"They’re not human, just machines," Juan spurts out. "Yeah, yeah, you’re always saying that; then sign me up for the machine experience." Harry retorts. "They're probably just programmed to go through the motions of young people in love," Juan returns "Really, I know a lot of husbands and wives that would swear their mates were robots during sex, but whatever program these two have, I'm ready to receive it,” Tom says with a sneer.
"You’re disgusting" Juan says and the three of them look at each other and laugh heartily. At that moment Trip swoops into the room, face red with anger. “Those Washington monsters!” he says.
“What’s up?” Juan asks.
“They know we have their Guards and EOJ wants them back. They went right to the President!” “Well, we could return one and keep the other, say we had already taken it apart,” Juan says.
“You know these things are alive, you would technically be killing a living being, maybe even a person,” Trip says.
Juan replies, “How do you know? What is wrong with you people, they’re machines, killer machines!” “It sounds like it’s a personal vendetta with you. How do you define life anyway; is a virus really alive?” Trip says, questioningly.
“No, it’s not personal; it’s about having a conscience and taking responsibility for your actions. If someone asked you to kill your mother would you do it? No, not unless you’re sick! They could, and what if these things ever got out into society, uncontrolled?” Juan is finished with his speech.
“Well! I still don’t get why you care. Were Stalin and Hitler Guards? They had no conscience. Anyway the robots have to go back to EOJ. I told them to come and pick up their ‘equipment,’ and you’re not going to do anything about it, you got that! Let them sleep. The EOJ are coming and we’re going to cooperate with them; comprende?” Trip asks.
“Si senor,” Juan replies reluctantly.
Trip looks towards Tom and Harry, saying, “You're not to move until EOJ arrives and picks up their hardware, you got that?
“Yes sir,” Tom replies smartly.
As Trip leaves Juan sits down on one of the sofas. He lays his head back and begins to think.
“Are you alright?” Tom asks.
“Yeah, just give me a minute to calm down,” Juan replies.
He had to think fast. EOJ was not going to get these Guards. He was going to personally expose the whole thing. The public was going to know what these things are. He knew what he had to do. It could cost him his career, maybe even his life, but his belief was so deep he could not stop now. Juan was a devout Catholic, and believed life was sacred; He also had to save his family. He was confused, how to get his mind clear and understand what he had to do? He even liked Chase and Ally. Maybe he was even a bit envious. He couldn't quite understand what life actually was, and what was it anyway? The turmoil confronted his Christian beliefs. It tortured him; what was right, what was wrong, what was good and bad, black and white? The yes and no of life was terribly confusing. Grey was not Juan's favorite color; he hated grey! Juan reached for the cross around his neck and held it tightly. These proceedings challenged his deepest beliefs. The one person he did trust was Sam. Why? It was not completely clear to him, but he had to put his faith somewhere. He got up from the sofa and asked, “You guys’ want to take a break before they get here?”
“We can’t do that. Trip told us not to move until the EOJ came and picked them up,” Harry replied. “Right,” Juan says.
Juan looks around the room and notices a wooden African statue around three feet high and a good six inches in diameter. He picks it up, goes over to Tom and strikes him on the side of the head knocking him out cold. Harry goes for his gun, but is not fast enough and Juan hits him across the head also. He slumps to the floor. Juan checks the pulse on each of them to make sure they’re not dead. He then takes out his black box, unlocks the door to the suite next door and enters the room. Chase and Ally sit up immediately in complete unison.
“Get up, we have to get out of here,” Juan tells them. “We know you want to kill us!” Ally opens.
“Look, friend, I didn’t push the button on the little black box. We all have to get out of here now, EOJ is on its way to scoop you both up,” Juan said.
“Why are you going to help us?” Chase asked. “Because I promised Sam I would,” Juan answered. “And why would you keep your promise to a man you hardly knew?
“Because, he pauses, “Sam is my father.”
They are both stunned for a moment.
“Isn’t your name Juan Martinez?” Ally asks. “My mother was from Colombia,” Juan responds; Martinez was her maiden name. Juan goes to the door.
