THE GATE KEEPER (18 page)

I
was awoken. Only in mind as my consciousness struggle to cope with reality. Yet
I was unable to locate where I was. I felt weightless as if floating. My skin
senses the presence of an unknown. The air I was taking in felt fresh and warm.

My
mind was exposed to multiple flashes of foreign images I had never seen before.
The old man responds but I could not yet hear him. A reflection of my old self
stood before me in a brown fatherhood robe. He appears distort at first and
then it all merge back to life.

Then
his old face change into Philip’s face. A transformation into a face I was
accustomed with.

Philip
says, ‘Phil sorry we had to meet like this. We were supposed to meet face to
face but you collapsed and fell into a coma due to heavy loss of blood. We’re
trying to fix you. You don’t have to worry. You’re in good hands and I shall
make sure that you wake up healed. You, our old self and I are one. We call
ourselves the trinity.’

Philip
drives both hands underneath his collar. He sticks his fingers underneath his
synthetic skin, stretch it outward and upward. The elastic skin breaks and
rips. He peels it off his face. Rub the bits which were still stick to his
face. He submerged his face in a basin of what appears to be water.

He
dried his face with a towel from nearby wall mounted stand. He removes the towel
and stares at me. Incredible, his face was a reflection of me. He was neither
too young nor too old. The background behind him changes. He was in the middle
of an industrial estate.

Buildings
which I assume were of massive company releases gas into the day sky. Their
tall chimneys turn the area into a smoky waste land. The background moved
further from him and he was exposed to the waste land. Trees that appear dry
and rotten with abnormal texture of colour fell apart.

‘Yes
Phil, before we start you can see that you’re staring at yourself. I couldn’t
tell you before as I didn’t want to freak you out. I am a clone. Your old self
made me from a lab and allow a surrogate mother to volunteer to allow nature to
take its course. He thought me everything I needed to know and he was like a
father to me. I’m
gonna
pass the knowledge to you.
We’re Important for the history of man-kind and together we’re going to break
the corporation down. I’m going to educate you on a need to know basis of what
you may call the future’s knowledge.’

The
image of my clone walking in the vast arid land extends. He carries on, ‘as you
can see the earth is slowly dying due to the corporation accelerating need and
greed for profit. They cleverly hide behind colourful motto known as Corporate
Social Responsibility. This in fact is just a strategic matter to attract
potential investors and customers in relation to how they react to their
environment. In reality when it comes to money saving the environment are never
taken into consideration.’

Philip’s
environment changes and this time he was near a river. The water did not run
down colourless but in a slushy and creamy green. Biological life seizes to
exist as their carcasses fill the river. Including those that drink the water,
they lay still, near it and rotten. Flies, crows and scavengers fought for
possession of the carcass.

‘Some
products when they are made toxic waste are produced. Radio active’s energy is
a perfect example of such a source of energy in this nature. It provides great
electrical energy for an immense area. Its waste got to be on the move as it
can’t be buried. It can damage an area where it’s dump for one to two
centuries. Maintaining the waste is a cost to the corporation.’

Behind
Philip the scenery changes according to what he was talking about.  Trucks
from my time sprayed with the international sign that indicate the towed tank
is loaded with radioactive waste followed each other. The sky quickly
transforms from night to day time. The drivers of the radioactive tankers rest
for twelve hours, waiting for the night and then move on.
Security must have
been an issue and it comes at a cost.

The
angle of the scenery changes into a bird’s eye view and heading away turning
all of them smaller. The convoy was long. United States was displays as a whole
with yellow dots separating the rural and urban area as the night sky shadows
the country. Moving red dots were all over the country and the scenery quickly
pin point on them.

Amazingly
they all turn out to be convoys of the same nature of volatile substance. Vast
land of industrial pumps appears behind him. Farther I could see the sea with
an oil rig at the horizon.

Philip
turns towards it and says, ‘Oil pumping is another trade mark of the
corporation which had replenished their wealth beyond recognition. Sometimes
pumping oil where not enough so the corporation would dump the oil
purposefully. When you think that they shall be losing money in fact they are
making it.’

