April 6: And What Goes Around

by Mackey Chandler

  April's right hand, her dominant one, was good for a hair over thirty five kilograms of pressure. The left was thirty two. Quite close compared to many.

  "That's quite good for someone your apparent age and size," Ames assured her. "Especially given the fact you don't do repetitious work or exercises specific to your grip. We'll use that as a baseline to check every couple weeks to see how your strength improves. You can still benefit from conditioning, but your base strength will improve too. I expect you should increase to fifty five kilograms in the right hand. I'm going to administer it as an IV. It will only take about fifteen minutes at a slow drip."

  "Do I have to worry about infecting someone?" April asked.

  "No this is a completely different process," Ames assured her. "It uses modified but undifferentiated stem cells and certain agents to direct how those cells are received by your body."

  "What are you going to work on first with the fungus I brought you?" April wondered.

  "I'm going to try to make the tougher stuff taste like beef," Jelly said, numbing her arm with a spray.

  April watched the needle go in. Most of Jelly's patients looked away.

  "I forgot to ask you if this is going to make me bulkier?" April remembered to ask.

  "It's rather late to be asking with the needle in you, but no, as a matter of fact there is a slight slimming effect. But apparently not enough you noticed it on me," Jelly said, indicating his own frame with a sweep of his hand down his torso. "I mentioned that effect on my test subject when we spoke some time ago,"

  "If you are plateaued out on it now how much can you squeeze?" April asked.

  Ames picked up the instrument and squeezed it slowly as he'd instructed. When he turned the dial to her it was a hundred and seven kilograms. "Don't think you are going to do that. I have a much heavier frame and muscle mass. I'm being cautious not to injure my joints. I stop squeezing at any feeling of strain. I've also been carrying around a ball of exercise putty and squeezing it while I walk everywhere. Even so, a bricklayer or a farrier would put me to shame."

  "I'll fill out more eventually," April reminded him.

  "Yes, and that will help, but from what I see in other early LET patients it won't be until you are thirty or thirty five."

  "That's OK," April assure him. "I'm in no hurry. I'm learning to take the long view more every day. We'll get it all done in good time."

  "Since LET technology has given us the luxury of time, I think that's a good attitude for everything," Ames said. "I predict there will be a cultural shift towards taking the long view of things."

  "Yes," April said, "like Papa-san would say to his pilot on his boat, 'Steady as she goes.'"

  * * *

  The fellow was predictable in his habits. He patronized one establishment outside the walls twice a week, but never, of course, on Sunday. He wore secular clothing, carried a virus scanner and wore the sheer gloves so common to Earthies fearful of disease. The mask he wore was becoming very common on Earth and although a protection, it unfortunately limited his vision. When the driver of the car he called held the rear door for him to enter he felt a prick on his neck, and the seat rose up and smacked him in his face. He vaguely remembered hands pushing his legs in after him.

  When he woke up in a cheap hotel he was bound at wrists and ankles laying on his back, but not with metal or tightly. Neither was he gagged against calling out. He didn't even hurt anywhere so they hadn't treated him roughly. There were two men in the cheap hotel chairs on either side of the bed, waiting patiently for him to awaken. They were dressed nicely but not expensively. They didn't bother to hide their faces, which did worry him.

  "You have the money in my wallet. I assure you my order never pays ransoms. Neither will I help you perform any crime against the Bank," the churchman told the two men.

  One spoke up, demonstrating who was in charge. "Your wallet is on the night stand. We examined it, but don't want the EuroMark toilet paper nor the three small gold coins you have. We simply want information. Which you can't deny us."

  The same agent put a skullcap with a weave of fine wires on his head and slapped him when he threw his head around and tried to dislodge it.

  "You will hold still or I'll tape it on and immobilize you," the agent said, quite calmly. "I'd hate to hurt you and then find out you're not the man we want."

  "What if I start yelling for help?"

  "In this cheap hotel in the afternoon?" the agent asked, amused. "If anybody is even in the adjoining rooms they'll probably just beat on the wall and tell you to shut up. If it is loud enough to bother me I have a ball gag and other things in my equipment bag. Why discomfort yourself?" He asked. "We don't need verbal responses to interrogate you." That shut the churchman up.

  The agent got out a pad and read from it while the other watched his own pad. First was a standard text. Several paragraphs from old novels long used to establish baseline responses. Then custom words. The list was long and a few words repeated to not associate them with the words before and after.

