Rod said, “That makes no sense. Humans are armed to the teeth in most parts of the world. Doesn’t that take away from whatever natural physical advantages they have?”
“Yes, it does. And they are fully aware of this. But they had a plan for what to do about that. I’ll come back to what they wanted to do momentarily.”
“Go on.”
“The other issue they wanted to resolve was getting away from the dependency on humans for the blood they required to transform. They wanted a way to remain in semi-permanent human form for long periods of time without resorting to the need for humans. The reason this was important was that they wanted to solve the problem of communication between Gens in different states.”
“Why?”
“They want to go to war with us. If proto human Gens could direct, and plan action, and direct natural state humans in military fashion, that, in their minds, was a distinct advantage. The problem they sought to resolve in the Serum project was threefold and each was interrelated.”
“How did they do? Are they there yet?”
“Depends on who you mean by ‘‘them’’. Once again, the Gens Collective got nowhere, largely due to the fact that the Black Shirts embedded in the Gens Collective research Laboratories were falsifying data and giving the best science to the Black Shirt Labs elsewhere. The head of almost every research project in each of the Collective Labs turned out to be Black Shirts or Black Shirt sympathizers. Paulo couldn’t have made worse choices.”
“But the Black Shirts did make progress?”
“Yes, that is the Tale of Two Cities. While the Collective was being sidetracked and bamboozled, the Black Shirts made real, and substantial progress. And as I mentioned before, they embezzled Collective funds pay for their research Labs. The Operations Manager/Finance Guy for BioGen in New Jersey is a Hanley, a Black Shirt, as is his brother who is one of the Collective’s chief technologists. Things couldn’t have gotten worse, or so I thought.”
“How so?”
“The Black Shirts have made one triumphant success after another. When I was asked to spoil the research at the Collective Labs, so it couldn’t be used, it was a waste of time. All that data was already spoiled. The clean data resided only with the Black Shirts and, in all likelihood, still does. But even that doesn’t matter anymore. They have made the breakthroughs they were seeking, and the Serum project is substantially complete. They have been field testing the serums and have had success on all three fronts.”
“What does this mean? Is there anything you’ve found that suggests they may move against us? Humans in general, I mean.”
“That’s the odd part. They have what they need, but to put it into production for one hundred, two hundred or even three hundred million Gens is a big, big project, and takes a lot of caishish, dollars, as Adam would say. Seems like the Incident in London helped them from the standpoint of propaganda, but they shot themselves in the foot when it comes to funding. They have no money. None. As I mentioned before, what they had I’ve already confiscated for the cause. Our cause. If we weren’t wealthy before, we are now. Basically, we’re going after them using money that I stole from the Black Shirts who originally stole it from the Gens Collective.”
“Good girl. Edmund, you should be proud of your little felon. Welcome to Club Embezzlement!”
“At the moment, this is what I know. But at least we have a clear picture of where the Collective stands, and where the Black Shirts are. I think, no I know, that Paulo and the various Gens Councils have no idea about any of this. They’re so screwed on so many fronts, and they don’t even know it.”
Misti said, “Do you think there may be a rapprochement between the Black Shirts, who have the goods, and the Collective, which I assume can get more funding?”
Adam said, “I thought the same thing. But Alana doesn’t think so.”
“Why?”
“The political implications for the two organizations don’t mesh at all. The Black Shirts want to get rid of the Collective as badly as they want to get rid of we humans. The leadership struggle would be a mess. Their values are completely different. The Black Shirts want to go back in time to a crueler era when they could sate their desire for blood. Most of the Gens Collective want to move forward, give their people choice in where and how to live. The Black Shirts are fundamentalists; the Collective is secular. It would make sense for them to join forces to defeat humanity, then go at it themselves, but the Black Shirts will broach no competition. Besides, the Black Shirts are working on a little surprise for Paulo and Company.”
“What’s that?”
“Saldana Ri has been compiling lists of Gens that she wants to dispose of; the ones she detests. A laundry list of top Gens leadership at every level around the world who will be systematically hunted down and sent to the afterlife. It’s a good old fashion purge, Hitler and Stalin style. They have long lists identifying who is out there, where they are, and what they do.”
Alana paused for effect.
“Now we have it. All of it.”
“Damn girl, anything interesting?”
“You need to read it for yourself then answer your own question. The Collective has Gens placed in high level positions in the human military, and with cops, politicians and in industry. They have well known lawyers, judges, doctors, engineers, and some very rich folk. The Black Shirts want them all dead and all their money deposited in the Bank of Crazy. Then the Gens Collective rank and file will have no recourse, but to look to the Black Shirts for leadership.”
“Is that even possible?”
“I’d say you should review the report that Hannah wrote on the Gens hierarchy, paying special attention to social structure, the Gens bureaucracy and social/political/military mores. I think that the Gens Collective is largely hierarchal, just like the big cats, and wolves in the wild. Dominance controls and dissent isn’t tolerated. When leadership makes mistakes, there is zero accountability. When leadership is correct in its decisions, all is good. But the Black Shirts have, for the most part, succeeded by being nimbler, and taking huge advantage of the structure that hasn’t changed in over two thousand years. It makes the Collective leadership predictable, and vulnerable to smarter, faster challengers.”
