Metroforce

By
Milton Davis

-1-

Michelle Armstrong stood behind the podium before the corporate Council, her

brown eyes focused, her full mouth locked in serious expression. Manicured fingers

gripped the sides of the platform, her anger visible only in the wrinkles on her prominent

forehead. It was an insult that she had to answer to these pompous bastards, that they had

the audacity to even imagine they could do what they were considering. Behind the

affront was the reality that they could do it and there was no way she could stop them.

But she would not go down without a fight. Let the records show that at Earth’s darkest

hour an Armstrong fought to keep it free.

“The corporate planets were created by Environ,” she stated. “This we all know

and accept. But who created Earth? Who filled her barren depressions with water? Who

filled those seas with life? Who coaxed life onto the land and filled it with the plants and

animals we all know? And who created us? We may differ on the answer to these

questions, but there is one thing we can all agree on, it was not Environ.”

Michelle paused to give time for her words to penetrate the council’s stubborn

minds.

“You cannot sell that which was created by God.”

 “If that was the case, Ms. Armstrong, the Corporate Network would not exist.”

The Environ lawyer spoke from his chair, his hands folded behind his head. He

looked young, barely twenty, but looks were no judge of age when confronting corporate

types at his level. The company that provided corporations terra-formed planets for sale

also held the secret to prolonged life, a secret it kept to itself for incentive. For all

Michelle knew this lawyer could be two hundred years old.

The lawyer unfolded his hands and stood.

“Every planet in existence today was not made by men, yet we buy and sell them

at will. I’m sure you didn’t seek the approval of the Almighty before you bought the land

you own, Ms. Armstrong.”

The room echoed with laughter.

“Earth is not just a dead piece of rock. It is our home, our origin,” Michelle

retorted. “It is sacred to us all. But you wish to reduce it to just another piece of

property.”

Michelle noted the nods among the council.

“I agree with you,” the lawyer replied with a solemn expression. “No one here

doubts the importance of Earth to us all. She is our mother, our alpha. It’s because of this

that she deserves the best of care, a duty only Environ is capable of fulfilling.”

“Earth City Council does a fine job now without Environ’s help,” Michelle

countered.

“Does it?” The lawyer approached Michelle. “You say you safeguard the heritage

of mankind. What has become of those symbols we hold sacred? Where are the Great

Pyramids, the Forbidden City, Angkor Wat, Timbuktu, the Sistine Chapel, Stonehenge,
and Red Square? Where are these monuments of mankind’s accomplishments today,

Madame Mayor?”

Michelle couldn’t answer. Some of the places he named she never heard of, let

alone knew of their present condition. She cursed herself for being caught off guard. She

had anticipated a business argument to justify Environ’s bid. She hadn’t imagined they

would use her own tactics against her.

The lawyer smiled at her then turned away to face the council.

“No one here denies the special place Earth holds in our lives. She is the

Motherland, the cradle of what we still know as life. Who better to safeguard her that

Environ? Our founders saved Her from disaster two thousand years ago, hence the name

we proudly carry. We believe it is our duty to preserve the history and legacy of mankind.

That is why I stand before you all today to ask you to allow this purchase.”

“Your concern is admirable,” Michelle replied. “However, it puzzles me. You say

you love Earth, yet you abandoned her fifteen hundred years ago to build your empire

among the stars. Five hundred years ago you instigated the war that destroyed the United

Nations and crippled every form of government on the planet. You’ve stood by and

watched as those too poor to escape to your manufactured worlds have struggled to repair

the damage. Now suddenly you return ready to sweep Earth into your benevolent arms

and revive her spirit. I know the Corporate Council well; this stinks of profit.”

The anger was obvious among the councilmen as they shifted in their seats. Like

most powerful people they chose to believe their covert plans were well kept secrets no

matter how obvious they were. Michelle was not making any friends, but she knew she

had no allies in the boardroom.

 The Environ lawyer’s expression cleared; she made a powerful enemy.

“Our relationship with Earth has been contentious; no one would deny this. All

parents at some point find themselves at odds with their children. It is a normal rite of

passage. But children come to appreciate the value of wisdom of their parents later in life.

We at Environ have reached this point and we are willing to do whatever it takes to

restore Earth to its former place as the mother of us all!”

“I believe we have heard enough for one day,” Councilman Schnell concluded.

