"No access codes, no help," the voice told him.

Although it was agonizing to talk he mumbled the codes, first for the main computer and then for his personal computer.

After that, he was left alone while the strange being checked through the computer files. In a few minutes, it was through and shoved the terminals to the floor in anger.

"You're not a researcher," the hoarse voice spat. "There's not a single concept worth stealing. You're worthless."

The gray coveralls towered over him, filling his blurry vision. Then a foot came up and stomped down on his chest. The joggers and gray coveralls then left the room. They were the last thing that Ryan von Stradt saw as he choked to death on his own blood.

The police were investigating the crime two hours later when the bombs went off, leveling the Computer Development Company and killing all twelve of the police officers who were inside the building.

July 6, 1535 hours, Plainsfield, New Jersey

Stanley Keen III — known behind his back as Stan Three Sticks — looked down the boardroom table at the management team of Electronic Developments Inc. The general manager, marketing director, sales manager and comptroller all wore gray suits with a fine pinstripe, much like Stan's. The product-development manager, the only other member of the management team, wore the cheapest-looking denim suit that Keen had ever seen. The men all wore white shirts and plain, solid-colored ties, except the product director who wore an open-necked, solid green, uniform shirt. On his feet, which were propped up on the boardroom table, were cowboy boots.

"Are you idiots so bankrupt for ideas that you're going to start stealing them from the Japs?" the product-development manager asked.

"We are not stealing anything!" the comptroller shouted. "We paid the fee to use Small Chips. We're entitled to use all the information it contains."