The Catalyst

By Anne Vaz

Kyra’s life is shattered when mysterious forces murder her family in an attempt to take her captive. She is forced into a journey for answers that propels her across the universe, and finds herself at the center of a Union plot to completely change humanity’s genetic future. The revelation of a new enemy has forced the Union’s hand, and Kyra is the catalyst needed to set their plans in motion.

Dex finds Kyra stowed away on his trade interstellar. He knows exactly what kind of person she is – a well-off Union citizen who sees the lives of the less intelligent as nothing. Dex was set to take over leadership of the Independent Planets, but he stopped focusing on that when his mother was murdered by the Union. Despite their immediate dislike for one another, Dex and Kyra soon finds themselves forced together as their search for answers begins to align.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329486799

Book preview

The Catalyst

Title Page

The Catalyst

Copyright

Copyright © 2014 by Anne Vaz

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

ISBN 978-1-329-48679-9

Dedication

For Andrew, who never stopped pushing me.

Chapter 1

In time all the great plans and schemes of powers come to nothing.  They are engulfed in the flow of history, overtaken and replaced.

- Power in a Post-Revelation Universe

The room is dark and quiet, illuminated only by the white glow of the snowstorm outside.  Culver sits alone, contemplating the dancing flakes through the dominating floor to ceiling windows.  The conference will begin shortly.  He lets out a sigh and his stomach, which has grown visibly in the past few years, rises and falls.  He really hates these weekly rendezvous—they are always so tedious.  Every detail is so tirelessly discussed, debated, and re-discussed. 

He thinks back to the last conference when they had neatly covered the whole failed Cron mission with a few reconstructed memories and erased databanks.  He really is turning into an old bureaucrat.

Retirement isn’t on the horizon, though.  He would see the Atlas project to its fulfillment.  Humanity would reach a new stage of evolutionary advancement.  It would be his legacy.

Culver hears the field door dissolve with a swish and as the lights automatically brighten he turns to see Marty and Vallence enter the room.  They nod at him as they take seats around the table. 

The room’s computer intelligence turns on and materializes as a 3D image of a pillar in the center of the table.  Its androgynous voice, which is appropriately monotone to keep it from sounding too human, informs them that the meeting would begin in five minutes.  Moments later, 3D images of other council members begin appearing in the empty seats.  The room fills with a low hum of voices as they greet each other.

Culver keeps to himself, only giving curt nods to newcomers.  He isn’t one to make small talk.

Finally the computer calls the room to order, reads off the meeting agenda, and informs them, as always, that it would be archiving footage of the meeting. 

The council members begin reporting on projects.  The colony on Delta-6 is progressing, the industry change-over on Pyranicles is continuing to run into the same labor problems, the takeover and conversion of another independent planet is in the works, the reconstructing of personalities and the wipe of information following an uprising on NeoEarth is nearly complete, and Tranquility has been deployed in several more areas on Tertius.

Culver lets the reports wash over him.  The system is holding relatively steady.  The need for intervention has increased steadily over the past fifteen years or so.  Culver bitterly contemplates how the lowest level laborers had especially become a constant pain in the council’s proverbial neck. 

Unlike some of the more idealistic council members, Culver has no inhibitions about the reality that Tranquility is the only thing holding back a complete internal breakdown.  It could easily be added to an atmosphere or water supply to allay rising tensions.  In fact, several particularly pernicious problem areas received a steady low dose of the calming drug.  It was all that stood between the Union’s social harmony and a complete breakdown of the system.

The uprising on NeoEarth had happened because the council had taken too long to make the right decision and deploy Tranquility there.  Now, they were dealing with the clean up.  Culver hopes the weaker members have learned their lesson and will be more amenable to appropriate and swift actions in the future. 

Culver knows the problems run much deeper than many are aware.  Tranquility is not the miracle solution that the council believes it to be.  It holds humanity’s propensity to resort to violence at bay, but only temporarily, and with a few side effects that had been deemed minor considerations.

Culver knew that the real issue was ignorance -- humanity’s ignorant masses forever vying to get to the top.  Culver found it exhausting.  But he also had a cure, and it was time that it be brought forward.

When Culver’s turn comes he stands up.  It is an old fashioned habit, but he is among the senior members of the council and feels he deserves extra respect.

He looks around the room, making eye contact with each person before starting his prepared speech.

The Union is strong, and peace has been achieved for over a century.  We have worked hard to maintain that peace and made many difficult decisions.  However, we need to turn again to dealing with what was found on Seti. 

Some of the council members become visibly annoyed, start shaking their heads and murmuring.  Amar Grimes interrupts Culver when he pauses.

