by M. Modak
Drake looked him in the eyes and without hesitation, he said, “Yes.”
“Remember Drake, they will laugh at you, most will not listen to you. Take those who will go with you into the Laytech warehouse, and into the other warehouses like it around the globe, before 11 pm tonight.”
“What happens at 11:00?”
Lavar’s image began to fade. “You will see, then you will know what to do.”
“Okay,” Drake said, and then he asked, “Who is the Grand Master and what do mean, ‘When my mother first came to Earth.’
Lavar’s image was already shrinking away, fading into the whiteness. Drake began to feel cool water cover his head and gently fill his consciousness. Then, his vision began to shrink into a single pulsating light. It’s warm embrace felt real, and it became the only real thing he knew.
The light called to him and he moved toward it. The light grew until he filled it completely, “Drake… Drake, wake up!” It was Sam’s voice, he repeated, “Drake, wake up!”
The smell of rotten eggs mixed with alcohol and molded butter rammed his mind so hard he sat up instantly and opened his eyes. Sam stood arched above him with the most concerned look Drake had ever seen. He rubbed his eyes, looked around and said, “I’m at Laytech!”
Chapter 6 The Council’s Last Vote
Fael’s Universe
Whitman stared at the gathered representatives before him, ready to gauge the impact of his speech on them. As was their custom, flames lit the room. Large torches hung from granite supports, spread across an oval shaped wall, casting eerie shadows across the waiting council members. He wondered if they thought the flickering, dim light would hide the subtle traces of fear he felt in their hearts.
He pounded his palm on the table, “You must decide now!”
He waited for the shock of his outburst to ware off, then he softened his tone a little, “You’ve taken too long. Over the last two years, you have invested in the promises I’ve made. Have I let you down? That vote of confidence you made in me two years ago has brought us great wealth, power, and unlimited benefits to the corporations we serve. This is our moment.
“Our brotherhood has been the first fully empowered governmental body to cross every national boundary. Now is the time to raise the rest of the world’s total standard of living, and propel the human race as a whole to greatness.”
Whitman lowered his voice to a whisper, “With the predictive power inherent in the Sapen program, terrorism has virtually ended. This board is now what the adversaries of mankind fear. With Sapen, our enemies cannot hide!
“This council has emerged above the pursuits of tyrants, the greed of kings, the lies of religions, and many endless philosophical debates. The strength of this council has bent the evolution of humanity away from certain self-destruction. Our future is an interconnected world with roads that stretch across the sky and oceans, and where people enjoy freedom of travel like never before. This will lead to greater peace, deeper healing among the tribes of man and expanded commerce.
“We must not stop here. The science of clones and synthetic living tissue is now common knowledge. Many of you have already had the treatments.
“If we don’t take this window of opportunity now it will be shut again for thousands of years. Now is when the masses can benefit most from our Reconstructive Genetic Programs. Sickness can end, overnight!
“If we keep this technology to ourselves we will fail. Great powers, throughout history have always experienced ultimate failure because of a lack of long term planning Think about where we are now. What happened to this once great nation a few years ago is a direct result of that government’s short sightedness.
“What is stopping this noble body of representatives? Greed is no longer an issue for us. We have more wealth and power than any government, combined in all of history. If we don’t act now, while the gap between the rich and poor is still within our sight, we won’t be able to save the masses of people before the next generation of Genoids arrives. Humanity will slip into the void. Are you willing to wait 1 or 2,000 years to correct the mistake we can simply fix by our vote this night?
“This vote is why we meet here in secret. I’ve sat where you are now, on many nights, and listened to many of you declare your desire to change the world for the better. Your yes vote will change the world and the lives of billions. Think of how many people in the future will look back on us and bless the day we advanced the human race.” He took a sip from a fluted glass of red wine then carefully set it down.
“The people are most supple to our suggestions right now. Peace is a loaded word filled with great meaning. With Sapen’s help, the public allowed us to overthrow governments to secure the building permits for our Light Streets. They know our reasons are pure and in the name of the greater peace. Notice how this isn’t like the oil wars of times past. They covered up their true interest in layers of transparent rhetoric, before attacking weaker nations. Short-term goals are a result of short-term thinking.
“Our interest is no less than the unification of all the people in the world under one common rule, one transparent, monetary system, and equal opportunity for all…
“We eliminated our competitors. Their ambitions were advanced in the false name of peace, but no one was fooled. They were all warmongers and profiteers pretending to be statesmen. They were wolves guarding the hen house. The world watched with rapt attention as we took them down, one by one, in the name of peace. Peace is our goal. When we’re finished, the rule of law will be sovereign again.”
