God Hammer: A novel of the Demon Accords by John Conroe

I just need a notebook or a standalone desktop.  Actually, I could use my own.”
     
    “No.  Your own computer may already be half-magicked.  Let’s use mine,” she said, grabbing my hand and leading me toward the elevators.
     
    “Oh good, first full day on the job and I get to screw up the boss’s computer,” I said.
     
    She turned and flashed me a knee-melting grin.  “Don’t worry.  It’s replaceable.  One of a kind, but replaceable… mostly.”
     
    That actually would have made me more nervous, but her smile distracted me. Honestly, how did Chris get any work done with all these beautiful women around?  Most of who were in love with him.

Chapter 9- Chris
     
    When we got back to the Tower, we found them in Tanya’s office on the top floor.  Chet was leaning over Declan’s shoulder, both looking at a notebook computer at Tanya’s desk.
     
    Three of Chet’s interns were working at the coffee table in the sitting area.  The cute Australian brunette, a clean-cut, intelligent looking guy, and an Asian girl were working on something that involved several computers, a tablet, a mass of notebook paper, and various empty Red Bull containers.  Tanya was leaning against one window frame, talking on her cell phone.  She gave me a wave as Darion and I entered.
     
    The interns all looked up, but Chet and Declan ignored us, deep into whatever they were conferring on.
     
    “Looks like our law offices during a big case,” Darion remarked.
     
    Both Chet and Declan looked up at the sound of Darion’s voice.
     
    I started introductions with Chet and Declan.  Chet took over with the interns I didn’t know.
     
    “This is Grace, who comes to us highly recommended from the University of Melbourne.  Simon, starting his first year of grad work at MIT, and last but not least, Daiyu, from Peking University,” Chet said, then pointed our way. “This is Chris Gordon and our corporate legal counsel, Darion Cornell.”
     
    “I already met Grace last night during more exciting circumstances,” I said, nodding at her.  “Simon and Daiyu, welcome to Demidova Corp,” I said, shaking their hands, then stepped over to see what mischief Chet and Declan were up to.
     
    A glance at the computer screen showed that they were into what might be the notebook’s operating system, with line after line of undecipherable code.
     
    “Whatcha doing?” I asked.
     
    “Your boy here seems to think he can use his special talents right in programming code.  If he’s right, we might be able to save the satellites and remotely protect the foreign offices,” Chet said.
     
    “How’s that work?” I asked, wondering why Declan had never thought of it before.
     
    “I work with programs all the time, but I’ve always just worked in whatever language they were written in.  For this, I need to work with the runes. I use Anglo-Saxon runes.  So we’re converting a really stout security program to runes, then turning the runes into binary, then sending it to the sats,” Declan explained.  “Grace and Daiyu are writing a program to automatically rewrite existing programs into runic text.  Simon,” he said, snickering slightly, “ is building one to convert to binary.”
     
    “How do you add your mojo?” I asked Declan as Darion finished shaking the students’ hands and moved over our way.
     
    “That’s what we’re working on now.  He’s attempting to get the boss’s computer to turn off her desk lamp at certain times, by itself,” Chet said.
     
    “Big deal.  I can turn my house lights off from here with my phone,” Darion said, tone more curious than challenging.
     
    “That’s because your house is wired to the Internet of Things.  It has controllers that are hooked into your wi-fi system.  That lamp over there is just a lamp.  No plug-in controllers or anything,” Declan said, typing as he spoke.  He finished with a tap on the enter key and then looked at his phone, which had a clock app