Sean bobbed his head. “And do our guys get involved in the unloading?”
Jayne nodded. “Sometimes. Sometimes not. Depends on what is being shipped. Sometimes we have cargo that is sensitive, or technical and then the clients come and pick it up as soon as we land. We can sit about for days before we can get the rest shifted. Not that we all head out and start trucking stuff about,” she added, chuckling a little.
Sean smiled. “Ah, the royal ‘we’ then …”
Jayne nodded, a protein chunk on her fork. “Exactly.” She continued eating, and Sean looked poignantly at Jack.
Jack ever so slightly nodded her understanding. She’d also clocked that there were shipments being taken off before the ship may have even officially docked.
Jack suddenly had a thought. “So, are there any areas that are off limits?” she asked. “The reason I ask is that little Marissa here seems to think that she can go poking around wherever she pleases. But surely that’s not the case. Even if you have got skeleton key access?”
Maya shot Jack a look, which Jack promptly ignored.
Jayne shook her head. “Probably not. Though a cargo ship isn’t the safest of places to just be wandering around. Especially not on your own, she said, looking at Maya now.
“The thing is,” she continued, “when these ships get old, things tend to break. All it takes is for a burst exhaust pipe or a ruptured boiler, or, heck, even a box to fall on you and you’re done. I’d stay in the main common areas unless you have to go crawling around fixing computers. And always take someone else with you if you have to go out away from the common areas.”
Maya nodded obediently. “Okay. I will. Besides, this place is filthy. It’s going to take a month to get clean once I get back to Estaria, if the grime under my fingernails is anything to go by.”
Jayne sighed. “It’s true. It’s a problem,” she said sympathetically to the young girl.
Gaitune-67, Safe house
Molly followed Joel out of the kitchen. “I’m just going to check in on Paige and Pieter. They should be doing a hand over about now.”
Joel nodded. “Great. I’m heading that way too. And there was something I wanted to run by you about your Estarian portfolio.”
Molly took a swig of her protein shake as they walked. “Okay, great.”
They headed into the conference room together, causing Paige and Pieter to look up. Pieter grinned his haphazard kind of grin. “Looks like mom and dad have arrived at work!”
Paige giggled, as Joel made a playful swipe at Pieter’s head. Pieter ducked, nearly falling off his chair. “Missed!” he said victoriously as he tried to regain his balance.
Joel started to sit down, and a second later there was a thump as Pieter disappeared from view. He and Molly looked over to see Paige still snickering, and Pieter re-emerging from beneath the table.
“You okay, chap?” Joel asked, trying his best to keep a straight face, his bouncing chest giving away his laughter.
Pieter nodded, his face bright red as he hauled himself back up and sat properly on his seat again.
Paige’s sniggering had escalated to where she was killing herself laughing.
Molly, oblivious to why everyone was laughing, glanced over with a look of confusion. Instead of asking for clarification, she reverted to the task in hand. “So how are things going with the crew?”
The mood sobered, but Pieter reported in brightly. “They’re all okay. Everyone has been checking in on time. I’ve been monitoring some of the conversations here and there. So far, nothing untoward. Maya is doing some poking around, as you might expect.”
Molly smiled. “Indeed,” she agreed. “And everything working okay with the shifts and the hand-overs?” she asked.
Paige nodded. “Yep. No problems. Oz is also helping monitor things as well. If these guys so much as sneeze, we’ll know about it.”
Molly nodded her head once. “Good.”
She turned her attention to Joel, who was smiling at Pieter, who was still looking somewhat embarrassed.
“So what is the deal with the companies?” she asked.
Joel’s focus zoned in as he pulled up the screen he needed. “Pieter and Oz were doing some analysis of the companies that were under-performing, according to our remit.”
Molly pulled her chair around to see his screen. “You mean things like profits and pay outs versus reinvestments?”
Joel nodded. “Yeah. It looks like some of the old guard have re-established themselves on the boards of a number of companies, and are drawing salaries and bonuses just as they were doing before.”
Molly’s face turned dark. “Well, this needs fixing.”
Joel pulled his lips to one side, and nodded grimly.
Pieter chipped in, in a movie announcer voice. “I recommended termination, with extreme prejudice!” he interjected.
Molly raised her eyebrows. “I think that is probably the way to go.”
Joel looked at her shocked. “You mean... kill them?”
Molly laughed. “No silly. Sack them. And then put a lock on them so they can’t be rehired at any of our companies again.”
“Ohhhh,” Joel said, lifting his chin slightly as the understanding caught up to him.
Paige chuckled. “My, my, Joel. Someone is a little bloodthirsty these days. Maybe you should have headed out on the mission to get some ya-yas out?”
It was Joel’s turn to blush. “I just... yeah,” he buried his head in his hand for a moment.
Pieter patted him on the arm. “It’s okay, mate. We all think stupid things now and again.”
Joel looked at him sternly, and then at Pieter’s hand on his arm. Pieter removed his hand. “Just sayin’,” he added, defensively.
