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Coffee cups were already beginning to litter the table top in the hotel conference center. Yuto’s staff had provided everything the people of MJD, now Bitek International, needed to formulate the plans and mission statements of the new born non-profit organization. The words ‘non-profit’ easily crossed Makaewalani’s lips but they made Yuto swallow hard. The briefcase from the bank rendezvous had been delivered sometime in the night. Tanaka’s several companies were making appropriate changes to accommodate the merger, legally. It seemed as any other conference room, except the dearth of $1000.00 suits and rows of lawyers; there were a few in attendance, as well as department heads, executive officers and several secretaries.
The low hum of business chatter stalled as Ho and Victor entered. Most of the people looked up, expectantly. Ho surprised the crowd with an animated conversation with himself. Shortly after, Yuto and a body guard came from his suite. The rest and new suit, tie and glasses made a remarkable difference. It looked as if high stakes deals were in the imminent future.
“Good morning, everyone,” Tanaka greeted, “we are here to implement some changes about how Tanaka Resources does business and to complete a merger with an exciting new group. Energy corporations around the world are about to be affected. First let me thank President Tanner,” there was a cough and throat clearing coming from Ho, followed by a gentle scowl and head shake, indicating his shoulder and the missing bird; “My mistake, our friend, Captain McCaw.”
“Glad you could all make it on such short notice,” Ho declared, standing beside Yuto. “I have been in discussions with our Vice President, Ambrose. He has insisted anyone here with a law degree absent themselves from the merger deliberations. Mr. Tanaka, are any of your management personnel lawyers?” Ho asked, grinning at the uncomfortable silence.
“My businesses have always been overviewed by legal specialists,” Yuto answered.
“Hmmm,” the MJD president said. He glanced at Victor, who inclined his head toward a sinister looking, well dressed, Asian seated at the table, whispering to the man beside him. All eyes were looking.
Yuto had become used to Ho’s personality over the last few days. “Mr. Shinawra, and Mr. Osaka are excused from this morning’s activity. Thank you, gentlemen.” They left without a word but glanced darkly at Ho Tanner. Outside the room several DEA, local police and the prosecuting Attorney of Vientiane District were waiting. Their conspiracies with Alkichi Kuboyama were announced and warrants served for accomplice to murder and industrial sabotage of the Mekong River. The men were arrested cuffed and taken. All of this was heard by the people gathered at the conference table.
“We have determined Mr. Tanaka was unaware of the actions of several people in his organization and have dismissed any legal claims against him personally and his Corporations,” announced Victor.
“I would report, also, Jade Black, heir and partner of Tanaka Resources, is currently at large, charged with several crimes and will not be available to lead this company or represent his grandfather, in the future direction of the anticipated merger.”
Yuto Tanaka bowed his head in defeat. No one could know the heartache of the moment; so many of his dreams for his heir were fading from possibility. He, however, wiped a few tears away and related his hopes for the future of the planet and the anticipated merger would be his swan song, the culmination of a lifelong quest to have the world and, especially the Pacific Rim, conscious of pollution and develop sustainable energy, without radiation, carbon, chemicals or any negative impact to the environment. A loud and boisterous applause greeted the end of his talk.
“We expect a few comments from Ho Tanner, President of the innovative MJD, which has shown my dream is now possible. They have agreed to join our corporate organization. I present the newest addition to the Tanaka team.” The applause was muted, which was expected at the moment. These people really have manners, thought Ho, as he strode to the front of the tables, where an impromptu podium had been placed.
“Save your applause until you have heard my remarks and my requests, some of which Mr. Tanaka is unaware. I have been busy all morning with reports, catching up with my friends, and learning about other MJD people and their situations. We have a plan for merger but it depends on Tanaka Resources’ help in our current predicament. All of our board of directors will be found and helped if this business transaction reaches completion.” The MJD personnel and their friends felt this was a good place to reciprocate manners and applauded, a couple whistled and Annie did a whoot, whoot cheer.
“First, I share this dream of a planet protected, of energy independent of the stifling influence of government or worse, corporate financial manipulation. Over the last three days, Yuto, that is his name, by the way, has convinced me a merger of our companies would be advantageous to each. Many of you haven’t had the privilege of getting to know this man the way I have. Stress, hunger, fear of death and uncertainty about the future bring out the best in some. Yuto Tanaka is one of a vanishing breed—schooled in the old ways but still willing to allow changes, personal, economic and professional.” Ho bowed to him and some corporate heads, hoping he looked Japanese.
“My friend, almost as a father, Victor Velasquez, will show a chart detailing the actions expected from this group. These demands and requests must be immediate for the full transition of MJD into a merger. Double V, please present the map chart.”
