Authors: Aditya Mewati
Gun Katz, the leader of the S.A.L.F, sat in front of the computer, listening song: gang name style. The room around him was small, and gloomy, and was filled with server boxes and other gadgets.
The song ended. He reached the mouse, to replay the song. But stopped when the door to his left swung open, allowing the sunlight to pour into the room. A uniformed man stepped in, holding a black walkie-talkie in his hand.
He said something in Indonesian, brandishing the radio. Katz nodded and grabbed the walkie-talkie. He moved the radio close to his mouth and waited until the uniformed man was out of sight.
The door closed, throwing the room back into darkness. Katz's face looked strange under the faint blue light that came from the computer screen. He looked like a man who could hardly hurt anyone.
He pursed his lips and pressed the button on the walkie-talkie.
The radio crackled. "Gun Katz?"
Katz grinned (evil grin; he no longer looked harmless). "What's going on?" He grumbled. His voice was thick and hoarse.
"You tell me! What's going on?"
Katz chuckled. "You sound tense."
"I'm tense! What if he survives the attack. What if our assassin is caught!"
"Relax, " Katz growled, "He is the best man for the job."
"I want him dead. Are you listening to me? If Daniel Ford lives. We are screwed. Our dream is screwed!"
Katz smiled as if he was enjoying this conversation. "If he'll survive today. We'll kill him tomorrow."
"No! I want him dead. Today. It will be a great publicity for the summit."
"Is this being the reason you called me?" Katz asked.
"How are the things going on there?"
Katz wrinkled his brow. "It's good. Alex Bill is working for us. I just asked him, whether he wants his wife and kids here—he is working. We are still searching for the fourth scientist. And we have already started developing the serum."
"Just the serum?"
Katz laughed and got up from the chair. "They are trying to reduce the infection time."
Katz heard the owner of the voice sighing in relief. "Any success?"
"Can't tell. They haven't run any tests yet." Katz said, moving toward the door.
"Why?"
"Alex, Bill said that it's risky with all the plants around us. And also the climate." Katz gripped the doorknob. "He Suggested to run the tests somewhere with a cooler climate, and also a little far away from the Greenery." Saying this, Katz pushed the door open.
He was standing on the balcony of some kind of tower. The expanse of green trees stretched all around him, melting into the ocean at the horizon. Below him was a big clearing, cluttered with small houses, Jeeps and armored vehicles.
"What do you mean?"
"Antarctica," He said, gazing at the white birds skimming over the trees. "... Today the world will witness the start of our real mission. Today the world will witness The start of ... The border of the sun... soon we'll cross that border... soon we'll be regarded as the gods. "
***
"What do you mean?" Karthik asked angrily.
"She can't go in," The man replied, staring at his tablet. "Her name is not on the guest list."
Lilly glared at him. "Come on. We'll find some other way in." She tugged Karthik's sleeve.
Karthik pulled his hand from her grasp and glared at the men. "I'm the attorney of Mr. Ford."
"No one is stopping you." the man smirked as if he had cracked some great joke.
Karthik opened his mouth to say something, but a voice interrupted him from behind.
"Excuse me." Said the journalist from behind. He walked past Karthik and Lilly, showed his ID card to the guard and walked into the hall.
"Come on, Lilly. We are going inside." Karthik muttered, angrily, balling his fist.
"She can't go in." The guard said.
"Let her in!" A voice said.
Karthik looked ahead of him and saw Mr. Ford walking in his direction. His daughter and a new guy were following him.
"Let her in. She is my guest. " Mr. Ford said.
"But, sir—" the guard said.
Mr. Ford raised his hand. "I told you she is my guest. "
"Okay, sir." The guard nodded.
"Come on, Karthik. " Mr. Ford motioned Karthik and Lilly to follow him.
"What were you doing outside?" Karthik asked, following him.
"Waiting for you and your friend. " Mr Ford smiled at Lilly.
"How did you—"
"I called him!" Said a new voice from behind. Karthik and Lilly turned and saw Piper hurrying toward them. She was wearing an emerald dress. Her blond hair was tied up in a bun. She wore no makeup as if trying not to attract attention, but it was useless; She looked damn pretty.
