When Chan entered his office, he wasn’t surprised there was someone sitting in his chair and looking over his paperwork. He had become use to the usual military harassment and ‘casual’ visits. The man sitting in the chair was slightly older, well groomed and wore a suit that many couldn’t afford in their lifetimes. Not even Yong had such a suit, not anymore, that is. All of his clothes were left behind on Earth during the pandemic. He could admire it though; a silken-striped grey, pressed to perfection and even the gold coloured tie made it stand out.
“Good morning…” The man smiled. It was a pleasantry grin, nothing of sincerity behind it, but the man continued to flip through the pages, “I was just reviewing your work. You haven’t updated the progress in a while, so, just thought I’d pay you a visit.”
Chan started to remember this particular official of the new Lunar China government. He had been with several inspectors before, touring the facilities and even accompanied the military generals during their usual drop-in. Chairman Jin Xi Mao, the official overseer of this new moon state, had always eyed him with great scrutiny.
“It’s not ready yet.” Chan stated.
“So I can see.” Chairman Mao nodded. “It is taking a long time, too long for our liking. Results are needed if we are going to continue.”
“The vaccine is ready for a second trial…”
“I’m not talking about that.” Mao scowled at him. “Where is the next phase of the virus? The mutation to eliminate all others accept our own people? That one is what I want.”
Chan said nothing. He simply stared at the floor. What could he tell him? The research and development of that very thing was causing him nightmares? That he wanted to space the virus completely and never see the likes of it again? No, he didn’t have the boldness to voice that to such a powerful man. The fact that they brought it here, endangering the very last remains of humanity, was abhorrent to Yong.
“Chan Li Yong!” The man yelled. His fist banging down onto the desk causing a slight echo in the room. “You are the rising star of this new regime! You gave us the perfect weapon against our enemies and now you drag your feet on the next one? Explain yourself!”
“It…” Yong grimaced and tried to choose his words carefully. “It’s a matter of separating the genome, to target others and not our own. It takes time, Chairman. And most of all, it is fragile. The virus needs to remain resilient or else it could be…”
“Excuses!” Mao shouted again. “All I ever here are these pitiful excuses!” He stood up and approached Chan slowly. His face bore a deep dissatisfaction and eyed the lead scientist down. “You have been given the same amount of time as before. You managed to cultivate that one rather rapidly, but this…”
“Exactly…” Yong gazed back at him. “We rushed the other too fast. It mutated and spread to everyone and everything it could. Now all that’s left of our people is here, on this moon, in orbit of a dead planet.” Mao’s brow unfurled and gave a sigh of agreement. Yong continued, “Why do we want to create another like it? Earth is gone, our enemies are gone… there are no more worlds to conquer.”
Chairman Mao scoffed at Chan’s use of a Shakespearian quote, and withdrew from his close stance. It seems physical distancing didn’t apply to him, otherwise he would have stayed near the desk. Mao rubbed his chin in thought and looked back infrequently at Yong still giving a questionable gaze. The Chairman clicked his tongue and smirked.
“You could be right. However, there are still survivors orbiting the planet, and the Americans have a base on the moon as well. I’m sure you are very aware of this.” Yong nodded slightly. Unlike many among Lunar China, he knew of the truth that a few space-fairing nations had managed to save most of their people as well. A limited number perhaps, but enough. Mao sat back down behind his desk and slowly opened a draw on the right. “The threat of retaliation is still a possibility, they want to meet with us and discuss a possible cure for the virus. But, we know this is just a lie. They want us to be vendable so they can strike and bring us to our knees.” Mao pulled out a small red box from his desk and held it up to show him. “What exactly is this?”
“A box” Yong truthfully stated.
“Yes, but, what’s in it? There’s no opening? What’s contained inside of it?”
“My wife’s ring,” Chan sombrely said. “And my daughter’s photo, that’s all I had of them when I left. I keep it sealed so it doesn’t get lost. It might even have the virus on it, so it’s just for protection.”
