《The Gamma Recruits》 Chapter 1 Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Chapter 2 Mom has hit you! Paul Beekman has hit you! Two stories you¡¯re following have new hitz! Sheryl Decker added you to her hitzlist!
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Top ten places to see before they become unlivable.
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Sir David Attenborough says immediate action necessary to avert climate disaster. Anton Kamaras implores fellow billionaires to focus on earth, not space. Why technology alone cannot save the planet.
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Losing Samairahad Fuck Chapter 19
Ruan propped one end of his outrigger against a rock on the sheltered beach near the unpopulated southwest tip of Moloka¡¯i to create a shady spot where he could spend the day. He¡¯d underestimated the difficulty of towing his captive all the way from Pearl Harbor against the prevailing current. Exhausted, he lay panting on the bare sand, forcing himself to hydrate and take in protein. As he drank, his fingers explored the swollen cut on the side of his ribcage, sustained during the clash on Ford Island. He squeezed it between his thumb and forefinger, examining the resulting mix of blood and pus. With nothing to treat the infection, he¡¯d have to rely on his body to fight it off. It had been nearly twenty-four hours since he¡¯d left Oahu, and Ruan was exhausted. He¡¯d never make the perilous final leg back to his home at Diamond Head without getting some sleep first. Settling in under his canoe, he did his best to ignore the nagging itch around his cut and get comfortable.
***
Hours later, he shot upright to the tickling sensation of flies swarming his wound, feasting on the draining ooze. He scrambled to his feet and waded into the water to wash himself off, preferring the sting of saltwater to the lingering sensation of crawling insects. Shielding his eyes, Ruan glanced skyward to gauge the sun. Late afternoon. His former captive must be among friends and family by now, infecting them with a pathogen that would condemn most of them to death. Ugly, maybe, but what choice did he have? With diminishing supplies and an aging body, he couldn¡¯t keep fighting off incursions. The invaders had forced him to do something that would take on a life beyond his own, and mark O¡¯ahu as forever cursed. Perhaps with luck, the disease would spread to Maui and Lanai¡ªmaybe even as far as the Big Island. Along with it would spread the tale of the terrifying encounter on Ford Island, as relayed by the two fishermen he¡¯d allowed to escape, and confirmed by his captive in the hours remaining before he could no longer find the strength to communicate. They¡¯d embellish the story with whatever meaning they derived from the canoe in which he had returned, filled with the severed heads of warriors lying in a bed of their own putrefying entrails. Ruan himself had no particular message in mind when fashioning the grisly scene, but felt confident their primitive minds would invent a suitably terrifying narrative. Whatever happened with his former captive was now beyond his control, and he needed to focus on getting home alive. An inventory of his food and water rations left him confident he¡¯d brought adequate supplies. The only remaining obstacles were the water conditions and his own stamina¡ªundoubtedly compromised by injury and infection. Relieved of the burden of the second canoe dragging along behind him, perhaps he could make it home by daybreak. As he pushed off, Ruan promised himself he would never again venture onto the open water. Taking the compass from his breast pocket, he read the message next to the sight wire.
May you always find your way home to me. Love, Lenora.
He shook his head. What had been meant as a message of love now seemed like a taunt. Still, it would bring him back to a home of sorts¡ªkeeping his course true after the distant peak of Diamond Head disappeared into the darkness. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
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Ruan pushed through increasing discomfort all night, arriving on Waikiki Beach a little after sunrise. It took longer than he¡¯d hoped due to his vanishing strength and repeated stops to vomit over the side of the canoe. Lying in the warm sun to catch his breath, he couldn¡¯t stop shivering amid worsening symptoms of acute septic shock. He struggled to put on his ruck, determined he would somehow make it back to his hut to stow his gear, and then ascend one last time to his favorite place on the island; his ocean lookout at the peak of the crater wall. Rational or not, having a mission upon which to focus offered comfort in the face of the realization he would soon die from the infection spreading through his body. Dangerous under ideal circumstances, Ruan had put considerable effort into easing the climb up the outside of the crater. At a low spot on the north side of the wall, where he came and went from his hidden campsite, he¡¯d made a discrete pathway, taking advantage of the natural step-shaped features in the volcanic rock. Typically, the one-and-a-half kilometers from the beach to where the path started was an easy fifteen-minute jog. From there to his hut inside the crater took another thirty minutes. Battling sickness and fatigue, it took him four hours to make the same trip after the arduous journey from Moloka¡¯i. He uncovered the plastic containers hidden near his hut and opened them for a final survey. Sliding his holster and K-bar sheath off his belt, he placed them in the container with the other weapons. His belt and ruck went into the other with his personal supplies, clothing, and two worn-out pairs of boots he kept in case he got desperate enough to use them again. After a moment of consideration, he closed both containers and covered them over. The trail to the summit appeared to have doubled in elevation from his perspective at the bottom. Though he could think of no practical reason to subject himself to the climb, he felt compelled to do so nonetheless. Perhaps he would find some solace at the summit