Encephalon: Emergent

Chapter 7

They made their way across town on foot, avoiding all public transport, caps on their heads at all times and Justin told her not to look up, for fear of satellite surveillance, but to keep her eyes towards the ground. He held her hand the whole way. Her heart pounded and she became scared to make eye contact or rely solely on her new augmented vision. If she could spot the ability so easily in others surely they would see it in her a mile away. She smiled, tried to behave as normal as possible, to look at people normally, walk normally, she even tried to have a normal conversation with Justin, and they found themselves talking about the Knicks. Justin of course knew everything there was to know and she became lost in his encyclopedic knowledge that kept her distracted long enough not to let her fear completely overwhelm her.

But there was a question burning to be answered.

"They are at the doorway of the next stage of evolution," Justin finally said, "Not yet detached from the rest of humanity, but superior in every single way: stronger, faster, smarter." Elena listened intently trying to keep the fear contained. "At some point they first became emergent, no one knows exactly when, but several hundred years ago at least. The first step was to strengthen the muscles in their eyes using conscious effort techniques to improve the synaptic network to their irises, much as you have done. From here they used their ability to see further, learn more and teach others in their clan how to harness the abilities that lay dormant in their genes, the same genes as you or I."

"Just like learning to read," She remembered.

"They amassed a fortune, but as you know the world is scarce of resources. If they wanted to reap and keep their spoils, they could not let their secret escape; they had to keep their numbers contained. The Encephalon provides for its own, and the Encephalon protects its own. Today they stretch across the globe controlling stock markets, weapons, energy, water supplies, using their superior brain power – literally calling themselves the brain, the 'Encephalon' as it is anatomically known to any med student – all to manipulate others who sadly do not come close on the IQ scale. Anyone who does is assassinated." She remembered the face of the boy and the line of beaten prisoners. "There can be no opposition to the Encephalon."

A renewed surge of fear rose in her stomach, and she found it gradually taking over as they marched down the busy streets, "Theirs are the only minds that matter."

Justin stopped her in her tracks, "All minds matter. Your mind matters. You are an Encephalon emergent, Elena, already on your way to learning all that they know, your brain living proof that they hold no monopoly on what we can become. Understand?"

Elena nodded, uncertain, but they were within sight of the surveillance building. She held back her questions and followed Justin in through the lobby where they rode up the elevator once more. The doors shut out the noise from the street.

Justin pulled off his disguise and face putty, "It's safe here."

She pulled the putty lethargically from her face and took off her cap, the emotions flooding in. Shocked, she turned away trying to avoid having to look at him altogether. This was all too new; she had never been shot at before. If only she had never chased after Juno, if only she had never got into that helicopter. If only he had not tricked her with his vision or taken her captive. He had manipulated her into chasing after this man. Frustration flowed through her.

"You do that often?" She asked, looking over the city out the window no longer struggling to use her vision to its full capabilities and no longer suffering from a headache, her synapses having successfully rewired.

"Just with new recruits," He answered honestly.

"Recruits for what?"

The doors opened and he held back from saying what he was about to, but her look questioned. "War. Recruits for war."

She believed him. Fear hit, and she barged past him to the rooftop, the light from the setting sun striking her unexpectedly in the face. He followed her out.

"War is upon us whether you like it or not, Elena. They know you know now."

She turned back, "Then get me away, far from here."

"You've become a calculated risk, regardless of where."

She turned away, "I never asked for this."

"No one ever asks for this," He said spinning her back around. "How many need to die? Good men and women strong enough to turn away from the Encephalon, but not strong enough to take them on?"

Elena wrestled her arm free, "You're one of them? You were Encephalon?" His look confirmed it. "At least you had a choice. So far I've been kidnapped, witness to a mass murder, shot at and now forcibly recruited for war."

"Necessary to prime you for what's to come."

"What's to come? Where were you when I battled them before?"

He rethought his approach, "The balance tips in our favor, Elena. Finally we're enough in our number to train you, for you to train others, so they can train more." She turned away, but Justin was on a roll, "It's time to level the playing field. Make you stronger, faster, smarter. Make everyone stronger, faster, smarter. Imagine a world where ignorance is no longer the cause of conflict; where intelligence is not just an inheritance of the few; where the Quinns of the world are not defended." She winced at the name. He pointed out over Manhattan and beyond, "Don't they deserve the same chance as you? Don't you deserve the same chance as the Encephalon?"

She looked around her; from the stacked skyscrapers to lines of traffic, from gatherers in the park to the people lining the avenues, she knew what lay beneath.

"Can you ever look at the world the same way again?" He held her gaze.

She noted his stare but made him wait. Finally she whispered, "You'll teach me what you know?"

"What I will teach will change who you are. You will become the greatest version of yourself."

She looked at her reflection in the helicopter.

"Help me bring them down, Elena. Help me bring down the--"

"I'll do it," She interrupted, breathing out, "I'll do it."

He smiled, visible relief on his face, "I was right about you."

She looked at him straight on, "Let's hope I'm right about you."

He held her gaze and opened the helicopter doorfor her to get in. The helicopter rose and took off in the direction it came.It flew over buildings, parks, houses, kids playing in their yards and on thestreet. Elena watched out the whole journey. Life was going to be very different, of that she was sure. Just about the only thing she was sure of.