The council chairmen rose from his seat, clutching the sides of his jacket with his well-

manicured hands.

“Both arguments were well presented and contain merit. You both have given us

much to contemplate. We will adjourn for the day and the Corporate Council will deliver

its decision by the end of this week.”

It was over. Michelle stepped down from her podium as the councilmen left their

seats to mingle with the army of reporters, a flock of hover cams swarming over their

heads. Michelle cut through the crowd, ignoring the onslaught of reporters charging in

her direction. Nelson, Maria and Toshi rushed through the doors opposite the conference

room, circling her before the media reached her and activating their dampers. A

collective sigh rose from the reporters as their mikes and cams went dead as they

breached the five foot barrier. They resorted to shouting, taking long range shots with the

hover cams.

“You have to talk to them,” Nelson said. “The battle is not only fought here.”

“For what?” Michelle replied. “Be quiet and keep walking, Nelson. They can still

hear us.”
 The Earth delegation remained silent until they reached their limousine. Michelle

leaned back into her seat and let out a long sigh.

“All that’s left is the waiting,” Maria said.

“We’re not waiting for anything,” Michelle countered. “Limo, Paradise SP.”

“We’re leaving?” Nelson asked.

Michelle looked at her cohorts, shocked at their naiveté.

“Did you actually believe we stood a chance? This tribunal was just a show. Earth

belongs to Environ whether we sign it over or not.”

Toshi paled. “But why would they do this? Why give us hope?”

“Because they’re a bunch of avaricious bastards that deserve to die,” Nelson said.

Michelle sat up in her seat, glaring at Nelson.

“Don’t start that UN propaganda shit, okay Nelson? This tribunal was staged for

the records. One hundred years from now this will be a footnote in the Archives and

Environ wanted its stamp on the records.

“The perfect corporation,” Nelson said. “Cruel yet compassionate.”

“So what do we do?” Maria asked.

“We go home and try to stop a war,” Michelle replied.

-2-
 He crouched in a shroud of darkness, comforted by the ceramic pulse rifle gripped

in his hands. The shallow breathing of his platoon vibrated off the metal walls, their

closeness girding his confidence. For two weeks they scampered through cracks and

crevices of the alien ship, luck and endurance keeping them ahead of their hunters, their

numbers dwindling with each attack. But they were finally cornered, enveloped in cold

shadows while the clatter of claws against steel echoed through the chamber above them.

He looked up and was blinded. His comrades fired in instinct and he shouted for

them to stop. Every shot had to count. They were dead men, but at least they would make

a decent last stand. He forced his eyes to focus on the creatures swarming overhead. He

raised his blaster, tracking an alien as it spun down towards him. It pulled out of its dive

as he fired and he missed. It was a dangerous game to draw their fire and it was working.

Soon he and his comrades were out of charges.

He reached into his backpack and pulled out his lance. The room echoed with the

snap of electricity as they activated the spearheads. The alien dove in mass, falling like

stones. He thrust at an oncoming alien and his lance was knocked aside. The creature

crashed into him, knocking him breathless. They wrestled, a deadly embrace between

man and non-man, the alien beating on his shoulders as he clamped his fingers around its

feathered neck and squeezed…

Christina’s screams woke him. He straddled her, his calloused hands tight around

her neck. She flailed at his arms, desperate to break his grip. Terry’s mind knew he was

wrong, but his body would not respond. The image of the creature was too strong.

Christina’s struggles grew weaker, her eyelids drooping. He was killing her. He pulled

his hands away from her neck and tumbled away to his side of the bed. They both lay
there, Terry’s chest heaving, Christina coughing violently as air rushed back into her

lungs and the blood flowed back to her brain.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Terry whispered.

“You’re crazy!” She rolled out of the bed landing on her hands and knees. She

crawled across the floor, picking up her clothes. Terry sat up.

“Let me help you.”

“Stay the fuck away from me!” she rasped. She dressed on the floor, struggled to

her feet and half ran to the door of the condo. The door slipped aside and she disappeared

into the darkness of the hallway.

