"Leonard Speaking"
'Leonard Thinking'
The Dolphin, Manhattan
Leonard drove around the city for the entire night, taking in the sights. He felt a sense of giddiness that melted away to a sense of confusion. He had maintained relationships for the better part of his life, but now, he was no longer tied down by them. He arrived at The Dolphin in the wee hours of the morning, his eyes still shining with unmatched intensity.
The receptionist looked at Leonard, greeting him gently, "Good morning Sir, should I send your breakfast up to your room."
Leonard smiled, "No, but thanks for asking. Could you ask the valet to get my car ready? Just a quick cleanup and refueling."
The receptionist nodded, "Of course Sir, When do you want it ready?"
Leonard thought for a second and answered, "In about three hours. I have a few places to be."
The receptionist answered, "Ok sir. Thank you for trusting The Dolphin."
Leonard took the lift to the fourteenth floor, walked slowly towards his room. His mind worked smoothly, despite the night he spent driving around. He was planning his next step, now that his only obligation remained to science and Chaldea.
He opened his room, removing his coat and laying it on the couch in the sitting room. He slowly walked to the bed, and set his bedside clock to a one-hour timer. With a sigh, he fell into the bed and was instantly asleep.
Dream
Leonard found himself in front of a magnificent castle. From his point of view, the castle seemed to float on water, the sky reflecting off the water around it. Taking a deep breath, he started to walk towards the castle gate. As he walked forward, the drawbridge lowered, allowing him entry.
The castle felt familiar, almost too familiar. Every step Leonard took brought feelings of nostalgia, as if remembering a distant dream. He walked through the main gates and entered a throne room. The room did not have a single raised throne, but held a large round table with a large throne and several opulent chairs surrounding it. Leonard slowly walked to the throne, feeling its furry lining. Taking a deep breath, he sat on the throne, his cane resting at his side, like a symbol of authority.
Suddenly, Leonard heard a voice, "Do you like the throne?"
Leonard's head snapped towards the voice, his expression slightly alarmed, before it relaxed. Standing at the door was the Author, wearing a charcoal grey suit on a powder blue shirt. With an easygoing smile, he approached one of the chairs and sat down.
Folding his hands on the table, the Author spoke, "I believe congratulations are in order. You have unlocked and released another shackle on yourself."
Leonard nodded, "I might never heal from my childhood, but I have moved past it."
The Author coughed, gaining Leonard's attention, before speaking, "Now that you are ready, it is time to meet your council."
Leonard watched as the Author gestured towards the door. Soon, another doppelganger came through, followed by three more. The first doppelganger was wearing a simple white shirt over black trousers, a thin sweater and a lab coat. His eyes were covered by a pair of glasses, though they did nothing to hide the intelligence in the clone's eyes.
The second clone wore outdoor clothes, with a loose shirt, cargo pants and boots. The clone was more tanned, with a slightly rough demeanor. Everything about the clone screamed outdoorsman. The third clone looked similar to the second one, except he wore a well-fitted combat uniform. His eyes looked sharply at his surroundings, as if he was figuring out escape routes. However, the most eye-catching one was the final clone.
The clone was a mirror of Leonard, with a similar profile and clothing. He even held a cane, though it was decorated with a dragon head. However, while Leonard's eyes glittered with knowledge and understanding, the clone's eyes held nothing but power, and arrogance.
The Author waited as the clones took their seats before introducing them, "Now that you are ready, you have to consider a lot more than just immediate needs. These will help you. The one with the glasses is the Seeker. He has amazing insights to knowledge and research. The outdoorsman is the Traveller. He loves exploring new things and directions. The one in the combat uniform is the Soldier. As long as you need to fight, he is the one. Now, this fellow with that dragon cane is the Conqueror. He is not just a master strategist, but also the one with the most varied skillset."
The Conqueror nodded to Leonard, his eyes showing a hint of respect and reverence, before it was replaced by casual indifference. Leonard seemed to understand it well.
Leonard turned to the Author, "So, why have we convened this meeting?"
The Author smiled, "I am sure that you already know. We have passed by some hurdles, but we are suffering from a lack of direction. I would have chosen something, but I am not the king here. So, let us discuss what we will do."
Leonard nodded before addressing the clones, "We have earned quite a bit from our technology and patents, but money alone isn't enough. We need power, protection and an environment where Chaldea can grow well. Any suggestions?"
The Seeker raised his hand excitedly, "I know, let's develop something amazing. We already have money to research well in one field, so let's pick one."
The Conqueror snorted, "How frivolous. We cannot just pick one and start. Our first field needs to be more than just a direction. We need tangible results if we want Chaldea to keep running. What if we take your advice and start researching theoretical physics. It is a reputed field, but with little practical application."
The Soldier interjected, "How about weapons research. Military spending is the biggest expense for the government. Selling weapons would be quite lucrative, and it may even afford a certain level of protection by the government."
