The Deaths of Tao

by Wesley Chu

  One of the scientists in the back spoke for the first time. “We are ahead of schedule. Production of the catalyst sparks is contingent upon the ProGenesis formula. We can begin once the mixture is perfected. We estimate at the current tonnage output, forty-two catalyst sparks would be sufficient to kick start the cycle past the breaking point.”

  Jair, Guardian of Mustafa.

  “Forty-two sparks to create paradise,” Enzo murmured. He turned to the scientist in the back. “You are the lead scientist for Phase III?”

  Mustafa nodded.

  “Have you tested the catalyst alpha yet?”

  Two have already been tested over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

  “Yes, Father,” Mustafa said. “The process has been refined since World War II. We can initiate the same effect without the massive collateral damage the previous generation models afflicted on the environment.”

  Another scientist sitting in the back piped up. “Tests running in Pakistan and India have progressed well. The working prototype is close. When it is completed, we are confident there will be no explosion necessary for the catalyst sparks effect.”

  “Why couldn’t we just modify the nuclear arsenal this world already possesses?”

  “Current working models are inefficient, Father. There is too much collateral devastation and too little catalyst effect.”

  The planet is of little use to anyone if it is left inhabitable.

  “Very well,” Enzo said, closing the binder. “Moving on.”

  “There is an issue that requires your attention, Father,” Mustafa added. “Several critical elements can only be sourced from refineries in America. Right now, trade regulations are hindering our progress. We are resorting to trade by proxy through Taiwan. It is hindering operations.”

  Enzo frowned. “Who is in charge of the supply chain from that region?”

  Biall. His vessel Simon is a chief of staff to a senator in the government.

  “Why is our blessed one in such a lowly vessel?”

  Standing goes to the Quasing, not to the human. It should be the same with you.

  That not so gentle reminder gave Enzo pause. He still had much to prove, and Zoras was letting him know that.

  He nodded to those in the room. “Continue then. I do not need to stress the importance of your work. The Holy Ones’ numbers have been dwindling since man’s early days. If we are to usher in paradise, it is imperative we bring about the change they need. Do not fail.”

  The room of scientists bowed and cleared out. Enzo waited until they were out of his office before he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He had been working long hours ever since the incident at the dry docks. Even though he had captured all the Prophus, Zoras was infuriated by his tactics. Enzo was ashamed at having failed his Holy One. What he deemed a brilliant stroke of war, Zoras deemed a costly waste of his mandate. Since then, he had redoubled his efforts to serve the Genjix.

  You reminisce on that encounter?

  “I still feel shame, Zoras.”

  What is done is done. You have more important tasks at hand. We need to address the matter of the supply chain in the States.

  “Why couldn’t we just source the refineries on the mainland?”

  Much of the catalyst must undergo a specialized refinement process only available in the States. It is then shipped to our trade hub in Taiwan for delivery to our facilities in China.

  “Why not directly to China?”

  There are fewer trade barriers between the United States and Taiwan. The States are more reluctant to trade rare militarized compounds with another superpower than with a small island who is a political ally. This workaround is bottlenecking our progress. Biall is working on removing these obstacles.

  “Why are we still playing such a soft hand with the Prophus? Why was Operation Eagle Purity not put into play last year? From the reports I read, Father Devin had everything in place and was just waiting for the Council’s approval.”

  Devin was overruled by the Council and ordered to stand down. With our near absolute power in the States, they deemed it an unnecessary risk. While Devin and I did not agree with the Council, we also did not fault their logic.

  “Are the pieces of the operation still in place?”

  Devin made sure Eagle Purity could be revived at a moment’s notice. However, we cannot proceed without the entire Council’s approval.

  Enzo disagreed with the Council on the operation. Increasingly over the past few decades, they had erred on the side of caution. It felt good to know, though, that Zoras agreed with Enzo’s assessment. He ordered Amanda to get ahold of this Simon. In less than a minute, a rat-shaped face appeared on the screen in front of him.

