Albert Sawyer in 2070: Albert Sawyer, #1

By Ian Eress

2070. Ravaged by the Third World War, weakened by tribal division, Earth is in peril. It's a world of city-states, new religions, slaves, genetically modified clones, nanomancy, neurodust, and immortality for the rich. Albert Sawyer, a boy genius carrying alien genes, desperately searches for his long lost parents. During the search, Albert falls in love... OMAU further enhances his intelligence. Friends and relatives try to help but many powerful enemies, including high-dimensional beings spread across the Multiverse, stand in the way.

Luckily allies, Qeeravs, from a distant star system grudgingly help the Earthlings. The Qeeravs have colonies on Earth and the Moon. Bound by a strict moral code, time is running out for Albert. Can an interstellar voyage save Earth or will it only delay the inevitable?

Read this exciting science fiction adventure spanning multiple star systems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ian Eress
• Release date: Feb 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393043850

Ian Eress

Born in the seventies. Average height. Black hair. Sometimes shaves. Black eyes. Nearsighted. Urban. MSc. vim > Emacs. Mac.

Book preview

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

ALBERT SAWYER IN 2070

First edition. February 25, 2020.

Copyright © 2020 Ian Eress.

ISBN: 978-1393043850

Written by Ian Eress.

For Caitlyn

Ian Eress

ALBERT SAWYER in 2070

—

EARTH in PERIL

Volume One

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He/him. Ian Eress is a Slytherin, INFJ, youngest child, bookworm, cyborg, news junkie, Trekkie, and a devious entrepreneur who majored in applied computer science with a minor in literature at a prestigious university you've never heard of. Computer nerd > geek. He doesn't deserve his beautiful and superintelligent wife. Nor his charming, well-connected friends and family who helped him run and later sell his first superbly successful company for gazillions of the greenest bucks. Or does he or did he?! Also loves androids, birds, cats, dogs,... Blue Ridge Mountains. Shenandoah River.

ABOUT THE BOOK

2070. Ravaged by the Third World War, weakened by tribal division, Earth is in peril. It's a world of city-states, new religions, slaves, genetically modified clones, nanomancy, neurodust, and immortality for the rich. Albert Sawyer, a boy genius carrying alien genes, desperately searches for his long lost parents. During the search, Albert falls in love... OMAU further enhances his intelligence. Friends and relatives try to help but many powerful enemies, including high-dimensional beings spread across the Multiverse, stand in the way.

Luckily allies, Qeeravs, from a distant star system grudgingly help the Earthlings. The Qeeravs have colonies on Earth and the Moon. Bound by a strict moral code, time is running out for Albert. Can an interstellar voyage save Earth or will it only delay the inevitable?

Read this exciting science fiction adventure spanning multiple star systems.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

The Awakenistas

Vishal, athletic, speaks in a deep voice, co-founder of the AFB, president of the APS, brother of Dipa, son of Abdul murdered by X-org, husband of Evangeline, Indian, genetically altered on Mars.

Adam, over six foot, blond, phlegmatic, co-founder of the AFB, treasurer of the APS, husband of Lynette, American, genetically altered on Mars.

Adrian, around six foot, friendly, founder of iAdedeji, brother of Dorcas, Nigerian.

Barry, tall, black hair, fond of technology, co-founder of Labari Engineering, the boyfriend of Fabienne, French, genetically altered on Mars.

Boris, over five foot, former pilot wounded in Afghanistan, brother of Martha, Russian, genetically altered on Mars.

Dr. Itai Itai, shorter than average, a medical doctor, Chinese, genetically altered on Mars.

Jared, former IT consultant at Perf Control, orphan, genetically altered on Mars.

Juliana, short, software tester at the AFB, sister of Rafael, Brazilian.

Katie, over six foot, blonde, the data scientist at the AFB, wife of Kevin, American, genetically altered on Mars.

Lari, tall, tuft on top of his blond hair, a co-founder of Labari Engineering, suffers from mild Tourette, Finnish, genetically altered on Mars.

Professor Bosch, short, usually wears old-fashioned suits, a former astrophysics professor at Berlin University, the ex-husband of Anke, German, genetically altered on Mars.

Aliens

Urzur aka Bird Lady, superintelligent AI, presents herself as a beautiful woman with a bird head and tiny flame gliding over her body, on a mission to collect rare metals for a defensive shield, Thohnuth.

Diviak Plagnor II aka Goblin, four-feet tall, resembles a green goblin, ambassador, Qeerav.

Emperor Gluk, pterodactyl-like body, leader of the Atagan Empire, Atagan.

Other

Alejandro 'Blue Eyes' Chavez, leader of the Caloa cartel, Mexican.

Khan, trained in Germany to become a commercial pilot, an acquaintance of Boris, born in Afghanistan.

Muhammad Mukhtar, built like a wrestler, bushy beard, leader of M3, jihadist.

Mrs. Caldwell, technically a genetically altered clone of the original Mrs. Caldwell with a rough copy of her consciousness, mother of Jerry and Mary, widow of Calvin, American.

Professor Little, neuroscience professor, Street Guardian, American.

The Caretaker, a mysterious X-org operative, spy, assassin, speaks with a posh British accent.

The Holy One, Jesus-like appearance, leader of the Street Guardians, American.

Tjeerd van Godlos aka X1, leader of X-org, former stepfather of Vishal, South African.

Ubaid Belkacem, history teacher, Street Guardian, brother of Said who is a former colleague of Jared, Algerian.

PAST EVENTS

August 27, 2018 to October 17, 2018:

Vishal's father was murdered when he was a teenager. Just before Vishal's eighteenth birthday, his relationship with his stepfather turned into open conflict. His stepfather, van Godlos aka X1, made the following decades of his life into a living hell.

In 2018, a group of twelve people, the Awakenistas, woke up in the middle of nowhere under mysterious circumstances. Half of these people worked together at a fintech startup founded by Vishal. They had never met or heard of the other people before. The second group was basically a group of random strangers.

Shortly after the initial incident, all twelve people experienced weird symptoms. They had trouble sleeping and concentrating. One of them, Professor Bosch who worked at an observatory, discovered an extraterrestrial signal, which was related to their issues. The signal strength increased at an alarming rate.

Unfortunately, they didn't have enough funds to pay for a trip into space, so they improvised while harassed by a shadowy organization called X-org. The Awakenistas arranged to illegally travel on a rocket to get rid of their problem.

