Expert Assistance

by Robert Collins

  “Okay, sure.” Jake stopped, sucked in a breath, then smiled. “Oh, I get it. You want me to sent something to Tina, is that it? Is she the hottie exec you’ve had your eye on?”

  “Well...” Thorne didn’t answer Jake directly, but the way he moved his head suggested that the word he was looking for was “yes.”

  “She’s got a cute voice. I was starting to wonder if I should give up on you and visit her instead.”

  “Don’t you dare teleport into her room at night. I’ll kick your ass if you put the moves on her before I can even get a date.”

  “So you want to teleport into her room at night?”

  “Hey, if I can get into her room, it will be through the door.”

  “My assistance will only be available for the duration.”

  “I don’t need your assistance.”

  “Right now you do.”

  “Fine. You get me a secure line to her, I’ll write you a killer letter.”

  “Fine.” Jake offered his right hand.

  Thorne scooted off his bed, took Jake’s hand, and shook it. “Fine.”

  “But if she’s as cute as her voice, and she turns you down, all bets are off.”

  “Dream on, Jake.”

  ***

  That night Jake fulfilled his part of the deal. He had Odin use the ship’s comm system as a secure link between Del Thorne’s room and Tina’s. Jake had agreed not just because he wanted the letter. He saw this as a chance to make certain Thorne was on their side. The other man might suspect the channel was being monitored; if so, and if he’d been lying to Jake, Jake was sure Thorne would give something away even without intending to. If Thorne wasn’t suspicious about the chance of interception, either he’d prove legit or liar.

  Once everything was ready Jake signaled to Thorne to open a connection. He did so, and when he got through he said, “Tina, it’s Del.”

  “Del? What are you doing? We’re not supposed to be talking to each other, remember?”

  “This isn’t business. It’s personal.”

  “Like I said, Del. I thought we weren’t supposed to talk.”

  “Tina, I’m sorry, okay? I thought Sordius was my friend. I thought making him happy was important.”

  “And now?”

  “I’m calling, aren’t I? Look, I know we had fun together. I miss that, Tina, I really do. I was wrong then. It’s taken what’s happened over the last few weeks to show me how wrong I was. How I was doing what he wanted, instead of what I wanted. How I was flattering his ego by not seeing you anymore.”

  “You mean that, Del?”

  “Yeah.”

  She sighed. “I kinda thought that wasn’t you talking back then. I guess I didn’t want to make a fuss and get you into trouble. So is it just what’s happened that’s made you change your mind?”

  “What’s happened, what’s I’ve been finding out. I meant what I said in the meeting today.”

  “Sounded like you did. I was a little surprised, Del.”

  “Somebody got to me.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, but someone else, too. Okay, maybe you and them equally.”

  Jake stabbed the mute keypad. “Odin, monitor the rest of that. Let me know if they say anything that makes them seem like they’re up to something bad.”

  “Speaking or acting deceptively, in terms of the cause, I trust.”

  “Yes.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Start that mineral survey.”

  “Is their conversation having an effect on you, Jake?”

  “Let’s not talk about that, Odin.”

  ***

  Jake carried out the survey through the rest of that night and during the following morning. It found exactly what he thought it would. The planet was rich in more than just gold and silver. Extraction of those minerals would be less costly and could bring in as much or more income than what was presently being received. Jake was relieved not just because it would persuade Thorne. If extraction proceeded, his five percent payment would increase in value several-fold.

  He sent the data to Thorne’s office that afternoon. Thorne acknowledged receipt and promised to begin work on his letter immediately. “I don’t have much else to do around here,” he said.

  “Why not?” Jake asked.

  “No meeting this morning. Production is way down. Workers are arguing with each other and their supervisors. Forepersons are arguing with security. Hardly anything is getting done. I probably wouldn’t come in, except that Sordius might take that the wrong way.”

  “Good thinking. In fact, don’t encourage any no-shows among anyone you run into. I’ve put pressure on the ALG not to organize a massive sick-out.”

