by V Guy
None of the management at the Palm facility on Tania had voiced the possibility or suggested financial compensation. “What makes you believe this would be a problem?”
“Have you seen the absence and work injury reports, Master?”
That data resided in assessments Hess paid others to read, but he would avoid the “somebody else’s job” excuse. “Why do you know about Mountain Pass?”
She sensed his irritation through the diversion. “I saw a similarity between its dispute precursors and the current data from Rhinehold’s primary facility. I think that the latter is heading toward a similar work disruption.”
His eyebrows furrowed, his eyes widened, he jumped from his seat, and he moved to a terminal. “Show me!”
Selena contritely moved to obey. After a period of searching, she presented the information. “If you resolve the Mountain Pass dispute before you address Benton on Rhinehold, Benton will probably respond poorly.”
“Imperium has a higher cost of living than Rhinehold. They need the money more.”
“Certainly, but something needs to be done. You’re losing good people to other worlds, it affects productivity and profits, and management is burdened with the least motivated people to supervise. Benton needs to be a more attractive option.”
He ruled his temper with difficulty. “What you’re suggesting is expensive. The point of running a business is to make money.”
“Master, it will cost considerably more in the long run if their troubles mature into those of Mountain Pass.”
Hess sat back in his chair, pondering the business issues and his perceptive Creative slave. The situations raised were well beyond the advice his paid employees offered. “Your suggestion to speak with Dartrex has produced productive discussions, and an arrangement may be sealed within a few weeks, but don’t concern yourself with Benton or Rhinehold again.”
He remained pensive. “I gave you plenty of other things to read. Why did you continue to read company reports?”
“They’re like puzzles. Far more interesting and involved.”
“Could you examine all the reports and list your observations?” he asked.
She nodded eagerly. “Yes, Master.”
He deliberated, tapping his stylus against the side of the terminal. “You are aware of the creature called Malik?”
“Yes, Master.”
Hess’s indecision continued. “Malik is trying to kill me.”
She paused, furrowing her brow. “Yes, Master.”
“Your warning concerning Melody San did not pertain to her, but to the creature, and somehow it tracked us to a space station in an entirely different system.”
“Somehow?”
“Somehow, like the magic it used to survive nuclear explosions, drift through space undamaged, and catch an improbable ride on a tiny ship.”
Selena immediately understood. “Those weren’t magic.”
He shook his head. “Neither was San’s return. The creature found us two more times after that, and only your warnings preserved me.”
She paused. “Master, who was San? How was she and Malik connected? Why should the creature care about you?”
Hess stiffened. “She was a businesswoman who worked for me. She tried to kill it.”
“The creature held you responsible.”
He nodded.
“Why would her arrival trigger the creature’s actions? They needed to have been affiliated. Would she have worked for it, too?”
He debated his response. “She had a contract with me and broke it. Malik was responsible.”
Selena was confused. “Was there an event that demonstrated this involvement?”
“It’s a long story. Suffice it to say, it involved more of the creature’s magic.”
“Magic doesn’t exist.”
“Precisely.”
She considered his succinct response. “You believe it’s related to the Bedele event.”
Hess watched her intently, wrestling with his next words. “The creature once knew you.”
The owners of Bedele Creative slaves were firmly warned against revealing pasts to their slave women. Selena reacted as expected, freezing in disbelief, because as far as she was concerned, her existence began upon meeting Baron Hess. This new, utterly incredible piece of information left her mind spinning, and when she accepted the mystery, she sought to draw it into their present conjecture. She stood and paced. “Was this more magic or an actual, established link?”
“More magic,” replied Hess, frowning. “But the conjecture is solid. The creature discovered you when it came after me. Now it seeks you. It knows you came from Bedele, gleaned information about you from their files, and its foreseen actions led to our switching ships.”
“We switched ships because of my warning.”
“Your warning came because the creature would have killed me to reach you.”
She pondered the conclusion then nodded her head in understanding. “If all it wanted was information, why destroy the facility? If it could move smoothly and secretly during those other occasions, why should it announce its presence at Bedele?”
The query surprised Hess, and his deduction left him equally astounded. Because it intends to free you, he thought. “Some of its motivations remain unclear.”
Selena furrowed her brows. “Why did you tell me this?”
“You’ve saved my life many times, and our lives are inextricably linked. If anyone were to hurt or take you from me, my very existence could be affected.”
The words made an immediate impact; his existence was her greatest concern. “I understand, Master,” she said in a trembling voice.
“You may examine the ship’s exercise facilities,” he said, turning to his station. “I’ll ensure a terminal is made available. Dismissed.”
She departed. Hess summoned his aide.
When the man arrived, Hess turned to face him. “How many people were involved with her acquisition, conversion, and delivery?”
Grant raised an eyebrow. “We contacted the Bedele rook through the conclave, and the rook made the arrangements with Creative. Two of our men escorted her to Bedele to complete the exchange.”
“The Bedele rook is dead,” mused Hess. “Who were the men you sent?”
