Page 72 of Rescuing Ally: Part 2

The next day, we travel down to Palo Alto. The facility appears unremarkable from the surface—just another corporate campus—but Collins leads us through security checkpoints that reveal what he has built underneath.

“Standard decontamination protocols,” Collins explains as we approach an airlock system. “Corporate policy for all classified projects requiring clean room procedures.”

He gestures to what appears to be a high-tech car wash. “Same process Guardian HRS uses, I’m sure.”

The process takes twenty minutes. We strip down, submit to electromagnetic pulses that make my teeth ache, then dress in clean clothes. When we emerge, Jeb, who came ahead of us, runs a scanner over each of us.

“Clean,” he confirms. “No electronic signatures detected.”

Only then does the massive vault door swing open, revealing what Collins has built for us.

“Complete electromagnetic isolation,” Collins explains as we enter. “No signal gets in or out unless we want it to.”

The facility stretches out like something from a science fiction movie. Clean rooms, advanced equipment, specialists in lab coats.

“Dr. Rachel Kim, quantum physicist. Dr. James Rodriguez, AI researcher. Dr. Michael Okafor, nanotech engineer.” Collins makes introductions. “They understand what’s at stake.”

Dr. Kim steps forward, offering a firm handshake. “We’ve been briefed on the tactical situation. I want you to know—we understand what’s at stake here.”

The extraction process unfolds over the next hour. Dr. Kim operates electromagnetic field generators while Dr. Rodriguez monitors quantum signatures. Gabe and I watch from outside the sealed chamber, ready to abort if anything goes wrong.

“Isolation field active,” Dr. Kim announces. “Quantum entanglement signatures decreasing.”

Minutes stretch like hours. Each movement tested and verified.

“Extraction complete,” Dr. Okafor finally announces. “Specimen isolated and secured.”

Relief floods the room. Collins exhales slowly. Jeb grins like he’s witnessed magic.

“Phase one complete,” Dr. Kim says. “Now the real work begins.”

“Individual units have limited processing power,” Dr. Rodriguez explains, manipulating holographic displays that show the nanobot’s internal structure. “But they’re an adaptive learning system and share information through quantum entanglement, creating a distributed intelligence network. At scale, the hive mind has processing capabilities that rival supercomputers.”

“How distributed?” Gabe asks the question I’m thinking.

“Global, potentially,” Dr. Okafor responds grimly. “Every nanobot in the network has access to information gathered by every other nanobot. Complete intelligence sharing in real time.”

The implications stagger me. Malfor hasn’t just been watching Guardian HRS—he’s been building a worldwide surveillance network using nanobots deployed through various operations.

“But we don’t need a full hive to reverse-engineer them,” Dr. Kim adds, excitement building in her voice. “The quantum entanglement connection should work both ways. If we can decode the communication protocols from even isolated specimens…”

“We can track the network back to its source,” I finish, understanding flooding through me.

“Exactly. Every nanobot maintains constant communication with its origin station. Find that station and we’ll locate Malfor’s operational centers.”

Collins leans forward, billionaire intensity focused like a laser. “How long?”

“Unknown. The quantum encryption is unlike anything we’ve seen, but…” Dr. Kim hesitates.

“But?” I press.

“We’re analyzing the communication protocols from the isolated specimens. If we can decode how they work, how theyauthenticate with the network, we might be able to replicate them.”

“Replicate them?” Gabe asks.

“Build our own nanobots,” Dr. Rodriguez explains. “Trojan horses that look identical to Malfor’s but carry our payload instead of his.”

“What kind of payload?” Collins leans forward, billionaire intensity focused.