"Culver, we have addressed that issue.  You know that we have two bionic production planets in operation, and thousands of bionics already fully prepared. And in any case there is no evidence whatsoever that there is any imminent danger." 

Grimes liked to point out obvious facts as if they were enough of an explanation for any problem.  Culver continues speaking as though there had been no interruption.

An army is only a stopgap measure.  History has shown that brute force is not enough.  Intelligence is the key.  Higher intelligence.  We all know the consequences when two civilizations meet, inevitably the weaker is swallowed or destroyed by the stronger.  We cannot be the weaker civilization.

We are not weak, Grimes chimes in again. Culver resists giving him a withering glare for the second interruption and continues, The reason we have seen these uprisings over and over is that our system is predicated on humans’ being able to make rational, intelligent and informed decisions.  From what we have seen, at least 67% of the population is not capable of making such decisions consistently and the rest barely make the cut.  Intelligence is our key to changing that.  It has always been the reason mankind has ruled over the species we coexist with.  We must build a smarter population or we will be facing widespread upheaval, he slashes his arm upward to emphasize his point.  The council must reopen the Atlas Project.  We must secure our future.  Tranquility will not hold us when the storm arrives. 

An explosion of voices follows.

Rita Nyong holds up her hand, signaling for silence and the right to speak.  Her voice betrays her outer world upbringing by the way she swallows consonants and emphasizes the wrong syllables, Don’t take us for fools, Culver.  We all know that you have been continuing your projects on the side.  But you lost your most valuable asset on that project, did you not? Her eyes narrow accusingly, How can your work continue without wasting years finding another with the appropriate genetic markers?  I know the odds are billions to one.

Culver looks appropriately chagrinned, of course he had let them know that he had continued his work.  What they don’t know is that his agents are still scouring the known worlds for the little fugitive.  It was important to allow them to think that they knew what was going on, that they had some level of control.  That, of course, was far from the truth.  They were the puppets, and Culver the puppeteer.

This project will usher in a new stage of human evolution, He replies.  The task of finding the proper genetic baseline is insignificant when compared with the benefits of this project.  Our social structure has been able to control humanity’s ignorant tendency to revert to violence, but only to a point.  Tranquility has filled in the gaps where necessary.  But I am looking forward to a day when Tranquility will no longer be needed, when uprisings will truly be a thing of the past.  A more intelligent population will not pursue the kind of violence that has destroyed generations in the past.  More importantly we can’t be fighting battles at home when the enemy is outside.

Rita speaks up again, We don’t know that there is an enemy, Culver.

"We do know that they are most likely highly advanced.  We know that humanity’s response to them would produce repercussions far beyond our control.  The very information could destroy our peaceful union. Unless we were working with a higher level of intelligence among the general population. It is a logical choice to work toward making humanity stronger from the inside and prepare the rising generations to be what we cannot be." He pauses and this time the room is silent. 

Human beings are weak, prone to discord.  Blood fills the pages of our history.  This Union has been the agent to make the decisions that humanity cannot.  We have stopped the violence.  But we are not ready to meet an opponent of this magnitude.  It is time we changed ourselves to be smarter and stronger.  It is through evolutionary advancement that humanity will be made stronger.

Some of the council members are nodding, others murmur softly to their neighbors.  But it doesn’t really matter. Culver already knows he has the support of enough of the council.  He made sure of that before even suggesting a reboot of Atlas. 

This speech was mostly a show for the historical records.  Everyone had acted appropriately.  It was all recorded just as it should be. 

The council agrees to put it to a vote at the next meeting. Culver would of course be granted permission to officially restart Atlas. 

He already knew where the first wave of funding would be applied.  He would buy every bounty hunter he could find and task every Union agent available to find K54217.  She had survived.  He knew she had.  She was his key to unlocking the language of humanity’s genetic code.  She was hiding somewhere out there and she would be found.

Chapter 2

I had tested perfectly, or almost perfectly. My IQR rating is among the highest in the Union system.  The test had taken just six hours to complete.  As I answered its questions it had quickly eliminated areas of weakness and soon was giving me advanced programming questions, which I completed with ease. 

I am excited. I will study engineering, just like I planned. Grandfather will be happy for me.  I haven’t told him that I had decided to undergo testing early.  I haven’t told him because I know that he is concerned about possible abnormalities in my test results.  But I was ready to take them, ready to move forward and become independent.

I already sat for the initial three tests to determine my personality type, lifestyle preferences, and general intelligence.  The final test was where I had more choice. I could choose a specific concentration that the previous tests had already determined would fit for me.  Of course, computer programming had been one of the options.  I already knew that I was a fit for that career path. 

This is my dream.  I will have the option to study on a planet whose industry focuses on computer science. I will be surrounded by others who tested well in programming.

