Lethal Combination

CHAPTER 3

After saying her goodbye to her brother, who just asked her to do something that would make the government aware of her presence if she was not careful enough to hide her tracks while getting it done, Ainsdale stared at the high fenced gate which prevented her from entering the property that was just in front of her. The taxi she rode from the airport left her there just a few minutes ago after she paid her fare and thanked him.

She knew her brother was doing dangerous things in the shadows. She just never thought he'd be connected to the mafia. The Arcana Famiglia (Arcane Family) at that. The Arcanes were known throughout the country. After all, they have the power and the money, the assets and wealth to display for the public to see - well, the things they wanted the public to see, that is. And for them to be standing at the summit in both their businesses in light and in the shadows, she couldn't help but commend her brother's friend - the current head of the family.

She raised her arm and glanced at her watch. Twenty-two hundred were on display. Two hours before midnight. She was tired with jet lag and all she wanted to do the soonest possible time is lay down and let sleep take over her consciousness. She doesn't care if it is only on the couch just as long as she can have that needed sleep.

After entering through the gate using the spare key card she had, she went directly to the front steps of her brother's house. She then again swiped her key card by the door and had her right eye scanned.

"Good evening, Ms. Castiglione!" AVI greeted her through the Bluetooth earphone that was attached to her left ear just as the words 'access granted' appeared on the screen.

"Hello, AVI!" She greeted her when she turned the knob of the door open and entered the house before she immediately closed the door, which automatically locked behind her.

"Would you like me to notify your brother of your arrival?"

"No, that won't be necessary. I'll be seeing him tomorrow anyway."

"Is there anything else, Miss?"

"That would be all, AVI."

"Then have a lovely evening, Miss Castiglione."

The den is closer than the rooms upstairs, so she decided to go there instead. She put down her bag on the couch and laid her laptop down on top of the center table before she started working. She went over the programs she needed to reintegrate into the AIS they are using. When the system finally started to upload the new software she created, she then went over the email which Aizen sent her and studied the specifications of the device which ISR developed just recently and she saw a possibility that she could modify it to a greater degree.

It was already half before twelve midnight when she got to finish everything and let the system do its part. When she closed her eyes, sleep came in earlier than she expected. She didn't know she was that tired. For the first time, she slept without thinking if someone was going to stab her in her sleep or shoot her dead, because she knew nothing was going to happen to her in her brother's house.

When morning arrived, Ainsdale woke up a little earlier than she thought. In fact, too early for her liking. She never thought she'd sleep like a dead person. She sat up with a little headache. Because of the dizziness she felt, she sat for a while as she rested her head on her hands.

"This is worse than I thought," she whispered to herself.

She pondered if it was about time for her to call Lewis. She's been avoiding him ever since she left the organization because she wanted a little peace of mind and having a connection with a person like him brings the opposite of what she wanted. He represents the things she wanted to leave permanently, but he's the only one who can answer as to what's happening to her right now. She was sure he was going to lecture her the minute he picked up a call from her.

She checked the time on her watch. It is five minutes after six. Too early indeed. But, sleep seemed to have left her completely. After contemplating for a while, Ainsdale stood up and decided to go and ransack her brother's fridge. The kitchen is a little far from the den but she took her time walking, memorizing the new things that were added to the interior design of the house. She didn't even bother to check if her hair was going in different directions, she just combed it with her fingers and tied it in a messy bun.

There was one thing which caught her eyes though. It was that particular blue line of light - a laser type, which runs from one corner to another. After reading the email which her brother sent her last night, she knew it was the device ISR had developed and she was expecting to see more of it installed in the company building. It was connected by a small gadget and his brother seemed to have installed it in every room by the ceiling because the kitchen also has it.

She whistled when she saw that her brother's fridge was full.

Upon deciding what she wanted to eat for breakfast, Ainsdale didn't waste another minute and started preparing the things she needed so she could immediately start cooking. She was almost done when she heard a footstep from the entryway and she grinned when she saw her brother at a loss for words upon seeing her.

"Buongiorno, caro fratello mio! (Good morning, dear brother of mine!)"

"When you said you're going to crash at someone's house you were talking about mine?" He was expecting to see her today but not see her this early while cooking in his kitchen like she owned the place.

When he got back last night, Aizen went straight to his room to sleep the night away, not bothering to check if something was amiss. Besides, the house was as silent as it always has been and the security system did not notify him about her entry. But knowing his sister, she could be there and one wouldn't suspect a thing.

