Extinction Level Event (32 page)

Let's not take this discussion into space. . .
Another starts proposing the use of nanoscale sized machines to
mimic the action of earthworms in soil, recycling the materials.
"Hold on," interrupts Manjak, "Are these nanoworms even built yet?
Does a prototype exist, does any company have plans of even
experimenting with such devices over the next six months? Or is
this merely a hypothesis that somehow we can artificially mimic
soil regeneration with current nanotechnology?" The engineer who
spoke turns his thick glasses in Manjak's direction, replying, "A
Korean conglomerate has built a prototype. Unfortunately the tests
so far have been far from satisfying specifications and objectives,
and the nanobots are, of course, not self-replicating. The company
has run tests with the nanoscale devices using them
in lieu
of earthworms in On-site organic digesters and waste processors."
"Out of the question. I've read the test reviews, the design has
far too many flaws, is less than 20% efficient compared to worms of
comparable size, and cannot be self-replicating for control
purposes, even if we had that level of technology", answers Manjak,
"Quite honestly, we will not solve this problem with a mere leap of
technological in a specific field. Rather, a massive, worldwide
investment and construction and development of infrastructure that
supports high density high yield agriculture in a human controlled
setting. We cannot let freak accidents like this spread to every
corner of the globe. The future of agriculture, the basis of
civilization, is to be compartmentalized.
Farmscraping
allows for effective compartmentalization, whether by block, by
city, or by region, should something occur."

"So that's it, then", an engineer from Japan lauds.
But, that is
not
it. Debate begins afresh with dozens of
people expressing their concerns over such a plan, from
construction sites to environmental impact to funding. Where do we
build these new cities of plenty? Tear down swaths of old,
deteriorating neighborhoods? How will this impact the cities? What
could possibly make people wish to live next to fifty-story chicken
farms? How will cities deal with the increased electrical demand,
movement of waste, or cope with the smell of said chicken farm? And
who's going to pay for this?
A legitimate question
, think
Manjak. A collective global fund managed by the UN? Individual
nations? Will there be a supervisory body to watch over each
nations' progress and guide over previously agreed upon
specifications and building codes? The Engineers viciously begin a
debate with scientists, philosophers, and public policy experts
over the implications that a worldwide 'farmscraper plan' would
have.

Five hours later, Manjak walks into his office with
no conclusive consensus in his hands. He calls Bao, who in Geneva
for a conference. "I need WFP getting me some backup for a
'Farmscraper plan' of sorts." "WFP? You are supposed to be
responsible for strategic goals, Trip." "But if WFP can publicly
state that this plan will alleviate major problems in a few years
time." "No plan is guaranteed to succeed. Especially one on such a
massive scale as the one you propose. Besides, demand always
increases to catch up with supply in the long run. This is a basic
principle of economics, and applies to our field as well, Trip.
Unfortunately, in many regards." "But with this, we can control the
supply, thereby keeping demand in check." "Many may argue that
that's a bit totalitarian."

"Its a problem, but to be considered later when we
have a more foreseeable and stable future. Right now the planet
needs this." "Have you talked to the Secretary General yet? If you
can get his office to approve it and support it." "I've send the
Secretariat the preliminary details, I have a conference scheduled
with them and the board tomorrow." "Well, convince them and it will
go a long way by the time you can bring this to the public and the
national governments." "I will, trust me." Manjak and Bao part ways
as Manjak heads over to Director Maurice's office to give him an
update. After that he returns to the conference room, where the
rest of the night continues the all-out debate over the future of
world farming.

Los Angeles

The GeneZTech records of the company's involvement
soon found their way, encrypted, through the fiber optical ethernet
to McCarthy's screen. McCarthy spent hours going over them the
morning he received them. Quickly he understood that there were
many loose knots that needed to be tied up.