Now
he stands outside of the New York stock exchange.
The money making machine
of our economy.
Rushing images goes through the stairs of the building and
inside the trade centre. Brokers agitate as they furiously monitors and bought
shares at the market.

Philip
glances at me and says, ‘In here it’s where it all takes place. Stockholders
who knew about it sell their shares first. A cleaning corporation affiliated
with the oil pumping corporation bought insurance. Then the oil is deliberately
thrown in the sea as they fail to react due to the lack of emergency reaction
drill. The leasing oil rig is engulfed and perished under the explosion of oil
on fire. The cleaning corporation gain millions in the cleaning contract while
the oil pumping corporation and oil rig owner’s corporation benefited from the
insurance.’  

The
background changes to an exploding oil rig on fire to a plane flying over the
oil spill and releasing chemical agent to break down the oil.

‘The
chemical used to break down the oil is not safe to breath and harmful for the
environment. After witnessing those corporate crimes I come to terms of how
unethical the corporation are to the society. I had to do something. I wanted
to push those green ideas ahead but they join forces and rebel against me. At
first they try to put dirt on me while they skilfully plan for my suicide
attempt. Most of their opponents commit suicide and the case closed. Well I
decided that the only option to make this place a better place is to hide. For
now they have won the war.’

There
was a pause.

‘One
more thing, the weapon system of our time is a bit different from those used in
your time and bullets are slowly being phase out. Nowadays most of them
improvised a deadly technology at its infant stage in your time. We call it
anti-matter. It may release more energy and allow one person to gain control of
a gang.’

My
consciousness assimilates all the fields that I was being thought. Once the
telepathic information came to an end it all went dull.  It all went silent
as if someone has unplugged it. Philip was no longer there but an unknown
mercenary appears. He points a weapon at me and press the trigger. It all went
blank and dark.

17

I
open my eyes and see myself submerge in transparent yellowish substance. Attach
to my face was an underwater mask. The cylindrical container has a pair of oval
structured light inside, suspends in the middle. Suddenly a small camera from
the ceiling moves on my body and examine every inches. 

Then
the substance flushes out of the container through drainage in between my foot.
Trap I had no way out of it. Leaning to the cylindrical glass I could not see
the cylindrical coffin as I was surrounded by a cylindrical black wall. Then
there were movements. Driven upwards I wonder where the next stop shall end.
Unable to stop the cylindrical container I try to remain calm.

The
cylindrical pitch black wall seems to moves downward as the container quickly
ascends into a forty five degrees angle. I reach the surface and the lights of
an unknown room penetrate inside. The container moves slowly and then stops. I
was no longer in agony. My body has recovered drastically.

The
container open from atop and I free myself. The room was turn upside down.
Everything was toss to the ground in an inappropriate manner.  I grab a
towel from the floor and dry myself. The only dress I had on me was a sport’s
tight skin short.  

I
heard a sound as if rocks were tearing and spreading apart. I stare at the wall
but there was no movement. The sound becomes louder and it leads to the wall in
front of me. At a closer look I saw dust falling off the wall. Suddenly uneven
crack which separate the cement and the wall stretches from the ceiling to the
floor. It mysteriously squeezes outward. Inside it becomes brighter as I head
towards it.

‘Welcome
Phil!’ A voice from inside said.

I
quietly made my moves to identify the stranger who was calling me. To my
surprise I found nobody inside. The room was empty and enclose with four walls
painted in white. On the floor there was a design of a pair of Japanese
sai
merging together to form an X.

In
the middle, where the two painted sword meet, lays an eye. The painting was in
dark brown. I observe it carefully while I wonder where the voice came from.

‘Step
on it and face your destiny.’ The Same voice I have heard prophesied.

It
sounds like my voice but at an adult peach.

Up
in between the ceiling and the wall I could see a small camera. At the four
corners of the room in between the ceiling and the wall lays small devices
which resembles of speakers.

‘Phil
do not be afraid of it, instead embrace it.’ The voice from the speakers
encouraged.

‘Who
are you?’

‘The
last time we met was five years ago. You came from the past and before we could
finish our dialogue they attack you. Our last conversation was about the
uncertainty of the future. Then you were gone.’ The robotic voice advocated his
side of the facts.