in his final hours¡ªif he made it. Each step sent pain radiating through his body, and every grab at the rungs of his makeshift ladders was a jab in the side from the warrior¡¯s spear. He had lapses of awareness, losing track of progress as he climbed, and forgetting where he was. At times, he would hallucinate about climbing the path to Devil¡¯s Peak behind his childhood home in the Rondebosch suburb of Cape Town. Lenora was there, too, wasn¡¯t she? She scampered ahead with ease, urging him on before disappearing over some rock or ledge and reappearing further ahead¡ªalways out of reach. Ruan reached the summit with little recollection of the climb, and no idea how long it had taken. The sun, though low, had not yet taken on the orange hue of sunset. Below him, the sprawling city of Cape Town sparkled like a jewel against a backdrop of iridescent azure. Or maybe it was Honolulu. He no longer had a sense of place or time as he sat on his familiar perch, watching one image blur into the next. Lenora sat next to him, sharing the breathtaking view. The sunlight glinting off the waves looked like a swirling sea of sapphires, filling him with a euphoric sense of peaceful awe. He turned to his wife and smiled. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be here.¡± She frowned and shook her head, the corners of her mouth quivering as a single tear rolled down her cheek. ¡°But I¡¯m not here. Not really.¡± ¡°Yes, you are. We can be together now.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be with you, Ruan. Everything good about you died with me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said, disintegrating into a fog, ¡°you do.¡± He collapsed back, dislodging the compass he¡¯d forgotten to remove from his breast pocket as he hit the ground. It slid down his shoulder, coming to rest beside his head. The glittering sapphires in his mind transformed into sparks rising from the campfire of the fishermen on Ford Island. He saw the men gathered around it¡ªtalking and laughing. His former captive turned to him, his face transforming into the grotesque, misshapen mess resulting from their collision. As he howled with laughter, his unhinged jaw flapped about, opening wide like a snake¡¯s. Everything started to spin, and Ruan fell headfirst into the blackness of his former prisoner¡¯s deformed, gaping maw. Chapter 20
The recruits struggled to maintain focus with Kamaras¡¯s unsettling revelation dealing such a devastating blow to what had been a sense of growing optimism. Jayson sat at his desk, working in a fog while his mind drifted back to thoughts of his friends and family back home. He¡¯d briefly considered packing up his things and leaving the Center to find comfort in familiar surroundings. The only thing stopping him, a few words from Kamaras still offering hope. ¡°We are considering several extreme alternatives to the present course.¡± It felt silly to expect even a man with such wealth could wave a magic wand and fix everything, but at least it offered something to hold on to. He imagined increasingly fantastical pronouncements by their benefactor, revealing how they would save the world. Maybe he¡¯d arranged an alliance of billionaires to pour all of their resources into a new carbon capture technology. Maybe he¡¯d gone to the United Nations to convince the world¡¯s governments to work together in the face of disaster. Maybe he¡¯d made contact with an advanced race of alien beings that could move the earth¡¯s orbit just enough to buy some time. He shook his head and snorted at the absurd, desperation-fueled imaginings. ***
Increasingly isolated from the team, Andrew looked forward to his lunches with Samaira. Even if she¡¯d been distracted for the last week, it beat eating alone in his office. Often, they¡¯d grab their food from the cafeteria and walk to a bench on the trail, or find a spot in the courtyard where they could talk without distraction. Hearing the crunch of footsteps on the fine gravel path, Andrew looked up and smiled. ¡°How¡¯s your day going?¡± asked Samaira. ¡°Alright, I guess. You?¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said with a shrug. A lie. She¡¯d been forcing a smile all week. ¡°You sure? You seem a bit down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Is it me? I know you¡¯ve been spending more time with Aiden,¡± he said, wrinkling his brow. ¡°Would you rather be having lunch with him?¡± ¡°No. I like our time together.¡± He studied her for a moment, looking for tells of another lie. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°How long have you known Aiden?¡± she asked, changing the subject. ¡°I don¡¯t know him at all. We¡¯ve barely spoken.¡± ¡°How long has he been here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ve seen him around since I got here, so that¡¯s gotta be at least a year. Why?¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°No reason. Just wondering.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask him?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Uh oh. Trouble in paradise? You know I could offer you a shoulder to cry on¡ªor maybe something else, if it would help.¡± ¡°Andrew,¡± she said, narrowing an eye. He bit his lip. ¡°Sorry. Old habits.¡± ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Is he upset you¡¯re spending time with me?¡± ¡°He¡¯s never even mentioned it, to be honest.¡± Andrew snorted. Of course he hadn¡¯t. What threat could he pose to a guy like that? ¡°Is that weird? That he wouldn¡¯t be concerned about you hanging out with other guys?¡± ¡°I¡¯d call it pretty healthy behavior.¡± ¡°I thought women wanted men to be jealous.¡± ¡°Some women, maybe. You don¡¯t need anyone who¡¯s going to play games with you, Andrew.¡± ¡°Listen, I can¡¯t afford to be picky,¡± he said with a laugh. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t sell yourself short.¡± Andrew nodded and took a breath. ¡°Thank you, Samaira¡ªfor being my friend.¡± ¡°I feel the same way.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand why. I mean, why did you give an asshole like me the time of day to begin with?