A map of Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and the northern tip of Australia was pinned up. On it was a dark triangle drawn from the description Ho had drawn after finally talking to Katrina and the kahuna. Luke had worked out the diagram and details but Ho and the visionary from Diamond Head had forged the drawing and the idea.
“MJD has a few needs, before merger. Primarily, two of our original Board of Directors are missing somewhere shown on this expanded map. Secondly, my mother is out there,” Ho indicated the vast expanse of the South Pacific from Hawaii to Jakarta, “lost or worse. Thirdly, one of the founding members and a man largely responsible for the Black Mariachi and for saving my life, is marooned somewhere shown on this map or the other side of the world or somewhere else, with a few friends, who we must attempt to find. It is the urgent responsibility of everyone here to locate these people and secure their rescue.” The group was uneasy, knowing this was no picnic being asked of the companies.
“And, lastly, it is incumbent on Tanaka Resources to supply the technical and financial support for this mission. Anything less and the merger is toast. Tanaka also will be required to provide money and crews, research and implementation, of a global mineral cleanup my friends Max and Hack, err, Lucas Jensen, have discovered. There are at least two mineral contamination areas, contributing to vile vortices, an electrical magnetic anomaly, which threaten the energy discovery at its base. The harmonic waves of Mariachi power are being held in a galactic induced formation of sacred geometric design. I have been instructed to tell you this; the Mer-ka-ba formation is not something new rather it is an old energy form, which must be developed and protected.” There was a murmur of interest and some objection. Undaunted, Ho continued by introducing Moose and the plan.
“Hi folks, Moose Drummond here. By way of introduction and qualification, I must tell you I have studied electrical forces and my associate at Harvard University has agreed to cooperate with equipment, including the deep-sea recovery unit, ALVIN. Luke Jensen, Max and myself have become convinced the residue, lithium from the US Atomic bomb testing in the Marshall Islands, has created a vile force field, which has achieved a powerful control of our energy beams. The same condition is found around the Bimini Atoll in the Caribbean, as a result of a plethora of magnesium accidents, in the vicinity. We believe these two vortices have joined in a huge Mer-ka-ba, encompassing the globe. Two of my friends, whose veracity and intelligence are beyond suspicion, have testified to me the actual SKYPE contact with several people, including one of our own, Mother Lode, uh, I meant Mr. Wade Tucker, who are captive within this enormous force field. It is our intention to assault the vile force field, fibrillate it momentarily, complete the rescue then to clean up the root causes, leaving only the newly discovered MJD electric energy, which is, by merger, your very own technology to present to the world. Our executive manager, Lucas, is presently missing. His recovery, along with Chief Joseph is the hinge this operation requires and is the corner stone of the merger. We need Tanaka Resources transportation and equipment, specifically the new FRAG cannons and some manpower, to attempt the rescue. Wish Luke were here to explain it but Katrina, Luke’s wife and Board Director, will explain the situation Max and Luke have determined.”
There were whispers, some in awe, some in derision; but every ear in the room was intensely interested in the report from Hawaii. The digital screen flipped up the image of Katrina, rocking little Maddie, not exactly the board room expectation for a report but the lady knew her subject well. “Hello, Mrs. Jensen,” Moose said.
“Just Kat. Hi everybody.” Katrina looked nervous, she felt exposed, almost as bad as the testimony meeting. Speaking publicly was not her special gift. “Uh, I have been working with Luke. Between us, we have eliminated some of the speculation about Dom Joi’s Mer-ka-ba that Smokey brought from the monastery. Ooops. I am probably not supposed to say where he found it, but we have it, and it seems to have ancient powers. Most of them are because of the selection and placing of special stone panels. I have personally seen the Black Mariachi stone coordinate the power or energy emissions of these stones. It could be something they had in the Bible days. Anyway, Luke is gone somewhere or he could tell you exactly how it all fits together. I just know I saw it working and we talked to Mister Tucker and a few men with whom he is marooned. They move on the energy beam often and never know where they are or how they got there but Luke and our friend Max figured out the three most likely places they land and have decided we need three rescue crews, to be at three different places at the same time ‘cause we don’t know where they might land. I hope this makes sense. I know it sounds crazy but I have seen them and Luke thinks we can be there when they land and grab them.”
Ho was thinking, Damn, if I just heard that out of the blue, without knowing Tucker, Luke, Max, or her, I would burst out laughing. The whole theory sounds so Star Wars impossible. There is no way this group will buy that rambling speech. They might not have bought it but they politely clapped and nodded. All eyes turned to Yuto, to see what his take was. He was the trusted scientist and their mentor. He sat, staring at Katrina, obviously discounting every word she said. Yuto stood in front of the computer Moose was using and, clearing his throat, asked her some questions.
“Do you know me, miss?” he queried.