Leonard shook his head, "Too disruptive. The world is already at the cusp of conflicts. The last thing we need is advanced weaponry tipping the scales."
The Traveller nodded, "I agree. You can't go hunting with just a gun, you need the compass and map as well. We need something that can create prestige without destruction. Medicine seems to be the best bet. With how rapidly the internet is developing, Information Technology would be a close second."
The Seeker lit up with excitement. He said, "That's a great idea. I already have so many ideas. Alzheimer's treatment, Dementia, Cancer. So much potential for research."
The Traveller turned to the Seeker, "Don't cause a zombie apocalypse while you're at it."
The Seeker grinned at that. The Conqueror remarked, "We will need a lot of energy to accomplish anything. Add clean energy to the research list."
The Traveller interrupted, "Let's not get carried away. Researching medicine is good, but there are a slew of issues to tackle. Where will we conduct this research? What is the first medicine we can improve?"
The Seeker waved away the concerns, "Oh, don't worry about that. We can make leaps and bounds much quicker than the rest of the world. Once we have a viable drug, we can leverage its value for research resources from any country in the world. There is no shortage of ambitious, and visionary countries."
The Conqueror asked tightly, "And what will you do when large pharmaceutical manufacturers lobby the White House to stop our company. What about when spies try to infiltrate the company for our research, or when other countries impose sanctions on us, should they want a reduction in medicine costs?"
The Seeker was silent at that. He answered weakly, "Wouldn't our technological leap increase our value?"
The Conqueror answered, "Yes it will. We will be the most valuable cash cows for countries or industries. They will try to shut us from selling. They control the supply chain after all. Even with technology, we will be preyed on. Medicine is a profitable industry, that's why it is so competitive. We can build, but we must protect our assets as well. For that, we need more than just soldiers, we need clout."
Leonard heard his clones bickering, before interrupting their talks, "Ok, I understand what we have to do. Chaldea needs to grow, and we have direction, but a king cannot build his kingdom without his ministers. I believe it is time to get the inner circle once again."
The clones looked at Leonard, the Seeker grinning with excitement, the Traveller looking on with admiration, the Soldier looked pensive, but the Conqueror looked on with approval.
As the clones kept discussing, Leonard kept listening. He realized that their discussion allowed him to grasp the differences in the same individual when they focus on a particular thing.
Finally, the Conqueror announced, "Ok, looks like we are done with the discussion. It is the first of many, so we will meet again soon. But before we leave, I wish to ask Leonard something."
The Conqueror turned to Leonard, "Leonard, tell me, where exactly do you want to go. How high does your ambition fly? With all this technology, and research, what do you truly hope to accomplish? I can help you, but I need a clear direction. I cannot steer a ship that wants to go nowhere."
Leonard was silent for a minute. The minute seemed to stretch, as Leonard kept his introspective self occupied with the question. The clones looked at Leonard. Gone were any frivolous expressions or playfulness. Every clone was watching him, as if waiting for him.
Leonard looked at the clones, his eyes gaining a slight hint of doubt, "Truthfully, I don't know. I always decided the destination based on how far I could go. When I took the Pill for the first time, I felt as if I could go much further. Now, after my genetic enhancement, my limit has expanded again. While I do not know where that limit is, ultimately, planet would become too small for my ambition. I will not remain confined to this earth, my goal is the stars."
Suddenly, wine glasses appeared in front of every clone. They picked up the glass, with appreciation and determination. The Conqueror raised the glass and called, "To the Stars."
Every clone followed suit, raising their glasses, announcing, "To the Stars."
Finally, Leonard raised his glass with a slight smile and whispered, "To the Stars."
The Dolphin, Manhattan
Leonard woke up in his room. Taking a look at the digital clock at his bedside, he realized that an hour was almost up, with the clock counting down its last twenty seconds. Taking a deep breath, he stood up from the bed, walking languidly to the bathroom. Splashing some water on his face, he looked at his reflection. While Leonard had a good foundation, long term nutrition habits and his body constitution had left its marks. Now, however, the face was clear of any tiredness, dark circles or stress lines. His eyes narrowed with delight as he left the bathroom, walking to his desk.
Opening his laptop at the small desk, Leonard opened a charter flight website. He whispered, "Let's get the inner circle together. They have been researching and learning without a proper direction for too long. I believe Geneva is great this time of the year."
Soon, Leonard chartered a private jet for a trip to Geneva. He quickly utilized Chaldea's internal communication channels to tell the inner circle about the trip.
Private Lab, Philadelphia
Dr. Arun Rao looked at three fellow researchers testing the bio-reagent on accumulated plastic waste. Over the past six months, he had utilized Chaldea's resources to fully develop his pollution cleaning robot. He had even developed some reagents and compounds that broke down plastics into simpler, biodegradable chains.
As Arun looked at the lab, supervising, his mind pulled back to a long lost memory.
