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  “She’s done,” Respoola answered. “As you can see, I’ve got it in writing. She’s agreed to endorse Michael in exchange for the Presidency of Skyton University.”

  Brandix examined the handwritten note and placed it on the glass-topped table in front of the couch. He knew that Casseday would see it when he sat down.

  “Were there any complications with the appointment?” Brandix asked.

  “The current President wasn’t too happy about leaving, but after we discussed his options, he agreed to retire early,” Respoola answered. “He will announce his intention to leave the University as soon as you want. All we have to do is let him know when. After that, the University’s Board of Trustees will conduct a perfunctory search for his replacement and then name Vesperie as his successor.”

  “Excellent,” Brandix replied. “Now, what about Vesperie’s financiers? Any problems with them?”

  “No,” Respoola answered. “A few of them have taken a wait-and-see attitude and have decided to remain neutral for the time being, but most of them are on-board and offered to sponsor credit-raising banquets on Michael’s behalf.”

  “Excellent,” Brandix repeated. “As long as none of them support any of the remaining candidates I am happy. But make certain that those who are still sitting on the fence, especially those dependent on government contracts, know that after we win this election that I will remember who joined us early and who joined us late.”

  “They know,” Respoola answered. “But I will be very happy to remind them.”

  “Okay,” Brandix replied, moving on. “As soon as Vesperie announces that she is dropping out and supporting us I want you to leak information to the videopapers about most of her financiers backing us. I want everyone to know that momentum is with us.”

  Just then, the doorbell rang. The man with the mustache got up from his chair and headed for the front door.

  Straightening the bright red scarf that hung loosely around his neck, Brandix announced, “Let our honored guest in.”

  Justice Casseday stood impatiently at the door.

  “I’m not used to having to wait for doors,” he announced gruffly, walking past the mustachioed man as if he didn’t exist.

  “Justice Casseday, it is always a pleasure to see you,” Brandix stated gesturing to the couch. “Please have a seat.”

  Casseday hesitated for a moment and answered, “I prefer that seat over there.”

  The Justice walked past the couch and took the seat that had been occupied by the man who had answered the door.

  Brandix let out a loud, audible sigh and asked, “Do you always have to be so difficult?”

  “Let’s get to it,” Justice Casseday stated impatiently. “You called this meeting, not me. What do you want?”

  Brandix smiled and gestured to the man who had opened the door to leave. As soon as he was gone Brandix walked over to the couch and sat down.

  “You don’t mind if George stays, do you?” Brandix asked.

  “This is your meeting,” Casseday answered. “I don’t care who stays or who goes.”

  “Very well then,” Brandix continued. “You and I are both fully aware of the situation. Michael LaRocque is the most popular political figure on the planet. He’s certain to be elected to fill Chief Justice Kartini’s seat on the Court.”

  “Maybe, maybe not,” Casseday answered. “The election is not over yet and there have been upsets in the past.”

  “Yes,” Brandix continued. “Marilyn Hunt is a formidable opponent. There is much to like about her. Good blood lines, she is politically experienced, knows who’s who, and what is what.”

  “What is your point?” Casseday asked. “I know my candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.”

  “I have been in contact with Vesperie’s financiers,” Brandix continued. “They recognize Michael’s popularity and have indicated a desire to cut a deal.”

  “Precisely who have you been talking to?” Casseday asked.

  “Carpentier, Chen, LeVasseur, Monroe, O’Toole, Sanchez, and Shapiro, just to name a few,” Brandix replied.

  “Okay,” Casseday responded. “Some financiers are getting nervous because Vesperie is done and your guy is up in the polls. Big deal. Again, what’s your point?”

  “I would like to offer you a deal,” Brandix answered. “I’m willing to nominate you for the Vice-Chairmanship of the Interstellar Court in exchange for your endorsement of Michael LaRocque.”

  “Do I look like standby material?” Casseday grumbled, obviously not impressed by the offer.

