Continuum

"How so, Mary?"

"Lerno has most certainly known about the Linux computers for some time. WinTel has allowed them to continue because they serve a function for the Company that has never been very well addressed by any WinTel box. This convenient situation has never been made public, and goes contrary to the Ban. Lerno, regardless of his technical powers, will still act with predictable actions in this situation. You go and convert their antique Linux box to WinTel, using your authentic microdisk. There will be no Mac initiation this time. We expect Lerno to show up in order to cower you. He sees your innate ability as a possible threat to his World Order. He honestly believes that anyone with your talent and ability who is not on the Company payroll must be diverted or put out of service. You are like lint on his coat. He picks at it because it is a minor annoyance."

"Thanks for the great analogy, Mary!" Just what I needed to hear."

"Stevo, this is as it should be. His view of you must fall below a certain threshold, or else your perceived threat to him will grow immensely in his mind, and he will not hesitate to act swiftly and completely."

Stevo was not entirely convinced, but, as he dressed quickly to go, he was trying to get his brain around the whole matter. He always thought that it was fun to work secretly for the Continuum. It was fun pretending to be a spy, but this!? Life was much different before there was Mr. Lerno! Now he no longer cared for the game. He should quit now while he could . . . but there were so many others depending on him now! How would this all end?

"Mary, what if he does know about us?"

After a long pause, Mary answered. "We cannot be completely certain of this. There is a risk therefore, although the odds are you might be more likely to be struck by a falling plane first. Do you want to abort?"

"Stevo grinned. "No, Mary. Your guesses are better than everyone else's facts! I go unto the breach, once more, dear friend."

"Not an altogether accurate quote, but thank you, Stevo. This is much more in keeping with your character than going into hiding."

There was a knock on the door. Surprised by this, Stevo asked, quite involuntarily, "Who is it?" Then he reached over and pulled the door open.

A man was there, a driver obviously, from the look of his uniform.

"What do you want?" Steve was suddenly concerned. He held his breath for the words he knew were coming.

"I was told to come and take you to the Heresofar Company for your 10 o'clock appointment. WinTel is interested in giving you any help you need in completing this assignment."

"With an utter lack of apparent concern, Stevo got his pouch and coat. "Then by all means, let us be going."

"Mary! What is going on?"

"It was predicted, Stevo."

"You could have warned me!"

"If I had, you would not have been surprised. You needed to be, because we are certain that you are being viewed!"

"I don't like the way this is going Mary. Not at all!

When Stevo arrived, he was not completely caught off guard when he saw Mr. Lerno standing in the center of the office, looking quite smug.

"Everyone! We have before us a modern day Virtuoso, who is going to fix your equipment for you. Gads! This man is a genius, or I am not the Western Prime Director of WinTel!"

Not one of the men and women in white lab coats either moved or spoke. Many of them appeared to be on the verge of tears, however. A few had an arm about a co-worker, offering at least that scant comfort in the face of their impending great loss.

"Where do I begin, Mr. Lerno?" A grim faced Stevo stood unmoving at the door. He knew exactly what was to follow.

"Why don't you set there," Lerno indicated the first computer nearest the door.

This is an opportunity for you to help these good people by a simple ReInstall. Somehow, something or other like a virus has gotten into their network, and they need your expert assistance."

Stevo sat where he was told. "I contracted to restore a single obsolete computer. I did not expect to do this."

"Don't worry, they will pay your increased contracted fee. Just use your registered disk, and the newest updated downloads will come down the Hub to rebuild each of their computers. . . .Your disk is registered, is it not?"

"Always and forever, Mr. Lerno, but you knew that."

The computers looked like standard issue WinTel boxes. He knew that they had an altogether different OS, but he also knew that there was no way to back-up any OS on these machines. So much for these guys to be able reinstall their stuff once Lerno was gone! Once he reinstalled the whole system, everything they had on these machines would be lost forever.

Stevo placed his microdisk on the front indentation of the desktop computer. Within seconds, the deed was done. Whatever previous operating system and data that was on all of these machines was now replaced by the 'latest and greatest' Windows Operating System. Stevo felt sick to his stomach. Linux was such a spunky and stable OS. What possible threat to the great WinTel was this company and its few, dedicated programmers?

Lerno walked over to where he was sitting. "Bravo! Magnificent performance.

Even the best of my own Technicians could not have done a better job. Thank you Mr. Stevo, for the great service you rendered to these fine people. They will all be able to work much better now! Won't you folks?" Lerno turned to address them all, with arms spread wide in a flourish.