October 18, 2018 to February 1, 2019:

The Awakenistas returned from Mars to Earth stronger and more powerful than before. But there was a weird catch. Some Awakenistas even wondered if what happened to them was real.

After traveling in secret for a long time, visitors from two more distant star systems arrived at mankind's doorstep: Qeeravs and Atagans. The Awakenistas became the unwilling pawns in an interstellar chess game. And X-org continued to make life difficult for them. Additionally, a group of humans under alien control entered the conflict. A few former Awakenistas joined them. The Street Guardians formed a pseudo-religious movement that spread like a dangerous virus.

Vishal D'Souza struggled with the drastic changes to his body and the new social dynamics of his inner circle. He tried to help his fellow entrepreneur, Kevin, who was going through tough times. But the extraterrestrials complicated matters further. Muhammad Mukhtar's mujahideen lost a wealthy sponsor to the superintelligent AI, Urzur. Furious, they went on the offensive.

In the beginning, Vishal and other Awakenistas worried about the disruptions in their lives. But then, they realized there was more at stake—maybe even humanity's future. Fortunately, they forged unexpected alliances…

March 19, 2019 to May 28, 2019:

The Awakenistas returned to their daily lives. But the world was not as they remembered it. And they weren't the only ones with unreliable memories.

X-org and Urzur were behind the changes in the Awakenistas' worldlines. Van Godlos built a new world order in South Africa. And the Street Guardians did their part too.

Vishal worked on his new plans involving advanced technology. After getting married, Kevin enjoyed himself while preparing to destroy the time machine. But X-org put a stop to that. Still furious about their defeat in Australia, Muhammad Mukhtar's forces waged war in South Africa.

Vishal and other Awakenistas accepted they must resolve the crisis. And they gained a new powerful ally. However, Urzur violated the Thohnuth-Qeerav treaty with a vengeance.

June 28, 2019 to August 27, 2020:

On Earth, intrepid Vishal and his loyal friends prepared to deal with Urzur. Also, the group tried to make good on their philanthropic plans, but resistance against the Awakenistas grew. Naturally, the USSR and China with the help of Qeeravs, Atagans, and Earthlings were still recovering from the Thohnuth attacks.

Vishal and a small team traveled to Mars first to set up a temporary base and build a Wormloop, connected wormholes, as the others took care of loose ends.

Table of Contents

BOOK ONE EARTH

PART I THE ISLAND

1 NINE DAYS REMAINING, ALBERT

2 EIGHT DAYS REMAINING, KAJUFS

3 SEVEN DAYS REMAINING, ALBERT

4 SIX DAYS REMAINING, ALBERT

5 FIVE DAYS REMAINING, ALBERT

6 FOUR DAYS REMAINING, ALBERT

7 THREE DAYS REMAINING, ALBERT

8 TWO DAYS REMAINING, ALBERT

9 ONE DAY REMAINING, ALBERT

PART II THE VALUE OF THE PIECES

10 DAY ONE OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

11 DAY TWO OF THE INVASION, KAJUFS

12 DAY THREE OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

13 DAY EIGHTEEN OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

14 DAY NINETEEN OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

15 DAY TWENTY OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

16 DAY TWENTY-ONE OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

17 DAY TWENTY-TWO OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

18 DAY TWENTY-THREE OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

PART III THE CHARACTER OF THE POSITION

19 DAY TWENTY-FOUR OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

20 DAY TWENTY-FIVE OF THE INVASION, KAJUFS

21 DAY TWENTY-SIX OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

22 DAY TWENTY-SEVEN OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

23 DAY TWENTY-EIGHT OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

24 DAY TWENTY-NINE OF THE INVASION, ALBERT

25 ALBERT

BOOK TWO QEERAV

PART I THE SECRET

1 THE CALL, ALBERT

2 WELCOME, ALBERT

3 DESERT, ALBERT

4 UNDERGROUND, ALBERT

5 DISAPPEARANCE, KAJUFS

6 JAVIMAG, ALBERT

7 WEST EQIVAMEG, ALBERT

8 EAST EQIVAMEG, ALBERT

9 IVEST, ALBERT

PART 2 TIME DEPENDENCE

10 EWME, ALBERT

11 PHANTASM, ALBERT

12 GALILEO, ALBERT

13 AUDIT, ALBERT

14 RACE, KAJUFS

15 FOUR, ALBERT

16 TWO, ALBERT

17 THREE, ALBERT

18 RAIN, ALBERT

PART 3 WHAT NOW?

19 MUSIC, KAJUFS

20 RUSH, ALBERT

21 GAME, ALBERT

22 SGD-DOMINATOR, ALBERT

23 COPPER, ALBERT

24 GALILEO, ALBERT

25 GENIUS, ALBERT

GLOSSARY

BOOK ONE EARTH

The cat she walks on padded claws,

    The wolf on the hills lays stealthy paws,

    Feathered birds in the rain-sweet sky

    At their ease in the air, flit low, flit high.

    The oak's blind, tender roots pierce deep,

    His green crest towers, dimmed in sleep,

    Under the stars whose thrones are set

    Where never prince hath journeyed yet.

Earth Folk by Walter De La Mare

PROLOGUE, ALBERT

The most important factor in a child's development is the optimal engagement of loving parents.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

The general principles are: obey the local and religious laws of the major religions as written in the corresponding holy books. Also, no lying: not even little white lies. No cursing in public or raising of the voice.

From Part I, Chapter 1 of  the Book of Rules

MOUNT GONGGA, CHINA

FEBRUARY 8, 2054

I was two years old but smarter than 99.9999 % of the kids my age. Nine. Nine. My papa gave me a thousand-pages book to read. It had the rules of the demigods I was to follow. I, Albert Sawyer, knew them all by heart.

While the winter raged outside in the high mountains, we stayed in a concrete bunker with kang stove beds. Artificial light flooded the space. Chinese characters all over the place.

Vishal was there too. Supposed to be in his eighties he looked like he just graduated from high skoliwol. He was athletic and spoke in a deep voco. I detected a faint trace of curry with my super nose.