Edward said, “Excellent job Alana. I think we should all ruminate on this for next steps and convene again soon to decide what to do next. We can do nothing, of course. That’s an option. Or we can consider aligning with the Collective to stop the Black Shirts while we still can.”
Misti said, “Alana, is there anything you can do, any information we can generate that will tell us where the Black Shirts are physically? You know, where they like to hang out?”
“Yeah. I pretty much have everything on them too. Only piece missing is the whereabouts of Saldana Ri, and their super-secret spy headquarters. I have an idea, maybe better than a guess, but less than an approximation of where, but no firm coordinates. Not yet anyway.
Misti said, “I think we should consider moving quickly to round up Saldana’s husband, and children before she does. We can use them to discredit Saldana with her folk, and for that matter with her husband. Saldana has already signed death warrants for he husband and kids. If we want them alive, we need to get going, and get them to safety in South Dakota. And fast.”
Rod said, “I’ll dispatch a team tonight. You have an address?”
“I do.”
“Who will you send, Rod?”
“Octavio and his cousins are in Seattle for some R&R. I’ll send them.”
“Do it now.”
Alana said, “And one more thing.” Eight heads turned in unison. “The Black Shirts have found one more serum, though this was quite by accident.”
Edward asked, “What’s that?”
“They accidently found a serum that can change humans into Gens, and vice versa. Just thought you should know.”
Chapter 34
Everyone immediately stopped dead in the
ir tracks. Edward was clearly at a loss for words for possibly the first time in his life. Everyone else’s eyes now pivoted to Alana. Even Adam hadn’t heard this piece before.
“Say again,” said Edward. “They have a formula for changing humans into Gens and back? Were they actually trying to do that?”
“No. To the contrary, it seems they were testing different kinds of formulas on human, and Gens subjects for some oddball reason, and they accidentally got the formulas mixed up. The human test subject got the Gens formula, and vice versa. The next thing you know the human was transforming right before their very eyes. They killed him immediately. The Gens were working on an experimental formula that would make humans sterile. It failed with humans but made the Gens sterile. A fuck up all around.”
Edward asked, “Do you have those formulas?”
“Indeed, I do.” She paused. “And, now you do too.” A couple of clicks on her tablet, and all the good stuff Alana had found was now in the hands of Edward St. James.
“Good. Now unless Alana has even more insanely useful information, I should update you on the recent events in South Dakota. And Alana?”
“Yes?”
“Wow. Wow, wow, wow. You are simply amazing.”
Alana smiled. “I know.”
***
Edward began as soon as everyone was back seated. Edward didn’t do PowerPoints so, when the room was quiet, he began.
“You are all aware of the report I generated on the Gens transformation process I witnessed at Casky, and the new security measure we needed to take. I don’t need to repeat that now, but I do have a little more information.”
Chapter 35
Adam was up early, but Alana even earlier. Adam made his way to their work area by 5:00 am, coffee in hand and ready to get started in his office next to Alana’s. He could see she was still in her jammies, and slippers, looking intently at the large computer screen she faced, and busily writing something down on a yellow legal tablet. He had approached quietly; she hadn’t turned to greet him as was their custom each day.
Adam came through the door, but still Alana didn’t turn. “You look busy today. Whacha workin’ on?”
Alana still didn’t turn, but responded, “Just a sec. Need to copy this down before I forget where I found it.”
“Something big? Hacking into the NSA, intent on fucking with them again, are we?”
“Nope. That trick has lost its luster. Not much of a challenge anymore.”
“Oh, I see.” Adam sat down on one of the two chairs Alana had placed in front of her desk for visitors. All he could see was the back of her powder blue silk robe, her long red hair cascading from her head to the middle of her back, in loose curls bound with a scrunchie. “What then?”
Alana turned from the screen, now looking at Adam, smiling with her emerald green eyes finally meeting his.
“If you must know I’m looking for recipes. This one happens to be for my favorite version of lemon chicken. I understand it’s one of your favorites too.”
“It is. I love the white sauce. Tangy lemon. And, I like to make it too. Are you giving up our little project, sex with me, and the world of professional snooping for Chef’s School?”
“No, mister I am not. The horngirl in me will never be satisfied if I do. But I want to do more cooking for you and the tribe while we’re together, and I want it to look like I know my way around the kitchen more than I do now. I cook, but simpler things. You have a big repertoire and a big brain for remembering recipes. I don’t. But I think I somehow accidently deleted my digital cook book. At least I can’t seem to find it anywhere.”
“What’s the occasion? Did I do something nice that I don’t remember? Or general tribe management?”
