IV. 3. Saulres and Silent
*(21/09) Saulres In Office of Cheif of Security, (4.1)
Saulres enters the office of the Cheif of Security, then closes and locks the door. He approaches a camera monitor and types some info on the attached keyboard. The monitor begins to flash image after image, showing locations around PLN Sector. saulres pays very close attention.
Boy there are a lot of those ULTRAVIOLET pets running loose. And a lot of low-levels hurting, maiming -- spindling? -- them. Even killing them!?! How dare they? Those are ULTRAVIOLET pets. What are they teaching clones nowadays? I'll have to arrange for punishment for all those who've killed them. Right after I find who I'm looking for, and talk to him...
He continues to watch the screens whilst typing on the keyboard, then plugs his PDC into the keyboard. A screen-within-a-screen opens on the main screen, showing various footage he's already seen. At several points, the smaller image stops, and saulres pushes a button on his PDC. "Downloading..." appears over the smaller image.
Okay, this is ridiculous. How many times must I scan the same areas over and over before I find him? Or is Silent's disappearance the same as -- no, no, that can't possibly be. The two of them have nothing in common.
Sheesh. And this time, Silent would probably be thrilled for me to find him. So why can't I? Grrr....
Maybe if Biggles would show up, he could help me. What -- am -- I -- MISSING?
(22/09)
There's a knock on the door. saulres glances over, then back to the monitor. He pushes a few more buttons, and the montior stops its incessant searching and shows the secuity station. He sees Girdag wrestling with the handle.
YELLOWs. saulres rolls his eyes.
Girdag finally knocks again, and announces himself, so saulres quickly disconnects his PDC from the keyboard, pockets it, and presses a few more buttons.
Let's see. Takyn said if I do -- this -- then that should erase that, and -- this -- erases that, and -- let's see -- this? Yeah, that erases that. Good deal.
The monitors are now off. saulres walks to the door, unlocks it, and opens it.
"Come in, Girdag. Quickly."
Girdag hurries in, closing the door behind him, and glances around, seeing the blank monitors and a few of Biggles-V's more...interesting information gathering devices. He falters for a second, then speaks.
"I'm here, Sir. What did you want me for?"
saulres closes and locks door again.
"Okay, Girdag, here's the deal. I've got some research I need done, and it has to be kept extremely quiet. You've proven yourself resourceful, what with you finding my PDC's backdoor and all. You've proven yourself to be able to keep a secret, as I haven't heard anything from our last encounter. And you seem to be stable (although I could be wrong about that).
"I'm now going to reveal to you a terrible secret. If this secret gets out, there may be a panic. We -- I mean, I don't want there to be a panic. So you have to be as-so-lute-ly dis-creet about it." He takes a deep breath,
"Here goes. Jazzer is missing. I want you to use your resources to try to find him. Got it?"
"Yes, sir. Are there any leads I have to go on? Any sightings, any ideas where he is, anything? And will I be allowed access to the surveillence footage? That could prove really helpful."
(23/09)
"If we could find him on the surveillance footage, I wouldn't need your help now, would I?"
Girdag begins to sweat slightly,
"I've got no clues to give you. If I had clues, I would've taken this to someone who operates through legitimate channels. Don't you get it?"
"And.....is there anything in this for me? Apart from not getting my clone template wiped, of course."
"Is there anything in it for you? How about the gratitude of a UV? An IOU? With the level of favor equal to the level of how useful you are in finding him. Work for you?" saulres' eyes narrow, "There's only one right answer to that question."
Girgag gulps.
"Yes, Sir. I'll be right on it. Permission to be right on it, sir?"
"Permission to... Yes permission to be right on it!"
YELLOWs!
saulres rolls his eyes, then, as if to emphasize the point, unlocks the door, opens it, and gestures Girdag to leave. The YELLOW salutes, and hurries out with a heroic look in his eye, a spring in his step, a swagger in his style, and a determination that he is going to find Jazzer. This effect is rather spoiled by him catching his foot on the side of the door, and tripping up, sending himself hurling out of the office. saulres rolls his eyes again.
YELLOWs...
He closes and locks the door, starts the monitors going again, re-hooks up his PDC for the picture-in-a-picture.
Now, where in the Complex is he?
It is some time later that saulres manages to find Silent.
***
Clone Death Report...
>NAME: Silent-O-PLN
>CLONE TO BE DECANTED: 3
>REASON: ERROR
> SCANNING FOR IMPERFECTIONS: ... ... ... NONE FOUND.
