Shiny is so powerful, it seems like he could find and vanish anyone he wanted without my help.
“So I guess I find this Marcant. Am I supposed to reply or what?” she asked herself.
She decided not to. If Shiny was omniscient now, he would track all her movements and know about everything she did anyway.
Marcant. Just a first name. Or is it a last name? Billions of people and he sends me one word?
Cilreth immersed herself in the Terran network and brought out the tools of her previous job as a tracker. She knew how to find lost people, even people who wanted to stay lost. Within ten minutes she realized the name Marcant had very special meaning attached to it here on Earth: Marcant was the name of an infamous hacker. In ten more minutes she realized infamous was only the right word if you were on the side of the Core World government. If you were an average citizen, Marcant meant someone who stood for the people. Marcant had been fighting against the Trilisks in his own way, though whether or not he had understood he fought aliens, Cilreth did not yet know.
Marcant had quite a following. No authoritative sources of information about him seemed to exist, though the Earthers had plenty to say about him. The material she found was wildly contradictory and sensationalized.
There probably is no Marcant. Shiny just wants me to waste my time? This could be nothing more than a legend. A fake target put up to draw fire.
Cilreth took a deep breath and went back on-retina. She frowned. Shiny had no reason to sabotage her search for real candidates, did he? The PIT team was out at his behest searching for alien technology. Cilreth sent her attendant out to retrieve food and started again.
If Marcant is real, I can find him.
She started to set her search in motion. She had a new edge since she had last done this: the New Iridar had plenty of computing horsepower all on its own. She did not need to draw on as many external resources to help out.
Marcant had several layers of protection. First, who knew what activities the computers of Earth performed at his command? She started to accumulate the suppositions of billions on the goals, activities, and identities of Marcant. The bulk of the information was bound to be wrong, but Cilreth knew how to grade and weight sources of information by finding out how accurate other information provided by those sources was. There were also sources for hire with extremely high accuracy ratings that got high prices based upon their reliability. Hours flew by while Cilreth worked.
A general picture emerged of a cluster of incidents and agents believed to belong to Marcant across all of Earth. Like anyone trying to hide his or her activity and identity on the network, this entity used an obfuscation service. But it wasn’t a commercial obfuscation service like any average citizen could buy. It was something black market.
Or more likely, something controlled completely by Marcant himself or herself... or itself.
Cilreth remembered her encounters with strange entities like GoliathFive that had helped her with the smart filter she needed back when she worked with Telisa’s father. Maybe Marcant was not Terran at all. At least not a walking, talking collection of biological cells.
Cilreth came up with a “short” list of a hundred individuals she believed could be Marcant. The association with Marcant and this group meant that even if any one of them was not Marcant, they might well be working with or for Marcant. They would be a good place to start the incarnate part of her mission.
Cilreth requested a connection with Telisa. It went through immediately.
“Telisa?”
“Yes?”
“Shiny recommended a candidate to me. A guy who tried to hack him.”
“Hrm. Your discretion,” Telisa said.
“It could be a way for Shiny to—you know—more subtly replace the combat sphere.”
“He would be more subtle, alright.”
“Well you know, he’s gone meta, right up front is the new subtle,” Cilreth continued.
“Why did you call me if—” Telisa said.
“Yes, yes, okay, I just wanted to let you know. I haven’t decided, obviously.”
“Okay. I trust you.”
“Any idea what security is like now with the new government? Everyone is saying it’s greatly reduced,” Cilreth said.
“Take a weapon.”
“Screw it. I’m an agent of Shiny now. I guess I’ll do whatever I want.”
“Ah, how quickly power corrupts,” Telisa remarked.
“Exactly.”
Chapter 13
Jason returned to PIT headquarters in a light Denver rain. His one-person conveyance shuddered to a halt at the curb before their building. He stepped out.
The air smelled of the green grass before him. It had grown to its full height of 10 centimeters, forming a thick bed of green beside the walkway. Jason looked over the grounds with an eye toward finding any neglected maintenance. It all looked in order.
News drones hovered overhead. Several of them descended to intercept him like an automated attack squadron. Jason felt a sudden urge to drop prone and go for his weapon. Then he smiled.
I’m starting to become a frontiersman, after all.
The drones fell into a line. The winner addressed Jason first.
“DW news. Is Telisa Relachik in-system? Is she expected here soon?”
Jason decided he could answer a few questions on his way in. He started off for the sanctuary of the main building.
“She’s not coming here,” Jason said. Why do you care?
The drone dropped out of the line which was following Jason. The next one shot forward.
“AR events channel. Is Caden Lonrack alive? Follow up: is he in-system?”
Jason’s face twitched in exasperation. “Caden is in-system and alive.”
The drone swapped out. Jason estimated he would have to talk to one more before he made it inside. He made a beeline for the main doors. A few people were getting out of taxis down the street and hurrying over toward the PIT building.
“Jackson Action Reporting. Jason, have you met with Ambassador Shiny incarnate since arriving back at Sol?”
Jason took a deep breath to consume another second. “No, I have not met with Shiny recently.”
