Solomon's Private File #265
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 27 in this story, in the Winter of 2053-2054.
Solomon's Private File #265 "Fox Negotiation"
START Page
I shifted to a meeting with the president of Fox TV. I said, "I hear
you want to renegotiate your rebroadcast deal with CNN." He said very
cautiously, "The er, products have changed. Not as entertaining." I
said, "Less viewership?" He said, "Er, no." I said, "Less offers of
national and local sponsorship?" He said, "More, actually, but for less
money." I said, "Less shows, so less cable revenue from them, but more
of your stations than before, are running them, where you make less in
fees. So, you have less total profit from the deal. Still a real
profit, though. So, not much justification for a new deal. Got
something more?" He said, "If you would do some shows for us, we would
pay even more." I said, "Is that the basis of your ploy?" He said, "Er,
in bargaining." He said with a sigh, "So true."
I said, "I've built up trust with CNN. They know not to even try to
lie to me, or about me. Your networks and stations REALLY don't have
that with me." He said, "We can't control individual stations." I said,
"And that's why I use an exclusively cable network as my outlet.
Official archivist, now. Saves me a lot of trouble defending myself.
Somebody misquotes me, they jump on him." He said, "We've had some of
that. Like spiked boots." I said, "Good!" He chuckled. I said, "My
father gave you entertainment shows. With who I am to the public now,
that just wouldn't be right, even if I wanted to, which I don't." He
said, "Why don't you want to?" I said, "I don't want to be compared to
my father, on the chance people might think I'm better." He looked at
me in new appraisal.
I said, "And I have no real interest in that kind of thing. Any of my
group can play any musical instrument better than any player in a first
rate orchestra, but we have no ambition to actually do it in public.
Artists, too. ANY human activity, we would be the all time best. All
without the use of special powers. My school trains geniuses to use ALL
of their potential, which they could never do before my school.
Educational techniques just couldn't enable that, until my school
invented them." He said, "I thought your father invented them." I said,
"He didn't. The school administrator and scientists did. What he did,
was add psionics to it, and more science of the brain and mind, and
then advance that with the psionically operated tech he invented. You
saw his ballet show?"
He said, "I did. Fantastic!" I said, "Any of our students could do
that almost as well. The performance, not the creation of that. He was
the only artist of his time with us. We have more now. We train hard,
not just our minds, but our bodies, too. The clown skills I showed?" He
said, "That was almost impossible!" I said, "We actually train on the
slack and high wires. Balance is very important. Training the body also
trains the brain and mind. We are gradually introducing some of the
physical parts of our techniques in the universities in Tibet. I see
the question. They just won't be accepted here. Education establishment
is like a religion here. Truth doesn't matter nearly as much as
tradition."
He said, "If you could give us some news items, that would help." I
said, "Not involving me. I won't be a party to sensationalism. That's
why I won't allow CNN to put anything at all about me on HLN. Caused a
little problem with the Oscar. I had to allow that, but only as
straight reporting." He said, "Oh! I didn't know. Our research team
Chuckles. I said, "One more thing you don't want to hear. NBC has a
"Don't! I give! We'll keep the same arrangement." I said, "I had
considered agreeing with CNN about asking for more money." He looked
conflicted. I said, "Remember the base in Somalia action?" He gulped,
and said, "I do. We aren't them! This was only about the change in
product and the economics of it."
I said, "I know. How about a little something. They don't like old
news. You do a little. You show an old program, even of my father's, I
might do a recorded comment for it as an update, if applicable." He
said, "We would love that!" I said, "All I can do, without causing
problems with CNN. But same deal. No edits, and you tell your stations
that as an or else, thing. And one more thing. If you agree to my
proposal, a recording of this meeting goes to the president of CNN, but
not for broadcast." He said, "So you don't have to tell them yourself?"
I said, "That, and their archivist thing." He said, "Did you require
that?" I said, "Not at all, but I did tell them they should stand up
for what they report. Any misquotes from their shows, they should
defend, if they want to keep credibility. After all this time of doing
that, they considered themselves my archivists in principle, if not in
official fact. Then they actually said it, and only later asked if that
was alright. I said it was." He chuckled. We hugged.
