Pop Travel (20 page)

When she reached the techie lab, her favorite geek met her, Claire Frosnick, a pale young woman with white-blonde, spikey hair and a wide mouth. Her lab coat hung open to reveal a colorful Jabadou cartoon character with oversized head and feet, the latest Japanese online game craze. A stylus stuck out from behind her ear, and she clutched her plate as if it were an extension of her hand. A genius at her craft, Claire cleverly forced bulky weapon power into the tiniest, most unassuming objects.

“Welcome, Geri. That is a beautiful gown.” She had less emotion in her voice than an android receptionist. Always all business, Claire acted as if Geri had met the standard uniform requirement. “Follow me.”

She turned on her tennis-shoed heel and led Geri into the lab.

“How are you, Claire?” Geri asked. At five-foot-eight plus her heels, she could see straight over Claire’s head. She loved working with Claire. They had cracked several codes together. Such a sweet nerd.

“When’s the last time you reached the surface?” Geri teased.

“You must be referring to my complexion. I use SPF 90. Very sensitive skin, you know,” Claire answered. Nothing ruffled her, except a stubborn hard drive. “Let me show you what you will be accessorizing with this evening.” She gave a little snorty laugh.

Geri laughed with her, but more because Claire had attempted some humor.

“Sounds good.”

They stopped at a table filled with an array of shiny jewelry. In her head, Geri jumped up and down, giving little claps, rejoicing she would finally be able to don some of the cool gadgets Claire always talked about. Geri could not conceal her wide grin and eager eyes.

Claire didn’t notice. Picking up a flower-shaped, diamond brooch, she reached to pin it on Geri’s dress and had trouble finding a proper spot. She gave up and handed it to her.

“Here. Attach this somewhere.”

Geri easily pinned it at a gather between her breasts.

“That is a camera; try not to block it. Now watch the imager over there.”

She pointed and turned on the camera with a remote. They saw a picture of Claire’s ear.

“Let me adjust the zoom.” She fooled with the settings. “There, that’s better.”

It zoomed out to show Claire’s profile.

Geri panned around the lab.
Nifty.

Claire shut it off and directed Geri’s attention back to the table.

“Okay. Here are your matching earrings and necklace, i.e., earpiece and microphone.” She held them up respectively.

“What if things get rough and I lose something? Is there a backup system?” Geri asked as she put on her spy bling.

“Of course.” Claire looked over her glasses with a hand on her hip. “If you had some patience, I was getting to that.”

She gave a heavy sigh and picked up a syringe gun.

Geri’s eyes bugged.

“What are you going to do with that?”

“Stick you, of course. It has a very sophisticated tracking device. Worldwide.” Claire spoke to Geri like a mother who’d lost patience repeating herself. “Now hike up that skirt and bend over.”

“Seriously?”

Claire tilted her head. What a dumb question. Geri assumed the position, leaning over the table, and Claire stuck her high on her hip.
Ouch!

“Just a little pinch.” Claire set the syringe gun back on the table.

Geri rubbed her butt.
Shouldn’t you have said that
before
you stuck me?

“What about weapons?” Geri asked. Now she would take pleasure pushing Claire’s buttons.

“Cool your semiconductors, young lady,” Claire said and held up her palm.

“Sorry.” Geri grinned.

Spreading her arm across the table like an impatient car model, Claire showed Geri the remaining items. A fat cubic zirconium ring, a silver bangle bracelet and a glittery, jeweled comb.

“The ring is a miniature grenade. You set it as soon as you put it on. When you take it off, you have five seconds to get clear before it blows up.”

“Oh, I like that.” Geri reached for it.

Claire swatted her hand.

“Please wait until I finish. You need to pay attention, Geri.”

“Sorry.” Geri gave her a smirky pout.

“Really. There are only two more things.” Claire picked up the bracelet and demonstrated as she spoke. “Push this indentation and it springs into a disk of thin, sharp blades. Like this.”
Fwing!
It popped open. Geri nodded, impressed. Claire showed her how to reset it, then replaced it on the table.

