Emergence

by L. J. Suarez

  Kieran and Ionne bowed and Kieran made his way out of the research lab through the sliding door.

  Ionne sat in silence long after Kieran had left, his offer lingering in her mind.

  Chapter Five

  CADON

  YEAR 12039

  The personal travel pod carrying Ionne docked smoothly with the main airlock of her residential unit. The glass hatch of the pearl pod’s forward section opened upward in synchrony with the unti’s airlock. Stepping into the living room, Ionne placed her work bag on top of a table. The residential unit’s computer interface immediately linked with Ionne’s Optic Implants, and the lights came on in the oval-shaped room.

  She stood in silence, looking around the empty, dreary unit. Aside from a small kitchen and bedroom, the space was unremarkable besides a long table off to the side with her personal collection of rocks and miniature stone statues she’d collected.

  Ionne made her way to the balcony, the glass door opening instantly as she neared. She watched hundreds of airships zoom past the massive structures high above her home city. Born and raised in Cadon, the city never ceased to amaze her, in spite of being one of the smallest of the thirteen cities on the planet. The residential complexes in Cadon’s West Grat Residential District were stacked high, and interconnecting bridges linked her complex with the one across. She could see other residents standing on their balconies, looking out at the night sky as she was. Vegetation grew from the outer walls of most of the structures. Iridescent beams of multi-colored lights emanated from the top of each building, extending toward the sky for miles.

  Staring into the heavens, Ionne could feel her father’s presence. She recalled joyous times with him, smiling as she thought about when she used to follow him around the museum. He would show her the latest finds he’d brought back with him from the Outlands. Ionne reminisced about sitting on Derix’s lap when she was a youngling, amazed as he used his Optic Implants to digitally reconstruct the skeletal structure of an extinct leopard’s remains. She even remembered the times they would stargaze from the balcony of her childhood home in Shrofil Circle, located at the other end of West Grat. Against her will, she started to replay the moment her father was swallowed by the hole beneath him during the earthquake in the Outlands. The look in his eyes as he fell sent shivers down Ionne’s spine. She shook off the vision and returned her attention toward the view from her balcony.

  As she took in a deep, cool breath, her Optic Implants picked up an incoming message. Ionne opened the communications link, and her mother’s face appeared a few feet from hers; her adolescent features hid that she was approaching the age of 150.

  “Hello my daughter,” Talira said softly.

  “Mother. Are you well?”

  “Yes. I was just enjoying a bit of tea this evening before going to bed and wanted to see how your evening was going.”

  “It is fine. I just returned from the museum.”

  “Another long night of work I see.” Talira shook her head sympathetically, “Ionne, you should find the time to enjoy yourself every once in a while. It would do you good.”

  Ionne nodded knowingly. “I shall try, Mother.” Changing the subject, she said, “Dr. Kieran came to see me at the museum today.”

  “Did he?” Talira looked surprised. “I have not seen him in years. How is he?”

  Ionne nodded. “He seemed well. He came to pay his respects for father’s passing—” She stopped short. “He also offered to have me join his team at the Science Institute.”

  “I see,” Talira said carefully. “And…did you accept his offer?”

  Ionne paused. “No. I told him I was not ready. Nevertheless, he extended an invitation to visit the Science Institute in order to show me the project he is working on. He was quite persistent.”

  Talira’s expression telegraphed to Ionne what she would say next. “Why would you not take this offer?”

  Ionne sighed. “I am not ready to take on a new assignment. There is still much for me to do at the museum.”

  Talira let a knowing smile. “You have been saying those words for nearly a year now. Those relics of yours back at the museum will not be going anywhere—they will still be there when you return.”

  Ionne immediately followed with, “So you are saying I should go?”

  “You know it is not my place to tell you which path to take. You must make that choice for yourself.”

  “And what if I do not know which choice is the right one?”

  “Then perhaps you should counsel with The Archivist. If there is anyone who can guide you on your path, it is her.”

