A Bit of an Idiot

[Ethan Neufeld 0]

Xorax was a labyrinth of corporate secrets and big names were spending big money to safeguard their competitive advantages. Predictably, the place crawled with well-paid security forces and was honeycombed with their security measures: audio and video surveillance; sensors, including sensor-detection equipment; the works. But in a place where only money could do all the talking, bank accounts weren't bottomless. Xorax was larger than pockets and security focused on only the most valuable assets, which were scattered throughout the sprawling, underground complex. The longer one lingered on Xorax the more neglected spots one would find: corridors, empty rooms, certain elevators, to number a few. Some had become dead ends when shareholders abruptly changed their minds. Remote places far enough from corporate holdings that everyone dismissed them.

 

Shortly after leaving Joe Manning with Dr. Phantos, Ethan had received a message. It was one word: ready.

 

Riding back down in the elevator, he bypassed the visitor's center. A change of elevators and few levels further down, he emerged into a dimly lit corridor and one of the few places Xorax's precautions didn't actively extend. By now, the headache that began at Creedo's had crept into a full-scale blitz on his skull and it felt like he might burst at the temples. Away from prying anything, he freely, humanly leaned against a corner in the rock wall and cradled his contorted face in his hand, trying to press the pain away with his fingers. He might as well have hung around a stinking meth-head for an ache like this, he thought. At least then, he could have submitted a first report of injury and qualified for medical attention on the employer's dollar.

 

"Whoa," remarked a man not long after he arrived. His name was Rodney Venczel; a broad-shouldered, space-brat of a Hungarian that thought he looked stupid in a robe. He was Ethan's security contact on the inside of Xorax. An ally Ethan had made during his first year in Bull's Head, and one of the connections that got him inside Xorax as Dr. Phantos's advisor. "You look like plakta."

 

There was no denying that's exactly how he felt. Ethan dropped his hand and smiled something that looked like a grimace. "The Orion. Buzzed me with her pheromones."

 

Rodney loudly whistled, pushing a pair of shades to the top of his head. "On purpose?"

 

"No; think she meant it for someone else," said Ethan.

 

"Oh, for that one guy that was hanging all over her, I bet," he surmised.

 

Ethan nodded and grimaced again. "Chris Nickles."

 

Rodney ruefully stared down the corridor. "I wish was him," he said after a beat, "she was— mmhmm." His black robe swayed as he began drawing her figure in the air.

 

This time Ethan genuinely smiled, but it made 'the Robe' feel like frowning at him. That's right, Rodney recalled; this guy was all about the 'right place, right time'. He knew Ethan liked women; knew that he appreciated the finer things about women. But he'd never seen the guy get tangled up with them on a job, especially one like Pher. It was some kind of code or other nonsense. What a bore.

 

"I thought you types were vaccinated against Orion dust anyway." Rodney lightly backhanded Ethan on the shoulder.

 

"I was; five years ago."

 

He harrumphed, amused by the fact that Ethan had allowed his inoculation expire. Then again, it wasn't like that kind of thing was floating around Bull's Head for free. People had to make sacrifices to live here – one of the most significant was infrastructure. Not that Rodney really wanted to take that stuff; he thought it was a tragedy to miss out on things like Orions.

 

Speaking of which; "bad news," he said.

 

"The Orion scanned me," Ethan promptly replied.

 

"You knew?"

 

Ethan stiffly shrugged, trying to fight off the throbbing that movement caused. "Seemed logical."

 

"I think those pointy ears are going to your head," he murmured.

 

"Find out why?"

 

"Well, that's the best part. She's after that bounty; recognized you from the poster. She used her ODRI to check your innards," explained Rodney, animatedly pointing at Ethan's midsection. "And I don't think they're gonna fall for your hybrid story like my superiors did."

 

"Hmm," Ethan sounded. "Any idea when they'll try and collect on me?"

 

"Not soon and probably not on the expedition. Said it would be 'bad for business'." Repeating Pher's excuse made Rodney smirk, but Ethan seemed unsurprised by their reservations. He'd already built a few speculations on that detail, particularly after Captain Manning insisted Pher's scans were purely protective.