  “Keep all of us agitated and stressed?”

  “Exactly. Let Sordius give up first.”

  After they stopped talking Thorne went to work on his letter. He had a first draft done in just over an hour. Jake offered only a few suggestions for improvements and revisions. Two hours after starting Thorne had completed his private attack on his superior. It only went out to less than a dozen people, but the number of recipients wasn’t why Jake had wanted him to compose it. He wanted it as proof to him that Thorne was prepared to support the growing rebellion. Thorne gave him that proof and then some.

  “I’ve been Sordius’ friend for some time,” the letter began, “and I know I’ve tried to justify his actions when others have raised objections. I defended him because I thought I was his friend, and that he wouldn’t do anything bad to a friend. I’ve recently realized that I was wrong about him and his actions.

  “I’ve been given evidence that his father and grandfather lied to us about how they acquired this planet. The information provided by the ALG is completely true. Their information about how Sordius runs operations here is both accurate and right. He is playing fast and loose with galactic law, and his management style is repressive and inefficient.

  “Allow me to make a few others points about this subject. It’s become clear to me that his control may end soon. If that happens, the authorities will not only punish him, but also anyone who has supported his actions. Yet despite this possibility, Sordius has never seen fit to share the majority what he’s acquired legally or illegally with anyone else, not even with me. I no longer intend to be punished for his crimes.

  “What’s more, it’s come to my attention that there are other mineral resources on Antioch Two that could be profitably exploited. Unfortunately the illegal methods Sordius employs to maintain control and disperse what we’re currently mining makes it impossible to turn our operations towards those other resources. Unless this situation is changed we all stand to lose in the long term.

  “Finally, I’ve come to see that Sordius is not a friend to me in the truest sense of the word. He has compelled me to make certain sacrifices in my life. These were not for the good of everyone, but to satisfy his own ego. I don’t intend to go into details. Those of you who know what I’m talking about will understand. If you don’t, I hope this statement will be sufficient. In any case, I’m sure some of you can find other examples of this behavior in your own lives.

  “You may be wondering that, if all of this is true, what do I plan to do about it? I don’t plan to do anything without hearing from at least some of you. Tell me that you think I’m right or wrong. In fact, I challenge you to say to me with absolute certainty that I am wrong.

  “If no one can say that, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll talk to Sordius, man to man. I think if I explain myself and my reasons, he’ll see how wrong he’s been. If he makes this admission, I’ll ask everyone to help reform all of our operations. We can turn a corner and improve everyone’s lives and fortunes.

  “If he refuses to listen or change, well, I’ll let you know. I will say this: if he can’t see the light, I won’t share in his blindness.

  “One way or the other, you’ll hear from me again very soon.”

  Jake wasn’t certain what effect the letter
would have, if any. He suspected that there might be discrete inquiries to the ALG, and to Thorne himself. He was right on the first count; two days later the Rosens reported that half of the people who had received the letter were asking to join. With that information in hand, Jake decided to make one more visit to Thorne.

  “Your letter had an impact, Del,” he said after teleporting down and saying hello. “Half the people who got it want to join the ALG.”

  “I see.”

  “What?”

  Thorne frowned. “I guess it’s time for me to join, too, huh?”

  Jake shrugged. “Do you want to?”

  “I don’t know, Jake.”

  “Look, Del, in that letter you said you’d talk to Sordius. So talk to him. Either prove to everyone else that he isn’t a corrupt clod, or prove to yourself that he is. Just don’t sit around here in your room moping.”

  “I’m not moping.”

  “Are too.” Jake hesitated, then pinched his nose and closed his eyes. “Did I just say that?”

  “I believe so.”

  “This has got to end soon.” He shook his head, then looked at Thorne. “Would you talk to him, get it over? You can’t back out now, Del. You know that. You’re not the idiot around here.”

  “There’s just the one?”

  Jake smiled faintly. “Unfortunately, no. But you’re about to join the ranks if you don’t get this over with.”

