—Your meeting with Carrera is at one, sir.
—I know.
—Yes, sir.
When Ernesto was gone, Halpern stood and walked back over to the window to look out over Elliot Bay. The orcas were still there, on full display for the tourists that walked the city’s waterfront promenade. Real orcas, of course, had been extinct for some time. This pod was a piece of installation art…a quaint effort to give people a feeling of what life was like on the sound hundreds of years ago. Now, there wasn’t much that could survive in the brackish waters of Puget Sound. What life had adapted to this acidic soup was either poisonous, gelatinous, or both.
Halpern opened his message display and spelled out this short note: I’m in Seattle, Esther. Call me. Then he cut out his VI and went back over to the couch and lay down. He was stiff and nauseous and in pain. He felt likes parts of his body were still frozen (the numbness lingered in unexpected places), but it takes time, as anyone who has tried it knows, to fully emerge from coldsleep. He dialed up the dosage on his pain administrator then closed his eyes and began breathing deeply. Soon he was asleep.
*
The Phobos emergency medical team was in full response mode when Austin Halpern was wheeled into the infirmary. Transparent tubes, gurgling with sticky ichors and yellow with synthblood, entered and exited the manager’s cadaverous body, while medications dripped and dribbled from reservoirs suspended above his bed. He had been given nearly four liters of synthblood and there was some question as to whether he would pull through. Not only had he nearly been drained of life, but deep and inimical puncture wounds threatened to make matters worse. The assassin’s pike had perforated his heart, lungs, and spinal cord, and the medical team lowered him into an icy amniobath where tiny nursebots were administered to produce protein stimulators, seed cell grafts, and dress his viscera with micro cross-stitching. After his internals were sewn back together, he was removed from his bath and coated in a layer of skinmesh and kept immobile for a week. After that he was wrapped in bandages like an Egyptian mummy, crammed into a coldsleep cylinder and sent back to Earth.
Lynx Eridania’s trail went cold at the front entry to the Martian skycrane station. Where she had been prior to that, no image or sensor records could indicate, and this was what was troubling. How could someone so efficiently elude the settlement surveillance system? How could this Lynx have bypassed the military-level security on Phobos? And how could she have fabricated an entire background and never trigger a red flag during a thorough ESCOM Phobos vetting process? An autopsy showed that she had no VI, which wasn’t unheard of for a native Martian, but anybody who was slightly interested in working off-planet—someone who would be dependent on accessing info squirts—would regard a VI as essential. All of her biometric and DNA scans also came up empty. She had been off grid. Completely. As far as ESCOM could tell (even with the help of local authorities) she had never existed.
After the assault on Halpern, Phobos went into lockdown. Trees were shaken and all contract workers were interrogated, but no one emerged as having any close association with Ms. Eridania. The attack on Halpern was ruled as an isolated incident. For Dendede and ESCOM security, however, the real news lay elsewhere. The real issue for ESCOM, Phobos and perhaps humanity, was that the wormhole had reopened, and after Halpern regained consciousness and was able to communicate with ESCOM HQ it was decided that a high-level meeting of transnationals was in order. Keeping the discovery of an alien presence a secret was no longer viable.
*
When Ernesto knocked on Halpern’s door, Halpern was already up and waiting. Ernesto led the way, at a pace respectful of Halpern’s halting gait, as they headed in the direction of President Carrera’s office.
They rode an elevator that delivered them to the main plaza where singular, and antique, Chihuly glass art, suspended high above them, splashed light from the intense afternoon sun in manifold colors; and where Albrecht Hiroki’s kinetic sculptures, strange but beautiful eel-like formations, rippled and glittered under the invisible power of convection. Once they were through the plaza, a staircase led them up to the western wing of the building where a pair of security guards guided them through a set of scanning cones, and Halpern noticed right away that his VI was disabled. They then boarded another elevator that would take them to the president’s office.
