Extinction Level Event (29 page)

Racing along the Ventura Freeway on his way back to
Los Angeles after a quick inspection tour of Santa Barbara's
operation, McCarthy gets a call from Laurie telling him that
something had happened to LaJoy and that he was needed back ASAP.
He pushed the accelerator, just to the point of breaking the speed
limit. Driving past Malibu Creek State Park, the oak and chaparral
landscape becomes visible from the highway. Due to winter, and
perhaps the ominous invasion of EWK-1, the lush verdant green of
the grasses and scrubs has been replaced a more bland yellow. Park
rangers had reported that numbers of birds, hedgehogs, beetles, and
flatworms that feed on the earthworms had decreased in the past
month. They were worried that in another month or two the
second-level predators in the Park, such as the golden eagle, would
start feeling the effect as soon as there weren't enough gulls,
robins, or beetles for them to feed on adequately. It was likely
that the eagles and bobcats in the Park system would diversify or
move on to new sources of prey.

The towers and encircling sprawl of Los Angeles comes
into view. Within half an hour McCarthy is in downtown and running
up the steps of City Hall. He sees Laurie coming down, the steps,
and greets her halfway. "Hey! What happened?" "He got hit by a
car.", replied Laurie, worry written on her face. "I don't know
how, maybe he wasn't looking.. . .", she trails off. "Someone
better tell Onassis." "He knows. Hey have you read about China?"
"Yes. No idea how it could be doing that. Maybe it's evolving
really quickly." "That's what our scientists say." "I better see
what Krishna has, and see if I can get Onassis." Laurie walks off,
heading back to UCLAs lab. McCarthy goes through security and sees
Rodriguez walking through. "Hey, what're you up to?", he asks
Gonzalo. "Oh, I'm just going over to the Park Ranger station. What
about you? Hey, you heard about LaJoy, hope he's going to be ok."
"Yeah, me too. I'll catch you later." McCarthy takes the elevator
into his office, where he first dials Krishna. After leaving him a
message, he dials Onassis's number. After waiting several minutes,
the Secretary comes on the line.

"Ah, McCarthy. Look, I've just received word that
LaJoy was run over by a car. He's in critical condition, and I
don't have anyone in charge of USDA for the region anymore." "I
see. Perhaps Laurence or Grogan? Anyone from Washington with the
experience and time?" "Time yes, but experience no. You've got
LaJoy's position until I find someone to fill in." McCarthy gulps.
"What?. . . sir, really, I don't know if-" "Its temporary. Simply
keep our research ongoing, get me some results." Onassis hangs up.
Well, that was that. At least FEMA was responsible for the
logistical burden of bringing the relief into the city. The
research on EWK-1, on the other hand, was a joint enterprise that
included the USDA.

McCarthy leans back in his chair, reveling in his new
position but also thinking of all the new burdens that have now
been placed on his shoulders. His first action is to contact the
director of FEMA. "Hello?" "This is Dr. McCarthy, from USDA LA.
I've taken over all USDA operation temporarily. I have a request,
but I'll need your approval, as well as the Governor's." "What
might that be?" "I think we need the National Guard in Los Angeles,
at least to keep an eye out on our relief centers. I spoke briefly
with the Commissioner, and he agrees that the force can't perform
normal duties while simultaneously guarding our depots. A thousand
to two-thousand soldiers should do the job." "You better talk to
the Governor." "What do you think, though?", asks McCarthy, curious
for the man's answer, "You run them, I'm just making an
observation." "I would probably agree with you, we will need them.
If not now, later. . . ", he purrs ominously, "LaJoy hated the idea
after you mentioned it, but I tend to agree. Fine. Videoconference
in fifteen minutes."