I gave the recording to CNN. He said, "Saves us time and money. Right
about the old news. Thanks."
A man walked into my office at the Bureau. I said to him, after
taking his file, "I can see right away there is something unusual about
you. Tell me what you think it is." He said, "I've tried drier sheets,
but this static electricity is still a problem." I said, "Most that is,
isn't static electricity." He said, "But then, what's causing this? My
clothes move!" I said, "They sure do! And you're doing it." He said, "I
don't understand. I'm not doing anything." I took a handkerchief from
my pocket, and shook it out, and put it on the desk between us. I said,
"Make it move. No, without putting your hands anywhere near it." He
said, "I can't." I said, "Do it anyway. Will it. Calmly, just will it."
He did, and successfully. He said, "I don't understand! It moved!" I
said, "What don't you understand of that?" He said, "I couldn't have
done that. Impossible." I said, "I didn't do it, and there's no wind or
mechanism here that could do it, and your clothes are doing it, and did
it when you weren't here. Logic says you are doing. Or do you mean you
don't use logic?" He said, "It's impossible!" I said, "Logic and
reality, don't care about OPINIONS of what is impossible. It moved, so
it's obviously possible. Or we are both insane. Better not go there
with a psychologist. Special Agents of the FBI observe and report. They
don't express their personal opinions about things they aren't expert
in. So far, you're not doing well here."
He said, "You say I'm doing it. Do you know how?" I said, "Yes." He
was surprised. I said, "And this meter tells me you can. See this
dial?" He said, "It shows about three quarters, but of what?" I said,
"Psionics." He said, "I don't believe in that!" I said, "Strange. You
don't believe in the love and healing broadcasts?" He was conflicted. I
said, "Solomon made this. Do you think he's lying when he talks about
it?" More conflict. I said, "Why do you need to believe or disbelieve?
Why don't you just accept what you experience? You know when people are
lying. That's part of the emotion sense. You're using PK, and that's
part of psionics, too." He said, "Unbelievable!" I said, "There you go
again. What is wrong with you? Why can't you accept what you
experience? Tell me, have people you disliked ever had an unexplained
accident in your presence?" He was REALLY surprised. He got up to
leave. A Corps member ported in into block the door.
She said to him, "You have misused your psionics. You have two
options at this time. You may go to a qualified teacher to learn to
control your abilities, and have restrictions implanted against
accidental and unjust use of psionics, or you will have your psionics
permanently removed, which would be a significant loss, as your ability
is very much above the average. And you will not be working here. Make
your choice." He said, "I have to do it now?" She said, "Yes. You are a
danger to other people. That will not be allowed to continue." He said,
"This teacher. Who?" She said, "Any authorized Buddhist Temple." He
said, "I can't do that, I'm a Christian!" She said, "So am I. I've been
there. Good people. They've been doing this for more than a thousand
years. Solomon personally trained the Monks here in D.C. They won't
give you religion, but real science." He said, "Alright, I'll go."
She said, "Don't be foolish! I can detect lies, just as you can.
Agree to have me port you there, and you won't leave until they say so,
She said, "Automatic. Gone for good. I don't advise it. You don't pay
much attention to it now, but you will REALLY miss it when it's gone.
Here, try this hat on, to see how it would feel." He did, and took it
right off. He said, "I felt blind and helpless. Horrible!" She said,
"The hat is insulated against psionics." He said, "You've convinced me!
I'm sorry for how I was. I must have seamed crazy to you." I said,
"Well, in a way, you were, a little. Irrational, for sure. You might
want to work on dealing with reality as it is, and not as you wish it
to be." He said, "I'm not sure I understand that, but I think I'll have
to try." She said to him, "They're expecting you. Ready to port?" He
said, "Yes." He vanished.
Al said to me, "That was a tough one. He nincompooped all over you!"
I laughed and said, "I should have expected something like that from
you! Mouth in dirty places, was still better, I think." She giggled,
and we hugged and kissed. She ported out. I went to the office manager,
and said, "This one didn't even make as far as as the interview." She
looked around for him. I said, "Psionics. Wouldn't believe he was. He
caused a Corps action. She ported him out." She said, "Oh! First time.
