City of Gods: Stein Anthology

By John Zaitz

INFAMOUS CRIME BOSS RAMSEY WRIGHT HOLDS MANHATTAN HOSTAGE IN THE FAR FUTURE BY ORDERING HIS HIRED SOLDIERS TO DESTROY ALL 21 BRIDGES AND TUNNELS, BLOCKING ALL ACCESS TO THE ISLAND AND STRANDING MILLIONS. WITH DEADLY FORCE, THE HORIZON SOLDIERS CONTROL THE STREETS. A DEADLY VIRUS IS RELEASED BY RAMSEY ON THE MANHATTAN CITIZENS, KILLING THOUSANDS UNTIL A VACCINE IS CREATED, BUT THIS VACCINE HAS A SUPER-POWERED SIDE EFFECT.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781387791439

Book preview

City of Gods

By John E. Zaitz

Writers Edition

City of Gods

First Edition

Copyright © 2022 John E. Zaitz

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-387-79143-9

Thank You:

To my mother, father, and my sister for everything

To my wife, who has always supported me

To my best friend who pushes me

A Special Thank You:

To the Black Mamba

To the King of Wakanda

To the number one sports show in America

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE:

CHAPTER TWO:

CHAPTER THREE:

CHAPTER FOUR:

CHAPTER FIVE:

CHAPTER SIX:

CHAPTER SEVEN:

CHAPTER EIGHT:

CHAPTER NINE:

CHAPTER TEN:

CHAPTER ELEVEN:

CHAPTER TWELVE:

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:

CHAPTER NINETEEN:

CHAPTER TWENTY:

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX:

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN:

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE:

CHAPTER THIRTY:

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE:

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO:

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE:

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR:

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE:

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX:

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN:

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT:

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE:

CHAPTER FORTY:

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE:

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO:

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE:

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR:

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE:

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX:

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN:

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT:

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE:

CHAPTER FIFTY:

EPILOGUE:

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

PART ONE:

CHAPTER ONE:

The sound stage at B.N.N. (Bennett News Network) is bustling with production assistance scurrying about like a hive of bees, possessing a sense of direct and determined teamwork. Each studio member attempts to prepare the sound stage for tonight’s main show.

A young woman with blonde hair and the girl next door with a mien quality quickly maneuver through the sound stage. The young woman wears a light grey B.N.N. branded t-shirt and high-waisted blue jeans. She is carrying a hundred-year-old silver tray. On top of the tray is a white porcelain cup with blue articulation that has slowly worn from years of washing wrapping around the cup. Next to the cup is a black cast-iron tea kettle. The tea kettle is reminiscent of a Chinese kettle frequently seen in upscale home stores. The young woman strides with a determined purpose toward the newscaster sitting behind a metal-framed desk with determination and enthusiasm.

On the lead anchor’s desk’s face is a three-dimensional digital image slowly revolving in a clockwise direction, and on the screen is the B.N.N. logo. Here is your Earl Grey tea Mr. Green, the young assistant says timidly to the man behind the anchor desk. Placing the silver tray before him, the young woman starts to unload the teacup and tea kettle, leaving each item from the steal tray on the anchor desk beyond a line of blue tape that indicates any item beyond this point will not be visible on camera. The young woman takes a nervous beat as she fidgets with a loose piece of her blonde hair, tucking it back into her messy bun with a yellow wood pencil placed inside to hold it together.

The anchorman’s demeanor indicates he does not want the production staff to bother him as he prepares for his nightly program. The man’s immersed in doing his nightly voice exercises to prepare for the show. He stares at the ceiling to elongate his neck and throat. The man soothes his throat with his left palm as he gives off a deep gargle sound. The young woman stands before him, waiting for any acknowledgment. After a couple of seconds, he gives a flaccidly quick thumbs-up to the woman without regarding her. In the year she has worked at B.N.N, he has never looked in the young woman’s direction. The young woman nods courteously as she grabs the empty silver tray and leaves him to continue his nightly ritual.

Michael Green is the least fussy out of all the anchors that work at B.N.N. Sure, his most significant and only request is that he always have earl gray tea with honey during his nightly show. However, he does not care how big his dressing room is or what type of car picks him up from his home on the upper west side of Manhattan.

Michael stares into the floating camera lens ahead of him as he starts to sink into his mind. He begins to reminisce about how he has gotten his life to this place. Once he graduated from Syracuse University, Michael Green labored to find work with meaningful stories. Michael’s model appearance had him running in Hollywood circles, leading him to join the Tabloid news organization Tattle. He mostly did red carpet and movie set interviews early in his career. He was asking the terrible cookie-cutter questions the movie studios would force him to stick to, so how was it working worth generic director name here. or how is it working with such a pompous actor? You two seem to have great chemistry. He could never ask the tough questions, the tantalizing questions, or the ones that had been green room gossip and tabloid fodder.

