by M. K. Wren
“Alex, all of HS I is open to you, including my office and apartment. I mean, when I’m there, and I’m there most of the time.”
He smiled at that. “You’re very kind, Erica. You offer aid and comfort without embarrassing me with verbal recognition of a need for it.”
“I’m supposed to do the analysis around here.” She laughed, then felt it slip away from her. “Alex, I loved Rich, too, even if it couldn’t be to the degree you did. I made a death pledge that should you need an alternative, you’d be offered one. That pledge has been met sooner than Rich expected. But I made another pledge that should you need a friend, you’d have one.” She stopped, seeing him tighten. “Tomorrow we begin the screening. Rest well.”
He nodded mutely, then reached out and took her hand for a moment, and she was amazed and moved.
“Erica . . . good night.”
“Good night. Welcome to Fina, Alex Ransom.”
PHOENIX MEMFILES: DEPT HUMAN SCIENCES:
SCREENING/ORIENTATION (HS/S/O)
SUBFILE: PRESCREENING ORIENTATION
(AUTHOR: E. RADEK)
DOC LOC #819/19/15–161915–518
I’ve prepared this tape to answer some of the pragmatic questions new members ask—or should ask—in order to orient themselves in terms of their future personal existence. My purpose is simply to give you a general idea of what kind of place you’ve come to, and what day-to-day life is like in Fina, which is not only the headquarters of the Phoenix, but a community in which you may spend most of your life.
I say may. Over half our members are double idents based outside Fina. The breakdown in round numbers: total membership is fourteen thousand, of which six thousand are based here in Fina. Of the eight thousand double idents, six thousand function as agents in the Houses with as many as a hundred in each of the Directorate Houses. The remaining two thousand work in various branches of the Concord bureaucracy.
But you’re in Fina now, whatever your future assignment.
Even with your brief acquaintance with it, you’ve probably guessed that Fina was built in a series of natural caves. Originally, it was a geophysical research station operated under the auspices of the Peladeen Republic University. Soon after the Society’s founding in 3200, work began on enlarging the existing facilities to serve as our HQ, but most of the construction was carried out during the War of the Twin Planets, and the success of the project and the efficacy of the security shield surrounding it, we owe entirely to Elor Ussher Peladeen, last Lord of the House. He and his wife, Lady Manir, were from the outset staunch supporters of the Phoenix, and his last lettape was addressed to Andreas Riis. You’ll have an opportunity to read it later. It’s an eloquent document.
Fina is built within a limestone uplift dominating the island, which we facetiously call Mount Torbrek. There are fourteen levels, although they aren’t as neatly arranged as that suggests; the builders had to take advantage of natural chambers and passages as much as possible.
Beginning at the bottom, Level 1, a hundred meters below sea level, is Fleet Operations (FO), our military branch, with its three hangars and undersea access locks.
Level 2 is the domain of Supply and Maintenance, specifically our storage and manufacturing facilities. Level 3, which is at sea level, also belongs to SM, and is devoted primarily to food and power. Here our power generators are located. We depend entirely on hydroelectric power generated by the channelization of tidal bores. The tides on Pollux are much higher than those on Terra, incidentally, with Castor impelling them.
Level 3 also houses our food processing facilities, which include hydroponic gardens, plankton screens, and docking facilities for our submarine fishing fleet. Most of our protein derives from Pollux’s seas, and with our processing procedures is identical to Terran-produced protein. However, we don’t recommend eating Polluxian “fish” straight from the water.
On the next seven levels are the living quarters. Level 7, midway in the housing levels, is the Service, Medical, and Recreation—or SMR—level. Here you’ll find the supply distribution center, our source for all personal and household necessities, and the Medical Center, consisting of a three-hundred-bed infirmary, diagnostic center, pharmacy, and a permanent care unit for patients with chronic or terminal diseases or disabling injuries. For recreation, we offer, among other things, a gymnasium complex. There are usually informal interdepartmental competitions in progress in various sports. These are entirely voluntary, but double idents and members in FO and Security and Intelligence are required to pass annual fitness tests.
SMR also houses the Basic School for our Second Gen (that is, second generation) youngsters, workshops for crafts and hobbies, meeting rooms, and a small auditorium. These are used by musical, theatrical, or other mutual interest groups, most of whom present concerts, plays, vididramas, lectures, or exhibitions periodically. Also in SMR is the General Training unit, as well as the Council room and offices.
Each of the six living-unit levels houses about a thousand, with two dining halls on each level. The basic living-unit room module is four meters square. The one-person unit consists of two rooms and bath, the two-person unit of three rooms and bath, and so on up to a four-person unit. You may think that extra room in all the units extravagant, but we’ve had to weigh demands on our resources and space against the detrimental psychological effects of long confinement. This is one of many concessions we consider necessary.Our recreational facilities exist for the same reason, and if it all sounds a bit frivolous, be warned that members in Fina have only one day a week free—and many don’t even take one—with five days devoted to assigned duties, and the remaining day to “SM duty,” also known as “drudge duty.” That is, the necessary cleaning, maintenance, and kitchen tasks that SM isn’t staffed to contend with alone.
