by Clay Moore
John went back to his door which he did not close and stuck his head in the doors passenger compartment. He looked at Daniel and smiled.
“I doubt very much that anybody's going to be worried about someone being in my spot because I am in that place. I knew that I was going to need something light and fast and so he got me a very sturdy and fast vehicle. That means Jeff. Also, he was able to get it paid for by billing my company. I'm sure my boss is going to give me hell when I get back."
"I would have given you the grav-car."
“Remember I told you about the two-day degradation?"
“Yes.” "When you reinforce that memory it becomes clearer and more permanent in mind. You driving around Settlement in your grav-car means that you are enhancing everybody's memory of who owns that vehicle. If suddenly I start using it, then people are going to know about the relationship between you and I. These people, I think, are people you do not want to know. Besides, look at this grav-car. It sounds like you have beaten it to hell. At least this Grav-rod is brand new. I'll bring it over some Radamite. I'm going to pay you for that Radamite. You are going to take that payment. Am I clear?"
"Then why did you spend the time with us. I thought I had gotten over Vivana's death. Cheri was of us three most devastated. I believe it was that Vivana treated her as a real woman, and not some sort of ownership item."
"If I did not pay you this visit, and you knew I was here. Won't you go searching for me? I might be in the middle of a meeting with that new corporation, and you come busting in. Then they might start putting me together with you about a year ago.”
“That means they they would have to have been there.” “That's the point. I always go about my business as if somebody might recognize me and blow my cover. Any intelligence officer that does not keep his eye on his legend deserves what he gets."
“You have got to be one of the most famous people in the galaxy right now. How do they justify hiring you?" Very quietly John reached into his suit coat and pulled out his 9 mm small frame pistol. He then put that blaster back into the sling holster under his left arm.
Daniel nodded once more. He had nothing more to say at least for this time. John shut the door. He walked into the lobby of the hotel.
CHAPTER SEVEN FLYING THE UNFRIENDLY FIELDS OF GENETIC CONCEPTS
John walked into the lobby after his dinner with the Kriegs. He slowed down his gait. John did not want anyone to know that his mind was full of plans and ideas. He will start the carry this operational security to the maximum degree. In fact, he thanked Jeff for calling him to the check-in desk.
John rested his right forearm on the registration desk. Jeff noticed him, barely. Then Jeff put a combination key in front of John. He had seen the Grav-rod in his space, and he assumed that was his. The key though told him that he really did own that Grav-rod. John took out that paper he found on the chicken strap on the Grav-rod behind the pilot's place. He spun the paper around till it faced Jeff.
“I looked at this money, and I thought that it was too small. I am not here to do my job on the backs of anybody other than myself or the organization." * * *
When Jeff realized that the problem was too little was charged, he got a big grin on his face. "Remember I told you that I had a friend who owned a dealership. He couldn't get rid of this one because it's entirely too fast and can fly."
"It can fly?" "Didn't you notice all of the lifting elements on the Grav-rod. That engine is way too large for the mass of the vehicle plus the mass of the driver."
"That de finitely brings up the aeronautical formula. Load plus drag is less than lift plus thrust. Now I have to take this Grav-rod out for a real spin, but not tonight."
"Why don't you spend a little time in the club. Elaine is about ready to do a set. There are quite a few lovely looking women. I'm sure that you can find one to dance with."
John had to blink twice to see if Jeff had not given him a knowing wink. That was something to be expected when you, are a planetary son. He did not know how that writer got a hold of all of the information that he did. Enough information that he was able to actually publish a couple of books. When John had lost Vivana, that writer had sent him a real note signed that stated he would not write anymore the material that he had. What those books had done to John and the memory of Vivana had kept it fresh. He told others that he was over his grief. There are moments like this, going to a club to listen to a singer. That would've been an evening she would have loved. She would've enjoyed the drinks as well.
John pointed a finger gun at Jeff and made a clicking noise in his mouth. If Jeff were going to use an insanity, John would use an inanity. John scooped up the couple key and put that in his left front trouser pocket. When he walked into the club and sat in one of the horseshoe booths. About 60% of the tables were taken, which told John that every aspect of the hotel was making money.
An everyday sort of nightclub did not require evening wear. However, because of the delicate nature of the food being served, the dining room needed evening wear. The nightclub pre-much just needed a good suit, and John wore just exactly that, a good suit. The distribution of the sexes was rather strange. Out of the 200 other patrons, nearly 150 were women. Most of these women were not even from Faraway. Apparently, a tour company indicated that there were more men than women on Faraway. He saw few of the women with a brochure extolling the virtues of Faraway.
A beautiful woman with chestnut brown hair stood up and took the terrifying walk over to John. She stood in front of John and made her pitch.
"My name is Janice, and I came on the Orion line. I was hoping that there would be more life." “The life actually is turned on on the weekends. Expecting life from this town on any other day is asking for a lot."
"I don't expect that you are a workman." “I'm an account executive for Radamite Fuels. I sell contracts to keep people's fuel tanks full, and I get to travel the space ways."
"May I sit with you?"
