The Runners: Chapter 25
Chapter 25
It was twilight when David got onto I-290 heading towards the Western suburbs of Chicago. The twilight hours were no longer accompanied by beautiful sunsets. Rather, they were defined by slight extension of daylight in the far western skies as the evening began to set-in in the city. David liked to drive in manual mode on the express ways because he could feel the speed and liked to be in direct control of his vehicle. As usual for this time of the day, the express way was already showing the stress of increased traffic caused by the commuters heading back home after a long day’s work.
Fortunately, even heavy traffic load did not slow the overall flow as it used to back in the early 21st century. With the integrated network of smart highway system, comprised of the state of the art pavement materials, intelligent traffic management system, and real-time on-board vehicular traffic analysis software, the vehicles moved very efficiently even at the peak load periods. The UN maintained strategic local traffic management systems or TMS that were designed to derive an optimal range of speeds for each vehicle by providing the most up to date information of its surroundings. Constant communication was maintained between the TMS and each vehicle through integrated GPS/RF transceivers that were implanted in the vehicle’s radio system.
The vehicle would provide constant updates to the TMS while receiving controlling information from it in return. After analyzing the traffic conditions of the road, the TMS would timely transmit to each vehicle with the optimal range of speeds at which it should maintain as it travels to its destination. Every vehicle was given its fair share of windows of time for going either fast or slow. However, when one used manual mode, the driver maintained complete control over the speed of his vehicle. This was the major reason that David often disengaged auto pilot when he used the express ways.
The TMS drove the number of vehicular accidents to negligible level for the first time in the history of automobiles. In fact, auto accidents have become things of the past for several decades, transforming automobile travel to be the safest mode of transportation around the globe. This was a product of the UN’s many centralized design efforts in enhancing people’s lives. David quietly praised the hard working UN departments for bringing about such positive changes through technological advancements and applying them to people’s daily lives.
But, there were some resentments within the auto industry as it took away opportunities to market and sell additional vehicles. For them, less vehicular accidents implied increased longevity of vehicle life. In turn, this meant less returning buyers, from vehicular collisions, who might have been forced to replace their damaged vehicles. Likewise, the auto repair industry has suffered as well since the accident trends went against their business model. These were just some of the salient costs that certain industries had to come to grips with while the UN advanced its objectives.
On the other hand, the beneficiaries of these improvements included; the construction industry that employed various technologies to meet the UN’s standards with respect to the smart highway system, the software industry with respect to data formatting, analysis, transmission, and manufacturing of networking equipment, and communications industries that developed applications of various over the air data delivery algorithms. These industries have taken up special positions of importance as the UN’s global reach continued to grow, not only in the world’s highway systems, but in every mode of physical travel for that matter.
For the past few decades, these industries have employed powerful lobbyists in their efforts to influence the UN’s key transportation policies. Through the UN’s adaptations of policies and mandates, which might be considered as being overtly biased in favor of those industries, they have garnered massive financial profits in return. To this day, their efforts in this regard have been relentless and they continue to enjoy the status quo of being the ‘beneficiary industries’.
David did not care much about politics of economy. He was a young man who simply believed in the justice system and firmly stood on the concept that every citizen of the UN must be under the law. As far as everything was done within the boundaries of the law, he was agreeable and would accept the designed results as well as unanticipated consequences. Besides, he thought the benefits that the individuals received and enjoyed definitely outweighed any negative impacts to certain industries. Looking at it from the law enforcement perspective, David was a proponent of being able to access and monitor people, who use publicly funded projects like the highway system.
David was able to keep the speed of his vehicle at between 90 and 120 mph with consistency and he liked it that way. After passing through three toll gates, David exited I-290 and headed south on Rt. 53. On the right side of the exit, a large towering dome structure, which covered a surface area of 300 acres, came into his view. The building was built in 2160 by a local conservationist and philanthropist by the name of Esther Lincoln. She was a cell molecular biologist, who had received the UN’s prestigious scientific award as the most notable biologist and scientist for saving Baobab and Monkey Puzzle Trees from becoming extinct. They were two of the most endangered tree species in the early 22nd century.
Later, she went on to found Destiny Cloning Corporation, which provided critical ecological research and support to various parts of the world through the UN’s local agencies. She had donated much of her wealth to her philanthropist organization and through it, purchased the property formerly known as the Western Arboretum. Before Esther took control of the arboretum, it had been left unattended for several decades mainly because of the sky rocketing cost of maintenance due to the severe climate changes.
