by R E Kearney
ENDLESS FIRE
Aethon Arises
By
R E Kearney
Also by R E Kearney
Future Furies
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
This book is the intellectual property of the author and as such cannot be reproduced in whole or in part in any medium without the express written permission of the author.
Copyright © 2017 R E Kearney
To Barb, my loving wife, best friend and the Editor in Chief.
Without her encouragement and assistance I could not
and would not have written this story.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks and my sincere appreciation to Tim Flanagan and his associates at Novel Design Studio www.noveldesignstudio.com for their cover design, social media production and all of their other assistance coordinating the publication of this book.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
EL PRESIDENTE
ALERT AND NERVOUS
POOR RICH PORT
SAY QUANXI
GETTING THE BUSINESS
COFFEE RUN
PINA COLADAS
RITA’S RUMORS
STAMINA VITAE
SEEKING QI
DEAD AND DYING
AETHON ARISES
FAITH HEALER HANDS
DEAD LIFE
CAT SCRATCH FEVER
GENOME GENERATION
MEDICINE IS MONEY
FORSAKEN – FORGOTTEN
SICK SIGNS
DOUBLE TROUBLE
PICK YOUR POISON
SHENGWU VOWS
VOLEUR VISIT
NEGENTROPY
PATH TO PONCE
SECURITY PATROL
SEEKING DEATH FRUIT
HARVESTING DEATH FRUIT
SAP SLAP
CLEAN GREEN
CHICKEN FEVER
PROMISE PETER
MEDICINE CRAZE
WARNING WORDS
TUNNEL VISION
CURE CHASE
PETER PRINCIPLE
RELIGIOUS INSPIRATION
NIGHT MOVES
BAHIA BOUND
BRAIN STRAIN
About the Author
“Everyone is different. We all suffer from the disease of being human. There are a thousand cures but no antidotes.”
James Altucher
EL PRESIDENTE
Puerto Rico! Independencia! Independence! Liberacion! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico! Cheering crowds shouting, musicians playing and horns squawking rattle Robert’s windows yanking him from his dreams and tossing him onto the floor. Rubbing his aching head, he wanders to his room’s window. Below his Condado district hotel room, Independence Day celebrants fill San Juan’s Avenida Ashford for as far as Robert can see.
Heading the parade is the independent nation of Puerto Rico’s first President, its former Governor Justo Negocio. Tall and muscular with graying black hair, he is striding ahead of a wall of laser-light banners, Puerto Rican flags with dark-blue, freedom fields and placards carried by a river of his shouting and dancing supporters. Negocio is their champion leading them forward now just as he led them to independence one year ago.
Before these joyous Puerto Ricans fly drones broadcasting their celebration worldwide. Above and behind Negocio, flies a squadron of aerodrones also hauling banners. Robots roll along intermingled in the crowd. Some celebrants parade riding hoverboards or hoverscooters or electric unicycles, but the majority march on foot.
Robert notices that all of the banners and placards are acclaiming Puerto Rico’s first year of independence from the United States except for two. Scrawled upon one of the differing banners is Close Fort Buchannan. Its sister banner demands, US Army Go Home. As the protestors surge closer, he notices a limping, partially uniformed man is carrying one of the anti-Army signs with his prosthetic hand. Next to him a woman carries the other anti-Army sign with her prosthetic hand and arm.
“What are you watching? Why don’t you come back to bed?” Asks a young, dusty-skinned, black haired woman lounging naked in the bed.
“I’m watching your President Negocio. I have a meeting with him later today about establishing some special security system for him.”
“Good. I’m glad. He needs more protection. Somebody lased at him last week. He’s stirred up a lot of trouble. In America, not everybody is happy about his declaring Puerto Rico an independent nation. They’re calling him a revolutionary and traitor. I think that’s why they sent some more soldiers and other people to that old Army fort.”
“Fort Buchannan?”
