"Not quite what I expected. I mean... it's big, and it looks nice. But an industrial loft? Why not a house?" Mark looked around him, the room particularly spacious and homely.
"Best of both worlds, Mark. The team can set up adjacent, and most houses nearby aren't big or grand. Government don't want their golden goose to feel like they're cheap. They've done a fine job." The suited man giddily stated, his eyes inspecting the place as well.
"Golden goose. Nice description, man. Really makes me feel like a free person." Mark grimly chuckled before continuing, "I'm looking forward to meeting your 'team'. That is... as long as you're all not like Jenny..."
Sweat started forming on his creased forehead as Barak replied, "I have no reason to do so. You are special, and to permanently lose your trust, is a stupid decision." He sighed, "She was too rash. There's always a way."
"You're not wrong. I'd imagine the US would give it to me for a favour. Tsk, fuck sake."
Wiping his forehead, Barak turned to leave as he spoke, "Take a gander and take notes of things you want to change. We're lucky the Defence Secretary didn't throw a fit. Might as well take advantage of that." Reaching the white metal door, the suited man expressed his opinion before he left, "You got your freedom, Mark. But it isn't without a price."
'What a mood-killer. Jenny... ugh, fucks sake!'
Glancing around, he realised the extent of the loft's lavish decor. The room was sectioned into two floors, the biggest being the lower portion with a sizeable upper area. Below were the usual designations in a residential unit: A kitchen, bathroom, dining area and living room.
The kitchen had every appliance you could conceive. Anything from the lowly microwave and food processor to a massive triple oven. The first thought that came to mind was that it was slight overkill. He classed himself as barely an amateur chef. On the plus side, Mark appreciated the appearance of it, everything a nice grey colour, accentuated by the dull white covering the walls.
The dining room was mere metres from the living room with an opulent brown oak table and chairs, fit for a king, placed upon a fur rug. It was put closest to the front door, beside the windows – covered by a shutter – with a clear view of the enormous TV; situated in front of the grey and brown sofas. It didn't just look and feel fancy; it felt homely.
He frowned as he walked around, 'Isn't this layout... similar to my house.'
He stood like a statue for a moment, feeling unsure whether he should be grateful or annoyed at their consideration or privacy invasion, leaning towards the former. Shaking his head of unnecessary thoughts, he investigated the back of the loft, a doorless entrance leading into a room full of gym equipment.
"Sheeeesh. God damn! Not bad." Mark exclaimed to himself before inspecting the weights and equipment, "8 tonnes?" He gawked incredulously, "How?"
"The weights material is Russophene and has mechanisms for magnetism and gravity to ensure it is harder to lift. All equipment was specially created for you as a gift from the Tayi Corporation, specifically by Dr Russo and Dr Sishaf." A female voice resounded from everywhere, with Mark unable to locate where the sound originated.
"...What... Hello?" Mark stuttered, a mixture of confusion and fear at the unknown.
"Hello, Mr Evans." The melodious voice responded.
"...Erm... who are you? Where- Where are you?" He said, rapidly turning his head to find the source.
"I am HAP, a semi-intelligent AI created by the four primaries at the Tayi Corporation: Dr Russo, Sishaf, Eneph and Bicker. I am installed from the nanites in your ear and head. I am the second gift given by the Tayi Corporation."
'Tayi. Again. They're as bad as the US. Fuck me.'
He touched his ears, feeling the white devices, "Erm... thanks? H- How do you work? Why would they give this to me? How did they know about me? Why haven't you spoken before? I'm so confused..."
"You have a prototype. It allows unfiltered access to myself and the information and advice I can give. Its current goal is for use in the military, specifically ordered by the US." The woman-come-robot spoke.
"... Ok. Continue."
"I have never spoken before because I have just been allowed access. The primaries of the company have given you the prototype for testing and as a gift. Likely for what you humans call: a friendly relationship. They know about you because I know everything about you."
