Carson Evolved Ch. 01

The one drawback Mara had found to choosing a rogue was that he didn't understand his own responsibilities, or the support system that was in place to make the project's goals draw nearer each year. He didn't know, for example, that money would never be an issue for them. While Mara had been quite ready to get pregnant, Carson came from more modest means, and he worried about having the money to support his family. Thus, he'd been resistant to having a baby so far. He needn't have been concerned. With their first child, an entire catalog of wealth, education, and employment opportunities would be made available to them. It was in the project's best interests, after all, to ensure that the offspring of their program were nurtured and cared for, and then positioned to best assist society.

In recent weeks, there had been a number of discussions between Mara and her family, and among the directors of the project, on the best way to bring Carson "into the fold." All of the women in Mara's family had had eggs frozen for future use, of course. But there was still a time component to her part in the project. The longer they delayed having children, the longer it would be until the next step could be made. If he proved to be intractable, there could be...consequences. The project was too valuable to waste resources through petty concerns.

Mila watched her sister's internal struggle in silence. She knew exactly how Mara was feeling, since she felt similarly. After all, she was in a holding pattern, waiting for Carson's acceptance of his part in the project as well. She had the same options as her sister, of course, but she'd fallen for her sister's husband almost as strongly as Mara. Once the married couple had a baby on the way, then Mila would be allowed to start work on her own baby with Carson. It wouldn't be a problem for the sisters; they'd shared many things through the years, and there had been many discussions on what their futures held. It was a long-held agreement that if one found the right candidate, she'd do her best to bring the other along.

That was the result of social programming as part of the project. It had been a surprise when their mother had explained their role in Orriri. That had been years ago, and constant repetition of the expectations had firmly entrenched them into the twins' minds. The project was not concerned with monogamy. In fact, the entire premise of the program was that superior people needed to breed superior offspring in order to better society in general. Given the limited rate that women could produce children, it was antithetical to the project's goals for men to only produce babies with one woman. Project men were not only encouraged, but expected, to impregnate as many suitable females as possible.

Time was against Mara and Carson, but it was already reaching a critical point for another Livingstone woman. The twins' mother, Helena, had given birth to the girls the day after she turned 18. There had been three other babies since then, but those had been rogues seeded into adoptive families over the years. She had no idea where they were now, and hadn't thought of them in years. At 44, Helena was near the end of her reproductive lifetime, and hoping to try once more with Carson if she got the chance.

"It's going to be okay, Mara." Mila rested her hand on her twin's forearm. They're making contact this evening, and before you know it, you'll have a bun in the oven.

Mara smiled at her sister's reassurance. "Who are you trying to cheer up? Me? Or are you just waiting for a chance to get my husband between your legs?"

Mila laughed and rocked her hand side-to-side. She said, "I'll be ecstatic for you, of course, when Carson knocks you up. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little jealous that you get to make love to him all the time."

"We could try switching places for a night," her sister said.

Shaking her head, Mila replied, "You and I both know that would never work. We've fooled teachers, friends, and even boyfriends before. That one time, we even got Dad. But Carson has always been able to tell us apart. Always." Wistfully, she said, "As much as I want to try, it would probably do more harm than good right now."

Just then, their mother joined them. "Good evening girls." With a worried look on her face, she placed her hand on Mara's arm and asked, "How are you holding up?"

Right up until she asked that, Mara had been able to keep her emotions in check. Something about the way her mother asked that question put a crack in the dam holding back the flood. A tear leaked from her eye and she said, "Not really so good, Mom." Mara dabbed her tear away with a cocktail napkin her sister provided. With a sniff, she asked, "What are the chances he comes around?" It was asked casually, but Helena could see how important the answer was to her daughter.

"Honestly? I have no idea," she replied with a shake of her head. "Carson is...well, he's so hard to read. If I had to guess, I think that if you'd brought up the idea of a threesome with your sister or something, he'd probably go for it." With a chuckle, she said, "I don't think he's that different from any other guy. But...I don't know how he's going to feel about having babies with different women, or that you expect him to do it. What's your take?"

