The tiny big thing...
Chapter one
Dr. Zurich heard a noise as he entered the corridor & then to a great hall the sound was increasing. As he moved in the hall the noise grew higher. The sound was of applause, an applause which showed no sign of fading until a man with a royal and mystique look appeared on the stage of the hall. The hall was the assembly auditorium of the United Nations and the man on stage was the President of UN speaking live to the world through media. “Welcome all gentlemen, tonight I feel proud to announce that our science maestro will officially declare and open the secret on which our team was working from last two years! Now, I may have the honour to invite my friend and the president of ERD (Environment Research Department) of UN. DR. WATSON.”
Dr. Watson middle aged, blonde hair man with eyes swelled but a satisfied expression on his face came on stage. “I thank the president for honouring me but I reckon that credit goes to all efficient researchers in the ERD without whom the project was just a dream. It gives me immense pleasure to disclose the work that we have being doing from last 25 months. Friends, you all are acquainted with the consequences of the gulf-war which we faced about two & half year before like mass destruction of valuable properties etc.But the consequence on which anyone would seldom think was global drought. Amazed! How gulf-war can cause global drought .Well, environmentalist can explain better.
Dr. Zurich felt Watson was going to call him. Because Zurich was a re known environmentalist and a senior member of ERD. So he was preparing to leave his seat to address the public. Watson continued “So, let me invite Dr. Dawson to explain the situation.” Jack stumbled over the chair Zurich was stunned & couldn’t believe that he was overlooked by Watson. Jack, a broad shouldered and dark black haired ambidextrous and youngest scientist ERD ever, came on stage ruffling his hairs. He gave a curious look to Watson who smiled and gave a confidence boosting look and handed dice to him.
Jack started explaining. “During gulf war many oil tankers were drowned in ocean ,oil started to pour in sea, the ocean forms an emulsion which prevents the water to evaporate. Thus, it actually results in cruel curbing of water cycle. With increasing in global warming, polar ice will melt and water level would increase which may cause wet & dry droughts. If stats are to be believed after next 15 years there will be no rain or no land. This emulsion is spread over 80% of Atlantic and Indian Ocean & is fast encroaching Pacific.”At the end of these words a terror and shock spread among the audience. Loud hisses and discussions were audible. Dr. Watson came into the picture and said something in jack’s ear. Jack spoke again, “I can sense the terror amongst you. That’s the reason we were not canvassing the problem but I am awaking you now, because today we have the solution in our hands. Now, to explain our powerful solution I call upon our nanotechnologist Miss Gloria Stewart”.
Gloria, a young lady nanotechnologist came on stage. Zurich was at the end of his limits. How can they insult him by not giving chance to speak in public? Was the only question eating his mind so he left conference furiously.
Acknowledging the applause Gloria said “Believe it or not, but that’s truth! We have developed nano metric robots i.e. nanobots which will consume the hydrocarbon in the oil and thus purify the oceanic water. The carbon will be used by the nanobots for their self-replication. Thus, billions of nanobots will be employed in our work. Only this much information regarding the project can be exposed right now. We have submitted a detail report to the president of UN and I ensure that this project will be a success and it will save humanity. I’m pleased to announce that this project will be installed next week and the HQ (Head Quarters) will be right here in NEW-YORK and to control activities in Indian Ocean our sub-HQ will be at MUMBAI.” Gloria stepped down and was greeted with a long applause concluding conference.
Watson being puzzled due to Zurich’s sudden leaving of hall was looking for him after the conference, suddenly hears an announcement.“Dr. Watson please report at president’s office immediately.”
“Oh! Welcome Dr. Watson it seems your project might be a huge success”. “Certainly sir, do you doubt it?” “No, no not at all. But I have a small query. What if your nanobots get out of control?” “Well, I know the risk factor is large but I have made such adjustments that I can stop all bots at a push of one button, if really it’s an emergency. I’m working on that and it will be completed in two days”. “That’s, brilliant. Get it done soon as possible it’s very important”. “Trust me sir”. “I do”.
Dr. Zurich was busy with his work in lab, heard Watson’s voice. Watson asked Zurich “Albert, why you left the conference in between? Do you know that would create ERD’s bad impression on media?” Oh! I’m sorry if that endangers your status but what do you expect I should do if a senior member of ERD is humiliated like this? Spat Zurich.
“C’mon Albert, I just gave our younger lot to have a public addressing experience. I think you have done the same thing lot of times from the day you joined ERD”. But Zurich was adamant. He only thought that it was his sheer insult and everyone in ERD betrayed him. “Look Albert this is not the time to argue. We are in the final stage of launching our project. So, please “concentrate on your work”. “I know my work very well”. Watson was very modest with his speech but Zurich was very arrogant, rude, cruel not only his speaking but with his deeds also.