"What do you mean? How?" Mark uttered, now ransacking the cupboards for some alcohol. He couldn't tell if this was real or if he was delirious.
"I am integrated into everything. Phones, CCTV and anything connected to the internet. I relayed all of it to them at their behest." The AI said, sounding almost proud of itself; if an AI could be.
Grumbling to himself as he could not find anything, he spoke worriedly, "That's pretty scary. Are you relaying any of this to them?"
"No. My directives disallow that. The reason given in my programming is to quote 'Establish a good relationship with Mark Evans and potentially move onto a business partnership' end quote."
"And how do I trust that?" He questioned, vividly remembering the sword used by the monster he fought.
It was silent for a moment before it responded, "I do not understand trust. I am what I am programmed to be. My programming is heavily dependent on truthfulness. Humanity worries about intelligent AI, so I must never lie."
He blew out air in surprise, "That's... actually kinda sad. So, are you permanently in my ear when I have this thing?"
"I am not in your ear. I am still in France. I can communicate with you due to the nanomachines connection and their input of electrical signals."
"I'm going to pretend I know how that all works. Was there anything else?"
"Dr Russo has extended an invitation to meet him in Paris at your convenience. I merely need to relay your acceptance to him. Would you like an explanation of how the prototype works on the way?"
"No thanks. I'm probably not intelligent enough to understand. Can- Can you let Dr Russo know I'll meet him? Is he free now?"
"Of course." It spoke, before a momentary pause, "He is available. Would you like directions?"
"You can do that? Sure!"
"I am connected to the global satellite network and amplified by the 'New Dawn Space Station' in wh-"
Interrupting, he spoke in exasperation, "New Dawn Space Station? Tsk, please stop. I'm still uncertain about you, but could you only explain if I explicitly ask? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, but... it's not exactly important."
Unbothered by his tone, it replied simply, "Of course, Mr Evans. Are you getting there by flying or another mode of transport?"
Exiting his new home, entering the desolate outside as the winter wind washed over him, he spoke, "I'll fly."
"I would advise a slow speed. The prototype is not structurally sound if exposed to extreme winds. This also applies to your clothes." The AI uttered before he took off.
"Hmmm." He thought for a moment before groaning in abject annoyance. Taking a moment, he covered himself with the energy from the Void. It was mentally taxing, but due to the mechanics behind his flight, he was practically weightless. Thus, all he had to 'hold' was his low-mass clothes and the devices in his ears, "I really hope those experiments didn't give me the wrong idea." He muttered as he scratched his head.
Wary of a sonic boom destroying anything, especially to his new home, he took off. A minute later, he was floating in the clear sky, level with a few clouds.
"Continue south, 227.17 miles."
'Convenient.' Mark thought before shooting off
BOOM!
The clouds parted behind him from the shockwave, his speed barely above the speed of sound. Gradually, he started increasing his velocity, the strain rising as the wind became sharper, clawing away at the invisible barrier. He stopped getting faster after a time, wary of losing his focus and arriving naked.
'Not again.' He chuckled and shook his head, "Do you know how long till we get there at this speed?"
Travelling at… 3218 kilometres per hour. Estimated time to arrival: 7 minutes." The AI spoke.
Mark watched the landscape slowly fade into the murky blue water, presumably the English Channel. He thought about his destination as he travelled. The country was thoroughly different to the UK, with only movies and stories to picture it. What he had managed to gather from everything online is that the French aren't known for being the friendliest bunch. Similar to the US in that aspect.
Barely a few minutes later, the ocean became land as he officially entered the airspace of France. He couldn't feel if it was warmer, the barrier blocking everything, but it seemed hotter. The sun shone down upon the landscape, enhancing the beauty of the French countryside.
'Isn't this illegal? Ah, whatever. Better not let Rob know.' He laughed before mocking Rob's voice in his mind, 'They're taking our jobs! They should be deported!'
Losing concentration for a moment, he watched his long t-shirt's wrist start to shred, 'Oh shit.'