She laughed. "Your house is the nearest one from the airport. And, it isn't like I have any friends to crash into."

Aizen didn't comment on that. He watched his sister's facial expression silently and she said those words as if it was a normal occurrence - having no friends at that. Ainsdale is different. Even though she tried so hard to be like everyone else, her IQ didn't permit her to be and it's the reason why she found it hard to be friends with anyone surrounding her until she gave up on that.

She could memorize everything once she had seen or heard it. She could learn everything with just a single instruction, explanation or demonstration and she could play every musical instrument she could get her hands on. When she was in grade school, people her age deemed her a freak because her knowledge was beyond her age and people older than her always had hidden intentions when they got near her. Thus, she decided to isolate herself - trusting only those she needed to.

She was able to finish college at an early age and with a multiple degree at that, but when she finally got bored in life, she chose to work in a field which endangers her own. She said it gave her a thrill and that if she didn't look for danger, she might end up killing herself.

Aizen once asked her why she always seemed to look for danger, why she had always been chasing death, and her answer back then is still etched on his mind. She said she found peace in the middle of chaos.

His sister was gifted, but at the same time, she was cursed because of it. And they couldn't even give her a hand to help her carry the burdens she had on her shoulders.

"I've left the organization."

"You've cut your ties with them?"

"Not entirely, but I'll be staying here for good."

Aizen is happy with her decision. Having her as an only sibling, he too wanted to keep her somewhere safe and, for him, home was the safest place. But at that moment, guilt started to eat him away from the inside when he realized something. "Yet I dragged you into my business without knowing."

She brushed it off like it was nothing. "It's only securing stolen data. Don't worry about it."

He walked towards his sister and hugged her tenderly. They stayed like that for a moment without saying anything until Aizen broke the silence with a smile when he let go of her.

"Welcome home!"

After she finally cooked their breakfast, the siblings ate while exchanging stories about what happened to them these past two years that they haven't seen each other while keeping some things about them in the dark from each other. Aizen knew she was deliberately hiding something and he, too, was doing the same, but they didn't pry at each other's business any further.

"I'm going to Amalfi Villa today. Are you coming?"

Ainsdale nodded while she was drying the utensils they used at breakfast after she finished washing them.

"But can we leave a little later? I need to check AVII first."

"AVII?"

"The new intelligence system we'll be using from now and onwards. One of which will officially be launched as ISR's official AIS just as soon as I run it through with Sage."

Aizen could only nod. "Is nine, okay?"

"Yes."

"And, maybe tomorrow or the next day, I'll be giving Sage a visit at ISR. Please inform him in advance."

"What reason shall I tell him?"

"I'll be modifying the company's entire computer system. I created AVII for the purpose of upgrading and solidifying ISR's artificial intelligence system anyway."

"Will the mainframes hold up?"

Ainsdale nodded. "The mainframes will be fine. Besides, I talked to Sage about my plan before I left for an assignment the last time I was here."

It was quarter to nine when Aizen left his bedroom to look for his sister and he found her in the computer room. She is standing while facing the large screen which occupied half of the wall it was built to be on. The look on her face shows how much thought she's putting into the information projected in front of her. She had already decoded the encrypted information owned by the Arcana when he had just given it to her a while ago.

No wonder Alessio won't sit still. Knowing that a copy of his family's secret was in the hands of unknown individuals, he really could not afford to stay idle. Pictures that date from the beginning of the family, bank accounts from all over the country and overseas, bank statements, trades and other primary information that could really take down the family if it fell into the hands of the Arcana's enemies are flashed on the screen. It is mostly details regarding the family's business in the underground trade - the mafia.

With one step inside the computer room, the blue line of light on the ceiling shifted and there came a hologram of a woman - more of like an image of a water goddess you see in the movies.

It is one of ISR's new products which serves as a monitoring system - the only difference is that it is not pixelated but rather the video it projects is an FHD. A built-in mic was also installed along with it which can record a real-time and clear sound. He just didn't expect that it could be used as a holographic projector too.

Damn! Ainsdale gave the program a body? He did not imagine it would serve as a holographic machine to materialize the designated image of the system. Ainsdale must have tweaked it somewhere to be able to do so.

"Good day, Mr. Castiglione!"

"Ahm… Hi?"