Ally looks at him, saying, "But you're so short." "My mother was short, thanks for reminding me," Juan snaps back.
"Ally look at his eyes," Chase says.
"OK, I see it," she replies.
"See what?" Juan asks.
"You have his eyes, too bad you don't have his soul. You need to respect that cross around your neck by not judging others," Chase pauses. "I heard every word you said in the other room."
"We have to go," said Juan as he opened the door and pointed down the hall.
“Not that way, we asked for this high room for a reason,” Chase says and continues, “Ally, find the parachutes.”
"We don't need them we're only 136 feet off the ground. We can jump safely," Ally says.
“Jump?” Juan says in horror.
Chase takes out a small laser pointer, draws a large circle on the window and presses a second button on the pointer which begins to produce a very high frequency hum. The glass in the window explodes outward. Without a moment’s hesitation Ally picks up Juan as if he was a sack of potatoes and with Chase close behind, jumps effortlessly through the window. They sail quietly though the air and then only 136 feet below they hit the concrete running. Juan almost has a heart attack.
Charles, Ivan, Trip and two Guards, walked quickly through the entrance to the Hilton.
“They’d better still be there or I’ll have your career,” Charles says to Trip.
They walk right into the elevator that is being held by one of the two Guards as Trip responds, “You’re going to ruin my career, do you want information on EOJ splattered all over Washington? I’m telling you what’s going to happen. You’re going to get your Guard freaks and get out of here and not say a word. You say anything and I’ll blow this whole thing wide open. I suggest you keep it as cat and mouse game; the FBI secretly knowing all about EOJ; let’s just call it the ‘new American Cold War,’” Trip explodes at Charles.
Charles knows he’s right. Ivan's face begins to twitch. He wants to kill Trip. This would never have happened in Russia. There is silence as the elevator ascends, the floors seeming to go by in slow motion. “Can’t you get this thing to move any faster?” Charles says, exasperated.
“It’s an elevator Charles, it is what it is,” Trip says. Speaking of it is what it is, are you ready to tell me if President Grant is a Guard?”
Charles says, “I’m not ready to respond to that, but aren’t all politicians puppets?”
"Don't play games with me Charles. I know your game?" Trip explodes.
"You know nothing. You have a very small view of the world. You're a piss-ant bureaucrat, a petty functionary. I am on the other hand a duly elected, U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives with enormous power," Charles returns.
The elevator finally opens on the 81st floor. They get out and rush to room 8111D, the Guards push the door open, enter and immediately feel the breeze from the large round hole in the middle of the window. The two Guards run to the hole just in time to see Chase and Ally carrying Juan, running away far below.
“They jumped,” says one of the Guards.
“What do you mean they jumped?” Charles asks Ivan goes over to the window and looks down and he looks back at Charles who is afraid to go near the window opening because of his fear of falling, saying, “They jumped,” Ivan smiles ear to e
ar, he thinks it’s a hoot!
“Morons, all of you!” Charles yells.
“Do you know where they’re going?” Trip asks. “How would I know, but it really doesn’t matter because they’re very easy to track; they have GPS and a computer in them,” Charles says. “We can track them easily. As long as they don’t go to the press, I just want them followed. Trip goes into the other room and sees Tom and Harry still out cold on the floor and he goes back into the other room.
“We both have a problem, they’ve taken one of my men, Juan is with them,” says Trip.
“I wonder why they did that," mumbles Charles. Joe Davis was sitting behind his desk with a large grin. Joe was fat and happy, his round, dimpled face on a squared-off head was ruddy from beer and fast food. He grabbed his morning coffee with fat stubby fingers. The middle button on his striped shirt was open and his belly hairs protruded from the gap in his shirt.
Ivan was fashionably dressed in his light gray suit and found Joe’s appearance disgusting. His own finely chiseled features and slim frame stood in broad contrast to Joe’s slovenly appearance.
"Ivan you dog, come in," Joe said cheerfully, jumping up and shaking his hand.