  Ionne had to admit her mother was right. The thought didn’t occur to her to reach out to the Supreme Intelligence until now. “That is a good idea. I will do that.”

  Talira smiled. “It is getting late. I will let you be. Sleep well, and remember, The Archivist is with us.”

  “She is with us always.”

  The holographic image of Talira vanished.

  Ionne looked out to Cadon’s skyline once more, taking in another breath before walking back into her unit. The Archivist had been with Monad culture for eons. As far as Ionne knew, no one has ever seen her in person, and the only contact anyone had with The Archivist had been through virtual communication. Every Monad on the planet was linked to her through the Optic Implants. When a Monad is born, The Archivist would assign them a role to fulfill in society. And that was as far as her interference with Monad affairs went, though legend had it that The Archivist created the Inner Council long ago to not only carry out her wishes, but to govern the people.

  Only a curator was allowed direct contact with the Supreme Intelligence. A curator was not only an overseer of Monad heritage, but also attended to all of The Archivist’s wishes from her palace located at the heart of Empyreum, the largest structure in the entire city.

  No one knew for sure how old The Archivist was. Some even believed she was immortal. Despite finding it difficult to comprehend such a thing, Ionne would never openly question The Archivist’s longevity.

  ***

  After preparing herself for bed, Ionne sat on the floor in her bedroom with her legs crossed in a meditative stance. She closed her eyes, took in a breath, and quieted the inner chatter within her mind. As she concentrated, Ionne could sense the neural link being established on her Optic Implants. When she reopened her eyes, the floating holographic head of The Archivist stared back at her. She bore distinguished facial features, but her head and eyes were a bit smaller than a regular Monad’s.

  “Archivist,” Ionne whispered.

  “Hello child,” The Archivist said. “It is good to see you again.”

  “I am sorry for not reaching out to you for some time since my father’s passing. But I am in need of your guidance.”

  The Archivist said in a soothing voice, “Of course, my child. Tell me, what is on your mind?”

  “There is a decision I must make in my career. But I feel torn.”

  “Are you displeased with the path I have set for you as a scientist?” The Archivist questioned, a hint of indignity entering her voice.

  Ionne quickly said, “Not at all. I am most grateful for the role you set forth for me. Dr. Kieran came to see me at the museum to offer me an incredible opportunity to become a part of a new project he is developing. Part of me wants to accept his offer, but another part does not feel that I am ready to take on such a responsibility. Nor do I feel deserving of it. I do not know what to do.”

  “I understand now your hesitation,” The Archivist said. “Perhaps your potential lies beyond the museum. I have had the privilege to watch you grow into the intelligent and resourceful woman you are today. Since the day you were born, I knew you were destined for greatness. If Kieran came all the way from Empyreum, then he must see something in you that you have yet to see in yourself. If he believes you would be a valuable asset to his team, you owe it to yourself go to the Institute to see what he has to offer and take it into consideration before
finalizing your decision. An opportunity to work at the Science Institute alongside one of the greatest minds in our people’s history is the highest honor any scientist could receive.”

  Ionne stayed silent for a long moment. “I understand.” Her face brightened. “I will go to see Kieran and consider his offer. Thank you, Archivist.”

  A warm smiled crossed The Archivist’s face. “Remember, child, if ever you need to speak to me again, I am here for you. Always.”

  The Archivist’s head disappeared and Ionne was once again alone in her room. The Archivist was right, as she always was: Ionne had been holding back for far too long. She owed it to herself to see what Project Extant was for herself.

  Ionne would be going to Empyreum after all.

  Chapter Six

  GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

  YEAR 2035

  After a full medical checkup, the physician at the settlement’s hospital facility gave Claire and Tim the all-clear to join the rest of the community.

  Inside the hospital, she and her son were led by an armed soldier through a long hallway. A Humvee waited outside to transport them to the residential area and on to their assigned living space.

