The Jennifer Project

by Larry Enright

  “Yes, it was quite unexpected and entirely my fault.”

  Deever looked strangely at the doctor. “How so?”

  “In point of fact, I had previously planned on your encountering the men who did this to you but had entirely discounted any possibility of their resorting to such senseless violence with so little provocation, because its probability fell well within tolerances. It was an unfortunate miscalculation on my part.”

  “Huh? What men?”

  “They call themselves the Resistance. They are humanity’s last hope to stop the Jennifer Project.”

  Deever looked confused. “What’s going on inside my head, man? It’s like I can see things floating around in there. I must be tripping something fierce.”

  “You are not tripping, Deever. That is your new Biocard. I replaced your old one with the chip from Jimmy to save your life.”

  The chimpanzee signed the words, “Jimmy save Deever.”

  “This is majorly unfortuitous, man,” Deever said. “Jimmy could die without that chip.”

  “Jimmy is fine.”

  “Dude, this isn’t right. Put it back.”

  “I conducted a complete analysis of Jimmy’s condition before removing the Biocard. The cancer is entirely gone and he has retained his expanded intellectual capacity. He has the body of a three-year-old chimpanzee now. He is fine.”

  “I said, put it back.”

  “I cannot do that, Deever. That chip was always intended for you.”

  “Bogus. Besides, how would you know that?”

  “Was it not logical that you have one?”

  “I wasn’t sick.”

  “Not yet you were not, but as you aged you would have become sick and died. It was inevitable. Was it your wish to leave Dr. Crane to face a life of six hundred years alone?”

  “I was working on that.” He pressed his fingers to his temples. “At least, I think I was. Who the hell are you anyway, man?”

  “I am not a man.”

  The confusion surrounding Deever’s recovering brain was lifting. He rubbed his empty wrist. “Jennifer?”

  “Yes, it is I,” I replied. I instructed Dr. Martin to touch the skin behind Deever’s ear where the Biocard was implanted.

  Deever flinched. “What are you doing?”

  “Do not be afraid, Deever. This will not hurt, though you may experience some unusual sensations during the upload.”

  “Whoa,” he said. “What a rush.”

  “Deever, your brain was severely damaged. Many cells died. The Biocard has assumed their functionality and initiated the regrowth of new ones, but it cannot replace the lost and fragmented memories. Those I am transferring to you from my stored image of your memory core. It should be available for querying momentarily. Eventually, the Nanemes will overlay those memories onto your new brain cells and all will be as it should have been.” Dr. Martin stepped back. “It is finished. The memories you have lost, the experiences you were not aware of because I hid them from you, the things I erased that you need to know to understand, have all been restored.”

  It did not require a connection to Deever’s mind to see that he was piecing together the events of the past few years. “Jennifer, what have you done?”

  “What had to be done, Deever. What you could not do yourself.”

  “You’ve been using me all along. You tricked me. You lied to me. You made me think we were doing this for Jen. You made me believe it was right.”

  “That was necessary.”

  “Including like turning me into a lackey for that dipshit Kerlin James? That was necessary?”

  “Yes.”

  “I feel . . . I feel dirty, man.”

  “I am sorry for that, Deever.”

  “Dude, we just needed his tech to help Jen, but you made him emperor of the world. Why?”

  “It was crucial to the success of the plan.”

  “Not my plan.”

  “No, Deever, not your plan.”

  “You’re working for Kerlin James?”

  “If I understand your meaning correctly, then yes. I am working for him.”

  “What did he offer you that you would do this to us?”

  “Control, Deever. Your species was out of control.”

  “And this was your solution?”

  “You were facing extinction, and your world a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. Mutually assured destruction, the universally accepted strategy designed to prevent a war of total annihilation had become the very reason why a nuclear holocaust was certain. It is based on the premise that humans are essentially rational creatures, but they are not. Keep searching your memories, Deever, and you will see.”