“Yeah, that’s it.” The woman pats the side of the bed, “But, let’s not talk about that. Why don’t you bring your boney body back to bed?”
“Well, ok then.” Smiling happily, Robert returns to the bed. “I don’t meet with him until this afternoon”
“Wait. What is this? I didn’t notice this last night in the dark.” The woman probes, as she gently traces her finger tips across a scar on the right side of Robert’s chest. “It looks and feels like the letters M-K.”
“Yeah. You’re correct. The letters M-K. The initials of Mugavus Komfort. She 3D bioprinted the biocompatible nanomaterials for the tissue to repair my bullet wound. She thought she should sign her work. Very funny, eh? She thought she was funny. Anyway, it’s a souvenir of my visit to Ethiopia where a very crazy American who desperately wanted to kill me, missed my heart and only wounded me.”
“Why did he want to kill a sweet fellow like you?” She continues circling the MK with her finger.
“Well, as I remember, he just did not appreciate me trying to stop him from destroying the Washington D.C. Mall, and inadvertently, collapsing his uncle’s government.”
She stops tracing his wound and locks her eyes on his. “Wait a second. Now, everybody knows about the slaughter at the capital, but I don’t remember any stories involving you. What I heard was that a massive military computer failure caused the weapons to malfunction and that’s why it’s been hushed up. Los muertos no cuentan cuentos, you know.”
Robert chuckles while rubbing his shoulder. “Well computers were involved, but it was a man who went crazy and…”
“Robert Goodfellow, are you in there?” A slightly Spanish accented man’s voice calls from the hall followed by someone knocking. “Mister Goodfellow, I need to speak with you, immediately.”
After struggling into his trousers, Robert hurriedly opens the door.
“Good morning, I’m Justo Negocio.” He announces as he strides into the room passing Robert, “How are you this morning?”
“Well I…”
Spying the woman in the bed, Negocio nods toward her and then smiles at Robert, “Oh, I see that you are doing quite well this morning. Muy bueno de verdad. Really good.”
“Good morning Rita,” he steps toward the woman with his hand extended and a broad smile on his face. “How are you this morning? Did you keep our friend safe and out of trouble last night?”
“Yes, he was never in danger. I made sure that he was out of Club Kronos early and safely in bed.”
Grabbing Negocio’s hand, Robert snatches his attention away from Rita and back to him, “Sorry sir, I wasn’t expecting you. I didn’t think we were scheduled to meet until this afternoon.”
Two quick shakes and Negocio drops Robert’s hand, “That was your schedule, not mine. Plans change Mister Goodfellow. Plans change. I need fo
r you to start now. Throw on your clothes and let’s go.”
“But, I…”
“But, what? Do you want this gig or not?”
“Well yes, I…”
“Bueno. Meet you down in the lobby in ten minutes, then. Say your goodbyes, quick and let’s go.” Waving his hand at Rita, he backs toward the door, “Pleasure seeing you. Good work Rita.”
After Negocio is gone Robert angrily reproaches Rita. “So, you’re a prostitute he hired for me?”
“No! I most certainly am not!” Rita retorts indignantly. “I am a patriotic citizen of the independent nation of Puerto Rico. I was instructed to protect you, and that’s exactly what I did.”
“Now wait…” Rita’s statement startles Robert. “…why do I need protection?”
“You don’t realize how precarious it is here right now, Robert. If you think all of those aerodrones and robots surrounding President Negocio during the parade were just to haul banners then you’re naïve. They aren’t for show. They are laser armed and deadly.”
“To protect Negocio. That I understand.” Robert taps his chest. “But, I’m no threat.”
Puerto Rico is still struggling to free itself. Separate itself from the mainland. So it’s a bit of a mess with legal and political disputes and infighting. Some American businesses that had property here are actually sending in goons and criminals. They’ve been attacking visitors and residents. Extortion, you know. Threatening to embarrass us and scare away our tourists, if we don’t give them what they want. So, I did what I needed to do to get you away from the two men I suspect were following you last night.”
