©GeraldineBanksFebruary2025
The film came to life on the big screen ,the audience were very keen to see what the fuss was all about. They were immediately impressed by the stunning images of Allenby’s Establishment and the glass fronted buildings, that filled the screen. The beautiful mountains that surrounded the facility had been captured by drone footage, it was a truly stunning image.
Sandy appeared as the presenter looking so much healthier in the film than she had when she collected her award. She began to talk about her experience and said that it was her second visit to Allenby’s Institute and they were taking the opportunity to follow up on some of the events that she had seen on her first visit and that she hoped to gather the evidence that would portray her experience and the Research that was being pursued by Allenby and his team into the human genome.
Gerry, Allenby and Millie were all seated in the front row together as the film started.
As the film progressed Gerry began to sense Allenby’s unease, he was becoming more and more agitated. It was not the film that Allenby imagined.
After the initial introduction, the aims, objectives and most importantly the methods employed by Allenby became obvious and increasingly morbid and dark. The body toll mounted and the footage was unforgiving. The images of interrogation and torture that had been secretly filmed were upsetting , and the audience found it repulsive and some of them were in obvious distress.
Dr King’s role was explained in detail and the operation to help him escape was described. At this point Allenby tried to get up and leave, but a nearby Security Guard persuaded him to sit back down again.
Allenby turned to Gerry ” You’ll pay for this Gerry, I assure you. I have very powerful friends.”
Millie looked quizzically at Gerry as the Security Guard glared at Allenby and held his hand on his shoulder.
” Get off me .” He muttered, but had to sheepishly sit down. The audience noted the confrontation and recognised the Professor as one of the protagonists in the torture scenes. Allenby’s entourage were scattered among the auditorium and could not assist him, some indeed were learning for the first time the type of man that they were working for.
Dr King’s worn face appeared on the screen. Sandy had not seen this footage as it had been filmed in Japan. Sandy and Martin had moved out of their seats and went back to the Green Room.
” I was held prisoner in Professor Allenby’s establishment. I was not there under my own free will. I was captured and kidnapped from where I was working with children I had in my care . They are probably dead now, we will never know what happened to most of them. The Professor and his like decided that they were an inconvenience and all trace of them must be eradicated from the planet because their D.N.A. does not match the profile for the future envisaged by people like Allenby. I am a doctor, I treat illness and I am an expert geneticist, I do not destroy because I cannot cure.”
Dr King continued speaking
” Professor Allenby is acting like God. There is no such thing as perfection in Humanity. Genetics the good and the bad are part of us and of our future. I have friends and colleagues who have been tortured and killed by Professor Allenby and his associates for beliefs that I don’t understand. He’s killed healthy people who disagreed with him. He and what he stands for is the real danger to us. I am very lucky to have got out alive. “
“We tried to save as many children as we could , but we were mercilessly hunted down, pursued. Fortunately , we have our backers too, and thanks to them we have been able to save some children. Without those good people, this young man would not be alive today. Say hello Alex.”
Alex climbed onto Dr King’s lap. He smiled and waved at the camera.
The audience gasped and some began to cry.
“Alex has a genetically inherited disease passed on through one of his parents. At the moment there is no known cure. I was making good progress with his treatment, which was interrupted when I was captured , but we’re back on course now. You’re feeling a lot better , aren’t you Alex?”
” Yes, thank you , I do feel a lot better.” Alex looked up at Dr King.
” Alex’s mother is Sandy , the journalist who bravely investigated and made this film. Alex was taken from her as a baby and would have been “denatured” had our Organisation not stepped him and saved him. Our actions are not illegal or a danger to the future of this planet. We are behaving as Human Beings should.”
Alex tugged at Dr King’s arm and said.
” Can I say hello to mummy and daddy now. Dr King”.
“Yes of course you can.”
Alex , waved and blew a kiss to the camera.
” Hello Mummy and Daddy, I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.”
