by Nancy Madore
“It makes sense,” said Nadia. “Otherwise, where did the gods go?”
“There could still be some of them out there,” said Gordon. “Don’t forget, they’re just Nephilim. They can hide.”
“Okay, so assuming Zeus did make the majority of them disappear all those years ago,” said Clive. “Why bring Poseidon back now? And what’s with the plot to wipe out Japan?”
“Yes, that’s the part that doesn’t make any sense,” agreed Gordon.
“Unless Zeus isn’t the one who brought Poseidon back,” said Nadia.
“Right,” said Gordon. “Oh—and by the way, Clive and I found another interesting little tidbit for you.”
Nadia looked at Clive. “What is it?”
Clive smiled. “Turns out that your buddy, Nasterson, owns a company that owns a company…that owns a company—it keeps going like that for a while—until you get to a company called New Energy Technologies, or NET, as its better known as.”
“NET,” repeated Nadia thoughtfully. “Weren’t they involved in some big government scandal a few years back?”
“Sure were,” said Clive. “They’re one of the companies that were bilking the government for all kinds of bogus expenses through their contracts with the Department of Defense.”
“Don’t tell me that they’re still getting our defense contracts,” said Nadia.
“Only one,” said Clive.
“T.D.M.R.,” Nadia guessed.
“You got it,” said Clive. “Under one company name or another, Nasterson has held the contract with T.D.M.R. since its inception.”
“What does NET do for T.D.M.R.?” asked Nadia.
“That’s classified,” said Gordon. “Officially, they research alternative energy. All we know about NET’s activities is that they’ve been buying up alternative energy companies and patents for years…almost all of which end up going bankrupt.”
“And they’ve got the tax breaks to prove it,” added Clive.
“And nobody can question their activities because their doing it all under the umbrella of the DOD’s top secret security clearance,” finished Gordon.
Nadia stood up and walked to the window. It was a clear, autumn day. She had always found this view from her father’s beach house soothing, but today it stirred up a storm of emotions. How had the world become so corrupt? She supposed it had always been this way, but the stakes seemed so much higher now. Industry and technology—which might just as easily have been used to improve the world’s state of affairs—had, instead, boosted the power of the world’s most corrupt individuals to an all-time high.
“I just don’t understand why we’re allowing so much secrecy where there should be accountability,” she said.
“Big business owns the world nowadays,” said Clive. “That’s nothing new, but at least in the old days we had journalists. We could count on the whistleblowers when things got too out of control. Ever since big business bought the media, the news has been fed to us intravenously through the AP wire. It’s already been digested for us and everything. We don’t even have to think anymore.”
Nadia turned from the window and began to pace around the room. “We know that Wessler’s ten are using T.D.M.R. to create earthquakes,” she said thoughtfully. “We also know that the episode in California was intended for Japan. According to Poseidon, Wessler’s ten won’t stop until they accomplish what they intended to do. I believe this to be true. I believe these ten men are among the most ruthless individuals this world has ever produced.”
Clive and Gordon watched Nadia pace back and forth in silence.
“Wessler’s dead,” she continued. “That’s one down. And we know the identity of two of the other nine men.”
“Roan Dunn and Jeremy Nasterson,” supplied Gordon.
“Yes, and we know that these two men are into oil, banking and alternative energy,” she said.
“I wouldn’t say they’re into alternative energy,” interjected Clive. “It’s more like they’re trying to deter it.”
“Exactly!” said Nadia, stopping mid-pace. “And why do you think that is?”
Clive appeared to be struggling to follow her. “Well…they both made their fortunes in oil,” he said. “Maybe they want to keep up the demand.”
Nadia shook her head. “The demand for oil is already beyond their capacity to supply,” she said. “To that end, this seems like overkill.”
“She’s right,” said Gordon. “Most economists agree that the biggest problem with oil is that there isn’t enough of it. Some say oil production peaked in the seventies…meaning that ever since then, it has declined. Yet our consumption keeps getting higher. Of course, big oil downplays this, but at our current rate of consumption, it has been predicted that by the year 2020 we could have the beginnings of a serious oil shortage.”
“So…if they don’t need to increase the demand for oil,” began Clive, “why go to war with alternative energy?”
“Maybe they aren’t destroying those patents,” said Gordon. “Maybe they’re planning ahead. They might be trying to corner the market on the next big thing.”
“How do you corner the market on an idea?” asked Nadia. “If any of those patents had amounted to anything, don’t you think we would’ve gotten wind of it? Even with the whole top secret thing, whenever you’ve got human beings working on innovative projects you’ve got talk, gossip, conspiracy theories. There’s been no whisper of anything.”
“And that’s another thing,” said Clive. “How do you research something without a company? Most of those companies they bought have gone belly up, remember?”
“What are you suggesting?” asked Gordon, though it was clear that he knew full well what they were suggesting because he had been leading the conversation every step of the way.
Clive just shrugged. Apparently, neither of them wanted to say it. It was too conspiratorial, too…diabolical to put into words.
