Orphans of Apollo - S3 E3
By Other Means
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From the ashes of forgotten space dreams, a new era of exploration begins.
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Previously: Rover 1 departs the hab on the crew’s first expedition. Unbeknownst to them, it’s not only those left behind in the hab who are keeping tabs on their journey.
2046
Kevin Valenti tugged at the collar of his shirt. He could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times in his life he had worn a shirt and tie. He quickened his pace slightly, noticing he had dropped back behind the tall, efficient-looking young lady in crisp business attire who was leading him down the hallway. The sharp click of her stiletto heels echoed softly off the tiles and bare white walls of the long hallway. She turned her head and carried on her small-talk monologue over her shoulder.
“We’ve recently moved offices. Congressman Mullen is now in his eleventh year, so at least we have a little seniority when it comes to office space. We drew a poor lot in the freshman day lottery when we were first elected, so ended up with an office on the fifth floor. The one we just moved from wasn’t too bad, but I hate to think how far I walked in those first few terms.”
Kevin hated small talk. She was obviously trying to put him at ease. Sensing he might be a little intimidated by his first face-to-face meeting with a member of Congress. He wasn’t intimidated, just out of place. So this is that swamp his parents had talked about. This is where the bureaucrats make work for themselves and their cronies. The heart of Government which was supposed to act for the good of the people, but only the people who could afford the best lobbyists. This place infuriated him. The wasteful inefficiency and constant procrastination of the entire system.
Still, it was best to try to achieve your objectives through the legitimate channels. At least that’s what he kept telling others in the group. But that could only last so long until frustrations bubbled over. Kevin knew he was on the brink. Hopefully, the congressman would come to the party.
The lady stopped and pivoted on her heel. She opened the heavy wooden four panel door and held it, her other hand outstretched in an exaggerated welcoming gesture.
“This is Mr Valenti, Congressman Mullen’s ten o’clock,” she said to the lady behind the desk just inside the door.
“His nine thirty cancelled, so he’s just making a few calls.”
Karen, that was her name. The whole walk from the entrance to the office Kevin had been trying to remember her name. She was Sam Mullen’s chief of staff. He must place some importance on this meeting for his chief of staff to do the meet and greet, rather than just an aide. Karen gestured to a leather three seater sofa.
“Make yourself comfortable, Congressman Mullen won’t be long,” said Karen, disappearing through another door on the far side of the reception area, presumably into her office.
“Would you like anything to drink?” asked the lady behind the desk.
Kevin re-centred his gaze from its sweep around the office. “No thanks, I’m fine.”
It seemed a reasonably generous reception area. The entrance door faced the one Karen had just gone through and two other doors on the other sides of the room also faced directly towards each other. Kevin guessed one would be the congressman’s office and the other his staff. It was the juxtaposition he had expected. Somewhat ornate furnishings, with lush dark blue carpets, dark stained wooden furniture and plump leather chairs. Very traditional, if by traditional you meant old-fashioned. On the desk in front of the receptionist was a large translucent screen, typical of any office. She had set the screen to transparent when they walked in, but now it was back to full opaque and she busied herself with whatever she was doing before.
Kevin shuffled uncomfortably on the sofa. The door next to him opened.
“Kevin. Good to finally meet with you,” said Congressman Mullen. He was in his mid forties, square jaw, athletic build, hair combed back with a neat side parting. His face wore a smile he had practiced ten thousand times.
Kevin stood and took his outstretched hand. “Good to finally meet you too, sir.”
“Please, call me Sam. Come in, let’s make a start. We have a bit to discuss.” Kevin followed Sam Mullen into his office. “How was your trip down?” Without giving Kevin a chance to reply, he continued. “First time in the Capitol Building?”
“Yes.”
“How are you finding it?”
“Interesting.”
He took the seat offered to him around the coffee table. As they were sitting, Karen reappeared through another door and sat down to join them.
“I believe you have met Karen, my chief of staff?”
“Yes.”
Sam exchanged glances with Karen. “Ok then, let’s make a start.”
Sam settled himself into an armchair opposite the sofa where Kevin had perched himself. He crossed his foot up so it was resting on the knee of his other leg. One arm hung down beside the chair, and he rested his chin on his other hand. This was his office, his domain, and he was completely relaxed.
“So our legislation, as it stands regarding the genetic modification of humans, is already some of the most robust in the world. You probably know I worked with your predecessor at True Genesis on that legislation. Your organisation’s funding really made a difference when it came to getting that passed—”
“That was only a start. It does not go far enough.” The words fell over each other as they spilled from Kevin’s mouth. Congressman Mullen stiffened, not used to being cut off.
Kevin cleared his throat and composed himself before continuing, “you do realise there are already genetically engineered humans amongst us. Here in the United States.”
“I find that hard to believe,” said Sam, barely conceding a snort.
“It is true,” said Kevin calmly.
“So why haven’t the authorities done anything if that’s the case?”
“They don’t know about it. With sufficient funding, it is quite possible to conduct this type of research below the radar. True Genesis has identified a number of individuals we suspect are genetically engineered humans.”
Congressman Mullen exchanged glances with Karen.
“I know what you are thinking. Where is this guy’s tinfoil hat? It’s ok, I thought that would be the case.”
Mullen drew a breath to speak, but then paused.
Karen stepped in. “Kevin, can I ask firstly how True Genesis can be sure these individuals are genetically engineered and in what way have they been altered?”
“I’m afraid I can’t divulge where we get our information from, at least not at this point. We are not entirely sure how their DNA has been altered, but what I can say is we are sure it is for the purposes of benefiting the organisation which created them.”
