Matthew Conway sat at his desk pondering his latest results. He had been working for months to replicate the success of the experiment in which he not only attached a bot to an actively replicating DNA sequence, but also succeeded in programming the body to recreate the bot on its own. It would be a feat worthy of the history books if he could show that he could do it again, and from the looks of the data in front of him, he had. Typically this would be a time to run to the office of his research advisor, Arian Cyannah, and proclaim his success, but Arian hadn’t been to the laboratory for over a week.
He had grown to resent the professor over the last few months, both for his dismissive treatment of his work and his absence. After four years under Dr. Cyannah’s tutelage, Conway seemed no closer to obtaining a doctorate. This groundbreaking work deserved recognition, and if he couldn’t get that from his own advisor, he would seek it elsewhere, thus two months prior, he had approached the administrators of the Institute.
This was a breach of standard protocol since, Dr. Cyannah, as the graduate advisor, was the owner of the research. Given the work’s potential to revolutionize nanocyte treatments, Matt was sure the Institute higher-ups would turn a blind eye to his betrayal. He had been proven correct beyond his wildest hopes. Not only had the administration been receptive, they referred him to the Head of Scientific Development at the Central Tower. For the first time in his twenty-four years of life, Matt had entered the Central Tower to meet with Tobias Fry, whose job it was to act as a liaison between the Parliament Science Committee and the Institute. It was he who alerted those who held the real power to the new developments in science on which they so depended.
Tobias seemed more than a little intrigued by his results and had his work sent off on the same day to his superiors within Parliament. Unbeknownst to Matt and even to Tobias, the results of his work made it all the way to the highest powers of Arameus, the Overseers themselves. That these men were already monitoring his research would forever remain unknown to him. They instantly recognized the potential of the bio-bots to firmly cement their power and had taken the necessary steps to begin production immediately.
Wishing to keep their true plans unknown, they chose a remote location outside Capitol City for production. They would then use Habimana Muteteli, under the guise of a representative of the Natural Born, to enact their new form of control. When choosing a scientist to manage the project, Arian was eliminated. He was too close to Ansley and thus could not be trusted. However, a graduate student who felt slighted by his professor and wished for something more was the perfect candidate. Tiberius, in his new role as facilitator of the Overseers’ plans, would contact Mr. Conway and offer him his promotion.
Matt was unaware of this. Many nervous weeks later, he was contacted by a man named Thaddeus and invited to dine on one of the pleasure yachts cruising the Arymides, the river circling the Central Isle, for dinner and to discuss his new placement within the Institute. He was nervous about the prospect of getting a new professor. How could he be sure he would like this one any better? And would he have to start working toward his doctorate all over again? Time was a luxury Nephites had in abundance, but he was tired of being under the power of another man. He was ready to run his own research group. Regardless, anything would be better than his current absentee adviser.
He opened his qubit. “Hera, I’m leaving for the day. Have my messages forwarded.”
“Of course, Matthew,” came her reply.
He departed the labs, walking in the shadow of the East Tower toward his hawk. Though he was nervous about the meeting, he was excited about dining on a pleasure yacht. They were not open to the public except by invitation. High ranking members of the Central Tower had passes and could extend invitations to others. His hawk was parked far from the entrance to the laboratories. He did not fail to notice Arian’s empty space directly by the door. He walked almost a half-mile before he reached his transport, getting angrier by the minute. Straddling his vehicle, he typed in the coordinates for Dominiccio’s Landing, named for the Overseer.
His hawk took off toward the interior of the isle, and the Central Tower, before descending to the North Tower, and finally the landing. This was an annoying and indirect route, but his low status dictated the path. Many higher-ranking Nephites would be traveling at this time of day, and this route would prevent any traffic stoppages. His hawk accelerated past the East Tower and to a ramp that led to the upper levels of the Central Isle. The four towers were located at the island’s lowest level, but closer to the Central Tower, each block ascended a story, allowing for another visible street front for shops and restaurants as you neared the Central Tower’s base. It also ensured that the Overseers and other high-ranking officials occupied the highest point in the city. It was yet one more assertion of their power.
His hawk traveled midway up the embankment before exiting the ramp onto a curving avenue. The Central Tower loomed above with the East Tower directly to his right. He passed restaurants and pubs where Nephites were gathering for after-work drinks. Many, he was sure, worked in the Central Tower. As he followed the avenue around, the North Tower came into view. His hawk shot to an exit ramp that led to the tower below. Passing the North Tower, he came to Arymides Avenue, which followed the river that surrounded the Central Isle. He parked at a charging station next to the bridge leading to the northern district. The yacht was docked, with many men and women standing around the entrance ramp waiting to board. It was a large boat, built to accommodate a hundred diners. Emblazoned on the side in bright red paint was the name of the boat, The Capitol Cruiser.
