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

be what he meant when he said he’d be the world’s friend. He wants to stop the removals to help humanity, and to help me.”
    She pressed her communicator button. “David! I don’t care how you do it, but get me Jonas. I have to stop him.”
    â€œI’ll see if I can restore the communications, Director.”
    The mirror said quietly, “Do you think it’s wise to try to stop Jonas, Director? If you do, the global population will continue to vanish.”
    Alexa looked across the room at the framed picture of Jonas’ DNA. As many times as he’d been in her room, he’d never once asked about the picture. It was obvious to a trained eye that one strand of the double helix was foreign, not human, yet he apparently didn’t notice. Or did he? She wandered closer and saw a thin black line drawn around the altered viral part of the helix. He must have studied the picture once he’d stolen the analysis from the mirror.
    She reached out and touched the picture. He must hate her for creating him and making him an outcast because he was so different. She couldn’t let him destroy himself. It wasn’t his fault.
    â€œDirector,” David said over the communicator, “I have Jonas on the line.”
    Sitting on the bed, Alexa pressed the communicator. “Jonas? Are you all right?”
    â€œDirector, listen carefully. I don’t have much time. You’ve probably already figured out what I’m doing, but I want to tell you anyway so you can see how smart your creation is.”
    Alexa brought her wrist communicator close to her face so she could see Jonas clearly through her teary eyes. “Jonas, did you save some of the Serum D?”
    â€œI did. Just a small amount. I knew it was wrong to get rid of all of it. I’ve incorporated the neuro-cellular component from the Serum D into the viral nucleotide of my DNA. Using the interstitial genome synthesizer, I’ll collect all of my viral cellular DNA, which will be replicated and then dispersed in a jet stream atomizer attached to a Land Bridge wind generator. It’ll spread over the major countries. It’ll be especially potent, Director. The people will breathe it in and it will immediately dispense the Serum D. An infected host will shed the virus when they exhale, infecting more and more people. The only down side, Director, is that it will still take several hours before most of the population is infected, and cured.”
    â€œClean Slate will be reversed. And you’ll be dead, Jonas. What have I done?”
    â€œYou had a dream, Director. It was a good dream.”
    â€œA good dream that turned into a nightmare, Jonas. There must be another way. Why don’t you come back to the Bunker and we’ll work on it together?”
    Jonas shook his head. “It’s too late.” He panned his camera around to a contraption that was attached to his arm. “My DNA is already being extracted. I estimate I have only a few minutes left.”
    â€œJonas,” Alexa’s voice cracked, “Please, Jonas. I don’t know what I’ll do without you.”
    He looked into the camera and smiled. “It’s your job to protect the remaining population, Director. You have to make sure they understand that it’s up to them to prevent wars. Humans, Director, are the ones who have to decide not to fight.”
    â€œYou see how well that’s worked in the past.” Alexa wiped her eyes.
    â€œThis isn’t the past, Director, it’s now. Humanity needs peace. If the people didn’t want peace, they wouldn’t have agreed to the Accord, would they? They just didn’t think they could accomplish it on their own.”
    â€œAnd you think we can?”
    â€œI do.” Jonas closed his eyes. He was pale, more pale than usual. “Director, I’m very weak. I don’t have much time left.”
    â€œWait, maybe we can…maybe I can