Unicorn Point

“On the way,” Purple said, gratified. His monitor showed that the call was from a privacy stall, the natural place for a woman to hide. This was a matter to cover personally.  He plunged into his transport and barked coordinates. The craft passed through the wall and into the Citizen network.  In moments he was there, opposite the stall. He stepped out—to encounter several android servitors. “Out of my way, vermin!” he snapped.

“But sir, our charge has been kidnapped,” one protested. “Our employer’s residence was raided—“

“Why do you think I’m here, idiot? I will take care of this matter. Return to your stations.”

The androids, confused, could not stand up to a Citizen.  They retreated. It would have been another story, had Translucent been conscious, but of course he wasn’t. “Tsetse!” he called. “Step across to my carriage, quickly, with the child.”

Tsetse emerged, towing Nepe, who looked frightened. They entered his carriage, as a human serf ran up. “Sir, please wait! There has been—“ Purple stepped into the carriage himself, and the door closed. “Home!”

Nepe’s eyes focused on him. “You did this!” she flared. “It wasn’t a serf revolt!”

So that was what Tsetse had told the child, to gain her immediate cooperation. “Very nice,” he murmured.

“You’re kidnapping me from Citizen Translucent!” the child continued.

He did not bother to deny it. The girl was quiet, evidently smart enough to realize when protest would be counterproductive.

Soon they arrived back at his protected offices. “Take her to the sports room,” he told Tsetse as the carriage door opened. “Keep her happy.”

Tsetse took the child by the hand and led her to the room normally reserved for entertainments of a more adult nature.  The woman was now as much a captive as the child, because she had attacked a Citizen and would be subject to reprisal the moment she left Purple’s protection. The fact that she had not known the nature of the package hardly mattered; she had perpetrated the act. Once Translucent had fallen she had been lost—unless she won her way back to Purple’s office and his favor. Yes, this had worked out very nicely.  For the child was a vital key.

Translucent’s intent had been to utilize Bane and Mach, as before, to establish contact be tween the frames. He would have returned the child to her parents, knowing that Bane and Mach would honor the terms of the agreement. Citizen Blue had lost, and so had the Adept Stile; the power of the frames was now to be transferred.  But Bane and Mach were unreliable; they had become too assertive, and their sympathy had now been openly given to the other side. They would be seeking ways to reverse the situation, without actually breaking their word. That was dangerous, because in time they might find such a way. Perhaps a potion that would distort the judgment of someone who inadvertently took it. Such things existed; he had used them on others on occasion.

Potion. That gave him a notion. Maybe it would be better to tame the child immediately, so that her word could be added to his when the Oracle was transferred. Yes, that should keep the opposition off balance, until it was too late.  He rose and went to the sports room. Tsetse and Nepe were watching a romantic holo. Interesting, the way the tastes of bright child and not-too-bright young woman coincided.  The holo faded out as he approached Nepe. “I believe it is time for us to come to an understanding,” he said. “Let me explain my intent.”

Child and woman turned to face him, both attentive, neither relaxed.

“I mean to use you, Nepe, to contact Phaze,” he said.  “Instead of your father or uncle. I believe you will prove to be a more responsive tool. Are you prepared to cooperate in this?”

The child was forthright. “No.”

“Suppose I make you a bit uncomfortable?”

“No good. You know you can’t hurt me or even bruise me, because it’ll show and you’ll be discredited. Nobody respects a child beater.”

How delightfully sharp she was! “I do not mean to beat you.”

“Then I’ll never cooperate!”

“I think you will.” Purple walked to a desk, opened a drawer whose lock was coded to his touch, and brought out a round metal device. He raised it so that she could see it.  “Do you know what this is?”

“A lethargy box,” she said.

“Can you guess to whom it is tuned?”

“Me.”

She was bold enough! But of course she had had years of experience with Citizens as “Troubot,” the information machine, so had lost her fear of them. All to the good. “You know what it will do to you?”

“Put me to sleep, or just slow me down, depending on the setting. But that’s no good; it won’t change my mind.”

“Allow me to demonstrate how it will change your mind.”

He turned on the box.

Nepe’s small frame sagged somewhat; she no longer had surplus energy, because the field generated by the box depressed her nervous system, sapping her control. The effect was painless and harmless; indeed, such devices were commonly used to facilitate sleeping.

But she still could speak. “I still won’t do your bidding, Purp.”