Scene 23

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“Can’t you open it with your gift?” the CFO said. 

“Why should I waste my time with it when you already have access?” Koda asked. 

It was a gamble, but it worked. The CFO huffed, but pulled out a key card. 

“I don’t normally have authority to get in there without David’s permission,” she said, holding the key card against a small screen to the right of the CEO’s door. “But he gave all of us full access due to this time of crisis.” 

“Guess he didn’t expect anyone to turn on him.” 

“Guess not.” The door opened. “Thankfully he still trusts me enough to not have changed the code.” 

“Thankfully.” 

The computer on the CEO’s desk was locked, but again, the CFO got into it easily. 

“He also gave you all access to his personal files on his own computer?” 

The CFO turned away, bashful. “Actually, I got access from... something else.” 

Her tone suggested a more personal endeavor had been undergone to acquire that information. Koda supplied no further inquiries nor judgements. If he was correct, then he’d experienced the same style of intimate espionage as she had. Likely a lot more than her, too. 

The files were numerous, most simple clutter regarding new patents, existing mundane projects, and bare sketches of ideas. The CFO supplied specific passwords when they reached a particularly private section. 

Koda eyed her as she typed on the keyboard. She was entirely focused on her task, not paying mind to Koda, which meant he didn’t have to hide his suspicion of her. 

“There,” she said. 

There were fewer files there, mostly of top-secret documents and plans, but Koda only had eyes for two damning pieces of data. 

The first dealt with the experiments and kidnappings. Koda scanned the document for details. In moments, he understood how Sekko Research was trying to take a Titans’ powers and implant them into several people with the aim of making more Wielders. The technology to do so would have profited the company enough to singlehandedly boost them to the big leagues. 

All experiments, however, had been massive failures. The power injected into the people had been thrown up, usually after the subject experienced excruciating pain. Instead of disposing the puke immediately, they kept it in large vats to study it. Eventually, the vomit coalesced and then formed humanoid figures with tails. 

Sekko finally, as of this morning, decided to dispose of them in the dump site. But there had been an issue during the transportation, causing an outbreak both at the site and in the basements, where the R&D department was located. 

All this was dated to barely over a week ago, at the time when the kidnappings began. Why hadn’t this file been made earlier, in preparation for the experiments? 

“Guarding Lands,” the CFO breathed. “Those awful experiments are one thing, but that!” 

She pointed at the second file Koda pulled up. These were funds transfers, more or less money-laundering. But not to employee accounts or even private ones in different provinces. All funds went to many legitimate-appearing organizations, but Koda knew all the hidden language. 

David Fujita, CEO of Sekko Research, was helping fund an anti-government terrorist organization simply known as Rise. They had bases of operation all over Talam, which the document also helped locate due to the funds transfer. 

No other codes. Koda scrolled through the text. Nothing hiding the locations. 

Koda glanced at the CFO, who was covering her mouth in shock. 

“Shit,” she whispered, pointing to a red circle in the bottom right corner of the screen. “He knows someone’s in the files.” 

“Where was he when he left me in that room?” Koda asked. 

“The viewing platform, several stories above the experimentation room.” 

Koda welcomed the black, but only briefly. The darkness scurried toward him, threatening to keep him from reality. The CEO, outlined in white in Koda’s vision, was not in a platform, but the lobby instead, heading toward a large elevator on the north side of the atrium. 

“He’s coming up from the south elevator,” Koda said. “Stall him while I download this data. Try to prevent him from deleting it all on his end.” 

The CFO nodded, then left without a word. 

Hopefully he gets here without running into her. Koda connected his screen to the CEO’s computer and started downloading the first file. I’d like to have a little chat with him. Alone.