BLUE GENDER
"Children of the Blue"
18. Revelations
Marlene pounded on the glass as the Spring Worm rolled into the room behind the unsuspecting little boy.
Her son.
"Stop this! Stop this Professor," Yuji pleaded. "We'll do whatever you—"
"Behold!" Gorski announced in a grand manner.
"Behold evolution!"
The Blue bore down on Takashi, then veered away; actually rubbing against the boy—accidentally--as it did.
Takashi glanced at it the way he might glance at a person who interrupted his train of thought: Takashi was busy working on his building block project.
"What? What…happened?" Marlene gasped as her heart raced.
It became apparent that the Blue had no interest in Takashi.
The Spring Worm moved about the room and inspected it then it stopped and waited—a typical Blue posture when they had nothing else to do.
Gorski suggested to the anxious parents: "Take a moment and think--think about what you are seeing."
"What did you do to my son?" Yuji wanted to know. "Did you activate his b-cells the way—"
Professor Gorski offered a stunning revelation: "Takashi Kaido has no b-cells."
"That's impossible. I have the b-cells," Yuji protested. "You just said yourself that the b-cells gave birth to Takashi."
"Yes, but his genetic code is vastly different from either you or his mother," Gorski relayed. "Don't get me wrong—his genes contain the physical characteristics of his parents. His lineage is not in doubt—he is your son. But the basic genome is substantially different. Takashi does not have any trace of the same genetic 'abnormalities' that are marked by your b-cells, Yuji."
"Just…an…ordinary little boy," Marlene mused as she stared—still in shock—at the sight of that hideous Blue within close proximity to her child.
Gorski laughed: "An ordinary boy? No, Marlene, an extraordinary boy—more so than you know. But I'm going to show you, and you'll understand why all this was a necessary evil."
"Get my son out of there," Marlene insisted.
Gorski activated an intercom: "Takashi, this is Ivan. Could you please exit the playroom through the secure door? Your parents are here and they're eager to see you again."
Takashi grew a huge grin, stood, and sprinted toward a small door on the side of the room. It slid open and Takashi quickly went through. The Spring Worm took note of Takashi's movements but did nothing. It simply had no interest in him.
After Takashi was out, a set of robotic arms descended from the ceiling. Those robotic arms contained a prod that was used to stun the Blue so that it could be removed from the room.
"This way, please," Gorski motioned and led Marlene and Yuji from the observation area and into the hall.
The Professor spoke while they walked. Marlene barely listened but Yuji was more attentive. After all, Gorski was indicating that he had more answers about the b-cells and that meant more answers for Yuji about who he was.
"Your son has a physical constitution like no other. I believe we've seen only the tip of the ice berg—so to speak—but when he hits adolescence his genes will unleash incredible regenerative powers."
"Regenerative powers?" Yuji wondered as they descended a staircase.
"Yes. Inside, outside—against illness and even significant physical injury," Gorski told them. "That alone will reduce his dependence on medical science.
"Furthermore, most humans use only a small fraction of their brain power. Yuji already appears to use almost double the amount a human male uses at adulthood. I'm sure you've noticed how smart he is—how resilient. That's not by accident, it's by design."
"Design?" Yuji wondered.
"The design of evolution. Of nature."
They opened a door and entered a wide hallway. One of the scantly clad female residents of Elysium was escorting Takashi along the corridor.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
Takashi may have been everything Gorski was telling them, but as he saw his parents for the first time in more than a week he was a happy little boy. He ran to them and hugged and kissed them both.
Marlene nearly smothered the child with the strength of her embrace.
Gorski's voice continued in the background: "I have prepared quarters for you adjacent to your son's room. You are my guests for the time. Explore how we live here and I will show you wonders you never could've imagined. And I'll show you the future of mankind."
---
It was nestled among the tattered remains of the Whiteshell Nuclear Research establishment. Once a haven for scientists researching the consequences of reactor failures or ideas for nuclear waste disposal, the facility's walls and buildings—blasted out of the pre-Cambrian rock—were now home to a massive Blue nest.
