The Clean Slate Accord by Sofia Diana Gabel Read Free Book Online Page A

was nothing out of the ordinary. She was missing something, she could feel it. Dr. Kota said Jonas was using their interstitial genome synthesizing equipment. What would he do with that?
    David interrupted, “Another two thousand removals in the last ten minutes, Director, mostly from the United Lands of Africa.”
    Alexa felt like screaming. “Keep monitoring, David.”
    She searched her data files for information on the Land Bridge genome synthesizing equipment. What a boon to humankind it had been when they’d completed the project. The Land Bridge scientists were able to synthesize any set of genetic codons, the sequence of genes, for recombination treatment. How many diseases had they cured? There were the cancers, arthritis, macular degeneration…too many to count. So what would Jonas be doing with genomes? It wasn’t like the implants caused any disease.
    Alexa got up and went to her room to consult the mirror. “Mirror, activate.”
    â€œWell, hello again, Director. Things have not improved, have they?”
    â€œNo. I’ve spent most of my life around computers, biological and mechanical, but not enough around humans. Why can’t I figure out what Jonas is up to?”
    â€œYou said it yourself, Director. You made Jonas in your image so to speak. You wanted a being with intelligence to rival your own, but you neglected to consider the emotional side. You experience emotions, so why did you think Jonas wouldn’t?”
    â€œBecause he’s only half human. Besides, his emotional state isn’t pertinent right now. He said he knows how to stop the removals, yet I can’t see how.”
    â€œAre you worried that the human population will see that you’re no longer the smartest person on the planet, or that Jonas is no longer dependent on you?”
    Staring into the mirror, Alexa saw her image, a tired woman looking back at her. A middle-aged woman with gray-flecked hair. A woman with no progeny of her own. But that wasn’t quite true. She had Jonas. She used to have Jonas. “He’s my son, Mirror. My son.”
    â€œTrue. Would you do anything for him?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œDo you think he’d do the same? Would he do anything for you?”
    â€œCertainly. I’m the Global Director and he’s dedicated to me.”
    â€œNo, no, no, Director. What would a son sacrifice for his mother?”
    Alexa took a step closer. Her eyes were bloodshot and glassy. She missed Jonas and it was eating her up inside. “What do you mean by sacrifice?”
    She didn’t really need an answer. It was clear now. Her feelings for Jonas had clouded her thoughts, making it hard to see what Jonas’ solution was. But now it seemed so obvious. He was about to make the most unthinkably altruistic action he could. Alexa sat down on the floor.
    Jonas had found his DNA analysis in the mirror’s database and discovered only half was human, donated from his mother. Once he found the other half was viral, he must have compared his own tissue samples to human tissue samples in the lab. That had to be the moment when he realized how to use his genetics to undo the Accord. But there was one part missing.
    â€œMirror, Jonas is going to sacrifice himself, isn’t he?”
    â€œThat would be my guess.”
    â€œHe’ll use the interstitial genome synthesizing equipment to unzip his DNA and remove the human element and synthesize his viral DNA. He’ll become a virus.”
    â€œIs that possible, Director?”
    â€œIt’s possible, but how will that fix the implants?” A flash of clarity struck her. “Oh, no. No!”
    â€œDirector?” The mirror’s lights flashed off and on. “What are you thinking?”
    â€œThe Serum D. If he didn’t dispose of all the Serum D, then he can spread it via viral infection, and he’ll be the virus.” She felt lightheaded, dizzy. “That has to