by G. R. Carter
“You give a man something to believe in, and then give him a woman who believes the same thing, and nature will take over.” She smiled at him. “It’s not tough to figure what keeps men in line.”
“Yeah, but almost every couple has a kid on the way already,” Lewis said. “That’s something I don’t figure with the company’s strategy. They don’t want me to have more guards because it costs too much. But they’re letting the inmates have kids? Like, they actually want more mouths to feed around here?”
“We’re forming a community here, Peter. Think of it like a new version of Australia. The English settled their prisoners halfway around the world. Look what happened. Within a few generations Australia became a vibrant, strong ally for the rest of the civilized world. Every guest rehabilitation center owned by Jordan Inc. is executing the same plan. Long-term vision.”
Lewis sighed at the sight of her. He knew their relationship was changing, at least in his mind. He was enjoying it, although the physical tension during work hours distracted him. Each minute together made him feel like he knew what made her tick just a little better.
“That the reason we’re getting extra rations, extra supplies, that sort of thing?” he asked her.
She shrugged. “Malik Masen told me we’d be getting extra everything for the next few weeks. Said he wants the storerooms full as they can be.”
“He’s Jordan’s VP in charge of the whole system,” Lewis said in surprise. “Interesting that he’d take a personal role in something as mundane as rations.”
“I speak with him about a lot of things. He’s really quite brilliant.”
Lewis tried not to get jealous. He shouldn’t be worried about his boss talking to her boss. Still… He changed the subject for his own benefit.
“You’re getting nervous, though, aren’t you? About something…I can’t tell what it is, but something’s eating at you,” he said.
Marduk sighed in disgust. “Like you said. This is a for-profit business, Peter. Food expense is our biggest line item except payroll. The extra supplies are blowing up my budget.”
Lewis growled in agreement. “Yeesh, we lose that much money and that’ll kill our bonus.”
The warden nodded. “Extra rations, the new generator—an old style one at that, it’s not even computerized… They even shipped us extra rifles and ammunition. Ridiculous, keeping guns around a rehabilitation center! All we need is enough for our Rapid Response Team, and we've got plenty for them.” She shook her head, deep in thought. “I’m sure Malik has a good reason for doing all this. Just wish he’d let us in on it.”
Then she smiled at Lewis again and grabbed his hand. She led him to her office. “I’m tired of talking business. We've got a little while before the next class… Come on, our guests shouldn't be the only ones having fun.”
Capitol Building – Federal DC
Two Years Before the Great Reset
“How do the Solar Storms look today? Do you think we’ll be able to get the State of the Union transmitted without interruption?” President Luis Aguilar wanted tonight’s multimedia presentation to go flawlessly. He had a lot of really well put together charts and graphs, along with some of the best human interest images the press corps ever produced.
“Supposedly there’s a pretty big wave coming in around midnight, but I’ve been assured that Grapevine has a plan to compensate. Shouldn’t affect what we’re presenting,” Chief of Staff Pina Bastet assured him.
Bastet never failed to use the tools she had around her and Aguilar was a political handler’s dream. Handsome and a master of the spoken word, Aguilar was no more Hispanic than she was. Like people claiming Native American blood a generation before, Aguilar’s name gave him immediate credibility with the nation’s new majority. His great-grandparents who brought the name to America from Spain would be proud of Luis’ accomplishments even if they might be a little disturbed at the way he achieved them.
“Pina, please call for Speaker Reed. And have one of the porters bring up a couple of Gurkhas. Tell them I want His Majesty’s Reserve today. Yale beat Harvard this weekend, and the Speaker will want to celebrate, I’m sure. I have no doubt that cheapskate won’t bring his own,” Aguilar said. He and Reed shared a celebratory cigar each year their alma maters’ soccer team defeated their arch rivals.