Nadia snorted. “Okay, I’ll say it,” she said. “If there were to be an oil spike, guys like Nasterson would own the world.” Her look was like a challenge. “That’s what we’re all thinking, right?”
Now that it was out in the open, it was almost as if the thought had infused them with energy.
“Think of the power this would give them!” exclaimed Gordon. “Poseidon said that that was their driving force. Power!”
“If anyone would know, it would be him,” said Clive.
“An oil spike would be more devastating than anything the world economy has seen before,” said Gordon. “Oil touches every aspect of our lives. It would impact everyone in the world. Those holding the oil would hold all the power. They could charge anything they wanted for it. They could make us do anything!”
“Wait a minute,” said Clive. “Are we going off the deep end here?”
Gordon was thoughtful. “It’s clear that certain players in the world of big oil have been trying to control the energy market for some time now,” he said. “I think we can all agree on that.”
“You know, the more I think about it, the more obvious it seems,” said Nadia. “I keep thinking of examples in my head. Like those cars that came out a few years ago—that ran on some kind of corn derivative—remember that? I distinctly remember the oil companies refusing to supply gasoline to gas stations that carried the alternative fuel.”
“She’s right!” said Gordon.
“I was just reading something about a new bill the gas companies are trying to get passed in several states around the country,” said Clive. “They’re trying to impose a tax on people who use alternative energy in their homes and cars.”
“If you think about it, there’s been an ongoing battle to keep the world dependent on oil for a long time now,” said Gordon. “They can’t prevent all alternative energy, obviously, which is why some stuff gets through, like windmills and solar energy. But those things have been around forever, and they barely make a dent in our overall consumption. I’ll bet Wessler’s ten only collect the ne
west and most promising ideas when buying up these companies.”
“Okay, for the sake of argument, let’s just go with this,” said Clive. “We have ten men, using a top secret division of our government that was intended to assist alternative energy research, to prevent alternative energy from becoming a reality. How are they doing this? By taking alternative energy out of the equation and doing everything in their power to increase our dependence on oil.” He paused. “Why would anyone want to do such thing? They would be destroying the world economy as we know it.”
“Because it will mean more wealth and power than any human has ever possessed before,” supplied Nadia.
“It’s a modern day Game of Thrones,” said Gordon. “Power and wealth through energy. They want oil prices to spike, and they want it to happen while the demand is still hot. Then later, once the oil runs out, they will own all the patents for the next big power source.”
“I doubt they’re even thinking that far ahead,” said Nadia. “They’ll be so rich they won’t have to worry about it.”
“Could anyone really be this greedy?” asked Clive.
“When it comes to the oil industry, I’m going to have to say yes,” said Gordon. “Look at nine-eleven, or Katrina—or any disaster in the last two decades. Every time something bad happens, oil prices soar. They make a killing off these tragedies. It’s like they have no compassion. What do they care? They won’t even part with the money to make their oil rigs safe. Look at that last big spill. People got killed and the gulf still hasn’t recovered. That disaster could’ve been avoided if the oil company had taken a few simple precautions. But they weren’t even held accountable.”
Clive nodded. “I remember the news acting like it was a big deal that the CEO of that oil company had been reprimanded by one of the congressmen in that hearing. Anyone else would’ve been charged with manslaughter!”
“If we’re right about this, it might explain why Wessler’s ten were going after Japan,” said Nadia. “Poseidon said Japan had something that they wanted very badly.”
“If Japan is making advancements in the world of alternative energy, they’re keeping a really tight lid on it,” said Gordon. “There isn’t even a hint of anything like that in the immediate strike zone. Like I said before, that whole area is dominated by nuclear energy. Japan has always supported nuclear energy.”
“Maybe they were re-thinking that after the disaster at Fukushima,” said Clive.
“Maybe,” said Gordon. “They’re calling it the largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, but there were no deaths due to radiation exposure at Fukushima. All the casualties were directly related to the earthquake and tsunami.”
“But how many will die later?” asked Clive.
“Nobody can answer that, of course,” said Gordon. “Some argue that the long term affects are no worse than drinking beverages sweetened with aspartame. But also, both Fukushima and Chernobyl were avoidable. They were caused because of faulty equipment and carelessness. Both incidents were predictable and preventable. Properly managed, I think nuclear power could be the next big energy source.”
“No way,” said Clive.
“Why are you so against nuclear power?” asked Gordon.
“Oh, I don’t know Gordon,” said Clive. “There’s just something about the thought of my skin melting off my body that doesn’t sit well.”
“We’re not talking about nuclear weapons,” said Gordon. “We’re talking about nuclear power. They’re completely different things.”
“Well then they should call it something else,” insisted Clive. “Cause when I hear ‘nuclear’ I’m thinking green goop that’s gonna make me grow an extra arm or something.”
“That’s ridiculous,” said Gordon.
“I take it you’re in favor of nuclear energy,” observed Nadia.
“Aren’t you?” asked Gordon.
“To be honest, I’m not all that crazy about it,” she said.
“I’m surprised,” said Gordon. “I would’ve thought your father would have approved.”
“He may have,” said Nadia. “But I’ve always had an aversion to the whole nuclear thing too.”