The creatures therein knew that the time had come, once again, to march into battle. They knew their target. They knew their mission. They poured forth on the ground and in the air like the army they were.
---
Yuji looked in at Takashi—the boy was taking a late afternoon nap. The excitement of seeing his parents again had been exhausting.
Yuji closed the door.
Gorski had provided them with first rate accommodations. A large windowless room elegantly decorated with colorful flowers, an ornate mirror, a heavy table with chairs, bureaus for storage, a massive circular bed, and two bookshelves filled with fine works of literature.
A door—closed at the moment—led to an equally plush lavatory.
Yuji struggled with his new clothes—his now-discarded battle uniform had become dingy and, frankly, it stank.
His new clothing, a white tunic and matching, loose-fitting slacks were quite comfortable. Apparently they were sewn from a fine, silk-like material.
Marlene emerged from the lavatory. She was carrying her dirty battle suit and armor in her arms while struggling to fit into her own new getup. She did not seem happy.
Yuji was quite happy, however. He had never seen her wear something so…so revealing and—he had to admit it—alluring. A one piece white robe-like outfit that was one short step away from see-through. It barely covered her from her shoulders to her upper thigh—way upper.
"Is this what they wear around this place?" Marlene said, tossing her battle suit on the dresser top. "It's a wonder they don't all catch cold."
"Yes, you seem chilly," he joked as he observed parts of her that were a bit, well, protruding.
She gave him an acid-filled look.
"What? I mean, you do wear it well."
"I see," she walked over to him.
His own lack of cover showed off his strong biceps and sturdy chest.
She placed a single finger on his chin and with seductive eyes said: "You like this? I bet you're thinking a lot of nasty thoughts right now…"
He threw his arms around her slim waist and pulled her close "Yeah…not all of them so nasty…"
She pressed her forehead against his and said: "I'm having some thoughts, too. Want to know what they are…?"
"Hmmm," Yuji growled. "Please, tell me."
Marlene pulled back and her tone changed dramatically.
"I'm wondering why we're prancing around like a bunch of arrogant dolts in tissue paper outfits. I'm wondering why we just spent a week going through Hell, watching people die, and all of a sudden you think everything's okay. I think you like it here and that bothers me."
"Marlene…"
"I'm thinking that you're hoping that Professor Psycho can give you more answers about everything you went through five years ago."
Yuji, his mood totally destroyed by her sucker punch, became agitated.
"Yes, yes maybe I am. Maybe there are some answers here about life and what has happened in the world. Maybe this guy can tell us something."
"Tell us something?" Marlene said. "I know what life is now, Yuji. You taught it to me, remember?
"It's your hands in the dirt building something out of nothing—like we had at the village. It's holding your child when a thunderstorm scares him or waking up next to the person you love for another new day."
"I'm just saying," Yuji pleaded. "That since we're here and since we've gone through all of this maybe we should listen to what he has to tell us. Maybe I can find out more about my purpose…."
"Your purpose? You found that out five years ago Yuji."
"I still have questions," he retorted.
"Did you ever stop to think for a moment," she argued. "That not every question about life can be answered? Or should be? Isn't it enough to live? Isn't it enough to be happy? If we keep asking ourselves why or how we don't take the time to enjoy it all. And sooner or later it ends, then all our time is gone.
"I wasted too much of my life," she finished, "Being a robot soldier for the High Council. And I hate Gorski for making me fight and kill all over again."
He was frustrated; he ran a hand through his hair.
"Marlene, maybe Gorski can tell us what life has in store for Takashi."
"Right," she fired a harsh arrow. "Because he made sure that life had very little in store for Bo Fuentes."
Their dispute was interrupted. A soft klaxon ran through the structure.
Takashi's door opened. He stood there rubbing his eyes.
The boy told them matter-of-factly: "The Blue are attacking again."
---
The Blue swarmed toward the walls of the base in the air and on the ground. They were met by gun turrets.
