Page 7 of Gates of Tartarus

“No derogatory side effects reported, Ms. Cole,” Fallon says quickly and quietly. “Typical responses included dizziness, blurred vision, tiredness, some limited euphoria.”

Cole nods, frowning slightly, eyes glazing over with thought. “Did we adjust the formula on the euphoria aspect? The dizziness and blurred vision were to be expected on a limited basis–”

Maddox interrupts her wandering, “Ms. Driscoll was recruited by MI5 after her time at the drug trial. Until that point I believe she was a grad student of some sort.” The information sounds like it’s being pulled from him like teeth. It’s clear, despite Babylon’s directives, Smith is not entirely comfortable with the amount of unrestrained information he’s granting access to. Nevertheless, he continues. “Since then she has been working with MI5 in order to help with Kronos. She’s their clairvoyant. From what our contacts have indicated, she’s incredibly talented, though her control varies. She’s seen quite a bit of two people of interest, which is the main reason we’ve asked you to come in today. Though there is some limited capability there,” he adds, almost as an afterthought, “as one was significantly easier for her to track.”

Cole looks taken aback. “Are you meaning to imply in some way that our trial... I don’t even know what the term would be but, flipped a switch, or something similar, in this Ms. Driscoll? I assure you that no side effects were reported of that nature. I’m not even sure that that’s possible.”

“No effects were reported toyou, Ms. Cole. Driscoll called in information about a crime, and popped on MI5’s radar due to the players in the case.”

He nods towards Walker, who passes her two police sketches, one very detailed of a dark man with snake tattoos and dead-looking eyes, the other a very rough sketch of a woman with no defining characteristics.

Elizabeth looks at him, perplexed. “Am I meant to do something with these?”

Maddox sighs. “The man in front of you was a known criminal by the name of Ratko. He’s no longer of concern, but his picture may be useful in helping ferret out anyone who met him. The second drawing is of a woman named Magda, who we assume is quite a high-level operative for Kronos.”

“Magda?” Elizabeth replies. “I’m sorry, how do youknowall this? And do we have any clearer images of this woman? This is next to useless. It looks like a child’s drawing. Honestly, Agent Smith, I have to tell you I’m having trouble understanding what you need from me. Though of course, I’m happy to help if I’m able.”

Elizabeth sounds slightly flustered, though I’m not terribly surprised. Maddox is doing a crap job of explaining what’s going on. He rubs his calloused hand over his face and tries again. “I should have stuck with my speech,” he rumbles. “So Ms. Cole, we have reason to believe Kronos may be trying to lift the formula from you. Ideally we’d like you to pause trials until we get a better handle on this–”

Elizabeth interrupts abruptly. “Absolutely not,” she says flatly. “While I’m incredibly sympathetic to your situation, Agent Smith, clinical trials clearly aren’t your area of expertise. We have a necessary timed schedule to follow for FDA purposes, for scientific purposes, and for developmental purposes. We need, not to be too specific, to look for blood titers, to make sure of our half-life assumptions, and to see if a second ‘booster’ shot makes any difference. To suggest we pause for any reason, when it has been so promising to this point, is the height of irresponsibility! It would sidetrack years of research and thousands of man hours.”

Maddox holds up his hands sympathetically. “I assumed as much, Ms. Cole. And please be assured that we understand you are operating with us on a voluntary basis. Ididindicate to my counterparts that I thought you’d be less than enthused about delaying trials. So our second course of action is to have you meet with Maela in London, and see if she’s able to give you any further information. With the understanding that this is a two-way street, Ms. Cole.”

Elizabeth’s face smooths out. “I would, of course, be delighted to try to fit her into my schedule. Fallon, if you would?”

Fallon starts looking through the tablet, presumably at Elizabeth’s schedule for the following week, and Cole turns to Maddox again.

“As we suddenly find ourselves with extra time, Agent Smith, I’d appreciate an outline of exactly what you expect from me, and who these Maela and Magda women are.”

“Ms. Driscoll, or Maela, has shown extreme promise in distance seeing. She’s had consistent, accurate visions of several key players in the Kronos organization, the main one of which is this woman,” he taps the drawing, “known as Magda.”

“Is this the best representation you have of her?” she asks, surveying the portrait closely.

“It is,” Smith answers definitively. “Maela can see her clearly in the moment but has trouble when trying to describe her. Shedidn’thave the same trouble with Ratko, however. What we’d like from you is to circulate these images around your offices, ideally to people you trust, in order to see if anyone recognizes them, or their names.”

Elizabeth’s eyes narrow thoughtfully. “And you’d like me to, what? Help bait the situation?”

Maddox nods. “It’s a loose plan at the moment. We have every indication that Kronos has interest in the St Cosmas testing. Based on something she said, we feel that they’re going to try to insert an operative into your testing series.”

“Something she said?” Elizabeth asks. “Do you have her mic'd? Can’t you just track her somehow, rather than risking my clinical trials?”

He shakes his head. “Maela can hear her, and is making steady progress on her location, but hasn’t been able to completely nail it down. All we know for certain right now is that Magda is somewhere within sight of The Shard in London. Since Maela overheard Magda talking about planting someone in the tests, we thought you could help with that.”

Elizabeth looks thoughtful. “Have all other avenues been run down? I’ll do it if I have to, but I want to make sure there aren’t other options being left on the table before risking compromising years of work and millions upon millions of dollars of research. Aren’t there other operatives you could have her, I don’t know, spy on?”

“Unfortunately, no. I know what we’re asking of you, Ms. Cole, but there’s a very limited timeframe we have to make things happen, and this looks like our best option. Ratko isn’t on the playing field anymore, and apparently Maela can’t find Tennireef.”

“Can’t find?” she responds, confused.

“That’s what I’ve been told. The details are unimportant, but suffice to say, for now this trial is our best chance of running down some vital information.” He hesitates before continuing. “I want you to know, Ms. Cole, that while we will be ready and alert for anything, Magda is a dangerous woman and part of a dangerous organization. They’d like to assign you a detail in London for your protection.”

Elizabeth rises to her feet, echoed by Fallon, and gathers her few things. “I graciously decline their offer. Please understand as the CEO of an international foundation, and heir to a multi-million-dollar fortune, I’ve been subject to multiple attempts on my safety and my life. I have a team of my own choosing in place who will look after my wellbeing. I’ll make time to meet this Ms. Driscoll in the coming week, though I can’t promise full participation. It seems shoddy planning at best, and I won’t risk the potential greater good on the bare possibility that we might find a member of Kronos. Should you or your counterparts formalize anything into the semblance of an actual plan, of course, I’ll reassess my position.”

Walking to the door, she pauses for a moment, before turning back to face me. “Kailani, would you care to join me this week as my guest? Get an inside look as to how Gaia operates, the work we do, the good we do? Meet Maela with me, if you’re interested?”

“I... I can’t,” I stutter, surprised. “It’s such a generous offer, Elizabeth, and honestly I’d like to at some point.”

“Some point could benow, Kailani.” She looks at me fully now, face set. “London, Kailani. As a guest, of course. Five-star accommodations – we’d take care of everything. Just say the word.”

---