Prologue

February

"Jack, Herb needs to see you," Stan stated, matter-of-factly.

Staring intensely at a scatter graph displaying thousands of iterations he had so meticulously plotted in his analysis for determining the probability of functionality for a modular level particle disseminator, Jack pulled away hesitantly from his project.

"What the hell are you doing now, Jack?" Stan persisted.

Jack hesitated to explain, knowing very well even if the time was taken, Stan may never truly value the worth of his project.

"Why can't you just work nine to five like the rest of us, Christ?!" Stan questioned rhetorically.

"What is he doing now?" Larry joined in the exchange.

"Oh he's still plotting away at his new invention."

Jack sighed frustratingly.

"You mean UniTech's new invention," Larry reminded him.

"Whatever. That analysis was good for the Uranus Project, Jack. You received an accommodation for it, now forget it. Do some work. The board is expecting our proof for the Morango Project in the morning."

"What the hell is that, dickhead?" Jack rebutted, as he pointed to a pile of papers outlining his analysis of the Morango Project.

"You were supposed to check with us to verify the results, Jack!"

"And let you micro wizards screw up my results using your slide ruler methods of statistical analysis that's as antiquated as your knowledge of data sampling, Stan?"

Larry snickered at Stan as Jack stood up, towering over both of them. Stan's would-be rebuttal was contained by the presence of Jack as both men made way for the large man as he left his cubicle. Both Larry and Stan watched him meander over to the office as Herb could be seen through his office window rising to meet Jack. Larry then turned, and to his surprise, two of UniTech's security personnel entered the secured area.

*****

Bits and pieces of memories from only half a year ago flashed through Jack's mind as his blistered hands mailed a pittance of what he used to earn to his family.

*****

"I don't understand either Jack. It's the same bureaucratic bullshit that I've been putting up with for thirty years. It doesn't make sense," Herb explained.

"Well do something about it Herb. It's my job. I have kids in private..."

"Jack...there's nothing I can do. Please understand..."

"I was driving that Uranus project for you Herb. I fought and got UniTech that contract. You know that. I even let you take credit for most of it, you son-of-a-bitch," Jack's voice progressively increased with intensity.

"I appreciate that, Jack."

"Oh bullshit! I'd appreciate it if you had a back bone and stood up for something you believe in for once in your life."

"Now listen goddamn it...I" Herb stopped as he watched Jack fling the chair he was previously sitting in out through his side office window.

Glass sprayed in every direction, sending fragments sliding on the floor up to Stan's foot as he sat perched in front of his computer, trying desperately not to notice the commotion in Herb's office.

Security reacted instantly, only to be halted by Stan holding up his hand. "Wait!"

Jack just stood there breathing hard, but slowly letting the reality of the situation sink in. There was nothing he could do. Feeling as helpless as the first time he had almost drown as a boy off the dock of his dad's rental cottage, Jack conceded to the men standing behind him, preparing to escort him out of the office. The steps that preceded him were accompanied by a gauntlet of eyes and stares. But unlike his near brush with death, no one was there to yank him out of the water, hence, he continued to drown. The shame, the humiliation...he felt himself floundering for life's so familiar safety net. There must be a way out...there must.

*****

"Areas cited to be consolidated include Pomona and Culver City." Rock James, Chairman of the Board to UniTech stated at the head of the table.

The board room was located on the 14th floor of the executive wing of UniTech's mini city complex of thirty-four buildings made up mostly of engineering, research and development, and the corporate support offices. Manufacturing complexes were off site in various cities throughout the country.

"Rock, I thought we were leaving Pomona alone. The facilities are still at 90 percent capacity. The highest in three years," a board member questioned.

Abraham Peterson, looked past the board member continuing to question Rock, to another fellow member, Irving Keith, signaling him to look out the window.

Irving first looked questionably at Abe, then turned slowly and inconspicuously, looking over his right shoulder as his back was facing the window and down onto the parking lot. He smirked as he watched Jack Trenton being escorted to his car by UniTech's security personnel. Abe returned the look.

Within an hour the meeting convened and Abe made his way to the elevator and up one last floor to the top floor offices. A short walk from the elevator just to the right led him directly into the secretarial pool, where Abe stopped to pick up messages.

