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  TWEAK

  James Love

  Copyright 2011 James Love

  Published by Spangaloo

  Spangaloo Edition

  http://spangaloo.com

  Copyright © 2011 by James Bryron Love. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher.

  Author: James Bryron Love

  Editor: Murray Coleman

  Cover Design: Spangaloo

  http://spangaloo.com

  http://www.facebook.com/jamesbryronlove

  https://twitter.com/jamesbryronlove

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, incidents, and places are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, people, or events is purely coincidental.

  .

  Copyright © 2011 by James Bryron Love. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher.

  Author: James Bryron Love

  The author has dedicated this novel to Elisabeth for allowing me the time for my thoughts to dominate me.

  Editor: Murray Coleman (http://words.spangaloo.com)

  Cover Design: Spangaloo

  http://spangaloo.com

  http://www.facebook.com/jamesbryronlove

  https://twitter.com/jamesbryronlove

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, incidents, and places are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, people, or events is purely coincidental.

  Over sized view screens hung everywhere. The technicians floated over their input devices with an air of mystique as the evening participants filed into the room. The smiling was overwhelming. It looked like it would be a fantastic day.

  "Gentlemen I would like to give you some background details,” the moderator said in a soft voice. "The history of this particular planet is not unique. However, the extremes they've taken it to are. I'll give you the basic list, and we will come back to the rest a little later."

  “This presentation deals with the planet Aerrasop in galaxy 1136 19 K 4. The planet seems to have about 100,000 years of evolution for the bipedal. It is safe to say it has been stagnant for the last 90,000 years. This is a result of the caste system that is in place. The caste system is stringent once born into a caste; there is no way out of it. The caste system breaks down into four separate groups, which are as follows.”

  “Primary caste system or lower caste, approximately 65% of Aerrasop’s population fits into this caste. The Primary Caste is the low-end labor force; they have extreme beliefs in a God system. They always hope to improve themselves, but are unaware that there is no way out. Intelligence is very low and maintained genetically by the Echelon Caste.

  Mid Caste system or middle caste, makes up approximately 20% of the population is in this caste. This is the working caste given the meager ability to make an inadequate living. They have minor beliefs in a God system. Most realize that they are stuck in this caste and merely accept their place in life.

  Upper caste system or upper caste, approximately 14% of the population fits into this caste. This is a non-working caste. They are born with money and very few have illusions about the world. They strive to achieve nothing. Their life is a tedious boredom, and the suicide rate is extremely high in this caste.

  The remaining 1% of the population are born into Echelon caste, the highest caste system. They are a lot more than just the ruling caste. They control absolutely everything and have no moral code to speak of. Every action they take is justified by their own power with no regard for anything. This is the caste system we are going to look at more closely at little later in the presentation.

  The caste system on this planet remains entrenched because it is ruled with an iron hand. Most offenses are punishable by death without appeal. From the Echelon Caste down, each has jurisdiction over the one below them.

  Gentlemen, I would like everyone to proceed to the meeting room where we can review and finalize all the details of our current projections."

  ———-———————————————-

  The club appeared lifeless as a few customers meandered about. The bartender polished the same glass for the hundredth time, his boredom an overwhelming force. He looked at the clock and muttered, "Another damn hour until the gamblers showed up, this place will never be the same."

  Trish, wearing her most provocative tight-fitting costume, examined her long fingernails and hummed a mindless tune.

  The bartender slammed the glass he was holding on the counter. His eyes breathed fire. He shouts, "Shut the hell up Trish. Nobody wants to hear that shit from where you used to live. You know you're only here because I pulled some strings, so you better cooperate, or it’s back to the gutters for you.”

  Trish looked sheepishly at him, and stuttered, "I'm really sorry Troy, it...it...it won't happen again. I know you has done so much for me already. I'm just anxious because the last time those damn gamblers are here I didn't even get one tip. Those is the cheapest bastards I ever sees."

  Troy turned away from her. He knew that he shouldn't take his frustrations out on her and besides, he really kind of liked her and the sex was just another bonus. He sighed. It was never going to be the same again; those bastards from the Echelon destroyed his business. Customers would not come here because the risk of running into one the Echelon was too high. Thanks to them, he was barely scraping by. All these thoughts ricocheted through his brain. He knew he had no solutions.

  "Trish" he said, "you can't talk like that, I taught you how to speak properly, and if you don't speak correctly we could both get in trouble. You know if somebody finds out you are from the lower caste, you will have to go back there."

  "But Troy you know that God is the one that help me to get this job with you, and He's protecting us cause, He loves us so much. He would never let you get into trouble for helping me," she said with conviction.

  "There is no damn God Trish! Even if he exists, all he would be is an evil prick," mumbled Troy.

