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Chapter-4

Like most SolGov citizen, Marcus Bowfinger was something of a sedate character, at least in Theo's opinion. He dressed in grays, browns and sometimes deep blues. He left for work every morning at the same time, returned to his room for lunch, had a coffee in the afternoon, during his break, and headed back home after work. Twice a week he met with four friends in the evening for drinks. By their attire they were all SolGov, but except for Marcus, they enjoyed indulging alcohol.

On Fridays he met with someone for a romantic evening. During the three weeks Theo watched him it wasn't with the same person, twice women, and once a man. Each time sex happened, or at least they spent the night and left in the morning quite happy.

Cass did a search, and Marcus hadn't had a formalized relationship with anyone while on Titan. Theo considered himself a good judge of character and he saw no signs Marcus was unhappy in his life. He walked with his head high, and while he didn't display his joy he nodded to and greeted his coworkers.

Then there were his paintings.

It had been easy for Cass to gain access to Marcus' apartment's security system and spy on him. Theo had watched in awe while the mongoose moved a digital pointer in the air and Cass added the image Marcus was painting.

It was a forest scene, in fall, with each leaf in glorious reds yellows and oranges. The sky was blue, the perfect blue Theo remembered, with a sun partially hidden by wisps of clouds. The ground was green in the patches not covered with fallen leaves, and even the brown of the bark, which should be dull, had a vibrancy to it.

Theo watched as Marcus zoomed the scene and added children playing among the trees. A fox with copper fur, a sheep in white and a lion in gold, chasing each other, laughing. The mongoose moved the image away and looked at it, nodding in satisfaction. He tagged it with a file name and stored it.

Theo had Cass show it to him again. He'd known SolGov people were capable of passion, he'd been in bed with quite a few of them, but he hadn't expected the use of such colors from one. One of the phrases used to described SolGov people, when one wanted to be insulting, was that they were a gray society. Theo was amazed at how real the image looked.

He'd gone through all of Marcus' painting, and they were all vivid. He'd even managed to endow the lunar landscapes with shades of blues, pinks and greens that looked completely normal, even though Theo knew he'd never seen such the two times he'd been on Luna. He had Cass do a search for where he could buy some of them, but Marcus didn't sell his art, or even display it on public servers. He kept them all for himself.

Getting over his surprise at such a good artist not publishing his work, Theo looked though what Cass found about the mongoose, his interest in movies and books, archived conversations with friends. Search history on the meeting site Marcus used to pick his partners for his Friday evenings.

By the end of the third week, he had enough of an idea of who Marcus was, and what he liked that Theo would be able to be the kind of man that interested him. All that was needed now was for them to end up on the same ship, one where Marcus would need a respite from everyone else there.

* * * * *

"So?" Theo asked Cass. "Can you do it?"

"Well, yes. I'm just concerned with the amount of chaos that will create."

"Chaos is good, it means no one will notice minor changes."

"No, this is a SolGov station. Chaos means they'll look even harder to find the problem."

"But you can make it difficult enough they won't fix it in time, right?"

"Of course, but Anderson's going to be pissed if it comes out we caused this."

Theo smiled. "Then better make sure she doesn't find out." Theo went back to assembling a wardrobe Laramy would wear. He couldn't rely on his morphic clothing considering the nights he was planning on enjoying with Marcus during their trip to Mars.

* * * * *

"You weren't kidding," Theo commented as he pushed his way through the crowd.

"Are you going to complain now that I gave you what you wanted?"

"Never crossed my mind, although I didn't expect to have to fight my way to the counter." Someone almost elbowed him in the stomach. The woman, an antelope, didn't even give him a second glance. "Can you even find him in this crowd? I kind of need to be behind him when he reaches the counter."

"I can tell you he exited the south side lift five minutes ago. Why do you need to be behind him? It isn't like he's going to remember who is standing there."

Theo avoided a suitcase someone swung in the air. "You've seen the detail in his paintings. Someone who can paint like that remembers what's around him."

"I bet he was just copying images from his implant."

"And I bet he did them from his imagination. You've seen copied works, they never have that kind of vitality to them."

"Of course they do, that's the point of a copy."

"Cass, where is he?"

His partner sighed. "I'm having the lobby's security system search for him. As soon as it finds him, I'll point you to him, but he will have to go to desk five, that's the notice he received when the shuttle assignment system failed."

The tiger looked around for the desk, and it flashed when it came within his sight. "Didn't he already know his assignment?"

"Come on, Theo, he has an implant. Why would he bother memorizing the information when he can access it with a thought?"

"I want to say I can't believe anyone would be so dependent on those things."

"But this isn't the first time we've taken advantage of that fact, so you can't."

Theo smiled as he pushed his way between two large moose. The case with his clothing banged the back one of their legs and they cursed him. He apologized and kept moving. "Just how many of the servers did you take down?"

"All of them, of course. You wanted chaos, I gave you chaos."

"And I'm thankful."

"I've also scrambled three thousand assigned seating, but only fifty-eight of them will board before the servers are back up."

"What kind of trip are they going to have? I hope you didn't put an Orr family on a Vanguard ship."

"Of course not, although the idea that everyone within the Orr corporation hates Vanguard and vice versa is a myth. The hostilities are only at the executive level. The only person who will be inconvenienced by this mix up is Marcus. Who is coming now."