Papa and mama spreched to him but they wanted me to say nothing. Typical adults. Papa was a superhero like Vishal, but taller and fair. Mama had no superpowers and her skin and haro were darker. (Had to do with g-papa, Richard, who peeps in olden tempos called African American.) The men wore light summer clothes. So did I. Mama was impersonating an Inuit, not an Eskimo because that means 'eater of raw meat' and considered offensive. But some older APS members still use the term. Undoubtedly comparing peeps to Inuits isn't innocent either...

We’ll have him and his sister tested, Vishal said. It’s safe. Kevin’s fortress can withstand a nuclear attack. Be back in two days tops.

My g-papa Kevin was Vishal’s age and prepared for the worst for fifty years. G-Kev was beyond riculo: in the top two thousand or even top two hundred. I had been to his island once. Kings got nothing on g-Kev. Respect!

Sure, papa said and went back to whatever he was doing on his ten-inch iAdedeji rolltablet. He had an army to command.

Sweetie, mama said. Go with great-uncle Vishal and take care of your sister.

Actually, my sister, Henrietta, is older than me by one year. And Vishal is Asian and absolutely not related to me in that way.

I nodded. That was the last tempo I vidied my parents for...

PART I THE ISLAND

Break, Phantsie, from thy cave of cloud,

    And wave thy purple wings,

    Now all thy figures are allowed,

    And various shapes of things.

    Create of airy forms a stream;

    It must have blood and nought of phlegm;

    And though it be a walking dream,

    Yet let it like an odor rise

    To all the senses here,

    And fall like sleep upon their eyes,

    Or music on their ear.

The Enchanted Island - Prose by Washington Irving

1 NINE DAYS REMAINING, ALBERT

If it wasn’t for the self-replicating terminators controlled by the awful Machines, we’d still be fighting wars on Qeerav Prime. The Church of the Golden Gods saved Qeeravdom. For that, I am forever grateful.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

World War 3 involved over a billion people in 50 countries and innumerable self-replicating terminators. Estimates mark WW3 as the deadliest conflict in world history with 230 to 340 million dead, most of them Soviet and Chinese citizens. Compared to previous world wars, WW3 lasted a relatively short period of four months due to the extensive use of nuclear weapons.

From Chapter 6, A Short Overview of Recent History by Ubaid Belkacem

THE ISLAND

JANUARY 12, 2070

A dark noch in an old German tank, Leopard 3, with a bunch of hopeless, stoned degenerates. The grim, dirty interior smells of cheap booze and fresh puke, and the onboard stereo pleis the Ride of the Valkyries. The rogue General Mikhailov leads the 54th terminator division of the Aurora Army. We shoot from the middle of a thick column: dozens of tanks deep.

Peeps on fire run around like headless chickens. Tanks burn. The stench of smoke and charred human flesh is ribelante. Ineffective salvos concentrate on the four-meter tall terminators advancing towards us. The bipedal, category I, and more rare category II four-legged killbots are incredibly black and camouflaged, so only the muzzles of their grandega plasma cannons show when they fire.

Certain death awaits us and Sergeant Cripps, my second in command, lies on the floor, an idiotic grin plastered on his drunken face.

Darkness. Static. The olfactory simulator goes offline, and an odd-looking eight-foot tall woman with a bird head appears on the holo-display.

People of Earth, I’m Urzur. The Bird Lady glares. Many of you have heard of an extraterrestrial reconnaissance force coming in contact with Chinese and Soviet troops about fifty years ago. I was the leader of that expedition.

Of course, I had gehort about Urzur and having a Level 4 APS clearance I know even more.

I’m on my way to Earth with a larger force, says Urzur. Prepare to hand over the Awakenistas, or I’ll destroy your pathetic planet. If you surrender and obey me, your lives will be spared. You have nine days.

Urzur disappears, and I remove my VR goggles to vidy the perfect garden with tall Kapok trees I sit in. The Book of Rules allows wearables and other external electronics but nothing inside the body or conductive tattoos.

The goggles flash green in a three-character Morse-based code I programmed. And the ringtone tells me it’s family.

G-mama Katie, gute morning, I say.

Tall and blond, she is married to g-Kev and is younger than him by several years, but they rigardu the same age. Rejuvenation through Berfzau, NAD, and blood plasma does wonders. You would say g-mama Katie is in her twenties but she definitely isn’t. The mama of my papa, she possesses superpowers. Not the same g-Kev has, so papa and therefore I inherited both sets.

Hey, Albert. Um, no time for chitchat. Still speaking in Govoreet, eh? You know your dad wasn’t serious about it, right? Did you see our mortal enemy Urzur?

Yes.

Vishal asked for you, g-mama Katie says. You better come quick.

I nod promptly and the call ends with a loud ping.

As I’m about to do a runner, I hor the ringtone again. G-mama Elena, what’s up? I haven’t—

Now g-mama Elena is younger than my other g-mama, but rejuvenation messes with bodies. Originally from Russia, her haro is black, and she has brown eyes.

Are you okay? Where are you?

I start making a break for it and Little Albert, my four-feet tall tedbot, follows. Tedbots are robots wearing a teddy bear-like suit for historical reasons. Originally the Qeeravs made them for the Awakenistas Philanthropic Society (APS).

On the Island. Where else would I be?

G-mama Elena twists her wedding ring. An alien interrupted the holo-tv news on ART 8, so I was worried.

Has nothing to do with me, I say. Only with g-mama Katie and the other Awakenistas.

Urzur wants everybody in the APS dead, g-mama Elena says. It’s implied.

She can’t kill me, I say. I’m a superhero.

Take the ultimatum seriously, g-mama Elena says.

Gotta go, I say. Late for a meeting with Vishal. Can I call later?

Sure, g-mama Elena says.

She sonojs unconvinced.

The most important principles of our Qeerav 4 society are self-determination, family values, and tolerance.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

Our rules should build upon other documents such as the UN declaration of human rights, Diviak Plagnor's (Goblin), and Emperor Gluk's proposals.

Proposed rules for the APS, rev. 0.4.2. last edit by Vishal D, temporary APS president

I enter the high-ceilinged room, shimmering gold, worthy of a royal palace where Vishal and g-mama Katie, both wearing 2025 casual fashion in the form of blue jeans and T-shirts, are chatting. The funny thing is that g-Kev is what polite peeps call frugal, but the paintings on the walls alone are worth millions of 2053 NY bucks. Not the portraits of g-mama Katie and g-Kev where my g-parents rigardu regal. The Big Inflation made paper money worthless, of course.

