by Hylton Smith
“You’ve just about replicated my dilemma. So, I think I need to tell you more about what appears to be possible from our latest tests.”
“Before you do that, son, my gut feeling is that we should just pause everything for a few more weeks, until all calculations are corroborated by observational data. I know time is important but in the worst case outcome with the missiles, we still have a few months to take your work forward.”
“If only that was the case, Dad. I should have told you earlier. The work has gone further than merely mimicking the mechanism of the virus in infiltrating our immune system. Without telling me, one of the young researchers actually pressed on with experiments to evaluate the potential to meddle with genome switching. He contrived to inject the Zika virus into lab rats, and before they were allowed to conceive, he flicked a few switches. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. The litter had rudimentary wings and grotesque alteration to their tails. I made sure these specimens were allowed to die and the access to virus samples only authorised by me. I stopped any further work in this direction but the documentation is filed with me. Obviously this young man cannot repeat this venture into the unknown without state-of-the-art lab facilities, but he could find employment elsewhere. I wanted to keep him here until we knew more about the deflection programme and I could talk with you. I didn’t know you were going to need a bypass at the time. It’s a mess.”
“Jesus, it certainly is a mess, which could become a catastrophe. We must find a way of keeping this under wraps for now. The infiltration concept is a worthy breakthrough. We have to park everything there until Bondarenko has dealt with the second fragment, then I want to speak with this young man. You were right to come to me with this, Eugene. I’m sure we can work out a solution.”
*
One of the missiles wasn’t responding to vector commands anymore. Bondarenko decided to leave it out of the strike, but it could still be useful as the detonation protocols were active. Using the same one-two technique which had been successful with the first fragment seemed to be the logical strategy. However, nothing was certain in the theatre of cosmic pinball, especially when the cue ball has known characteristics, but the target is asymmetric in shape, composition, angular spin, and structural integrity.
The invisible force emanating from detonation, in the vacuum of space delivered a wounding blow rather than a fatal or disruptive one. The fragment veered significantly then took on a marginally quicker and directional axial spin. Bondarenko wanted to observe this behaviour for a few minutes before engaging the second missile.
Eugene watched the unfolding drama with a dual concern. He was torn between asking Bondarenko to speak with his father before the second strike, and potentially bringing on the cardiac problem Dr Villeneuve had warned about. He stayed silent, bound up in the tension which engulfed everyone in mission control. Bondarenko consulted with his two most reliable IT officers. Eugene couldn’t hear what was said, but saw that there was agreement. The second missile was instructed to circle around the fragment and strike the opposite side once there was telemetric and visual corroboration that the new trajectory was not an impact risk.
Further observational data detected the slightest effluent issuing from a point which was positioned on an equatorial spin line with the missile. Bondarenko gave the order to strike.
The noiseless obliteration of the fragment was greeted with unrestrained emotion from everyone in the control centre. Countless pieces of rock swirled away from one another and the threat was finally over.
When Eugene dialled the home number, the rest of the family was gathered around Julien’s reclining chair. It was as if his father was afraid to pick up the receiver. It rang and rang for an uncomfortably long time. Finally he heard the click. Still very much aware of a sudden surge in adrenalin production, he decided to break the news into two parts.
“Dad?”
“Eugene?”
“Well, I believe we’ve done it, but it has yet to be confirmed by more calculations than ever. There were many more mini-fragments from this lump of rock than the previous one. I’m on my way home and Bondarenko will call in later when the calculations have been completed. It’s a hell of a relief, Dad, but Alexei has put celebrations on hold until he’s absolutely certain the job has been done. I suppose he wouldn’t mind me offering premature congratulations to my own father, I’m so proud of you, Dad. See you soon.”
Two further hours of data reconciliation passed as if time itself had been ruptured by the missiles. The door chime announced Bondarenko’s arrival and he was ushered into the main living quarters. No words were needed. The Russian strode across to Julien, knelt down and hugged him unashamedly. The others couldn’t hold back outpouring of relief, the gift of a new horizon. One with no ‘built-in’ end point. Julien looked at each of them in turn and his chest began to heave in concert with uncontrollable bursts of tears. Amongst these reflex responses was the realisation that it was truly over, not just the mission, or his calling in life, there was also the rebuilding of his family. He was suddenly more aware of his fragile health and the need to avoid falling back into the abyss of his professional life. Sophie had managed to kick her addiction, he had to follow her lead.
Chapter 40
Four Months Later
Julien Delacroix was dismayed. In such a short time the jubilation of reprieve had been virtually forgotten. Everyday conversation had moved on to new priorities, few of which were even remotely connected to a resolve of nursing the planet back to health. His own mental health was now a serious concern to his family. He’d discussed the situation with Eugene many times and advised his son to abandon the research programme, claiming that the human race was not yet mature enough to handle relative indestructability. Despite their resistance, he had transferred ownership of VB Aerospace to his children, hinting that they could sell up and lead a much more interesting life. Sophie, more acutely than the others, sensed her father was descending into a really dark place.
Even when Eugene, as temporary chief executive and joint owner of the company, gave him the latest updates on tracking the cometary fragments, he merely shrugged his shoulders and asked for more coffee.
