Shedding the Demon

by Bill Denise

  “Mr. Pryke, sir,” one of his men said, stepping into his office.

  “Yes, yes, what is it?”

  “We just found out that Dr. Baksa will be at the meeting, sir.”

  Alexander looked perplexed and replied, “What? Why is she here?”

  “Well, sir, we don’t know, but if she's coming in person, she must have something big to present.”

  “Ha! I bet.” Alexander didn't think much of the official Council Research Division. Other than controlling the dissemination of current technology and preventing unauthorized research, he thought they were useless. Their direct ties with the Kyndraist Church made him uneasy, since it gave control to the Truebloods.

  “Why are we just finding out now? We’re there in what, five minutes? Don't we have better intelligence than that?”

  The man stammered an incoherent reply.

  “Oh never mind,” Alexander said irritably, “is that all you've got?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Then get out.”

  This is ridiculous! He told himself over and over. His anger was ratcheting up as he contemplated how to make a change in the state of affairs. I will not be trivialized by these . . . these . . . politicians! I've worked too hard and overcome much bigger men, I will not allow them to stop me. I can’t take them head-on. I need a big game-changer, or at least something I can use!

  Alexander looked at his screen sitting on the table in front of him. It had the latest intelligence on each of the four other Council members, but he had found nothing new on any of them. He tapped a few icons to run a search on Dr. Baksa so he wouldn’t go into the meeting unprepared.

  Today's announcement had better be good. He didn't actually believe that the CRD could produce anything useful, but he was determined to find some method to change the status quo. If there was anything that Alexander Pryke could not abide, it was the “status quo.”

  He looked outside, but his thoughts were focused inward as he struggled to develop a plan. He needed more information.

  He never even noticed the beauty of the gas giant as it slid silently past his window.

  An hour later, Alexander sat at the meeting table and steamed. He and three other members of the Council were already present, but of course Trueblood had not yet appeared. Alexander looked around the room at the others, reviewing what he knew about each one, futilely searching for something he might use against them.

  Together, the other three represented the greatest discoveries in the history of mankind. They traced their family histories back to the original Earth and the Big-Five colony worlds that started it all. Of course some of their familial claims were dubious and contested, but they held the wealth and power nonetheless.

  It all began with the Yeboah twins, Jamila and Kamau, who discovered the method for creating wormholes and developed most of the physics surrounding them. Despite their socialist beliefs that led them to give away the technology, their dynasty continued to this day, represented by Stacey Magourik. She was tall and stately with beautiful dark skin and hair. Alexander hated her and her haughty attitude.

  The wormhole technology was fascinating, but it didn’t find practical application until Linette Debar used it to create a self-sustaining reactor. The cheap and clean power changed the world overnight. She let others use her technology, although she was smart enough to charge a royalty. This income alone made her rich, and her family line was represented here by Esme Burdekin.

  Alexander liked Esme—as much as he liked anyone—because he knew she was a kindred spirit. He knew that she seethed over the lost profits from the lack of monopoly on the Debar reactor. Her constant state of discontent showed on her face with its sharp lines and pinched appearance.

  Ground-breaking as the Debar reactor was, there were even bigger things in store. Dravin Kline soon followed with a technology that combined the wormhole with the Debar reactor and expanded upon both. His Kline Drive enabled spaceships to travel interstellar distances and finally released the human race from their failing Earth. To this day his family held a stranglehold on the Kline Drive technology and all of its derivatives. Ridiculously handsome and wealthy, Jonathan Kline, descendant of Dravin Kline, sat comfortably at the end of the table.

  The fifth person responsible for the mass migration of the human race was Alvyn Doering, who was no longer represented on the Council. His life’s work in macroenvironmentalism, aided by the wormhole physics and the Debar reactor, provided the last piece of the puzzle needed to terraform planets within a wide range of initial environmental factors. His accomplishments, although significant, were mostly forgotten after the fall of the Doering dynasty.

  Alexander smiled as he recalled his role in that fall. His father, Alexander Pryke, Sr., launched the program that ruthlessly culled the rival families on his home planet and slowly consolidated power for himself. Alexander took over after his father’s death, and continued to eliminate rivals and build influence. Finally, he deposed the Doering descendants and usurped their Council seat. Of course, he did not consider it ‘usurpation,’ he considered it ‘spoils to the winner.’

  Reverend Renard Trueblood, who they were still waiting for, was the spiritual leader of Kyndraism, the ubiquitous religion of the Consensus. The religion ran nearly all the public works, most notably schools and the Council Research Division. Thus, Renard commanded a great deal of wealth and influence.

  The too-conveniently named Truebloods claimed to descend from Kyndra Dickson, the woman who brought order to the early colonies and created the Consensus. The Truebloods, through Kyndraism, promoted the idea that she was a deity, and the mindless masses followed without question.

  The whole situation left a bad taste in Alexander’s mouth, although he admired the Truebloods’ ability to manipulate the masses to their own benefit.

  Returning his attention to the present, Alexander glared at Jonathan Kline, who was talking and laughing with Stacey Magourik and Esme Burdekin. Their demeanor annoyed Alexander to the point that he couldn’t contain himself any longer.

