The Elitist Supremacy

by Niranjan K

  “I never thought this day would come,” Vivi said, his blue eyes shining with excitement, his bald head reflecting the lights from above. “I’ve always wanted to build one of those habitats, and now that this test has been a success, we can actually do that.”

  “Build habitats?” Alexander grinned at him. “That was your dream?”

  Vivi laughed. “More like an unfulfilled wish, you know. The kind all boys have.”

  “Where’s Raul?” Alexander asked, turning to Sergio as Vivi went towards Ama, probably to work out how their two departments could co-ordinate the project on Ignis. Everyone was so excited, but Alexander had no intention of going any further, now that he knew Beltram’s true allegiances.

  Sergio beamed at him. “Don’t know. Let him have his moment, Alexander. We don’t have to do business tonight!”

  Alexander had no intention of doing business, but he needed to see Beltram. If the man knew Niek’s father, the only way Alexander could find him was to either ask him or follow him. How could he follow him when he couldn’t even see him?

  “You’re right,” Alexander said, taking the glass from Sergio and placing it on a side table before the contents sloshed all over him. “You’re drunk.”

  Sergio was never drunk. Alexander wasn’t going to fall for the act.

  Sergio laughed. “Not good for me, but can’t help it tonight.”

  “Go to bed,” Alexander caught Sergio by the arm, guiding him to one of the empty chairs and Sergio caught his hand.

  “Thank you, Alexander, for everything.”

  Alexander smiled as his fingers pressed the microscopic tracker into the back of Sergio’s hand. That was one person he didn’t have to worry about losing sight of tonight. He drew his hand out of Sergio’s slack ones and straightened, his teeth worrying his lower lip as he surveyed the group of partying people once more.

  Without following Beltram, his chances of finding Niek’s father were next to none, and it looked like Beltram had already given him the slip. Damn! He could, of course, ask Beltram outright when he came back, but that option didn’t sit well with Alexander. He didn’t want to give Beltram any leverage over him. It was possible that Beltram wouldn’t use Lucas Hendriks’ son as leverage, but could he really take the chance? He knew people like Beltram. They believed their causes to be more important than the people they were presumably trying to protect.

  He moved through the crowd, shaking hands, patting shoulders, refusing drinks. Not that he could get drunk, but if he accepted drinks and didn’t get drunk, that could attract attention too. He wasn’t taking any chances tonight. As he got into the middle of the crowded room, he saw Beltram. He was on the other side of the room, talking to his fiancé who didn’t look very happy. There was something going on with them, but Alexander was not interested in that. Isabel Duran was a beautiful woman, and a smart one, at least academically. She worked for the State, after all. How did that really work out, with Beltram being part of the Resistance?

  She was tall, dwarfing most men in the room, even though the heels on her shoes were moderate. Her short black hair framed an oval face with wide grey eyes and a straight nose. Her figure was full, and there was no denying that she was an attractive woman. Alexander’s attention was caught as he saw Beltram leave, and his fiancé's face pucker into a frown.

  He couldn’t rush off after Beltram without attracting attention. Perhaps, he could find out from his fiancé where Beltram had gone, and follow at his leisure. He wished he’d thought of asking Niek for his DNA. It would have made this whole thing easier. But hadn’t Beltram been required to provide his DNA for obtaining approvals for the tests?

  “Quinn?” He spoke in a low voice. “Can you obtain a sample of Raul Beltram’s DNA for me? He had submitted it for getting the approvals, hadn’t he?”

  “It will take some time, Mr. Selwood. It’s not a secure database, but it will take time breaking in. In the meantime, I do have his prints available.”

  “We’ll keep that on standby,” Alexander said as he made his way to Isabel Duran.

  Fingerprint tracking wasn’t as effective thanks to the ease with which they could be changed, but it was still an option. Beltram might come back soon, and he would be back to square one.

  “You must be feeling proud of your fiancé's achievement,” he said as he reached her. He was one of the few men in the room who could meet her eyes, and he smiled at her. “Alexander Selwood,” he held out his hand. “We were introduced earlier.”