Aguilar looked over the papers holding National Summary Reports in front of him. Paper was scarce due to EPA regulations; an expensive relic in an age where on-demand data streamed onto screens continuously. Aguilar still found he comprehended information better when reading on paper. His photographic memory didn’t seem to work as well from electronic sources. Fortunately, being President meant you didn’t have to worry about the cost. A President’s only concern was shepherding the people, and no expense need be spared to make sure Aguilar had the right tools.
Aguilar grumbled to himself: I’ve got a big expense sitting here right now. He surveyed the men and women sitting along the couches on each side of the room. Federal Department Heads, each flanked by a couple of key staffers, sat quietly, waiting to be acknowledged. Each blankly staring face reminded him of students waiting nervously to present a dissertation when he was Professor of Economics at Yale. Subjecting themselves to this treatment made Aguilar detest each one.
No spine in any of them. All afraid of losing eight-figure jobs. The power and luxury must be more addictive than heroin. Oh well, I can’t be everywhere at once, even with the live links being up 24/7. OK, Aguilar thought, time to test them.
Department of Human Services went first every day. The figure who approached his desk appeared a bit more overweight than usual. Maybe she needs to have her nutrition adjusted Aguilar thought. Bad form for someone in charge not to look the part. She was short, appearing more so in front of Aguilar’s elevated desk. As she aged with the position, her Asian features became more pronounced. Bastet told the President such an appearance would be beneficial for the West Coast Block. I guess she’s the expert on that.
The DHS report included the previous day's economic output for DC and all the regional capitals. Currency was almost exclusively electronic, so the Economic Development staff created an up-to-the-minute snapshot of the health of the money supply in the most important areas of the country. No one cared much anymore about the rural areas and smaller cities; there just wasn’t enough output there to really matter to DC.
Aguilar loved the power of impacting the money supply with his policies. He could order that a project be funded, and within the week the currency flow increased, and with the data that his people brought in he could even see how it affected particular neighborhoods. Transactions were monitored and analyzed instantaneously, and policymakers found the data stream addicting to watch.
Aguilar moved on to the next topic rapidly, never one for elaboration from his subordinates.
“How goes integration of Agriculture into your staff?” Aguilar asked.
“Sir, each person has been assigned new tasks. The extra personnel allow us to adjust the nutritional value of the Ration Bars on a weekly basis for each person. This allows my existing staff to identify the Bio Profiles of citizens who need more individual intention,” the Secretary reported.
Aguilar subtly winced at the mention of the Ration Bars. Ration Bars were his idea – at least he found the research used to create them – offering a great way to make sure everyone had enough healthy food to eat. So much more environmentally sound, too. The inefficiency of farmers growing vegetables and fruits and particularly animals for shipment hundreds or even thousands of miles away just to be consumed made his head spin. Who designed such a wasteful system? Ration Bars could be produced for a fraction of the cost, and the vitamins and nutrients were a perfect way to make people healthier, saving medical resources for those that really needed it.
Aguilar didn’t so much care about the particulars; he was most interested in information about the composite health stats of the citizenry. Success stories of formerly overweight citize
ns, now on the road to health because of maintaining a proper balance of nutrition from the Ration Bars, were featured in tonight’s State of the Union. Fortunately for me, I have a Chef that balances my diet. In fact, a chicken salad sounds pretty good about now.
The Department of Agriculture handled the weekly rations and worked out the nutrition specifications for each person. More recently, the Reboot legislation rolled the Department of Agriculture into the Department of Human Services. The DHS provided health information to adjust rations depending on the Bio Profile of a person, created during a citizen’s monthly checkup at the DHS Clinics and fed into Grapevine. After the checkup, the information was downloaded to each citizen’s SmartWatch – the device that held each person’s “cash” and food credit balance – which was used to purchase Ration Bars from their nearest store.
Department of Agriculture scientists assured President Aguilar the processed food really did taste great.
