The Nothing (11 page)

“Aww
Doctor thank you! Are you going to blow something up? Just kidding!” With a wink of the eye, Dr. Abernathy said, “Ha-ha you never know!”

Right then the elevators opened to the lobby.

***

Typical government
limousine. Four different wines and liquors to choose from. Oh wow, there is even an ice machine!
“Excuse me, driver? What kind of passengers do you usually transport in this limo?”

“Visiting dignitaries, celebrities who have an audience with the President.
You know, VIP’s and such.

“Well I wouldn’t say I am a celebrity.
Wouldn’t want to be one either.”

“
Neither would I sir.” Dr. Abernathy wasn’t concerned with where the limo was going. It wasn’t the first time he had been in one. He enjoyed being able to see the views around Washington D.C.

Slowing at
a residential area, the limo turned into a gate covered with vines. A short winding drive led to what looked like a fancy French colonial house two stories tall with wrap around porches. Valets waited out front and a man in a fancy suit and top hat waited out front. The limo driver turned around.

“This
my good doctor, is the Chateau Laureate.” Dr. Abernathy was impressed. Classical architecture and décor always fascinated him.

“Nice!
Have you ever been inside?”

“No,
I’ve dropped people off and waited until they were done eating. They have a gazebo area in back with picnic tables for drivers, servants and other workers. I don’t think I would want to eat here. I bet they serve those small dishes that look like something you would make in ceramics class that barely fills you up. I prefer a good greasy burger or steak for a fraction of the price.”

“I as well my good man.”

At that moment, the fancy man with the top hat opened the door and welcomed Dr. Abernathy. Once inside, he was led to a room that resembled a royal living room with a dining table in the middle of it. A fire was crackling in a stone fireplace and there was a square of plush leather couches in front of the fire for the after dinner cigar. From a corner came the President.

“Doctor, thank you for coming.
You remember Bob Austin.” President Moore gestured toward Senator Austin who was arriving as well.

“Yes I remember the Senator.
How have you been Mr. Austin?”

“I have been good Doctor.
It is nice to see you again.”

With an enthusiastic fraternal hand on each man’s shoulder, President Moore suggested for everyone to have a seat on the couches.
“I prefer to get business done before dinner.” Sinking into the deep leather couch made Dr. Abernathy want to lean over and take a nap.

“Ok Bob, you first.
What’s on your mind?”

“Mr. President, I have enjoyed being a part of the committee and look forward to continuing with the mission it has taken on.
I have two things to discuss. First I would like to respond to Dr. Abernathy’s request for additional personnel and the construction of additional storage buildings on the Endonite campus. Second I would like to review a preliminary piece of legislation that will be based on the research being done and get your opinion on it so that we won’t have to worry with wrestling congress or having it played out in the media.”

Dr
. Abernathy leaned forward and coughed, “Excuse me Senator, but I haven’t published or previewed any data for you yet. How could you already have a bill written without knowing any results?”

“Well doctor, this is
just preliminary and will be adjusted and augmented with the data from your research. I hate to wait too long and I would like, as a courtesy to the President, to have the bill presented before the election.” Anger filled Dr. Abernathy’s voice. “Senator, I do not agree with this approach. Anything written at this time would be pure speculation and without a fundamental basis in science. You need the issues addressed in this legislation to be addressed using scientific methodology and data that can only come from research.”

Senator Austin felt undermined and insulted that a Doctor with no experience in politics would criticize his agenda.
“Excuse me Doctor, the President asked me to have the draft delivered to him by mid-August. It is now the middle of May. I wish him to review it today so that any work needed on the draft wouldn’t interfere with the timelines for the election.”

“Well excuse me Senator, then
you can say you have wasted taxpayer money. Sounds like you are going to propose whatever you are going to propose regardless of what I discover. Why am I even bothering?”

Th
ings were becoming heated so President Moore decided to step in.

“
Gentlemen, I understand the burdens and frustrations that come with your positions. Science and politics have never mixed well. I understand that. So Bob, give me a rundown of what you have written there.”

Bob cleared his throat and opened a binder that could have easily had five hundred pages.

“My colleagues and I are proposing two important points in this legislation. Which I believe Dr. Abernathy would be pleased with if he accept the political process. These two points will also be followed by supporting provisions. Provisions dictating the implementation and enforcement at all levels. Provisions for legal exemptions will be in place and a review by the justice department will be scheduled in another month. The first is that motion detection GPS modules be installed on all manufactured mobile phones. When the phone is in a motion that exceeds eight miles an hour, then the phone will be unable to send or receive phone calls. And it will be unable to send or receive text messages. Navigation and network connection will still be active but not accessible. This sir, will prevent the use of a mobile device while in the use of a car. Now a clause will be added including use of a wireless internet signal will allow usage of calling, texting and applications on cell phone. Since all trains and aircraft now have wireless Internet service, people should be able to use their phones in those modes of travel. Mr. President, any concerns at this point?”

“
None that would matter. Sounds very ambitious and unorthodox. You do realize there is a bill of rights don’t you? This will piss off a lot of people but I admire your courage Bob. I am open to seeing how this proceeds. I am interested. What’s next?”

“The next
provision would delegate the Federal Communications Commission as the regulatory agency tasked with monitoring the implementation and enforcement of the new legislation at all levels. The committee would also like to have consequences on the federal level in place for the lack of enforcement. I imagine that many states will have issue with this as they have with the past healthcare and education reforms. State level resistance impedes, in the judgment of the committee, progress and success for the issues that are federally mandated. Mr. President, any input on this point?”

