Revelations
Portland, Oregon, January 4, 2016 -- 2:30 p.m.
A young couple, enjoying the exceptionally warm, dry winter's day, strolled arm-in-arm along Kingston Drive near the Japanese Gardens. They were very much in love and unmindful of their surroundings until overtaken by a tall black man wearing the attire of a runner who startled them as he ran swiftly by. Unable to ignore their affectionate mien, the running man felt regret that in his many years of studious endeavor he had never found time for love.
Born on November 12, 1988 and raised in San Francisco, his parents had encouraged him to take full advantage of his exceptional mental aptitude. After becoming a member of Mensa at twelve and earning a Summa cum Laude B.S. in Biological Sciences at sixteen, the pace of his education became frenetic. Attending the U of C Medical School at San Francisco and then the U of C at Berkeley for postdoctoral work in molecular biology occupied the next ten years of his busy life. He also found time to attend Stanford for an MS in computer science during these busy years.
Regrettably, the latest addition to his list of accomplishments was one of failure. A few weeks ago, in reaction to his violation of their policy regarding human zygotic experimentation, the Oregon Health Sciences University revoked his research grant. He chuckled as he thought that he might become one of the best-educated applicants for unemployment compensation if he did not find employment soon.
As he approached his car, one of two well-dressed individuals standing nearby stepped off the curb and addressed him by name. When he acknowledged this greeting, the man produced a badge and identification card of the US Secret Service and requested to see Brian's identification. With the formalities complete the agent said, "The president's chief of staff would like to see you at the White House tomorrow morning and we have a plane standing by to fly you to Washington. You will receive five hundred dollars a day plus expenses for your time. Will you agree to accompany us on our return flight?"
"If I say no?"
"We would place you under arrest and deliver you to the White House without the compensation I mentioned. It would be in your best interest to honor this request."
"A good point. I have decided that I am looking forward to meeting with the president's chief of staff."
The White House, January 5, 2016 -- 2:00 p.m.
President Delaney rose from his chair and met him at the front of his desk with a hearty handshake as he said, "Good afternoon, Dr. Butler. I am pleased you that you could respond to our invitation on such short notice." The president returned to his seat after offering Brian a chair in front of his desk.
Brian remained standing until the president returned to his chair and said as they both sat down, "Well Mr. President, your people can be very persuasive."
"I suppose they pulled the old carrot versus stick routine on you. My predecessor once sent for me in the same fashion in an attempt to intimidate me though history shows, he failed to do so. We feared that a more formal invitation to visit the White House may have come to the attention of the news media."
"Mr. President, your chief of staff would not divulge the reason for my summons. Perhaps you will . . . ?"
"Belay your impatience sir; we must clear the deck before you can get underway. Bear with me and we will answer all your questions shortly. Dr. Butler, do you have any reservations about the security agreements they asked you to sign?"
"No, but I always thought that receiving a top-secret clearance would entail much more than signing a few papers."
"It does. They started to work on your clearance more than a month ago when we added your name to a very exclusive list. We are in the process of setting up a covert research program involving genetic engineering and would like to offer you a role in this endeavor. Regrettably, your compensation would be less than you could expect in a comparable civilian position. Will you consider working for the government under these circumstances?"
"What would be the nature of this position?"
"We are offering you the directorship of a major effort to explore the feasibility of creating an enhanced human through the science of genetic engineering. The specific goal of this research is to elevate the viral immunity of man and our fellow mammals. You would have unrestricted authority to set the agenda of this research; subject only to oversight by the select committee that recommended this effort. This committee will have jurisdiction regarding your budget, staffing levels, and ethical matters concerning human experimentation. The position is yours if you choose to accept our offer. We would like to have your decision within the week."
"I have made my decision Mr. President, and I accept this offer without reservation!"
Obviously pleased, the president rose from his chair, extended his hand, and with a firm handshake simply said, "Welcome aboard." Picking up his telephone, the President said, "Please inform the speaker that Dr. Butler is in my office and has accepted our offer. Ask him if he can recess the meeting and join us."