“You've got a real idea here and we want to test it. The brass upstairs thought it was a terrific product; addicting the public to paying their bills by making them want to lick the envelopes - brilliant. They think I'm a genius. They did point out that not as many people are paying their bills with checks, they use computers, but the poorer people still tend to pay by check or money order." Joe holds up one of the envelopes. "This stuff tastes like the real thing." "Yes it does, nothing like taste of fried chicken on utility bill," Ivan says sarcastically.
"You can tell I never eat fried chicken," Joe laughs and Ivan snickers back.
"Personally I like the beef and cheese burrito the best," Joe says.
"Really, I'm so glad," Ivan says.
"So when can we test?" Joe asks.
"Immediately Joe, I wonder, would it be possible to supply you with envelopes for the bills going out this month?"
"Sure Ivan, but I would need them immediately," Joe says.
"We can do. Would end of week work?” Ivan asks. "You got it, but remember our little deal," Joe winks at Ivan.
"Deal- oh, the deal, "Ivan says.
"I guess I'll have to walk you down to your car and give you your new friends," Joe says mawkishly. “I have new friends, are they pretty?” Ivan asks. Joe leans over the desk dragging his stomach and whispers to Ivan “You know, the dogs, you’re going to buy?”
“Oh, right, yes, dogs,” Ivan says, continuing, "Now my new American friend, Joe, it is a Russian custom to exchange gifts. I have brought you a quart of the beef and cheese flavoring. You can put on everything; this stuff has very special kick - to die for," Ivan smiles maliciously.
"Ivan, that's great, thanks a lot." Joe is legitimately grateful for Ivan's gift. Ivan winks.
"Now, mailing set for two zip codes I requested?" Ivan asked.
"Yes, 10027 and 10031, one with the fried chicken and one with beef and cheese burrito, and, oh I almost forgot, I'm going to need 100,000 printed flyers advertising the new envelopes."
Ivan opened his brief case and took out a flyer sized to fit in a #10 envelope and said, "You mean this; they were delivered this morning to your shipping and receiving department."
"I'm impressed, you're really together Ivan. Let's see here... Great, the fried chicken on the front cover, great lead line Ivan!”
THE HAPPY LICKER - LICK & STUFF AND YOUR REWARD WILL BE PLUMP AND JUICY
“Looks kind of sexy, and I really like the picture here of the chick with big tits licking the envelope with the words, 'tastes like chicken' coming out of her head," said Joe.
"Glad you like, you going to like flavor I gave you, do me favor save for weekend, I'm sending you another surprise,l I want all to be appreciated together."
"No problem, we'll douse the mashed potatoes on Sunday.” Ivan, I was wondering, how did you do this all so fast and print everything so fast? I didn't know there was so much money in envelopes. I appreciate your company putting so much into this project, and to think the envelopes are even cheaper than our present ones. I just don't see how this isn't going to work." Joe says.
"Joe, it work, it going raise quite little stir. Another thing, I got little gifts for everyone here for being cooperative; I got everyone tickets to see VIRUS, new hit Broadway show; front row seats." Ivan takes out the envelopes and gives them to Joe. “Could see that everyone gets one? I appreciate."
"That was very thoughtful, Ivan; I'll take care of it. Now, let's go down and meet your new four-legged friends, and I believe you have a little something for me," says Joe.
"Oh I have something for you, what happened to phone you had in head?" Ivan asks.
"Oh, I got rid of it. I now have a 40 year old flip phone." Joe exclaims.
"Very smart" Ivan replies. It's the first time he legitimately agrees with Joe.
Charles was sitting impatiently in the limousine when Ivan opened the door and got in with the three yapping Yorkies, he gasps, "What the hell are these?" "Dogs," Ivan said.
"I'm allergic to dogs," Charles complains.
"Too bad for you, I love dogs." These dogs love me and I love them. Look at them so cute. You see, they like me. My little pumpkins,” Ivan laughs and kisses all three dogs. The three small Yorkshire terriers with ribbons around their necks smile and lick Ivan. His eyes are filled with love.
