MAN FROM TOMORROW (EPISODE 108)

It appeared that the general was speaking from personal experience rather than hearsay. The general went on about how the Vietnam War was caused and how he and his people bravely defended the freedom of the world.

“Don't you realize that if these Superhumans are let loose here on earth, they will sniff us of existence? Old man! Have your scientists not warned you about that danger?” Martin queried.

The General let out a smirk-“War weeds out the weak Martin! And so does evolution. If Humans are weak, we will be replaced, no matter what. Let the mightiest man survive. And I don’t care whether it is us or the Superhumans. 

Just think of it Martin! Humanity can jump by leaps and bounds if the Superhumans were to be at its helm. They can take Humanity farther than we have by doing what no man like us could ever do. They can breathe freely at the top of Mount Everest.Live easily in the depths of the deepest ocean. Set up huge cities in the middle of the Sahara. And colonize the heart of the Antarctic. Not to mention the colonization of space for all times to come.

I also studied evolution Martin. It’s been too long that our race has represented humanity. And we have been pathetic at it. We have remained unchanged for the last forty thousand years or so. It’s time we changed that."

Martin was desperately searching for a way out. He was sure that the General would not leave him and Anita alive. People like him knew only two things- combatants and non-combatants. And non-combatants were collateral damage. Martin realized that the situation was totally under the General's control. After he was done verifying the contents of the flash drive and fulminating, he would kill Martin and Anita. 

Then he would round up all their bodies and make it appear as some kind of shootout or accident. For want of better evidence, the case would be closed.Martin's mind was racing fast. He estimated having walked at least three hundred feet into the building. He guessed that they were at the inner center of the building. 

There must also be an underground floor below their feet. Then it struck him. Some neurons in his mind fired in a particular order that made him see things clearly as they were. Martin thought back to the time he had read the words TEB stenciled on the large tank beside the tubes. 

TEB stood for Triethyl borane (TEB), a hypergolic substance. Martin delved into the deep mine of knowledge he had accumulated over years of relentless reading. A hypergolic substance is a chemical which spontaneously ignites when it comes into contact with air. Something clicked in Martin's mind. It all fell into place. Martin knew exactly what to do to tilt the balance of power vis-a-vis the general. He needed to let the TEB out of that large tank and into the air. He prayed that the tank was full and that he got a chance somehow to do what he wanted to.

(To Be Continued Tomorrow...)

[The complete Book ‘MAN FROM TOMORROW’ can be downloaded at amzn.to/2MSf1ng]