Tales of the Symbiont Safety Patrol (SYMBIOSIS)

by Samuel King

"They say it will be six months to a year before it's safe for us to be together in public. By then my case will be cold, and no one will care."

  "Six months to a year?"

  "Yes, and I'll be someone else then. They're going to create a new identify for me—new friends, everything."

  Cassie slumped back into her chair, barely suppressing a sob. "Still, it was worth it, wasn't it, Rebecca?"

  "Oh, God, yes. You saved my life, Cassie."

  "I did?"

  Rebecca's sunken eyes filled with tears. "He was even worse then we thought. He was so mean, and he hurt me, Cassie. He hurt me bad."

  ****

  Rebecca's deplorable condition infuriated Cassie, who felt she had let her friend down. Incensed at the two weeks it took to reach Joel, she fantasized about what might have been, had the two weeks been two days instead. Out of her frustration grew a plan, and she called an emergency meeting of the steering committee. The other members complained, but they were duty bound to attend.

  *

  "So, now will you tell us what this emergency is all about?" Peter groused, plopping into his customary chair.

  "I told you already, a picture is worth a thousand words, and I want you all to see Rebecca," Cassie answered.

  "We're well aware that you secured her release," Joanne said. "And while we may disapprove of your methods, we're all happy—very happy—that she is free. It's not really necessary for us to see her."

  "Yes it is," Cassie insisted. "You know her. You've seen and talked to her on several occasions. I want you to see her now."

  "Doesn't make sense," Peter grumbled.

  She started to respond but was interrupted by the holo system. "Remote link established… Transport in progress." Several seconds later, the professor stood before them."

  "Hello, all," he said, cheerfully. "So what's the big emergency?"

  "Rebecca," Peter spat.

  "Ah, yes. I'd heard that she escaped. Shame on you, Cassandra." He smiled mischievously and in an exaggerated whisper said, "Good for you."

  Her mouth falling open in surprise, Cassie exclaimed, "What?"

  "Surprised?" the professor asked. "It is different when you know the people involved, isn't it? Despite my best efforts, I couldn't help but be overjoyed when I learned you'd been successful."

  Joanne appeared dazed, obviously shocked by the professor's reaction. "Well, we're all here now," she said. "Shouldn't we tell them to send her?"

  "No need," Cassie said. "They're connected to this system and can see and hear everything that's going on."

  As if searching for concealed eavesdroppers, Peter scanned the room. "Well, that's damned uncomfortable."

  "Relax, Peter," Cassie said, chuckling. "They couldn't care less about our little steering committee. They're only concern is Rebecca's safety."

  "Remote link established," the system announced. "Transport in progress."

  "Here she comes," the professor said. He sat back in his chair, crossed his legs and fixed a pleasant smile on his face."

  The room fell silent, the only sound, the holo system's persistent hum, as Rebecca "materialized" before them. Without makeup or adornments of any kind, she looked exactly as she had two days earlier, at her reunion with Cassie, who had insisted on it. Joanne gasped. Peter fell back into his chair and closed his eyes. The professor said, "Oh, dear."

  Cassie took stock of her audience's reaction before greeting her friend. "Hi, Rebecca. I'm glad you came."

  After a pathetic attempt at a smile, Rebecca took three tentative steps across the room and embraced her friend—successfully. The two women hugged one another, crying, before Cassie pulled away and said, "Look, I brought some old friends. You remember Joanne and Peter… And John.

  She waited with no small amount of guilt, as Rebecca acknowledged the other members of the committee. She hadn't told her of the true purpose of the meeting; had she done so, the plan surely wouldn't have worked. But as Rebecca, once the life of the party, struggled to converse with them, their stunned looks told her it had.

  *

  Her colleagues tried unsuccessfully to engage Rebecca in a number of discussions for nearly half an hour—a painful time for Cassie. Her friend's once razor sharp mind was hopelessly muddled and confused, and though amongst friends she trembled occasionally, her eyes fearful. When she could bear no more, Cassie put an end to her friend's misery, promising to see her later that evening. Rebecca thanked them all for inviting her, hugged Cassie again and prepared for transport. Standing in the center of the room, she put on a brave face and attempted to smile. Cassie turned away, lest she breakdown in front of her.

