“Jonah!” The premier exclaimed, as he shook Jonah’s hand, and placed his other hand on his shoulder. “I’m especially excited about your reveal tonight, cousin.”
“You remember, your Lordship.” Jonah said as he smiled. Roger laughed.
“Of course I do!” He said enthusiastically. “How could I forget my favorite cousin?” He asked.
“Well it’s been a long time, and I’m sure you are quite busy now.”
“Oh, posh. I’m not that busy. Now where is that beautiful wife of yours?” He asked as he glanced around.
“Downstairs.” Jonah replied. Roger leaned close, and whispered.
“I’m just dying to say something provocative to her…it makes her crazy!” He said, as he winked.
“Crazy is one word for it.” Jonah replied, the smile still on his face. “So how are you coping with everything?” Jonah asked.
“You mean this?” Roger said, as he swept his arm through the air and indicated the crowd as they danced below on the floor of the great hall. “This is easy.” He said. “Now dealing with all of the whiny bastards with all of their petty little problems? That, my friend, is a different story entirely.” His smile disappeared and his expression went grave for a moment. “But enough about my boring life. What of yourself? What’s the big reveal?” He said, as he smiled again.
“Oh, just your standard vocal chord upgrade. Nothing special really.”
“Did you get the brain enhancement as well? I hear they have made great strides in that technology.” Roger waved at a small group that tried desperately to get his attention from near the balcony.
“I did. Thank you for asking. Seems I remember a lot of things better now.” Jonah said. Roger stopped in mid wave, as his expression suddenly turned dour.
“A lot of things you say?” Roger asked. “Things like what?” He asked, with an edge of concern in his voice.
“Oh, birthdays, anniversaries…the important things.” Jonah replied, and Roger smiled again, as the concern eased out of his face.
“Well that’s a useful talent, especially for keeping Nessa happy.” He said.
“Yes it is. I also remember some things...long forgotten.” Jonah said. His own expression turned quite serious.
“You do, do you?” Roger asked. His attention once again focused on Jonah.
“What happened to Adam?” Jonah asked. Roger stared at him, and the seconds ticked past before he finally spoke.
“You know what happened to Adam.” He said, as a hint of impatience entered his voice. Jonah did not break his stare, but held his gaze defiantly.
“Do I?” Jonah asked quickly.
“Of course, you do.” Roger said as he diverted his eyes away from Jonah. “You were there. Of all things, you should remember that.”
“Seems as though, maybe I wasn’t there after all, your Lordship.”
“What are you saying?” Roger asked, clearly exasperated.
“Saying? Why, I am not saying anything, sire.” His gaze became even more intense. “I was asking.” Jonah stated directly.
“Well maybe you should stop asking, and just be thankful for what you have.” Roger said, with a sudden indifference. “Nessa will be an honoree next year. You wouldn’t want there to be any issues with her rejuvenation or enhancement selection.” He said. “Now would you.” He said matter of factly, as the Chancellor stepped to his side, and bent close to his ear.
“Excuse me, your Lordship.” Charles said quietly to the Premier. “May I have a moment?” Jonah stood in absolute silence.
“Good night, Jonah.” Roger said with an edge of sarcasm in his voice. “Give my love to Vanessa.” He turned and walked away with the Chancellor. For a moment Jonah looked after him, as he fought to control the emotions within himself. Ever since he had received the brain enhancement, he knew that he had not been there when Adam had died. More importantly, he remembered why he had thought for so long that he had been there and had seen the whole thing. Immediately after Roger had told him that Adam had died, his father, the Premier had arranged for Jonah to be treated for the grief of having lost his closest friend, and cousin. Jonah now recalled that this treatment consisted of a combination of drug therapies, hypnosis, electric shock, and even surgery. With his new enhancement, he could remember clearly being told repeatedly that he was there when Adam died, that he had seen it happen, and had even tried to save his cousin. That he himself had almost drowned, and that it was Roger that had saved his life. The problem with that story was that it was not true. He knew beyond all doubt now, that he knew nothing of Adam’s demise, until Roger had told him about it. For all these years he had lived with the guilt of having been somehow responsible for Adam’s death. That he had been made to believe that he had snuck out in the middle of the night, jumped the fence, and swam in the ocean, and that it had all been his idea. That Adam had just gone along with it, and then died because of it. He did not know what really happened that night, but now he finally knew what had not happened.