“Ah,” Mao nodded. He still eyed the red box with some scrutiny, but then placed it back into his desk and closed the drawer. “Your wife was lovely. I never knew your child. It must have been hard for you to leave them all alone in Canada. Perhaps it was unwise of you to send them there.”
“It was her choice, not mine.” He stated.
“Of course…” Mao sighed, tenting his fingers together as he stared at Yong. He remained that way for a few moments, the silence deafening the room, then he stood up and walked by Chan. He stopped by his side and patted his shoulder. “Focus on the work, and bury the past my friend. Get that virus going, or else…” Chan sharply turned his head at that implied threat and waited to hear him finish it. Mao simply smiled and changed the subject. “You could use a new suit, I’ll see about getting you something similar. We need to impress the women if we’re to be fruitful and multiply, yes?”
A few more passive pats to Chan’s shoulder and the Chairman stepped out of the room. Chen gave a slow breath of relief once he had and walked over to his desk. He sat down and grabbed the red box carefully. Looking at it, he started to well up with tears, and brought it closer.
“I will find you, both of you,” He held it to his chest and slowly sobbed. “You are alive, I know you are… you have to be…”
* * *
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Later, on the laboratory floor, Chan watched as the factory personnel used the robotic limbs and devices to create thousands upon thousands of vaccine nodules. The workstations were enclosed in Plexiglas and spaced out evenly to ensure safe distancing from each other. Chen wore a full bio suit, clear face shield and filtering breather as he roamed down the marked pathway between. The vaccine was for all of them, not any other nation that had survived. Yet, it seemed a tad wasteful since there was only a limited amount living on this moon nation they created.
While this vaccine was nearly meant as a preventative measure, the second one they were created was to be a cure for those that might have the virus locked away inside of them. It would target the virus and systematically destroy it. Oner time, it would be eliminated and the immune system able to ward off any other strains of it. It was a shame he wouldn’t be allowed to give this to any other nation. China, or at least Lunar China City, was destined to become the only survivor of the human race.
The workers acknowledged him with a slight bow as he passed by and showed him their progress charts when he asked. For the most part, they looked content being there, they all felt a pride working for someone like him. “The rising star…” Chan thought with distain. “I am the rising star of death, yet they love me like Jesus. I hate it.”
From behind, someone tapped on his shoulder causing Chan to flinch. He saw a man waving at him and similarly dressed in protective gear.
“How goes it?” Nathan spoke through the cumbersome filter mask. “How was the tea? Good right?”
“Nathan, what do you want, I’m busy…”
“Just wondered why you didn’t come see me like I asked.” The Canadian scientist followed Chan as he continued to walk about the factory lab floor. “I wanted to show you something.”
“If it is another one of your lame movies to lend me… no thanks. I think I’ve had enough of your surprise porno titles. Hard to believe you had so many with you in the big rush up here.”
“Hey, man’s got to have a hobby, eh?”
Chan shook his head at his response. Nathan was the only white man living among so many asians. It must be very hard to be living among so many devoted to a “Chinese Only” mentality. Dating for him would be next to impossible. Although he suspects there are some shady businesses in this moon city that might cater to his needs. Prostitution it seems, will always be available no matter what disaster or change in location might occur.
“Come on, dude.” Nathan pushed on him slightly. “Come to my office, I think you’re going to like what I’ve got.”
“I’m afraid to ask what it is.” Chan sighed, rolling his eyes.
Nathan leaned in closer to his covered ear and whispered (as best he could in such a noisy environment), “I think I might have a way to contact your wife and daughter…”
That made Chan spin around and look at the man with surprise. He studied Nathans face to see if he was joking. But, despite all the gear he had on blocking any facial features, his eyes told Chan that he was being factual.
“How?” Chan glared.
“Think of it as bit of a side project I’ve been working on. So…” He looked at him again with half eyes, “Care to see it?”
* * *
Nathan’s office was, well, not the cleanest environment Chan had ever witnessed. On a base devoted to keeping thing clean and sterile, this was a complete one eighty of that. Nathan aplolgized for the state of the room, brushing off papers on a chair and looking to find a new home for all of his old food containers. Chan figured that was the stench he couldn’t quite place in this chaotic death trap.
