Shedding the Demon (5 page)

The wormhole technology was fascinating, but it didn’t find
practical application until Linette Debar used it to create a self-sustaining
reactor. The cheap and clean power changed the world overnight. She let others
use her technology, although she was smart enough to charge a royalty. This
income alone made her rich, and her family line was represented here by Esme
Burdekin.

Alexander liked Esme—as much as he liked anyone—because he
knew she was a kindred spirit. He knew that she seethed over the lost profits from
the lack of monopoly on the Debar reactor. Her constant state of discontent
showed on her face with its sharp lines and pinched appearance.

Ground-breaking as the Debar reactor was, there were even bigger
things in store. Dravin Kline soon followed with a technology that combined the
wormhole with the Debar reactor and expanded upon both. His Kline Drive enabled
spaceships to travel interstellar distances and finally released the human race
from their failing Earth. To this day his family held a stranglehold on the
Kline Drive technology and all of its derivatives. Ridiculously handsome and wealthy,
Jonathan Kline, descendant of Dravin Kline, sat comfortably at the end of the table.

The fifth person responsible for the mass migration of the
human race was Alvyn Doering, who was no longer represented on the Council. His
life’s work in macroenvironmentalism, aided by the wormhole physics and the
Debar reactor, provided the last piece of the puzzle needed to terraform
planets within a wide range of initial environmental factors. His accomplishments,
although significant, were mostly forgotten after the fall of the Doering
dynasty.

Alexander smiled as he recalled his role in that fall. His
father, Alexander Pryke, Sr., launched the program that ruthlessly culled the
rival families on his home planet and slowly consolidated power for himself. Alexander
took over after his father’s death, and continued to eliminate rivals and build
influence. Finally, he deposed the Doering descendants and usurped their
Council seat. Of course, he did not consider it ‘usurpation,’ he considered it ‘spoils
to the winner.’

Reverend Renard Trueblood, who they were
still
waiting for, was the spiritual leader of Kyndraism, the ubiquitous religion of
the Consensus. The religion ran nearly all the public works, most notably
schools and the Council Research Division. Thus, Renard commanded a great deal
of wealth and influence.

The too-conveniently named Truebloods claimed to descend
from Kyndra Dickson, the woman who brought order to the early colonies and created
the Consensus. The Truebloods, through Kyndraism, promoted the idea that she
was a deity, and the mindless masses followed without question.

The whole situation left a bad taste in Alexander’s mouth,
although he admired the Truebloods’ ability to manipulate the masses to their
own benefit.

Returning his attention to the present, Alexander glared at
Jonathan Kline, who was talking and laughing with Stacey Magourik and Esme
Burdekin. Their demeanor annoyed Alexander to the point that he couldn’t
contain himself any longer.

“How can you just sit there babbling on and on, laughing,
joking, while Renard treats us like crap?” he snapped.

If they were surprised by his outburst they did not show it.
In fact, Jonathan smiled back at him, as if in a private joke. The two women at
least had the decency to look concerned over what he said.

It was Esme who answered. “Alexander, you can’t let him get
to you.”

“It’s true he plays these games, but they’re only meaningful
if you let them bother you,” Stacey added her bit of wisdom.

“Really, Junior, try to relax,” Jonathan added with a broad
smile.

Alexander stared at him for a moment; he hated being called “Junior.”
He actually was Alexander Pryke, Jr., but it was the intentional implied
connotation that bothered him so much.

“So you are the best that the Consensus has to offer? The
leaders of the empire? Makes me wish there was a god so he could help us.”
Alexander wanted his remarks to be biting and harsh, but he sounded petty and
childish even to himself. Not sure what else to do, he laughed to try and save
face. The others smiled and laughed politely, but his anger did not abate.

As if on cue, Renard swept into the room in one smooth
motion and took his seat at the head of the table. Jeffrey followed
inconspicuously behind him and took a seat in the opposite corner so they could
interact non-verbally.

“Sorry I’m late,” Renard said to no one in particular. “Please
bow your heads so we can begin with a prayer.”

Alexander purposefully did not bow his head but watched with
disdain as the other three complied. He didn’t listen to the droning
incantation, but was glad when it was over.

“Kyndra’s benevolence reaches us today as we are gathered to
govern the great Consensus she began so long ago.”

“Enough with the theatrics, Renard,” Alexander interjected. “We’re
not your mindless sheep, so stop patronizing us.”

“Oh, Alexander, you ever disappoint me,” Renard said with a
sigh, “I do so wish you would repent and come to know Kyndra’s loving embrace.”

“You’re making me sick; can we get down to business?”
Alexander said. He restrained himself from making a more
vulgar comment.

From there they did get down to business, discussing various
issues that came to their attention and needed to be handled. Social unrest had
become their biggest problem and was the impetus behind setting up these
regular face-to-face meetings.

“We’ve had five violent protests on three different planets
in the last month!” Stacey complained, “We don’t have the military resources to
put them down quickly and quietly. We are going to need help from all of you.”

“I can’t send anything your way, one of my bases got hit
with a very effective terrorist attack only a week ago and we’re still digging
out,” Esme replied.

“Bleeding hearts!” Alexander interjected, “You have to take
them down quickly, yes—but why quietly? Let everyone know what happens when
they step out of line.”

The other four Council members looked at each other or down
at the table without responding.

Finally, Renard cleared his throat and said, “I don’t think
it’s wise to turn the Consensus into a militaristic dictatorship. I’m telling
you, if we can spread Kyndraism more effectively . . .” the rest of
his sentence was drowned out by loud dissention from all members.

“Stop!” Renard rose to his feet and leaned over the table to
emphasize his authority. When they had quieted down, he continued “I know
full-well how you feel about this.”

“Kyndraists have been pushing your religion for five hundred
years and look where it’s gotten us!” Esme said and the other representatives
made sounds of agreement.

“It’s time for a revival,” Renard replied, “but we need it
to come from the top.”

“Oh please,” Alexander said as he laughed, “we all know what
you’re driving for: more money in the collection plate!”

Renard shook his head and exhaled slowly.

The door to the room opened without warning and Dr. Avelina
Baksa walked into the room looking timid and nervous.

“Come in, Doctor, come in,” Renard greeted her. “Your timing
is impeccable.”

“Thank you, Reverend Trueblood,” she said, dipping her head
before she sat down.

Renard smiled condescendingly and Alexander couldn't stand
it anymore.

“You have got to be kidding,” he said loudly, “you genuflect
to
him
?”

Avelina looked at him wide-eyed. She didn't say a word, but
held his gaze without wavering. Alexander gave her credit for her bravery,
there were few men who could hold his eyes like that. Involuntarily, his
respect for her grew in that moment.

She finally spoke, but did not lower her eyes. “Reverend
Trueblood is a descendant of the Good Mother in her human form. He may not be a
god himself, but he deserves respect as the son of a god.”

Now it was Alexander's turn to be shocked. He didn’t know
how deeply she believed in Kyndra.
Either she's a real fanatic
. . . or she's playing me.
With that thought he regained his
composure.

“Dr. Baksa,” he began, “you are obviously an intelligent
woman, probably the greatest mind currently alive in the Consensus. It is
commonly believed that you rank near the top of all the great thinkers in
recorded history.”

“I hardly think that I . . .” she tried to rebut
his statement, but he stopped her with a hand.

“No, wait, don’t stop me; that's not the point I want to
argue.” He paused to collect his thoughts for once rather than saying the first
thing that came to mind. “How can someone as smart as you truly believe that
Kyndra Dickson,” he paused in irritation as Avelina, Renard, and even Stacey
made the ritual motion at the name, “how can you truly believe that she was
more than just a woman? An
extremely talented
woman, but only a woman
nonetheless.”

“Mr. Pryke,” she began firmly, “you yourself have just
stated that I have,
arguably
, one of the greatest minds of all time, although
I would argue that with you in the future. But, for now, we’ll accept it.

“I have studied history to a great extent. I have pored over
manuscripts too numerous to count and some too old to date. I've read books,
papers, and reports from every point of view and every angle imaginable.

“Through all of this I've learned one thing above all others
in my research. There was
never
a time in history where mankind worked
in harmony as effectively or for anywhere near as long as the Consensus has
survived. No other society in the history of the human race even comes within a
small fraction of what we have accomplished.

“That very fact, along with a preponderance of other
evidence, leads me to the hypothesis that it was not established by a human
being. And, since we have yet to see any evidence of alien life throughout our
corner of the galaxy, the hypothesis is reasonably amended to include divine
intervention.

“Therefore, the short answer would be: yes, I believe Kyndra
Dickson was a god in human form.” She finished by making the ritual motion,
joined by all the others in the room, except, of course, Alexander.

Once again, Alexander found himself speechless. He now
understood the extent of her indoctrination and fanaticism. Truly she was a
product of the Trueblood machine.

He could not agree with her reasoning, but he could
recognize when an argument was unwinnable. He graciously tipped his head to her
and smiled warmly.

“Please accept my apologies. Will it offend you if do not
use Renard's title?”

“As stated in The Chronicle, you are free to believe
whatever you like, and I am not to try and force anything upon you.”

Renard spoke up, “Very interesting, thank you, both of you.
Now, Avelina, I believe you may have something of great interest for us?”

“Oh yes, Reverend, I believe I do. With your permission?”
she addressed all five participants at once with her gesture.

They all nodded or replied positively, so she proceeded.

“I know that you will remember my last presentation,
although Mr. Pryke was not yet a Council member at that time; I trust you have
been briefed on what is both my greatest accomplishment and at the same time,”
her face drooped ever so slightly, “my greatest failure. Diamond-crystal Steel
Alloy (Plasticized), or in layman’s terms: D-SAP.” She hurried on as if to
avoid thinking about the failure. “The reason it was deemed a failure is
because, in the words of the Council, there was no practical application for
the material.

“This evaluation was not entirely accurate. Granted, the
material is extremely difficult to work with, and resists many efforts to shape
it, but it does have many potential applications. My assignment was to find a
useful application of the D-SAP alloy. That is why I am here today.

“Before I answer your obvious question, a little background
will certainly be useful. Besides my main D-SAP project, I also consult on many
of the requests that come through the Council Research Division. From these
requests, I made two very important discoveries. First, the Council is in need
of new and effective weaponry due to the very real threat of revolt on many
different planets.”

The five members shifted uncomfortably and looked at each
other; this information should not be general knowledge. Alexander smiled and stifled
a laugh.
Maybe I should hire her to run my intelligence group,
he
thought.

“Don't worry,” the doctor continued, “your secret is safe
with me. And this brings us to the second realization I made. Conventional
weaponry would not satisfy your need. You need a quantum leap forward,
something that, if I may use the vernacular, is a real
game-changer
.”

Alexander perked up at the last statement, uncomfortable
with how closely her words matched his earlier thoughts.
The woman is
uncanny,
he thought,
and invaluable. I need to get her away from CRD and
working directly for me.
His thoughts began swirling around how to
accomplish that goal and he almost missed the next part of her presentation.

“. . . single person can succeed where a larger
force could not, especially in an urban environment. What if you could send a
single
operative
into a rebellious faction’s headquarters and take out the leader,
all his followers, and their entire weapons cache?”

Avelina called up a three-dimensional picture from the
tabletop and used it to demonstrate and clarify her next statements.