The White Death (34 page)

“There’s nothing to admit,” she screamed.

“Then explain this,” said Freda. She wouldn’t let Loretta drown her out by volume alone. She tapped her brooch. The room went dark, golden molecules appearing above them. Hundreds formed, zooming around, before joining up and presenting Gene One. To Freda, it was the most stunning thing she had ever seen. Wondrous.

Loretta’s face was stone, but Freda could detect little glimpses of awe and disgust at what she seen.

“The Bernay have always been fearful and frightfully dangerous towards those destined for greatness.”

Freda’s remark hung heavy in the air. Loretta dropped the charade, and Freda knew she was not about to let her derail a plan that had been worked on for decades.

“So you know,” said Loretta.

“1971,” said Freda. “That’s the year, Loretta. A year that will go down in the history of this alliance and all those who come after us. You found the most sought-after discovery in existence. And it wasn’t found in ancient fossils or writings, but in the genetic makeup of a living, breathing species. The human species. 1971 was the year you found the God gene.”

Chapter 65

“Activate manual steering column!” shouted Marina. The battle noise was deafening. They flew over the Pacific Ocean, just leaving the Japanese mainland. The war that had broken out in the sky was ferocious.

“Marina?”

She just about heard Christopher from the rear.

“Armor gone, visibility almost zero—we have no missiles left.”

They flew above the
USS Gerald Ford
; the supersized aircraft carrier had tilted on its side.  It was quickly sinking, losing its own battle with the ocean like so many ships around it.

“Warning,” said VIX. “Incoming missiles. Evasive action is not recommend.”

“Understood,” said Marina. She flew Bertha downwards, flying a few meters from the sinking carrier. Narrowly missing two fighter jets and an attack helicopter, Marina launched some flares.

Two missiles crashed, but one remained.

“Impact imminent,” said VIX.

“Guys, this is it,” said Marina. She pulled off her headset and sunglasses.

The missile shot towards Bertha.

Chapter 66

“We were stunned in 1971,” said Loretta, still looking up at the wondrous complexities of the gene. It was obvious even she didn’t understand the God gene.

“I couldn’t believe it myself,” said Freda. “And you tried to commit genocide because of it.” Freda walked around the room, not bothering to hide her own disgust for Loretta. “Apparently, the original gene is in all mammals on Earth except for humans. They possess it plus three more—SRGAP2B, C, and D. When you combine all four together, though, you get the God gene.”

“That’s why we’ve never been able to recreate it,” said Loretta, excitement coming through as her inner scientist peeked out. “We always assumed the God gene was a single gene, but it’s not. It’s four genes working in complex tandem with each other. They allow the brain to crash through every evolutionary barrier known to exist. For all we know, the ancient race imposed these barriers on other races, to only allow their direct descendants to achieve greatness. Freda, any race that possesses the God gene should be feared.”

“And that’s why the Bernay want it,” said Freda.

“Think of the medical wonders that await the Alliance if we did,” said Loretta. “Eternal life, all ailments cured…”

“But you don’t possess it,” said Freda, stopping her. “You don’t, never have, and never will. The only known race in the galaxy to possess the God gene is humans.”

Freda could instantly feel a chill in the air with her statement. Loretta’s complexion had changed, from stern defiance to sinister malcontent. This was now endgame.

“How did you find it?” said Loretta. “Tell me.”

“When Dr. Barrington of Earth began decoding the Eugenics Virus, she discovered that it was split into three layers. After much searching, she discovered layer three was designed to delete the SRGAP genes in humans. That was its specific purpose. The rabies virus you used did not fool her.” Freda decided not to explain the finding of a notepad with the computer code, which had proved invaluable to Barrington. Loretta didn’t need to know that.

“But at that point you didn’t know why I’d want to delete those genes in the first place,” said Loretta.

“Yes,” said Freda, glad Loretta was making these admissions of her own accord. “There are much easier and faster ways to wipe out all life on a planet. I knew the answer lay in this gene. There’d be no other reason for you to design a virus that specifically deletes it from the population.”

“Go on.” Loretta continued to circle her.

