The Disruptive Factor: Thriller E-Book

Jack Raymond

• Herausgeber: Alfredbooks
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 147

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

by JACK RAYMOND A routine job turns into a nightmare. A lawyer becomes a target. Insurance lawyer Alex Thorkild is supposed to simply inspect a €50 million asset in a secluded high-tech estate – a straightforward job at the end of his much-needed vacation. But the asset is Prometheus, the world's most advanced artificial intelligence. When a bizarre experiment ends in a deadly catastrophe, Alex goes from investigator to prime suspect – and target. Hunted by a ruthless team of mercenaries and betrayed by the people he should trust most, he begins a desperate escape through the wilderness. His only hope is an unlikely alliance with a mysterious spy and the brilliant creator of the AI. But as they fight for survival, Alex realizes that far more than stolen technology is at stake. It's a weapon that could plunge the world into chaos. In a race against time, a man whose only weapon so far has been the fine print in contracts must win a game whose rules he doesn't know. Because in this game, he is the decisive disruptive factor.

Leseprobe

Jack Raymond

The Disruptive Factor: Thriller

UUID: 1db96125-3c13-4261-b467-80c0271b4dcf

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

The Disruptive Factor: Thriller

Copyright

Glossary: ​​The disruptive factor

persons

places

Terms and abbreviations

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Orientierungspunkte

Titelseite

Cover

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Buchanfang

The Disruptive Factor: Thriller

by JACK RAYMOND

A routine job turns into a nightmare. A lawyer becomes a target.

Insurance lawyer Alex Thorkild is supposed to simply inspect a €50 million asset in a secluded high-tech estate – a straightforward job at the end of his much-needed vacation. But the asset is Prometheus, the world's most advanced artificial intelligence. When a bizarre experiment ends in a deadly catastrophe, Alex goes from investigator to prime suspect – and target.

Hunted by a ruthless team of mercenaries and betrayed by the people he should trust most, he begins a desperate escape through the wilderness. His only hope is an unlikely alliance with a mysterious spy and the brilliant creator of the AI. But as they fight for survival, Alex realizes that far more than stolen technology is at stake. It's a weapon that could plunge the world into chaos.

In a race against time, a man whose only weapon so far has been the fine print in contracts must win a game whose rules he doesn't know. Because in this game, he is the decisive disruptive factor.

Copyright

A CassiopeiaPress book: CASSIOPEIAPRESS, UKSAK E-Books, Alfred Bekker, Alfred Bekker presents, Cassiopeia-XXX-press, Alfredbooks, Bathranor Books, Uksak Special Edition, Cassiopeiapress Extra Edition, Cassiopeiapress/AlfredBooks and BEKKERpublishing are imprints of

Alfred Bekker

© Roman by Author

© this edition 2025 by AlfredBekker/CassiopeiaPress, Lengerich/Westphalia

The fictional characters have no relation to any real persons. Any similarities in names are coincidental and unintentional.

All rights reserved.

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Everything about fiction!

Glossary: ​​The disruptive factor

This glossary serves as a reference guide for the central characters, locations, and concepts of the story. All descriptions are intentionally spoiler-free and reflect the reader's knowledge at the beginning of the story.

persons

Alex Thorkild:The protagonist. A shrewd and slightly cynical insurance lawyer for "Aegis Global Secure," specializing in the valuation of unique and high-risk investments. He is pulled from his vacation to take on a case at the Sanctuary.

Cynthia:Alex's ambitious and demanding boss at Aegis Global Secure is the one who tasks Alex with investigating "Project Prometheus X".

Dr. Lena Hanson:The lead scientist and chief architect behind Prometheus X. She is highly intelligent, professional, and deeply connected to her creation.

Decker:The Sanctuary's head of security. A pragmatic and robust man responsible for the physical protection of Prometheus X, and skeptical of Mrs. Veldt's esoteric experiments.

Maya:A young, capable, and independent woman from the region who works various jobs. She drives Alex to the sanctuary in her Jeep, as the road there is difficult.

Fergus:An older, weather-beaten local man who lives near Alex's vacation spot, working as a fisherman and caretaker. He is one of the first people Alex meets in the story.

Mrs. Veldt:The eccentric, wealthy, and superstitious owner of the sanctuary and the AI ​​Prometheus X. She usually appears via video conference.

Raphael:A highly specialized expert, described as a "neuro-architect," is brought to the Sanctuary to conduct a crucial experiment with Prometheus X.

Cornelius:Raphael's quiet and unassuming companion. His exact role in the project is unclear at the beginning.

Sterling:A mysterious, elegantly dressed and self-assured man unexpectedly appears at the Sanctuary and shows a strong interest in Prometheus X.

