Losing Balance, page 12
Alexa sat on the adjoining chair kicking off her own shoes and asked, “Are you still finding it strange to not be overwhelmed running GenTech operations?”
Rick looked thoughtful. “Yes and no. The first few months were a culture shock but at the moment I’m taking one day at a time, trying not to worry that today Jonathan will cross the point of no return.”
She sighed, “I’ve been hating that you seemed so relaxed when my insides are full of rattlesnakes dancing a samba every time that I hear someone cough or sneeze.”
Rick offered a sympathetic smile, “Trust me, I’ve got a stomach writhing with rattlers. But I was hoping if I looked calm, you’d feel better. It’s not good for you to be stressing, sweetheart. You need to stay healthy for that kick-boxer in your belly.”
“Are you disappointed that I wouldn’t let them tell us whether we’re having a boy or a girl?”
Rick shrugged, “No, either is perfect. I confess to relief it was one baby not twins. I’d hate to worry about losing one like Mandy and Tim.”
A tug of sharp loss pulled at Alexa, both for Amanda and her child, Julianne, who hadn’t survived for more than minutes. She struggled to understand Amanda’s ‘do not resurrect’ request. When Alexa had the affair with Tim that led to her downloading into a new Skin and re-naming her pregnant clone as Amanda; she had been unsure of whether she and Rick could ever work through the mess of distrust and betrayal with which their relationship had begun.
While she was now positive of her love for Rick and confident that she could trust him; Amanda had never felt that way so why had she not moved on? Why had her marriage to Tim failed?
The time Alexa had spent with Tim as they planned and plotted in Cartagena had convinced her he was more than a hardened soldier. He was warm, funny and caring; he doted on Jamie and put everyone’s needs ahead of his own. While Tim might have considered himself to be duty bound to marry the pregnant Amanda; he’d been at least half-in-love with her and prepared to commit to a forever relationship.
Alexa heaved a deep sigh. She responded to Rick’s questioning brow, “I’m OK, I’m missing the others and wondering how we can do more.”
Rick nodded, “I know what you mean.” He added with his own heavy exhalation, “Each one of them is even more important to me than they ever were. I’m praying we stay safe and hoping we can make a difference. At least we should have an easy time with Tanaka, I’m sure she’ll be as horrified as Melissa Maynard by the Palm Island demonstration.”
“Good evening, Professor Tanaka.” Rick and Alexa rose to greet their guest as she was ushered through the door by the waiter assigned to their private dining room in the hotel’s Wadakura restaurant.
Tanaka was dressed with the usual conservative style of a professional Japanese businesswoman of middle years. Her long navy skirt was beautifully cut to flow in elegant lines, the rich cream silk blouse was highlighted by a subtly patterned sky blue and cream scarf. She slipped off a tailored navy jacket and handed it to the waiter who bowed and departed.
Alexa was glad she and Rick had chosen similar subdued business-like clothing although she wore a looser blouse over the baby bump.
Rick surveyed the man who had followed the professor into the room and flickered a warning eyelid at Alexa who smiled at Tanaka and allowed Rick to take the lead.
“My apologies, I had not realized you would bring a guest. I will have the waiter lay another place setting,” said Rick.
The man gave Rick an impassive stare as he took up a watchful position next to the door rather than approaching the table.
Tanaka’s smile was faint as she gazed at them with serene dark eyes, “No need.”
Alexa felt no surprise. Judging by his stance, his build and his expression; the stolid Japanese man was there for Tanaka’s protection not to enjoy the expensive dinner that Rick had pre-ordered.
Rick nodded and focused his attention on Tanaka. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Professor. It was most gracious of you.”
Another faint smile, “Jonathan advised you would otherwise be most persistent. He convinced me that Mr. Sato would ensure my safety.”
Rick blinked twice. “I can assure you, Professor Tanaka, that you would be safe if you were alone. We only wished to talk with you; we have no threats to make.”
The mask of serenity remained in place, “So you say, Mr. Scott. Perhaps it would have been different if I had come without Mr. Sato’s protection.”
