Aethon Arises (Endless Fire Book 2)

by R E Kearney

  STAMINA VITAE

  From the distant past of old San Juan they travel into the futuristic present. Shengwu’s facility consists of an advanced-science spa village encircling a clinic. Her facility rests across the Bahia de San Juan in the shadow of Old San Juan. A tall brick wall encloses the spa, protecting it from snooping and interference.

  Robert quickly recognizes that the wall is constructed using special living engine bricks containing microbial fuel cells. He recalls reading that the cells give the bricks smart capabilities. Capabilities which enable them to make use of microbes to recycle wastewater, generate electricity and produce oxygen.

  Hugging and hiding the wall is a mix of blooming Flamboyant Madagascar trees and Flame of the Woods saturating the landscape with vibrant reds and deep greens. But, Robert also notices that like the bricks, some of the tree leaves are actually artificial light-harvesting, leaf-like structures. Bushes composed of artificial inorganic leaves that capture solar energy and use it to change water into hydrogen fuel are intermingled with the actual living trees and bushes.

  “A garden plot in a garden spot.” Marvels Robert. “Behind these flowers, Shengwu has hidden her highly advanced medical technology well. Those artificial photosynthetic systems compose an excellent floral façade. I like the way this woman thinks. Appears the only reality she accepts is her reality.”

  Flitting and flying above and around the spa walls are dozens of small aerodrones. They form a geo-fence surrounding the facility’s airspace. Spaced evenly atop the wall, Robert also notices the equipment of a multi-sensor drone warning system. Computer aimed lasers installed strategically complete Shengwu’s drone shield. Considering all of her protection, Robert wonders how she can be experiencing hack attacks.

  Swoosh. Their BTI auto-auto glides toward the entrance gates hidden in the lush landscape. As they approach, a dozen protestors jump from their revival tent shaded chairs and tables, and run to block the street in front of the facility entrance. While shouting for Robert and Rita to stop and turn around, they vigorously wave professionally printed placards and signs proclaiming, Only God Shall Create Life and Genetic Engineering Is Satan’s work. Some of the protestors beat on their auto-auto with their signs. Others just shout sin at them.

  They jump around with determination and dedication, but in the intense heat, they soon wither. Their protest is short lived. After less than two minutes, they are sweating profusely and wilting. Now silent and wet, they stagger back to their shading tent abandoning the street.

  “Well, that wasn’t much of a demonstration.” Robert mockingly waves at the retreating protestors. “Appears they’re heading back to their revival tent for a little reviving.”

  “Too hot for too little pay. We’ve investigated them. They’re not Puerto Ricans.”

  “Who are they then?” Robert strains for a better view of the departed protestors.

  “They’re poorly paid protestors flown here from the mainland. Conservative Christian faith healers, I’m told. You know…they don’t believe in science, evolution or modern medicine. Instead it’s their notion that prayers or divine intervention or the ministrations of their individual healer can cure illness.”

  “Yes, I’ve met their type before.” Robert smirks. “Gullible group. Of course being gullible is a requirement for their religion. But then, I believe all religion survives on gullibility. And, I expect that eventually, their gullibility will kill them. Ignore the laws of Science and you die from ignorance. They’re sowing the seeds of their self-destruction…”

  “…Anyway…” Rita returns Robert to their present situation. “…as you saw, they’re basically harmless. They don’t really bother anybody, so we allow them to stay here.”

  Robert disagrees. “I doubt they’ll ever leave. Since they don’t believe in science, I imagine they must consider Shengwu’s genetic engineering an abomination that they must fight forever. Probably wouldn’t like me either, since I believe in science not superstition. So, I doubt we would have much to discuss over a beer.”

  “Or a Pina Colada?” Rita teases.

  Robert groans and massages his still aching head.

  As they near the gates, the words Stamina Vitae engraved in a silver plate embedded in the wall catches Robert’s eye. Shengwu’s Latin name for her facility is deceptively simple. Meaning ‘life threads’ in English, it is illusory.