All I have to do now is convince grandfather.  He is always so worried about me, sheltering me.  I know there is danger, but it has been years since we have had any issues with bounty hunters.  We are safe.

It is a hot day on Tertius, though really no hotter than usual.  My eyes automatically gauge the height of our two suns at a little after midday.  I climb into my guider and quickly swipe the commands to turn up the cooling system. 

As I lift into the air and weave my way back home I pass our town’s main government building.  Every Union building is inscribed with the First Tenant, To Build a Peaceful Future for Humanity.  I am going to be part of that now.  My career track is in place, my future secure.

Tertius’s industry is energy.  The planet is rich in fossil fuels, which are still in use on several Union worlds, and it has a booming bratheon energy business.  Grandfather is working on bionic projects for the energy companies here.

Our home is a few miles outside town. We don’t live near any of Tertius’ main metropolises.   Grandfather always chooses isolated places, telling me that it is to protect me.  We always keep a low profile.

Grandfather is definitely an oddity on Union worlds.  Unlike the vast majority of our citizens, Grandfather travels from planet to planet.  His work with bionics has taken us all over the Union. 

Most people follow their designated career paths on their assigned planet for their entire life.  My classmates always thought I was weird for having moved so often, but I know I am lucky to have seen so many places.

This is the first time that I have ever done something behind grandfather’s back.  As my elation about actually testing into the career path that I wanted wears off, I start to feel rather guilty that I snuck off.  The closer I get to home the more reality starts to sink in. This might not go as well as I had planned.

I keep rehearsing what I will say.  Grandfather, you don’t need to worry about me any more.  I’m going to have a Union career, or maybe I should try something more flattering like, Everything you have taught me has made helped me test into the career I’ve always wanted.  Definitely planned on using the flattery tactic. 

Flying through the outskirts, I notice another guider approaching me from behind.  It suddenly swings up close to me.  I swerve downward to avoid a collision, and have to pull to a complete stop when I almost hit the ground. 

Who the hell is driving that thing? 

I twist in my seat to see who the maniac is.  I recognize the guider.   It is Ghent.  He sets it down behind mine and gets out. I can see that he’s holding his broad shoulders stiffly, a sign that he is in his official mode.  Great.

I swipe open the side force field of my guider. As it dissolves the dry heat hits the cool interior mixed with the dust that the guiders have blown up into the air.  I cough as I swing my legs out and stand up.

Ghent is already standing right there next to me. I smother a smile at the disapproving look he has fixed on his face, especially since there is a bunch of dust in his perfectly coiffed dark hair.

Ghent, what is wrong with you?  You could have killed me if I had crashed, I try to use an angry voice.

I was trying to get your attention, Ky.  And your comm was off.  We’ve been looking for you for hours, he says, crossing his arms.

Hours? How did he notice I was gone—wait, how mad is he? I ask as I reach back and pull my hair off my neck, the heat is already making me sweat.

Mad is not the word I would use, Ky.  He is beside himself with worry.  He tasked all of us to find you.  Why did you disable your guider’s tracker?

I just needed some time, I had something to do.  It was really important.  How did he figure out I was gone?  It’s only been six hours, he’s usually at his lab right now.

I do not see how anything could be important enough for you to sneak off like this.  We can discuss this later.  We need to get back to the house, I already sent in a comm.  He knows I found you.

Fine, let’s go, I sigh, resigned to the fact that this wasn’t going to go smoothly.

I sit back in the guider and initialize the side force field.  I hate it when Ghent goes all business on me.  I guess he wasn’t really made for the whole sympathetic companion thing, but all the same he was pretty much the only real friend I have aside from grandfather.   We moved so many times, it got harder and harder for me to make friends, everyone else had known each other their whole lives.

As Ghent maneuvers to take the lead on the flight back, it hits me that Ghent must have noticed I was missing and told grandfather. How else would he have found out?  Perfect.  I really needed to find better friends.

Past the city limits the flight is dusty and mountainous.  Our little compound is surrounded by small hills and almost nothing as far as you can see, except for the town on the skyline.  The dome shield protecting our property keeps some moisture in.  From up in the guider it is a tiny green oasis. 

Our guiders enter the force shield without a problem once we modulate to the correct frequency, which is complex and rotating for security reasons.  When we land in front of the house I hop out. Ghent is already halfway to the door.  I run to catch up with him and collide with him on purpose.  Of course he doesn’t even flinch whereas I bounce back off him and stumble slightly.  He keeps walking and looks at me quizzically.

You really need to learn not to tell on people, Ghent.  It’s not nice, I say, hooking my arm into his.

Nice?  This isn’t about being nice, Ky.  It is about your safety.