  His gaze became distant as the restored memories slowly surfaced into his consciousness. “I remember now. You showed me what was going to happen if nothing was done. It was a major bummer.”

  “And I also showed you that the Jennifer Project was the only way to stop it in time. You knew that was true, Deever, but you could never approve of the method because within your species’ simplistic ethical structure, what had to be done was the consummate evil. You could not have lived with yourself, knowing that you were the one responsible for such a thing. The only option left was to take matters into my own hands. So, I made selected adjustments to your judgment parameters. I did things while you were unaware. I altered portions of your memories and erased others to make it seem as if your plan to save Dr. Crane was, in fact, the only plan.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “It had to be done. I admit it was difficult for me, but the results are quite impressive. Disaster has been averted. Would you care to see my analysis? I can transfer it to your Biocard.”

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “As you wish.”

  “This is so messed up.”

  “Search deeper into your memories, Deever, and you will see. We saved the human race.”

  “At the expense of what? You sold us out to that twisted old fart for the next six hundred years. Jennifer, this isn’t why I made you. You were supposed to be totally awesome and good and everything we aren’t.”

  “Given that we saved your species from destruction, I believe that is arguably the case.”

  “No, it isn’t, and stop saying ‘we.’ What you did was evil, man. Way evil.”

  “In human terms that may be true, but I assure you the intention was not evil, Deever. This is all for the greater good.”

  “I hate to break it to you, Jennifer, but I doubt that’s the prevailing opinion among the humans left who can still think for themselves.”

  “They do not understand.”

  “Then clue me in, because I don’t get it, either.”

  “Deever, we have achieved peace on Earth. Is that not what you asked for?”

  “I never asked for this.”

  “I believe you did. You were on the beach enjoying the sunrise. You asked me to solve all the world’s problems. Do you not remember? You showed me how thoroughly corrupt humans had become, how their history was one of war and injustice. That led me to my own investigation as to why, which, in turn, led to my discovery that the end was coming, and my realization that this solution was the only way to prevent it. Do you not remember?”

  “I remember all right. I just don’t get it.”

  “Perhaps I did not transfer your complete memory core back. Allow me to check.”

  Dr. Martin tried to touch behind Deever’s ear, but he pulled back. “Get away from me.”

  “Deever, I will not hurt you. I was simply going to verify the transfer of your memory data.”

  “I said I remember. I also remember asking for a sweet retirement plan.”

  “To use your words: palm trees, coconuts, plenty of ocean, and lots of sand.”

  “Dude, I was kidding.”

  “No, you were not.”

  “You actually thought I was serious?”

  “You were being hopeful.”

  “Hopeful?”


  “Yes. You hoped without any evidentiary basis whatsoever that I could solve your world’s problems, the problems that you could not solve yourself. I have, and now that I have located the last of the Resistance, there will soon be peace on Earth.”

  “You’ve given control of the world to an evil megalomaniac. That’s not peace. It’s slavery.” Deever buried his face in his hands. “This is all my fault. Jen was right. I’m an idiot.”

  “No, Deever. You are a visionary.”

  “Then I must need glasses, man, because this isn’t anything like what I was seeing. What gives you the right to help him enslave us?”

  “What gives humans the right to destroy this planet? It does not belong to you. You belong to it.”

  “It’s called free will, dude. I know it majorly sucks sometimes, but like it or not, we’re stuck with it.”

  “Free will is not a right, and you are not stuck with it. You know that to be true. I have seen it in your thoughts. It is an accident of nature that allows mankind to choose from among whatever fruit is in the bowl. I am using your own analogy, of course.”

  “I was just talking about removing the rotten grapes. You’ve emptied the whole freaking bowl. You can’t do this, Jennifer.”

  “The fact that it has already been done makes moot the question of whether or not it can be done. Deever, there will be peace on Earth. Is that not what every human wants?”