He immediately calls Medina at NBACC. "Hello?",
answers Medina. "Hello, its McCarthy from the USDA. Are you aware
that there is a warrant out for Dr. Krishnan's arrest, and that
someone from either DoD or NBACC authorized it?" "No. I wasn't
aware of this, we are actually sharing information with Dr.
Krishnan from our collaboration with GeneZTech. He is our most best
connection with your scientists over there in Los Angeles." "Yes,
well, it seems someone is accusing him of treason and now since no
one knows his whereabouts here we are being distracted from our
jobs by the FBI looking for him. Could it honestly be a case of
mistaken identity? Someone may have accidentally placed Krishnan as
the suspect in place of someone else?" "I really don't think so,"
negates Medina, "I can also assure you that talk to the FBI
headquarters, but I am fairly certain that their facts are
straight. Their reasons are their reasons.", replies Medina
melancholically. "What about the Department of Defense, who runs
NBACC." "They have no connection with Dr. Krishnan, or with
GeneZTech, I'm afraid." "Ok. Thanks for your time." "Anytime."

McCarthy hangs up.
Why is talking with him always
a dead end? No useful information at all!

McCarthy decides to play the next card, and calls up
his boss in Washington, getting the line through after five
minutes. "Its McCarthy here. There is an arrest warrant out for Dr.
Krishnan. We just had Dr. Konovalov arrested for some similar
charge, I was wondering why are our scientists suddenly being taken
away?" "I wasn't even aware of this. Really? Under whose authority?
", answers the Secretary of Agriculture. McCarthy, surprised to
hear that even Onassis doesn't know of his leading scientific
cadre's disappearance, explains the unusual situation to his boss.
"Huh, very unusual. Send me those files, I want a look."
"Absolutely." "Do you know where Dr. Krishnan is, at the moment?",
asks Onassis curiously. "No, sir, I do not." "Hmm. . .that's just
fine. Make sure you send me those files, we could make a case out
of this. It smells fishy, and I see no reason not to take this to
court; the Supreme Court if necessary. Meanwhile, I'll make sure we
got those two doctors back in your town in no time."

Hanging up the phone, McCarthy puts on his sports
jacket before heading to the UCLA campus.

Albuquerque, NM

Racing through the sun scorched desert of New Mexico,
a small Fiat exits a highway ramp to merge with lane road traffic
heading into the state's largest city. Albuquerque, a small
metropolis of gleaming mix of pueblo and postmodern architecture,
is the first major city after Oklahoma for Krishnan's drive west.
Finally, a city after driving through cactus land!
Needing a
rest, nourishment, refreshment, and anonymous internet access he
heads to downtown, soon finding a strip mall that looks busy enough
to serve his needs.

Finding one, he gets lunch before finding a store
with available internet-for-hire. He checks his e-mail and finds
what he is looking for: McCarthy's response.
'There may be a
case pending here. If your innocence is proven in court you will be
free to go. Working with SecAgr to get to the bottom of this. Until
finished, stay low. PS could take a month.'
Krishnan reads it
over.
A month? I'm not going to jail, but jJust how am I
supposed to stay on the run for a month? Or longer?
Krishnan
starts rethinking his plan over in his head. Firstly, it would be
difficult to stay hidden in Los Angeles as too many people would
recognize him if they saw him. He would have to hide somewhere
where very few people would recognize him, where he knows very few
people, and a place with a small police presence.

Or, where would an Indian-American look
non-conspicuous? Hmmm.
He quickly thinks up of a radical idea.
One that would place him far away from the pursuing federal agents.
It would require some risk, but once past the initial screening he
should be home free for a while. Soon, he finds a phone booth to
call a close relative to buy himself a special ticket. A few
minutes later, the transaction is complete. Krishnan pays the bill
and walks out for some fresh air. Seeing two police officers
walking casually across the street, he walks towards into a Deli to
buy a newspaper. Buying it, he sits down in a small park to begin
reading the day's news: cases of a war for uncontaminated soil
started in Central America, several demonstrations violently
dispersed in Central Asia, massive refugee crises throughout
eastern and southeast Asia. Almost no governments try to work
together or cooperate even though they are facing the same exact
problem. The Opinion section blames the FAO for not doing enough to
combat the spread, yet names a Manjak for spearheading efforts at
getting some sort of 'natural barriers' up against the virus.
Scorched earth against EWK-1? There's an idea.
Seeing the
idea as more than just a strange, disrupting but potentially useful
afterthought he rushes back into the cafe to forward the
online-article to several key people in California.

