Chapter 12 Breaking Free: Dangerous Plans

The computer system at Titania was like no other. Nathan had specifically designed it to relay the physiological reactions of each reader as they read the document. Each misunderstood word was presented in an easy to comprehend definition always in context with whatever the person was reading.

A trained eye could tell who was having trouble and would need assistance getting to grips with the text of the moment after the meeting. Most of the board members were super literate as it was a pre-requisite if one were to sit on the board of Titania, a little-known fact that made Titania a leading force in all its applied industries.

Each screen was built to recognize the faces of every individual who entered the Titania premises. All visitors were asked to log in and out. Those who gave false details were generally escorted out as soon as their details were verified by the security system. Whenever a board member disagreed with the documents they read, they were obligated to record their disagreement or undergo a specialized type of scan which would locate the disagreement and settled the disagreement towards what was best for all parties involved.

While it seemed suspect most Titania employees were loyal to a fault and they seemed to have healthier and happier lives even outside of Titania. Each board member knew that Titania used its own technology for the betterment of the world and its personnel. Even though he knew this Michael Ainsley couldn't believe that nothing had been picked up yet.

His pulse raced and his palms were sweaty, all indicators that he was hiding something. He knew that it would get picked up. He had enjoyed his tenure on the board of Titania Enterprises and was reluctant to see it come to an end.

He swallowed his throat, suddenly dry. If he didn't do this his wife and children would be in danger and he wouldn't let that happen. He felt awful to be betraying Nathan like this but he had no choice.

"As you can all see every aspect of Titania's interests are fully covered and Nathan will deal directly with the core issues and organizations which you were concerned about." Miles glanced at the men and women who sat across from each other at the table as each one's concerns were handled and they began smiling.

"It seems our illustrious CEO has hit the nail on the head once again." Amina Williams smiled ruefully as she observed the tension in the room dissipate as everyone closed their folders. Other board members murmured their agreement.

Nathaniel Woodcombe had the innate ability to understand how things functioned even if he didn't create them. That said, Titania had never used that in their business dealings to outwit their competitors. Many wondered how someone so young could excel in such varying fields. It added to the appeal of Titania's brands and marketing milked it for all it was worth.

The meeting itself was pleasant once Miles went over the next year's corporate strategy and the general direction that he would take Titania should Nathaniel not be back in time to resume his leadership role. It was not unusual for the young man to step away from the helm but usually, it was for shorter periods and he would be seen in and out of the vast complex he had designed for his father when his father was still alive. All the board members were not surprised to learn that Nathaniel had personally met with staff to lay their fears to rest and entrusted Miles to inform them of his decision. What the staff hadn't been told was that Nathaniel would be undergoing surgery and would be unavailable indefinitely.

After the board meeting, each board member filled in the standard forms and evaluation data on the screens before their seats. They all knew their mood and vital statistics were monitored as they performed these basic functions. For some reason, Michael didn't feel like he had been caught. Oddly enough, he felt so much better for having attended the meeting. As he walked out Miles spoke to him about his family and he managed to keep it together.

He rushed out of the building relieved. And hailed a cab, he didn't want to be followed to where he was going so he had left his car at home. Disappointed in himself and sorry to have to be the cause of the fall of Titania he headed to the secret meeting place he had agreed to weeks earlier. All heads turned in Miles' directions as his smile grew wider and refreshments were carried in.

Assured that there was no further business, refreshments were served and the meeting adjourned as the board members chatted about their confidence in the press conference that was scheduled for the following day. As they filed out of the board room Miles headed to the shortest glass wall and punched in an alphanumeric code.

Miles entered Nathaniel's PA's office. The Head of security gave a breakdown of the results of the surveillance. Everyone's activities before the meeting were fairly normal with anxiety regarding the outcome of the meeting except Michael Ainsley who held himself from the group before the meeting.

Security had picked up a listening device on him and neutralized that as he walked into the building. A second device had turned on from a remote location soon after he entered the board room. This one had opened up a visual feed as well as an audio one. Security had traced it back to the home address of Ronald Musa a staff member who lived on the campus residence of a private school just over forty minutes from the complex.

Miles broke into a cold sweat. Nathaniel had chosen Ron as Billy's mentor. This was not good. Fortunately, his great-nephew had a special task force and Nathaniel's watchful eye.

The head of security did not seem surprised. It seemed as though he was expecting this all along. Miles knew that his nephew was in the middle of an investigation that he'd inadvertently started when he first joined the police force fresh out of college. He knew it was big and could be deadly.

What Miles wasn't aware of was that his favorite nephew was going to undergo surgery which would put him exactly in the center of a corporate espionage ring so intricate that it would take a genius of great note to take it down. Jacob Moodley asked Miles what he would like to do. Miles looked back at the man who looked like he could snap a man's neck in half with two fingers and decided to follow standard protocol.

The information regarding the board meeting was sent to Nathaniel and the standard procedure was followed. The unit assigned to the Musa household was alerted and Miles headed home to his brother's house. This was going to be a ride and a half.

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The procedure is going to be relatively painless, Nate Woodcombe thought to himself. He had to do this. He had to make sure she was safe.

Once these guys were locked up for good there would be no stopping him from taking his rightful place among his people. He just needed to be patient and see it through. He couldn't let The One World get away with this.

He ran a hand through his dark brown, almost black hair and sighed. Hell, this is why he had joined the Academy against his mother's strong disapproval. He chuckled to himself, of course, the day he'd gone he'd been too young but the drill sergeant he had met on his way out had encouraged him and let him come by when he wasn't in between classes.

He frowned, if he hadn't decided to enroll in the Academy during the sophomore year of his second degree he would have never met her. Once again, his mind drifted back to the day they had met. He could recall exactly what she was wearing, exactly what she had said, how her hands had felt on his skin...he felt his heart constrict. He wanted her back and safe.

And that was the reason he was going undercover. That was the reason they weren't together now. He was almost grateful that she wasn't around or she'd beg him not to do this. If he failed, he would most certainly die. He smiled, if he succeeded, he would marry the love of his life and finally shut his mother up and give her grandkids.

He looked around the hospital room and went over the various things that might go wrong with this procedure. He grimaced as he recalled how he had found the lifeless body of his nephew in the mine shaft. The danger William would be in if the wrong people found him before got the information he needed to prove that One World was indeed evil and to what extent.

He had the distinct advantage of his royal were-genes and while very few on the task force he was on knew about them, they would serve him well. He knew that almost everything would be in his favor, good generally dominated over evil. His people had been granted their powers to ensure that when ordinary humanity failed something human but with greater ability than the average human would be able to step in and ensure the continued existence of humanity.