Memories
of dreams rush in like madness through my head. Surreal image dash through and
I was strike by dizziness. Heavy stomach of vomit rushes through my oesophagus.
I forcefully suck in the sour taste as I tighten the valve of my throat. I
stand still and breathe for a while. ‘
Oxygen is the most important cure’,
my mum use to say when I felt like throwing up.

‘Are
you ok?’ the machine requested.

I
remain mute. I stand still, close my eyes and reopen them again. Ahead a
striking black suit shimmers under the white light of the room across.
Flashbacks of my dream mimic what was in front of me. It felt as if the dream
was real. As if I had been here before. As if the place was mine and the
displacement of everything. As if it was done by me. 

‘I
can locate a pattern of land sickness. Have no fear as it just normal after your
memory had been force to absorb vital information while in a coma.’

Unstable
and wobbly I struggle to walk towards my target. I took in precious air. Focus
on what was ahead I knew I had to reach it. I staggered along as I made
headway. At times my wobbly body sent unrecognised objects on the table flying.
Inevitable it became to prevent the table from hitting me at my side. Every
step taken my leg felt heavy.   

‘Attach
to the suit there’s a tube and if you suck it you’ll manage to get water from
it. In between the skin layers of your suit you’ve got water in store.’ The
machine introduced me to a new and reliable technology.

Finally
I was there. Staring at the shimmering futuristic uniform which stood tall
underneath the bright light I admires its power of authority, before I proceed
on my final step. It was position in an authoritarian manner, as if superior
and vital than all the kit that was in the room.

I
took one last breath before I made the last step towards the metal mannequin in
the exquisite uniform.  The room was like a walk-in wardrobe.  The
dizziness persists as I drag my feet towards the mannequin. I pause and rest
before my last step.

I
was there....One last step....You can do it....

I
made one final move and I was there. I undress the mannequin. I slowly got in
the suit. Unexpectedly it fit me.

Awkward
I was carried away by a low flapping noise. I remain still and trace the
unusual sound. Up and moving fast was one of the man-made insect I saw at the
train station. The robotic dragonfly which Philip had detailed its true
purpose. The spying machine head straight and further inside. It comes to rest
to the cylindrical container I had been resurrected from.

I
realise that I was no longer in pain. It was healed as promise by my clone self
who spoke to me in a trance. The healing process was amazing.

‘You
didn’t think it would be easy for you to hide from us?’ A female idled
anxiously.

‘We’re
close.’ The master’s assassin said from behind.

He
stands up in his black military suite armed with state of the art military
gears. Eager to make his master proud he produced a joyous smile on his face.
He pulls his night vision down from his forehead to his eyes. His surrounding
became pale green.

‘I
know, he’s all mine and I shall not fail.’ The assassin overconfidently
concurred to his master.

Red
light came to life. He alerted his master of his readiness by a simple nod and
smile for approval. His employer and master gestured back. The bulky, muscular
and tall man walked towards the back. He pressed a button on the wall near an
incline back door. A small orange light from the ceiling came to life. It
shimmers and flickers as the air from outside sip through the opening of the
back door which slowly moves downward.

He
made a final check before the flight. He made sure that the harness attached to
his back pack was secured. There was no room for clumsiness. His life depends
on the chute hidden in the back pack. He quickly tests his breathing mask which
overhangs at his neck.

The
plane shakes and adjusts through a short burst of turbulence. The muscular man
hold firm to his position by gripping firmly to a safety metal harness in the
ceiling. With a gap wide enough and the door opening at a vertical angle he
slid out.

He
dive at a forty five degree angles and head for the hard ground miles below. He
put his hands tight at his side and allows gravity to play its part. At one
side of his night vision he could monitor his speed and distance to the target.

After
all, the robotic dragonfly had led them to the hidden house buried underground.
His velocity increases. At one and a half minutes he had covered three miles.
Approximately half a mile to the target he releases the parachute. Safely and
smoothly he lands a few metres near the target. 

Like
a thief he stealthily gets rid of the parachute by detaching it from his back
pack. He rolled on the rough surface and quickly lays flat on his belly. In the
dark he waits and seeks for movements at the two entries.