Solomon's Private File #243
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 #243 "Action On Prime"
START Page
When we reached Prime, we were eagerly greeted by the Port Authority.
We were very popular there. I went down with the shuttle with the
facilities staff and the manager. Jurk was in command of the circus on
the ship. He looked funny when he was told. I let him see I thought
that, and he didn't quite know how to handle that. Manager grinning at
us, didn't help. GP had their own cultural mission there, headed by an
old GP Navy man. In the private conference, I was introduced as the
lead clown. He said, "Word has reached us of your performances.
Incredible word, actually." I said, "Eh, just words." Grins. He said,
"I have to report that there have been some unusual rumors here. Some
unease. Much less public appearances of important people, than usual."
Manager looked at me, and I sighed.
I said, "I want all our people on the planet who are capable of
military type action, notified to be ready to be called to do it, in
support of the Crown. There is a problem in that, too. There is a newly
discovered hi grav lost colony. But not by us, by pirates. All who
appear to be of us, may not be. Pirates took them over, and now there's
an Empire wide conspiracy. They use conditioning, and surgical
duplicates. As per orders, the circus has been cleaning each planet and
station we visit. Crown has been kept informed. We still don't know who
the leader is." He said, "And you?" I said, "I work for the Crown. Er,
directly." He said, "I suspected. You have a commanding presence." I
said, "Odd, for a born clown, but duty rules." He said, "That it does."
I gave him a lot of crystals from the case I had been carrying, and
told him how they worked. He said, "Very interesting! This is foreign
security issues. And I have personal limits." He said, "Accepted." I
said, "Crystals have been used to influence the body and mind since
long before man ever went into space, even before electronics. It's
only foreign to you in this particular application." Nods. I said, "I
should go now and report. I suspect you're going to try to learn more
about me from our associate here. I could tell you that I will know,
but I'm not going to tell you that." I grinned. The manager laughed. We
shook hands, and I left.
It was late. I was asked to visit the Head in his home. In his
library, I saw some pictures. I said, "Your children?" He said, "Yes.
My oldest son is one of the best fleet officers. My daughter is one of
my best assistants. My younger son was lost in space." I said, "I'm
sorry. A severe loss to your family, and the Empire." He said, "Thank
you." I said, "You're related to the Empress. I have to let you know I
knew that. Possible claimants needed to be cleared, first." He said, "I
expected you would do that, because I would." We nodded. I gave him my
verbal report. Then I said, "Here are the reports in detail." He said,
"Your promotions will be confirmed. We still don't know who the leader
is?" I said, "Not in the report. Too sensitive. I recently discovered
it, after arriving on Prime. It's going to hurt." He said, "Known to
us?" I said, "Yes. To reduce some of that, I should tell you how it
happened, before exposing the identity. Please record." He nodded, and
pushed buttons.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There was an Imperial ship in space. Long into its mission, it was
attacked by two pirate ships. There was one survivor, a junior officer.
He was taken to one of their secret bases, and tortured for
information. Brutal torture. He resisted, and then gave in, but
heroically, he only told them unimportant things, convincing them he
didn't know anything of value, which he really did. He knew a lot of
very important things. He survived, but he was broken in spirit, in
will, and in body. His body healed, but not to how it was before. He
was treated like a slave. He decided to try to emulate his masters'
manner and methods, to avoid more punishment. He abused his fellow
slaves. He didn't like doing it, but he felt he had to, to survive.
That was noticed by the masters, and he was rewarded. He became more
brutal, and was further rewarded. He never noticed that his deception
was becoming less of a deception, and more of his true self. He was
gaining in the masters' respect of him, and given more responsibility.
Others were attracted to him as hangers on, hoping to rise with him.
Some did. Those who didn't act with total loyalty, he killed. He gained
more and more power, and became the leader of that station. He sent his
loyal followers to other stations, to take them over, and they were
mostly successful. The other station masters saw possible futures, and
chose the one in which they could survive. They became his.