Esther spent part of her vast fortune in recreating the arboretum, populating it with over 1000 different species of trees, shrubs, and plants, all made possible through her company’s technology. In order to house them under their optimized natural environments, she had built what is presently known as the ‘Western Dome’ and relocated all the plantation life to the inside. The conditions inside the dome were maintained most optimally for the groups of species that shared similar natural environments with respect to temperature, moisture level, atmospheric pressure, sea level and sun’s energy.
The Western Dome was open year round at no charge for all nature enthusiasts to visit and experience the work and efforts that Esther had dedicated all of her life to build. At age 57, she considers it to be the most important accomplishment of her life. Occasionally, she could be seen, as her schedule allowed, chatting with the visitors at the dome and personally providing tours of the facility.
“This evening must be one of those rare days that Esther Lincoln made her personal appearance,” David said to himself as he looked in his rear view monitor, at the long line of vehicles slowly entering the gate of the Western Dome. David decided that he would visit the Dome as soon as his schedule would allow it, but it just wasn’t this evening.
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‘RING’ ‘RING’, as he was nearing the restaurant, David was alerted to an incoming call.
“Call from Iris Technology Corp., France,” his cell phone alerted him.
David slowed his vehicle and engaged the auto-pilot. Then, he anxiously answered his phone.
“Hello, this is David!” His voice was filled with anticipation.
“Bonsoir, Mr. Chan. This—-”
David spoke to the doctor only once, but Dr. Bertrand’s distinctive accent allowed him to immediately identify who it was even without the proper introduction.
“Yes sir, Dr. Bertrand. Good evening to you too, sir!” David replied very glad to hear from him because he could potentially identify the most likely suspect to the Lahey case.
“I am very glad to hear from you Dr. Bertrand!”
“Yes, inspector, hope your day is going well.” Dr. Bertrand said kindly.
“Thank you sir, as a matter of fact, I am doing well,” his answer was sincere because David was looking forward to his date with Robin. It was more than just a business meeting for him and he was hoping that Robin would feel the same way.
“Good, good. About the surveillance tape that you had asked me to analyze. We have some preliminary results that I’d like to share with you. What would be the best way?”
“That’s fantastic! Did you have any problem analyzing the data?” David was genuinely surprised that Dr. Bertrand was able to get back to him so quickly because the image quality was not optimal, even poor in his opinion.
“Well, there were some challenges because of the poor image quality. But, we have the most advanced image processing software and we were able to raise the resolution to reconstruct the necessary images. The frames were reconstructed from one hour before and one hour after the supposed time of the murder,” responded Dr. Bertrand.
“Thank you, sir. I think that’s perfect! The best way to send over the information is to the following: handle david7777, domain unbihq, access code 228171, david7777… 228171, there you should see it … now!” Dr. Bertrand said after a confirmation of successful delivery message.
“Yes, I see it!” David replied with excitement.
“You should be able to run the subject’s iris data against your citizen’s database,” advised Dr. Bertrand.
“Thank you sir, I plan to run it immediately” as David replied back, he ran a search of the UN Citizen Database in parallel. Although, it wasn’t possible to get a read on the biochip, David was excited that he might get a preliminary match.
“Is there anything else I can do for you Mr. Chan?”
“No sir, not at this time. You have been very helpful in this matter, sir. I will follow up with you for more information, if I may sir?” David was genuinely thankful. This was his first big case and he was about to make a significant progress.
“Very well then, good luck Mr. Chan!”
“Thank you again, sir!”
‘Click’ ‘Click’ Dr. Bertrand disconnected followed by David.
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It was 6:45 PM when David reached the Manchurian Inn. A valet, dressed in ancient royal Chinese palace guard uniform, greeted him as he pulled into the driveway of the restaurant, “Welcome to our royal establishment” with a deep bow. The valet opened the door and David exited his vehicle. He was then escorted to the entrance of the restaurant on a silk red carpet, which was laid on the wooden bridge covering the length of approximately twenty yards from the valet reception area to the restaurant’s entrance.
David’s eyes were directed at the ancient gardens with pagodas and ponds that were projected by a 3D simulator. The bridge appeared to have been built above a large serene pond. It all appeared real as the trees seemed to flirter in synch with the slight of breeze that he was feeling as he walked over the bridge. He also saw giant koi-fish in white, silver, gold and pinkish-red swimming about in the ponds. They were passing back and forth under the bridge. “Some set up!” highly impressed, David exclaimed silently.