“Dad, the coffee can wait for a few minutes. There is now consensus that these fragments will struggle to survive our atmosphere. One is predicted to head for the Australian outback, and the later one to somewhere in the Arctic ice cap region. Wouldn’t you like to take a trip to Greenland to see it burn out in the northern sky? It should be spectacular and it would be a fitting conclusion to all the effort you’ve put into preventing unimaginable horror in our world. I’d love to go there with you, should I make the arrangements?”
“It’s a nice idea, son, but I don’t think I could face the journey. We can watch it on television together. Have you considered what I said about selling the company?”
“No, not yet. I spoke to Sophie and she wants to press on with her aftercare project. Even without considering VB Aerospace itself, she feels a connection with this country, and wants to help lots of poor people in Guiana. Regarding my own situation, I’m thinking over what you said about shelving the research programme. My gut feeling is to carry on with the branch in which we seek to eradicate life-threatening conditions by genetic ‘snip and sow’ techniques. The other stuff can wait, but I want to finesse the work on mimicking viral infiltration of our immune system. Even before the asteroid threat, we were vulnerable to bacterial and viral pandemics, and we still are. Once that bears fruit, I’ll publish the findings and park the project for future reference. If we were to sell the company, I want to carry on in my field of microbiology. You’re right, Sophie and I could fund our work from selling VB Aerospace. I’ll have to give the decision more time, Dad. What would you do if we sell up?”
“I think my time might be short now, Eugene. And I know your mother would still like to return to Lyon. I think I’m ready to consider that as well.”
“That’s a surprise. You spent a
hell of a long time persuading her to settle here. Has she mentioned it again?”
“No, she seems happy enough, but I know deep down that she misses France. So does Geraldine.”
“But they’re both doing so well in helping Sophie to get this aftercare unit up and running. You should ask mum about this, at the moment you’re just making assumptions.”
“They could easily do this kind of work in France.”
“I know, but this is their project, you have to ask them what they want. This might be a bit trickier than you think. In a way, we all came here to support you. Don’t just trash that loyalty because you’re pissed off with human frailties. That will never change unless it is genetically engineered. Just joking, but you have to overcome this disappointment. You were a leading figure in saving the planet, you aren’t Jesus Christ.”
“As always, good advice, Eugene. I’ll speak to your mother first, to find out if her longing to go back to Lyon is still strong. Maybe I’m just kidding myself because I feel like getting out of here. I’m just so surprised that everything is back to ‘business as usual’ so quickly. Like all those years of dedication had no point whatsoever.”
“Unfortunately, it’s the way of the world. One minute you received all those awards for your service to humanity and the next we’re back on the road to hell. It’s just a different hell! See you later, Dad. Don’t let this get to you.”
Twenty-Two Days Later
The two fragments were only separated by a few hours in the approximate entry times. In a curious expression of homage to their narrow escape from oblivion, thousands of people gathered in each location. Their explanations for making the trip to such hostile locations were many and varied. Recovered faith in the omnipotent one, interpretation of recent events through astrological eyes, atonement for some barely remembered sin, discovery of some inner awakening, science anoraks gathering souvenirs, and a large contingent merely to witness the anticipated fireworks. The common denominator was an ‘I was there’ need to feel good about oneself.
In the searing heat of the outback it was difficult to detect the object during daylight. But there was a surprise in store for the perspiring onlookers. The calculations were wrong. The fragment did make it to the lower atmosphere, and less than a mile above the surface it suddenly exploded, catching everyone’s breath. The scatter area was immediately a target for establishment officials and tourists alike, seeking a piece of history to place in museums or on a mantelpiece. In addition, the northern hemisphere was given warning that the second fragment may also reach the surface.
There was no throng on the Arctic ice cap, but hurriedly-arranged science delegates got there by helicopter to film first-hand accounts of the spectacle. In the half-light the visual trail of the object was a sight to behold. A flaming slingshot from the heavens, it multiplied by a further split, almost immediately followed by a double air-burst. The falling residue would cover many square miles.
The shows were over, but many of those returning from either performance held dual interpretations of events. A celestial wonder of which they were in awe, and a chilling reminder of what might have been but for the missile strikes. There was also a feeling of uneasy excitement amongst the scientists present, concern as to what the surviving fragments may reveal. They shouldn’t really have made it to the surface.
*
Julien heeded his son’s advice when he and Elise were alone. His approach was to probe and analyse before popping the question.
“How are you and Geraldine holding up in Sophie’s vision for the new aftercare unit?”
“It’s taken you a long time to ask about it, are you worried about her?”
“Not at all, I have every confidence she’ll get this to run the way she imagines it. But, there are always problems down the line, mostly the kind you don’t expect. My experience is that you are continually challenged as to whether you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. It’s you and your sister I’m asking about, primarily if it will interfere with your own hobbies and enjoyment. You have both found a passion for horticulture, and I’ve been a silent beneficiary of this. I really love the way you’ve transformed a predominantly austere landscape into a variegated meadow, punctuated with functional areas for family enjoyment.”