Where is g-Kev? I ask.

On a business trip to Awakenistan, Adam says phlegmatically.

He is the treasurer of the APS, CFO of the AFB bank (largest Awakenistani bank), and former trader. And as an American, he sorta sports the same phenotype as g-mama Katie but they aren’t related. Also a BerfImmort he donned a business suit, meaning that he interrupted a meeting to visit us because usually, he dresses casually.

What you doing here? I ask.

The distance to Awakenistan in West Australia is about 20,000 klicks. I noticed no hypersonic scramjets or landing spaceships. Magic doesn’t exist, so I missed important information.

They worried about you, Albie, aunt Marie says.

Dressed in gray like a boring but reliable person, aunt Marie sorta raised me and she says Albie seldom. My papa’s sister, she hasn’t inherited superpowers as far as I know. Three inches shorter than papa. I myself am six-six and weigh 240 pounds. Aunt Marie is older than papa and married young to the chagrin of g-mama Katie and g-Kev. Her children almost never hang with me.

Why? I ask. I am not one of the Awakenistas.

Aunt Marie isn’t either, but she is an APS member. And I turned eighteen in the previous year and can take care of myself.

If Urzur gets here, we might have to fight, Vishal says. You must finish your combat training. I upgraded your security clearance.

Thanks, I say. But the Book of Rules forbids killing.

They rigardu the funny way they do when I mention BoR.

Your grandfather wants you to be a philosopher-king, g-mama Katie says with a wry smile. That also includes military training. Anyway, you love martial arts, don’t you?

Yes, but I’ll only use it for self-defense, I say.

I’m going to visit allies and certain places, Vishal says in a deep voco. Kevin said you should join me... And I agreed.

Welp, if g-Kev said so, but I love adventure too.

But what about skoliwol? I ask.

Please. G-mama Katie sighs. Even though it’s your first year, you can ace all the exams.

Because I have perfect memory and insight, and OMAU pills help too.

I know the facts and theories, I say. And I can apply them. But there’s more.

Your teachers disagree, g-mama Katie says, grinning. We know what you’re like.

Aunt Marie laughs. I'm a privileged kid and will go far in life. Welp, if the Thohnuths let me...

We’ll make sure your education continues, Adam says phlegmatically. You can discuss economy and finance with me whenever you want.

How will you pay for your war? I ask.

I hope it doesn’t come to that, Vishal says in a deep voco. I’ll try to lure Urzur away. We got something she, um, desperately wants. And we hid gold coins, diamonds, and other valuables around Earth for emergencies.

He produces an old-fashioned cap from a silver leather bag. It says ‘iAdedeji’ on it with bright golden letters. That’s Adrian’s company—a (former) Nigerian and one of the original Awakenistas.

Adrian’s people made this prototype, Vishal says. Since you have L3 clearance I can tell you about the digital telepathy.

TG, my music teacher, says that certain APS members subvocalize. They’re like ventriloquists according to her. I suspected telepathy but never found proof.

Your grandmother, Vishal, me, and several other people have neurodust in our brains, Adam says phlegmatically. "On Mars, Urzur’s robots injected it into all of the Awakenistas except Adrian and Juliana. Then she forced us to ‘infect’ others."

The Street Guardians. I hacked a server on the Island to find that out. Surprisingly the local laws say nothing about hacking. The classified documents I read spoke of ‘chipping’. I thought it was an external mark like a tattoo.

We talking nanobots like the Qeeravs use or microchips? I ask.

The Qeeravs, from the Qeerav star system, mastered nanomancy centuries before us.

A bit of both, g-mama Katie says. Dr. Itai Itai will come later today to inject you. We couldn’t copy the Thohnuth technology, so, um, we did the next best thing which means you must wear the cap to transmit and receive.

I’m not allowed anything of that nature in my body, I say.

BoR.

C’mon, Albert, aunt Marie says. A whole world will open for you. I’m jealous; they didn’t consider me worthy.

No, g-mama Katie says. Albert has the right to decide. It’s his body.

Well, you’re smart, and the only one in the APS who can take advantage of OMAU, Vishal says, smiling. You’ll figure out an alternative.

According to estimates of scientists in former India, one in ten thousand peeps should benefit from OMAU. The APS has twenty-four million members: most of them Awakenistanis.

Yeah, I’ll have to amplify the signal a zillion times, I say. Piece of pie. History class starts in seventeen minutes.

We’ll talk soon again, Vishal says.

After goodbyes, I rush to my Room of Learning followed by Little Albert.

It is Qeeravs not ideas who drive our long history. Our morals and core values are universal, but their implementations are unique.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

Nobody can deny the influence of Mayor Brewer. Without his initial push against spreading globalization, Earth would have been a different place.

From Chapter 3, A Short Overview of Recent History by Ubaid Belkacem

The Room of Learning is a six by four meters library-like room, painted in boring white. You can't vidy the walls because of the many bookshelves. G-kev is a clear nerd; I hate to admit it, but g-mama Katie is one too. She's into data science and AI. G-papa Richard is the odd one out. However, g-mama Elena more than makes up for it. She's a self-professed bookworm and a famous novelist, so they and other APS members give me books all the tempo: encyclopedias, dictionaries, Tolstoy, Dickens, Shakespeare, mathematics, physics, and the list goes on.

BD and Kalpana, Vishal's granddaughters, are jacked in already. I can say that they are pretty, but that's subjective. Skin lighter than their g-papa's, long haro extending halfway their upper bodies. Kalpana, meaning Chimera, is Henrietta's age and acts like she's the boss; discovered vaping months ago.

Henrietta dislikes hanging with us; she'd rather be with Heinrich. Since always, BD, Kalpana, and moi, aka BAK, alternate between the Island and Awakenistan. Unlike what most peeps say we don’t need to be together all the time.

Sup, my peeps? I ask.

Rappin and chillin, Ace of Spades, BD says. Henrietta and Heinrich... BD rolls her eyes.

Several inches shorter than Kalpana, BD sprechs as if someone chases her. She got a bad case of ADHD with a corresponding short attention span and is addicted to her iAdedeji rollphone.

Talk to your g-papa? I ask.

No, Kalpana says. He here?

The relaxed rules of Diviak Plagnor College allow the students to come late or not attend class. But we usually come fifteen minutes too early to rap and chill. The main topic is Urzur.