Molly had been reading down the list of names. “Yeah. I think I’ll head on down there and sack them in person. It will send a clear message to everyone else in the companies too. We should also issue a statement citing our specific reasons why: failure to comply with company Ethics and Operating Agreement.”
Joel made some notes as she talked. “Great, I’ll start drawing something up and then Paige and I can firm it up before we send it out.”
Paige looked up, nodded, and made a note herself.
“Great,” Molly confirmed. “Okay. I’m off to get some training in. Then I have a meeting with Von.”
Paige looked up in recognition. “Tell her I say ‘Hi!’” she chirped.
Molly grinned. “Will do, teacher’s pet!” she winked, disappearing out of the door.
Pieter glanced over at Paige. “Hahaa... teacher’s pet!” he chuckled.
Paige harrumphed and turned her attention back to her work, and eventually Pieter did the same.
Aboard the Flutningsaðili, Pike’s office
Max Pike sat in his console chair in his private office, just off from the ship’s primary control room. He swiveled around, his feet on the desk, handling a game ball as he talked on the holo audio.
“What about our guests?” the client asked.
“They’re safe,” Pike confirmed. “None of the crew know about them. I’ll be tending to them myself just to reduce the risk. But since they’re sedated they won’t be making too many demands.”
The client was silent for a moment. “As long as their brain cells are functioning when they get here,” he warned sternly. “Else there will be hell to pay. I don’t suppose I need to remind you how much we have riding on this, do I?”
Max sat up, putting the ball on his desk carefully. “No sir, you don’t. I understand exactly what is at stake, and will be doing everything to ensure this is successful. You have nothing to worry about from this end.”
“See to it I don’t,” the voice warned. “Let me know when the shipment is due in port and I’ll have my people come pick it up. I trust we have an adequate window?”
Max rested one hand absently on the ball, as if subconsciously making sure it wasn’t going to r
oll off the desk. “Yes sir. At least twelve hours. Maybe longer. I’ll know more when I get the updated flight plan.”
“Very good,” the client confirmed. “I’ll wait to hear.”
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir,” Max replied.
And then the line went dead.
Max realized he’d been holding his breath, and slowly encouraged himself to exhale. He stood up, returned the ball to its little stand on a shelf, and then headed out into the control room, slowly regaining his nerve.
Chapter 10
Staðall University, Von’s Office
Are you sure this is right?
You know, for someone who is so damn smart you have a shitty sense of direction.
Well it’s a good job I have a know-it-all AI in my head then, isn’t it?
Yes, it is, rather. Turn left here.
Molly put on the brakes, jarring her ankle in her slightly heeled boots.
A bit of warning, Oz.
Okay, next turn is to the right, the next corridor you go down.
Okay. We got this.
…
…
…
Now where?
Seriously? You still don’t recognize this?
Would I be asking you if I did?
Molly, it’s the third door on the left.
Okay, well how was I supposed to know?
You have been here before.
Once. And I don’t remember routes and places until I’ve done it at least five or six times.
Molly could feel her head vibrating with Oz’s laughter. She grabbed the sides of her head to see if she could stop it, or at least stop her teeth from rattling. It made no difference. As she suspected.
She knocked on the door.
Pack it in Oz. Gotta talk with the Prof.
The vibration subsided.
“Come in,” Von called from behind the door.
Molly opened the door and poked her in. “Greetings,” she ventured.
Von ushered her in and offered her the seat in front of her desk. It was a small office. Just large enough for a desk and two chairs, and a storage server that probably housed her entire library and research. It was no longer prudent to rely solely on the ether-cloud, particularly since the collapse of ‘79.
“May I offer you some tea?” Von asked, gesturing towards the replicator.
Molly grinned. “Oh, yes. That would be great. Thank you.”
Von selected the tea program and put a cup beneath it.
Molly watched the tea being dripped into the cup. “So, how’s the course going?” she asked.
Von’s expression was brimming with excitement. “It’s going incredibly well,” she started, chattering like an enthused child reporting on her day at school. “Obviously, we’re only a week in at this point, but the students are responding fantastically. In fact, we have more students trying to subscribe all the time as word gets around about what we’re doing.”
Molly grinned enthusiastically. Von handed her the mug of hot tea, and placed another mug under the machine for herself.
She poked at the program she wanted and turned back to Molly. “I’m thinking we’re going to have to increase our capacity. Or at least run the course again.
Molly hugged her warm tea-mug. “That’s wonderful. And yes, we must,” she agreed. “I think we should probably start working on that now. Perhaps get the support of the Dean behind us and lock it into the academic schedule.”
Von nodded excitedly. “Yes. I’m sure he’ll agree to it. I mean, it’s good for the university, and once the post-course evaluations are in they’d be mad not to.”
Von took her freshly replicated tea and sat down at her desk.
Molly leaned forward, her mug balanced with one hand on her knee. “So, talk me through what needs to be done to make this happen.”
Von flicked into business mode. “I think the first thing is to lock in a meeting with the Dean. Maybe even request an opportunity to address the board at their next meeting, which should be coming up fairly soon.”