 

"What about your superiors?"

 

"They only honor 'official' bounties from the Guardians." Rodney dismissively waved; then tucked his hands out of sight and shrugged. "Unless Qob or someone else comes along and makes a serious fuss, they won't bother you. 'Bad for business' to let people run around offing your employees for shady bounties; just about anyone'd be willing to knock out their competitors. Taurik's acting suspicious though."

 

"His Vulcan intellect's probably running with this," Ethan remarked, wiping his hand down his face. Rodney couldn't tell if he was amused or irritated; maybe it was both.

 

"Yeah, and he's got it in his head now that you might be 'bad for business'. He even suggested you could be a corporate spy and since that bounty only wants you alive, he thinks it's your extraction."

 

Ethan's brow rose. "He thinks I'm after weapons secrets on Zoalus."

 

"You got it," Rodney affirmed. He then reached out intending to touch the cosmetic point on one of Ethan's ears and joshed: "Say, do those plasty-ears of yours still itch?"

 

Ethan's brow furrowed at the nuisance. "Has he told your superiors?" he asked, holding up his hand to block Rodney.

 

"No, not yet," said Rodney, pulling his arm back and grinning from ear to ear. "He's got this funny idea that he's gonna wait and catch you red-handed."

 

"Hmm," was the only sound Ethan made as mulled over what he'd been told and the scenarios in his head.

 

"So what're you gonna do about the Qob?"

 

"Nothing."

 

"Nothing?" Rodney almost popped his eyebrows out of place.

 

"I get the impression their doctor, Kaara, doesn't like me," he said. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the gist when she hid her face the first time she was asked about him. People didn't do that unless it was something they weren't willing to say in person, which generally meant it wasn't nice. "She thinks I make a lousy Vulcan."

 

"You're a crappy Vulcan," interjected Rodney.

 

Ethan briefly smiled and obviously agreed, but he wasn't doing this for academy awards. He continued without losing a beat. "But the doc, Manning's right-hand man, and that Nausicaan, don't seem to know about or aren't interested in the bounty yet. The Orion's the only one who's been talking about it and fishing for information on me."

 

"How d'you know all that? We just started pulling the audio from Creedo's when I paged you."

 

"Lips, body language," Ethan shrugged. "And the Orion tried to apologize for getting me buzzed. They're loyal to Captain Manning, though, and he seems a bit more laidback. He doesn't want to jeopardize their contract with Dr. Phantos, and, right now, I don't think he likes the bounty's anonymous element. Wants to get the full picture before acting; I think. They won't do anything until he's ready."

 

"Don't want to tip your hand then."

 

"Already did a bit," Ethan admitted, adding a cringe for the trouble that'd given him a headache. "But I'm going to press that to my advantage. The more they think I'm just some clueless schmuck, the less interest they might have in asking questions or cashing in early. But when they are ready to cash in;" if they're going to cash in, he added to himself. "I plan on being very far away from Zoalus."

 

"And what're you gonna do about the bounty? That's gonna to make it hard to move around."

 

"After I get what I'm looking for on Zoalus, I plan to answer it," Ethan candidly replied.

 

Rodney was dumbfounded. "You're going to give them the information?"

 

"Didn't say that. But if she wants me alive it means she wants to talk."

 

"You shook 'em and now you're gonna walk right back into their territory to 'talk'? That's crazy," Rodney balked. "Those pointy ears really don't suit you."

 

"Yeah. I'd really like my own back," remarked Ethan, rubbing his right ear. He pushed away from the wall and turned toward the elevator. "I need to get back before they start to miss me."

 

He'd taken several steps before Rodney called out: "Hey, wait."

 

Ethan turned, barely managing to catch the nondescript bottle that unexpectedly sailed through the air at him. "I think they used to call it 'advil'," Rodney explained. "Good for headaches."

 

Ethan opened the bottle and poured out three capsules before tossing it back with a partial smile. "Thanks."

 

He entered the elevator and swallowed the pills as the door closed. He then pressed the button; it was back to the visitor's center for Selek, the idiot.

Edited July 10, 2011 by Ethan Neufeld