“Isaacs and Grainger, if I recall correctly, but it’s been a while. I could check.”
A hard look formed on the Hess’s face. “They need to disappear from my service, fatally if necessary. What about the woman who delivered the Oracle? Did she die at Creative?”
Grant paused. “I’ve no idea.”
“What about the ship that took our people?”
The man shifted uncomfortably. “Grand Marshal’s logs were sanitized. All records of their journey were purged.”
“That ship and crew need to be eliminated. What about the vessel that delivered the oracle? Did we get a registration to track?”
Grant furrowed his brow. “Sir? Has the young woman experienced another warning? We’ve barely moved in.”
“We need to be proactive,” replied Hess, setting his jaw. “Find that woman and that ship. When you do, make certain all traces of them disappear.”
20: Solutions
Day 707: Evaline, Pathfinder
Another week meant another wearied Friday evening return for Malik. Joseph and Chuck had offered him a ride back, releasing him into an unseasonable late snow, deemed “Winter’s last gasp.” As gasps went, it was deep.
He took a deep breath of his own, peering at the flurrying snow and fondly remembering Drelas and Lallis at play. He paused, glanced at Pathfinder’s forward hatch, then climbed the ramp. Jenna met him inside with expectant eyes.
“Snow?” she asked, marveling at the view.
Her emotion triggered a reminiscence. “I’d let everyone play outside if it were possible. It can snow in the simulator.”
Her generous lips shaped to a crooked smile, and her shoulders drooped with her fatigue. “Wouldn’t be the same. Everyone m
ade their appointments, your food is ready, and your evening sessions are confirmed.”
“Thank you. Interface?”
She nodded eagerly and placed the unit on her head. Malik gave her a smile of reassurance then let his touch impact her points of tension. Her body melted with relief, and no sign of her weariness remained when her eyes opened. She smiled shyly and brushed chestnut hair from her eyes. “Thanks. I’ll tell the others you’re back.”
Bomani was the first of the infirmary workers to meet him and submit to his restoring touch. “Seventy-three work-hours,” he said, grimacing. “In another two hours we’ll be done for today. Implant removal for one of the women will be complete tomorrow, and we can drop another hour.”
Malik removed the interface from the commando’s head. “You’re adjusting well. By the time we’re done, you won’t need assistance.”
“Are we like Kroes’s commandos?” he asked. “Are we still that easy to read?”
“No. The differentiation program caused your mind to cannibalize and restructure most of the existing programming’s structure and content. Thanks to the additional training, your mind is more robust than most.”
A different kind of relief crossed Bomani’s face. “I’ll get the next candidate.”
Malik was consuming a second meal when Helen arrived.
“Are we going somewhere?” she asked, placing the interface on her head.
“We will, if I can defeat the snowfall and get us clear.” He paused eating to evaluate her. “Everyone is better handling the stress.”
“Shorter sessions, fewer hours,” she said, closing her eyes. “Where are we going?”
“Bedele.”
“You could have just arranged hotel rooms. Saved us the trips.”
He cut his eyes. “Then you’d vacation while everyone worked.”
She grinned. “Sounds acceptable.”
“I’m sure it does,” he said, chuckling. “Things will get easier.”
Helen straightened after he was finished and removed the interface. “This helps. I’ll send another commando.”
Arturo asked him about the targets, Borislav inquired about timing, Makaha made queries concerning hovercraft operations, and Li closed the discovery sessions with logistics questions. Evelyn arrived with an almost full knowledge of the night’s goals and plopped down in the seat. “What are we looking for?”
“Ingredients for four products that are located at three different facilities. The companies are notorious for using code names.” He looked at her and winked. “I think they’re concerned about theft.”
She grinned, watching five of the initiates enter the simulator. “They should be. These intense days in the medical bay need to be over, and I would gladly steal a cure to shorten them.”
Malik smiled, handing her the interface. “Even on the current schedule, we’re making progress. I expect the schedule to change soon.”
“Excellent. What about the snow problem?”
“Projections.” His voice dropped as he concentrated. “We’ve been showing people lies every weekend—why not display another? The temperatures should rise before we return, but if not, we can create the illusion of as much snow as necessary.”
Evelyn closed her eyes and relaxed as she felt her aches systematically eased. “You’ve got more planned than Bedele.”
“I have a lead on Selena.”
She nodded approvingly, remaining still until Malik completed his touch. She rose, removed the interface, and stretched. “That never gets old. The next lead?”
“The Fleet archives at Rhinehold.” He stood and disposed of the meals’ remnants. “There should be a complete record of ship movements through the Fifth Fleet’s operational areas.”
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. “That sounds secure.”
“It’s an archive. The data should be relatively easy to find, access, and copy.”
She was about to add a comment when Jenna arrived with his next session. Malik smiled upon seeing the playful, eager woman. “We can’t have fun until the work is done. I’ll be free after midnight.”
Evelyn watched them leave in conversation, two other women greeting them as they lay above. She looked at Jenna. “Aren’t you on the docket tonight?”
