Like so many other nights, Abe was at the library doing research. There was so much to learn and so little time. Fortunately he was a quick learner. He managed to find some excellent sources of information on lip-reading and felt somewhat confident that he could now make out what people were saying without having to rely on radio contact. The real key was that when he was connected to KAGED he could also "see" the speakers tongue as well as lips. Having mastered that skill to his satisfaction he was now researching criminology and attempting to select a private investigator. Cramming on criminology was turning into a simpler task than finding a PI he was willing to trust. It had to be one that was honest, yet wouldn’t turn him in. He had to be resourceful, preferably one that had dealt with metas or underworld organizations before. And one that was fearless. In other words he needed James Rockford, but that was TV and this was real life. The phone book was crammed with PIs in New York and he had no way of doing a computerized cross search. He had to manually search through previous issues of the Times looking for mention of a PI in a similar case. He finally found what he was looking for after 7 nights of searching.

Kevin Kline had been involved in the famous Sprite case. Kline’s name was barely mentioned, but reading between the lines lead him to believe that Kline had been instrumental in clearing the faerie entities name. It seems the poor thing had been framed for the theft of some important artifact from some reputed underworld kingpin. A meta vigilante that went by the name of Quicksilver had hired Kline to clear his friends name. Kline had located the item but Quicksilver had done the actual recovery, showed the evidence to the police, but then pissed them off when he escaped with the item using super speed. But the important part to Abe was that Kline had dealt with metas AND underworld figures. So he decided to approach Kline the following day.

On the way home his thoughts frequently drifted towards his son. The East Enders were patrolling and Johnny was keeping a low profile after the tussle with Magneta. The media seemed almost used to dealing with people concerned about maintaining a secret identity and none of them seemed inclined to pursue Johnny’s, perhaps preferring to channel their energies towards bigger fish. Whatever the reason, Abe was grateful.

A surprising result of the event was that Johnny and he had been growing closer since that night, sometimes even talking a little about Elaine, though it was still very difficult. The kid seemed to want to know every insignificant detail he could drudge up and the talks usually ended when one or the other of them broke down and cried. At least he had fallen in with a great group of kids and was on the right side of the law.

Unfortunately, he seemed very serious about training to become a super-hero. The East Enders had gained a little notoriety and a local martial arts studio offered the entire group free classes, which all the members started taking, and Johnny was the star student. Not surprising since he already had a black belt and an almost obsessive motivation level. His instructor was an evangelical born-again Christian, slightly disturbing to a man with his Jewish roots, and Johnny seemed open to his message. Abe was not sure how he would react if Johnny decided he would become a Christian, but having come this far in letting go some of his control over the boy, he felt that he needed to allow Johnny to come to his own decision.

It took Abe most of the morning to make his way to Kline’s office by bus in the morning. Unfortunately, the only time available for an appointment was right after rush hour. Even in a bus, rush hour in NY is not easy on the nerves. At one point he was almost certain that a taxi driver was going to try to go OVER the bus when it stopped and blocked traffic. Still, Abe never had enough reading, and, for the most part, enjoyed the ride.

After 1 1/2 hours he finally arrived at the office.

"How may I help you?" The secretary was somewhat plump, middle-aged, with a very nice smile.

"My name is Abe Force, I have an appointment at 9:30."

"Yes, Mr. Force, please have a seat. Mr. Kline will see you in just a moment."

After waiting for a few minutes an extraordiarily ugly man exited the office, a scowl uglifying it even more. About 8 feet tall and very muscular. As he exited he said, "Mr. Pine wants results, not excuses. Get them!" There was a not-so-veiled threat in that statement but there was no response from within and the secretary seemed unperturbed.

"Mr. Force, you may go in now. It seems the previous client is through."

Abe entered the office of Kevin Kline, PI. Behind a large desk and seated in an enormous desk was a rather small man, unprepossessing, and slightly balding. Not at all what he had expected. In spite of the fact that he should have known better, he had subconsciously been expecting someone tall, handsome, and athletic, as PIs are usually portrayed on TV or in novels. This man resembled Columbo more than James Rockford. Abe felt a strange impulse to turn around and leave, particularly after hearing the previous clients testimony.

"Mr. Force, thank you for coming. How may I help you?"

Abe closed the door and seated himself in the overstuffed chair opposite the desk. "I read about your involvement in the Sprite case, and though you might be able to help me in my predicament."

"Ah, yes. That. It seems everyone remembers that case, or least individuals I wish would forget. Well, perhaps one good thing will come out of that mess. How is it you think I may be of assistance?"

"First of all, I want you to understand that there are certain legal and perhaps underworld complications in this case. Are you willing to accept the risks and maintain a kind of investigator/client privilege"

"Mr. Force, I always maintain the kind of... privilege you require. As for the risk, I think I can handle it. But you must understand that these kind of cases cost extra."

"I am afraid that I am quite unable to pay even your normal salary." Before Kline could interject Abe quickly went on "but I think I may have something that I can barter for your services."

He could tell Kline was hooked, at least long enough to hear him out. So he went on.