"Janice, I would appreciate sharing this music with you. I happen to know the center, Elaine, and her father." Janice sat on the right side of the horseshoe shaped booth. Most ordinary men would not have noticed that she unbuttoned a couple of buttons on her blouse. John, however, is in the business of seeing everything he could.
Elaine came out of the dressing room wearing a black dress with no sleeves. The fall of the dress hit the floor and actually looked more like roots of some plant. She walked elegantly to her stool picking up her microphone.
“Good evening everyone. Normally we don't have dancing, but in between my sets, will remain for your dancing pleasure. Go ahead and legally touch date.”
There was some guarded giggling, but that was what dancing was for a long time. There were quite a large number of women that probably didn't want to get touched. Including Janice.
* * *
Elaine must've known that he was in the audience. Song she signed was Vivana’s absolute favorite. John did not know that his state of mind has been revealed to Janice. Her left hand sought out John's right. She squeezed his right hand and an affirmation that she was there. That was strange getting comfort someone, not Vivana.
The song that reminded him of Vivana was soon finished. Now he could enjoy the rest of Elaine's set. As he had come to understand Elaine's regular game was 10 to 15 songs. By promising dancing in between the sets, she did not have to sing that many songs. Eight songs were her limit on nights like this. She's parted with a hot sexy song. Now she ended the song with her idea of patriotism for. If she actually wrote that song, it would become the planetary anthem.
John invited her to dance, and she accepted he came from behind the booth and escorted Janice to the dance floor. In her right hand was her bag. John had not noticed that Janice had unbuttoned 1/3 button. When he looked down, he could see the swell of both of her breasts. These were not small breasts, they were large. For some reason, that thought in his mind made positive autonomic responses inevitable. It was evident that Janice was enjoying the dancing because sh
e was trying to get him to come closer.
Janice whispered into his ear: "let's go to your room." John did not trust his voice, so he nodded. He tried to keep people from seeing what had transpired on the dance floor. John thought John mostly escaped scrutiny. They came to John's room, and he opened it. Janice shut the door and then whirled around on John and kissed him on the lips. Then she pushed him down on the bed. With extreme skills, she removed the clothing from his body. Then she very skillfully removed her clothing. Each piece coming off as if it were the signature piece of the dance. When it was over both he and Janice were naked.
His internal clock woke him up about 6 AM in the morning. He picked up his communicator and dialed the room service number. He felt around on his bed and found that Janice was still there. He ordered flapjacks, bacon, and orange juice for himself while ordering toast, fried eggs, and bacon. John went into the bathroom and took a quick shower. But the time he came out he had to put on the terry cloth robe. And answered the door. The room service people put the breakfast on the table for two, And the debate beat a hasty retreat.
“Is that breakfast I smell?" Janice spoke half in sleep and half somewhat awake.”
"This is the breakfast I give the women I've had. You should always take away the official passport Dolores."
"What gave me away?" “I was feeling a little maudlin. But it seemed really easy to get you in my room. So when you fell asleep, I opened your purse. What should appear is that Alphacent diplomatic passport. The problem with this passport is that it is only for agents of the government of the planet you’re on. Because if I were someone who was against you, you would be dead. Before you go, I need to warn you against blowing my cover. If you blow my cover, you are a dead woman. That is what it means to have a license to kill."
The woman known as Janice pulled off the sheet gathered her shoes, underwear, and her outfit. Then she stormed out of John's bedroom. Then John got is Hypercom and set it up. He managed to hit the jackpot the first time.
"Is that you, John?" Colin asked. "Last night I got contacted by an agent of Alphacent. This was a woman about 1.6 m tall. Built very well and somewhat knowledgeable on technique.”
"Is she still on the planet?" "Unless she has her own light freighter basically she is stuck here until the next line shows up. Right now the population of does not warrant regular liner service."
"Man, I wish we still had your light freighter still in service." “Be my guest and tell A what you think. I just can't go to worlds anymore that doesn't have regular liner service. If things go south how my supposed to get off the planet. I know I can catch a ride with the Navy, but it would be a lot faster on my part hop back on my ship.”
"I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll go ahead, and I'll bring in a capture squad, and we will take the spy for a little ride. We will make sure that she at least isn't there for the fireworks starting tomorrow night. Are you still on time for your action?"
“I'm still on time for my action. I did a little scouting last night, and I did a little calculation this morning, and with four floors we are dealing with 40 mechanical wombs."
"If what you wrote in your report is true, we are dealing with 80 genetic robots per month." “And that is the primary reason I want to get these things resolved. If they knew that I was on the planet, they would try to get as much of the equipment of the world as possible. While that would relieve me to no end, it means that somebody else is going to have to do the dirty work. And this is what I'm trained for.”
"Okay, since I'm the duty agent at this time I accept your provisional schedule. Also, I will send the capture squad, and we will deal with good ol’ Janice.”
"Please make sure that the arrest team doesn't do anything serious. I just need The spy under the film somewhere until I'm done here. She may want what ever I am getting ready to do to happen. I just don't trust her.” * * *
"Okay, Z04. Will take your requests. The capture squad will immediately depart now. I will bring it up with the A to give you back your light freighter. I actually think it is a nice thing to have is one of the Z agents with a light ship. I'll put the bug in his ear at least. Radamite fuels out."
