‘Thank you very much, sir,’ she replied simply. ‘It’s your and Mr. Walker’s presence, though, that makes it extraordinary. I can’t express how delighted I am to meet you once again. Let me introduce my boss, Nectar Foster, the Managing Director of Elixir Vitae Communications; Perenelle Stevens, my Personal Assistant, and Ambrose Morgan, my friend and co-worker. This is Phoenix Cox.’
Everyone shook both men’s hands, fully aware of the one-in-a-lifetime privilege.
‘Pleasure to meet you all,’ Dr. Life said.
Sensing the perfect moment, Mr. Paramonos stepped in.
‘May I invite you all to dinner at Venus. This night calls for a celebration. Doctor, Mr. Walker – please join us.’
‘With pleasure, Mr. Paramonos.’
As they made their way towards the exit, the crowd split in front of them like a theatre curtain, stirred and excited.
CHAPTER FOUR
Amaranthine floated, suspended in the middle of deep, dark blue ocean. Her long hair swayed gently, guided by subtle waves. In front of her eyes stretched an endless, colorful coral reef, a home to countless schools of baby fish and sea dragons. The water was warm and the slight current carried her along the reef, as if a roll of film was being unfolded right in front of her face.
‘Did you enjoy that?’ Eiko sang when the program was over.
‘That was marvelous,’ Amaranthine purred, stretched on her sofa. She has been in the state of bliss since Saturday night, four days ago.
What a night it was, she recalled for the hundredth time. The launch was a huge success, the opening show and the décor of each planet, which took her six months to design and bring to life, earned enthusiastic reviews. And then, of course, the appearance of Dr. Life and Mr. Walker was the best pinnacle of her triumph. She never admitted, even to herself, that she’d secretly been hoping he would accept her invitation this time.
She had a chance to speak to him at dinner and he made an even bigger impression on her at closer acquaintance. He had the charm and wit that kept his audience captivated but completely relaxed, and he did all that so effortlessly you’d swear he enjoyed himself more than anyone else.
She wondered, listening to him and watching him, exactly what and how he said to the leaders of the world when he gave them his famous ultimatums nine decades ago. In return for the Cure, he demanded complete denuclearization, cessation of all military conflicts, introduction of democratic standards in those countries that didn’t have them, respect for human rights and protection of the environment. But he spoke not only to the leaders then – they were merely given a head start of a few days before he addressed whole nations, because his ultimate goal was that the Cure be available to every single individual on the planet. It was to be cheap, even free to those who couldn’t afford it. The invention was kept in absolute secrecy until he and his colleagues were ready to bring it to the world on their own terms. No one knew exactly who had access to the formula of the Cure, how it was made and what was required for its production. In 2016 the world was given a simple choice – meet Dr. Life’s requirements fast or give up your dream of immortality.
Not everybody believed he’d actually follow through with all the rules he established. Surely, it couldn’t be that suddenly the most powerful people on Earth, like the president of the United States, would be equal to the poorest tribesmen of the Third World. Many tried their influence or plotting. They bitterly regretted it later.
For Dr. Life, power, money or titles were meaningless. He executed his plan with uncompromising consequence, giving no one preferential treatment.
Within a few weeks, the world realized that he not only meant every word he said, but that he was also meticulously prepared to execute his plan in the finest detail. First Immortality Clinics were up and running within days in those countries that met the criteria. Detailed reports and interviews with the first lucky Immortals were broadcast non-stop on all channels – with foreseeable effects.
A series of profound events, referred to as The Immortal Revolution, followed.
With massive pressure from their nations, the leaders had to act fast. Suddenly, it turned out that reasonable political decisions could be made. Thousand-year-long land disputes could be solved in creative ways. Nuclear weapons could be destroyed. Women could be allowed the same rights as men. Communist regimes could be turned into model democracies within a few years. Finally, every homo sapiens on Earth had a common goal, something that united them beyond any division that had ever existed. Everyone was in a hurry to meet Dr. Life’s requirements. They all wanted to be immortal, of course, but not only that. They also wanted to become Immortals with the youngest possible looks – the Cure could completely halt the ageing process of the human body, but could not reverse it. You stayed as young or old as you were at your first injection. It was a race with every wrinkle and every gray hair.
