The Gravity of Anti-Gravity II

by Tim Blagge

  “You were correct Mr. Burton. A Veladorian ship is positioned on our side of the jump zone. It was unarmed.” Boixnest explained.

  “Were you able to devise a way to smuggle the evidence we have back to Velador without being caught?” I asked. “Our plan and my life will depend on it.”

  -Chapter 36-

  As I landed back on Velador in a ship piloted by Chuzwit, Brenda and a large group of media people met me. I began to understand how movie and rock stars feel when the paparazzi stalk them everywhere. The only thing I decided to tell them is that I would make an announcement soon. That sounded presidential I thought. I had several members of the Veladorian version of the Secret Service part the crowd in front of me. I immediately called Blosh who fortunately was still in Prossfell.

  With Brenda sitting in a corner of my office, Blosh was escorted in.

  “Blosh, I have some information to convey to you but I must be certain nothing is recorded. Do you know how to accomplish that?”

  “Just call in your Chief of Staff and order it done.” He answered sounding a little annoyed.

  I ordered all devices turned off and asked the next annoying question. “How do I know it’s been done? It is imperative we keep our conversation confidential.”

  Blosh rolled his eyes and went outside and asked my Chief of Staff for his bug finding device. It was exactly like the one Stella used on Earth. Blosh held it up and it immediately started flashing. As he went around the room, he found no less than five surveillance devices. After he destroyed each bug, one by one, he became more focused.

  “Bill, I owe you an apology. Your first order of business is to get another Chief of Staff. He just violated the law. So what do you have to tell me?”

  “Blosh, if I can’t trust you, I’m a dead man so here goes.”

  I proceeded to outline the entire conspiracy planned and perpetrated against the Cromwell people by Mindcon. He listened intently. I also told him that I was pretty sure Cromwell wasn’t the only victim and that Earth was next. It took me over a half hour to outline everything I’d learned.

  “I can’t believe my oldest and dearest friend Rolf is party to this!” Blosh responded. “And how did Mindcon accomplish this without anyone knowing?”

  “Since they control the media, it’s easy for them to filter what is communicated to the public. The fact that most of their work happens on other planets makes leaks almost impossible,” I offered.

  “Wouldn’t one of their operatives come back and reveal something to someone. With that many people involved I’m shocked no one has talked,” Blosh said with a confused look.

  “I’ve seen some of this at home albeit on a smaller scale,” I added. “Our government, usually in conjunction with a friendly and complicit media, will ridicule someone who tries to divulge information. They are called crazy or kooks or even delusional. Pensions are threatened along with extended legal battles. Sometimes it really gets ugly and I’ve always wondered if the demonized people were telling the truth or if they really were nuts. Without the real truth, which is manipulated by the media, we never know for sure.”

  “You are very cynical for one so young Bill. After everything you’ve been through lately, I guess it’s not unexpected.” Blosh commented.

  Then Brenda, who had been quiet in the corner said. “Bill, I hope you were able to get proof. No one will believe you otherwise.”

  “If this conspiracy is as pervasive as you say Bill, getting information transferred is almost impossible. Blosh elaborated. “All it takes is a Morlific wave aimed at you from a short distance. The data stored on any electronic storage device is instantly recorded on their machine and erased completely on yours. They are illegal but if Mindcon is as dishonest as you say, they will have one and probably used it on you when you came in.”

  “It’s interesting you should say that!’ I have a device in my pocket. Let’s see if there is anything left on it. I know it was fully loaded with inconsequential information when I left Cromwell.”

  I plugged my storage device into the port on my computer and it came up blank. I turned the laptop toward Blosh who confirmed that nothing was there.”

  “Bill, to play devil’s advocate, how do I know there was something on this drive when you left Cromwell?”

  “You don’t, but I have backup.”

  I reached behind me and grabbed a packet filled with papers that was stuffed down the back of my pants.

  “It was the only way I felt I had a chance to get information back here intact.” I said. “It took the Cromwells a while to find an old style printer and paper to put in it but they did and here it is. Fortunately, the Cromwells were able to translate it into Veladorian before they printed it. Please look through it. I think you’ll find it interesting.”

  After reading for about a half hour, Blosh got to the last page, closed the folder, sat there for a moment shooking his head. He looked up at me and said, “Okay genius, where do we go from here?”

  “I was hoping you’d ask me that,” I began. “Since I don’t know who to trust, my life is in your hands, CEO Blosh. I only pray that if you are part of the conspiracy, you’ll simply ship us all back to Earth where we can’t divulge any Mindcon secrets. But if you want to put an end to Mindcon’s reign of terror on other planets I do have a plan.”

  “First,” we need to meet with the head of Mindcon. Since we can’t fix the past, let’s work on the future. We will stipulate that he must cease pillaging other planets. As compensation to Cromwell, Mindcon must give the planet that they originally targeted as a new home, back to them – for free! They also must participate in building a new Cromwell society complete with the appropriate infrastructure. And lastly, they’ve got to end their incursion on Earth.”

  “Velador will continue to build new ships that, along with theirs, will transport the Cromwell people to their new home planet as it is prepared to receive them. That’s all, that’s it!” I said.