Molly made a note on her holo. “Okay. Great. I’ll get in touch with him.”
Von had an intensity behind her eyes. “Good. Then we need to put our case together,” she added.
Molly made another note. “You know,” she said after a moment, “it would be worth talking to each of the board members in turn. Separately. Before we get into the room. So that they understand what we’re proposing and we have them on side individually.”
Von clicked her fingers. “You’re right!” she agreed quickly. She started making a note on her holo. “Let me take that one. I know most of them already, and some of us go way back.”
Molly grinned. “Excellent. This is working out well.”
The two continued plotting and planning for several hours, and by the time they were done they had what they thought was a solid action plan.
You know Oz, Molly said in her head as she navigated her way back through the corridors to rendezvous with her pod, this may just work.
You know Mollz, I think it might!
Molly stepped out into the Estarian evening. The Sark had gone down hours ago, leaving a coolness on the air. She took a deep cleansing breath, and looked out at the various old buildings of the university, feeling nostalgic for her misspent youth in academia.
Pod’s here! Oz alerted her as it descended just off to her right. Molly sighed, and walked over to it, hopping in.
Staðall University, Radcliff’s office
“Yes, send him in please, Amy.”
The door to his office opened up and philanthropist Raj Ghettie stepped into the room. Amy hurried behind him and grabbed the door handle to close the door behind him again as he strode in to greet the aging Dean.
Radcliff stood up at his desk. “What a pleasant surprise!” he exclaimed, his artificial enthusiasm and charm oozing from his carefully maintained skin.
“Likewise,” Ghettie responded, bowing slightly, before placing his hand on the chair that he had sat on before.
The Dean waved his hand, inviting the gentleman to sit, which he did.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Ghettie began. “Our board of trustees have got wind of your new course. Something about interplanetary negotiations. Now, on the surface this sounds like a worthy course, but based on what we know of its content, and indeed the professor, it’s something that we’d rather wasn’t taught at an institution that we support.”
Ghettie held Radcliff’s gaze firmly.
There was a long silence as an addled Radcliff scrambled to figure out how to handle the request. He shuffled forward in his seat. “Erm... if I might ask,” he began, “what is it that is disagreeable to your board?”
Ghettie drew in a deep breath and pushed himself back into the chair he occupied. “Well, to begin with, the professor in question has unusual methods of negotiation and manipulation. Plus, her politics aren’t to our liking. She made some moves back when she was consulting that were not in the favor of the Ogg clans, and we would not like to see that kind of person poisoning the minds of the next generation. In fact, it’s in direct violation of everything we agreed to when we started donating resources to this institution.”
He paused, allowing the information to sink in for the Dean. Then, as if rehearsed, a superficial smile grew over his lips. He sat forward just enough to convey friendliness without sacrificing any power in the situation, and added, “I’m sure you understand our position.”
The Dean shifted in his seat, feeling like cornered prey. “Yes. Yes. Of course,” he replied amicably. “So, you’d like for me to put a stop to the new course continuing?” he clarified.
“We would,” Ghettie confirmed, closing his eyes briefly as he spoke. “And of course, if this were to happen we’d have no problem to continue funding the institution.”
Though still bewildered by the sudden demand, Radcliff now understood perfectly what he was being
told. He made a decision on the spot. “Well of course,” he said brightly, “I’d be pleased to look into this and make sure we keep our curriculum within acceptable bounds.”
He stood, forcing Raj through social convention to get to his feet too.
“Very good,” Ghettie agreed, a fraction taken aback by the sharp dismissal. “I’ll report back to the group and we will continue ‘business as usual,’ as they say.”
Radcliff bowed slightly as a farewell, and Ghettie returned the gesture and headed out.
The door closed behind him, and Dean Alfred Radcliff settled back into his chair. He pulled up the course enrollment and attendance statistics and sighed, weighing the implications of what he’d agreed to do.
Aboard the Flutningsaðili, Floor 2
Brock stepped out of the steaming kitchen, following Maya into the much quieter corridor. “So what do you think?” he asked, wiping his hands.
Maya crinkled her nose and tipped her head to one side. “I don’t think she knows anything specific, but what she is aware of might help us piece something useful together,” Maya confided, finishing up their conversation about Jayne.
Brock nodded, distracted, glancing up and down the corridor. “Good. Any idea where to start looking for our forced guests?”
Maya shook her head. “Not a clue. Jack and I found a chamber of stasis units, but there were hundreds. No way we could search all of those without getting caught.”
Brock pursed his lips. “May have to. Seems like a logical place.”
Maya sighed. “Yea. Would it surprise you that I’ve only just realized that?” She rolled her eyes at herself. “I was just suspicious about how many units there were, and what this ship had also been used for in the past.”
Brock folded his arms, his chest bouncing up and down in quiet amusement.
“TALLUS!” A voice shouted from just inside the kitchen.
Brock stepped-back and glanced into the kitchen. “Yeah! Coming!” he called back in through the door before turning back to Maya. “I gotta go.”
The Ascension Myth Box Set Page 140