Nevertheless, speculations that some individuals, personally selected by Dr. Life, were exempt from waiting till their countries complied with the demands, never ceased. Scientists who were conducting significant research that would benefit humanity, especially those mature in years. None of those speculations were ever confirmed by Dr. Life, but some examples were almost indisputable. The Japanese physics professor Yoshiaki Arata was 90 years old on the day the Cure was revealed, and he didn’t look a day older today, even though Japan was not allowed to join the Cure Scheme till 2020 due to their fishing policies. Some even speculated that professor Arata was given the Cure years before its official announcement as Dr. Life felt his dedication to research on cold fusion granted him that privilege. But the world could hardly complain about that – if it were true – since Arata finally did manage to finalize his research at the age of 130, giving the world a clean, unlimited source of energy. Now every building had its own cold fusion reactor in the basement, not even mentioning the fact that it made the development of the hovering engine feasible.
And this man, who single-handedly, in the space of a few years, changed the face of humanity – biologically, politically, socially, culturally and economically – came to the opening of The Universe and dined with them afterwards. Amaranthine was still not sure if this was not a dream or one of Eiko’s programs from which she was about to wake up.
It didn’t seem so, though. Neither dreams nor Eiko’s programs lasted four days and she’d already checked twice that it was Wednesday, December 30th. The last three days at work were just one long stream of congratulations, rewards and celebration. When she turned up in the office on Monday morning, she was applauded like a hero and Nectar was so delighted with her that he gave her a 50% rise and paid for her and Phoenix to spend a weekend in the best spa on the Moon. As for Mr. Paramonos, he requested that from now on Amaranthine would personally and exclusively handle the PR of all his venues, current and future. ‘He says he spent a lot of time working with you on The Universe and likes your style of doing business,’ Nectar had said.
She spent the last three days handing over whatever other projects she had in the pipeline to Khalida, Celestine and Heng, so she could have a clear account to focus on her key client’s business from the New Year. The whole team’s workload was shuffled around, as promotions followed The Universe triumph and the successive exclusivity on the PR of Mr. Paramonos’ empire. A few of the projects they had scheduled to start as of New Year were dropped altogether. Paramonos Enterprises was the real deal, the biggest account the company had ever landed and every PR agency’s dream.
She glanced at the clock and decided it was time to start getting ready. Her and Phoenix were going out to celebrate – not only her success, but also the end of the case he was working on in Sydney. The verdict was being delivered today and he was sure of another brilliant victory.
It’s going to be a great night, she thought as her hairdressing machine lifted, revealing her hair arranged in thick, loose, wavy strands pinned up slightly from above her ears to the top of her head. Just the two of us, great food and some dr
inks.
It’s been months since they had any amount of time together. It wasn’t necessary to be around each other too much, of course, no one would want that. They socialized a lot with people from her work and afterwards Phoenix usually came back to her place and they had sex. Then they’d have a drink or two together and he’d go back to his place and his life. In that respect, they were a typical Immortal couple – none would dream of restricting the other’s freedom or interfere with their personal routines. She assumed Phoenix maintained romantic relationships with other women, but of course she wouldn’t ask him about it. It was none of her business. She could do the same thing if she felt like it, but at the moment she was simply satisfied with this side of her life. She met a couple of men in the last months and had sex with them, but wasn’t interested in maintaining relationships. She knew that even a few decades ago, people were by default monogamous like the Mortals still remained today. Their freedom was limited even in this most intimate area of life. How boring that must have been! Her and Phoenix’s relationship was still fresh and unconstrained, despite two years of regular dating, something impossible to achieve if one tried to control and restrict the other person’s freedom in any aspect of life, particularly sexual. Monogamy was a primitive, obsolete tool that was meant to provide females with support and males with the certainty that they were raising their own offspring. It had lost its viability when people no longer had to breed to keep the human race going.