  Seconds later, after Rebecca's departure, she did, sobbing for the loss of a kindred spirit. Her fellow committee members gathered around, offering what comfort they could, but for several minutes, she would not be consoled. Forever planning, she'd suppressed her emotions after their first meeting, seeing in Rebecca's sorry state, an opportunity.

  She'd taken that opportunity, and given the apparent concern of her colleagues, her plan had worked. A picture was indeed worth a thousand words, and Rebecca's brief appearance had painted a vivid one. Unfortunately, it hurt her most of all.

  "Good lord," Peter said at last. "What did that man do to

  her?"

  "All she said was he was mean to her," Cassie answered. "I

  was afraid to ask anything else."

  "She was there for less than two weeks, wasn't she?" Joanne asked. Having succumbed to Cassie's infectious tears, she dabbed at her own eyes with a handkerchief.

  "Ten days. I wanted you all to see what he did to her in just ten days—how he killed her spirit. It's one thing to hear about cruelty to symbionts; it's another to see the results of it, first hand."

  Joanne sighed nervously. "Well, that's true, Cassandra. It certainly is a terrible thing to see, but—"

  "Well, maybe it helps to explain why people like the Phantom are taking direct action," Cassie said, impatiently. When no one responded, she added, "She got off easy, you know. The people who took her say her case is average—no big deal. They've seen worse, much worse."

  The professor coughed and rubbed his eyes. His lips quivered as he looked at each of them in turn. "I'm deeply ashamed," he said. "I've been content to join groups like ours and disparage others who, as you say, are taking direct action. The only thing that separates me from Rebecca is the luck of the draw. My owner saw fit to emancipate me before his death; hers didn't."

  Joanne and Peter exchanged worried glances. "You can't blame yourself, John," she said. "You're doing what you can, like the rest of us."

  The professor sniffled. "I'm not blaming myself for what I didn't do. I'm blaming myself for what I did, which was to obstruct those who were doing something. I stand guilty as charged, and I mean to make amends."

  Although Cassie saw that Joanne was clearly frightened by the professor's change of heart, she said, "That's easy to do, John. Every little bit helps. Like Joanne said, we're all doing what we can. I've already started."

  "Started what?" Joanne demanded.

  Cassie paused and gathered her courage. "I had to trade something to get Rebecca out so soon. They have a waiting list."

  "What did you trade, dear?" Joanne asked, her voice rising.

  "Bill Farnum, the cyberspace designer. He wanted to do more, and now he's getting his chance. He'll be meeting with the Phantom tomorrow."

  "Oh, no," Peter moaned.

  Joanne opened her mouth to speak but seemed unable to for several seconds. "How could you?" she cried, finally.

  "I had to, and I'm not sorry. There are others I intend to enlist, Jill for one."

  "Not the general's aide?" Joanne asked.

  Cassie nodded.

  The professor chuckled. "You've been a busy young woman, haven't you? I'm not sure how useful I'll be, but you can sign me up too, Cassandra."

  "They'll find a way to use you, John. I'm sure of it."

  "Wait just a minute, John. You
can't—"

  "My mind's made up, Peter. I can't in good conscience sit on the side-lines any longer. Be honest with yourself. You saw that poor girl. The Phantom probably saved her life—someone we knew, for God's sake—while we couldn't do a thing to help her. I don't ever want to be in that position again.

  "You and Joanne should consider it too," he added. "If they can use me, they'll surely be able to use the two of you, with all of your resources."

  "That flies in the face of everything we believe in," Joanne said.

  Cassie was quick to counter. "It doesn't have to. Like John said, with your resources you could have a powerful voice in the Phantom's activities."

  "We'd be totally out of our element," Peter said. "We've got no experience in dealing with that kind of person."

  "He's not what you think—not at all. He's quiet, reserved, almost gentle. You should meet him and see for yourself."

  "Out of the question!" Joanne said, glaring at her. "This has gone far enough. You're tearing this committee apart." She turned to Peter, as if looking for support, but he was staring at Cassie.

