Pilot X

by Tom Merritt

  “Ambassador X,” he replied, touching the man’s hand in return. He wondered if this was the representative from the Core in disguise.

  “Ambassador!” the man raised his voice along with his eyebrow. “Well, I knew you was important from the clothes but wow. Wait. Ambassador X? No, Pilot X! Man, you are a hero! I can’t believe I’m sitting next to Pilot-starkilling-X! Thank you.” The man’s face got serious. “Thank you for what you’ve done. I hope people thank you enough. You saved us from what was looking to be all-out war.”

  This wasn’t the Core rep. In linear time, the events at Pantoon hadn’t quite happened yet. Although they were so well known throughout this zone, it was a wonder he hadn’t stumbled upon his future at some point. Alendan society was very careful about that sort of thing. In fact, Driver Yenz was committing a bit of a faux pas by talking about it so loudly. Most people were sensitive about spoiling the future for anyone, especially the person whose future it was. That’s why all news reports were expertly filtered through personal travel sequences.

  “I should keep my voice down, I guess,” the man said. “My wife’s always criticizing me for that. ‘Life-Spoiler Yenz,’ she says sometimes.” He reddened.

  “Not at all,” Ambassador X reassured him. “I imagine very few people haven’t heard. You’d have to be a member of the Core not to.” He threw this out just in case.

  “The what?” The man smiled but looked lost.

  “The Alendan Core. You know, the people that live life linearly, never time traveling.”

  “Oh!” the man laughed heartily. “Those people. Yeah. I don’t think they eat here. Make great furniture, though. Did you ever buy any of their chairs? All wood. Excellent chairs. My aunt has one. Beautiful.”

  Well, that settled it. The man wasn’t his appointment. Still, the Driver was pleasant to talk to. Ambassador X found himself describing the current events that the android had been talking about. Driver Yenz found this terribly amusing.

  “Imagine an android really caring about bath-salt imports. Hilarious. Next thing, he’ll be describing his vacation on the Pineapple Planet.”

  “There are no pineapples there!” they both said in unison and began laughing.

  Ambassador X was unexpectedly enjoying himself, but thought he ought to make sure he wasn’t distracted. He didn’t want to accidentally miss his Alendan Core contact.

  “Listen, Driver Yenz, it was very nice to meet you. You tell your wife I think she’s being a little harsh on you.”

  “Diplomat to the end,” Driver Yenz laughed. “Well, yeah, I gotta go hit the road myself. Lots of shipping coming, thanks to you. A pleasure to meet you, Ambassador X.” Driver Yenz gave a little bow and got up to leave.

  Ambassador X sat with his coffee for a long time and then eventually gave up and ordered some hot food. The restaurant made a decent plate of steaming High Plains Pan. When he finished that, he delayed for a while and then ordered a slice of carol-root pie. Delicious.

  Still nobody came.

  He finally decided they weren’t coming. So he left.

  Outside it was dark. He’d stayed longer than required, hoping he was wrong. He checked several times to make sure he had the right place, but he knew he did. It wasn’t his fault. He hadn’t made an error. This was just one of the years they didn’t arrive. He felt embarrassingly disappointed. He was an Ambassador, for goodness’ sake. Angry, yes, but not embarrassed. He wasn’t a child.

  He stood on the walkway, hoping his disappointment would waft away in the chill night air.

  “Ambassador X?” He jumped as a young woman approached and put her hand out in greeting. Was this the Core? Had he almost given up too soon?

  “Yes,” he said. “And who might you be?”

  “Reporter Jhilz of the Alendan Information Service. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I was just heading in to get some pie. They have excellent pie here. Well. Wow. I just had to introduce myself and say hello. Are you leaving?”

  “Well, yes,” he said, disappointed. “I’m afraid I am. I can give you my communication details—”

  “No, that’s OK. Look, I’m working on a feature story. It’s not directly about you, but if you could answer just a few questions, it would make the piece sing. It will only take a few moments.”