Terry sat at the end of the bed until he heard her shuttle depart. He fell back onto

the bed and gripped his head with his hands. She was right; he was crazy. For five years

the same dream haunted him, appearing unexpectedly and driving him to react like he

just had. But this was the first time it had occurred when he was with someone, and that

someone almost died. He had to go to the clinic before he killed somebody. There was no

more putting it off. First thing in the morning he would catch the Magnet to Central and

check himself in. He would probably get demoted, but what the hell. He was getting tired

of Paradise.

It was two thirty in the morning. Terry lifted himself out of bed and trudged into

the bathroom. The water streamed into the sink as he entered and he dipped his hands

into the warm liquid and splashed his face. He ran his hands across his smooth cheeks

and chin, opening his eyes to the face that Paradisean women loved for its imperfections.

Staring into his own deep brown eyes, he tried to find the source of the nightmare, speed

reading the episodes of his life to find the one that had mutated into the haunting vision.
A wicked memory of Rio shifted his eyes to the faint scare over his right eye and made

him smile. He looked at the hairline scar in the corner of his full lips and remembered

Saigon V. So many places, too many memories, and the nightmare that would not go

away, he thought.

He’d come to Paradise because the job was good and the pay was better. Despite

what everyone wanted, Environ’s premier planet and home world was just another stop to

him, an easy respite between gritty Frontier assignments. After six years he still rose

every morning searching the Environ Security WormNet (ESWN) for a position that

would take him away from the artificial perfection and back among the horde of the

ordinary.

Ephraim’s voice buzzed in his earpiece.

“Terry, what’s going on?”

Terry gripped the sides of his sink and dropped his head. “What are you talking

about?”

“I got a honey at the Third Ward trying to file charges against you for assault and

attempted murder.”

“I had a bad dream.”

The moment of silence meant Ephraim was pissed. “I’ll make it go away, but you

have to promise me not to do whatever you did again. You understand?”

“Yeah, I got you. Thanks, boss.”

“Yeah, right. Come to my office first thing in the morning. I got some good new

for us all.”

Terry looked up into the mirror and saw his curious face. “What’s going on?”
 “Come by in the morning.”

He shrugged. It was probably another weak assignment on some other perfect

world, the kind of assignment Ephraim lived for. He was moving up in the ranks and

taking Terry along with him. Terry didn’t understand why. There were a thousand

officers just as qualified for his job, and nine hundred and ninety-nine of them probably

liked Ephraim more than him.

He decided not to think about it. He washed his face and went down into the

kitchen. The sandwich on the counter was cold but edible. He plopped down on the sofa

before the plasma and stared into the blank screen and nodded off. He awoke still on the

couch, the sandwich on the floor, his alarm ringing persistently. He went back to his

room and dressed, remembering Ephraim’s summons to his office like some telepathic

command.

Terry left his cube with the unusual feeling of anticipation. Ephraim’s

statement raised his curiosity. He needed something different to do. Paradise was killing

him with its perfect predictability, its monotonous beauty. Though no one complained

about his job performance, office work was not his calling.

He caught the Mole from his condo to the Central. A quick jog to the lift and

he was hurtling to the eighty-fifth floor of Environ headquarters, the executive VP level.

Terry felt nervous as he exited the lift into the spacious white marble foyer. The room

reminded him of the cathedrals of Vatican, those cavernous sanctuaries designed to

convey the greatness of God and the insignificance of man. The more he studied the room

he realized whoever designed it gathered their inspiration from the Catholic planet. The
room glowed with natural illumination filtered through huge stained glass windows

depicting defining moments in Environ history.

The hall housed the offices of two hundred vp’s. The spaces were separated

by grade V dampers that provided discreet privacy. Ephraim’s space occupied the far left

corner of the hall, a prime site and obvious sign of his rank. He sat behind his clearsteel

desk, moving images about on his visual as he talked. He glanced at Terry and motioned

him to sit.

“That’s good news, Ramirez,” he said. “Look, I have to go, Terry’s here.”

He winked at Terry and Terry smiled back, uncomfortable with the familiarity

Ephraim displayed toward him. There was a reason somewhere in his mind, but it was as

vague as his nightmares were clear.

“Terry?”

Terry pulled his attention back to Ephraim. Ephraim shook his head.

“You’re making me nervous,” he said. “Don’t make me regret this decision.”

“Just daydreaming, that’s all.”

“That’s just it, Terry. You have the perfect career on the perfect planet and

you still space out.”

Terry didn’t notice another person entering the cube until he was standing

beside him. He looked to his right and felt a flash of anger in his cheeks.