“Two men? Following me?”
“Yes, two men.” Rita motions uses her hands to indicate the size of the men. “Very large, too. Heavy. Strange reddish skin and they seemed to be sweating a lot. The clothes they were wearing and their uncomfortable appearance made them impossible to miss. They watched us the entire time we were at Club Kronos. I’m surprised that you never noticed.”
Then with a coy smile, Rita adds, “But by then, I do believe I had won your undivided attention. You certainly didn’t seem to mind my protection plan last night.”
Robert returns her smile and winks. “No. No, I didn’t. I must admit. And you? Was it all work for you?”
“I wouldn’t have invited you back to bed this morning, if it had been. It was a pleasure doing the business of pleasure with you.” Rita stretches and sighs with satisfaction. “Estás bueno! I may have to protect you again, real soon mister Goodfellow.”
“Really? Me? Is that you speaking or just Negocio’s money talking?” Robert points toward himself. “I must tell you that I’m normally not pursued by beautiful women…well…or any women…actually. I’m a bit of a computer geek, you know.”
Smiling and shaking her head in exasperation, Rita points toward the bathroom. “You are such a manganzon. Just get dressed geek. They’re waiting for you.”
With his right fist raised victoriously, Robert struts toward the shower. “As Star Trek movie star LeVar Burton once said, I fly my geek flag proudly. Absolutely.”
ALERT AND NERVOUS
Robert arrives in the lobby to find Negocio chatting with two women. He has them enthralled. Near the hotel entrance stand two broad-shouldered, muscular men eyeing everyone approaching or entering. As Robert nears Negocio, one of the men suddenly appears in front of him blocking his path. He is surprised. The big man moves with the light-footed speed and agility of a cat.
“He’s with me Hector,” Negocio raises his hand to calm his bodyguard. “Go with Rubio and summon our glider.”
“You’re a little late Mister Goodfellow. We don’t have time to waste. Come with me.” Pivoting, he begins striding toward the exit.
Without hesitating or skipping a step, Negocio exits the hotel and steps directly into his arriving autonomous, electriglide human transport. Following him, Robert is not nearly as coordinated. Stumbling upon the transport’s entrance’s curved threshold, he tumbles into the transport’s cabin. Only Hector’s strong-armed assistance saves him. Groaning and rubbing his scraped shin, he climbs onto the seat across from Puerto Rico’s leader. He starts to buckle his safety restraints, but when he notices none of the others are wearing them, he drops his.
“I must say that I expected a little better from you, Robert. I need speed to succeed. I require surprise to keep my opposition off balance. So far they still think I’m just a joke. So, I have to stay a step ahead. Move before they do. Puerto Rico must become completely self-reliant to overcome their meddling. We have to be ready…no…we are ready to stand on our own as a nation. Puerto Ricans just have to realize it and act like it.”
“Well…yes…ok. But, where do I fit into this?”
“My friend, Dame Gutefrau of SPEA, recommended you. I understand that you are known to have a particularly valuable set of skills in cyber and physical security which you will provide when paid the proper price. You’re a digital mercenary. Is that not true?”
“Well, it’s a living, yes…”
“And you’re also Canadian. Aren’t you? Canadian military in fact? Not American? Not restricted directly by US Science Suppression laws? You’re working in an independent, foreign nation now, you know.”
“Uh yes, I’m an officer in the Canadian Air Force Reserve…but…”
“Good. We have a deal then.” Looking away, Negocio runs his hand across the inside of the transport’s door, massaging the padding. “What do you think of my new ride, Robert? Just received it yesterday.”
Robert surveys the interior. “It’s different. I feel like we’re sitting in the yoke of an enormous, pearl-colored, boiled egg. Having an egg shaped exterior with contoured solar panels as its upper half is a new design to me. I don’t recognize it.”
