by Auri Blest
“Voight!” Cain yelled.
Dr. Voight turned and fired his pistol behind him. Point and shoot. That is what I told him, thought Cain.
They ran after him. Maybe Dr. Voight should have spent a little less time in labs and a bit more time in the gym because an athlete he was not. A child could have caught up to him. When they were just about upon him, Voight stopped and held the gun to his head.
“Dr. Voight, don’t! No one is going to harm you,” yelled Cain.
Just as Cain looked up into the sky at the sound of the Director’s private plane surrounded by fighter jets, one of the soldiers rushed forward and tackled Voight as his gun went off.
25
A few months have passed, and everyone has settled into their routine at the Global Network Operations Center. Newcomers have been arriving weekly. Dawn and Seth walked past a row of windows, watching the lessons taking place outside. It almost looked like a scene from an old martial arts movie; Enter the Dragon, with everyone in even rows, wearing the same colors, repetitively practicing combat techniques.
Beyond that group, several children mirrored the motions of the adults. A third group jogged around the perimeter of the courtyard. Seth almost expected Bruce Lee to walk out and prepare to fight Bolo as he did in the movie.
He glanced over at the children and stared at the child at the end of the back row. The boy seemed to be trying to move at the speed of light. They all held foam fighting sticks, but he would continually jump and spin in a circle and then swing the stick at his imaginary foe. Seth watched Nguyen walk over to the boy and converse with him. As soon as Nguyen turned his back, the kid was back leaping around. Seth laughed, “What is Stephen doing?”
Dawn glanced over. “Stephen often has his own way of doing things. He is a smart little boy, although very playful.”
“To say the least,” said Seth. “You know how we allow the children to help with adult assignments once a week to get an idea of what they may be interested in, or what they may have a knack for?”
“Yes.”
“Well, we aren’t able to discern what area Stephen will have an interest in.”
“Stabilizer unit-security,” Dawn stated plainly.
“Are you kidding me? Look at him.” Seth pointed out the window at Steven rolling around in the grass.
“Would you like to place a wager on it?” asked Dawn.
“Since when do we bet?” Seth eyed her. Although he knew that Dawn was never wrong, he accepted her bet. “Okay, if his area of interest does not turn out to be security, then you will take my next midnight security watch for the month.”
Dawn was stumped. There was nothing that anyone could help her with or provide. “Okay, if his area of interest does turn out to be security, then you will slap Jade on the back of her head.”
“What? Are you trying to kill me? You’re offering me a death sentence,” he laughed as they shook on it.
Seth glanced down out of the window again and became serious. “What are you preparing us for?”
“You’ve always been very perceptive.”
Dawn was hesitant about answering his question. She stared into the distance watching the tops of trees gently sway in the wind. “There’s a calmness among our people right now. Don’t take these days of peace for granted. Everyone feels safe, but it is not so. There will come a time when hour upon hour, day after day, we will be focused on nothing but defending and rescuing our people. War is coming.”
“When?”
“Soon enough.”
“The children will have to fight?”
“They will be older, and we will be carefully honing their skills until that time. Don’t worry about them. They will be a force to be reckoned with.”
He focused on her. “What’s happening?”
“Technology is making a tremendous leap forward. It’s going to cause a huge rift in society due to the speed in which it is happening. Everyone thinks the nations are at peace, but they are not. This will be a war the likes of which no one has ever seen. We will be well prepared when it strikes.”
“How do we factor into this?”
“We will be forced to choose a side.”
“The prophecy speaks of this.”
“Yes.”
“But what about the new children?”
“There won’t be any new-”
“Dawn!” Jade yelled as she ran down the hall.
She grabbed Dawn’s arm. “Come with me. It’s Hannah.”
General Cain had barely disembarked from the plane that had departed from the IMO headquarters in the Canadian sector when IMO guards pulled up in a jeep in front of him.
The soldier saluted, “General Cain, welcome home, sir. The Director has ordered that you be taken directly to the research building.”
“Right now?”
“Yes, immediately, sir. I will take your bags to your residence, sir.”
Cain climbed into the jeep. He just wanted to get home and rest. He had thought that he would be able to meet with the Director the following day to debrief.
Cain sat back in the jeep. He took in the beauty of the place that he called home. The North American International Military Order headquarters was a full military city and was the Washington D.C. of this era. Seeing it now, he realized how much he missed it.
They drove through a guarded gate with two-way traffic. A well-manicured lawn, the width of a roadway, separated the ingoing and outgoing traffic. On either side of those lanes, a glasslike rectangular pond stretched the length of the road. The road split at a large fountain surrounded by immaculately kept landscaping. The jeep turned right and proceeded over a stone bridge.
They approached the research building, a three-story white building with windows on the top floor only. The detailed architecture of the building was amazing. Arched ribs stretched the course of the building which was surrounded by ponds on all sides. The only way in was via a bridge that ended at a guarded gate.