Damn. I should not have added that ‘recently’ part.
The doors opened. Jason stepped inside, leaving the news drones outside, and found himself confronted by an entirely different army. Six men and women in various forms of affluent dress stood as he entered the lobby. They charged in a two-dimensional version of the drone rush that had happened outside. A tall man with short black hair took the lead and spoke first.
“You’re Jason Yang. The team is back at Sol? What are you doing next? I want to book a mission with the team.”
“Hello sir,” Jason said. “I believe you have me at a disadvantage.”
“I’m your highest paying customer! I’ve earned—”
“No, you aren’t!” someone objected.
“I will be your highest paying customer when you let me join the PIT team!” an older woman shrilled from the back.
Jason held up his hands.
“I’m here to finish my last bit of business with Parker Interstellar Travels,” he told them. “The company is to be put up for sale. We simply have too many other complex matters to address to be able to give this agency the attention it deserves.”
“I’m buying. If you take me on an adventure with you,” a tall blonde woman said. Jason forced his eyes to slide over her statuesque body in an instant, lest his gaze become rude.
“We?” someone else said. “Is Telisa Relachik also selling her interest in the company?”
“I’m sorry but the team has all the members it needs at the moment,” Jason lied. “Yes, Telisa is cutting her ties with this agency.”
“Why would she do that?” someone asked.
“Why would anyone settle for anything less? It’ll be just another travel agency then,” someone else said.
“She has more important thing
s to do!” someone declared.
“Saving us from aliens?” a male voice asked.
“Finding the aliens!” said the tall blonde.
“I’m sorry everyone. You’ll have to contact the new owners,” Jason said, letting himself into the private area of the headquarters. Jason closed the door and leaned against it. He went briefly off-retina to check the estate’s security arrangements. He increased their security budget and offered it up to their current provider. A flood of takeover bids came in from other security agencies. The counter offers were low; some were free.
They all want to guard us. For the publicity.
“May they sleep with Cthulhu!” he said, wiping sweat from his neck. “This place is insane.”
“Can I get you a drink?”
The voice was familiar. Jason opened his eyes and saw an android wearing Thomas’s face.
“Ah, Thomas. Thank you for your service. Please find Jack and tell him to deactivate. Then do the same. I think our days of avoiding Core World security are... well, our ruse has long been seen through at this point.”
Biggest understatement ever. I wouldn’t be surprised if both androids are compromised by now, anyway, Jason thought. He moved to his upstairs office to conduct more business.
Jason started putting out feelers for interested buyers. Despite what had been said outside, there would be plenty of entrepreneurs ready to milk the old PIT agency for all it was worth, even if their contract required choosing a different name. He had several tour captains out to various places on the frontier now. They would finish their tours and come back without cutting anything short. Jason did not need to wait for them to come back, though. It could all be written into the agreement.
Jason did a last bit of checking on the official records of the front company. Everything illegal had been compartmentalized and handled by Jack, then Telisa, so most everything had already been cleaned. It had been part of his job to make sure the records were as mundane as possible when he was working here.
It felt strange to walk through the headquarters again, as if his adventures had been nothing but a dream.
Strange but good, he thought. I’m not giving up this new life.
A loud crash erupted from downstairs, toward the front lobby. Then the roar of dozens of yammering people flooded upwards. Jason checked a video feed from the front office. Huge numbers of customers streamed in. Some were climbing through window frames that had been breached.
All the crazies coming out of the woodwork.
Jason’s heart rate increased. Once again he felt like reaching for weapons.
A dozen news agencies entreated his link for comments on the current riot brewing at PIT agency headquarters. They joined those seeking to buy the company and those wanted to handle the security in his link’s waiting queue.
Riot. I underestimated how famous we’ve become since the Trilisks were ousted.
Jason scrambled the interior map service and took his own office completely off the map display. Then he closed his door.
“Thomas! Jack!” Jason called. No response came. He re-activated the androids with his link and ordered them to try and keep the crowd back.
That’s not going to work! I need real security!
Jason called out for help on the network with an offer for rapid security response. The offer was accepted instantly. Jason felt first relief, then confusion as he saw the name: VPSF. Vovokan Physical Security Forces.
Shiny has security forces on Earth? What are these, Vovokan brownshirts?
He spent the next minute trying to figure out how to barricade his office with a faux wood desk that weighed hardly anything. As he tried to decide whether to hide or seal himself in further, attendants whirled into the office through a window and located him.
He heard unpleasant noises outside, then screaming and yelling. Jason checked his outside sensor feeds. People were staggering away from the PIT building, driven by gas and sonics.
“VPSF? I just want to clean out my things and leave this place,” Jason said.
“An air shuttle is being dispatched. Come to the roof, if you please.”
Jason gathered a few personal items and the agency’s onsite datastore cylinder, then he opened a maintenance door in the ceiling and took its lift to the roof.
Chapter 14
“I’ve received an invitation from Admiral Sager,” Caden said. Jason had provided him a temporary apartment outside Denver which he shared with Siobhan. So far no one had sold out their location, though Caden was half holding his breath, waiting for something bad to happen.