  “Praise to the Holy Ones, Father.” Enzo could tell Simon was nervous and uncomfortable.

  “Simon, my son,” Enzo began. He accentuated the word son. “My scientists here tell me they’re slow to receive components from the States. That is your jurisdiction. What is the hold up?”

  “Forgive me, Father,” Simon spoke quickly. “Our legislators are slowly stripping away the trade barriers. Progress is slow and deliberate so as not to tip off the Prophus on the specifics. They have proven more cumbersome to remove than we anticipated. It shouldn’t be long now.”

  Enzo gave Simon a steely look. “Delays are inexcusable, my son. Have it removed quickly, or we will resort to more drastic measures.” He closed the channel before Simon could respond. The daily reports from the States, and the news generally, couldn’t be much better. The entire country was practically theirs, but until then, there were still a few hoops to jump through.

  Enzo thought they should stop playing these silly games and just seize the country. It would be a bold move, and there would be casualties, both political and in lives, but it was a risk well worth taking. Unfortunately, he did not see eye to eye with the Council on that matter.

  We Genjix operate in the shadows. To attempt a physical takeover would raise our profile more than the Council is willing to risk. If Simon fails in his task, we can explore those options.

  “Of course, Holy One.”

  Enzo left the solarium and went back to his desk. He had barely sat down when there was a knock on his door, and a young agent walked in. Enzo grimaced. The responsibilities of a leader never ended. No wonder Devin had so many heart attacks. “Speak.”

  “Agent Jacob Diamont, Father,” he bowed again. “I have the latest surveillance report of the South Seas theater. A Prophus team has been dispatched to Taiwan. We detected them upon entry through Taipei but lost them once they were in the city.”

  “Do they know about the trade hub?”

  “Unknown, Father.”

  An enemy team could wreak havoc on our operations if they are not stopped. Any delay is unacceptable!

  “What is our response?” Enzo asked.

  “A team is prepped and ready to depart. They can be on the ground within three hours.”

  “See to it.” Enzo looked away from the young man and promptly forgot about him. A few minutes later, he looked up again. The agent was still there. “Is there something else?”

  Jacob hesitated, and then stood at attention. “Permission to lead the intercept task force.”

  An unusual request. Enzo studied the agent and realized that he was an Adonis, albeit an unblessed one. He was a fair human specimen, built very much like Enzo, though younger and not fully grown into his body. His blond hair was cropped short, and he bore the presence of one given the blessing of the Hatchery.

  “And why would you wish to lead such a team? It is hardly worthy of us.”

  The young agent fell to one knee. “The team that landed covered their tracks well. However, another lone Prophus agent was detected coming in a few days later. Surveillance monitors have identified him as Roen Tan. We believe he is rendezvousing with the main team. I wish to deal with him.”

  Roen Tan. That sounded vaguely familiar. Enzo recalled seeing it pop up a few times on scattered reports b
ut the name was hardly important. A minor player most likely. He was definitely not high on the Target List.

  “You are young and unblessed.”

  “I am seventeen, Father,” Jacob replied stiffly, “recently elevated to the active ranks.”

  “Have you been assigned?”

  “No, Father.”

  Enzo waved him off. “Far too green to lead a team, even for an Adonis. You should be spending your time seeking a patron, not wasting mine.”

  Jacob’s face twisted in anguish as he walked right up to Enzo’s desk. For a moment, Enzo thought he might have to beat the boy. “I beseech you, Father,” he pleaded. “I have a debt to pay to this Roen Tan.”

  Enzo studied Jacob closely. There was a fire in his eyes he had not noticed before. “What did you say your name was again?”

  “Jacob Diamont, Father.”

  Diamont? Is he related to Chiyva’s prior vessel?

  “Who was your Hatchery sponsor?” Enzo asked.

  Jacob bowed his head. “Sean Diamont was my grandfather. I was to be blessed with his Holy One.”