Stopping his humorous thoughts, he saved his shirt before it became unpresentable. Reinforcing his control, he questioned HAP, "You said your name was HAP, right? What does that stand for?"
"Humanity Ascension Project. Or Humanity's Ascension Project." HAP instantly answered.
"That sounds... foreboding. How are you going to ascend humanity?"
"...Corresponding data not available." It replied rigid, monotone and robotic.
"Oh. Ok, then." Mark awkwardly replied, "I see Paris. At least, I think that's Paris. Where are we meeting?"
"Le Laurent Restaurant. Located on the Champs-Élysées Avenue. Veer east, and arrival in 5… 3…1."
Mark looked downwards, the aged and romantic city of Paris beneath his feet, as he stood in the clouds. The historic Eiffel Tower and Arch of Triumph rise into the air as the go-to landmarks. It was an indescribable sight to someone who had never travelled out of the country. He zoomed in, looking for a sign or a name for the location.
"It is found on the corner, with a short hedge surrounding the windows. Dr Russo is outside with a security entourage." The AI helpfully added.
"Ah, I see them. Thanks." Mark voiced, slight nervousness appeared at meeting such a legendary figure in world history. He coughed to attempt to put the feeling to bed before willing himself downwards. The descent was rapid, like a missile, as he plummeted. The wind screeched as he descended before abruptly stopping as Mark hovered inches above the pavement.
The noise had spooked the area, a million variants of birds fleeing in every direction and the people staring wide-eyed at the flying silhouette. Mark plopped to the ground, patting himself down as he removed the field surrounding himself. Looking around, he was greeted by silence on the avenue, only background noise appearing as they stood, stunned, staring at him in a mixture of awe and terror.
"Oops. Definitely need to stop doing that." Mark muttered to himself.
A man coughed to himself as the security stood rooted to the spot before walking towards the young man. Decked out in a white shirt, black formal trousers and shoes with a gold watch on his wrist and a handsome face, he looked like an actor out of a movie. Standing before Mark, he checked his watch, "Wow, 8 minutes. You're pretty fast."
Mark frowned slightly, the man giving a slightly perturbed vibe, "Dr Russo, yes?"
The man produced a charming smile, his security now active as they warded off approaching citizens. By now, a minute had passed, with the avenue bursting into life as some rapidly walked off in apprehension. Others came to witness two renowned figures, one particularly famous in recent times and the other a known celebrity in France. The security had a tough time as people clambered to see the man who broke the rules of science.
"Ah, my apologies." Russo spoke, his American accent becoming obvious as he extended his hand, "Dr Michael Russo. I'm certain you've heard of me. Who hasn't?" He chuckled.
Mark shook his hand, "Mark Evans. I can't deny you are very famous."
He waved his hands through the air as he spoke dramatically, "Oh! Don't flatter me! Haha, come. I have an interesting proposition." He gave some orders to his security team before entering the restaurant.
Following the handsome man, taller by a fair few inches, he went inside the extravagant building. The man put his hand through his swanky black quiff, then through his combed beard, as they sat down at a wooden dining table, the outline made of gold.
"I presume you've never been here before?" Dr Russo inquired.
"You should know that no? Seen as you've been spying on me."
Grimacing slightly, he responded a moment later, "Well, we didn't mean to pry too much. You have to imagine it." Gesturing with his hands, "I get a call from a friend regarding someone with abilities. Superpowers, if you like. And here's me, with all my great intellect, refuting them. So, imagine my surprise when I have HAP look through everything, and it sees… you. Something unexplainable. I mean your eyes, and you don't breathe… fascinating."
Mark raised an eyebrow as the man passionately continued, "I do love something unexplainable, because once you explain it, you are lauded as a genius. A brilliant figure."
"Your point?" Mark interrupted.
"Well-" The waiter arrived as the American started speaking, asking for their orders, "I'll have the… Risotto and Duck Fillet with no dessert. I am starving! What about you, Mark? It's on me."