“Terry, I think you know Kwame?”

Terry stood and shook Kwame’s hand instead of punching him in the face.

Kwame sat beside him, a smug look on his young face.

 “Privacy,” Terry said. An opaque shroud surrounded them. Terry’s head link

scrambled, the high pitch whine irritating but tolerable.

“I asked you here to tell you of the most exciting project to happen at Environ

in one hundred years. You probably heard of our efforts to purchase Earth. It’s been a

difficult struggle, but today the deal has been approved. The birthplace of man belongs to

us!”

“Outstanding!” Kwame exclaimed.

Terry sat on the edge of his seat, more curious that excited.

“What do we have to do with this?” he asked.

Ephraim leaned back in his chair, his enthusiasm dampened by Terry’s

directness.

“I have been selected to oversee the Earth Rehabilitation Project. You

gentlemen are going to help me.”

“What’s the assignment?” Terry asked.

“Earth is unique,” Ephraim replied. “The organization is special. But our

biggest challenge will be security.”

“That’s our specialty,” Kwame answered with a smile.

“Don’t be too hasty,” Ephraim replied. “Every planet you ever administered

was a corporate world. We developed every planet in the system to be interdependent to

insure control of the markets. Planets in rebellion would never survive long on their own.

We only use force to expedite the inevitable.

‘But Earth is an independent planet. The only other planet like it in the system

is Paradise. It could cut itself off from the System and do just fine, so to speak. If the
Terrans revolt it would be a real revolution, costing us a tremendous amount of capital.

Thus the purchase. This is our opportunity to bring Earth into the System and under

Corporate control.”

“What do we have to fear from Earth?” Kwame asked. “The combined

corporate security teams could finish it off in no time.”

“If it was that easy it would have been done by now,” Terry answered. “We

fought a war with Earth before and didn’t win. We didn’t lose, but we didn’t win.”

“Exactly, Terry,” Ephraim said. “The United Nations still exists. We have no

idea what influence it has on the Earth City Council but they are not to be taken lightly.

No one knows what type of arsenal they possess and despite our numbers they are eons

ahead of us in weapons technology. You can bet they’ll do everything in their power to

make this transition a disaster.”

“What about the council?” Terry asked. “Whose side are they on?”

“They’re showing a united front before the cameras,” Ephraim replied. “A

few council members have contacted us off the record supporting the takeover.

Apparently they’ve grown tired of Michelle Armstrong’s anti corporate stance and

they’re anxious for a little Alliance prosperity. The majority of the council still supports

her. We must convince the Terrans we’re in it for them and the best way to do that is to

improve security.”

“What’s the current situation?” Kwame asked.

“It comes down to what you can afford. Atlanta is our role model for change.

The police force is corrupt. The successful live within the Dome under private security

protection. Outside the perimeter it’s every man and woman for themselves. We need to
make a difference out there, gentlemen. Earth needs to be so safe that if a woman walks

down a dark alley naked all she’ll be is embarrassed.”

Terry cut a glance at Kwame. “Why the both of us?”

Ephraim stood. “I’m well aware there’s no love lost between you two. I don’t

know the details and I don’t want to know. Like it or not, you two make a good team.

You’re a perfect combination of fire and ice.”

“Terry, you’ll be in charge of City Security. Your job is to consolidate the

various city and security forces into one unit. You will act directly with the city council

and the other local officials. You have the looks, the smarts and the strength for the

position.

“Kwame, your job is more covert. You’ll lead the Rangers, the security team

in the Wilds. You job is to locate sites considered of historical value. You’ll also be in

charge of locating and eliminating any illegal activity occurring outside the city-states.”

“You’re going to disrupt the naturals trade,” Terry said.

“Not disrupt, just bring it under Environ control,” Ephraim said. “The natural

trade is too valuable to Earth’s profit system to eliminate. The Earth Council gains the

majority of its revenue from the trade. We want that money going into our pockets.”

Terry stood; ready to be out of the room with Kwame.

“When do we start?” he asked.

“You have a week to assemble your teams,” Ephraim replied. “You’ll need to

be ready to relocate by month’s end.”

“Relocate?”
 “Yes,” Ephraim said. “Like I said, this is an important project, too important for

long distance management. You’re going to Earth.”