The woman shook her head. “We get weekday midnights and are given exercises for the other times.” She tucked her wavy hair behind her ears and sighed. “He makes me glad to be tired. Does that seem strange?”
Evelyn laughed and pondered the observation. “It’s like looking forward to a hot shower and a comfortable bed after a long day.”
“But we must still awaken.” Jenna looked down the passage. “He’s very different from our house managers. What a different world this is.”
“Do you mind it?”
She paused, making a crooked smile. “I like it, but I’ll like it considerably better when the schedule isn’t insane. What was it like before our arrival?”
“The schedules were mostly insane.” Evelyn made a whimsical smile. “It’s the insanity that makes the experience unforgettable.”
“Then I’ll remember this forever.” Jenna summoned one of her reserved meals from the cooler. It arrived cold, but after a trip to the warmer, delicious aromas abounded. Evelyn’s appetite was triggered, and she moved to retrieve one.
“Nothing like working for a guy who can cook,” said Jenna, sitting and blowing on the food to ease the heat. The women generally took their food to their small dorm; it was their refuge.
“Most of these were created by Chuck and Joseph. Carmella and Dyllis contributed a few recipes, and James added a few others. I can’t cook to save my life.”
“Where are they?”
Evelyn retrieved her meal and placed it in the warmer. “The first two are the cops who occasionally transport Malik to and from questioning. Carmella is with her husband on Mao. Dyllis lives on Gemini with Frank.”
Jenna savored her seafood pasta, letting the food linger on her tongue between bites. “Do you suppose those guys could deliver some new dishes? Their food is excellent, and I’m running out of recipes to try.”
Evelyn smiled to herself; she had done the same thing. She sat across from the woman after her food arrived. “What was the institute like?”
“Not much different than here. I made sure women and girls were where they were supposed to be at the times they were supposed to be there. For myself, I was given lessons and tasks to complete.”
“Lessons and tasks?”
“We didn’t know where we might be sent and what needed to be prepared. I had hoped to be a nanny, but going to the slaver facility meant that watching children was likely impossible.”
“You could be one now.”
Jenna shrugged. “Maybe. Who is Selena and why is Malik looking for her?”
“You might say he was her nanny. She grew up and became his best friend. Two years ago, she was sent to Creative; now she belongs to someone else. He wants to rescue her.”
“To be his best friend,” said the woman, her voice dropping. “What would that be like?”
“He’d do anything for you.”
Jenna’s expression turned thoughtful. She contemplated her meal at length, eating it in silence. Finally, she stood and gathered the remnants. “If he would do all he has for us, what would he do for her?”
Evelyn considered the question without answering.
The woman moved set her dishes and trash into their places. “Ileana will be covering the remainder of the night. I should shower and rest.”
Evelyn left soon after, sleeping fitfully and awakening twice before giving up. She approached Malik’s quarters shortly before midnight, pacing until his final appointment departed. An initiate offered a strained smile as she passed, but a fresh strength was evident on her visage. Evelyn watched her return to the dormitory before entering Malik’s quarters.
She observed the solitary chair, sleeping mat, and his fatigued expression. “You look terrible.”
“No one revives me.” He popped his joints and stretched. “It’s time for us to give the others feats different than medical miracles.”
“I didn’t realize these sessions were difficult.”
He shrugged. “It’s the tenacity of the schedule. These interactions are rewarding.”
Evelyn sat in the patient chair. “I saw your previous patient leave. Even through the pain and probably because of it, she’s satisfied. You’re creating masochists in your image.”
Malik smirked. “I wanted them to be strong; I may have made monsters.”
“Like I said, in your image. What are you doing with them?”
“Their slave conditioning covers their mind like a vast ocean, and the only way to know what resides beneath is to remove that volume in layers. Every removal brings them singular pain. Bedele Creative conditioning is anchored in that agony, and I feel it. I must salve the pain, make sense of the accompanying distress, then preserve the memory of its cause, because their freedom depends upon keeping that recollection. In the end, I must help them deal with the trauma, because it’s the only way they’ll survive.
“After that comes the strengthening exercises. Every one of the newest women has their own weaknesses, and specialized methods for circumventing those weaknesses must be used. I wrestle with them a half-hour apiece, carefully exposing them to only what they can manage. Finally, there are my training exercises with the jumpers; I thought I was a tough teacher. All of these happen after spending twelve hours under law-enforcement interrogation.”
Her expression softened. “Will your life get any easier with a medical shortcut?”
He shook his head as he entered the passage. “That blessing will be for you. Helen and Arturo are ready to leave; we should see them off.”
The Rumbler was ready and waiting in the entry passage, and the two travelers were completing the final departure checklist when Malik and Evelyn arrived.
“Should be easy,” said Arturo, doing a final check of his gear. “The facility has just entered the night side.”
Malik observed their preparations. “Be careful.”
Helen laughed as she centered her pack. “Are you serious? We have this. We were designed for this.”