  “Please let me continue,” Brandix added. “I will also announce that the duties of the Vice-Chairmanship will be expanded to include the sole and independent administration and oversight of all of the government’s contracts with the Consortium’s Junior Members. You would have the final say on millions of contracts worth trillions of credits each and every year you are on the Court.”

  Casseday leaned forward in his chair and said very carefully and distinctly, “What’s the cut?”

  “You keep 100 percent of any private contributions that may be provided by those seeking the contracts,” Brandix answered. “No questions asked.”

  “No unannounced audits or questions about why a specific bidder was selected?” Casseday asked, obviously interested.

  “None,” Brandix answered. “You will have the final say on who gets the contract. No questions asked. For appearance’s sake, the Court will announce a surprise audit of the contracts every few years, conducted at a time and by persons cleared by you. The audit will find that the contracts you approved are both fair and reasonable. That should satisfy any reporters hoping to find a story.”

  “That’s a very generous offer,” Casseday stated. “I would be one of the wealthiest men in the entire Consortium.”

  “Of course, if you don’t endorse Michael and he wins, you get nothing,” Brandix added.

  “And if Marilyn Hunt wins, you get nothing,” Casseday answered.

  “I take it that we understand one another,” Brandix said.

  “Yes, we do,” Casseday replied. “But what’s in this for Hunt?”

  “Her choice of ambassadorships and a very generous expense account,” Brandix answered.

  Casseday was quiet for a moment, pondering his next move.

  “What else?” Brandix asked, knowing full well that Casseday was seriously considering his offer.

  “I’ve stuck my neck out concerning LaRocque’s latest find,” Casseday stated.

  “Michael has made it a focal point in his campaign,” Brandix replied.

  “It would be very embarrassing for me to have both my candidate and my issue defeated at the same time,” Casseday explained. “If I throw my support over to your side, I could lose face in front of a lot of my friends if we don’t reboot that planet. Most of my financiers have invested in land futures that will be valueless if that continent is not put up for auction.”

  Brandix leaned back in his seat. He toyed with his red scarf for a few moments and stated, “As you know, Michael LaRocque’s vote on this matter is unimpeachable. Given that he would be the swing vote, the only way a reboot can take place is if someone who voted for the reprieve switched their vote. Obviously, I can’t switch my vote. The videopapers would have a field day with that. But I suppose that I could get someone else to switch. It will cost a lot of credits, but I think that I can get the job done.”

  “It sounds like Michael LaRocque is going to be joining the Interstellar Court of Justice,” Casseday announced with a wide grin. “Congratulations on a fine campaign.”

  Brandix and Casseday stood up and shook hands.

  “I’ll meet with Marilyn Hunt this evening,” Casseday stated, heading for the door. “I will endorse LaRocque as soon as you confirm that you have the votes to reboot that planet. That will give me time to inform my financiers about the deal. They will be disappointed about Hunt, but after I arrange the purchase of some additional land futures on that planet for
them, they’ll get over their disappointment.”

  As soon as Casseday left the room, Brandix turned to George Respoola and announced with a broad smile, “Nothing can stop us now.”

  Chapter 18

  CAPTURED

  Conor slumped against the wall, tears welling up in his eyes.

  “Hey,” Kathryn whispered in a sympathetic, calming voice. “What’s wrong?”

  Conor looked into her eyes and whispered, “You don’t understand. That was my planet they were talking about. My family is there.”

  “What are you talking about?” she asked in her thoughts. “I thought that you were from here.”

  “No,” he answered, wiping a tear from his face. “I am not from here. And I am glad that I am not from here. This planet of yours is …”

  A maintenance robot rolled around a corner in the corridor and headed straight at them.

  “Kristi!” Conor called out silently. “We need your help again!”

  Kristi did not answer. Looking up, Conor realized why. A Consortium battle flag was draped on the wall. It was hung from a holoreed. Standing up, he grabbed Kathryn tight and focused. He was going to have to do this without Kristi’s help. The maintenance robot’s searchlight illuminated Kathryn’s right shoe and slowly moved up her leg. Kathryn tensed up, held her breath, and squeezed Conor’s hands. The maintenance robot rolled past, oblivious to their presence. After reaching the end of the corridor, it did an about-face and passed them again as it headed back toward the main tunnel. They quietly followed the robot down the corridor, maintaining a safe distance.