I jack in to find my older sister in the back of the virtual classroom wrapped around Heinrich. With South African ancestors of European descent, Heinrich is handsome like a male model, I'll give him that. If it wasn’t for me, he’d be the best student.

I go to my favorite place: front and center. BD, Kalpana, their tedbots, and Little Albert follow me.

Teacher’s pet, Heinrich shouts.

BD gives him the finger. Kalpana cackles.

Heinrich is Mr. Popular, Prince Charming, and all that. People like him and want to be with him. I got friends but not that many. I’m the Nerd, the Alien, or the Boy Genius depending on who you ask.

But Heinrich knows he shouldn’t provoke me. I may have BoR, but I’m stronger and smarter and more comfortable with technology.

I'm not to talk about Urzur, Ubaid Belkacem says. I'm sorry. Not so long ago, Earth was divided among 195 countries. Well, World War 3 and anti-globalization movements increased that number hundredfold.

Our history professor, Ubaid Belkacem, originally from Algeria broadcasts from a rural location in former Ethiopia. Slightly taller than average and verging on overweight, Father Yates, the head of DPC and a former priest in what used to be NYC, whispers something off-screen. They are both about Vishal’s age and clothed in cheap suits, but because of rejuvenation, you wouldn’t believe they are older than thirty.

No, I’m in the middle of a lesson. Ubaid Belkacem presses his lips together.  I’m available after that.

Never gehort Ubaid Belkacem so annoyed. But I have been enrolled in the DPC only for a few months since September last year.

Father Yates appears. Students, we got an urgent matter to discuss with your history professor. Please take a short break.

Two vague man-sized contours emerge, and Father Yates covers the camera. Sonojs of struggle.

I imagine that the camouflaged pair can be Vishal and Adam. It’s 11,275 klicks to Ethiopia, but if they can hide a spaceship, it could be them.

Get a room! BD yells.

H & H are at it again. Although embarrassed, I can’t tell my older sister to behave. Heinrich must be a good kisser.

Slightly disheveled, UB returns and fusses with his black haro. I raise my hand with barely visible pale green spots.

What was so special about the Humans First Coalition led by Mayor Brewer of NYC? I ask.

I think you know, UB says, sonojing disoriented. What do all the history books and encyclopedias tell you?

Only dry facts, professor, I say. G-mama Katie says Brewer was an ass, and she couldn't believe he came so far.

Actually, she tells taller tales than that.

Maybe, UB says. But he had a point. People feared multinationals, AI, and major governments.

Many peeps reverted a century technologically, I say. Can't be good.

Why? UB asks. "Techno-fixers haven’t got all the answers. You'd do fine without computers."

Heinrich snorts with derision. Not hard, but I got a bionic hearing.

But technology solves so many issues, I say. Why not use it?

Some people believe it dehumanizes them, UB says. It’s a matter of opinion. We can argue forever, but I must teach the other students who don’t know all the facts yet.

I nod. Most teachers dislike me. It seems they have no answers except what they get from outdated books.

Everyone, from a newborn to a wise leader, is equal in the all-seeing eyes of the Golden Gods. That's why we take care of each other. No exceptions.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

In the first phase of the Separation, capitals and wealthy provinces declared independence. The APS tried to help those in need but met with resistance from the HFC, local governments, and other organizations.

From Chapter 4, A Short Overview of Recent History by Ubaid Belkacem

After class, Dr. Itai Itai joins us. Mysteriously. How many camouflaged space vessels are out there?

She's on the small side with extremely short haro. Dishonorably discharged from the Chinese Navy in 1992. Laboried as a general practitioner in NYC before joining the Awakenistas.

I, ah, will chip you now, the Doc says to BD & K.

She already gave them magic hats and explained. The Doc injects BD & K. She’s like a druid and also responsible for the rejuvenation of the APS members.

Fiafi, give me the latest news, I say.

Fiafi, sonojs like a Californian woman, is an AI g-mama Katie created fifty years ago. Thumbnails with headlines appear on my goggles: augmented rather than full VR but nobody cares about the distinction. Fiafi reads ten tempos faster than an average person, omitting stopwords. I like it that way.

The most beautiful girl in the world jumps out of an image! My heart stops. Something about AVOs in Manila.

Fiafi, stop! I almost yell. Item 107.

Fiafi sprechs fast again about a homeless boy from Manila. Victoria Dautil is a passionate vlogger reporting about the unfortunate kid who lost his adult sister early in life. Victoria.

The boy is an orphan. (I consider myself luckier. My parents are still alive; I just don't know their location.) Vagrants in the nation of Manila illegally removed their own ID chips. The anti-vagrant operations aim to arrest them.

The homeless receive harsh treatment..., Victoria says in a short clip.

Her voice sonojs like Mozart's music.

In the streets of the state of Manila, vagrants scrounge food and collect cigarette butts to sell the remaining tobacco. I should feel bad for them, but I'm a privileged kid. You can just as welp sprech to me about the Templar Knights.

Can I vidy...what you looking at? BD asks.

Reluctantly I share, and BD gives me a funny rigardu. Although goggles cover her eyes, I vidy them through a software trick.

Manila chick is...hot, BD says.

Whatever, I say, but I'm not sure I sonoj persuasive.

The APS should intervene, K says.

BD rolls her eyes. K is one of those techno-fixers UB sprechs about. So am I. K isn't using her goggles, meaning the neuropowder can access the OniWeb. Jealous, I mentally go through appropriate techniques to amplify my brain signals.

Not, ah, enough money, Doc says.

The APS would find it if needed, I say. But the locals are afraid to accept help.

K argues about human rights. Doc and BD disagree with her on minor points. Escape to my electronics lab: a largish room with a sturdy table.

Victoria gave her social media details in her article. Connect to the Manila Mastodont Premium server, requiring a proper ID, through Fiafi and an Omni32K vidwall.

On the Island, it’s still morning. The tempo difference is twelve hours, so it’s possible Victoria is already asleep. Better hurry.

The local laws say little about using a fake ID. BoR prioritizes the rules of the location where I stay physically. The next in line are religious texts, so I shouldn't lie, but technically using an alias isn't lying.

> Joker: Hi, can we chat? My name is Albert by the way. Got your details from your vlog.

Wait a minute, picturing Victoria's gorgeous face and body.

VictoriaD: Not what it says on your profile.

