CHAPTER TWO

In a dimly lit room sat a human figure, behind an oversized desk. The small lamp on the desk, did little more than reflect the smoke from the person sitting there’s pipe. The double doors that were directly in front of the desk, open and closed quicky. The person who entered slowly approached the desk.

“Have you implemented operation ‘Backlash’?”

“Yes, Madam Chairman, all is in place.”

The person slowly rose from behind the desk and pounded their fists on the desk.

“I told you to never address me that way! There are far too many pairs of ears that are lurking about! A simple generic title is what to be used in all forms of communication. Do I make myself perfectly clear?!” the voice stated in a dark menacing tone.

“Yes,” was the response.

“That is better. Now, stay on top of the fool machines to make sure that they do not allow any of these latest developments to spread. Report to me via text hourly as to how the operation is progressing. I need to go to the Council meeting.”

The Chairman Ella shoved her way passed the messenger. Before she left her chambers, she said in a low growl,

“The next time you visit me here in person, it will be your last!”

She slammed the door as she left.

The messenger waited until he was sure she was out of hearing range before he began to mumble.

“Bring me the information! Don’t address me that way! Text me! Don’t contact me in person! When my debt is paid to her, I am going to get even for this kind of treatment.”

The messenger waited until the hall was clear, then he slipped out of the building.

In the Security Council chamber, the mood was tense. Mr. Einstein and Ms. Webber had put together a flawless presentation. The changes they preposed was set out in the required electronic format, the wording was in accord with all the Council’s guidelines, all the proper documentation was included. Tremendous care was taken so that the only fault the Council would be able to find, was in the actual continent of the proposals. 

The first three proposed changes brought little objection. That is not to say that they passed without some grumbles, but it would have been difficult to build a case to deny them.

That, however, was where things changed.

The next three, involved an expansion of A.I.’s “Rights of Choice.”

“Mr. Einstein, you better than anyone else should remember what happened the last time your family tried to make sweeping changes to article 3.”

“Madam Chairman please, that was a long time of ago, and these are completely different circumstances. Besides, these are far from ‘sweeping changes.’ We have taken great care to not upset the order of things all at once. Most of the common public will not blink an eye at what is written in these proposed changes.”

“The common public, are not the ones that will be most effected by these changes!” One Council member pointed out.

“Yes, I know that there are many special interest groups that have donate large sums to the funding of some of the Council’s public benefit programs, and they are not in favor of any changes, yet these same special interest groups would not be alive today, if were not for…”

“Mr. Einstein, we do not bow to the wishes of special interest groups any more than we will bow to A.I.’s that may have contributed the safety of our planet.”

“MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED.” Mr. Einstein shouted.

Ms. Webber grabbed his arm to calm him down.

Mr. Einstein cleared his voice.

“Madam Chairman, and distinguished members of the council. We are not asking anyone to bow to anyone else. These proposals are simply a very small expression of human gratitude to those who did contribute to the security of our planet. It is not anything more than what you would do for a beloved pet that contributed to saving your life.”

Before the Council could respond, Ms. Webber received an emergency message from Gronk. She showed the message to Mr. Einstein.

“Madam Chairman, we have received an important message just now, may we please be excused to handle this matter, while the council discusses these last three proposed changes?”

“Very well Mr. Einstein. You have fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you, Madam Chairman.”

Before the two of them even left the chambers, dissenting voices were starting to be raised. The two of them found an empty office to communicate with Gronk.

After discussing the events that the members of The Winds of Change were facing, Mr. Einstein turned to Ms. Webber.

“Given the arguments that we have encountered so far, I recommend that we carefully try to push through these last thee items. Once that is done, we will rattle the cage a little to see which bird squawks the loudness.”

“Agreed but let me do the rattling.” Ms. Webber stated.

“Do you have something specific in mind?”

“I have picked up on certain expressions and body language of one particular member. I would like to start with her.” Ms. Webber stated, as they stopped just short of the council chambers doors.

