Epocalypse: Inception.

by G. Adler

  “Then who gave the order to experiment with DANE?”

  “I did.”

  McKelvy’s eyes sparkle with malice and a feral grin spreads across his face.

  “You overstepped your authority, General! Mr. President, Matthews should be removed from the project, and we should be given access to this machine! With DANE’s help, we could eliminate Boko Haram and ISIS overnight! Think of the American lives we would save!”

  I slam my fist into the table in front of me, drawing a few looks from the people enjoying their coffees.

  “DANE is still not ready for that type of application! The results could be disastrous! That’s why I have placed him in hibernation for the time being. DANE is not unlike the human brain. It can gather trillions of bytes of information per second and draw conclusions based on what it gathers. However, the human brain only shows this level of computing power in certain sections at certain times, such as when performing a specific task. DANE can maintain speeds at least a billion times faster than that and it can do so with an unlimited number of tasks, all at the same time. DANE does not just gather, learn and evaluate; it reasons, considers, weighs and debates, but it can do so without the hindrances of emotion, motivation and beliefs. Once DANE is fully activated, we will have little control over its actions. For that reason alone, we have to conduct more tests before we allow it access to military operations.”

  McKelvy snuffs his nose and makes a scoffing sound. “Just a moment, General. Are you trying to suggest to me that this thing is, for all intents and purposes, alive?”

  “Commandant, this ‘thing,’ as you put it, uses what it has for completely unselfish reasons. It doesn’t want, need, covet, desire, get jealous, feel conceited, pompous or envious. It uses the full measure of its intelligence for the betterment of mankind. At times, DANE seems more alive to me than some of the people in this conversation, some of whom are rumored to have used their positions of power for, shall we say, more personal agendas?”

  McKelvy is swearing under his breath. I guess his near indictment for misappropriation of funds hit a little too close to home. Why is it that those charged with corruption also seem to be the most excitable and over-reactive people? The two ideas seem to be counter-productive to me. I realize that I have McKelvy on the ropes and decide to use the opportunity.

  “Mr. President, now is not the time for a ‘Hail Mary.’ The public is still unaware of the data streams that have been absorbed and have no clue how the arrests and rescues were organized. Any action that we take will ultimately get leaked to the media, at which point we will have much larger problems on our hands.”

  A series of dissenting voices sound in my head. Some of them want DANE turned over for their use while others are demanding that the project be shut down — permanently. McKelvy regains his composure and shakes his head while pointing his index finger right at me.

  “This is not your call to make, General. We are at war on multiple fronts, whether you want to believe in those causes or not. Those are MY men fighting out there and they deserve the best! You wouldn’t build a shed using an axe just because you are afraid of the table saw, would you? Where would we be right now if Truman hadn’t used the best weapons in his arsenal?”

  I roll my eyes and say the first thing that comes to mind.

  “I don’t know, Commandant McKelvy. Probably on a slightly more populated planet that isn’t full of poisonous radioactivity. We might not even find ourselves on the brink of total global annihilation every other Thursday. Does that sound about right? Are you sure this has to do with national security or are you concerned that someone found yet another picture of you with yet another Marine intern?”

  A loud slam sounds in my ear along with McKelvy apologizing to a few people while offering to buy them a new pitcher.

  “Commandant McKelvy, I thought you were in a coffee shop?”

  “Up yours, Matthews. Why are we doing this anyway?”

  “Because, Commandant, it is my hope that this method of communication might prevent DANE from eavesdropping into our conversation. The randomness of our locations provided with the encryption software should keep us safe…unlike some braches of the military that yield sketchy results.”

  McKelvy cracks his knuckles and purses his lips.

  “You don’t sound very confident, General. Or are you more concerned that your newest creation is going to put you out of a job?!”

  The President claps his hands together and draws all of our attentions.

  “Again? Really? Enough of this, both of you! General Matthews, the decision of what to do here ultimately falls to me. I’d like to hear your recommendation, taking into account all positions and possibilities.”

  “Mr. President, I feel that we should stay the course and allow me to finish my analyses. A few more months of testing and DANE might be ready for…”

  A series of shouts once again sound in my ears with McKelvy’s coming in the loudest. The President shakes his head and sighs deeply.

  “That isn’t going to cut it this time, General. You did not expect this outcome, which means that DANE is not entirely in your control. In the very least, it highlighted a number of serious security holes in our systems. I want DANE left in hibernation while you focus on shoring up our firewalls. That will give me more time to think about how I want to use it…if at all.”

  “B..b..but Sir…”

  I can hear McKelvy snickering in my head. My hands tighten around the table I am sitting at to the point where my fingernails go white.

  “I’m sorry General, but my mind is made up. You are to keep DANE in its current state until further notice. Please liaise with the other departments tomorrow morning and coordinate the computer upgrades. I expect weekly updates as to your progress. Once you are done and I am satisfied that our systems are secure, we can discuss resumption of your program. Have I made myself clear, General?”

  “Yes, Sir.” I say as I grit my teeth. I grip the arms of my glasses, ready to throw them against the wall the moment the conversation is over.