> Joker: I value my privacy. We can talk another time if you prefer.

VictoriaD: Might help if I know what you want from me.

> Joker: You're a girl. I'm a boy...

VictoriaD: I thought you were concerned with the homeless people in Manila.

> Joker: Not the main reason I want to chat, I admit.

VictoriaD: It’s getting late. I don’t date everybody. Bye for now.

Welp, I’m smart but some things are hard for me. Focus on the amplification issue. Lots of nonsense on the OniWeb but meditation seems to help and shining a light with a specific waveform in one’s eyes.

The EM field of the human brain is too weak. Mu metal can block external fields, so I consider using that although I’ll need unrealistic amounts of it. Superconducting detectors are an option too but the APS keeps that tech secret.

My thoughts wander back to Victoria. When at first you don’t succeed... I must ask someone what to do.

2 EIGHT DAYS REMAINING, KAJUFS

I think the cowardly Engineers optimized the amoral Machines so that they'd attempt to maintain an as large population as possible on Qeerav Prime. The anonymous Qeeravs behind the Machines are the true elite.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

Urzur and possibly other Thohnuths believed in high-dimensional beings. She never explained in full detail. The misguided religion of the Street Guardians considered her to be the embodiment of the Holy Spirit from Christianity.

From Chapter 7, A Short Overview of Recent History by Ubaid Belkacem

MILKY WAY

JANUARY 13, 2070

Kajufs, a HiDimBe 'watches' Heinrich meet two Street Guardians in Iceland. HiDimBes are bodiless beings spread through the many realities of the quantum Multiverse. Quantum complexes much smaller than neurons give them consciousness.

The urban landscape matches that of a quiet twentieth-century town but with self-flying Toyota aircars and light delivery drones (hybrid fixed-wing) flying around. Heinrich chews pink gum and stands directly in front of a Reykjavik house showing corrugated metal siding, to the left a large stone church, and far to the right an ancient turf home. In Reykjavik, it snows less than in the rest of Iceland but the temperature is on the low side. Whitish-gray clouds languidly pass above Heinrich like tired, senior turtles.

Professor Little spoke highly of you, the Holy One says.

Originally from the US and leader of the Street Guardians, he echoes the classical depiction of Jesus Christ in appearance. He received a rejuvenation treatment from Dr. Itai Itai, and so did other leading Street Guardians. Weaver, the Holy One’s bodyguard—muscular and dark-skinned, stands closeby.

The Awakenistas dechipped him and Ubaid Belkacem, dearfella, Heinrich says.

Smart of them, the Holy One says. They should have done that for all the Street Guardians. But we were convinced Urzur was dead.

How long were you in the big house, dearfella? Heinrich asks.

Long enough, the Holy One says. Didn't matter. I was depressed. Felt guilty about helping Urzur.

You do understand I want to join you, dearfella? Heinrich asks.

That's foolish, young man, the Holy One says. Don’t know what Professor Little told you.

He said I should prevent the Awakenistas from dechipping you, Heinrich says.

Why? the Holy One asks. It hurts just a little.

#I’m on my way,# Urzur says telepathically through neurochips. #Glad you still have your neural dust.#

The Holy One gasps. Urzur is speaking to me right now.

#We can’t have a proper conversation because of the huge distance,# Urzur says. #I’m serious about you keeping the dust. Some of your people spy for me so don’t think you can outsmart me. I killed Jon Einarsson hundred meters behind you to prove my point.#

The Holy One and Weaver turn and dash toward a pink and gray single-story house with a slanted teal roof. At half-speed, Heinrich follows and chews on. They knock on a red wooden door. A small boy, wearing a blue wool hat and a light-brown jacket, opens to reveal an older gentleman lying on the floor. Not a BerfImmort or an Immort.

Help! the boy shouts, trembling like a clothesline in the wind. My grandpa...

The Holy One checks Einarsson’s pulse. He’s dead, I’m afraid.

No, the boy says and starts crying.

The Holy One and Heinrich console the weeping child while Weaver calls somebody. Five minutes later, the kid’s mother, also dressed warmly, appears.

Urzur gave me an ultimatum, the Holy One says. She’ll kill us if we try to dechip ourselves.

Weaver nods. He has neurodust too as most people in Iceland.

You chose the wrong day to visit, Weaver says. Why do you want to be chipped? It’s like having a bomb in your head right now.

Professor Little told me about the advantages, dearfella, Heinrich says. And van Godlos is coming. He sorta admits we’re family.

#I was hiding on Venus all that time, in case you’re wondering,# Urzur says telepathically. #Another AI from Thohnuth called Pit joined me. More expeditions are converging on Earth.#

The Awakenistas saved us from M3, the jihadists, the Holy One says. They supported us after Urzur was gone.

"Yeah, but they were the ones responsible for Urzur’s ‘death’," Heinrich says.

They only destroyed her robots, Kajufs thinks.

Professor Little really confided in you, Weaver says. Why is that?

I help him out, Heinrich says. He has...unusual tasks for me.

We’re not who we were, the Holy One says. Urzur knows she can bully us with the neurodust. Doesn’t mean we’ll do everything she asks.

Look, dearfella, Heinrich says. I get it. Urzur made you take control of Iceland and attack Matamoros in Mexico. She needed you to help her to avoid direct confrontation with the Qeeravs.

She did, Weaver says. Know why? Not because the Qeeravs could kick her ass. Which they did eventually through the APS.

Weaver waits for Heinrich, who chews his gum furiously, to reply.

No clue what you talking about, dearfella, Heinrich says. Guess you want me to say humanity scared her. Not the vibe I get.

Well, we got more reasons to be afraid, the Holy One says.

Professor Little is still working on the hypnotapes you, the Street Guardians, used to chip Icelanders, Heinrich says.

He lives in the past, Weaver says.

An awkward steady silence falls over the three.

Before the post-modern Age of the wicked Machines, wars ravaged Qeerav Prime, a genetically diverse planet. The Machines acted like abusive schoolteachers not allowing aggression between Qeeravs except for traditional duels.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

General van Godlos, the arrogant head of the South African Secret Service and leader of the criminal X-org cartel was a key person in the Thohnuth-Qeerav conflict. Although incarcerated for life, Mayor Brewer pleaded for van Godlos' release. Shortly after, van Godlos joined the HFC and later became the Chief Sheriff of Greater Neo York.

