The Mediator Pattern Read online

  “You are early, Mr. Metiline.”

  Chapter II

  The Rise of Colin Belis

  Today, The Belis Corporation is a household name. Anyone can look around their office, kitchen, living room, or in the streets and find the famous BelisCo emblem. BelisCo has brought cleaner, more economical transportation to everyone. They have revolutionized business with the fax machine and the electric typewriter, and most recently the porta-fax, consistently bringing jobs to millions of citizens. The Belis Corporation, however, took decades to build. Through apt business decisions and discerning investments, The Belis Corporation grew into the global godsend it is today.

  It was in 1956 that oil tycoons Evelyn and Wilson Belis made two important purchases, a technology company in Texas (Houston Instruments) and a silicon-based semiconductor patent from Dr. Arid Filch, an inventor in San Jose, California. Beginning as a research company, The Belis Foundation developed the integrated circuit; a component that allowed for electric circuits to be embedded on a single silicon wafer instead of bulky component-based circuit boards. Later, working closely with NASA and the US government, The Belis Foundation became the sole funders of the US space program.

  In 1959, Wilson Belis invested millions in Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign. The Belis Foundation offered strength and integrity to the Nixon administration. Backed by The Belis Foundation, Nixon won the 1960 election by a landslide and subsequently served two consecutive terms. During his time in office he pioneered the socialization and privatization of government bodies. NASA was the first organization to fully privatize and became The National Belis Space Agency it is today.

  In 1962, with desperation rising toward the American involvement in Vietnam, Nixon contracted The Belis Foundation for weapons research. The Belis Foundation developed new weapons, advanced armors, and an unrivaled form of espionage: an unmanned aircraft. The logistics of this unmanned device remain top secret. The troops were home by the fall of 1964 and the country of Vietnam was reunited by the summer of '66. It has been speculated that if not for The Belis Foundation’s involvement in the war, Vietnam may have been the first battle the US lost.

  In 1967, The Belis Foundation purchased Electronic Business Machines and within days of the purchase, pulled all units from circulation and stopped production of the EBM 14 business machine, due to the flaws in the earlier EBM device. “The EBM 14 was a sloppy design that posed a danger to the user,” a spokesperson for The Belis Foundation said. Belis produced a highly efficient electric typewriter to take its place three years later.

  By this time they had merged with many of the up-and-coming technology companies. EBM, InLet, and Houston Instruments became part of The Belis Foundation Research Consolidation. This combining of technologies and streamlining of business was made possible by the Johnson-Nixon repeal of the oppressive monopoly restrictions toward the end of the previous decade.

  In 1969, The Belis Foundation successfully put men on the moon using what they referred to as, “the world’s first para-computer[...] with an integrated circuit-based design[...]” for the backbone of mission control. The specifications remain top secret.

  Working closely with universities and the Department of Defense, The Belis Foundation began work on a top secret project referred to as ARPANET. The Belis Foundation claimed that it was able to surpass any one of their single para-computers, as it acted on principles that “involve the sharing of packeted information between computing devices.” The Belis Foundation officially referred to the setup as, “an internetworking of computers.”

  When Johnson took office in 1972, it was decided that the internetworking of computers would pose a threat to national security if made available to the public. To protect the people of the nation, The Belis Foundation facilitated the government in keeping the “Internet” privatized and all documentation regarding the ARPANET became the proprietary property of The Belis Foundation.

  The Belis Foundation continued working closely with the Department of Defense, developing missile guidance systems and advanced ballistics in the early '70s. As the decade passed, the line between the D.O.D. and The Belis Foundation grew thinner and thinner. The country became more powerful, its people safer—and it was thanks to the ever-present Belis Foundation, solving the nation’s problems as they were presented.

  A few small tech companies arose during the mid '70s, but were quickly stifled by the enormous presence of The Belis Foundation.

  Over the following ten years, The Belis Foundation monopolized on the sole ownership of heightened efficiency by way of a computer-driven research company. In 1979 the world was stricken with its second energy crisis of the decade, and as pressure mounted for the US to find a solution, President Jimmy Carter gave complete privatized control of the DOE to The Belis Foundation.

  That same year, the 17-year-old genius son of Evelyn and Wilson Belis, Colin, developed a combustion engine that utilized tri-bonded oxygen as fuel, removing entirely the worries and dangers of energy and oil production. The system rapidly intakes atmospheric gas, compresses and ionizes the gas molecules, and passes them into a specially tuned resonance cavity that “shocks” the molecules into re-bonding into the necessary tetrahedral shape, creating tri-bonded oxygen. The tri-bonded oxygen, or ozone, is then released into the combustion tank where it turns the asymmetrical shaft, pumping the pistons, and producing an amazing amount of torque. Once the ozone has lost its bond it returns to oxygen and escapes into a secondary resonance cavity where hydrogen atoms are injected. The oxygen and hydrogen are brought to harmony, at which time many of the atoms bond to create clusters of water molecules: pure H2O. The remaining oxygen atoms naturally form di-oxygen and are safely released into the air. The Tri-Ox system, as Colin Belis named it, is the same system that serves the populace to this day.