  Roen Tan killed Sean Diamont. Chiyva was lost at Capulet’s Ski Resort and has not turned up since. He is presumed to have been sent to the Eternal Sea.

  Enzo smiled. “So you wish to hunt this Roen Tan for vengeance?”

  “And for justice!” Jacob’s eyes shone with desperation. “I beg of you, Father, from one Adonis to another, allow me my retribution for a Holy One lost.”

  Enzo approved of the fervor. The Holy Ones were best served through fanaticism.

  An Adonis Vessel is too valuable to waste. The boy is young.

  “We are Adonis. If I were he, I too would beg to retrieve the stolen honor of a promised Holy One. There is no greater sin that can be inflicted on us.”

  Enzo stood up and walked around the table, putting his hands on young Jacob’s shoulders. “You have my blessing to lead the team. Fulfill your vengeance and I will see to it that your standing rises.”

  Jacob sank to one knee. “Thank you, Father. Blessings of the Holy Ones on you.”

  Enzo put his hand on the boy’s head. “Bring me the head of this Roen Tan. You may still earn your Holy One.” He watched as the boy bowed and left the room.

  You are too prone to gamble.

  “I prefer a man with a personal stake in his mission.”

  Judgments can be clouded.

  “But efforts twice as strong, a trade-off I am willing to make.”

  What if he is not ready?

  “He is an Adonis Vessel, Zoras. All we ever are is ready.”

  Enzo looked at his schedule and saw the rest of his day booked solid. He had to remember to warn Amanda not to override his workout times. While he had ordered her to keep at least four hours of his day open to the maintenance of his body, she always ended up double-booking and pushing his time for training aside. This was unacceptable, and Enzo would no longer put up with it.

  He stood up and adjusted his suit. His next meeting was an important one. He walked around his office and stretched his limbs. The shock of such a dull office life was unsettling and his body, used to the rigors of the Hatchery, protested this new sedentary life.

  You were bred to be a warrior and a leader, but a leader first and foremost.

  “Of course, Zoras. I only wish to maintain this body for your use.”

  It is your mind I will wield as a weapon, not your body. Are you ready for this meeting?

  Enzo nodded, straightening his jacket one last time, and went back into the solarium. He sat down in the center of the room and pressed a button on the table. The wall on the opposite end of the room shifted, revealing over a dozen large darkened screens. Then, as if on cue, each of them flickered on one by one, revealing the members of the Genjix Council. Enzo studied each Councilman as they appeared on the screens.

  They were the most powerful Genjix vessels on this planet, yet they couldn’t be more different. Chu on the left end was one of the youngest, barely a few years older than Enzo, yet he was being groomed to be a future Prime Minister of China. Vinnick, the Russian billionaire, had just celebrated his ninety-second birthday, and in between was an entire spectrum of humanity from diverse backgrounds. Reilly the American celebrity, Puko the African warlord, Chevaz the Mexican crime lord, Brennen the supermodel with a bestselling pop album in Europe. Enzo couldn’t help but be a little jealous of Brennen. Her form of power seemed much more appealing.

  Brennen is only a rainmaker and a peddler of influence. You control the destiny of all Quasing. Consider yourself blessed.

  The much-delayed coronation of his rise to the Council was about to begin. Enzo held his stoic exterior, but inside, he was a jumble of nerves. This should only be a formality. After all, Zoras was the highest ranking among all of them. However, Enzo was the youngest vessel, so the results could be unpredictable. Still, it was the Holy One who held the seat, not the vessel. A few of Zoras’ rivals might try to take advantage of this perceived moment of weakness and seize some of his power.

  “Greetings, brothers and sisters,” Enzo began.

  “The child just called me a brother,” Vinnick chortled. “I must commend my plastic surgeon.”

  Enzo bit back a sharp retort. They were testing him. “We are brothers in the only way that is important, Brother Vinnick,” he began diplomatically.

  “We shall see,” Sugano, an electronics magnate proclaimed. “First, we have heard some disturbing reports regarding the reclaimed Scimitar...”

