Solomon's Private File #242
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 26 in this story, in the Fall of 2052.
Solomon's Private File #242 "Worlds of the Imperium"
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I was with the manager of the circus, on Arkan, when I said, "Problem
with Jurk. He's operating at a higher level than is commensurate with
his rank, and VERY well." He said, "I agree. Two grades?" I said, "To
Captain? I agree. In fact, I gave him his new ID badge already. He
might not have noticed all that's on it, yet. Oops!" He laughed. I
said, "You didn't hear the noise he just made?" More laughter. He said,
"I'll confirm it." I said, "He's going to have another badge, soon.
Imperial Aid." He said, "Good! I should have asked for that. Major
doing it?" I said, "Lt. Colonel, now." He stared at me. I said,
musically, "You're staring at me." He had to chuckle. He said, "I get
it. Thanks."
Later, I said to Jurk, "I'm not sure the whole planet didn't hear it
when you noticed what was on the ID." He grinned. I said, "Boss and I
thought you should have the same level of official responsibility that
goes with what you're already doing. There is another ID available, but
Chuckles. I gave it to him. He said, "Wow!" I said "Is that on there?
Let me see it again." He wouldn't let me have it. I said, "It means you
have Imperial authority, in the absence of higher rank, only, or as
delegated." He said, "Is that higher authority, you?" I said, "You're
going to keep asking more questions until you pry it out of me, so I'll
say it this way. On this planet, and most others, yes. That information
is only for cleared GG and Head of Mission Imperial officers. And if
chuckle.
Then he looked surprised, and said, "Somebody would have had to
I think I know who! Wow!" I said, "Don't even guess. Whoever you think
it is, if you tell them, we will both be in big trouble. That person is
one of my full er, consultants, and I maintain a watch on that er,
situation." He said, with moist eyes, "Thank you!" I said, "Sure. No
problem. Duty, and all that."
We completed our set number of shows, with no more unusual problems.
I met with the AG and Colonel. I said, "GG should resign. Tell him if
he doesn't, he'll face an Imperial trial for dereliction of duty,
causing great harm. Best to avoid that played out in the public." They
nodded. I said, "My report will show that you both have excelled in
your new positions, and that you should be supported in them.
Elections. Not until this conspiracy issue is resolved. Could take
years. Those comms I gave you can reach me anywhere in this galaxy. Any
Empire. We don't know who is really behind it." She said, "And for YOU
said, "We WILL know. I know that. I have a feeling it's going to be
something nobody could expect. Hard to speculate on that, what we can't
think of. Annoying." Grins
We left Arkan, full of their good will, and arrived at our next port
of call, Darkworld. We scouted normally, and engaged their shuttles.
While they were transferring the equipment, I went alone to the
Imperial Rep. We met in his home after hours. I said, "Any unusual
activity to report?" He said, "Authority and level?" I showed him the
red badge. He nodded, and said, "Report just sent." He showed it to me
on his terminal. I glanced at it, and said, "Won't reach them soon." I
gave him the short briefing. He said, "Makes more sense now! I'm sure
the LG is theirs." I said, "He know about you?" He said, "Not at this
level." I said, "Need higher precautions. Imperial Agent on Arkan was
killed in resisting. You can't be spared." I gave him some crystals,
and told him how they work. I said, "You'll arrange a meeting with me
with the GG?" He said, "High Secrecy?" I said, "Need." He said, "I'll
manage it." I said, "Comm. Voice dialing, secure, and can't be
examined, highest classification. Reach me any time, any distance, for
the duration only." He said, "You're not just the Red Agent." I said,
"Master Guardian. Involuntary conditioning is NOT to be tolerated." He
said, "Wow!" I said, "Been hearing that a lot." Chuckles.
We met at a secret location. I said to the GG, after showing my Red
badge, and giving the short briefing, "I have some unusual abilities. I
scanned your escort. Driver is in the pay of the enemy. That free
choice is going to cost him." Nods. I said to the GG, "You took that
well. I'm impressed." He was embarrassed. Then I gave them the long
briefing. And more crystals. Then I nodded to the Admiral. He knew what
that meant. He said to the GG, "I suspect your LG is in with the
conspirators." I said, "If he is, he would have to be conditioned at
least a little, to avoid detection. You're too sensitive." He said, "I
have to agree. Any disloyalty, I would detect at once, on sight. I know
you can see him now, even at this distance." I said, "Theirs. Not
unwilling. I'm sorry." He said, "He's been avoiding me. Now I know why.
