The White Death Read Online Free Page A

was not due for re-election until the next millennium had passed. Loretta’s species, the Bernay, had become a powerhouse within the alliance, which gave her considerable more influence than was usually afforded to the position. Freda and Loretta had crossed swords on many occasions.
    Freda focused in on her 16:00 appointment, to review progress on a new attempt at a medical cure for HIV. She couldn’t help but hope this time Dr. Roberts and his team would be successful. They were so close to developing a cure for that disease and a few others. Medical advancements were one of the primary objectives of Section 51 since the turn of the millennium. Freda wanted to drastically improve the health of the species and was trying to guide human scientists down the right path without actually doing the work for them. The genetic crisis worried her greatly, and she hoped the new president would live up to his rhetoric.
    “We can always rearrange something. Meetings can always be rearranged,” he said, chuckling. In all his years working with Freda, he could only remember a handful of occasions where she did actually rearrange a meeting. If only some in the outside world had her dedication to work and duty.
    “Oh no. That would be most inappropriate. We shall soldier on. I’ve yet to finish the yearly summary for the Council. Once this review is over, we’ll start on that. You know how tiresome they become while waiting for it.”
    “How many reports will this be now?” said Christopher.
    Freda despised the yearly report on the progress of humanity. She considered it an example of needless bureaucracy, as it was merely a glorified amalgamation of her four quarterly reports.
    “Far too many, Christopher. Far too many,” she repeated, finishing her apple juice. “We have more important matters here on Earth that I’d rather be focused on.”
    Her eyes darted to the corner of her desk. A hot red light had begun blinking madly, and with the smallest lift of her eyebrow, Christopher was there, pressing his palm resolutely down. The lights in the office dimmed, and the door locked itself. A light blue rectangular projection appeared before Freda with the symbol of the Council, the Milky Way Galaxy, rotating while a connection was made. A balding elderly man appeared, dressed in a slim-fitted purple tunic. He sat on an enormous white executive chair.
    “Cecil,” said Freda with a smile. He was her favorite on the Council.
    “Freda.” His tone lacked his usual happiness and gusto. “We need to meet at once.”
    “Perhaps after the Council session tonight?” she offered. “Time can be made available before transporting back to Earth. Grace can give us a room.”
    “No, Freda. Now,” replied Cecil, glancing around his office, looking nervous.
    “Where?” she asked, her curiosity building.
    “I’ll come to you.”
    Freda frowned. She knew Cecil would only come to Earth if he were to tell her something classified. He feared being overheard, accidentally or on purpose.
    “Okay. I know a quiet place. I’m sending you coordinates,” said Freda, nodding to Christopher, who began tapping buttons on his computer tablet.
    After hanging up, Freda put on a matching purple coat and gloves, deciding against a hat to shield her perfectly kept curly white hair. Such things were irrelevant to her, but after nearly 150 years on Earth, she had learned to blend in.
    “Ready?”
    Christopher nodded. She put her arm out, and he placed his hand on it. Her magnificent brooch, attached to her coat, began to glisten. She touched it, and they vanished in a flash of white light. Destination: London.
    “Brrrr, it’s cold,” complained Christopher a moment later, rubbing his hands in a futile attempt to get some heat into them. His lightly trimmed gray beard did little to shield him from the snowstorm London was enduring. “Must get Peter to design me a heated coat.”
    Freda laughed, imagining Doctor Roberts’s face if Christopher did ask