  “I remember.” She smiled back at him as she shook his hand. Her grip was firm and her gaze direct. “The mysterious Mr. Selwood.”

  “Alexander, please, and I don’t know about mysterious. I hope the reality isn’t too disappointing,” he said. “I was hoping to speak to Raul, and I thought I saw him at your side.”

  “He had to go and meet someone,” she said, not able to keep the disapproval from her tone, or the disappointment. “He said he’ll be back soon. Do you want me to call him?” She took out her phone and her face fell. “I keep forgetting that nothing works on this damn planet.”

  “Except the habitat and now, your fiancée’s invention,” Alexander smiled at her again. “This invention could change things for the entire planet, you know. Habitats could be built all over Ignis, and with the help of Raul’s invention, this planet could be like any other.”

  “Not quite like any other,” she said. “There still won’t be any life outside. Besides, I heard you were interested in this for food cultivation?”

  “All the more incentive for people to live here. They would have food fresh from their backyard,” he said. “All thanks to Raul.”

  She glowed at him praising her fiancé. “I’m glad that you believe in Raul. He’ll be happy to know that. He wants this collaboration.”

  Alexander smiled back. No need to let her know that he had no intention of going through with the collaboration. Everyone assumed that because the test was successful, it was a given that Selwood Corp would enter into a deal with Beltram’s company, but Alexander had never made any promises.

  “His invention is viable.” He told her. “He’ll get what he wants, Ignis becomes habitable, people will get more food, and my company makes a profit. Everyone is happy.”

  “And what do you think Raul wants?” she asked, her gaze on his face suddenly shrewd. She obviously knew Beltram’s true motives.

  “I think this collaboration is important to him. It gets his invention some publicity, makes his company a profit, and he can finally start thinking of starting a family with you.” Alexander was enjoying himself. “Have you two decided on a date yet, Miss Duran?”

  She shook her head. “Isabel, please. My schedule is still rather packed at the moment. I’m in sales, you know, and my job involves a lot of travelling.”

  “I thought you worked for the State,” he probed.

  “I do. But my job involves selling.”

  “Which is all you can say about it,” he smiled again.

  She nodded. “Pretty much.”

  He knew exactly what she did for the State and he supposed in a way, it could be called Sales. She was part of the Department that tracked orphans who had guardians other than the State, and her job involved visiting the guardians to find out if they were interested in transferring their guardianship to the State. She was good at it too, but did she enjoy her work? He had no idea. Not that he could ask her.

  “Doesn’t a job with the State require Raul to be vetted before you’re married?” He asked.

  She nodded, her face clouding. “Once we set the date, the vetting process will start. They’ll go over his entire life with a fine tooth comb, and verify his friends, family, business associates....” She looked at him from under her lashes. “Are you sure you want this collaboration?”

  “I don’t think I’ve anything to worry about from such scrutiny,” He said with complete sincerity. After all, there wouldn’t be any collaboration. “It won’t be the first time either. Good t
ry to scare me away, though.”

  She laughed. “I wasn’t trying to. I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. The last company Raul approached wanted him to break up with me, or for me to quit my job, and that was before we were engaged.”

  “Neither option would have solved anything except make it look like he has something to hide,” Alexander observed.

  What moron suggested it to that company? Perhaps it was Houghton. He desisted from enquiring too closely.

  She gave him a look that said she was impressed. “You either have a very thorough knowledge of the law or a very efficient legal department.”

  “More like the latter,” He smiled, thinking of Niek with his unending fascination with the law. When Alexander had mentioned the possibility of a collaboration between Selwood Corp and Beltram’s company, Niek had done some research into Raul Beltram, and abouthis fiancé. He had discovered the law regarding marriage of the State’s employees.

  “That smile looks oddly reminiscent,” she said.

  He shook his head. “Just thinking of the effort my people have put in,” he said as a beep sounded in his ear. Quinn was trying to get his attention. “Which reminds me that I’ve a private celebration of sorts to get to. I’m sorry to have missed Raul. Perhaps I could meet him tomorrow.”