“I have never met you,” she relied boldly and a little brassy, “but you look like the leader of the company who kidnapped our friend, Ho.” There was a gasp and a lot of shocked faces. They all knew but it was impolite to be so direct with an accusation. Yuto flinched but smiled his wispy grin.
“You have pegged me, young lady; but that unfortunate event is behind us. To the current point, what does your husband expect of Tanaka Resources?” The little baby fussed and, for a minute, Maddie’s mom forgot about the richest man in the world. She moved from the SKYPE camera focus and adjusted herself for breast feeding. When she reappeared, she had a blanket loosely over her shoulder.
“Sorry for the interruption, sir but it is lunch time here.” A smattering of titters was heard, as Yuto grinned, but bowed to the monitor camera. The audio was good and the munching, slurping sounds of grateful Maddie could be heard in the Conference meeting. A few more giggles were heard.
“The little one is having the house special, I presume?” Yuto Tanaka joked, delighting his assembled corporate managers, who had never seen the fun side of Godzilla.
Katrina smiled happily, quite a different reaction than Ho and Moose were expecting. “You are quite funny, Mr. Tanaka. Here is what we need. We have heard about your fragmenting cannons. Luke thinks the acronym is ironically hilarious—FEMA—haha. He said, before he just took off somewhere, maybe Guam, we need two of them at each of the three places, in a triangulation, to make sure refraction or breaking up the wave power is assured. Does that make sense to you?” she asked, dimly.
“Yes, it does. For a man who has never seen them, he seems to understand what they do. So you require six FEMA guns, and what else?” Yuto asked, charmed. Most of the people gathered were stunned at his workability, Ho especially. She has this old goat wrapped around her finger, he thought.
“You have to provide helicopters that can get in fast and away fast. All of them will have to carry at least three or four crew in and be able to evacuate eight men, some of them old and feeble. He told Max the rescue people had to be perfectly coordinated because they would only have a minute—maybe eighty seconds then the anomaly would start again; he’d timed it and watched the men just melt and disappear. That is how he put it.” The baby burped loudly, causing Katrina to giggle.
“Does he expect it to be dangerous for the rescuers?” Yuto tried not to smile.
“Not unless they aren’t cool with joining the marooned people. He said the danger was if the fibrillation didn’t work well enough or long enough and the vortices overcame the FEMAs or the escape. He was pretty scared of it, that’s all I know. I told the rest to Ho this morning and I think he talked to Max. I have to put Maddie to sleep, bye.” Kat waved then remembered Luke. “Oh, and you have to find Lucas and Renie, that’s Ho’s mom, and Smokey Joe. They might be caught in it, too.”
“So, it is dangerous, the rescue teams and the equipment could be lost,” concluded Yuto.
“I think so. Max is not sure we should try it, that’s how dangerous it is. Please do everything you can to find my husband, please, Mr. Tanaka—we are not your enemies. You have the equipment and money, please.” The last thing they all saw of Katrina was the blanket slipping as she reached to turn the web-cam off. They all heard her embarrassed, omigosh.
“She is a remarkable lady, a very, uh...healthy lady.” Yuto remarked, uneasily.
“You didn’t see the half of her,” Ho blurted out, “...of it...uh, I mean you don’t know even half of what she is like.” His obvious unintended double entendré hit Moose and Annie’s funny bone. They, and eventually the entire group, had a big laugh at the circumstance. Ho was too brown to show much embarrassment.
Yuto saved the day. “You pretty funny—Ho, Ho, Ho.”
His audience of adoring employees exploded in laughter. The rest of the meeting went well. Nothing like a little shared humor. Yuto revealed he had two of the guns still at R&D, in Bangkok, one stashed on his AH 60 and another was hidden at the training camp. He had lent one to an industrial trade show in Perth, Australia. He told Ho and Moose Tanaka Resources had sold a unit to a detachment of the Red Army. They were deployed on the Northern border of Tibet, just up the foothills in the Golden Circle. Yuto claimed they had not paid for the cannon yet because he and his scientists were unsure if they should teach them how to operate it. Yuto just wanted them to have one but know nothing of its capacity; it would be to scare the Tibetan Rebels and, eventually, the Tamil Tigers.
“We can just fly up and take it back for non-payment,” suggested Yuto.
He had always secretly hoped his invention would have a practical and powerful use. The securing of the electrical magnetism of the entire earth seemed to be both, especially if cheap, harmless electricity was the side-effect. It wouldn’t hurt if the world’s nations knew Tanaka’s FEMA guns were a benevolent weapon. Ho was schooling him on the meaning of words. These six guns were benign and they were going to tame the East, as the Colt six-gun had settled the American West. Being the Lone Ranger was probably better than being Godzilla.