Markis held up a hand and waited for a reduction in apparent chaos. “I have consulted with our scientists in the South American Free Communities and they have confirmed the signal and an apparently artificial craft exactly as the Australians reported it. This is no joke or hoax. Here is the text of the message we first received: Greetings, people of Earth. My name is Raphael. I am a nonhuman entity. Please arrange contact with Chairman Daniel John Markis.”
He went on, “Once I established the veracity of this message, I responded as follows, also in text: Chairman Daniel John Markis will communicate with you at 0930 American Eastern Standard Time tomorrow. That is just a few minutes from now. My technicians assure me that, as long as the…person on the other end of the transmission is listening, we will be able to communicate using the same parameters and protocols that brought the message. All of you will witness this exchange, but he – or she – asked for me and I will speak for Earth.”
Markis took a sip of coffee, his hands steady. “We have time for a short word from some of the major powers. I yield one minute to the Prime Minister of Australia.”
The Prime Minister smiled and said, “Thank you, Mister Chairman. I confirm what has been said here. I also deny any notion of Australia being involved in the disease outbreak. We believe we were spared because the aliens simply tried to infect as many human beings as possible. Our computer models show a near-optimum deployment of this pathogen purely on the basis of population density. Thank you, and I yield the floor.”
Markis pressed an icon on his screen. “I yield one minute to the Prime Minister of Canada.”
Prime Minister Portmanteaux looked into the camera pickup rather abruptly, caught off guard, but after a moment smiled and responded smoothly. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First let me apologize personally to you for the unfortunate incident in Geneva. It appears rogue elements within the former United Governments Security Service attempted to infect you with a nanomechanical poison. I had no knowledge of this. Now that Canada has seceded from that government, I will take this opportunity to announce that this country intends to apply for membership in the Union of Neutral States to ensure its continuing freedom and independence.”
Markis nodded. “Thank you for your frank and honest attitude, Prime Minister, and on behalf of the Free Communities we look forward to working with you in the future. I now yield the floor for one minute to the Interim President of Russia.”
The heavy-faced man on the video looked down and laboriously began reading from a piece of paper. “The Russian Federation denies in advance any authority our participating in this meeting appears to grant to Mister Daniel Markis or the rogue nations of the so-called Free Communities. We are not bound by any negotiations between any eks-exso-exoterrestrial entities and will make our own determinations as to our course of national action. We deny –”
Markis pressed the icon to cut him off. “Since you deny my authority in this matter, and the Free Communities’ very right to exist, you have forfeited your right to speak publically on Free Community channels and time. Ladies and gentlemen, let me remind you this alien asked for me. I did not seek to speak for the world, but I’m damn well going to do my best since I’m stuck with it. I hope when you are given your turn you have something constructive to say. Now, China has one minute, and that will be the last. After this, I have to talk to some little green men.”
Nervous laughter swept through the crowded conference room, partially obscuring the Chinese President’s first words. “The People’s Republic of China thanks Chairman Markis for his leadership during this crisis. China is confident that the interests of all peoples on the Earth will be taken into account, and hopes that these days of horror and needless bloodshed can be done away with. China has already recognized the Free Communities and the Neutral States as valid political entities and requires no more than reciprocal recognition of a united China by the peace and freedom-loving peoples of the world.”
Markis choked back a chuckle. Which means, ‘We get to keep Taiwan and Tibet.’ So be it, I have much bigger fish to fry right now. “Thank you Mister President, and I see my technician signaling me that we’re coming up on time.”
The clock numbers ticked slowly to 0930. As they did, Markis sent the first transmission from the keyboard in front of him.
Greetings, Raphael. This is Chairman of the Free Communities Council Daniel John Markis. What are your intentions?
It took over a hundred seconds each way for the signal to travel to distance; thus it was almost four minutes between transmissions. The reply finally came.
I will orbit Earth and we will talk. I will give you information vital to the survival of your race.
Markis typed, What do you know of the extraterrestrial biological attack upon us? Who is responsible?
The response time seemed a little longer this time.
It was my ancestors, but it was not me. My ancestors seek to subjugate all sentients to themselves as they expand from world to world. This infusion is only the first of several. Each phage will spread and build upon the last. You must find a way to defeat the phages.
Markis typed, If you truly wish to help us, transmit to us all the knowledge you have about these phages. All research, all data. As soon as possible.
I will send all I can, but this communication protocol is slow. Most of the data is encoded in my biomimetic and genetic material. My craft is primitive, barely adequate for transportation to and from Earth. I require a human for an interface, for Blending.
Markis looked around the room. “Blending?”
Rick responded, “Sounds like he wants to merge with one of us. You know, like on a sci-fi show or something. He said the information was encoded in his DNA. Maybe they transmit knowledge biologically.”
The conference room fell silent as those in it contemplated that unnerving prospect. “That’s…I don’t have words.” Markis rubbed his eyes. “Is any human being really going to want to do that?”
Ilona spoke up. “I suspect you will have more volunteers than you might think. What a unique opportunity!”
