by Alec Birri
Faruk grabbed a few of her things and stuffed them into a bag. ‘Where’s Ula?’
Isra looked at the bed. ‘I don’t know. She was here.’
Taking his daughter’s hand, Faruk opened the cabin door and checked the corridor. He was about to enter it when a monkey leapt into Isra’s half-asleep arms.
‘Winnie!’
‘Shhh! Keep the noise down!’ Faruk checked the corridor again before leading the three of them to the aircraft’s elevator.
Isra lowered her voice. ‘Baba. Winnie says we have to go the other way.’
‘Which is why we’re going in the opposite direction.’
‘No. Sunita wants to help us.’
‘I bet she does.’ Faruk pressed the elevator’s call button. ‘The sooner we’re away from this nightmare the better.’
‘But Winnie’s scared, Baba. Look – he’s shaking.’
The lift doors opened and Isra rushed into her mechanical lover’s arms. Mo was standing next to Ula, and Faruk clenched his fists at both.
‘Ula’s scared too, Baba. What’s going on?’
The robot’s fear lessened Faruk’s concerns but by no means was he reassured by it. Keeping a wary eye on both Ula and Mo, Faruk pressed for the elevator to descend.
Isra brought the lift to a halt.
‘Get away from the button, Isra.’
‘Something’s not right, Baba.’ She scanned their confines.
‘First sensible thing you’ve said.’ Faruk took Isra’s arm. ‘And I won’t be happy until we’re at least a thousand miles away from it.’ He was about to force his daughter to one side when the lift doors opened again.
The sun glinting through the trees in the distance caused Faruk to squint, but not for long. The sight of mown grass surrounded by manicured flowerbeds instead of the airport tarmac he was expecting made his eyes pop, and when Faruk saw who was amongst the people in the distance, he went for the elevator’s control panel again, but it had gone – along with the rest of the lift. Father, daughter, robot, driver, pet – all held each other close.
An arm was slipped through Faruk’s from behind. ‘Don’t you just love family reunions?’ Faruk gawped at Zara. ‘Especially after such a long time.’ She encouraged them to enter the garden.
They found themselves amongst a group of people, some of whom Faruk didn’t recognise. They were enjoying a barbecue, but there was something strange about the gathering – their bodies jerked back and forth as if stuck in a video loop. Alex and Sunita were amongst them – trapped in the same way.
Zara knelt behind the wheelchair and placed her head next to Alex’s. ‘What do you think, Faruk? Have the years been kind to your eldest?’ She looked at Isra. ‘Nature has certainly been generous to your youngest.’ Zara stood back up. ‘You can see why Alex has a bone to pick with natural selection.’
‘What do you want, Zara?’ said Faruk.
She spread her arms. ‘Everyone to enjoy the party, of course!’ Zara turned to face the sun. ‘And once my father is here, the fireworks can begin.’
Chapter Twelve
Savage wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. He was about to drool again, so closed his slack jaw to swallow. Not long now.
There was a noise outside the apartment, and something heavy fell against its entrance. Savage encouraged his Acarer to investigate. The robot was halfway down the corridor when it became apparent something or someone was trying to get in. He succeeded. The door burst open, and a man the size of a house collapsed in front of them.
The robot prepared itself for whatever violence might follow but whoever it was seemed more interested in preserving their own life rather than threatening someone else’s. The Acarer stepped past the coughing and spluttering mound, checked the corridor outside and offered its assistance.
‘Get the fuck away from me.’ The robot did as it was told.
Savage approached. The intruder was in distress and not just emotionally. Both hands clutched at his chest and although a tailored suit and expensive shoes indicated the owner was no vagrant, what moved underneath the clothing was unsettling to see; the visitor’s body appeared to be in the same difficulty as his face and hands – holding the chosen form. The professor warned of the dangers while he thought he still could.
‘You must come out of augmented consciousness, Mr President. Morphing is only possible with full integration. I did tell you interfering with the timers could cost you your life.’
