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| Tsv-05-100 Alternatives Chapter 1: Knight to king's Base 4.5 Chapter 2: What Reality is this? Chapter 3: The Hisorian Way Chapter 4: Fresh Air and Exercise Chapter 5: Stranger in a Strange Land Chapter 6: Point Man Put to the Test Chapter 7: The VR and the Videodrome Chapter 8: The Tem-Space Variant Returns Chapter 9: The Amazing R-Wing Chapter 10: The Lunaside Vacation Chapter 11: The Lunaside Hiso-Courts Chapter 12: On Space, Time, and Parallel Alternate Realities |
Tem-Space Variant 5:
Alternatives
5. Stranger in a Strange Land After he left the cafe, around 3 am, Madkro passed the time by taking a tour of the area about the huge pyramid, then went into the lobby around 4 am, took a seat, and waited for the sunrise. He had no trouble from anyone during that time. So far as anyone was concerned, he was just another citizen waiting for a bus. Around 6 am he left the station lobby, found a restaurant, and had breakfast. Shortly after 7 am, he called the Hiso Agency and contacted someone. "This may sound a bit odd," he said to the woman at the other end, "but I'm somewhat lost and need a bit of help. I found your business card in my billfold and decided to give you a try." "Lost?" the woman said. "Have you worked through this agency before?" "I'm not sure, but I think perhaps I have," he said. "I'll need your name and status," she said. "Ren Madkro," he said. "I'm a member of the Hiso." "Did you say Ren Madkro?" she said, with some surprise. "Yes, that is correct," he said. "Just a moment, Mr. Madkro," she said, and there was a pause of silence. Thirty seconds later, another voice answered, the voice of a man. "Hello, this is Ray Ulster," the man said. "Mr. Madkro, where are you right now?" "I'm at the Port Authority station," he said, "in the main lobby." "Mr. Madkro, do you require assistance?" Ray said. "Yes, that's exactly what I need," Madkro said. "Can you send someone, with a vehicle?" "Certainly, Mr. Madkro," Ray said. "I can be there... in about 20 minutes, unless it's an emergency, in which case I could alert the Port Guardians to assist." "No, that won't be necessary," he said. "20 minutes will be fine. Just be sure and have a vehicle." "Of course, major," the man called Ray Ulster said, with perfect sureness. "Stay where you are. I'll see you in 20 minutes, sir." "How will I know you?" Madkro said. "Don't worry, I'll know you," Ulster said. "Everyone at the agency knows who you are, sir. I'm on my way, Major." Before Madkro could say anymore, Ulster terminated the call, and he was left wondering about the title 'Major' the man had used. Was he really a 'Major'? It was the first time anyone had used such a title with him, and he was led to wonder why. He took a seat, waited with as much patience as he could gather, and thought it all over again for the tenth time. If he was the First Point-man for the Sol-Dems, it was possible that he held another official rank which was less definitive of his position with the Hiso-tagnet. From the way he'd been treated since he first entered the alternate reality, and considering his many years of experience, it was possible that he held the rank of Major. He removed his billfold and examined his identity-card more closely. Sure enough, at the end of his name, after a comma, was the abbreviation 'Maj.', which he had somehow over-looked and missed earlier, probably because it was not like any military ID he'd ever seen before. He put the billfold away and thought about it. It was no wonder he had been treated with such respect by so many people, and presented such an easy target while alone in the park. Apparently, some people knew his face so well; he did not have to be wearing a uniform and could be easily recognized in casual play-clothes. With a slight discomfort at being so well-known, he looked about the huge lobby and relaxed. Apparently, he was not so well-known that he stood out in a continental bus-station. Nonetheless, this Ray Ulster, from the Hiso agency, apparently did know him on sight. He hoped as much, because he needed that ride and didn't want to wait around the station all day. It was going on 30 minutes when a younger man of perhaps 25, with short dark hair, in a casual suit of blue and green, stepped up to him, with a female in similar clothes, and presented himself. "Mr. Madkro, sir," the man said. "I'm Ray Ulster, from the Hiso agency." Madkro stepped up from his seat, and nodded to the man. "Good to see you, Ulster," he said, and looked at the female. "This is Jane Belgrade," Ulster said. "Miss Belgrade," Madkro said, with a slight smile, and nodded. "If you follow us, major," Miss Belgrade said, "We'll take you to a vehicle." "Mr. Madkro, please," he said to her. "The Major is too formal." "Of course, Ma… Mr. Madkro," she agreed, and led the way. Madkro followed her and Ulster followed the two of them, close behind. He felt a bit awkward tailing her, caught up to her side, and said, "I want to thank you both for coming at such short notice." "It's no problem," she said, and showed him a smile. "It's just another part of the job." 2 minutes later, they stepped out of the lobby into a large tunnel, running through the base of the pyramid, with 2 wide road-lanes and a lot of traffic. Electric buses were coming and going, from the other side of the pyramid, across the tunnel. They showed him to a dark blue sedan. Ulster got behind the controls in the front seat and Madkro sat beside Belgrade in the back. A minute later, there was a quiet electric hum, and they were on the move, out from the station and on through the city. "I have to get to a hotel, near the parkway," he said. "I'm afraid I didn't catch the name of it, but it's where I was staying before I got lost." "Actually, sir," Belgrade said, "we have orders to take you directly to CQ." "Really?" he said, with surprise. "But I don't understand. I'd really rather get back to the hotel. You see, I’ve been up all night and I'm quite tired." "I'm sorry about that, sir," she admitted. "But it's important that we get you to CQ. I'm sure they'll take care of you once you are there." "But really," Madkro protested, as the vehicle stopped at a traffic light. "Maybe you should tell him," Ulster said. "He may not know." "Tell me what?" he said, and looked at Belgrade seriously. "There've been a few developments since yesterday," she said. "The Con-Reps are pushing for a Philly case. They want those 2 extra years and they're pulling all they've got to get it." Madkro thought about her words with some confusion. He knew about the investigation and the Con-Reps, but what the heck was a 'Philly case'? "A Philly case?" he said, with surprise. "That's right sir," she said. "After 10 years, they've got plenty of national pull. CQ has been looking for you all night. They'll be happy to see you, I'm sure of that." The vehicle continued moving and Madkro thought it all over. So, they needed him at CQ. Apparently, only Lisa understood just how serious his situation was. How was he supposed to do his job if he couldn't remember anything about it?" They drove on in silence for 20 minutes, crossed a bridge, and drove for an-other 10, and entered a tunnel leading into the base of another large pyramidal structure. They turned off the side of the tunnel, passed through a large garage doorway, and parked the vehicle beside half a dozen others in a lot. |
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