King of All I Survey

"What were you doing, in Florida, Timothy? Is that where one of the technology labs is located?" Rafael's voice interrupted my mental dialogue with Joe.

"Uh… No, actually I was visiting Disney and the theme parks… with a family we rescued from Russia as part of our Ukrainian effort."

"Really?" Rafael with his own glass of water now, sat back down in his chair, still just a little too close, and now leaning forward with interest. "That must have been fun. Have you been to the theme parks before?"

"No, it was my first time," I admitted. "But you were telling me about Laguna Larga?"

"Yes, yes, of course. So about seven years ago, in 2017. Much of the land it Peten was placed under the control of an NGO, The Council for Eco-development and Conservation. This organization, as the name suggests claims to be protecting the natural lands of Guatemala against environmental degradation. They have a 'conservation without people' policy for the lands under their control. The idea, they say, is to keep the lands wild and natural without even small farms and communities to disturb them."

I tilted my head and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Ah, you saw that this area had been subject to commercial oil and gas extraction and development! So, if the goal is to protect it even from small farms, how can this be allowed? A good question, and the answer is in the other part of the NGO's name 'Eco-development'. You see, they also have a policy of maximizing the utilization of the protected area's resources to boost Guatemala's economy. In theory, for every hectare put into commercial use like this, they keep another hectare somewhere in the same eco-system untouched."

He paused to take a sip of water. "But, in fact, it is all a ruse. Yes, land that is not valuable to the industrialists is kept as part of the reserved areas, but the real, hidden goal has always been to 'legally' move the indigenous people off their ancestral lands so the oil or timber companies can take them to make more money. The people are shunted off to other lands, a bare bones camp established with minimal, really insufficient infrastructure and supplies. The land not even ready for productive farming. No real housing, no money or income in the new location. The Council's hope is that the people will just leave, dispersing into the cities and villages around the country. Losing their community and their identities. Perhaps even some of them will come back to work on the oil rigs, staying in the company barracks. It was never about ecological protection of the land. It was a front for forced displacement of indigenous people, industrial exploitation, and profit. All with full government approval, and even with funding from prominent charitable ecological conservation groups from around the world who believed their public message and were too far away to see the truth of their goals and actions. Indeed, the ground water here has been poisoned, the vegetation burned away to clear the way for the oil rigs and make it easier for the heavy equipment and tanker trucks to travel. The 'conservation without people' zone now houses worker barracks, garages and warehouses for the equipment, and oil extraction rigs. The gas is not valuable enough to collect, so it is mostly just burned off to keep it from accumulating to explosive levels."

"But you're ending all that now."

"Yes, it is one of the projects that Maribel and I are deeply focused on, restoring lands stolen from indigenous people, and restoring the ecological balance. As you can see, though, this land is effectively ruined for the kind of lifestyle the Mayan community had before the 'ecological preservation' efforts of the industrialists. We are supporting the community and encouraging them to once again become self-sufficient. Maribel says her father's people will help with the rapid reforestation and cleaning the pollution. In less than two years, she says, this can again be a self-sustaining farming community." He smiled again, "The people will no doubt claim it as another of her miracles to qualify her for canonization. Despite their Mayan heritage, the Catholic Church has a deep presence throughout Guatemala's rural areas."

I nodded, as I did, the office door opened. Maribel entered smiling warmly. She looked so much like Mom that my instinct was to hug her. Rafael stood immediately, his expression welcoming and somehow gentle… He moved gracefully, grabbing another chair and placing it beside his for Maribel. "Mari, your nephew has some news to share that he said must wait for you to be here. Can I get you a water, or anything?"

"Oh, mi cariño, so sweet, always thinking of me. No, I am fine, really." She sat down turning to face me, "Timmy, little Timmy, I'm always so surprised to see how big you are now. Very handsome, too. No wonder Susana is so proud of you."

I blushed at her praise, despite my android body. My brain, far away in my real body at the bottom of Mariana Trench, pushed the signal out to the flesh of my android face. Joe, how much does Maribel know about… everything?

"She completely believes the back story we created for her, that the technology comes from her father's secret society labs, and they plan to bring peace to a unified Earth. She has no knowledge of any extraterrestrial contact or anything outside of that backstory.