“And which organisation is this?” asked Mullen.
“That again I am not prepared to say at this point.”
“Kevin,” began Mullen in a condescending tone, “I’m not sure what you want me to do. You are claiming that genetically engineered humans already exist in the US. Claims you are not prepared to back up. We have laws to deal with this. Laws which your group helped enact.” His tone shifted from condescending to frustration. “Why have you not gone to the authorities? I’m not sure where I come in?”
“This is exactly where you come in, Congressman. If we were to report them, as you suggest, the individuals responsible for creating these beings would go to jail. However, there is no provision for how the genetically engineered individuals are dealt with. They would continue to be free and free to pass on their genetic modifications.”
“So, what are you proposing?”
“We are proposing new legislation. You sit on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, hence the reason for our meeting.”
“As I said before, the legislation we already have is very robust and bans any sort of genetic engineering in humans.”
“It does. But what about those already created? We are proposing further legislation that would allow genetically engineered individuals to be arrested and quarantined. They would then be examined and the extent their modification established. If it was determined they posed no risk to society, they could be released. But only after sterilisation. If it could not be determined they were risk free, they would need to remain in confinement. In extreme cases, there may be a need for…”
“For what?” asked Karen.
“For…euthanasia,” replied Kevin.
“I’m not sure they would see it as euthanasia, more like extermination. We are getting into some very tricky moral territory here,” said Mullen.
“I appreciate that, but this issue has to be dealt with.”
“I’m not sure you do appreciate it. You are talking about laws that would allow the state to arrest, quarantine and potentially execute its own citizens. Purely based on their DNA. This is the United States Mr Valenti. Not Nazi Germany!” Mullen’s tone was becoming agitated.
They sat in silence for a moment.
“Ok, let’s take a couple of steps back here,” said Sam, sitting up in his chair. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but the attitude towards genetic engineering has been softening for some time now. We have genetically engineered cows which produce less methane, genetically engineered crops which are resistant to disease. People are more than happy to eat these. There are also medical treatments which some argue the development of which is being held back because of the laws banning human genetic engineering. Have you thought about that?”
“We were created in God’s image,” said Kevin. “There are more people than you think, a silent majority who are not happy about this.” Kevin sat back “If I were you Congressman I would not want to risk making such a political miscalculation as you did with the fossil fuel legislation. Especially considering how your prospects of reelection are looking right now.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“It’s no secret that you are flagging in the polls. Ever since the legislation banning the production of fossil fuels passed a few years ago, your popularity has taken a nosedive. It seems your opposition to this was not very popular.”
“There were a lot of folk in my district whose livelihoods depended on the production of natural gas. I was trying to do the best for them. As you will appreciate, any representative should do.”
“You also received a lot of donations from companies in the energy industry and indeed worked for Oneok before standing for election.”
“I’m not sure where you are going with this?”
“You said there were a lot of folk in your district who were dependent on the natural gas industry. They were. Not anymore. Those folk have actually found employment in new industries, surprisingly quickly, and looking back, probably think things are better now anyway. Don’t make the same mistake with this issue, recognise the tide is turning.”
Mullen glanced over to his chief of staff “Well Kevin, I appreciate your views on this and thank you for making me aware of the issues as you and your group see them. Obviously, it’s something my staff and I are going to have to have a look into.”
Kevin didn’t move. He held the congressman’s gaze with a calm, unreadable expression.
“We will address this issue either way,” he said flatly.
“Either way?” Sam leaned forward slightly.
“Either through political channels such as this. Or by direct action.”
Karen looked up from the tablet she was clasping.
“Direct action?” Sam repeated.
“If the Government will not take the action required, we may be forced to do so ourselves. True Genesis is a large organisation made up of people with a spectrum of views, some more radical than others. Let’s just say by coming to meet with you today, I represent the more moderate in the group.”
Sam exchanged another quick glance with Karen.
“If I am understanding what you are implying correctly, I would be very careful, Mr Valenti. If your group were to be linked to any sort of “direct action” that would be the end of any political cooperation.”
A faint humourless smile spread slowly across Kevin’s face. “Oh, I’m not sure it would.”
“Is that a threat, Mr Valenti?”
“Call it what you like. The simple fact is you have links going back to our group over many years. You met with my predecessor many times and we made some rather large donations when you first ran for office. You are already linked to our organisation. Your re-election prospects right now are fifty fifty at best, and most importantly of all Congressman, don’t you want to make sure you are on the right side of history?”
Kevin looked around at the ornate grandeur of the buildings surrounding him. The institutions of government, representing what was once the most powerful nation on the planet. The walk back from Congressman Mullen’s office and down the steps of the Capitol Building had calmed him slightly. He pulled at his tie and unbuttoned the collar of his shirt.
As he began to walk toward Delaware Avenue, he popped an earbud in. A glance at his watch. Maybe he could make the earlier train. Then he scrolled through his contacts and pushed call.
“Yes, I’m done. It was quicker than I thought—No, I’m on my way to the station now.”
The lights changed and he hurried across the road.
“It doesn’t change anything. We just bring forward what we thought we were going to have to do anyway.”
A long pause.
“Don’t worry about Ashworth. I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but he will be out of the picture soon enough.”
Kevin tapped the earbud to end the call and continued towards Union Station.
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Elseware
I hope you enjoyed the latest episode of Orphans of Apollo. This one came down to the wire, so not much of an update this week. I’m off to watch the last episode of Andor season 2, so I will report back next week.
Have a great week.
Thanks for reading - the future belongs to the optimists.
Alex