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ring, to interrogate his iris one more time in response to his hitting the return key to send the message. This was a double way of ensuring that even if a person walked away from a hooked-up computer, no actions, downloading, uploading, or opening a file could occur without the ring system knowing that the cleared person was initiating the action. “Action Approved: Nucleus” popped onto the screen and then it went blank. The computer in front of Bill had no idea it had just handled ring traffic. The ring was an engine that treated any computer like a dumb terminal. All interaction and work done on the ring was accessed and processed within the ring. No cookies, saved copies, or backups to any local drives or servers. As far as the PC on his desk was concerned the last three minutes and fourteen seconds that he spent on the ring never happened.
    Realizing he had two minutes until a staff meeting, Bill picked up the new legislation that spent the night on his bedside table and walked out, smiling with a little more pep in his step because of the way he’d spent the rest of his night.
    At the meeting, he re-tasked his White House team to get all the pros and cons on the fast-tracked legislation ready for a position paper to the President in three days. Cheryl had stitched in an addendum to this morning’s agenda titled “Crisis Management.”
    â€œCheryl, what’s this last item?”
    â€œYesterday you disappeared. In the event of a real emergency you need to appoint an order of succession so we can still function and be of service if the President or whoever, needs Sci during the crisis.”
    â€œGood point. Great point! I’ll work on a short list and we’ll kick it around tomorrow.” Turning to the others, he said, “Anything else? Good, then on with your day people.”
    As he was leaving the room, Cheryl came over and gave him the look that meant wait until the others leave . Even though the room was now empty, she spoke in low tones.
    â€œMr. Hiccock, I hope you don’t mind me bringing this up, but I have lived through a couple of White House crashes before and I thought…”
    â€œCheryl, I meant what I said. It’s a great point you made and I thank you for bringing it up.”
    â€œActually, I was hoping you’d make me your second.”
    This is why he liked having Cheryl as his assistant. She saw things from the helicopter and very often from the ground up at the same time. “I’ll have to check if you would be eligible.”
    â€œI reviewed the guidelines. I qualify and section seven specifies it’s totally your call.”
    â€œWell at least you’re not pressuring me.”
    â€œDuring a crisis, if you become President it will just be about running things and making sure information flows. We are not going to be entering into new science areas. I know the machinery and where and when to kick it.”
    â€œAgain, all good points. Let me think it over.”
    â€œOkay fine.”
    â€œWait. What if I don’t choose you?”
    â€œThen I’ll know you had a good reason and I’ll accept it.”
    She got up and left. Bill felt uncomfortable but didn’t know why.
    A little bell went off in his head and he redirected his attention to the phone on his desk. He hit the auto dial, “Hi Hon, listen I was thinking about the Indian place on K Street tonight.”
    â€œOh Bill, I don’t think I am up for it. I’ve been dragging all morning. What do you say we just stay in tonight and hang low?”
    â€œSure, Babe. Are you feeling okay?”
    â€œYeah, probably just… I dunno; I am not really up for anything.”
    â€œGood enough. I should be home by seven. Love you.”
    â€œLove you too.”

Chapter Four
    DEADLY LIAISONS
    Alzir El Benhan was pleased. The handoff of his Chinese package, from the Sudanese government courier, traveling under diplomatic immunity, went