Mara shrugged. "I've been trying to guess all evening, and I really don't know. It's been a real challenge not to break down and explain everything about O...the project. But I know that's not my role. It just puts a strain on our relationship. We haven't been talking much lately. I've been frustrated with him, and I know he knows I'm keeping something from him. I wouldn't be surprised if he thinks I'm having an affair."

"If he thinks that, he's going to be in for a rude awakening when he finds out what's really going on," observed Mila.

Even Mara had to laugh at that. "I'm probably going to enjoy the look on his face when I show him the list of women that I have for him. Can you imagine? He thinks I'm out looking for a strange cock, and all the while I'm scouting new pussies for him?"

The other women joined her in laughing at the possibility. They spent the rest of the evening observing a pair of women that Mara thought were possible candidates. It was a nice distraction, but in the back of their minds, each was anxiously awaiting the report from the recruiter.

*****

The waiter had no sooner returned with his porterhouse and cleared away his salad plate when the strange man slid into the booth opposite Carson. Surprised at the man's appearance, he didn't react immediately. The two men simply stared at each for a moment, each looking at the other in expectation of a forthcoming comment.

Finally, Carson leaned forward slightly and asked, "May I help you?"

The enigmatic man before him smiled briefly and replied, "Yes you can, Mr. Jayne. Yes, you can."

"Do we know each other, Mr...?" asked Carson in confusion.

"Sloane, Mr. Jayne. My name is Xavier Sloane, and we don't know each other." The man slid a plastic card across the table to him. Roughly the shape and size of an old business card, but thicker and heavier, Carson could see what appeared to be a small RFID chip embedded in the translucent plastic. There was no writing on the card, but the graphic was interesting. It showed a group of stylized humanoid stick figures drawn in black whose forms morphed into the double helical structure of DNA, which in turn morphed into a larger figure of a red hue.

"I represent an organization that has taken a great deal of interest in you, Mr. Jayne. I am here to make you an offer."

Carson smiled and said, "I hope you haven't travelled far, Mr. Sloane. I'm very happy with my firm, so I'm afraid..."

Xavier held up his hand. "I apologize, sir. The matter at hand has nothing to do with your profession."

"Oh," said Carson, not really sure how to proceed. "What's this about, then?"

"I know this is strange and confusing Mr. Jayne. Unfortunately, the matter is quite delicate, and I am not at liberty to divulge many details in this setting. Really, there are only two things that I can tell you right now. First, the issues that you and your wife are experiencing are not because she is having an affair. Second, we believe that you have it within you to be a part of a brighter future for our society." The strange man stood up and rebuttoned his suit jacket.

"That card," he said, nodding at the one still clasped in Carson's fingers, "will provide you access to an exclusive briefing where we can provide you with a much more comprehensive explanation of our project. The details of the meeting, time, location, etc. are included on that card. It is up to you to determine how to extract that information. Good evening, sir, and I hope to see you again soon." With that, the enigmatic man sauntered off, leaving behind a very confused, but intrigued, Carson Jayne.

As he watched Xavier Sloane walk away, Carson couldn't figure out if he was more stunned or intrigued by the odd man's words. How could he possibly know about my concerns with Mara, or whether she's cheating? he wondered. While he ate, his eyes drifted from time to time towards the card that was apparently the key to all his questions. All he had to do was figure out how to access it.

*****

It had been more than three days since the unexpected meeting with Xavier Sloane and Carson was no closer to figuring out the riddle of the card than he'd been. Initially, he'd assumed that it worked like any other RFID card, drawing power from the incoming radio waves and triggering some sort of signal to the reader. The problem is, the reader needs to know what signal it's looking for. Where to find the right reader to access the card he held? Without further guidance, it seemed to be an impossible task.