“Sager? It’s a trap!” Siobhan said.
“I don’t think so. It’s in the news. They intend to award me.”
“What?!”
“Everyone loves Ambassador Shiny and they know about the Trilisks now. Those people on Skyhold have been let loose, and they hold a lot of influence. Everyone knows what I did and why.”
Siobhan shook her head and sat down beside him.
“It’s so confusing. I don’t know what to think about any of this.”
“For now just accept it. Keep your eyes and ears open. We need to find out if anything is behind it. Trilisks, Vovokans... anything. Telisa wants us to learn first, then we’ll act.”
Siobhan nodded her head. “Do you go alone?”
“Yes. But I won’t be gone long.”
Caden watched her carefully. She seemed to accept his decision to go. She did not seem angry that the invitation was for him alone. He went to the window and took a look from his vantage point at the corner of a high building. Down below, he saw a familiar looking sphere patrolling the area.
Caden brought up a link connection. “Shiny? Why are there Vovokan battle spheres outside my apartment?”
“Terran homeworld crowds are unsafe, unpredictable, volatile. Many wish your mate, partner, girlfriend to come to harm.”
“You’re selling to me that this battle sphere, a war machine, is here to protect Siobhan?”
“Correct, affirmative, verified.”
Caden turned to Siobhan.
“Good news is you’ll be safe. Shiny has some slickblack security around here.”
“What? For me?”
“He’s keeping the peace, or whatever. I’m so sorry this has happened. Of course I never wanted to be branded a traitor, but this is over the top the other direction.”
“I like it.”
Now it was Caden’s turn to be surprised. “You do?”
Siobhan embraced him. She held his face and looked down on him. “All those girls want you, but you’re mine. That makes me the girl they want to be for once. I’m on the top of the heap. A long way from a corporate slave, wouldn’t you say?”
“Looks like you’re way on top from down here,” he said, referring to her height. Caden was tall; Siobhan was taller. Imanol sometimes called them The Two Towers when he was in one of his kinder moods.
“Maybe Shiny could turn Earth’s gravity down just a bit for me.”
“We won’t stay here long,” Caden said trivially. He sidestepped behind Siobhan, rubbed her shoulders, then headed for the door.
“I’ll tell you what happens.”
Siobhan nodded and waved. Caden walked out of the apartment and scanned the area for threats.
Here I am on the oldest home to Terrans, still looking around for danger like it’s some nasty frontier planet. Terrans remain one of the greatest threats to Terrans.
Caden walked down the balcony that ran across the front of the building to a section of the platform that would take him down. The open elevator went down two floors, then stopped to pick up an attractive young woman.
Oh no.
She walked straight up to Caden.
“Mr. Lonrack... may I call you Caden? My name is Jenny. May I have a short interview?” she asked. At the same time, Caden’s link got a request to accept payment of 10,000 ESC from her agency. He looked her up. She appeared to be a legitimate public information source, followed by...
a billion Terrans in the Core Worlds.
Well, I do have a few expenses... and there are my parents.
He accepted the payment.
“Yeah, Caden is fine,” he said.
“Caden! It’s so wonderful to see you back on Earth! I speak for us all when I say, welcome back!”
Right. Speaking for a billion Core Worlders.
“Thanks Jenny.”
“We’re very curious, who do you work for now?” she asked.
“I work for Shiny on the PIT team.” It felt strange to say that, knowing so many would hear his words. He felt like he had revealed a dark secret.
“Shiny? You call him that? You’re on a first name basis with him?”
Caden shrugged. “Kind of. Our cultures are different, so I don’t think it holds the meaning that you might assume it does. When we found him he wasn’t an ambassador. He was just an alien we met in a Trilisk trap.”
Jenny’s jaw dropped. “Just an alien? A live alien! That you worked with to escape a Trilisk death trap! The adventures you must have had on the frontier, to say that so flippantly.”
“I only meant he wasn’t a formal ambassador as far as I knew. And it wasn’t a death trap. It was probably a hotel for aliens, or a zoo, or a prison...”
The section of platform reached ground level, so Caden walked forward to find his cab. Jenny followed him. Caden was happy to see that there were not any other fans around. He wondered if Jenny had kept it secret so she could get her own private chat.
“Are you loyal to the UED?” she asked.
The question caught Caden off guard. “I’ve never been in the UED!”
“There were rumors of your connection to the UED before Ambassador Shiny brought his fleet in to oust the Trilisks,” Jenny said.
I’ve met UED personnel on the frontier... no, don’t say that.
“I’ve never thrown in with the UED. I’ve remained loyal to Earth. To the Terrans of Earth, that is, not the Trilisks who ruled here.”
Jenny smiled widely. Caden walked up to his cab, a small blue electric cart that could only hold two people. He did not invite her aboard.
“Everyone wants to know what you’ve been up to out on the frontier.”
The Celaran Probe (Parker Interstellar Travels Book 7) Page 7