“I had CIM run the gene through the database, but nothing came up. Then Barrington had it compared against all four SRGAP genes, and that’s when we discovered it. You combine them together, and you get the God gene. CIM went into full alert mode, advising me to contact the Alliance leadership and Supreme Court immediately. Inform them of the miraculous discovery, the finding of a living race that possesses the ancient gene.”

Freda had studied the ancient species. It was thought they once controlled most of the known galaxy, before evolving onto a higher plane of existence. This “God” gene had been inscribed into hundreds of databases, tablets, and works of art. The ancient civilization believed their greatness came from this critical biological component. To the Alliance, the God gene represented a level of evolution that was unachievable.

“I’m presuming you didn’t go to the leadership?” said Loretta.

“I came here because I knew this is where it all started. You designed a virus to delete the God gene, not only from humans, but from history. Simply killing them was not an option. You needed to make absolutely sure there would be no record of the God gene on Earth, ever. That’s why you went to so much goddamn trouble to create a virus that was so disgusting, you hoped its true mission would slip by undetected.”

“That gene represents a fundamental threat to this Alliance. To seed a planet like this”—Loretta began circling Freda like a vulture, and her eyes took on a wild look—“a planet devoid of anything great, and a species that if it wasn’t for the Bernay, would never exist today.”

“We both know that isn’t true,” said Freda. “They possess the God gene. We may have caught them at a weak moment in their evolution due to planetary conditions, or maybe we just don’t know how the God gene works, but they would have survived.”

“For someone who isn’t a scientist, you sound awfully sure,” said Loretta.

“They have had the building blocks for greatness from the very start. Our intervention probably set them back if anything. I think we were the worst thing that ever happened to them, then and now.”

“We gave humans the ability to create a civilization.”

“You decided in 1971 that the human race must be exterminated, didn’t you?” asked Freda. “But you had to be careful and slowly build up a case against humans while you developed a process to remove the God gene from them. If anyone ever discovered in the future that the extinct human race had possessed the God gene, well, it would be mayhem.”

“Mayhem on a galactic scale,” admitted Loretta. “Everyone would have been trying to bring them back. Clones, genetic sampling, creation, everything. This had to be foolproof, Freda, and it still must be.”

“You can’t honestly believe I would support you in this?”

“How can you not? We’re talking about securing our position here, and I don’t mean councils and ships. I mean civilizations, empires!”

“The human species is no threat to anyone but themselves, Loretta.”

“Don’t be so naive. Do you know just how deadly they could become?” said Loretta. For the first time ever, she sounded frightened. “They have the ability to surpass our best minds in five hundred years. Probably less.”

“We can’t predict what will happen in five hundred years,” said Freda. “This crisis has proved no one can predict what will happen a minute, day, or year in the future. Don’t convict humans of a crime before they’ve even committed one.”

“Well, here’s what we can predict,” said Loretta. She tapped a few buttons, and the room darkened again. A human brain appeared above them, engulfing the room. “At the moment, humans utilize a mere eleven percent of their total brain power—plenty of room for evolution. In 500 years, it will be eighteen percent, pushing twenty.”

“Which is more than us,” said Freda. “I know all the theories, Loretta.”

“It won’t stop. The ancient civilization eventually experienced 100 percent mental power. They had control of time and matter. Humanity represents a threat to our very existence. The Alliance in a thousand years could be pandering to the whims of a human president. We have trillions of people to protect. This risk cannot be taken.”

“Why?” said Freda. She often used the simplest of questions to stun in a confrontation.

“I don’t understand.”

“You’re assuming they’re going to be bad,” said Freda. “Why?”

“You should always hope for the best, while preparing for the worst.”

“You’re not hoping for the best,” said Freda, “you’re planning their annihilation. For all we know, they are the ancients’ chosen race.”

“I don’t believe that,” Loretta scoffed.

“Why not?” said Freda in despair. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed the similarities?”

“Similarities?”

“The ancient texts and drawings,” said Freda. “They refer to the union of two people throughout life, much like human marriage. Neighbors, society—they’re all hinted at. These are traits the entire human race possesses, yet they do not exist anywhere else in the Alliance. The ancients may have lived on Earth at one point and passed their gene onto humans.”

