Law's End (30 page)
Authors: Glenn Douglass
Tags: #adventure, #travel, #dog, #future, #space, #rescue, #supercluster
It was a stunning threat. Kassad could only nod
numbly at the rebuke. Having watched the exchange remotely an
embarrassed Greene quietly disconnected. Even Canis could only
manage a worried whine in response.
Kassad stood stunned as the woman he once had
hoped to spend the rest of his life with strode out of the room in
a haze of anger. Forgetting the live feed broadcast to the entire
supercluster Kassad silently reflected on what had brought him to
this point. The introspection ended when Kassad realized that he
and Canis were the last people in the courtroom.
Leaning over to stroke Canis' head himself,
Kassad concluded, "I think she misses me."
Canis barked insistently.
Throwing up his arms in surrender Kassad
begrudgingly amended, "Okay fine, she misses you more, however I
think that's because you're a dog. Everyone likes dogs. Now, let’s
go see if The Bit and Bridle can find a steak for the hero dog
everyone loves."
Canis barked with loud enthusiasm in support of
the proposition.
On the monorail to the Bit and Bridle Kassad
forwarded approval for the repair work on Sabha. Leveraging the
projected expense against the contracted payment he was due for the
rescue operation prevented any accruing of debt; the bane of all
spacefarers. In keeping with the standards of a first class
shipyard the work was quickly scheduled for an eighteen hour
completion timeframe.
Arriving at the Bit and Bridle Kassad found
that it hadn't changed from his memories of the place. Located high
on the inward curving surface of the colony where centrifugal force
produce only a weak substitute for gravity, the establishment's
soaringly high ceiling with many tiers of secluded booths stretched
up into the dwindling microgravity. As Kassad knew from experience
the peculiar gravity within the Bit and Bridle provided a distinct
home field advantage to the regulars in the event of a fight
breaking out at any of the bars or alcoves.
It was a typical crowd for the Bit and Bridle.
There were the usual exhausted mining and survey crews back at the
station for a day or two of rest, shipyard crews enjoying downtime
between shifts, the occasional local or transport crew out for a
bit of carousing, and as a novelty a large Ka'Hath perched on a
precariously and proportionately tiny stool at the main bar picking
at a loaf of spiced bread without much enthusiasm. Amongst the
patrons happily humming robot servers, disguised by holographic
projections to provide them a cheerful stylized equine appearance,
tromped this way and that delivering food and drink. Over it all
the Bit and Bridle's aging acoustic dampers did a fair job keeping
the clattering of dinnerware and too loud conversations of the more
rowdy miners down to a low roar.
Quickly spotting his contact Kassad waved off
an overly friendly offer of assistance from the robotic wait staff
and made his way to the booth. Kassad set his white noise generator
on the table as he slid onto the bench opposite Fitzgerald. The
casual smoothness of the action was interrupted when Canis jumped
up to join Kassad forcing him to slide over to accommodate the
animal.
With Kassad and Canis exchanging looks it was
Fitzgerald in his expensive suit, which looked to have been made
out of liquid emerald and sapphire, who spoke first being honestly
agrategful, "I just came from visiting my daughter and I can't
thank you enough for rescuing her. I'll do everything in my power
to get the company to pay their debt, or at least cover your
expenses, but we both know that without the data they'll use every
legal excuse to endlessly delay payment."
Unperturbed by the admission Kassad asked, "So
what happens to all the data now?"
Fitzgerald was sullen as he pondered the lost
research. "There will be another expedition someday. We'll have to
be careful because now we're being watched, but we're already
looking for other locations, too many questions that those findings
could answer." He looked up with that same over eager wonder of
discovery that had draw Kassad to him all those years ago as a
student. "One day the answers to those questions could open up the
universe, perhaps many universes, for us to explore."
Ever since Kassad had known the man he'd been
impressed by the raw ambition slaved to the pursuit of new
understanding. "I can't believe you've given up on the data from
Law's End."
Dismissing the notion with a wave of his hand
Fitzgerald explained, "We'll file to have the data returned, but my
guess is that they've already destroyed it. They're frightened of
the consequences of knowledge." Fitzgerald laughed bitterly.
"That's a sad story at least as old as our species."
As Fitzgerald took a long draw from his glass
Kassad wondered aloud, "So if by chance a certain very clever
ship's captain managed to save that data for you?" From another
pocket Kassad produced the data card and waggled it in the air
before setting it on the table.
Fitzgerald was extremely dubious about the
claim. "You couldn't have made a copy. Not with the Sabha's
equipment."