When they arrived at the designated floor an assistant directed Halpern and Ernesto to a waiting area where they were asked to sit and make themselves comfortable. Halpern demurred and instead hobbled over to a window where he instinctively attempted to draw up his VI and check for security updates from Phobos. It took him a strange and nearly panicked moment for him to realize that his VI was down, so he reverted to picking anxiously at the flaking synthmesh on the back of his left hand as he stared out over the water. Ernesto had taken a seat and was silent, and Halpern refrained from any small chat. After five minutes, a different assistant entered the waiting area and introduced herself as Whitney. She was poised and exceedingly polite, and after introductions she asked Halpern to follow her to the president’s office.
—Larkin, Halpern said to Ernesto as he followed Whitney.
Ernesto stood.
—Make yourself scarce, okay. I don’t know how long this is going to take.
Ernesto nodded and followed Halpern with his eyes as Whitney and the security manager turned the corner and disappeared.
—It’s good to see you on your way to recovery, sir, said Whitney, her long straight green hair swaying pendulously above her hips. The hallway was decorated with patina-colored photographs of old Seattle. Halpern recognized images of the Space Needle, the Gate’s HyperDome™, and Amazon Tower as he passed; all symbols of Seattle’s golden age…structures that had fallen due to earthquakes, neglect and social collapse.
—Everyone here at ESCOM HQ has been concerned for your wellbeing, sir, said Whitney through a set of perfect teeth as they approached a tall and heavy double door. I’m sure you’ll be at one hundred percent in no time. At that, Whitney reached out and drew open the doors. She stepped aside and Halpern smiled and gave a short bow and thanked her. He set his cane against the doorframe, stood straight, and then hobbled into the room.
Carrera’s office was elegant and expansive. Enormous Berber and Persian rugs, dark-hued and intricately woven, stretched over a polished concrete floor. A fireplace of river stone and blasted steel stood at one end of the room, a modest flame or two dancing playfully upon the grate. At the other end of the room was a long conference table, on top of which was placed a bouquet of fresh flowers and a crystal carafe of water with clear glasses set on a shining salver. Behind the table, on the wall, hung a large and imposing canvass…and in the moment he was given to examine it, Halpern determined it to be a work from the European renaissance. Dutch or Italian. Likely Dutch.
In the middle of the room, Carrera, silver-haired and slender and dressed fashionably in a brown leather Sherwani jacket, ambled loosely in front of an immense granite desk as he discussed strategy and logistics of any one of the multitude of topics that a president of a transnational dealt with on a daily basis. Beyond the large desk, facing west, a window stretched from floor to ceiling with an unobstructed view of the Olympic Mountains, its peaks sharp like a set of wolf’s teeth in the hazy distance.
—My dear Austin, Carrera said as Halpern came into the room. Carrera took a moment to conclude his conversation and then, arms outstretched, the shorter ESCOM president approached Halpern with a warm and paternal smile. These are trying times, good sir, the president said. We are glad that you have arrived.
Halpern gave another short bow and he took Carrera’s hands and the two stood and admired one another.
—It’s good to see you, sir, Halpern said. Five years is a long time, I’m sure you’ll agree, but feeling Earth beneath my feet, real Earth, has begun to accelerate my recovery.
—I’m sorry that I have never been your guest on Phobos, but the moon has been such a success t
hat I never felt compelled to come and cause you any trouble.
—You are always welcome, sir.
—Your service on Phobos has been exemplary, Austin, and your handling of the withdrawal from Asimios was commendable. I want to make that clear.
Halpern thought about Avery Graf and he felt a wave of nausea come over him.
—You should be proud of your successes, Carrera said.
—Thank you, sir.
—Now, please, come sit. We have much to discuss. But first you must tell me what happened to you. I can’t imagine what horrors you’ve been through, and in your own home, by god!
Carrera led Halpern over to a pair of high-backed chairs near the fireplace, and they sat down and faced one another across a small table. Almost at once, a servant emerged from a concealed door and he took up the salver with pitcher and glasses and carried it to them. As the servant poured them water, Carrera requested hot Yerba tea; Halpern a cup of black coffee.
