Intelligence Block

by Kit Falbo

  This whole thing is taking up too much of my time. I’m not saying that Tess is right, but obviously, I’ll need to settle things with my former apprentice. My next class today is late, and I could probably skip it if I need too. I wait till the majority of the crowd thins then wait my turn through a throng of admirers. I look the young woman up and down. The year had matured her. “Okay. If you got time, let’s go and talk.”

  “Do I know you?” she says.

  Ouch. I deserve that. She also follows it up with a subvocalized message that she’ll meet me outside when she’s done. There are more hangers-on around, including the professor who is waiting to make small talk.

  I step outside and take a breath of fresh air. The moment I’m off the stairs Tess and my more advanced tech come to me. “Tess. I’ve think you've forgotten to inform me about some things that have been happening.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Tess grumbles. “I believe your exact words were, I can’t be Joontal anymore, I don’t want to hear about it. It’s also not like you’ve ever been interested in money before.”

  Lily steps to my side, interrupting more choice words I'm about to have with my UI. “You ready to go?” She asks. I look around and weigh my options. I grab Lily, one arm around the waist and activate the anti-gravity skates along with some of the modifications. Another action is to make us invisible. “What are you?” I launch myself and Lily up. She lets out a startled scream.

  It’s not really flying. It’s more like large bounding jumps. That way I can avoid flight registration issues, submitting plans, and paying fees. “There were four cameras following you, and all different makes, so I assume they aren't yours. I would rather not be followed. Wasn’t part of my training to teach you to expect the unexpected and roll with it.”

  “You are him!” She gasps, and we go bounding away, having lost three of the cameras, but one is still on our tails. The camouflage I know isn’t perfect.

  Tess gives me the rundown of what I missed while I was melancholic and conspiracy-obsessed in the hotel room for two weeks. I also do let my UIs handle the business side of things. The clip of the assassination attempt on me is the eighth most watched clip of all time, well everywhere populated. Sales are up. Interest is up, and a deal was made to hand over the five years of footage to create a produced show. Booker did most of the details while still obsessing that he was going to go to Lily. He helped ensure that she got a favorable deal which included allowing her experience as my apprentice to be used as association points, instantaneously giving her enough to gain membership in the AMU. That is why she was able to have Booker in the classroom. She was there under the guise of a presenting AMU member.

  We land and I switch the settings, so we appear as entirely different people. Tess had to throw up a randomly generated image for Lily. The last camera drone zooms away. “Thought you had me pegged earlier.”

  “Well, I didn’t know for sure.” She pokes me. “Still not a hundred percent sure you are now.”

  “Well now that I’ve absconded with a celebrity, let’s see if we can make it successfully to my house and we can talk in private.”

  Clear of any following devices it wasn’t that hard to make it to the house I had bought. Didn’t even need to jump again. The house isn’t much to look at. It is a boxy prefab model house, and fake wood paneling covers the outside, which resulted in it looking like a cluster of three crates. It’s only saving grace is that most of the neighborhood looks the same.

  We go through the security system and into the house, for the first time I introduce Lily to my mess. Two matter printers are running, and they always are on even if I’m not here. Just stuff that I feel safe producing without human or UI oversight. Off to the side are crates of things I chose and was allowed to bring from Lowmans. Not all the magic tricks and ideas I had while working there were appropriate or fit the character I was playing. The centerpiece is another safe room, not exactly like I had at Lowmans, smaller but more paranoid about concerns like signal prevention. My experience has shown me how valuable it could be, but at the same time the risks.

  “Sorry about the mess.”

  She wanders wide-eyed from tech to tech. “You really are Wizard Joontal.”

  “In that, he’s a character and persona I made, yep. I want to apologize for the way he, err, I treated you. One of my main rules is never to break character. That and needing to keep things entertaining, which unfortunately when you chose to become my apprentice, made you the brunt of a good bit of chaos.”