Pete:Sterling's young and visibly nervous technical assistant.

places

Das Sanctuary:A hypermodern, isolated, and heavily fortified estate in a remote forest and lake landscape. It serves as a research center and "home" for the AI ​​Prometheus X.

Fergus' Hut:Fergus's simple and rustic wooden cabin, located directly on the lake, serves as the starting point of the story.

There is a bunker:An ancient, hidden and self-sufficient underground facility on the grounds of the sanctuary, built by the original builder of the estate.

Radio tower:A regional telecommunications tower that provides network and communication services to the entire area.

Terms and abbreviations

Prometheus X:The central figure of the story. A next-generation artificial intelligence, considered the world's most valuable and advanced technological asset.

Project Prometheus X:The overarching research project dedicated to the development, training, and evolution of the AI ​​Prometheus X.

Aegis Global Secure:The highly specialized insurance company where Alex Thorkild works specializes in insuring unique and extremely valuable assets that no ordinary insurance policy would cover.

Synchronization / Singularity:Terms used in the context of Raphael and Mrs. Veldt's experiment. The goal is to combine human consciousness with AI to create a new, higher form of intelligence.

EMP:Abbreviation for ANDlektro mmore agnetic Puls. An artificially generated energy wave capable of destroying or disabling unprotected electronic devices within a certain radius.

HVAC:Abbreviation for Heating, Inentilation, and Aand CConditioning. Refers to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems of a building.

Chapter 1

Alex Thorkild sat on the porch of a minimalist lakeside cabin, his feet propped up on the glass railing, doing something radically anachronistic: reading a hardback book. The paper smelled of dust and vanilla, a scent no e-reader could ever replicate. Below him, the lake glittered, a pristine expanse of sapphire, framed by a dense forest of pines and birches, their leaves trembling in the gentle breeze. There was no cell service, no Wi-Fi, no noise of civilization. It was the kind of silence that would cost a fortune in the city, and Alex sighed contentedly as he turned the page.

A rattling noise jolted him out of his analog bliss. A small fishing boat, past its prime, chugged towards the jetty. At the helm stood Fergus, a man who looked as if he had been carved from the wood of the surrounding trees – sinewy, weather-beaten, with a beard that could probably accommodate small birds.

"Morning," Fergus growled, spitting a stream of brown chewing tobacco into the water. "Thought I'd check if you hadn't been eaten by a bear."

"Not yet," Alex replied dryly. "Apparently, I'm not on their menu. Too much irony in my blood."

"Are you going hiking and birdwatching again later?"

Alex nodded. "Yes. Over there, into the bay."

“Nothing there,” said Fergus. “Nothing but trees, mosquitoes, and that sort of thing.”

"I know. That's exactly why I want to go there."

Fergus shrugged. "Well, to each their own, as I always say." He held up a rusty thermos. "A sip to start the day? Homemade coffee. Makes your hair stand on end."

Alex shuddered at the thought. "A sip of that tar? No, thank you."

“This stuff has character,” Fergus admitted. He took a deep drag, grimaced briefly, and screwed the cap back on. “But once you get used to it, it’s the only thing you’ll ever drink.” Suddenly, he tilted his head and listened. “There’s something coming. Doesn’t sound like a bird.”

Alex listened too, but could hear nothing except the buzzing of a distant bumblebee and the splashing of the waves against the jetty.

"That's that drone again," Fergus said contemptuously. "I recognize the buzzing of that newfangled rubbish immediately."

Now Alex heard the noise too. A high-pitched, whirring hum that quickly grew louder. It wasn't coming from the street, but from above. A black dot in the sky grew rapidly, and a few moments later a high-tech drone, as big as a coffee table, hovered above the porch. Blue LEDs blinked on its underside.

“What the…”, Alex muttered.

A robotic arm lowered and dropped a small, waterproof Pelican case onto the wooden porch floor. Then, with a high-pitched whir, the drone rose again and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

"Hello, civilization," Fergus said, shaking his head. "So it has found you after all."

Alex stared at the suitcase. His company logo was emblazoned on it: "Aegis Global Secure – Insurance for the Uninsurable." He opened the latches. Inside, nestled in foam, was a satellite phone. The moment he took it out, it rang shrilly.

"Damn it," Alex cursed softly. He pressed the green button. "Thorkild."

"Alex, darling!" His boss Cynthia's voice sounded like it was speaking through a blender full of ice cubes—sharp, cold, and expensive. "You've had enough vacation and hugged enough trees, so how about some work? Stop. We've got our eye on 'Project Prometheus X,' worth fifty million euros, and the thing's stuck in a hole called 'The Sanctuary.' I hear something's brewing. Stop. Go there, look around, and get us out of there. Stop. Now! Stop."

