“I don’t understand, Mister President,” Steven exclaimed. “I don’t have any expertise with AI or androids for that matter. My understanding is artificial intelligence in robot machines was prohibited by the World Federation decades ago. It was deemed a threat to humanity and outlawed by all member countries.”
“That is correct, Steven. However, the situation we find ourselves in has changed for the worse since that decision was made. Humans have proved themselves incapable of doing what’s needed to save our planet, or themselves, I’m afraid. You’ve seen with your own eyes the damage we have caused to our planet—an environment that is too hot and too polluted to drink the water or breathe the air; plagues that have spread out of control due to numerous, dangerous diseases; and wars that have killed millions of people fighting for remaining resources.
“My scientists have shown me the predictions for our planet. Believe me; we have explored every option for survival left to mankind. Even the World Federation has come to the same conclusions we did. Androids with AI are the only machines capable of reversing the damage we have caused to our planet.”
Steven considered what he heard before answering. “Even if what you say is true, I don’t see how I can help you. I’m just a past professor of International Studies and skilled negotiator. My best service to you would be as an ambassador in another Province of your choosing.”
“I have no doubt that you would serve me well in another ambassador role, but the best way you can serve your country now is to fill the open Senate seat now vacant by the recent death of Senator Howard of Illinois. It would be beneficial to our country to have someone with your background and experience serving in the Senate to help me pass the environmental bills we need during my term in office.”
Steven was again surprised at this turn of events. He had never considered serving in congress at any stage of his career. He was happy as a diplomat, but this offer would allow him to achieve even greater goals he had set for himself as a public servant.
“Mister President, I am honored at your offer. May I take some time to think about it?”
Ricardo smiled and stood up. “Certainly, Steven, take a day or two to decide. To help you in making your decision, I want to invite you to dinner tonight with my wife, Kendra, and a close friend, Doctor Mary Collins, Secretary of Human and Health Services. Doctor Collins can fill you in on our Human Cryostasis Program while we eat.”
“I would be delighted to have dinner with you tonight, Mister President. I’ll make my decision today.”
“Excellent, Steven. I’ll send someone to pick you up and bring you to my home where we can have dinner and discuss the subject further. Thank you for coming. Kathy, my assistant will show you out.”
Steven followed Kathy out of the oval office and waited while she called him a taxi. This had been a very unusual day. It was going to become even more unusual once he made his decision tonight.
Steven was picked up at his hotel precisely at seven p.m. He arrived at President Carlos’ residence fifteen minutes later. The president and his wife lived in a new highrise condo building located nearby the Capitol Building. The president usually walked to his office from his home with security detail every day. He opened the door soon after Steven was allowed to take the elevator in the lobby to the top floor of the building where Ricardo and Kendra lived.
“Hello, Steven! Please come inside,” Ricardo said warmly, shaking hands and closing the door. “We’re all outside on the balcony having a drink.”
“Thank you, Mister President. It was nice of you to invite me to dinner.”
“Please, call me Ricardo. I prefer to leave my title at the office when I’m home.”
“It would be my pleasure, Ricardo,” Steven said following Ricardo through the spacious, beautifully decorated, living room to the patio.
Steven stepped outside. The weather was warm and it was too cloudy to see the sun setting in the west, but the view was spectacular. He could see the mighty Mississippi river flowing rapidly through the megacity past the silver, gleaming Gateway Arch on his right. To his left was the overgrown, tree-filled expanse that was now called the Wilderness Area that stretched hundreds of miles in all directions outside Utopias. It had become desolate due to the death of millions of people over the years and was now mostly overgrown woodlands.
“Steven, I would like you to meet my lovely wife, Kendra, and our dear friend, Doctor Mary Collins. Ladies, this is Steven Younger, our country’s ambassador to India,” Ricardo said pleasantly upon introduction.
Steven shook both their hands. He was thrilled to meet the First Lady and Doctor Collins who, although roughly the same age as he, both looked beautiful and full of life. Kendra had dark auburn color hair and green eyes that sparkled when she laughed. Her figure was still trim and well proportioned. Kendra said, “It’s nice to meet you, Ambassador Younger. Ricardo has told us about you and your recent experiences in India. We would love to hear all about it.”
“Please, call me Steven. I would be happy to tell you about India over dinner.”