“I have personally directed Department of Agriculture personnel to add up to ten new flavors to the Ration Bars. That brings the total variety up to twenty, and we expect that to help drive down the demand for unauthorized food choices. I estimate that this figure alone will result in a 15% improvement in the aggregate Bio Profiles of our citizens,” the woman said proudly.
Something in the woman’s tone irritated Aguilar. “Madame Secretary, when I put Agriculture and Commerce under Department of Human Services, it was for two reasons. First, because I wanted our citizens to understand that nutrition, health and economics are the three pillars that hold up the roof of societal security. Three pillars, Madame Secretary, do you understand that?” he asked.
“We can monitor how decisions affect the economic output of the entire country, all the way down to specific neighborhoods. The SmartWatchs tell us almost immediately how projects stimulate currency flow and cultural choices,” Aguilar said.
He raised his voice to be heard by all in the room. “People, currency is flowing freely to every regional capital city. We’re setting prices based on the costs we’re experiencing. Now, quit messing with my data by introducing new variables like flavors. You’ve screwed up my baselines!”
The DHS Secretary paused, making sure Aguilar was finished. “Yes, Mr. President. I didn’t think you had the time to be burdened with something like that. We’re really early in the test phase. I was trying to value your time and give you the results to consider.”
The President looked her in the eye, “I will be the judge of what’s important in this country! Who’s your second-in-command?”
“Eileen Yamato, Sir.” That’s a better name for the West Coast Block, he surmised. This one’s got the look but not the name to go with it.
“Ms. Yamato,” Aguilar glared at Deputy Secretary Yamato as she stood, “you are now the acting Secretary of the Department of Human Services. You’ll be sworn in this afternoon, and I’ll introduce you tonight during the State of the Union. Wear something blue, people like that.” Yamato nodded knowingly; Bastet picked her months ago for promotion. Aguilar just needed the teachable moment and a media opportunity to present the new pick.
The former Secretary sagged, not sure what to say. Aguilar refused to acknowledge her further, so slowly she turned and walked back to the bench, stunned. Aguilar never asked his inner circle what became of staff he fired; that was Bastet’s responsibility. Severance packages, maybe?
At least the Defense Secretary provided more of an intellectual challenge.
“Mr. President,” Harold Johnson asked before the Aguilar had a chance to launch into him, “How many more bases do you think we’ll need to close next year?”
President Aguilar paused, impatiently tapping his finger on a padded armrest. “Clearly, we need one base on each coast, and maybe one in Texas. That’s just to keep troops on hand in case those extremists in eastern Texas attempt to vote secession again. I want a big presence to show them that kind of thing won’t fly…make sure the Texas base is staffed with men from other states, men whose Bio Profiles are in the top range. Other than that, I think Interior can handle all other tasks, don’t you?”
“Of course, sir. I’ll start thinking about locations for all three bases right away. Then I’ll come up with an order of the bases we’re closing. I’m sure the Chief of Staff will have some suggestions,” Johnson said, turning to walk away before he could be questioned further.
I’ll be glad when that Department is gone, too. Overly patriotic people made him nervous and to him the military was just a place for a bunch of testosterone junkies to get together and cause trouble. America doesn’t need a standing army…With a connected world no one is going to be fighting wars anymore. There’s nothing the average citizen cares enough about anymore to fight for anyway, Aguilar assured himself.
Speaker of the House Thomas Reed made his appearance past the Marine–Service guard posted at the Oval Office entrance. Reed returned the salute of the impassive young man dressed in an original Marine Corps uniform. At least, that’s what the uniform was when Reed himself served.
Budget cuts of the Reboot Bill required the dissolution of separate branches of the military. Army, Air Force and National Guard were all consolidated under one leadership. The Marine Corps joined the Navy in merging with Coast Guard, Secret Service and TSA into the Department of Marine Services. Aside from protecting commerce in and out of ports and airports, the most important job of Service–Marines was their protective duties for important DC residents.
