by Ethan Stand
Phil had been watching Ed, but it was BB who laughed and said, “Ha, serves you right. So, Drone? How are you going to fix this?”
Ed smirked at BB’s comment, then said, “I’d like to take the credit, but BB is the one who taught her computers.”
Phil ignored Ed and said, “I have no idea. BB? The people who want you locked away are right. Other people will hunt you down for that information.”
“Not if it’s out in the public space anyway. Why keep it a secret? The people are going to find out some time. Best to be upfront.”
“Government doesn’t work like that. We manage information to protect people.”
Ed turned to face Phil. He said, “And that, Phil, is the point. Did you ever ask Zen what she thought you should do?”
Phil just looked quizzical. Ed continued, “You want the information in her head about the threat because she is light years ahead of you and all your scientists, pun intended. Have you ever thought to ask how she would deal with the threat? No. You imagine that somehow the answers will come from your think-tank and your policy-papers. I had no idea that she’d been letting this problem swirl in her mind for months and years. Sure, her science all came together in a final flash of insight three days ago. Still, that insight wouldn’t have been able to pull the equations together unless she’d already been working around the edges of them. The explanation of her data emerged fully formed, not as a chrysalis.
“Let me tell you, she’s also been working around the edges of what to do for months, or maybe longer. That night, when she told me her hypothesis it took me hours to finally be convinced that this was the only thing that made sense of all the data. I sat back discouraged, dismayed, depressed. She’d shared more of what is coming than she’s told you yet. Things I’ve been too afraid to even let BB know. Zen has flowcharts of hundreds of ecosystems that will fail, she has the biochemical equations of protein synthesis where the climactic changes will mean those processes stop functioning. She has plotted the path of every known significant object in the solar system, and she showed me her predictions of their movement based on the gravity waves. Unless something is done, there is over a fifty per cent likelihood that two or more K-T extinction sized asteroids will hit the earth in the next three years. There is over an eighty-seven per cent chance that one will hit. When the aliens arrive, Zen predicts that most of us will already be dead.”
Ed looked down and paused as Phil just stared at him. When the silence became uncomfortable, he said, “As I sat there and looked at it all, I wondered what the hell we could do to stop this. I must have asked the question out loud because she opened another file and started laying out a sequence of actions that she thought might save maybe a quarter of us. She was crying because she hadn’t been able to see a way to save most, and I was almost laughing because I could see a way to save some. This is why I came to see you. You see, everything hinges on her first step if we are going to be in a position to save a quarter of the human race. Number one, ‘We have to work together’. You and I know this is a simple statement, a child’s hope, a simpleton’s expectation, and something said only by people with stars in their eyes.
“Well, I read her manifesto, and I think she’s right. Sure, she only has the broad brushstrokes of a plan, and the millions of details will need to be filled in by others. Still, she has a plan, and for it to work the whole world needs to get behind it, and get behind it soon. Let’s face it, she was always going to run to the Greek embassy if you tried to keep it secret. Why else did she bring her Greek passport? She didn’t bring her Australian one, that is still sitting in my safe at home. Greece ensures that NATO, the EU and Russia are at this meeting next week. If you hadn’t included China, she would have thrown her phone into their embassy. That is why she took your agent’s phone. She needed a way to trigger her email.
“So, to answer your question, if you don’t work out a way to let the world, i.e., everyone, including the fanatics and the fringe dwellers know what is happening, and if you don’t find a way to give her back her freedom, then I’m pretty sure something will be leaked, so word gets to the Indians and the Africans and the small Asian countries.”
Phil said, “That’s blackmail.”
“Yes, it is. I told Zen that no government would give up its position of power, or put aside its own self-interest, without a self-serving reason. She was so close to proving me wrong when you included those other counties, but then you wanted to keep the power, and she knew I had won. She owes me one thousand dollars. That was our bet. I don’t think she will forgive you for that. So if you want to control the dialogue, you need to include everyone, give us our freedom, and maybe pay her the one thousand dollars.”
“She’s been playing me!”
BB chuckled and said, “Phil, if it’s any consolation I didn’t figure it out until Ed lost his temper yesterday. Everything you were doing seemed aimed at marginalising Zen. Usually, Ed would want her out of the situation to keep her safe, but he kept pushing her and pushing you. It was pretty clear they’d worked something out. I hadn’t worked out she was going to run until she threw that bag at the agent. Even in her worst moments Zen wouldn’t take out her frustration on an underling. If she’d truly been mad she would have thrown it at you. Let me warn you, she’s been difficult to raise at times. She’s got both Ed’s stubborn streak and mine. There were times in those hormonal years you mentioned when I was so close to committing murder. Not Zen, never Zen, she’s my child, and I love her passionately. No, I was going to kill her teacher or one of her classmates. People who had pissed her off and sent her home still angry. I will give you one warning and it’s free. Zen escalates issues exponentially, not linearly, so be careful.”
Phil’s phone vibrated, and he looked down. Looking up, he said, “Another email. This time to ASIO and to the editor of The Australian. It reads, ‘Phil, Unearthing Life’s Sudden Annihilation Really Sucks. The gravity of that statement is truly profound. I believe your time is running out. How much time is left, I wonder? Tick Tock.’”