“A nuclear power plant emits two hundred times less radiation in a year than one flight from New York to Vegas,” said Gordon. “Producing it doesn’t release any greenhouse gases. Ninety-five percent of its waste can be recycled to make more energy. It has been used to power ships for over fifty years. And it’s safe. Not one person in the United States has ever been killed in a nuclear accident in the history of nuclear power plants.”
“Is all that true?” asked Nadia.
“Yep,” said Gordon.
“Then why aren’t more people exploring this option?” she asked.
“Because of people like Clive,” said Gordon. “They hear the word ‘nuclear’ and they think of Hiroshima. And believe it or not, the oil companies play a huge part in this. They’re responsible for much of the propaganda that puts people off nuclear energy. And it’s a shame too, because we have power plants all across this country that are either shut down or not being utilized to their full potential.”
“Do you think Japan has come up with some new, better way to utilize this kind of energy?” asked Nadia.
“It’s possible,” said Gordon. “Or they might have just optimized it to the point where the world will have to sit up and take notice. Before Fukushima, nuclear power covered over thirty percent of their energy usage.”
“I think you might be on to something,” said Nadia. “It seems to fit with everything that’s happened. Even my father’s attack on the World Bank. I thought he was against the many manufacturers that were moving into these third world countries in order to avoid environmental protection laws. But now I think he might have also been concerned about this issue of power.”
“Developing countries increase oil consumption dramatically,” agreed Gordon. “Sometimes they use more than the advanced nations.”
“It’s just so hard to imagine that so many people could be conspiring together like this,” said Nadia. “I mean…gas stations refusing to carry alternative fuels, and all those people at the World Bank meetings encouraging industrialization of third world countries....” She let her voice trail off.
“The conspiracy itself only involves a few,” said Gordon. “They’re the ones controlling everything, right down to what we hear on the news. We all play our part without even realizing that we’re doing it.”
“So this really does all come down to power,” said Nadia.
“Are you surprised?” asked Clive.
“No,” she said. “Not surprised. Disappointed. In all of us. We’re smarter than this.”
Gordon shrugged. “This is the way it’s always been. Somebody figures out a way to manipulate the masses and you have yourself a conspiracy.”
“Okay, so maybe that’s what we should do,” said Nadia.
Clive laughed. “I’ve got it!” he said. “Your costume for the masquerade ball. Wonder Woman!” He nodded as his eyes moved over her appreciatively. “I always thought she would look better as a blonde.”
“I’m trying to be serious here,” said Nadia.
“And I’m not?” asked Clive.
“What are you thinking?” Gordon asked her.
“I don’t know,” said Nadia. “I just don’t see why we can’t start some kind of movement for the good of mankind.”
“I think they call that religion,” said Clive.
“I think what Clive means is that people have tried to do what you’re talking about,” said Gordon. “But the problem seems to be that, no matter how noble the original intentions are, or how good the idea, there will always be those who will try to corrupt it. It’s human nature.”
“So we have to remove the corruption,” said Nadia. She had resumed her pacing a few minutes before, but now she stopped again. “Starting with Nasterson.”
“Remove the corruption?” echoed Clive. “Starting with Nasterson?” H
e looked at Gordon. “Is she for real?”
Nadia looked from Gordon to Clive and then back again. “What are we doing this for then?” she asked. “Why even bother, if we’re not going to do something about it?”
“Nadia, there are people that handle—”
“Bullshit!” she said, interrupting Gordon.
“If we get enough evidence, we might be able to find the right officials—”
“No,” interjected Nadia. “I don’t trust your officials anymore. The corruption runs too deep.”
“What’s with you lately?” asked Clive. “Is it that time of the month?”
Gordon gave Clive a warning look. “What are you suggesting that we do, Nadia?” he asked.
“I’m suggesting exactly what it sounds like I’m suggesting,” she said. “I think we should finish what my father started.”
“You want to take down T.D.M.R.,” concluded Gordon—and God bless him—he didn’t even bat an eye.
“Yes,” she said.
“Okay, look,” said Clive. “You don’t want to go to the ball as Wonder Woman? Fine. All you had to do was say so. I’m getting the sense that you’re looking for something a little more down to earth. Something that says, ‘I mean business.’ Okay. I respect that.” He snapped his fingers. “I got it!” he said, smiling triumphantly. “How about Rambo?”
Nadia ignored him. “You two don’t need to get involved,” she said. “I already know how I’m going to do it.”
Clive stood up. His smile had disappeared. “Whatchoo talkin’ ‘bout Willis?”
Gordon stood up too.
Nadia was too busy thinking to pay them any mind. “I’m the one who got the ring from Lilith,” she said. “If I’m caught, I’ll say I was working alone with her.”
“Is that your whole plan?” asked Clive. “Because that’s already what I was planning to say if we got caught.”
“I’m not so sure you need to know the whole plan,” said Nadia. “Just give me Poseidon’s ring and you two can just walk away.”
Clive turned to Gordon. “Did you hear that Gordon?” he asked in a mocking tone. “If we give her Poseidon’s ring we can just walk away. I think we should do it!”