  He looked at her, wondering whether she was his contact. But then he decided, no. She was only a reporter. “OK,” he said. “Just a few.”

  “Great!” she said, taking out a recording device.

  Ambassador X slept in the Verity. He didn’t bother moving it from the suburb. When he woke, he jumped to his meeting with Ambassador Uy. His last meeting with Ambassador Uy, though not Ambassador Uy’s last meeting with Ambassador X. What was really odd was that Ambassador Uy had known the Core would not show up. But Ambassador X supposed they had to go ahead and follow through or risk a paradox.

  The Ambassador did look a tiny bit fresher. Not younger, just fresher. Less tired. Ambassador X explained that he was following up on his meeting with the Alendan Core.

  “Yes, yes, I hear it went splendid,” said Ambassador Uy.

  Well, he may have looked better, but his memory was worse. “You what?” Ambassador X asked.

  “The Core sent a message. Said you were excellent and answered everything they needed to know. Thanks for doing that. I hope it wasn’t too tedious.” Ambassador Uy paused. “Why do you look as if I’ve walked on your grave?”

  “But I never met them. I kept the appointment, but they never showed. I stayed for hours.”

  Ambassador Uy nodded. “Unusual. But as I understand, it’s not unheard of. Did you talk to anyone while you were there?”

  “Yes, there was a Reporter I ran into on the way out of the diner. And the Driver in the next booth while I was eating, and of course the Waiter.”

  “Hmm. Could have been any one of them. Did any of them ask you questions? Well, I assume the Reporter must have tried.”

  “They all did. Even the Waiter. We talked current events for several minutes. But so did the Driver and the Reporter.”

  “Ha!” Ambassador Uy barked a laugh. “Well, I’ve never seen that. I thought I couldn’t be surprised. Maybe it was all three. Don’t know why they played it so secret, but whatever. They were satisfied, and that’s really all we’re concerned with. Oh come now, Ambassador X, why do you look so sour?”

  “It’s . . . It’s nothing. I just—”

  “You wanted to fulfill your boyhood dream of meeting someone from Alendan Core?”

  Ambassador X just stared at him.

  “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s true of most of us. We all read the same stories. Just accept that you did. Pick one of them in your mind to be the one, if it makes you feel better.

  “Now I know I have yet to assign you that mission, so I’ll see you one more time. But I suppose you know I’m stepping down and intend to nominate you as my replacement.”

  “Yes, Ambassador Uy, but why are you stepping down? I didn’t want to ask before, but—”

  “You’re too polite, Ambassador X, but hey, I suppose that’s why you’re a diplomat. Well, the real reason is I’m old. But the reason I’m going to tell myself is that I deserve a lovely retirement on the water planet of Guavoda. And that’s what I’ll do,” he smiled.

  “What post will you take?”

  “Post? No post, boy! Retired. You’ll have to call me Citizen, I guess. It really shouldn’t be seen as an insult, you know.”

  Ambassador X was taken aback at this, but nodded. He admired Ambassador Uy even more for it.

  Ambassador X became team leader, mostly because Ambassador Tri left to become an Instructor. She liked working with Ambassador X, but she always had an academic bent and had wanted to make the move for a long time. She figured Ambassador X might like the opportunity to create his own team fresh.

  Ambassador X appreciated the gesture. They had never really been close, but there was no enmity. She couldn’t have known that the Secretary would desi
gnate Ambassador X’s team a solo assignment. His new team would consist of himself. With the stroke of a pen, or some such device, what had been the work of three became the work of one. Ambassador X was tempted to jump back and consult Ambassador Uy about it, but there were strict rules against that.

  He could go visit Citizen Uy on Guavoda, of course. But that was a long way to go to interrupt an old man’s retirement. So Ambassador X sat in his office with no assignments and no subordinates, thinking about pie.

  The pie from the suburban restaurant had haunted him ever since he had eaten there. He decided to take the Verity there and eat some. Without a direct assignment it might be seen as a misuse of the timeship, but how else was he going to go? He was an Ambassador and a qualified Pilot, after all. It made sense.