  “How can you just sit there babbling on and on, laughing, joking, while Renard treats us like crap?” he snapped.

  If they were surprised by his outburst they did not show it. In fact, Jonathan smiled back at him, as if in a private joke. The two women at least had the decency to look concerned over what he said.

  It was Esme who answered. “Alexander, you can’t let him get to you.”

  “It’s true he plays these games, but they’re only meaningful if you let them bother you,” Stacey added her bit of wisdom.

  “Really, Junior, try to relax,” Jonathan added with a broad smile.

  Alexander stared at him for a moment; he hated being called “Junior.” He actually was Alexander Pryke, Jr., but it was the intentional implied connotation that bothered him so much.

  “So you are the best that the Consensus has to offer? The leaders of the empire? Makes me wish there was a god so he could help us.” Alexander wanted his remarks to be biting and harsh, but he sounded petty and childish even to himself. Not sure what else to do, he laughed to try and save face. The others smiled and laughed politely, but his anger did not abate.

  As if on cue, Renard swept into the room in one smooth motion and took his seat at the head of the table. Jeffrey followed inconspicuously behind him and took a seat in the opposite corner so they could interact non-verbally.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Renard said to no one in particular. “Please bow your heads so we can begin with a prayer.”

  Alexander purposefully did not bow his head but watched with disdain as the other three complied. He didn’t listen to the droning incantation, but was glad when it was over.

  “Kyndra’s benevolence reaches us today as we are gathered to govern the great Consensus she began so long ago.”

  “Enough with the theatrics, Renard,” Alexander interjected. “We’re not your mindless sheep, so stop patronizing us.”

  “Oh, Alexander, you ever disappoint
me,” Renard said with a sigh, “I do so wish you would repent and come to know Kyndra’s loving embrace.”

  “You’re making me sick; can we get down to business?” Alexander said. He restrained himself from making a more vulgar comment.

  From there they did get down to business, discussing various issues that came to their attention and needed to be handled. Social unrest had become their biggest problem and was the impetus behind setting up these regular face-to-face meetings.

  “We’ve had five violent protests on three different planets in the last month!” Stacey complained, “We don’t have the military resources to put them down quickly and quietly. We are going to need help from all of you.”

  “I can’t send anything your way, one of my bases got hit with a very effective terrorist attack only a week ago and we’re still digging out,” Esme replied.

  “Bleeding hearts!” Alexander interjected, “You have to take them down quickly, yes—but why quietly? Let everyone know what happens when they step out of line.”

  The other four Council members looked at each other or down at the table without responding.

  Finally, Renard cleared his throat and said, “I don’t think it’s wise to turn the Consensus into a militaristic dictatorship. I’m telling you, if we can spread Kyndraism more effectively . . .” the rest of his sentence was drowned out by loud dissention from all members.

  “Stop!” Renard rose to his feet and leaned over the table to emphasize his authority. When they had quieted down, he continued “I know full-well how you feel about this.”

  “Kyndraists have been pushing your religion for five hundred years and look where it’s gotten us!” Esme said and the other representatives made sounds of agreement.

  “It’s time for a revival,” Renard replied, “but we need it to come from the top.”

  “Oh please,” Alexander said as he laughed, “we all know what you’re driving for: more money in the collection plate!”

  Renard shook his head and exhaled slowly.

  The door to the room opened without warning and Dr. Avelina Baksa walked into the room looking timid and nervous.

  “Come in, Doctor, come in,” Renard greeted her. “Your timing is impeccable.”

  “Thank you, Reverend Trueblood,” she said, dipping her head before she sat down.

  Renard smiled condescendingly and Alexander couldn't stand it anymore.

  “You have got to be kidding,” he said loudly, “you genuflect to him?”

  Avelina looked at him wide-eyed. She didn't say a word, but held his gaze without wavering. Alexander gave her credit for her bravery, there were few men who could hold his eyes like that. Involuntarily, his respect for her grew in that moment.

  She finally spoke, but did not lower her eyes. “Reverend Trueblood is a descendant of the Good Mother in her human form. He may not be a god himself, but he deserves respect as the son of a god.”

  Now it was Alexander's turn to be shocked. He didn’t know how deeply she believed in Kyndra. Either she's a real fanatic . . . or she's playing me. With that thought he regained his composure.

  “Dr. Baksa,” he began, “you are obviously an intelligent woman, probably the greatest mind currently alive in the Consensus. It is commonly believed that you rank near the top of all the great thinkers in recorded history.”

  “I hardly think that I . . .” she tried to rebut his statement, but he stopped her with a hand.

  “No, wait, don’t stop me; that's not the point I want to argue.” He paused to collect his thoughts for once rather than saying the first thing that came to mind. “How can someone as smart as you truly believe that Kyndra Dickson,” he paused in irritation as Avelina, Renard, and even Stacey made the ritual motion at the name, “how can you truly believe that she was more than just a woman? An extremely talented woman, but only a woman nonetheless.”