> SCANNING FOR MUTATIONS: 1...2....3...%
Hello Silent-O-PLN to the Mutation Store! Where Commie Traitors go to become Commie Mutant Traitors! It seems you have logged into our server, so you must want to buy a mutant power! This isn't as if it is some sort of virus that happens to hijack a clone tank and uses it to force clones to buy mutations regardless of wheter they actually want it? Are we that greedy?
Okay we are. Just please choose your mutation now.
I mean now.
I don't got all day here. And seeing you drool isn't my idea of entertainment.
Thank you for your selection. Mutation uploaded...have a nice day! Payment will be rendered 10 yearcycles from now.
>3...100% NO MUTATION FOUND!
>Uploading MemoMax...10...25...50...75...100%
>Prepare for final decanting.
>Decanting Complete.
>Welcome back to Alpha Complex, citizen.
"Yes. I'm ready to serve Alpha Complex...Now...what to do?
I know. I haven't played Pac-Y-MAN for a long time...actually, I haven't played it at all...Let me boot it up."
>FEMALE PAC-Y-MAN STARTING UP!
>WELCOME TO "FEMALE PAC-Y-MAN: THE FULL VERISON"! Would you like to play: Easy, Medium, or Hard?
"Hm...which difficulty level to choose..."
***
Ah, there he is. Now, what's the quickest way there?
saulres takes out a blueprint of the sector and finds a shortcut, then takes the appropriate precautions and exits the office, into the Intsec security station. Here he sees Girdag stuck head-first in a permaform block, which also contains a house bot belonging to Bee-G, and put there by the mutant Mike-Y, who is having dificultys with his power, telekinesis.
"Girdag? You still here? I thought you were getting right on it."
He rolls his eyes. YELLOWs. Mutie and bot still here. Acting all mutie-ish. And botish. What is this complex coming to?
***
Bursts into the decantation room.
Wow, those shortcuts work great.
"Silent! I've been looking for you for hours! We need to talk... Not here. Too public. When you're done with your paperwork, come with me."
"Sure thing, s-Mr. Great High Programer Sir!"
Wow...that Omega Chair really did get to me...
"Okay, paperwork..."
"1. Was your decantation successful?"
"Yes."
"2. Was your MemoMax transfer successful?"
Hm... Okay. What is my name? Silent-O-PLN? Yeah, that seems right.
"Yes."
"3. Do you have the proper number of organs?"
"Yes."
"4. Do you have a mutation you would like to register?"
"No. But if I did have a mutation, I would register it, because I am a loyal citizen of Alpha Complex!"
That should fool them!
"5. Do you believe bots are superior to humans?"
"No. Both bots and humans are equal. None are superior or inferior."
"6. Was the service at this facility satisfactory?"
"Yes."
"7. [DELETED FOR SECURITY REASONS]?"
"Well, it is obivously [DELTED FOR SECURITY REASONS]."
"8. Do you accept the terms of service for use of this facility?"
Hm...I could go on a long rant about the terms of service for use to stall for time and for fun...but saulres might get angry...so...
"Yes."
"And now for the essay section."
silent reads the essay questions carefully. Answers all prompts in the following manner; I love Friend Computer. Friend Computer is always right. I love to be in his utopia.
There, perfect 100. Nobody would reject that essay, if they did, they would be committing treason!
Thank you for filling out the paperwork... processing time will be seventeen years.
Hm...service has gotten more effiecent than last time
"I'm finished, Mr. Great High Programer Sir."
"All right. I see you've learned some lessons since we last spoke. Good for you. Here, I'll reduce your credit debt by 1000. That'll show you I'm serious. Now, follow me. We're going to Biggles' office. I know a shortcut."
***
saulres re-enters the office with Silent, shutting and locking the door behind them.
"Now, Silent. I know we've had our... issues... before. But now I find myself in need of someone with your particular... talents.
"I'd like you to do a service for me, one which requires the utmost secrecy. I feel that you're the right person for this job, as, one, you lie a lot, so people aren't likely to believe you if you tell the truth, and two, your skills at lying tend to make people open up to you, from what I've seen.
"Would you agree with this assessment?"
Silent realises he is in a tight situation.
"Since you are a UV, and you have much more resources than I ever could, you must be right. I agree with your assetment."
"Okay. So. Here's the thing. I've got a... delicate... situation. One which must maintain the highest level of confidentiality, or a panic may ensue. I do not, under any cirucmstances, want a panic. If there is a panic, you will be punished.