The weapons made a sleek 'swoosh' sound as they fired—these were no ordinary heavy guns. They were also very effective.
They did not aim for the core—they were not so precise. But the automatic guns did a marvelous job at shredding the attacker's bodies until the core was either shredded itself or that body was completely incapacitated.
---
The Kaido family arrived at the Great Hall. The citizens of Elysium did not seem overly concerned.
A calm voice came over some sort of communications system throughout the complex. It sounded human, at first, but it became apparent it was an automated, or computerized, system.
"HOSTILE FORCE ENGAGED…ATTACKER STRENGTH ESTIMATED AT 65 UNITS…PRIMARY DEFENSIVE EMPLACEMENTS OPERATING AT 45%…"
Professor Gorski was sitting at the main table next to General Deeves and a few other Elysians. The Kaidos approached the group.
"What's happening?" Yuji asked.
"The Blue are attacking—just a mild attack today," Gorski explained. "Not something you should worry yourselves about. As long as you stay inside."
"Professor, if the Blue attack like this everyday," Yuji asked. "How do you…how do you have enough ammunition to keep up the defenses. I don't see any factories. No raw materials."
"Our factories are our nurseries and arboretums, Yuji," the Professor said with pride. "We grow our ammunition."
"Grow? Ammunition?" Marlene was aghast.
"ATTACKING FORCE NOW ESTIMATED AT 35 UNITS…PRIMARY DEFENSIVE EMPLACEMENTS OPERATING AT 25%..."
"Our defenses are magnetic rail guns," Gorski explained. "We have genetically engineered several plant species to grow the right size pellet to fit the gun barrels. A pellet as hard as a heavy caliber bullet but not so hard to produce."
"Amazing," Yuji thought.
The Professor told him: "You don't know the half of it…yet."
---
The Blue attack was easily defeated. Deeves' Mercs mopped up a handful of flying Blue that had dropped inside the walls—most already mortally wounded.
After the sun had set Gorski sent the Kaidos a private family dinner of exotic fruits, vegetables, wine, and bread. It was a pleasant family meal followed by wrestling between Yuji and Takashi. Later, Marlene read their son "Green Eggs and Ham," by Dr. Seuss: one of the literary "classics" left on the bookshelf.
The family then slept, peacefully, through the night.
---
It was morning.
Professor Gorski stood in the observation area above Takashi's playroom. The boy was there entertaining himself while his parent's finished breakfast.
The Professor knew it was going to be a busy day.
Still, he couldn't help but watch young Takashi. The boy was working with his blocks again—two spiraling, parallel lines twisting into the air.
Ivan Gorski concentrated. He tried to visualize what the unfinished project was going to be. It looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
Soon I'll know what you're up to.
---
Yuji and Marlene met their son outside the playroom. There they were greeted by Professor Gorski.
"Good morning, I trust you slept well?"
"Yeah," Yuji said—almost dejectedly—"plenty of sleep last night."
"Good. I'd like to show you more of what we do here, and why."
"Mom," Takashi tugged at Marlene's arm. "Can't we do something. Just the two of us?"
She kneeled.
"Sure we can, Takashi. What do you want to do?"
"I want to show you around, mom."
Gorski nodded his approval.
Yuji moved over to give his son a hug. Marlene stood and waited. Gorski looked at her.
"Getting better adjusted here?" he asked.
She spoke softly while Takashi and Yuji giggled.
"We're here right now because Yuji thinks you can tell him something. I don't believe it. But he does. Make no mistake, Professor. The day will come when I will be leaving here with my husband and my son."
"I see," Gorski was disappointed.
Marlene ended: "May God have mercy on the soul who stands in my way on that day."
---
General Deeves walked the perimeter wall with one of his lieutenants.
"Sir, why are we still here?"
Deeves answered: "We haven't received payment in full yet."
"I don't understand," the lieutenant was puzzled. "We loaded the crates of ammunition, food, gold, and medicine on the transport yesterday. Is there something more?"
Deeves watched as three of his soldiers exited via a side door to head on a patrol to the east in the direction of a warped forest that rested upon the plains.
