Chapter 41: The discussion 4
Jeff kept his calm at all times when he was inside the senate room just now. After he has made his plea, Dubois takes over the stage after him. He joins the audience seat quietly like he is an invisible man and watched the antics of the other audience.
When Dubois went into another meeting room to discuss with the experts, he went out and held a secret meeting with the National Defense Department Head.
He is aware that not many people will be able to make the travel to space, and he might be one of the men who have to stay back here.
He, as one of the lead scientists of the project to send the people out to space, could not be the one who was left behind, and died miserably on earth isn't it?
Of course, he would figure out something to prolong his life...
Jeff gave off a sinister smile to Dubois, who was standing right beside him, waiting for his reply from Jeff.
"Well, if you are asking me, just know that we might build another vessel or two that is similar to a floating bunker on earth. The vessel would be so sophisticated that we might invest our whole attention to it..."
Jeff patted Dubois's shoulder, then he made his way to the pantry to make himself a cup of coffee.
"..."
Whole attention to it?! Didn't they have agreed to focus more on the project space? What is happening now?
Dubois was stunned. He blinked his eyes a few times before he stares at Jeff in disbelief.
Sipping his coffee leisurely, Jeff observed the scrunching face of Dubois.
"What, you think the old men inside the senate room would all just let it be and would be willing to volunteer their life to sit and do nothing, awaiting their death silently, on earth? Pfft, don't be silly... They are the leaders of a nation... Of course, their survival instinct would be higher than normal people... " Jeff scoffed at Dubois reaction.
Dubois is so childish. How could he believe the words from a politician?
Who in the world, would let themselves be, and die willingly, if they got all the power and money in hand?
No one. No one would be stupid enough to do that...
Feeling slightly amused, Dubois retorted, "But, I thought they have agreed on to put all of their resources to build the space ships... No? So, there are going to be two plans now? One in the outer space and the other would be underground?"
Feigning ignorance as if he did not have a clue, Dubois faked a slight surprise face, and he looks at Jeff questioningly.
Cunning. Too cunning.
These old men should not be looked down upon.
They could look convincing enough to fool the other people easily. They almost got him, just now.
The truth was, Dubois was not that gullible too. The moment he asked Jeff, he knew that nobody would just surrender, and not do anything to try and live on.
The moment one of the leader stood up and said he will stay on earth, and give his all to support this project, Dubois already has his doubt.
Pretending to ask to Jeff, was the only way he will know what are the hidden agenda.
One thing that he could not understand is, why would the people do stuff in secret again?
They only have 2 months time to live on earth happily, why would they make this a secret, out of nowhere?
why not just declare this other alternative while they are discussing in the senate room just now?
Making a wild guess, Dubois speaks up. "Hah, is this another privileges thingy again? What is it this time? 'Leaders only bunker'? Or the 'Riches only bunker'? Is that why, this project could not be openly discussed?" Dubois leaned his back on the refrigerator while he mocked Jeff's action.
I am wrong about Jeff. He is just the same as the other people. His own safety is the utmost priority. There got to be a reason why they kept the other projects under the table.
Wait, is this really a natural disaster? Or was it man-made?
Dubois has his doubt.
Dubois did not realize, that while he was having his internal thought, his face gave off a very unpleasant feeling to Jeff.
Feeling that he was being scrutinized, Jeff retorted, " What? Do you think all the people will get the privilege to stay inside the luxury bunker? Nah, what the people could only get, was just like a shelter that is covered like a stadium. More or less equipped with some reinforced concrete ground and roofing, that can withstand shocks for about 9M or so, and the rest is up to their luck. If they live on, then that's great. We could not simply abandon them just like that... the people would talk, and said we have done some selective preferences to save people's lives, and they will come and tear us down first before we all die in the disaster."
Jeff has a feeling that Dubois was criticizing his action to make this project a secret. So he decided to give off a few hints to him.
"I know, that you might be thinking that this might be another trick that the government is concocting. But, trust me, it is not. The idea was, the people in these special bunkers will be providing some backups to each other, as we never know, on who will survive, and whos not. The upcoming natural disaster is an unprecedented event, no one knows on what are the extend of the destruction it would cause. We might have been overthinking it, perhaps this disaster is not gruesome like we all think it is. But, to be on the safer side, we will try our best to shelter those people from the incoming danger."
Jeff looks up and the stunned face of Dubois.
I guessed it correctly then. Dubois has been thinking that I am one of the men who would gain something out of peoples grievance.
"It's okay if you want to think I am suspicious for making this issue a secret. All I did, was because I only want the peoples to survive, and by presenting this idea to the greedy leaders, I can ensure that the program of restarting Earth could be carried out much more smoothly."
Jeff has a plan, by staying back on earth, he will continue his research inside the special bunker along with the selected leaders.
He would be the primary contact with the scientist that is stationed in space, and he will inform them if the condition on earth is ready to be living in or not.
The chances of surviving on earth are very slim. But he got no choice. He has to take the gamble.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone