“We still need to consider and decide how much we should edit and augment the material so we don’t overstep and lose the audience since it becomes too predictable. They’re not smart but they do lose interest fast when it’s the same thing over and over even if the particulars change. The guys at D.E.C. warned the rest of us by having their show go from the top of the lists to cancelled because they only changed the appearance of the fighters’ heads and the background scenery on screen and ran the same group of encounters over and over. Their techs could give them four thousand different heads and faces and go a good job of making them look right in every shot but the audience soon realized they knew the moves in advance and after the initial extra satisfaction with that, they soon lost interest in it. We don’t want to follow the D.E.C. path to has-beens hardly even remembered.”
“Okay. We make sure we get the raw feeds but there’s still a lot for us to decide about. But mitzelfinkeldork, we’re deciders, that’s what we do.”
“With luck we’ll amass a big supply of raw material that we can have the techs shape to fit most any story a sponsor wants to pay to play inside the audiences’ heads with,” Delmus said.
“That’s the kind of prospect that makes it worth coming to the office every day.”
Chapter 21
The Palace of Power Plays was a small but fancy place in the very center of Ormelex City. It was identified only by a small, simple sign to make the point that when you have the big clout you don’t always have to flaunt it.
The Power Players executive office was a large and colorful space without frills. Large view-screens occupied much of one long wall with a large desk and control console facing them. Various colorful patterns were on different screen segments, pretty but not containing information. Gopgop, a rotund male with an almost cubical head, and Uldene, a male with his head spikes forming a Mohawk crest, lolled in nice chairs.
“Did the special guy check this place for signal leaks today?” Gopgop asked quietly. “I can't talk openly if I'm worried about my words getting to the wrong ears.”
“He did and as usual I watched him do it,” Uldene replied. “He hates that I look over his shoulder to watch the meter readings but that's the only way I can be sure he's telling me the true factuals.”
“He lets it show that we pay him well. Wears good clothes and does a lot of basking in the better spas. We'd be dumb to trust such an important job to some resentful low paid lackey but one of these days the obvious wealth of a guy with only an officially midlevel job is gonna raise bothersome questions among those we’d rather have ignore us.”
“We got yet another memo from the governors. They want an update but what's to report? They get direct reports from Amuse and Distract U so what are we supposed to add to those?”
“They don't trust A.D.U. any more than we do. Plus they assume, but we won't confirm, that we get behind the scenes reports from spies who work in the A.D.U. offices.”
Uldene laughed, “I'm absolutely shocked that they'd think that.”
“The governors come to us for help. They want to explore the galaxy but can't find willing explorers likely to survive that process. We humbly suggest they exploit the highly competitive types by making it a contest - but one supposedly about something other than checking out planets we might want to take over.”
“Of course we only suggest that in return for a sizable payment since that's what go-betweens and fixers like us do to make things work.”
“Of course. Then we take the idea to A.D.U. who in turn create an entertainment based on the idea - for which they then pay us. We make sure the show's challenges require enough interaction with the foreign species to evaluate whether that planet is properly suitable for the governors’ purposes, including that the dominant species can be easily subjugated. The contestants may not survive or at least not get home but they don’t know that since they're jocks, not technical types. Win for us; win for the governors; win for A.D.U.; too bad about the contestants. Our life is good,” Gopgop sighed.
“Making sure each contestant and zerpy sent there contains a self-destruct packet was another of our critical inputs. The governors don't want any risk of our technology or body-working processes being closely examined by the planet's creatures who might then be able to better defend themselves from us.”
“The A.D.U. bosses are so happy to be able to use the governors' experimental space travel ship to make this show that they don't realize there's an agenda beyond keeping the populace sedated with violent entertainments. They pay us to use them for our purposes. Power playing is so much fun.”
“The research guy thinks he has identified two other far away planets where we might survive and the dominant kind might be easily conquered. Those could be the next locations for challenge shows.”
“Are you ready to see what they’ve produced so far?”
“Sure. It’s important for us to see it so we’re ready to react to questions and to pressure them to fix how and what they prepare so it fits our agenda,” Uldene said.
The two sat back and watched the view-screen.
The A.D.U logo appeared, then it was replaced by the smiling, eager Hostess, who said with the Ormelexian version of a sexy giggle, “Hi, and welcome to the first broadcast of the Amuse and Distract U Company’s newest big audience hit, The Far-Out Show. I hope you're all set to experience the thrill a millisecond excitement of an entertainment like nothing that has ever been done before in the known universe.”
With no change of her expression, she switched to speaking very fast as she said, “This statement is to be understood as accurate for the normal experience of any living members of our kind and of any other kind on our planet or other planets that our official science board lists as known. No warranty is given that such a thing may not have happened that the A.D.U. Company's researchers have not been able to discover.”
She then returned smoothly to her normal pace to say, “Our show's brave contestants traveled to a far out planet to attempt a series of daring, exciting, and thrilling challenges making contact with locals.”
