THE UNSEEN EYE PART 5: Sinister Observation
12 Sep 2021Orwell Vandeman
Continued from Braking the CycleThe two women covered themselves and left the High Seekers’ privet cabin. Napoleon Carson enjoyed watching them leave before he continued his report.
“I said, we blocked the transmission from the civilian network. It sounded like someone knew about your previous.. ” Orwell interrupted his loyal body guard.
“You blocked it? That is not what I requested, is Napoleon? If it is someone that knows about the order, then we have just furthered the depth their curiosity. No boy, we should have responded with the voice cloner. You have recorded enough of our, excitingly efficient Captains’ voice to have it sound authentic?”
Orwells’ Protector Senior shuffled his feet; now his employer had pointed out a flaw in his response, Napoleon was embarrassed for making such an elementary mistake, and now he was going to have to admit to another failure.
“No sir, not really. She is not the talkative type. I only have a few variations on ‘Why are you here’ to show for my efforts. If this thing could record death stares, we’ve have plenty. There was no need to ask her not interact with our followers, she doesn’t want to interact with anyone”
Wrapping the blanket around his naked body, Orwell got up to pour himself a cool, refreshing drink. His two Agitant-Supplcants we’re very efficient as raising his temperature. After handing a pressured glass to Napoleon and settling again, he gestured for his man to continue.
“We listen in on the Captain as you ordered, but she doesn’t talk to the COVAS and stopped using the coms once we left the bubble. All she does is fly and listen to .. power ballads. Frankly sir, it's cringe to eavesdrop on her”
So the Captain was a suppressed romantic. Little snippets of insight like this washed over Napoleon unheeded, but to a master manipulator like Orwell, they were invaluable pressure points he could use to his advantage.
“I take it she is ignoring the officially submitted flight plan now we have left controlled space? Oh and dose our overly diligent guide still insist on stopping at a few privately owned carriers along out way?”
The cooling tonic his employer had handed Napoleon had washed away the warm sting of shame he had felt for blocking the communication, now he was relaxed again and talked with his normal confidence.
“Yes sir, but she is searching communications along our flight path looking at other Liner Captains’ reports about trust worthy carriers, and raider attacks that have become common on the Bubble Colonia routes. I believe she would not stop at a dock that would break the conditions of our contract with her”
Smiling, Orwell tried to settle back on his expansive settee, but it was difficult as inertia was no substitute for gravity.
“Well then my boy, we will let her continue unhindered for now. The half man from the Robigo Cartel insisted she was an exemplary smuggler, so we will trust the opinion of a professional until our Captain gives us reason to doubt her. Now, you may depart Napoleon”
Orwell mused on what the cartel lieutenant with the cybernetic legs had said. There was bad blood between him and Captain Mercy. She maybe a good smuggler, but the man wanted her dead, and a friendly cartel lieutenant was usually worth more than a smuggler.
Continued in Pulling Strings