  After reaching the main tunnel, the robot turned down another corridor. As soon as it was out of sight, they raced for the indentation where they had left the two robocars. As they approached, another maintenance robot appeared seemingly out of nowhere. It was headed straight for the indentation. Kathryn could not believe her eyes as the robot suddenly lifted off of the floor, flew across the corridor, and smashed into the tunnel’s wall. It cracked in half and fell to the floor, motionless. Kathryn stood dumbfounded, trying her best to make sense of what she had just seen.

  “I got it before it had a chance to report that the robocars were out of place, but it’s a good bet that the Court’s security people know that it is no longer operational,” Conor stated. “We had better hurry.”

  Grabbing Kathryn’s hand, Conor pulled her over to the two deflated robocars. They each hopped onto a robocar, grabbed its sides, and rose into the air. Leaning forward as far as they could without falling, they flew down the tunnel, the ceiling lights blurring into a luminous streak as they passed by. Kathryn’s ponytail whipped through the air as she pulled ahead.

  Approaching a bend in the tunnel, Kathryn shouted out over her shoulder, “We’re more than halfway there.”

  Rounding the turn, she spotted an armed security guard standing in the middle of the tunnel. His left hand was signaling for her to stop. The laser pistol in his right hand was pointed at her head. Its barrel was glowing red, indicating that its power setting was on kill. Kathryn pulled back hard on both sides of the robocar, bringing it to an abrupt stop in mid-air. Conor rounded the turn and slammed into Kathryn hard, sending them both tumbling to the floor.

  The guard ran up to them and shouted, “Don’t move, I’ve got both of you covered.”

  Conor untangled himself from his now deflated robocar and focused on the laser pistol. It jumped out of the guard’s hand, flew high over Conor’s head, and continued down the tunnel behind him. The guard stared at his now empty hand in disbelief. He then floated up into the air and, before he knew what hit him, Conor slammed him against the tunnel’s wall, knocking him out cold.

  Conor rushed over to Kathryn’s side and whispered, “Are you alright?”

  “I think so,” she answered.

  “Can you walk?” Conor asked, helping Kathryn to her feet.

  After stretching her legs and rubbing her right thigh, she said, “I’m okay, just some bumps and bruises. Nothing serious.”

  Pointing at the unconscious guard, she added, “Better off than him anyway.”

  “Good,” Conor replied, stepping over the unconscious guard and retrieving his robocar. “We had better get going before more of them show up.”

  Kathryn grabbed her now deflated robocar and spread it out on the floor. Conor positioned his robocar next to hers and the two of them were soon flying down the tunnel once again. A moment later a loud siren began wailing and the lights went out.

  “That’s a general alert!” Kathryn shouted. “We’re in for it now.”

  Kathryn released her grip on the sides of the robocar just long enough to activate the light bar on her belt. Now that they could see again, they leaned forward and flew down the tunnel at breakneck speed. Once again, Kathryn, being the more experienced rider, pulled ahead. As they approached another bend in the tunnel, Conor’s voice shouted in her mind, “Twelve armed guards have just entered the tunnel! They are right behind us!”

  Kathryn leaned into the curve without slowing down and, for a moment, Conor lost sight of her. Then he heard her shout, “Oh no!”

  Six thick, metallic rods extended across the tunnel directly in front of Kathryn, blocking her path. She pulled back on the sides of her robocar as hard as she could, closed her eyes, and waited for impact. She knew that she was about to break every bone in her body. Conor rounded the corner and realized what was about to happen. Focusing, he formed a protective levitation shield, made certain that it covered both of them, pulled back on the sides of his robocar, and braced for impact. He had never tried to form a levitation shield before and had no idea if it would work. The last thing he remembered was hitting the metallic rods and feeling agonizing pain radiate throughout his body. Then, everything went black.