  Producing drinkable water and breathable O2 as its exhaust, the production of the Tri-Ox system marked the transition of The Belis Foundation into The Belis Corporation. Up until then, the Belis family had only operated commercial business through other channels such as EBM. Upon completing construction on the new facilities in San Jose, California, the Belis family began production on the new vehicle under the new-but-now-famous moniker, “BelisCo”. It was the first vehicle that came in an entirely sealed plastic encasement, only serviceable by The Belis Corporation.

  That same year, The Belis Corporation revolutionized business by introducing the fax machine. It doubled productivity in the workplace by allowing messages and documents to be scanned and sent virtually anywhere in the world. The Belis Corporation installed fax receiver and transmitter stations across the nation. Within a year no person in the nation was outside the reach of fax communication in their town.

  At this time Colin Belis was already finishing his third year at university earning a double major in physics and mathematics; he had designed the Tri-Ox vehicle over his spring break. By the age of 23, Colin Belis had earned multiple doctorate degrees in various physics- and mathematical-themed programs. Graduating top of his class each and every time. No one came close to Colin Belis in intellect, ingenuity, or charm.

  By 1990, Wilson and Evelyn Belis, at the ages of 62 and 53, had become the sole facilitators of the research conducted by NBSA, The Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and possessed majority control over all major technology corporations, as well as ownership of the nation’s transportation and fuel. The last technological gift bestowed by Wilson Belis was the implementation of a worldwide corporate “internetwork” upon which all communication would occur. The system linked together corporate and private party fax hubs across the globe and filtered all communication through BelisCo.

  The fax machine became a household device. Everyone in the nation began purchasing BelisCo fax devices in place of the old EBM electric typewriters. Many people preferred using the two in tandem and the fad of near-instantaneous transfer of typed messages took hold.

  In 1992 Wilson Belis passed his legacy on to his son, Colin Bel
is. Colin Belis’s first act of business was to declare the San Jose facility as headquarters of BelisCo and In 1993 Colin Belis purchased San Jose California, creating the first zoned city: a corporate city. Zoned cities offer the best in convenience and accommodations. The zoned cities offer 24 hour transport availability, grocery stores, and cafes. They offer the option of family zones, age restricted-zones, even smoking or nonsmoking zones. Unlike other cities, in a zoned city everyone can live in peace. The zoning concept, according to Colin Belis, “represents the true American dream.”

  Once zoned, San Jose rapidly grew into the largest and safest city in America. Riots began flaring up across the nation, which only further fostered the growth of San Jose. During the nation’s uprising, threats were made to government officials and buildings; some threats were carried out. Colin Belis offered the government a solution, “a cure for the violence,” which was turned down by then president, John F. Kennedy Jr. Many considered Kennedy’s refusal of Belis’s assistance to be bullheadedness due to his age; after all, he was the youngest-ever president.

  After the rising violence and national hostility of the early '90s that culminated in the bombing of the pentagon and the attempted assassination of President “John-John” in 1994, complete rein to facilitate national safety was granted to The Belis Corporation.

  Colin Belis quickly overhauled the CIA and FBI, melding and altering the agencies to deal with domestic acts of treason and technological abuse and misuse, renaming the agency Info-Security Enforcement in 1995. The ISE became responsible for the monitoring of all data transmissions in and about the US. “The ISE keeps people safe,” says Secretary of Defense Parker Wallace, “…the ISE remains the greatest facilitator of peace and order, aborting crime and protecting economic and government security.”

  After the ISE was in place and t...

  “We’re ready for you Mr. Metiline.”

  Marcus Metiline placed the brochure back into the mess of literature atop the table and looked up in the direction of the voice.

  A young, slender woman with long, dark hair and black, button eyes stood over him, her shoulders straight and arms held tight to her sides. Marcus could tell she was military once, maybe still is. She wore a navy blue zip-up vest with a plunging neckline and matching pressed slacks. Marcus could sense her impatience and displeasure.

  He rose to his feet. She turned and walked away, motioning for him to follow. Marcus obeyed.

  Speaking into the air ahead of her, she said, “You are very early for your meeting, Mr. Metiline.” She looked back at Marcus and added, “I have been instructed to show you around. The grand tour so to speak.”

  Marcus could tell she had no desire for touring. She continued walking as if to evade Marcus Metiline.

  He called to her, raising his voice a little to make sure she heard, “You got a name?”

  Without looking back she replied, “You can call me Reg.”

  She stopped at an empty section of hallway and turned to face the wall. Marcus caught up to her and, now standing beside her, said, “Reg, that’s a nice name.”

  He added, “Is it short for something? Regina maybe?”

  She reached for her neckline. Marcus watched as her fingers fished between her breasts. He realized he could see her bra from this angle. He also realized she was looking at him. With disdain on her face, she pulled out a shiny red card and swiped it quickly at the blank wall. The wall melted away silently, revealing a large corridor.

  She stepped inside and turned to Marcus, “It’s short for registration, as in my job here.”

  She snarled and then sighed, adding, “Follow me.”