Some of the audience had tears running down their faces and Gerry realised that Professor Allenby could be in danger from the crowd. Meanwhile Sandy and Martin were hugging each other.
“Martin , he’s safe with Dr King , we couldn’t hope for better!” Sandy cried.
Suddenly Gerry walked into the Green Room.
“Sandy , Alex is safe now and Allenby’s question and answer session has been cancelled. Professor Allenby has left the building. The crowd were very angry, there’s a lot of influential people out there. They don’t like child killers.” Gerry put his arms around Sandy and Martin.
Millie had followed Gerry, she had tears in her eyes. She stood quietly and looked at the group silently and moved gently forward towards Sandy. Sandy looked at her and unfolded herself , she gently touched Martin’s face and wiped her eyes with her fingers and turned to Millie to talk to her.
” Sandy that was an amazing, a brilliant piece. I didn’t know about any of it, Gerry told me nothing. I don’t suppose he could have. It wouldn’t have been safe for you or your little boy. “
“No , Mills, you’re right.”
” Allenby told me that Gerry was the carrier.” The tears ran down her eyes.
“What?” Sandy didn’t know what to say.
” Alex is his son.”
” Yes. Millie , you’ve guessed right, but what happened was way before you and Gerry , remember Alex is almost five now.” Sandy thought it best to be forthright.
” Oh I know what an alley cat Gerry was . I’m glad something good has come out of his antics. He did have a dreadful reputation. ” She laughed.” I only got him because he was getting old and tired.”
Gerry overheard her and looked around, he took his arm off of Martin’s shoulder, unsure what was going to happen next. He had been neglecting Millie recently.
“Mills, what are you saying ? I’m a burnt out old man?”
Millie looked across at him and smiled. “Bit singed maybe?”
“Thanks.” Gerry looked deflated as he began to explain.
“I’m sorry I had to keep it all under wraps, the less people who knew, the better chance I had of pulling it off. Sandy didn’t even know the whole story , you just weren’t well enough.” He looked at Sandy.
“No I wasn’t , Gerry, you have done a wonderful job and I’m grateful.”
” There’s going to be a lot more work to do now, I don’t think you’ll be able to do all the travelling involved Sandy. Perhaps Millie could take it on now.”
Sandy nodded her head in agreement and said ” Yes, Gerry , that’s a good idea, but it’s always the same with you, work, work , work. What I want to know is when I can have Alex back in my arms again. I think he’s just found himself a new Auntie, Auntie Millie.”
Millie looked at Sandy.
” I’d love that , you read my mind Sandy!. It will be great practice for when we have our own. Allenby told me that you are a carrier Gerry , and as the Law stands we can’t have children. That has got to change.”
” You saw the audience Gerry , there was a lot of anger there about what has been happening.” She looked Gerry straight in the eye and said . “Nobody is going to say I can’t have a baby with you.”
Gerry could not filibuster his way out of this as he normally would and just rush off to another meeting.
Despite her frailty, Sandy rallied and gently took them aside and spoke to them about Dr King and how wonderful he was.
After they had listened to Sandy , Gerry realised Sandy was extremely tired and said to Martin that perhaps it was a good time to take her home. They went to get their things.
Gerry and Millie later discussed what they needed to do.
” I’ll set up a meeting with Dr King, but we have to have a change in the Law before we can get him and Alex over here. I need you to keep the momentum going on this Millie. There’s going to be some fallout. Allenby will be in touch with his powerful friends and will now be working on destroying our story. I need my little Miss Dynamite out there.”
Millie noticed that Sandy and Martin were just leaving , she put her hand on Sandy’s thin shoulder.
” Yes , I’ll follow through on your work, we’ll nail those bastards to the wall.”
Gerry looked appreciatively at Millie, he had always admired her feistiness.
The four of them said goodnight and Martin and Sandy went out to the chauffer car that Gerry had organised to take them home.
thenotsomightyom 