The Elite Club

Chapter Four

Looking at the members seated in Mr Ben's office one could not help wondering about what might have united them. It was neither race nor religion as they came from diverse racial and religious backgrounds. It could not be greed for wealth simply because they were already superfrivolously wealthy,or was it because they were? Perhaps the fact that they had succeeded in the struggle for survival in the economic tumults of the world made them believe that they had special traits that differentiated them from the rest of the masses...some form of ingenuity that needed to be preserved to the exclusion of all others. In their hell-bent mission,as detrimental as it might be to the masses,these special personal traits of the club were the only traits worthy in the perpetuation of the human species. After all,if they succeeded,it was natural selection in action. So dogmatic were they in their perspectives that they proclaimed that if there ever existed a God,then that was what He intended them to accomplish.

Fatuma rose to review the progress of phase four.

"Gentlemen, it's my pleasure to be of service to our vision. It's common knowledge to us all that phase four is the final project in the fulfillment of our dream. Primarily, it's concerned with the building and construction of our Spaceship,Space Y,and the stockpiling of the necessary items and other preparations incidental to our take off to Mars. Am pleased to inform you that we are at advanced stages of the phase. Foremost, we have already dispatched adequate essentials to the destination and even managed to construct infrastructure there via our last reconnaissance by Space X.

"Gentlemen, the building and construction of our exit ship,Space Y, is complete, fully equipped with the state of the art technology and all that pertains to our journey and sustenance. Your persons and personal effects are the only items missing to complete the picture. Suffice it to say that we are on schedule. I welcome any questions and suggestions, just in case we forget any crucial details".

"When are we allowed to take our personal effects?" asked Xhangh, but before he could be answered, Kane interjected.

"Pray,how within a such short period? Are you aware that for security reasons,only you and the working personnel are conversant with the location? Just how much can one load within that time?"

"Am painfully aware, but unless we agree here now to change the security protocols to allow a previsit by the members,I will rather go for the status quo for the same reasons we had cited ab initio. Besides,much of the usual effects have already been taken care of. One only needs to pack personal clothing on top of our special ones. No hard cash as we have established our residential cashless banking facility in the destination. Otherwise,if all factors are held constant,all the cash in the world will be ours after the two years sojourney. Only issue will be settling on the common currency. Be further reminded that no extra human baggage will be allowed. No spouse, children or any siblings whatsoever".

"Am for advance familiarization of the site", voted Mr Derrick.

"Ditto", agreed Mr Ben.

"I would rather not", Mr Fred started, uttering his first words after the resumption of the meeting. "Our presence there will attract the press. Furthermore,we will be publicizing ourselves to the working personnel, thus defeating the logic behind our secrecy".

"If the press is your worry, worry no more. We will be traveling almost incognito via our stealthy, invisible aircraft so that none will be the wiser about our whereabouts. Plus,am informed that the site is in a vast, wasted desert devoid of any human population. As for the personnel, you are aware that none of them has been,or will be allowed out of the vicinity,let alone communicate with the outside. Just like our lab research centers, none of the personnel have been allowed to intermingle with the public without adequate instructions and surveillance. Within a week from now,and as most of our projects become completed, most of them will be taken care of, except those instrumental to our departure", contributed Ben.

"Thanks for the elaboration", Fatuma put in. In fact,as we speak, some of the personnel in Space Y have become restless and are agitating for family visitation which is realistic given the fact that they have been held incommunicado for the last two years since the project started. Though we are running out of excuses, it's unfortunate that their time is sooner gonna be up as stated by our chairman".

"Now that the vote is cast for a reconnaissance, let's settle for a date", the chairman said. "Am for the thirteenth of this month. Anyone of the contrary opinion?"

All except Fred nodded consent. He stood up.

"I still don't see how I can reschedule my program within such a short notice. As the president,my presence will be missed if I have to be away for two days. How can I explain my absence?"

While laughing sardonically, Ben posed, "whose president? Aren't you possessed of the fact that it's only a couple of days before you are dispossessed of the citizens? Sooner or later, your absence will be felt, even by the carcasses which will be left. Better you start getting used to that undeniable fact. Nevertheless,I have two proposals for your consideration. First, you can let your personal assistant and spouse know that you will be away for two days. Moreover, you will have secured, virtual televised communication with whoever or whatever that requires your input.

"The second proposal is that you can opt to be in your office and in the trip simulateneously".

Perplexed,Fred looked at him in complete askance.

After his usual sardonic laughter, he continued.

"Am not surprised that Professor Kane's review of the cloning project fell on your slumbering ears. Nevertheless, what am saying is that you precede us and be the first owner of your cloned self. We can then leave the clone to attend to matters of state while you will be enjoying the excursion,or vice versa. Which of the two appeals to your taste, because am convinced that your sense of hearing as taken leave?"

"What a great invention! I will affirm before the meeting ends".

"Now that I have digested it for you,the manner and time of departure will be communicated in due course. Having settled that,we would like to know whether there are any issues worthy our consideration from your sphere".

"Well,eh..My Vice has been on my neck of late about the whereabouts of the security personnel deployed to guard our various projects. As earlier stated by Ms Fatuma,it seems that the families of the said officers have become too inquisitive. Rumour has it that some members of the Congress are threatening to raise the issue in the house in a couple of weeks. It's a miracle that the press hasn't gotten wind of it yet".

"That's water under the bridge as by that time,he and his good for nothing congressmen will be too dead to smell anything, not even a rat", the chairman was trying to make a pass at humor. "It's good that we are on schedule. In the meantime,use any means necessary to keep out members of the fourth estate. If that be all for today,I would like to reiterate the urgent need for the secrecy of our project and all that pertains to it. Let's stand reminded that not even pain of death will force us to reveal our mission and vision. While all of us here envision a world free from the unnecessary human garbage, pollution, crime and our own eternity,we should absolutely not allow anything to stand on our way until all is accomplished. Need I remind you of how far we have traversed? Thus far,I now declare the meeting adjourned until further notice".

All stood up,and, holding their hands in a circle, repeated their usual mantra. A shortwhile later, they each dispersed to their respective chores.

* * * * *

Five minutes later,Mr Pon was summoned to Mr Ben's office. On arrival,he found the latter standing by the door.

"Come in, please. Am on my way out,and I just wanted you to know that my colleagues and I will be in need of Aircraft Invisible. I want you to oversee the necessary preparations personally. I will let you know the date and time of departure in due course. Now, you can reach me on my phone if anything comes up that requires my attention".

After he walked out,Pon took time to rearrange the seats while at the same time securing the bug that he had earlier planted. He walked to his office, and three minutes later,he received a call from Mr Solomon.

"Hello. Hope all is clear and secure?"

"All clear. Go on", he responded.

"I realize we didn't get the precise location of Space Y?"

"True, but an opportunity just presented itself. I will be checking the security of the aircraft. I will bug it with GPS locator".

"Do the needful. Info just in is that our team has infiltrated the Bio-technoloy lab that is developing Virus Z. It's our earnest hope that we shall be able to abduct the second strain before it's released. Plus, some source indicates that they might be having some cure or vaccine. Catch up later,and,take care". He hang up.