UNIVERSAL TURBULENT

XXX - PLANET EARTH

The security officer stood at a close approximation to parade rest. "Nothing good, ma'am. Combat-equipped troops invaded the company's office in Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City, Rio, London, Moscow, Calcutta, Sydney and Limau. Our records were seized, our funds were frozen, and at least ten members of our executive team are under arrest. Your picture was aired on the government controlled news. They put our a reward of one hundred thousand credits... dead or alive".

The words came as a shock. Sophie felt something cold trickle into the pit of her stomach. Dead or alive? What was happening? Had Usmos lost her mind? But there was more. Sophie could tell from the other woman's expression. "Casualties?"

Juliana have a short, jerky nod. "Yes, ma'am. A hundred and six so far, security people mostly, including the chief".

Major Malite Jones had been one of those pushed out of the Legion and onto the streets - the perfect man to lead her security team. Sophie could visualize his tough, leathery face and hear his booming laugh. Killed doing his job. Anger boiled up from deep inside, anger she would harness and use. Someone, or a whole bunch of someones, was going to pay.

"I'm sorry, Juliana. Jones was the best".

The security officer nodded. "Ma'am. Yes, ma'am".

"How about other companies? Did they receive the same treatment?"

"It's early yet", Juliana replied cautiously, "but none so far".

Sophie felt her mind start to whirl. "We were targeted? By whom?"

"It's hard to tell", Juliana answered solidly, "but I had reports from Los Angeles and Calcutta indicating that representatives from Zuon Inc. accompanied the rebel troops and remained on the premises once the soldiers left".

Zuon Inc.! Of course. The two companies were fierce competitors, and had been for a long time. The mutiny was more than a military revolt... There was a financial component as well.

Sophie felt a sudden sense of failure. She should have paid closer attention to the political situation, should have spent more money on industrial espionage, and should have done something about old man Zuon.

What would uncle Marcus think? Not that it mattered. He'd tell her to do what ever she thought was best. She took a deep breath and let it go.

"All right, here's what I'd like you to do. The center can be moved, right?"

Bato looked concerned. "Yes, but it would take several weeks, destroy some experiments, and cost a lot of money".

"Better get started", Sophie advised. "They went after the regional offices first... But it's only a matter of time before they target facilities like this one. Don't count of the center's nonprofit status to slow them down. Seventy percent of your funding comes from Doug Douglas Enterprises. They'll use that as an excuse".

Juliana nodded thoughtfully. "I know the perfect place. A canyon about a hundred miles of here. We will fortify the complex. But what if they come after us during the next week or two?"

Sophie thought for a moment. "Go for a swim. Ask Shola for help. Remember that in addition to her somewhat unique talents, she is a fully credentialed diplomat. That should slow them down".

The security officer looked to make sure that her boss was serious, saw that she was, and nodded. "Ma'am. Yes, ma'am".

"And what about you?" Bato demanded. "I could beg you to stay, but it wouldn't make any difference, would it?"

"No", Sophie agreed thoughtfully. "I guess it wouldn't. My first concern is for our people. Someone has to bail them out".

"They will arrest you, too", Juliana said matter-of-factly. "Where's the good in that?"

"I don't know", Sophie admitted, "but you served in the Maine Corps. Did you leave people behind?"

Juliana stood a little straighter. "No, ma'am".

"Same principle", the executive answered. "I'll need a submarine. Thirty from now".

Bato nodded, and there, beyond the narrow window, a body stirred. Shola stood guard.

* * *

What with a six hour trip in a submarine, plus a two hour lay over, and a ten hour flight across the Pacific, it took the better part of a day to reach San Francisco, which, because it bordered the emergency quarantine areas, was as close as Sophie could get to where she actually wanted to go.

The executive tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as the wheels hit the tarmac. Brave words were one thing, reality was something else. Yes, she had identification documents belonging to one of the center's employees, but they were far from foolproof.

In spite of the fact that the two women reassembled each other, even the most cursory check of Sophie's retinal print, voice print, or finger prints blow the falsehood wide open.

Still, some disguise was better than none, especially in light of the reward. The executive followed the crowd off the plane, through a series of hallways, and down into the lobby.

The guard, a manager who had been on duty for more than sixteen hours, eyed the business woman's identification, mumbled "welcome to San Francisco", and waved her through. An employee, nobody knew which one, had dumped the electronic identification equipment sixteen hours before. Just one of many acts of sabotage aimed at Usmos' Independent World Government.

Sophie have thanks for good fortune and hurried through the terminal. The airport was packed with people, and, judging from the lines she saw, most of them wanted leave. She left the terminal, hailed an Autocab, and faced a difficult situation. Where to go? Who to see? Especially with her face plastered everywhere.

The executive threw her duffel bag into the back, slid into place, and have her destination: "The Imperial Hotel".

The voice was patronizing. "The Imperial. Yes, ma'am, it will be our pleasure".

"Cut the crap and put this thing in gear".

"Nothing would please us more", the computer responded. "Please insert your valid chipcard into the reader".

Sophie grumbled, did as she was told, and felt the cab jerk into motion. It smelled of disinfectant. A heart inscribed with "B. D. loves M. D." had been scratched into the metal in front of her.