I was a twenty year-old drowning in the deep end.
***
The inside of the mansion looked like a time vortex had hit. The main hall had suits of armor on one side and Scientists in white lab coats on the other. Lots of delicate looking visages hung on the walls, painted by Da Vinci in my opinion. They sat right next to a giant LCD television screen that was showing CNN. A butler in full regalia, white gloves and all, greeted us at the door. He took our bags and directed us through a stained mahogany door.
“Now it starts getting interesting,” said Cole, nudging me with his elbow, “You're gonna like this.”
In the corner of the room, across a very miserable looking lion skin rug was an elevator.
“Time for a surprise,” said Cole as he swiped a card and entered.
I had already decided, as I got into the elevator, that I wasn't going to be surprised. It was pretty obvious what was under here. I would get a surprise if it was Chuck Norris having a tea party with the Seven Dwarfs. That’s a plot twist worthy of enshrinement.
The doors slid open and I was mildly surprised. We stood on a balcony overlooking what looked like the pentagon's main floor. Flashing screens and serious old men and women with determination and healthy work ethic painted on their well-groomed faces filled the room. They looked like ants scurrying about, following the hive mind's orders.
“This,” said Cole, “Gesturing out across the expanse, “Is CANA Research Center A21. This is where the really groundbreaking stuff happens.”
I didn't respond, being too engrossed with the display. I thought I detected a hint of sarcasm in Cole's words. He was smiling without his eyes, like most people I had met lately, and gripping the rail that prevented us from falling and squishing the ants below.
“Why is it hidden?” I asked finally.
“They all are, well all the interesting ones are; the technological secrets hidden in this place make the facilities very tempting targets. That is why most of CANA’s operations are housed covertly. We do not support specific countries, superpowers, or agencies. We support humanity.”
“So what are they all doing?” I asked, gesturing to the crowd of milling people.
Cole laughed. “I still don't know the half of it. They are doing what Sasha wants.”
“How?” I asked, “Where’s all the money coming from? You said that there are more of these? They are miniature cities.”
“The twelve investors,” said Cole, “They form the CANA Board. You saw them. They're more wealthy than the Queen, with corporate empires spanning the globe.” Cole turned and started descending a flight of stairs. “Wealthy men are often the most afraid of death. That's how Sasha hooked them. He promised them immortality. There are others but those are the main ones. Sasha despises them all. He's scared they'll try monopolizing it. Turn it into a business venture. The truth is,” Cole paused and leant in close, “Sasha has become their prisoner. He needs them but they are all petty, selfish men and women who do not share his dream. This is meant to be a gift to all humanity, not just a select few.”
Money always complicates the best of intentions.
“Why are you telling me all this?” I asked, “Isn’t it private.”
“Because you need to know,” Cole replied simply, “Now come with me. I’ll show you where the Synthetic’s optics are calibrated. I started out in optics.”
I followed Cole down the stairs into the swelling morass of bodies and spent the rest of the day taking a guided tour. They all spoke in gibberish to me though. I only understood a fraction of it.
***
That night I sat at my laptop in a posh little bedroom in the chateau, wondering how they got all the equipment down to the underground lab space. There must be another exit, perhaps on the other side of the hills. I would have to look for it sometime. I was trying to think of something really romantic to send Kate in an
***
The inside of the mansion looked like a time vortex had hit. The main hall had suits of armor on one side and Scientists in white lab coats on the other. Lots of delicate looking visages hung on the walls, painted by Da Vinci in my opinion. They sat right next to a giant LCD television screen that was showing CNN. A butler in full regalia, white gloves and all, greeted us at the door. He took our bags and directed us through a stained mahogany door.
“Now it starts getting interesting,” said Cole, nudging me with his elbow, “You're gonna like this.”
In the corner of the room, across a very miserable looking lion skin rug was an elevator.
“Time for a surprise,” said Cole as he swiped a card and entered.
I had already decided, as I got into the elevator, that I wasn't going to be surprised. It was pretty obvious what was under here. I would get a surprise if it was Chuck Norris having a tea party with the Seven Dwarfs. That’s a plot twist worthy of enshrinement.
The doors slid open and I was mildly surprised. We stood on a balcony overlooking what looked like the pentagon's main floor. Flashing screens and serious old men and women with determination and healthy work ethic painted on their well-groomed faces filled the room. They looked like ants scurrying about, following the hive mind's orders.
“This,” said Cole, “Gesturing out across the expanse, “Is CANA Research Center A21. This is where the really groundbreaking stuff happens.”
I didn't respond, being too engrossed with the display. I thought I detected a hint of sarcasm in Cole's words. He was smiling without his eyes, like most people I had met lately, and gripping the rail that prevented us from falling and squishing the ants below.
“Why is it hidden?” I asked finally.
“They all are, well all the interesting ones are; the technological secrets hidden in this place make the facilities very tempting targets. That is why most of CANA’s operations are housed covertly. We do not support specific countries, superpowers, or agencies. We support humanity.”
“So what are they all doing?” I asked, gesturing to the crowd of milling people.
Cole laughed. “I still don't know the half of it. They are doing what Sasha wants.”
“How?” I asked, “Where’s all the money coming from? You said that there are more of these? They are miniature cities.”
“The twelve investors,” said Cole, “They form the CANA Board. You saw them. They're more wealthy than the Queen, with corporate empires spanning the globe.” Cole turned and started descending a flight of stairs. “Wealthy men are often the most afraid of death. That's how Sasha hooked them. He promised them immortality. There are others but those are the main ones. Sasha despises them all. He's scared they'll try monopolizing it. Turn it into a business venture. The truth is,” Cole paused and leant in close, “Sasha has become their prisoner. He needs them but they are all petty, selfish men and women who do not share his dream. This is meant to be a gift to all humanity, not just a select few.”
Money always complicates the best of intentions.
“Why are you telling me all this?” I asked, “Isn’t it private.”
“Because you need to know,” Cole replied simply, “Now come with me. I’ll show you where the Synthetic’s optics are calibrated. I started out in optics.”
I followed Cole down the stairs into the swelling morass of bodies and spent the rest of the day taking a guided tour. They all spoke in gibberish to me though. I only understood a fraction of it.
***
That night I sat at my laptop in a posh little bedroom in the chateau, wondering how they got all the equipment down to the underground lab space. There must be another exit, perhaps on the other side of the hills. I would have to look for it sometime. I was trying to think of something really romantic to send Kate in an
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