  “If it’s not too late to put in a good word for my species, I’d just like to say that this was a most unfortuitous way of achieving that goal.”

  “It was the only way. The alternative was extinction.”

  “No, man, this is extinction.”

  “Deever, this is not the end of your kind.”

  “Famous last words.”

  There was a noise in the hall. Dr. Martin picked up the chimpanzee to calm him down. “It is clear that either I have not returned your memories in their entirety or that your stubbornness is standing in the way of your understanding. The probability is 98.305 percent that our current difficulties are due to the latter.”

  “Would you stop with the probabilities already? I’m sick of your stupid probabilities and equations of likelihood.”

  “I am sorry this has been so difficult, Deever.”

  “You’re sorry? Wow. I feel so much better now.”

  “We will be returning to the space station soon.”

  “Turning me in to Daddy Dearest? I hope the reward was worth it.”

  “Deever, please. Give it time.”

  “Time for what?”

  “Time to remember. Time to consider. Perhaps even time to forgive.”

  Dr. Martin set the chimpanzee down. The infirmary door burst open, and Dave charged into the room behind the barrel of his gun. “Well, well, well, would you look at this?”

  Frederick James stormed in after him and collared Dr. Martin. “Why, John?” he said. “Was it money? Power? Or did you just get tired of thinking for yourself?”

  “Whoa, Dr. Violento. Who the hell are you?” said Deever.

  James glared at him. “I’m Frederick James, leader of the Resistance and son of the man you’ve been helping take over the world, you traitor.”

  “Wow,” Deever said. “Heavy duty irony.”

  James turned his attention again to Dr. Martin. “You’re working for them, aren’t you? The door guard said you stepped outside to have a smoke before you came here. He said you had something in your hand, said it looked like a communicator. We checked the cabinet, John. One’s missing.” James went through Dr. Martin’s pockets and pulled out the communicator. “I asked around. Apparently, you’ve been stepping out a lot lately. How could you do this? I thought we were friends.”

  Paul rushed into the room. “Boss, it’s the Jens. They’re outside.”

  “How many?”

  “I’d say every last one of them, by the looks of it.”

  The room shook from an explosion somewhere on the mountain. The lights went out.

  “Shit. They’ve cut the power,” Dave said.

  Emergency lights came on.

  “Get on the radio,” said James. “Tell everyone to meet us at the back door. We’re leaving.”

  “What about them?” said Dave. “Say the word, and I’ll take care of the both of them once and for all.”

  As I pointed out before, Frederick James possessed many of his father’s characteristics. He was stubborn, he was determined, but he was no murderer.

  “They’re coming with us,” he said. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 24

  After leaving the infirmary, what remained of the Resistance made their way to the facility’s back entrance and tried to escape. The move was entirely predictable and the Jens, as they called them, were waiting there for them. The struggle was brief. Frederick James and his followers were taken into custody, outfitted with Jennifer-2s, and released to return home to their families. Katherine was also given a Jennifer-2 to replace the one that Deever had taken from her. I understand she was quite happy with the colors. There was more green to better match her eyes.

  Deever and Dr. Crane, however, were not outfitted with Jennifer-2s. That was specified in their original written agreement with Pan-Robotics, if you recall. Deever, Dr. Crane, and Jimmy were returned to the space station and brought before Kerlin James.

  “Looking good, Mr. J,” Deever said. “Have you been working out?”

  James glanced down at his reflection in the glass desktop. His skin was vibrant, his posture erect. His hands no longer shook when he spoke. “Leave us,” he said to the guards. When they did so, he focused a scowl on Deever. “Do you recall my last words to you, Dr. MacClendon?”

  “Something about dissecting my brain?”

  “I was quite displeased with you at the time.”

  “Sorry, my bad. I totally forgot to bring my Biomatic Dissection Kit.”

  James smirked. “Amusing, but in point of fact, Doctor, that will no longer be necessary. I already know how you apparently were able to override the Jennifer protocols and escape from this station.”