“Well, Steven, I hope Ricardo didn’t scare you away with all the things we must do here at home,” Mary said handing him a glass of wine. Mary had reddish colored hair and intelligent blue eyes. She was a very talented medical doctor and close friend for years. She actually served as Ricardo’s and Kendra’s personal physician before being appointed Secretary to serve as one of Ricardo’s Cabinet Members.
Steven took the glass of red wine. “It’s nice to meet you too, Doctor Collins. Thank you for the wine.”
Steven smiled at both women. He felt at home already and looked forward to the evening with too very beautiful women. “You have a lovely view of the megacity, Kendra. It’s a shame the air is not clear enough to see the forest over the river.”
“The smog has been getting worse every year. Tonight is better than most nights because the wind is blowing from the northwest. Some days we cannot even see the Mississippi river during the day,” Kendra responded.
“It’s true, Steven,” Ricardo added sipping his glass of wine. “Our environment has gotten much worse over the past five years. Soon, the people in this megacity will need to wear masks full time to breathe the air. Please, have a seat and we can discuss some business before dinner.”
Steven sat down next to Mary while Ricardo and Kendra took seats across from them. Ricardo began by explaining to Kendra and Mary, “I invited Steven to dinner tonight to discuss our new initiatives to save the planet and ourselves from extinction. I’m hoping he will agree to help his country out by filling the vacant Senate seat left by the death of Senator Howard who passed away last week.” This news surprised the women.
“I mentioned the topic of our new Human Cryostasis Program, which Steven is aware off. I will let Mary brief you more fully since she is responsible for seeing to its completion. Mary.”
Mary smiled and took a sip of wine and set the glass down on the end table near her. “Ricardo is too modest. He introduced the Human Cryostasis Program bill in 2092 while he was Senator from Mexico Province. The plan was to construct secure underground bunkers with cryonic sleep chambers to hold and protect everyone still alive in the UAC for at least one hundred and twenty-five years. New bunkers are being built by military contractors in secret locations unknown to most citizens of Utopias. Many of the underground bunkers were already built in response to the threat of nuclear war before the start of The Plague Wars in 2084.
“The Program has since been expanded in Provinces worldwide with help from the World Federation and it’s Security Council Members. Our best scientists agree this program is the only way for humans to survive this Sixth Major Extinction Level Event!
“I am responsible for the underground bunker construction schedule working closely with the top generals in the UAC. The goal is to complete all bunkers by the end of 2098. I am also responsible for the health and welfare of every citizen who choses to enter the cryosleep chambers when it becomes public knowledge in two or three years. I will let Ricardo tell you the rest of the program plans to save humanity.”
Steven knew some of the details of the Human Cryostasis Program from his meeting with Ricardo. What he wanted to hear more about now was the explosive news Ricardo had told him earlier about humanoid androids.
Ricardo felt it was time to tell Steven the most sensitive details of his plans to save humans from extinction. He began slowly. “Thank you, Mary. The cryostasis program is well on its way to becoming reality. The missing peace only my Cabinet Members and the scientists working on it know about, what I mentioned to Steven earlier, is the final phase of my plan that requires the creation of humanoid looking androids we call the Android Creation Program.
“We are at the beginning stages of the program. It will take a few more years to get it right, but I fully believe these new, intelligent androids will help us save the world. Without their help, humans may not survive the damage we have caused to our environment. I want you to become part of that effort as Senator and help me achieve the goals I have set for our government.”
Steven listened to Ricardo as he described more details about the android program. It sounded plausible and important enough to convince him to make his final decision. He spoke directly to Ricardo, “Mister President, you don’t have to say anything more to convince me. I accept the offer to fill the vacant Senate seat from Illinois if the state will accept my candidacy.”
“Thank you, Steven. You won’t regret it. Why don’t you tell the ladies what is happening in Asia with firsthand knowledge and what Premier Wing is really up to? I’m sure they will appreciate what the rest of the world is going through and if The Plague Wars will ever end.”
Steven told his story and close call of being captured by the Chinese Army in New Delhi. They were very impressed with the role of the Army troops from Fort Leonard Wood to protect him and others from harm and their safe return to the military base in Missouri. The discussion lasted for almost an hour before Kendra smiled at everyone and said, “Dinner is ready. Let’s eat and continue this discussion inside.”
Steven had much more to say and was very much attracted to Kendra. He envied Ricardo. Kendra reminded him of his late wife and hoped they could get to know each other better and become friends as time goes by; before everyone is forced to enter cryostasis and sleep for a hundred years.
The day had turned out better than Steven expected. He could only hope the same for the future.