Living in Syn (28 page)

A second
after Atwood's door shut, Mission stuck his head back into the office.

"Arthur,
I have another favor to ask.  Perhaps it's a favor for your folks too."

Atwood's
eyebrows raised and he said, "And what is this favor?"

"Turn
your people loose.  I can appreciate that tensions exist and that our safety
can't be guaranteed.  But I can't stand the thought of them being confined
because of us.  And I would really appreciate a chance to see your city as it
truly is.  I could stand an education and the entire group could benefit from
the exposure to your people as an autonomous group."

"Mission,
you are an interesting man.  You don't act like a bounty hunter at all."

Mission
flashed a grim smile.  "Oh yes I do.  But man's greatest asset is the
ability to evolve.  Despite my best efforts, it may happen to me."

That
evening in the cafeteria, the group gathered with even Montag present, sporting
a middle eastern looking scarf across the lower half of his face.  The
cafeteria held no one else tonight as the pretenses dropped.  Loud music,
raucous laughter, and screams of delight could be heard from far down the
hallway.

Carson
said, "So that's it?  You didn't settle anything?  You’re going to think
about this?  Well, that's just great.  Once we leave, he'll slow any
negotiations to a snail's pace and wait for us to die.  Another forty years is
nothing to a syn."

Mission
turned to Montag and motioned toward Carson.  "I don't know.  I've seen
him happier."

Susan
punched Mission in the ribs which told him he was forgiven.  "Carson has a
point.  We haven't settled anything here."

Mission
said, "I don't know how much we are supposed to
settle
.  We came
here and discovered the facts and that was our primary mission.  Now does
anyone besides me think it may be a mistake to negotiate a settlement before we
untangle this final thread with the group behind the combat models? 
Negotiations are all about allocating costs equitably based on responsibility,
culpability, and relative net gain between the involved parties.  How can we do
that when a tremendous piece of the costs here should be absorbed by this
unknown group?"

Carson
said, "You know, I'm with Susan.  I'm tired of your
answer for
everything
shit.  This whole trip is ending horribly because you want to be
a diplomat when you grow up."

"Yeah,
but you liked fighting with me, and once you're home, it won't be a boring
government trip, it’ll be a battle you'll remember the rest of your life."

For a
second, Mission thought Carson might smile. But then he shook his head and
looked at Susan.  "Yeah, I’ll remember."

They
walked down the passage way and music and voices grew louder.  The whine of
machinery and the crackle of electricity also mingled into the din.  Mission
smelled marijuana and remembered that syns had their own limbic systems and
thus, drugs would affect them too.  They reached a section where more than a
dozen consecutive rooms on each side of the hall were opened up to form a huge
party room.

Middle
America would die on the spot.  Hundreds of the syns mingled.  Most of the
women were bare breasted.  Several couples and a few groups engaged in sex on
the tables, the floor, the chairs, and on the ceiling and walls using the
gravity boots.  Males and females were laid on their stomachs as their partners
opened their skull casings and direct fed some type of input.  Judging from the
reactions, the input simulated drugs or sex or both.

Couples
danced to the wild, frenetic music and partners shifted by the minute.  Around
the edges of the room, a number of syns formed loose discussion groups. 
Mission noticed that one particularly adamant speaker held
The Rights of Man
and
The Federalist Papers
in his hand.

A young
lady virtually attacked a six by three foot canvas, using paint sprays, smears
and brushes to create an impressionistic juxtaposition of man, synthetic, and
the solar system.

Carson
moved closer to the group and shouted, "See?  This is decadence.  Eighteen
months and they're ready for the fall of Rome."

Mission
grinned and said, "Are you kidding?  This is a renaissance.  Eighteen
months and they’re ready for the Golden Age."

Susan
said, "If you don't mind an objective opinion, these are beings whose
species has only existed for twenty years and these beings themselves less than
two.  We are seeing the immature, exploratory behavior typical of children. 
They’ll grow out of these excesses much faster than humans would."

Mission
said, "In any case, I enjoy the decadence.  I want to check out the
musicians for a bit." He extended his arm to Susan.  "Care to join
me?"

She took
his arm and he noticed that Carson looked disgusted.  "Hey, Carson. 
There's a martial arts contest over in that third bay."

Carson's
nodded, but without enthusiasm and walked over.  Susan smiled at Mission and
they turned to Montag.  Susan said, "Is there something here that
interests you?"

Montag
said, "I must stay close to protect you Dr. Susan."

Mission
said,  "Not necessary Montag.  And I'll be with her all the time.  And I’m
armed.  It would help the team if you would check out that discussion
group."