A guard met Cain at the jeep and escorted him to the front door of the building where a scanner read the chip in his hand. Two steel doors slid open. As Cain walked through the doors, the metal detector alarm sounded but was silenced, as General Cain was allowed to carry a weapon.
Cain followed the guard past an indoor waterfall that divided the set of elevators. The elevators on the right were for staff and research assistants. The elevators on the left were for high ranking IMO officials and IMO scientists and engineers with security clearance. They entered one of the elevators on the left. The guard’s chip had to be scanned again for the elevator to move. Before the elevators doors opened on the second floor, Cain stepped forward so that his retina could be scanned. As they exited the elevator, their full bodies were also scanned.
Cain hadn’t seen the Director since he had left her in the infirmary after being rescued from Hanover base. Luckily, her physical injuries had been minor. However, Cain would find that her mental state had gotten altered in the process.
The Director was very hushed about what had taken place at Hanover base. Cain wasn’t surprised. She had really fouled up. She made mistakes that the ruler of a nation can’t afford to make. She had been blinded by her vehement desire to capture her. Due to the Director’s carelessness, there were a record number of casualties and three thousand families in mourning. He wasn’t sure if it showed her ignorance as a new leader put into office without any prior experience, or if there was something else driving her.
After being rescued from Hanover base, Cain had been ordered to continue the tour of the North American bases. While visiting the Canadian sector headquarters in Toronto, he saw the first IMO news broadcast of what had taken place at Hanover. His screen filled with aerial footage of the dilapidated base as the news anchor reported that insurgents had taken over the facility. The report switched to images of the Director recovering in the hospital and told of how she barely escaped death. General Cain smirked at the reporter’s proclamation of him being a national hero for his b
ravery and rescue efforts.
From what he had heard, once the Director had been released from the infirmary, she was more fervent than ever with her plans. Something was brewing.
26
Cain found the Director in the hematology lab in discussion with one of her scientists. This floor of the building housed many research labs including genetics, virology, and stem cell.
What do we have here, Cain thought. Africa’s Director Ashanti stood by the Director’s side. It looks like we have a new ally. He had met Director Ashanti before. Cain found the caramel-skinned, green-eyed, Director to be a brilliant, classy woman. Unlike the North American Director, Director Ashanti was well loved by her nation.
Through the glass wall, Cain watched as they walked into the adjoining lab. As they conversed, he realized his lip-reading skills weren’t quite what they used to be.
“You are aware that RNA viruses have a higher rate of mutation,” said Director Ashanti. “Ebola, SARS, West Nile -these diseases were caused by RNA viruses.”
“Exactly. We need to consider gene therapy. It may be possible to repair the mutation that caused the disease,”
“You can do this?” asked Director Ashanti.
“Yes, we can. You have my word,” the Director responded.
“Thank you. My people need hope.”
Cain wondered what had gotten these two on common ground. The African IMO headquarters is located in Cairo. This is a long way to travel for something trivial. What is she up to now? He considered what he knew about Director Ashanti.
She had been born into a family of “Coloureds” as they were formerly known. Coloureds were of mixed racial heritage, which was frowned upon. Her family’s land was confiscated by the former government because of this. She was forced to grow up in a shanty of sorts until the laws changed. Her uncle, a lighter-skinned Coloured, had assimilated into the white community and gotten her a scholarship to a private school in Cape Town.
Decades after Nelson Mandela took office; there was still much racial tension. While in college, she became a human rights advocate. Her focus was on ending racial division and economic oppression. Ashanti’s rallies caused the now Emperor to take notice of her. The Emperor’s first order of business was to create equality for all. There was a significant amount of bloodshed as his regime ended the threat of militia and rebels. He then tackled food shortages and sanctioned proper medical care.
The continent had more of a social tranquility under Ashanti’s reign. With the assistance of the Emperor and his regime, she saw that economic and cultural rights were mended. It was far from an easy task. It took time. Those who fought against the new laws were posthaste imprisoned. The Emperor’s achievements in Africa catapulted his popularity throughout the world.
Cain watched the two Directors exchange vials. They donned white jackets, masks, and gloves. He realized that he no longer saw the North American IMO Director as the powerful leader whose goal was to create a nation where every man, woman, and child could feel safe. She wanted a nation where you didn’t have to worry about where your next meal would come from or how you would cover your medical expenses. The Director had believed that the education of our children was a matter of utmost importance. She had also professed to find a way to tackle the globes biggest environmental issues. These were just a few of the IMO’s claims. He now saw her as a deceptive, malevolent, impostor.
Cain waited outside of the glass enclosure until they exited. He still needed answers, but he was nothing if not patient. He couldn’t let on yet that he had regained much of his memory.
Cain saluted. “Director.”
“General Cain. I’m sure you know Director Ashanti.”
He turned and saluted Ashanti. “Director.”
“She turned to Director Ashanti. I look forward to discussing this further over dinner. I trust that you and your team will be pleased with your accommodations.”