After a few moments of small talk, the well-known speaker of the house entered the oval office and the president continued speaking as a mischievous expression appeared on his face. "Dr. Butler, I would like to introduce the occasionally Honorable Albert Swoboda, Speaker of the House, eldest member of the loyal opposition, and the chair of our select committee. Al will continue your briefing and introduce you to the other members of the committee that is in session as we speak. You will find that you face a daunting challenge Dr. Butler, and for the sake of humanity I wish you fair winds and following seas."
"Well, Dr. Butler, the president's nefarious past as a navy admiral has given him superb recruitment skills, almost equal to his ability to deceive the public. I am happy to hear that you have accepted this position and look forward to working with you. If you will excuse us Mr. President, we will be on our way."
Upon entering the conference room, the speaker sat at the head of the table as, with a gesture, he offered Brian a seat to his right. "Dr. Brian Butler has accepted our offer of employment. I would like each of you to offer a brief overview of your roles regarding the challenge we face. Then we will break for an opportunity to greet our newest member in a less formal fashion. Dr. Alma Dix, the director of the Centers for Disease Control, will present the background information leading to the formation of this committee."
"Prepare to hear some astounding information Doctor Butler for we have learned that the time of humankind has nearly run its course. In the late nineteen hundreds, the CDC became very alarmed over the emergence of HIV, Hanta, Ebola, and other viruses. After years of gathering data and many fruitless conferences regarding these viruses, interest in this unresolvable dilemma waned. A little over four years ago, the CDC acquired a new self-programming computer. Seeking to challenge the new computer, they loaded it with all the data generated by the now defunct viral emergence study. The astonishing result of this test was a report that predicted humankind would become extinct within two hundred years.
"This report declared that man and our fellow mammals were the evolutionary culminations of their respective species with immune systems no longer capable of responding to the newly emerging viruses. The report also cited global warming, ozone depletion, and human overpopulation for promoting the increased rate of viral mutations. After several years of internal discussion and a series of unsuccessful efforts to discredit this data, it gained a reluctant acceptance by many of its critics. I informed the president of the computer's pessimistic conclusions on August 14, 2015."
"Thank you, Alma. Dr. Dale Burgess, the Surgeon General of the United States, will now relate the actions he has taken regarding this report."
"I bid you welcome, Dr. Butler, and thank you for agreeing to join us. At the president's direction, I formed an advisory group of twenty prominent scientists to review the CDC report. The group reached two unanimous conclusions and dissolved itself by mutual consent. Their first conclusion recommended creating an enhanced human species through genetic engineering, an impossible task according to their second conclusion. Rejecting their defeatist response, the president and I formed this committee to set a course of action in response to the CDC report. This committee has decided to go forward with a multifaceted approach to explore all of our options including genetic engineering.
"I must confess that I nominated you for this dubious honor after reviewing your impressive academic achievements. We are aware of your recent escapade involving the unauthorized research that resulted in the cancellation of your research grant. My informal queries revealed that those associated with you regard you as a brilliant, hardheaded maverick. These traits should serve you well in overcoming the challenges that lie ahead."
"Thank you, Dale. Now I wish to introduce Ann Baxter, the National Security Advisor."
"Welcome to our little group of frightened people, Dr. Butler. I recommended that the CDC report should remain top-secret as common knowledge of our uncertain future could have a devastating impact on the world's economy and social fabric."
"Thank you, Ann. Now we will hear from Major General Gates, US Army, the commander of plans, operations, and facilities management. General Gates has assumed the responsibility of turning our plans into reality."
"Dr. Butler, fellow conspirators, I am ready to predict our victory over these pesky viruses now that we are taking this threat seriously. Recognizing the US Army has proven expertise in conducting covert research, the president approved the committee's recommendation that the US Army set up and support our research projects. Major Amanda Johnson, the operations officer assigned to Dr. Butler's project, will now brief us on the status of their facility."
A tall, attractive black woman rose from her seat and walked to a small podium equipped with presentation controls. She began her presentation after dimming the lights and turning on the large video monitor. As the image of the VA Hospital in Portland, Oregon appeared on the monitor she said, "We have selected a location that will be quite familiar to Dr. Butler.
"Several months ago the Veterans Administration, impoverished by a series of deep budget cuts, announced the impending closure of its hospital in Portland, Oregon. The VA and the Mendelian Institute of Agronomy recently signed a ninety-nine-year lease agreement with an in case of war cancellation clause for this facility. They will cut their grand opening ribbon on March 19, 2016, and offer the public an opportunity to tour the entire renovated facility. Our personnel will occupy the top four floors of this facility after the interest of the news media wanes.
