Leviathan

The first officer of Leviathanwatched the head of security turn away and follow Heirthall. He slumped against the bulkhead and closed his eyes. He knew something was happening that he knew nothing about, and if Tyler knew, that something couldn't be good. And what was worse, his captain was changing right before his eyes.

EVENT GROUP COMPLEX,

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA

Dr. Gene Robbins was staring a hole through Carl Everett. The captain returned the glare and added a bit more of his own.

"You cannot question Europa in the manner in which you have been, Captain. Do you think she responds to your anger? She probes other computers for back doors into their systems, bypassing any corporate or company security program added after that particular computer's manufacture and programming."

"I understand that, Doc, but you cannot sit here and wait. We have a tight time frame to get a handle on what we're dealing with. Professor Ellenshaw gave us a good starting point with this theory of his, and he gave us a name, so damn it, let's start there."

"I think we should verify the professor's findings first--that way we don't waste the time if he's wrong in his research."

"Listen, Professor Ellenshaw has proven to everyone in this complex that his work is viable. He's not a nutcase--that man is brilliant, and the sooner you get ahold of that fact, the better off you'll be. Start with his findings," Everett said angrily.

"Europa, do you have information regarding the research for a Professor Francis Heirthall--University of Oslo--say eighteen thirty-five on?" Robbins asked, not liking the lecture from Carl.

At that moment, Jack walked into the room pulling on rubber gloves. Robbins shook his head but continued to write on his notepad.

"Hope you don't mind. I need some quiet time while Pete arranges for transport to the Pacific for us," Jack said as he pulled out a chair and sat to the right of Carl.

"So we are going with Professor Ellenshaw's hunch?" Everett asked.

"I believe he said quiet time, Captain. May we continue? Colonel Collins, we are not using Europa clean-room protocols; you may discard the gloves."

Jack half-smiled as Everett turned back to face Robbins, but did not say anything. Collins walked to the trash bin and tossed his gloves inside. He noticed something under the discarded pair he had just thrown in. He reached in and picked up another glove coated in a silvery substance that looked familiar to him. He shrugged and almost tossed it back inside the waste bin, but instead wrapped it inside of one of his own gloves and pocketed both.

" Dr. Robbins, Europa has formulated the text of several verified experiments conducted by Professor F. Heirthall, University of Oslo, eighteen thirty-six to eighteen forty-three. List is as follows:

" ' The utilization of electrical current derived from reciprocating engine (steam).'

" ' Copper usage in the flow-through aspects of electrical current.'

" ' Hydrodynamic tolerances and depth degradation of oxygen filled platforms.'

" ' Oxygen purification--carbon monoxide poisoning.'"

As they watched the words appear and listened to Europa, they didn't realize at first that the list was complete.

"Europa, what do you have on the professor after eighteen forty-three?" Everett asked.

" Information extracted from the Oslo Herald, June third, eighteen forty-three, reported the death of Francis Heirthall in a University of Oslo laboratory fire."

"Being a navy man as I am, based on this list I would say the professor was working on systems that are consistent with submarine design," Carl said as he looked at Jack.

"I think you're right, Captain," Jack said as he leaned toward his microphone. "Europa, was the professor married?"

Europa placed one more program by robotic arm.

" Oslo census reports Dame Alexandria Heirthall, eighteen twenty to eighteen fifty-one, listed as spouse at the time of the professor's death. Son: Octavian Heirthall."

"Is there any newspaper account of the Heirthall family listed in historical records other than the accomplishments and research records of Professor Heirthall?" Robbins asked.

Europa started loading more programs.