  Trish sat down and closed her eyes. She started remembering her childhood. The filth was everywhere. She lived with her mother, two brothers and two sisters in a small one-room apartment with electricity for only six hours a day and there was never enough food. The wind often came through the walls and blew out the candles. Her only salvation was that she was allowed to finish school. She was quite proud of her grade six education. She remembered all the fighting and desperation that surrounded her. Their church priest had been a particular focus for her. He taught her so many things about God and she believed every word that he said. His desire for sex with small children was, as he explained to her, his way of being repaid for the knowledge that he gave. She could not possibly fault that. He said God stated it as required to enter His kingdom.

  She didn't think it was a horrible childhood, mostly because she had nothing to compare it to. All of her friends had lived through the same thing. Then Troy found her. Her life immediately changed. She no longer worried about food and where she was going to sleep. She lived with him and got to sleep in his bed. Like magic, there was food in the fridge and cupboards as well as a servant to cook the meals. He was also a much better lover than the priest.

  She was shaken out of her daydream by the sounds at the door.

  The gamblers filed in for their solitary drink on the way to their meeting. They looked around the club with disdain. One looked at another and said, "Well this place won't be around much longer
will it. We’re going to have to find a new place." The gamblers filed out almost as quickly as they appeared, perhaps a grand total of 15 minutes.

  Troy went back to his brooding and worry. Trish oblivious to Troy’s problems sat sulking in a corner.

  The meeting place was alive with activity; about sixty of the Echelon had taken up their prearranged positions in the room. The room carried decadence to its extremes. There wasn't a square inch it was left undecorated in some opulent fashion. The robots drifted around dispensing beverages, performing their singular task. The lights were soft with an ever-changing glow sending shadows and interesting patterns throughout the room.

  The computerized systems were hiding in a different room run by a series of a robot specially designed for the tasks. All the computations for this evening's game were conducted in there so as not to offend the Echelon. They did not like to be reminded that they no longer knew how the machinery worked, or the science behind it.

  Tirmole sat across from Timolv and studied him carefully. ”Timolv, why do people in that bar, call us gamblers and what do you think we should do about it?” he said.

  Timolv gave a thoughtful look and said rather energetically, "Well that would probably be your fault. Quit your babbling. Even though they only hear bits and pieces, what they hear is that we’re gambling on something you suggested, what the stakes are and how to collect your winnings. They are just simple people and have a much lower intelligence than we do. What did you think they were going to think? I suggest we do absolutely nothing about it. It really doesn't matter any ways does it? There's nothing they could do about it, even if they knew all the facts.”

  "I guess you're right. I really have to learn to be quiet when I'm out in public," Tirmole said rather glumly.

  The evening’s games were about to begin. The speaker of the day moved up to the podium and casually tapped on the microphone. As he did so, he thought to himself, "Why are we still using this antiquated equipment?"

  "Okay boys and girls, we're all set for tonight's entertainment. It is mandatory that I spell out the rules, even though you should all know them by heart by now," the speaker said.

  Rule one: all tweaks must be a minor tweak and the minutest tweak will be the winner.

  Rule two: all bets once laid are permanent, there is no changing or altering your bet.

  Rule three: if your tweak is selected, you must stay until the completion of the round.

  Rule four: all bets will be paid and/or collected at the end of the round.

  Rule five: you will in no way interfere with the robots that are performing the calculations and permutations in the other room.

  “Okay, the planet we have selected is called Sydnor and is located in sector EC 9746 M 11. This particular world currently has life, but is very early in a state of evolution. Its primary life form is bipedal and has started forming small colonies and groups. They have recently discovered fire and basic weapons. Physics on that planet are identical to here in every way. They are a schedule 3 in the multi-verse. And we are a schedule 6. That particular universe has only been around for about 4 billion years. Ours, as you know, has been around for 45 billion years. Other planets in that universe are viable to the game. However, we are just choosing one planet for the particular game tonight. I will not take any questions and will now open this up to the floor for the tweaks," he stated firmly.

  The room began to murmur as the Echelon came together to discuss their options. Sides and factions would start to form, and then just as easily disintegrate. The robots floated around refilling drinks as membership weighed their options. The talk crescendoed and quieted as different members expressed their viewpoints. The Speaker sat back and watched, knowing that this part of the game would last for a maximum of an hour before the real debate would begin.

  He sighed to himself and thought “Damn, I hate being Speaker, all I get to do is control this rabble. I am not even allowed to bet!”

  The hour seemed to pass rather quickly. Now the finer points of the game could truly begin. Tziloew approached the podium to begin his pitch. He adjusted the microphone to a comfortable place and began his speech.

  "Fellow members," he bellowed," I have the simplest of all tweaks. We know that there are other bipedal animals on that planet. What if we escalate the evolution in one of them instead? This will reduce the current life forms ability to seize control. All that is necessary is to change one of the sequences in the DNA.” He looked rather smugly at the crowd and said, "I thank you all for your time" and walked away from the podium with total self-assurance and even with a bit of a swagger.