  Stopping just outside the gates, a pair of security robots approach each side of their BTI from their stations in alcoves in the wall. The security-bots conduct identity scans of Robert’s and Rita’s faces and retinas. Completing their identification, the security-bots slide backward away from their auto-auto. The gates open.

  “Proceed forward slowly and stop when your front spheroids contact the security stop. Sensors within the gates will scan your transport. You will be notified when to proceed.” Directs the security-bot vocally to the passengers and electronically through their auto-auto’s robotics-to-robotics communication system.

  Their gate scan is quick. Cleared, their BTI receives directions to continue inside. The exterior circular pattern is repeated inside. Two dozen guest cottages encircle Shengwu’s clinic. The clinic is a crystalline dome resembling a huge diamond in a sea of green-colored, energy-producing, artificial bionic leaves. Bionic-flower lined paths constructed of energy-producing tiles simultaneously separate and connect the cottages and the clinic.

  Just inside the gate, their auto-auto stops again. They hear a hiss and then feel themselves descending. In moments, they are gliding through an underground parking garage toward Shengwu. She waves and smiles as they near.

  “Welcome to Stamina Vitae, Robert.” Shengwu vigorously shakes Robert’s hand, before turning. “Hello Rita. Good to see that you’re still watching him.”

  Pressing her uniquely fingered hand against a black fibrous square on a solid, metallic wall, a bio-chip embedded in Shengwu’s wrist, activates a retinal scanner. She stares into the scanner until an electronic voice speaks, “Please state your name.”

  “Shengwu Kexuejia.”

  “Thank you. Your voice is recognized.” A panel in the wall slides to the side opening a portal. “You may proceed.”

  “I have two guests. I entered their identity information earlier. I will enter their biologicals inside.”

  “Yes. Two additional humans may accompany you. Each must pass one second behind you and each other. They will be scanned as they enter.”

  As soon as they step inside, the panel closes behind them with a whisper. Perusing the chamber surrounding them, Robert realizes they are in a positive-air-pressure, clean-room. A cool, chemical sterilization mist floats from ports in the ceiling across the three of them. Warm drying air follows, creating a positive air flow that dries them while simultaneously shedding them of infectious organisms. Mist and air cleaning does not sufficiently decontaminate them.

  Next, a panel opens on their left presenting them with three full-body, biohazard suits including oxygen filtering helmets. Rita and Shengwu slip into their suits with no problem. Robert is not so lucky. His suit is too short. He is only able to close his suit by slightly bending his knees and arching his back. He remembers seeing his elderly grandfather shuffling along in a similar stance.

  After they complete dressing, the exit panel opens allowing them to enter the main clinic building. Shengwu and Rita casually stroll ahead while Robert shuffles behind. Shengwu leads them into her laboratory. They are the only humans in the room.

  Communicating helmet to helmet, Shengwu explains her laboratory. “Along these three walls, are four enclosed gene analysis stations paired with genome editing stations and 3D bio-printers. These stations down here are connected directly to a specific patient genetic collection robot.”

  Sweeping her arm, Shengwu directs their attention around the room. “In fact, all of this is robotic. Robots and computers. I designed and supervised the production of my entire clinic. I only trust the accuracy and
precision of robots. Humans are far too inaccurate for genome editing. One nano-slip in human genetic engineering can transform a man into a monster. So along with my robots, I have an Artificial Intelligence quantum laser-light computer operating my lab.”

  Leaning close and peering into one of the stations, Robert seeks to understand Shengwu’s laboratory. “So your computer system is a closed system? How is anybody hacking it, if it’s all inside this building?”

  “No, that’s my problem. Not all of my system is in house. My quantum laser-light computer is not here. It’s chilling in the Pacific Ocean beneath the seasteaded SPEA capital city of Venus. Ever heard of it?”

  “Oh yes, I’m familiar with Venus. Spent some time there, a while ago.”

