Temple of the Gods - Andy McDermott [139]
Nina was unnerved by the list of enemies past – and the idea that even after their defeats, they were still dangerous in the present. ‘So they need me to find the meteorite before they can do whatever they mean to do. How about you tell us what that actually is?’
‘The implementation will be very complex, but the idea is extremely simple.’ Glas rotated his chair to face the ocean beyond the windows. ‘Every single organism on the planet descends from the DNA brought to earth by the Atlantean meteorite – the sky stone, as they called it. The genetic structures of modern life, everything from fish –’ he gestured towards a porthole as an example flitted past – ‘to humans, are far more complicated after billions of years of mutation and evolution, but locked inside them is still that original code. Just as Kristian Frost needed a sample of pure Atlantean DNA as a reference point from which to create his virus, so the Group needs to find the pure DNA of the planet’s first life to create theirs.’
‘They’re making a virus?’ said Eddie in alarm.
Glas turned back to his audience. ‘Not in the same way as Frost. His was a lethal weapon; theirs will be more subtle. It won’t kill people – at least, not intentionally. There will almost certainly be a percentage of people who suffer lethal side effects from the infection, however.’
‘But – but even one per cent of the world’s population would still be tens of millions of people,’ Nina pointed out.
‘Yes. And the Group considers that acceptable. But killing people is not the purpose of the virus. Instead, it will change them.’
‘Change them how?’ she asked, feeling increasingly chilled.
‘Certain behavioural traits are genetic. Yes,’ he said, raising a hand as if to forestall an objection, ‘I know that behaviour is also influenced by environment, but at a fundamental level some aspects are set from the moment of conception. Such as intelligence, or,’ his eyes briefly flicked from Nina to Eddie, ‘aggression.’
‘Did I just get insulted there?’ said Eddie. ‘Not a smart thing to do to a man holding a gun.’
‘On the contrary, I think you just proved his point,’ Sophia told him.
‘One key trait,’ continued Glas, ignoring the interruption, ‘is obedience. You see it in animals; can a dog be easily trained, or will it constantly rebel and fight? The same is true of people. There are natural leaders, and natural followers, but to different degrees. What the Group intends to do is use a manufactured retrovirus to infect and alter the living human genome and strengthen those genes responsible for passive, obedient behaviour at the expense of others likely to encourage resistance. These traits will be passed down through successive generations, until the whole world will happily accept the control of a self-chosen ruling elite.’
Silence followed the revelation. ‘That sounds . . . hard to believe,’ Eddie eventually managed.
‘You think so?’ Glas turned again, staring out into the darkness. ‘Anyone can kill another person. Controlling another person is harder. If they succeed, though, the Group will control everyone beneath them – and their subjects will willingly obey, because they have no choice. Obedience will be programmed into their genes, as inescapable as the colour of their skin. To end conflict, the price will be freedom.’ He looked back at them. ‘Is that a price you are willing to pay?’
Nina didn’t answer, stunned by the implications of Glas’s words. If he were telling the truth, then from birth to death a person would be trapped in a life of placid submission to an authority over which they had