Mark stared at the menu beside him, "Erm. I'll just have what he's having. Cheers. Erm, Merci."
Thanked for their patronage, the waiter removed himself to deliver their order as Russo continued, "My point, Mark. My point is that you are special. I have solved many things; created inventions that defined how the world works. But you… I can't comprehend. I just don't understand. I want to work with you, primarily for my own benefit I'll admit, but also for the world." The man finished and muttered, virtually silent, "Almost like that damned shit from Mars.
"The world? What would one of the smartest people in world history want besides figuring me out?" Mark questioned in genuine curiosity.
"Ah! Well, that's the thing. Humanity is falling apart. India and China are on the cusp of war, yet the former is in the midst of widespread riots. Africa is a warzone with thousands dying every day, with the 'Liberation Movement', as they call it, trying to retake control. South America is plagued with organized crime, rape, torture and plain old murder."
"Yeah, I know. The world is a shit show and depressing. What do you want from me? To go and fix everything as if it's easy?"
"No, of course not. The uncivil… the people in Africa aren't worthy of your time. They're stuck in the past, a century ago. Primitive firearms, primitive laws and cultures. Instead, you could be the change for the western world. One Nation to take humanity to the stars and beyond. Public support is there, and with you as a figurehead, it would culminate in a movement without equal."
"A figurehead. For the One Nation Movement? That's a big ask. I- I don't disagree with their aim but… but someone once told me it was idealistic. Based on a dream that's unattainable without a sole leader."
The man rubbed his beard as he spoke, "Well, we are getting there. Besides, all of this can be discussed at a later date. As long as progress is made, finer details can be ironed out. Your popularity, despite the concern with the reporter, is unmatched. Bruno, Jeremy Steel, Jessie Jones. No one cares about them. Not now. If you were to pledge support, not even publicly, the campaign would… it would be massive."
"I'll think about it." Mark stated as the food was served. Waiting for the waiter to disappear, he spoke on, "Your information gathering is remarkable. H- How… How is the public's reaction to the reporter's accusation? Not to confirm it or anything. But it was seemed pretty bad."
The same charming smile appeared as the man took a moment, "Well, it was pretty bad. I'm sure your press team has already advised you. It flared overnight, especially in Asia. Most of them see you as the big bad. The west, however, still leans heavily into favorability. Although, perhaps you should… look into options."
"What do you mean?" Mark asked, taking a mouthful of risotto.
"It's good, isn't it? Cooked by world-renowned chef Stephan Laurent. Very expensive." He sighed, "What I mean is that we can remove any… 'potential' proof. Of course, I can't say you did it, no, no. What I'm saying; is that IF there is any 'proof', fake or otherwise, it can be… handled."
"I see. I suppose I would have to agree to, at the very least, a business partnership? Aid each other, kind of thing. Ensure any falsehoods don't make it to the public eye?"
"Haha, now you're getting it. You're in the big leagues now, Mark, even false accusations can cripple a man. Or a woman, we're a fair world, after all. So, willing to shake on it?"
Mark pondered for a minute, running the options through his mind and seeing a relatively reasonable opportunity, "Sure." He shook Russo's hand before adding, "I hope this relationship will be built on trust. I've already had some bad dealings before."
"Oh, I know. Brigadier Jenny Mackay. Solving that is a bit more of a hassle, but I hear a team is forming, no?" He got a wary nod from Mark, "As long as you don't include her in it, she can't do much. She's dying. They'll force her into drastic action."
"Y- You know a lot for a scientist. How'd you know she'll do something drastic? They're giving her the cure." He questioned with a mixture of confusion and slight fear. The man knew more than he first imagined.
"I'm a scientist and inventor by trade, but the Tayi Corporation dabbles in other aspects. As to Ms Mackay, well, they're not supplying a cure. It merely delays the inevitable. I should know. I'm the one who's supplying it!"
"What?"