  “Good. Very good.” Shengwu joins Robert who is still observing the analysis and editing stations. “Information is the key component of my work. Algorithms. Too many highly involved and complicated algorithms for normal computers. So, I must transmit my data to the computer beneath Venus via SPEA’s satellites. I’m working with some extremely intelligent lady named Pion there on Venus. She seems to interact directly with the computer or the computer is reacting to her. I’m not certain which. Sometimes I wonder if she may actually be a transhuman with a direct interface from her brain to the computer. I just know that she is a major reason for this clinic’s success.”

  Chuckling, Robert straightens as much as he can within his suit. “Yes, I know Pion. And yes, she is indeed brilliant. She’s not a transhuman, though. At least, I don’t believe a chip has been implanted in her brain. Actually, she’s a high functioning autistic, computer savant. An Asperger genius like Albert Einstein. Did you know that she is responsible for AIDAS…the principle reason the world is generally at peace right now?”

  “AIDAS? I don’t know anything about AIDAS.”

  “Few people do, actually. AIDAS is the acronym for artificial intelligence defense analysis system. It was a US defense system that Pion transformed into what I have come to call, the peace police or the prince of peace. AIDAS has already eliminated several of the world’s trouble makers using its own form of peace enforcement.”

  “Peace enforcement?”

  “Yes, it’s a bit contradictory, I know.” Robert turns so he can see Shengwu. “In the Canadian military, we’re taught that peace enforcement refers to the use of military assets to enforce a peace against the will of the parties to a conflict. AIDAS, on the other hand, conducts peace enforcement by creating accidents through the Internet of Things.”

  “What?”

  Robert grins mischievously. “Either you’re peaceful or AIDAS may kill you with your toaster.”

  Shengwu suspiciously scrutinizes Robert. “Is this your subtle warning? Should I be nervous?”

  “Started any wars recently?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Well, then you should be safe…unless you have a testy toaster.” Robert reassures her with a grin.

  Standing across the room, Rita is inspecting a single gene analysis and gene editing combination station separated from all of the other stations. Behind the station is an unmarked door. “Excuse me! Can you tell me about these stations?”

  Hurriedly limping across to Rita, Shengwu slides between her and the stations, attempting to block her view. “This is a special project I am studying. It’s still in the conception phase.”

  “What’s in the room behind this door, Shengwu?” Rita reaches toward the door behind the station Shengwu is protecting.

  “Just storage.” Shengwu grabs Rita’s elbow and ushers her toward the elevator. “Follow me Robert and I'll show you our patient reception and sample collection center.”

  “Secrecy is one of the shadier sides of private and public life.” Robert considers Shengwu’s actions suspicious. “The brilliant Canadian philosopher Ian Hacking taught me that. So what is behind the door Shengwu?”

  “Well it could be where I hide my hopes and my dreams or it could be where I hide my dusty, old memories that I am embarrassed for you to see.” Shengwu accesses her elevator. “I’ll match your Canadian Ian Hacking with my Chinese Confucius who said, “it is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.’ Sometimes a closet should be considered just a closet, Robert.”

  SEEKING QI

  Smoothly and soundlessly, their elevator rises one or two floors. Robert is not certain about the distance. Then, after rising, the elevator pauses momentarily before sliding sideways. With a swish, the elevator door opens. Motioning for them to follow her, Shengwu leads them into a changing room where they remove their biohazard suits and store them in a sterilizing chamber.

  “Ah, that’s better.” Robert stretches and straightens to his full height. “I was beginning to cramp.”

  “Yes, I apologize. When I entered the dimensions for your suit into my 3D printer, I obviously underestimated how tall you are. But, you’re done with it. I don’t think you’ll need it again. The rest of your tour will be outside of the sanitary rooms. So, if you’ll follow me please.”

  Pressing her palm against a scanner on the wall, Shengwu opens a panel into a long corridor. When she steps onto the corridor’s power-floor-tiles, a lamp above her glows. Rita and Robert join her and the corridor brightens. The three of them proceed to the first set of opposing glass panels.