From Chapter 8, A Short Overview of Recent History by Ubaid Belkacem

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

JANUARY 13, 2070

A hypersonic scramjet lands like a graceful white swan on the main terminal of the Reykjavik airport located about two klicks from the quiet city center. It bears the military-style insignia of Greater Neo York. Soon after the FFN-26 140 feet long plane with a giant green snake painted on it comes to a full stop, the Holy One, Weaver, and Heinrich enter. Visibly the lavish interior, featuring light colors and lots of leather, impresses the nervous visitors.

We meet again, van Godlos, aka X1, says. I don't look as young as you.

Yes, you do, the Holy One says, smiling. Did Urzur call you?

She did, X1 says. Got big plans for all of us. Immortality is a pain; never get to retire.

Heinrich shifts a bit and chews his gum. A green mischievous monkey, holding the rough hand of a muscular man dressed in black, waddles on the long red Persian rug in the middle of the plane.

Hey, Heinrich, dearfella, X1 says. Shouldn’t you be in school?

No,..great-grand...Professor Little needs help.  Can you drop me off close to Caucasia?

In Colombia? X1 asks, raising an inquiring eyebrow.

In what used to be Germany, Heinrich says.

No problem, X1 says, pointing to his immediate right. You remember X9, don’t you?

Didn’t he rat you out to the Reds? Heinrich asks.

A misunderstanding, dearfella, X9 says. It’s water under the bridge. Let’s not dwell on who did what half a century ago.

Urzur wants proper control of Earth this time, X1 says. Although I’m not a telepath, I sense your lack of enthusiasm. Want to rot on your island forever instead?

She won’t let us, Weaver says. Threatened to kill increasingly more Street Guardians until we comply with her demands.

Yeah, don’t count on the APS for support, X1 says. They must be busy. Only eight days left.

And then what? the Holy One asks. Are the Thohnuths and the Qeeravs gonna fight it out?

Dunno, X9 says. They might make a deal. Wouldn’t be the first time.

Another leading Street Guardian and BerfImmort called Paolo enters the aircraft. The chubby Peruvian, wearing many layers of warm, thick clothing needs a second to regain his breath and wipe off sweat. Kajufs wonders why he didn't use neurochips to communicate.

Bad news, Paolo says. The Caretaker is arresting Street Guardians he suspects of espionage. Wants to torture them.

Did you try talking him out of it? the Holy One asks.

He doesn’t listen to me, Paolo says.

I’m in a meeting, the Holy One says. Can’t help you right now.

X1 chuckles. The Caretaker hasn’t changed much. When he was under my command, he attacked our head accountant. Hot-headed doesn’t begin to describe it.

Jos Lui, Kajufs, 'watching' many kiloparsecs away in the Milky Way, thinks. The Mexican finance guy never joined X-org in 19.5% of the quantum universes where he existed. Of the remaining planes of existence, in 32.0% of them, Jos Lui still lives.

Most of us are civilians except for that short period when Urzur misled us, Weaver says. I’m sure the former X-org operatives would love joining you.

The thing is, dearfella, X1 says. They already did and are armed. Dangerous.

Are they the spies Urzur mentioned? the Holy One asks.

Could be, X9 says. She doesn’t tell us everything. But she does have a new companion called Pit. Presents himself as a male Thohnuth including a bird head.

The way I see it, dearfella, X1 says, looking directly at the Holy One. You got no other choice but to cooperate. Awakenistan is too far away.

In case it was unclear, don’t leave Iceland unless Urzur asks explicitly, X9 says.

Because of the neurodust we got nowhere to hide, Weaver says.

Don’t try anything with Faraday cages either, X9 says. Our men are watching you.

Why are you doing this? Paolo asks. "You got no neural dust. Urzur can’t go after you and the Awakenistas."

Lots of money to be made, dearfella, X1 says. We at X-org disagree with the Brewers. Long to rule the world. Or at least the parts Urzur cares little about.

Why? the Holy One asks. It’s a lot of responsibility.

X1 and X9 snicker and Heinrich joins them.

You sound like a damhel boy scout, X9 says.

I’m a man of God, the Holy One says. I try to be. We renounced Urzur as a false god. Most of us are Christians, and what Urzur demands doesn't fit in our religion.

Dearfella, if you value your beliefs more than your life than we’ll never speak again, X1 says. But something tells me you’ll be more practical.

The Street Guardians remain silent as X1 and X9 cackle. Heinrich takes a comfortable seat and gazes at the green monkey.

Smug scholars have argued about the true nature of the Golden Gods for a long time. Some have gone so far to call the Golden Gods mere metaphors. But our religious scrolls describe them in enough detail to rule that out.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

For about a year, brave people who later joined the APS tried to dechip Street Guardians like myself. Of course, after Urzur died there was no need for that.

From Chapter 6, A Short Overview of Recent History by Ubaid Belkacem

Afivot, another HiDimBe, joins Kajufs. They talk to each other through a vast distance of many kiloparsecs using a so-called wavej field.

Why turn Heinrich in a regressor? Kajufs asks.

He's young, talented, and the only one who can come close to rivaling, Albert, the golden boy of the APS, Afivot says.

Wouldn't Albert be a better choice? Kajufs asks. Albert follows strict rules does he not?

Meanwhile a stellar flare in a cosmos with a hyperfine constant +0.943% of the Multiverse average and in the HiDimBes n-tant V7Z-LO6-... wipes out advanced technology on a Kardashev 0.5 planet. Kajufs and Afivot register the unfortunate event, one of quadrillions, through the wavej field but don't comment.

The Matbrains fear he might be the Leader, Afivot says.

Oh?! Kajufs says. That's unexpected. I thought predictions concerning a single person were inaccurate.

No, they say there is a 50.01% chance someone in the Awakenistas inner circle could be the Leader, Afivot says. I'm sure Heinrich doesn't qualify.

The Matbrains are upset because I let Albert profit from OMAU, Kajufs says.

In a second 349 meteoroids impact as many inhabited Milky Way planets in a universe where the gravitational constant is -7.31% off the Multiverse average. One causes an extinction event but Kajufs and Afivot ignore it.

Why is that by the way? Afivot asks.

Maybe I’m weird but making a genius smarter sounds exciting to me, Kajufs says.

The Matbrains are crunching the numbers on having Heinrich use OMAU too, Afivot says.