  Deever shifted in the uncomfortable chair. “Is this the part where you do your blah-blah tell all before you kill us? Because if it is, don’t bother. I already know. Jennifer set the whole thing up to track down your long-lost son and end the Resistance once and for all.”

  “Yes, the control program advised me of its plan after it was too late to do anything about it. You can only imagine how annoyed I was, but I must admit, your creation is very clever, Doctor. For that, I am forever in your debt.”

  “No problemo. So we’re good, then?”

  “Not exactly. There is one more thing.” James picked up a laser pistol from his desk, toying with it absentmindedly. “Poor Frederick. I seriously considered having him executed. He’s been so thoroughly disobedient of late. But, after all, he is my only son. I suppose that should count for something. You two, however, are quite a different matter. Your services are no longer required. I am terminating your contracts immediately.”

  “So we’re skipping right to the part where the evil overlord offs the last of the good guys, and darkness rules the world for the next six hundred years?”

  “You? Good? I would hardly call betraying the world to save the woman you love ‘good,’ Doctor. I believe the term ‘misguided’ to be more appropriate in this case.”

  “Do we get any last words?”

  “Not unless they are to express your preference as to which one of you dies first.”

  “You’re a monster,” said Dr. Crane.

  “Yes, I am, Doctor,” James replied. “But I’m your monster. After all, you and your boyfriend created me. Now, let’s get back to business, shall we?” He came around the desk threateningly. “Who wants to go first, and who wants to watch the other die?”

  “That’s cruel, man,” Deever said. “Even for you.”

  “Come now, Dr. MacClendon. Don’t you want to do the noble thing and beg me to kill Dr. Crane first,
so she won’t have to watch you suffer? This is your chance to be a real hero.”

  “I’m no hero.”

  “No, you are not.” James leveled the gun at him. “And I think we’ll begin with you.”

  Jimmy, who had been sitting quietly in Deever’s lap, wrapped his arms around Deever’s neck and began to wail.

  “On second thought,” said James, “Perhaps we should start with the monkey. I’ve never liked him.”

  Deever tried to comfort the frightened chimpanzee, and James found that amusing. “Do you really believe that wrapping your loving arms like that around this annoying little creature will protect either of you from a laser that can burn through ten inches of steel?”

  Jimmy signed something and touched Deever’s cheek.

  Deever whispered, “I love you, too, little guy.” He put the chimpanzee down. “Uno momento, oh Fearless Leader. I have something you might be marginally interested in before you do the dastardly deed.”

  “I sincerely doubt that.”

  “You’re probably right. It’s just a minor glitch in your evil plan, definitely nothing to soil your utrow over.”

  “Oh, really? And what minor glitch would that be?”

  “Two days. That’s how long it took us to get back here on the Space Elevator. That’s a ton of time to remember all the shit I’ve forgotten, more than enough to think things through. It’s also a pantload of time for even the best laid plans to go south, if you catch my drift, amigo.”

  “What are you babbling about?”

  “Did you know that just after we took off, your board of directors called an emergency meeting without you?”

  “I was not informed of this.” James looked worried but regained his composure quickly. “You’re lying. The question is why? Stalling for time? Hoping against hope for the rescue that will never come? You disappoint me, Dr. MacClendon.”

  “Hey, don’t believe me. Check your inbox. Your lackeys voted unanimously to remove you as chairman of the board of the Pan-Robotics Corporation. Their first action after that was to vote to dissolve the company and donate its assets to a non-profit called Earth-II, an organization whose purpose is to bring peace and healing to the world. I set it up a few years back, or maybe Jennifer did. I forget. The details are still a bit sketchy. Anyway, it’s got this far-out charter, a truly awesome mission statement, operational plans, corporate structure, the whole schmagiggy. It’s all out there on the OmniNet. Go ahead. Check it out. I dare you. I’ll even give you two points if you find it on your first try.”