She threw the green envelope at the guard. "Piper Watson. " She said. But the guard did not even bother to check her name as if he knew who she was.
Lilly and Karthik both stared at each other.
"Hi, Mr. Ford," Piper said panting.
Karthik seized her arm and steered her away. "What are you doing here? " He whispered, his teeth clenched in frustration.
"Helping ... " she snapped.
"No, you're not! This is dangerous."
Piper pulled her hand from Karthik's grasp. "Stop acting like my dad!" This time, she clenched her teeth.
Karthik didn't know how to react to it. He twitched his lips and finally said, "You know. This is the reason we never dated again."
"Good afternoon, Mr Ford! " Piper cried, cheerfully, ignoring Karthik.
"Good Afternoon, Pipes," Mr Ford called back. "You guys are about in time."
"What do you mean?" Piper said, walking toward Lilly. Karthik sullenly walked behind her.
"Dad is going to give a speech in a few minutes," Sara said.
Mr. Ford nodded. "Hurry up, " he started to the entrance gate. Everyone followed him.
As they walked, Karthik noticed that there was one more new person with them, other than Lilly. A handsome guy, walking beside Sara.
"Who are you? " he asked, fretfully. He was not in good a mood.
"Oh, He is Alex Muffin. My boyfriend. " Sara answered for him.
"She means her 'NEW' boyfriend. " Piper commented, and snickered.
Everyone laughed but Sara.
Shaikh Ali Hula Osman, Brand Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, finished his speech and was greeted with a thunderous applause from the audience.
He waved his hands, thanking the audience, collected his papers from the podium, and slowly climbed off the stage.
A woman wearing a black glistening dress, came on the stage, clapping her hands, and brandishing her pearl white teeth.
She stood in front of the podium and said. "That was really a beautiful speech ... now," She gave an involuntary sigh. Her voice echoed around the hall. "I would like to invite our next guest, who is also one of the organizers of this Summit. The CEO and the owner of PharmaGen, Mr. Daniel Harrison Ford."
Karthik enthusiastically clapped. "I'm wondering whether he has prepared a speech? " he asked Sara.
They all were sitting around the circular table, very close to the main stage. There were six chairs around the table, of which the chair between Sara and Karthik was now vacant as Mr. Ford had already left to give the speech.
"Yes, he has been practicing the speech in front of the mirror, " Sara said, drinking the wine from the glass goblet.
"Look... He is coming on the stage," Piper said, clapping her hands.
Mr. Ford walked across the stage, waving his free hand at the audience. He was holding few papers in his other hand. He stood in front of the podium, shuffled the papers, and cleared his voice.
"Thank you, Stacy, for that warm introduction," He said, gesturing at the woman in the glittering black dress. His voice boomed from the speakers around the oval hall.
"I've ..." he paused as if considering something, and said, "been eagerly waiting for this event ... " He went silent, brooding. He shook his head, collected his papers, and started walking away from the podium.
"What's wrong?" Piper muttered. Everyone started murmuring, their voices echoed in the hall.
Stacy, who was hosting the event, stopped Mr. Ford on the stage and whispered something in his ears. He whispered something back to her. She nodded and started toward the podium.
She grabbed the mic and said, "I am really sorry. Mr. Ford is not feeling good enough to give the speech. Now let's invite our next guest ... who is also one of the organizers of this summit. The owner of Tesla Chemicals, Mr. LUKE TESLA!"
Mr. Ford slid next to Karthik, muttering to himself, shaking his head.
"Are you okay, sir?" Karthik asked him.
Mr. Ford smiled. "Everything is fine, Karthik," he replied.
But Karthik knew better; it was a clear lie. Something was surely wrong. Or why would have Mr. Ford refused to give his speech, which he has been preparing for weeks.
Something is definitely bothering him, Karthik thought.
The man at the podium was one of the most famous venture capitalists in Australia, a legend in Biological investment. Luke Tesla was known for his striking good looks and his trademark, heartwarming smile. He was a young-looking fifty-four and sedulously cultivated his reputation as a capitalist with a duty. That designation had carried him through a succession of ruthless business deals.
