Chapter 19 - Binary Systems

The energy buzzing around and within Finne’s head was dizzying. Finne felt the stimulation down his spine and throughout his body. He couldn't tell if it was just his highly sensitive nature or if it was some effect from the communication implant that had been activated by Jack shortly after he entered the SUV. Finne noticed that as Jack spoke to him the array of video monitors were influenced by specific words within the context of his speech. All ten monitors were streaming real-time and statistical data that appeared to aggregate extensive information repositories into a harmonized display of actionable intelligence. As Jack spoke the keywords “Marine…RECON…OCS…Watchkeeper” the content on various screens refreshed to add the additional attributes associated with the catalyst words. Finne was experiencing this read-in as if the intelligence were being pumped into his mind and memory like water through a fire hose. Finne had connected with the information. He felt it. He could manipulate and sort through the intricate details without effort as they were relayed to him. The effects were nearly intoxicating.

However, a different anxiety was growing within Finne. He knew that less than a mile ahead was the treacherous turn in the road known as Deadman’s Curve – the accident scene of many lost lives, mostly young inexperienced drivers traveling at excessive speeds or driving while intoxicated or distracted. Finne visited the area ahead many times in the years after Nigel was killed there. Every time he went there he found remnants of memorials identifying the various victims for whom they had been erected. It took ten years for Finne to be able to let the anniversary of Nigel’s death pass without visiting the fateful spot where he lost his roommate and best friend. Time, however, had not allowed Finne to forgive himself for letting Nigel get away from him that night. Finne could have changed things. Nigel should not have died.

The downward spiral of emotions leading Finne down a dark tunnel of guilt and remorse was halted abruptly as the SUV’s breaks were applied without warning. The divider between the driver and the vehicle’s rear compartment began to lower. As it lowered, several of the video screens Finne had been studying went dark. The four right-most monitors were now completely inactive and portions of the six that remained illuminated had dropped information that had previously been linked to the content on the darkened displays to the right. Finne recognized that the clearance level had just dropped.

As he considered the effect that the breach in the conversation had on the technology around him, the black van Finne had last seen leaving the scene of his abduction / rescue carrying the bodies of his would-be-assassins approached them from ahead and pulled alongside Jack and Finne’s SUV. The van was heading back towards the rescue scene. Finne noticed through his window that four men were inside the van now, though he specifically remembered only one man driving off with the bodies. Finne struggled to connect the dots and understand his situation. His dependable instincts were dulled. His mind had become distracted by the overload of input he was receiving.

“We’re here.” Jack informed.

“Where is here supposed to be? We haven’t passed a driveway in a quarter-mile and there isn’t another property for another half-mile past deadman’s curve ahead.” Finne replied.

“You are going to connect with someone you haven’t seen in many years who needs your help.” Jack stated.

“Why do they need my help?”

“This person is very similar to you in many ways. Their audience is equally as dedicated and as large as they get.”

“Audience?” Inquired Finne.

Jack pressed a button to his right and the driver’s security partition raised. When it shut the four dark monitors re-activated and the data seemed to spread fluidly across of the monitors from left to right again.

"The same people who want you dead are trying to kill this individual too.  Connecting the two of you provides us an opportunity to see where overlaps exists and possibly some clues to help us find them."


“The technology supporting all of the tools that surround us isn’t cheap. The budget for this operation is buried within the appropriations of various agencies within DOD, Homeland Security, Justice, even the Department of Agriculture. Within the IC, data is shared as necessary to support National Security efforts. Your audience consists of the essential personnel needed to protect you and protect the integrity of the decisions you make.”

“So this person is one of the five other Watchkeepers?” Finne asked.

“Five?” Jack interjected with a tone of surprise.

“Yes. You identified five of the highest offices within the government as possessing the clearance and stated that six other living persons beside myself did as well. I am assuming that you are one of those six, Jack, or you wouldn’t be able to read me in.”

“You described yourself as a detective earlier, but you are much more than that Finne.” Jack replied with respect for Finne’s obvious intelligence.

“No. This individual is utterly unclearable and cannot be trusted with any of the information you have received.” Jack retorted without disclosing the name of the acquaintance Finne would be re-connecting.

“Then how are they like me?”

“Andy Warhol said everyone gets fifteen minutes of fame. This individual has been in overtime for longer than imaginable.”

“Why is the intelligence community interested in them?”

“This subject’s primary audience comes from the research and academic community. The funds supporting these R&D programs come from government grant programs at NIH, NSF, and DOT among others. Additional commercial investments pour in through vendors offering to develop and pilot new tools and technologies to support the programs. Most of the science and academic community has zero visibility into our world. However, many within the IC find the entertainment and drama of true reality to be worthy of their attention off the clock.” Jack explained. “24x7 uncut reality programming. It beats watching the Simpsons.”

“Your comm link is dynamic and will integrate with accredited command and control systems. It is intended to broadcast always but receive only on command.” Jack offered while typing a quick series of keystrokes on the keyboard to his right. Suddenly the energy Finne had been experiencing throughout his spinal cord subsided and he began to feel depressed. He began to sweat excessively without provocation.”

“You will get over the withdrawal symptoms shortly. The intra-cranial transfer of data from radio signals to the electro-chemical elements that facilitate the brain’s activities produces excess dopamine and a corresponding “high” similar to that felt by a pot smoker. When it gets turned off, your body craves more. It fades quickly.” Jack said in a matter-of-fact-like manner.

Jack opened the door, stepped out and turned to see Finne exit. He pointed down the road toward in direction of deadman’s curve. “You will find your car a short distance ahead. The ignition is running. You can see the taillights from here.”

Finne’s eyes followed Jack’s arm in the direction he pointed and he saw a dull red glow penetrating the darkness ahead.

The SUV’s turned back and headed in the same direction from which they had come. Jack was alone in the darkness trying to make sense of everything he just learned.

As Finne walked toward the red lights ahead, his mind wandered back to the friend he had lost on this road. Nigel was who he wanted to connect with again, but that could never happen.

Then from deep within the black nothingness ahead, Finne’s attention turned to the sounds of someone screaming for help. Finne burst into a sprint towards the cries ignoring that he could not see further than his arms could reach into the night ahead of him.