After all the years working in Hollywood, he finally parlayed his entertainment connections into getting a job at a primarily news-based network B.N.N. An anchor position where he could care less about what a random aristocrat was wearing or an elite movie actor sleeping with whomever, into one that cares more about what is happening in the world. Now he is the lead anchor at Bennett News Network at eight pm eastern. Every night he attempts to bring stories that mean something to the public.

Michael blinks rapidly, which brings his mind back to his body behind the anchor desk at B.N.N. The viewers at home cannot see Michael’s muscular two-meter-tall frame, and they can see his chiseled jawline, rich dark skin tone, and humble nature come through when he is on their holo television every night.

Michael limits his social media presence to only topics that matter to him. The topical social subject matter that does not need his attention personally goes by the wayside. However, the stories he cares about do get his full attention. He uses his social platform to inform them to show what he made for dinner that night. He mostly hides behind a dark black suit with a skinny black tie; he believes this is his nightly ensemble, his uniform. He might have evolved from his days covering the entertainment industry, but his love of fashion has not.

Michael finally grabs the porcelain teacup full of steaming earl grey tea. He raises the cup to his mouth to take an apprehensive sip. The steam rises as the cup touches his lips, washing over his face. The warmth of the steam feels soothing as it wraps around his face. Michael takes a breath. When he does, the tea’s aroma permeates into his nose. He exhales a long breath and inadvertently blows the steam away from the cup. Michael hovers the cup inches from his nose, allowing the calming aroma to fill him as his shoulders slump and his heartbeat slows. As Michael takes a deep and soothing breath, he realizes he did not thank his assistant for bringing his tea. Michael’s eyes opened wide, suddenly learning his mind was adrift.

Michael shakes his head to recalibrate. He knows his thoughts must be on tonight’s extensive interview with eccentric billionaire Kevin Stone. Finally, he peers up at the glass wall ahead of him. Behind the glass is the command area where his producers are. Michael says, Danny, I missed saying thank you to Karin for the tea. Do you mind letting her know? I appreciate it. Please?

Michael peers down to the anchor desk and deliberately closes his eyes to organize himself, but his mind begins to reflect on growing up in a small town in the south. Michael Green’s education is to have manners and be respectful to everyone. Nevertheless, his father would always say to him, treat the janitor the same as the C.E.O. He had carried that with him into every interview. You are continually going to treat everyone as an equal. Growing up in the south during the rise of the new confederacy as a young Black man was not without saying challenging, and he saw the struggle his father would endure. Getting work that would pay enough to support his family was a struggle due to the color of his skin.

The nightly news has always fascinated him. When Michael was a young boy, he would sneak into the living room when everyone in the house was asleep. He had secretly placed a tape into the VCR to record the nightly news. The anchors’ opening was consistent and iconic. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We are B.N.N., the anchor would say. Then, pausing to allow the letters to sink into the viewer. Even at an early age, those words resonated with him. When he sat behind that desk years later, he would say those words the same way Michael heard them when he was a youth, seeking to mimic those anchors’ cadences and tones.

Michael would continue to work hard towards his goal, starting in high school and running the newspaper. He would also make the school announcements. Michael knew that each day was another day to practice and hone his abilities to someday be a part of the foundation he would take with Syracuse University.

Danny Michael’s producer breaks him out of his thoughts about his youth as he says into his earpiece from the production room. Michael, I’m sure she knows. You are busy. I bet she did not think you meant not to thank her. How is your preparation coming? It looked like you zoned out there for a minute. Michael flashes his eyes to the production room with displeasure as Danny continues, We are about to go live in five minutes. Do you have everything you need? Michael nods, then glances to where Danny is with a cheeky smile, Yes, I think I have everything I need... Thank you, Danny.

Michael pears up to the robotic self-propelled camera floating in front of him. His makeup man Duke comes in from the shadows to touch up his makeup, dabbing tiny amounts of sweat on his forehead with a cotton pad. The perspiration must have developed from the heat and steam from his tea.

The lights in the studio are hot, but Michael does not ever seem to think about them. His very formal upper half contrasted with his lower half of yoga shorts. Michael’s eyes shift to see Duke in his peripheral. Thank you, Duke. You look nice today, Michael’s lip curls as he whispers with a slightly flirty tone. Michael transitions into his nightly vocal exercises, trying to regain his composure as his heart begins to race. Danny’s voice comes into his earpiece. Michael, we are getting the feed from Mr. Stone’s side. Would you like to chat with him before we start, or do you want to go in without it? Not glancing up, Michael responds, Yea, we can do quick catchup. Thanks, Danny. Let me know when the line is open. Danny quickly replies, you got it.

A static sound comes in through his earpiece, then the familiar voice of Kevin Stone says with a slight intitled tone of irreverence, Hey Mikey, you there? Michael rolls his eyes as he says, matching Kevin’s attitude, Hello, Kevin... It’s nice to talk to you again. Michael takes a deep breath to steady himself. He knows he must show Kevin a modicum of favor if he wants him to relax and feel comfortable.