"Funded by federal grants, the Mendelian Institute of Agronomy seeks to enhance the productivity of the world's wheat, soybean, and cotton crops through research. Their board of directors is well aware that the latest increase in their funding is contingent upon their ability to shelter Dr. Butler's project from public scrutiny. We believe that local news media will soon discover that people who enjoy watching wheat grow generate little in the way of news thus providing the anonymity we seek. Dr. Butler and I will collaborate on setting up an administrative organization for this operation to ensure that we establish a modus operandi acceptable to both of us."
"Thank you, Major Johnson. The committee will now break for refreshments and use this opportunity to meet the newest member of our little cabal on a less formal basis."
After exchanging a few words and a handshake with each member of the committee, Brian looked about for Major Johnson. She was standing by a window in a quiet corner of the room and he walked over to join her. Reacting to his presence she turned to face him, smiled, and waited for him to speak. Enchanted by the warmth of her smile, Brian suddenly felt confused by an unexpected rush of amorous desire. Feeling like an adolescent schoolboy, Brian blurted out, "Have you ever been in the White House before?"
"Dr. Butler, have I done something to cause you to feel nervous?"
After checking to see that they were still alone, Brian responded with, "Actually, yes, I find you incredibly attractive. Do you think that will adversely affect our working relationship?"
"It seems that we share a similar concern. Perhaps we should get together this evening and determine if this is a problem or an opportunity."
The White House, January 6, 2016 -- 8:00 a.m.
Albert Swoboda released a sigh of contentment and said, "Mr. President, the White House serves a fine breakfast. Perhaps now you will tell me where we are going today."
"Well, Al, in about five minutes we will board Marine One for a quick flight to Andrews."
"Bill, if I had known that I would have met you at Andrews. You know I hate to fly in those damn helicopters!"
"Mr. Speaker, I have always enjoyed flying by helicopter with you as it is the only time that you are at a loss for words."
Aboard Air Force One, 15 minutes out of Andrews AFB
"Al, are you suffering any long-term effects from our helicopter ride."
"I almost lost my breakfast, but I am doing fine now. Will you please tell me where we are going?"
"We will soon land at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina where we will board an Air Force helicopter for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. My chief of staff selected this roundabout route to throw the news media off our trail. I kept our itinerary secret to prevent your aversion to helicopters from interfering with our trip."
"What makes you think I will consent to fly in another helicopter? I intend to stay aboard Air Force One to await your return."
"Before you decide to remain on the plane, let me explain the purpose of this trip. Do you remember the flurry of reported flying saucer sightings in the middle of the last century?"
"Of course I do. I am not senile yet, though I am beginning to worry about you."
"Well, three weeks ago the Air Force informed me that some sort of time machine from the future crashed and exploded in 1947 near Roswell, New Mexico. Military authorities quickly assumed control of the crash site and imposed a news blackout. They also moved the crash site debris and four abnormal, humanoid bodies to Wright Field in Ohio."
"If this time machine traveled back through time from our future, how on earth could its occupants be unlike us? Why were they described as having abnormal, humanoid bodies?"
"Their hands and wrists were nearly nonfunctional and they were lacking reproductive organs. In addition, they exhibited several major physiological deformities suggesting the results of a monstrous medical experiment gone awry. A colonel, who apparently considered himself a religious fundamentalist first and a military doctor second, conducted a cursory autopsy. He then declared the crash victims to be an abomination in the eyes of the lord and ordered their immediate cremation."
"Why does this concern us now?"
"Read this copy of the message engraved on a metal plate recovered from the wreckage."
The three data globes aboard this craft contain information from your future and will reveal their contents at an appropriate time. Premature disclosure of this information may needlessly alter the future therefore; we have enclosed each globe within a protective force field. Attempts to breach these force fields will destroy the data globes.
"They recovered only one data globe from the wreckage and concluded that the crash destroyed the other two. After reviewing this information, President Truman verbally ordered the newly formed U.S. Air Force to, "Hide this stuff in a hole and lose the hole. Inform the White House when the message is delivered." He must have believed this would occur on his watch, as he left no record of this event or his order.