Jonah wandered around the staging area, and spoke here and there with the other honorees. A few would reveal physically noticeable enhancements, and some, like Jonah would reveal largely internal enhancements. The more he talked with them the less he knew he had anything in common with them. His choice on the vocal enhancement truly was for Vanessa. But the enhancement to his memory was for him and him alone. And now that he knew what he had not remembered, it angered him to have been so blatantly manipulated. And his blood boiled at the thought of the not so thinly veiled threat Roger had issued, of withholding rejuvenation from Vanessa. How dare that bastard even say her name, he thought as he grabbed a glass from the table in the corner and filled it from the sparkle water fountain. He drained the glass, and tossed the glass into the slot next to the table. He was angry. And he did not feel that he could stomach more conversation with the waiting honorees. He leaned against the wall near the corner, and suddenly almost fell through, as the paneling swung inward. He caught his balance as he grabbed the edge of the doorway and stood up inside the adjacent room. He looked around briefly to see if anyone was in the room, and noticed that the far wall had an open panel. Through the opening he could see Roger’s back, seated in a chair. Quietly, he swung the panel he had come through almost closed, and then edged along the wall and approached the opening. He was close enough now to hear them as they spoke.
“What do you mean, they haven’t caught the bastard yet.” Roger yelled at Charles.
“Exactly what I just said.” Charles said coolly.
“I told you to handle this!”
“And I ordered an entire squad of Guardians to be dispatched.”
“Charles, this is ridiculous. We can’t have some specimen running around loose.”
“Sir, I am well aware of this. The latest report has the Guardians chasing them into the fetal prep area.” Charles said.
“The fetal….the fetal prep area. Have you lost your mind! That means it had to go through the warehouse!” Roger yelled, and jumped up from his chair. Jonah eased back a little to make sure that he was not seen. He bumped into a side table, and set a small figurine in motion. With lightning fast reflexes, he grabbed the figurine and stabilized it. “Wait…you said, they. Damn it Charles, what the hell is going on?”
“They…did go through the warehouse. It appears there are two intruders. We also have reports that some storage tanks and product have been damaged in the warehouse.” Charles said.
“Product damaged? Damn it, Charles, so help me!” Roger paced the room. “Do we know whose product it was?”
“Not yet, sir.”
“Anything important damaged?” Roger asked.
“It’s all important, in one way or the other, sir.” Charles replied. “Some eyes, skin sections, a few major organs.” Jonah’s eyes opened wider, as he listened stealthily from the other room.
“You know, that could mean life or death for several subjects.” Roger said
.
“What’s done is done, sir. We’ll reprogram the system to get replacement specimens started as soon as possible.”
“Whatever.” Roger said, and stepped up into Charles’s face. “You listen to me, Chancellor.” He said with severe sarcasm. “You find them, and kill them right now!”
“We’re working on it-”
“I don’t care what you are working on. I am telling you, you will find them right now. You! Personally! And kill them!” Spittle flew from Roger’s lips as he yelled. “And if you don’t. I’ll take care of you, myself!” Roger walked to the far wall which slid open, and turned back. “Do I make myself clear?” He asked.
“Yes, sir. Crystal.” Answered Charles. Roger exited the room, and the door slid shut behind him. “Bastard.” Charles said under his breath. He pulled his comm unit from his tunic. “Amelia. Meet me in sector two immediately. And come armed.” He put away his device and walked through the opening into the room where Jonah was. Two steps in, he stopped. He had noticed that the figurine was turned differently than before. He walked over to the small table, and adjusted the figurine slightly. Satisfied that it was correctly repositioned, he walked to the rear wall and touched a section of the wall, which slid open to reveal an elevator. He stepped inside and the door slid closed behind him. Slowly, Jonah stood up from behind the chair in the corner of the room.
Chapter 22
Immortal Page 21