Managing data always resulted in errors from
tiny quantum voltage fluctuations, random cosmic ray impacts, or
any of a myriad other causes normally beneath the concern of every
day experience. The larger the amount of data and the more often it
was manipulated the more errors accumulated. Without bulky
specialist equipment to error check copies truly massive files like
those that the Law's End expedition had recovered would be riddled
with enough errors to make them worthless from a single
replication.
With a shrug Kassad explained, "For the record,
and very legally, I never said that data card they pulled off me
was the one that contained the expedition's data." A robotic waiter
set Kassad's unordered drink in front of him before trotting off,
leaving Kassad to inspect the glass dubiously, and remark, "These
things all look the same, and if they're so frightened of what it
contains… well they may not ever know the difference."
A smile had spread across Fitzgerald's face as
he listened to Kassad's explanation and instinctively he looked
around to be certain that no one had overheard, but the overt scan
reviled no eavesdropping. Pushing the card back towards Kassad
Fitzgerald said, "They might be watching us here. I'll set up a
cargo run for you to one of the company's stations. Bring it there
and I'll see to it you'll be paid." The eagerness dropped away from
Fitzgerald's face and he asked, "But how did you manage it?"
Proud of the success of his little deception
Kassad grinned as he placed the card back in his pocket. "I swapped
it with Sabha's navigations charts for the great attractor region.
You know that area changes so rapidly and unpredictably the charts
have to be swapped out every couple of years." He shrugged and
spread his hands. "As it happens I just had my entire navigation
database replaced." Grinning conspiratorially Kassad concluded,
"Damaged in the Armhamon's attack of course." More seriously Kassad
added, "And this all costs extra. I wasn't contracted for courier
work, or picking a fight with a Lawship. You're lucky I'm just this
good at what I do."
Fitzgerald was quick to allow the request as
relief flooded across his face. "That won't be a problem." Shaking
his head with a chuckle Fitzgerald explained, "You've really saved
my neck this time. The company was starting to think I pulled from
their finances just to rescue my daughter."
Rolling his eyes at Fitzgerald playing the
loyal company man Kassad said, "Well, it's not too far from the
truth is it? You know me and I know you. You're a obsessive
manipulative secretive schemer, but you're not evil. What really
disturbs me is that you didn't warn me that they were researching
illegal weapons technology. That information, and knowing how far
they would go to stop it from being retrieved, would have made this
a great deal easier."
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat Fitzgerald
looked down at his left hand resting on the table top and examined
the finish on his nails. "They weren't, at least not directly
anyway," looking up to give Kassad an accusatory glare he added,
"however at the prices you charge I think I can expect a certain
amount of proactive mindfulness during a contract."
Having to concede that it would still be a very
good payday, minus Sabha's repairs and with the bonus, Kassad
allowed Fitzgerald the point. "Fair enough, you get the corporate
wheels turning, and I'll get out of here before the University
finds out that star chart is not what they were after."
Smiling proudly Fitzgerald nodded at Kassad's
comment. "I taught you well enough to know they won't destroy that
data as easily as the captain of the Armhamon seems to think."
Lifting his glass in imitation of a toast
Kassad said, "You're also the one who taught me that information
can't be destroyed… especially when there's a price tag on it." He
took a sip of the beverage and then lifted it to his eyes with a
frown before setting it back on the table. "I'm just hoping it has
to physically make its way back to a University central office
before someone notices. That would give us plenty of time."
Of the two of them Kassad was clearly more
comfortable planning on the fly and Fitzgerald openly worried about
the details they might have missed and contingencies that may be
needed. "The captain of the Armhamon said she thought they'd
destroyed it." Fitzgerald's comment provoked little more than a
sarcastic expression from Kassad. "What if they inspect it at their
offices here? Maybe we should arrange immediate alternate transport
for the data?"
It was a valid enough concern that Kassad
settled back in the booth to give it some thought before
concluding, "I doubt they'd risk anyone at a satellite campus
coming into contact with it, and I'm sure that Captain Armhamon
will pounce on any sudden hiring of ships for courier work."
The obvious question immediately occurred to
Fitzgerald who asked, "What about you?"
Waving away the concern Kassad replied with a
smirk, "Conveniently I'm prohibited from picking up cargo here. Not
that Captain Armhamon won't be watching me anyway, but that hasn't
stopped me so far has it?"
There was one aspect of the situation Kassad
had forgotten about, but Fitzgerald, his mind busily grinding
through the situation, was quick to inquire, "And your
passengers?"
For a second Kassad was confused by the
question and then he recalled the passage request he'd received
from Greene and husband. "You heard about that did you?"
Smiling at his former student's naivety in such
matters, Fitzgerald informed him, "At least a quarter of Laniakea
watched the video feed from the hearing."