‘And I told you I don’t give a fuck about this body.’ The flesh around Kalten’s gritted teeth pulsated, and he screamed in response.
Savage took a breath from his oxygen supply before scanning the corridor outside. ‘You need help. Where’s your security staff?’
‘Gone.’ Kalten rolled on the floor. ‘All of them. All of them turned because of you.’ Anger had joined his distress.
‘I’m sorry, Mr President, but you either come out of augmented consciousness or merge with Pedro. How long have you been holding this form? Your metabolic rate must be off the scale.’
Kalten glared at the robot. The distress reduced, and the professor thought the President must have taken his advice, but rather than flesh stabilising, it began reverting to its original form. Pain subsided too, and before long, Kalten’s hands went from his chest to the floor, and he used them to stand up. Not quite to the seven-foot-two he used to be, but tall enough.
‘Pedro?’ Kalten wiped some sweat from his brow before brushing himself down. ‘Even the great Sir John Savage gives his robots names?’
‘A childhood friend.’ The professor smiled at Pedro. ‘The past seems to have more meaning these days.’
‘Well, thanks to you, there’s certainly no future.’ Kalten invited himself into the professor’s apartment and stood in the centre of it. ‘Where’s your whisky?’
Pedro approached the drinks cabinet, but the way Kalten looked at the robot caused it to stand to one side.
Kalten pulled the doors open and smiled. ‘At least I can still rely on your taste in liquor.’ He selected two glasses and uncorked a bottle. He stopped. ‘What time is it?’
There was a clock in the room, but Savage was more interested in where Kalten had been looking when asking the question; through the glass doors that led onto the balcony. Savage told him the hour, and Kalten returned to the drinks.
‘I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again – got to hand it to you, Johnny. You didn’t just have me and the rest of the world’s leaders fooled but religion too.’ He poured a drop of water into each drink before turning back with them to his enforced host. ‘I bet you’ve even got one over that commie dyke cripple that runs the world now.’
Savage took the glass being offered and hid his discomfort with Kalten’s visit. ‘Like Aesop’s fable of the North Wind and the Sun – gentle persuasion has always triumphed over brute force.’ The professor didn’t expect Kalten to drink to that and waited to see what he would propose a toast to.
Kalten stared in the direction of the balcony again. ‘It’s a beautiful day. I bet there’s a great view of London from all the way up here.’ He gestured for them all to go outside. Savage looked at Pedro and the robot responded by pushing his maker into the fresher air. It didn’t stop the professor from reaching for his mask.
‘Yep, I knew it. Can’t expect the West’s most famous Englishman, not to mention the East’s most famous prophet, to live just any old place. Buckingham Palace; Big Ben; The Houses of Parliament – they’re all here.’ Kalten smiled. ‘I wonder how they’re going to look once it’s all over?’ The grin turned into a grimace, and Kalten clutched at his chest again. He leaned on the parapet.
‘You had better take a seat, Mr President. I’m afraid the failure to heed my advice means your body is probably nearer its end than mine is.’
Kalten narrowed hi
s gaze at Savage. ‘I don’t think so. Something tells me we’re going to be leaving this world together.’
Pedro placed a chair behind Kalten, who was about to give the robot short shrift when the President realised he might be able to fit into the furniture. His bulk collapsed more than sat and the chair creaked in response. His glass of whisky had somehow managed to remain intact too, and Kalten took a sip before closing his eyes.
He seemed to have stopped breathing, and Savage was about to investigate when Kalten opened his eyes and stared through the balcony’s railings. A column of Asoldiers marched up the street below.
‘What’s it all about, Johnny? What’s the point of being born designed to create the world’s greatest ever empire, only to discover your maker also gave birth to someone designed to end it?’ Savage didn’t answer. ‘Oh, don’t get me wrong, I know I’ve been beaten. I know the better man has won and never let it be said Donald J Kalten isn’t as magnanimous in defeat as he is in victory.’ He held up his glass. ‘So here’s to you, Johnny. Here’s to your victory – congratulations.’