Soon after 13 days on 5 of June 2040 the day came when nanobots were launched from coastal areas of Louisiana & Africa. Small controlling stations were established on each base from where launch was made .Underwater bases were also prepared with two manned & 25 unmanned stations established to keep a close watch on surface activity of nanobots . Moving station in submarines was setup which would patrol from one to other stations & also would keep an eye on activity of nanobots. Missile were fired in Atlantic & Indian Oceans which carried millions of nanobots and as missile touched water nanobots sprung to life and started spreading over water surface thus, filtering of billions of gallons of ocean water started using nano sized bots .
UN President visited underwater controlling stations along with Gloria .When they were in a submarine, Gloria explained the procedure on computer screen, “As you can see sir, at the areas which are affected largely the multiplication of nanobots will be three times more than at any other areas .This will help us to purify Ocean at a faster rate, which will also save marine animals from contaminated water.”President looked very impressed.
“These nanobots are programmed to work for next three years so that after just three years of hard work we can see our ocean free from oil and all marine animals will also be saved from extinction.”
The president approved the project for one year under observation and research basis and promised to approve it for next two year if its result were perfect.
The project showed absolute result, the ERD was granted permission for next two years also. ERD members became famous. Their project bagged many international prizes including the most prestigious, “Marvel Machines of the century” award. The ERD member and the pioneer Dr. Watson was nominated for the Nobel Prize for his theories and researches. Watson being excellent at his work deserved to get a Nobel award and which he did. Everyone were happy, Jack and Gloria were specially felicitated by US government [as they were US citizens] everything seemed superb! But Zurich was annoyed & depressed because he thought no one paid attention towards him .He felt that Jack would overtake his position in ERD it was like giving up his army! Zurich was at the deepest level of depression under tremendous pressure. He felt like, like he was given only the importance of an ant in this whole world. Zurich went crazy in anger.
On one day Laura visited Watson’s lab in ERD [Laura was Jonathan Watson’s beloved wife, she always supported ambitious Jonathan.]Laura entered the lab, it was pitch dark, and the odour was filled with smell of burnt plastic wires. Laura was feared of the silence. She called Watson once, twice again and again but there was no reply, she hastily moved inside, the lab was messed; she speedily moved ahead in dark and stumbled across a massive body lying on floor. To her terror it was a dead body lying on the ground. She helped herself to switch on the light a sudorific view was waiting for her. The body was of Dr. Watson unmoved, stable and cold like ice, lying peacefully in death’s arm.
Chapter Two
“Dr. Dawson I think there’s little problem detected by the computer nearly, hmm, 500 miles southwest from Cape of Good Hope .Wait I will give the exact position.’ Cautioned Gloria who hardly had any sign of mishap happened with Dr. Watson. “Quick Gloria” “Ah! That’s here, It’s at 79^0 43’ south and 35^0 24’ east “Thanks” said Dawson who was working on another system. He entered the location and accessed the information from nearest sub-station. “I suppose there’s a little extra activity near the southernmost tip of Africa” informed Jack. “Should we inform Dr. Watson?”
“No, there is no point in disturbing him, he’ll be busy now. I think we should wait for the mother robots to control the replication.”
The wireless telephone bell in submarine beeped where both Gloria and Jack were working. Gloria received the call. Jack was thinking over sending troops of mother robots but he heard a thud. Gloria had dropped the receiver on a table. Her face was white as if blood has been soaked from her face & breath stopped momentarily Jack felt that she heard something very disturbing. It was shocking news of course of Watson’s murder. ERD was in a great trouble.
The problem slipped out of their mind. They both rushed their submarine to New York harbour. US president called an emergency meeting of senior officials of FBI to appoint a committee to investigate on Watson’s murder but Dr. Zurich was missing. His was the first name on FBI’s suspecting list. Everything was chaos.
Days went; Jack was in his routine working for ERD as the whole responsibility now rested on his own little experienced shoulders. Next morning he got up and was watching the news with his favourite beverage. The lady news reader reported that fish density lowered by 75% in just one day the reason behind that was unknown and Brazilian navy was in search of clue.
Jack blinked; a thought train ran through his mind. He phoned Gloria, “Gloria, please meet me as soon as possible, it’s really very urgent “He speedily hurried to garage.
Jack gravely drew his car to reach the office as if he saw something spooky. He surely was very anxious. He met Gloria in office.
“What happened Jack?”
“Gloria. I have no time to explain now, just arrange an emergency meeting with U.N. president.”
“What are you saying?” the president is busy now. How can I disturb him now?”
