ethan invited to join him to the large oval room two storeys. Solomon walked in on the Centauris main room noticing large screens with figures. None of it made sense to Solomon but reckoned whatever it was he could be trusted with it. One of Ethans staff suddenly ran in from neighbouring room "Boss, boss you've got to see this". Ethan look of contentment had gone "It seems we have guests". Ethan turned to Solomon. "It seems as if we didn't lose Tierra and Xavier after all. Radar has them approaching us from the north and will be here soon". Ethan recalled how Devante had shown Tierra round the buildings construction ten years earlier. Now that knowledge would be turned against him. Ethan acted swiftly radioing a car round to the front of the building. Ethan motioned Solomon to a side office "Time for your revenge". Ethan typed in a code as side wall flipped 180 degrees. Solomon's eyes widened. Ethan smiled "A present courtesy of some Russian friends I thought I would never use it". Solomon's faced turned to one of happiness "You want me to shoot them down". Ethan nodded "Shoot them down and kill any survivors bring me Tierra and Xavier". Ava looked on as Solomon left the oval room before turning to Ethan "Are you sure we can trust him". Ethan responded "Darling of course we can". Ava felt reassured she was already concerned about Armandos focus and the betrayal of his son.

Solomon drove fast from Birmingham skimming through red lights. Soon he was out of the

city and driving north out of Birmingham. The screen on his car showed him a radar Image of Donald's helicopter. It was travelling fast. Solomon looked to a map and he needed to hit them in the middle of nowhere to provide a quick exit. Solomon drove to a large field 20 miles north of Birmingham.

Tierra and Xavier noticed the helicopter was lower. Donald looked to his screen a warning

light appeared "This can't be right" and thought the electronics were playing up. Then a

second light came on. Below them Solomon took aim priming his weapon and saw the

helicopter large on an LCD viewfinder and opened fired as a 2 ft missile exited the shoulder launcher venting hot gases that sent an adrenalin rush to Solomon's heart. The missile shot off. Solomon got in his car accelerating fast to a safe distance and watched the missile find its target. Before Donald could react the missile struck the helicopters right wing sending a piece hitting the tail rotor. Tierra began to scream. Xavier sat motionless. Within seconds the aircraft had crashed crumpling the cockpit. Donald was dead. Tierra and Xavier got out the aircraft. Tierra had broken her ankle and began screaming in pain. Xavier only received cuts and bruises and dragged Tierra from the helicopter. Xavier prayed for strength and ran for cover. Tierra noticed Donald's corpse strewn over the front nose of the helicopter and reckoned he must have been catapulted through the cockpit window on impact. They got to a safe distance. The helicopter exploded sending metal and glass everywhere.

Solomon looked on pleased with the anarchy. He knew he didn't have walked over to the

helicopter to check for survivors. Solomon readied his weapon and sprayed the helicopter

with bullets not taking any chances.

Tierra and Xavier heard the bullets being fired and ducked behind a bale of hay. Xavier then heard a car door shut. Xavier looked over the bail of hay. The car had gone and looked to Tierra who was screaming in pain. Out of nowhere Solomon appeared and aimed at them both aiming his machine gun at Xaviers chest. Xavier in defiance smirked "Your not the car that just went off". Solomon smiled "No" and butted Xavier with his machine gun and dragged Tierra and Xavier into the boot of his car and drove fast eager to get away from the scene of devastation.

Ethan turned back to Solomon "You've done us proud again. Solomon. Your downing of the helicopter has made every news channel! from here to Los Angeles.". Ethan and Solomon walk to the top floor. Many story's below Tierras had been. Xaviers only received cuts and both had been treated.

Below on the ground floor of the Centauri Headquarters hoards .of workers entered as

bleepers call out to workers all over the city. The group needed more workers and demand

was stronger than Ethan could have imagined.

Armando looks at the Computer realising that a bidding war was opening up with strong offers from the US, Japan and parts of Europe. Armando talks back to the floor "Only Start accepting bids from 12:30, Armando looks at the dock 11.53. Armando quickly sets about executing the plan to sell pieces of the Casimir Reactor, Armando looks back over to the share price noticing the lowest bids from companies that bought the technology. Armando had to hand it Ethan that it was a brilliant plan to sell different parts of the Casimir Reactor to companies that could make it and then buy them up.

Ethan looks over to Armando walking and for a moment a tinge of sympathy creeps over him "Poor guy, pity about his son". The thoughts are dismissed.

Armando walks into a room dose to a bank of telephones. Armando puts the Computer on a table pulling his wallet and gets out a picture of Xavier 4 years old in a Brazilian football T- shirt. Memories flood in his mind as his son always had questions of science, nature and religion. Armando was pleased with his son for having an enquiring mind and knew he would become a scientist. Armando sighs wishing his son was with him and that he hadn't betrayed him

Ava rushed over to Ethan. Bidders were hungrily buying up the Casimir Reactor. The bidding war had started. Ava looked over to a screen she knew that buying the reactor was one thing but it would at least a year maybe two to put a commercial! one together. Ava looked down to Armando was busy rushing around making sure that people understood the different pieces of the reactor they were selling. Ethan sat in his Office and had sat to a lunch knowing it was the only meal he was likely to get that day. Solomon had joined Ethan for lunch enjoying a ham salad "Ethan this is a pretty sweet place you have here". Ethan responded "Its not bad is it". Ethan got up and filled Solomon's glass with more wine "I've been thinking, thinking about the future. I've looked into your file. l read that before you were a hired killer you use to run a shipping business of Southampton". Solomon nodded "l used import and export goods no questions asked kind of thing". Ethan continued That's one reason l hired you. The reason l

need you. You have skills a willingness to learn if you will and you have shown me loyalty and taken care of Ava. l don't forget things like these. Once the day is completed and the sales are finished l have several things l would like to talk to you about". Solomon nodded 'Sounds good", Solomon ate the last of his salad and walked out.

One of Ethans henchman a square jawed ex marine walked into his Office "It seems one of our contacts has just alerted us that the Harmonisers are on the way and we have located where they are working out of.

Ethan let off a weak smile. He knew that this would come when the authorities and had

planned it extensively. The henchman walked away and called a preselected number. The

phone was answered with a gruff answer "Yes who is this". Ethan wasn't amused "Its me

Ethan that day l said you would come. It has". The gruff voice "Okay, I'm just getting the fax and the coordinates. Ethan continued 'I'm sending Ava over". Ava heard the conversation and left Ethan Office she knew what she to do.

The gruff answer put the phone down. He knew it was a big job but one that would pay well despite the risks. The gruff voice looked over to his warehouse and saw more than a dozen armed Land Rovers armed with heavy weaponry. The gruff man looked over to his men numbering more than 50. They were eager well trained and hungry for action. The gruff voice barked 'Lets go men. The boss has given us marching Orders".