Underneath the floating camera, Michael can see the closed-circuit video feed. Michael has always thought Kevin is an attractive man. Kevin’s slightly reddish-brown beard is scattershot with grey. His stark white wavy hair looks weathered on a forty-year-old man. Thin wire-framed glasses adorning his face look new. His dark green eyes appear muted by the lenses of his glasses. Michael has known Kevin for years, and over those years of interviewing him and crossing paths at dinner parties, he has never seen him wear glasses before.

Michael notices Kevin’s eyes. Kevin’s eyes are staring off into the middle distance. They do not seem to be looking at the camera or the monitor. Michael squints to get a better look at Kevin. He feels that Kevin’s eyes are staring beyond the camera as if he sees something. Kevin turns to look away from the camera. Michael notices a blue light in the corner of the right lens. Can you see me, Mikey? Kevin asked, yes, Kevin, I can see you... Michael looks into the camera, Also, please call me Michael. I don’t go by Mike. I haven’t since I was in high school. Kevin snorts, you got it, buddy. Kevin looks down at something off-camera. As he does, Michael leans towards the monitor. Michael can now see the inside of Kevin’s inside lens. On the lens, Michael can see words. Michael sits back in his seat as he softly says, cheeky, bastard. Kevin looks up, did you say something? Michael holds his left hand up, no, sorry.

Michael has interviewed Kevin multiple times over the last eight years. Each time the interview has been with B.N.N., Michael has asked him not to call him Mike before every interview.

Michael knows Kevin’s compulsion to control the room, making himself the dominant figure, oozes like sweat from a fat man in a sauna. Michael has consistently admired Kevin’s genius, motivation, and drive for a better world, but sometimes it comes at a cost. Kevin’s decorum with the people he meets is to be desired.

How are you doing? Kevin, how are your lovely wife, Cathy, and your son Jameson and your daughter Kim? Michael asks casually, as a reflex, but only partially listening for the response as he takes a long sip of his earl grey tea. Kevin is fiddling with his hair running his hands through it as he inspects himself in the camera feed. Their marvelous Jameson just started High School; Kim is starting to date... unfortunately! It is my worst nightmare, you know. Cathy is great. Her nonprofit is doing good things with homeless kids; her organization has joined forces with a food bank in Harlem. They are doing some excellent work there... Kevin pauses a few seconds later. He realizes he forgot something and blurts out, Oh, before I forget, her organization is also donating Stein Padds to schools. Kevin raises his eyebrows, well, refurbished Stein Padds, Michael looks up to the camera to give Kevin his full attention as he gushes about what matters to him the most Stein Tech.

Family means everything to Michael. Even though he has never married or had his own kids. Michael is constantly elated to see happy parents talk about their families. I hope you don’t give the guy too much of a hard time. He sarcastically says, then continues, Would you like some time to talk about Cathy’s nonprofit? It would be nice to give them the spotlight. If you would like to. Michael says, interested. Kevin begins playing with his dress shirt’s collar. A golden object pinned to Kevin’s dress shirt’s collar reflects the studio lights, making it hard for Michael to see what it is. Kevin opens the collar slightly to show short curly chest hair. Then, not removing his eyes from his image on the monitor in front of him, he says, uninterested, No, that is okay, let us just keep this to Stein Technologies business. Next time.

Danny’s voice comes into Michael’s earpiece, thirty seconds tell your live Michael reaches to grab the teacup to have one last sip of his earl grey before showtime. Duke comes back over to dab his forehead one last time before the show adding a little foundation to his forehead with a makeup brush to help him not appear shiny on camera. The wafting smell of an alluring body spray is coming from Duke, penetrating Michael’s nose. Michael has always hated that smell but is growing to love it. Duke lightly slides his hand across Michael’s back from shoulder blade to shoulder blade allowing no one to be the wiser before leaving. Neither man turn to look in each other’s direction, but Michael can see him pass in his peripheral. Danny exclaims into Michael’s earpiece. Five... four... three... two... one, you’re on Michael,

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is B.N.N... pausing just a second before continuing, I am Michael Green coming to you live from our New York headquarters. Our top story is the incursion of joint military forces into North Korea. Japan’s military joined South Korea and quickly moved toward the North Korean capital Pyongyang. Our military forces are giving support with the Navy and Air Force flying missions that have helped the ground forces move quickly towards the capital. Michael says with a deeper, commanding tone stronger than his familiar voice, and his timbre is steady and comforting. The monitor shows a split-screen of him and a video of a warehouse building in black and white the image is coming from an unmanned military drone called the scorpion. The footage suddenly illuminates with a white cloud covering the black portion of the picture, washing out the image.