A list?" I gave it to him. I said, "I have some restrictions on my
actions, so I don't interfere too much with the desired timeline. Too
much of the wrong things, could be worse than the success of the
conspiracy." They looked at me in new appraisal. He said, "You accept
students?" I said, "Our choice, in secret, but not from you. Unusual
problem. Schools are in a much slower time line. You won't see who we
select, graduate." He said, "Accepted. Not your true form?" I grinned,
and said, "Better than many others I've had to use. Close to my
original, but a little short."
They took care of the conspiracy people with no problem. Very
efficient, actually. I sent the reports of that, on. Circus shows went
very well, and with no more incidents. We went on to the next port of
call. Approaching the planet Zabriskon, I said in the control room,
"Wow! Almost like a war zone down there. A whole lot of negative
emotions boiling in the population." We were challenged. Captain said
who we were. We were denied permission to land, and were told to
depart. I said, "Code board, please." It was shielded from sight. I
typed blindly. I received a series of codes in return, in my security
eyepiece. I sent more code. More code came back, and from the planet.
Then in the clear, we were told which orbit to assume, and that a
shuttle would be docking with us, soon. I said to the control room
crew, "You didn't see any of this, did you?" Grins and nods.
I met the officials alone at the lock. I said, "First thing. Those
here don't know my full status. I want to keep it that way. Now to the
conference." We went to a room for that. I did the introductions. Some
of the newcomers were surprised I knew their names. One wasn't, and did
well in hiding his smile. I said, "Those of us here, some of us have
different multiple individual status er, assignments, and security
clearances, too. This causes problems in this kind of situation, more
than we should have to deal with at this time. For now, please assume
we are all cleared for all but the most secret Imperial things. All
that has happened on Zabriskon may be discussed, except a few sensitive
Imperial identities may be referred to obliquely." Nods of acceptance,
and approval of how I handled it. Ship captain tried to hide his
surprise and new appraisal of me. That was noticed by some of the
visitors. I signaled to the Guardian, that Guardian matters would be
discussed separately. He agreed, with some relief.
They told us they had recently discovered a conspiracy against their
government, and have some surgical doubles and conditioned agents in
custody, and that their best experts had been unable to break the
conditioning. The Guardian was obviously one of those experts, which
they showed by their suppressed involuntary glances at him. I said,
"The conspiracy is Empire wide. We are charged with eliminating it on
the planets we visit, and informing the Crown of the progress, and any
new information. We can aid your people in removing the conditioning.
In support of this, and in restoring normalcy, the circus should
perform as expected. We are also very highly trained investigators and
combat specialists, and can be used as such when there is serious
need." Some liked that very much. One said, "But circus performers?" I
smiled, and said, "We face many dangers in our travels. Successfully.
And with our hi grav relative strength and speed? Well, think of it
this way. What do circus people do for work after they retire? Right.
Your very own most in demand bodyguards." He said, "Oh! Very good." I
said, "Well, we think so." Chuckles.
I said, "But we aren't the only hi grav people around now. Be aware
that of all you see of us on your planet, some might not actually be of
us." I gave them the rest of the short briefing. I said, "More details
individually as needed. One good thing. Better than most planets, you
have people who can easily detect the conditioned, who actually want to
do that." Some not so suppressed grins. I said, "Some of us will go
down with you, to secure the venue, and to further confer with some of
you. Yes, you're not rid of me yet." The LG said, "I'm looking forward
to it. Bound not to be boring." Manager laughed. They knew why, and
chuckled.
Facilities manager and assistant, Jurk, and I, went to the planet
with them. There, in a secure room at the port, I asked to speak with
the Guardian alone, first. I said, "I can teach you how to remove the
conditioning, but doing it as you would have to, would take more time
than you or any of your people would want to spend on it. And hurt.
These crystals will do it almost instantly. On the other planets, I
gave them to the Imperials and the local government. Here, your
choice." He said, "Thank you for the implied offer, but you're right.
Better they have them. Hurts just to be near those poor people." I
said, "And feeling that way, limits your usefulness." He said,
"Students?" I said, "Children. We select. But there's a big problem.
Our schools are in a much slower time line. Commuting would be
impossible. They would most likely not see their parents again. What
parent or child would accept that?" He said, "I understand. A big
problem. Can't have a school here?" I said, "Will, when your first
students graduate." He said, "Oh! If you give me a list, I'll get to
work on it. But you're here. Aging problem, relative to your own
dimension?" I said, "Doesn't apply to me, and only me. But I can't
teach beginners. Much too powerful." He said, "Interesting." We
grinned. We moved to join the others. I said, "Here, you give them the
crystals, and instruct them." He said, very sincerely, "Thank you!"