Then the rapid pace again. “The following show has been edited, altered, and augmented by A.D.U. to produce a better audience effect.”
That all said she smiled, winked, and waved at the camera.
The screen image changed to Wilburps's view of Nerber as he spoke to Jake Billings on first meeting him. “How are you this fine day, sir?” Nerber asked the man.
“I do not like sissies with their heads full of holes so stuff falls out,” Billings grumbled.
“Your gibberish strains my translation program. Can you be for real? Maybe you need to take your medications so you do not too easily pick a fight.”
“What is your problem, Prissy?” Billings demanded straining to see who was talking to him.
“You seem to mean to insult me but since this is only our first encounter I will give you a break and not tear you into many pieces as I could easily do, being of a clearly superior kind.”
“Darned good thing for me since I am not worth ten cents. I know I should fear and respect you, yet I am tempted to test your skills and strength. I was gonna pick a fight the way my kind attack one another every day but I cannot remember what to do because we are really stupid.”
“I will tolerate you since you are all talk-talk but little action.”
Billings gave Nerber an uncertain look but then shook his head and tapped a finger on his left ear hearing aid saying, “Which is worse, to hear or not to hear so you make adjustments in things and still do not make sense when face to face with a superior kind?”
Billings took out his wallet and looked in it.
“You make big aggressive noises but your limits hold you back. You amaze me but not in a good way,” Nerber said calmly.
“Me neither. I am a sad mess.”
“It was a little bit amusing to meet you but not a real pleasure.”
“I was thinking about using my teeth on you but then I said t
hat was not a good idea since you would be tough.” Billing took a pair of eye glasses in a case from his pocket and switched those for the ones he had been wearing. He laughed as he looked around in the new glasses. “Okay! This is better. I will never know why I did not cower in fear of someone of such a superior kind right away but there is no benefit to me thinking more about that.” With that he wandered away.
The image cut back to the smiling Hostess. “Wow, wasn't that exciting? Right away the brave contestant is being threatened by the inferior inhabitants of that far away planet. Tune in again soon for the next-most episode of this thrilling new program like nothing ever seen anywhere before.”
She switched smoothly to her rapid mode to say, “All such statements are factual to the best knowledge of the A.D.U. researchers as of the date of its preparation for airing.”
Then back to her normal pace and an extra big smile to finish with, “See you soon for the next-most airing of the new A.D.U. hit The Far-Out Show.”
“It avoids most of the complaints and the annoying doubts since everyone knows this all had to be translated,” Uldene said.
“Right,” Gopgop agreed. “Then no one cares that their mouths aren’t making the sounds being aired. That means what’s said can be twisted to suit the situation. Start out with some sloppiness and you have less trouble faking it later.”
“This next is what they proposed to air but I said no for now. They can go this way later if that seems best but I’m worried that they could ruin things by going too fake too soon.” He tapped a button on the control panel and two Ormelexian fighters, their heads crudely digitally altered to look somewhat like the dog and Billings, appeared on the screen. Each eyed the other with distrust.
The dog-substitute lifted its leg at the man-substitute but before it could do more, that other kicked at it while growling out a typical Ormelexian fighter’s challenge.
In response the dog-substitute suddenly grew to the size of a tiger and attacked the other. It was pretty clear that the dog’s head and coloration were now crudely superimposed over old footage of a local kind from Ormelex that had been used as fighters for a time in the past.
Exactly like way too many such encounter aired over the years, the individuals on screen fought with the same moves and the same audio of growls, Ormelexian taunts and curses, and shouted voice-over commentary intended to make it sound like what was going on was a lot more exciting than it was. A crawler note at the bottom of the screen apologized for the poor video quality which it blamed on distortion due to the transmission through a snaggiewarp.
“At least they’re training the audience to accept poor quality faked crap from the start,” Gopgop said.
On screen an armored robot-like thing appeared out of nowhere and separated the combatants with a gesture. Those two backed off but continued to glower at one another as well as the poor quality graphics would allow. The voice over said that the two seemed like they would harbor grudges so this might not be over and the audience should watch for notices about rematches.
“It’s all standard. What don’t you like about it?” Gopgop asked.
“That it’s being offered as new and different. From our point of view as a potentially profitable new kind of show it’s supposed to offer more that the same old stuff in even crappier form than when it was originally aired. On average the audience is fickle and dumb, but enough of them recognize when what’s offered is at least a rough approximation of what was promised that they can turn away in big numbers real fast when the hype is too far from the reality. The history of the industry is littered with examples of companies that didn’t learn that lesson. Off-planet challenge shows could be big-big but junk like this right at the start won’t let us see how big-big.”
“What do you recommend?”
“I’m okay with what they did air, it’s this filler stuff I don’t want them to include until it’s clear the show and the whole genre are going downhill fast.”