“Well Bob, I do believe that this provis
ion would be fiercely debated and could jeopardize the whole legislation. We need something to pass and I don’t think that controversy would be beneficial to my campaign. This could be addressed in a separate bill at a later time right? Maybe after the election?” Dr. Abernathy was pleasantly surprised. A politician that actually is willing to put through something that would address the some real issues. What didn’t surprise him was the President’s coy excuses for potential problems with the legislation. His only concern was for the success of his political career.

Wow, Bob is the type of politician we have needed.
His bill is a terrific start. But many more issues need to be addressed and hopefully will be later. For now, this is a great start. Leigh Ann would be pleased. But it looks like the President is just another chickenshit actor only concerned about getting re-elected. I better put my two cents in.

“If I may gentlemen,
I believe that this bill is really great so far and I do believe the second point is as, if not more, important that the first. Senator Austin, I had you pegged as the typical selfish politician. I am very pleased with the direction you are going. My research will actually show a low capacity of responsibility in the general population when it comes to the use of leisure devices, which include mobile devices of all sorts. We must look at ourselves as the parents guiding the children. When our children exhibit a low capacity to make responsible choices, it is up to us as their parents to step in and correct the behaviors. We must correct the behaviors that are resulting in the death of so many. We must awaken people to the over dependence and abuse of technology.”

Enlightened
yet concerned looks on President Moore and Senator Austin’s faces showed an elevated interest. Dr. Abernathy just hoped they would find great use for his research. The President leaned forward on his couch. “Dr. Abernathy, your points are accurate and so relevant. As much as I agree and wish to implement a system such as you speak, we are still living in a society where people take advantage of the freedoms and liberties afforded them. Many have sat in the oval office knowing full well that the freedom of speech is abused and misused. The bill of rights as a whole was written for a society that already practiced those rights responsibly. The general public, in modern times, practices those rights at the expense of others and at the neglect of the sanity of our nation. The Bill of Rights was written as a preventative measure. To ensure that no outside doctrines or influence could take those rights away. Now, people use those rights to bring in outside doctrine, and influence, for the benefit of personal agendas. I have to think of myself as well. There is no choice. I will have to see what this legislation will do for me politically. Must look at the bigger picture. Must remain in office. Yes the people in current times lack the respect, ethics and manners that people had in generations past. But it is a battle that will go on long after I am done here in Washington. My purpose above all is to remain in office. You can understand that doctor, can’t you?”

“Yes I can, I don’t like it but yes I can.
You have no choice but to use the strategies you have. The people won’t elect you for wanting to do the right thing. They will elect you for what you will give them for free. I understand the balance. But my hope is that research like mine, will lead to a better perspective for many and will lead the masses back to the times of our forefathers where respect, ethics and manners were what governed us, not pop culture.”

“Yes doctor, that is my hope too. I am grateful you are working on this for us.
Ok Senator, do you have anything else for me?”

“No sir,
I believe this is best for now and more will come once Dr. Abernathy’s study is done. It may not be what the people in this country want, but it is what they need. We have to do what is best for them. They have been spoiled too long. Now as to the other matter; the doctor here is requesting more funding to acquire additional personnel and electronics equipment that I have concerns with. Plus additional facilities like warehouses for storage. These personnel needs are listed as a dozen security personnel. My question is why? But Endonite confidentiality prevents me from knowing anything. Nor am I allowed to know anything about anyone already working for the Endonite Institute. I think it could prove a security risk. It will be a thirty percent increase in budget for these resources and I don’t see the need for it. Plus the doctor and his team are unreachable; not returning calls or emails most of the time. All I need is a justification for the committee to release additional funds and where it will contribute to the research.”

The three men sat in silence for thirty seconds before President Moore spoke up.
“Doctor, can you explain the need for these additional resources? This study, when published, will be scrutinized and we don’t need all the attention being given to the misallocation of funds.”

This is why I don’t like doing government work.
But it is necessary to use these resources to get done what I need to get done. I didn’t want to do this study for them. But it is what was needed and I guess I have to just go with the flow and satisfy them the best I can without compromising all that I am doing.

“Mr. President and
Senator Austin, to shed light would mean to jeopardize the integrity of the operation. Neither of you have worked in an environment that requires a strict scientific methodology. Giving you data before that data can go through scientific checks, would cause you to possible misconstrue said data. And I can’t disclose the nature of my equipment and personnel without possibly tainting the research. I wouldn’t request additional personnel or facility space unless it of utmost importance to garnering useful results. As for the lack of communication, you will find in the scientific community that communication other than official sharing of tested finds and capital acquisition, is useless and intruding. I guess what I am trying to say is don’t call us, we'll call you. Do you gentlemen understand where I am coming from?”

S
enator Austin held his hands wide in a gesture as if to say what choice is there? President Moore grinned and clapped his hands a few times as if he had just seen a great performance. But the performance added to the frustration that Senator Austin felt with Dr. Abernathy. Though grateful for what the Doctor is going to be able to contribute, he still had to be accountable to the committee. “I can understand your position Doctor, and I do respect the scientific process that is needed to perform the duties that we have assigned you. But you also have to understand that when the committee is in session in August, we have to have findings that can substantiate the costs of this legislation. Your results have to support all provisions, which were key points given to you when we discussed this study in the first place. If we get a report that deviates or omits these provisions, then it affects the future of this administration and the committee itself.”