  The pie was better than he remembered. The coffee was hot and black and perfect alongside. A different android host met him this time. A woman dressed in the same blue outfit but slightly less talkative. He also hadn’t made a reservation, so he just sat at the counter. He watched Cooks at work through the steam rising off his coffee. He wondered if the Cooks were androids.

  One of the Cooks chopping vegetables caught his eye. He thought he recognized him, but it was hard to tell. His face wasn’t turned all the way toward Ambassador X and a head wrap hid all the Cook’s hair. He paused to wipe his forehead for a moment, and Ambassador X recognized Driver Yenz. He tried to catch Driver, or rather Cook Yenz’s eyes. Was he really a Cook? Was he really named Yenz?

  The Cook turned. He didn’t look Ambassador X’s way but walked through a rear door out of sight. Ambassador X finished his coffee and got up to find the host android. She was at the podium, waiting for customers.

  “Would it be possible to talk to one of the Cooks?” Ambassador X asked.

  “Was there a problem with the meal?” she asked, although she didn’t seem concerned.

  “No, I just think I may know him.”

  “Oh, of course. I’ll ask. Which one and who shall I say is asking?” she smiled flatly.

  “He’s the one who was chopping vegetables toward the back. I think his name is Dri—Cook Yenz. I’m Ambassador X.”

  “Of course, Ambassador X. I’ll be right back.”

  After a few minutes, she came back with no expression on her face.

  “I’m sorry, there is no Cook Yenz. However, Cook Joris had been preparing vegetables. Apparently, he’s done for the night and has already left.”

  “Well, that was quick,” Ambassador X said.

  “Would you like to leave him a message?”

  “No—wait, yes. Tell him Ambassador X was here to see him. Tell him to call if he would. Thank you.”

  “Of course. Thank you, Ambassador X. Have a lovely day.”

  “Thanks.”

  He barely noticed night had fallen as he walked out of the restaurant. What was going on? He was almost certain that was Driver Yenz. But why would it be? Why would someone who was a Cook at a restaurant pretend to be a Driver in order to ask Ambassador X a few questions? Even if the Cook/Driver was part of the Alendan Core, wouldn’t it just be easier to say that?

  Ambassador X ran into a woman who was running toward him. Neither had been looking where they were going. They fell in a heap like stunt models from a children’s show.

  “I’m so sorry,” they both said as they both helped each other up.

  “Oh!” the woman shouted as soon as they were standing. “I’m stupid. You’re Ambassador X!”

  Ambassador X shook his head. “Don’t worry. It was my fault. I should have been looking where I was going.”

  The woman grinned. “I was assigned to bring you to the Secretary, so it was in fact demonstrably stupid for me to run right into the person I was looking for because I was too busy looking for him.”

  He laughed. “Well, I don’t think you’re stupid, but I see your point. Think nothing of it. Why didn’t the Secretary just message me? I could have come myself.”

  “He did not feel it necessary to tell me.” She smiled again. “But he did say you had a timeship, and I was to only give the coordinates to it. Not even to you. So I suppose it must be something to do with secrecy.”

  “You must be very trustworthy,” Ambassador X said.

  “I am,” she said.

  “The Verity is this way. You have me at a disadvantage. What are you called?”

  “Asa,” she answered, without a title. That was the kind of thing you only did with family. It was intimate.

  “Just . . . Asa?” he asked, feeling embarrassed by saying it without a title.

  “Yes, because I’m your long-lost daughter,” she teased. He looked appalled. “Or someday wife!” she exclaimed. He looked shocked. “Or espionage agent,” she tossed out. His face settled into understanding. Of course. She was likely Instructor Asa, or Teacher Asa, or even Ambassador Asa, depending on the assignment, but her real title was Agent and that was a title never spoken.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “For what?” she seemed genuinely puzzled.

  “For trusting me.”

  She nodded. “It seems we are forced to trust each other in this. Might as well assume the sale.”

  She gave the coordinates to Verity, and they arrived at a swamp on a typical multiclimate planet that was about half water. He didn’t know the name of the planet any more than he knew the coordinates. So much for choice.