“Okay, I agree. We’ll send them that message right away.”
“It’s taken care of,” Uldene said.
“Before you consulted with me about it?”
“I told them earlier that the restriction on what they could air and still have our support would be in place until I told them otherwise. I didn’t send any other message so they know where we stand on this.”
Gopgop considered pursuing this matter to make it clear he wouldn’t tolerate being shut out of important decisions.
Uldene continued, “The Fidgewidge Group are splitting up. They couldn’t agree on which projects to back so they missed the chance to buy in early when there would have been the highest profits. They won’t be competing with us after all.”
“Which means we have no additional rivals for now.”
“Unless the latest shows we’re backing don’t take off big and soon. We’re fixers and innovators so we fill an essential role in society even if there are those who don’t like that things work that way. Oh, and we know whose pockets to fill to stay on top. That’s part of the equation too,” Uldene noted.
A synthesized bell clanged to get their attention before another section of the view-screen came on showing a female standing outside the door to this room.
“Who’s she?” Gopgop asked.
Uldene topped a button and asked, “Who are you? What do you want? And how did you get past building security without being cleared and announced?”
“I am Parbam. With an important message from the governors. I am also impatient about being kept waiting.”
“This could be trouble,” Uldene said. “She must be official and high-placed if our security guys let her in on demand without going through the routine screening procedures.”
Gopgop tapped in code on his control panel keyboard, then nodded he was ready for the visitor. “Just to be on the safe side I’ve turned on the hidden zerpy in the wall to record every word and twitch of her sort-of-cute nose.”
Uldene tapped a button and the door opened.
Parbam, a middle-aged female with split ends on her head spikes and a purple tint to her feet, entered and strode to where the men sat. She carried what looked like an attaché case except that it didn’t open. Without looking around she asked, “Do you have any zerpies recording us? Be sure of your answer.”
Uldene stared at her, trying to read her body language. What he saw was confidence that she was authorized and able to do what she was doing.
Gopgop barely suppressed a smirk as he said, “No recording of this meeting - at your command. Zerpies be gone.”
She didn’t even glance at him as she touched several spots on her case in sequence as she said, “Only the one I’ll make. For the official records. Are you certain you don’t have a active zerpy here? In your pocket for instance?”
Gopgop was starting to enjoy this. “Not a one.”
Parbam touched a spot on her bag and there was an explosion within the side wall that blew a hole right through into the room. That brought the two males to their feet in a hurry.
Parbam shrugged as she said, “Your mistake. How fortunate for you that the zerpy that seems to have hidden itself here in your work space without you knowing it wasn’t closer to you. Like in your pocket. I’m here as a representative of the governors who will be concerned to hear about this failure of security in your headquarters.”
“How did you do that?” Uldene demanded.
“Some technologies are restricted to keep the governors a step ahead. When we say ‘no unauthorized recording’ we mean we’ll prevent that, not just that we ask you not to try it.”
Gopgop stared at two zerpies hovering in plain view but facing away at the moment.
“Sproingy can be highly selective. In this case I only care about active zerpies set to record. And not mine, of course.”
Uldene was so interested in this point that he forgot to hide that fact. “This technology is called Sproingy? What all can it do?”
“That’s only my pet name for
it,” Parbam said. “You won’t learn anything useful researching the term as a technology system, a maker, or an activation code. But I’m sure you’ll waste time doing that anyway. I went to some trouble to meet with you today without anyone else knowing about it because the message is important but it’s essential to keep it off the chatter and rumor lines.”
“No, no. Tell us about this fascinating technology before you go off on other things,” Uldene persisted.
Her response was her withering stare combined with a sneer of contempt for his lack of self-control and subtlety. She said, “Make certain you keep the planetary exploration and untested space exploration ship aspects of the new challenge show a secret or pay a heavy price. The governors are worried that you two or one of your hirelings will brag about the wrong things. You may say too much and therefore need to be publicly shown to be in error. To be very clear, you two are personally responsible for any leak from anyone in your company. To consider the consequences of failure, think back on what was done to others who over the years were publicly shown to be in error.”
“Some of those individuals didn’t survive the punishment.”
“More didn’t than is generally known, Gopgop. Be prudent and take this warning very seriously.”
“Okay, warning duly noted,” Uldene said. “We appreciate the reminder from the ever busy and so important governors. Before you go, can I get a closer look at your device? Is that it or is it inside a shell either for protection or to disguise it? That’d be an interesting way to carry it around.”
“No, you may not have a closer look and I strongly recommend you don’t have any zerpy in this building try to probe Sproingy. You won’t learn anything more useful than that such a probe won’t work but will put you on the list for punishment for doing something prohibited.”
Uldene turned to his keyboard and typed as fast as his fingers would go. He said, “Let me open the door for you but first I’ll check that there’s no one who might see you leaving who’d wonder who you are or why you’re here.”
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