He was not sure how to respond. He's used to interacting with a program through voice communication and seeing it face to face with him through a hologram gives him goosebumps a little. Aizen looked in his sister's direction. She took her attention away from the screen and smiled at him.

"Meet AVII. Short for Advance Virtual Interactive Intelligence. A supercomputer that has the ability to access the web. It could easily gain access to any private or government owned network and servers anywhere in the world. It even has the ability to take control over other systems with lower specifications.

She has two normal modes: the first is the normal mode where it only serves as a security and intelligence system. The other is the critical mode where, in addition, it also serves as a hacking program as well as a computer virus. Furthermore, AVII's critical mode is also designed to be a global monitoring system."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. If anyone learns about its existence, the government will surely be the first one to do everything to get it. "Again, you created something dangerous."

"That's why only three persons have administrative rights to use its critical mode. Me, you and Sage. Though he's about to know it when we meet. Shall we try?"

He nodded.

Ainsdale grinned as she faced the hologram of the supercomputer she created.

"AVII, requesting access to use critical mode."

"Then please provide me with the needed keys."

Ainsdale spoke words in a foreign language in which Aizen was not familiar with and her voice was authenticated, followed by a retinal scan which lasted only for a few seconds before the words "Access Granted" flashed on the screen.

Most of the lights in the room turned off, leaving only the dim lighting, computer screens and the large screen on the wall. Even the glass wall turned black and the light from outside couldn't even pass through it. It's like she's about to do something which she could not afford to be seen by an outsider.

"Welcome! How may I be of assistance?" It was AVII who somehow became serious all of a sudden.

Did Ainsdale program it to display emotions too?

"I need status on Project One."

"Decryption has been successfully done, Miss Castiglione. I am already in the process of locating the stolen copy." AVII answered as she showed them all the data they needed to locate what was stolen from the Arcana, though most of it was in numbers.

"Will you be able to identify the stolen data from the original one?" Aizen asked, curiosity lacing his voice.

"Of course. But it may take a while, Mr. Castiglione. Depending on what you want to do with the data, it may take a few hours."

"Delete it." Ainsdale instructed, without any second thoughts.

"If the data you seek is in a removable drive, I can only access it once the other party is using it. Are you willing to wait for days?"

"As long as it gets to be done." It was Aizen who spoke this time.

Ainsdale glanced at her brother through her peripheral vision. He was irritated for some reason. And somehow, blood lust was presently making up his aura. It couldn't possibly be just because those vital information was stolen from them, so the reason could only be a person.

"How long can you possibly locate the data once the drive it was in is in use?"

"Probably about a minute."

If it was secured like what his brother's friend said, a minute was enough time to do what they wanted with it.

They too needed to crack down the security system that is protecting it on the other side. And when they do, the other side will have the chance to open the files. They only have to make sure they could access that copy faster and delete it.

"Is there anything else you want me to do?"

"Please get me the location where they tried to access the data. I needed to start somewhere if I had to get the other thing done."

"Then I'll notify you once the data has been located, Mr. Castiglione. For your additional information, after the stolen copy was deleted, with both your consent, I can provide additional enhancement to the program which is keeping the original data safe."

"You can do that?"

"I was programmed to be able to do that, Mr. Castiglione. But, I'll have you know that I will be re-writing everything that's been programmed in the security system the Arcane family is using, which, in the first place, was provided by ISR."

"Meaning?"

"I'll erase the entirety of the whole program and replace it entirely with mine. I can overhaul it in one night. In return, I'll be providing the Arcanes with access to my normal mode features. I'll see to it that the only one who will have access to highly classified files owned by the family is the head of the Arcane Family and no one else. Neither of you two, Mr. And Ms. Castiglione will have access to the said files even in my critical mode without Alessandro Scion Arcane's permission. Are we in agreement?"

"Sure. But, if I needed to access the files in question, if there was going to be an emergency, I would just have to override you manually if you were going to stand in my way."

Ainsdale is giving the program permission to restrict even her from accessing files that don't concern her, but it doesn't mean she can't override AVII if needed.

"Of course, Miss. The way you created me, when that time came, overriding me and rewriting my program from the beginning was the only way."

Aizen was speechless. He could not comprehend how his sister could do something like that. She created a perfect program and also declared she could re-write it if needed, as if it's such an easy thing to do. It could literally endanger her own life. AVII is the embodiment of perfect software which could destroy the world in an instant, drive it to ruin and Ainsdale was the brain behind its creation.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be starting the task you have given me. I'll inform you both whenever necessary. Have a good day!"