  “Mr. Pryke,” she began firmly, “you yourself have just stated that I have, arguably, one of the greatest minds of all time, although I would argue that with you in the future. But, for now, we’ll accept it.

  “I have studied history to a great extent. I have pored over manuscripts too numerous to count and some too old to date. I've read books, papers, and reports from every point of view and every angle imaginable.

  “Through all of this I've learned one thing above all others in my research. There was never a time in history where mankind worked in harmony as effectively or for anywhere near as long as the Consensus has survived. No other society in the history of the human race even comes within a small fraction of what we have accomplished.

  “That very fact, along with a preponderance of other evidence, leads me to the hypothesis that it was not established by a human being. And, since we have yet to see any evidence of alien life throughout our corner of the galaxy, the hypothesis is reasonably amended to include divine intervention.

  “Therefore, the short answer would be: yes, I believe Kyndra Dickson was a god in human form.” She finished by making the ritual motion, joined by all the others in the room, except, of course, Alexander.

  Once again, Alexander found himself speechless. He now understood the extent of her indoctrination and fanaticism. Truly she was a product of the Trueblood machine.

  He could not agree with her reasoning, but he could recognize when an argument was unwinnable. He graciously tipped his head to her and smiled warmly.

  “Please accept my apologies. Will it offend you if do not use Renard's title?”

  “As stated in The Chronicle, you are free to believe whatever you like, and I am not to try and force anything upon you.”

  Renard spoke up, “Very interesting, thank you, both of you. Now, Avelina, I believe you may have something of great interest for us?”

  “Oh yes, Reverend, I believe I do. With your permission?” she addressed all five participants at once with her gesture.

  They all nodded or replied positively, so she proceeded.

  “I know that you will remember my last presentation, although Mr. Pryke was not yet a Council member at that time; I trust you have been briefed on what is both my greatest accomplishment and at the same time,” her face drooped ever so slightly, “my greatest failure. Diamond-crystal Steel Alloy (Plasticized), or in layman’s terms: D-SAP.” She hurried on as if to avoid thinking about the failure. “The reason it was deemed a failure is because, in the words of the Council, there was no practical application for the material.

  “This evaluation was not entirely accurate. Granted, the material is extremely difficult to work with, and resists many efforts to shape it, but it does have many potential applications. My assignment was to find a useful application of the D-SAP alloy. That is why I am here today.

  “Before I answer your obvious question, a little background will certainly be useful. Besides my main D-SAP project, I also consult on many of the requests that come through the Council Research Division. From these requests, I made two very important discoveries. First, the Council is in need of new and effective weaponry due to the very real threat of revolt on many different planets.”

  The five members shifted uncomfortably and looked at each other; this information should not be general knowledge. Alexander smiled and stifled a laugh. Maybe I should hire her to run my intelligence group, he thought.

  “Don't worry,” the doctor continued, “your secret is safe with me. And this brings us to the second realization I made. Conventional weaponry would not satisfy your need. You need a quantum leap forward, something that, if I may use the vernacular, is a real game-changer.”

  Alexander perked up at the last statement, uncomfortable with how closely her words matched his earlier thoughts. The woman is uncanny, he thought, and invaluable. I need to get her away from CRD and working directly for me. His thoughts began swirling around how to accomplish that goal and he almost missed the next part of her presentation.

  “. . . single person can succeed where a larger force could not, especially in an urban environment. What
if you could send a single operative into a rebellious faction’s headquarters and take out the leader, all his followers, and their entire weapons cache?”

  Avelina called up a three-dimensional picture from the tabletop and used it to demonstrate and clarify her next statements.

  “We at the CRD Lab have found a way to use D-SAP to enhance the natural abilities of a human being. We’ve found a way to produce microscopic plates of the material that can be interlocked and controlled using different electrical states.”

  The picture showed an enlargement of a hexagonal D-SAP plate. Six more copies of the plate appeared around the first, showing how all the edges interlocked to form a larger, more flexible structure.

  “As you can see from the demonstration, this configuration yields a flexible sheet of D-SAP.”

  The picture zoomed out, adding more and more pieces until the individual parts could no longer be discerned.

  “This sheet can then be applied to a human being to cover the entire surface of their skin in D-SAP armor like tiny reptilian scales.”

  The picture now showed a man-shaped image covered by the D-SAP scales.

  “This covering is as flexible as their real skin, but is also nearly impervious. In addition, the D-SAP can be manipulated with various micro-electrical states allowing the user to vary its ratio of solidity and flexibility.”

  The Council members began talking all at once, drowning out the doctor’s next few sentences. She paused for a few moments to allow them to gain their composure.

  “I will answer all of your questions after I’m done, but for right now there’s still more.”

  The picture began to show visuals that matched her description as she continued.

  “D-SAP nanotubes are also implanted throughout the patient’s bone structure to shore up the skeleton, so the body can withstand the weight of the armor and the impacts that may come during combat.”

  The picture zoomed out again to show the man shape and animated changes in time with her presentation.

  “Weapons of many kinds can also be implanted in the individual, both conventional ordinance and energy-based. Finally, we implant a small power plant to provide the electricity for controlling the D-SAP armor and to power the weapons and communications.”