Rick blinked again. The conversation was not proceeding as they had expected. Alexa stepped in, “Won’t you please be seated, Professor Tanaka. May I order you a pre-dinner drink?”
Rick held out a chair and Tanaka sat down, casting a wary eye at Rick as if he was a cobra poised to strike. Alexa worried at her bottom lip for a moment, just what had Jonathan told the woman?
Tanaka flicked a tiny smile at Alexa for the sake of politeness. “Water only, thank you. I dined earlier.”
It was Alexa’s turn to blink in surprise. The deliberate insult of accepting an invitation to dinner and then refusing to eat was culturally shocking and personally offensive.
Rick rose again with a twisted grimace. “I’ll advise the staff we won’t be dining.”
Tanaka shrugged, “I did not intend to stop you eating.”
Alexa forced a polite smile, “We would be uncomfortable if we enjoyed the exquisite kaiseki the chef has labored over while you declined to join us.”
Tanaka flushed but shrugged again, “Say what you wish and I will leave you to your meal.”
Rick had returned to the table. He ignored Tanaka and told Alexa, “They will send our meal up when we have finished our discussion. The staff here are most professional and accommodating.”
Tanaka lips twitched in a slight grimace but she stiffened her shoulders. Alexa surveyed her and decided that they had little to lose. “Professor Tanaka, I do not expect you to share whatever Jonathan has said to you but I will assure you we mean no harm to you. If he has suggested that is our intention then he is mistaken. We are seeking your support to persuade Jonathan to listen to alternative plans that may achieve his goals.”
Alexa wasn’t sure how oblique she needed to be with Mr. Sato listening to the conversation.
Tanaka just watched her with a steady gaze.
“I cannot believe that you are comfortable with innocent people falling victim to his most extreme plans.” Alexa glanced at Mr. Sato who looked bored as he stared toward the table, focusing on Rick as the more likely threat.
Tanaka’s stare was flat when she responded, “The planet has too many people, few are innocent.” As Alexa opened her mouth and closed it, uncertain of how best to respond; Tanaka’s cell phone rang and she glanced at before rising with a terse apology, “One moment, I need to take this call.”
She spoke in rapid Japanese; she had turned away from the table but did not bother to lower her voice. Rick shot a warning glance at Alexa who responded with an imperceptible nod. They both feigned interest in their drinks as though they could not understand the professor’s side of the conversation.
Alexa sensed Rick tensing as her own eyes widened. Tanaka was either arrogant enough to assume they could not speak Japanese, or didn’t care if they understood she was confirming the steps she had taken to facilitate the next test of the Armageddon virus.
Rick glanced at her, deep disappointment in his eyes at the woman they had profiled as compassionate, peaceful and non-violent. Alexa fought back a groan; they had been mistaken in their analysis. A serene Tanaka sat once more; there was no sign she had just initiated the deaths of several hundred more people.
“Professor Tanaka, I’m sensing you are more aligned with Jonathan’s plan to achieve his vision for the future than we had expected,” Alexa said with soft resignation.
Tanaka gave a sharp nod, “Hai. We have tried the peaceful approach; we have negotiated and we have lobbied. It is time for action.” She gestured at the swell of Alexa’s growing baby, “Or you can doom your child to fight for water and food as the planet dies.”
Rick’s expression hardened. “We don’t disagree with the need for action; we disagree with implementing a plan that will spiral out of control in an unstoppable nightmare.”
Tanaka lips curled, “We will ensure we have control. Palm Island was the first test site. There will be others before we proceed.”
Alexa swallowed her nausea. “Would you at least be willing to listen to alternative plans? Would you support us presenting them to the cabal?”
Tanaka’s eyes narrowed, “If Jonathan agrees.” She stood up in a fluid motion. “You need to convince Jonathan, not me. He has my full support.”
She didn’t wait for an answer as she walked toward the door, pausing only as Mr. Sato hurried to open it for her.
The door shut behind her with a firm click and Alexa and Rick stared at it in shock.
“Sunny and I got that one wrong,” said Alexa after a long moment of bewildered silence.