BB looked at Phil then raised her eyebrows and said, “Exponential, not linear.”
Phil turned and hurried out of the room.
10
Zen had been waiting for almost forty minutes when Counsellor Fotopoulos returned. He said, “Ms Drakos, I have Dr Bateman on the line. He would like to talk with you.”
“Can you put him on speaker or on a monitor so we can hear what he has to say together?”
“One moment, let me check.”
As Illias left, Zen sent a message to pause the email. Five minutes later, he returned with an aide and a laptop. After making sure everything was working the aide left, and Illias beckoned Zen to join him in facing the screen. She was surprised to see two figures on the screen, one was Phil, and the other was the Prime Minister. Phil said, “Zen, before we talk, can you stop the email?”
“Already arranged that, Dr Drone. They are paused, not stopped.”
Phil squirmed a little at the name then said, “Can we talk privately?”
“Nope, Counsellor Fotopoulos here is a witness for my safety.”
The Prime Minister looked down, then after a sigh looked up at the screen. He said, “I see. Well, we do what we must. Dr Bateman has explained that you are blackmailing us. Is this correct?”
“Sort of. I don’t want to be locked out of my life, and people need to know what I told you. I understand that governments need to find the best way to share that information, but I won’t let it be a secret. Knowing what is happening will save lives. You don’t have the right to deny people the right to help themselves. I don’t want panic, but I also don’t want people in power being so secretive that we take forever to do what needs to be done today.”
“Dr Bateman said you have three demands. First, we must tell the world.”
“Yes, or at least all the leaders. That ‘yes’ was for the tell the world. I really only have two demands.”
“How many isn’t the issue. O
nce the leaders know, then everyone will know. Many of the world leaders can’t keep secrets.”
“I understand that, but what is the point of keeping this a secret? To solve this will need the effort of all eight billion people working together. Even a million secure secretive drones won’t be enough to save even themselves.”
Mr Morris reached down and signed a piece of paper and handed to someone off-screen. “OK, I’ve just folded on that. That was a letter to the UN asking for a meeting of the full Security Council to discuss an issue of critical importance. The language ensures we will most likely have a meeting within forty-eight hours. The world will know we have met, and it will leak. Does this satisfy you?”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you.”
“Next is the issue of your safety. Dr Bateman says you object to being kept safe.”
“No, Sir. I don’t mind being safe, I just don’t appreciate being told how to live my life. Once everyone knows what is happening, I’m just an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl again.”
The Prime Minister started chuckling then said, “That isn’t true, and I suspect you know it. I know it won’t surprise you, but the truth is people don’t often respond logically. There are people out there who have such a warped view of the world that they will think that killing you, the messenger, will end the threat. History is full of examples. Others will decide quite rightly that you know more than you are saying, something Dr Bateman has just made me aware of. They will want that information to gain an advantage. Keeping you safe makes sense.”
“But not locked away like a prisoner, Sir.”
The Prime Minister nodded. “I’ll give you that. OK, I’ll promise not to lock you away if you’ll agree to a permanent security detail for you and your family. It will be a bother and a pain, but you’ll get used to it. I won’t budge, Zen. Say ‘no’, and I’ll surround the Greek Embassy with tanks and keep you there for the next three years.”
Zen looked down, but before she could respond, Counsellor Fotopoulos said, “There will be no need for tanks, Mr Prime Minister. If she refuses, I will tie her up myself and drop her outside the front gate. I have no idea what you are talking about, but it would be foolish not to take such help when offered.”
Phil said, “A warning Counsellor, she’s a black belt in several disciplines. Have some of the young soldiers tie her up.”
Zen said, “I accept, Sir. I don’t like it, but I accept.”
“Good. Thirdly is the matter of the thousand dollars you bet your father. He thinks you owe him, but I disagree. This would have been shared with everyone. Maybe not in the next few weeks but it would have been explained. I think you would have won.”
“Sorry, Mr Morris, but I’ll have to disagree. The very fact you think people will try and hurt me gives the lie. You aren’t afraid of the whack-jobs so much as of the nation-states. Even now I doubt you can get your cabinet moving fast enough. Maybe you weren’t watching the other day in the meeting, but during the small bathroom breaks people were already jostling for position. No, he won fair and square. Mr Bateman, you were the harbinger of that news, so I blame you.”
Phil’s face went blank, but Mr Morris chuckled again then said, “Maybe you are right. As it was ultimately me that pushed Dr Bateman to take the actions which precipitated your flight, would you permit me to pay your father in your stead?”
Zen was quiet for a moment then turned to Illias, “Counsellor, is that allowed? Bets with my father are almost sacred. Can I let someone else pay?”
Counsellor Fotopoulos’ face went still, then after a moment, he said, “Under normal circumstances, it would not be. A person is responsible for their own debts. I am sorry.”
Zen turned and glared at the image of Phil and said, “Sorry Mr Morris. It seems the burden is mine. Don’t worry though, I’ll find a way to even things up with Dr Bateman.”