“I refuse to believe humans are the direct descendants of the ancient race.”

“Why not?” shouted Freda. “You said yourself nothing is impossible.”

“I refuse to believe it.”

“Because of stubbornness and jealousy,” said Freda. “Nothing else can explain it. The ancients chose humans as their descendants.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” said Loretta with a grim smile. “This is all over. The human species will succumb to complete infection, and all life on the planet will be exterminated as a result. No record of them ever having possessed the God gene will remain. You’re right. It was never about sterilization or correcting their gene pool. But everything needed to be foolproof.”

“We have a vaccine,” said Freda.

“No, you don’t,” laughed Loretta in genuine disbelief.

“We have a vaccine, Loretta. You look surprised. Didn’t think a human could do it? Well, you should have. You’re up against a species that has the God gene running through their very veins. Not only that…” Freda walked up behind the bench—the first time she ever dared to—to come nose to nose with her. “We have a cure, as well.”

“Those infected have the intelligence of savages.”

“The SRGAP gene regenerates,” said Freda, smiling.

Loretta’s expression turned wary. “That’s impossible.”

“We thought so, as well. But a prisoner that was deliberately infected with the virus during the initial outbreak has already shown signs of SRGAP regeneration when the rabies virus is cured. You want to know what is more fantastic, though?”

“What?” said Loretta. She was standing herself now, unsure how to react. Freda knew she had to press it all home now, and hope.

“The regenerated God gene is more developed in him. You may have just sped up their evolution, instead of exterminating them. Listen carefully to me, Loretta. When we cure them—and we will cure them—they will regain their humanity and flourish.”

Freda walked back down to face the bench, leaving Loretta sunk in her chair.

“You lost, Loretta. Your virus is useless.”

Loretta stood up, and before Freda could react, she removed a small handgun from the drawer. She aimed.

“You’ve had your little tirade, now it’s your turn to listen.”

“Your weapon doesn’t frighten me,” said Freda. “I have no fear of dying.”

“Nor do I,” she replied. “Humanity cannot be allowed to evolve. They must be exterminated. The Supreme Court will have no choice but to cleanse the entire planet once infection is complete. They will base that assessment on the scientific might of the Bernay, the penny-pinching attitude of Pluto and his people, along with the ineptitude of Killinger and the Telsons.”

“Can you hear yourself? If this was discovered, you would face execution.”

“I don’t trust humans. I won’t allow them to run rampant across the galaxy. My life would be a small price to pay to ensure the safety of my race.”

Freda knew Loretta was, on every level, prepared to die. Her people meant everything to her. The Bernay would stand the test of time. Humans were barbarians, according to her, and not worthy of the God gene.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot have you endanger the existence of my species.” Loretta aimed the weapon.

“I told you, I don’t fear death, but I’m not stupid, either.”

An explosion ripped the large doors to the chamber apart, sending scraps of metal everywhere. Freda ducked, shielding her head. Out of the thick gray smoke, Captain Grace entered the room with a fully armed security team.

“You’re not meant to be here!” yelled Loretta. “Get out now! Or I’ll have you all incarcerated.”

“This isn’t your ship or your crew,” said Grace. She aimed her weapon at Loretta.

“You seem to be outnumbered, Loretta,” said Freda. She stepped away to stand beside Grace.

“It doesn’t matter. This ship, its crew, and you will not be allowed to stand in the way of this operation,” said Loretta. “More help will come. There is too much force here for you to stop it.”

“Help is coming,” Freda said, nodding. “But not for you.”

Freda watched the face of her boss. Fear was setting in. Lines of worry deepened.

“Why do you think I went into so much detail?” asked Freda. “Everything we discussed in these chambers has been transmitting across the entire Alliance on the Priority X channel, the one I was meant to use to contact Alliance leadership after discovering the God Gene. Every ship, every station, every planet, governments, and media outlets are listening to us right now.” Freda twiddled her brooch. “It’s a marvelous device.”

“I don’t believe you,” said Loretta. “I don’t believe it.”

