Happy Hour

[closesecond]

It takes a while for Kane to notice the napkin, engrossed as he is in his EVA display and its reports of the layout of the proving ground where the GDI Mammoth Tank is being tested. The napkins have piled up five-high by the time he finally gets the message.

Kane sighs. "I suppose it was just a matter of time before you pressed me into service. Very well."

Idly he glances up at the calendar. To a man who has lived as many days as Kane, nearly every day of the year carries some significance, most of which the world has forgotten. But as the war against the imperialists rages across Europe, today feels especially significant.

He quickly begins writing the sign.


Madam Bar has enlisted me to be your bartender for this evening. It is, to my understanding, customary for guest bartenders to provide a discount on certain drinks. I shall not be doing so. However, since today is the anniversary of the First Battle of the Marne, I instead invite you to share with me this bottle of 1914 Lafite Rothschild, and drink in remembrance of the fallen.

- Jacob Caine

Comments

[closesecond]

"One which 19th century France knew well," Kane says. "It was even called the Soviet Thermidor."

Even so, their defeat was something of a setback at the time. He had believed that a unitary state would set the stage more easily for the real revolution to come. He'd been forced to adjust, as he often had. Even Kane can't control all of history.

"Such seems to be the way of all countries, if they last long enough. Call me an idealist, but I hope to one day see a world that has no need of nations or banners."

[street_sparrow]

"It would be nice", Gavroche agrees wistfully, "but I haven't found a world yet that's close to it. At least not without some sort of dictatorship, and then there's still conflict and opposition."

[closesecond]

"The answer is technology," Kane says. "When mankind progresses to a post-scarcity society, they will finally be able to sweep away the systems of oppression that have held them back for so long."

[street_sparrow]

"Maybe. But even in countries where there should be enough for everybody, as far as I've seen, some people have more than others."

[closesecond]

"A society without scarcity is a different beast from a merely wealthy one," Kane says. "Do you know anything of a material called tiberium."

[street_sparrow]

"Tiberium?" He shakes his head. "I don't think I've ever heard of it."

[closesecond]

"Most worlds haven't," Kane says. "Suffice it to say that it will be the salvation of my world, provided the plutocrats don't get their hands on it."

[street_sparrow]

"And if they do, and it's that valuable, they'll start controlling the supply. What's it used for?"

[closesecond]

"It would almost be easier to answer what it isn't used for," Kane says. "But primarily, it is a living, self-replicating substance that gathers valuable minerals deep within the earth and gathers it into crystalline form at the surface."

[street_sparrow]

His eyes widen.

"So any mineral that exists could be easily gathered without spending resources and lives on mining."

[closesecond]

"Precisely," Kane says. "It also has a host of other applications, though I am most intrigued by its possible transformative effects on living things. My attempts to harness and control it have proven quite fruitful. We may yet be able to endow the human race with indefinite lifespans."

[street_sparrow]

Gavroche frowns.

"I'm not sure I like the sound of that. It may not be good for them."

[closesecond]

"Well, that's what trials are for," Kane says. "To ensure these modifications are safe."

Well, it's what most trials are for. Certainly not his.

[street_sparrow]

"I don't mean causing physical harm to individuals. I mean in the long run, for the species as a whole."

[closesecond]

"Ah," Kane says. "I see."

His face connotes obvious disapproval with the young man's sentiment.

"I don't believe any right-thinking person should stand against it. The human race has been given an opportunity to bring an end, once and for all, to old age, want, and disease. If mankind is to evolve as a species, leave its cradle on Earth, and seize its great destiny among the stars, we cannot be afraid to advance. We cannot afford to fear change. The only other option is extinction."

[street_sparrow]

"But fearing change is exactly the point", Gavroche says. "Want and disease, yes, by all means. But if no one ever dies, especially if the human race is still breeding... I can see pitfalls."

[closesecond]

"All the more reason why humans need to begin colonizing other planets," Kane says. "As it did before - it's only a matter of time before Earth is struck by some sort of cosmic disaster."

[street_sparrow]

"As long as those planets are empty", Gavroche says guardedly. "We do have a history in what we've done to our own and our companions on it."

[closesecond]

"And this is where ethics enter the picture," Kane says. "We will need to evolve not just physically but morally as well. I have hope that augmenting our intelligence should help in this regard. But we can't guarantee that, and the revolution must be a social one as well."

[street_sparrow]

"Then I hope it works. But that's been tried, many times. Although perhaps with the augmented intelligence as well..."

[closesecond]

"Nothing ever changes without the belief that this time, you will succeed," Kane says.

It's less belief than knowledge in this case. Kane takes a sip of wine and savors it for a moment.

"Now, though, I think it's my turn to ask the questions. How does a Frenchman who fought in the June Rebellion end up in the 21st century?"

It does not sound as though the reason for it is the same as Kane's.

[street_sparrow]

He chuckles.

"The short and simple answer is 'Milliways'. The longer one involves a bullet to the chest, Milliways, the family who picked me up, and an extremely powerful sorcerer."

[closesecond]

"I had already more or less guessed the short version," Kane says. "I'm curious to hear the longer one.

"Were you shot during the uprising?"

He suspects so. Probably killed, too, knowing the nature of this place.

[street_sparrow]

"I was", he confirms. "I was about ten at the time. Left cover to try and get some ammunition from the dead, and one or two of the soldiers had a bit of target practice. The fact I'm not ten now is where the sorcerer comes in."

[closesecond]

"Ten years old is no age to die in battle," Kane says.

"And certainly no age to spend eternity at."