The longer Carson thought about the problem, the more frustrated that he became. The promise of further explanation, especially with respect to the issues in his marriage, was like the proverbial oasis in the distance—always beckoning, but never drawing any closer. Carson was mulling over everything that Xavier had said, hoping to glean some clue. As he turned the card over in his hands, his eyes returned once again to the graphic. Something about the image caught his attention and he focused more heavily on it. He hadn't put much thought into understanding the graphic to this point, but looking at it now, he almost kicked himself at how obvious the answer was.

With growing excitement, he placed the wireless charger for his communications device in the middle of his desk. Carefully, he placed the card on the charger. At first, nothing happened. As he watched, however, the card began to glow faintly from within. What he'd initially thought was little more than an ID card was clearly a miniature computing device. With a trembling hand, he pressed the tip of his finger gently to the head of the largest stick figure on the card, where he'd spied a barely noticeable depression. There was the slightest sensation of a pin-prick, which he'd expected. Pulling his finger from the card, he sucked away the tiny droplet of blood that welled from his fingertip.

He watched as the tiny needle retracted into the card with great anticipation. He wasn't sure what was about to happen, but when the card turned opaque, Carson released the breath he'd unknowingly held.

A small display began flashing words.

Identity...confirmed.

Establishing connection...connection established.

Accessing data...download in progress.

Carson watched, amazed, as the device established contact with an unknown data source and downloaded whatever information was intended for him.

Download complete. Proceed?

The word "Proceed?" was blinking as if waiting for input. Tentatively, Carson said, "Proceed."

Voiceprint confirmed...

The voice of Xavier Sloane emerged from the device. "Hello, Mr. Jayne. Congratulations on solving the puzzle. I know that you'll have a great many questions. This device, however, is limited to confirming your identity and providing you with access to the next step of your induction. I look forward to speaking with you then. Please memorize the address on the display. And remember to bring this card with you this evening; all of your questions will be answered then."

Communication terminated...

Carson sat back, more confused than ever. Who were these people, and how far down the rabbit hole was he willing to go? He noted the time and address on the display, surprised that he knew the building. It was one of the most unique structures in the city, a pair of steel and glass towers that twisted around each other like twin snakes emerging towards the sky. With their connecting crosswalks between the towers, Carson had always thought the buildings sort of looked like...DNA. His eyes widened at the thought, then roamed across the graphic on the card once more. So many pieces made sense, but where did he fit into this picture?

Only one way to find out, he thought. He grabbed his keys and jacket, tucking the card into the inner pocket. As he did so, however, something about the card caught his eye and he pulled it back out for another look. Sure enough, the larger figure on the graphic was no longer red; it was gold. Puzzling over the change, he shrugged and tucked the card away. Just another thing to ask about when he got there.

*****

Approaching the landmark building, Carson's nerves almost caused him to turn away. What made him continue, ultimately, was not the vague pronouncement of his having anything to do with a better society. It was simply the explanation for the difficulties he was having with Mara. And so, he continued.

Only one of the towers had doors at ground level. When he reached those doors, he found them locked. To the side, almost hidden from view, was a small slot with the icon on his card displayed above. It appeared to be the right width for his card, so he inserted it and heard the sound of the electronic locks disengaging from the door. He retrieved the card and entered the building. The atrium he stepped into was an airy space, extending three stories before the twist of the unique building's construction appeared to close the gap above.

Sitting at a small station was one of the largest men he'd ever seen. The man had to be seven feet tall, or close to it, and well over 300 pounds. Oddly, given his proportions, he looked perfectly natural in his dark grey wool suit, white dress shirt, and burgundy silk tie. As he made his way towards Carson, his movements were fluid. Instinctively, Carson sensed that this was a very dangerous man.