“If you twist this green jewel on the comb, the points will extend and a paralyzing liquid will flow out the tips when you jab your enemy with it.” She picked it up and showed her, then returned it to normal and handed it to Geri.

“That won’t poke me while I’m wearing it, right?” she asked, cautiously turning it over in her hand.

“Of course not. You’ll be perfectly safe,” Claire said, but her eyes glared, “How dare you ask such a question!”

“Great!” Geri smiled at her.

Claire let Geri take the gadgets to affix them.

“Got a mirror?” Geri asked.

Claire pointed at a nearby wall. When Geri finished her adjustments and inspected her appearance, she smiled, satisfied, feeling invincible.

“Thanks, Claire. Wish me luck.” She waved as she started to walk out.

“Uh, Geri.”

“Hmm?” She paused and looked back.

“Please don’t use them unless absolutely necessary. Save them for emergencies only,” Claire said and pushed her glasses up on her nose.

“Of course. Don’t worry about a thing, sugah,” she answered with her accent. With a wink over her shoulder at Claire, Geri strolled out of the lab.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Atlanta
2:15 p.m., Friday, July 26

As Cooper stepped into the lobby, his charcoal gray suit expressed the façade of a suave and confident man, but inside, his stomach cringed with nervousness. While getting ready, he had struggled to keep his mind off the impending pop. Now it consumed his every step.

The Peachtree Street transport station loomed closer, like an underworld laboratory where victims were experimented upon at their own peril. Cooper’s heart raced under his jacket. Concentrating on keeping his breathing under control, he took one stair at a time and passed through the automatic doors. The last thing he needed was to rouse suspicion by acting like a panicky first-timer. Though his face remained stoic, his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. As he approached Security, he repeated over and over to himself,
You can do this. You can do this.

Giving a nod to the guards, Cooper eased through the scanners and breezed past the dogs. After a quick scan of his surroundings, he wandered toward the check-in counters and chose the longest line to wait in, putting as much distance between him and the inevitable as he could.

The travelport lobby felt like another classy hotel with fine art, groups of plush couches and chairs, and a fountain partition gurgling in the middle. A giant imager monopolized a whole wall, with patrons choosing their own frames to open and watch. All these comforts were a great distraction, putting travelers at ease before they risked their lives being zapped. Too bad it didn’t work for Cooper. He still couldn’t believe he was going through with it.

When he reached the counter, the travelport agent scanned his thumbprint, bringing up his photo and ticket information. He barely listened to the scarily pretty android as it rattled through the pre-travel procedures and noted his departure gate, B15.
Why do they have to be so damn polite?

Cooper tuned back in at the mention of the pre-medical exam. He had forgotten about that and now had something else to worry about.
How had this concept caught on so easily? No one likes going to the doctor.

Catching him in another worried daze, the unflappable robot repeated her last statement.

“Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Please avail yourself of our amenities and relax in the waiting area until your gate is announced.”

Cooper blinked, then sneered at her.

She flashed her dimwitted courtesy smile. The heartless creature had no clue as to what fate had in store for some unlucky travelers. He scooted off, afraid she might say it again, like an auto-flushing toilet, shooing someone away to make room for the next customer.

At least he didn’t have a long wait to dwell on his foreboding journey into the unknown. Scenes from the video flashed into his mind, making him reel and want to run. A soft
ding
chimed, helping him steady his equilibrium for a moment as elevator doors opened, letting out some travelers who must have just arrived. Lucky them. They made it through alive.

Resigning himself to a seat, Cooper surveyed the other waiting travelers. They looked so relaxed, casually chatting, reading their plates, watching the broadcasts on the wall imager, or talking on QVs. They all seemed oblivious to the fact that they might explode into a gazillion nano-particles. But why should they care? They trusted this crazy concept. Probably done it a hundred times. No reason not to trust it. Not a worry in the world. Blind faith.