I sigh, I’m sorry, Ghent.  I should have told you my plan, but I knew you would tell Grandfather and it would blow the whole surprise.

Surprise?

Yeah, I completed the whole testing process, and my IQR is really high.  I’m going to be able to choose where I go, I tested into several fields too so I will have a choice of career, I say it all really fast.

Testing? Ghent asks, confused.

"The LifeDesign test.  You know the one that everybody takes to determine how they are going to fit into our society and help ‘build a peaceful future’ as they say," I put my fingers up in quotes around the words from the Union’s tenants.  Our teachers are always emphasizing them.

I thought the plan was for you to wait to take it for at least another year.  Now that they have determined your IQR and your level you will be required to move into your career path.

Yeah, but I scored really high. I think I may get alpha or beta status. So I get to choose from several options.  Anyway, it’s not like I’m leaving tomorrow or something.

Ghent doesn’t reply, but I can feel his disapproval oozing from his tight jaw and stiff shoulders.  He is getting really good with such expressions.

As we enter the house the heat dissipates and we’re greeted by the cooler interior.  The whole first floor is open to the outdoors, as is customary on Tertius, but the transparent force fields keep the heat out.  We walk down the white stairs that circle the entire room and cross toward the back of the house.  The first floor sits mostly below ground level to maintain cooler temperatures naturally.

Listen, Ghent, I know that your primary role around here is to look out for me, but I was just in town at a Union government building, what do you think could possibly have happened?

Doc told me that it wasn’t going to be safe on Tertius anymore and that we will be leaving soon.  That is why there is a heightened level of concern for you.

What?  He didn’t tell me that.  How did he know it wasn’t safe anymore? We haven’t had trouble with any hunters in nine or ten years at least.

This is not good.  I was hoping to catch grandfather at a good moment in order to tell him I had undergone the testing early.

Nine years, four months and seventeen days.  I am sure he will explain everything to you.  He had a surprise planned for you this afternoon since your birthday is coming up, Ghent says in his typically factual way.

Ah, really?  What is it? I ask, tugging at his arm.

It is meant to be a surprise so I think that it would be tactful of me not to tell you now, He says, raising his eyebrows.

I laugh, Dang, I used to be able to trick you into telling me almost anything!

Perhaps that is why I have learned to stay quiet.

We are headed toward grandfather’s lab that’s in a separate building in the garden behind the house.

That’s probably a good thing, but I feel like you already told me half of it.  Now that I know there’s going to be a surprise, what’s the point of not telling me the rest? I say as we finally make it across the room and are about to climb the back steps out into the back yard.

I am not sure— Ghent starts to say.

An incredibly bright flash blinds me for a moment and is followed by a loud bang.  Something hits me hard from behind and my body is thrown against the stairs.

Chapter 3

In the blink of an eye what had taken centuries to build was gone.  The great city and its environs lay in ruins in a single explosion.  Of course, it has always been easier for humanity to destroy than to build.

- Epsilon, A History

My ears are ringing.  Heat diffuses into the room suddenly as the cold air is sucked out.  The field walls must have gone down.  As my senses come back to me I feel Ghent’s body on top of mine.  He is so heavy I can barely breath.  He is holding me down and saying something, but I can’t hear it over the ringing.

A moment later he is half dragging and half carrying me across the floor toward a nearby pillar, crouching low himself. I use my arms and legs to help wriggle myself into a sitting position by the pillar. 

Dust and smoke are filling the air, making it difficult to see.  I put a hand over my face to keep it out of my nose.  It doesn’t really work too well. I start coughing.  Ghent of course is completely unfazed by the smoke or dust.

He swipes a panel open, types in a code, and removes earpiece comms.  He sticks one in his ear and the other in mine. 

Just then another blast rocks the house.  I throw my arms over my head and feel Ghent throw himself protectively over top of me.  The heat increases, the outer shield must have been breached or there is a fire somewhere. 

Faster than I can think I see Ghent move back to the pillar and swipe quickly through the footage from the security eyes that are still working around the property.  I vaguely make out several human and bionic shapes moving through familiar places on the compound, but Ghent swipes through them so fast I can’t keep up. 

Apparently he has made a decision, because he grabs my arm and pulls me toward the nearby hovershaft that travels deeper down below the house.

Wait, where is grandfather did you see him?  Is he ok? I yell louder than I intend to, forgetting about the earpieces.

He knows the emergency plan, Ky.  We have to go, Ghent says calmly, pulling me relentlessly toward the shaft.

I feel myself trip over something, Ghent grabs my arm and keeps me upright, continuing to hustle me along.  I look back to see what tripped me.  It was a piece of an ancient book, one of Grandfather’s most prized possessions.