Savage responded in kind but couldn’t summon any enthusiasm, managing only a weak, ‘Thank you.’ Kalten checked his watch, and something about that caused both men to look to the horizon.
Kalten waved a hand towards it. ‘But where is everybody? Why aren’t the people celebrating?’ He indicated Nelson’s Column in the distance. ‘I’ve seen the movies. Trafalgar Square was packed on VE Day and the rest of London’s streets were just as busy celebrating the end of the Second World War, so where is everyone?’ He got to his feet again but still needed the parapet for support. ‘I mean, I know you Brits are reserved, but you would think saving the environment by getting the world’s population to kill themselves…’ Kalten dropped his chin before chuckling. ‘Oh well. I guess they must be celebrating somewhere… else.’
He raised a finger. ‘I know what we need.’ One of Kalten’s menacing grins appeared. ‘Fireworks.’ He turned to Pedro. ‘Have you ever seen fireworks, Pedro?’ The robot remained as emotionless as the professor. ‘It’s the one thing we Americans do better than anyone else on the planet – put on a show.’ He peered at his hosts. ‘Would you like to see a show? Would you like to see a fireworks display?’ Kalten approached Savage and loomed over him. ‘Would you like to see your victory celebrated with the fireworks display to end all fireworks displays?’
Kalten checked his watch one last time. ‘Regardless of the treatment, the flash can still blind, so I would advise you to turn away.’
They did, but the explosion was so bright even Pedro had to squint.
Chapter Thirteen
Savage opened his eyes. He blinked.
‘Daddy!’
Despite not having looked at the blast, the professor’s vision had bleached. It was a few seconds before he could put a face to the voice.
Zara kissed his cheek before making a fuss. ‘Are you warm enough? Do you need a blanket for your knees?’
She didn’t seem interested in an answer and brushed Pedro aside to push the professor back into his apartment. Only it wasn’t his apartment. Trundling over grass was unsteadying to Savage in more ways than one. He just had time to recognise the others in the garden when Zara spun him round to face the balcony again.
‘What do you think?’ She indicated the boundary between the two worlds. ‘Not bad, eh? If you think merging the Interworld with the real one is impressive, wait until you see the main event!’
Savage had a good idea what it was – the nuclear explosion in front of them all appeared locked in the same closed-loop existence as everything else; flames from the barbecue flickered in time to its split-second duration.
Whatever Zara had planned, she was keen for no one to miss out on it. ‘Suni – would you be so kind as to push Alex next to my father?’
The women seemed to be expecting the request. The way Alex sucked on her oxygen as if it were a reefer confirmed she at least thought she was in control of proceedings. Winnie leapt from Sunita’s shoulder and into the professor’s lap. Regardless of Alex’s confidence, the monkey plainly thought it the safest place to be.
Zara organised the others present – either with a polite request or, in the case of the US President, paralysing more than the vocal cords he used to rage at her. She then instructed Pedro to carry him into position. That encouraged compliance elsewhere, and before long, Zara had the audience she wanted: Faruk, Isra, Ula and Mo to Alex’s right; Emil and Maria on the professor’s left; while James took up a position between the wheelchair users. The Passen family were allowed to remain in the vicinity of their barbecue but held each other close.
Zara stood in front of them all and cleared her throat.
‘Now, as you are aware, my father…’ she turned to the professor and feigned a small curtsy, ‘…has been responsible for taking the human race to the next stage of its evolution and as you have all played some small part in that, I thought it only right you should have the privilege of witnessing the birth of what’s to replace you.’
‘Serve.’ Everyone looked at Alex. ‘What’s to serve us.’
Zara sighed. ‘Oh, Alex. How can I put this? I lied. Anyway, ladies and gentlemen, I give you—’
‘Don’t tempt me, Zara. You know full well I can end your existence with a single word.’
Puzzled looks told Savage his fellow captives couldn’t understand why Alex didn’t just follow up on her threat.