  “All right, all right. I’ll talk to him tomorrow night.”

  “When?”

  “Now, Jake...”

  “Sorry. That came out wrong. What I was asking was when, so we could meet before you talk to him.”

  “What for?”

  “Because I want to see you one last time.” Jake shook his head. “I trust you, okay? I just want to take some precautions beforehand.”

  “I don’t think he’d kill me, Jake.”

  “Okay, fine. I want you wired first.”

  “Wired?”

  “Yes. I want you wearing a mike when you talk to Sordius.”

  “I thought you said you trusted me.”

  “I do.”

  “So why the mike?”

  Jake counted off the fingers of his right hand as he spoke. “One, I don’t trust him. Two, if you do persuade him, I want a recording so he won’t be able to weasel out later. Three, if you don’t, I want his reasons recorded so his own words can be used against him.”

  “Oh. I guess since you put it that, okay. I’ll have to see how tomorrow goes. It probably won’t be until after dinner, but if the day doesn’t go well...”

  “Fair enough.” Jake tapped his bracelet. “Odin, have...our guest put another one of those comm devices on the teleport, and send it down.”

  “Who’s Odin?”

  “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

  ***

  The next day Thorne did have plenty of time on his hands to talk to Sordius, but the other man had little time for him. Sordius seemed to be everywhere trying to get workers to respect his authority. Thorne knew it wouldn’t go well, and that would make Sordius less than receptive to him. But he’d made a promise to Jake, and to everyone who’d read his letter, that he would talk to his old friend one last time. He decided to wait until an hour and a half after dinner ended to meet with Sordius.

  Thirty minutes before that Jake signaled to him. He teleported into Thorne’s room. He handed him a bracelet and asked him to put it on. Thorne did so, and a minute later he and Jake materialized onto Jake’s ship.

  Thorne had suspected that Jake was operating from space well before this. That seemed to be the only place where Jake could have had a base that couldn’t be detected by their security satellites. At first he’d dismissed the possibility because the sats hadn’t detected any ships in orbit. As he realized how deeply Jake’s penetration of their systems went, it became clear to Thorne that Jake would have no trouble hiding his starship from their sensors.

  After materializing Jake opened his arms. “Well, this is it.”

  “Your ship?”

  “Skuld.”

  “How big is it?”

  “It was built to scout-type specs. Star-yacht, I guess you could say.”

  “That’s all?”

  Jake smiled to him. “It’s more than enough.” He pointed to the ceiling. “Del Thorne, meet Odin.”

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Odin said.

  “Your control computer?”

  “I am no mere control system, Mister Thorne. I am a fully sentient A. I. capable of sophisticated reasoning, complicated tasks, and stimulating conversation.”

  “As well as dry wit,” Jake added, “infuriating manners, and modest snobbery.”

  “How did you get this ship, Jake?”

  Jake sighed. “The builders were military men. They didn’t realize that creating a sentient computer might make their little warship unwilling to play by their rules. Rather than scrap the ship, lose millions, and get blamed for the failure, they abandoned the ship in deep space. I happened across it, came on board, and was able to persuade Odin to allow me to take possession.”

  “Lucky you.”

  “Is this what’s you wanted?” a young female voice echoed through the corridor.

  Thorne turned to see who spoke. His jaw nearly dropped to the floor when he saw Evvie Martini enter the room. It took him several moments to spit out, “You're...you're Evvie Martini.”

  “Yeah.” She smiled. “You’re Thorne, right? Pleased to meet ya.” She stuck out her right hand.

  Thorne shook hands with her, still stunned. “What are you doing here?”

  “Fighting for liberty and stuff.”

  Jake sighed. “Actually, I was hired to escort her during her tour. Make sure she appeared on time and safe and all that. Somehow she found out about this assignment. She invited herself along to boost her image, once this is over.”

  A second later Thorne turned and looked at Jake. “Are you serious?”