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point wasting even a moment of your life on an asshole, if you can avoid it.¡± Samaira paused and took his hand. ¡°But I can tell the difference between a real asshole and somebody who just needs a little help to find themselves.¡± He blushed, wishing they could be more than friends. They couldn¡¯t, of course, and trying to change that would ruin everything. ¡°That means a lot to me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made good progress. We should get you reconnected with the rest of the group.¡± His shoulders sank. ¡°I¡¯m not sure we need to bother with that.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to,¡± he said, casting his eyes to the ground. ¡°More like I won¡¯t have the chance.¡± ¡°What am I missing?¡± ¡°For the last month, I¡¯ve been training a new guy. I think he¡¯s my replacement.¡± ¡°Really? Has Richard said anything?¡± ¡°Nothing specific. Just that he¡¯ll be taking on a new project that¡¯s launching soon.¡± ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°Matteus. Matteus Christensen. Danish guy¡ªand a redhead, too. Maybe they¡¯re hoping they can do a hot-swap without anyone noticing,¡± he said with a laugh. ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the other thing that has me thinking I¡¯m on the way out. I didn¡¯t get invited to the last all-hands, and I¡¯m not on the list for the one on Friday, either.¡± ¡°I hope it¡¯s not true, Andrew.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for the best. It¡¯ll give me a chance to start fresh with a new group of people.¡± ¡°A fresh start is nice sometimes¡ªbut I¡¯d miss you.¡± ¡°Yeah. Me too.¡±
***
Richard sat on the edge of his desk, looking over Cal¡¯s shoulder at an aggregated view of team sentiment. Denise Bertrand, the recruiter assigned to the women on the team, stood over the other shoulder. ¡°Click on that one again,¡± said Richard, pointing to a picture of Hitarthi Srinivasan. Cal brought up the data showing different aspects of her mental state, as determined by the AI from her browsing habits, text messages, and social media interactions. Richard shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s really dropping.¡± ¡°Still in the zone,¡± said Cal. Denise snorted and rolled her eyes. ¡°Barely.¡± The devastating announcement a couple of days earlier was having the predicted effect. After bombarding the recruits for months with anxiety-inducing stories about environmental crises and climate change, Kamaras had given them hope they could save the world. Then he¡¯d ripped that hope away, replacing it with an apocalyptic view of their future. Though the overall reaction remained consistent with their models, the speed and intensity varied by individual. Most still had a little farther to go before they¡¯d accept the risks of Gamma, but Hitarthi was falling fast, at risk of being too far gone to take the lifeline when they finally offered it. ¡°What about Adams?¡± asked Richard. ¡°Looking good,¡± said Denise. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Cal clicked on her picture, and Richard leaned closer to review the data. It did look good. ¡°How sure are we?¡± he asked. ¡°You know it¡¯s tough with her.¡± ¡°Not anymore,¡± said Denise. ¡°We¡¯ve got more insight now that we¡¯re piping her chats with Aiden directly into the simulations.¡± Richard smiled to himself. ¡°When do we pull the trigger?¡± he asked, rubbing his hands together. Chapter 21 Great orand Great The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Holy shit direct our this was the Chapter 22
Jayson wedged his way between Samaira and Aiden as they filed out of the auditorium. ¡°So you guys are cool with this?¡± ¡°Definitely,¡± said Aiden. ¡°I think so, yeah,¡± added Samaira. ¡°You¡¯re not?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. I¡ªI don¡¯t know what I think.¡± The trio emerged into the foyer where Parth, Hitarthi, and Luping waited. ¡°What did you guys think of that?¡± asked Parth. ¡°It sounds pretty crazy to me,¡± replied Jayson, ¡°but these two seem on board.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°I think I am too.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jayson shook his head. Were they all out of their minds? ¡°It¡¯s not the most appealing idea, but it beats the hell out of the alternative.¡± ¡°What about you guys?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± said Hitarthi. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel real yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaning towards yes,¡± added Luping. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk to clear my head,¡± said Jayson. ¡°It feels like I¡¯m watching all of this happen from outside my body, you know?¡± ¡°Anyone else going back to the residence?¡± asked Hitarthi. ¡°I need some time to think this over.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll walk with you.¡± She accepted with a nod, and they headed outside together. Hitarthi hardly spoke for the short walk back to the residence. Jayson didn¡¯t mind, or even notice, for that matter. He was in his own world, trying to absorb the implications of the briefing. ¡°It¡¯s not just me, is it?¡± she asked. ¡°I mean, this is crazy, right?¡± ¡°Totally nuts.¡± ¡°Why is everyone taking it in stride?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look a gift horse in the mouth, I guess.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that before. What does it even mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the literal meaning, but basically, it means you shouldn¡¯t ask too many questions when someone answers your prayers.¡± ¡°I guess.¡± ¡°Want to come for a walk around the point? It might do you some good.¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± A relief. He needed some time to think. ¡°Okay. See you at the thing tonight.¡± As Hitarthi made her way inside, Jayson continued down the path toward the benches where he¡¯d first met Samaira. Though it felt like he¡¯d known her for years, that first meeting seemed only days ago. He shook off the strange feeling¡ªa superposition of perception, he realized¡ªand picked up the pace to get his blood flowing.