Finally, the image returns to black and white. The warehouse has vanished in the middle of the screen, just leaving a sizeable smoldering crater. Tomorrow, General Carter will join us to discuss the White House’s approach to the liberation of North Korea. We will also discuss what steps will be in place to help North Korea into a democracy. Also, why he believes China is abstaining from this fight for now. Michael pauses a brief second before continuing, After the break, I will speak with the founder and CEO of Stein Technologies, Kevin Stone! We will be talking about the new revolutionary Stein Tech. tower in midtown Manhattan.

Your clear, Michael! Three minutes tell we are back, Danny says. Michael pushes back from the desk just as Karin arrives with a fresh hot water kettle and replenishes his cup. Michael looks at Karin and says, Thank you, Karin, as she turns away, she gives him a slight smile, not a problem, Mister Green. Do you need anything else? Michael purses his lips as he shakes his head, then grabs his tea and holds it in both hands. The warmth penetrates the cup to his hands as he takes a moment for himself.

Michael looks up to the closed-circuit feed in front of him. Kevin looks to be playing with his custom gold Stein Padd. He is scrolling up and down. Michael thinks Kevin must be checking in on the statistics that the Stein tower has performed since it opened a month ago. This project was his life’s achievement when. Kevin lost his sister when he was a teen. Kevin always wanted a safe world and believed technology would keep us safe and comfortable.

Kevin, are you ready? Michael says as he readies himself behind his desk, taking a quick sip of his Earl Grey tea and then placing it gently back onto the saucer beyond the tape line. Kevin lowers his Stein Padd placing it on his lap, yep, ready, Mikey. Michael sighs low, then sits tall with a slight tug on his blazer to flatten it. In his ear, Danny begins to count him in. Welcome back to B.N.N. Tonight, we are joined by the C.E.O. and founder of Stein Technologies, Kevin Stone. Welcome, Kevin... We here at B.N.N are glad to have you back on the program. I just wanted to say that the new Stein tower looks amazing. What was the driving force behind this new technological wonder? The televised video switches to a two-shot showing the two men side by side. Thank you, Mikey. I am happy to be back with you. My family and I watch your show every night. We love it. Kevin says sardonically.

Michael takes a deep breath and then lowers his head to look down at the digital desktop swiping through the digital papers, but he only does this to compose himself. Why do I have to continue asking him not to call me that? Michael softly mutters to himself without moving his lips. He takes a deep breath before he looks back at the camera. Stein tower is now the tallest building in the world. The building stands at a massive six-hundred and nine meters tall. The lower half has one hundred sophisticated floors dedicated to Stein technologies research and development. The upper section consists of ninety residential floors packed with artificial intelligence. Michael pauses to allow the audience to see the images from a levitation chopper, commonly known as a lev-chopper, which circles the glistening building. The tower was created with the newest building technologies. Kevin boasts.

Michael nods, Can you please expand on the building technologies you used and its Artificial Intelligence? Please tell us more about that and where did the idea come from? Did you watch too much Sci-fi television growing up? Michael asks with a contemptuous tone. Kevin looks directly into the camera and then adjusts his glasses before giving a warm smile with a light chuckle to Michael’s quip, Yes, actually. I would watch Into the Hinterlands growing up with my younger sister. Forty years ago, Matt Mirra and Andrew Secunda created such an inventive and captivating show. Kevin awkwardly adjusts in his seat, When we were younger, my father would drive my sister and me to conventions. I was fortunate to meet Mr. Mirra and Mr. Secunda. They were so influential in my creative life. Hinterlands has been immeasurable to us. sS much that our first Stein Padd we produced was based on the show’s datapad.

Kevin takes a sip from a ceramic mug articulated in gold. Michael chimes in, We did a retrospective last year on their fortieth anniversary. Unfortunately, we lost Andrew Secunda ten years ago. Luckily, I interviewed him before passing, but that was at my previous job. Kevin interjects, yes, we lost Mister Secunda to the strangest circumstances. How did he pass again? Michael cuts in sharply, A freak pecan pie incident. Kevin casually nods his head in acceptance, then says, yes, that’s right. That was regrettable. He did love food, though. Happily, we still have Matt Mirra with us. Michael bobs his head, I also grew up on the show. Sadly, the continuation shows never really lived up to the original series. Kevin nodded in agreement before continuing, yes, I agree the original show was superior. Alas, we only got four seasons with the original crew. Michael abruptly interjects, fortuitously, we were rewarded with five movies.

Kevin nods in agreement before continuing, Regarding your original question, we have been developing A.I. for a few years. Most of the A.I. has been in our cars, Padds, phones, and the previous research and design building. Kevin holds his golden Stein Padd before resuming, We also developed a new carbon fiber, concrete, and steel compound. We are calling it Car-Crete-el. Mini bots we developed to distribute the compound to build all the columns and floor plates. With this technology, we could build the tower as tall as we wanted in a quarter of the time versus the traditional method.