A pair of large double doors made out of ancient oak trees swung open as he approached the entrance of the restaurant. Two women dressed in royal red colors greeted him once again, “Welcome to our royal establishment. We hope your dining experience will be out of this world.” David bowed reflexively and said, “Thank you!” He quickly surveyed the dining area which he found to be few steps below the foyer. This gave him an unobstructed view of the grand dining space.
The interior of the restaurant was decorated in combination of red, brown and gold colors. Several large wooden columns, with the tallest one centered in the middle of the hall, rose from the floor to the ceiling. They were strategically located and were supporting the six sided roof structure. The ceiling looked to be made of many individual wooden beams that were connected to a large center ring located at the middle of the ceiling. These logs ran down from the top center to the six sided walls which were also held by six large columns.
Grand chandeliers made of crystal and white and red paper lanterns were hanging down from different points of the ceilings, providing strategic lighting to many guest tables below. The other side of the dining area was a large open stairway, leading to the private dining rooms located on the upper floors.
People moved busily about and David noticed that many tables were already occupied as he looked for Robin. Concluding that she may not have arrived yet as he could not locate her in the general dining room, he felt relieved that he had arrived ahead of Robin. Privately, David was an old fashioned gentleman. He always thought that it was unacceptable to have a lady wait for him in any occasion.
“Table for two, please,” David turned and addressed the maitre d’, who was standing next to the reception area. He appeared to be in charge of the patrons seating arrangements.
“Yes sir! Have you a reservation?” Replied the man in what appeared to be an emperor’s clothing of red, gold and purple, with a head covering that resembled a crown of some sort. “I don’t… Ah, excuse me!” as David started to respond, through the corner of his eyes, he saw Robin entering the front door of the restaurant.
“Robin!” He called out to her.
“Hi, David,” seeing David, Robin nervously smiled and greeted him. Then, she turned to the maitre d’ and asked for the private room that she had reserved earlier. The maitre d’ looked into a tablet that he held in his hands and said,
“Follow me, please!” Quietly, he led David and Robin through the main dining hall, up the stairs and through the second wide hallway to the right.
They arrived at the room that was labeled, Crane. It was the middle room on the left from the main landing area of the second floor. The door was made of glass with ingrained shapes of waterfalls, trees, river and a pair of cranes flying over the waterfall. The door slid open as they approached. The maitre d’ stopped and bowed from one side of the door as David and Robin entered the room. Inside, a young girl, in her early 20’s in traditional Chinese servant’s clothes, stood with her head down slightly, a few feet behind the dining table. She quickly moved to pull one chair out for Robin to sit in while the maitre d’ helped David into his seat.
“Enjoy your dinner and should you need anything, please inform Ms. Mai!” The maitre d’ bowed and as he left the room the glass door shut behind him.
The room was rather a large square shaped for two persons to dine in. The table was made out of solid maple wood. Somewhat intimate sized, the table wasn’t all that big compared to the room itself. The ceiling of the room was about 12 ft high. As expected, a large lantern shaped in octagonal shape hung down from the ceiling, which strategically lighted the room. There were two lamps on the wall on three sides and a small buffet table against the wall behind Robin. On it were various table ware, silverware, dishes and cups, spices and seasoning sauces, other condiments and tea kettles. The flooring was covered by a single large red Persian style rug, inlaid with olive leaves in golden yellow.
When the door slid shut, the room became completely silent. The noise from outside of the room did not make it into the private dining room. It seemed like a very appropriate space considering that their meeting was supposed to be clandestine in nature. Robin, however, looked around the room nervously and even checked under the table, perhaps, in search of possible bugging devices. Finally, Robin sat up upright and looked at David as she took out a roll of paper from her purse.
“What is that?” Surprised to see rolled up papers, David couldn’t help, but ask her. David assumed that it was the full report that Robin had put together. But, he did not expect it in paper format.
“Well, we can talk about this later.” Robin replied quietly while discretely pointing her eyes in the direction of the server.
“I’m starving! Let’s order, shall we?” Taking the hint from Robin, David decided it was time to study the menu.
“May we have the menu please, Ms. Mai?”
“Yes sir!”
The server inched closer to the table, placing a small round electronic device on top of the table between David and Robin. She pressed a button and bright white light emitted out from the top of the device.
“Shall we start from drinks and appetizers?” Ms. Mai looked directly into the light and moved her iris to manipulate the images from the device. Soon, choices of drinks and appetizers appeared in 3D images.
“I will have Orange Soda and hot tea,” said Robin.
“I will have the same please,” followed David.