“You've got to be kidding," Charles complains. "No, I no kid - these Yorkies my pumpkins!" "Who would have known? OK but keep them away from me," Charles complains as all three dogs snarl and bark at him, Ivan kisses each one of them on the head.
"Anyway if I can tear you away from the dogs, how did the meeting go?" Charles asks?
"Good meeting, everything go as planned, all be dead and Joe Davis die Sunday. He was repulsive man, but I liked his antique flip phone and he sells me my beautiful pets," replied Ivan.
"Nice," Charles says sarcastically.
Ivan says, “You decide when to kill everyone. You push button activate virus; I give you app for cell phone, they all die at same time. Next Monday everybody die; up to you, you boss with special app." Ivan was delighted as he leaned back in the seat of the limo and took a deep breath cuddling up to his three dogs. He croons in Russian; “Moi malish – (my little baby), Moya lyubov – (my love).” He kisses each one of them on the lips and looks at even Charles with love in his eyes, but then thinks back to the task at hand. The thought of all those people dying thrilled him. The feeling was so similar to the love he had for dogs. It was almost sexual. He looked at Charles taking out his atomizer and said, "Charles; you really very poor health, may not be alive on Monday, maybe I should push button of death." "Screw my health; I’m sure Sam didn’t destroy those notes. That’s why I killed him, because if I really got close he would have destroyed them. They’re somewhere, probably in the head of one of those Guards. I’ll find them and be young again with a fresh new body.”
Ivan asks, “Do you know where Chase and Ally going?”
“Yep, and they’re going to lead me right to Beneizen Brewster,” Charles says and continues, “And we’re going to let them get there; I have old business with Beneizen.”
Tactfully, Ivan announces, "By the way, Sam didn’t die - he managed get himself back down shaft and surrendered."
"He's alive? Well I'll have my cake and eat it too," Charles exclaims.
"Charles you should think about giving up cake," Ivan suggests.
"What, give up my cake - never in a million years and besides soon I'll live forever and will be able to have all the cake I want. I plan on making me one of those fresh new Guard bodies and crawling inside. My wife maybe didn't want to live forever and maybe I lose my soul in the exchange, but a deal with the devil is just fine with me." Charles lights up a cigar and leans back with it in one hand and his atomizer in the other hand. The dogs
bark joyfully and Ivan can't stop petting them.
The room at EOJ had white walls, white floor, white ceiling with white fluorescents and was completely empty except for Sam sitting in an aluminum chair inside a force field making it impossible for him to move. Sam looks up at Charles coming into the room dragging an aluminum chair and puffing on a cigar. "You know why I came in here alone and no one is looking in on us right now?" says Charles.
"No why?" Sam asks.
"Because I like you and I truly don't wish to kill you. You're one of the great minds. It takes decades or even centuries to produce one Sam. I don't want to be wasteful.
"Is that why you had me shot?" Sam asks.
I forgive you for killing Doris," replies Charles. "I did not kill her. She asked to be allowed to pass in her own way," Sam returns.
"No, you killed her. I asked you nicely to save her and you and Beneizen killed her," Charles says getting more and more animated.
"Ok, have it your way," Sam says, seeing the futility of the argument.
"Good, now we're getting somewhere. If I say chicken is steak, you're going to say yes," Charles explains as he takes a big drag off his cigar and adds, "Here is what you're going to do. I want a fresh new body with me in it, no second brain, no controls, just a new printed body, synthetic!"
Sam thinks for a moment and says, slowly, "OK, but do you know why she didn't have us make one for her? It was because a new body like that would have no possibility for making a soul. And above all else she valued the higher energies she had produced consciously during her lifetime, and she trusted those energies completely. She knew that moving her to a new synthetic body would have robbed her of the opportunity for true immortality.
Charles takes another long puff on his cigar, thinks for a moment and says, "Sam, Sam, Sam, you're talking about what she wanted. I wasn't interested in your spiritual drivel; I just went along with all of that baloney, because I wanted the technology. You think I don't know that Beneizen is from some backwater pathetic planet in a galaxy far, far away. But he's here on my planet now!"
Sentinels of the Cosmos Trilogy Page 16