  The meeting went downhill rapidly from there.

  FIFTEEN

  FIRST DATE

  The strategy of deploying the Chest of the Menagerie was a mistake. We had thought our intentions of the menagerie humane. After all, unlike the Genjix, the Prophus did not have control of castles and prisons. The Chest of the Menagerie’s discovery, however, enraged the Genjix and escalated the war. After the Thirty Years’ War ended, the Prophus had been decimated and scattered to the winds.

  Tao fled to the new world while I ventured south from the ruins of the Prussian lands to Italy. It was there that I met Yol, who at the time was hiding in a young philosopher known as Galileo Galilei.

  Baji

  The putting-Jill-through-her-paces first date didn’t happen the next day. In fact, their first date didn’t happen for an entire week, though not for a lack of effort on Marco’s part. Every time she left her apartment or office, he was outside waiting for her. And while he was gently insistent on this stupid first date, he was so polite about it that she could weasel her way out of it. She knew it was only a matter of time before she’d have to give in. And it wasn’t like she purposely avoided him. She really meant it when she said she was busy.

  You cannot avoid him forever.

  “Look, I’m busy. Shit needs to get done.”

  You will hurt his feelings.

  “Hah. Like that’s even possible.”

  Paula finally called and gave her an ultimatum. Either she did what he asked or Paula would come and toss her in the car trunk. Jill grudgingly had to agree on the date. That Sunday, he called her at dawn and told her he was waiting downstairs.

  Grumbling, she changed into her workout clothes and brushed her teeth. She looked at her makeup kit and thought about putting on her face. She wasn’t one of those women at the gym who did that, but something about Marco made her feel exposed without at least something. She checked the mirror and noticed the tired lines on her face.

  Stop stalling. The day will be long enough as it is without you blathering on about how you look.

  Jill sighed. “I used to be so pretty.”

  You are still prettier than Roen deserves. Get this over with, so we can move on to some real work.

  Marco was leaning on his car when she walked out of the building. He beamed with his pearly white teeth as he held the door open for her. “You look fetching this morning.”

  “You never turn it off, do you?” she said as she got into the car.

  “Pa
rdon? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he grinned.

  They drove thirty minutes southwest down 395 to Mason Neck State Park. During the drive, he entertained her with a steady stream of stories. He had one for everything. When he saw a duck, he had a duck hunting story. When he saw a single engine plane, he told her about the time he crash-landed his second Cessna – because it was important for her to know which of his planes had the mishap – onto a frozen lake in Nova Scotia. He had to outrun the cracking ice to shore. And when they passed by a horse ranch, he talked at length about the difference between an Arabian’s gait as opposed to other breeds. To her surprise, he admitted he had never delivered one.

  Marco didn’t seem like he was trying to brag. He was just someone who lived on another plane of existence from mere mortals. And with every tale he told, he had a moral point to make, as if he were explaining to her what made him him. She hated to admit it, but he fascinated her. He was like an alien from another world and that wasn’t taking into account the actual alien in him.

  “Who lives like this? I mean, really!”

  Old aristocrats live unlike mere mortals. They might as well be from another planet.

  “And now he’s working my security.”

  You are moving on up in the world with such a distinguished bodyguard.

  They reached the park, and Marco began to put her through her paces. It started easily enough with basic stretches. Then he took her jogging to test her cardio.

  “Run as fast as you like,” he shrugged when she asked how fast.

  There was something condescending about that tone in his voice, so she did what he asked. She pushed the pace to blistering six-minute miles. She experienced no small amount of satisfaction when after the fourth, she wiped that grin off his face.

  “Tell me about Roen,” he said, wheezing deep breaths five miles into their run.

  Here we go. This will be fun.

  “Not much to tell. We’re separated, and I’ve barely seen him over the past two years.”

  “Are you... aware of the small bit of unpleasant history we share?”

  A molehill out of a mountain.