  She puts down a silver ring tick that was designed to split into multiple linking chains as well as absorb most standard wizard battle attacks. I had finished, it but decided it didn’t fit Joontal's style. The look she gives me seems to tell me she wasn’t expecting an apology. Booker, still on her shoulders is inspecting everything like it’s the first time he’s seen it. Which with the loss of much of his memory about me, it is. “I was so angry at first, you, refusing to budge on using technology. I did eventually get it, though it was maddening at times. The money and the ability to join the association now has wiped away any bitterness.”

  “You were very angry when you left. “

  “That’s because you were supposed to show me this! I was leaving, and I wanted you to take me through that portal to your real workshop and show me around. I completed most of the tech work you left in those mystical texts for me to study. I wanted to see how you did it.”

  The thought had briefly crossed my mind back then. I’d just separated my mind that Joontal was one person and Talos June another. The idea of mixing them made me cringe then, now that it has been weeks since I played the character it is easier to open up. “Well, you have me now. What do you want to know?”

  She spread her arms out and gestured to the piles of projects, costumes, and machines. “How did all this begin?”

  “Mr. Filbits Adventures. I was obsessed as a child, production values were shoddy, and the plot didn’t make sense. He would always find different things and combine them into magical creations. The result often looked nothing like what went into it. Tess, find me a clip.”

  Tess had disappeared into the stuff once we made it into the house, not wanting to get in the way of my human interaction I think. She scuttles out on four appendages since she figures most people don’t care for her multi-appendaged more spider-like form. “This was your favorite.” She says in her soft voice.

  A scene from the show projects in the air created by Tess for us to watch. A middle-aged man in a rumpled purple robe and hat that has gold stars on it walks down a path. You can see his sneakers and a gold wristwatch showing. “Oh, no! Kids, the way is blocked by a chasm. How will we get past it?”

  An orange tarantula and green duck come flying in carrying a steering wheel and a roller skate. “Here.” They both chime in together.

  “Oh Poppy and Knute, you brought me exactly what I need.” Mr.Filbits jammed them together, and there is a flash, and suddenly he has a new item and can fly over the chasm.

  The clip ends, and I continue. “My mom and dad used to watch the show with me. I don’t know how they could stand it. They died though, and at seven I was off to my uncle. He owns an army surplus store and a junkyard. He also had no time for me. Broke several local laws and got me a custom UI caretaker, Tess.”

  Tess wiggles in embarrassment. Lily steps over and pets her. “She is a sweetie.”

  “I had access to acres of tech, broken, sputtering, needing some care. I was Mr. Filbits, even if I had moved on from his shows and onto more popular and mainstream performers. Tess for my safety would help teach me about it all, and I would build things. I eventually turned it into an act and did lots of shows making sure to register my points for Association membership. I found myself at eighteen and needing to decide where my life was going to go, when I lucked into the job as Wizard Joontal for Lowman.”

  “I’m sure there is more to you than a lonely boy and his toys.” Lily says, back to poking around
the room. “What can you tell me about this?” She asks holding up what looks like a springy snake.

  We talk for hours. I miss my class. Mostly about my toys, but also my rules. Never breaking character, always be doing something even when you’re doing nothing, and more. Lily asks about temporary permeability effect, and I’m digging through one of my unpacked boxes. “I think it’s in here somewhere.”

  I turn around, and she’s naked. She leaps onto me, and I barely keep from crashing to the ground in surprise. Grabbing onto me she whispers into my ear. “Always expect the unexpected.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  I wake up fumbling around and coming up with nothing but cold bed. For a flicker of an instant, I wonder if it was a dream. Except I’m naked, not how I usually sleep and the unique lingering smell of girl is in the air around me. Opening my eyes I see a note.

  Dear Talos June, if that is your real name. You’ve convinced me about some of who you are. I have an early morning class. Maybe I’ll see you again sometime.