This former Imperial officer became a pirate in full, in mind, and
body. And he had a goal. Total power. He blamed the Empire for his
suffering, only because he needed to have a target for his rage. He
couldn't very well blame the pirates, because he owned them. He had a
good chance of succeeding in his goal, because of some unusual
coincidences. The Imperial ship he had navigated, had discovered the
lost hi grav colony, which had not had the chance to report. He used
his pirates to invade it, and corrupt them to his goal. He discovered
there a scientist who had developed a sophisticated method of mental
conditioning, who didn't survive the process of giving it to the
leader. His pirate officers had a problem. Who would rule the Empire
after it fell to them? He had a solution to that, too. He found a royal
cousin, an evil woman. But she was not to know him, because she would
be assigned to work here on Prime. She was to expect to rule. She
didn't know that the leader himself was also of royal blood, and HE
planned to rule.
This is the story of a very good man, who didn't realize he was
becoming the most evil of men, in his sincere effort to survive and
somehow report back. He was young. He didn't know it could happen,
where a more experienced and mature man could have. Can he in truth, be
fully responsible for who he has become? Maybe not, but, his victims
would say he is. If they could speak. It all started when his Imperial
Survey ship was taken and presumed lost, ten years ago."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The head was crying. I hugged him with all my love. That startled him
out of it. He said in wonder, "Who are you?" I said, "I am the Senior
Agent, of something more." He said, "I believe it. My son!" I said, "I
had told a friend that I suspected the leader was somebody we couldn't
think of. It wasn't until I saw his picture here, and then scanned his
service record, so I could be truthful in saying he was a good man,
that all the threads came together, and I knew. Then I scanned for him.
Yes, he's on Prime. He didn't need to be conditioned, to hide. He's got
an iron will now, that works for that."
I said, "Able to work?" He said, "Yes I am!" I said, "I shouldn't try
to read his mind. He's highly psionic, and has trained himself to
detect it, and he will have some defenses set up. Possibly an erasure.
But he can be contained. There are bombs planted all over. The maid has
duplicate controls. Here are the locations, and how to disarm them." I
ported some papers to me, and he jumped a little, but otherwise didn't
bat an eye. I nodded in appreciation, eliciting a little smile. I said,
"Some ships in the system are not what they seem. Here's their specs
and locations. Extra ground forces are all the GP people in the city,
and the circus, and more who can get here in time. Yes, I mobilized
them, and the leaders have crystals, and only those who can be vouched
for, will be in the force. Here's the contact information. I will not
allow any more people to be conditioned, so all who are not, will stay
that way. You have all you need from me. I should not be further
involved in a way that can be noticed. But I offer something else, and
declining will NOT be thought badly of in the least. If you would like
me to stay with you, I can, but only you will be aware of me. I will
not exist for anybody else here, not even in body." He said, "Please
stay." I said, "Hugs always available. No shame in that. Call it
spiritual recharge, which it actually is. I am the foremost religious
leader of my home planet." He said, "I suspected. Your galaxy, too?" I
said, "Everybody wants to embarrass me!" He chuckled.
He said, "Can you be with the royal family?" I said, "Any number of
personal presences." He said, "I request it." I said with a smile,
"Already doing it. And they had requested I be with you." He shook his
head in wonder. I said, "I'm also with the Circus." He said, "Good.
Thank you!" I said, "No need for that. All my choice." He nodded, still
typing code. I said, "GP troupes are wearing green armbands. Circus
with them." He nodded and said, "They're being admitted to Government
Center and the Palace, and others are being made to leave. Those who
resist, we're using tangle webs." I said, "Won't hold high gravs. Stun
guns will disable them if needed. Could break their bones." He said,
"Oh! Strong muscles. I see. Passing that on." I said, "They've noticed
our preparations, and have started offensive operations. Reasonably
well coordinated. Er, they were. Some unusual communications problems
they're experiencing. Hmm, throwing a comm against a will won't do much
good for it." He chuckled. I said, "Our forces are responding
effectively, and well."
I said, "Flyer approaching this location. Too fast. Has engine
trouble now. Well, who needs distractions?" He said, "Full agreement!"
I said, "Imperial ships are attacking the enemy in the system. Oh, such
bad words!" He had to laugh. I said, "They show their true nature.