“Thank you, Director. General Cain, I hope that you will join us for dinner.” Director Ashanti turned and walked away with her guards and assistants; they had also been waiting outside of the lab.
Cain watched the Director. She seemed to be back to her normal self. Her chestnut wavy hair fell neatly onto the shoulders of her black IMO Directors uniform. Theirs was the only uniform jacket that fell below the knee. She always wore her grandmother’s opal stud earrings and no other jewelry.
She stood at five-foot-seven and never wore more than a three-inch heel. There was a time when Cain thought it was cute that although she had a slender build, she had a chubby round face. Freckles were sprinkled only across her nose and cheeks with precision as if purposely placed in each spot. She had thick, arched, eyebrows and child-like long eyelashes. She wore little makeup which she didn’t need anyway. The Director was a natural beauty. What a waste, Cain thought. A person can be so ugly on the inside that it extinguishes their physical beauty.
“Is that Dr. Voight I see in the next lab?” Cain asked the Director.
“Walk with me,” she said. Two guards led the way.
Cain noticed that Dr. Voight’s lab was heavily guarded. I see that his nose has healed, he thought.
“He was arrested for espionage but allowed to complete his work in exchange for his life.”
Cain looked at her quizzically. How is it espionage when there is only one government. So, Voight has been arrested for being loyal to the ruler of the world instead of to you. Got it—makes total sense. No, you didn’t kill him because you would owe an explanation to the Emperor, as if the Emperor doesn’t already know that you’re up to something.
“His injury-”
“Flesh wound,” she said as she held her hand up to silence Cain so that she could listen to her earpiece.
“Director, we have agent Simms.”
“Put him through.”
“I’m in.”
“Good. Get back to me when you have the location of the target.” She put her hand down.
Target? What is she up to now? thought Cain. He dared not ask what it was about. He was sure to find out in due time.
“Where do you stand with the Emperor?” Cain asked.
“There is no way to be certain. We’re currently at DEFCON 3.”
“Every base that I’ve visited is on high alert.”
The Director ignored his comment. They reached the command center, located below the research facility. She turned to face Cain to have a full view of his reaction. A proud grin showed her satisfaction with his response.
Cain had blocked out the bodies wandering throughout the room attempting to appear busy because the boss was there. He didn’t notice the thirty monitors in the room, half of which were focused on the space station. All that he saw was the floor-to-ceiling screen revealing that the fortress that he believed to be a plan brought to life via hologram, was fully complete and operational.
“How—? Where is that? Is that in North America?” He pointed at the screen. “This isn’t something that happens overnight.”
“We’ve been working on this for some time.”
The gathering of scientists, Cain thought. This is what their meeting was about.
“We’re catapulting into a new age.”
“New ages come about naturally. Technology can’t just jump like that,” Cain said as he walked up to the screen studying the image. “You’ve discovered some new form of technology which must have greatly increased productivity and efficiency.”
Intrigued, the Director watched as he worked out the particulars. “Keep going.”
“You couldn’t have done this alone. The number of resources—the amount of manpower—the amount of energy—” Cain tried to put two and two together. Maybe she has promised Director Ashanti something in return for her collaboration in this.
He suddenly spun around, “Nanotechnology! Am I right?”
“That was commendable, General. I thoroughly enjoyed watching your wheels turn. It’s a more intricate form of nanotechnology than anyone knows exists.�
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“Amazing,” he said in awe while studying the image. “Who discovered it?”
“Uhh… Something Patel. I don’t know. He’s dead.”
Cain stared at her.
“Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t do it, but someone did.” She smirked and walked away.
You are a piece of work, Cain thought. He realized that he had no idea what the Director was capable of and that concerned him.
He studied the schematic of the engineering sector. “There may be consequences. Society isn’t adequately prepared for this.”
“They don’t have to be. We have to be and we are. We leave tomorrow.”
“Who?”
“The entire city.”
27
“What’s up?” Dawn asked in her business-as-usual tone.
“Hannah asked me to braid her hair like mine last week.”
“And?”
“I finally got around to it.”
“And?”
“Dawn, her roots are white.”
“Blond.”
“Blond, white, who cares. Her natural hair color is not red.”
Dawn stared at her blankly. “Oh.”
“Don’t ‘Oh’ me, woman. Is that not odd to you?”
“Has she noticed?”
“She’s a kid. I don’t think so.”
“Don’t underestimate her.”
“What’s going on, Dawn?”
“She thought that her mom was washing her hair, but she was dying it.”
“Why?”
“To hide her. To protect her.”
“So, she was born with white hair then?”
“Yes, she has albinism.”
“You knew about this?”
“Yes. Crystal, you might as well join this conversation,” Dawn said, without turning around.
Jade turned and watched Crystal walk in. She had been standing outside of the room straining to hear.
Jade slapped her thigh, “Now I know you didn’t think you could just stand out there unnoticed! Crystal, you ought to know by now that she always knows where you are.”