The Chairman stared at the intelligence officer in surprise. “Sounds almost like you want to do it…well, at least we have a few weeks before we have to come up with someone.” He put his head down to the keyboard and wrote. We will try to locate a human volunteer for Blending. When will the next biological attack arrive? Is there anything you can tell us that will help?
The next infusion probe will arrive in forty-nine days. You must put aside your differences and work together to decode the bioinformation in the phages and counter their effects. If you do not, all human sentience will be wiped out.
Markis raised his voice above the buzz. “All human sentience? Do you think he misspelled ‘sentients’? Anyone?”
Millie replied, “He hasn’t misspelled a word yet. He seems to be communicating very precisely. Maybe he means exactly that?”
“Maybe. But what does ‘that’ really mean?”
Captain Ilona spoke up again from the back. “Sir, Mrs. Markis’ reports said the original Devil Plague seemed aimed at reducing humanity to the level of animals. For some reason it didn’t work very well. Maybe Raphael means exactly what he said. What if these aliens send explorers from world to world, then if they find any intelligent life, they customize a phage, an organism to reverse any progress they have made, sending them back to an animal state while not disrupting the ecosystem. They send back word to their nearest populated world and some years later – many years later perhaps – the alien colonists arrive. They merge – Blend – with the life forms, gaining instant adaptation to their new world, but without sentients to oppose them. That way they get to keep it all, no hassles.”
The noise level rose again. “At ease, people.” Markis held up his hand until things quieted. “That’s a very good guess, Miss Ilona, but it’s only a guess.” He typed into the computer: Raphael, you said you wanted to speak with me, Daniel John Markis. Why? Also, how can you confirm it is
me speaking?
The response came a little early this time, apparently responding not to Markis’ text but to Ilona’s words.
The young woman who last spoke came amazingly close to accuracy. My ancestors are not natural warriors; instead, they infect, they corrupt, they Blend, and ultimately there is nothing left but lower animals and Meme.
There came a brief pause, and then more text appeared.
I know it is you speaking to me because I see you, just as the rest of the human race watching on their screens see you. I have grown adept at reading people in the last four millennia. I have watched you for ten years, Daniel John Markis. You are a symbol to the entire world. Some love you, some hate you, but all know you.
I am one individual. My race is a race of individuals. I cannot trust a committee or an assembly or a congress. I can only trust a trustworthy individual. I have visited your world many times, and always I found one man or woman to trust. Today, I choose to trust you.
Markis sat back amazed, looking around the crowded conference room as if he would see the alien himself appear. “Of course. Of course, this is being broadcast, so he’s seeing it. Raphael,” Markis raised his voice, “I thank you for your trust. Will you now trust us and show yourself? Show us who and what you are?”
As you wish. My appearance is not appealing to your species, but truth is more important than aesthetics. Here is a realtime feed of the inside of my spacecraft.
The picture on his video screen changed from the simple text display to a complex interior view. The resolution of the picture was surprisingly sharp considering the distance the signal had to travel. “Send this out to the world, Rick, will you please?”
Rick raced to the control station where he and the video tech there adjusted the system. He gave Markis the thumbs-up.
Everyone watching around the world saw a scene not so different from those of Earth’s own space explorations – a cramped room filled with unfamiliar and complex equipment, keyboards and buttons and levers and lights – and displays, oddly curved, concave, like inverse bubbles of color. Something sat – stood? – in front of one of them, an amorphous mass of pale green, held in a container, like a giant cup. An orb on a stalk extended from the creature, hovering at the focus of the inward-curving screen, as if to see everything from the inside of the hemisphere.
After a moment a pseudopod extended itself from the central mass and formed into a five-limbed appendage, like a hand.
It waved at the camera.
***
Markis ordered the general feed left on. He wanted complete transparency, no accusations of conspiracy or agendas; also he knew that the vast majority of the viewing public could only sustain their interest for a limited period of time. The most effective insulation against further disruption and chaos is banality and boredom.
Raphael for his part consented to the continuous video feed, and the Chairman’s governmental complex on Medellin’s Calle 45 grew rapidly, soon taking over the entire block and requiring the Colombians to assume external security. Free Community scientists talked with the alien as much as he allowed.
Markis’ time was taken up helping to manage the alien pandemic problem, what everyone now called the Demon Plague. While most coverage of Raphael’s interaction with Markis and the other humans was positive, the perpetrators of the attack were naturally termed ‘demons’.
It wasn't long before groups of people – validated UFO believers, crazies, religious fanatics, martyr types, and serious young academics – hovered in crowds nearby in Medellin parks and plazas, delighting the local merchants and bedeviling the police. Some supported the alien’s arrival, some protested it, some promulgated messages that were far less clear. Colombia began to strictly control visas and travel into the capital. Soon applications flooded in volunteering to Blend with the alien, so the Chairman wasn’t really surprised when Rick Johnstone asked for a private appointment.
“Sit down, Rick. What’s on your mind?”
