The Menedacus Legacy: Green Karats

PROLOGUE

T ying up all of the loose ends on the findings after my adopted sister Lisa’s kidnapping had taken over a year for Cleo. All of her stress over Lisa being missing wasn’t as bad as the horrific death of her abductors, Lisa’s own half sister Gloria Stevenson Bryer. Visiting the South American Estate to tie up loose ends had given her technical brain a workout. Now, she was on her way home from South America and hated to leave Uncle Mick and all of the natives she’d met and learned to love. The area wasn’t quite up to par with modern civilization but it was in the remote part of the Jungle and she like it.

Uncle Mick was once again her rock. Beside Lisa and her new husband Robert, they were her family and the only three people she truly trusted, but now it was time to leave this jungle she’d learned to love and return to Virginia and live on the property her parents had left to them. On her portion of the land she designed and built an underground Bunker. Here she’d be safely housed with her computer and personal technologies, the massive and sophisticated system she built with programs she created.

I call the system MOD (My Own Device). Mod was her only passion in life. She had never been interested in men since none had been interested in her and probably never would. At 37 years old, she didn’t care.

Robert, her brother-in-law had sent her a message that her bunker was complete and ready for her to unpack her computer system and set it up. All was secure and she was anxious to get Mod totally back together and running at full capacity.

Flights took time, she had a lay over in Daytona and decided to spend a few hours on the beach and relax until her connecting flight was ready later that night. It only took two sand flea bites and a few sand spurs in her flesh for her to remember, she hated the beach.

Only two things were on her mind and it bothered her. Could she deal with being alone in her bunker for long periods of time after interacting with the natives in the past year? Would her brain convert and return to a normalcy before Gloria messed up everything? She knew Mod would help; she had that much faith in her system.

CHAPTER 1

C leo finally arrived and stood at her sister Lisa kitchen window. It was also her new home in Virginia. The property had been left to them by their parents and the old farm house was Lisa’s half. Her half was out in the middle of a pasture that she was viewing through the window; she frowned at all of the animals grazing on those lush grasses.

How do you expect me to work in my bunker knowing there’s a herd of sheep and alpaca crapping on my roof every second of the day? She complained to her sister, who was really showing with her second baby.

Well, are they making that much noise? Here, have a cookie, I made them myself, try one with some caffeine to soften them up a bit. I looked at the mass of dough skeptically.

I’ll have a few of the ranch hands fence off your grassy roof tomorrow, will that make you happy? Robert asked as he came into the kitchen.

Very and I want to be in the middle of fifty acres, I don’t want anything interfering with Mod. Did you get the fiber optics in and set up as Mod directed? I asked with a mouth full of cookie.

Ha, that’s entirely too much fencing, settle for a twenty foot radius around your bunker and I’ll still have plenty of room to graze the animals. Everything is done Cleo, all you have to do is move in and set up whatever that secret electronic stuff is and turn the bloody thing on.

Let’s not get hostile Robert. I was still concentrating on the hard cookie.

I hope you like the bunker, Lisa said calmly, your cats do. Lately they’ve taken to the barn though along with two sets of kittens.

I walked away from the window and stuffed my pocket with cookies. I am ready, which way to the bunker? I inquired and looked around the kitchen for a secret passage.

This way, Robert said and directed me to the pantry. Enter at your own risk and Mod will let you in. I’m not allowed to have your codes, YET. He laughed as he stood there and Cleo stepped into the room and looked around in confusion.

There’s nothing in here but shelves of canned foods and three walk in freezers. Where is the door to the bunker and which freezer is the ice cream in? She laughed.

First freezer near the door, he pointed and left for the kitchen.

Cleo did have her ear piece in so she could communicate with her system, Lisa and Robert. Do we have a good connection Mod?

Affirmative.

Then tell me how to get into the bunker. She said loudly as she turned another full circle in this pantry looking for a door. There was no sound as one whole wall of shelves opened about two feet. It’s a little narrow, don’t you think?

It becomes wider when needed as does the pantry door, Mod answered, however not necessarily at the same time.