"If, on the other hand, you go about this in your usual devious manner, and don't cause a panic, and help me... I'll relieve a substantial portion of your debt.
"Think you can handle it?"
"Yes." I'm so screwed...
"Okay. High Programmer Jazzer is-"
saulres takes a deep breath,
"-missing.
"I want you to use your resources, talk to whoever you can, and find out what happened to him, and where he is. Under no circumstances are you to say that he's missing, because that could cause a panic. And I already told you what I think about panics.
"Find him, alive, and I will relieve your entire debt. If you fail, I'll relieve a pro-rated portion, based solely on my opinion of your efforts. If you cause a panic, well, there are worse things than a high debt.
"Any questions?"
... Actually, this job seems easier than I expected. First, saulres is interested in not causing a panic. That will be easy. Half of PLN sector already knew Jazzer is gone, thanks to AlphaOne's little diary enteries. The other half, well, are too loyal to matter.
...Secondly, I can easily recurit people to assist me in the search. Can't tell them TOO MUCH, but I think it might be fine. Delegating the job will make it easier for me, and provides for a scapegoat in case this operation fails.
...Third, I got Santa-R. I've been a loyal clone, and I got presents from him, so I can expect some help from him. His SlowTimeDown mutation will surely help me cover more ground as well as the fact that he can see everything. I just need to reach him, tell him my dilema, and this job will be done...
...Think about it...complete this job, and you can now boast in circles: "Hey, I did a job for a UV and I got paid a total of 148,052 credits!" (Yeah, nobody will believe me, but still)...and I can finally DO something with my income...Plus, it will provide some good relationship points with saulres. Hopefully, it will give me a promotion...
...You idiot. You know that will never happen. Still, it doesn't hurt to dream...
"Yes, a question. Is it possible to decant a false clone of Jazzer? As a temporary measure, until the real Jazzer-U arrives? Have him go around the Complex, come to PLC for suprise inspections and then leave? This will show to the citizens of Alpha Complex that "Jazzer" is still here, and won't cause any panic."
saulres stares at Silent, dumbfounded.
"Decant a false clone?" Slowly, a smile spreads across his face, "You are devious, aren't you?" the smile turns to a scowl, then a glare, "Of course not. Do you have any real questions?"
Saulres enters the office of the Cheif of Security, then closes and locks the door. He approaches a camera monitor and types some info on the attached keyboard. The monitor begins to flash image after image, showing locations around PLN Sector. saulres pays very close attention.
Boy there are a lot of those ULTRAVIOLET pets running loose. And a lot of low-levels hurting, maiming -- spindling? -- them. Even killing them!?! How dare they? Those are ULTRAVIOLET pets. What are they teaching clones nowadays? I'll have to arrange for punishment for all those who've killed them. Right after I find who I'm looking for, and talk to him...
He continues to watch the screens whilst typing on the keyboard, then plugs his PDC into the keyboard. A screen-within-a-screen opens on the main screen, showing various footage he's already seen. At several points, the smaller image stops, and saulres pushes a button on his PDC. "Downloading..." appears over the smaller image.
Okay, this is ridiculous. How many times must I scan the same areas over and over before I find him? Or is Silent's disappearance the same as -- no, no, that can't possibly be. The two of them have nothing in common.
Sheesh. And this time, Silent would probably be thrilled for me to find him. So why can't I? Grrr....
Maybe if Biggles would show up, he could help me. What -- am -- I -- MISSING?
(22/09)
There's a knock on the door. saulres glances over, then back to the monitor. He pushes a few more buttons, and the montior stops its incessant searching and shows the secuity station. He sees Girdag wrestling with the handle.
YELLOWs. saulres rolls his eyes.
Girdag finally knocks again, and announces himself, so saulres quickly disconnects his PDC from the keyboard, pockets it, and presses a few more buttons.
Let's see. Takyn said if I do -- this -- then that should erase that, and -- this -- erases that, and -- let's see -- this? Yeah, that erases that. Good deal.
The monitors are now off. saulres walks to the door, unlocks it, and opens it.
"Come in, Girdag. Quickly."
Girdag hurries in, closing the door behind him, and glances around, seeing the blank monitors and a few of Biggles-V's more...interesting information gathering devices. He falters for a second, then speaks.
"I'm here, Sir. What did you want me for?"
saulres closes and locks door again.
