Genesis (Extinction Book 1) by Nading Miranda

Author:Nading, Miranda [Nading, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-09-29T07:00:00+00:00

5

“For homework,” Ryan smiled as the class groaned in unison while he placed stacks of packets on the four lab tables. “A quiz on the syllabus and a quiz on the safety rules that govern the lab and equipment. Compare and contrast the landform satellite images from 2010 and 2040. I want to know what’s changed and why.”

Motion in the doorway caught his eye and he looked up to find a wire-thin man with Coke-bottle glasses and unruly hair waving to him. Cedric always looked as if he had been sucking on a lemon, but the pinched look was worse this afternoon.

Ryan headed toward the door, speaking to the class as he went. “You have not been provided a key. I want you to figure it out on your own. And fair warning, if you give me Google answers, I will know and you’ll get a zero. You have ten minutes left of class; use it wisely.”

Cedric didn’t give him a chance to ask questions before pulling him into the lab’s prep area and closing the door. “If this is your idea of a joke, color me amused. If it’s not, we have a big problem.”

“What are you talking about?” Ryan asked, but he was afraid he already knew.

“You said those data packs were from the International Space Station?”

“Yes,” Ryan answered, then caught himself. “You got into it?”

“I had my graduate research student work on it. Ryan, that packet may have originated on the ISS, but it went through the Pentagon first. It wasn’t corrupted. It was intentionally coded, and then recoded. Some serious skill went into that packet. The true layer was covered up with some high tech manipulation, then that was hidden under a set of coding to make it look corrupt.”

“You’re saying it was photo-shopped?”

Cedric laughed, “My friend, I’ve seen some amazing things photo-shopped. This makes them look like child’s play.”

The reality of what Cedric was saying began to sink in and Ryan had to lean against the counter. “The Pentagon?”

“Adam pulled the computer off of the Global Network as soon as he saw the codes. He’s got a dummy system routing information out, so if anyone’s watching his computer they’ll think it’s still online and all is right with the world.”

“He can do that?”

“Ryan.” Cedric looked over the top of his classes as if he were addressing a child. “He’s a graduate research student for a reason.”

“Sorry, Ced. I’m not a techie. I didn’t realize you could get off the GN.”

Cedric sighed and leaned against the counter next to Ryan. “You not supposed to be able to. We did it by accident once and the shop was shut down by Big Brother for a full semester.”

“That sabbatical you took two years ago?”

“Sabbatical.” There was no mirth in his laughter. “I was in Washington defending myself. I came pretty damned close to not being allowed to teach again and Adam was nearly kicked out of school.”

“Jesus, Cedric. If I had known, I never would have pulled you into this.

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