Chapter 80: Fighting the Poison
That evening, Demarcus and Darlene were back in the apartment. They had turned on the television to see the results of the Governors Election. It was an even bigger win for the Business Sector. This time, representatives aligned with the Business Sector won ten of the twelve governor positions. Dratsab won the final governor position. This was the first time in many decades that Adoy had a governor. To Demarcus, it did not feel like a joyous occasion. Darlene could see the disappointment in Demarcus’ face as the results were announced.
‘We can’t let that bother you. We have too many things we need to figure out,’ said Darlene.
‘I think I know who is sabotaging the contamination of the water supply,’ said Demarcus.
‘Lily,’ blurted Darlene.
‘I don’t think so. She is too far away,’ responded Demarcus. ‘I believe it is Vulay.’
‘Vulay is not on our side,’ said Darlene angrily. ‘She had Mum and Dad arrested, and she is out to get you.’
‘You’re right, she is not on our side,’ said Demarcus. ‘She wants to control this region. To do that, she needs a region to control.’
‘Are the Government really trying to kill us?’ asked Darlene.
‘In the long run, by sterilising us,’ said Demarcus. ‘Vulay may believe that the toxic chemicals are intended to kill us now rather than later.’
‘What are you going to do now?’ asked Darlene.
‘I’m going to visit Vulay,’ replied Demarcus.
‘What if it is not her?’ asked Darlene.
‘I’ll disappear again,’ replied Demarcus.
In the West Region, Lily was also in her apartment watching the Governors Election results. It was the first time, in a long time, she was not involved in some way. The results did not surprise her. The Business Sector had guaranteed control over both Government and Parliament for the next four years. This would give Pardi and other rich business owners’ considerable power and influence to go alongside their massive fortunes.
Lily gained some joy from the fact that the governor with the most votes, Margo, was aligned with the House of Divine Knowledge. Whereas Collingswaggle, despite all his political manoeuvres, only obtained the seventh-most votes. She also knew this was meaningless, as all the governors had equal authority.
Early the next morning, the train carrying the solution arrived in West. Lily knew this was done strategically the day after she was no longer a governor. Lily went out to look at the train. She counted the carriages. There were far more carriages than she was expecting.
'Could Pardi have even more sinister motives?' she pondered. She knew this made little sense, as he did not yet have enough adult Linap to replace the Sapiens.
Lily was frustrated, as she did not know exactly what was going on. She wanted the solution tested but no longer had the authority to do so, and she had no influence over the region’s new representatives. However, she still had good relations with many of the senior Government staff. She thought she could utilise these connections.
Lily called the command centre at the station. She asked the officer for the weight of the train. The tracks registered the weight exerted on them by trains. She could determine the weight of the solution delivered by subtracting the weight of the train, had it been empty, from the weight of the train recorded by the tracks. The officer knew Lily well and saw no harm in checking it for her. It appeared the solution was either not very dense, the tanks were not full, or some of the tanks were empty.
Lily asked the officer about the distribution of the weight. From what he told her, it appeared that the tankers at the backend of the train were empty. Lily used this information to readjust her estimate of the density of the solution. This was interesting information, but it did not help her identify what was in the solution. Based on what she knew, she still felt it was unlikely that the solution would be sufficiently toxic to kill the residents of West, considering the high volume of water in the West mains. She also considered that Pardi might be trying to play some sort of mind game with her in an attempt to entice an unfavourable reaction from her.
The previous evening, in Jeed, the train carrying the solution had arrived. Dr. Cortex was able to use the lockdown bureaucracy to delay the process. He was also able to take this opportunity to collect several samples of the solution directly from the tankers. He ordered Ripe Staff to test these samples in the remaining Ripe laboratories as well as the medical centre laboratory.
After working all night and most of the next morning, Dr. Cortex had managed to isolate the chemicals used in the solution. The solution was toxic to Sapiens. However, if it were sufficiently diluted in water, it would not be fatal to consume but would cause various other unpleasant health impacts. Dr. Cortex calculated the concentration that would be in the water supply based on the proposed quantities to be added. He concluded that the water supply would be sufficiently toxic to kill everyone in Jeed.