Keeping his pop anxiety under control proved harder as the minutes dripped by. Cooper wanted to hurry up and get it over with. Checking the accuracy of the large clock over the elevators, he brought up the time on his QV and saw he had three messages. Good. A brief diversion from a potential panic attack.

Vid Message 1, 11:45 a.m., from Dawson. “Hey, bro. How ya doin? Are you nervous? Ha-ha. Don’t sweat it. You’ll be fine. Just wanted to let you know we popped out of South Dakota and made it to Wisconsin all in one piece, see? I had to wish you luck one last time before you took your first pop. Gotta go do a lunch. Watch your step!”

Thanks, D
.

Vid Message 2, 11:58 a.m. Cooper jerked his head back when he recognized the middle-aged woman wearing a worried expression.

“Hey, Cooper. I was wondering if you knew where Miki might be? She didn’t come home last night. Neither did Jared. We are a little worried. It’s not like her to vanish without telling anyone. And she missed the bridal brunch this morning. If you hear from her, please tell her to check in with us. Thank you.”

That’s not good
. He tried Miki’s number.

No answer. He left her a message to call him. Cooper had been suspicious of the strange guy Miki told him about yesterday. Strangers were rare at the office, and the chance of having two in a row was like Cooper pitching a perfect game. That guy had to be an agent, according to Miki’s description. Too professional to be a PTI lackey, like the guy he had encountered. The agent had probably taken them in for questioning. He hoped that was all it turned out to be. He gulped hard and called Miki’s mom back.

“Hello? Oh, Cooper. Have you heard from Miki?”

“No, Theresa. I’m sorry. I talked to her yesterday afternoon and gave her the rest of the weekend off to prepare for the wedding. I don’t know where she is. But I wouldn’t worry. Maybe she and Jared are planning a surprise for Misty.”

“This is so unlike her. I wanted to file a missing persons report.”

“I wouldn’t do that just yet. The police say to wait twenty-four hours at the least. I bet she shows up soon with a great explanation.” He gave her a convincing smile. Cooper felt confident Miki and Jared were safe. At least ninety percent sure. Not that he could do anything for them from his current location. But Miki was tough and Cooper couldn’t afford to worry about her yet. Though he hoped she was okay and wanted to help find her, he first had to go through with this pop and solve the cover-up. One more reason to put an end to this insanity, and fast.

“Well, if you say so. I will wait a little longer. The rehearsal dinner is tonight. I’m calling the police if she doesn’t show up by then.”

“Okay. I’m sure she will be there.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cooper. I feel a little better now that I’ve talked to you. Be sure to call if you hear from her. Bye.”

Cooper shook his head. What else would happen? He thought of Dawson. They probably had him watched and wired, too. But they couldn’t kidnap him; he was too visible and constantly surrounded by staff and guards. Cooper had to get this resolved. All this killing and preying on those close to him had to stop. This pop better be worth it. He frowned at the time; still five minutes to wait. He checked his last message.

Vid Message 3, 12:09 p.m.
Geri?
His puzzled expression changed to a pleased grin as he watched her lovely face begin speaking in that slow, sexy drawl.

“Hello, J.L. Remember little ol’ me? Well, I have some good news for you. But you have to call me back by two o’clock sharp. It’s about the plantations we discussed. I hope you get this message in time. Bye, now.”

It was 2:55. Too late.
Wonder what that was about?
He sat back and smiled, sincerely happy for the first time in years. He could face anything now. Looking forward to seeing her again gave him incentive to get through this alive.

An announcement interrupted his positive thoughts.

“Attention, please. Calling travelers for gates B15, C3, and E9. I repeat. Gates B15, C3, and E9, you may now proceed to the elevators. 3:20 departing travelers please proceed to gates B15, C3, and E9 for premedical examinations. Thank you.”