  "There's nothing to worry about," she told him. "He's a symbiont; we don't pose a threat to him. I don't even know if the face I saw was his real face."

  The professor placed a gentle hand on Peter's shoulder. "Why don't we all go? Let's hear what he has to say."

  Peter wavered for a moment, before mumbling, "Well, I suppose it can't hurt." He avoided Joanne's eyes.

  "Do you hear what you're saying, Peter?" she asked. "Cassandra has John feeling guilty, now they're working on you."

  "I'm not working on any one," the professor huffed. "I'm merely stating my point of view. Isn't that what we're here to do?"

  "About the organization's business, not conspiring with a dangerous criminal."

  "God, Joanne!" Peter exclaimed. "How can you still call him that, after what he did for Rebecca."

  "Occasionally, good can come of almost anything. That doesn't mean we should support everything."

  "That's clever, dear," Peter replied. "But it still doesn't answer my question. Cassie's phantom probably saved that girl's life. What can it hurt to talk to the man?"

  "Oh, nooo," Joanne said, shaking her head. "Now I'm losing you to this madness." She glared at Cassie. "This isn't right, Cassandra. We're social activists, not revolutionaries. What you've done here is…" She started to cry, her shoulders heaving up and down. "What's happening to us?"

  "Joanne, please," Peter said. He rose from his chair and embraced her. "It's only a meeting."

  "No, it's not, Peter. It's more than that, and she knows it." Pointing at Cassie, she said, "This is what she's wanted all along."

  "That's not true," Cassie insisted. "I didn't know anything about the Phantom before Rebecca got into trouble. Whatever I did, I did for her. Now, I just want to help."

  Joanne sniffled and glared at her. "This is about more than help, Cassandra. And you know it."

  ****

  "You've gone crazy, and now you want me to join you," Helen fumed.

  Joel reached for her hand and said, "It's just a meeting… just to talk to them; that's all."

  "That's all? First, you meet with some woman we don't know and we end up rescuing her friend out of turn. Then you meet some…"

  "Cyberspace designer," Cynthia offered.

  "Thank you… Some cyberspace designer and come up with fantastical plans to keep our fugitives in cyberspace. Now you want to meet with people who are the epitome of do nothingness and worse, you want me to go with you. Why, Joel?"

  "Because I see an opportunity here; that's why."

  "What opportunity? You're already getting the technical help you bargained for."

  "Access. What if we could go to these people in certain situations and make use of their connections?"

  "Before they helped us like that, they'd want to stick their noses into our business and we'll lose control."

  "I won't let that happen."

  "How would you stop it? These people are rich and powerful. If they ever got their fingers on our operation, they'd squeeze us out."

  "She's right, ya know," Doherty said.

  "I can't believe you people are afraid to even meet with them," Joel replied.

  "I'm not afraid," Helen snapped. "I just don't see this opportunity you keep talking about."

  "How can you miss it? It's right there in front of us. A chance to grow, a chance to help more people, and like Cynthia said, there are so many more who need our help."

  "We'll lose control, first," Helen repeated.

  "Uh-uh. I've got an ace in the hole."

  "Well, why don't you tell us about your ace, Joel," Doherty snorted. "We'd all love ta hear about it."

  "Cassandra."

  Helen threw her hands into the air. "The woman who started all of this?"

  "None other."

  Shaking her head in disgust, Helen said, "Now, I've heard everything."

  "She's a very clever lady, that one. She convinced those epitomes of do nothingness, as you call them, to talk to us by showing them what had happened to her friend. Very clever.

  "And her sympathies are with us. Whatever we decide to do, she'll be our eyes, ears and mouthpiece inside that steering committee of theirs. There's no limit to what she can do for us."

  Freeman pounded the table, laughing. "Damn, Joel, you are one slick son-of-a-bitch."

  Helen rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, knock it off, Bobby. You're always on his side. If he says jump, you ask how high."

  "Hey, I've been with this guy since I pulled his ass out of the Southside Mall. Why stop now?" Freeman winked at her, adding, "I also pulled your sweet ass out of the Northside Mall, as I recall."