Dr. Cortex did not care for Jeed or anyone in it. However, his Jennifer upgrade was programmed to run the Jeed Rehabilitation programme with a focus on providing Sapiods to the Southern Agriculture Zone. Dr. Cortex had become as much under Jennifer’s control as his own. Jennifer’s programming for Jeed had now become relevant to Cellrebrum and Adoy. They were now resources Jennifer could use to expand her objectives of creating a large Sapiod workforce. Shutting any of these regions down was in direct opposition to her programming.
Earlier that same morning, in Adoy, Demarcus went to the Enforcer Headquarters to speak to Vulay. Demarcus approached the enforcer at the front desk. He was unhelpful. He told him that the Head Enforcer was busy and was not seeing anyone.
Vulay was in her office when she saw Demarcus on camera entering the building. She rushed out to meet him. She ushered him into her office. She sat in her seat behind her desk, and Demarcus sat in the seat in front of her desk.
‘Welcome back, Demarcus,’ said Vulay. ‘You are quite the magician.’
‘I want to make a deal with you,’ said Demarcus.
‘What do you want?’ asked Vulay.
‘I want my parents and Polly released from prison,’ said Demarcus.
‘They’re not in prison. I have your parents in the holding cell, and Polly isn’t here,’ said Vulay with a grin.
‘Where is she?’ demanded Demarcus.
‘She’s not in Adoy anymore,’ replied Vulay as she smiled smugly.
Demarcus frowned in frustration. ‘I also want Denise released,’ he insisted.
‘If you want to make a deal, you need to be able to offer me something in exchange,’ said Vulay as she continued to smile.
‘I know the chemicals they want to put in the water supply are toxic, and I know that you have been attempting to sabotage them from putting them into the main water supply,’ said Demarcus aggressively.
Vulay began laughing, ‘That’s just ridiculous.’
Demarcus became invisible. Vulay immediately locked the door.
‘Now that is what I call a bargaining chip,’ said Vulay. She knew Demarcus was still in the room, as she could pick up the sound of his breathing and sense his body heat. ‘Sit down. Let’s talk.’
Demarcus sat back down and reappeared in front of Vulay.
‘When did you learn this little trick?’ asked Vulay.
‘I’ve known about it for a while, but I didn’t know how to use it until recently,’ replied Demarcus. ‘That’s not it. I can do more.’
‘Show me,’ said Vulay.
Demarcus shapeshifted into Vulay. ‘I’m impressed,’ said Vulay as she clapped.
She could see that Demarcus, in at least the short run, could be of great use to her.
Demarcus shapeshifted back into himself. ‘Are you able to turn into anyone?’ asked Vulay.
‘Almost,’ replied Demarcus.
‘You are correct. I am trying to stop the technicians from putting the solution in the mains,’ said Vulay. ‘It does appear toxic, but I still lack proof that is the case. Do you have proof it is toxic?’
‘Governor Lily told me it was most likely toxic,’ replied Demarcus.
Vulay sighed, ‘That’s still not proof.’
‘With my skills, I can help you,’ said Demarcus.
Vulay paused for a moment. Jennifer had just become aware of what was in the solution based on the work done by Dr. Cortex.
‘We have a deal,’ said Vulay. ‘You have also been fully reinstated.’
‘Thanks so much,’ said Demarcus.
‘I need you to impersonate someone for me,’ said Vulay.
They briefly discussed Vulay’s plan and what she wanted Demarcus to do.
Shortly afterwards. Vulay ordered two enforcers to release Jacob and Janice. She called the Adoy Rehabilitation Centre to process Denise’s release as soon as possible. She sent the information about the toxicity of the solution to the Head Enforcer in Jeed. Then she gathered the enforcers and informed them that they were going to arrest the technicians.
Wiggly watched from his office as the enforcers left. He called Dratsab to inform him of the developments. Dratsab was furious. Dratsab, in turn, called Collingswaggle. Collingswaggle, in turn, called the Head Enforcer of Jeed, ordering the arrest of Dr. Cortex.
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