He kept them patrolling even if the base was well defended. It kept them sharp.
Deeves answered his officer: "There's one more payment left to make. One piece of equipment that will make us—will make me—undefeatable."
Yes, Deeves thought. The Professor has one more promise to keep.
---
Takashi led Marlene by the hand to a lonely corridor. There they came to an elevator with a keypad lock.
"Takashi?"
"Hang on, mom," the boy said as he started to punch in a nine-digit code.
"You have an access code?"
"Naw," the boy admitted. "But no matter how much the Professor talks like I'm all smart and that, he still thinks I'm dumb. He thinks I can't figure out a simple fractal nine digit pass code."
The lock opened. The boy led his mother into the high security elevator.
---
Yuji and Professor Gorski strolled through the Great Hall and entered the Community Dome. About a dozen other Elysians were there, talking, reading, or crafting artwork.
"Marlene isn't relaxed here, is she?"
"No," Yuji said. "And either am I, Professor. I have not forgotten how we came here. You are responsible for the death of my friends and for putting me and my wife through Hell."
Gorski nodded his understanding: "But you are willing to put that aside for now if I can give you the answers you've always sought."
"Let's just say I'm willing to listen."
"Okay then, listen to this," Gorski led Yuji onto one of the wide walkways that circled the Community Dome.
"We always thought of evolution as a long process. Natural selection means those best suited for survival do so and pass on their special traits—their advantages--to their children. Eventually, over time, the entire species has those special traits.
"Evolution should be a long, slow process. Hundreds of years—maybe thousands—for humans to change. Yet history is filled with unexplainable examples of evolution seemingly speeding up."
Yuji jumped in: "The Sleepers and their b-cells. You were the one who discovered us. You first saw these 'special traits'."
"Yes," the Professor admitted. "I saw immediately that the b-cells were really just markers for a change in the human genetic code."
"So you put us into cryogenic sleep. Why? Were you afraid?"
"Yes," Gorski admitted that as well.
Yuji continued, "We were told that we could die from the b-cells."
"A lie," Gorski continued his confession. "There were no adverse health effects form the b-cells. None that we saw. I understand the Sleeper program on Second Earth produced some rather nasty behavioral changes, but that's because Victor and Seno Miyagi only understood part of the truth."
Yuji: "And that truth is?"
"The truth is in your son, Takashi. The Blue in that room knew he was in there, but didn't care. For any normal human being—even a Sleeper whose b-cells aren't fully activated—the Blue would immediately attack because the Blue were seemingly born to destroy mankind."
"You said Takashi has no b-cells."
Gorski said. "Think of evolution as an equation. The father's genes plus the mother's genes equals a result that is a child.
"In your case, however, you produced an evolutionary burst. Takashi is more than the sum of his parents because you and Marlene both must have some pre-determined evolutionary code within your genes. In essence, the two of you were meant to be together and to give birth to Takashi so that man's evolution could speed up."
"I'm not sure I'm following you."
"Takashi is at one with his world. That's why the Blue won't attack him. He is the first in a new generation of human beings who will be less dependent on technology, less dependent on industry or medical science. He is the means by which mankind will survive on this planet in harmony with it."
Yuji tried to understand: "So this was all a part of nature's plan?"
"Whatever you care to call it. Are you religious? Than maybe it's God's plan. If you want to call it the Grand Will of the Earth, then so be it. I call it evolution—the most powerful force in all the universe."
---
Marlene allowed her son to lead her deeper into the bowels of the complex. They had entered a series of hallways that led to laboratories, clean rooms, and specimen containment facilities.
Gorski had told them that there were only about two dozen of Elysians in the compound. That explained why the two intruders could move about unnoticed.
Takashi spoke: "The Professor takes me down here a lot to do tests and stuff like that."
"Did he hurt you?"
"Naww, just a few pinpricks here and there. No biggie, Mom. But he showed me a lot of neato stuff down here, too. I'll show you…"
They came to a lab door with another keypad. Once again her son used his apparently photographic memory to unlock the door.