"Mr. Kline, about 8 years ago I started working for the defense industry. After helping to design a new aerial battleship based on gravitics, they put me on a project to apply the technology on an individual level. I had written a paper on the relationships between different forms of energy and proposed the possibility of using the gravitic technology to produce personal force fields. You see, the trouble with the battleship we designed and built is that it cost an insane amount to build and a ridiculous amount of money to maintain. It was absolutely huge and had armor to put a conventional battleship to shame. So they wanted something more practical and my theories fit their plans. Without bothering you with the details, it was a success. The equipment is affordable and extremely powerful." Abe paused to make sure Kevin was listening and continued.

"I am here because something was wrong. What initially set me off was that certain classified papers were being faxed to a number in Argentina. I have the number memorized, Mr. Kline, and will give it to you if you accept the job. The other thing that really set off warning bells was the mysterious ISDN line the computers were connected to. When I asked my manager he claimed they went to a backup system in Denver. But they didn’t, Mr. Kline. I ran some tests and the signals went south, not West. I took my question to his manager and he repeated the story and disputed my claims. I rechecked and the lines went west. I did NOT make a mistake, they originally HAD been going south. When I did some discrete checking into their employment histories I discovered they had both been hired a month before the project began and had worked for a company called Advanced Weapons Inc. After more checking it seemed an unusual number of people were hired from that company at the same time."

"Now, I am not normally a suspicious man, but the stakes were rather high in that situation. I began taking personal measures to protect the technology. As far as management was concerned the project had run into some difficulties. I continued my research in secret. I was able to stall for over a year when I claimed that the stasis field the force field produces would paralyze the soldier. In fact, it does, but only because I made the field a sphere instead of a hollow shell. But, unfortunately, my investigations were rather clumsy. Unlike you, I am not a professional. Management started applying pressure on me and looking more closely into the reports I sent. I knew that they knew that I knew, so to speak. I do not know who these people are, Mr. Kline, and I don’t know what lengths they are willing to go to in order to possess the technology I developed. But I do know that they penetrated a Top Secret government project with at least 6 employees."

"I have a son, Mr. Kline. And I am getting old. I am under no delusions as to what a little pressure or even torture could force me to tell. So I fled with the prototype and the real files. They have some of the information but without the knowledge I, and I alone, possess, they will never be able to complete the work I started. But I am not really a criminal, and this whole matter weighs greatly on me."

"I can believe that, Mr. Force. Please continue."

"It’s actually Abe Slyzinski. This technology is incredible. The stasis field would make cryogenics a reality, right now. The gravitics would completely revolutionize architecture. The device even allows amazing FTL capabilities. In fact, in this one little package," Abe gestured at his suitcase, "is the complete answer to human kinds emigration to the stars. Think about it. Force Fields would keep out the hostile environment. Gravitic movement would allow travel to stars in a single day, like going to England. Stasis would allow transportation of any kind of good without danger. But with these testimonies to the benefits of the technology are also the possibilities of a darker future. I sincerely believe that this technology could destroy the world in the wrong hands. With this device I could cancel the gravitation of the earth in a small area. A larger device could conceivably break the connection between the Earth and Sun, sending the entire planet spinning off into the void. I want the device and the technology in the control of the US government. I think they would be responsible guardians."

"I want you to find out who is behind the infiltration of my project and clear my name. I want to be able to hand this suitcase over to my country and know that my son will no longer have to live a secret life. I want to have a normal life again and not have to live in fear every day. What I am offering to you, Mr. Kline, is my services, using KAGED to help you in your work until the job is done."

Kline’s face had become increasingly drawn during the speech. "Out of curiosity, Abe, what does KAGED stand for?"

"Kinetic And Gravitational Energy Device. It has actually developed beyond it’s initial scope and manages other forms of energy, but I like the name. "

"OK then, how can KAGED help me do my job? I don’t exactly need a personal force field."

"One of it’s most fascinating applications is its ability to read gravitational signatures. In effect it gives me the ability to see through walls. When the device is activated I am physically frozen, the device uses a cunning new language called HIGHQ developed by Dr. Milton Carlyle to use my neural network as a kind of CD ROM. In effect, the computer becomes an extension of my mind, an extension that can operate in the stasis field and process data normally unavailable to conventional senses. The device processes mass readings and translated the data into a new sense which I am able to use to interact with my surroundings, in spite of my paralysis. Have you ever seen a 3D computer model of an object, Mr. Kline. It is much like that but more detailed. I can fly, see through walls, project a force beam, produce a telekinetic affect, and I am nearly indestructible. But I can not speak, gesture, or read, as the device can not detect color. I have allowed a hole in the devices defenses to allow radio communication. As long as the jobs are legal and discrete, I am willing to put the device at your disposal."

Kevin sighed and rubbed his head. "I do not see how I could just walk away from your problem, Abe. But I would like some guarantees from you. First that you make yourself accessible to me at any moment. I have a job I am currently working on that will pay extremely well, enough to cover your costs, but I may need your help with little warning. Second, you must not use the device except when working with me. Agreed?"

"With only one exception. If my son is in danger I will not hesitate to use the device to help him. With that exception, I agree."

"Then, under the circumstances, we have a deal. I think we can skip the usual papers Abe. I don’t think I even want my secretary to know about this one."

Abe and Kevin discussed a few more details and Abe left. Kevin pulled up his web page and went to yahoo to look for Advanced Weapons Inc. under stock reports.