The idea of having been watched by trillions of
beings was too abstract for Kassad to grasp so he simply shook his
head saying, "I'll find somewhere nice to let them off. I think
they've been through enough don't you?"
Hammering the table between them with a balled
fist Cameron was insistent. "You can't divert. That information is
too important. This is my life's work."
Mostly just to wind up his former mentor Kassad
countered, "It's just a little detour."
Of course Cameron was able to grasp that he was
being toyed with and relaxed his tone as he responded, "No detours.
No stop offs. We're too close now. Do whatever you have to do, tell
them anything, but get that data to the company."
Unwilling to let the professor off the hook
that easily Kassad dismissed the man's concerns saying, "You're
being a little overly dramatic, and I have to maintain
appearances."
Finally realizing what his former protégée was
angling for Cameron responded, "Eighty million."
"What?" Kassad scoffed at the offer.
"University script? I doubt they haven't frozen your accounts for
the duration of this investigation."
With a completely self-confident smirk Cameron
replied, "I'm talking about company script, from Eret &
Nograd."
It all suddenly made sense to Kassad as the
familiar E&N logo was engraved on the grip of Kassad's own
pistol. Their logo could be found on a majority of personal and
starship weapons across Laniakea. Eret & Nograd was one of the
largest, most influential, and oldest armaments manufacturers that
had ever existed.
E&N had a history dating back to the
post-first-contact conflicts thousands of years ago. Originally
they had been one of many companies that serviced early colonial
defense needs, and over the years they'd adapted to shifts in their
market with surprising ease. They'd made the transition from
galactic to pan-supercluster corporation and had remained a
vigorously competitive force in their corner of the industry ever
since.
In spite of their great wealth and resources
E&N wouldn't have had the resources specifically needed for a
research project like Law's End. Funneling money into the right
hands could liberate a great deal of equipment and personnel. Done
properly, and E&N had a reputation for doing things properly,
the staff working on the project would never have known it was
anything other than a legitimate University program.
And with the company script valued at least ten
times that of University script Kassad grinned as he extended his
device. "Let's make that a contract."
####
Thank you for reading Law's End. Please take a
moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer - GA
Douglass
common herd dog to the trained professional canine; every dog is a
hero. Though they may be tragically abused into some warped
expression of it at their heart a dog always does what is good, not
for reward or out of conditioning, but as an aspect of their
inherent nature."
numbly at the rebuke. Having watched the exchange remotely an
embarrassed Greene quietly disconnected. Even Canis could only
manage a worried whine in response.
Kassad stood stunned as the woman he once had
hoped to spend the rest of his life with strode out of the room in
a haze of anger. Forgetting the live feed broadcast to the entire
supercluster Kassad silently reflected on what had brought him to
this point. The introspection ended when Kassad realized that he
and Canis were the last people in the courtroom.
Leaning over to stroke Canis' head himself,
Kassad concluded, "I think she misses me."
Canis barked insistently.
Throwing up his arms in surrender Kassad
begrudgingly amended, "Okay fine, she misses you more, however I
think that's because you're a dog. Everyone likes dogs. Now, let’s
go see if The Bit and Bridle can find a steak for the hero dog
everyone loves."
Canis barked with loud enthusiasm in support of
the proposition.
On the monorail to the Bit and Bridle Kassad
forwarded approval for the repair work on Sabha. Leveraging the
projected expense against the contracted payment he was due for the
rescue operation prevented any accruing of debt; the bane of all
spacefarers. In keeping with the standards of a first class
shipyard the work was quickly scheduled for an eighteen hour
completion timeframe.
Arriving at the Bit and Bridle Kassad found
that it hadn't changed from his memories of the place. Located high
on the inward curving surface of the colony where centrifugal force
produce only a weak substitute for gravity, the establishment's
soaringly high ceiling with many tiers of secluded booths stretched
up into the dwindling microgravity. As Kassad knew from experience
the peculiar gravity within the Bit and Bridle provided a distinct
home field advantage to the regulars in the event of a fight
breaking out at any of the bars or alcoves.
It was a typical crowd for the Bit and Bridle.
There were the usual exhausted mining and survey crews back at the
station for a day or two of rest, shipyard crews enjoying downtime
between shifts, the occasional local or transport crew out for a
bit of carousing, and as a novelty a large Ka'Hath perched on a
precariously and proportionately tiny stool at the main bar picking
at a loaf of spiced bread without much enthusiasm. Amongst the
patrons happily humming robot servers, disguised by holographic
projections to provide them a cheerful stylized equine appearance,
tromped this way and that delivering food and drink. Over it all
the Bit and Bridle's aging acoustic dampers did a fair job keeping
the clattering of dinnerware and too loud conversations of the more
rowdy miners down to a low roar.