  Helen replied with an obscene gesture, before looking at each of her colleagues around the table. Finally, she sighed and lowered her head. "This is a mistake."

  "Well, why don't we take a vote on it," Joel suggested.

  "For what? No one's going to change the way they voted last time. It's four to two; Jimmy and I in the minority."

  "The good-lookin' minority," Doherty quipped.

  Turning to Joel, Helen said, "Don't expect me to make nice."

  "Never crossed my mind, dear. Just don't be needlessly hostile, that's all." When Helen replied with another obscene gesture, Joel smiled and patted her free hand. "Well, now that you're onboard, why don't we go meet these eggheads?"

  ****

  Cassie and her three steering committee colleagues waited around the same table, in the same apartment that had been the site of her first meeting with Joel. No one had greeted the three humans when they arrived, masked or otherwise. They simply entered the apartment at the specified time, followed Cassie to the room at the end of the short hallway and took seats around the table.

  Matching that of her colleagues, Cassie maintained a passive demeanor, even as her legs bounced nervously beneath the table. ‘I wish there was more I could do.' That's what she had told the Phantom, and using Rebecca's plight to engineer a meeting between the two groups, she'd succeeded, but she wasn't finished. It's now or never.

  Within seconds, the holo control unit began to hum, and a moment later the Professor appeared. "Hello, all," He greeted them.

  "John!" Cassie cried, as if his presence was a surprise. Leaping from her seat, she rushed to his side, took his hand and led him back to the table. "Sit here, next to me."

  "Thank you, dear… Don't you look nice this evening."

  "Thank you," she said, smiling. Aware her passive façade was cracking, she took comfort in the professor's presence. He had become a powerful ally, and as they took their seats, Joanne looked on, glumly.

  For a tense minute, the four of them waited, until the holo control unit began to hum again. Within seconds, Joel and a blonde woman, each holding the other's hand, joined them. They all seemed to stare at one another for some time, before Cassie realized Peter and the professor were actually staring at the blonde. Nobody can be that beautiful.
She remembered Joel's protestation that he had all he could handle, and immediately hated her—only to feel foolish a moment later.

  Joel led the blonde to the table, smiling amicably and making eye contact with each member of the steering committee, before addressing them. "Good evening. I'm Joel, formerly a system demonstrator for General Holographic. This lovely young lady is Helen, who once had the same title."

  The blonde nodded, but said nothing, and as they took their seats, Cassie introduced herself and her three colleagues. Afterward, Joel prepared to address them, but she spoke first. "I know some of us don't want to be here, so I'd like to take a minute to explain why I think it's important." She paused, taking note of the puzzlement writ large on Joel's face and clasped her hands together to keep them from trembling. It's now or never.

  "I think we are more, much more than the sum of our parts," she continued. "More than the sum of our two organizations and more than the sum of us as individuals. All I wanted was to get my friend out of harm's way, and I was willing to say or do anything to make that happen." She paused again, noting the blonde was glaring at Joel. "I've already started to deliver on my promises," she hastened to add. "With more to follow.

  "But I don't see why we have to stop there. I don't see why we can't work together, pooling our talents and resources. I don't see why any symbiont has to endure what my friend did, even though we had a month's warning, simply because I didn't' know where to turn, and after I did, because there was no system in place to ask for help. We can do better."

  "Oh, dear," the professor said, chuckling.

  Joanne, clearly agitated and frightened, gasped—her eyes and mouth open in amazement. "My God, Cassandra, this isn't why we came," she said finally. "You told us we were here to talk to these people, not join them."

  The blonde sneered, shaking her head.

  Peter stood. "I feel like a fool. Perhaps tool is a more appropriate word. You know this isn't why we came."

  Obviously perplexed, Joel stroked his chin and folded his arms. "Maybe she's on to something. Why don't we just hear her out?"

  The blonde had started to laugh openly.

  Visibly angry, Peter replied, "There's no need to hear her out. We came to talk, to see if there were some things we had in common. What she's suggesting is out of the question. Even if some direct action occasionally has positive results, we would never take part. We simply can't condone your methods."