After AVII said those words, the lights turned back on and the glass wall became a see-through like it was before.

"Care to tell me what the program you created can really do?"

"AVII can easily override every system there is around the globe that controls every nuclear weapon and have them all activated from wherever we both are if only we wish to do so. It can control every satellite and have it all shut down at once. Think of all the worse scenarios a perfect system could do and AVII will be able to do it."

Aizen could only stare at her. He didn't want, nor ever had dreamed, to be at the receiving end of his sister's dexterousness. Ainsdale really is lethal. In more ways than one.

After making sure that everything is set, the siblings finally decide to go to their parents' place - the Amalfi Villa. Even though Ainsdale has her own car parked in Aizen's garage along with his, she is not in the mood to drive, so she hitched to her brother's car.

"Aren't you going to the office today?"

Aizen shook his head as an answer to Ainsdale's question while they were on the road. "I had everything on my itinerary for today cleared last night. My secretary will handle it. And the day after tomorrow, I'll be taking my leave from the company for reasons regarding the Arcana."

"Does Sage know about it? Your reason for taking a leave."

Aizen nodded. "Yes. I'm leaving ISR in his hands after all. He might as well know the reason why my secretary will be working alone in the office for an indefinite day."

"Hmmm…"

He glanced towards his sister in the passenger's seat. Ever since they left his house, she's been too busy with her tablet to enjoy the scenery they're passing by. She may converse with him once in a while, but most of her attention is focused on the tablet she is holding. She's staring angrily at whatever it is she is reading and there are times when she is frowning at it. Either way, whatever it was, seemed to be bad news on her part.

"I should have killed them." She whispered out of the blue.

"What?"

"Oh, niente. (Oh, nothing.)" She answered as she put her tablet on the dashboard before leaning back on the leather seat.

"I need to ask you for a favor."

Ainsdale looked at him with a question in her eyes. "What's in it for me?"

Aizen held the steering wheel tightly. After all these years, his sister might have never shown any interest in things about the past but he knew how important those could be for her. Especially now that he knew he could start somewhere. "It might bring back the things you've lost."

"I've left those things behind, Aizen, since remembering them seemed futile. It's not like I haven't tried."

"But they're there, fiume (river). Waiting for you."

She sat upright and rested her arm on the car's door. "Have you found anything?"

Instead of answering, Aizen opened the compartment on the dashboard and pulled something out before giving it to her.

Ainsdale frowned as she reached for it but she could only stare at the thing her brother gave her. She didn't know what to feel. She froze as if her emotions had been shut down right at that moment. If her brother had already found a lead, she really couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Anyone involved?"

"Just you and me. But we can always include Sage. I knew he'd always back us up whenever necessary."

"Tell me the details."

Aizen told her everything he knew regarding what was in Ainsdale's hand at the moment and his sister listened attentively, memorizing everything.

It was almost lunch time when they reached their parents' estate. Upon parking his car in front of the villa, Aizen immediately saw their mother standing in the front yard as if she had been waiting for him to arrive.

"Buongiorno, mamma! (Good morning, mom!)" He greeted her after he exited his car. "I have a surprise for you."

"Sorpresa? (Surprise?)" Celeste beamed. "Oh, you're finally introducing your girlfriend to the family?"

Aizen only chuckled as he shook his head 'no'.

When the door of the passenger's seat opened, Celeste looked with anticipation and she was more than surprised when she saw who was walking out of the car. She almost screamed her daughter's name as she ran towards her and embraced her tightly with tears in her eyes.

"Oh, mia figlia. Sei e casa! (Oh, my daughter. You're home!)"

Ainsdale hugged her back just as tightly.

"She's the only one who's getting a hug? I am your child, too." Aizen joked as he gave their mother a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, shush! It's not as if you've been out of our reach for years like your sister. You were just here yesterday. Why didn't you tell us she's back?"

Aizen laughed while walking behind his mother, who had her arms still linked with his sister's arm as they walked towards the villa. "I just learned about it last night when she gave me a call. Blame her."

Upon entering the villa, Celeste immediately went looking for her husband to tell him about their daughter's unexpected arrival. When Ignis, their father, saw Ainsdale, he went to where they were at with large strides and hugged her.