Mission
pointed toward the adamant young man with the books from the American
Revolution.  "I think it would help to understand the frame of mind of the
peoples of this city."

Montag
said, "Then I will gather as much information as is possible."

As he
moved into the crowd, Susan looked up at Mission and said, "Bull!  Why did
you send him over there?"

"It's
all about choices.  That reminds me.  Would you join me in Atwood's office
tomorrow morning at 9:00?"

"You
mean I'm allowed to come this time?"

"Now
Susan, it's not like you to pout."

"No? 
And what is like me?"

"Well,
it's more like you to exact revenge."

She hit
him in the ribs.  That did it.  From now on, he would wear a flak jacket around
this woman.  They moved off into the crowd and delighted in the wonders of a
city without inhibition or oppression.

The next
morning, Susan and Mission arrived at Atwood's waiting room.  Montag already
reclined in one of the chairs, talking to Margaret about the trials of
administering so many people.  Susan looked at Mission and whispered, "You
didn't tell me Montag would be here."

"Keeping
secrets is the only way I can keep you off balance.  Anyway, I ... "

Margaret
interrupted and said, "Mr. Atwood will see you now."

Atwood
smiled as they entered.  Mission said, "Thank you for allowing us a peek
at your city.  It was enjoyable."

"Well,
as you suggested, it benefited us as well.  The city languished under curfew
for much too long."

By now
they found their seats and Mission said, "As you know, we will leave on
the shuttle this afternoon.  There is one unfinished item that we can settle
today and that is the issue of Montag."

Shock
registered on all their faces, particularly Montag's.

Mission
said, "I am not completely unchanged by our experience here and Montag is
more to us than a synthetic protector.  He is a teammate and a friend.  Before
we take him back to Earth, I thought we could extend the opportunity to him to
remain here in New Angeles as a free man."

Montag shook
his head rapidly and said, "I do not want this.  My duty is to serve, to
protect Dr. Susan and then you and Major Pierce."

"Montag,
listen to me.  I understand that is how you are programmed.  What I am trying
to ask is, are there also feelings inside you that long for independence?"

Montag
shook his head and Mission looked over to Susan and said, "What do you
think?"

She
shrugged and said, "Now that you’ve introduced the question, I think
Montag should do what he wants."

Montag
looked desperate and fearful.  Mission said, "Montag, we aren't going to
make you do something you don't want to do.  But you do need this opportunity
to make a conscious decision here.  Look, Susan and I are going to leave and I
would like you to talk to Arthur about staying here.  We’re scheduled to meet
in the terminal at 1:00 for check in.  Meet us then.  If you return with us,
that’s fine.  If you choose to stay here, we’ll say our good-byes.  Okay?"

They
stood up and as they started to leave, Mission extended his hand and as Montag
shook it, Mission could see how upset he was.  "Montag, do you remember
how you wanted that killer programming and I said no?  And you were upset?  Was
it the right decision for you?"

Montag
nodded.  "Well, this is very much the same.  I don't think it's so
important that you stay or go.  I think it's important that you consider the
options carefully and decide what you want to do."

Mission
slapped him on the shoulder and said, "It'll be okay.  Trust me.  See you
at 1:00."

Once
outside, Susan said,  "And how will you explain this and compensate
Paradox if he stays?"

Mission
looked at her and said, "There's no satisfying you.  You complain that I
have an answer to everything, and then I upset you when I don't have a
clue." 

His smile
disappeared.  "I'll figure that one out if he stays."

At 1:00, Carson
watched as Mission and Susan checked and then rechecked their baggage.  Carson had
finished his at noon.  Susan looked up to see Montag approaching with his bags
in hand.  She said, "I take it you are returning with us?"

Montag
smiled and said, "Yes, Dr. Susan.  Mr. Atwood made many interesting and
relevant points.  But my place is here with my teammates."

Susan
kissed him on the cheek and said, "I'm glad.  We would have missed
you."

Mission
and Carson echoed her sentiments as they noticed Atwood approaching.  He
stopped to clean his glasses and said, "I came to see you off."

Mission
grinned and said, "Going to make sure we get on the shuttle, are
you?"

Atwood
smiled and said, "No, I actually believe you are more anxious to leave
than I am to see you go.  I just wanted to say good-bye and good luck."

They
shook hands all around and as he came to Mission he said, "I would very
much like to see you continue to lead the negotiations once you reach
Earth."

That
shocked Mission.  He considered and said, "Well, I would like to
continue.  But the truth is, once we reach Earth, I’m unemployed.  I’ll have to
see what develops.  Good-bye Arthur.  I think your people are in very good
hands."