"After all these years, the data globe recovered from the wreckage began to beep at one-minute intervals a month ago. Last week a countdown clock appeared on its surface and the count zeros out at twelve hundred hours today. I wanted to be present when it revealed its message, but my staff advised against it as the UFO folks would notice any visit I made to Wright-Patterson. I decided that the chance this device might represent a hazard eliminated the option of bringing it to Andrews, so I had it moved to Seymour Johnson. Do you still wish to remain aboard the plane when we land?"
"No, I would attend this event even if I had to fly with the Wright brothers! I just hope that I can hang onto that fine White House breakfast."
Aboard a C-17 at Seymour Johnson AF Base -- 11:55 a.m.
The data globe, supported in a special cradle and positioned in front of about forty aircraft seats, was approximately three feet in diameter. The active, scintillating exterior of the globe simulated the color and luster of a pearl and displayed a digital count down which seemingly mesmerized its audience. President Delaney, the Speaker of the House, and a bevy of civilian and military officials sat silently as the count slowly approached zero.
When the display reached zero, it began to blink, and the glowing outline of a hand appeared on the surface of the globe. A message then began to appear word by word that read, "This device will open when Dr. Brian Butler places his right hand in the place shown. Mr. President, I address the following to you. Belay your impatience sir; we must clear the deck before you can get underway."
All eyes turned to the president to observe his reaction to the message addressed to him. The speaker, growing concerned when he saw the stunned expression on the president's face, asked, "Bill, do you understand that message?"
Suddenly the president abruptly stood and said "Butler, damn it, Butler sent the message. The message displayed on the globe included an exact quotation of what I said to Doctor Butler yesterday in the Oval Office." The president turned to the nearest Secret Service agent and said, "Inform your supervisor that I want Dr. Butler found and delivered to Andrews ASAP." Turning to his chief of staff, he said, "Set up a flight for him through the local Air Ops office and order them to keep it subsonic. I do not want a trail of broken windows drawing attention to us. Al, lets go to the O'Club for lunch. I don't know about you, but I intend to drink mine."
Pizza Hut -- 12:45 p.m.
Brian stepped out of the taxi and held the door for Mandy as she gathered up her purse and scarf. As the cab pulled away, she said to Brian, "I am really looking forward to moving to Portland and ending this lifestyle of hotels and restaurants."
Brian spotted them as he reached for the door. With a sigh of disappointment he stepped away from the door and said, "Mandy, did you tell anyone where we were going?"
Before she could reply, a familiar voice said, "Dr. Butler, they have sent us to fetch you again."
"Mandy, these are the two Secret Service agents that picked me up in Portland and I suppose their appearance means that you will be eating lunch alone today."
Aboard a C-17 at Seymour Johnson AFB -- 1:58 p.m.
Brian rose to his feet as the president boarded the aircraft and said, "Dr. Butler, see if you can open that damn thing."
Startled by the irritation expressed in the president's tone of voice, Brian stepped forward and cautiously placed his hand on the device within the outline above the repetitive text display. The initial tingling sensation he felt with his hand ended abruptly and the surface of the device turned to a gray metallic appearance.
Realizing that he was standing within some sort of display, Brian stepped away from the device. A life-sized hologram of a very old black man sitting at a desk filled the air in front of the device from the future. A moment later the old man began to speak.
"Mr. President, I am Doctor Brian Butler and I greet you from the year 2068. I quoted your comment from our first meeting as a matter of personal vanity. Last year I turned eighty and I no longer resemble the young Doctor Butler you recently hired. Regrettably, I must report that I failed to accomplish the tasks assigned to me by you and your successors.
"In the spring of 2042 we detected the approach of a huge interstellar vessel that assumed a geostationary orbit above Lake Victoria on September 17, 2042. Analysis of our tracking data indicates that its point of origin was the star we know as, zeta one RET. After ignoring our attempts to communicate with it for six days, it launched two smaller vessels that exhibited phenomenal rates of acceleration and deceleration. These vessels approached the Asimov Orbital Station whereupon we lost contact with the station. The Invader's vessels destroyed the station two hours later with energy beam weapons and then returned to their mother ship.