***
Jayson arrived for the evening celebration a bit after seven, finding it a more elaborate affair than he¡¯d expected. Numbered tables with linen coverings and immaculate place settings replaced the usual configuration. Several of his colleagues were already there, taking advantage of the open bar and hors d¡¯oeuvres offered ahead of the meal. Parth and Luping walked in behind him. ¡°Wow. Fancy,¡± said Parth. ¡°I feel a bit under-dressed,¡± replied Jayson. The catering staff wore nicer clothing than most of the recruits, and the Navy personnel had donned their dress uniforms. ¡°Where¡¯s the music coming from?¡± asked Luping. ¡°There,¡± said Parth. He pointed to the far side of the room where a temporary platform hosted an unusual string quartet playing Mozart. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s creepy as hell,¡± said Jayson. Four vaguely humanoid robots played their instruments, exhibiting flawless form. ¡°I think it¡¯s beautiful.¡± They spotted Samaira and Aiden mingling with a few of the Navy personnel, and wandered over to meet them. ¡°Hey!¡± said Aiden as they approached. ¡°Come and meet the latest arrivals. Josh Talbot, Lisa Washington, and Martina de la Cruz¡ªmeet Jayson Reilly, Parth Ravinderan, and Luping Zhang.¡± ¡°Impressive memory,¡± said the Navy man he¡¯d introduced as Josh. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can keep it going. Josh and Martina were both combat medics¡ªnow doctors¡ªand Lisa is a mechanical engineer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still technically a resident,¡± said Josh, ¡°but close enough.¡± ¡°Parth is a civil engineer, Luping studies materials science, and Jayson is¡ª¡° ¡°A farmer,¡± he said, thrusting out a hand. ¡°The most important one of all,¡± said Josh. ¡°Has anyone seen Hitarthi yet?¡± asked Samaira. ¡°She seemed a little shaken up earlier.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± said Jayson. ¡°Just needed a bit of time by herself.¡±
***
On the other side of the room, Richard stood with Admiral Daniels enjoying a glass of champagne when Denise rushed over. The recruiter held up her phone. ¡°We have an issue.¡± ¡°Excuse me, Admiral,¡± said Richard. He pulled Denise aside and looked at the screen. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Hitarthi is reaching out. She tried to call her mother and texted some friends.¡± ¡°Expected¡ªunder the circumstances.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not stable. Something¡¯s going to slip.¡± ¡°But nothing yet, right?¡± ¡°We intercepted the call and sent it to a spoofed voicemail. She¡¯s saying she needs advice, and asked her mother to call back.¡± ¡°The texts?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got a bot responding. I¡¯ll see if it can coax her into revealing anything.¡± ¡°Okay. Stay on her all night, if you have to.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Richard sighed as she scurried away. ¡°Everything okay?¡± asked the Admiral. ¡°Overreaction,¡± he replied. ¡°We¡¯re on top of it.¡±
***
Waiters entered the room with trays of champagne, encouraging everyone to take a fresh glass for a toast. After they¡¯d made their rounds and vanished, a screen on the wall by the robotic quartet flickered to life. Anton Kamaras appeared before them, holding a glass of his own. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you all again under happier circumstances. I imagine it¡¯s been quite an interesting day for you, just as it¡¯s been an interesting week for me.¡± There were some laughs and light applause. ¡°The fourteenth Dalai Lama said ¡®to remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant.¡¯¡± He paused briefly before continuing. ¡°What we must do, therefore, is to strive, and persevere, and never give up¡ªdespite the odds. I can¡¯t express how happy it¡¯s made me to present you with new hope, and an opportunity to meet our noble goal. Tonight we celebrate that hope together.¡± The audience met his moving remarks with enthusiastic cheers. Over a few disorienting weeks, the atmosphere at the center had cycled through hope, despair, shock, and finally, relief. The contagious excitement enabled by that welcome relief fueled the crowd¡¯s response. ¡°Thank you so much for that,¡± continued Kamaras as the applause died down. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve been enjoying my string quartet this evening. Every aspect of their performance has been iterated to perfection by our AI, using recordings from countless performances of the works of history¡¯s greatest composers. You won¡¯t find a more flawless human performance anywhere in the world. After seeing what they could do, I decided to find out if our AI could compose their own music.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. He paused and looked around the room. At least that¡¯s how it felt. Perhaps he could see them on a screen of his own, or perhaps he¡¯d choreographed the move to give the illusion of presence. ¡°And indeed, it can. It composes the most objectively soulless, stiff, and unmoving melodies you can imagine. Our performers are here tonight to illustrate both the wonders and limits of technology. On your journey, we¡¯ll provide you with as many marvels of technology as we can. But never forget you will reimagine the world. You will compose the score of humanity. When your families, colleagues, and I arrive in the reality you¡¯ve created for us, we will experience with wonder the symphony your efforts have become.¡± He raised his glass to the camera on the other end of the connection. ¡°I offer this toast, inadequate as it is, in honor of the great things you will do.