Every time she realized these facts, she felt grateful that she was born in the Immortal Era and therefore had full control of her life, free not only of the burden of breeding, but also of the stigma of religion, or any other rules. The only rule that the Immortals observed was not to maintain more than one continuous relationship in one social circle, but that was just good manners.
Occasionally, though, like tonight, she felt the urge to spend an evening just with Phoenix, especially as tomorrow night they’d see everyone at The Universe for New Year’s Eve party. She had made a reservation for tonight in a place they were unlikely to bump into any friends or acquaintances. It was a small seafood restaurant with the best oysters in the city. She skipped lunch to save her appetite for the feast of her favorite food. Then they’d have some champagne and come back to her place. Perfect.
‘Phoenix’s hovermobile is approaching,’ Eiko announced.
‘Great,’ Amari zipped up her high-heel boots. She did the final check in front of the mirror and smiled at herself. She decided to go for a more sexy look tonight, sporting a cerise mini-dress.
The portal was just sealing behind Phoenix as she stepped into the living room. She felt a thrill of excitement as she rushed to be in his arms.
‘Good evening, Mr. Best Lawyer on planet Earth. Tell me, then, what is the new record for the lowest fine in a duovitaery case?’ she tweeted, looking for the usual smile of triumph on his face. But what she found was something entirely opposite. She stepped back.
‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, perplexed.
What happened next had her stunned for a few seconds, unable to respond.
‘Use your brain, Amari, what do you think may be wrong?’ he barked, passing her as if she was a piece of furniture, and heading straight for the bar. ‘Is your stupid computer gonna make me a drink or what?’ he kept on, as the hatch remained closed. Finally it opened, revealing a whisky.
‘Why are you being like this?’ Amari regained the ability to speak and react. She felt anger rise inside her. Her tone carried a demand for explanation.
‘Three million dollars.’ Phoenix turned to face her. ‘Three fucking million, and a year behind bars. Do you even understand what this does to my record? And in the last days of fucking December!’ he gulped his whisky and stared at the hatch with impatience.
Still shocked at his outburst, she now understood what brought it on. This sort of verdict, especially when he was expecting another one of his famous 6-digit fines, was a massive blow to his ambition.
‘It’s not that bad, Phoenix,’ she tried to reason. ‘I know how you feel, but that’s still far below what they usually get.’
His reaction was completely opposite to what she was expecting. He looked at her as if she was his worst enemy. His fists clenched.
‘I knew you wouldn’t get it. I don’t do ‘not that bad,’ Amari. I only do the best. My clients don’t get fines over half a million. And they certainly do not go to jail,’ as he spoke, he seemed to be getting even more furious, his face bright red now.
‘Is this fucking machine going to give me another drink or what?’
‘Not unless you calm down. You’ve done the best for like 95% of the cases you represented,’ she didn’t give up. ‘No-one’s going to hold an occasional slip against you, especially in the current climate! Haven’t you heard about the backlash of severe convictions as a result of the Population Committee’s annual report? It’s bound to be down to that. Come on, a good meal and some champagne will do you good. I’ve booked us a table somewhere very special.’
‘Are you nuts? Do you really think I’m in the mood for going out after what’s just happened? Report or no report, these figures stick to my name like a fucking leech! Double Scotch, Eiko!’
‘What about me, then, Phoenix, have you forgotten? This was supposed to be my night as much as yours. I’m sorry you didn’t get the result you wished for but would you not like to celebrate my success?’
‘Don’t be so bloody selfish, Amari,’ he barked, as he turned his back on her to pick up the drink. The hatch remained shut.
