Chapter 26
My Fair Lady
Ranks left to do some investigation on the local economy. He wanted to see what kept this particular green ball of dust going. That information might give them a clue to solving the questions on their organizations current predicament.
Scott left the bar and went across the lobby stopping and standing at the door leading into the dining area. He visually swept the room trying to locate the lady he had seem earlier.
At first he couldn't see her, as one of the waiters was standing between him and her. When the waiter moved the movement got Scott's attention and brought his scan back to that table. He could now see her but it was from the back as she faced the other way.
For whatever reason this made little or no difference as Scott recognized her right away. Yep, he recognized her but had no idea who she was, where he had seen her or why he was so sure he recognized her. It was a puzzle and Scott wasn't comfortable with this or any other type of unsolved puzzle.
It will come to me if I just let it go and get on with things. Scott decided he would see if he could catch up on current local activities. He headed to his room to view the real time news update on the room's monitor.
The media ran a gambit of local happenings, current weather, forecast for the next week and sports news. Once the local economy was covered the media switched to global news and the financial situation ran in a bar at the bottom of the monitor. The news on the current hostilities between their neighboring worlds was handled as if it had nothing to do with this world. It was portrayed as not unusual, almost as something wanted or at least something expected.
He didn't recognize the three and four letter codes on the banner that represented businesses. That banner, at the bottom of the screen, showed the status in global currency with the day's change in red or green indicating a positive or negative change.
He quickly jotted down several of the codes. He slid the room's computer control unit out of its recess and typed in a three letter code. A business home page came up immediately. He read the description and the production of the business. It manufactured, sold and distributed munitions and munitions using products.
After he entered the seventh code and got the same or similar results, all munitions manufacturing connected, he wondered if the ones he chose to view were a true random sample.
He called up the yellow pages and looked at the listings. The listings were similar to most yellow pages except for areas that pertained to explosives, munitions or war type material. That listing filled two thirds of the complete listings. It seemed that the manufacturing of items used in conflicts could be the base for the economy. If this was true then my organization was an enemy of these worlds. This world's rigid customs on munitions was one way, non allowed in only. Exports were not only allowed but seemed maybe mandatory.
He thought, his outfit's ability to gain a cease fire and smooth out conflicts was like a slap in the face to an economy that dealt in supplies that assisted in the killing of inhabitants on a global scale.
Could it be that simple, they were attacked because they interfered with the making of money. He knew that money was a powerful influence and had lead to many crimes against mankind, but really, wipe out the peace core so to speak for a few bucks. He would be mortified if this turns out to be the reason for those horrific attacks.
Multiple checks on different computer sources pointed toward a society built on the production and sale of weapons. Weapon of every type, legal and illegal.
Scott tired of looking at this menagerie turned off the monitor and computer. He quickly undressed and headed to the shower. The hot water soothed him and he let it run for several minutes until he felt really relaxed. He turned off the water and selected air dry from the wall console.
The shower stall turned into one super dryer as the warm air spun around in a centrifugal torrent quickly removing all traces of moisture. Scott's hair was super dry and blown to a fluffy softness. The days reflection were put aside as he tried to put everything away that might interrupt his chances to get some needed sleep.
He stretched out and let his mind rest, whatever it was, it could wait until tomorrow.
She looked at him openly and with deep blue and honest eyes. There is no way that these eyes could deceive anyone especially a coordinator of his alertness and intelligence. How graceful she was as she approached him, she needed his help, and he believed, he was hers to command and he was just waiting for her to put her wishes into words. She reached for him, she needed to be held, he could tell she was just frightened. He could feel the fear and helplessness emanating from her every being………
Suddenly the air smelled of ozone and the brightness of the flash stunned him. He watched as she burned and melted in front of him. The noise of the electrical phasers erupted in his ear. “Holy shit!!!” He screamed as he sat up in bed.
"Damn alarm clock. This crap has to stop. I get a little rest and Wham! I am hit with this nightmare." Scott spoke out loud to himself as he looked at the clock beside the bed. It was early morning and he guessed he was well rested.
Like a fast moving car, the face of the girl reentered his thoughts. It was the space girl/android that he had recognized at the dining area last evening. It wasn't someone he had met before it was a traumatic experience he had while he was very vulnerable to an outside influence.
Scott thoughts silently ran amuck. Could this current lady also be an android or is she a real person? As far as he knew androids didn't eat, so if she's an android what was she doing in the dining room last night? Ok, taking for granted she was eating and a real person, why does she look so much like the girl of my dreams?