"Mr. Feldman called and wanted to know if you were going to make the seminar Wednesday," Cynthia, Abe's personal secretary stated.

Cynthia was a proud lady and was earnestly devoted to her family, noticeable by the numerous pictures of relatives lining her desk. She had been a part of UniTech longer than most of the Board of Directors and knew almost all of their contacts within the industry. With an almost non-existent sick-time and the stamina to complete urgent projects without the slightest complaint, she had quickly earned respect among Board members as an irreplaceable asset. That is to say, except for one member that carried the aura of superiority and arrogance that spread not only among the secretaries, but among certain peers. One could not dispute the standing Abraham Peterson had in the aerospace community though, and the contacts that he would bring to UniTech. Cynthia was assigned to him after her former boss had suffered a mild stroke leading to his retirement and the voting in of Peterson.

"Acquisition and mergers?" Abe questioned.

"Yes."

"I don't think so, but could you do me a favor and get Cornex on the phone and...that's Cornex Aerosystems, by the way."

"Cornex Aerosystems...let me write that down," Cynthia played ignorant.

"That's right...Gabriel Norman, he's a Board Member. If you could get him on the phone for me I would appreciate it."

"Yes sir," Cynthia said but continuing under her breath, "I've been working in this business at least as long as you, I know who Mr. Norman is."

Abe proceeded into the large office directly behind Cynthia. Even after a month at his newest assignment to UniTech's board, his office still displayed unopened boxes shoved in a far corner. Several book shelves lined the office that held manuals and text books that reflected Abe's past ranging from subjects in aerospace engineering to guides in business and finance. Where he had come through the ranks of starting out as a technician through his twenty years of structural engineering, and then to his managerial background was reflected between the walls of those walnut shelves. Seemingly giving character to a once empty room, there still existed a coldness about it as if a picture or piece of furniture were still missing that would fill in the missing gap turning a lifeless room into a warm place to occupy.

In moments, Cynthia's voice came over the phone's intercom system placed on the far corner of the cherry wood desk adjacent the large paned window. Giving way to a spectacular view of UniTech's mini-city, everything below appeared small and insignificant. "Mr. Norman is on line one, Mr. Peterson."

Not responding to Cynthia, Abe picked up line one. "Gabriel, how ya doing...good. Yeah, we...listen Gabe, that's the way it is. We find the resources and you make damn sure those son-of-a-bitches never...I don't care how you do it...no, don't worry, anything outside of aerospace will be like a living hell to them...They'll be ready...Yeah, he'll be ready too...It's going to happen Gabriel," Abe stated in a tone that would make the calmest of men leery of his intentions. "This is long overdue...oh, bullshit, you start counting casualties now Gabe, you'll never make it."

April

"I don't care, Jack!" his wife blasted, holding the opened mail in her left hand. "You give up on us now and that's it! Let it go!"

"But Parkin, Janson and Swartz said just a little while and..."

"They've forgotten you, Jack. It's been months since they spoke with you. Even if UniTech took you back, having won any case against them, by that time we will have lost everything."

Jack turned away in thought momentarily, "I don't understand why Bobby hasn't responded to any of my messages."

"What makes you think someone from one of UniTech's main competitors would call you?"

"Bobby and I have worked together on several joint projects. It doesn't make sense that he wouldn't even return my phone calls."

"Don't you see? Maybe this is a sign, Jack. Maybe you should get out for good."

"This is my life, Susan!"

Looking down at the bills in her hand, Susan shook her head.

"Mom," Sondra, their daughter said from the middle of the stairway leading down into the foyer. Sondra was just shy of her twelfth birthday, and showed concern for the obvious rift that was developing between her parents due to her father's unforeseen layoff.

"Sondra, please go up stairs," Susan replied in a troubled tone.

"Mom, I have to go to recital...please."

"Okay," Susan stated frustratingly. "Go get changed."

Looking over at her father she said with tears mounting, "sorry daddy."

"It's okay, babe. Everything's okay. Now go on and get ready for recital."

As Susan and Jack watched their daughter climb the stairs, they realized something in their decision making went far beyond the mechanics of finding a new source for their cash flow problems. What Susan had proposed days before kept ringing in Jack's ears. It reminded him of how his career had failed him...how he had failed his family. If there was a time he could be brave for his family then this was the time to do it, before everything truly was lost.