  “Wake up!” Kristi’s voice shouted in his mind. “Come on, Conor. Wake up! You must wake up! You have to wake up now!”

  Conor tried to open his eyes. His right eye was swollen shut. His left eyelid opened just a bit, but not quite wide enough for him to see anything clearly, his vision blurred by the swelling rapidly spreading across his face. He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain radiated up his left side and into his shoulder, forcing him to lie back down. He rolled over slowly, resting on his right side. Kathryn was just a few steps away. She was sprawled out on the floor, unconscious. Her light bar was on the floor next to her, its contents spilled out on the tunnel floor, casting a fading, soft illumination. Her robocar was split open, its gelatin-like substance forming a dark brown puddle on the floor.

  Just then, a uniformed security guard wearing night goggles ran up to him, pointed a laser pistol at his head, and announced, “If you make any sudden moves I will shoot. And just in case you had not noticed, my pistol is not set on stun.”

  Conor noted the red glow of the guard’s pistol, rolled over very slowly onto his back, and placed his hands behind his neck, signaling his surrender. The guard was panting heavily and Conor sensed that his heartbeat was erratic. He suddenly realized that it would be very easy for him to stop the man’s heart. He was about to do it when several other armed guards appeared from around the corner. They were all breathing heavily. Several of them held onto their sides and bent over in near exhaustion as they gathered around him.

  The guard standing over Conor placed his laser pistol in a holster strapped to his leg and announced into a wrist transponder, “Sir, we have captured two intruders, a male and a female. Both are young humanoids. Neither is armed. They don’t look very dangerous to me. Probably just a couple of college kids getting into mischief. They are both pretty banged up, so you better send a robomedic. I will secure the area and wait for your arrival. And will someone please turn the lights back on? Connelly out.”

  Connelly leaned over and announced into Conor’s face, “I don’t know who you are, or what you were up to, but you are in a whole lot of trouble.”

  Conor reached out with all of his senses and counted 12 guards, all armed with laser pistols. Ju
st then, the metallic rods blocking the tunnel receded into the tunnel’s walls. Alex stepped forward from out of the darkness and into the light bar’s now dim amber glow, a laser pistol in each hand. Set on stun, Alex’s first shot hit Connelly square in the chest. He fell backward, hitting the floor hard. Alex continuing firing. Twelve shots, 12 unconscious guards. Stepping over Connelly’s now limp, motionless body, Alex walked over to Conor.

  “You are, without a doubt, the most stupid, troublesome idiot in the entire universe!” he shouted. “What were you thinking?”

  Conor tried to respond, but he was in so much pain that he nearly passed out. The lights came back on.

  “Broken ribs,” Alex stated as he walked past Conor to Kathryn’s side. “That’s why you are having trouble talking and breathing. Serves you right too. I can’t believe that the two of you could be so stupid. Did any of them take your picture or scan your DNA?”

  “No,” Conor answered, trying to get to his feet. He made it to a sitting up position.

  “They did get a good look at us,” Conor continued, wincing in pain.

  Looking over in Kathryn’s direction, he asked, “Is she going to be alright?”

  “Her left leg is broken and she’s all banged up. Assuming that none of her vital organs are damaged and she doesn’t bleed out internally before we get her to a medical lab, she should be fine,” Alex answered. “At least, I hope so. We will know more when we get to the medical lab on the spaceship. I can’t take you to a government medical facility, that’s for sure.”

  “Do you think that they will be able to identify us?” Conor asked.

  “Don’t know for sure,” Alex answered, taking a stabilization bandage from one of his pockets and wrapping it around Kathryn’s left leg. The bandage injected thousands of microbots into Kathryn’s circulatory system. The microbots went to work repairing the bone and attacking viruses and other pathogens trying to take advantage of her weakened condition.

  “Laser stuns mess with your mind,” Alex continued. “They leave you with dead spots in your memory. If we are lucky, none of the guards will be able to remember anything that has happened to them in the last hour or two. But we can’t worry about that right now. We have to get Kathryn to a medical lab.”