Free The Origin Point: A Future Tech Cyber Novella by Case Lane Page A

for the first time in his life with
like-minded equals who thrived on a life of intellectual
achievement, Carter vowed to finish his education before embarking
on a business career. But when he woke up in the middle of the
night thinking of program code for a computer game that doubled as
a type of synthesizer to aid with college-reading assignments, he
rearranged his plans.
    Within two years of arriving in the west, he
was a millionaire. Still vowing to finish college, over the next
ten years he created four more companies, and a day after his most
recent public offering, he graduated. The next day, he created his
own venture capital firm and declared his intention to invest the
money in determined individuals with insuppressible ideas.
    On day during his business building years,
Carter had gone to visit the professor who had helped him enroll at
Stanford, and discovered another student already in his office. The
woman, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, looked to Carter's eyes as
if she too had come off a farm, although as he was later to
discover, disguise was one of her qualities. Her name, she claimed,
was Apex. A day later, in bed, they talked about the companies they
intended to build and their shared interest in cultivating
technology developments for advancing the world and pushing
humanity forward. "The dream of my life has always included finding
people who are on my wavelength, ready to work and contribute as I
am," Apex had told him. "I'm so glad you are real, so happy my
vision is possible."
    Carter's contented grin matched her
satisfied realization. "More than possible," he said. "Your vision
is happening right now." After her graduation, they privately
married, bought a house in San Francisco's desirable Pacific
Heights neighborhood, and focused on their businesses. But as
Internet companies began to rise in economic, social and cultural
dominance, Apex became increasingly concerned about the co-opting
of technology companies' consumer data by the government's national
security agenda. With controversial legislation to support their
demands, law enforcement had determined the data contained in
private companies' servers was fair game in a criminal
investigation, even though the companies had promised consumers to
keep their data private. The battle was one-sided, so far, with the
tech companies forced to cooperate or be branded traitors bent on
aiding terrorists. In the government's actions, Apex saw two
equally disconcerting developments. A law enforcement process
avoiding development of its skill and intellect by becoming
complacent and reliant on technology; and an uncharted entitlement,
by both business and the law, to consumer personal information by
virtue of providing a service, consumers literally, or figuratively
through advertising, had paid for. In response, Apex slowly turned
her focus away from her technology and investment businesses, and
towards searching for furtive solutions to the growing conflict.
Her decision put her relationship with Carter on a ledge, one they
both desperately fought to keep from falling off.
    "Marco Manuel knows a journalist has seen
the files and a hacker has infiltrated Horizon, nice work," Carter
said as he fell onto the couch and pulled Apex down with him.
    "He knows and so does Secretary Davenport,"
Apex responded.
    "Anyone else?"
    "Not as far as I can tell."
    "They're keeping the story to themselves.
Interesting, but what next?"
    "My guess is you are next. Have they
contacted you?"
    "No."
    "Even more interesting. They have not yet
told you your program has been hacked? What could they be waiting
for?"
    "Maybe they're trying to fix the problem
internally."
    "I don't like that idea."
    "Neither do I. Means they are gaining
confidence, independence. You should go home for a while. Keep a
low profile."
    "I don't think I have to leave."
    "You don't have to be in D.C. to do what
you're doing."
    "I do if I want to silence Dallas
Winter."
    "Silence her? Really?"
    "Well, I at