  “I thought you were leaving early tomorrow morning?” she asked.

  “I’m not, but the rest of my team is. I’ll be here for a couple of days more. Anyway, give my regrets to Raul, and ask him to meet me in the morning, if possible. You’re both leaving in the afternoon, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. I’ll ask him, but he should've been back by now,” she said, sounding impatient. “He said he was only going up to Ytres.”

  “It’s quite all right. Please.”

  Ytres. Alexander moved back into the crowd.

  “Quinn,” he said under his breath. “Is that DNA ready yet?”

  “Trackers show Mr. Beltram is in Ytres, Mr. Selwood,” Quinn said, confirming what Isabel had said.

  “Can you get me to Ytres, as close to Raul Beltram as you can without him seeing?”

  “Computing distance and locating Mr. Beltram,” Quinn said. “If you’re ready, Mr. Selwood?”

  “One minute,” Alexander slid behind a curtain. “Now, Quinn.”

  Alexander was suddenly behind a stack of empty crates. He could hear Beltram’s voice.

  “Lucas, if we do this, we risk exposure. Hell, man! You could be putting everything at risk!”

  “I don’t care!” Lucas Hendriks’ voice was oddly familiar, and Alexander moved to his left to see if he can catch a glimpse of the man. There were four people in the room. He could see Beltram who was standing near a media wall. Two people were sitting on swivel chairs with their backs to the wall, staring at the man who stood in the middle of the room, facing Beltram. Alexander stifled a gasp as he saw the man.

  After all these years, a face he could never forget was back to haunt him.

  “Quinn,” he whispered. “Take me back. Now!”

  As he once again faced the curtain he had taken refuge behind, Alexander drew a couple of deep breaths. It had been a shock, seeing him there. He was Niek’s father? Niek looked nothing like him, except the hair and the eyes and the chin, the shape of his face. His memory wasn’t probably as good as he thought since he hadn’t noticed the resemblance Niek bore his father. Well, it wasn’t as if he knew him well, having met him only twice, but the circumstances were what made it memorable. So, he was openly part of the Resistance now. Alexander wanted to curse, to throw something. He’d sworn he wouldn’t associate himself with the Resistance, but... if Niek’s father was part of it... what was the fool thinking?

  His pad beeped, and he disabled the holographic display as he took the call. Despite Isabel’s tirade of nothing working on Ignis, Sentients worked and all their pads had Miley built in, which helped them communicate with one another, even when on different planets.

  As it turned out, it wasn’t someone from another planet.

  “Where are you?” Sergio asked. “I was thinking I’ll head to bed, and miss that party Vivi was talking about.”

  “Me too,” he said. “We’ll have a proper party later in the week,”

  Sergio sounded tired as he yawned. “All good. Let’s do that.”

  “Quinn,” Alexander said once the call was disconnected. “Take me to my room.”

  Fourteen

  Zain glanced at the time display on the wall. Sergio was late as was Raul.

  “If you pace any more, you’ll make a hole on the floor,” Niki said from where she sat, leaning against a white wall.

  Zain sighed. “It’s not like them to be late,” he said. “I’m worried.”

  “They’re here for other purposes,” Niki reminded him. “It won’t be that easy for them to get away. Give it some time.”

  “Raul won’t be able to make it,” Davu said as he entered, holding up a pad. It was an old one, the only one they had. “Amir just sent us a message through that app he built. Raul met Lucas’ son while on Prith and apparently the boy told him he was a ward of the State, and Lucas is flipping his lid.”

  Zain was aghast. It was the worst news they could have received. For all his flippant tone, Davu’s face was furrowed in worry and even Niki sat forward.

  “That’s awful,” she said. “We can’t leave the boy in the State’s hands. Zain?”

  “From what Amir says,” Davu said. “The boy seems to already be brainwashed. Raul is trying to calm Lucas down, and getting him to stay put, but-”

  “How can he stay put?” Zain asked. “It’s his son, for heaven’s sake!”