Cleo walked through the opening as lights flickered on in a seemingly endless concrete corridor. Before her was a golf cart and she got in it and sat down. I don’t know how to drive one of these things. Where are the instructions?

They are not necessary, Mod informed her. Buckle up and hold on.

The cart took off like a shot and jolted her head back; she almost fell out of the thing. Slow down, this thing is scarier then the canoe ride I had to take last year on the ocean. How far is the bunker?

Approximately, a quarter of a mile in the middle of the pasture you were looking toward earlier in the kitchen. Everything is at least twenty feet below the surface, which is flat and even satellite sensors can not detect the bunker. It is constructed with two foot thick, poured concrete walls, very well insulated and waterproof on the outside. Its water system is separate from the house as is the sewage and electrical. Everything is solar powered and independent of each other. Each system has its own back up generator in case of malfunction, especially for me. New systems have been generated and I am totally solar now.

Can you at least tell me when you evolve yourself? I asked and laughed.

Mod was the passion in my life and my only joy was with a sophisticated computer system. Mod had been programmed with state of the art programs I had composed myself, allowing it to reason with logic. At times its reasoning was slightly off the charts, but it learned on its own. It took years to build it but I was a geek and had finally accepted that fact.

There is some natural light through the fiber optics, but you are required to be in the sun at least three hours a day. No tanning beds allowed here. I’ve made up an exercise program for you. Mod related in her ear piece.

I don’t think so. I’ll do that myself.

There is an alternate route to the bunker from the barn. It is also how your felines enter and exit.

How can they do that and the bunker be secure?

All will be explained as we go along, after the system is together, up and running. Be patient Cleo, Mod stated as the golf cart came to a stop at a blank wall.

This entrance is a 2 inch steel door, camouflaged like the rest of the wall and hard to find, I am afraid you will have to manually open this. Once inside and after you set my terminal up, I can install the pass codes and security back up. For now, just call me.

Alright, Mod, I yelled, how’s that? I stood and watched as the door opened, rolling back into the wall. Lights flickered on and my mouth fell open in wonder. I’d been expecting concrete walls, floors and ceiling but found a 3000 square foot completely open dwelling.

There were wood sided walls, soft textured ceilings that had to be at least twelve feet high and parquet floors with room size, plush Persian rugs scattered about. I saw no interior walls but furniture set strategically to separate areas of my living space. As I walked around the sound of a light waterfall started and new lights came on around a wall of water splashing into a narrow pool at the base. Behind it were my new sleeping quarters.

Oh Lisa, I thought, you did this for me? I never realize you had interior design in you. I love it.

Where’s the closet, the chest of drawers where am I supposed to put my clothes? Do I have to buy furniture?

Everything is built into the walls and voice activated when…

I know Mod, when I put the system together.

It’s such a demanding computer, I though and laughed to myself.

Now, where’s the kitchen?

I can not activate the kitchen until…

Then take me to the crates and let’s get started. I said loudly through my teeth.

Mod educated me through the ear set as I counted the crates to make sure all of them were there and then popped the first cover off. All of my electronics were encased in grey foam made for sensitive computers. As the crates were taken down my eyes once again opened in wonder. There was a stone fireplace behind the stack of crates and not just any fireplace, but a walk in type with a massive mantel of notched heavy oak logs.

It’s beautiful, who designed this Mod? Can I have a real fire in it?

Robert designed it after he cut the logs. This fireplace runs on blue flame gas, it is clean, doesn’t need to be vented and will put out heat. Once again, Cleo you must open my quarters manually.

How, I asked.

Touch the mantel on the right side, there is a cover there similar to a light switch.

As I did, a ten by ten door slid into the wall and before me was a bare room completely sealed in rubber matting.

Empty the crates out here and take the crates in first. The crates are the base for you to assemble the system. They are wooden and will not create static. I have rearranged your staging to make it more efficient. Shall we begin? Mod voiced.

Affirmative, I stated and laughed.