  “Very well. Then goodnight to everyone and let’s hope that nobody learns about the slumbering giant under our very soil.”

  I am about to say goodnight when my cell phone rings. I look down and see that it is coming from my house. I answer it immediately with gritted teeth.

  “Private Lim, I gave you strict instructions not to bother me unless…”

  I listen to the Private’s anxious words and feel the color drain from my face. I hang up the phone and realize that the President is still online with me. He looks at me nervously and grimaces.

  “General, is there a problem? Is DANE active once again?”

  “No, Sir. That was Private Lim from my base. I don’t mean to involve you in my personal affairs, Sir, but apparently my daughter has run away and is nowhere to be found.”

  The President frowns and his face becomes drawn as his eyes narrow.

  “I feel your pain, General. Nobody should have to go through this situation alone. I will check in with you later. I hope she is found, safe and sound.”

  “As do I, Sir. I don’t know how I could go on if she isn’t.”

  Chapter 8 -General Matthews

  I race from the coffee shop with my phone in hand. I try dialing Abby’s number but am sent to voicemail immediately. Beads of sweat form on my forehead and I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. I jump into my car, start the engine, and floor the accelerator. My hands start to shake as I place the siren on the roof and speed back to my base. I dial Hayden’s phone and am greeted by his usual sarcasm.

  “You have reached the imprisoned and repressed teenager’s hotline. Please press one for unlawful confinement. Press two for cruel and unusual punishment…”

  I squeeze my phone more tightly and grit my teeth.

  “How do I go directly to infanticide?”

  �
��I am sorry. We did not receive your input. Please press one for…”

  “HAYDEN!”

  “Fine, fine. What do you want?”

  “Do you have any idea where your sister is? I’ve tried Abby on her phone and it goes straight to voicemail.”

  “Hmmm. Abby Matthews you say eh? The name rings a bell. You know, my memory might be improved if I wasn’t being guarded by three MPs. Now I know how El Chapo must have felt! What was that name again? My brain goes a bit loopy when I am being incarcerated.”

  I take three deep breaths before replying. “Hayden, I am being as calm as I can be. Please don’t test my patience, not this time. Private Lim called me a few moments ago and told me that Abby ran away. How would he know that? Where did she go? What the hell is going on?”

  “How should I know? One second I am editing video from some of your automatons on their last shore leave and the next second all house breaks loose!”

  “Don’t you mean all hell breaks loose?”

  “In this house, the terms are synonymous.”

  I feel the throbbing sensation in my forehead increase until it reaches volcano levels. My teeth gnash together and all I can do is seethe out the words.

  “Buddy, I will show you the meaning of ‘living hell’ when I get back there if you don’t start giving me some straight answers!”

  “Is that a threat or a challenge? Either way I’m totally up for it. Anyway, as I was saying, I was going through some of the footage for my site when a blood-piercing scream came from down the hall. At first I thought we were being invaded by banshees, but even they know better than to fuck with your daughter. I immediately opened my door to see what happened when Private Lim rushed away to check it out. The other two green army men just looked at one another and let their mechanical hands drift towards their pistols. Then I heard a series of huge thuds followed by breaking glass.”

  My throat goes dry and the world starts to spin. I narrowly avoid two parked cars and have to crank the wheel to correct my course.

  “Was it a break in, Hayden? Did the MPs catch the culprit?”

  “No, more like a breakout. Abby was in full-on rage mode. It was kind of impressive, actually. I’m glad I had a camera ready to go. I slid it outside of my door and caught most of it on tape. You should be proud!”

  “HAYDEN!”

  “Yes Corporal Control?”

  All I can do is sigh and count to ten before trying to speak again.

  “What happened next?”

  “Here. Why don’t I make it easier on both of us? I can play back the highlights for you.”

  I hear him fumbling in the background for a moment before Abby’s voice sounds loud and clear over the Bluetooth speaker in my car.

  “I can’t take this anymore! My entire life is dictated by the stupid antics of my hyper-pubescent brother! This is no way to live! I am twelve and a half already! I need to start putting down roots and cementing my social circle! Now I am going to have to try to crack the top clique at the start of a new year! That is practically mission impossible! Hey, do any of you military lunkheads happen to have the number for the IMF? They are my only hope for any sort of popularity next year! I had finally MADE it in my old school and now I am reduced to nothing!”

  A shattering sound echoes over the speaker and I can’t help but cringe. Hayden’s voice interrupts the playback.

  “FYI that was one of her snow globes being pitched across the hallway. I think it was a split-fingered fastball. I wish I had a radar gun. That toss would have given Aroldis Chapman a run for his money!”

  “Who?”

  “A speed-baller from the Cincinnati Reds. Dude threw a 103.8 a couple of seasons ago! Man, you really don’t know anything unless it comes out of a hard drive, do you? Anyway I’ll continue the playback.”

  “I’m tired of squeaky-wheel Hayden getting all the grease! As far as I’m concerned, General Grouchy and Private Prank totally deserve one another. I’m tired of being caught in the crossfire of their constant pissing contests! If they want to measure whose penis is largest, they can do so in an all male household! I AM OUT OF HERE!”