The last part was an imitation of the old telegram style she used when she was particularly impatient.

Alex rubbed his temples. He was a young man whose relaxed demeanor concealed a latent energy. With his dark hair and blue eyes, which usually held a spark of amusement, he seemed more like a start-up founder than a senior lawyer for one of the world's most exclusive insurance firms.

"Have you read this?" Fergus asked curiously from the boat.

“I heard it,” Alex corrected. “My boss. She says my vacation is over. Fifty million are at risk, and I’m supposed to do something about it.”

“Fifty million,” Fergus repeated reverently. “I’d be damn proud if my house was worth that much – even if it burned down.”

"Have you ever heard of 'Project Prometheus X'?" Alex asked.

Fergus shook his head. "Sounds like the name for a rocket or a bomb. But I don't know anyone with that name."

"And a place called 'The Sanctuary'?"

Fergus scratched his beard. "I reckon this must be that tech billionaire's old estate. Some eccentric bought it a few years ago and turned it into a fortress."

"Where is it?"

“About forty kilometers west of here,” Fergus said. Alex looked at him.

"Can you drive me over today?"

Fergus shook his head. "Unfortunately not. My motor is acting up. I'm waiting for a replacement part, which is supposed to arrive with another drone. Ironic, isn't it?"

"And you?" Alex shouted to a figure who had just come roaring out of the forest path on a quad bike. It was Maya, a young woman with a wild ponytail and oil-stained hands, who did pretty much any job within a fifty-kilometer radius.

“Possibly,” said Maya, pulling her safety goggles up onto her forehead. “As soon as I’ve delivered this package for the old hermit on the mountain. What’s up?”

"Ich muss zum Sanktuarium."

Maya whistled through her teeth. "To the great Wizard of Oz? Sure. But it costs extra. The road there is pure torture."

It took almost two hours for Maya to complete her delivery and for Alex to be seated in her battered Jeep with his backpack. The forty kilometers Fergus had mentioned were clearly a straight line. The route Maya took was a labyrinth of dirt roads winding through the dense forest. To make matters worse, a summer thunderstorm had turned the road into a muddy track.

It was already dusk when the Jeep began to swerve on a particularly steep bend, and Maya brought it to a stop with a jerk.

“There it is,” said Maya, pointing to the upper right. “As stylish as a space station on the moon, huh?”

The building stood enthroned on the hill, a bold construction of black glass, steel, and concrete that stood out from the organic surroundings like a hostile anomaly. Despite its modern architecture, it appeared eerily old and menacing in the twilight, as if it harbored a dark secret.

“That tech guy, Veldt, built this five years ago,” Maya remarked. “A total nutcase. They say he made his first fortune developing an AI that could predict the stock market. He’s been holed up here ever since. They say he should never leave the property.”

"Don't you want to go up?" Alex asked impatiently.

“No,” said Maya. “That’s not possible right now. The private road is heated to keep it free of ice, but my Jeep will just dig itself in with all this mud. You’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”

Alex got out of the car. He was tired, drenched in sweat, and in a terrible mood. He sighed as he looked at the long, illuminated staircase leading up to the main entrance.

"Should I wait?" asked Maya.

Alex shook his head. "No. That's fine. If I can't find a ride, I'll call you on the satellite phone. That would be faster."

“That could be,” Maya admitted. “But whatever you do, don’t take any shortcuts through the forest. There are bogs here, and they’re not a place to wander aimlessly.”

"I'll manage," Alex said. "How much do I owe you?"

Maya waved her hand dismissively. "It's on the house. I'm curious. Nobody goes to the sanctuary voluntarily. This is the best story in weeks. But tell me... you're not afraid of... algorithms, are you?"

Alex turned around. "Algorithms? What do you mean?"

Maya shrugged. "Some people here say the whole house is controlled by an AI that has developed a life of its own. They say it makes the lights flicker at night and sometimes whispers over the speakers. Of course, I don't want to claim to have ever heard it, but I don't want to either."

"If she whispers, I'll say hello from you," Alex said, grinning.

“You might not get the chance,” Maya said seriously. “Drive carefully.”

Alex set off. Behind him, he heard the Jeep's engine roar as Maya turned around and drove off. The gravel crunched under his expensive hiking boots, and the cool evening air felt clean on his face. After walking for a while, he stopped to catch his breath. The silence of the forest seemed to pulsate, and the shadows between the trees transformed into creeping, eerie creatures.

Alex shrugged and let out a low grunt of disdain for his own fantasy. Then, looking around, he saw a red light watching him from the bushes to his left. A single, pulsating red dot. A security camera.