‘I’m being selfish?’ she exclaimed, outraged. ‘This is the greatest success of my career and you won’t go to dinner with me because you’ve had a minor slip at work?’
‘As I said, I’m not in the mood,’ was all she heard in response. ‘I’d like a drink, if you don’t mind.’
She’d had enough.
‘Help yourself,’ she said coldly, grabbing her handbag and approaching the portal. ‘Eiko will look after you.’
‘Where are you off to?’ he demanded.
‘Like I said, I have something important to celebrate. And I will do it with or without you. Goodbye.’
As her hovermobile’s door closed, she saw him down his whisky.
She floated slowly towards the city, giving herself time to regain her composure. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. She had never seen Phoenix behave like this. He was extremely ambitious, she knew that – it was one of the things that attracted her to him in the first place. He would often get annoyed at something not going according to his plans. But this time he took it way too far.
For a moment she considered going to dinner on her own, but she’d lost all her appetite, which again made her angry. What on Earth has gotten into him?
She decided she was going to enjoy tonight regardless. She had a good reason to celebrate and she wasn’t going to let him spoil it for her. She mentally ordered her idatron to connect her with Ambrose. He picked up almost immediately.
‘Hey Amari, what’s up?’ she heard his joyous voice. Good, she thought, recognizing the familiar mix of music, conversations and laugher in the background. He is out somewhere.
‘Hey, Ambie, just wondered what you’re up to tonight,’ she said, trying to sound cool.
‘I’m in The Universe, actually, would you believe it. It’s a friend’s immortali day. You fancy joining us for a drink?
‘Sure, that’d be great. I’ll see you in ten minutes.’
‘Excellent. We are in Neptune.’
Great, she thought. She would have preferred to go somewhere else to celebrate, but she liked Ambrose a lot and this would be a chance to see The Universe from the other side. Like on many other occasions where she designed and executed a launch of a great venue, she felt jealous of all the people who saw it for the first time on its opening night. It must have made a hell of an impression if you’d never laid your eyes on it before. Working for the best PR company in the world has its downsides
, she thought as she checked her hair and make-up in the mirror.
The Universe looked gorgeous. Spinning and rotating around the Sun in the sea of little silver specks, the planets looked majestic, with their unique colors, sizes and features. She passed them all slowly, delighting in the view. She felt so proud. Then, a feeling of disappointment with Phoenix’s attitude tonight overwhelmed her for a brief moment. How could he be so selfish? But she quickly rejected these thoughts. She didn’t need his praise to enjoy her achievements. Especially since dozens of people had congratulated her in the last four days.
‘Eiko, has Phoenix left my apartment yet?’ she asked.
‘Yes, he has.’
Fine, she thought, let him go blow off his steam somewhere else, I have no intention of watching it. She knew she wouldn’t see him tonight, unless they bumped into each other accidentally.
As she stepped out of her hovermobile, she activated the body heat retaining feature on her idatron. The waves radiating from the device hidden in her handbag would keep her warm inside the ice capsule of Neptune.
Despite the blue haze filling the inside of the planet, she didn’t have to look far to find Ambrose and his friends. They all stood by the blue ice bar, sipping blue cocktails from thin, fancy glasses. The glasses were also made of blue-colored ice, but so thin that their content was clearly visible. The place was busy.
‘What a nice surprise, Amari,’ smiled Ambrose, hugging her. ‘Didn’t expect to see you here tonight. You look stunning as always.’
‘Thanks,’ she replied with a smile and looked around at his companions. She didn’t know any of them.
‘Let me introduce you,’ Ambrose offered. ‘This is Javid, Olam and Heng. Everyone, this is my boss and friend Amaranthine, yes, the Amaranthine Quinn who put together the spectacular launch of this very venue last week.’
They all shook her hand, clearly impressed.
‘Is Phoenix joining us?’ Ambrose asked, picking up another ice glass from the tray carried by a Hebe waitress wearing a white dress that looked like it was made of frost.