Nathan pulled out a slim, flat device that he quickly unfolded and hooked up to another laptop on his messy desk. The two computer’s synced and both screens flickered to life. The slim device had a program running on it that Chan couldn’t quite understand. It wasn’t one they use on a daily basis, and it certainly wasn’t in Chinese. This one was in English and had multiple icons with almost cryptic names under them.
“Where did you get this?” Chan frowned.
“This is mine,” Nathan stated. “Well, ok, something I smuggled onboard before we got taken forcefully, I should say.” Chan wasn’t sure what he meant, so Nathan quit his grinning and explained further. “This is the project I was talking about. I was building my own tablet on the side, one that I could use to hack anything… and before you ask, yes, I was hacking. Where do you think all that free porn came from?”
“You need to get a life.” Chan quipped.
“Uh huh…” Nathan dismissed, he continued on, “Well, since I’m pretty much brilliant in just about everything science,” Chan cocked a brow at him mockingly, “I thought I’d find a way to break through the communications constrains they’ve been using and get a message back to my government… or what’s left of any out there.”
Chen paced about the room. His feet shuffled through the mess strewn about the floor; papers, old coffee cups and wrappers that may, or may not, have food still stuck to them. For right now, that didn’t really bother him, too much. But he wasn’t sure what to make of Nathan’s project. It was very risky. Something he had to mention out loud.
“If you try to do this, they will catch you and imprison you… hell, they’ll probably space you for treason.”
“And risk losing the only brightest mind here?” Again, Chan raised a brow to the man’s obvious ego. “ Not a chance. Besides I’ve got it covered.” He waved Chan to come closer and look at his tablet as he tapped on it. “See, I’ve been using a program to modulate certain bandwidths and radio signals, random intervals mind you, and find a weak spot where it can get through their network.”
“And…” Chan said, gesturing with a rolling hand.
“And, I’ve done it. I made contact with a ship on the far side of Earth. Not sure who they are, but one willing to talk to me anyway.”
“Was it… uh…” Chan stammered to think, “The Americans? Or Canada?”
“No, apparently, Canada didn’t make it. According to those on that ship.” He sighed with disappointment. “But, they did say that most Canadians did manage to get aboard a few of the American ships.” Nathan looked at Chan and motioned to the pad. “We could try to contact them to see if your wife and daughter are with them.”
Chen’s eyes widened. The possibility was not unreasonable. He seemed overjoyed at the prospect and laughed. He hugged Nathan with all his might, but quickly retracted and apologized for not keeping his distance. Nathan didn’t seem to mind and dismissed the apology. This was big news and he was more than glad to share it with him.
They were after all, good friends. He was only trying to give Yong a reason to keep hope alive for his wife and daughter. Chan soon became apprehensive, the danger of trying to contact the Americans was equally as dangerous. If they knew who he was, would they try to pin point his location and destroy the lunar city? This had to be done with the greatest discretion.
“Nathan, if you try to contact them, do me a favour.” Nathan nodded and looked at him curiously. “Don’t mention who I am, or my family, not just yet.”
“Okay…” He nodded again, puzzled and waiting for more.
“Just build up a trust with them, get someone of authority and use that Canadian friendly humour of yours…”
“I object to that stereotype…” Nathan passively stated, folding his arms and grinning.
“Whatever…” Chan dismissed. “I just want to be sure whomever we talk with, doesn’t try to manipulate us from the start. Can you do this for me?”
“Absolutely,” Nathan nodded. “Hey, Chan, look––I don’t want to jeopardize this either. I want to see if I can get out of here. No offence…”
“No, not at all, I agree.”
“Really?” Nathan gave a surprised glare.
“I want to join my family, Nathan. I’m tired of living in fear. I just want to see my wife and daughter again… if they’re alive.”
Nathan looked at the tablet and keyed in a code to activate the program again. Chn gave his friend another quick pat on the shoulder for the good work, and Nathan grinned with a dovish smile.
“Alright then, lets see who’s out there…”