Rick gave a slow nod, “You did. But I’d back Mitch’s judgment against most of GenTech’s psych’s, and I swear he’ll be as stunned as you.”
Alexa rubbed at her temples and closed her eyes before turning to Rick, “Do you think we have any chance of stopping the next test?”
He shook his head, “From what she just said they’re releasing the virus tonight.” He pulled out his phone and did a quick search. “The good news is Kuroshima is an isolated fishing and agricultural community with a core population of perhaps two hundred people. Accessible via ferry from Ainoura—about an hour trip.”
Alexa frowned, “Why choose a genetically similar population with little diversity for a test?”
Rick grimaced, “It relies on tourism so has diversity. But maybe the intent is to show they can target Japanese only; or other races and exclude Japanese.”
“I supposed we should be grateful they’re planning on stopping the ferry tomorrow morning,” said Alexa with a bleak expression. She swallowed her iced tea and gave Rick a disgruntled look as she patted her belly, “At least you can get drunk and forget for the night.”
Rick grimaced, “I wouldn’t do that to you, Ali-Kat, even if drinking alone was appealing.” He sighed, “Have you any appetite left? I’ll have dinner sent up as I don’t like the smell of this room anymore.”
16
A new plan
Rick posted a request on the dark web message board for Mitch to call him; Tokyo was 17 hours ahead of San Francisco so he didn’t expect a response until late in the evening, probably between ten and midnight.
Alexa had eaten a reasonable dinner; the delicious and delicate flavors enough to tempt her appetite but she was yawning even before they finished the mostly silent meal and had gone straight to bed. Rick had promised to wake her if he needed urgent input, otherwise he’d fill her in the following morning.
Rick poured himself a hefty belt of single malt—if nothing else came of this trip, he had a greater appreciation for Japanese whiskey. He opened the door onto the balcony and retreated to the bedroom to grab his jacket and shoes; the night air was too cool for shirtsleeves and bare feet.
He leaned on the glass and chrome balustrade for a few moments staring out over the city lights. As it grew later, the hum of traffic from the streets below was diminishing. As much as he’d complained about the inconvenience of GenTech’s secretive subterranean R&D base in Canada’s western mountains; he missed the crisp clean mountain air and serenity of bird calls and wind breathing through the evergreen trees.
Jonathan and his cabal were not completely wrong; the strain on the planet of so many people demanding complex high-tech lives was reaching breaking point. With or without Jonathan’s meddling the human race was ready to plunge off the top of the rollercoaster and hurtle toward a new balance.
Rick unhappily acknowledged that he accepted the need for drastic change more than Alexa. Even though she found the crowded streets of Tokyo daunting when they were out sightseeing and muttered more than once that there were too many people in too small a space. It had been far easier to forget the unpleasant and unremitting pressure of dense-packed population when lost in the wilderness.
But he still didn’t want to follow Jonathan’s path; he couldn’t see anything but chaos if an epidemic was unleashed that killed millions or billions of people. It would shatter the core infrastructure of the world. Surely Jonathan and the cabal realized that. Apart from a common drive to save the planet from the plague of rapacious humanity; the cabal members had IQ’s off the charts. The ramifications of such a simple blunt attack must be clear. Was it a double bluff? What was Jonathan planning?
Rick swirled the smoky amber fluid in his glass and decided a second shot wasn’t enough to qualify as drinking alone. He padded inside and poured a generous amount, just as the cheap burn phone in his pocket vibrated. He dropped into a couch on the balcony, stretching along its length and leaning back against one cushioned arm to stare up at the sky. The city lights prevented even scattered pin pricks of starlight being visible.
“Morning buddy,” he said as he answered the insistent buzz. “You’re up early.”
Mitch yawned in his ear, “We take turns with Tim every other night to watch over Jamie so we all get enough shut-eye. Little bugger used to snooze through the night fine; now he wants to party and play from first light. He was bright eyed and squawking at 4.30 this morning. I’ve fed him, changed him and tucked him up to cuddle with Gilly for an hour or two. Wassup?”