  Well, if Mr. Lowman still employed me, I would undoubtedly be fired now. I don’t have many bridges and would hate to think I burned one. Yet last night had been nice, even if I do have a little guilt about my former authoritative position over her. It was my first time, well the first time that wasn’t with a professional like Lady Mallory. There is something about being with someone who isn’t hired to compliment you.

  Belle, who had been silent for the encounter speaks up. “I don’t like her. She certainly has the potential to be a threat.” Her voice a ringing non-endorsement.

  Tess spins one of her arms at that, her equivalent to rolling one's eyes. They can both have their little debate on what is best for my social life. I’m fully aware I don’t need to listen to either of them on the topic. One thing about last night's activities did get me thinking. Not the sex, but the discussion on magic. It’s been weeks since I’ve performed with actual magic.

  A reminder notification interrupts my thoughts, telling me that my acting class is starting in an hour. I’ll need a shower, food and well, time to get to class. I have Belle alert me if Lily or I show up in any articles or forums starting from after class. A tabloid rag has a story about a white-haired mystery boy stealing away a rising young rising starlet. All conjecture and no one managed to get my name. It’s paired with a short clip of Lily walking up to my side and me grabbing her and flickering out before leaping away.

  I change my hair to blue as I run out the door to class. Dimi is probably wondering where I slept again, this time any of his insinuations about hooking up with a girl will actually be true. I squeeze into a seat in the auditorium just in time to catch the teacher on the center stage. Hugh Howlee, he’s a real actor. Never a starring one but for twenty years he had parts in shows, movies, quick clips. He wasn’t a typecast actor. He was a character actor, rarely playing anyone or thing the same way. “Acting is about being who you are not.”

  Behind him, hundreds of clips appear in the air. Some grainy black and white ones from pre-space ages. Others from this year. Words, images, and movement all flicker in front of us. Suddenly they all collapse to a pin of light and silence.

  Hugh smiles at us. “None of these people are who they play for us to enjoy. For each of you to become an actor you need to learn to be comfortable being what you are not. To at least make sure that everyone believes you are who you are presenting yourself to be and not the actor hungry for attention, money, fame. Today we will be doing exercises where we will practice just that.”

  I’ve had five years of that. Wizard Joontal took five years, almost a quarter of my life. A lot of it was awesome, hard but awesome. It was a show in classical magic, dragons, unicorns, flashy grand statements. Never pure enough to not dabble in the occasional demon or succubus. I don’t think I can be completely someone else again so soon. I’m not dim enough to believe that just being yourself will work. A slightly paranoid tech-obsessed magician might be good enough for a B list character on a show, but as the main attraction, it will never do.

  I watch the other students take turns up on the stage and begin to sketch out an idea in my head and play around with the options I have if I need to do some magic at the drop of a hat. “June, Talos.” Hugh calls, and it’s my turn.

  I get up and walk onto the stage. “Do you mind if I do some tech magic with my performance? I dabble a bit.”

  Hugh chuckles. “At this college, I think most of the student body dabbles some. Though remember the exercise is to be someone you are not.”

  Belle had already sent him the outline of my plan. I didn't want to risk offending my teacher too much. I let out a contemptuous snort. “Someone I’m not? I came here to be a star. I show up and find classes on equipment maintenance, and how to use your UI. Like I won’t have people or UI to handle that. See watch this. UI, make an image of a jackass.” Next to me, a mirror image of myself appears with its cocky sneer and arrogant pose. Having just gone with Tess’s popular fashion approach to clothing when I arrived at school. It means not only did I look very average, but I also look like every other asshole on campus. “I mean a donkey you stupid computer!” I do get a little technical assistance making my face red and flushed in anger. I'm out of practice using my natural face for such things. The shape shifts into a donkey, I may not be able to see it as it is looking at the audience instead of not me, but I know it had retained many of my same facial features after it changed. “See, simple.”

  I hear some slight chuckling in the audience.