CHAPTER 2

R obert was occupied playing with his son Mickey on the kitchen rug as Lisa put dinner together.

Have you heard or seen Cleo lately? I know she is down in that hole, but it’s been two days and Mod is quiet. I sure hope nothing has gone wrong. Can we buzz her or something Lisa?

She had quite a bit to do setting her terminal up. If you remember it took us three days to pack it and there were three of us. I’ll try after we eat and put Mickey down for the night.

Robert was chewing his first mouthful very carefully, when the pantry door flew open and hit the wall.

Food, I need food. Cleo raged as she flopped at the table and sat. "I don’t care what it is; just put it on a plate Lisa. I’m starved. There is no way I can eat a waterfall and fireplace. There is no food in the bunker!

Slow down, was heard by all three of them, or you might choke, then where will I be, voiced Mod?

Both of them watched as Cleo gulped down her food, in amusement.

Just shut up you bloated chip board. Don’t you ever lock me up again or I’ll fry your circuit ass.

I did not lock you up. I just couldn’t get you out of the bunker until we had some sort of connection.

What’s this, a lovers spat? Robert said laughing.

I just gave him the evil eye and continued to stuff my face.

Now Mod, I personally know the escape route is working. Did you not think of that? Robert questioned.

See, Cleo yelled, he knows more then you do Mod. All of that panic attack for nothing. Just go plug into Roberts laptop and order what we need and I’ll pick it up tomorrow. Don’t screw up. I’m sleeping up here tonight, without my earpiece. I ranted. Got any desert Lisa? Perhaps a fresh full pot of coffee or a twelve pack of soda? I feel like I’ve been locked up in solitary confinement for a week!

Lisa returned later from taking care of her son, readying Cleo’s room and listened as Cleo told Robert what she needed to do in the bunker with shelving that had to be built to hold her system. Mod had come up with its own conditions for setting up the computer room.

Building is out of my area of expertise, I informed him. Heavy work is not my forte and maybe you can make some sense out of what Mod has designed.

She shoved a piece of paper in front of Robert. I don’t think you’d have a problem with working with the maniac chipboard. This is what the system wants can you make sense of this?

Robert glanced over the basic structure on the paper and laughed. This is a basic design of shelving to hold weight. What I can’t understand are the materials. There are absolutely no metal parts in the design, not even a screw.

Oh, it’s got something to do with being underground, optics and static. Don’t ask me, all I know is my program has evolved passed me in certain fields, like this building of things. The sooner it is built, the sooner we’ll be up and running to full capacity.

Mod, Robert addressed the computer, Since you put this together, have you ordered these materials yet?

Affirmative and they can be picked up today. There will be no delivery. Do you own a large vehicle?

Everyone in the kitchen laughed at the computers logic.

Robert and Cleo disappeared for three days and only came up into the house to eat and sleep. Putting together this contraption wasn’t as easy as everyone thought. Lisa’s perfect life evolved into one of love and family. It also blurred into being a work horse with her son Mickey, daily cooking and wifely duties. All of it was hard and she was pregnant once again with hers and Roberts’s second child. Granted the morning sickness was finally gone but she was stressed all of the time and had no energy. All of it was compounded with the problems of Cleo’s lifestyle. She didn’t know how to put an end to this sisterly sharing.

Cleo needed a man to take up her own life with. She firmly intended to do something so that she didn’t have more children, two would be quite adequate for a family, she resolved.

I laughed to myself when the thought of the 17th century woman, popped into my head. Well, this wasn’t the 17th century and I won’t live like it is. I thought.

Mod interrupted her thoughts.

Cleo has informed me that she has cooked dinner and the three of you are to be in the bunker tonight with her. Mod reverberated around the room.

Mod, you are not in my ear, but the house. Is the terminal done? I secretly hoped it was.

Not entirely but well on the way. It will be officially working tonight.

Where are Robert and Cleo? Before she could say more, two laughing people walked out of the pantry and sat at the kitchen table.

I’m so glad that is over with. Robert said in a testy voice. At one time I liked computers but this one is totally out of my league, to demanding and exceptionally complicated. I hope you can handle it from here Cleo, I’m done with that thing.

