Daemon

“see” into this extra-dimensional space so they can use it.’
    Philips nodded. ‘That could be why we’ve been unable to track Factions in the real world – because they’re communicating with each other through this virtual space.’ She pondered the ramifications of this. ‘This could be a major breakthrough.’
    He shrugged. ‘We still need to prove the theory.’
    ‘But this is testable. We’ll go through the captured equipment inventory.’
    ‘The devices we’re looking for will most likely have biometric security – fingerprint scanners, things like that. If we can hack our way into one of these objects, we should be able to see into the Daemon’s dimension. And that will be the first step in infiltrating it.’
    She stared at him for a few moments. ‘Excellent work. I’m impressed.’
    ‘I didn’t think it was possible to impress you, Doctor.’
    ‘There’s a first time for everything.’
    Ross glanced at the wreckage of the room. ‘I didn’t mean for you to come back to this. I just heard about Sebeck an hour ago. I guess I snapped.’ He started picking up the papers strewn all over the place.
    She moved to help him. ‘It’s my fault. You’ve been cooped up in here for months. I’m trying to get them to loosen the restrictions.’
    They grabbed for the same toppled fan-fold printout and stopped just short of knocking heads. Their faces were only inches apart, motionless in a sudden, uncomfortable silence.
    Their gaze held for several more moments while Philips’s heart raced. She suddenly pulled back and stood up. ‘I needto check my e-mail.’ She grabbed her blazer from the chair back, not bothering to roll down her sleeves as she pulled it on hurriedly. She grabbed her overnight bag.
    Ross watched her. ‘You don’t need to—’
    ‘I’m a federal officer, Jon. You’re a felon under my authority – a foreign national of dubious origin. Identity unknown.’ She faced him from across the table. ‘It’s impossible. My responsibilities make it impossible.’
    ‘If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize. It won’t happen again.’
    She took a deep breath, then looked at him with a softer expression. ‘No … you didn’t make me uncomfortable. But …’
    He nodded solemnly. ‘I understand.’ He paused. ‘I just hope there’s some part of you they don’t own.’
    She bristled. ‘I
choose
to serve my country.’ She turned to leave again. ‘You don’t know anything about me.’
    ‘Don’t be so sure.’
    She stopped and turned to stare at him. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
    ‘You’re not so difficult to decipher, Doctor.’
    ‘
Really
? Well, let’s hear it …’
    ‘Okay. Child prodigy – head and shoulders above everyone around you – never quite fit in. Your classmates were always far older than you, and so you never acquired the social skills that develop the strong bonds of friendship. You live an isolated existence defined by your ultra-top-secret work. Work that you will never be able to share with anyone – not even your coworkers.’
    This last comment made her fold her arms impatiently.
    ‘Ah, your work – it’s too important to risk intimacy. But isn’t it closer to the truth that you intimidate men? Your intellect scares the hell out of them, doesn’t it? Humor me: what’s the cube root of 393,447?’
    ‘All right, I got your point.’
    ‘Can’t do it?’
    ‘Seventy-three-point-two-seven-six.’
    ‘There we go. How many of your relationships failed because you couldn’t hide your intelligence?’
    ‘That’s enough.’
    ‘You don’t scare me, Nat.’
    She stared at him for several moments. ‘If you only knew what I’ve gone through to protect you. You can’t assume it doesn’t matter to me. I can’t protect you if you don’t trust me. What is your real name? Who
are
you?’
    Ross seriously contemplated this. He stared at the table-top. He looked truly torn. After nearly a minute he finally stood and started gathering papers again. ‘Sorry about the mess.’
    ‘Goddamn you.’ She moved for the door.
    He looked up, watching her leave. ‘I was twelve when they came for my father.’
    Philips stopped again.
    ‘I remember my mother screaming downstairs. I ran out just as they put my father in a car. Our family driver held me back. My dad looked up at me from the backseat. And you know what he did? He winked at me, and he smiled.’
    Ross paused for a moment, savoring the memory. ‘I miss him so much, Nat. He went