Daniel Ganninger - Icarus Investigations 01 - Flapjack by Daniel Ganninger

deal?  So he made a better battery, it seems rather silly,” I openly said to both of them.
    Immediately May and Galveston looked at me.
    “ Are you kidding?”  Galveston said grinning.  “Don’t you understand the implications of such a thing?  I mean, if this guy has come up with this battery, and it works, plus it can be mass produced; it could revolutionize the world.”  I thought that was a tad gallant for Dan to say.
    “ Think about what batteries are in.  Cell phones, cars, smoke detectors, ships, planes, computers.  You could have an electric car or hybrid that could get six hundred miles to the gallon.  Ships could run on batteries.  If the size is as small as David is saying, you could put these in everything.  It could be the greatest invention of the 21 st century.  It could slash oil demand and cut energy costs drastically.  This might be one of the scariest breakthroughs imaginable,” Galveston explained to me.
    May chimed in, taking Galveston’s lead.  “It is also our belief this battery is what instigated these events over the past few weeks; the break-into Dr. Sloan’s lab, the doctor’s disappearance, and the emergence of this Adamanthea file.  Governments or businesses would do anything for this technology, or not do anything and destroy it.  Do you think that Saudi Arabia would be pleased to know that oil consumption would be shattered?  A government or business could make billions of dollars on such technology.  The uses could be endless.  It is our belief that someone is thinking the same way, and they are doing whatever it takes to get their hands on this technology.”
    I sat dumbfounded.  The implications of this technology started to sink in.  A complete removal of dependence on foreign oil, clean air, complete economical advancement for developing countries with no drawbacks, these would all be positive things that could occur.  But I also pondered the negative effects; a massive loss of jobs, decreased income for nations dependent on energy production, and the trickle effects on all other areas of business and commerce.  For example, the Canadians are our biggest supplier of foreign oil, and something like this would put them out of business.  Also there were the political implications.  I was still an economist and political scientist at heart, and I had a definite cause for concern on how nations would respond.  There would be dangers of increased tension, war, and conflict as nations tried to protect their interests.
    I saw their point and was embarrassed for not having seen it sooner.  The ramifications could be devastating.  I saw why May and the FBI had tiptoed around it.  The furor it could create would be extraordinary. 
    Galveston regained his faculties.  “Now I know you’re not giving us this information out of the kindness of your heart, what’s the catch?”
    “ Well there is another reason I made sure I hired you, not just because we couldn’t get that file on our own,” May began.  “Genesis is not an independent company.  They are a subsidiary of a much larger organization.”  May paused and cleared his throat before continuing.  “They’re owned by Black Bear Security.”  
    “You don’t say,” Galveston said, not changing his demeanor, but realizing why we were hired in the first place.  “So what now?  We did the job you wanted, I don’t have any vendettas.”
    “ Maybe not, but the government needs your help.  I need your help.  We want you to work for us in locating the batteries and Dr. Sloan, by any means necessary.”
    Galveston let out a guffaw.  “I don’t think so.”
    “ Let me put it another way.  You have to work for us.”  May said the words clearly and with force.  He meant business and from his new tone I could tell he wasn’t interested in taking no for an answer.  Galveston picked up on his demeanor, too. 
    “ So let me get this straight, and correct me if I’m wrong, but you want us