"After several days of theatrical debate the UN declared that a state of war existed between Earth and the Invaders and then adjourned in disarray. The world began to receive daily visits by these alien warships resulting in the disappearance of thousands of people each day. Those taken would suddenly disappear with a popping sound as the air rushed in to fill the void created by their departure. In December, a ship landed to establish the first of the Invader's many force field protected bases, and the rate at which people disappeared began to increase dramatically.
The discovery of a huge pile of human skeletal remains answered the question we had feared to ask. The Invaders were simply harvesting us as food. Every attempt the world's military forces made to oppose these marauders ended in the destruction of the units involved.
"Though unable to match the technology of the Invaders, mankind began its magnificent stand against a relentless enemy. With but a slim chance of victory, we stood united and fought bravely against the Invaders as we gained knowledge of their technology and learned ways to circumvent it. Nevertheless, with the remaining population of the North American continent presently less than a million scattered people, we have lost the war and humankind will soon become extinct.
"After years of observation, our scientists and military intelligence people have reached the following conclusions:
1. That the alien vessel can open a hyper spatial wormhole between it and a similar device positioned near the enemy's home world.
2. That the interstellar conveyance of unprotected living beings and materials is possible through this Hyper spatial wormhole.
3. That they transport nine out of ten people taken out of our solar system based upon the estimated number of skeletal remains found.
4. That a short range version of this device is responsible for the sudden disappearance of those taken by the invaders.
5. Our scientists theorize that these devices are powered by energy derived through taping the energy gradient between the various dimensions.
"In a last desperate attempt to save humanity we used the Invader's technology to send the knowledge we have so painfully obtained back through time. Our vessel, the Temporal Voyager, is a flimsy, foil-covered framework that will serve as a supporting matrix for the incredible forces of the invader's science. Within this globe, you will find the entire database of the Human Enhancement Program. Within the second globe is a chronological history of future events including information regarding the viral outbreak known as 'The Red Death' and our vaccine for it. The third globe contains all the knowledge we possess regarding the technology of the Invaders and will bring you up to date on our current level of technology.
"The fact that the timer triggered the delivery of this message indicates that the four passengers of the Temporal Voyager did not survive their desperate journey to your time. These unfortunate creatures represented both the success and failure of the Human Enhancement Program. They were telepaths with a mental capacity vastly greater than ours and yet resembled an imperfect caricature of man.
"We are unsure of when our Temporal Voyager will arrive in the past although our target date is the year two thousand and ten. Several of our engineers believe that the R&D experiments we conducted in our time travel research are responsible for the flurry of UFO sightings ranging back through time to the late 1940's. If our initial experiments did create immaterial, illusionary doppelgangers of our vessel in the past, the earliest UFO reports may very well foreshadow the arrival time of the Temporal Voyager. Instrumentation aboard the Voyager will determine the actual time and date of its arrival in the past and program the three data globes accordingly. We must launch the Voyager now as our time has reached its end.
"Many believe that this venture is already a failure as we still suffer attacks from the Invaders. Some believe we will see success only after we launch the Voyager. Others believe the Voyager cannot save our branch of reality though it may save yours. I do not know what to believe other than we did the best that we could under very difficult conditions.
"I selfishly programmed this data globe to open to the touch of my hand to ensure the presence of my younger self as I speak my last words. Since we first met so long ago, Mandy, my wife and best friend has been at my side. She helped me laugh when I wanted to cry, gave me courage when I felt afraid, and filled our bed with delight." The old man's voice began to tremble with grief-stricken anger as he continued with, "The Invaders took her from me recently and I have never known such pain." Rising from his chair, he concluded with, "To you, Brian, the younger, I bequeath the burden of revenge." Suddenly, the holographic image faded away leaving behind a stunned audience.
The White House, January 6, 2016 -- 8:50 p.m.
With a poorly concealed yawn, the president continued with, "Our review has brought us to the conclusion of the message from the future. I sincerely doubt that anyone has ever had to confront such a paradoxical situation before. Would either of you care to respond to the last words of Brian, the elder?"
Brian reached out for Mandy's hand and turned to her with a quizzical look on his face. Both he and the president could only guess at the meaning of her shy smile and affirmative nod.