  “One small problem Bill; what if the Head of Mindcon declines your proposal?”

  “We threaten to expose his greedy treachery against other planets. Because of their actions, they are directly responsible for the Cromwell attacks and the killing of over one hundred thousand Veladorian citizens. If that doesn’t make your people sit up and take notice nothing will.”

  “You’ve forgotten Bill, that these people control our media. They should be able to stifle any message they don’t want to get out.”

  Aren’t there any small independent media syndicates here?” I asked.

  “Yes but they’re all localized,” Blosh answered.

  “Maybe it’s time to give them the scoop of their lifetime!” I responded.

  The next day the reclusive head of Mindcon, a Mr. Giftronobun arrived. I imagined that he would be a well dressed, trim man of middle age. Instead he looked like a Veladorian version of Peewee Hermann. Physically intimidating he was not!

  After he was checked for bugs, he sat nervously down. “I can’t imagine why I was summoned to the seat of our government,” he began. “Have I done something wrong?”

  “Blosh, you’re the famous Prosecuting Attorney,” I said. “Please prosecute!”

  “Giftronobun, we are not here to debate what you and your conglomerate have done to other worlds. We are here to correct your future wrongdoings.”

  Blosh outlined the charges and what was required of Mindcon to keep the knowledge of their past crimes away from the citizens of Velador. Mindcon was required to simply return one planet to Cromwell and assist its people in their relocation.

  Giftronobun sat up a little straighter in his chair and a confident arrogance took over his face. He cleared his throat and said calmly. “How do you expect to insure that outcome considering my organization controls the media and the minds of the people? You fools have nothing on me; or at least nothing you can communicate effectively. This is my realm and you know it so back off or be prepared to suffer the consequences. The last thing you want to do is make me
angry. Remember, this is not a game or child’s play gentleman and I never lose.”

  Giftronobun stood up and started to leave the room.

  “Stop right there, Giftronobun.” I yelled. “Blosh let’s arrest this son-of-a-bitch and throw him into the deepest, darkest hole we can find!”

  Giftronobun stopped and stared deeply into my eyes in the most demeaning and threatening way possible. “You are grossly overstepping your authority Burton!” He spoke softly at first and became louder and louder as his dialog continued. “If you arrest me, Shinkorloft will have me released in an hour. Because I control the media, I’ll make you out to be the idiot you are. It will be easy and it will be my particular pleasure to ruin you.”

  Because of Giftronobun was such a weasel of a man, his insults enraged me. I stood up, stepped around my desk and in my anger decided to kick the crap out of this evil, pitiful example of a living entity. Blosh got in my way.

  “Now Bill, we don’t have any specific evidence against this man, yet!” Blosh explained. “Like he says, Shinkorloft will get him released right away. After we develop our case we can arrest him. Until then, maybe Mr. Giftronobun will consider helping the Cromwell people and mitigate any future potential prosecution.’

  “You two are not only stupid; you are pathetic examples of political leaders!” Giftronobun screamed as he walked out the door. “This meeting is over!”

  After a period where no one could find words, Brenda took a deep breath and spoke first.

  “Now I understand why Stella never let me meet with Shinkorloft. He’s a stooge for Mindcon. It wasn’t his lawyering ability. It was his power over the government!” Brenda said and added. “Remember when I was a good will ambassador and went all over Velador drumming up support for the resistance?” Brenda began.

  “Of course,” I said.

  “Because Mindcon needed the resistance movement to succeed so they could maintain their hold on society, they made sure I was all over the television. During that time, I met thousands of people and created a contact list of mostly female, socially active, catty and talkative leaders. I don’t know why I kept the list; it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Why don’t I visit the States again and get my lady friends to circulate the information that an important message from my husband, the World Chancellor of Velador, will be broadcast on local television at a particular time on a particular day. I’ll bet that tidbit will travel like wild fire.”

  “Bill, you’ll have to prepare an address of a lifetime outlining your findings and encouraging the viewers to stop watching the Mindcon network and do whatever else they can to hurt them.” Brenda added. “Or you could just arrest the rotten bastard.”

  “Let’s do both,” I said. “First we beat him at his own game and then we throw him into solitary confinement somewhere. Blosh are there any more honest CEO’s like you or are we alone in this fight?”

  “I know of several,” Blosh answered, “but we’ve got to have our facts organized with appropriate and indisputable proof.”

  “The only flaw in our plan Blosh,” I added. “That’s my wife and child sitting over there. How do we keep them safe?”

  -Chapter 37-

  It was decided that Jerry would head up Brenda’s security team. Along with his most trusted men, one of Pop’s new Big Bertha ships was used to transport their group. Brenda called ahead to everyone she’d met in a particular state to schedule a meeting. All she asked was to have people watch their local broadcast at a particular time on a particular day and to make sure they contacted as many people as they knew to watch also. It had an old grass roots feel, delivered by the bright and charming wife of the head of their government that helped the message take off quickly and completely.