Rick moaned at the thought of years of interrupted nights, “Can Lexie and I come stay with our bundle of joyous yelling delight?”
Mitch laughed, “Only if I soundproof a room for the three of you. How’d the meet with Tanaka go?”
Rick rubbed his eyes, “Not well,” he said with weary resignation. “I’m hoping Sunny has more success in Shanghai.” He summarized the meeting for Mitch.
“Fuck. Test phase two is happening?” groaned Mitch. “We didn’t get the slightest hint from Mark that anything was planned.”
“How is your house guest?” asked Rick. There were background clicks as Mitch tapped on a computer keyboard. He must have been in the upstairs office in front of the banks of monitors that showed the cameras around the property; including those in Mark’s room.
“Sleeping like a baby never does,” said Mitch. “You know young Timmy is the fittest bastard on the team. He’s been taunting Mark to keep up with him. Poor old fella is whacked, falling into bed each night after dozing off in his dinner. Keeps him out of mischief and we’re making great progress on the house maintenance.”
Rick grinned, “You always knew how to get others to do your work, Mitch.”
Mitch gave a soft chuckle but changed the subject. “So, we’ve got Melissa Maynard saying that she’s on side and no chance of swaying Tanaka. Sunny meets with Zhang Yong tomorrow and Gilly set up a job interview with the satellite comms guru later this week; which won’t go how he expects but we’ll see how persuasive my little lady can be.”
“Well, she’s wrapped you around her finger,” said Rick drily.
“No argument there; as Mark keeps reminding me although he’s a hell of lot crasser; he alternates between saying she’s got me by the balls and asking how does it feel to be cock led,” said Mitch with no regret in his voice.
“And you’ve never been happier, have you buddy?” grinned Rick.
“Nope. But I am trying to stay focused; I’d like a world to bring up our own screamin’ demon or six.”
“Six?” said Rick, happy to be diverted and enjoy conversation with his best friend. “Are you insane? Or planning on re-populating the planet if Jonathan pulls the pin?”
“Mmm, good point. We’ll stick to two each, shall we? If Gilly and I get the production line cranking soon, we oughtta have a community of cousins to raise each other while we sit on a quiet deck over a peaceful lake and watch the fish rise.”
“Sounds perfect. Guess we’d better focus on saving the world so we can make that happen. Not much point in Lexie and I staying in Japan; we’ll head to France and see if we have any greater success with Bisset.”
“Great timing. Can you swing through London and have a chat with Reese?” asked Mitch.
“Sure,” said Rick coming alert, wondering why Mitch wanted to involve the last of the Malvern Alternate clones. Reese Mainwaring had provided a cover identity for Rick for the past ten years; acting as GenTech’s eyes and ears in London’s elite business and social circles.
When Rick had contacted him from Cartagena, Reese had confirmed that he’d been warned by Nate to keep his nose out of GenTech’s affairs until he heard from Rick.
Like Rick, Nate and Ryan; it had stunned Reese to learn of Jonathan’s existence. He’d committed his allegiance to Rick and was waiting for further communication.
“What am I asking him to do?” questioned Rick.
“Well Jonathan’s idea of ensuring loyalty tends to turn to blackmail. Mark will be more inclined to speak up against Jonathan’s more drastic ideas if we remove the personal stakes in the game and encourage Jonathan not to take any more hostages.”
“He’s snatched Mark’s family as well as the twins?” asked Rick with a grimace.
“Not yet, but Mark’s worried it’ll happen. At the moment he’s feeding Jonathan details of the plans we decided against as evidence he’s persuading us to stand down. He’s not a double agent, but if we can shut down the threat against his wife and kids, he might be useful.”
“You want Reese to pull them out, before Jonathan makes his move?” Rick frowned as both Reese and Ryan were more businessmen than soldiers.
Mitch chuckled, “Nah. Reese is more lover than fighter. Don’t you remember his buddy Roger describing him as able to charm the pants off any girl.”
Rick rolled his eyes. “He’s got a well-deserved reputation. How does that help us?”