John put his Hypercom into his attaché case. If the capture squad can get to Faraway on time that would be interesting. He wonders if they wanted him on the investigation. I don't think they would want them on the inquiry. This is rather a detention.
John locked his briefcase. He checked his field box, and it was still locked. He did retrieve the suits that he had in the dry cleaning and press locker on the door. We came out of his room and went straight to his Grav-rod.
He did have the lights-out clothing. The problem with that is that it actually looks like something a military had. He knew that if there was a Grav-rod dealership in the settlement there had to be more than one store that sold the various kinds of uniforms associated with Grav-rods. He had enough coin or currency to pay for the Grav-rod. John went up to the reservations desk, and he tapped the desk in front of Jeff. When Jeff looked up to see that it was John, a huge smile came across his face.
“I take it that you have seen the Grav-rod that I got for you." "I was just looking for anything that would be able to move me at faster than walk speed. I was not expecting a flat black painted Grav-rod. I don't think too many manufacturers use flat black paint."
“You said some things about needing a little bit of stealth. Flat black is about as stealthy as you can get without actually having stealth circuits installed. That would've cost you a lot more than a paint job."
"I noticed that you changed the Grav-rod to my companies account. I take it that they have not rejected it?"
“No, before I charged for the Grav-rod I gave them a call. They said that that was the right thing to do. And then they went ahead and approve the expenditure."
"The Grav-rod you bought you bought at the wholesale price, correct?"
“Yes. That was the price that they wanted to pay the bill." John shook his head. As most companies are when someone is spending their money, they want to take advantage of wholesale price. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin. This was the so-called gold sovereign issued by Eridani. Mainly the bank of Eridani took every gold bar it received. They had it re-smelted. The resulting blanks were struck with the information as to who the bank has they had these coins minted. It also had the fineness written on the coin. In Eridani, eight gold Eridani sovereign was worth 1000 credits. Throughout the entire known universe, you could get 1000 Eridani credits for a single gold medal.
John left a gold sovereign on the desk. Jeff picked up the coin and tried to follow John. John led Jeff catching him just before he walked out the front door.
“I have been amply paid for your Grav-rod." “You still don't get it. I asked you to get me something. I don't expect you to use your own wealth to make that happen. You deserve a Profit. I thank you for trying to be a stand-up person. When we are dealing with my company, then a reasonable amount of profit is acceptable."
"But this is too much," said Jeff. "I was expecting a certain amount of profit, yes, but this is 1/6 of the price." "If you set a pro fit for yourself how much of my sovereign are you going to return to me. Do you have that much currency or other coins?"
"I make it an ideal to have enough currency for the dayto-day operation of the hotel. Most of the customers are usually on some sort of credit card, so making a change with a credit card does not usually happen."
"You will not return the gold coin. I think you're going to want as much money as you could possibly get over the next few months."
* * *
"What do you mean?"
"Unless I missed my guess Elaine is with a child."
Jeff worked his jaw like he was some sort of fish. Jeff gently placed his hand on the bottom of Jeff's jaw. “Well," said Jeff. "She had been throwing up in the morning hours. She also was putting on weight around the middle.”
“Which we do not mention. If the spy says that she is putt
ing on weight in the middle your response is 'no, you're putting on weight?'"
Jeff giggled at the joke. He slapped John on the back. "It seems that you are something you wanted to talk to me about besides profit."
“I have a couple of sets of lights-out gear. The problem with that is that it looks like a military gear, which it is. I would like to get the lights-out gear that can be gotten from civilian sources. In short, I am looking for Grav-rod specific equipment. Are there any stores in the local area which handles that merchandise."
"You could leave that in my hands."
“Not something that I want to do. I'd rather spread out my appearances in the Settlement.” * * *
"Well, there is one store that handles this kind of thing, but it is a boutique. In other words, it's a ladies dress shop. There was a new store supposed to open a couple weeks ago that all they do is cater to people that think of themselves as Grav-rod riders. That's the kind of store that has faux leather as well as real leather. If you got everything you needed there, you might drop 500 credits."
"Don't worry, Jeff. I've got plenty of money. I still don't know whether to take the Grav-rod with me, or not."
"If you'd like, I can handle the sale of your Grav-rod." “If anyone can, I know that you can, Jeff. Do you have your slate with you?. If you do just go ahead and write down this bike shop's location. Then transmit that to my slate."
A new fashion accessory for men and women was a felt pouch sized to take the smallest, and most popular, slate. Most people wore that bag half on the butt and half on the hip. Jeff reached around to where he wore his slate pouch. John did not need to have a slight pouch. The left front pocket was large enough to hold the most popular slate. This was done on purpose for right-handed people. For left-handed people, the tailor would make the righthanded pocket hold the slate.
Jeff wrote out the address to the Grav-rod shop. He then hit the send button, and John slate received the address. This was direct slate to Slate communication. Since no one was in any kind of direct connection with any of the slates involved you could assume a mild amount of security. John knew at his security officer would say about transmitting confidential pieces of information through the slate to the slate communication system.