A comment here: Rank has its privileges even in Fina. For instance, department heads are provided apartments adjoining their offices, although not all of them choose to use them. Department and unit heads, and members deemed by them to be on priority assignments, are exempt from drudge duty. The privilege is not abused, however; we recognize, out of necessity, our mutual responsibilities here.
The choice of living arrangements—where, with whom, or with how many—is yours, and you may change your mind at any time. A note on related choices: We don’t discourage sexually based relationships, hetero- or homosexual, nor do we discourage marriages, although only ten percent of our members are married. The only limitations the Society imposes is in the matter of children. Paired—that is, unmarried—couples may not have children. If a pregnancy results from a pair relationship, the couple has the choice of marrying (and accepting assignments in Fina if they are double idents) or abortion, or, if the mother wishes to bear the child, surrendering it to a Sisters of Faith orphanage. If married double-ident couples wish to have children, they will be reassigned to Fina. This is to protect the children—who deserve a more secure life than double idents can offer—and to protect the parents; children are, unfortunately, high security risks. Our birth rate is very low: .1 percent per year. Most members feel their psychic energy is totally absorbed in a consuming cause. Others, however, consider bringing up a second generation literally born to the cause a commitment to its future.
To continue with the physical description of Fina: There is an inadvertent symbolism in its construction, since the first ten levels support the next four. The real work of the Phoenix is carried out on those top levels, but it would be impossible without the practical foundation of the other levels.
Level 11 is divided between two major departments, Computer Systems and Physical Sciences. The former is in a sense the brain of the Phoenix; certainly it is as vital to our work. The latter includes research, teaching, and library facilities for sciences ranging from astronomy to zoology. CompSystems, by the way, also includes a comprehensive library of human knowledge
that in depth and detail surpasses even the Concord University Library and the Archives.
Level 12 is devoted to Human Sciences, which includes medicine, psychoscience, history, all aspects of sociology, and the sociohistorical trend-monitoring systems. This is where you are now, specifically HS 1.
On Level 13 is the Security and Intelligence Department, and in its intelligence functions it is a particularly vital part of the Phoenix. SI agents are much more than spies; they are data gatherers providing information necessary to the functioning of every other department. If CompSystems is the brain of the Phoenix, SI is its eyes and ears.
The nerve system, to continue the metaphor, is Communications, which occupies Level 14, the topmost in Fina. There is no comparison in the Concord for our communications network. It is and must be the best ever devised. Not only does the transmission of the information so essential to our existence and purpose depend on our communications system, but so do the lives of our eight thousand double idents. And one thing I can promise you about the Phoenix: we are few in number and we care very much about each other; we look after our own.
I’ll conclude this at the top of our Mount Torbrek. You have many more questions, I know, some of which I can’t answer now, but I offer the assurance that eventually most of your questions will be answered. At least, those the Phoenix has the answers for.
3.
“Good morning, Erica.” Ben Venturi paused at the office door, a cup of coffee gripped in one hand, and looked back into the empty work room, then crossed to her desk and perched on the edge. “Your guest still sleeping?”
“No.” Erica Radek frowned. She’d be relieved if her “guest” were asleep at 08:00 in the morning. “I sent him to the infirmary for a physical examination.”
“A physical? What’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing, really. The Woolfs are great believers in physical fitness.” A brief sigh escaped her. “Grief, Ben. That’s what’s wrong with Alex Ransom.”
“Oh.” He frowned down at the floor. “Rich?”
And Adrien Eliseer, she added to herself, but that was one problem she didn’t intend to discuss with Ben.
“Yes. Of course the infirmary can only treat some of the side effects, such as loss of appetite and insomnia. Dr. Calder probably won’t have any more luck on the latter than I did.”
Ben was silent, thinking of Rich, she knew, the sadness in his eyes out of character in that tough face that usually epitomized so fully the SSB major, even when he was out of uniform, as he was now. He took time to finish his coffee, and when he tossed the cup into the syntegrator by the desk, he was in character again.
He asked, “What about Predis?”
“That’s a vague and very broad question.”
“I thought you might know the specific questions to ask. Like, what’s he going to do about Alex Ransom?”
“Nothing, probably, for the time being.” She paused, frowning. “But when Alex is free to leave HS 1, you might keep him under protective surveillance until we’re sure of Predis’s reaction.”
“It’s already set up. What do you mean about Predis doing nothing?”
“He’s under no immediate threat; he’s had time to think it through, and no doubt he’s even considering how useful Alex might be to him. Inadvertently, of course. Emeric Garris has been talking about retiring from Fleet Operations for years. His problem has been finding a competent successor. Curious, isn’t it, we seem to be able to attract or produce such excellent spies, but so few really good soldiers.”
“What about Emeric? Do you see Alex as his successor in FO? That leaves Jan Barret out of the running, and Predis won’t be happy about that. The Council seat goes with command of FO, and Predis wants Jan on the Council.”