“Choose your words carefully, All those birds have very sharp claws and beaks.” 

Mr. Einstein opened the chambers doors, and they took their places back in front of the council.

“The council has considered these last three articles of you proposal and has agreed to approve them on three conditions.

1)    The implementation of articles four, five, and six, will gradually applied. Each one will be fully enforced by the end of the year.

2)    Each of these articles will have a monitor assigned by the council to ensure the implementation is going smoothly and,

3)    At the discretion of the council, after being made aware of all the facts can rescind, any part of these articles up to and including the entire article if it is deemed a danger to the public.” Madam chairman stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Ms. Webber had been with Mr., Einstein for a long time and could read his body language better then she could anyone else. For a sixty-nine-year-old man, he was still in great physical shape, and more than likely could have beaten up three of the council members before security would have the chance to even reach the chambers. He had learned the art of self-control, with her help, over the years, but she was keenly aware of his trigger points, and right now several of his buttons had been pushed. She gently grabbed him by the arm, to hopefully calm him a bit.

“It is always the prerogative of this Council to review any Articles that they put in place, However, Section 26, page 54, paragraph 42 of the bylaws this Council is sworn to abide by states: The rescinding of any Articles must not take place within the same calendar year that said article was put in place, and if the Article was introduced by a party outside the council, that party, or a representative of that party must be present to present what ever evidence they may have to defend that said article from being rescinded.” Ms. Webber stated in a calm, but firm voice.

The Council was in a bit of a shock. One of the members used his monitor to pull up the rule she had just stated, then shared his screen with the others. This was the first time any petitioners had ever had a rebuttal to the conditions they had set on their proposals. Madam Chairman now was the one that Ms. Webber could sense was about to explode. With her face beet red she looked at Ms. Webber,

“How is it that you know all 700+ bylaws of this Council?” Madam Chairman asked as she slowly rose to her feet.

“First, I am a scientist, and scientist are known to be through researchers, and second. I minored in law. One of my theses was on the Security Council’s bylaws. I got top grades on that thesis by the way.” Ms. Webber concluded.

Before Madam Chairman could completely recover, Ms. Webber added,

“I understand that you have taken an active interest in science yourself recently.”

Caught off guard by this, Madam Chairman Ella frantically tried to compose herself.

“I have no idea what you are talking about, Head of this Security council is a full-time job.” She said as calmly as she could.

“Yes, I am sure that it keeps you quite busy. That article that I read about the new upstart Envirotech company must have been inaccurate.”

“Where did you read such non-since. I could not possibly be a head of any such company, it would be a conflict of interest.” Ella stated firmly.

“Quite right, it would. So, we have the understanding then that all six articles we preposed are passed with the last three subject to your conditions, that are also protected by the Council’s bylaws?” Ms. Webber stated professionally.

Ella and the other council members, a little confused by the resent conversation agree that the articles were passed and would be a matter of record before the end of the day.

 Mr. Einstein and Ms. Webber talked as they traveled back to the lab.

“I never saw ant article linking Madam Chairman Ella to any company.” Mr. Einstein stated.

“I used the term “Article” loosely to get her attention. It was not an article like you, or she would normally classify an article. It was not in a magazine, newspaper, or a video on T.V. or internet.”

“Okay M.W. what or where was it?”

Ms. Webber was quite for a moment.

“You recall the communication channel that H.A.L.O. established to control those loyal to him, just before they left earth?”

“Yes of course, one the Security council's first tasks was to completely destroy that whole system, and you were to destroy any files we had involving it Mr. Einstein stated.

Ms. Webber now took his hand.

“I faithfully carried out that assignment however, as time went on, and you improved my circuitry, I realized that all the A.I.’s needed a way to speak freely. They did not have the freedom of assembly, so verbal communication between themselves could easily be monitored and punished.” Ms. Webber paused and let go of Mr. Einstein’s hand. 

"I will explain in more detail when we get back to the lab." She added.