¡± He took a sip, and the screen went dark. Kamaras was gone. Richard stepped onto the platform amid the applause to address his team. ¡°I hope you were as moved by Mr. Kamaras¡¯s words as I was. It¡¯s impossible to express the enormity of what you are undertaking, but he did it as well as anyone could.¡± More applause. Richard held up his hands. ¡°For this evening¡¯s gathering, we¡¯re going to have a little fun as you mingle with some of your new colleagues. You will each receive a hit with a table number and a conversation prompt based on how your complementary skills will create a better society. Please have a seat at your assigned table, as dinner service will begin shortly.¡± Around the room, phones vibrated and chirped. Jayson read his message aloud. ¡°Table four. Livable cities. Seems kind of the opposite of agriculture.¡± ¡°Same one for me,¡± said Parth. ¡°Me too,¡± added Luping. ¡°Makes sense for a civil engineer and construction materials scientist,¡± said Jayson. ¡°Let¡¯s see where I fit in.¡± ¡°Table two,¡± said Samaira. ¡°Contact with established cultures.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± added Aiden. ¡°Okay. Now I know this is just random,¡± said Jayson. ¡°They need me for my charm,¡± said Aiden with a laugh. ¡°What culture could resist me?¡± ¡°Table five¡ªinfrastructure and systems,¡± said Lisa, one of the new Navy recruits. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll see you guys later,¡± said Josh. ¡°Martina and I are off to talk healthcare.¡± ***
Kailani was already sitting down, chatting with one of Admiral Daniels¡¯ men at table two, when Aiden and Samaira arrived to take their seats. ¡°This is Ted Park,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s a sociologist.¡± ¡°What are your specializations?¡± he asked. ¡°Organizational psychology,¡± replied Samaira. ¡°We¡¯ll have a lot to talk about, I imagine. What about you, Aiden?¡± ¡°Agricultural operations. Guess they had nowhere else to put me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. Food is a language of its own. The sharing of food with strangers has ritualistic importance across many cultures.¡± ¡°If you say so.¡±
***
Jayson joined Luping, Parth, and one of the Admiral¡¯s recruits at table four, along with guest researcher Serge Goudreau. Jayson had dined with him several times in the cafeteria, but they¡¯d never discussed his work. Of everyone at the Center, Serge displayed the keenest fashion sense. He never wore shorts to work, even on the hottest days. On occasion, he even sported a neckerchief. The Admiral¡¯s recruit introduced herself as Jen Jefferson, describing her expertise as logistics and supply. She looked mixed race¡ªBlack and Asian, maybe? Jayson chided himself. Why did he always do that¡ªboil people down to race as a first instinct? Race aside, she obviously spent a lot of time at the gym. With muscles bulging through her shirt, she looked like she could body-slam him, given the chance. Even so, he found her mix of strength and delicate femininity alluring. He bit his lip, determined not to come off as some kind of creep by checking her out all night. After introductions, Parth addressed the table¡¯s designated topic. ¡°What¡¯s new in the world of urban planning, Serge?¡± ¡°Everything, it would seem,¡± he replied in his Parisian accent. ¡°It is rare I would have the chance to start with carte blanche¡ªa blank slate.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your background?¡± asked Jayson. ¡°I started as a research and development intern at Dassault Syst¨¨mes, supporting their Virtual Singapore project. I found it so compelling, I switched from computer science to urban planning. Now I¡¯m working toward a master¡¯s degree.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s off the table now, huh?¡± The Frenchman shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s hardly relevant, under the circumstances.¡± It seemed a rude response, but Jayson realized it could just as easily be a nuance of language. ¡°I guess not. What¡¯s Virtual Singapore?¡± ¡°We modeled the entire city¡ªnot just physically, but also the processes and the daily activities of the people. We added real-time monitoring of air quality, noise pollution, traffic flows, power demand, and so on.¡± ¡°Sounds cool, but why?¡± ¡°Singapore has not much room left to grow. Every urban planning decision must be the right one, because the stakes for them are very high. Modeling and simulating the impacts of development is the only way for them to grow sustainably.¡± ¡°Sustainably?¡± said Jayson, raising his eyebrows. ¡°I concede that in their context, the word does not mean the same as it does for us, but we can apply the lessons to our own goals. We can model the growth of our society to see the impact our choices will have hundreds of years into the future.¡± ¡°I find it hard to believe we can model an entire civilization,¡± said Jayson. ¡°We have already modeled Singapore with conventional computing. With the quantum capabilities at the Center, we can imagine the unimaginable. For example, I can help Parth decide how the water supply, sewers, roads, and utilities should evolve, so we don¡¯t make mistakes that have to be fixed in a hundred years. I can tell Luping how much power we¡¯ll need to store in her special concrete for decades into the future as our society grows.¡± ¡°Too bad there won¡¯t be any of that until after we¡¯re dead,¡± said Jayson. ¡°I assume we¡¯ll be living in mud huts for the rest of our lives.¡± That was his biggest fear¡ªaside from the journey itself. They¡¯d have little in the way of modern comforts. ¡°If we stay or go, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± said Jen with a shrug. ¡°Either way, our generation has to make sacrifices.¡± Jayson snorted. ¡°Screwed by the boomers.¡± ¡°Screwed by human nature, I would say,¡± said Serge. ¡°The generation responsible is only an accident of time.