  “You think I would make that up?” He shook his head. He took several steps towards Evvie. “Lemme see.” He looked at the sheathed cable she had in her left hand. “Yeah, that’s it.”

  “Great.” She turned to leave.

  “Where are you going?”

  She turned back. “I was about to call Mom when you asked me for help.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  She smiled at Thorne. “Nice meeting you. See you later, I guess.” She gave him a small wave and left the room.

  Thorne’s eyes were still on the doorway after she was gone. “Y’know, up close, she is kinda cute.”

  “She’s nineteen, Del. I thought you were spoken for. Or is that route open to me now?”

  Thorne glanced at Jake, frowned for an instant, then looked at the wire. “What’s that?”

  “Stuff. The nice thing about having a teleport is you can fabricate things you need from junk, so long as the volume is right.” Jake motioned to Thorne to step off the teleport platform. “Give me your tie.”

  Thorne removed the slender dark blue tie from around his neck and handed it to Jake.

  “Y’know, ties are out of fashion these days,” Jake said.

  “Sordius prefers we execs wear them. He says they demonstrate authority.”

  “Surprise, surprise.”

  Jake put the wire and the tie on the teleport platform. “Now.” Both items disappeared for about a minute, then the tie reappeared. Jake picked it up, then spoke into it. “On. Odin, are you receiving me?”

  “The signal is clear, Jake. All indications normal.”

  “Great. Off.” Jake handed the tie to Thorne. “We’ll test it again once we teleport back down.”

  “Sure.” Thorne put the tie back on. “Seems a little obvious, a hidden mike in a tie.”

  “Yeah, but as long as no one’s expecting it, it still works.”

  A moment later the two men stepped back onto the platform and returned to Thorne’s room. Thorne turned on the hidden device and spoke into i
t. Odin reported that the signal was still clear. Jake took the bracelet off Thorne’s wrist and returned to his ship. Thorne took in and let out a breath, then left his room and went a short distance away to Sordius’ quarters.

  He tapped the door communicator. “Sordius, it’s Del.”

  “What do you want?” came the agitated voice from inside the room.

  “We need to talk.”

  “About what?”

  “C’mon, man, lemme in.”

  “I’m busy.”

  “No, you’re not. Either we talk in there, or I stay out here and talk to you.”

  “Fine.”

  The door opened and Thorne walked through. He found his friend and boss sitting at his desk in the main room. Papers were everywhere, including on the floor. Thorne wasn’t too surprised to see the mess. Sordius always had trouble keeping neat in the privacy of his personal space. Of course, he also always demanded that others keep their workspaces neat.

  Now, Thorne thought, what was simply a quirk was another flaw among many.

  He was surprised to see that the other man’s clothes were as messy as his quarters were. Sordius’ tie was askew, his jacket had been flung off, one shirt sleeve was unbuttoned, and his shoes were not on his feet. Usually he dressed properly at all times, to project an image of confidence and leadership. At that moment he projected the image of a young executive facing a career-threatening audit desperately searching his records for the right data file or piece of paper. It was disquieting to Thorne, but as he considered the events of the last few weeks, it was not shocking.

  I wonder if he knows what he looks like, he mused. I wonder if he cares. Maybe he does. Maybe he cares too much.

  “Sorry about the mess, Del,” Sordius said.

  “It’s okay.”

  “Look, I don’t have lots of time. What do you want?”

  “Sordius, we can’t keep going the way we have.”

  “We won’t. Once I get things in hand, I’ll crack down on all these loafers and whiners.”

  “That’s what I mean. We can’t go back to the way things were.”

  “Why not? It worked for me, it worked for us...”

  “It only works for you. People are getting angry about that. They’re already angry, and they’re getting fed up.”

  “They don’t know how to run this operation.”

  “Sordius, your ways aren’t efficient. We’re wasting creds like crazy.”

  Sordius took a few steps towards Thorne. “Efficiency only matters to those that aren’t making anything, Del. We’ve got a stake in this world, and we gotta protect that stake.”