---
"So," Yuji tried to get his head around it all. "My b-cells, or special genes, plus regular human genes—"
"Not just any human cells. It had to be Marlene. As I've watched her fight and stay focused and be determined I see that those traits for survival would be necessary in the next evolutionary step.
"Didn't she once tell you that she had visions of you?"
"What? Oh, you mean—"
"Dr. Gamble told me the story," Gorski explained. "During your first time together, when you were trekking to Baikonur space base, you separated—seemingly for good. She was trapped with some fellow, what was his name…?
"Dice."
"Yes. She was trapped with Dice by a Land Whale. She told you later that she saw, in her head, a vision of you driving an armor shrike. A few moments later you showed up in an armor shrike to save the day."
"A connection?"
"Just evolution nudging things in the right direction."
"So anyway," Yuji went on. "Takashi is more than just a step in evolution, he's almost like an instant evolutionary gain. At one with the world and all that. So that still doesn't answer why you brought us here. It will take hundreds of years—maybe longer—for his children with his genes to spread throughout the human population."
Gorski smiled: "Yes. So man's real enemy in all this hasn't been the Blue, it's been the slow pace of evolution."
The Professor raised his voice. Yuji noticed that his followers looked at the man with a reverence usually left for cult leaders or--should he think it--Gods.
"Evolution, nature, move at a pace much too slow for me. We came here, almost twenty years ago, not to find a way to beat the Blue with bullets and weapons, but to change man so that we could conquer evolution. So that we could be the type of beings that Takashi now is."
Yuji looked around. All of the people below were standing still, gazing at Professor Gorski and waiting on his every word.
"Now that I can see the final product—your son, Takashi—we can all join him on the next step of evolution," the Professor's eyes widened as he raised his arms with clenched fists as if he were shaking them at nature itself.
---
The laboratory included a series of sealed observation rooms along one wall.
"Takashi, what is it? What's in here?"
"The Professor has been working toward this for a long time," Takashi said. "He tells me that he's made a lot of mistakes. He's sorry. I think he really is. He says he's learned from mistakes though. He said I'm the answer to it all."
"The answer to what?"
They approached one of the observation windows.
"The answer all the people here have been looking for."
Marlene looked in at the chamber through the thick glass. Something was in there…something…moved.
Takashi spoke in a whisper: "Quiet mommy…you don't want to wake it…the Professor says it's my brother…I don't think it looks like a person at all."
She saw what was in the room.
Marlene Angel screamed.
---
"Professor. That's not possible. Evolution takes—"
"We have defeated evolution! Haven't we, my friends?"
The people down below began to disrobe, showing their perfect forms.
"How old am I, Yuji?" The Professor asked.
"I—don't know."
"I'm over seventy years old."
Yuji was shocked: "That's…that's not possible…you're lying."
"It is possible," the Professor cringed, as if he were feeling some pain as his clothing fell to the floor of the balcony.
"What are you doing?"
"It is possible," Gorski grunted, then continued. "When you have control over your DNA. When you have conquered evolution…"
Yuji looked at the audience. Some of them were going into convulsions, too. A few moaned but it didn't sound like pain.
"What—what's wrong? Professor?"
"We have…" each of them…their skin began to…began to…move.
On each of them—some on their necks, others on their chests or shoulders or stomachs…something pushed through the skin.
"We have… CONQUORED…!" The Professor boomed
It was…it was…
"WE HAVE CONQUORED EVOLUTION...!"
Cores.
Blue Cores.
Pulsing. Thumping.
"WE ARE THE FUTURE OF MAN...!"
Tentacles pushed through skin…mandibles…tusks…slithering appendages…people warping until they were half-human, half-Blue, and neither of both.
"WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE BLUE!"
NEXT FACTOR:
19. Interloper
Professor Gorski: "I see Takashi has completed what he was making with his building blocks. Is that—is that what I think it is? Yes, it is. What a clever little boy. I wonder if he doesn't know more than any of us."