Quickly spotting his contact Kassad waved off
an overly friendly offer of assistance from the robotic wait staff
and made his way to the booth. Kassad set his white noise generator
on the table as he slid onto the bench opposite Fitzgerald. The
casual smoothness of the action was interrupted when Canis jumped
up to join Kassad forcing him to slide over to accommodate the
animal.
With Kassad and Canis exchanging looks it was
Fitzgerald in his expensive suit, which looked to have been made
out of liquid emerald and sapphire, who spoke first being honestly
agrategful, "I just came from visiting my daughter and I can't
thank you enough for rescuing her. I'll do everything in my power
to get the company to pay their debt, or at least cover your
expenses, but we both know that without the data they'll use every
legal excuse to endlessly delay payment."
Unperturbed by the admission Kassad asked, "So
what happens to all the data now?"
Fitzgerald was sullen as he pondered the lost
research. "There will be another expedition someday. We'll have to
be careful because now we're being watched, but we're already
looking for other locations, too many questions that those findings
could answer." He looked up with that same over eager wonder of
discovery that had draw Kassad to him all those years ago as a
student. "One day the answers to those questions could open up the
universe, perhaps many universes, for us to explore."
Ever since Kassad had known the man he'd been
impressed by the raw ambition slaved to the pursuit of new
understanding. "I can't believe you've given up on the data from
Law's End."
Dismissing the notion with a wave of his hand
Fitzgerald explained, "We'll file to have the data returned, but my
guess is that they've already destroyed it. They're frightened of
the consequences of knowledge." Fitzgerald laughed bitterly.
"That's a sad story at least as old as our species."
As Fitzgerald took a long draw from his glass
Kassad wondered aloud, "So if by chance a certain very clever
ship's captain managed to save that data for you?" From another
pocket Kassad produced the data card and waggled it in the air
before setting it on the table.
Fitzgerald was extremely dubious about the
claim. "You couldn't have made a copy. Not with the Sabha's
equipment."
Managing data always resulted in errors from
tiny quantum voltage fluctuations, random cosmic ray impacts, or
any of a myriad other causes normally beneath the concern of every
day experience. The larger the amount of data and the more often it
was manipulated the more errors accumulated. Without bulky
specialist equipment to error check copies truly massive files like
those that the Law's End expedition had recovered would be riddled
with enough errors to make them worthless from a single
replication.
With a shrug Kassad explained, "For the record,
and very legally, I never said that data card they pulled off me
was the one that contained the expedition's data." A robotic waiter
set Kassad's unordered drink in front of him before trotting off,
leaving Kassad to inspect the glass dubiously, and remark, "These
things all look the same, and if they're so frightened of what it
contains… well they may not ever know the difference."
A smile had spread across Fitzgerald's face as
he listened to Kassad's explanation and instinctively he looked
around to be certain that no one had overheard, but the overt scan
reviled no eavesdropping. Pushing the card back towards Kassad
Fitzgerald said, "They might be watching us here. I'll set up a
cargo run for you to one of the company's stations. Bring it there
and I'll see to it you'll be paid." The eagerness dropped away from
Fitzgerald's face and he asked, "But how did you manage it?"
Proud of the success of his little deception
Kassad grinned as he placed the card back in his pocket. "I swapped
it with Sabha's navigations charts for the great attractor region.
You know that area changes so rapidly and unpredictably the charts
have to be swapped out every couple of years." He shrugged and
spread his hands. "As it happens I just had my entire navigation
database replaced." Grinning conspiratorially Kassad concluded,
"Damaged in the Armhamon's attack of course." More seriously Kassad
added, "And this all costs extra. I wasn't contracted for courier
work, or picking a fight with a Lawship. You're lucky I'm just this
good at what I do."
Fitzgerald was quick to allow the request as
relief flooded across his face. "That won't be a problem." Shaking
his head with a chuckle Fitzgerald explained, "You've really saved
my neck this time. The company was starting to think I pulled from
their finances just to rescue my daughter."
Rolling his eyes at Fitzgerald playing the
loyal company man Kassad said, "Well, it's not too far from the
truth is it? You know me and I know you. You're a obsessive
manipulative secretive schemer, but you're not evil. What really
disturbs me is that you didn't warn me that they were researching
illegal weapons technology. That information, and knowing how far
they would go to stop it from being retrieved, would have made this
a great deal easier."
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat Fitzgerald
looked down at his left hand resting on the table top and examined
the finish on his nails. "They weren't, at least not directly
anyway," looking up to give Kassad an accusatory glare he added,
"however at the prices you charge I think I can expect a certain
amount of proactive mindfulness during a contract."
