London, June 2073
Ava executed her next jump as planned, and made her way to the familiar Internet café she had frequented in 2071. This time, she hit the jackpot. The online world was buzzing with details about a fresh billionaire on the block – Sebastian Montague, aged thirty-six – who not only met the expectations set by the profiling software but exceeded every single criterion.
The instant Ava unearthed the fact that Sebastian had inherited his wealth after his father’s passing in an accident, her MI5 instincts kicked in: the circumstances surrounding Reginald’s demise weren’t just suspicious, they screamed foul play. The anomaly rested in the peculiar nature of the accident, considering the advanced safety features equipped in vehicles of this era. Both vehicles involved should have autonomously reacted to the imminent collision, thereby preventing it altogether. Despite the failsafe nature of this technology, it failed to function as expected, pointing at possible tampering.
Also, all vehicles on the road during this period were electric, and they rarely ignited after collisions. Since the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the early to mid-2010s, significant advancements had been made in safety features.
These vehicles now incorporated built-in Class D fire extinguishers and advanced lithium-ion batteries engineered to prevent ignition, marking a considerable improvement in their design. The details painted a suspicious picture – a collision engineered to ensure that there would be no body left for a post-mortem – the epitome of a well-planned assassination.
Ava’s profiling had uncovered several characteristics about the man leading the rogue faction, and she found herself rapidly confirming them. Sebastian emerged as not only unmarried with no children but also as a brilliant mind, excelling in both mathematics and physics. Adding to the intrigue, the company he had inherited boasted a reputation for pioneering technological solutions.
Determined to uncover more about the company, she delved deeper into its history and discovered that upon assuming control, Sebastian had established two new branches. The enterprise CSG emerged as a flawless facade, enabling Sebastian to present himself as an advocate for the environment.
Every article she scrutinised appeared designed to depict a compassionate persona, positioning him as an Eco Warrior dedicated to the mission of saving the world. It was all too carefully orchestrated, and obviously bullshit. To uncover the truth, she understood she’d need to leap forward in time, delving deeper into Sebastian’s companies, possibly ten years ahead. This span should provide ample time to grasp the actual operations and activities of these businesses.
Ava then turned her attention to the darknet websites, exploring those that had emerged since her last check-in back in 2071. Among them, she stumbled upon a familiar site she had encountered during her journey to New York in 2085 – the mysterious Extinction League.
At that moment, Ava comprehended she lacked tangible evidence beyond a verified profile list. Uncovering any connections on the dark web related to Sebastian Montague would provide her with vital information to present to Victor; however, she recognised the futility of attempting to guess login details for these sites, and refrained from such endeavours. Instead, she committed herself to gathering as much information about Sebastian Montague as possible. She decided to scout the AMMRI Headquarters before returning to the Hub to deliver her report.
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