“Yes, we do enjoy this creative activity, but Sophie really is a different person now, and we’re glad to give her our unstinting support until she gets everything the way she wants it. Geraldine has also hinted that we will find it increasingly difficult to divide our time. Are you asking about this because you’re having second thoughts about the project?”
“No, I suppose it’s just a consequence of me moving into retirement. I’ve had a wake-up call with this heart bypass and so have you with your kidney transplant. We’re not getting any younger, Elise.”
“That’s true, but we’ll give Sophie the help she needs for now. I’m already seeing signs that she needs younger people to provide ideas and even challenge hers. The other Sophie would have marched us out of there within a week. It will dawn on her before too long that she needs more expertise and less old wives tales. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Julien.”
This was enough for him to consider for now.
*
The scavenging for cometary pebbles had ramped up beyond all expectation. Finding such elusive structures needed expertise at the best of times, but the Arctic ice cap had its own way of burying or disguising such treasure. The weather was extraordinarily bad, and posed a high risk to life of even experienced cosmic hunters.
The situation in Australia was precisely the opposite. Warm weather and a plethora of fake local guides provided an effective lure for all manner of speculators. Accommodation was seriously oversubscribed and many resorted to movable modes of respite from the sun and provision for sleep. Tents and recreational vehicles speckled the outback. With so many thousands of enthusiasts involved, pieces of rock exchanged hands for considerable amounts of electronic money or bartered goods such as cars, gold, precious stones, and some of the tents that were no longer required. Many of the pea-sized purchases were nothing more than metal ores worked from derelict mines, but convincing enough for opportunists to fall for the deception. The throng seemed to have representation from a multitude of countries, ensuring each corner of the world shared in the spoils.
When it became clear that the majority of the prized pebbles were of earthly origin, fighting and killing broke out. It escalated so quickly that the Australian authorities were forced to close off hundreds of square miles of the outback, and place it under constant military supervision.
*
Eugene was having great difficulty in making his young researcher see his point of view.
“As promising as your work has been, you were not authorised to carry it out beyond agreed limits. The situation has changed, and you must accept that ethics enforcers haven’t gone up in smoke with the rest of the planet, and now they will come back with a vengeance. We have a short time to polish up the infiltration mechanism, but the rest must end. When the time is right, we can consider an approach to the reformed global watchdog, but it will have to be a watered down version of what you’ve actually discovered. Anything else and we would be closed down.”
“In that case, I’ll give you my resignation, verbally effective immediately. I’ll put it in writing tomorrow. The ethics police didn’t stop people from creating clones, robots which are capable of being servants, and babies with three parents. It is pure hypocrisy and you know it. I’ll work my notice and then I’m out of here.”
This gave Eugene a problem. Even if the rats had been incinerated, he knew this young man would have kept copies of all the test results. Normally it would be considered propriety technology of the company, but would he want that to be known? His default position would be worsened if he had to admit he didn’t fire this man immediately after being apprised of the tests. He decided to pre-empt the man’s written notice and get him off the premises within the ho
ur. Severance had to be seen to be contractual and no more than that. It took two muscular security guards to frogmarch the evacuee to a waiting vehicle and off the site. Eugene filmed the episode for future reference if a challenge to his version of events materialised.
Perhaps his father’s suggestion to sell up and begin again wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
Chapter 41
One Year Later
Winds of change were gathering, seemingly waiting for some catalytic event to trigger the storm. A perfect example was the long-defunct world health organisation. Attempts to coalesce regional remnants of a medical watchdog were reaping global support once more.
Anarchical power bases were steadily creaking under the failure to deliver on the expectation they created. Concerted control of electronic purchasing power was achieving what conflict had not. They were heading back to being nothing more than insurgents.
Although most of the recovered cometary pebbles were fakes, there were the odd genuine pieces which had found their way into science labs rather than collectors’ cabinets. As more reputable laboratories compared results, they shared concerns that these extra-terrestrial survivors contained a core of strange joined-up DNA chains.
*
The Delacroix clan, by comparison had arrived at a crucial crossroads. Elise and Geraldine had independently gravitated to a common desire for a more temperate climate. Sophie had convinced herself that she had become a sympathetic figurehead, a compassionate pied piper, but unable to actually play the pipes. Her recruitment of experts had accelerated her acceptance of her own shortcomings. Eugene was ready to sell VB Aerospace on to one of a number of suitors. One of the main difficulties had been his sister. Following almost weekly pressure from Eugene, she’d sought the assurance that the planning authority would only approve a buyer willing to maintain what was now the established ‘Sophie Delacroix Foundation’. A sizeable chunk of VB Aerospace sale proceeds would then be gifted to the municipality, in exchange for a pledge to ring-fence the facility for the benefit of the people of Guiana. Julien had his wish without having to do anything other than nod his head. Returning to France felt like a homeward-bound journey from an extended pilgrimage. A rejuvenation of the soul. The only real dilemma which held up the process was the suitability of each interested acquisition company or entrepreneur. Eugene and Julien were in agreement that a pure speculator such as futuristic ‘Lunar Discovery Experience’ was not the kind of legacy they wanted.