“Oh! C’mon Gloria it’s very urgent, it’s about nanobots.” Roared Jack
“Ok ok I’ll try to manage.”
[The meeting was arranged]
Jack came with his assistants in the meeting hall.
“Gentlemen I have called this meeting to inform you that our mission has went a disastrous change. All the nanobots are getting out of our control I don’t reckon the reason behind that
But it must be related to Dr. Watson’s unusual death.”
Gloria was frozen, thinking of ill effects
“But Jack, how can you say that?”
“Yesterday at Brazil coast more than 75% fishes just disappeared. Yesterday evening a passenger cruise sank in the Atlantic suddenly without any reason. Big skeleton , believed of whale was found on Florida coast , just a skeleton of pure calcium & phosphorous , not any type of hydrocarbon ,that means the nanobots are eating up marine animals, but they weren’t programmed for that.” explained Jack.
“Up to what degree it will damage our society?” questioned president.
“I’ll explain, the nanobots are working under a malfunctioned program that regulates them. The programme has ordered nanobots to consume any sort of material living or non-living which ingredients carbon & self replicates themselves at level 12 rate, which is the optimum level. If it continues for next three weeks, the whole earth would be a dump of nanobots without a single living being.” said Gloria.
“Can’t you stop them or just destroy them or stop their power supply” President suggested anxiously.
“No sir, we can’t. They are designed to operate on electromagnetic radiations from sun and no chance of pesticiding them. They are not living organisms at all.” said Gloria.
“We are finished now, we can’t do anything there’s no point in fighting a lost battle. We are off now.” said Phillies an official in a shivering voice.
“Wait; don’t reach a conclusion without trying. The battle is always lost if it is never fought. We will fight against our own creation. If we can give birth we can destroy also. We have everything in our hand mind, money, and moral. We have to apply our knowledge to sort out this problem.” said President
“Seal all the coasts, send this message to all country’s heads and stop this news to spread in media and internet.” ordered president
Jack decided not to panic. He always was a man who looked at the brightest side of life.
President called Jack and Gloria in his cabin. They had a private discussion
“Dr. Dawson & Dr. Stewart I think you should be prepared with the solution.”
“No sir, we really don’t know how to stop this.” replied Gloria.
“I remember Dr. Watson assured me that if such case would happen, he was able to destroy all the nanobots on just push of one button and you say you don’t have a solution.”
Gloria was puzzled to hear that, she said “No sir really Dr. Watson didn’t give us any hint that he had made a so called machine which could stop nanobots on one push. You must have been joking sir, they are in very large number, the number which a human haven’t invented till now and they are multiplying at fast rate, even a whale was a second’s meal for them.”
“One second Gloria you just can’t doubt Dr. Watson’s brilliance, there must be a truth in that.” explained Jack.
“Dawson’s right Miss Stewart.” said the president. There was a long silence .Gloria was thinking harder, but looked as she was said to gulp a stone.
“But miss. Stewart being nanotechnologist have you found out any reason why our project turned on us? I think it was going alright up to Dr. Watson’s death.”
“Yes sir, I’ am studying Dr. Watsons research papers and I am trying to find what went wrong suddenly. I don’t know whether we are going right or not but it should be a work of some ERD member. The project headquarter from where all the activities were controlled was under tight security. To crack the security is no child’s play so I think its work of ERD’s senior official.” said Gloria.
“If you know what I am thinking Miss Stewart then you are right.” said president. It looked there was an exchange of information through eyes.
“That means you are suspecting Dr. Zurich.” said Gloria.
“Yes miss. Stewart you are on right path. That old filthy rascal has done wrong.” Said president in stressed voice. President never liked Dr. Zurich due to his unusual behaviour.
“Then we should try to spot Dr. Zurich first.” said Gloria.
"Now, we have to track that man to get out of this serious situation.
If he has done the crime then he must have the solution.
I will use my whole force and setup the best intelligence & each country he is likely to be hiding
To spot him.” said the president.
Time was passing fast as never, conditions were tough. The Nanobots were
encroaching the cities, situation grew worse than ever. Government ordered the public to evacuate the cities
Along any coast people went on strikes demanding the reason to leave their home. At last news leaked in the media.
NEWS flashed on every channel condemning Dr. Zurich that 'he deprogrammed the nanobots to make the destruction and fled from the field. He was the only culprit
the FBI also failed to track him. Now humanity can do nothing but only wait for the day of judgement.
But there always is a silver lining to dark cloud, Zurich surrendered himself to FBI & he was brought to New York where the president, Jack & Gloria came o meet him
"Do you know what you have done, you mad man. You are responsible for the death of thousands of people.