  As they walked, Claire glanced through a window into a room with several patient beds divided by curtains. One of the curtains had been left open; four figures in surgical gowns, masks over their mouths, seemed to be performing a procedure on a male patient. The patient was hooked up to various monitors, IV bags, and a dozen other bits of medical equipment. One of the figures was withdrawing a tube of blood from the patient. Another figure noticed Claire staring at them and proceeded to close the curtain.

  Outside, Claire and Tim hopped into the Humvee. As it pulled away, an open field behind the facility came into view. A group of men and women lapped the field, masks over their mouths like they were running some kind of drill. The masks resembled what athletes would use for peak resistance training.

  The Humvee took them beyond downtown to a suburban area. They soon arrived at a two-story Victorian house in a quiet neighborhood. The soldier who’d driven them—Dwight, a private in the army—introduced Claire to the family she would be sharing the house with, then informed her he would come back to pick them up after they freshened up so they could go to the commissary and be fed.

  Chatting with her new roommates, Claire learned they were the Sanchezes, originally from New Mexico, and had been residents at the settlement for nearly five years. Claire found them quiet but friendly and accommodating. The mother and father were staunch Catholics, the house decorated with a large crucifix, portraits of Jesus, and candles with images of the Virgin Mary and other saints. They had two daughters, one of them around Tim’s age. One of the girls made a few attempts to interact with Tim, but he was somewhat standoffish.

  Over a short period, Claire came to know the family quite well, but soon she took the opportunity to take a much-needed shower, and later felt rejuvenated. She then collapsed onto a bed inside one of the upstairs rooms for a quick nap.

  ***

  Claire awoke from another nightmare. Sitting up in bed, she breathed a sigh of relief as she realized she was back at her new home in Great Falls.

  It was the same nightmare she’d had for years, since the day Claire had to take a life. She’d had no other choice—it was for her son’s sake. At least that was what she kept telling herself, but it didn’t help. The sickening memories kept her up most nights; every time she closed her eyes, she saw the man’s face looking back at her. She relived that moment over and over: the man pushing her to the ground, forcing himself onto her at knifepoint. Little did he know she’d concealed one of her own. She pulled it out just in time, jamming the blade right through his throat, but not before he sliced one side of her cheek. She finished him off with repeated stabs to his chest. Blood squirted everywhere.

  Tim had watched it all. Claire wasn’t the same after, nor was Tim.

  Dusk fell upon Great Falls, and Claire and Tim changed from their dirty, worn out clothes to new and clean set. Dwight returned, and Claire and Tim were brought back downtown. As they rode in the Humvee, night was settling in. The twinkling lights from the settlement’s buildings came to life while the rest of the city remained in darkness. Dwight informed Claire that the settlement was hooked to a hydroelectric dam not far from town. He also attempted to make a few passes at Claire during the car ride, from showing off his arm tattoo of a skull to complimenting her hair. Claire deflected each and every one of them; army guys weren’t exactly her type, and his passes came across a little too try-hard. But she admired his tenacity.

  They arrived at a small, one-story building where the commissary was located. Inside, a large assembly of the community’s residents waited in line to be served dinner. Claire and Tim joined the line as they clutched their trays. When it was their turn, they were each served a piece of steak with mashed potatoes. They squeezed in at an open spot at a long bench table. Claire cut a piece of the meat and took a bite. It was surprisingly tasty, cooked to perfection. It was better than any of the rations or the edible seeds and plants she’d ever gathered out on the road. Tim chewed slowly on his mashed potatoes.

  Across from Claire sat a red-haired woman who couldn’t have been older than twenty-five. She appeared to be on her own and kept her head down while she ate. Claire felt compelled to get some information from her. She placed her utensils on the table. “Excuse me.”

  The woman lifted her head and stared at Claire with blank eyes.

  “Hi, my name is Claire. And this is my son, Tim.”

  The red-haired woman turned to Tim and smiled faintly. She then turned back to Claire. “Rachel,” she said. “You’re the new arrivals from this morning.”