  They continued down the hallway. The walls glistened and sparkled, and on further inspection, Marcus realized they were electrified, or had electricity. It was contained in a manner he had never witnessed before. He noticed the ceiling was of the same material. The electric streaks shimmered and glowed, zigzagging behind thick heavy glass, weaving gracefully all around.

  The lightning bolts seemed to be carried and swirled along by a fluid-like substance. It was beautiful.

  As he approached the end of the hallway, his eyes followed a single lightning bolt to its source. He perceived an enormous arrangement of small copper spheres, wires, rods, and lights. He didn’t recognize the machine.

  Reg grabbed Marcus’s shoulder, pulling him into a side room.

  “Strip,” she commanded, pointing to a curtain in the corner.

  Marcus obliged. Once undressed, he realized the room was cold. The walls were steely. The air was thin.

  As he emerged from behind the curtain his attention was drawn toward the far wall. The wall was made of glass panels, doors he realized. Beyond them, the vague glow of fluorescent bulbs glinted off tarnished steel.

  An old used up meat locker; all it’s missing is ghastly, bloody hooks, he thought.

  It was just then, standing there naked, cold, and vulnerable, that he began to consider his recent choices, those that led to this moment. Didn’t he know how foolish this was? How little he knew about this place. Christ was the paycheck big, but at what cost? Being here, like this?

  He maintained his composure, that ever-present look of contemplation plastered across his face, turned to Reg, and managed to say calmly, “Can I smoke?” Marcus located his cigarettes amongst his pile of clothes.

  “Absolutely not.” She pointed to the sprinkler nozzle above her. “Give me your clothes.”

  Marcus dropped the pack on the pile, strolled over to Reg, and handed over the clothes. She examined them momentarily and then placed them upon the table behind her. A multi-jointed maneuverable structure was suspended above the table. She positioned the structure over the pile of clothes and clicked a pedal switch with her foot. A television screen illuminated, revealing Marcus’s pile of clothes on the table. Reg toggled a dial on the screen and in a moment the clothing became gauzy and translucent. His possessions could be made out beyond the fabric facade of his garments.

  Marcus growled, “Why did I need to undress? It seems redundant.”

  She pointed her thumb to the meat locker. “For the grand tour,” she half-mocked.

  A knot formed in Marcus’s stomach.

  “Step inside please,” she sighed unhappily as she flipped a switch on the console before her.

  At that, one of the glass panels whispered open. One wouldn’t know it, but Marcus was wary of entering that room. He reluctantly passed beyond the dingy glass panels and headed for the center of the room. He turned to face Reg but saw only metal wall. He felt how small the room was, how close the walls were, how cold the floor was, how imposing the lights had become. A single horizontal beam of rose colored light invaded him, then a vertical beam. The knot in his stomach rose to his throat.

  “Let the tour begin,” Reg’s voice announced over a speaker box in the ceiling.

  The lights increased in amplitude till Marcus could perceive nothing but blinding white light. The light dissolved to reveal a large factory. Marcus was positioned above rows of machines. He looked about, attempting to orient himself, taking in his sudden surroundings. He was clothed, not in his own clothes, but he was clothed. Below him, large mechanical arms grasped and kneaded conveyor belts, stamping and shaping the parts that glided past. The sounds were deafening, gears grinding, metal mashing, pistons pumping. In an instant the factory flickered and then faded.

  Marcus stood in a large, brightly lit room. Walls of pure white surrounded men clad in protective suits. The men stood huddled around an intricate apparatus along one wall. Marcus could make out the raised square keys of a typewriter-like keyboard, as well as the glossy edge of a screen embedded in the console. Beyond the men, on the other side of a crystalline breach in the wall, were a single row of arms, similar to those in the factory only smaller and more delicate. They clamped and soldered at small green chips. Then the arms disappeared, the men and the walls faded away, and the console flipped into oblivion.

  This process continued
, first presenting Marcus with an unfamiliar environment, then the sudden ebb and wane of his surroundings, and finally a transition to a new place, a new experience. He glimpsed offices, saw rows of desks with small television-like screens upon them, typewriter-esque keys attached. He hovered over delivery bays, watching the unloading of trucks below. He witnessed board meetings and the sea of uniforms at lunchtime in the cafeteria. He experienced BelisCo, and in a moment, he was returned to the drab cramped meat locker; naked and cold.

  “Get dressed. Mr. Belis will see you now,” Reg announced over the speaker box.

  Chapter III

  Ashram Trounce opened his eyes. The pungent smell of ammonia, fertilizer and processed silage feed filled his breath. He rubbed the backs of his hands against his eye sockets as he tried to orient himself.

  Ashram found himself lying on the ground in the center of the cattle subsection of his massive animal complex. He groaned.

  It wasn't the first time he had woken up somewhere other than his old, twin bed, but it was the first time he couldn't remember how he got there.

  Have I been here all night? Ashram considered.

  His dark surroundings were shredded by the sun rays breaking through the wooden slats that composed the walls. It was the only light he'd have until he left the barn. In the shadows, he could see the movements of the animals in their stalls as they too began to wake.