The whole living community on the earth will come to an end .Now for god's sake
stop the nonsense & tell us how we are going to stop this.”, barked the president.
"Are you in your senses? What rubbish you are talking, I don't know what have happened
to all nanobots, it’s a false censure on me. Did you forget I’m an environmentalist?
& not a technologist? How can you condemn me?" said Zurich.
"Don't try to act smart Dr. Zurich. We know that you have done it. You disappeared after killing Dr. Watson & destroyed the project."
"No, I haven't killed Dr. Watson. Its a trap on me. I swear I haven't killed him. He was a very good friend of mine."
"Then why you were hiding from us? Where were you when Dr. Watson was killed? Don't you have any answers to this question? I know that you have done this entire blunder & you have to solve it."
“I’m telling you that I even didn't knew that Dr. Watson is murdered .I was very depressed & ashamed of my behaviour with others .I just wanted a break so I went on a holiday without informing anybody .You can phone the hotel I was residing for last four weeks
look these are my air tickets .Then I heard news two days before that you have charged me of Dr. Watsons's murder, so I surrendered myself”, confessed Dr. Zurich.
"No I don't trust you .No, never!” disapproved President and went away, Gloria & Dawson followed.
“Miss. Stewart our hopes now rests on you only, you have to find some solution to stop this disaster.” said the president.
On other day the major cities of Brazil, Uruguay and other parts of South America were evacuated .Some people were moved to mountains, many of them lost their lives.
The situation was getting worse and demanded a quick solution.
“Hello, this is Miss. Stewart can you please connect me to Mr. President.” Gloria phoned the President.
“Hello Miss. Stewart, yes sir I’ve called you to tell that I’ve found a research paper in which Dr. Watson has stated how he can collectively destroy the nanobots.”
“Oh! That...that means you have found the solution.” said president excitedly .
“Yes sir.”
“Please tell me, I can’t wait to hear the solution.”
“Dr. Watson has fixed a nano gluon explosive in nearly each nanobot which he was able to activate by transmitting a Ultra High radio frequency. That is if the nanobot receives a typical value of U.H. radio frequency the nanobots will self activate the explosive and all the nanobots will be destroyed by millions of small explosions and to transmit this frequency just a button push is required, only some initial programming is required.
But that system is not here it is on a submarine somewhere near Mauritius, so let’s hurry now and find that submarine.”
Hurriedly the team went to Mauritius, but unfortunately the submarine was not found in the near ocean. Jack believed that oceanic currents might have displaced the submarine as the ocean currents were highly active near Mauritius and according to Jack the only person who could track the submarine by the knowledge of currents was Dr. Zurich as he was expert in this field.
Though unwillingly, president called Dr. Zurich immediately to Mauritius. Dr. Zurich also wanted to do something to save the humanity and to prove his innocence.
Without wasting much of the time Dr. Zurich started the work of tracing the submarine.
Meanwhile Gloria was preparing the program to activate the U.H. radio frequency.
With all his experience Dr. Zurich calculated the position of submarine which was in the deep, chilly ocean near Antarctic. But he kept this to himself, secret from other team members. He looked a little bit nervous and frustrated, the reason known to him.
In such a state of mind he went to Gloria who was now ready with the program and said
“Gloria, give me the program.” “But, why do you need the program.” replied Gloria
“This is not the time to explain, don’t argue just give me the program.” Dr. Zurich said angrily. Gloria hesitatingly gave a copy of program to Dr. Zurich.
The situation was now getting worse, nanobots now started to spread all over and destroy human beings, it was a massacre. President was receiving all the news and was really annoyed and wanted some quick action from team & Dr. Zurich.
Suddenly Dr. Zurich was missing from crew, hearing this news President became very angry & Furious and yelled on Jack “See I told you , that man was not trustworthy , now it’s all over, only God can save humanity.”
Suddenly, after some time president got news from his officials that there were a number of small explosions all over and nanobots started destructing themselves. President couldn’t believe his ears, he got puzzled and gave this message to all the crew . “Someone has activated the U.H. radio frequency destruction system.” said Gloria
“But who could have done this?” questioned president.
“Dr. Zurich.” replied Gloria instantly.
“He took the program from me; he might have traced the submarine & activated the system.”
Continued Gloria.
Months passed away, things started to get normal but the only question troubling everyone was, ‘Where is Albert Zurich?’ who saved the life on earth.
Some believed that he sacrificed himself to save the life of millions,
Some thought that he is still alive somewhere in remote.
It still remains an unsolved mystery.
But, to make it feel that he is alive & closer to people, his grand statue was erected in the campus of U.N. headquarters by the President.
Authors......meru avinash & meru abhijeet
