The Renwick Gallery, just a few steps from the White House, was bustling with law enforcement and security dispersed throughout the Museum of American Art reserved for that occasion to host the most brilliant minds around the globe in the Pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields.
Security agents guarded every entrance and exit as well as the surrounding area while others positioned themselves in strategic places where the international scientific luminaries would be better protected. Cameras on every corner were actively recording. Guests climbed out of their cars and nimbly crossed the entrance to the glossy and contemporary Grand Salon. The salon had been meticulously prepared with live classical music performed by some players from the National Philharmonic from a discreet angle; warm lighting, and tables with exquisite floral arrangement and champagne-thirsty crystals.
Eli Roth arrived at the gallery in a dark blue suit fitted to his athletic body, and with him was Yana Mazón in a silver dress which complimented her Mediterranean, tan skin. They found their place and settled with laughter and fluid conversation as a cover to their real reason for being there. They kept an eye as inside agents to any disturbance that might occur due to the nature of the gathering. There wouldn’t be a lack of radical terrorists interested in getting a sample of the bioweaponry from Masae’s arsenal if they knew there would be available there. Both kept a watchful regard to all entrances, waiting for Masae’s Pharma-NorTech representatives: Alexander Lyashenko and Mila Norfolk.
Svend Falken, Cherut’s director, sat at a table with other Scandinavian engineers. Kei Sato and Bastian Blum, who entered separately, shared the table with some Eastern European professors.
The Cloud Warriors—Gadiel, Hadi, Amidor and Leo—were positioned strategically in cafes and bars around the museum, together with Adriel Yankton and Eiji Kudo. They were not to interact with Mila unless it was necessary. However, they all kept busy running facial recognition searches thanks to the well-placed cameras left by Cherut in preparation for the event. It was important to confirm the guests’ identity. The people and the technology gathered that night should remain well protected.
As the event was about to start, Alexander Lyashenko arrived with Mila by his side, who on the attendees list appeared as Mila Norfolk. She leaned on the scientist’s arm with the closeness and confidence of love sprouting in their hearts. Her dress hung from her body as if drawn on her. Her dark honey hair cascaded down to one side like gentle waterfalls held in place by a silver floral comb. Alexander was handsome and manly, and with his dark blue tailored suit, he looked particularly exquisite. Both under Masae’s orders to be an emblem in every way of power and success as the representatives of her empire. But they agreed with each other to play their part until the moment to turn things around.
The couple crossed the lobby, attracting the curious gaze of those along the way and sat at their assigned table across from Eli and Yana. Alexander’s penetrating brown eyes scanned the place for colleagues from his previous life. But didn’t spot anyone he knew. After the proper introductions, they settled in an affable conversation with the scientists who shared the table.
Eli kept a record of every detail like a madman, conjuring to mind the image of a lovely woman he once knew. As he compared the two versions, his heart bled in his chest; his stomach spun, making him feel as if he was falling. He was heart sick. He searched with his gaze for Kei’s table and met his serious gaze. Kei was also in a similar predicament. Mila was his protégée; a daughter life had given him. However, the leader’s firm stare reminded Eli of the issued warning to stay away from Mila until directed to make contact.
Eli nodded in acknowledgement. He stared into his champagne glass for what seemed an eternity, stuck in another dimension, from where Yana’s touch brought him back. He would be the professional he was.
“You are not alone, Eli,” Yana reminded him.
Eli smiled, hiding his guilt for not reciprocating her affection, the emotions she seemed to still have for him.
The young lady across his table wasn’t the woman Eli knew. Yet, if given the chance to interact, he would do so, bringing to mind the beautiful memory of a lovely person who had touched his life while in Peru: Mila Ferro. As he pondered for the thousandth time his well-catalogued recollections from his time with Mila, their eyes met.
Mila didn’t hide her curiosity about the guard Eli had set up for her. She nodded in his direction and Eli inadvertently led her to another table. Mila rested her eyes on a very stylish Asian man who seemed unaware of her gaze, interacting with those at his table. She felt a distant recollection about to reveal itself, but the veil clouding her memory was too dense.
Alexander held Mila’s hand and squeezed it gently. “There are people from your past life here, Mila. Do you recognize the person across from us?” He took a swig of his drink. “He is part of your subconscious recollections.”
“I don’t remember,” she whispered, deciding to follow those two strangers and put as many pieces together as she could before the night was over.
At the front of the room, the evening’s events were beginning. The director of the World Health Organization was appointed as the master of ceremonies. She began speaking, and thanked the participants for their presence, mentioned some outstanding names and recounted the technological innovations of that year. With an introduction that both Mila and Alexander found over the top, she called the young scientist to accept the award on behalf of Pharma-NorTech, for their leading efforts to improve the world’s heath, one village at a time.