  I act like I’m straightening my shirt and that I'm forcing myself to ignore the snickers. “I got my tricks from a store and can do all the explosions and light shows that any of the professionals can do.” I flick my wrist, and a wand appears in my hand. Classic, long, thin, and black with a white tip. I’m actually holding it backward. “See, this is guaranteed even to knock out the best in a Magic Battle.”

  “Wait!” Hugh Howlee Yells. I’m glad he agreed to help here because that is my cue. Otherwise, I would need Belle to project something.

  I fire off a blast, and instead of it coming out of the wand pointing away from me, it comes from the end in my hand that's aimed at me, I’m thrown back. Illusionary fire coats my skin. ”Aaaaaaaahhhh!” I start running in a circle screaming, having a blackening effect apply to my skin and clothes before collapsing.

  The crowd yells, someone runs to the fire suppression system. Before the student can reach it, I stand up and clap my hand together, some blue fireworks and trumpets fill the air grabbing attention. The class can see me standing there, not a mark nor trace of the flames on me. Stunned, partially confused faces look at me. “That was my exercise.”

  Hugh starts clapping with a devilish glint in his eyes. The rest of the class follows a little slowly. I make my way back to my seat. I hear someone mutter, “I knew he was faking the whole time.”

  “Sandra, Kyte.” The next name is called up, and I think on my little performance. It could use some polishing. It’s been done many times, but so has everything else. The fool, the braggart, the unlucky, suffering pain and humiliation for entertainment. The opposite of the careful, powerful, imposing wizard I was.

  Two more classmates try to use magic or special effects in their performances. It’s awkward, like someone handing a novice a banana on stage to try to use as a serious acting prop. I think this may become a trend for future classes though now that Howlee is allowing it.

  On the way out I send a question to Lily. “How do you feel about dating an idiot?”

  She replies. “Who says we’re dating? And who says you’re not an idiot?” I grin stupidly, as I walk about campus while making plans in my head.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I pick up what looks like most of my left arm, a grin on my red stained face. From the chaos, smoke, and destruction you would think that I’d lost that wizard battle. The victory celebration got out of hand as planned. For this character I don’t have cameras following me constantly, I only have
them on for the performances with this character. I’m already being filmed plenty whenever I’m with Lily. Some think I’m just an incompetent hanger-oner leaching from her popularity. With my status still in the audit limbo, I’m not sure how this one will affect my ranking.

  It’s nice to be back doing matches and magic shows. It’s interesting trying to make wins look accidental or from happenstance when whatever tool I’m using explodes. Shakes my opponents up a little, if they see me looking like I’m losing a body part or getting wounded. I message Lily, ”All finished up here. You still interested in going to ZerZura?”

  “Yep, just as soon as I get out of the nano-design shop.” She messages back.

  ZerZura is a private club for Association of Magic User members. It is by invite only, and I’m only able to go because Lily’s invite includes the option to bring a guest. “Tess, Wizard Joontal ever get an invite?”

  “They sent some inquiries after the shooting attempt. Two of your wizard battle opponents did invite you to come as their guest wanting to talk shop, like most of these kinds of messages we ignored them for the sake of the character.”

  There is some old saying I can't quite remember, about the value of clubs wanting you to be a member, and if you reached that point, you probably don’t need or want them. That whole fraternity of practitioners was another thing I missed out on when I decided to be Joontal fully. You jump from a homegrown teenage amateur to paying for AMU membership and a full-time job, and you have hard decisions to make. I made my rule, always stay in character, there were some things Wizard Joontal wouldn't do.

  Talos June, bumbling, cocky, leech of a boyfriend to the now hit star Lily Lowman certainly wouldn't turn down the chance at sucking up to his betters. The first professionally done episode of the series based on my time as Wizard Joontal had released a few days ago, and it got good reviews and viewership numbers. I’m sure some purists will say they prefer the originals, but those were just hacked together ones by me and my UI. I subvocalize to both my UIs. “Tell me you two have agreed upon an appropriate outfit for this?” This type of magic is hard on the clothes and the tech that makes up my clothes.