  My speech was scheduled in seven days. It meant that Brenda had to visit as many cities as possible in two States each day for six days. Because of how short her ship made the jump from place to place, she was able to cover the countryside with reasonable thoroughness.

  A few days into our campaign, Blosh told me about a new development. “I just heard that Mindcon is threatening the smaller networks if they broadcast your speech. Maybe you should call every station you can and reassure them. Remind them that a free press represents a free people and must not be intimidated.”

  I took Blosh’s advice and got on the phone. I had two of my assistants call ahead and have calls lined up so I could talk to as many station managers as possible. When I talked to Brenda, I told her to have her people call their local station and thank them for airing my speech. Brenda was spectacular at promoting my address condemning Mindcon in general and Mr. Giftronobun in particular. I had Velador’s version of the Justice Department begin the preparations for a lawsuit against the company and the arrest of Giftronobun. I made sure that information was leaked to the public and local networks.

  Two days before my speech was scheduled, I received a call from Mr. Giftronobun. He wanted to talk. Blosh happened to be in the room with me so I put the call on speaker.

  “Mr. Giftronobun,” I said as I answered the call. “I’m surprised you decided to stoop low enough to want to speak to a stupid, pathetic fool like me.” Oh, and let’s not leave out idiot!

  “Bill, if I may call you Bill, I’d like to meet with you.”

  “I’ll be available the week after next Giftronobun; and call me World Chancellor Burton. Only my friends call me Bill.”

  I heard more oops and uhs than I’d heard in my entire life previously. “You, uh, you have to see me tomorrow, World Chancellor Burton.” he said. “I think you’ll like what I have to say.”

  “What; more threats?” I said. “Why would I want to hear more of your threats?”

  “No, on the contrary, after discussions with our Board of Directors, we have decided to comply with your requests,” he said.

  “Okay Mr. Giftronobun, I’ll clear my calendar tomorrow from one to three. And by the way, bring your Board of Directors with you.”

  “World Chancellor Burton, I apologize but the Board prefers to have me handle this issue. They are very private citizens and prefer to remain behind the scenes.”

  “Okay then, I am rescheduling tomorrow’s meeting at one until a week from Thursday at nine. Thank you very much Mr. Giftronobun,” I said and hung up.

  After listening to my conversation, Blosh and was amused by my hard stance. “I hope you haven’t overplayed your hand Bill,” he said.

  “Just wait,” I answered.

  A half hour later, I received a message that Mr. Giftronobun was back on the line.

  “Yes,” I answered curtly as if I was busy and annoyed.

  “World Chancellor Burton sir, I was able to contact my Board and they have agreed to accompany me to our meeting originally scheduled for one o’clock tomorrow. Is that acceptable?” he asked.

  “Make it two to three Giftronobun; something’s come up and that’s the only time I have left. I will see you and your Board of Directors then,” I added and hung up.

  It’s a good thing the one speech I wrote was congratulating Mindcon on their extraordinary devotion to their fellow man. I will gush about how wonderful they are. In the interim, we need to create a contract and all their names on it, informing them that if they engage in planet tampering, to pick a name for their crime, it will be punishable by an automatic long, long prison sentence. You’re the attorney Blosh, can I do that?”

  “I guess we’ll find out, “Blosh’s answered. “Somehow I don’t think they will dispute anything in that contract considering the consequences that will be foisted upon them by the public if our citizens hear what they have done. You and I know we could charge them with a crime for what they have already done and they know it.”

  Our meeting with Giftronobun and the rest of the Board of Mindcon went smoothly. We met in the Large Room and I included several of my staff to better balance the number of participants. To a man it appeared that the Mindcon Board members appreciated the fact that we gave them an
out with no future repercussions if they cleaned up their act. I handed them a copy of the speech I would deliver and they wholeheartedly approved of the message.

  Then Giftronobun asked the inevitable question. “Chancellor Burton, can we be assured of the confidentiality of this meeting and its contents?”

  “Yes you can as long as you abide by its mandates,” I answered. “My staff here has already been instructed to reveal nothing to anyone, including their families.”

  “With your permission, we’d like to broadcast your statement to the people along with the local stations,” Giftronobun asked.

  “I anticipated that request gentlemen and the answer is no!” I announced. “You see, when you declined my original request, I promised the local media outlets that they would have exclusive access to my statement and I am a man of my word. Next time I suggest you do everything possible to work with your elected officials and not respond with arrogance, insults and threats!”

  “And I would like to remind you that your businesses and each of you personally have agreed to abide by this agreement and we expect and look forward to enjoying your full compliance.” I repeated.

  The Board members packed up and left. What I didn’t know at the time was that the “Contract of Compliance’ they all signed was nothing but a charade.

  “Hey, Mr. Chancellor,” Blosh said. “I think you successfully got your point across to them.”

  “The more I think of it,” I said so everyone present heard. “I don’t trust that bunch! They’ve had it their way for too long; I’ll bet they think they’re above the law and the Government. In fact I believe they think they are the government. I am going to assign someone on my staff to head up a task force to monitor their compliance. Hopefully my successor will also appreciate the danger inherent in an organization this large, with their history of deceit and their level of resources.”