Not knowing what to do, or how to board, Matt eased off the bike and faced the crowd of people. A man approached him, dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers. The shirt had a small eagle pattern on the right breast, indicating he was in the service of a consulate.
“Matthew Conway, I presume?”
Matt nodded.
“My name is Thaddeus Secundus. I am the head assistant to Consulate Tiberius Septus. I am glad you were able to join. My master awaits us inside if you will follow me.” The man walked off, and it took Matt a moment to realize he better follow or be left behind.
As they approached the boarding ramp, the attendant saw Thaddeus and allowed the two men to bypass the line. They were greeted within by a host, a Natural Born man of about forty with a large, well-groomed mustache, his dark hair slicked back with some sort of grease. While Matt was sure the man felt he appeared elegant, in truth the man’s style showed his lower class. They were led into an open dining area in the boat’s interior. The walls were framed in glass to give the diners views of the city and river, while the floor was filled with circular tables adorned with white tablecloths, silverware, and empty champagne glasses. In the room’s center was a small stage where a string quartet was readying their instruments. They continued to a spiraling staircase that led to the upper deck. Upon reaching the top stair, another attendant removed a velvet rope, allowing Matt to pass.
“This is where I must leave you, Mr. Conway,” said Thaddeus with a slight incline of his head. “I hope you enjoy your dinner.” With that, he hurried back down the staircase and out of sight.
Confused, Matt emerged on the top deck to find it devoid of passengers. The tables were unadorned, with no settings, save one, at the far end. From this distance, he could only make out the long white hair flowing from the man’s head. He was seated alone. Perhaps it had been a mistake to go over Arian’s head. This whole situation seemed wrong. Regardless, it was too late now. Taking a deep breath, trying to clear his head, Conway strode toward the man.
As he approached, he recognized the man to be none other than Tiberius Septus. He noted the tanned, lined face that went with the white hair and purple dinner jacket. Though he had never met the man, Tiberius was one of the most recognizable men in Arameus, and even young children in the Institute hatcheries would be able to identify his distinct features.
“Your honor,” he began, slightly embarrassed, “I had no idea you would be here. Had I known, I would have dressed in a more befitting manner.” He bowed as Tiberius looked on with a bemused grin.
“And how could you have known that which we did not share? You are Matthew Conway, I presume. Please be seated. I have much to discuss with you.”
Matt awkwardly took the seat across from Tiberius, feeling every movement of his body being scrutinized. The mustachioed host he had met upon boarding walked up with an open bottle of wine and paused at the table silently.
“Your honor, if I have offended anyone by going above my advisor, I apologize sincerely. I was upset and made a mistake.”
Tiberius waved off these protestations with a flick of his wrist. “Fear not, young man, you have nothing for which you should be ashamed. You have done well. This is a celebration. I assume you will take a glass of wine? It is Sagittarian, grown in Avignon. It was bottled over forty years ago and is among the last left from that year. I am fond of the region and have spent much time there. Given my long years, perhaps I have even known some of those who picked these grapes so long ago. It makes me feel connected to the past.”
“Of course, your honor. Thank you very much. It is a pleasure to be sitting with someone who has experienced so much. I have seen so little in my limited years.”
“Don’t worry, my boy. Before you know it you will be two hundred. No matter how much time we get, it seems to pass too quickly.”
The waiter poured each of them a drink from the bottle. Tiberius shoved his nose into the glass and inhaled deeply, savoring the earthy odors. Drinking it, he swirled it around his tongue, enjoying every intricacy hidden within the wine. Conway, however, picked up his glass and drained half of it, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. With a look of slight offense, Tiberius grabbed his wrist lightly across the table.
“A fine wine such as this is to be savored and enjoyed, not shot down like some cheap Tegave. Allow your tongue to explore the earthiness and dryness. Feel a connection with the people who plowed that land forty years ago. Think of the children they had to provide for which led them to toil in the sun. Perhaps a little girl waited for her father to come home each day from his work. Perhaps that little girl has grown old now and this bottle is the last remaining connection to him.”
Conway was beginning to realize that Tiberius had enjoyed a few drinks from the open bottle. Still, he picked up the glass again, this time taking a small sip and swirling it on his tongue as the Consulate looked on. He hoped he was doing it correctly, as he had no idea what he was supposed to be discovering in the wine.
“If it is not to bold, your honor, what is it that we are celebrating?” asked Matt, with some hesitation.
“We are celebrating the completion of your doctorate.”
“I’m afraid I don’t follow you, sir. I was under the impression I was being considered for a new placement within the Institute. I have not completed my doctorate. Dr. Cyannah has not seen it fit to grant me one.”
“This is true,” replied Tiberius, “but it is not Arian who grants doctorates. Arian only recommends them to the Institute. We have found much promise in your work, and your results have reached the ears of those who hold the ultimate power in Arameus, the Overseers themselves. They have granted you your doctorate and have a special position in the works.”