  Twello saw her opportunity and rushed to the podium. The gossamer clothing she wore revealed every aspect of her anatomy, much to her pleasure. "Let them all drool,” she thought. ”This will win me a few votes.”

  She picked the microphone off the podium and clutched it in her hand suggestively, sliding her hand up and down the microphone in a rhythmic manner. She grinned at the crowd.

  “Fellow members I have the best tweak yet,” she said in a soft seductive voice.” As you know, fire is the start of all civilizations. Now I am not suggesting that we take fire away from them. I am merely suggesting that we change the physics so that fire is impossible. This can be accomplished rather easily. All we have to do is adjust one of the basic rules in physics and chemistry. If oxygen is no longer combustible, or that is to say, cannot aid in combustion, then fire will not easily exist. By doing this, we will stagnate their culture and force it forever to be a primitive culture."

  She walked away from the podium in an exaggerated manner making sure that everyone got a really good look at her fantastic body. She giggled to herself and thought, "I prefer robots, much better lovers."

  Tholwer wandered slowly to the podium as he always did. He arrived without any fanfare. His confidence was staggering. His ideas and tweaks had always won the most games. He reluctantly picked up the microphone as if it may actually have a disease. He stared at it, disgusted and put it back down.

  "This is a very small room, in such I think I can talk loud enough for everyone to hear me. My fellow presenters have had some interesting ideas. However, I think you'll find that mine has the most merit and will accomplish the most with the least. For those of you that have done your research you may note that a single asteroid is what caused life on the planet to exist in the first place. Unlike other planets where multiple asteroid strikes were responsible for the advent of life, this particular planet only had one such occurrence. What I propose is simple and complete. If we destroy the asteroid before it reaches the planet, that planet will always be barren of life. This represents a total solution and does not involve changing any physics that may spill over to the rest of that universe. We won't have to worry about re-sequencing any DNA and possible problems that may cause.”

  He looked the crowd over evenly and decided he had said enough. He left the podium to rejoin his space in the crowd.

  The Speaker arose and headed back to the podium, "Damn,” he thought,” nobody is going to get up after that speech. We should make a note, always make him go last.”

  The Speaker placed the microphone back to its original resting place and spoke clearly and evenly to the crowd. "Is there anybody else that would like to present an idea?”

  The crowd looked frozen in its place, nobody so much as blinked.

  "Hmmm, I guess we'll put it to a vote,” he said solemnly.

  The selection process was going to be rather easy in this game, only three selections. In a matter of seconds, the votes would be tallied and a winner pronounced.

  The Speaker made his way back to the podium reluctantly. He clutched the results in his left hand and with his right wiped at his brow. “This is going to be a very short round,” he thought to himself.

  “Attention everyone, the results are in. We have a very clear winner, and that honor goes to Tholwer.” He said dryly.” This will only leave the betting, and that will start now, may the worst be
t win.”

  The babbling immediately started and grew to a roar, and then just as suddenly ended.

  Thwety stood up and in a loud voice proclaimed, ”I bet one shadell that it will fail. Who will take my bet?” He glared at the crowd around him in defiance. He knew that Tholwer was rarely wrong. Several approached him to take his bet and prove him inadequate once again.

  Tkwop was a frail individual and required assistance. Finally he made it to a standing posture. In a barely audible voice, he said, “I bet three shadell that Thwety is stupid and has only bet against Tholwer to be spiteful.” The crowd rushed him, lifting him off is feet, laughing insanely.

  Thwety turned purple and screamed, “I’ll take your bet, you old bastard, and I’ll fuck your wife again because I know you can’t.”

  The Speaker rose at this point and stated with authority, “Everyone here will be civil, or I will cancel the game. This is your only warning."

  The room dropped to a whisper. Tension still emulated from the crowd but no one wanted to be blamed for the game being canceled. They would have to live in shame for a few hundred years and worst of all, not be allowed to participate in any future games.

  Theret rose to break the ice and in his smooth voice said, “I bet four shadell that Tholwer is correct in his assessment, and that it will take only ten percent of the time allotted. Do I have any takers?” A fraction of the crown converged on him to take his bet.

  In the corner Twello sat looking depressed and thought “What do I have to do to impress this crowd?” She hadn’t won a tweak in three hundred years and now didn’t even feel like betting. A flash of insight hit her and she jumped to her feet.

  “I bet that even after the asteroid has been removed from the equation, another asteroid will hit the planet, and life will start up as normal. I know that this seems far-fetched to all of you. Tholwer has done his homework as he always has, but that deals with the history of the planet before we tweaked with it. I think that the history will change, and I am willing to bet five shadell that I am correct. Who will take my bet?” she exclaimed excitedly.