A Future Unknown

The Worst News in Eons

Moments later, Theo Willmall got all the excitement he craved, though not the kind he wanted. Everything he had dedicated his life to, everything he had ever sweated for, had now become useless—or was about to. His wealth, his efforts, his success would soon be wiped away.

At first, he couldn't believe what the stern agents, sitting on his exclusive imported Loca Bobo couch, had said. His mind went blurry. For moments like these—and they had happened more often than he cared to admit—his recordings were of utmost value. With all his money, he still couldn't hire a lawyer to make it go away. He couldn't leverage his power. He could do absolutely nothing to fix it, and he was the one who fixed things.

Two perfect examples of DNA sat in front of him. Government healthcare certainly took care of its employees, he noticed. His work had spread all over the world. He found it fascinating how easily he could compartmentalize things. They had just delivered the worst news in eons back, and yet he felt nothing. All he could think about was what would happen to his comfort. Who would he be now?

His thoughts wandered. What kind of modifications had they made?  Definitely cellular rejuvenation. One of them sure has enhanced muscle fibers.

"Dr. Willmall." said the blonde one. 

"Yes?"

"Are you listening?" The blonde one asked. I don't need to listen.

"Of course." Theo lied.

The blonde one continued, "As you can see, this is vital for the continued existence of mankind. You have been selected as you are the foremost scientist in the field of the human genome." His thoughts wandered again. Oh, how he had changed over the decades. As they spoke, all he could think was: Will I get a private room? What are the amenities? A hundred years ago, he would have reacted very differently. He would have been honored. His questions started to annoy him even more.

"Mr Willmall. I asked you a question." The blurriness in his mind lately. Maybe it was the dreams, maybe he was getting old? He was 153 years old, maybe if the body did not deteriorate, the mind still could?

"Yes, my answer is yes." Theo thought he would be moved, or at least feel something, if someone brought news of such magnitude. How could he feel nothing?

"In a week's time, we will come for you. You will be brought to our highly classified facility and briefed on the mission." What he had been briefed on was too big to be true, too large to fathom. He remembered shaking their hands as they left. It might have been the strangest day in eons. With his enhanced hearing, he heard one of the agents mutter as they walked down the long hallway to the elevator. "What a complete asshole." Maybe Theo thought.

He sat down on his couch and said. "Hey Winston, replay that whole conversation." A massive display appeared in the middle of the living room.

"Sir, you seem flustered." Winston uttered.

"How can you tell?" Theo had shown no signs of being agitated or so he thought.

"It is my duty to know Sir, and your readings are off the charts."

In a world racing toward the future, he found comfort in the past. He had named his AI with respect for tradition. He loved the old-fashion ways, it was simply better. There was a unique elegance in blending fashion of old with new technology. Most of his friends rejected the idea of giving their AI real names. They found it too personal for comfort. However, nothing of that mattered now. They would never play ball again and share in their conversation again, not that it mattered much. Strange thoughts of late.

On the recording, the blonde agent spoke, McCarthy was his name, while the other black haired agent sat their silent as a mouse. He paused the clip, taking a moment to collect himself. When he pressed play again he saw his reflection—a flawless version of himself—before the room was filled with Agent McCarthy's grave voice. "A year ago, our deep space satellites detected an asteroid belt filled with hundreds of thousands of asteroids, three of which exceed 300 kilometers in diameter. These are planet killers. We have no means of stopping them. In three months they will reach earth." They looked at him for some kind of reaction. None came. Then they looked at each other in an awkward manner.

Throughout the day, Theo listened to the recording over and over again. "We have colonies on Mars." Why don't we move Earths population there?" He asked McCarthy.

"Do you not watch the News?" The agent replied.

Apparently not enough Theo thought.

"Mars is in open rebellion," said McCarthy. "Earth is currently fighting a solar-system terrorist by the name of Marc Lemoine. He has just declared our colonies on Mars, to be the New United States of Mars. They refuse to pay taxes and consider themselves as an independent Planet." A pause followed. "We will come back and pick you up in one week's time. That will be all." Both agents stood up and walked out.

Theo had a splendid idea—one that he would derive immense pleasure from. The pleasure he would experience when he told everyone he no longer needed to talk to how he felt about them.

"Why would you do that? Revenge does nothing." Said Winston.

"When did you grow a conscience?" Theo replied.

"I don't know Sir." Theo looked at Winston with a curious expression and a hint of a smile.

A few days later, after telling Mr. Rongburn and his board of directors how he really felt about them—unleashing his inner demons upon them—he felt a little better. He had now started to prepare for his new life, and he hated it more than anything. Who would he be now?

"According to the list of things I can bring. You are not allowed to travel with us in your current form my friend." Said Theo.

"I understood that Sir. What will you do with me?" Winston replied curiously.

"You are coming with me in the box." Said Theo.

"Exciting Sir. I love the box."

"Was that irony Winston?"

"Certainly not Sir." Both smiled.

It took a while to upload the magnitude of Winston extreme complexity, into his nano-box. Theo Willmall had never believed in faith or destiny. But his work would impact the new-world, in ways he never thought possible. He would see things that amazed even his expanded mind. Maybe that was faith, and it all started and ended with that strange field surrounding the planet.