  Agent Asa led him through the swamp to an old, brokendown mud-mound abode. A fishing pole and some old tires were piled outside. No timeships or any conveyance of any kind was nearby. The Secretary must be very trusting of his Agents, indeed. He couldn’t run if he needed to. Unless the agent was meant to lure Ambassador X here in order to steal the Verity and rescue the Secretary somehow. He doubted that. He also thought Verity might refuse. The ship seemed to have a particular liking to Ambassador X.

  Agent Asa stayed outside. Ambassador X ducked his head and entered the mud hut. The Secretary sat inside in rustic clothing, dirty and a little aromatic. He had a few items of the modern age around him, but most of the hut was filled with stone-era tools.

  “Pilot X!” the Secretary misidentified him. “Come in, come in.” He began fussing about with things to make tea. Or at least that’s what it looked like.

  “Ambassador X,” Ambassador X corrected, pretending to help the Secretary understand his personal time frame, rather than take it as a personal offense that the Secretary once again got his title wrong.

  “Of course. Of course. Apologies for the lack of amenities. I’m monitoring a race of bipeds that’s going to be quite important in about two thousand of their years. I don’t want to pollute their ecology, but they need a nudge at the right time, and I’m the one who gives it to them.” He stopped fussing about with things and gave Ambassador X a look. “Apparently, I go down in legend as a demigod lawbringer. I can’t remember the name, but I end up being something of a symbol of justice or some such thing later on. You know, I swear I saw a statue of myself in a visit to their later history, but I may be just wanting to remember it that way, now that I know.” He chuckled.

  “In any case, you’re not here to listen to me prattle on about my little machinations.” He sighed. “No, I called you here to talk about something rather important. And secret. Something Ambassador Uy only knew the barest outlines of and that still drove him to retirement. Now X”—the Secretary took a familial tone, placing his hand on Ambassador X’s shoulder—“I know we had a little fight all those years ago, and I know you still feel bad. Don’t. I’ve always been on your side. Which is why you’re here. I’m placing a lot of trust in you. Before I tell you more, I need to know if you want to know. It’s the kind of thing that can’t be taken back after I tell you. It will change the flavor of all your assignments from now on. If that sounds like too much pressure, I’ll understand. You won’t be punished for it, and you’ll still become an Ambassador. What do you say?”

  A breeze rustled through the silence. Ambassad
or X said, “I’d like to know.”

  This pleased the Secretary. “Good, good. I was hoping you’d say that. We need you. Have you heard rumors of a Dimensional War?”

  “Of course. Every little spat and conflict is blamed on it. I assume it’s the conspiratorial mind trying to understand why the Progons and Sensaurians do what they do. I mean, there is a conflict with them and it does involve time travel. I guess you can call that a Dimensional War if you want.”

  “That’s the public story, exactly. I’m glad you understand that. It makes this easier. We need to keep that as the public understanding. The Dimensional War to most people is code for the Tripartite Conflict with a little more dramatic flair. Anybody that believes it’s more than that are seen as cranks.”

  The Secretary handed Ambassador X a cup of some kind of tea. Ambassador X sipped. It tasted like licorice and turtle meat. He set it down diplomatically. “So. I assume there’s more to it than that.”

  “Quite a bit,” the Secretary admitted, taking a large gulp of the awful stuff. “I can’t tell you all of it right now, but I will eventually. Suffice to say that the public story has inspiration in the truth, though the truth is far from what any of them think it is. There is a war going on throughout the dimensions. And it is between the Progons, Sensaurians, and us. But it is of quite a different nature than a conventional war. They’re tearing at the bundles. Trying to unknot the fixed points. We can’t let them.”

  Ambassador X was shocked. That was impossible. And even if it could be done, it was suicide. Removing a fixed point in space-time would unhook reality and replace it with something else. It would cause whoever did it to cease to exist. Not just suicide but nonexistence.

  “I find that hard to believe,” Ambassador X said carefully.