But in this room, Karthik knew, Luke's reputation for tough deal-making would be foremost in everyone's mind. He knew that Luke Tesla was a first class son of a bitch.
"We've reached the point where we can almost call ourselves gods. Those ailing-people need us and they know it. They need healthy genes, they need technology. We're their hope. We're where the real future began!"
That drew huge applause. Mr. Ford shifted his bulk in his seat. The audience was applauding, even though they knew that this bastard would blow their company to pieces in a second if it suited him.
"Of course, we face obstacles to our progress. Some people however good their intentions are they think they choose to stand in the way of human betterment. They don't want the paralyzed to walk, the cancer patient to thrive, the sick child to live and play and grow into an old man. These people have their reasons for objecting. Religious, ethical, or even 'practical."
More thunderous applause. Karthik glanced at the Mr. Ford, who was checking his phone. Karthik knew, not only he but everyone, that how much Mr. Ford hated Luke Tesla. They both hated each other.
"The progress cannot be stopped!" At that, Luke threw both hands up in the air, waving to the audience as applause filled the room. He almost acts like a candidate, Karthik thought. Is that what Luke was aiming for? The guy certainly had enough money to get elected. Being rich was essential in Australian politics these days.
"Progress is our mission," Luke cried "Progress to vanquish disease! Progress to halt aging, banish dementia, extend life! A life free of disease, decay, pain, and fear! The great dream of humanity made real at last! Let's make this world... cancer free. Let's make this world death free! "
The crowd suddenly rose to its feet, giving Luke a standing ovation, and for moment Karthik saw Mr. Ford standing but he abruptly sat back in his chair and started playing with his cell phone.
After all the speeches ended, the circular tables were removed. Music was played. And the rich, exotic food was served.
"Do you see any suspicious guy?" Lilly asked Karthik.
Karthik glanced around him. All he managed to see was hundreds of men and women standing around, drinking wine and eating exotic foods. "Er- No," he finally said.
Mr. Ford was talking with a CEO of a chemotherapy company. Piper was standing beside him. The sky outside was getting darker.
The CEO shook his hand with Mr. Ford and left. They all chatted for a few minutes and Karthik spotted Luke Tesla pushing his way toward them.
The music changed.
"Good evening Daniel ..." Luke said, showing all his thirty-two teeth. He offered his hand. Mr. Ford reluctantly shook it.
"Evening, " Mr. Ford grunted.
He let go of Mr. Ford's hand and held out his hand to Sara. She stretched out her hand. Luke kissed her hand. Karthik heard Mr. Ford grunting in anger.
"I'm very sorry to hear that Dr. Alex bill went missing yesterday," Luke said.
Mr. Ford nodded.
Luke was about to say something, but someone called him. He waved back to the guy. "Gotta go," he said and soon disappeared in the crowd.
"Thank God. " Mr. Ford sighed. He glared at Sara. "How can you allow that filthy man to kiss your hand? " He grumbled.
Sara stared back at him, clearly shocked.
Lilly's cell phone rang. "Excuse me." She muttered and started walking to the corner.
Sara was still staring at her dad. Tears forming at the corner of her eyes. Without saying anything, she marched to the exit door.
"You are not going to smoke here!" Mr. Ford called. But she was already exiting the hall.
"This was not her fault," Piper said, calmly. She shot a nervous glance at Karthik.
"Maybe, I should talk with her," Alex muttered and started for the exit.
Awkward silence drew around. Piper and Karthik kept nervously glancing at Mr. Ford, who was drinking wine and booze like a pig.
Lilly returned. She pushed her Cellphone in her purse and motioned Piper and Karthik to follow her.
After they were away from crowd, Lilly said, "My partner just contacted me."
"What did he say?" Karthik asked.
Lilly glanced around, making sure that no one was eavesdropping on them."There was a fourth scientist who worked on the project Outlander. He went underground when he realized that his fellow scientists were getting abducted."
“What is his name?” Piper asked.
“Dr. Sharif,” Lilly said.
“Oh, him,” Piper said.
“You know him?” Lilly asked.
“I’ve heard a lot about him from Dr. Alex Bill.”
"Where is he hiding?" Karthik asked quickly.
"Egypt ..." Lilly whispered.