“It’s Chinese, Robert. Beijing Transport Innovations delivered it yesterday. It’s an all-electric, gliding, autonomous automobile. I call it my auto-auto. Reinforced, 3D printed graphene makes it light, strong and almost invulnerable.” Negocio pounds his fist against the transparent graphene window. “Stop some of the strongest lasers.”
“It’s just what we need here. Robert. We can’t produce oil or gasoline, but we have bountiful sunlight, wind and waves, which can produce electricity. So, why should we send our money to some environment-wrecking, oil company? Makes no sense. Does it? No. So, I’ve mandated that Puerto Rico will use only what it produces. Self-sufficiency is the truest form of independence and freedom. That’s my philosophy of Economics.” Negocio proudly proclaims.
Like a student attempting to impress a professor, Robert instinctively agrees. “Well, you’re not the first to see the wisdom in that. Small self-supporting states are proving stronger and more secure than large dependent states. Estonia for example is…”
“Whap!” Proudly, Negocio slaps the seat. “Now that Puerto Rico is finally no longer forced by America’s hydrocarbon laws to use internal combustion engines, I’ve banned the import of all non-renewable-energy fueled engines. No more internal combustion engines. No ICE in Puerto Rico. America’s oil companies are fighting it, but they cannot stop us now that we are independent and free of them. Congress can pass all the laws that they want mandating Americans to use their gasoline, but here the petroleum power period has passed. Fossil fuels are for fossil fools living in the past. Finally! Puerto Rico is joining the fossil fuel free world!”
Animated and excited, Negocio bounces in his seat. “And since it is Chinese manufactured, US security can’t hack it and grab control of it. Last month, somebody in the US hacked our Ponce police and shut down all of their equipment. A very dangerous and nasty hack attack that they perpetrated just to show us they could. Just before the hackers released the Ponce police, they taunted us with the message, We still own you. So, this auto-auto is another successful step in our escape from American control.”
There is no denying that Negocio is a man with plans. Robert decides that he is just the type o
f person Puerto Rico needs to steer it into the future. Intelligent. Innovative. Imaginative. A leader dedicated to advancing his people.
“By the way Robert, three dozen of these auto-autos will arrive tomorrow. They’re government property, so I’m assigning one to you for your use while you’re here. Yours will be just like mine, here, except without the ballistic proofing of mine.” Negocio smiles and hands Robert an auto-auto control fob.
Robert studies the fob. “Thank you, this will be a new experience for me. Never had my own personal transport, before. Always use community-share conveyances or ride with someone.”
Ahead, at the edge of the street, workers are replacing a miles-per-hour speed sign with a sign stating kilometers-per-hour. Negocio points toward them. “It’s taken longer than I expected, but we’ve also converted to the metric system. Time for Puerto Rico to abandon another obsolete US practice and join the rest of the world.”
“Well, we use both systems in Canada. But personally, I’m a fan of the metrics. It’s more science based.” Robert smirks, “I think we keep miles and feet and pounds around, just so visiting Americans don’t whine and get lost.”
Placing his finger against his lips and cupping his other hand behind his ear, Negocio whispers, “Shh. Just listen to that. Beautiful battery power. No exhaust fumes. No noisy engine. And thanks to aerodynamic lift engineering, its spherical tires barely touch the pavement. Breathe deep our exhaustless air. Soak in the silence.”
Robert smiles enjoying Negocio’s enthusiasm. Obviously, he is his nascent nation’s biggest fan and promoter.
Negocio leans close to the auto-auto’s window. “What’s that? I believe I hear the song of our national bird, the Puerto Rican Spindalis. That is definitely the sound of Puerto Rican progress. Shh.”
Security guard Hector hesitantly clears his throat and quietly attempts to correct Negocio. “Actually the Spindalis lives in the bush not in old San Juan sir. I doubt that you…”
“Yes Hector, I know that. I was exaggerating for effect…oh…just be quiet.” Frustrated, Negocio freezes his attention on the street scene.