Cowards! Hmm, drive problems." He grinned. I said, "One tried to use
hyperdrive too close in. Hit an asteroid. Not even dust now. Afterlife
has some surprised new inhabitants." He said, "It exists, truly?" I
said, "Holding area. Judged, and they go someplace. Usually
reincarnated. I can see them. I remember all my past lives. Souls don't
die, only bodies do." He said, "Wow!" I said, "Been hearing that a
lot." Chuckles.
He said, "What are you doing with the enemy in sensitive areas?" I
said, "Clumsy people keep tripping over their own feet." Chuckles. I
said, "Where feasible, leaders in rooms, can't get out." He said, "The
two royal pretenders?" I said, "Yes. Both alone, actually, and NOT
he could yell that loudly. I think, neither did he." Chuckles. I said,
"I removed both their conditioning at that instant. He actually hit
her! Er, good for him!" He had to laugh. I said, "He just called his
mother. I let it through. She gave orders. He's tying her up. She gave
him a good clawing, and he gave her a loud slap. I like him." He had to
laugh. I said, "She's crying false tears. He's ignoring her, which,
from her point of view, is the worst thing he could do to her. I REALLY
like him." He grinned, and said, "I'll pass that on to his parents." I
said, "Fine. I like giving gifts."
I said, "Your daughter is doing VERY well at your desk. You are fully
justified in being proud of her." He said, "Thanks. I didn't dare ask
you." I said, "Too busy?" He said, "I'll accept that." We traded grins.
I said, "Enemy ground troops approaching. They suspect you're here.
Circus people can really travel in this weak gravity. They'll be here
at the same time. We might sustain some small arms fire here." He said,
"Armored." I said, "Good warranty?" He chuckled, and said, "Better not
be needed."
I said, "Woman pretender realizes she's not going to win or escape.
She's got poison. Policy decision. Free will. I can stop her only if
asked to. I know all she knows." He was silent. I said, "She's dead.
She thought it would be painless. It wasn't." He nodded. I said, "Ha!
She's found you. Yes, they can see us if they want to. She can't see
me, though. I'll let her hear you if you want to speak to her." He said
"I do." I said, "Signal when you're finished." He said out loud,
"Greetings cousin. Yes, I know you're watching me. You made a serious
mistake. Your leader has a stronger claim to the throne, and planed to
kill you before you could take it. That's why you never knew who he
was. I hope your next life will be better for you." I shook my head. He
said, "Oh! I've just been told that it won't be. Well, we all get what
we deserve, eventually, and you'll soon find out that what we deserve
after death isn't our decision." He signaled. I said, "I've blocked
her."
We heard some small arms fire, and some hits on the walls. Two
windows in another room starred, but didn't break. Then more shooting,
not at us, and then silence. He got a call. I said, "Right. All clear.
Flyer tried to ram your office. It hit. Crumbled and bounced off.
Falling. Pilot survived, with some minor injures, and loud curses."
Chuckles.
I said, "I can see multiple futures. There were a whole lot of them
for this area. They're becoming less, and the remaining ones are mostly
what they should be." He stared at me. I said, "Blink more." He did. I
said, "Problem seeing them where I'm active in them." He said, "I think
that would be so. Interesting. My son?" I said, 'My distractions wore
off?" He was surprised, and said, "Well done!" I bowed. I said, "I
wouldn't tell you if I could. I can't see it, so it means I'm directly
involved in it, and for good reason. No other can successfully capture
him, without him killing himself, and I have a feeling that isn't what
should happen." He said, "Your feelings are like written in stone to
us. Have to agree." I smiled, and said, "Strange you should say that.
Happened to my father in one of his incarnations. Unfortunately, he
wasn't a stoneworker. Second try, he had help. Here's what he wrote,
words from God." I made the tablets of Moses. He read them, and said,
"Lawgiver!" I said, "Yes. Different dimension, same God. Similar
servants." He said, "And you are His Senior Agent for all." I said,
"Yes. He can talk to me directly, but He likes to annoy me with the
usual mysterious ways. All I knew for this assignment was that I should
join the circus. All else I had to learn on my own. But He loves me,
and knew I would LOVE being in the circus, so I can't really complain."
I was flooded with His love. The Head felt some of that, too. He said,
END Page
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Grant
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