“So ordered,” said Ms. Mai.
“Now, for appetizers…” In an instant, images changed from drink choices to appetizer selections. On the table, there appeared crab cheese Rangoon, spring rolls, Egg drop soup, steamed rolls, hot & sour soup, and other scrumptious appetizers.
“Hot & sour soup and crab cheese Rangoon, please!” David and Robin agreed on the appetizer selections as well.
“Now, for the main course…,” again, moving her iris in a specialized pattern, she was able to create the main course meal choices. They were divided into 4 categories: poultry, meat, seafood, and vegan. Robin selected vegan. Then, a full selection of vegan dishes appeared and filled the entire table. Mapo-tofu, Kong-shin-chai, boiled lettuce and broccoli with garlic and butter soy sauce, and many other dishes appeared in fully prepared ready to eat forms. What was even more astonishing about the technology was the fact that all dishes not only appeared juicy and freshly cooked, they even emanated delightful aroma, which stimulated the guests’ senses of taste. After taking in on the images and the enticing aroma, Robin picked Kong-shin-chai, which spring vegetables with empty stems.
“For you sir?” asked the server.
“Let’s explore the meat choices.” David responded still stimulated by the aroma coming from Robin’s selection. He took a quick whip of the air and blinked his eyes slowly. Then, he found, once again, many dishes crowding their table. There were braised beef and cabbage, pork ribs, orange beef, hot and spicy beef, governors’ beef, and many more delightful choices. Again, the room was filled with the enticing aroma from the entrees. David and Robin were simply dizzied by the many options of beautifully presented dishes. They all appeared to be real and edible.
“I will have the orange beef!” David finally made his selection.
“Thank you!” said Ms. Mai and when she closed her eyes for two full seconds, the main courses that were being displayed on the table became smeared, the colors disappeared, and there remained nothing, except the vertical light from the top of the table. Then, the brightness of the light intensified briefly. After that, the light forming into an inverted cone shape before them was completely suctioned into the device a few seconds later. Ms. Mai grabbed the device and placed it on top of the buffet table that was against the wall behind Robin.
“That was some show!” David blurted out quietly when the table cleared. He’s had Chinese food many times for its convenience, but choosing what to eat at a Chinese restaurant was never this fanciful or delightful. He was salivating already just from selecting the items off of the menu.
“I’m glad you enjoyed that part of your dinner. The real thing gets much better!” Robin added to perk up David’s interest further in the food.
David wanted to talk about the file. But, with another set of eyes and ears, he would hold off until they were ready to eat. Instead, they engaged in small chit-chats. Few minutes have passed when the door slid open again. A young man that had on traditional Chinese outfit with rounded hat appeared at the door. In front of him, at waist high, there was a large golden tray that seemed to be hovering in mid air without anyone touching it.
“Your food is ready!” the young man said as he bowed. Ms. Mai met the young man at the door and took the tray from him. Again, she did not make any physical contact with the tray. The tray simply moved from the young man to Ms. Mai and it appeared that Ms. Mai has taken the control over the flight of the tray.
“Shay-shay,” Ms. Mai said towards the young man as the door closed.
Slowly, Ms. Mai moved towards the serving table. The tray seemed to simply hover and stay afloat just in front of her, levitating and moving in the same direction as that of Ms. Mai’s. Then, Ms. Mai magically placed the tray on top of the serving table. David looked at Robin, impressed by the deliverance of their food and how scrumptious they looked. He had expected food to be carted into the room since the décor and ambiance was traditionally old fashioned. It was another delightful surprise for David.
For a moment, they had forgotten the purpose of their meeting and couldn’t help, but mistakenly believed that they were on a first date. Soon, Ms. Mai began serving the food and they tasted just as delightful as they looked. After finishing the appetizers, the main dish was served with steamed rice.
“Enjoy your dinner! If you need me, please press that button, located at the edge of the table.” She said as she pointed to a small glass plate that was embedded on to one side of the table. With that, Ms. Mai has left the room.
All the noise shielded by the walls, the deep silence returned to the dining room. David took a couple of bites of the beef as his mind came back and remembered the reason for them being here. Regrettably, he decided to bring the conversation back to the topic of the investigation that Robin had conducted.
“I wish that this meeting was under different circumstances. But, sadly, we have a job to do, Robin. About the file….,” said David, thinking that he might have exposed Robin to some unknown danger. He was concerned for Robin as he leaned closer towards her over the dining table. Being the consummated professionals, they soon focused on the investigation.