Chapter Twenty
Revelations
It was April first. It was the day Gustav Gundersen had selected seven months earlier, and it stood as testament to his sense of humor. He would reveal his identity on April Fools' Day.
The press was not told the purpose of the news conference. They only knew it was going to be a live event, not an IHT simulation. Meagan Fletcher wanted to make it very clear to the world's press that the man she was presenting was, in fact, the genius behind GundTech and not some holographic phantom.
Some special guests sat in the front row of the auditorium waiting for the news conference to begin. The Costas and Rush families had been flown to Oslo on the GundTech jet. After the historic introduction, they would meet with Gustav Gundersen, himself, so he could explain the summer project in which he had invited the two teens to participate.
Upstairs, in the conference room, Gustav paced nervously, one eye on his multiCom screen as he watched the auditorium slowly fill with members of the media.
Gwen Gundersen-Johanssen tried to comfort her brother. "Relax, Gus. Look at it this way. At least the charade will be over. That weight will be lifted in less than an hour." Gwen turned to address the other person in the room. "Meagan, I was skeptical at first. I thought we should keep everything within the family, but you have done a marvelous job managing the release of Gus' work. The world will probably never realize its debt to you. If things were handled poorly, who knows what could have happened."
Meagan was overwhelmed and speechless. Her only reply was the flush of color that tinged her cheeks.
"And what's this meeting with those kids from the states?" asked Gwen. When Gus didn't reply, she asked Meagan, "Has he told you anything?"
"Not a word."
"It's a secret. It's all up here." Gus tapped the side of his head with his finger. "You'll know when we meet with Rosa and Cameron."
Suddenly, a low, menacing voice pervaded the conference room. "Gundersen!" it said in a deep, throaty rumble. The shadowy outline of a figure replaced the view of the auditorium on the screen. "You are going too far. You need to be stopped. Revel in your glory while you can, because I will destroy you. I'm in your system. You can't stop me." The figure faded into nothingness as the screen reverted to the live view of the conference room.
"What the hell was that?" Gwen sat staring, unblinking, at the multiCom.
Gustav shot a worried look at Meagan.
"The threat from within," said Meagan.
"You know what this is about, Meagan? You both know?"
"We are aware of it," said Gus. "However, we, at least I, don't know exactly what's going on."
Meagan was taken off guard by Gustav's comment. "Are you suggesting that I do know what this is all about?"
Gus moved to face Meagan, gently taking her hands in his. "This is not an accusation, Meagan. Please don't take it as such. I can't explain how I know, but I'm certain that you hold one of the keys to this whole affair. You just aren't aware of it yet."
"What is it you think I know? Tell me."
Gustav embraced Meagan. "I have no idea, but I have confidence you will have the answer when it is needed."
"You said 'one of the keys,'" said Meagan, trying to make sense of what was happening. "You said I had one of the keys. Then who holds the other? You?"
"No, not me. Them." Gustav gestured towards the multiCom. It was focused on two empty seats in the front row of the hall and the guests from the United States.
"Who? The kids?"
Gus nodded in reply.
"Ridiculous!" said Gwen. "They're just a couple of average kids who…" Gwen interrupted herself when she noticed an older couple being seated next to the American guests. "Look, Gus. They're seating Mama and Papa. It must be time."
As she spoke, there was a knock at the door. "Five minutes, Ms. Johanssen."
"What do we do now?" asked Gwen.
"We go on," said Gus. "We can't be intimidated or stopped by threats." He stood tall and adjusted his suit. "Do I look okay?"
Gwen managed a strained laugh. "Since when have you worried about how you looked?" She walked to her brother and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck."
The press conference lasted almost two hours. Meagan Fletcher's opening statement took only about five minutes of that time. She briefly summarized the events of the previous eight months, thanked the press for their cooperation and their restraint from publishing wild rumors in such a critical time in the world's history.
"As a show of our gratitude, we want to give you a special treat — a surprise." Murmurs of speculation ran rampant through the hall. "Ah, ah, ah!" said Meagan Fletcher, wagging a scolding finger. "What did we say about spreading wild rumors?" The audience laughed at her rebuke. "So, please let me introduce to you, the former Director of Communications and current Headmistress of the IHT Academy, Gwen Johanssen."
There was courteous applause from the expectant audience as Meagan retired from the podium and Gwen came to center stage.
"I promise, I won't keep you in suspense. I'm just here to make a couple of introductions." She motioned for her parents to stand. "These are my parents, William and Ursula Gundersen."
The press responded with polite applause. Their expressions and exchanged whispers showed their bafflement.
Gwen nodded for her parents to sit. "I know you're wondering why I took this occasion to introduce my parents to the world press. It will become clear in a moment." She was overwhelmed with emotion. The news cameras picked up the tears forming in her eyes as she spoke, "This is the proudest moment of my life, as I introduce to you, my brother — the creator of the multiCom and the driving force behind the new breakthroughs in quantum computing — Gustav Gundersen!"
The audience sat in stunned silence as the tall young man walked shyly onto the stage.
Rosa and Cameron shot to their feet and broke into wild applause. They were followed closely by Gustav's parents and their own families. This shocked the gathered media into the realization of the introduction. As one, they rose to their feet. The hall swelled with the noise of an overwhelming ovation.
After Gustav's short speech, the stage was set with a table and chairs. Gustav, Gwen, and their parents took seats behind the table, and the press was allowed to ask questions. Two hours later, Meagan mercifully put a halt to the inquisition.
– End Chapter Twenty –