Cleo, Mod said we are to have dinner in the bunker tonight? Lisa asked.

I cooked, aren’t you proud of me? Did it all in a crock pot too. Tonight is the official opening of my major terminal and I want to share it with family and officially thank both of you for my beautiful bunker home. We have one hour so I’m going to take my last shower in your house. She laughed and headed for her temporary bedroom.

I turned to Robert, It’s all done then?

He just shrugged his shoulders. My part is. The rest is up to your geek of a sister and that temperamental system of hers. He laughed.

This is excellent Cleo you have to teach me how to use a crock pot. Lisa laughed.

Ask Mod, its latest venture is the cooking channels on the TV. I’m Mods hands, so it thinks! Are we ready Mod?

Affirmative, I am fully back to normal, all systems are working perfectly. At this time, we are once again secure with communication to New York City and I am sending and receiving off of a building in Alexandria Virginia until the satellite can be established at this bunker.

Whoa and where will we put this big assed dish? Cleo asked. That thing alone can be seen from space.

When I have the full blueprints done we will continue from there, in the meantime I have some interesting files from Uncle Mick in South America that is not understandable to my system. All three of you need to be aware of these files, they are a mystery.

What kind of mystery? Lisa asked as she tucked Mickey in on the sofa to sleep.

Copies of the files are in the printer tray for you to study. Mod related as all three looked around in confusion trying to find the printer.

Ok Mod, where did you have me put the printer? Robert asked.

There are two printers here now. The one you need is in the kitchen next to the old fake PC tower.

Right, he laughed, just where it should be. When he returned to the living area he was grumbling. What’s all that other stuff printed out? I had to hunt for the important files.

Cleo laughed. Receipts I’m supposed to cook!

I hope they are for one person, I’m not eating that stuff. He laughed.

Here is a weird one. Mod what is this order from Paris? What have you purchased and I sure hope we have enough funds to pay for it.

I have hired the services of a sculptor to make the fountain for the top of the bunker.

YOU DID WHAT? Cleo yelled.

When he or she is here, you will get the blueprints and naturally agree with my purchases. Until then, chill. No more panic attacks.

Robert sat quietly looking over the inventory that was in the South American Estate House that had recently come into Lisa’s possession. He only remembered one room of that house when he was on assignment to capture the Cartel Lord that lived in those jungles. Nothing of value really came to his mind at that time. He just remembered the plush rugs and expensive crystal at the bar on the veranda. After looking on his list of inventory, he found that room and saw the inventory list of items.

This list is long, but the total for the value isn’t squat. He stated.

As you read on, you will find all of the totals of value are very low on the inventory of the entire estate. Everything in that compound is a copy. There are no antiques but replicas. Mod informed him. There are only two vehicles that belong to the estate and both are US issue army jeeps.

Lisa was confused. What about the jet, yacht and limo, all of those things that were in Uncle Mick’s name?

Technically, they are Uncle Mick’s. Mod answered.

Are you telling me all of the properties belong to him too?

Ironically they are Uncle Mick’s also, they are in his name, by whatever means of the capture of his identity they used. He is aware of the problem and is anxious for you to do something. He does not want any of it. The estate in South America was the only real estate that belongs to you. That estate consisted of 100 acres of jungle that was titled to Rolando DeSpain. It was entitled to him after the death of his parents. I have reviewed their will and there is a clause. It states that if he doesn’t have a blooded off spring at the time of his death the estate and all assets were to be turned over the decedents of the Menedacus Family in Greece that do have blooded children.

Wow that explains quite a bit of him getting my mother pregnant. Lisa explained.

There is also another puzzling clause in Constance DeSpains will. It seems they left some sort of collection of gems and valuable ancient artifacts, but they are hidden in South America somewhere on that estate. It is very confusing. I do not have enough information to report any findings.

I remember those wills. I found them last year when I went down there for you and did send you a copy. Didn’t you read them Lisa? I need to look at those wills again,