He slid his hand across the table, lifted the elegantly crafted glass of red wine to his lips and drank deeply. When he was done he said, “Time is up; vote yes tonight and start the world down a path of peace that will last for millennia to come…”
Silence was their answer.
A minute passed without a sound.
He continued but this time venom laced each word. “I can see that we are divided. I have prepared for this show of weakness. My hope would be that a free people would elect to do the right thing.”
Whitman glanced at Void. She was waiting in the shadow by the door for his cue. He looked back to the semicircle table. The agents from the most important corporations and nations from around the world remained mute. It was time to use a different form of persuasion. He said, “I have people listening to your private words, all the time. I know where your children sleep.”
There were gasps from a few of the women in the room.
“I cannot stress the limit of time I have before it’s too late for mankind. I will not allow you,” he glanced over the group, “to stop my plan. I am going to change the world for the good, with or without you. Tonight is only the beginning. I guarantee you that after this vote is taken the lines will be drawn and war will be declared.”
He drew back and slammed his fist on the table! The 13 council members jerked as one in surprise! Whitman stared at each face, calculating their small movements, searching for their weakness. “I will not forget what side you are on.”
He paused and took another slow sip from his glass of wine. Then slowly he shifted into a relaxed position allowing a small smile to uncurl across his face. Shadows danced in his eyes. He could feel their irritation but he knew they would not reject him, Sapen had predicted his success. All he had to do is this last part and finish the script.
This council had been with him from the start, and they had seen how far he would push the limits to meet his goal. Most of them had helped. He had stacked the deck a long time ago and they knew that for him this was no game.
Carefully he lowered his hand resting the glass at his side. Then he poured the wine out letting it fall on the table. The sound of the splashing drops echoed off the thick, concrete walls like crying children. The torchlight continued the devils dance across his face drawing out the deep lines from years of hard choices, endless stress and disappointment.
“I warn you again, join me today or you will meet your end just a
s the others did.” He paused again. As each moment past, the silence began to ring in his ears. Eyes diverted as he searched for supporters.
It was time to step up his game. He wished someone would dare challenge him. He waited. He needed an example, someone would disagree with him and that was why he had brought her. Void would ensure they understood the consequences for letting him down, letting the whole world down. Then he would allow the vote.
He sat the glass down in the small puddle of red wine he had just created, and with an unloving smile he said, “Come on everyone, why the cruel faces? This is the end of a dying era and now the hope of a brighter future is upon us.
“Don’t you know that the age of science has led to the creation of a completely new race that is far more capable of surviving than we mere humans are? We didn’t start it. This idea, to better the human race through medical technology has been in the making before Crick and Watson discovered the keys to evolution. However, Eugenics was just an idea then. Now that idea is a reality and they are among us. Hell, some of your children carry neutralized genes that thirty years ago would have limited their quality of life and its expectancy by 20 years.
“This new race is already here. They are farmers with synthetic hearts, technicians with artificial eyes, athletes with manmade limbs, scientist with data storage devices implanted in their brains. Think about those parents who couldn’t bear children? They never would have experienced the wonder of childbirth, which God intended for everyone…
“Everyone is a big word. That’s what this is about here, everyone. Those opportunities are now available only to the rich and powerful but it will become a part of every birth. This can be a conscience evolutionary process rather than done blindly by life. This vote is an act in the highest interest of humanity.
“Right now, you can’t see the beauty of the whole picture. All you can see is the possible dead ends. I tell you the end will be glorious. History will remember us as the forefathers of the new humanity.
“I know that some of you are wondering how we will convince the remaining people, those few who will resist us, to join our side. Sapen’s new Memory Reorganizers have been very successful thus far in getting many of the permits for the Light Streets. It will take strong leadership to wield this kind of power. I’m now offering permanent seats on the board of General Mass Memory to those who will speak up now in favor of the vote. Imagine how you will be able to help the world see your position from a seat on that board.”
This was it; he had reached the end of his speech. He needed to deliver the end just right and deal harshly with the first dissenter. “I need noble statesmen that are aware of the needs and sensitivity of our position. Powerful leaders must have foresight. Just think, we rule the world but they, the improved generation to come, will bring order to the solar system. Can you guess what their children will accomplish throughout the galaxy?”
He let his voice calm as he spoke again, “The benefits that this vote will bring to your families, and all mankind, will…be…endless.”
A uniformed man seated to his right raised his hand in a childish manner. Whitman turned and with a smile acknowledged his presence. He said, “Commander Rigger.”
The Commander looked across the room with a nervous smile. He took a composing breath and said, “General Whitman, please excuse my interruption.”
Whitman didn’t respond.