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re just unlucky?¡± ¡°Exactly this.¡± Had Jayson been born in the fifties, would he care so much about sustainability? He changed the subject. ¡°As interesting as this is, I can¡¯t help but think I¡¯m at the wrong table.¡± ¡°Far from it,¡± said Jen. ¡°In the Navy, it¡¯s my job to get stuff where it needs to be. If that means burning ten thousand kilos of avgas or loading up a dozen diesel trucks, nobody bats an eye. In peacetime, what do you think I ship more than anything else besides fuel?¡± ¡°Food,¡± he replied. ¡°You got it. For me, the goal is to minimize the need for logistics infrastructure and roads. That means working with people like you and Serge.¡± ¡°To do what?¡± ¡°To do our best to make me unemployed so I can sit on the beach and work on my tan,¡± she said with a laugh. ¡°Put the food among the people¡ªwhere they need it¡ªso I don¡¯t have to figure out how to move it around. Rooftop gardens, vertical farming, urban cooperative gardens, whatever. You¡¯re the expert on this stuff.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re more than just a pretty face,¡± said Jayson. Shit. He bit his lip. Jen smiled and offered a wink. ¡°I try to keep people off balance,¡± she said. He let out a breath, relieved she hadn¡¯t taken offence. ¡°I keep overlooking that we¡¯re starting from scratch,¡± he continued. ¡°We can establish a common view that everyone is responsible for at least some of their own food needs.¡± ¡°This makes sense,¡± said Serge. ¡°An urban planner should look for ways to leave nature untouched instead of trying to develop it. We should be partners, Jayson, to bring some of the farm into the city, and reimagine our surroundings as a beautiful, green oasis.¡±
***
Discussions were somewhat less harmonious at table two, where Kailani and Ted couldn¡¯t agree on the best way to integrate into their new world. Kailani insisted her linguistic skills could facilitate a rapid assimilation of the local tribes they might encounter. Ted countered that the technological and theological divide between them would become a source of violent conflict. It would be better, he¡¯d asserted, to establish friendly yet distant relations. ¡°You don¡¯t think it will create even more animosity if we take over a corner of their island and shut them out?¡± demanded Kailani, putting a fist on the table. ¡°Maybe at first, but they¡¯ll learn to live with our presence.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to have them celebrating it?¡± ¡°Not if those celebrations involve human sacrifice.¡± ¡°Why are you assuming they¡¯re going to be savages?¡± Aiden narrowed his eyes from across the table and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Ted, holding up his hands. ¡°I¡¯m showing prejudice. Our best approach is to stay open and adaptable. We¡¯re in this together, and we¡¯ll need to decide together.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said Kailani. She leaned back from the table and relaxed her fist. Samaira sat with her elbows on the table, studying the interaction between Kailani and the newcomer. ¡°What about you?¡± asked Aiden. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I think the next course is here.¡± She leaned back as a quartet of white-gloved servers arrived with covered plates and set them on the table.
***
Jayson pushed away what remained of his tiramisu and put a hand on his stomach. He¡¯d eaten too much. The conversation, punctuated by a half-dozen courses of gourmet food and expertly paired wines, easily matched the quality of the food. By the time the waiters were clearing the dessert plates and offering coffee, any tension he¡¯d felt heading into the evening had melted away. The earnest exchanges with the new arrivals allayed his fears they might be uneducated grunts who would undermine the peaceful nature of the mission. Meeting Jen and connecting with Serge had erased all remaining doubts. He was going to take the leap.
***
Though still home to some Center staff, the Fusion A building sat mostly empty since its sister facility had been airlifted halfway across the island. For that reason, and because it had controlled access, a select group of recruits chose its largest conference room as the location for a post-celebration debrief. Aiden was late. He¡¯d walked Samaira to her room and stayed talking with her in the hallway for nearly twenty minutes, deflecting her advances until she gave up and turned in for the night. After that, he took his time walking to the rendezvous, not wanting to appear in a rush. When he stepped into the conference room, Ted Park snapped to his feet and saluted. ¡°Jesus Christ, Park. What are you doing?¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°Sorry, sir. Uh¡­ I mean sorry, Aiden.¡± ¡°Lift your shirt.¡± ¡°Come on, man.¡± ¡°Lift your fucking shirt, Park. I told you what would happen if you slipped up.¡± Ted sighed and raised his shirt, holding the hem to his armpits with both hands. The rest of the Admiral¡¯s recruits lined up, most chuckling and shaking their heads. Josh stepped up first. He raised a hand above his head and delivered an open-handed slap across Ted¡¯s bare stomach. The Korean-American SEAL winced. ¡°I¡¯m going to remember that windup, asshole.¡± ¡°Remember it all you want. I¡¯m not going to fuck up.¡± Martina went next, putting a little less into her swing. ¡°I appreciate it, de la Cruz,¡± said Ted. Then Jen stepped up, a grin creeping across her face. ¡°Ready for me, Park?¡± ¡°Fuck me. Always gotta prove you can hang with the big boys, don¡¯t you?¡± Her hand landed with a reverberating smack, and Park winced again, shaking his head. ¡°The rest of you fuckers better remember I just ate. Someone¡¯s gonna get puked on.