Wow!" I said, "I had that thought, myself." Chuckles. Those waiting,
were in surprised wonder.
I motioned for my next client to come with me. He said, "You don't
accept psis?" I said, "We don't accept people who are irrational in
denying what they feel and observe, and who are harming people
unconsciously. And that was irrelevant. We didn't do the interview, so
there is no result. And it's not relevant to you. You're a profiler.
You should know SOMETHING about psychology." He had to chuckle, and
said, "Purist!" I said, "If you want to believe that." He said, "Oh. I
see I should be more careful." I said, "Always. Lost cause, though.
More than three hundred ahead of you, in the position you're applying
for. Stupid TV shows." He said, "They don't do field work?" I said,
"Hardly ever. Don't need to. That's what phones are for. Profilers are
in the lab building in Virginia, not in our main office here." He said,
"This isn't the main office?" I said, "No, just Assessments. Separate
Department. We don't get involved in criminal cases we don't uncover
here, and that's rare." He said, "Openings?" I said, "Nope." He said,
"Supervisor know more?" I pointed at me, and he grinned and said,
"Oops!" I said, "All here have to be at least half psionic, and black
belts." He said, "Oh! Specialists." I said, "In the job, yes.
Academically, full rounded. Never know what will show up. Had some real
flakes, and a few attacks, too."
He said, "And Solomon's people, too." I said, "First time with the
Corps. Very interesting." He chuckled, and said, "I can imagine! So, I
have virtually no chance." I said, "Not for what you're applying for.
Anything missing on your application? I didn't see transcripts." He
said, "Undergraduate double major. Other was in pharmacology." I said,
"You've got transcripts with you, I know. Hand them over." He grinned,
and said, "Sure you're not a profiler?" I growled, and he chuckled as
he was giving them to me. I said, "Possibility as an addiction
specialist. Interested?" He said, "I could be." I quizzed him in job
specific areas. He was impressed, and said so. I said, "My job. You'd
better do yours as well, too. Interested more now?" He said, "Yes. I
want to apply."
I stood and said, "Come with me." At the office managers desk, I
said, "I'll be in the Psychology Department." She grinned. I sighed. As
we were walking there, he said, "Interesting reaction. Rivalry?" I
said, "Opposite. More like playmates." Chuckles. In their reception, I
said, "Boss in?" She said, "Sure. Anything for you." I said, "Good
thing I'm not a cannibal." She said, "Oops! And me without my salt." I
said, "Next time." We exchanged smiles, and we went to the indicated
office. Candidate said, "Wow!" I said to him, "When shrinks play,
reality spins in its grave." He gave me a really odd look. I said,
"You've obviously never worked in an office of shrinks." He said,
"Right. Bound to be a unique environment!" The boss, who had heard
that, said, "Absolutely! Come in."
I did the intros, and then described the issues. He quizzed the
candidate, and studied the transcripts. He said to me, "Can fill in, in
forensics when needed." I nodded, and said, "By remote." I said to the
candidate, "A tell. Out with it." He said, "You're GOOD!" Boss shrink
laughed. Candidate said, "You think I won't work well in the field. I
have to agree. How did you know?" I said, "Unconscious physical
reaction to armed agents we passed in the hall." He said, "How?" I
said, "Trained peripheral vision. Senior Master of Martial arts." He
said, "Oh!" I said, "Eh, that, too." Chuckles. I said, "Psionics helps,
too. Can't avoid sensing things." He said, "I think I understand.
Working here sure wouldn't be boring!" I said, "Then we'll have to
prove that to you." Boss shrink was nodding. Candidate looked back and
laughed.
He likes his new desk. We know, because he still has his smile going.
Personnel boss said to me, "Obviously a great fit. Thanks for the
recording. You prepared him well." I said, "Worth it. Getting good
people makes up for the er, flakes." He grinned and said, "We'd like to
"Keep them coming. Er, with a towel." Laughter on the way out.
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Grant
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