She nodded. “Of course, but Jan won’t be out of the running; he’ll probably end up as Alex’s second-in-command. Meanwhile, Alex is a Confleet Academy graduate—who tested out in the top five percent of his class, incidentally—and Predis will realize that he can bring our military program to optimum level for Phase I far sooner than Jan could. That’s what I mean by Predis considering Alex useful, and he’ll tolerate him until he ceases to be useful or becomes an imminent threat.”
Ben rose and propped his fists on his hips, his mouth tightening irritably.
“Well, we can’t go to the bargaining table without the long-range MT, no matter what shape FO’s in.”
“I know, and I don’t think we have to worry about Alex until Andreas gets a breakthrough on the MT.”
“So why are you asking me to keep an eye on him?”
She shrugged. “For the same reason you’d already set it up. Predis can be unpredictable.”
Ben sighed and glanced at his watch. “True. I have to go now. But, Erica, we’ve got to get through to Andreas about Predis and this whole damned situation.”
“I’m working on it. I’ve set up a series of extrapolation sequences. Andreas will accept it more easily in the form of data-based potentials.”
“Good luck.” He turned and started for the door. “I’m on duty at the Cliff in an hour. I’ll talk to you when I get back.”
“Take care, Ben.”
“I always do. Later.”
PERSONAL FILE: E. RADEK CASE NOTES: 24 JULY 3253
SUBJECT: ALEX RANSOM
I’ve assumed personal supervision of Alex’s screening with Val Severin assisting on the objective tests. We’ve completed the Tchekov Sensory Apperception series, the Aptitude-Motivation correlations, and the Barzoni Modal Intelligence tests. We also recorded for voice print analyses today using the Luxe Connotative list, but I’ll take more VP samples during analytic screening with the Comodo series.
1 began the initial analytic screening today, and Alex is consciously cooperative, but has set up strong preconscious inhibitory systems. They seem to be directed against expression of normal grief reactions. He has refused sedatives; possibly fears losing emotional control. He obviously suffers nightmares, which isn’t unexpected or unusual. He’s also reluctant to take inhibition-reducing drugs. I’ve limited the use of drugs to allay his anxiety about them and will work through conditioning techniques. He’s highly resistant, even in consent, but that’s consistent with his ego-function indices.
Note: Try HF modulated light conditioning; he is apparently more sensitive to visual than to aural stimuli. Also, investigate associations with the word “locks.” Unusual theta pattern on VPs.
Alex has shown a strong interest in public reaction to his “death” that is in no way obsessive, and I consider it positive. We discussed newscasts relating to his accusation against Karlis Selasis today. A special Directorate Investigative Board has been assigned to look into Lord Alexand’s death, and negative reaction to the Selasids is strong on both Elite and Fesh levels. Karlis was transferred to Concordia and is being kept under “protective guard.”
I’m gratified at Alex’s reactions to his father. I’ll investigate it further, but there seems to be little deep-seated hostility. He’ll have difficulty resolving his guilt responses toward his mother, but he’s capable of recognizing them and has already begun a process of channelization independently and will need little outside direction.
There is no indication of perception warp or disruption resulting from his brother’s death, but repressive systems are strong. This and one other factor may require Level 3 conditioning if I can achieve it: the extreme repressive systems associated with Adrien Eliseer. This may still be a negative factor.
4.
Erica Radek put her coffee cup down and switched off the table vidicom when she heard the click of the guest room doorscreens, then turned her chair and smiled up at Alex Ransom, noting the comfortable fit of the name. Alex in a brown slacsuit, showing already on his second morning in Fina a remarkable capacity for blending into his milieu. On the s
urface, at least. He was still pale, his eyes ringed with dark shadows, but his smile was warm and seemed to come without too much effort.
“Good morning, Erica.”
“Good morning.” She rose and crossed to the ’spenser. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“Nothing, thank you.”
“Alex, must I start making doctorly noises again?”
He laughed at that. “All right, just don’t ask me to make any decisions about it.”
“Well, we don’t have that much choice, anyway.” She touched out a number sequence and waited for the covered tray to slide from the slot. When she carried it to the table, he took it from her and put it on the table himself. She sat down, watching him as he gingerly removed the cover from the tray.
“It’s as close as we can come to steak. Very high in protein and all that.” Her gray eyes glinted with amusement as he tasted it and made a polite effort at appreciation.
“It’s a . . . close approximation.” He glanced at the vidicom. “You were watching a newscast.”
“Yes.” She picked up her cup. “Selasis is still squirming. Of course, your father is making sure your dying accusation against Karlis gets a good vidicom play.”
“One of the advantages of the PubliCom System franchises. Anything new from the Directorate?”
“Robek and Honoria Ivanoi are spearheading a movement to unseat Selasis, which will undoubtedly fail, but Lord Orin hasn’t had time to take advantage of Woolf’s temporary weakness.”
He nodded, then still staring down at his tray, “Was anything said today about my mother?”
“Yes, of course, and no reporter can resist waxing maudlin in a situation like this, but your mother is the Lady Woolf and a daughter of Galinin. Don’t underestimate her strength or resilience.”