Kevin pauses, then drinks from his porcelain cup as the video cuts from Kevin to Stein tower. The screen shows a video of a small robot one meter by one meter on a column’s precipice as it quickly builds upwards. Kevin licks his lips and gives a slight cough to clear the lump in his throat before saying, The idea for a smart home came when we lost my sister when I was young. My sister was sleeping in her room on the second floor of our house when a fire broke out. Unfortunately, we were unable to save her. Once I was outside and realized she was not with us, I attempted to return to our house. Kevin pauses as he lightly clears a lump in his throat, Once I got inside, the corridor leading to my sister’s bedroom had been engulfed in flames. It’s something I struggle with even to this day. Kevin’s eyes sink as he pauses to collect himself.

Kevin tries to collect himself but quickly reminisces about his sister’s death. She was only six years old. Kevin’s sister meant the world to him. She would follow him everywhere he would go. She was his little shadow. Kevin’s family was not wealthy. He grew up in a small manufacturing town in the northern part of Illinois, a couple of kilometers from the border of Wisconsin. His father worked at a manufacturing plant. He worked on the assembly line building VCRs. Kevin’s father was never the most technical person, but he passed down what he had learned working on the assembly line. As a kid, Kevin would take apart any electrical equipment in the house, including the VCR, just to see how it worked. Kevin was always interested in technology. Even though his family could never afford things, most families in his neighborhood could like computers. The family T.V. was a hand-me-down from his uncle. Kevin never held their family’s station against his father. He always wanted to be better.

On the contrary, his parents always tried to do their best. His father was a heavy smoker, worked long hours, and sometimes fell asleep in his brown nylon chair next to the television. The only thing Kevin carried against his father was the night Kevin lost his sister. So, after the literal dust settled and he could lay his sister to rest, Kevin left home and faked his age to join the Air Force.

Kevin was piloting an F-15 fighter over the Mediterranean Sea four years later. The familiar voice of Lt. Commander Breen crackles over his helmet’s radio. Stein, the Chrysler Building in Manhattan, was hit by a passenger plane. We are still checking the situation. You might want to come back to base. After serving another four years, he left and applied to M.I.T., graduating Summa Cum Lauda. Working at Honeycrisp Technologies, Kevin developed various products. He met his wife Cathy, and five years later, they formed their own technology company, which has become Stein Technology, now the world’s largest tech company.

Kevin exhales, bringing him back to the interview with Michael, As our world has evolved, and technology has gotten smaller, smarter. So why can’t we have a house to help us through our daily lives? The highlights incorporate cooking, cleaning, and monitoring each resident to keep us safe. The video on the monitor shows a white oval-shaped meter-tall robot with an animated face moving through one of the condominium units at Stein tower. The front of the A.I. robot vacuums as the robot’s back of the robot washes the hardwood floor as it moves through the living spaces. Kevin states, Each balcony has a green wall with the option of either vegetable plants or common plants depending on the homeowner’s choice. In addition, each unit’s windows have our new Stein solar panels on the East, South, and Westside that can provide enough electricity to minimize each residential unit to an electrical bill to zero during the summer.

Stein Technologies is changing the landscape of how we will live in the future. Kevin nods in agreement with Michael’s statement as Michael asks, How has the user’s experience been for the residence? Kevin sits back in his chair, why don’t you tell the viewers yourself. You did go on a private tour.

Michael nods as he says, When the tower opened three months ago, I was invited to tour the Stein tower. The video on the monitor transitions to Michael standing in a contemporary kitchen. Michaels crammed around the kitchen island with a throng of reporters to see how the kitchen could automatically cook the food.

Stein Tech appliances is a division of Stein Tech, and they have developed each appliance to rival any ultramodern appliance on the market. The guide exuberantly says, Each unit is provided with Stein Tech automated chief, but conventional kitchen appliances are also provided. If the resident chooses to cook for themselves, they will be cooking with the best appliances money can buy. The guide motions to the gas stovetop, But we in Stein Tower encourage the residence to ask Carrie, our artificial intelligence, to prepare the food for them.

Walking to the digital interface next to the oven, he taps on the display menu, the choices are arranged by meal types like breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. the guide taps on the lunch icon. The subcategories range from hot dishes to cold dishes. The guide presses on the cold icon. He taps on an icon of a sandwich, and he begins to scroll through the options. After a couple swipes, he turns to the group. Then points to Michael, what kind of cold sandwich would you like, Mister Green? Michael takes a breath through his nose as he contemplates the request. Michael says, tuna on rye light mayo... No onions.

Pressing on the icon for the requested sandwich, the guide turns around and says, while we wait for the sandwich, let me explain how the process works. Each unit comes initially fully stocked with all items listed on Carrie’s monitor. He jesters to the interface before continuing, then jesters to the floor, A food storage compartment is under each unit, and there is a noise barrier under the storage compartment to create an unpredicted quite livening experience for the occupant below. The guide stomps down on the hardwood floor and then jesters with his arms out wide, they cannot hear that.