"Hello," said Alex.

The light flashed briefly, as if acknowledging his presence. He turned away, and at the same moment felt a tingling sensation in the back of his neck, as if he were being watched by dozens of invisible eyes.

"Paranoia," Alex muttered to himself.

He resolutely continued up the winding path. Finally, he stepped onto a vast, immaculately maintained expanse of dark slate, leading to a monumental entrance. A ten-meter-high door of black titanium, without a visible handle or lock.

The house itself was in perfect condition. Alex stepped closer. Next to the door was a small, glowing panel. He pressed his thumb against it. A soft whirring sound filled the air, and a calm, synthetic female voice spoke from an invisible speaker.

"Identity not recognized. Please state your request."

"James A. Daye... oh, damn. Alex Thorkild. I'm from Aegis Global Secure. I have an appointment regarding Project Prometheus X."

A thin beam of light scanned his face. After a long, silent pause, the voice said: "Your identity is being verified. Please wait."

Alex waited, and just when he thought he would have to spend the night outdoors, the huge door swung silently inwards.

"Good evening," said Alex. "I wanted... I wanted..."

He had expected everything, but not what he saw now.

A woman stood in the dazzling white, cathedral-like foyer. She was slender, with a bearing that exuded quiet authority. Her blonde hair was tied back in a tight bun. She wore a minimalist, gray pantsuit that looked like a uniform.

"Yes?" she said coolly. "What did you want?" Her grey eyes were large and analytical.

Alex swallowed. "Uh, yeah. I wanted to see the project manager of Prometheus X."

“Why do you want to see him?” she asked, without changing her expression.

Alex said: “I’m a lawyer. My name is Alex Thorkild. I’m employed by Aegis Global, and this company has a policy for Project Prometheus X. I simply wanted to speak with the person in charge… well, regarding the insurance.”

The woman didn't move. "Do you have a digital proof of authorization?"

“Of course,” Alex said, pulling out his satellite phone on which he had stored Cynthia’s encrypted file. He held the screen out to her. “Here’s my company profile. Here’s the power of attorney. Here’s the policy number.”

The woman pulled a wafer-thin tablet out of her bag, scanned the QR code on Alex's phone, and after a while nodded seriously.

"These appear to be genuine. My name is Dr. Lena Hanson, Mr. Thorkild. I am the lead architect of the project. I'm sorry to have to question you like this, but you understand that we need to be very careful at the moment."

“Oh yes,” said Alex, without understanding anything. “You said you were the architect?”

“Yes.” She gave no further explanation. “You are welcome to see Prometheus X. It’s downstairs in the core unit.”

“Core unit?” Alex repeated.

"Yes. He's currently preparing his dinner."

“He’s… processing… his dinner,” Alex repeated blankly. “In the core unit?”

“Yes.”

“Oh,” Alex said, his brain working overtime. “Does it process… normally in the core unit?”

"But of course. Where else would he process it?"

“I… wouldn’t know,” Alex said. He was beginning to think that Cynthia’s telegram imitation hadn’t been an exaggeration. Something was clearly very wrong here.

“I’ll take you there,” said Dr. Hanson. She stepped aside. “This way.”

Alex followed her through sterile, white corridors whose walls blended seamlessly into the floor.

“We need to hurry,” said Dr. Hanson. “The synchronization starts soon.”

"Is that so?" Alex asked. "Would that make a difference?"

"Of course. It's the first complete dubbing, and Mrs. Veldt has been waiting for it for quite some time."

"Why?" asked Alex.

"For the singularity."

Alex stopped abruptly. "I think I misheard. Did you say... singularity?"

"But yes. Didn't you know that?"

“I didn’t do it, and I’m not doing it now,” Alex said. “What exactly is… synchronization?”

"A neural interface. Mrs. Veldt brought Prometheus X here to connect it to a human consciousness and initiate the next stage of evolution."

“A consciousness connection,” Alex said, completely astonished. “My God, I think I’m way too early. Let’s hurry.”

They entered a vast, darkened room. It was a kind of control center, dominated by a huge glass wall that offered a view of a room below. In this room stood a single, luminous cube of constantly shifting light patterns, connected by thousands of fiber optic cables. Dim light filtered through the wide windows, revealing the figure of a man standing before the control panel. He was short and extremely broad-shouldered, wearing tactical trousers and a black polo shirt with the Sanctuary logo. His face was hard, and his protruding eyes regarded Alex suspiciously.

"What does he want here?" the man growled.

Dr. Hanson said quietly: "This is Decker, Mr. Thorkild. He is the head of security and trainer of Prometheus X."