The Director (The Mindbender Series Book 4) - C.S. Luis

The Director (The Mindbender Series Book 4) by C.S. Luis

Book excerpt

I leaned an elbow on the desk. The movement ruffled some pages, crinkling paper, and clacking together some plastic cases. I looked down at a CD labeled with a black marker. The lines were thin, neat, my own handwriting visible in the code that I’d designed. To an outsider, it would seem to be nothing more than innocuous business dealings. Not the science tools of a scientist; no ordinary person would comprehend the genetic terms. I’d been the only one to understand and decode the structure of Alien DNA within the Company. The patterns that analyzed maps of an alien body. The mechanics and schematics created for this particular product—a project that had unforeseen peculiarities. And given life to a foreign technology and had unearthed possibilities yet unforeseeable.

I lifted my elbow and reached for the desk drawer. As I pulled it out, it stuck. Frowning, I pulled harder. The wood squeaked but came free.

The drawer was a front. It could have belonged to anyone with its array of loose paperclips, a few ballpoint pens, and a pad of paper. People rarely looked beneath the surface. I counted on that. Even the Company was victim to this particular human failing, even when they thought they were the ones behind it. There was always someone else behind everything. I made certain of that. No one knew how deep the well went.

Except for, perhaps, me.

I unscrewed one of the ballpoint pens and tipped it into the small hole underneath the drawer. The false bottom came loose, revealing the few documents that no one else ever saw.

One of my devices skittered around the drawer, a robotic spider looking for all intents and purposes. I let it latch its legs onto my finger; it knew me and soon moved back to the dark corner of the drawer. It would be waiting, should anyone find the hidden compartment.

I pulled out the stack of papers and discs, flipping through them. These results were not what I wanted, not at all. I returned the papers and discs back inside the false bottom of the drawer.

I took my seat at the desk, with all my instruments. The lab assistants continued to work while I stepped away to handle the duties of a Director to a Venator. It was time to make a call.

Pulling up to my computer, I laid my hand upon the mouse, clicking through the various screens until I found the one I was looking for. Before I logged in, I included several files on the screen. When my image popped on the monitor, John would see the files on his end and a clear image of me in the center of his monitor.

The chat video came up; a young man with brown golden locks, and a boyish face with a chiseled jaw appeared. He was nothing what others would assume was a threat as he stared back at me from the computer screen.

The room he sat in was dimly lit, revealing enough to see a bedroom. It was the rental where agents retrieved their assignments and instructions. Today was the beginning of John’s assignment in a high school located in the state of Texas. The small metal insects we’d sent had revealed there was a potential ET product at this site. The indicators had stopped where they had felt surges of electrical currents that were outside the norm.

John was well built and strong, with broad shoulders. The genetic material used to create him was of a superior make. It didn’t surprise me why he was so strong and appeared far bigger than the average human. His eyes were far more alien, emerald-green, more intense than those of normal green eyes. He was a success, because no one suspected that he was a hybrid.

In fact, he was the first successful creation of his kind. Jack had been a failure not by his aptitudes but by his lack of obedience and ability to follow orders. He was rebellious in every sense of the word and a distraction to my obedient hybrid. If he weren’t such a rebellious boy, he would be the perfect combination of hunter and soldier. However, what he lacked in discipline, John made up for.

Dressed in a dark blue tracksuit, John looked alert and ready to engage in discussion with me.

“I see you have arrived well,” I said in greeting.

“Ready and alert, sir.” He smiled confidently. No doubt his handsome good looks gave him an advantage over his peers.

John was perfect in definition, both physically and mentally. He was a true chameleon in the world.

“I’m going to assume that Joseph has briefed you on the importance of this assignment?”

He gave me his undivided attention. John was well disciplined for a boy of 17, and one of my best recruits. He had been trained by drill sergeants, learning the craft at an early age, and knew his place.

“Yes, sir.” He placed his hands on the table, awaiting my next words like an obedient dog. However, when I said nothing, he continued, “Joseph has informed me of the possible discovery of an alien product.”

“Correct. We detected a sighting of the product escapee but are unable to confirm its exact whereabouts at the present time.” Confirmation of a surge had alerted our detectors. “It moves quickly. The devices confirmed its last sighting before they were no longer responsive. Which means, whatever or whomever destroyed the metal insect indicators, knew what they were. As you are aware, the devices can only be destroyed by alien interference. Its capability to reconstruct its body to its original form makes it an effective instrument.”

Another file appeared on the screen at his end. The file revealed the location the target was last spotted. It was a building with lovely Romanesque exterior architecture. John’s eyes sped-read the small bio of the building history and its present status.

“The only intel we’ve received is the sighting at this local high school,” I continued as he perused the file.

An image of a man in his sixties with white hair appeared on the screen. He was dressed in a suit and tie. It had been taken from his school profile. “This is the principal of Milton High, Dr. Neil Edwards.”

John examined the image closely. He had a way of taking in all the details of one’s face. It was a skill that had served me well, a skill that didn’t stop with just taking great care in observation. Yet, then again, the boy had a gift for picking up anything fairly quickly, whether it was a physical skill, learning a new language, or anything else I put in front of him. He never disappointed me. He absorbed everything. He adapted, a true alien anomaly.

“As of yesterday, he is deceased, victim of a heart attack according to the authorities. A man by the name Michael McClellan has been temporarily appointed by the School District as his substitute. They were good friends.”

More files appeared on his screen: one of Dr. Neil Edwards, and others on Michael McClellan, James Claypool, Richard Vasquez, Alice Wallace, and of the two security officers the school had to offer.

“This is the school staff. Study them. Learn everything about them,” I instructed.

John straightened and nodded. His eyes were glued to the screen. He would soak up every bit of information I offered.

“Yes, sir …”

So obedient.

“You will assume the identity of student name Christian Müller."

John furrowed his brow. Had he recognized the name of a once-promising cadet?

“Joseph will accompany you on this mission.”

The furrow turned into a look of annoyance, or perhaps disapproval. “Sir? Joseph? Does he have a role? I don’t necessarily need a guardian for a school walk-through.”

Disappointed by his quick response without the final details of the assignment, I refrained from answering too quickly out of anger. Not to mention he had the audacity to ask me anything …

“Joseph has a role. Not only as your guardian but as Dr. Neil Edwards’ official replacement. You will accompany him; he will presume the name of Dr. Joseph Müller. He is your uncle,” I explained patiently.

“Uncle?”

“This advantage will allow you access to office personnel as well as inner goings-on within the school environment. Joseph is your cover; the rest is up to you.”

Things now seemed far clearer to him. There were fleeting expressions in his eyes that he tried to hide: surprise and satisfaction. Ah, clever, those eyes said.

“All the documents that you will require are in the yellow envelope inside the desk’s top drawer.”