The Commander continued, “If we reveal ourselves as openly, as your proposal suggest, won’t the public react badly?” Whitman’s glare bore into him but he remained silent.
With building courage, The Commander’s tone started to rise, “And what of your other technologies?” He glanced over at Void as a fire started in his eyes, “What are their other applications? What if we build Genoids that we cannot control? What happens when they start to reprogram themselves? Who will answer them when they start asking the simple questions about life, we still have no answers for ourselves? What purpose or function will we serve the enhanced humans or these new synthetic life forms that are superior to even the greatest superhuman? Will they be as kind to us as you suggest we should be to them? We could be ruled or destroyed by our own creation?”
Whitman smiled and his eyes brightened, “That’s where you come in.” With his hand he gestured to all of the council members, “This is why you’re here, if we start now to direct this new form of life, in a useful way, we could save hundreds of years of darkness and bloodshed. We have the power now to give them a purpose. They can rebuild this world faster than we ever could. They can clean the air, restore the nutrients to the topsoil and provide drinking water to the thirsty. They are equipped for deep space missions and colonization of distant worlds.
“Mankind was created to design its own future. They… are the next step for humanity. Don’t you see it? We have given birth to the highest version of ourselves whether we like it or not. They are already here. We can’t stop progress. We have tried, but we can’t outlaw global innovation, stop medical advancements, or sabotage new tool designs in the long run.”
The Commander pronounced, “What you are proposing is un-natural selection!”
“No! I have chosen to take my head out of the sand. I am facing the storm before us and I’m using this energy, this awesome power to advance our way for our children and children’s children.”
A slightly sarcastic female voice cut in, “But sir?” The President of Venezuela, Dian Long said, “Do you have a renegade supercomputer?” she said, “I hear it stopped cooperating today. Perhaps it has a mind of its own as the commander pointed out?” She paused but Whitman only stared at her. “Maybe the Sapen or these other creatures won’t like your plans and choose to over throw us. How long will we control them when they think for themselves, find our contradictions and reject our values?”
Whitman’s temper raged. He screamed, “I have control of Sapen! We will establish the rules and laws to govern them! The Global Congress will make it legal if we approve it. You have the UN by the balls and I have you by the neck. Now is when we dance. You will approve this legislation. All future scientific endeavors will be released from the useless red tape. Then we will address the basic rights of all sentient life forms as a whole. We will give them the protections that they deserve.
“Our first means of control will be a new, legal, thought campaign. We can reach most of the world’s population under this bill. Then at phase two, we will take control of every media outlet and government educational program worldwide. We will use it to open the world’s eyes to what is. The very fears that lurk inside the masses will convince them that the leadership we have to offer is their only choice for freedom and independence.
“When my plan is in full operation the public will beg us to assure them that everything is going to be all right. They will trade their old lives and frail bodies for our improved human technologies. Why? Because there’s nothing else they can do once we get this train rolling. We won’t leave any desirable option. Grow and become strong or die.” Whitman looked back down on Commander Rigger.
The sound of another woman clearing her throat came from his left. Whitman glanced down the row of curving seats and saw the representative from the East.
“Miss, Maddox,” he said, “You have something to add?”
She spoke in a steady clear voice, “Mr. Whitman we may have some influence upon the Global Council and can control most of the media but the fact is the Proles control business. That herd moves at its own desires. They vote with their feet. You stated earlier that there are lots of things we cannot control, and that is so. But General, the world won’t allow us to exaggerate or downplay the events you’re suggesting for very long. There are so many ways to access the net. It won’t be long before we are forced to change our strategy. Simply put, I think everyone here wishes the average person could have equality but this is not the way to do it. We cannot just vote and make a law of this magnitude requiring such brute force to enact. Without allowing time for the
people to think it through and come to the same conclusions that we have, a mountain of unpredictable consequences may fall on us.
“Mr. Whitman. I wish your proposal could open the dams of freedom for all these people. Like you said, it’s the dream of mankind since the dawning of civilization. But what we have to fear is the people themselves.
“I also want to allow those hiding synthetic and cloned individuals to be able to step out and declare themselves as such and live as equals. But I think that if we don’t allow the public the choice to accept them, and the time to digest this new development of life, then we have already confirmed their worst fears. They will think they have no control over their lives and the revolt will be unlike anything before. Perhaps we could break this single proposal into manageable chunks but as a whole, I’m sorry, it’s too fast and too soon for me. Let the people decide.”
“Mr. Whitman,” A voice came from before him. Whitman looked and saw it was Mr. Tanaka the President of the Japanese company BioHygiene, the largest Health research and Development Company in the world; and his greatest competitor.