“How’s the loyal opposition today?” Aguilar smiled at Reed as he came to attention in front of the immense desk. Reed was a rarity – Aguilar actually liked the man, though he considered him a bit dense. Most important, Reed understood the big picture and was willing to play ball with what Aguilar needed done.
“Very well, sir, thank you,” Reed beamed.
“I’m looking forward to having the First Lady sit beside you during the State of the Union tonight. I think the show of unity is so important to our people.”
“Of course, sir. There’s no place I’d rather be. I can’t wait for your presentation,” Reed said proudly.
This would be the first year the State of the Union would be presented in the newly completed People’s Hall, an immense public works project seating 100,000 comfortably, with smaller concert halls surrounding the main venue. People’s Hall existed as Aguilar’s gift to the city of DC, an example of the success brought about by the Reboot Bill. The best engineers in the country collaborated to make the entire complex impervious to the Solar Storms. Each seat and every room contained cutting-edge connectivity; no expense was spared in utilizing the most recent updates and making sure everything was hooked into Grapevine’s Artificial Intelligence system.
For all the modern conveniences, the architecture of People’s Hall had all the pomp and splendor of classical Grecian architecture. The almost religious effect was made complete by a ceiling that featured the world’s largest screen, a virtual sky created inside a structure that proved America still knew how to lead the world.
“Mr. Speaker, will you please sit in while I hear reports from the Department of the Interior?”
“I’d be honored, sir, thank you,” Reed said as he took a seat near the President.
This was the one that really held Aguilar’s interest today.
Dr. Elias Marburg entered the room flanked by several staff members, vetted and hired by the Secretary of the Interior himself and outside of normal channels. Few could have gotten away with such a breach of protocol, but Pina Bastet recruited Dr. Elias Marburg directly from the Artificial Intelligence Chair of Stanford to lead Interior. Marburg had the rare distinction of being able to make Aguilar nervous – both brilliant and politically savvy – which made him an asset but one requiring careful management. Aguilar balked when Bastet first presented Marburg as a candidate; Aguilar knew the man’s reputation of conquering companies and universities. But Bastet assured Aguilar that Marburg had the same ideas for government, and no inter
est in a larger political career. Marburg personally assured Aguilar he simply recognized a historical turning point with the Reboot legislation and wanted a hand in shaping the future.
As Marburg approached the desk, Aguilar instinctively rolled the flat metal disk he held in his left hand. To most, the disk looked like a simple metal washer. Those who followed the Path of Continuity recognized a disk symbolizing the power to exist forever as a Profile on Grapevine. Dr. Marburg led him to the Path and now they shared the unbreakable bond of those who would live forever. Continuity changed whatever goals Luis Aguilar strove to accomplish before his enlightenment. Now his mission would see the world recognize the power of Grapevine. All citizens of the world would accept The Path.
Aguilar sensed Reed shift nervously. With Marburg’s approval, Aguilar invited the most powerful member of the opposition party to experience Continuity also. Marburg conceded, reluctantly agreeing that not everyone had to possess a top 1% intellect to experience Continuity.
Dr. Marburg reached the front of the desk and smiled at the President, “Good day to you, sir. I hope you are feeling well?” Marburg’s radiant smile beamed from toned skin. He possessed a laugh capable of charming any room. Standing above most crowds helped get people’s attention, also.
“I'm feeling great. Thank you, Dr. Marburg. I’ve been looking forward to hearing about the SmartWatch updates. That will be the highlight of my day, and I’m hoping to give our citizens some really good news tonight,” Aguilar said, with a slight wink.
Marburg gave a mischievous grin in return and leaned in as though he had a secret. To anyone watching, it would have been cartoonish, but none would have said so out loud. “I’ve also got a special update on our Implant Project.”
Aguilar and Reed both beamed. Aguilar knew exactly how SmartWatches would soon be phased out and replaced by an injectable sensor worn just underneath the skin. This was news to Reed, but he grinned like a schoolboy let in new gossip.