  "Flu virus. Mouse flu. Gene modified. Distributed. Epidemic. Pandemic. Institute of Religion. Payments. Life Extension Therapy. Orbital habitats. Abomination. Return on investment. Tribunal of the Holy Office. Bishop. Cardinal. Pope. Holy See. Holy City. Incubation period. Protein capsule. Rome. Replication. Guilt. Crime. Innocent. Legal status. Bot. Robot. Secret. Spacers. Conspiracy. Sister."

  He jerked at that word enough the agents looked at each other.

  "Patient zero. Wealth factor. Economic crisis. Secular authority. RNA. Christendom. Third world."

  Next he read numbers. One through twenty, the tens and a hundred, a thousand and a million.

  "Got enough?" the interrogator asked the other agent. He nodded.

  "Did you pay for a modified virus to be made?" he started reading from a list. The churchman said nothing, but it didn't matter. The answers were plain in his brain patterns and being recorded.

  "Is the virus targeted?

  "What was the intended target?

  "Who was patient zero?"

  "Fuzzy, complex response, elaborate," the other agent said.

  "Who was patient zero intended to be?" the interrogator tried.

  That got an affirmative nod from the other agent.

  "How many initial vectors?

  "Any release outside Rome?

  "How many in the conspiracy?

  "How many helped without knowledge?

  "Will it display persistence?

  "Is there an undo?"

  "Rephrase it," the other agent suggested.

  "Is there a cure?

  "Is there a vaccine?" That got the nod.

  "Are other bio-agents planned?

  "Will the orbitals have virus released?

  "Are you using spy bots?

  "Are secular governments involved?

  "Is this a matter of doctrine?" That got a head shake from the other agent.

  "Is this a matter of religious doctrine?" He elaborated. The other agent sent him a text.

  "Is this a matter of military doctrine?" He asked instead. That got a nod.

  "Are you acting under orders?"

  "Will you suicide now?" That got a particularly hateful look from their prisoner.

  "Will you return to work?"

  "That's enough. I have what we needed and more. It was his brain-child."

  The other agent looked over his pad slit eyed and added his own ad hoc question.

  "Will you rot in hell you miserable bastard?" He didn't share the churchman's thoughts on that.

  He said nothing, but he didn't have to. Nothing he thought would have been admissible in court. This had to be for other purposes. None of them could be good for him.

  The questioner retrieved his sensor cap, and pulled out a knife. The churchman showed no more emotion than if he'd pulled out a hankie. There were much worse endings. He slit the cord holding the fellow's left hand, knowing the man's right was his dominant hand.

  The chu
rchman flexed the loose hand a bit though it hadn't been bound tight enough to hurt it.

  "I'm sure you can pick these other knots loose in ten or fifteen minutes," his interrogator said. "Your phone is on top of the dresser with the battery removed. You can put it back in to call for a ride."

  The other agent retreated over by the door. The interrogator took a small can out of his pocket holding it carefully at arm's length. It sprayed not a mist that would disperse, but a directed a thin stream of heavy fluid at the churchman's eyes and nose. He dropped the empty can on the bed and very carefully peeled off his outer gloves off by tabs, dropping them.

  "I'm not afraid of the virus!" the cleric sneered at them, wiping the gel away from his eyes with his newly freed hand.

  "My goodness no. I wouldn't expect you would be," the agent said, retreating after his partner. "That wasn't the flu virus. That was the very best basic LET treatment that money can buy."

  They closed the door behind them and they left in no particular hurry.

  - END –

  The Last Part

  Other Kindle Books & Links by Mackey Chandler

  April (first in series)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077EOE2C

  April is an exceptional young lady and something of a snoop. She finds herself involved with intrigues that stretch her abilities, after a chance run in with a spy. There is a terrible danger she and her friends and family will lose the only home she has ever known in orbit and be forced to live on the slum ball below. It's more than a teen should have to deal with. Fortunately she has a lot of smart friends and allies, who give them a thin technological edge in rebellion. It's a good thing, because things get very rough and dicey.

  Down to Earth (sequel to April)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RGBIVK

  April seems to make a habit of rescues. Now two lieutenants from the recent war appeal to her for help to reach Home. The secret they hold makes their escape doubtful. North America, the United States of North America, has been cheating on their treaty obligations and a public figure like April taking a very visible vacation there would be a good way to remind them of their obligations. Wouldn't it? Her family and business associates all think it is a great idea. She can serve a public purpose and do her rescue on the sly too. But things get difficult enough just getting back Home alive is going to be a challenge. It's a good thing she has some help. Why does everything have to be so complicated?

