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| Tsv-02-100 The Illusive R-Wing Chapter 1: Treezine Agent Chapter 2: Lisa Chapter 3: Unexpected Visitors Chapter 4: Knowledge is Power Chapter 5: A Piece of Sky Pie Chapter 6: The DGP Governor Chapter 7: Point Kapex, Lunaside Chapter 8: The Scenic Route Chapter 9: The Temspace Refraction Chapter 10: The Age of Aquarius Chapter 11: To Ride the R-Wing Chapter 12: Effects of the Tuniverseo |
4.
Knowledge is Power
Al Mentor met the manager an hour later and the manager took him directly to Madkro's apartment. Mentor was troubled by the sudden interference, by the feds or whoever. For all he knew they could be local boys, trying to get a piece of the action. "Keep an eye out, watch my back," he told the manager. "I'll make this as quickly as possible. If strangers arrive, give me a call." "Yes sir," the manager agreed, and left him. Mentor found the computer in the far corner, behind the bedside, near the sliding-glass doors to the court-yard. This was Madkro's office-corner, complete with a dozen scattered books, pencils, and a coffee cup with half a stale doughnut beside it. He sat down in the chair, looked at the computer, turned the power on, and went to work. After doing what had to be done, he pocketed a dozen disks and prepared to leave. As he was leaving, Lisa arrived with a bag of food. "Ricky, I'm home," she said, as she stepped through the kitchen door. She set the bag down on the table and went to the living-room. Mentor remained calm and serious, and said, "Mr. Madkro has been detained. I am his associate, Mr. Mentor." "Excuse me," he added quickly, before she exploded. "I will explain the situation, just remain calm." She said, "Where's Madkro?" Mentor explained it all to her at the kitchen table over a cup of Java. "Mr. Madkro and I both work for Treezine Media. How well do you know him?" "We're old friends," she admitted, "but we've just been reunited now for about 6 months." Mentor nodded thoughtfully. "Oh yes, of course," he said. "Lisa. I recall Madkro speaking of you. I see. You appear to be much closer now." "Never mind that," she said. "What about it? Where's he gone?" "It appears that federal agents have detained him," Mentor explained. "If I were you, however, I'd pack my things and find another place, just to be on the safe side. We expect they may return here anytime. Come, I will help you pack." "Now wait a minute," she protested. "I'm not just packing and leaving all this just because you, a complete stranger, appear here with this crazy story...." "Lisa," Mentor insisted, "Listen to me hard and get it all straight. Do you know what 007 was before promoted?" "Huh? What the hell?" She stopped to think about it. "006? But what does that have to do with anything?" "Madkro, Lisa, is 006," he said. "I'm sorry! But after we cut loose from here, if you stay close, we'll get him back for you." -------------------------------
"I'm surprised at you, Madkro," the man in the large office said to him, with a cigar, while the 2 'feds' sat off on a couch near the doorway. "You must've expected to draw some attention with your articles in Scimonk." "Perhaps, but Treezine is not a big publisher. We're strictly a small co-op, with only 2 large consignments. Scimonk is not one of the larger ones." "So you think a few less copies can make a difference with articles like your 'Illusive R-Wing' or 'Astronomical Points of Interest? Very clever, hiding it all so nicely under such obscure titles. You're good at what you do, Madkro. I'll be straight to the point. I'm willing to arrange a subcontract deal between your agency and my company, if you agree to work for me." "Now why should I do that?" "For $10,000 a month, with party extras and a free piece of company stock." Madkro was dumb-founded and wondered what they'd do with him if he refused. "And if I refuse?" Gulok frowned behind his large desk, then stepped up, like some kind of swaggering, non-formal officer, and got a drink for himself at a cabinet to one side. "I'll have my associates fix a passport for you," he said. "But you might not like where to." "So that's it? What kind of crazy deal is that?" Madkro objected. "You guys aren't feds. Who are you?" "This is just a front," the man said, "for a much larger project. Here's the part you may like. We want to build the R-wing." "So that's what this is all about?" Madkro said, with decisive comprehension. He raised both of his hands, lowered them, and thought about it. "Think about it, Madkro," the man said. "The new century needs brains like yours to usher in the space age. It's all perfectly legitimate, nothing illegal. Help us design and build the R-wing and you get wealthy in the process. Ten-thousand a month is a lot of money, Madkro. You could have a house inside of the year, a nice place in the suburbs, or a penthouse if you prefer. When's the last time you had 10 thousand all at one time, to play with?" "Now wait, I'm a man of principles," Madkro objected, and paused with a sigh, then decided. "I want 20 thousand a month, 10 grand up front, and I want complete access and coverage of every stage of the project. I don't want guys moving in and taking over before it's complete. I want a nice clean union subcontract and an escape clause to protect my interests." "You drive a hard bargain, Madkro," he said. "None the less, we accept." So it went. They had a special contract drawn up, which included the points Madkro had suggested. -----------------------------------
It began to look much the way he expected. Madkro had been through it all before 3 times, with the strangers known as Exo and Xik. He worked late at the office and returned to the penthouse to rest. One thing however, slightly upset it all. He had planned to bring Lisa in on it, but she couldn't be reached. He returned to the original apartment where they had spent the winter, and found a note. "The KNP called, an old friend with Treezine is looking for you." It was somewhat of an unexpected nuisance now to know that the KNP had Lisa at a safe-house. Of course, they would take good care of her. But he had wanted to just bring her in without all that top-secret agent stuff. As a result, the second day on the job he was worried about her and a bit distracted from his work. He drank too much coffee, and planned to contact the KNP with the first open window. Mentor followed Madkro after the manager of the hotel called to tell him the missing man had returned. Mentor followed Madkro's blue Windstar with his Cherokee 4x4, into the western corner of the state, to a large techno-industrial complex. Later, he picked Madkro up leaving the site, and followed him onto a state highway east. Mentor matched Madkro's speed, drove parallel and signaled. Minutes later, they stopped at a rest site with a small picnic ground. "Hey, old pal!" Mentor greeted him. "Hey Big Bear, you bastard!" Madkro said, "Look what the clouds carried in. Long time, no see!" "Right, it's been over a year," Mentor agreed. "So what's up with you now? Got a new job? Nice Windstar!" "Yes, I've finally got the contract deal of my life," he admitted. "It's amazing. Hey, damn it!" he suddenly said, "Where’s Lisa? I want her in on this!" "Follow me," Mentor quickly decided. "I'll take you to her." "So are the Feds involved?" Madkro said, "Or not?" "I was hoping you could tell me," Mentor admitted. "Who are your bosses?" "Kind of a modern 'firm' devoted to capitalizing on new innovations," he explained. "They're paying me quite well to develop and publish a set of books. Technical manuals; mostly. What brings you to town, Ranger?" "The KNP got a bit flustered after you went and flew the coop to the mountains," he said. "I was busy elsewhere, but got in as soon as I was free. How're things with the VSP?" "Did you get the copy of Scimonk I sent?" "No, but I got the disks," Mentor admitted. "When Lisa and I lost you to those fake feds I decided to cover your tracks. The disks are secure with the KNP." "Well thanks," Madkro decided. "Now take me to Lisa. I want to formalize our engagement." |
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