In the main house, Bradford III was awakened by an alert on his phone.
“What is it?” he asked with eyes still closed.
“We have intruders in the laboratory. How should we proceed?”
“Intruders?” Bradford III sat up. “Send me the video link to the security cameras.”
“They have been disabled.”
Bradford III stood. “Disabled? For how long?”
“Undetermined. How would you like for us to proceed?”
“Where are the intruders?”
“In your father’s office.”
Bradford III knew this would open the floodgate to the authorities. He had no idea when or how, but he anticipated visitors would look closer at the facility. Yes, it was expected, but not tonight. They had not cleared out anything in his office. He was right to prepare for evacuation. “Gather the men. We will take them in the living quarters.”
“Understood.”
“Wait,” Bradford III knew what had to be done. The plans were all laid out. It was time. There was no reason to delay the inevitable any longer. Phase II of the S.I.B.s was ready to begin, with him at the helm.
“Advise my father of the situation and ask him to join us in the storage room. Bring Serum M with you.”
“Understood.”
The call was disconnected. Bradford walked over to his computer in the sitting area of his room. He opened it, then held down the option key, command key, plus the letters p and r at the same time. The computer went to a blank screen. A single cursor line was blinking.
Bradford took a moment. He was going to have one chance at this, and he had to get it right. After contemplating his words, Bradford keyed in a passcode. The string of numbers and letters opened a gateway to a message board. He begins his message.
“Phase II of The Society of Intellectual Beings is ready to commence.”
He waited for a response.
“Phase I is complete?
Bradford cleared his throat then replied.”
“Phase I has ended. Are you ready to proceed?”
He waited.
The reply came. “Affirmative.”
Bradford smiled, pleased with the response. He was more encouraged now.
“Phase II will initiate in twenty-four hours. Personnel will be deployed once you comply with the insurance of the required resources. Communication will cease in five minutes, and the offer will go to the next winning bid.”
He waited. This was the moment of truth. Phase II had been in the making since the moment he discovered the formula his father discarded. Every step of its development was laying the foundation for his triumph. The development of the different strands of the serum increased its worth. Some could be used to simply help people. He had no interest in that. However, there were some willing to compensate him for that strand of the serum. That, he would be interested in. Then there was the strand to simply make people talk. There were agencies around the world who would pay handsomely to get their hands on the serum. And of course, there were those who simply wanted to eliminate people at will. They were really his target market. Of course, he couldn’t care less what people did with the serum. His plans were completely separate from any of the above. His plan was to control the world. The same as his father and his grandfather before him.
He heard a ding on his phone. Bradford reached over to look at the screen. He smiled. The sum of ten million dollars had been transferred to his account. This was only a cushion in case the authorities attempted to lock down his father’s assets. He chuckled. They would find very little other than the estate. He had been filtering funds from the family accounts for years. But one can never have too much money. He sent another message.
“Confirmation of donation. You will receive instructions in twenty-four hours.”
He disconnected the transmission. Walking over to his closet, he pulled out a knapsack and a suitcase. It had been packed for over a year. He knew this day was coming and wanted to be prepared. He placed his computer into a laptop bag and put both bags next to the door. He pushed a button on his phone.
“Pick up my bags and have them delivered to the transfer site.”
“Understood.”
It was time for his father to pay for his sins. Bradford walked over to his dresser drawer, reached under the shirts that were neatly folded and then pulled out a folder that was labeled in his grandfather’s handwriting. He exhaled, then threw the folder on the bed. Every time he read it the anger seeped through him. It would be days before he could look his father in the eyes afterward. Tonight would be the last time he will have to go through that experience. After tonight, he’d forget about this file and his entire existence in this place. It was time for him to lead his S.I.B.s into the next phase of their existence.
Bradford stripped out of his clothes and walked into the shower. His spirit was concerned when he first received the call. But now, he was almost giddy.