"Okay, Girdag, here's the deal. I've got some research I need done, and it has to be kept extremely quiet. You've proven yourself resourceful, what with you finding my PDC's backdoor and all. You've proven yourself to be able to keep a secret, as I haven't heard anything from our last encounter. And you seem to be stable (although I could be wrong about that).
"I'm now going to reveal to you a terrible secret. If this secret gets out, there may be a panic. We -- I mean, I don't want there to be a panic. So you have to be as-so-lute-ly dis-creet about it." He takes a deep breath,
"Here goes. Jazzer is missing. I want you to use your resources to try to find him. Got it?"
"Yes, sir. Are there any leads I have to go on? Any sightings, any ideas where he is, anything? And will I be allowed access to the surveillence footage? That could prove really helpful."
(23/09)
"If we could find him on the surveillance footage, I wouldn't need your help now, would I?"
Girdag begins to sweat slightly,
"I've got no clues to give you. If I had clues, I would've taken this to someone who operates through legitimate channels. Don't you get it?"
"And.....is there anything in this for me? Apart from not getting my clone template wiped, of course."
"Is there anything in it for you? How about the gratitude of a UV? An IOU? With the level of favor equal to the level of how useful you are in finding him. Work for you?" saulres' eyes narrow, "There's only one right answer to that question."
Girgag gulps.
"Yes, Sir. I'll be right on it. Permission to be right on it, sir?"
"Permission to... Yes permission to be right on it!"
YELLOWs!
saulres rolls his eyes, then, as if to emphasize the point, unlocks the door, opens it, and gestures Girdag to leave. The YELLOW salutes, and hurries out with a heroic look in his eye, a spring in his step, a swagger in his style, and a determination that he is going to find Jazzer. This effect is rather spoiled by him catching his foot on the side of the door, and tripping up, sending himself hurling out of the office. saulres rolls his eyes again.
YELLOWs...
He closes and locks the door, starts the monitors going again, re-hooks up his PDC for the picture-in-a-picture.
Now, where in the Complex is he?
It is some time later that saulres manages to find Silent.
***
Clone Death Report...
>NAME: Silent-O-PLN
>CLONE TO BE DECANTED: 3
>REASON: ERROR
> SCANNING FOR IMPERFECTIONS: ... ... ... NONE FOUND.
> SCANNING FOR MUTATIONS: 1...2....3...%
Hello Silent-O-PLN to the Mutation Store! Where Commie Traitors go to become Commie Mutant Traitors! It seems you have logged into our server, so you must want to buy a mutant power! This isn't as if it is some sort of virus that happens to hijack a clone tank and uses it to force clones to buy mutations regardless of wheter they actually want it? Are we that greedy?
Okay we are. Just please choose your mutation now.
I mean now.
I don't got all day here. And seeing you drool isn't my idea of entertainment.
Thank you for your selection. Mutation uploaded...have a nice day! Payment will be rendered 10 yearcycles from now.
>3...100% NO MUTATION FOUND!
>Uploading MemoMax...10...25...50...75...100%
>Prepare for final decanting.
>Decanting Complete.
>Welcome back to Alpha Complex, citizen.
"Yes. I'm ready to serve Alpha Complex...Now...what to do?
I know. I haven't played Pac-Y-MAN for a long time...actually, I haven't played it at all...Let me boot it up."
>FEMALE PAC-Y-MAN STARTING UP!
>WELCOME TO "FEMALE PAC-Y-MAN: THE FULL VERISON"! Would you like to play: Easy, Medium, or Hard?
"Hm...which difficulty level to choose..."
***
Ah, there he is. Now, what's the quickest way there?
saulres takes out a blueprint of the sector and finds a shortcut, then takes the appropriate precautions and exits the office, into the Intsec security station. Here he sees Girdag stuck head-first in a permaform block, which also contains a house bot belonging to Bee-G, and put there by the mutant Mike-Y, who is having dificultys with his power, telekinesis.
"Girdag? You still here? I thought you were getting right on it."
He rolls his eyes. YELLOWs. Mutie and bot still here. Acting all mutie-ish. And botish. What is this complex coming to?
***
Bursts into the decantation room.
Wow, those shortcuts work great.
"Silent! I've been looking for you for hours! We need to talk... Not here. Too public. When you're done with your paperwork, come with me."
"Sure thing, s-Mr. Great High Programer Sir!"
Wow...that Omega Chair really did get to me...
"Okay, paperwork..."
"1. Was your decantation successful?"
"Yes."
"2. Was your MemoMax transfer successful?"