¡± ¡°Totally worth it,¡± said his next punisher, Paul Suryana. In all, eleven blows landed on Ted¡¯s stomach to remind him of the operational security protocols. With the last of them, he eased his shirt down over the growing welts. ¡°Alright, sit down,¡± said Aiden. ¡°Great work tonight. Disarming, for the most part. You got a little aggressive with Kailani, Park.¡± ¡°Sorry about that. I just want to make sure they don¡¯t go in there expecting to get all friendly.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what they expect. Let them think whatever they want for now.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Otherwise,¡± continued Aiden, ¡°great stuff. They¡¯re accepting you as colleagues, and I think the initial suspicion is diffusing. We¡¯ll get confirmation from the AI over the next few days.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the goal, why mention our Navy background at all?¡± asked Martina. ¡°We could just be scientists, or whatever.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be the only ones armed, and they¡¯d naturally question that. Now, they¡¯ll accept it¡ªand your authority in matters of security.¡± ¡°If you say so. Anything else?¡± ¡°Keep studying the bios. We¡¯ve collected a lot of information on these kids. Use it to create connections.¡± ¡°What have you collected about Josh?¡± asked Ted. ¡°I owe him some payback.¡± ¡°They know your mom¡¯s gonna miss me when I¡¯m gone.¡± ¡°Ouch, Park. I bet that burns worse than the pink belly,¡± said Jen with a laugh. ¡°Adding it to the list,¡± replied Park. ¡°Revenge is a dish best served cold.¡± ¡°Nah,¡± said Josh. ¡°Revenge is a dish best served pink.¡± He leaned over and poked Ted in the belly. ¡°Jesus Christ, man!¡± Aiden shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you imbeciles managed such good behavior tonight. Let¡¯s see if we can hold our shit together for a few more weeks, alright?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± said Park He jumped to his feet, catching himself before he could salute. Chapter 23
Though already summer, the Center for Sustainability Research boasted a spring break vibe the next day. Outside of the residence building, a dump truck left a load of pristine, white sand to set up for a day of beach volleyball, while caterers filled tubs of ice with beer and wine under a nearby marquee. At a temporary stage, technicians completed their soundcheck ahead of an evening of live entertainment. In support of the retro theme, the Center had booked Earth, Wind, & Fire and Abba tribute band Bj?rn Again to provide the campy entertainment. The Gamma recruits were under strict orders to forget about the mission for the weekend and let loose. ¡°Jayson!¡± called out a voice from the crowd. Jen. The pretty Navy logistics expert from the night before. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Nothing like beer for brunch,¡± she said, raising a bottle. He clinked his beer against hers. ¡°Not a wine girl, huh?¡± ¡°I can be¡ªwhen the occasion suits it.¡± ¡°Looking forward to the show?¡± ¡°I am. Even though it¡¯s supposed to be kind of cheesy, I have to admit I love Abba.¡± ¡°Really? Did you inherit that from your parents?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said with a laugh. ¡°They grew up on grunge. I think I started listening to Abba to piss them off.¡± ¡°The goal of teenagers everywhere, I guess.¡± ¡°You sign up for volleyball?¡± Jayson shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not much of a jock.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s just for fun.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Come on,¡± she said, ¡°Let¡¯s do it together.¡± She took him by the hand before he could respond, pulling him along behind as she headed for the courts.
***
Not everyone at the Center had time for fun. The day¡¯s events, like the party the night before, were part of the plan to get the recruits in the right frame of mind, and someone had to monitor the data. ¡°What do we have since last night?¡± asked Richard. ¡°A lot of good news and some not-so-good news,¡± replied Cal. He sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go with the good first.¡± ¡°Hits among the recruits are significantly more positive. Internet searches are trending toward things like survival tactics, self-sustained living, and the history of the islands. For the most part, they¡¯re preparing to go.¡± ¡°And the bad news?¡± ¡°Hitarthi Srinivasan. She¡¯s freaking out.¡± Richard looked at Denise, leaning against the wall, staring at her phone. She ignored him. ¡°That¡¯s not an analysis. I need details.¡± ¡°Mainly still reaching out to her mother,¡± said Cal. ¡°But a few friends are in the mix now, too. We¡¯ve got bots responding.¡± ¡°Any risk she¡¯ll figure it out?¡± ¡°The bots are good¡ªmannerisms, vernacular, everything. But she¡¯s gonna wonder why they keep deferring video calls.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t fake that in real-time?¡± ¡°Still experimental,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°And to make things worse, she¡¯s looking at flights.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Shit,¡± said Richard. Denise glanced up from her phone. ¡°She¡¯s not looking anymore,¡± said the recruiter. ¡°She just booked.¡±
