*****
EXECUTIVE DINING ROOM
ARK HEADQUARTERS
“Mr. Diamante, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course, Nicole. But please, call me Tony. I insist.”
Nicole Kelley stared briefly at her salad, gathering courage to ask the most powerful man in the city a personal question. “If your family started this firm, why isn’t your last name on the building?”
Tony laughed sincerely, and smiled at her. “Nicole, do you know how few people ever have the courage to ask that question, or would even think about that? I’m not just impressed by your Network knowledge; I’m impressed by your observation.”
Nicole blushed slightly, a reaction highlighted by her blond hair and light skin. She wasn’t used to being complimented for anything but her looks, fueling a desire to prove herself worthy in the male-dominated field of technology. Many people, friends included, helpfully suggested that that drive led to a bit of a prickly demeanor.
Tony answered, still smiling as he put down his fork. “Our family was afraid that putting a name like Diamante on the business would be a giant target to the Feds. And since we weren’t exactly legitimate at the time, we didn’t want to attract too much attention,” he admitted with honesty that surprised himself.
“I think that Grandpa always regretted it, not being proud of the name. Could be why he and my dad started referring to the firm as ARK, even though they had to rearrange the acronym to get there,” Tony joked. “Government always fears those that try to live outside their bounds. We shouldn’t fear to try.”
“I understand. My brother and I don’t spend a lot of time with our family. But I guess there’s still some pride in where we came from,” Nicole agreed.
“Well, there’s no escaping my family here in this building. I’m sure you recognized that a few of us are related? And I assure you, you have no idea how deep the ties run here. Even I need a chart some times. Uncle Jack knows how everyone is connected, but I’m more interested in getting us into tomorrow and out of yesterday,” Tony said.
Then Tony thought about what Nicole had said. “So you do have family here? I thought you came here because you wanted to work for our firm?”
“Both. My brother is still about three hours away. Not exactly next door, but closer than California. So I really did want to work for RK, or wait, I’m sorry, ARK. Fortunately, you were close enough to my brother that I could still see him and his family once and a while,” Nicole assured him.
She continued: “He’s thinking about moving to the city anyway. I’ve been telling him about everything going on here, and about ARK. He’s coming here in a few days to stay with me for a while. Try to look for a job.”
“Let me guess, he lives out in one of the small towns, lost his job, and now there’s nothing out there for him?” Tony asked.
“That’s right, he used to run one of those bio–fuel plants. You know, the ones that turned corn into gasoline? That was his life and career, but they shut it down when cars went electric and Interior decided large-scale farming wasn’t environmentally acceptable. Paul and I grew up on a farm, but Mom and Dad moved into town a long time ago.”
She smiled at Tony now, feeling a little more comfortable. “Not that you big-city lawyers would know anything about farming, right?”
Tony smiled back, “You might be surprised how deep my interest in farming goes. Tell Paul when he gets here that I’ve got a place for him in one of our projects working on Superfund cleanup for the EPA. I need someone with practical experience so I don’t get taken by the criminals out there,” he laughed as the irony sunk in.
The smile faded as he switched subjects. “So tell me about these Continuity people. Uncle Jack said they tried to force their religion on you, but you wouldn’t go for it?”
Nicole spoke freely for the next thirty minutes about her exposure to Continuity, and the people called Fruit of the Valley. She described a movement described by many names, depending on whom the program was tailored to: Fellowship of the Common Core, Church of Tomorrow, Fruit of the Valley, The Path, The Network. Whatever the name, they were all under the umbrella of Continuity. Tony finished his lunch and listened intently.
“I detect a fruity theme,” Tony joked when she finished her monologue.
“I know, right? I guess they want it all to tie in to GRAPEVINE. That’s how they think they’ll live forever. They obsess over what they call their Profile. All of their activities and accomplishments go into the Profile. Each level is called a Progression, and they keep trying to become one of the elite Profiles on GRAPEVINE,” Nicole added.
“That just sounds like a bad twentieth-century self–help program, not a religion,” Tony said.
“I guess you just have to be around them to get the vibe they put off. They quote certain passages from Zen Buddhism and even Christianity all the time. The passages are always about being one’s best and helping those around you. Sounds good on the surface, but then you realize they’re just trying to accomplish something for their Profiles.”
“What about the Hate Crime laws?” Tony asked. “Our HR department is terrified of any religious material being around here. And we have to tell people to keep their personal opinions to themselves, outside of our doors especially. I’m surprised they’re allowed to talk about all that.”
“You would think so, but in reality all the businesses out there pushes Continuity, constantly. I guess because it gets packaged as a business improvement seminar? HR departments love it, and management can integrate the principles into working harder for a greater good.
“Even the big Churches are embracing it because they can come off so much more friendly. No black-and-white moral absolutes. They act like a big social service organization. Churches can push volunteerism and prosperity. They don’t even reference the Scripture people are uncomfortable with. The Free Speech Council doesn’t bother them as long as the pastors stick to the fun part,” Nicole said, continuing her long-forgotten lunch.
After a couple of bites, she continued: “Even the schools use the New Common Core. Get the fruit theme again? Parents are desperate to get their kids into the Academies sponsored by Fruit of the Valley. There’s hardly any math or science being taught. All critical thinking is taken care of by the Wristbands. The curriculum is psychology-based; more meditation and group interaction then learning.
Nicole shuddered. “The kids who come out of there are like creepy little zombies. My coworkers used to bring them into our office sometimes. They thought they were showing them off. All I could think was that these kids would be helpless if the Solar Storms ever shut off the power again. But I guess with GRAPEVINE managing the grid, we don’t have to worry about that, right?” she asked.
