The situation had required Backmann to collect a number of favors before the assignment was approved. The Task Force had not encountered significant physical resistance when they arrived but a certain Derek Lamm had very much protested against their arrival at Tabula Rasa and their mission. The mission had succeeded, but Lamm had submitted formal protests to several global authorities.
The months after returning to Paris and Marie were among the happiest Jonathan had experienced. Marie and he had reunited and together they had bought an apartment in Houlgate which was a small, romantic village on the coast of Normandy. His injuries from the fight had been serious, but the talented doctors that the Amber Group had access to, had soon gotten him up on his feet.
His relationship with the tablets was also over, it had been difficult but Marie had stood by his side when it was at its worst.
It was early in the morning and they sat together in their cramped kitchen and drank a cup of coffee while watching the beautiful sunrise bathing the rooftops in golden colors. He glanced over at Marie as she thoughtfully sipped her coffee, there was something magical about her. Her features were soft and warm and she smiled when she noticed that Jonathan studied her.
“What are you looking at?”
He smiled back.
“Nothing, you are just very beautiful.”
She giggled.
“You really know what a woman wants to hear in the morning.”
He leaned forward and stroked a lock of hair that fell over her forehead. When he touched her, memories poured back of his Chantelle and Kristina and a sting of guilt washed over him. But that was okay. He let the guilt rise up inside him, and let it slowly disappear. It was ok to sit here and enjoy a second chance, there was nothing wrong or guilt in that. It was not often a man had a second chance and if you got it you had to take it and manage it.
The time after the discovery of the spheres had been dramatic, but now a new kind of normal state began to appear in the world.
Lisa and Tim had contacted the authorities in Costa Rica and informed them of the sphere they had found and the authorities had as gratitude let Lisa be a part of the working group that investigated the sphere.
The spheres had begun to materialize in various forms on the earth and in several places they had managed to establish a direct connection with them. The communication with them was slow but improved all the time, and the general opinion was that they had come to help and share information. One of the research groups that had been in contact with the sphere had been shown an artificial network that was generations before all of the previous ones and it was suspected that this was only the beginning. The locked doors to amazing discoveries were about to be opened wide and for the first time in a long time, careful caution was felt that one could actually have a chance to solve the challenges the earth faced with environmental pollution and overpopulation.
John's death in Tabula Rasa had been a potential scandal but it had quickly become swept under the rug. The United Nations had appointed a committee that took over the control of Tabula Rasa and systematically began to audit their research programs, and both Dr. Weng-Li and Dr Ln'geem had been forced to collaborate in regards to the cloning programs. What the committee found was groundbreaking and would keep them occupied for several years. It was noted that a couple of illegal clones had managed to escape and was on the loose.
Flor Frias struggle for freedom had been lost three weeks into the New Year and the mega complex had come under Chinese rule. In the end, thousands of people had lost their lives in battle, but they did not succeed in achieving self-control.
Raimondo del Luis was still in hospital and was under constant supervision of the best doctors. It was unclear at the moment how much permanent damage he would sustain. Erik Tuva spent a lot of time by his friend's side and helped him through the difficult times.
Backmann and the Amber Group together with Malin, Elisabeth and Richard had continued to analyze the information they had and handed over their work to the authorities and received their gratitude for their cooperation, but as all work was secretive there were no official awards. It suited Backmann fine with keeping the Amber Group and its work outside the public awareness.
Jonathan looked at Marie and knew that the future for them was uncertain just as the earth's future with the spheres was uncertain. But in some inexplicable way, he had a feeling it would work, they would make it. He did not know how, but he knew that he would do his utmost to make it work.
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Tabula Rasa Page 29