I asked to see one of the Imperials, next. I showed him the Red
badge. He said, "If you hadn't already been appointed, I would have
done it myself." I said, "I do what should be done." He said, "Our Head
Guardian is in awe of you. That means you are not of us at all." I
said, "They sure don't pick stupid people for your position!" Chuckles.
I said, "I have limits on what I can do. The amazing, yes. The
impossible, not that so it's known, and would interfere with the
correct timeline." He said, "I think I understand." I gave him a comm,
and explained it. I said, "Some others of your level and above, have
them, and I keep them updated in other ways, too. Your advice. Who
should know my full status?" He said, "LG already suspects. He's good.
GG, too. No others, officially." I said, "Unusual. Yours is the only
society I've heard of, with this er, rank." He said, "Interesting in
the implication." I said, "Er, oops?" Chuckles. He said, "Definitely
not boring."
I saw the LG. I said, "You suspect." He said, "Yes. Red Agent." I
said, "And confirmed by the Empress." He said, "So they're informed." I
said, "And in er, unusual ways that shouldn't be discussed." He grinned
and said, "Our Guardian's reaction. Yes, I know about them." I said,
"In the Empire, ones here are unusually useful." He said, "I didn't
know that. Must be frustrating for you." I said with a strange grin,
"Not as much as I made THEM!" He laughed. I said, "Ones here, while
useful, have limits. Keep them away from bad people as much as you can,
with what you need them to do. Hurts them, and reduces their er,
effectiveness. He could have removed the conditioning, but for him it
was like touching a cooking surface on high power. He just couldn't get
far enough in." He said, "I was with him when he tried. Twice. I'm not
surprised." I said, "He has tools now." He said, "Thank you!" I said,
"I should brief your GG. I know you could do it, and well, but working
through my embarrassment, I have to say my presence does er, add to my
effectiveness." He said, "Absolutely! A question, if I may. Students?"
I said, "Complications, but being investigated. Would take up to a
lifetime, before a school could be started in the Empire." He said, "I
can't imagine what the complications would be, and shouldn't try." I
grinned, and said, "But you can't help it."
I went with them to the government center to meet with the GG. I told
him what I told the LG, and said that. He said, "So it's our Guardians
that made the difference. Good to know." I said, "Valuable resource,
but easily damaged with overuse." He said, "Hence the crystals." I
said, "And some knowledge. Possibilities for more, in the future." He
said, "Oh! For all our people, Thank you!" I said, "You're welcome.
Here's a list of some you would want to er, capture. Some have tried to
leave the planet, or send messages. They experienced er, coincidental,
er, interruptions in that." He grinned and said, "Wow!" I said, "It's
important we make clean sweeps. We do not want what we're doing to
reach the leader of the conspiracy. Circus is just one ship. We can't
fight a fleet." He said, "I see more. You have self imposed
limitations. We have to be known to have done all the work ourselves."
I said, "Yes. If not, it could be worse than if they succeeded." He
said, "The Empire must have confidence in its own self, or it will
fall." I said, "Exactly. I may do the unusual, but not the impossible
where it will be noticed."
He said, "Can you see the future?" I said, "It's complicated. The
more time I spend where I would want to do that, the less of it I can
usefully see, because just doing that, changes it." He said, "I never
considered that, but the reasoning is sound. Thank you for this
insight." I said, "I should be going now. No, I'll do it my way. If you
don't mind, in your presence?" His eyes went wide, and whispered,
"Please!" I shifted out. He said, "Wow", to the empty air.
Our shows were very well attended and appreciated. We went to nine
more planets, and two more orbital stations. Events on them were
similar to the previous ones. None of those had useful guardians. We
had completed our tour, but for the final stop, Prime. On the thirteen
other planets we didn't go to, I visited the Head Imperial agent. I
called and arranged to meet, using priority codes. In person, I said,
after showing my red badge, "I'm in disguise." And I was. I gave the
usual briefings to the usual people, and gave them the crystals. I
helped them to identify and capture the conspirators. I kept all my
usual contacts updated. At the same time I was doing those things, and
doing the circus things, I was causing all kinds of maintenance
problems with the conspirator's space ships and stations. They were
very frustrated, and I wasn't at all unhappy about that. I still had
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Grant
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