Alexander got to the podium and delivered the speech, expected by the participants on nanotechnology in medicine, the hot topic in everyone’s lab. But what he didn’t mention, and he so wanted to, was Pharma-NorTech’s testing bioweaponry in remote villages, current strange illnesses affecting those areas, and spreading rapidly out of those borders. And other spectacular advances made in clandestine laboratories for which they would be signing a deal in one of the private conference hall while everyone else was enjoying the champagne and music in the salon. But it wasn’t the time for revelations yet. He settled for dropping hints for whoever was willing to heed the warning. He expressed the corporation’s eager commitment to combine their experience in the pharmacological world with experimental theories, moved solely of course, by the desire to improve the health and well-being of all human beings, especially in the destitute corners of the planet.
Alexander concluded, recounting with images and graphs the social aid provided by the multinational around the world in just one year: donations of medical equipment and medicine around the poorest villages in Africa, Asia, and South America. The images of children and women undernourished and sick shown in the gigantic screens, achieved the desired effect—a great ovation. The young scientist received the commemorative plaque from the president of the World Health Organization, and the guests stood to support such a recognition.
Once Alexander was back in his seat, Mila leaned in and whispered, “Well done Alexander, the brave, I noticed the hint…If they only knew that the disease and the cure come from the same hand.” Mila whispered to his ear, leaving a tender kiss on the cheek.
“There will be a time to reveal what is hidden, I know,” Alexander whispered back.
After speeches and dinner, guests were encouraged to explore the pavilions exhibiting innovative scientific contributions. Mila stood by an experimental 3D nano-molecular model rising as a cosmos in the middle of the chamber. She floated around the structure guarding what was inside, a tiny canister, similar to the ones Masae sent her to deliver.
“Interesting and beautiful!” Eli murmured, waiting for Mila to turn to him. “But what could that canister possibly contain? A small dose of a powerful substance capable of affecting people’s lives radically?”
Quite right, a small and lethal dose, capable of wreaking havoc on the lives of selected targets, Mila thought before taking her eyes from the canister to face the stranger behind her. She peered into his turquoise eyes, trying to recognize him as Alexander had said, the man wasn’t a stranger at all, but appeared sometimes in her dreams.
“I thought leaving you for a few seconds surrounded by introverted scientists would be safe,” said Alexander, appearing by Mila’s side and handing her a glass of champagne. He glanced at Eli who had been standing a few steps back.
Mila turned her face to Alexander, happy to see him and reaching for his hand, she opened the space for introductions and conversation. “Alexander, let me introduce you to…” Mila paused, fixing her gaze on Eli.
“Eli Roth,” he replied, stretching his hand to both.
Mila sensed the warmth of friendship enveloping her in his turquoise eyes.
The two scientists shook hands with the required force, measuring each other.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Roth,” Mila offered a graceful smile while shaking his hand. “Mr. Roth seems quite interested in our Pharma-NorTech exhibit which is, I must stress, surrounded by top security and surveillance…”
“In that case, I must discourage you from acting on an impulse,” said Alexander, drawing a civil grin. “I don’t think Ms. Norfolk would let you go far with it.”
“No, I wouldn’t want to risk a night in jail or worse. I’m very aware of the security around this place… I’m here to establish future collaboration.”
“Now tell us about yourself, Mr. Roth; what is your field?”
“Biomedical engineering with some experience in designer virology.” Eli answered, glancing back at the canister.
“How interesting. Now, I see your special interest in our display. What is your alma mater, Mr. Roth?” Alexander asked, preparing to run an exhaustive professional survey on Eli Roth, but Mila interrupted him.
“I don’t want to be rude, if you excuse me, Mr. Roth,” Mila turned to Alexander. “I think we need to get going.”
“Let me see,” Alexander glanced at his watch and then at Eli, “You are right. We have twenty minutes.”
Mila tapped gently on Eli’s arm. “Mr. Roth, it was a pleasure to meet you,”
“Here is my card. I think we have some things in common to discuss.” Alexander extended his card, peering deeply into Eli’s eyes as if passing a secret code.
Eli stood regarding the canister locked in the high security sphere as a part of a manmade cosmos ready to go off if gently tapped, and only a few people with certain characteristic would fall, and this time wouldn’t be for a restorative sleep presented during the Super Bowl, but the one never to be awakened from.
“Victim of your impulses again?” Kei said, standing by Eli’s side.
“I did nothing compromising. I only wanted to look into her eyes.”
“And what did you see?”
“Nothing. She doesn’t remember who she is or…” Eli faced Kei as the realization hit him for the thousandth time.
“Or whom she used to love. She doesn’t remember yet, but she will!” Kei gripped Eli’s shoulder, a sign of support in their common heartache. “Now remember that we are also here to make sure no one other than the Pentagon leaves with the sample delivery Mila is making on behalf of Masae.”