The guide gives a toothy smile before continuing, once you place your order either with the interface or by asking Carrie. The computer gathers the designated menu items, then a robotic arm prepares them if needed. The computer knows each assembly and method due to our celebrity chef Lauren Cardone from the five-star restaurant Cardone. We were fortunate to help her compile specially catered menus for the residences. We also have programmed traditional menus. Like mister Greens choice.

The guide then presses on the menu and keys in options. When he finishes, he turns and says, now the team at Stein appliances has also developed a new way to eat with 3d printing. Vegetables are the primary source of nutrition. The 3d printer can form the food into any shape the resident desires. Our R&D team developed this for our upcoming shuttle mission to Titan, and the astronauts will be supplied with the 3d food printer to offer several types of food.

The woman standing next to Michael in a dark blue business suit raises her hand, trying to be polite, but she begins to ask her questions without being immediately recognized. Will the computer. I mean, Carrie. Before continuing, she corrects herself, will Carrie accommodate any outside menu items. Like, umm, my mother’s cookie recipe, or are we stuck with what’s already given in the system? The slightly robotic voice of Carrie comes before the guide can answer her question, Your sandwich is ready. The guide looks over his shoulder to the interface, Thank you, Carrie, you were fast. The tour guide says as he grabs the sandwich from the food delivery station next to the monitor and hands it to Michael. Here is your sandwich, mister Green. Let us all know how it is. The guide looks back to the woman, Regarding your question, Miss, you can program Carrie how you like if you have specific ingredients. Carrie will make it how you like it. Looking back to Michael, and says, how’s the sandwich, Mister Green? Michael places the plate onto the island, trying to finish chewing before speaking, swallows hard, and takes a beat. Yes, it’s quite good. Pretty impressive, I must say. Wish I ordered a ribeye instead. The group gives him a light chuckle.

The group continues the tour by walking around the two-bedroom unit, ducking into each room. The guide stops and jester to his Stein watch, The Stein watch will be provided to each resident to control all aspects of their living environment. The watch will replace the traditional key fob and allow access to their unit and communal areas. The guide lifts his left arm to show the Stein watch, projecting an image a millimeter above the band. On the projected image, icons spread across the 23-centimeter bright screen, the guide taps on the home icon, and then he hovers his finger over the light’s icon. Now watch the lights, he touches the icon, and the lights dim softly to set the mood. The traditional switches have been eliminated. Most of the nonessential items we traditionally have in our home have been eliminated and accessed through the Stein watch. The guide taps again on the icon, adjusting the lights to their standard setting. Let us move on to the Common areas. Let us head back to the elevators. The tour guide says as the group files for the door.

The video changes back to Michael peering into the monitor at the studio. As you saw in that video, the living accommodations are impressive. Kevin, can you please tell us how the residents enjoy living there? Kevin nods as he says, We have a ninety-nine percent satisfaction rate according to the survey taken last week of the residents. Most residents are delighted with the innovative kitchen! Some have even said it’s changed their life for good. Kevin lingers, letting his statement settle into the viewing audience before continuing. Kevin’s eyes meet the camera lens floating in front of him. A slight smile forms on his face before he says, Residents are saying they will not be able to return to a traditional kitchen or a traditional living unit. The floating video monitor in front of Michael reveals a split-screen of Kevin and a video montage of the residential section of the tower. Michael endures saying, this tower is a showcase. It will be the latest architectural landmark in the world.

Kevin nods, thank you, Mikey! Your opinion means a lot. Michael’s shoulders pull back, making him sit up straight as he says, I did want to talk about the overpopulation of the city, the country, and the world, frankly. Manhattan has passed its population limits, and we have makeshift diasporic residential blocks on all the bridges around Manhattan. Kevin, why did you bring this new building to Manhattan? Why not continue to develop your compound and manufacturing infrastructure in Iowa City?

Kevin takes a deep breath, yes, all of our manufacturing and our main campus is in Iowa City, but as a company, we have always had a presence in Manhattan, and I wanted to keep our place here. Kevin pauses to collect himself, Regarding overpopulation of metropolitan cities, we at Stein Tech. are hopeful our innovative building technologies can transform the current infrastructure. Having taller buildings will allow for more people to have a pleasant place to live versus the container units on the bridges. Michael nods, so, you’re saying you want to redevelop the overpopulated cities around the world? Kevin nods, yes, that is our goal. 

I was extremely impressed when you invited me to tour the resident’s portion of the tower. But I was hoping to see the tower’s research section. Michael casually raises his hands before continuing, unfortunately, we never got to see it. Why couldn’t we see the R&D portion of the tower, Kevin? Kevin pauses as he leans towards the camera, resting his forearms on the desk and clasping his hands together, Stein Technologies has always been primarily a technology company, and the company has created technology big and small incorporated in most households, on average own eight Stein Tech. Products. Sources have informed me that there may be more inside that tower than you want to reveal to the public.

