| At this point, however, an official-looking man comes up to us..
He seems very annoyed...
Inquirer Several others are following him, some were uniformed and obviously heavily armed. Beyond them I see that others are still in the process of putting up barriers... "Shit, we've walked right into the middle of a crime scene of some type," I mutter to myself. By the look of the official-looking man, he doesn't look happy to see us at all, AND by the looks of him and the others about if we don't do some good tap dancing and FAST....we could very well be in serious trouble here! Fortunately, amongst other things over my career in the Military before my unexpected retirement, one skill I've developed is my tap dancing! Or to put it another way, I lie through my teeth! And with all the insanity of recent events, I still have a few "toys" to make this show even more convincing! If this works, then I'll be up there with the likes of Sigin's old friend Harry Houdini! I think to myself as I put on my most arrogant, official face I have in my inventory and whip out that magical toy badge I used so long ago on the Sneakers (re: 12465). Now, this trick wouldn't work if somebody besides those I'd keyed the toy to work for should handle; it would revert back to it's original appearance (i.e. a toy policeman's wallet with badge). Also, the quality of the identification created by this illusion spell could only pass casual muster. I will the badge to become something to the overawe these people so such doesn't happen. That of a rather high ranking government agent, I hope! "Your passports, immigration forms and vaccinat.....oh shit!" says the official looking man, swearing aloud and turning several shades of white as what I'm holding finally registers. I see that this Robert Oterlain is a Spaceport Inspector (Earthport 1) by a patch on his official looking uniform. The others had halted a few steps before Oterlain had, leaving him the nearest to me. We all stand in uncomfortable silence for a few seconds. Holy shit, it worked. I say silently to myself. "They are with me and not space travelers," I say softly, to where only Oterlain can hear, "Few to no Earthmen travel in space," Too much open space you know. No dwellers of the Cities go Outside because of that. Too scary, see. No Spacers would just land right in the middle of a City without six million showers and vaccinations within an inch of their precious lives. Earth Cities are too dirty for those pristine pansies. You know that, right? "Well...er....." he sputters, trying to rally. I don't let him and continue to badger him softly until he finally backs off. Best way to handle bureaucrats like this is to keep them off balance. With the badge and my manners I've done that in spades, I see. I hear some snickering from behind me and the man reddening in anger over that. Best move this along before it blows up in my face. This could still fall apart! See, what I'm trying to do is get us AWAY from these other folks before they arrest us! That's phase one. After that, then on to Phase two of this little trip! "Now, where is Plainsclothesmen Elijah Baley and Daneel Olivaw?" I ask frostily. Moments later I and the others are well away from the crime scene and facing a rather disgruntled man who appears to have lost him and muttering something about his C-5 rate going down the toilet..... By the rather mundane look to him I know that he isn't Daneel. Daneel was made to look like an important (now dead) Spacer (a group of human beings reputed to be all beautiful and handsome). He's now staring at us, obviously not sure what to make of us. At least the other policemen were able to call ahead to tell him not to arrest us on sight! .... Must have done a better job than I'd hoped for! Either that or they fear the Terrestrial Bureau of Investigation more than I figured!! Well, hope that it doesn't come back to bite us all in the rear my impersonating a Government Agent! Anyway, the Doctor has taken up the reigns of conversation here. "Hello," the Doctor greets him, "We have got to speak with you of the upmost important matter! It concerns in part your partner, Daneel." Baley's face hides his sudden tension, but I and a few otehrs can see he's still nervous about what hell could break out with the recent waves of anti-robot feelings and all that. While I might at other times take issue about such things, now is not the time or place for crusades. Futile crusades at that! With robots being under the sacred Three Laws (and not advanced enough in their positronic brains), trying to free them from their bonds is well beyond any hope of success. Young though I may be, I know when one must bow to the inevitable. One must chose one's crusades after all, and that particular crusade would be utterly foolish! Right now, I'll just try to tolerate Baley's attitude problem. Heck, in the end he straightens up....somewhat.... Betty "Your partner R. Daneel," I add softly, looking at him pointedly. Baley blanches. "Jehoshaphat!" he nearly shouts, shocked. "There's that word again," Inquirer muttered, sighing. Go Back |
