Julien looked at Bondarenko, who nodded in affirmation.
“I see, and you didn’t agonise as she did? Killing the entire crew?”
“I would dispute that, but if I had refused they would have fired me and got someone else to take over.”
“And all of this waste of human life was acceptable if it allowed the twin pillars of Soyuz and Nero to get to Mars before VB Aerospace?”
“Yes, what else? You must remember at that time, Nero was calling the shots. And, do not diminish the motives of Volker Brandt, with his emphasis on espionage. It was sanitised war, nevertheless a serious war.”
“That’s one way of looking at it. Right, tell me about your relationship with Oleg Malenkov. Not just what I already know, the whole sordid story.”
Kolorov smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
“Where to begin? I have no hesitation in telling you this man was the worst example of a human being I ever had the bad luck to come across in my life. He was the main driver in forming a type of oligarch cartel to get Soyuz free from its link with Nero or any other organisation. He sold the idea on with the patriotic card as a cornerstone, but one which could help all of the participants to hide assets from both government and anarchist eyes. I must admit that he had me convinced that this twin rationale was his only agenda. He arranged for the murder of all the other oligarchs without a hint of remorse. He vehemently denied any part in this massacre, but there were verifiable connections to the incident which led back to him. Of course Alexei will have told you that he inherited full ownership as a result of forward planning of the death of the others. It only left me to be dealt with. Some of my best friends died in that explosion.”
“But he needed you, surely?”
“Only until a time of his choosing. I was ordered to put more urgency into destroying the asteroid, not deflecting it. He wanted resolution of that mission before we invested too much in a primitive Martian outpost. He saw Mars as a last resort, not for humanity, only for him, his family and a few technicians to keep them alive until it was known whether any life was going to be sustainable on Earth after 2039.”
“So, that’s why the crew of Laika was ordered to track the nuclear strike force. But why did you ask Alexei to kill Malenkov?”
“Pure survival instinct. I had to be with him and appear to suffer a near miss. Otherwise his people would have eliminated me because I knew too much. Having almost been killed myself gave me the platform to pledge my determination to find those responsible. I had no idea he had left the whole of Soyuz to his son. He had always said this was not an option for any of the oligarchs, as it would put their families in the crosshairs of the Kremlin and anarchist agents.”
“Ok, very interesting. And now, the truth about the premature detonation of missile number three which ensured failure to affect the asteroid in any way?”
Kolorov once more looked Bondarenko full in the eyes and then folded his arms. “Your turn, Alexei. You must know more about that than I do. The only clue I can offer is that it was most probably set up before the fleet was launched and before Malenkov was killed. Which means you were still working for me. The little evidence I have uncovered indicates an I.T. oriented trigger. You have already admitted in front of Julien that you still had connections to Soyuz people from your safe house. You also seem to have a motive, if your story about being hunted by Russian operatives is true. You think it was me who betrayed you, but what would my motive be? If I had wanted you out of the way, it would never have been botched up like you say it was. Are you going to say something?”
*
Sophie was being prepped for her procedure. She looked at Eugene and apologised.
“I know I’ve been unreasonable lately, pushing continuously to have this treatment, but now that the time is here I’m scared.”
“I hope you aren’t going to change your mind about this, Sophie. We’re all set to go. What’s the problem?”
“I really want to get rid of being on the edge of depression all the time, it’s a constant battle to stay on the bright side even though I’m doing well. I just worry that I’ll wake up a different person after the treatment. I don’t know if I want that.”
“Listen, sis, think about it differently. The rest of us won’t let you become a different person, nor will we put up with some of your unreasonable behaviour. It’s going to be fine. However, if you decide to pull out now, don’t ever raise the subject with me again.”
“For hell’s sake, you may be a top scientist, Eugene, but your bedside manner stinks.”
“Sophie, you have to understand that I have to keep things in perspective. The talk we had yesterday about your insistence to involve the police in the missing papers is a perfect example. Although the thieves could be interested in a cure for mental and personality disorders in young people, it doesn’t have the same gravitas as the main research I’m involved with. These people are driven by short term gains, and the asteroid has seriously reinforced this greed. The breakthrough for your condition was elusive and it came almost by accident, from a branch of the main research programme. The alteration of our physical capability to survive the aftermath of an impact is the real earner for the scum who took the papers. Ability to live with less oxygen, water, and other essentials are key to our future in such a scenario. Then there is the problem of our metabolism’s resistance to radiation, and massive changes in temperature. For those individuals who survive the initial holocaust, these implanted genetic alterations could increase their chances of producing offspring with an outside chance of engaging in the age-old survival of the fittest once more. We can’t trust the police or any other potentially corrupt organisation with this information. We just have to let the thieves try to sell whatever booty they can. It will take them best part of a month to find out they don’t have the full picture. Now, let’s do this procedure. You probably won’t be so worried about the stolen papers when you wake up.”
“And all this is supposed to calm me down. I think it’s you who needs a personality transplant.”
Chapter 29
Since his observations regarding the current level of distrust between the former Russian inseparables, Julien Delacroix believed the deck was now stacked in his favour. When they reconvened he immediately upped the stakes.
“Ivan, I know you said you would need to consider all your options when we last met, but I’m afraid there is only one I’m prepared to offer. Do you have the deed of transfer of stock from Malenkov’s son to you? Do you have it with you?”
“Maybe, I am really not sure. I can check later.”
“No, I need to see it now otherwise the one option becomes no dice and this is over. Unfortunately, that means total disclosure of your closet of skeletons.”
Bondarenko was just as nervous as Kolorov with this unexpected aggressive approach. He didn’t want to accrete any collateral damage from his former friend’s sacrifice. He was about to say something when Julien cut him off and demanded an answer from Kolorov.
“Yes or no, Ivan. It may lead to a complex decision for you but it is a simple question. You either have it with you or you don’t.”
“Yes, I have it with me, now what are you up…”
“Can I see it or not?”
“Just tell me why you want to see such a document.”
“Last time we talked I made a suggestion, which according to Alexei here, would get you out from under a bad situation if you tried to offload the company back in Russia. So, in pursuing that possibility, I would have to check out the authenticity of the stock transfer from Malenkov junior to your good self.”
The prolonged eye contact between the two Russians was curtailed by Julien.
“Look, you guys are going to have to put your little spat on the back burner if a solution is to be found which satisfies all three of us. I don’t have time to indulge in this cat and mouse stuff. Show me the deed of transfer or get the hell back to Russia, both of you!”
Bondarenko rose to his
feet and leaned over Kolorov until their faces touched.
“Show him the deed you fucking moron. There is nowhere to hide now, if you refuse, you won’t even make it back to Russia, and that is a promise.”
Kolorov stood up, backed away from the table, stared out of the office window and then slumped back into his chair.
“Ok, Julien, I will show you the transfer deed, but I want him out of here, now.”
“Come on, Ivan, you know he works for me now. Even if he doesn’t see the actual certification, I’ll be telling him what is in there. Last chance, either give me what I want or I’ll call a taxi to get you to the airport.”
It was a very simple document, so brief in fact that Bondarenko said it would have to be verified by an independent source. Julien disagreed.
“I see that the young man received the sum of five million after deducting all legal expenses.”
“That was all he wanted,” said Kolorov, “he begged me to take it off his hands as quickly as possible.”
“And the kind soul that you are, you found it easy to help the poor kid out. Well, that makes this discussion a hell of a lot easier. I’m going to suggest that you accept one hundred percent profit. But you have to split that with Alexei. Ten million is my one and only offer.”
Again the two Russians looked at one another, this time it was confusion which hung in the air, rather than mutual contempt. Kolorov took back the document.
“You cannot be serious. I would be shot as soon as I set foot back in my country.”
“But you won’t be going back to your country if you accept my generous offer.”
A sickly smile grew over Bondarenko’s face. Julien continued.
“Your lawyer will come here. My offer is fully conditional upon you signing off in principle now, and ratification by your lawyer within one week, witnessed in this office by Alexei. Take it or leave it.”
“And if I leave it?”
“Tomorrow, we, Alexei and I, release proof of your wrongdoings over the last few years and then throw you out into the streets of Guiana. I prefer to acquire Soyuz, but it isn’t critical to my plan. Your fall from grace or worse is my second choice, but at least comes with a certain degree of satisfaction.”
“Ok, but one final question.”
“This is becoming tiresome. If I answer your question your agreement will be required now. No more playing for time. Now, understood?”
“Fine,” scowled Kolorov, “if I do agree to your offer what do you propose to do with Soyuz?”
“It’s more of a case of what you and Alexei do with Soyuz. That will be explained in due course. You will both work for me, and have distinct objectives. You won’t evaporate into the mist. I need you both here.”
“Ah, that does make a difference. Very well, I agree to the ten million, but only two and a half to go to Alexei. That is more than fair, as I already owe five with the loan to buy out Grigori Malenkov. That would mean we each pocket the same amount.”
Julien looked at Bondarenko. A hesitant nod closed the discussion and a pre-contract was signed. Julien then announced that he would detail their respective remits the following day.
“I have to leave now to see my daughter, as she is about to undergo a medical procedure. It means you guys have all evening to forge a new relationship. I can’t guarantee you will be able to avoid each other completely as you take up your new roles.”
*
Eugene had decided to conduct the genetic snip and implant task in the evening. It enabled the required secrecy he insisted upon. Only two trusted assistants would remain in the centre with him for the three hour operation. Julien was to act as a sentry, ensuring that there would be no spectators. He entered the theatre to let Eugene know he’d checked out the rest of the building, and just as important, to reassure Sophie that they were all looking forward to her new beginning. He kissed her gently on the forehead. She was still apprehensive and he detected a tear creeping down the side of her cheek, but she squeezed his hand and managed a smile.
A different kind of anaesthetic was an essential part of such pioneering sub-micron surgery. Many of the normal brain functions had to be kept active and the actual ‘interference’ would be conducted by nanoprobes, assisted by neurologically instructed stem cells. Instead of the countdown from ten to unconsciousness with general anaesthetics, a derivative hallucinatory narcotic messenger was employed to tap into the mind-expanding capability of the patient.
Sophie remained conscious in the sense that her eyes were open throughout, and she became an interactive inhabitant of the normally closed world of rapid eye movement stasis. Without being able to converse with her brother, she was able to feel and touch thoughts. She was able to relate to the time taken for the procedure, in sharp contrast to conventional surgery, in which the subject could only account for beginning and end, even if a day had passed between the two. She was sure that the whole rollercoaster ride had taken less than thirty minutes, probably because the intensity of amplified thought worked in reciprocation with perceived thought, a variable in some equation of cerebral processing usage. Perhaps it could be analogous to ‘automatic’ or ‘as required’ turbo boost in the CPU of a computer.
As she gradually returned to conventional time and ocular appreciation, she began to elucidate on what she had ‘seen’.
“Not yet, Sophie,” whispered Eugene, “you have to rest first. Please just close your eyes for me and then we can talk.”
She smiled continuously as she took the oral sedative and began to feel disoriented before she experienced total fatigue; she immediately began to snore as her chest heaved; it was so regular it could have been controlled by a metronome. Several hours after midnight she stirred and was then given assisted revival therapy. She no longer had the compulsion to describe what she’d ‘seen’ but hoped it might return in some form or another.
She was hungry, both for food and information.
“In good time, Sophie. Food we can do right now, the rest will depend on your reaction to our post-op tests. Then we need to get you home.”
She nodded and smiled, although she was a little disappointed.
“Well, that’s a good sign,” enthused Eugene, “you’ve never really done polite, have you?”
*
Julien phoned ahead to tell Elise and Geraldine that Sophie was on her way back and the procedure had gone smoothly, but it would be some time before they could expect to see how successful it would be.
Dawn was creeping over the landscape, which was shrouded in mist. Julien went directly to the office, he’d never get to sleep after such an adrenaline-inducing night. He also had mist to disperse there with the Russians.
Bondarenko arrived first.
“I am having difficulty trying to understand your proposal for Kolorov to work with me. I am grateful for the offer to share the money which you will pay for Soyuz, but the trust is broken between Ivan and me. It will never come back.”
“Good, I’m rather counting on that. Let’s just wait until he arrives.”
Twenty-five painful minutes passed before Kolorov made an appearance. He offered no apology, merely taking a seat alongside Julien, and opposite Bondarenko.
“Let me outline what is going to happen,” stated Julien, “and as far as I’m concerned there is no alternative other than you guys simply walk out of here and I never set eyes on you again.”
“You mean we do not have any say in how we would work for you?” queried Kolorov.
“You won’t have any say in what we are seeking to achieve. You will have limited input on the manner in which we meet this objective, but you will have control over the finer details employed to get us over the line. I know it might come as a surprise that I want you to run Soyuz into the ground with as little fuss as possible.”
The Russians displayed contrasting responses. Bondarenko burst out laughing and Kolorov shook his head in disbelief. But Julien continued.
“I have to eliminate any shred of potenti
al interference with the launch of our diversion fleet. No matter whether it is accuracy, timing, payload, delivery trajectory, or technological monitoring of the asteroid itself, we must know as early as possible, the degree of success or failure we have achieved. All of the foregoing is dependent on ensuring zero sabotage. Both Kepler and the Soyuz nuclear force were shrouded in such speculation. Even the crew of Laika initially received orders to commit suicide, for no other reason than to provide early warning of success or failure – especially if it meant we were all going to die, and if so, exactly when. Surely that must strike you as strange. The only sense I could make out of this was that I was missing some critical piece of knowledge. The kind that may have actually made the asteroid more dangerous. So, gentlemen, I’d like to know precisely what I don’t know, and at the same time devise a means of eliminating such a more complex threat. And then we must neutralise any conceivable action from past or present Soyuz personnel. Shutting it down is necessary.”
Kolorov rose to his feet. “So, do you really have to ruin the company to achieve that? Jesus! I cannot see my government just standing back and watching it happen. Do you, Alexei?”
“He is right, Julien. They will not want to take it over, but it would cause a revolution if it was deliberately liquidated by a western competitor. It is still seen as the only hope the Russian people have of avoiding Armageddon, even though I accept it may be too late for Soyuz to prepare another credible attempt to bounce the asteroid to safety. We must not destroy all hope.”
Julien pounded his fist on the solid oak desk.
“That’s precisely the problem, Alexei. We have a world problem out there and a sectarian attitude to dealing with it. The damned asteroid isn’t Russian, it’s like cancer – totally indiscriminating in its victims. Now, listen carefully to me. Between you, there is an important piece of information which has miraculously failed to reach other world bodies which have been involved in either observation or deflection programmes, or both. Either start talking or take a hike back to the Motherland. By the time you get there the world will know everything about your CVs, including the censored bits.”