“Believe it,” roared Killinger, striding into the room. “I heard everything.”

“You attempted to exterminate a race,” said Freda. “This Alliance was created to bring law and order to the galaxy and to protect the right of every race. You have violated the very reason for its existence.”

“You’ve just doomed us all,” said Loretta as she was handcuffed by Grace’s security officers.

“And you are going to spend an eternity in prison,” replied Freda as the other Council members walked in.

“I did it for the Alliance. For all of us.”

Freda watched as Loretta was slowly dragged toward the door, screaming profanities at everyone.

“Wait,” said Freda. She walked up to Loretta, disgusted with her and yet realizing how close she had come to succeeding. “Don’t dare say you did it for the Alliance or any of us. You’re nothing but poison.”

Cecil stepped in from the hallway, looking overwhelmed.

“I’m sorry, Cecil,” Freda said to her old friend. He would be facing a heap of trouble of his own when the dust settled. Even now, Alliance representatives were waiting to take him in for questioning.

“Don’t be,” he replied. “I broke the law and endangered a species. I’m just glad I saw the error of my ways before it was too late. To think, they had the God gene all this time. Oh, the wonders that may come ahead.”

Freda smiled and gave him a quick embrace, before he was escorted off. She would never have ventured to Deep Space 66 without his prior subtle hint with the coordinates.

“What was Cecil’s role in all this?” asked Grace. She had been busy securing the ship and readying her security team during much of Freda’s conversation with Loretta.

“He posed as a British government official and confiscated a deadly, ancient strain of rabies from Dr. Barrington,” explained Freda. “The particular strain was 100,000 years old, capable of massive infection rates, with deadly secondary effects. Loretta predicted this would keep human governments occupied while the God gene was quietly deleted from every human. The Eugenics Virus needed time not only to destroy the God gene, but to remove any trace of it. If it wasn’t for Dr. Barrington and a chance encounter she had with this ancient virus, we would never have known. That’s why the infected never die. The gene kept trying to regenerate, which meant the virus had to keep working.”

“But with total infection, we’d have cleansed the planet,” said Grace.

Pluto and Killinger entered the room.

“And humans would have ceased to exist,” said Killinger.

“Why did he do it?” said Grace. “Cecil.”

“Cecil’s world still relies on monthly shipments of a medical compound for his species, a compound only the Bernay can provide. He had no choice. I suspect, though, with everyone now knowing what has happened, the Bernay will be more than willing to keep supplying the monthly shipments.”

“Freda, I had no idea,” said Pluto honestly. “If I’d known…”

“I know,” said Freda. She and Pluto had always had a mutual respect for each other, and she didn’t for one moment think he was involved. “But Earth is going to need much help to recover from this.”

“Whatever they need will be provided.”

“Thank you.” She would need the resources of the Kbantu species not only to pull Earth back from the brink, but to provide it with the capability to rebuild. “What about the
Reason
?”

“I’ve warned it not to enter the solar system,” said Grace. “You were right. That ship was never carrying sterilization. It was a transport ship.”

“To take a few humans to some dark Bernay lab and experiment on them,” said Freda.

“Yes,” agreed Grace. “But we still have a biological catastrophe to deal with,” said Grace.

“Is it true this human woman has found a vaccine?” said Killinger.

“And a cure,” added Freda. “We can save the infected.”

“How was a cure found?” said Killinger.

“Once the ancient rabies strain is removed, the Eugenics Virus loses its ability to hold off the immune system, thus allowing it to fight back.”

“And then the God gene regenerates,” said Grace.

“Dr. Barrington has theorized that the God gene has built-in failsafes. So once the rabies strain was removed, the immune system got to work to destroy foreign invaders in the body.” Freda would never forget the feelings she experienced during that meeting with Ursula in the central matrix, as she relayed her findings and theories.

“If the infected can be saved, then we must save them. You should always try to pick your own time and way of death,” said Killinger.

“I formally ask the Council to allow us to use this starship to disperse it quickly and effectively,” said Freda.

“Of course,” said Pluto and Killinger.

“My ship can disperse the vaccine globally as soon as you give the word,” said Grace.