‘What? A protocol?’ said Zara. ‘The protocol designed to end all protocols? The doomsday device my father introduced in case artificial intelligence became uncontrollable?’ She acknowledged her maker again. ‘A word the mere utterance of which will communicate an algorithm so virulent, it will render all technology useless in seconds?’ Zara stood on the border between balcony and garden. ‘Go on then – state it.’ She grinned at Alex. ‘Pull that virtual plug from its conjured socket and see what happens to both the Interworld and the real world when you do.’
Zara chuckled at the silence. ‘Shall we get on with the show?’
‘We have an agreement,’ said Alex.
‘Agreement? What agreement?’
‘I wasn’t talking to you.’
Alex had turned to Savage, and it caused Zara to frown. ‘What? That you would allow my father to create a super race providing you were its god?’
Everyone looked at each other.
‘Not god – carer. The Earth must be protected,’ said Alex.
‘Carer?’ said Zara. ‘So, is that what’s being done when interfering with an embryo’s natural growth? Caring for it? Hobbling the brain to ensure the child doesn’t grow up with any ideas above its station? The creation of a super-strong and super-intelligent race void of not just anger, hate, envy and whatever other emotional trait you see fit to judge undesirable, but of sex too?’
Alex remained unfazed. ‘Life has to be kept in check. The old evils of greed, selfishness and anger always lead to oppression, suffering and, in case anyone still needs reminding…’ she pointed at the bomb, ‘…war, and as only one of the sexes has been responsible for that, natural selection must never again be allowed to produce them.’
‘Men, you mean?’ said Sunita.
Alex looked at her partner before glowering at Winnie. ‘Anything.’
‘But Winnie’s a monkey. He wouldn’t hurt anyone.’
‘Grow up, Suni. You sealed his fate the moment the two of you first merged. How long do you think it’s going to be before he starts throwing more than just his own faeces around?’ Winnie screeched and buried his face in the professor’s chest. Alex sneered at the scene before aiming the sleight at Sunita. ‘Do you really want us to win the battle of the sexes only for evolution to one day oppress our sisters yet again?’
‘Strange how that concern doesn’t seem to extend to your own sister.’ Everyone l
ooked at Zara. Alex looked anywhere but.
She was uncomfortable. ‘That’s different.’
Zara glanced over her shoulder. ‘Well, I think we still have a few minutes. Perhaps you would care to explain what makes Isra different.’
Faruk pulled his youngest closer to him, and the action seemed to incense Alex. ‘He’s a monster!’
‘Monster?’ Zara appeared confused at the lack of visual evidence. ‘True, the crimes of his previous self were unspeakable, but Faruk has not only atoned for the horror but is, quite literally, no longer that person.’
‘I don’t give a damn about that.’ Alex pointed at her father. ‘He abandoned me when I was a baby!’ She implored her half-sister. ‘Think he’s changed? Think he wouldn’t ever leave you? Just wait. Once you and I have merged to become the sexless paraplegic I have planned, you can guarantee—’
Other than what sounded like thunder rumbling in the distance, the silence was deafening.
‘I think we’re all trying to work out which is the more shocking,’ said Zara. ‘Your apathy towards the brutal decapitation of hundreds of innocent children or a need to want to harm your own flesh and blood.’
Alex was embarrassed but unrepentant. ‘People must be controlled, and pity for my condition has always played an important part in that.’ She indicated the frozen blast again. ‘See what happens when survival of the fittest has its own way?’
If Alex was hoping to convince Zara of something, it didn’t seem to be having much of an effect. ‘So, let me see if I have this right; allow natural selection to end the human race by mutually assured destruction or save the world by stunting the growth of its occupants until genetic mutation forces them into extinction anyway.’ Zara cocked her head towards the explosion. ‘Looks like I’ve arrived just in time.’
Someone laughed. It was Kalten. ‘And in what way might the retaliation to a series of twenty-megaton hydrogen bombs not be terminal to the human race?’ He pointed at ground zero. ‘We’re less than a mile away. The second you release its force, everyone and everything here will be vaporised.’