Hm... Okay. What is my name? Silent-O-PLN? Yeah, that seems right.
"Yes."
"3. Do you have the proper number of organs?"
"Yes."
"4. Do you have a mutation you would like to register?"
"No. But if I did have a mutation, I would register it, because I am a loyal citizen of Alpha Complex!"
That should fool them!
"5. Do you believe bots are superior to humans?"
"No. Both bots and humans are equal. None are superior or inferior."
"6. Was the service at this facility satisfactory?"
"Yes."
"7. [DELETED FOR SECURITY REASONS]?"
"Well, it is obivously [DELTED FOR SECURITY REASONS]."
"8. Do you accept the terms of service for use of this facility?"
Hm...I could go on a long rant about the terms of service for use to stall for time and for fun...but saulres might get angry...so...
"Yes."
"And now for the essay section."
silent reads the essay questions carefully. Answers all prompts in the following manner; I love Friend Computer. Friend Computer is always right. I love to be in his utopia.
There, perfect 100. Nobody would reject that essay, if they did, they would be committing treason!
Thank you for filling out the paperwork... processing time will be seventeen years.
Hm...service has gotten more effiecent than last time
"I'm finished, Mr. Great High Programer Sir."
"All right. I see you've learned some lessons since we last spoke. Good for you. Here, I'll reduce your credit debt by 1000. That'll show you I'm serious. Now, follow me. We're going to Biggles' office. I know a shortcut."
***
saulres re-enters the office with Silent, shutting and locking the door behind them.
"Now, Silent. I know we've had our... issues... before. But now I find myself in need of someone with your particular... talents.
"I'd like you to do a service for me, one which requires the utmost secrecy. I feel that you're the right person for this job, as, one, you lie a lot, so people aren't likely to believe you if you tell the truth, and two, your skills at lying tend to make people open up to you, from what I've seen.
"Would you agree with this assessment?"
Silent realises he is in a tight situation.
"Since you are a UV, and you have much more resources than I ever could, you must be right. I agree with your assetment."
"Okay. So. Here's the thing. I've got a... delicate... situation. One which must maintain the highest level of confidentiality, or a panic may ensue. I do not, under any cirucmstances, want a panic. If there is a panic, you will be punished.
"If, on the other hand, you go about this in your usual devious manner, and don't cause a panic, and help me... I'll relieve a substantial portion of your debt.
"Think you can handle it?"
"Yes." I'm so screwed...
"Okay. High Programmer Jazzer is-"
saulres takes a deep breath,
"-missing.
"I want you to use your resources, talk to whoever you can, and find out what happened to him, and where he is. Under no circumstances are you to say that he's missing, because that could cause a panic. And I already told you what I think about panics.
"Find him, alive, and I will relieve your entire debt. If you fail, I'll relieve a pro-rated portion, based solely on my opinion of your efforts. If you cause a panic, well, there are worse things than a high debt.
"Any questions?"
... Actually, this job seems easier than I expected. First, saulres is interested in not causing a panic. That will be easy. Half of PLN sector already knew Jazzer is gone, thanks to AlphaOne's little diary enteries. The other half, well, are too loyal to matter.
...Secondly, I can easily recurit people to assist me in the search. Can't tell them TOO MUCH, but I think it might be fine. Delegating the job will make it easier for me, and provides for a scapegoat in case this operation fails.
...Third, I got Santa-R. I've been a loyal clone, and I got presents from him, so I can expect some help from him. His SlowTimeDown mutation will surely help me cover more ground as well as the fact that he can see everything. I just need to reach him, tell him my dilema, and this job will be done...
...Think about it...complete this job, and you can now boast in circles: "Hey, I did a job for a UV and I got paid a total of 148,052 credits!" (Yeah, nobody will believe me, but still)...and I can finally DO something with my income...Plus, it will provide some good relationship points with saulres. Hopefully, it will give me a promotion...
...You idiot. You know that will never happen. Still, it doesn't hurt to dream...
"Yes, a question. Is it possible to decant a false clone of Jazzer? As a temporary measure, until the real Jazzer-U arrives? Have him go around the Complex, come to PLC for suprise inspections and then leave? This will show to the citizens of Alpha Complex that "Jazzer" is still here, and won't cause any panic."
saulres stares at Silent, dumbfounded.
"Decant a false clone?" Slowly, a smile spreads across his face, "You are devious, aren't you?" the smile turns to a scowl, then a glare, "Of course not. Do you have any real questions?"
posted by Zatnik | 1:21 AM
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