Tony nodded slowly; thinking about what Uncle Jack had told him…All that power in one name, GRAPEVINE.
“And you can forget about the colleges and universities. They’re completely infested with Continuity followers out there…and probably around here, too. You can’t move anywhere in the big public universities without having a decorated Profile. They don’t refer to careers anymore, they refer to Pathways. Every professor is on a Pathway. Even if you want to go to grad school, you have to adhere. There are no written rules, just Networks of Fruits helping each other,” she added, using a slang term picked up among the few Californians not following Continuity.
The two sat eating silently for a few moments, Tony processing the information and Nicole wondering what else Tony might find helpful.
Nicole continued: “They’ve got a Fruit of the Valley temple here. Did you know that?”
“Where at?”
“Near the new Welcome Center on 23rd. I noticed it when I picked up my new Wristband. Wristband updates are like Christmas here, you know? I hate the stupid things; they feel like a dog collar. Anyway, I recognized the Fruit of the Valley symbols on the front of the building. The big V with t
he sunrise behind it. You know, like the sun is rising up through the letter?” Nicole informed. “Plus, there’s a perfect circle, like a metal disk, on both doors. That’s the symbol for Continuity.
How did I not know that? I’ve got to tell Bobby to get someone in there.
“We had some clue they were operating here in the city,” Tony replied.
Something came suddenly to his mind. “Have you met anyone here at ARK that you think is a follower?”
Nicole considered the question, and answered. “I don’t think so, your group seems pretty down-to-earth. But you’ve got a bunch of people here. I certainly haven’t met them all.”
Tony stopped, studying this person who had been a complete stranger just an hour ago. He was famous for his snap judgment, quick decisions that proved right more often than not.
Can I trust her? She didn’t come to us with this information, Uncle Jack found her by accident. She could be a plant from M&C or Interior...ah, quit second guessing yourself. You’re just as clever as they are, and you couldn’t have planned this kind of coincidence. He made his decision.
“Nicole, I want you to work on a special project for me. Something very important to our firm. But unfortunately, I’ve got to ask you to keep it a complete secret,” Tony said.
Nicole gave a stunned look. “You just met me an hour ago, and now you’re asking me to work on a top-secret project? What happened to the world-famous security you were supposed to enforce?” she asked.
“Let’s just say I’m a good judge of character. We’ll give you cash to operate with, so there’s no currency to track. The people I’ll assign to help you will know who to discreetly purchase supplies from.”
“I haven’t used cash in years. I didn’t even know there were businesses that still accepted real money.” Nicole’s eyes narrowed a bit, and questioned: “Is this project illegal?”
“You mean do you have to kill someone?” Tony asked brusquely. “Or sell drugs?”
He paused, surprised at himself for taking the question so personally. Of course she would have to know how the family’s business operated in the past. Everyone did. And surely she understood that even today their businesses operated in the gray area of society.
Occasionally over into the darker colors, he admitted to himself. People have taken that jab at me my whole life, why did I let it bother me when she asked?
“I’m sorry if I offended you. I’m just a little wary of strangers offering me cash and asking me to go on secret missions for them,” Nicole offered as her expression softened.
She’s got guts.
“No, it’s all right. I forget you’re new to our firm. I keep thinking you should know us better, but of course you don’t. All you know is what you’ve heard from others. Nicole, if you’re uncomfortable with this, I understand. You can say no, and there won’t be any ramifications. Your current job won’t be affected, and we’ll act like this conversation never happened,” Tony assured her, sincerely.
Nicole stared deep into Tony’s eyes for a moment that seemed like an hour. Seldom had the infamous Tony Diamante, CEO of one of the most powerful firms in the country, felt so uncomfortable.
Finally, Nicole broke the silence. “Ok Tony, tell me what I can do to help ARK.”
Tony replied, relieved: “I want you to design a completely self–contained computer system. A parallel system that can’t be probed or hacked by anyone outside this firm. I need someone who doesn’t know the everyday routine here. People who have worked here for years don’t see the hidden threats. They think we’re bulletproof inside this brick and steel fortress. You understand that the very air surrounding us is a threat to our security. I want you to look objectively at each and every connected process, wired or wireless. Any device connected to GRAPEVINE or the outside world in any way,” he said.
He looked around at the beautiful wood work of the dining room. Then at the real silver utensils, and expensive plates and glasses that adorned their private table.
How do I explain what I’m looking for?
“Nicole, this building is our hub. And frankly, it’s my family’s home. Our fortress against the changes the world has thrown at us for a hundred years. I mean that figuratively and literally…As of tonight, we’re moving all of our key people into the building. We gather here whenever we sense trouble on the horizon.
“I’m assigning you an apartment here, also. Have the doormen send a car over to your place to pick up your belongings. Don’t worry about the lease, we’ll have one of the junior partners contact Housing Authority for you.
“You’ll have three of my best security experts as your direct contacts. You, in exchange, will report directly to me. I know this is sudden, but maybe that will give you an idea of how important I think this is,” Tony continued. “Don’t tip anyone off to what you’re doing, just start with a clean sheet and figure out a way to keep us up and running if we have to severe ties to GRAPEVINE. Start with a clean sheet, all the way down to the power source. The rest of the firm, me included, will continue with business as usual. Anyone watching us won’t know that we’re on them.”
“I think I get the process…I’m still not 100% sure what exactly you want me to accomplish,” Nicole said.
Tony held up a crystal water glass between them. “You see this glass? When the time comes, I want this building and more importantly our firm, to be as invisible to GRAPEVINE as this water glass is. That’s your mission.”