One of the deepest voices Carson had ever heard rumbled from the giant's throat. He spoke with a hint of an English accent, but his diction seemed colored by time spent somewhere else. Maybe the Bahamas, or perhaps Bermuda? "Good evening, Mr. Jayne. I am Edwards. If you'll come this way, please." In years to come, Carson would never determine if that was his last name, first name, or only name. The large man guided him to a nearby elevator opening, and then stopped and looked at him expectantly. Carson wasn't sure what was expected until he spied the same card slot from the entry door next to the elevator key pad. He slid his card in the slot and a single spot illuminated on the touchscreen. His guide touched the spot and the door silently slid open. Carson stepped into the car and moved to the side, expecting the giant man to join him. Edwards shook his head and said, "I am not yet permitted access to your floor. Perhaps when you return, things will have changed. For now, I wish you good luck, and I will see you when you are finished." Before Carson could reply, the door slid closed.

A moment later, the door opened again. Carson had not felt the usual sensation of movement, and thus hadn't realized he'd been transported to his destination. Idly, he wondered what floor he was on. That thought was momentarily put aside by the appearance of the woman before him. Roughly five and a half feet tall, the first thing he noticed about her was the deep red color of her hair. He'd always had a thing for redheads. Then, he noticed the beautiful smile upon her face, which matched the twinkling in her deep, blue eyes. The rest of the picture was just as alluring. She had an athletic build, strong without being overly muscular, and curvy. She wore a wool skirt the same color as the man downstairs(?), paired with sheer black stockings and 4" black heels. Her blouse was a wrap style, burgundy like Edwards's tie, but satin. Underneath that were what appeared to be a pair of heavy breasts; he could see the lines of a bra, but it did little to mask the way they swayed at her slightest movement. In short, she was exactly the image of his fantasy woman.

Carson heard a little giggle and realized he'd been caught staring. He stepped forward and extended his hand, "My apologies. I'm Carson Jayne."

She shook his hand and said, "Samantha Cross. Don't worry about it. You'll find that there's a reason I was chosen for this position. Frankly, I'd be offended if you didn't look at me like a steak dinner after a hunger strike. And after tonight, we'll be working very closely together. I imagine you'll be seeing a lot of me. Please, follow me."

Samantha led him towards a blank wall. Over her shoulder she said, "The portal to your office has been linked to your biometrics, just like any of the other project areas you'll need to access. Only you and your case manager can open it; anyone else entering will need to be accompanied by one of you." She stopped, which caused him to stop. "Go ahead," she said with a smile. "It only looks like a blank wall." As he started walking, she fell into step behind him. As he drew closer, it was as if the wall simply ceased to exist, opening a doorway into the office of his dreams. As he stepped through, he felt a slight tingle. He turned to look back through the doorway and was surprised to see what appeared to be a hexagonal mesh of energy over the opening.

"Pretty cool, huh?" said Samantha, her lips only inches from his ear. "It's a combination of holographic technology, nanites, and electromagnetic force field. Anyone approaching from the outside right now would only see the same blank wall that you saw at first. But you can see out, obviously."

"Just one of the many wonders you'll find working with us," said a new voice. Turning, Carson saw Xavier Sloane perched on a couch nearby.

Carson made his way to a chair across the small table from Xavier. Just as he sat down, Samantha placed a steaming cup of coffee at his side. He looked at her questioningly; he hadn't even seen her move to the brewer that was now evident across the room. She simply smiled and waited as he took a sip. His eyes almost bugged out and he looked at her.

She smiled even bigger and said, "I know a lot about you, Mr. Jayne. The kind of coffee you drink and how you like it prepared are barely even a scratch on the surface." Having said that, she took a seat at the other end of the couch that Xavier was sitting on, crossed her legs and looked at the strange man expectantly.

Xavier saw her look and smiled. "Yes, it's time we got down to business." He turned his attention to Carson. "Mr. Jayne, I promised that I would answer your questions, and I will. But I need to explain some things to you first. I must ask you to please hold your questions until I've finished. Otherwise, it could take quite a while." When Carson nodded his agreement, he continued. "First, our organization is called The Orriri Project, or often, simply "Orriri' or 'The Project.' We are seeking a way to better humanity, and through that, to better society. To give you an idea of our approach, we need to talk about some history. Are you familiar with Gregor Mendel?" he asked.