The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 15

The gigantic banquet table occupying a central position in the dining hall of the Arcadia headquarters doubled as a place to hold important business meetings. The cavernous room ceiling featuring exposed polished wood beams supported by carved teak columns rising over thirty feet from the red, green, and blue painted ceramic tile floor. Bright Sun, Andromeda, Carlson, Lim, and Wong, waited for their guests to arrive. Andromeda, although only twenty-one, had become a knowledgeable and thoughtful adviser who accompanied her mother at all Arcadia functions.

An attendant, accompanied by three business men, announced the guests had arrived. Following an extensive round of greetings in the Asian tradition, three men dressed in business suits seated themselves in the artfully carved chairs on the opposite side the table from the Arcadia contingent. They placed portfolios and small computers in front of them plugging them into the power cords lying on the table.

Bright Sun took the center of her side with her daughter and Lim on the right and Carlson and Wong on the left. "Thank you for coming here today," Bright Sun said. Servants dressed in white sarong uniforms silently floated around the room filling water glasses, asking about coffee and tea, and placing baskets of fruit and pastry's on the table.

The three men bowed their heads and the one in the center said, "We appreciate the opportunity to answer questions about our company."

The three confirmed that they had reviewed the project description provided by Bright Sun. They came prepared to offer preliminary costs based on the services outlined in the specifications. Then they explained the estimates in tedious detail stopping several times to receive a clarification from Bright Sun. Although her adjustments would affect the cost, Bright Sun requested that they continue, understanding that their conclusions could change. The almost endless list of numbers and contingencies made following their presentation difficult even with their use of visual projection equipment connected to the computers.

"I understand all the contingencies and rationales, but in round numbers what is your best sum for the first year of this mission?" Bright Sun pushed the security company's representatives into an uncomfortable position.

"There are so many unknowns. I would rather discuss our cost for the individual requested services." The leader of the trio resisted giving his bottom-line estimate.

"I must know the total for the first year. Give me your best guess. Make it on the high end of your range if you must." Bright Sun leaned forward glaring across the table at the business manager.

He glanced at his associates before he said, "One hundred million dollars."

Bright Sun didn't show any surprise or shock but the others on her side shifted uneasily in their chairs. No one spoke waiting for Bright Sun to react. She calmly thanked the business trio and accepted the written report. She explained her team would need to study the report before they responded.

After the businessmen left the Arcadia team returned to the table. Ann was first to speak, "There's no way to pay for your grand expansion plan."

"I know, we've got plenty to fund our research and live comfortably here, but we will need much more to fund our ultimate vision for Arcadia," Bright Sun said, briefly summarizing the obvious.

"Your invention of the Magic drug, although distasteful, has allowed us to create inventions to improve the human condition. I'm proud of what we've done but I wish there was another way."

"Relocating our production facility to Laos has enabled us to restore our distribution and worldwide sales."

Carlson, who had been sitting silently, along with Mr. Lim and Mrs. Wong, said, "To proceed as you have outlined we must hire experienced military leaders. Not only to direct the field operation but also to insure our security."

"We must realize that our offensive actions will trigger reactions," Mr. Lim said. "We need military discipline and training to repel the expected response."

"I agree, we don't need a huge army because of our strategy, but we need experienced leaders that can organize our missions," Bright Sun said. "We also must be able to manufacture enough of our obedience persuasion substance to neutralize a popular uprising. Equipment, technology, and communications are all needed before we are ready."

"Mother please, all of this is unnecessary," Ann said pleading her case. "We can achieve our humanitarian goals without military aggression."

"Now, now, my dear we've been over this before," Bright Sun said, addressing her intelligent offspring like a naïve child. "I must lead them to make sure our inventions reach their potential."

"But..." Ann cut short her response, feeling the powerful disapproving glare from her mother. She realized her protest was futile.

Bright Sun then proclaimed her unilateral decision, "I have examined many options to generate the needed funds. With our experience manufacturing and distributing Magic, I am confident we can expand our capability and produce prescription drugs."

The unexpected statement silenced everyone, so Bright Sun continued, "Now that people are living longer the afflictions that accompany old age are exploding. I have decided that we should manufacture Moncovya, the most popular prescription drug in the world. Its net profits are over one hundred billion dollars a year. By selling our version, at a much lower cost, we can capture the needed part of the market and make billions. This will be more than enough to fund everything I have planned."

"So we will make counterfeit prescription medicine?" Mrs. Wong spoke, uncertain that she was correct.

"That's correct," Bright Sun said. "We will receive the bulk of the profit, but we'll have no problem finding others that want a piece of the action."

"Won't the legitimate manufacturer fight to recover their lost revenue?" Ann said.

"That's the beauty of it. They'll be our primary customer." Bright Sun's lips wrinkled into a smirk and her eyes sparkled.