Dialogue from another time

I'm taking a break from soul machina. Honestly, I think the past 2 parts suck. i dont want to rewrite them, but will think of a way to make the remaining parts nicer. anyway, i'm trying a stunt once tried by asimov, regarding a story with dialogue only. hope u enjoy.

"Hello President Steven, I understand you have a job for me?"

"Indeed I do, Mr Fanour, I trust you are capable enough to do it?"

"Whatever my benefactor asks of me, I shall never fail."

"Good, because I want you to help me kill someone again."

"Kill someone? That's easy man, we the mafia have killed many already in this country, who is it that you want dead?"

"Dr Kane Lee."

"What! The eminent scientist working on psionic research? Why would you want him dead?"

"He has disregarded the orders from the government and continued with his research. We had offered him other topics of research such as neurology but he insists on doing psychic stuff."

"I mean why are you so worried about that? True Lee is an eminent scientist, but we all know that psychic research would go nowhere. You don't have to bother about him."

"The problem is he already got somewhere."

"What?! What... you mean he's actually proved psionic powers exist?"

"Yes, doing some stunts with the brain actually, honestly, I was taken aback by the method which he uses. Fluids! Man, can you believe that drinking some enhanced soft drink would give you psionic powers?"

"Man, that sounds retarded, but you told me before stupid stuff in science does happen."

"The entire country, the entire world, is ruled by the government, a commitee which comprises 90% scientists. Ever since the apocalypse, no one has dared question our authority and our competancy. Right now, Lee is out to prove us wrong."

"But that's not exactly what you're worried about, is it, sir?"

"You're right. In the first place, psionic research is wrong. Look how the previous world ended, nuclear bombs, an example of people taking science too lightly. Now Lee aparently thinks he's doing the world a favour, but he could be creating a second apocalypse, only 50 years after the first."

"Why would it be dangerous?"

"Ok, if everyone knew they had remote viewing abilities, we're talking about spying without any equipment. No pretty girl would be able to take a shower without being watched! Synchronocity, everyone tries to affect the world in some way, what a mess that would be! Then precognition, how are we going to face the people who know they're going to die soon? Come on man, and if you know psionic abilities better, you may even say people will start throwing fireballs at each other."

"That sounds adsurb, but sir, why don't you just try to talk to Lee?"

"I did, but he says it isn't the knowledge that is evil, it is humanity."

"Then you want the mafia to help discipline humanity?"

"Yes, that's why I'm paying you to kill him."

"Ok, sir, I will do it for you, because you are my friend."

"Thanks, but remember, you musn't make it known that it was the mafia who killed him, try to make it look like some accident. There have been rumours on the internet that the government actually hires the mafia to do their dirty work, that's why many mafia guys go scot-free. We all know how true that is anyway. So you must not drop evidence which those internet hippies can use."

The next day

"Good evening Mr Fanour, I trust you've done the job?"

"It was pie. I had one of my explosive experts doctor his car's positronic engine. He, his wife and his daughter are dead."

"Excellent, I don't want his family members to say this isn't an accident and go all about collecting condolences in a bid to find the truth."

"The mafia always does a good job in killing the target's relations as well."

"Mainly because I cover for you, but yes, I owe it all to you that the government's power is so strong in a large country."

"Come on, you know it was because you gave the people hope after the tragedy 50 years ago."

"Haha, there are people saying that I was the one who launched the nuclear strike so that I could rule the world."

"That definitely can't be true sir, you've been carefully restricting scientific progress such that it wouldn't harm humanity."

"Quite right Fanour, anyway, I have a follow up job for you. Tomorrow, I want you to send men, or you can go yourself if you like, to Lee's house and search for all his papers pertaining to psionic research. Don't destroy them, bring them to me."

"Will do sir, I ask for 300 000 for such a task."

"That's pretty cheap."

"It doesn't risk my men, and I give you a discount, since you're my friend and the president."

The next day

"Sir, these are the papers my men found in his house, I believe they all pertain to psionic research."

"Excellent, hmm, yes, I do believe you did a good job. Apparently he has indeed gone pretty far in his research, almost to the point where even we cannot deny. It was a good thing you killed him before he did. How's the public responding to his death?"

"Lee has made many important contributions to society before his death. Many people found it tragic, and since it was well-known that he was working on psionic research and that the government was against it, suspicions naturally arose."

"Doesn't matter, throughout human history, peoples have always been suspicious of their government, most of the time they were right."

"It doesn't bother you at all?"

"Why should it? It's not like they're wrong right? I ordered the hit on Laura Iora because she was a feminist, the hit on Reagan Gan because he was gay. These people are a nuisance to the society and had to be taken out. They should be glad those people are gone."

"Yes, but I presume this is the first time you ordered a hit on a scientist, a fellow scientist."

"Yeah, pretty true, still, it can't beat the time I ordered you to blow up a local pub where many tranverstites were said to gather. It killed a lot of innocent people too, didn't it?"

"Yes, but your high-handed methods really can keep the people in line."

"Haha, yeah, I know it works well for small countries, never knew it could work for the world as well. Anyway, I'll destroy the research Lee has done, so that no one else would ever lay their eyes on it."

"And I presume you want me to make sure no one asks questions?"

"Yes, I can pay you for that too. Once again, thanks for helping me keep this evil research at bay."

Note to reader:
Can you make out what is actually happening? Who do you think is right? Dr Lee or President Stevens? Should there be someone like the president to maintain the discipline of rather unruly and rebellious scientists? To what extent does science tamper with the ethics of the human race?