Twenty minutes later, McCarthy finds himself facing a
screen with not only the director, but the Governor of California
and a General McSteele of the National Guard as well. "Dr.
McCarthy, it seems that both you, and the director, think that
there is an inherent danger to our relief centers, and that you
need the Guard in town.", states the Governor flatly, waiting for
the explanation. "Sir, this report details every single recorded
incident or theft that has occurred so far regarding the logistical
supply chain.", McCarthy holds up a report that he knew the
Governor had been brief on. "We have had over thirty incidents in
ten days", he clarifies, "in which we've had fifteen people
hospitalized. I feel that if it were Guard units protecting the
centers instead of the LAPD, people would think twice before
attempting any robbery or heist. In addition, it will give the
people a sense that, things are in order for the time being until
this crisis is over." The Governor, who already seemed to have made
up his mind, replies, "The director brought this to my attention
before you did, but LaJoy never was in favor. General?" "Sir, I can
have three thousand troops in the city by tomorrow." "Great. It's
settled, then. The National Guard will remain under the command of
General McSteele; however, General you are to coordinate with the
Mayor and the LAPD." The Governor terminates the quick
conversation. The General quickly grunts, "However, FEMA isn't
going to instruct us on how to deploy ourselves. I keep that
prerogative." "Very well, General", answers the director, "We're
just glad to have you here." The conversation ends shortly after
the General cuts off the line.

McCarthy turns to phone McGregor at Stockton when the
phone itself rings instead. The speaker quickly identifies himself
as a USDA official in Washington, and even faster reports shocking
news- "LaJoy is dead. He died of his injuries at the Hospital. The
Secretary has instructed that you are to temporarily occupy his
office until a permanent replacement can be appointed." "Thank
you", McCarthy breathes. The receiver hangs up. McCarthy takes a
deep breath, adjusting himself to the new reality. Even though
LaJoy wasn't particularly close, nor particularly someone that
McCarthy had much faith in, it comes as a surprise and shock to
have him die so suddenly and unexpectedly, least of all in the
middle of the current chaotic situation.

Reminding himself that life goes on, he starts
reviewing the paperwork left on what used to be LaJoy's oak
desk.

Rome, Italy

A mid-afternoon flight to Italy from Bangkok had left
Manjak in Rome in the middle of the morning, allowing him to head
without delay directly to FAO headquarters from the airport.
Although it is a winter day, the sun's bright rays lend a superstar
feeling to the awakening city, a feeling of radiance and power.
Manjak walks into headquarters feeling full of energy. It would be
a long day, and preparations had to be made as fast as possible if
an emergency conference were to be held. On the way in, he walks by
Bao who is walking in to her office, as the WFP houses its offices
in the same building. "Trip! I haven't seen you in over a week!
Where are you getting back from now?" "All over.", replies Manjak
quickly, excitedly, "SE Asia. As it turns out EWK-1 has made some
inroads into Asia proper, we developed a quick response plan to
help isolate some of the lower countries, especially those with
high production. Basically, though, we need to go through this
over. Can you meet me at my office later this afternoon? 5:00pm?"
"Four it is." Manjak continues walking through the halls, seeing
the usual familiar faces of coworkers and colleagues, as well as
the occasional diplomat. Getting to his office, he greets Maria
Pereira with a quick cheek kiss and settles down into his
chair.

Organizing an emergency world conference takes a huge
amount of time, people, effort, networks, money, and in the modern
world communications and IT services as well. A huge checklist is
to be completed first: Inviting heads of state and government?
Check. Inviting Ministers, Cabinet members, and other high level
officials in related departments? Check. Inviting non-governmental
agencies who have a keen interest in trying to help people
themselves, or in some cases merely spend money without
accomplishing much? Check. Inviting droves of globally renowned as
well as relatively unknown scientists from the world's leading
universities and research institutions to speak and present at
discussion panels? Check. Contacting several think tanks and
getting them to start 'thinking' about solutions to the EWK-1
crisis and presenting those solutions at the conference? Check.
Coming up with a preliminary agenda for the conference and relaying
it to all the invitees and guests for feedback? Check.

At 4:56 Bao walks in, waiting for him to finish a
call. "Two weeks," states Manjak calmly. "This conference is
happening in two weeks. Meanwhile, it is very likely that several
countries will be hit hard by the spreading EWK-1 within that time
period. Including most of central America, Korea, India, Vietnam,
in the Asia-Pacific region. What's the status of your food
reserves?" "I've been trying to get as many donations as
possible.", she replies, "If EWK-1 were to somehow get to India
though, there would be no way that our efforts would alleviate the
shortage throughout all of Asia. And the reserves compiled over
years' effort, will be used up in two, possibly three months." The
weighty implications of her last sentence becomes abundantly
clear.

