Cyberlink Cove

Chapter 21

CYBERLINK COVE (SKYHOOK ISLE)-2078

 

President Ross sat in his private office, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a spectacular view of the island skyline-though that was the least of his worries at the moment. Daniel Thomas sat ramrod straight at the president’s side, his cerulean eyes fierce. It had initially been Thomas who had proposed that they lure the pirates onto the Iron Maiden.

 

The president shot the general a sideways glance. The somber man was deathly silent, drilling lasers into the computer monitor which showed everything that was happening aboard the formidable warship. President Kale Ross’s eyebrow twitched as he recalled how he had brought his top four agents under his command.

 

President Ross had been in power for around three or four decades, but before his presidency was a period of chaos. The former president had almost no power; instead, the Council had controlled everything from the day-to-day affairs of Cyberlink Cove to international relations-all under the pretense that the president before Kale Ross was authorizing these actions.

 

As time went by, powerful Council members began competing with each other for jurisdiction over the aspects of Cyberlink Cove’s government. Civil wars broke out, one Council member’s army of mercenaries against another’s. No one could be trusted, and the puppet president sat there twiddling his thumbs, dining on exotic cuisine from the Orient while drinking champagne.

 

President Ross’s father, Dominique Ross, was an imposing figure. The elder Ross was in charge of the negotiations sector. Of course, Dominique was greedy for more. Young Kale was his bastard son; Dominique Ross had intercourse with an unknown woman and when she bore him an unexpected son, he murdered her in cold blood to keep his scandalous secret safe.

 

Kale Ross was raised by a hired nurse, shunned by his father. He grew up at first seeking the affection of the stone-hearted Council member, then gave up on that dream after it was evident that Dominique Ross would never love Kale back. So, Kale plotted.

 

As a child, Kale Ross was an exceptional diplomat. He mastered the art of oh-so-subtly persuading someone into a lethal position, capturing them in a web of lies. He excelled in the treacherous field of blackmail and manipulation. President Ross was an expert in reading a person’s eyes-with barely a glimpse of their pupils, he could subsequently approximate what was running circles through their minds.

 

President Ross was also adept at picking out lies, and even more skilled at lying himself. To him, everyone had their “tells”-it was up to you to discover what they were. The devious young boy could lie straight through his teeth while sounding totally sincere. His eyes wore a mask of innocence, betraying children and adults alike into believing his stories, no matter how outlandish. To call Kale Ross perceptive was an understatement. To call him extremely perceptive would still be an understatement. He was precocious and sharp, shrewd and cunning. In a way, he was the perfect politician.

 

“Never show any emotion,” One of the only sentences Dominique Ross had ever uttered to Kale. “Keep a poker face. Don’t let them take a peek into your brain.” A motto which Kale Ross had taken to heart.

 

Kale was the perfect son. He obeyed every order that was given to him; he did well in school and didn’t instigate fights. He avoided conflict at all costs. He did what Dominique requested of him seemingly without a second thought, all while planning his father’s demise.