  “He should have brought the boy,” Davu said. “Yea, it’s a tough life out here, but I brought my kids.”

  “He didn’t, and it’s no use talking about what he should have done,” Niki said. “We need to decide on what we should do now.”

  A loud blaring sound interrupted them.

  “That must be Sergio,” Zain said. “Let’s not involve him in this. He’s already done so much and we still need more from him. It’s better not to sidetrack him.”

  Besides, Sergio didn’t know Lucas well. Lucas too knew Sergio only by reputation. Not that it would matter to either, but Zain needed something from Sergio that might take all his attention. Sergio was loyal, but his loyalties were divided, and at this crucial juncture, he could not have that.

  “I want to talk to him alone,” he said.

  Davu and Niki nodded as they left the room just as Sergio came in.

  “Sergio,” Zain smiled at him though he was concerned as well. Sergio didn’t look too good or healthy; there were shadows under his eyes and he walked slowly as if he was in pain. “It has been a while since we met, my friend. How are you?”

  “Hoping that my health won’t fail me,” Sergio sat down with obvious relief. “Growing old is no fun.”

  Zain sat down as well. “If you’re not well, you shouldn’t have taken this trip. Sergio, you need to be careful.”

  Sergio chuckled. “You sound like Alexander now. He tried to retire me saying the company doctor suggested it. Not that she wouldn’t have. She gets this look on her face every time I go for a check-up.”

  Zain was worried, but it would not do any good. He could guess why the doctor would have suggested that Sergio retire.

  “You wouldn’t go to the hospital as recommended by her,” Zain said, sighing. “You couldn’t. They would know who you are.” He steepled his fingers. “It’s a pity Amir can’t break into the Central Console, and delete your DNA records there.”

  “That’s beyond the kid’s talents,” Sergio said softly. “And I’m not the only one here whose DNA will throw up red flags. Don’t blame yourself for this, Zain. I was involved in the Resistance since before you were born. Yes, my refusal to go to a hospital is part of it, but I am well enough for my duties, and Alexander has foisted a deputy on me, so she does all the work now, and I just need to appro
ve her decisions.”

  Zain hated what he was about to ask, especially since it seemed as if Alexander Selwood was as genuinely concerned for Sergio as he was.

  “Sergio, I want to ask you something,” Zain said, trying to find the best way to word his demand. “George shared a... theory he had about Alexander Selwood, and-”

  “Stop,” Sergio said, his face hard. “I already told George that his theories are crazy! Has he nothing better to do?”

  “I’m sorry,” Zain said. “But George is doing what he thinks is best for us, all of us, our cause. He feels that Selwood could be an asset, and I agree.”

  Sergio shook his head, a hard smile on his face. “An asset? The man wouldn’t come within a light year of us if he knew we were part of the Resistance. Be reasonable, Zain.”

  “Can’t we at least try?”

  “Zain, we need him. Let’s not jeopardise everything we’ve worked for simply because of some wild theory by George. We can’t afford to antagonise Alexander.”

  “Not if that’s your attitude,” Zain said, frustrated. “Sergio, I understand loyalty, but you’re carrying this to extremes! You have to make a choice here. You can’t have divided loyalties!”

  “Choice?” Sergio’s eyes glittered and his voice became icy. “Since when do we talk of divided loyalties and choices? Since when do we force our people to choose between us and their lives? Since when did we turn into the State?”

  Zain opened his mouth to refute, but no words would come. There was contempt in Sergio’s expression.

  “Okay, maybe I asked for that,” Zain said finally. “But you have to understand the point I’m trying to make. I’m saying that if you know anything about Selwood, anything that can give us a hold over him, then you should consider telling us.”

  “You’re asking me to betray a man to whom I owe everything.” Sergio said. “He’s not just my employer, Zain. He’s my friend.”

  “I get that.” Zain said. “And I wouldn’t ask this of you if we weren’t truly desperate. What if he changes his mind, Sergio? What happens to us then? If he decides that this partnership with Raul is not for him? What then? He owns the majority stake in Selwood Corp; what he decides is what goes in the company.”