They
stepped inside the shuttle and three hours later landed at Station Eight.

The
depression smothered them as they stepped off the shuttle.  Back to the mind
numbing routine of nothing to do in quarters far too small.  The good news was
that they would fly on to Station Seven tomorrow.

The time
passed and Mission paused in his reading for a moment.  They were on route to
Station Six and he looked at several opinions on the sound quality and action
of the musical instruments on which Mozart composed his music.  Susan stared at
him and he said, "What?  I couldn't possibly have done anything
wrong,"

"I'm
wondering about your statement to Atwood, you said you were unemployed when we
land on Earth."

"I
resigned Susan.  No more Paradox paychecks."

She
shook her head emphatically.  "No, you meant something more than that,
didn't you?"

Mission
sighed.  "I don't know.  I don't think I can hunt syns anymore.  At least
not the ones declaring independence.  Maybe the ones that are mentally unstable. 
But now it feels like murder.  And I can't afford to try and take them alive. 
I’d be killed within the year.  I've survived this long because my strategy is
to strike without warning.  I think I have to find something else to do."

Susan
asked, "Why don't you come back to Paradox?"

"You
know why.  Besides, I'm not sure your future is much safer.  If anything at all
goes wrong, the publicity will bankrupt your company overnight."

Susan
nodded.  "Yes, you’re right.  I suppose both of us might live in the Free
Zone next year."

She fell
silent and Mission realized how wonderfully he reassured Susan.  But she's a
big girl and she'll deal with it.  Plus she has impeccable credentials.  She
won't miss a paycheck before she catches on with another company.  His head
gradually slumped toward the window as he fell asleep.

Mission
woke noticing Susan's face very close to his.  She looked out the window at
Saturn.  The spectacle defied comparison.  The planet itself and the majesty of
the rings acted as centerpiece for a flurry of activity as at least eighteen
natural moons and the largest space station ever built hurried through their
orbits.  Space shuttles and cruisers and freighters dotted the sky and animated
the scene.

Susan
said, "I think the rings of Saturn are the most beautiful sight ever
revealed to the humans."

Mission
nodded.  "Me too.  As a matter of fact, I was wondering about this
evening."

Susan
smiled.

Mission
smiled back. "Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of a space
cruiser."

"What
do you mean?"

"Well,
they have cruisers for charter at Number Six with glass observation rooms.  You
can see the entire panorama.  I chartered one for us tonight."

Susan’s
smile grew wider. “What’s the occasion?”

Mission
shrugged. “One of the wonders of the solar system, a chance to see it with
you…”

“And?”

Mission
tilted his head. “And what?”

Now
Susan shrugged. “It just felt like there was an
and
in there.”

Mission
spoke with great deliberation. “Maybe there is.” He turned in his seat to face
her more directly. “We’ve figured out what was happening in NA. We still have
some work to do, but I think the end is in sight. And that means you’ll be
making plans to move back into your place.”

Mission’s
verbal pace had slowed to a crawl. Even though he had turned to face her, he
was now staring at the floor. Slowly, he brought his gaze up to look into her
eyes. “And I don’t want you to leave.”

Susan said,
" Do you think now’s the time to jump into this? Were you here when we
discussed the idea that neither of us may have jobs next week? "

"I
was here.  I want to be with you."

It
wasn't pain or fear or sadness, but anger that forced tears to her eyes as she
rasped, "Would you be serious for one goddamned moment of your life?  Our
situation is definitely serious."

"And
would you be human for just one moment of your life?  If we were seventeen and
didn't have jobs, I'd say maybe not now.  But we're on the plus side of thirty
and we’ve both survived, and will continue to do so.  I'm not proposing a
business merger, I'm not deciding which speeder to buy. I’m telling you I want
to be with you.  And you know you want the same.  You’re looking for a reason
to not commit!"

"You
smug bastard!  You are so certain that you know everything and you may know a
lot, but you don't know everything about me."

Mission
put his face very close to hers and said, "Tell me you don't want
me."

Susan's
expression never changed and slowly she said, "I'm really not that
interested in you."

"Liar." 
He slowly moved his face until it touched her and then his lips touched hers. 
Not kissing, simply touching.  And then he pressed his mouth against hers,
quite hard, and she pushed back.  The abandon and duration of the kiss was as
impressive as the view of Saturn. 

Reluctantly,
Mission pulled back from Susan. Before he could speak, Carson leaned back from
the seat in front of them with a sour expression and said, “Jesus, you guys
make me want to hurl.”