Kevin rearranges himself in the chair, visibly slightly uncomfortable Mikey, we are here to discuss the revolutionary residential tower. Not the conspiracy theories floating out there, and we have previously responded to them. If you want to discuss this, I will point you to our most recent press release. Kevin is more visibly uncomfortable, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

Swiping up on his desk Michael sends a document to the televised presentation, Yes, Kevin, we have your company’s response here. I just put it on the screen for the audience to see. Michael tries to continue the interview. I understand your hesitation and want to keep what you may be working on close to the chest, but a prominent scientist Dr. Rodger White has gone missing, and his wife has blamed Stein Technologies for that. According to Dr. White’s wife. She believes something has gone wrong in his lab, which is in the new tower. We have reached out to your company and Dr. Calvin Cooper, Dr. White’s co-lead in the virology division. Unfortunately, we have had no response. Would you like to comment?

Kevin looks directly into the camera, takes a deep breath, and then lowers his head. When he raises it, the look on his face is of disappointment. He then looks right into the camera and says, You know Mikey, I thought we could have a civil conversation about how Stein Technologies is trying to change our world. We are trying to reimagine our future. He grabs his glasses, removing them from his face. He continues with a combative tone. All you seem to want to discuss is a crazy conspiracy theory with no merit. As for Ms. White, she has been in an assisted living community due to early-onset dementia. Grabbing the microphone from his dress shirt puts it to his mouth, You know Mikey, I thought you were a legitimate journalist now. I thought you moved past your career’s trashy Hollywood gossip phase. Michael casts the microphone aside, stands up, and exits.

Back to a single shot of Michael, it appears that ends our interview with Mr. Stone. The Stein tower is an architectural wonder and will change the landscape of how we will live in the future. Pausing and turning to the second camera angle, adjusting his tone, he continues, regarding the allegations that Stein Technologies Scientist Dr. White has gone missing. His wife believes the company may be involved in his disappearance. We believe Ms. White’s theory carries merit. We at B.N.N. have continued to reach out to Dr. White’s office. Then at Dr. White’s home over the past few weeks. Michael stares into the camera with purpose, Juan, my show producer, has been met with a stonewalled response at each location. Kevin, your public relations people, have informed us that Dr. White’s occupied with his research and unable to talk regarding his wife, Cynthia. Yes, Mr. White’s wife is in an assisted living community, but our sources inside the community tell us Dr. White would visit his wife every Friday from noon until dinner, around six hours. Michael pauses briefly before continuing.

"We also researched Dr. White’s previous work history and found he was the lead scientist at Alpha Pharma as a Virologist. For those views which may not know, A virologist studies and develops viruses, and he left Alpha and joined Stein Tech shortly after that. The question now is why a technology company employs a virologist. The company has always been primarily technology-based, so why are they studying viruses.

When we come back, we will discuss the world’s overpopulation and the country’s lack of adequate living conditions, our expert Simon Kingsman. We will also discuss President Brenton’s crackdown on organized crime in Manhattan and its meaning for the city’s future.

The red light turns off at the top of the floating camera, implying that the telecast has gone to a commercial break. Michael hears Danny through his earpiece, we are clear... Excellent job! That weasel is a slippery one. Michael reaches for his cup of tea. He feels his Stein watch vibrate. Michael places the cup of tea back onto the saucer and then lifts his left arm to look at his smartwatch. Michael notices the pulse on his wrist and realizes it is an incoming message. He taps on the message icon, and it is from Kevin. He taps on the icon of Kevin’s face to show the text message, and it only reads, piss off, Mikey Michael reaches back for his cup of tea, places it on his lips, snickers, then takes a long sip of his tea, lowers it slightly then smiles.

CHAPTER TWO:

The reflection pool at Stein Tower is always bustling with Stein Tech. Employees move throughout their day, even during the frigid winter months. The native trees wrapping the pool’s perimeter are skeletons of their summer selves, casting spacious shadows onto the light grey granite floor tiles. Pidgins are flying into the tree limbs from an adjacent building. The area is lively this Tuesday afternoon. The intensity of foot traffic moves seamlessly around the pool like ants scurrying through a picnic. Small crowds congregate, enjoying their lunch and chatting about their day or lives. The mild December day is an aberration that will inevitably last only a meager hours before the snow and wind move through the city.

Dr. Calvin Cooper is sitting on the edge of the stone-lined reflecting pool. His tan khakis pulled up, showing his wool grey socks. Calvin’s salt and pepper beard has become unkempt. His dark black mustache has been there since his wedding day so many years ago, but it is starting to itch today. Four weeks ago, his colleague’s disappearance triggered the decision to grow out a beard. Growing it to remind him of his colleague’s disappearance, not that he needed an external reason to be concerned for his colleague. The decision not to shave was a symbolic act. His smooth bald head is beginning to cool under the winter sun. He grabs his frayed, sun-bleached Redtails baseball cap out of his worn brown messenger bag and puts it on his head.

