David Marusek: Mind Over Ship

Fred shrugged him off. “We’ll talk now .”

“You are stubborn, my brother. Let us compromise and talk on the way.”

“No!”

When Mando saw that Fred would not budge, he said, “I love Luisa more than breathing. But you, Fred, you and Mary. How can I say this? My brothers say you are sick, that you have the clone fatigue, and that is why you must humiliate us before the world. But I say they’re wrong. You and Mary are special. What happens to you matters to all of us, to me and Luisa. If you or Mary die, we all die. You can’t stay here any longer. Besides, I promised you a ticket, and a russ keeps his word. Now can we go?”

Fred joined him in the lift, and they rode it to the hub where they found a shuttle to the Fentan ’s spar. They were silent the entire trip out, and Fred made a quick list of all his options. When at last they reached the Fentan gangway and processing station, Fred grabbed a handrail and halted himself.

“What’s wrong?” Mando said. “Only a little farther.”

“Not for me, my friend. I’ve been thinking.”

“Fred!”

“No, shut up and listen. You are a true brother, Armando Mendez, and a true friend. You helped me see what I need to do. No, don’t speak. I wish I could save all of us. I don’t think I can, but maybe I can save a few.” He shoved his travel bag into Mando’s arms. “You’re going back, not me. If they’re still alive when you get there, do what you can.”

Before Mando could object, Fred said, “Earth Girl, come in.”

“Listening.”

“Transfer my passage aboard the Fentan to Armando Mendez.”

“You can’t!” Mando said.

“It’s already done.”

FRED TOOK A cart to a spot near his old space gate. Top Ape was waiting for him in an EM shadow with two of the tamperproof cases. Fred swiped them and said, “Make all the bullshit stop.”

Then he boarded a shuttle for the civilian port. He used his Spectre to send a message to Veronica TOTE to meet him at once. On his way to the Elbow Room he did some port traffic analysis and booked a room in a civieside rez wheel.

BY THE TIME Fred reached the stockroom, Veronica TOTE’s proxy was waiting for him. “Smart decision, Commander.”

“Wait until you hear my conditions.”

If the real Veronica TOTE was as exhausted as her proxy looked, she hadn’t slept in days. “By all means,” she said, “let’s hear your conditions.”

“First, tell me if I’m reading the traffic data correctly. I see a lot of musical chairs with the cryocapsules. Have you changed your mind about the Chernobyl ?”

A thin smile spread across the pirate’s face. “Why, in fact, we have. We took your comments to heart and did a little research, and you were right about both the Chernobyl and the Hybris . When you’re right, Commander, you’re right. Fortunately, we’re a nimble organization, and we should be able to handle the last-minute switch, especially now that you’ve returned to ride herd on our monkeyboys.”

“About that. Tell me something: In this new society of yours, this new center of power in the universe, will there be room in it for clones?”

From the look on the proxy’s face, this was a question that had never crossed Veronica’s mind. “I doubt Applied People or Capias World or any other human resources agency will choose to operate there.”

“I’m not talking about the companies. I’m talking about independent iterants, ex-commercial clones.”

The proxy gave it some thought. “I suppose there could be a place for runaway clones, but it’s not something I could decide on my own.”

“That’s my first condition,” Fred said. “After you take over the ship, you will issue a public proclamation that all independent clones are entitled to full citizenship and equal rights in your new colony.” Then he remembered something Mary’s FUS had said. “Including full unrestricted reproductive rights.”

“Clones having babies? That’s a tall order.”

“Watch it get taller. Second, you will immediately place into biostasis my wife and her two sisters, Georgine and Cyndee. I can tell you where you can find all three of them right now. You’ll also biostase Luisa Mendez of Cozumel, Mexico. I can give you a positive ID.”

“They’ll refuse. I understand that all ’leens are refusing that.”

“I really don’t care. You’ll kidnap them if necessary and do it anyway. Kidnapping is a TUG specialty, isn’t it? Once that’s done, you will hide them from the authorities, but you will inform their spouses or designated others and give them the decision of how and when to quicken them.” Fred paused to review what he had said, and he added, “And let the spouses know it was me, Mr. Clone Fatigue, who so ordered it.

“Third, put Mary in a cryocapsule and smuggle her up here to the Hybris with your own stowaways.”

The proxy was incredulous. “Anything else?”

Fred thought for a second. “No, that’ll do. But when you take Mary, be prepared; my wife keeps company with a diplomat-class bee.”

The overtired proxy shook its head. “You know, Commander, there’s been a fair bit of discussion around the War Table about whether or not you really have fallen out of type.”

“Is that a fact? And what was the upshot?”

The proxy crossed its muscled arms. “You really want to know?”

“Why not?”

“All right. The Supreme Council thinks you’re a bad apple, but whether or not more russes will turn like you is an open question. In the meantime we find you useful.”

“Fair enough. Good to know.” Fred began to swim to the door and stopped. “What about you, Veronica? What do you think?”

“What do I think about you?”

“Yeah.”

The proxy rubbed its chin. Even with her face unpacked, Veronica had a strong chin. “You have the clone fatigue, no doubt about it. You are ground zero for clone fatigue. You are the first robin of spring. I think that if we open our colony to runaway clones, we should expect a flood of you.”

Fred grunted.

The journey of a thousand suns begins today . Meewee addressed a select audience of world leaders in the holo skybox as well as millions of Earth-bound viewers on the Evernet. Five gleaming Oships floated in a ragged line within the Trailing Earth launch zone. Blue fire sparkled in their donut holes as their torus targets were energized.

Some may question whether the journey is worth the sacrifice and danger .

The skybox seemed to float within the launch zone and offered its guests a privileged close-up view of the ships. Among the VIPs in attendance were Cabinet, in its attorney general persona; Ellen Starke, who grew taller with each passing day; and Ellen’s newly announced stepmother, Liz Starke. Liz had been cloned from the murdered Eleanor Starke’s genetic material, according to news reports, and been granted a small portion of Starke Enterprises assets, including Heliostream. Also present were Saul Jaspersen, Zoranna Alblaitor and Nicholas, Million Singh, and other GEP brass. Noticeably absent were Andrea Tiekel, who remained hospitalized after a runin with a NASTIE, and her mentar, E-P, who had mysteriously abandoned mentarspace and was presumed raptured.