CHAPTER 6 – THE GREY DEATH

The Luxembourg Gardens were full of people, as usual. This vast green area, which somehow survived the last few dozen years, despite constant transformation of Paris into the most modern city of Europe - as some said, or into a most claustrophobic and callous one – as others thought, was being visited like before.

But even for an average observer – like Alexandre Durant – it was clear that there was something definitely wrong with this place, an obvious discord. It wasn't about the lush greenery, which contrasted with the glass skyscrapers surrounding this place and glittering in the sun. For somehow observing the city at that moment from the bird's eye view, Paris would seem mostly clean, not to say sterile.Though for those who observed it from the ground it was obvious, that the city was quite the opposite. Under the apparent modernity dirt and devastation was hidden – especially outside the city center and in the Luxembourg Gardens.

Alexandre knew what was wrong – this place was full of those infected with the Grey Death. No-one sane ventured there, not even the police. But he frequented this place very often, against his self-preservation instinct, trying to do something more than the authorities, who were basically doing nothing to help those people.

Durant touched the pocket of his coat, where he kept few vials of Ambrosia, which he managed to steal from the deliveries.
It was a drop in the ocean of needs, but nonetheless the man managed to save several lives, including those of his family. Still, this optimistic fact was eclipsed by the pessimistic one, that most of them had the good chance to contract this disease again. Many of them were homeless for a long time, but they were also many that became homeless quite recently – they were simply thrown out from their homes as they became sick.

Alexandre observed the infected as they were sitting under the trees or on the benches. The emaciated and devastated figures barely resembled human beings. Durant had to admit that the name of this disease was very accurate. Faces of those people were indeed gray. Bodies of those in the terminal stage resembled rather skeletons with the skin pulled over and their minds were even a worse mess. For those there was no salvation. They didn't know what was going on and eventually they fell victim of horrific visions generated by their dying minds.

Visions like this one came to Alexandre every night and didn't let him sleep. Already living in a nightmare, in his dreams he would fall into a more dreadful one. In this scenery the sun, shining right now after the last few days of heavy rain appeared to him as an exceptionally improper joke, to say the least.

So far Durant didn't know about the true nature of the Grey Death and the fact that the cure was produced. If he knew, he would probably lose the remainders of his belief in humanity.

He was about to learn the truth very soon.

In the meantime, at the X-51 facility in Vandenberg the production of the cure started with full blast. Tracer Tong and Gary Savage observed the process. The Universal Constructor, which mainly did the job, enabled them to produce much greater quantities than by using other methods, but they both knew that they won't be up to this task alone. They would be able to satisfy the demand in North America, but there were other continents left. Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and Africa – they didn't have their own UC.

"How could a human being give such a fate to the others of his kind?" Savage asked bitterly.

Tracer Tong said nothing. He wished he knew the answer.

"Mr Savage, there is an incoming transmission," a voice from the intercom interrupted the dismal thoughts.

"Forward it to the UC chamber," Savage ordered, now slightly distracted.

The order was executed and both Savage and Tong could hear the transmission. Both were surprised.

"Tracer Tong, Gary Savage. We need to cooperate."

The Chinese stirred. He knew Helios was right, but the mere fact of hearing his voice echoing in this chamber made him feel uncomfortable.

"I see your production is running at full capacity," the AI continued, "But, both I and you know that one UC won't handle the task."

"And?" Tong asked warily.

"I have observed and chosen few other institutions who will be able to handle the manufacture of Ambrosia. All they need is the Universal Constructor. I can transmit them its schematics and the schematics of the cure."

"How can you be sure that later on they won't use it later on for a more dangerous purpose?"

"I see that you distrust your fellow humans to almost the same extent as you distrust me, Tracer. Well, if you want to know, as soon as the UC's will be finished, I will control them directly. "

The Chinese went pale.

"Now how can we know you won't use the UCs for any malicious purpose?" He retorted.

"My directive remains unchanged. I hope your doesn't as well." Helios answered concisely.

"Let's do this," Savage said, before Tong manage to open his mouth, "So far time works to our disadvantage."

"Indeed" Helios agreed and disconnected.

Tracer began to walk back and forth, apparently agitated. The scientist observed him with concern.

"Tracer, calm down" Savage said eventually. "That's very unlike you!"

"You heard that!" the Chinese almost shouted. "He already controls the network and soon he'll be controlling the UCs. Please, don't tell me you don't see the possible consequences."

"So far I can see that now we have the real chance to make this world better" Savage answered.

Tracer stared at Gary terrified.

"I'm certain that one day will he become our enemy" Tracer said in a low voice. "And the day when this will happen will be the last day of mankind."

The American said nothing.