—Now, said Carrera as he leaned back, his hair settling on his shoulders. As I understand it, we should be grateful you are still alive?
Halpern, struggling to find a comfortable place for his injured leg, went on to relate the account of his attack…what the investigation had found and where Lynx Eridania might have come from.
—I’m relieved that you survived, Carrera said. As the social systems fail here and on Mars, it’s not surprising that radicals begin to seed their nefarious doctrines. The threats increase, and on multiple fronts. The governments on Earth, and Mars, for that matter, are proving to be more and more impotent, and as the situation deteriorates, the transnationals are obliged to step in. It’s not necessarily where ESCOM would wish to tread, but in order to maintain markets and expand, we have to ensure the continuance of viable revenue streams. Heightened security is a natural evolution. Dissent must not be tolerated.
The servant returned with the tea and coffee and Carrera leaned forward and picked up the translucent blue cup and saucer. As Halpern reached for his cup he felt a tremor seize his arm (a nasty side effect of coldsleep, he thought) and rather than risk spilling his drink and embarrassing himself, he withdrew his hand and steadied it on his knee.
—So, everything is set for tomorrow? Austin, Carrera said with a lowering of his thin eyelids. We have a bulletproof case to hand over to the transnationals? You understand that there will be no room for error on this. Plenty of questions will be raised.
—Everyone will be given the same information we have, sir, Halpern said. I think transparency, in this case, is our strongest ally.
—It’s unprecedented, Carrera said, this kind of sharing of information. But I suppose that under such circumstances we have no choice.
Carrera leaned back in his chair. He lowered his eyes and sipped at his tea and the flames danced silently inside the stone alcove.
—In your honest opinion, Carrera said, what do you think these visitants are up to? Are they hostile, do you think? And what interest might they have in our system? It’s hard to understand why they are here and have made no attempt to contact us.
Halpern adjusted his leg and drew his fingers across his clean-shaven chin.
—As I’ve said before, sir, these are questions for which we have no answers. We haven’t been able to determine if they are hostile or not, but their presence in our system, unannounced, seems reason enough to be concerned.
—Of course, Carrera said, dismissing his own skepticism with a wave of his arm. I just wish we had more to go on here. This kind of thing, this issue of aliens, is different than any other problem we’ve faced. It is, you could say, a paradigm shift. If true, and indeed it appears to be, then we have entered a new period in our history…one with a whole new set of challenges and a whole new set of possibilities.
—Absolutely, sir, Halpern said. It will change everything. I mean, we’ll have to establish unprecedented levels of cooperation. New channels of communication will have to be developed between transnationals and nation states; new departments created to deal with logistics on a scale the world has never seen. We’ll have to act together to prepare defenses. And how well we do this may determine whether we, as a species and a civilization, succeed or fail.
—It’s good to see that you bring enthusiasm to the cause, Austin.
—Thank you, sir.
—Which brings me to my next topic, Carrera said as he turned to gaze in to the fire. I’ve been considering for some time now, that under the circumstances, the creation of a new cabinet position is in order.
—I see.
—The new position will be that of Chief of Security. If you accept, Austin, you would have an entire department under your supervision. You would be responsible for administering and coordinating all ESCOM security operations with both our national and transnational partners, and at every step, of course, you would report to me.
Halpern leaned forward. He took a breath. I’m flattered, sir, he said. This is quite a surprise.
—The promotion would give you credibility at the conference tomorrow. And besides, we need another rising star around here; someone who has a progressive vision for the future of ESCOM. Someone who will shake things up a bit.
—What of Phobos, sir?
—You would be needed here on Earth. You would be relieved of your duties on the moon.
Halpern sat silent for a moment. He reached out and picked up his coffee and took a few sips. The scar above his right lip was twitching, only this time the electric sensation flooded over the tender flesh of his new scar. It was hungry, this flesh. It needed to be fed.