"Ainsdale, my daughter. You are safe."

"Sono a casa, papà. (I am home, dad.)"

"And she'll be staying for good."

"Are you engaged?" Celeste asked her daughter out of the blue while they were in the living room which made the juice she's drinking go down the wrong pipe, but Celeste didn't mind. "Is that why you're staying for good?"

Aizen gently tapped his sister's back as she tried to recover. "Stai benne? (Are you okay?)" He asked and Ainsdale just nodded.

"Oh, I'd like to meet him." Celeste continued, which made the siblings look at her with wide eyes.

"Mom…"

The excitement on their mother's face was gone in an instant and replaced with disappointment as she glanced from Ainsdale to Aizen and then back.

"You're not?"

"She is, mom!" Aizen blurted out without thinking.

"What?!" Celeste and Ainsdale said simultaneously, but Aizen ignored his sister who was digging holes in his skull beside him by glaring at him.

"He's just busy at the moment, so you can't meet him yet. Maybe some other time."

Celeste grinned. She almost bounced on her seat with excitement while Ignis was laughing softly beside her. "Ainsdale, be sure to bring him here when he has the time. You're engaged! Next, there will be babies. Oh, I'm going to be a grandma."

With a forced smile on her lips, Ainsdale stealthily pinched her brother's arm. She did not want to see her mother's disheartened expression, so she just went on with the lie her brother started. When the siblings had the chance to be on their own, Ainsdale didn't waste any time glaring at her brother, who smiled as if he just didn't do anything.

"Impegnati? Sei seriamente serio? (Engaged? Are you freaking serious?)" she whispered.

"Can you dishearten our mother by telling her you are not and that you're still single?" He whispered back.

"You could've at least told her you're the one who was engaged then. Now, she even skipped the wedding and went on expecting babies instead."

Aizen had to laugh at that. "What's there to worry about? Sono sicuro che li avrà rovinata senza fine. (I'm sure she'll spoil them to no end.) He reasoned out, which made his sister smack his arm in irritation.

Ainsdale was about to hit him once more but their mother, who had just come back from answering a call on the telephone, interrupted them with a question in her eyes. "È tutto giusto? (Is everything all right?)"

Ainsdale lowered her hand and gave her mother a reassuring smile. "Sì, mamma. Non c'è nulla per cui ti preoccupare. (Yes, mom. There is nothing for you to worry about.)"

It was before lunch when their close relatives arrived one by one after Celeste informed them of her arrival and all of them were happy to see her back. Laughters could be heard around her and it brought Ainsdale peace of mind. But there are still things that haunt her - from her former job and from what her brother showed her this morning.

"I see you're still a loner."

From looking at the sea, she focused her attention on her cousin Sage, who was walking towards her with a glass of wine in his right hand.

"Hey…" she greeted.

Sage stood beside her though his back was towards the sea while he leaned back on the balustrade with his arms on the aluminum rails. He gestured his head in a way like he was assessing her.

"What's on your mind?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie." He said as he playfully poked her forehead with his forefinger and middle finger. "You're worrying your brother and us." He said while pointing at where Aizen was at. Her brother is looking in their direction from time to time, as if he's making sure she's fine. "See?"

Her lips remained sealed.

"Is it about the fiancé issue?"

She grimaced, which made her cousin chuckle before he sipped his wine.

"So, who's he?"

"The man who has half of my soul," she answered, uninterested.

Sage looked at her, assessing whether she was the cousin he knew or not, before he burst out laughing. She knew Sage had already caught on that she really wasn't engaged yet and that everything was just her brother's own way of doing things.

"I never thought you for a romantic. I thought you were all lethal and dangerous in a beautiful kind of way."

She playfully smacked his arm. "Shut up."

"Half of your soul, eh? I'd like to meet him sooner then."

"Like there is someone for you to meet."

"Your brother must have someone in mind."

She didn't retort to that. Who knows what was going on Aizen's mind for him to blurt that lie out and let it continue until all of their close relatives were involved in it too. It almost looks like he created a web and made them all caught up in it.

"So, what's really bothering you, luna (moon)?"

She sighed. "What if I get lost the minute I decide to go back?"

"Simple. We'll pull you back on track and support you until you're ready to be on your way again. Isn't that what we've always done?"

She had to smile at that. Right. Why is she even worrying? It is certain that these guys who were always there as she grew up into the woman she is now will always be standing by her side.