Conway was dumbfounded. His emotions were a mix of joy, fear, and confusion. To hear that he had been granted the degree he had spent his life pursuing nearly brought him to tears, although he was shocked to hear that the Overseers knew of his work. He wasn’t confident he was up to the task of meeting the expectations of ones so revered in society.
“So…my name is Dr. Matthew Conway?”
“From now until the day you die, should so unfortunate of an event ever occur.”
“I don’t know what to say,” he said, a large smile spreading on his face that did not subside. He lifted his glass and drained the remaining contents without considering how this might offend Tiberius. The indiscretion was ignored as Tiberius motioned for the mustachioed waiter to refresh the glass.
“What about Arian?” It felt good to call Dr. Cyannah by his first name, now that they were equals. He would never again address the man by his formal title.
“Dr. Cyannah will no longer be in your life. We have a special task for you. The Overseers see great promise in your work with the bio-bots and want to begin commercializing them immediately. They began construction of an offsite laboratory, outside the dome over a month ago and you should have everything you need to begin producing the bots. You will have a team of well-trained Institute scientists at your disposal and unlimited funds.”
“This is beyond anything I could have hoped for. I’ll have my own research group? How do the Overseers plan to implement the bio-bots? They are still at the very early stages of development.”
“That is their concern, not yours,” replied Tiberius. “Just know that they will be used to cement peace and prosperity in Arameus and the world for generations to come. This project is classified. You can tell no one, at risk of death for treason. Gather your necessary belongings and a week from today, Thaddeus will meet you at your quarters and take you to the undisclosed lab. You will be there for some time. I would advise you to tie up any loose ends from a personal standpoint.”
“I look forward to getting to work. Do I have any say in who is on my team?”
“Your team has already been selected.”
Conway hesitated, but decided it was now or never. “Then I must make one small request. You ask me to tie up any loose ends, but there is a major one for me personally. Perhaps it would not be too much to add Alexandra De Rosia to the team. She is a top-notch geneticist and a wonderful scientist. I feel she would be an asset to my team and will allow me to work faster to achieve results.” Tiberius smiled across the table at the new professor. This was something he understood. Sipping his wine, he thought for a moment.
“So then, you are in love?”
“Since I was twelve. She was seventeen and a graduate assistant to my intro biochemistry courses. She has always been above me and would never have considered me before. But now, as a professor in charge of a team carrying out the direct orders of the Overseers, she cannot ignore me. I am no longer that child.”
“This, I understand,” said Tiberius thoughtfully. “But this sort of thing can make a man weak, blinded by his passions and unable to carry out his duties. All men must struggle with this on their path to greatness. The successful ones always make the right choice, which is the difficult choice. Your duties come first. Still, I will take your request into consideration. If it tickles my fancy, then she will be with you next week when you enter the compound. I have not decided.”
“Thank you for considering, your honor.”
“It is nothing. Now go,” replied Tiberius.
“Go? The yacht just launched. It will be cruising for two hours. We haven’t even eaten.”
“I prefer to dine alone. Don’t worry. You will eat. Thaddeus has a table for you downstairs. You won’t mind his company. Enjoy the view of the Central Isle. It is quite beautiful this time of day.”
Matt looked at him, puzzled, before standing, bowing in respect, and walking toward the staircase from which he came. Though he still felt the sting of the slight he had just received from Tiberius, his heart was beating twice as fast as normal in his excitement. Not only was he a professor, he also had his own research group funded by the Overseers. They had even sent a high-ranking Parliament member to inform him. All of his dreams were coming true and he would not disappoint. He only hoped that his plea to get Alexandra placed on his team would not be ignored. In truth, she was a mediocre scientist, but she had a body that drove him crazy. She would not be able to resist his advances while working under him for this project.
As the young man disappeared from view down the spiral staircase, Tiberius motioned for the waiter.
“Get rid of this cheap wine and bring the real bottle.”
As Tiberius sipped the vintage, forty-year old Sagittarian wine, his thoughts went to Kaiya. He wondered if she had been old enough to run through the grappa vineyards when this crop was harvested. He hoped so. It made him feel close to her to think that her father’s fingers may have picked the very fruit that went into this bottle, and she may have played beside the vine, imbuing the fruit with energy from her unmistakable charisma and magnetism. He pondered this as he looked out over the Central Isle while the yacht moved slowly past. Fixating on the top of the Central Tower, he focused on the offices in which he knew the Overseers were now residing. It could all be different for him soon. If he could usher in the age of bio-bots, he would be free on his own private island to find and reunite with the woman he loved. For the second time in his life, he was alone. He had first lost his wife to the horror of death. Now he was alone because the woman he chose to love was not born into the proper family. Though she was lost, Tiberius had not forgotten his love and he would do everything in his power to earn the right to Kaiya.