Varanasi, 1995
A thirteen year old Arun accompanied his father to the banks of the Ganges, carrying an urn. He looked at the murky waters of the river, as he saw his father take the urn, containing the ashes of his grandmother, and walk into the water.
Arun watched as his father scattered the ashes in the flowing water, as a plastic bottle floated several meters ahead. His father left the urn in the river and climbed out. As his father wiped his arms, Arun spoke, "Why did we have to submerge her ashes here? The river is so dirty at this point."
Arun's father looked at his pensive face and explained, "Since the beginning of our family, all our ancestors have had their ashes scattered here. The people whose ashes flow with the Ganges attain moksha. They leave the eternal cycle of suffering. Don't you want that for your grandmother."
Arun thought about his grandmother, the kindest, most understanding woman he had ever met. Even in her last days, where cancer had severely hurt her body, she kept a gentle and cheerful disposition. A week ago, she was still chanting mantras in the sun, her rosary running through her fingers.
Arun closed his eyes, a tear slipping from the corner, before he complained, "The river should have been cleaned. Her ashes did not deserve to flow with trash all around."
The father sighed, "It is unfortunate. I could have scattered them up near Rishikesh, but my mother wanted Kashi to be her final resting place. The government should have cleaned the river. But it will take a lot of time and money to clean it. No one bothers with it. And even if you clean it, people just dirty it again."
Arun looked at the murky, muddy water, before announcing, "I will clean this river when I grow up."
Arun's father smiled a soft smile, his cold hand ruffled his hair as he said, "Then study hard. People can not clean this river, but science can. Maybe someday, there will be something that can keep this river clean forever."
Now
Arun's hand reached his chest, where a rosary rested close to his heart. He smiled, "Soon, the river will be clean."
Suddenly, Arun received a notification on his phone. He quickly checked it, and found a message on Chaldea's exclusive chat server.
'Inner Circle meeting in Geneva… leave from New York next week. Bring your passport.'
Arun looked at the message, before turning to his work.
Manhattan
Mike Ross was getting ready for the day, with many legal aid cases waiting for him. As he was putting on his suit, a pair of hands turned him around. Dr. Sofia Vasquez smiled, before putting a tie around his neck, tying it in an elegant knot. Mike smiled at the woman, giving her a peck on her lips. The two approached the small dining table, where a small breakfast spread was laid out.
Sofia poured herself a glass of juice as Ross nibbled on his toast. She turned to him and asked, "So, when will you return today? You have been quite busy with the legal aid clinic."
Mike smiled, "I like this kind of busy life. We have already established multiple clinics in and around New York. While the Pro Bono cases do not pay well, just seeing people's smiles is a reward in itself. Don't tell me you don't enjoy working at the lab."
Sofia smiled, "Well, I never said I dislike working. But we have to find a good venue for the wedding. The clinic and the lab don't leave any time to plan."
Mike grinned at that. After he won the insider trading case, he gathered his courage and proposed to Sofia. The best part was that she accepted. As the two discussed their upcoming wedding plans, their phones rang simultaneously. They looked at the internal communication they received.
'Inner Circle meeting in Geneva… leave from New York next week. Bring your passport.'
The two looked at each other. Leonard did not call for regular meetings. So any meeting he called was important. The two quickly contacted their colleagues and started to pack their bags.
Coney Island, New York
Elliot Alderson, or rather, Mr. Robot, looked at a computer screen, coding for a whistleblowing operation. He took a drag from his cigarette, his fingers flying over the keyboard, typing code with mechanical speed.
He had received a lot of benefits, allowing him to grow his operations at a faster rate. However, he had to keep his anti-capitalist actions to a minimum. While the leash was tight around the neck, Leonard gave him a much longer one. Over the past six months, he had been investigating, collecting information on some of the most exploitative companies, and horrid individuals in the state. Any moment, he would be able to bring down companies that have trampled thousands of people at a time.
Suddenly, his phone received a notification. He picked up the phone, releasing cigarette smoke as he read the internal Chaldea communication.
'Inner Circle meeting in Geneva… leave from New York next week. Bring your passport.'
Mr. Robot looked at the half finished code, before sighing. He extinguished the cigarette in a nearby ashtray and saved the code before getting off from the chair.
The Dolphin, Manhattan
Leonard sent messages to every inner circle member, including his CEO, lawyer, and scientists. However, he did not contact Paige. He looked out from his hotel window, towards the rising sun, peeking above the skyscrapers.
Leonard closed his laptop, smiling slightly. He whispered, "Be ready Athena, our work has just begun."
AN: That's a wrap on the old arc, and the beginning a new one. This arc will be filled with danger, political intrigue and building Chaldea into a formidable global force. Stay tuned.
AN2: I wish to thank all my patrons, who have patiently waited for the upload. I wanted to upload a new chapter last week, but a sudden trip afforded me no time to write. Thank you very much for your patience. I will try to upload more often.