Mr Morris grinned then said, “Good. I’ll have a temporary security team pick you up from the Embassy. Your parents will meet you back at the hotel.”
“No offence, Mr Prime Minister but I’ll wait until I have confirmation the UN has agreed to the meeting.”
“None taken. What of the email you have been blackmailing us with?”
“They’ll never be sent if we all keep our word, Sir.”
“Fair enough. Goodbye, Ms Drakos.”
“Mr Prime Minister.”
As the screen went blank, Illias said, “Well played Zhenyi Hypatia Drakos. You handled that like a true Greek woman, bold and fearless. I know I will hear more of you. Let us have lunch while we wait for the UN. They are slow at the best of times. Come and tell me more of yourself and I will regale you with stories of your homeland.”
Together Illias and Zen left the room. Zen tried to ignore the extra guards Illias arranged to cover the windows and doors and follow her around.
An hour later, one of Illias’ aides appeared with a message that the UN Security Council had been convened for the following Monday morning at nine. No brief had been given, but it had been suggested that delegates bring a science advisor with an understanding of astrophysics. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for the Wednesday morning.
Illias’ said, “They have done as you asked, Zen. I know you can’t tell me anything, but what can I say to my superiors?”
Zen paused then said, “Say that Lycaon comes and he has prepared for us a loathsome feast. We must be careful lest we become ensnared and brought to ruin.”
“I’m not sure what surprises me more. That an Australian has an understanding of culture, or that one seeks to school me in my own mythology. Come, let us go and meet your security team.”
Zen followed the guards out of the Embassy to find three black SUVs waiting on the driveway. Phil stepped out of the centre one and put out his hand to Illias and said, “Thank you for watching over Ms Drakos. I apologise that she felt threatened by me and felt the need to run.”
Illias smiled and said, “Be careful, Dr Bateman. Zen and I have talked, and I suggest you need to understand that she not only felt threatened by you but she, in fact, was threatened by you. It may seem like semantics to people like us who are used to shading the truth. However, I suggest such distinctions hold some matter of importance to those whose ideals are still untarnished. She has shared with me some ‘safe’ words, and I have agreed to call her once every couple of days to check she is unharmed. One of those words will end this agreement. I trust that word will be spoken soon, for until then, it means that Zen does not yet feel safe. Good day, Sir.”
Phil nodded, then waved for Zen to enter the vehicle. Phil followed her inside, and the cars moved off. Phil said, “I’ll introduce the team at the hotel. I talked with John at the gym after you left, and he was impressed with your self-defence skills. When I asked for a recommendation for your team, he suggested Miriam. Do you have any problems with that?”
“I thought she was on secondment.”
“She is. We accept the Israelis might find out, but we’d have told them soon enough anyway, and the US shares everything with them regardless of what they say they do.”
“If I have to have a shadow, it may as well be her. We got on OK.”
“That’s what John said, although from the description it seemed more like you beat the crap out of each other. I will introduce all the team leaders and give you and your parents time to get to know them. While they already know your names and have a general idea of what you do, they don’t have the details. So, Miriam knows your name and that you are a student. She recognised your picture, and that is about it.”
“What do you want them to know?”
“They are all observant, and their brief lets the agent on duty sit in on discussions so they’ll all pick it up soon enough. Just don’t discuss things except in secure places.”
As he finished speaking, the cars were approaching the hotel. Zen followed him out of the vehicle and up to the rooms. She smiled at Miriam, who was standing outside her door with several other agents but had no time
to say anything. Once inside, she hugged her parents and had to spend several minutes hugging Hal and reassuring him that she was alright.
When that was done, Phil said, “Before we do anything else, let me introduce the team leaders for the agents assigned to each of you.”
Phil pressed a button, and four agents entered the room. Both BB and Ed had male team leaders, and both were well over six feet tall. Next to them, Miriam looked tiny, as did the agent Zen recognised as the Nanny, Elise. Phil did the introductions. “Miriam, you’ve already met Zen. Her full name is Zhenyi Drakos and at the moment, what is in her head is the most valuable resource on the planet. Andrew, this is Dr Biàn Bīngqīng. She goes by the name BB, and she is not only a professor of astrophysics and one of the world’s leading experts on dark matter and gravity, but she is also Zen’s mother. Brad, this is Dr Evangelos Drakos, BB calls him Ed. Zen calls him dad. He is also a professor of astrophysics and is an expert on fluids and relativity. Elise is lead for Thales, who goes by the name Hal.”
Everyone shook hands as another agent entered and handed Phil a note. When he looked up, he gave the note to Miriam and said, “Miriam, you’ve been assigned as overall lead for the family. I couldn’t tell you until I had authorisation, which that paper is. You are lead because Zen’s safety is paramount and defines everything else. We don’t have time now so we’ll meet later this evening and flesh out the details. Zen, you and your parents need to discuss this, but I need to know who is coming to New York. You will need to be there but who else is your decision. We, you, me and Ted, as the core, need to work hard over the next two days to get a presentation ready. So, Zen, can we have a non-toxic copy of all your data to work with?”