Bosfit, another HiDimBe and the son of Afivot and Ifsob, joins them from the distant stretch of interstellar space where he lives. Also, Bosfit has a sister and two sons.

TG, the music teacher of the Diviak Plagnor College is a regressor, Bosfit says, but she did little to disrupt the APS. We should talk to the Matbrain who handles her.

No, micromanaging is bad, Afivot says. Some regressors just don’t work out. It’s a fact of life.

What are your plans for Heinrich? Kajufs asks.

I leave that to the Matbrains, Afivot says. They’re contacting him now.

Heinrich says goodbye to X1 and X9 and jumps off the scramjet above a sunny region formerly part of Germany. The cornsilk chute opens after an exhilarating minute and Heinrich floats leisurely. He lands and performs the mandatory roll.

Hi, Heinrich, a disembodied voice says.

Lo, Heinrich says, searching around.

He is in a grassy field with nothing of interest. No birds, bushes, quiet. The wind carries through the silent terrain and across Heinrich's face.

Don't worry, the voice says. You're not going mad. Call me Wargslar if you want.

That's what Urzur called him in Albert's universe, Kajufs thinks. The Albert I'm most interested in.

Show yourself, Wargslar, Heinrich says.

I can't. I'm not even in your star system.

Are you a Thohnuth or a Qeerav, dearfella? Heinrich asks.

Neither, Wargslar says.

Then you must be an Atagan, Heinrich says.

The Universe or I should say the Multiverse is a large place, Wargslar says. You'll never guess who I am. Let's say that I know trillions of times more than you and existed for billions of years.

Must be boring, Heinrich says and snorts.

Not really, Wargslar says. We are making you a regressor. Relax. The sensations will vanish soon.

Heinrich gasps and yells. Damhel. Chomp.

For a scary minute, he pants with shallow breaths and holds his head as if fearing it'll explode. Out of 469 other Heinrichs marked as promising candidates to become a regressor the Matbrains picked only this one.

What was that, dearfella? Heinrich asks.

We made you a regressor, Wargslar says. Means we can send you information. Predictions, for instance.

About what? Heinrich asks.

Almost anything as long as it's predictable, Wargslar says.

Too bad the stock market collapsed, dearfella, Heinrich says and chuckles. How about gambling?

Depends, Wargslar says. We need your help.

"You keep saying ‘we’, Heinrich says. Why should I help you?"

Nobody has ever refused us, Wargslar says. Curiosity is a strong motivator.

Mayhaps, dearfella, Heinrich says. But the sensitive hearing is annoying.

You'll get used to it, Wargslar says.

Who do you want me to kill? Heinrich asks.

Relax, Wargslar says. We’re not in a hurry. Have you heard of OMAU?

No, Heinrich says.

The APS used another name, Kajufs thinks. They used many fabricated names and so Heinrich never knew that they tested him. But in another quantum reality where the speed of light is 0.24% off the Multiverse mean, he found out the disturbing truth.

Your friend, Albert, has special pills he keeps on his person, Wargslar says. Get them and make sure nobody sees you.

I date his sister, but I never talk to the bozo, dearfella, Heinrich says. Safe, I accept your mission.

Too bad that we have no bodies, Bosfit says from a far location in the Milky Way. We could have celebrated with drinks.

Bodies are fragile, Afivot says. And maintenance takes more time than actually using them.

Some Earthlings say it’s all about sex, Kajufs says. Not the way we do it, of course. Strange that virgins appear in their religious texts.

Life can’t be about food and drinks, Bosfit says. We manage fine without that.

We are all the children of the Golden Gods. Those who worship the discourteous Machines don't understand that simple truth. True power isn't created; it is given.

Collected quotes of Diviak Plagnor I, Leader of Qeerav 4 by Captain Galagat

Caucasia, a small village in former Germany, grew to an independent state with a population of around 100,000. Most of the people who live there are neo-Nazis, but officially they accept everybody who passes their entrance exams.

From Chapter 9, A Short Overview of Recent History by Ubaid Belkacem

CAUCASIA, FORMER GERMANY

JANUARY 13, 2070

WILLKOMMEN IN CAUCASIA a flashing sign says. A twelve meters long and two meters tall mural depicts an idealized Aryan family of four: a blond father, a young mother, a blue-eyed five-year-old son, and an adolescent daughter—all grinning ear to ear. Flags featuring black swastikas, Heinrich can't place, proudly wave.

The mayor of Caucasia, Hans, a large, black-haired, bearded man, waits with two middle-aged friends—definitely not Immorts. Their inexpensive clothing reminds Heinrich of the late 2030s fashion: narrow shoulders and tight jeans.

Welcome to Caucasia, the mayor says with a German accent.

Thank you, dearfella, Heinrich says. Where are those pesky anti-fascists?

You get straight to business, I like that, Hans says.

Got history books to read, Heinrich says, smiling.

The mayor frowns whilst Heinrich chews a new gum. The traitors are in their home. You got a date with the girl, right?

Yeah, I contacted her on the OniWeb, pretending to be Caucasian, Heinrich says, grinning. A local, I mean. Need wheels, though. Can’t say I dropped from the sky.

Hans drops his massive hand over the shoulder of one of his smaller friends. My buddy, Johannes, here is a taxi driver. He has a 2045 Mercedes.

Neo-Nazis hate to use AI because it implies that humans are inferior to dumb machines. The dark red aircar bears semblance to older Mercedes cars but it flies and needs no wheels. In essence, a huge drone with multiple engines.

Heinrich looks around. That junk? he asks, raising an eyebrow.

The mayor laughs while the driver frowns and mouths something. Heinrich and Johannes set off. The unsuspecting pretty girl waits outside her brownish semi-detached house and gets in the four-seat aircar with a happy smile.

I couldn’t find a limo, mydear, Heinrich says, smiling.

He wraps his firm arm around the shy girl but turns into a suffocating headlock. Meanwhile, he stabs a strange-looking syringe into her neck. A thin line forms on her beautiful face.

What are you doing? the girl yells.

Shh, Heinrich says, comforting finger on her succulent lips.

Within seconds, the innocent girl falls asleep. Satisfied Heinrich leans back and chews. The Mercedes arrives at the southern outskirts of town where the mayor still tarries.

I need your Mercedes, dearfella, Heinrich says. "Have an important rendezvous in three hours with a