—How can I refuse a request from the president, sir? Halpern said as he stood. He extended his hand; and Carrera raised himself and took the new security chief’s hand in his own.
—Congratulations, Austin, Carrera said as let go of Halpern’s hand and took a few steps away from his chair. He drew his arms behind his back and knitted his fingers and he stared down at the floor as his leather mules swept over the surface of the rug. I don’t know if you’ve heard, Austin, Carrera went on. There’s been a lot of speculation about how long I’ll stay on as head of ESCOM. The rumors abound, and with them comes a circling of sharks.
—I guess I don’t understand.
—There’s a sickness in the high offices of power, Austin. A bloodlust. It’s enough to make one despise the duties leadership.
—Ambition has ruined many a good person.
—It’s true. But your presence here as an outsider will be appreciated. If we succeed, if we make it through this, then there may be a bright future for you here.
—I am here to serve, sir.
—Good, Carrera said as he turned back to Halpern. Now, there are a couple things you need to know before the meeting tomorrow.
Halpern raised an eyebrow.
—First off, and we’ve been holding this close to our vest: we are nearing an agreement for the appropriation of Excelsior Capital. It will be a “merger” of course, but ESCOM is the controlling agent. The process is in its final stages. All we are waiting for now is a quiet rewriting of international law before we deliver our prospectus to the board of transnationals.
Halpern straightened. And then there were three, he muttered under his breath.
—It’s been a long time coming, in my opinion, Carrera said. ESCOM and Excelsior Cap have been long-standing allies. A merger and a “trimming of the fat” would benefit both parties. We would consolidate nearly a third of the Earth market, and with our lion’s share of off-Earth trade, nearly ninety percent, we would be the dominant transnational for centuries to come.
—You’re delivering this news tomorrow.
—Not yet. There are still many details to review and legalities to dissect. Markets will reel, of course, when word gets out. Governments will protest and the isolationists will raise objection. No, tomorrow we have enough on our plate.
Halpern began to feel a sharp pain running up his left leg and for a moment he was back in his black office, figh
ting for his life against a the wild inertia of a deadly, steel pike.
—And the second thing, sir? Halpern said.
—The second bit of news concerns Axiom Lotus. Apparently, they will be taking advantage of the meeting to make their own announcement.
—Oh?
—Yes, and our sources indicate that a leadership change has taken place within the company. It’s an AI, Austin. As far as we know, an AI has been elected to run their firm. An AI as CEO. It is a first for a major corporation, let alone a transnational.
—Interesting.
—Yes. There are a lot of skeptics out there, and I’ll have you know I’m one of them. I’ve always felt that AIs have no place in the running of human organizations. There’s something perverse about it. Perhaps I am from an older generation, but it’s principle from where I see it.
—I would have to agree, sir.
—Now, Carrera continued, there will be other items that come up as well, but these are primary. Please hold them in strict confidence.
As Halpern lowered his head, the doors to the office opened up and figures filled the rectangle of light.
—Gentlemen, Lady…please come in, Carrera said in his commanding tone. Please welcome Mr. Halpern to ESCOM HQ. He could use some cheering up.
The three figures moved toward Carrera and Austin limped over to meet the group. They were all acquainted in some capacity, either from having worked side by side or through having spoken during conference streams.
—Austin, Carrera said. This is Isabelle Miller, Inver Grove and Philip Morsani.
—Of course, Halpern said.
A round of handshaking.
—Isabelle, Carrera went on, is, of course, second in command—my VP and my invaluable counsel. Inver oversees the books, and Philip, as I think you know, is the guy who pays the bills. They have all arrived from points far and wide to attend tomorrow’s meeting.
—Welcome to HQ, Philip said. I think you get the award for farthest distance travelled.
—Yes, welcome, Inver said to Halpern with a nod.
Beyond Asimios: Book One Page 16