Having to concede that it would still be a very
good payday, minus Sabha's repairs and with the bonus, Kassad
allowed Fitzgerald the point. "Fair enough, you get the corporate
wheels turning, and I'll get out of here before the University
finds out that star chart is not what they were after."
Smiling proudly Fitzgerald nodded at Kassad's
comment. "I taught you well enough to know they won't destroy that
data as easily as the captain of the Armhamon seems to think."
Lifting his glass in imitation of a toast
Kassad said, "You're also the one who taught me that information
can't be destroyed… especially when there's a price tag on it." He
took a sip of the beverage and then lifted it to his eyes with a
frown before setting it back on the table. "I'm just hoping it has
to physically make its way back to a University central office
before someone notices. That would give us plenty of time."
Of the two of them Kassad was clearly more
comfortable planning on the fly and Fitzgerald openly worried about
the details they might have missed and contingencies that may be
needed. "The captain of the Armhamon said she thought they'd
destroyed it." Fitzgerald's comment provoked little more than a
sarcastic expression from Kassad. "What if they inspect it at their
offices here? Maybe we should arrange immediate alternate transport
for the data?"
It was a valid enough concern that Kassad
settled back in the booth to give it some thought before
concluding, "I doubt they'd risk anyone at a satellite campus
coming into contact with it, and I'm sure that Captain Armhamon
will pounce on any sudden hiring of ships for courier work."
The obvious question immediately occurred to
Fitzgerald who asked, "What about you?"
Waving away the concern Kassad replied with a
smirk, "Conveniently I'm prohibited from picking up cargo here. Not
that Captain Armhamon won't be watching me anyway, but that hasn't
stopped me so far has it?"
There was one aspect of the situation Kassad
had forgotten about, but Fitzgerald, his mind busily grinding
through the situation, was quick to inquire, "And your
passengers?"
For a second Kassad was confused by the
question and then he recalled the passage request he'd received
from Greene and husband. "You heard about that did you?"
Smiling at his former student's naivety in such
matters, Fitzgerald informed him, "At least a quarter of Laniakea
watched the video feed from the hearing."
The idea of having been watched by trillions of
beings was too abstract for Kassad to grasp so he simply shook his
head saying, "I'll find somewhere nice to let them off. I think
they've been through enough don't you?"
Hammering the table between them with a balled
fist Cameron was insistent. "You can't divert. That information is
too important. This is my life's work."
Mostly just to wind up his former mentor Kassad
countered, "It's just a little detour."
Of course Cameron was able to grasp that he was
being toyed with and relaxed his tone as he responded, "No detours.
No stop offs. We're too close now. Do whatever you have to do, tell
them anything, but get that data to the company."
Unwilling to let the professor off the hook
that easily Kassad dismissed the man's concerns saying, "You're
being a little overly dramatic, and I have to maintain
appearances."
Finally realizing what his former protégée was
angling for Cameron responded, "Eighty million."
"What?" Kassad scoffed at the offer.
"University script? I doubt they haven't frozen your accounts for
the duration of this investigation."
With a completely self-confident smirk Cameron
replied, "I'm talking about company script, from Eret &
Nograd."
It all suddenly made sense to Kassad as the
familiar E&N logo was engraved on the grip of Kassad's own
pistol. Their logo could be found on a majority of personal and
starship weapons across Laniakea. Eret & Nograd was one of the
largest, most influential, and oldest armaments manufacturers that
had ever existed.
E&N had a history dating back to the
post-first-contact conflicts thousands of years ago. Originally
they had been one of many companies that serviced early colonial
defense needs, and over the years they'd adapted to shifts in their
market with surprising ease. They'd made the transition from
galactic to pan-supercluster corporation and had remained a
vigorously competitive force in their corner of the industry ever
since.
In spite of their great wealth and resources
E&N wouldn't have had the resources specifically needed for a
research project like Law's End. Funneling money into the right
hands could liberate a great deal of equipment and personnel. Done
properly, and E&N had a reputation for doing things properly,
the staff working on the project would never have known it was
anything other than a legitimate University program.
And with the company script valued at least ten
times that of University script Kassad grinned as he extended his
device. "Let's make that a contract."
####
Thank you for reading Law's End. Please take a
moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer - GA
Douglass
Canis and Kassad Mir will
return in
Law's Axis
common herd dog to the trained professional canine; every dog is a
hero. Though they may be tragically abused into some warped
expression of it at their heart a dog always does what is good, not
for reward or out of conditioning, but as an aspect of their
inherent nature."
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