Calvin reaches back into his worn brown leather messenger bag and pulls out a paper bag. Calvin places his hand in the bag pulling out a plastic bag with a homemade cheese sandwich on whole-wheat bread. Calvin takes the cheese sandwich out of the plastic bag placing the sandwich down on top of the plastic bag. Calvin dives his hand into the brown bag pulling out a small white pouch. Inside the white bag is about ten pieces of thirty centimeters-long black licorice. He removes two pieces and places them into his mouth. Calvin casually removes the unwanted crust from his cheese sandwich. Once Calvin discards all the crust from the sandwich, he sets the discarded crust back into the plastic bag. As he does, he hears a loud duck honk.

Calvin stops and grabs one long continuation of crust. He removes a small piece from the crust string and rolls it between his thumb and pointer fingers. The duck has stopped honking as it approaches. The duck is now about a meter and a half away from Calvin, knowing it has alerted him and accomplished its desire. Calvin tosses the crust towards the lone mallard duck as it waddles before him, here you go, girl, he says playfully. The duck waddles towards the bread sitting on the frozen pool. The duck begins to gently peck at it, at first curious, then with a swiftness, she grabs it with its beak and quickly swallows it arching its head back. She looks up to Calvin to see if she will get another. Then, realizing that it will be her only treat for the day from him, she alters her path and heads towards a group of girls chatting on the edge of the pool.

Calvin takes a bite of his cheese sandwich and stares at the sky, adjusting his cap slightly. The granite is marginally colder than he hoped, and he knows the ice is not great on his fifty-year body. The granite floor slabs are cool to the touch from the winter’s day, and the cold instantly pierces through his alternative duck-down vest and a button-down shirt to his back and into his bones.

Calvin reaches his hand up and outlines the contours of the cumulus clouds with his finger. The low bright sunlight makes it hard for him to see the sky at first. The white light is blinding, causing him to squint until his eyes adjust. Then, the sky’s light grey-blue slowly becomes focused, and he can begin to make out the shapes of clouds. They are slow-moving through the sky towards the massive Stein tower. The cylindrical-shaped Stein tower splits them as they contact the gigantic building.

Calvin takes another bite from his cheese sandwich and then a swig from his cobalt blue Stein Tech water bottle. Calvin has been eating cheese sandwiches for every lunch since he was a young boy. Growing up in a small two-bedroom apartment in Harlem, his family did not have a lavish life, but they did their best with what they had. Calvin took on a part-time job on the weekends to help his family. He took a job at a local lumber yard, a twenty-minute bike ride, remedial cleaning, and helped stock the shelves. Calvin would eat a cheese sandwich hiding behind the plywood bleachers to have privacy to read his science book each lunch break. He always wanted to be ahead of the weekly lessons, fully prepared to answer all the teacher’s questions.

Calvin had always wanted to give back to his parents; he could see how hard they worked and sacrificed for him and his older brothers and baby sisters. So, he decided to give his parents the bulk of his money, keeping enough to go to the corner market to only get the essentials: wonder bread and Kraft cheese slices. His mother would make him the sandwich and send him to school with it for lunch. So, he continued the tradition. Since his wife died three years ago, his son George will make it for him every morning before leaving for work.

Calvin’s face scrunches as he becomes annoyed. He turns his head back to the sky. A shadow begins to creep into his periphery as it crosses over his face to his right. Calvin turns his head in the direction of the shadow, and he can see a backlight figure standing one-hundred and sixty centimeters tall.

A slim woman stands next to him. His eyes begin to slowly adjust to the midday sun. Once his eyes acclimate, Calvin recognizes his colleague Dr. Jessica Carmichael. Calvin takes another bite of his sandwich instead of acknowledging her presence. Chewing, he does not bother to wait to say, you know you’re blocking my sun, Jess! wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and cleaning off any crumbs from his bite before continuing, how may I help you? his mood is slightly annoyed.

Dr. Cooper, they found Dr. White. Calvin, they found Rodger! Jessica says as she tries to bend down to Calvin’s level. Her light grey pencil skirt restricts her mobility, but she powers through the constricting skirt to lower herself to get closer to Calvin. Calvin shoots up to a seated position. The change in her height now allows sunlight to cast back onto him. She places her hand on Calvin’s shoulder to steady herself. Calvin says, Thank you, Jessica! Jessica smiles, I’m sorry to bother you during your lunch Dr. Cooper, but we thought you would like to know immediately. Calvin nods, Now, where is he?

Jessica is a bright scientist that has worked for Calvin and Rodger since 2010. Ever since he recruited her from California Berkley. He met her at Berkley, where he and Rodger lectured on infectious viruses. After the speech, she approached them with interest in