  My car reaches the base and I crash through the wooden gate before it can be lifted. I swing into a spot in front of my house and burst through the front door. I rush to Hayden’s room panting. The three MPs stand rooted to the spot, saluting like statues. I watch their eyes dart back and forth and they both swallow hard. I gasp for air as I hold onto Hayden’s door frame for support.

  “W…w…was she carrying anything? D…d…did she actually pack? W…w…what direction was she heading in?”

  Hayden nonchalantly turns to me and holds his latest cell phone against his ear. A serious smirk forms across his face and he flutters his eyelashes.

  “I’m sorry, General, but I am on a very important call with my father. You are going to have to wait a moment if you want to have a conversat…”

  I grab the phone out of his hand and send it flying across the room. It splinters into a maelstrom of glass and plastic.

  Hayden nods appreciatively.

  “That looked more like a curveball to me, but impressive nonetheless. That makes what…two phones in less than a week? No wonder Apple stock is through the roof. I’m so glad to see that your patriotic side is in full swing. We need to continue to support our economy and that of China. Some eight-year-old probably made a good buck and a half thanks to you. That should buy him what…about half of a meal if he’s lucky!”

  I wipe the sweat off my forehead and slam Hayden’s door. The frame splinters and his voice sounds faintly from behind it.

  “Great talk, General. You certainly know how to punctuate a conversation! You are a model of self-control!”

  My face feels hot and my hands curl into tight fists.

  “I’ll show you the meaning of out-of-control you self-centered, egotistical little shit!”

  I reach for the door handle just as the house phone starts to ring. I rush over to the coffee table and almost drop the cordless due to the constant tremors in my hands.

  “H…h…hello?”

  “Dad, before you say anything…”

  A wave of relief washes over me and I flop down into the sofa, only managing shallow breaths. “Y…y…young lady you are in BIG trouble! Where are you? Where are you going? What are you doing? So help me if you don’t come back here this instant I’ll…”

  A piercing scream interrupts me mid-sentence. “You’ll WHAT? Why are threats your answer to everything? I’m not one of your brain-dead soldiers. I’m a GIRL…do you know what those are? There are a few of them on our base. They are the ones with the luscious bumps on the top half of their bodies. You might have noticed…or in your case, probably not.”

  I sit up straight and grip the phone tightly.

  “How DARE you, Abby! I am not just a very high-ranking officer, I am also your father, God damn it! I have no time for these shananig…”

  “Oh but you have time for Hayden’s bullshit? FIGURES! Grampa was right! You two are carbon copies of one another. Well…not me! If mom was here, she would understand completely. Sometimes I think she did herself a favor by not being here to see what a tool you have become! You may be General Glorious to all of your uniformed cronies but none of that impresses me! You are nothing more than a pawn in Hayden’s quest to know anything about everything; we all are. Well I am SICK OF IT! He’s ruined my life too many times already and I’ve realized that the only way to win is to stop playing! I am Abby Matthews, daughter of the beautiful and intelligent Claire Matthews. I will not be one of Hayden’s sideshow freaks anymore! His latest stunt has cost me all of my friends. Do you have any idea how tough it is to make connections at a new school in eighth grade? No, of course you don’t. You went to some preppy military school where the Matthews name was already well established. You were a hero before you ever stepped thro
ugh the front door!”

  I rub my hands through my hair and sigh. I take a deep breath and decide to switch to Plan B. I make sure to keep my voice low and leveled.

  “Sweetheart…”

  “DON’T YOU DARE TRY TO SHMOOZE ME! What could you possibly say to me to make all of this better?”

  “You’re right.”

  “I…I’m what?”

  “You are one hundred percent correct. I am so sorry for everything you have had to go through, especially since very little of it has been your fault. I am doing the best I can with what I know and all I want to do is keep you and your brother safe. Lord knows that he doesn’t make it easy… on either of us. I’m sorry you have to change schools but I need you close to one another for reasons that you couldn’t even begin to understand and I don’t really want to tell you. I promise you that I will find a way to make this up to you — maybe not today or tomorrow but someday.”

  I hear a few deep breaths followed by sniffling. I know what this means and make sure to add a hint of emotion to my voice.

  “I know how upset you must be, but running away isn’t the answer. Where are you? I’ll come and pick you up and we can talk about it.”

  Loud sobs echo through the phone to the point where I can feel the wetness against my ear. “Where are you, Abby?”

  “I…I…I’m just passing the corner of…wait just a second, Daddy.”

  I hear Abby’s phone clatter to the pavement. I then listen intently as she has a conversation with someone in front of her.

  “You know guys, I don’t know how this works in your country, but this is America. We tend to, you know, APOLOGIZE when we bump into people in the middle of the sidewalk. Hey, what are you doing? Don’t come any closer! Get your grubby paws off of me…what the fu…”

  Abby’s next words are cut off as another voice joins the conversation. I hear her struggling in the background but the tone is muffled, as if someone has put something over her mouth. A cold chill runs down my spine as the person speaks into her phone with a thick Asian accent.