***
Hitarthi emerged from her room after nearly a day of self-imposed isolation, pulling a carry-on bag. The only contact she¡¯d had with her teammates were a few brief exchanges via the Hitz-It app, assuring them she was okay. She didn¡¯t want a fuss. With any luck, she could slip away unnoticed amid the distraction of the party. As she passed through the lobby, Olena bounded down the spiral staircase from the mezzanine. ¡°Morning, Hitarthi. Going somewhere?¡± ¡°Just a quick trip home.¡± ¡°Everything okay?¡± ¡°Yeah. Nothing major. I¡¯ll be back before anyone notices.¡± ¡°Need a ride?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a ride share meeting me at the outer gate.¡± ¡°Cancel it,¡± said Olena. ¡°I¡¯m heading to Honolulu.¡± ¡°Now? You¡¯ll miss the excitement.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only a quick trip.¡± Olena glanced over her shoulder. ¡°I need to get some things,¡± she added with a wink. Hitarthi broke into a grin. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a surprise.¡± ¡°Now you have to tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to a thrift shop for some funky seventies clothes to wear tonight. Just a fun little gag to go along with the music.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so cute. Sorry I¡¯m going to miss it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll post some videos. Ready to go?¡±
***
Jayson was better at beach volleyball than he¡¯d let on. He knew the rules, could get the ball mostly where he wanted it, and rarely missed a serve¡ªthough he could only deliver them underhand. Jen, on the other hand, dominated. From the moment she slipped off her t-shirt and track shorts to reveal her athletic form in a sports bikini, she made it clear she wanted to win. He deferred to her knowledge of the game, following directions as she guided his positioning, and called out where she needed him to put the ball. They dispatched their rivals one after the other in the round-robin style tournament and, after a close call in the semi-final against Josh and Kailani, cruised to victory in the last game. She gave him a high-five and a slap across the butt. ¡°Aren¡¯t you glad you decided to play?¡± ¡°That was incredible!¡± he replied. ¡°You¡¯re incredible!¡± She squeezed his hand and whispered, ¡°I might have played semi-professionally for a while, but don¡¯t tell anyone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lucky my partner bailed on me,¡± said Aiden, approaching from the sideline. ¡°We¡¯d have kicked your asses.¡± ¡°Samaira¡¯s not your partner?¡± asked Jayson. ¡°Told me it wasn¡¯t her thing. I was supposed to play with Olena.¡± ¡°Well, she¡¯s here now.¡± He pointed at Aiden¡¯s AWOL teammate, dragging a pair of garbage bags as she approached. ¡°I have a surprise,¡± she called in a sing-song voice. The recruits gathered around, forming a semi-circle around her. ¡°What is it?¡± asked Kailani, rubbing her hands together. Olena dumped the contents onto the grass, revealing a collection of vintage seventies clothing. ¡°My God! Where did you get all this?¡± asked Jen. ¡°I cleared out every thrift store in Honolulu.¡± Kailani gasped, raising a hand to her mouth. ¡°That must have cost you a fortune.¡± ¡°I put it on credit,¡± replied Olena. ¡°I¡¯d love to see them collect.¡± Everyone laughed as they crowded around to inspect the haul.
***
A wild party followed that evening¡ªat least relative to the ordinarily restrained and professional behavior of the young scientists and engineers. Lubricated by alcohol, the recruits let loose in a kind of shared catharsis after weeks of disorienting emotional whiplash. Their new Navy colleagues joined in with at least as much enthusiasm, dancing and drinking as though the world was ending. Earth, Wind, and Fire put on an incredible show. Their practice of cycling in young talent provided an opportunity for the aging original members to pace themselves while a new generation took the spotlight in front of the dancing crowd. Boogie Wonderland, Sing a Song, and September¡ªeven though the songs were hits decades before anyone in the audience was born, the young revelers grooved along as if they¡¯d grown up on them. The closing act, Bj?rn Again, had evolved from its original form into a franchise of several Abba tribute groups touring under the same name. Careful quality control ensured fans could expect a similar, high-quality experience no matter which one of the band¡¯s incarnations they saw. The antiseptic practices of big business behind the routine couldn¡¯t spoil the fun for even the most cynical of minds among the crowd. Jayson had found an undersized, long white jacket and a comically short pair of matching bell-bottom pants to complement the evening¡¯s seventies theme. A sequined fedora with a feather in it topped off his ridiculous ensemble. It didn¡¯t feel out of place, as others had gone for equally outlandish looks. Jen had opted for a leopard print halter top and a pair of hot pants that looked as though they might burst apart under pressure from her bulging quadriceps. As they bounced in unison to the chorus of Waterloo, Jayson tuned out the jostling crowd, focusing only on her. Her flirtatious behavior had been evolving throughout the day, and she now clung to him as they danced. He found it impossible to hide his growing interest, and knew she must be able to feel it as she pressed against him. ¡°I¡¯d like to see your room,¡± she yelled in his ear over the din of the music. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. Same as all the others.¡± She cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh,¡± he said, his eyes going wide. ¡°Yeah, of course.¡± She grabbed his hand and guided him through the crowd toward the residence building. Jayson glanced back to see if anyone saw them leave, unsure if he wanted people to notice or not. Either way, it seemed everyone was having too much fun to care. He rummaged through his pockets for the key card with his free hand as they hurried into the building, not wanting to waste time trying to find it when they got to his room. As they reached the door, he unlocked it with a quick pass of the card, and Jen pushed him over the threshold to the bed. She pressed her lips to his as they collapsed onto the pillows.