Chapter Five
Transitions
The next four months saw many changes take place. Changes that Meagan Fletcher helped to manage.
It was a major transition for the former reporter. After she left WBN, GundTech relocated their new Director of Information Management to New York. It was a stunning location with a view overlooking Central Park that served as both her home and office.
When Meagan insisted that Jason be moved with her, WBN claimed Jason was company property and, therefore, must stay in Phoenix. Meagan argued that she and Jason were a team. She flew to Oslo where she explained to Gwen Johanssen how much she had come to rely on Jason — how they had become a team — and implored her to get Jason from WBN. Next, she met privately with Mr. Villfarelse.
"If it weren't for Jason's help, I wouldn't have found you out," she told her new boss. "If the threat you fear should ever come to be, I would most certainly need Jason to help me track it down. Especially if it came from within your own network." She noticed the change in Gus' expression as she was talking. "What? What is it?"
The head of GundTech sat silent a moment, before beginning to speak. "It happened the day you were holding the press conference in Phoenix…" Villfarelse went on to describe his encounter with the phantom image. Meagan was staggered by the story. "I haven't told anyone about this," he concluded, "and I didn't want to risk telling you over the net. I needed to wait until we could talk privately." "So, if you need Jason to help unveil this threat, we'll make sure he comes to New York."
The next day GundTech offered to buy Jason from WBN and was willing to pay a large amount of money to do so. However, WBN expressed concern that Jason knew private company business and refused to sell the multiCom. GundTech counter-claimed that Jason also possessed private information that belonged to Ms. Fletcher and GundTech. The whole issue was taken to court, and the judge ordered Jason be impounded — removed from the WBN building and locked in a secure place — until the matter was settled.
The weeks flew by. Meagan assembled a team to help her in her efforts to manage the release of the quantum computing knowledge base. While she struggled to fend off rumors printed by the tabloid press and attacks from COMFORT, her team, comprised of one former head of state, a panel of scientists, and two retired company presidents, fought to keep the world's economy from chaos.
The Phantom did not make a repeat appearance, but Meagan and her boss discussed the dangers the menace posed. Mr. Villfarelse, as always, was most concerned about the students in the Academy.
"There have been some minor problems in some of the Academy simulations," he began as he paced the room.
Meagan looked concerned. "Do you think this Phantom is trying to sabotage the Academy? Is he trying to harm the students?"
Her boss shrugged in frustration as he came to a halt facing a corner of the room. Meagan saw the man's shoulders slump. She sensed his discouragement. "Honestly, I don't know," he said softly as he turned to face her. "They are most likely just bugs and glitches. But can you think of a better way to strike at us — at me?" He began pacing again. "Anyway, I'm putting a priority on some new technologies that will allow us to record and monitor the student simulations more closely. I will monitor certain simulations personally."
"You don't suspect any of the students could…"
Her boss' expression answered her question before she could finish.
Unaware of the potential threat, GundTech went about its business of developing new products based on the IHT technology.
By November, millions of people around the world had upgraded their multiCom units to include an IHT Viewer. This allowed multiCom users to view special, "limited interaction" IHT programming. The most popular of this type of programming was sporting events. Viewers could watch their favorite football team (be it American, Canadian, Australian rules, or soccer) from any of several seat choices in a stadium. These simulations would normally only allow the viewers to sit and stand but not move about the stadium.
The arts unexpectedly benefited from the IHT Viewer. Live theater experienced a re-birth because of this type of simulation. Anyone, from anywhere in the world could fully experience a live Broadway musical or a new play in London from the best seat in the house — and at an affordable price. Museums, concerts, and art galleries were also popular IHT destinations. One of the most popular destinations was the "Masters" exhibit at the Field Museum in Chicago. It showcased art and technology through the ages. In the first month alone, the exhibit had more IHT visitors than it would have had in its entire one-year run otherwise.
By December, the students at the Academy had settled in and were now pushing the IHT technology in many directions. They started to create their own simulations to challenge and amuse each other. In response, GundTech upgraded the student's multiComs so Com had the ability to link up with its user's IHT and transmit images of the user within the IHT environment to another multiCom. In this way, GundTech scientists, Academy faculty, and students could record their IHT sessions for review. Students used IHT simulations to experience life in other times and other places. They also immersed themselves into the fictional worlds of Mark Twain, Jules Verne, Lewis Carol, Charles Dickens, and J. K. Rowling, among others. Despite the time differences, most of the students visited one another, or at least left video messages and exchanged simulations.
Due in no small part to Meagan's efforts, the press exercised great restraint in its reporting as details of the IHT technology were published in scientific journals for review. As more information became public, the media embraced the technology and, consequently, turned on organizations like COMFORT, which faded from public view.
Soon, companies around the world were making their own advancements and sharing them with the world. The most important of these was a 12:1 time compression algorithm. Simply put, this meant one hour of simulation could be experienced in just six minutes of real time. The term simHour was adopted to describe a six-minute block of simulation time.
When the students were told Academy classes would now only require twelve minutes of their school day, they made an unexpected demand: lengthen their Academy classes. Since two hours of real class time equated to twenty-four simHours, a compromise needed to be struck. It was agreed that classes would be doubled to four simHours.
It was, indeed, a time of transition.
– End Chapter Five –