  Claire nodded. “We heard the transmission on our radio telling people to come to Great Falls. That there were others here immune to the virus.”

  “How long have you been on the road?”

  “Far too long.” Claire shifted uneasily. “So is it true that no one else has come to the settlement recently besides us?”

  “Not for years. I was starting to think we were the last survivors on Earth.” Rachel chuckled at the thought. “Where are you from?”

  “Seattle originally,” Claire said. “My son and I hopped around from state to state after the outbreak. We were trying to find refuge, hoping to run into others like us who were also immune.”

  Rachel perked up and set her fork down. “There were others like you out there?”

  “A few, but the ones we’ve come across weren’t very pleasant to be around with. People get desperate these days. To tell you the truth, it’s pretty goddamn awful out there—all you find is death and misery.” Claire wiped a smudge of potato from Tim’s cheek. “How long have you been in this settlement?”

  “Since the beginning. I’ve lived in Great Falls all my life. Before the outbreak, the population here was over 60,000. Now there’s maybe a thousand at most.” Rachel paused and looked around the room. “This community is all that’s left. When we first heard about the outbreak and how fast it was spreading through the country, the military showed up and quarantined the entire town. They started rounding up people who didn’t show signs of infection. They came to our house and said we would be safer at the camp they’d set up.”

  “Where’s your family now?” Claire asked.

  Rachel’s face saddened. She looked down at her tray. “The military didn’t allow my parents and little brother to come. They were all infected, but they didn’t look sick to me. I was told that I was the only immune one.” A tear rolled down her cheek as she told the story. She quickly wiped it off with her hand, but her voice crackled. “I—I begged to let them come, too. But they wouldn’t allow it. They said they couldn’t risk contaminating the rest of the settlement. So they were left behind to die. It was the last time I saw them.”

  Claire was horrified. “I am so sorry, Rachel.”

  Rachel went on, pushing past the tears. “As the years went by, most of
the military, led by Colonel Ward, stayed at the settlement to protect the residents. Some abandoned their posts to be with their own families.” Rachel raised her eyes. “What about your family? What happened to them?”

  “They were also infected with the Spirit Flu.” She turned to Tim again. “My son and I are the only ones left.” Claire changed the subject to avoid more painful memories. “What can you tell me about Colonel Ward?”

  “Not much to say really, only that he’s the leader of our community. All the soldiers report to him. There’s this other guy who’s his scientific advisor—he showed up not long after the settlement was established. That guy’s a bit of a mystery. His name is Dr. Cane. He and the Colonel are always together, speaking in hushed whispers. Some people here think he might be with the government, some say maybe even CIA. No one knows for sure.”

  That name triggered something inside Claire. The older man with the long hair in the white lab coat, with Ward back in his office—she remembered who he was. Claire leaned in closer to Rachel. “Do you mean Dr. Robert Cane?”

  “Yeah, that’s him,” Rachel said. She arched a brow. “You know him?”

  Claire nodded slowly as she recalled her memory. “I was in school for my biology degree. Ten years ago, before the outbreak, I attended a TED Talk in New York for my dissertation. Dr. Cane was giving a lecture at the time on bioengineering and transhumanism. It was a pretty interesting talk, even though some of his ideas were a bit unorthodox.”

  “What’s transhumanism?” Rachel asked.

  Claire had to concentrate on the meaning of the word; it had been a long time since she’d had to explain it to anyone. “It’s basically a scientific term that describes humans evolving beyond our current physical and mental states through technology. Dr. Cane was an expert on the subject.” Claire then recalled the people at the medical facility. “I saw people lying in beds inside the hospital facility where my son and I got a medical checkup. They were hooked to monitors. There were doctors in surgical scrubs, and it looked like they were performing some kind of procedure on them. And I saw what looked like soldiers running around a field outside the facility wearing these endurance masks. Any idea what they’re up to over there?”