  The Middle of Nowhere (third in April series)

  http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-Nowhere-April-ebook/dp/B00B1JJ7RQ

  April returns home from her trip down to Earth unhappy with what she accomplished. Papa-san Santos is finishing her rescue of the Lieutenants, Her traitorous brother is dead and so many things are uncertain. The Chinese and North Americans both continue to give her and Home a hard time. But April, Jeff and Heather are gathering allies and power. China, trying to steal Singh technology, gets its hand slapped badly by Jeff and the Patriot Party in America is damaged, but not gone. Their project on the moon is not so easy for North America to shut down, especially with the Russians helping. Heather proves able to defend it forcefully. They really didn't know she owns a cannon. The three have their own bank now, Home is growing and April is quickly growing up into a formidable young woman, worthy of her partners.

  A Different Perspective (fourth in April series)

  http://www.amazon.com/Different-Perspective-April-ebook/dp/B00DFL42PU

  Despite winning a war against one of the world's super powers and undertaking a mission to Earth to try to demonstrate their independence, April and her new nation still find their freedom tenuous. There are shortages and hostility and machinations against them behind the scenes. Their small technological lead on the Earthies is about the only advantage they have besides courage and sheer nerve. But they are attracting the right sort of people and if pressed, they still are capable of bold action. Home is growing physically and maturing. So is April.

  A Depth of Understanding (Fifth in April series)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJ02NK8

  April's nation Home has removed itself from orbiting close to Earth, but problems continue. Their enemies try to use the United Nations to act against them, as if that isn't a transparent subterfuge. The new Lunar nation of Central acts to help them, but at considerable cost. Meanwhile Home is expanding their reach into the solar system and gaining new citizens who appreciate opportunity and freedom. The things Home citizens decide to do, both new and old are interesting. The trouble from Earth is contained, but the whole matter is far from over.

  Paper or Plastic?

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RCLW68

  Roger was medically discharged after his service in the Pan Arabic Protectorate, cutting off his chosen career path early. He is living in rural Sitra Falls, Oregon trying to deal with hyper-vigilance and ease back into civilian life.

  When an unusual looking young woman enters his favorite breakfast place he befriends her. Little does he know he'll kill for her before lunch and start an adventure that will take him around the world and off planet.

  When you have every sort of alphabet agency human and alien hunting for you survival is the hard part. But you might as well get rich too.

  Family Law

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GQSZVS

  People love easily. Look at most of your relatives or coworkers. How lovable are they? Really? Yet most have mates and children. The vast majority are still invited to family gatherings and their relatives will speak to them.

  Many have pets to which they are devoted. Some even call them their fur-babies. Is your dog or cat or parakeet property or family? Not in law but in your heart? Can a pet really love you back? Or is it a different affection? Are you not kind to those who feed and shelter you? But what if your dog could talk back? Would your cat speak to you kindly?

  What if the furry fellow in question has his own law? And is quite articulate in explaining his choices. Can a Human adopt such an alien? Can such an intelligent alien adopt a human? Should they?

  How much more complicated might it be if we meet really intelligent species not human? How would we treat these 'people' in feathers or fur? Perhaps a more difficult question is: How would they treat us? Are we that lovable?

  When society and the law decide these sort of questions must be answered it is usually because someone disapproves of your choices. Today it may be a cat named in a will or a contest for custody of a dog. People are usually happy living the way they want until conflict is forced upon them.

  Of course if the furry alien in question is smart enough to fly spaceships, and happens to be similar in size and disposition to a mature Grizzly bear, wisdom calls for a certain delicacy in telling him no...

  The Long Voyage of the Little Fleet (sequel to Family Law)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KYA9WTQ

  In the first book of this series "Family Law", Lee's parents and their business partner Gordon found a class A habitable planet. They thought their quest as explorers was over and they'd live a life of ease. But before they could return and register their claim Lee's parents died doing a survey of the surface. That left Lee two-thirds owner of the claim and their partner Gordon obligated by his word with her parents to raise Lee. She had grown up aboard ship with her uncle Gordon and he was the only family she'd ever known. Him adopting her was an obvious arrangement - to them. Other people didn't see it so clearly over the picky little fact Gordon wasn't human.

  After finding prejudice and hostility on several worlds Lee was of the opinion planets might be nice to visit, but terrible places to live. She wanted back in space exploring. Fortunately Gordon was agreeable and the income from their discovery made outfitting an expedition possible. Lee wanted to go DEEP - out where it was entirely unknown and the potential prizes huge. After all, if they kept exploring tentatively they might run up against the border of some bold star faring race who had gobbled up all the best real estate. It wasn't hard to find o
thers of a like mind for a really long voyage. This sequel to "Family Law" is the story of their incredible voyage.

  Link to full list of current releases on Amazon:

  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004RZUOS2

  Mac's Writing Blog:

  http://www.mackeychandler.com