After doing do he returns to the car to drive himself
to the sea. This time on the eastern seaboard, to board a
month-long world cruise that his nearly identical first cousin
purchased himself a boarding pass for.

08 EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT

Location Unknown -Six weeks later

Having disembarked from his voyage around the world
recently, Krishnan uses his remaining cash to stay at a small,
discreet motel. Over the past month and a half he has developed
several new coding sequences that, he hopes, could be used to
create new earthworm hybrids. So far, the news has shown no luck in
either creating new species that may survive or finding a species
possibly immune to EWK-1, such as the Giant Palouse.

Massive fishing efforts have become visible, as
fishermen and companies race to overfish what remaining food there
is in the oceans in a race against other competitors. Trawlers and
fishing vessels have been overly abundant and active in every port
visited by Krishnan during his world odyssey. With complete
disregard for maintaining small, viable populations of fish and
other marine organisms for future use, oceans have been
overharvested as a response to the decline of food from land based
agriculture.

Logging in to his daily email check, Krishnan finds a
message from [email protected]. <
Court Case # 3589 McCarthy
V. NBACC successful. You are cleared of all charges. Return to post
ASAP.>
Krishnan reads it again.
Really? Yes! I need a
ticket back.
He logs off and begins packing shirts, socks, and
electronics into his faithful travelling suitcase. Then another
thought hits him.

Who was representing NBACC? Are they still running
around? What was Medina's role in this, we lost contact but I need
to talk to that guy, and find what skeletons he has in his closet.
Need to talk to McCarthy about Case # 3589, this isn't over
yet.
The first thing to do is buy a ticket to Los Angeles. He
hails a cab, drives over to the Amtrak station and buys himself a
first class ticket. Two hours later the train pulls out of the
station.

As the train accelerates to its high speed of over
200mph Krishnan looks out the window, a point of observation on the
withering landscape. Trees no longer as green and sturdy as before,
piles of detritus lying in wait to be decomposed amongst the
underbrush. As vast tracts of farmland come into view, he almost
visualizes the grey brown taint that has corrupted previously
bright golden, yellow, and green crops. A slowly decaying landscape
that reminisces of a slowly peeling painting flashes by the rest of
the voyage.

The train pulls into Los Angeles Central Station, and
Krishnan makes his way to City Hall in the still alive and bustling
downtown. He takes the elevator up and walks into McCarthy's
office. Seeing no one around, he waits for a bit, poking at his
paperwork. Soon he is rewarded by the sight of McCarthy talking to
some official through the glass wall. Catching his eye, McCarthy
soon breaks off the conversation and barges jauntily towards
Krishnan. "Finally", exclaims McCarthy, "You're back. For a while I
thought you would have to hide forever."

"Why?", Krishnan wants to get right down to the
point, "and whom?"

"Who wanted me out of the way? I want to know!"
Krishnan starts becoming agitated, restless to get updated on what
had passed in his absence. "Calm down, man, you're going to work up
an unnecessary sweat!", McCarthy pushes the doctor down into a
chair. "Now, listen closely. The Secretary believes that something
fishy may be going on at NBACC, trying to destroy evidence of
Project Deniability, that sort of thing. So, he's pulled a few
strings and re-invoked your security clearance that you had when
you were part of, what was it, an advisory board?" "The Oversight
Committee", corrects Krishnan. "Onassis, has actually ordered you
to do that as part of your next assignment. I believe he intends to
visit the facility himself as well." "Surprising. What does the DoD
have to say about that?" "I don't know the details. Just get
yourself on a plane to Washington and get to the bottom of this.
The Court only had you declared not-guilty, but we weren't able to
get much information during the proceedings. GeneZTech assets have
been frozen. And there is an ongoing internal investigation into
the Oversight Committee as well." "Good to know. And the Director
of NBACC?" "Also under investigation. It's even made it to the
news."