"Rafael asked me," I begin, "while you were still working outside, Aunt Isabela, if I am a member of your father, Diego Flores's, secret council. I am. In fact, I am in charge. The council answers to me alone." I can see they are both surprised, profoundly surprised, by this revelation. I give them a moment to digest it.

Rafael tilts his head slightly and gives me an appraising look as if reassessing me, perhaps upgrading me as a potential threat? Or maybe gaining a begrudging respect, it's impossible to tell from his expression.

Maribel is shocked, "You? When? How did this happen? Did you take it away from him or was it his idea?" She has a definitely suspicious look as well as a look of concern and worry for her father.

I shake my head, "No, no, Aunt Isabel, I would never go against grandfather's will. He said it was time. That's all. A year ago. We didn't want to announce it until I had results to show… Because of my youth, he thought people would doubt my ability to lead."

Rafael shrugged, "makes sense. So, you led the whole effort, taking Guatemala and destroying the cartels, was your plan?"

"Yes, it seemed like a good leverage point."

Rafael nodded, "It was indeed. Mari, Diego was probably right, it seems like it is time for Timothy to lead."

She looked at him, her face losing some of its tension. "Maybe, but I'm calling him right after this to find out the truth."

"Of course," Rafael agreed. "trust, but verify, isn't that what you Americans used to say."

"Aunt Isabel, there's a lot you don't know, I'm sorry, but some information had to be kept hidden. We have much more technology than you could dream of. And there's a bigger reason for me trying to unite the world under one authority." I took a deep breath. Here it is, I thought, I'm about to spill the big secret. "We didn't develop the technology in our labs. Well, most of it, I mean. Some stuff we did, ourselves, like the chilling ceiling fans, but most of it came from another source. We have been in contact with extraterrestrials."

"Ah, Dios mio," Maribel exclaimed, closing her eyes and shaking her head.

Rafael said nothing, his face showing an intense curiosity.

"I have been working with them to secure Earth's position among vast galactic empires, and we have established a trading relationship that allows us to acquire their technologies. We pay for them with the revenue we gain from selling products unique to Earth. Since their technology is vastly superior to ours, that's mostly unique flavors and experiences. Things like chocolate in all its forms, coffee, coconut, and so forth. Basically, things that offer new flavors or experiences sell well and bring a lot of profit to Earth which we've mostly been using to upgrade our technological knowledge. We've also been paying for protection from other galactic powers who would send in warships to take everything of value from Earth leaving us without any way to acquire technologies at best, or a dead, lifeless planet at worst. The protection is very expensive, forcing us to sell our most valuable items to pay for it. I'm told that the price is designed to soak us for everything we have and when we can't pay anymore, they leave the scraps for the other galactic raiders to come and fight for what's left. They mean for Earth to end up in the trash heap."

"How can we believe this story? You have some unexplained gadgets, yes, but aliens and galactic powers? That is a stretch, Timothy. Show me some proof."

I met his gaze considering, aloud I said, "Joe, uncloak the drones in this room."

Two sleek metallic forms appeared hovering in the air completely motionless and without any visible means of propulsion or lift. Apertures on the front were covered in lens-like material that looked like glass.

"What is this, miniature spaceships? Are your aliens tiny insects?"

"No, these are drones, under the control of our central computer system," I replied.

"Drones? Toys, I can buy? The cartel had many drones, to watch out for the police or military raids, to monitor the fields, even to make deliveries to our men in prison. This is not proof."

"How are they flying? Do you see propellors? Invisible drones, Rafael? Could your drones do this? Joe, burn a six inch hole through the floor at Rafael's feet."

A beam of light traced a line from the lens of one drone to the floor in front of Rafael. Smoke and a burnt plastic smell rose up, then another smell and more smoke. The laser changed colors slightly as it bored into the concrete floor. A second after it began it stopped. Rafael, eyes wide, stared down at the hole through the vinyl flooring and deep into the cement floor beneath. He just stared at the hole, for about ten seconds, then looked up at the drone.

"Chiapas…" He said, "This is how you stopped the Chiapas gang from coming into Guatemala…" He looked at me to find the truth in my face.

I let out a heavy sigh, "Yes."