2400 AD

Rescue

Kalk Suiderland reclined in the hazel-brown leather chair behind a bulky redwood desk that matched his own weight. Imagine a treble chin below excessive lips, lateen ears and an imperious nose, languid, extremely flamboyant gestures and a head of dyed black filigree hair, and you have a good idea of how repulsive Suiderland appeared.

No matter how offensively disgusting he looked, he was still the branch director of Xenocon South Africa, XSA for short, and he ruled with what he called, “the hand of God”.

It was no secret that Xenocon International controlled the energy reserves of the world. No secret they owned almost every business from London to Calcutta to New Zealand and Barbados. No secret that they lined the pockets of most heads of government and corporations the world over.

No secret that they manufactured Androids to replace humans across all types of industry, including the military.

But they did have a secret. A well-kept secret that only a handful of people knew. Top-level stuff.

Against the walls of his leviathan office on the 75th floor of Xenocon Towers in Sandton, gigantic monitors fed important financial and social data from every corner of the world minute by excruciatingly valuable minute.

Suiderland reclined in his chair as though waiting for someone and didn’t stand when the elevator door, in the middle of the office, opened. He remained seated, even when the prisoners were pushed out by four heavily armed security personnel.

“We have the queer, sir,” a muscular official announced.

Suiderland’s face was deadpan. His breathing sounded more like a sickly wheeze.

He beckoned them forward with a finger. “Finally.” His voice a hoarse, almost inaudible whisper.

Gideon stared into his eyes and did not blink.

“You needn’t say anything,” Suiderland continued in that irritating high-pitched voice. “We know they will be coming to get you. We know most things. And this time you won’t escape us. The last time you escaped we weren’t prepared. Now, even the rooftop is sealed off.”