  Standing in the center, Shengwu turns to face them and spreads her arms, so she is pointing to each side. “On my right are the rooms where my nurse robots collect our genetic samples from patients. On my left are the rooms where my nurse robots inject the engineered and edited genetic material back into the patients. You may observe that procedure through the one-way mirrors. We also visually record each step of each procedure. For safety, those recordings are filed with SPEA.”

  Robert and Rita step close to the first mirror-window opening into a genetic sampling room. At first glance, Robert thinks he is watching a patient receiving an MRI. He is only partially correct. The patients are being MRI scanned and sampled simultaneously, with the MRI targeting the area of the patient’s body for sampling. An attendant that Robert believes may be human stands near the MRI opening.

  “So, you do have some humans involved in your process?” Robert asks, “Not just robots?”

  “Yes, I do. I call them counselors. I don’t allow them to do anything medical, but they provide the human touch and the human support that my patients require. They’re my attempt to provide them with Qi. You know Qi?” Shengwu asks rhetorically a breath before she explains. “Qi is what my great grandmother in China called the vital energy that flows through the body and performs multiple functions in maintaining health. For Qi, I have the same counselor assigned to the same patient for both the patient’s sampling and injection phases. But, they are never allowed to leave the human section of the clinic. In fact, you’re the first humans other than me that have entered this observation corridor. Even my lead counselor Margarete is not allowed in here.”

  “I am privileged...” Rita remarks, stepping closer for a better view. “…to now observe this medical procedure from both inside and outside of the rooms.”

  “You were a patient Rita?” Surprised, Robert visually examines Rita searching for signs of her illness.

  “She was one of my first patients. Weren’t you, Rita?” Shengwu lifts her chin with her finger stubs and gently moves Rita’s head from side to side. “And I must say, I believe you are looking extremely well, now. Are you experiencing any more problems?”

  “No, my cancer is gone…completely gone.” Rita grins.

  A small smile on her face, Shengwu lightly pats Rita’s cheek. “Rita suffered from what her doctor diagnosed as an inoperable Glioblastoma multiforme tumor. Since Glioblastoma multiforme tumors grow rapidly, invade nearby tissue, and contain cells that are very malignant, it is among the most devastating primary brain tumors that can strike adults. Even with proton cancer treatments, ninety-nine percent of people diagnosed with it
die.”

  Shengwu’s smile dissolves into sorrow. “Doctors found a similar tumor in my mother and started proton cancer treatments, but she only lived another seven weeks more. Because of US laws, they weren’t allowed to treat her with genome engineering. I couldn’t…Robert, they wouldn’t even allow me…her daughter to try. All I was allowed to do was watch her die…just watch her suffer and die.”

  “But, not here, Robert. Here I am able to heal people and watch them live. Rita’s doctors only gave her a slim chance of surviving her cancer, as well. But, here in Puerto Rico, with genome engineering, I changed that didn’t I Rita?” Shengwu proudly announces.

  “Yes, I am cancer free. Strong and healthy.” Rita smiles and pirouettes. “Better living through genetic engineering. Esto es oro de la Palestina (This is gold from Palestine).”

  “And this is what those science deniers want to stop.” Shengwu points at the celebrating Rita. “And this is why I need you to eliminate them, Robert. If they had interfered or altered any of my communications with SPEA, Rita could be dead instead of dancing.”

  “Ah yes.” Robert steps into one of his lectures. “I find it peculiar that today’s science deniers choose to ignore the words of one of their famous religious leaders, Billy Graham, when he said, ‘I'm thankful for the incredible advances in medicine that have taken place during my lifetime. I almost certainly wouldn't still be here if it weren't for them.’”

  “Interesting comment, Robert. You’ll need to keep that thought in mind to complete your work for me.” Shengwu motions for them to follow her. “Let me show you the command center I assembled.”

  “So why here? Why not China? Why did you establish your clinic in Puerto Rico?” Robert questions, as he surveys Shengwu’s ultramodern facility. “Especially with the anti-genetics, anti-science groups and SS Deacons so close and in control of America? The same groups that tossed you and your father out of America.”