FAO's ability to provide food will be gone within
three months. World food production will decrease by the next
harvesting season, varying by season across the globe. Ultimately,
within twelve months from now any country affected by EWK-1 would
have drastically reduced ability to produce its own food and no
outside help, as no other country would be in a position to export
food for fear of starving its own population. Unless the scientists
and think-tanks thought up of an innovative solution that could be
agreed upon in the next two weeks, civilization itself would be
facing a life crippling strangulation.

UCLA

Surprised and upset over the unexpected arrest of
Konovalov, Krishnan spent a good thirty minutes sitting in his
swiveling armchair silently contemplating the chain of events that
led to the present. Reminding himself that he was once again
working with only fragments of a puzzle in his mind, he eventually
comes out of his daze and wondered how he was going to get access
to the GeneZTech files that Konovalov had referenced in his
discussion before his arrest.
The files were in the GeneZTech
lab!
How am I supposed to enter his private company lab
without having a key, a card, an access code, anything?!
The
authorities were very obviously holding Konovalov responsible for
the release of EWK-1 into the wild, although Krishnan was bothered
by the lack of details.
The outbreak was first reported in
California, yet it was manufactured in Maryland. . . so first, how
did it get there? Second who brought it there?
How much of a
hand did Konovalov have in the development of EWK-1, was it
actually grown at NBACC or perhaps at GeneZTech? Did Konovalov know
the purpose of the project, but didn't share it with
anyone?

Krishnan figured that many of the answers to these
questions would be answered if he could gain access into GeneZTech.
But first, the most logical step would be to go through anything
that Konovalov may have left here in LA. Krishnan once again walks
downstairs to lab 204, now once again devoid of human life. The
sterile tabletops and counters quietly beg him to remove equipment,
open drawers, and dig through papers that are frozen back in time
to the previous hour, when they were being worked on. Krishnan
shuts down the main computer after sending all of Konovalov's
paused research to his desktop. He spots another stack of research
materials and folders and grabs them, feeling something cold and
metallic underneath. Taking the folders off, he finds Konovalov's
briefcase. Opening the briefcase, Manjak begins rummaging through
pincers, microtubes, vials, notebooks, an old wallet, and other
items. He meticulously opens each item, from the notebook to the
striped tie. Opening the old crummy wallet, he finds several dollar
bills, an expired driver's license, an presumably expired credit
card, and a GeneZTech identification card. Krishnan, betting that
the card is the key to GeneZTech's facility in Texas, pockets it.
Another hour of overturning Konovalov's private items reveals
nothing, until something starts ringing softly in the smaller
secondary back room. Hurrying towards the sound, Krishnan finds a
cellphone in a lockedcloset, which he presumes is also Konovalov's.
The phone reads that a call is incoming from 'Natasha'. Ignoring
the call, Krishnan opens up the slick razor-thin device and runs
through all of Konovalov's past phone calls and messages, looking
for something out of the ordinary.
What is out of the ordinary
for Viktor? -Sometimes his whole life is. . .
Krishnan wonders
if anything unusual will appear. . . . until he finds a message
sent to Konovalov by Konovalov himself. Opening the text, Krishnan
scans the time and date- today, right before he had summoned
Krishnan down to reveal his business collaboration with NBACC. Did
he know he was about to get arrested? Konovalov and everything
about him and his company was getting stranger by the second. The
text message is a simple set of numbers: 0-7-8-4-5-6-8-2-0.
A
set of numbers
, puzzles Krishnan-
that may be the code for
accessing the GeneZTech network-in which case, it would mean that
Konovalov knew he was going to be arrested and wants me to retrieve
files for him. Or, he was getting the new code for his networks
from one of his employees and intended to head back to Texas
without telling me. Or its a code for something else. Or any number
of other possibilities.