THE CONSTRUCT: In The End

PART FIVE

And so, it is on to where she needs to be. Almost right from the off, traffic is noticeably heavier than normal. Nothing alarming about that though given how it is she feels, it is something that is taken notice of. No need to worry as of yet, it is almost as if she is anticipating a moment of worry, and when one seems to present itself, it takes her a little more than what it would on any other day.

There is nothing unusual on the cards for the workday ahead but the work she is involved in has been building, ever nearing a point of payoff. Funding is secure for the immediate future and there is no serious pressure to provide results so there should be nothing unusual expected for the day ahead on that front ... things can be known to change, and without much warning too. No change had been expected for this day, with how it is going so far ... perhaps there now is cause to anticipate upcoming change.

She has taken notice of a particular vehicle. Most of the traffic lights on this day are stopping her, and this is more than usual, any other day she takes it as is and not find any distraction in such. One set of lights she did take a little liberty to ensure she gets through when on another day she'd surely stop.

A black minivan from a street on her left, of which she just passed, appeared to jump start its set of lights just as she had ensured her passing at the very same junction. She noticed this vehicle right away and, in such, Una takes a couple of turns she would not usually take just to see what may come, and sure enough, the black minivan remained in her sights.

Una is being followed, she is sure of this though if she is, then surely, whomever they might be, must have followed her before or at least had eyes on her before. She is not heading anywhere unusual, not heading anywhere she wouldn't normally be so indeed, if she really is being followed then for what reason is this happening. They must be aware of her destination.

Now there is reason to at least be slightly riled. Choosing to be cautious, she makes a phone call. There is a delay too with the call being answered, further fanning the flame of worry. The call eventually connects. There is to be no greeting, no hello, no how are you, instead ...

'... Una ... how far out are you? What is your E.T.A?' asks a certain Josh Redmond.

'Minutes, ... why?'

'Several firewalls are down, possible hack incoming ...'

'What? Crap ... I'm minutes away, ... be with ya as soon as I can. And em ... I'm being followed by the way.'

'Are you sure?'

'As sure as I can be ...'

There is mayhem at the laboratory. Change indeed has come, before she even arrives to the laboratory. Consoles are being furiously worked at. Ready for action, Una asks to be briefed in the instant she walks into the laboratory and she is brought up to speed as she herself wastes no time in accessing a console and diving right in. the project is in serious threat and alarms begin to sound.

'Send me in ...' Nigel more than suggests.

'It's not ready ...' Josh tells him. 'We have no idea the effect it will have on you, or any of us for that matter.'

'Either I go in now or we are done. There is no choice.'

Looks are shared, alarms are intensifying and time is running out. Looks are being shared though a decision cannot be fussed over so it is made and followed through. Nigel Allen is set up and locked within a chamber specifically set up for the task and within seconds the laboratory is stormed. This shouldn't be possible and the reason for how this actually is possible soon reveals itself.

Corrupt security ... money betters' moral standards, and if had if Nigel hadn't entered when he did then things would end right here, right now, as it is Nigel, at the very least, has bought time. Can anything further be achieved ... well, time will tell.

He who leads soon makes himself known and does nothing to hide his identity. He steps forward, gun in hand, to make his initial demand. Aim is close range, right at Josh Remond's forehead.

'Shut it down ... now.'

'You!' states Josh with distain upon the big reveal as if he should have known all along.

'Yes ... me, now do as I say and shut it down ...'

'Can't, even if I wanted to. Once it is in full operation with a man inside, someone has to go in and shut it down from within before it can be taken anywhere. Kill our man here now and the whole thing self-destructs.'

'I don't believe you ...'

'You should ... you were here for its inception. You can try take out Nigel here and now, see what happens ... I don't think you want to risk it, now do ya?'

'Damn you ...'

'No ... damn you.'

With a wince he tries to hide, the intruder strikes Josh with the grip of the gun, knocking him to the ground and causing his bottom lip to bleed.