“You’ve done a lot of wonderful things, and you should remember each, and every one of them. These are the things I want to talk to you about today. Remember a week or so, ago that I said I had some things on my mind, and I wanted to chat?”
“Yes indeedy. Right around the time when we had all that bother going on with the Paulo. What’s up?”
“Well I want you to know that I have already talked to Misti and Noki for their input on my new family project.”
“Which is?”
“I call it, and all us girls call it, Project Adam, Part III.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. What is Project Adam, Part III? Or for that matter, Parts I and II?”
“That’s easy. Part I was Misti, who was first to corral you, and lead the way for Noki and I. So, of course, Noki is Part II. Noki and Misti are now officially knocked up and their roles in your life well established. I have been interested in how you developed your relationship with each and, by that I mean the deep intimacy, and even deeper emotional connection. Quite frankly, I was amazed.”
“How so? I don’t think my relationship with either has anything in common. They’re as different as night and day. Wonderful, each in their own way, and each deeply fulfilling. But each unique, and totally different.”
“From what I now know, I would agree. Of course, I have no idea what that really means, but I hope to very soon.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Well, the short answer is that I want to have a relationship with you that is like Noki’s, as far as the deep emotional connection, and psychic exploration you do with her in your minds. You don’t have that with Misti, at least not yet. Noki says it’s almost like she doesn’t need the purely physical connection any more, not like the intense physical relationship you have with Misti. Noki says that while she really loves her real world physical sexual relationship with you, which brings out her primal lust, at its core her fulfillment comes more from wandering around with you in her mind and yours. She says that during those hours when you’re in a deep psychic connection she does more and can experience more than her physical life could ever give her. In your mind wanderings, she can be anybody, experience anything, and be as bold, and daring as she wants. She claims to experience the ethereal; a psychic adventure that is beyond any description capable of expression in words. To understand it means you must know it, and to know it you must wander the mind. In her real life, she feels inhibited. She says she waits out the days preoccupied with work, so she can wander your mind with you in the nights.”
“I’d say that’s Noki. That’s her exactly. But she is open to more, to experiencing more than she has been able to experience thus far. At least with me. And she is capable of so much more. This, for her, is really just the beginning.”
“What do you mean? She says the same thing; she has only scratched the surface of her life in your mind. She thinks the connection has only begun.”
“I am not now, nor shall I ever be, the sole means of her mental and psychic development. Right now, I am the only game in town. That won’t always be the case. In the future, God willing, she will become an explorer with others, and she will become a great teacher of the Way.”
“The Way? Sounds vaguely religious or Hollywood.”
“It’s neither. It’s what we call our mind exploration and mind experience in relation to humanity; the Gens too. It’s the psychic journey across time and space, all the way back to the very beginning of life, and everywhere in the Universe that we have found so far. It affects how we see our relationship to all living things.”
“You can do that?”
“I can do some. But right now, Noki can do more. And she does, frequently.”
“You don’t always travel together? “
“No. Not as much now anyway. She’s happy to go off on her own and find her own way. She’s free, truly free in a way even I don’t fully understand. I think she’s destined for another life; I just don’t know what or whose. Maybe mine, maybe another’s. Hard to say.”
“And Misti?”
“That’s an entirely different story. Her connection to me is almost genetic, real world physical. We will always be together, and our destinies are inextricably i
ntertwined. Separating us is like separating twins conjoined at the head. And I don’t think that her interest in the psychic runs very deep; if I had to guess, she’d be happy with just the mind trick and physical lust. Her connection is to the real world that we inhabit, and her destiny is intimately connected to the future of humanity, and the destiny of the Gens Collective. What I have seen, which is only one of many possible outcomes, is that she, together with Noki, and one other woman, will be a key part of the genesis of a new race, a new species, that will eventually come to dominate the planet, and usher in a new age. A Renaissance.”
“You’ve seen this?”
“I have.”
“May I ask who the other woman is? If you know?”
“Of course; that woman is you.”
***
Alana sat back in her chair, staring at Adam, somehow knowing what Adam said was true. She sensed it, or intuited it, but whatever it was called, she felt it very deeply, and very intimately. All Adam had just done was verbalize a reality she had known somehow, at least since Hawaii. It had been there ever since, a feeling she somehow just knew without being told and unconnected to any real-world experience. It was … something, a kind of knowledge without a name. A priori. It simply was.
But it needed to be nurtured, as a child; cultivated as a tender flower and fostered with great love and care.
“Does this mean you already know what I want from you? What I need to ask of you?”
“Yes, of course. I have known it since shortly after Hawaii. But that knowledge comes with some amount of caution.”
“Which is?”
“It must be a path you choose. A path you accept, a path only you can explore, and one that you can only experience with me. It’s a seminal moment in the history of mankind, where the path diverges from the present, and veers off in many possible directions, into one of many possible, and incredible new futures. It’s not guaranteed in any way. You must live. Misti must live. Noki must live. The best possible outcome is where we all survive long into the future, fulfilling a destiny that is possible, but far from guaranteed.”
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