GEMP Chapter Two
GEMP
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
The V-22 Osprey cleared a mountaintop and veered down at a steep angle. Steve clenched his harness strap tighter as he felt the Osprey bank sharply.
Grenier sipped his coffee. The cup’s lid was sealed tight.
The Osprey banked again, then suddenly stopped.
Grenier saved his coffee and took another sip.
The Osprey floated to the ground and the rear door opened.
Grenier said, “Here we are. Another smooth ride. These guys are good.” He undid his harness and yelled toward the flight cabin, “Thanks guys! See you in a few hours.”
Steve hurriedly undid his harness and followed Grenier out the door. The light from the Sun hit him full in the face and he had to shield his eyes. Through a view of hazed light he saw Grenier walk up to another man in ACUs. Grenier called them Army Combat Uniforms. They talked for a few seconds. Steve stepped closer to the two men.
Grenier said, “Colonel, this is Steve Launse. Our new Research Consultant.”
The Colonel had a solid handshake.
“Steve,” Grenier began, “This is Colonel Codper.”
Codper said, “Nice to have you here.” He guided them away from the Osprey. “Please follow me.”
The small group walked into a large concrete building. Steve guessed it to be about two football fields wide and maybe a dozen deep. They walked through several “Top Secret” doors with some requiring retina scans. The last door was marked “Observation room 20.” This required retina, voice, and keycard scan.
Steve frowned.
Grenier said, “You’ll see.”
Steve nodded and followed Codper through the door. Once inside he immediately noticed several rows of upholstered chairs set at an incline. A large window filled one side of the room.
“Have a seat, Steve.” Grenier said.
Steve moved to the center seat, front row, and sat. He stared out the window and saw a dozen cribs lined up neatly in front of the window. He saw some tiny furry feet stick out the blankets. In one crib, a furry face. He frowned and whispered, “What the?”
Grenier watched the man with interests. Steve’s face went from bewilderment to recognition to anger to confusion in under two minutes.
“Steve,” he said. “These are your students.”
“Students?!?” Steve replied, “But they are . . . chimps?”
“Better.”
Codper watched the two men. He rather liked Grenier, even though he wasn’t a religious man. There had been many nights over a shared bottle of whiskey the two talked about God, philosophy, this project, honor, discipline, and a whole range of items. Grenier talked about the wisdom of this project. Codper argued how it was against God and a sin. Grenier conceded that humans were indeed tampering with things unknown, but he also said that if God had not intended for us to think we would never consider such things. Codper followed with, “Remember Adam and Eve. He had never intended for us to have infinite knowledge.” Grenier finished a glass of watered down whiskey, Codper drank his straight up, thought a moment and said, “Colonel, you make a good point. I can’t argue against that, but here we are. The damage is done and after devastating earthquakes and forty days of rain, we are still here. Is he allowing us to hang ourselves with all this rope we are making?” He shrugged. He poured himself another glass of whiskey, no ice or water this time. “I feel he is watching us from a distance. We’re adults now, and he has other children to watch.” He up-ended the glass. “When he calls to ask how we are doing, we’ll just have to give him the news.”
Codper finished his glass. “I’d hope we can say, fine Dad.”
Grenier kept his mouth shut, nodded, and got up. He smiled. “Tomorrow, Colonel, is another day before that phone call.” And he walked off to sleep away the booze.
Steve asked, “Better? How?”
Grenier said, “GEMPs.”
“Come again?”
“Genetically engineered chimps. Their IQ is theorized at 140 . . .”
Steve exclaimed, “140! My God! What have you done?”
Grenier matter of fact said, “Invented fire, created the wheel, built the pyramids, crossed the oceans, conquered the atom, built the computer, sent man into space, visited distanced worlds, sequenced the gnome, and created life.”
Steve stared at one Gemp. Its tiny face slipped out from behind its blanket. A nurse walked over, kissed it on the cheek and tucked it back under the cover. “What do you need me for?”
“Interested?”
“Maybe?”
“Teach them.”
“Teach them what?”
Grenier nodded, “Teach them to be human.”
Steve wheeled around quickly, “Seriously?!?”
Grenier simply nodded.
Steve turned back again.
Grenier said, “Uncle Sam has given us a blank check.”
Steve asked, “For what?”
“Does it really matter?” And before Steve could answer he continued, “You’ve got a chance to prove your theory. Your direction, your control, your guidance.”
Steve rubbed his chin and bit his lip.
“Steve, you in or out?”
Steve looked away. His mind racing. “If I agree I’ll need an assistant.”
“As long as they pass background you got it.”
“I’ll need Oscar as well.”
“Of course. Already approved.”