“Sir, I want to be the one to Blend with the alien.” His face was serious, but nervous. “I’ve thought about it for a couple of days and I think I’m your best choice.”
Markis leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands behind his head. “Why?”
“Because I’m already close to you. It can’t be you; people won’t accept some kind of alien taking over your mind. I mean, that’s what they would say, and you’d be marginalized overnight. It has to be someone else, someone close to you, so you have confidence in…in the best interests of humanity. So you know what to look for. In case it’s some kind of trick. You know what I mean.”
“I do know what you mean.” Markis idly made his biceps jump, left-right, left-right, a nervous habit. “But does Jill?”
“Uh…” Rick abruptly looked like a rabbit under the eyes of a wolf.
“You haven’t talked with her?”
“Sir, you know what she would say.”
“Sounds precisely why I should refuse. What is she to you?”
“Uh…I don’t know.” He shrugged uncomfortably. “I mean, I’m in love with her…”
Markis put his arms down to lean forward, staring intensely at his dead friend’s only son. “Look, being with someone for the rest of your life – we old people call it ‘marriage’ – used to mean fifty or sixty years. Now it might mean a thousand. So I’m sure you think you can take your time. But doing this might foreclose all your options. We have no idea what this Blending really is. So before I even put you in the candidate pool, you go settle your relationship with Jill. You can’t just leave her out of it. I suggest you do the same with your mother and your sister. When you can come back and look me in the eye and tell me you’ve at least listened to them and understood what it all might mean, then I’ll think about it.”
Rick stood up, seething. “Why did I know you would react like this? You know, before we young people could look forward to our parents’ generation moving on and making way for us. Now we’re just going to be eternal kids. We’re never going to have any respect in your eyes.”
Markis just stared at him, not dignifying the outburst with a response. Slowly Rick crumbled under that stare. “Sorry, sir. I didn’t mean that.”
“Sure you did, but now you’re thinking it through. It’s all right. Everyone was young once. It’s your role to be stupid now and then. God knows I did it enough. But it’s our job to help you get past it. So speaking of respect, talk to Jill. She deserves that much.”
Rick nodded, looking miserable as he turned to go.
Markis shook his head to himself as Rick walked out. Before the door shut there came a knock.
Captain Ilona poked her head in. “Sir, do you have a minute? Miss Johnstone said…”
“Sure, come in, sit down, Captain. Remind me, what’s your first name? Something with an S…”
“Sophia, sir.” Ilona was pretty, as all young healthy women are, but not someone who would snap heads around. In uniform she looked rather short and plain and a bit chubby, but he took notice of the bright inquisitive eyes and the even brighter mind behind them.
“So what is it that I can do for you?” He checked his watch surreptitiously below her line of sight; he had a meeting in twelve minutes.
“I want to Blend with the alien.” She looked breathlessly at him.
God save me from the young. “You too? You know I have about fifty zillion messages from around the world pleading for the same thing. You’re not even the first one on this staff that has asked.”
“I know, sir, but I wanted to tell you why –”
“Look, Sophia, I also get the feeling you won’t be the last. I’ll put your name in the hat. Millie! Assign one of your assistants to start screening applications for Blending with the alien. I never would’a thunk it but apparently it’s a popular idea. In fact, dig me up a few shrinks and form a working group. I have to talk with the South Africans in a few minutes. And find me a sandwich and some iced tea.”
Markis stood up, switc
hing his attention back to Ilona. “Sorry, Captain, that’s the best I can do. Thanks for your great work on this project so far and I’m sure you have as good a shot at it as anyone. I have to go.”
“Of course, sir.” She watched him leave, wringing her hands behind her back.
-32-
Elise Markis looked up from her desk at her second, Ravi Tinker. Small, brilliant, and nervous. Very nervous. “What’s got you all spun up, Ravi?”
He handed her a tablet. “It can’t be done.”
“You mean we haven’t yet figured out how to do it.” Her tone made it a statement. Or is it a refusal to face facts?
“No. I know you don’t want to hear it but it’s simply not possible. We cannot immunize an Eden against this Demon Plague – we’re already over-immunized. It’s the autoimmune response that is so dangerous. The best we can do – IF we catch it early – is to suppress the Eden immune system and let the Demon Plague run its course. After that there seems to be some accommodation, though a re-exposure can still send the Eden into relapse. We have only four weeks or so before the next one hits, according to Raphael, and who knows what that will do?”
Elise sighed. “At least the counterphage for the normals looks doable. If we can get it cultured and distributed fast enough we can cure them of Demon Plague number one, though God knows what use that will be.”
Tinker replied, “I’m convinced these Demon Plagues will build on each other. There are traps in the genetic code that only certain RNA will trigger.”
“I’m not sure if I hope you’re right so all your work is not wasted, or I hope you’re wrong so it’s simpler – the Devil we know.”
“Or the Demon we know. But what about my proposal?”
“Did you talk to Larry? He’s the nano project leader.”
“It’s not my area of expertise. I thought you should bring it up to him.”
The Demon Plagues Page 19