A form began flashing in Theo's field of vision, and he hurried to catch up to him. Normally Cass provided information on everyone around them, but in this large crowd it would have blinded him. The only people who had information showing were the guards, who were out in force, but stayed at the edges, to ensure the crowd behaved. Cass listed the type of armors and weapons they were carrying, as well as their current orders, they were all on standby.

"Oh, this is interesting," Cass said, as Theo took his place behind the mongoose. "Theodore Laramy has been selected by not one, but eight different messaging company to try their new systems for free for three months. Their pitch is quite creative, do you want to hear it?"

Theo finger coded, 'No!' the harshness of his movement adding the emphasis. He continued with quieter motions. 'Refuse all advertising.'

"Technically, they aren't advertisings, they are promotions, and since you are working for Findlen Communication, their hopes are that if they can convince you to use their business, it will give them an in with the rest of the company."

'I'm on vacation,' Theo coded.

"When has that ever stopped businesses?"

Theo sighed, which caused the mongoose to glace over his shoulder at him, then back ahead. 'Tell them I'm not interested,' he coded.

"Should I create an avatar so they think Mister Laramy is the one telling them that?"

"You're the artist, do what you think will work the fastest, unless you want to field their calls all the way to Mars," he said, keeping his voice low. He wasn't the only one talked to 'no one' half the people around him were arguing with someone via their Implants, and most didn't bother keeping their tone conversational. The use of assistant was popular when they could be reached at a moment's notice.

"Good point. I'll create an automated response. I have better things to do than answer their calls."

For all the chaos around them, the line moved quickly, and within five minutes the mongoose was at the counter.

"Marcus Bowfinger," he said, placing a hand on the scanner. "I need to know what ship I'm traveling on."

"You and everyone here," the clerk, a squirrel who might have been perky at the start of her day, but now looked exhausted. "You're booked on the Orr ship Mercury, Dock twelve. Next."

Marcus didn't move. "That can't be right. There's no way I would have been booked on an Orr ship. I'm SolGov. Can you double check? When I looked it up last week, I'm pretty sure it said I was on the Caribbean."

"This says you're on the Mercury. Next."

The mongoose sighed. "Look. I'm just asking you to verify the information."

The squirrel looked at him, clearly too tired to be angry. "I have checked, you're on the Mercury, the Caribbean is full, and your name isn't on its manifest."

"Well, that doesn't work for me. I'm not spending months on an Orr ship. I'm not just a SolGov citizen, I'm a representative. I demand to be put on a SolGov ship."

The squirrel rubbed her head

"Is there a problem here?" A doe stepped behind the squirrel.

"Yes, there is," the mongoose said before the clerk opened her mouth. "My name is Marcus Bowfinger. I work for the SolGov Government. This...your employee is trying to tell me I have to travel on an Orr ship. Do you have any idea what that's like? What they'll spend those months doing in all parts of the ship?" He looked at the squirrel. "You might not mind it, but I am not enduring it."

The doe placed a hand on the clerk's shoulder. "Please Abigail, see if there's a SolGov ship going where this gentleman wants to go."

The clerk collected herself, then smiled at Marcus before her eyes went unfocused.

Theo studied her. It had taken him months of practice to achieve it. Because Cass was who did the work, he needed to fake the vacant 'accessing' expression, so even now, years after his instructor assured him he had mastered it, he always observed someone wearing the expression, looking for any minor variation he could add to make his more realistic.

The squirrel's gaze focused on Marcus again. "I'm sorry, Sir, but there won't be another SolGov ship heading for Mars with space available for another week."

Cass snorted. "Of course there isn't, do they think I'm an idiot and give him a chance to-"

"I'll take it."

Theo was so surprised he didn't code to Cass.

"Well, that can't be good," Cass commented.

Theo coded, "Do something."

"I don't know what I can do, the clerk is already in the process of switching his assignment."

"I need him on the Mercury. This only works if we're both on that ship."

Marcus frowned. "What are you trying to pull?"

"It's the ship you want to travel on," the clerk replied.

Cass snickered. "I think I solved it."

"There's no way I'm traveling on a mining ship, and they're scheduled to arrive on Mars two weeks after the conference is over. I have to be there before the conference starts, I am part of it."

The doe leveled her gaze on Marcus, while squeezing the squirrel's shoulder comfortingly. "Sir, we have tried to accommodate your needs within reason. Now, if you want to step out of line, I'm sure once the server is back up you can make any arrangement you want, but for now there are other passengers trying to reach their ship and they too are on a schedule."

"When is the server going to be back up?"

"I'm not a technician, Sir. I don't know. Now, what are you going to do?"

"Fine," Marcus huffed, "Put me on the Mercury, but your boss is going to hear about this." He waited a moment, then stormed off.

Theo stepped to the counter and the squirrel took a breath. "I'm sorry about that," she said.

"It's okay, if you need to take a moment after what he just put you through, go ahead, I can wait." Theo placed his hand on the scanner

She smiled gratefully. "It's okay, I'll be fine."

The doe patted her shoulder. "I'll find someone so you can take your break early."

The squirrel nodded.

"Theodore Laramy, traveling to Mars."

The information would already be up in her vision, the scanner having read the part of his DNA that acted as an identification tag, and then accessing all the relevant information. This time the information in the system had been changed so Laramy had his ID Tag. With Vulps he had needed to change his Tag directly because of the depth of the scrutiny he had to submit to be able to access Olifant's party.

The squirrel winced as something she saw and when she looked at him there was worry in her eyes. "I'm afraid you're also on the Mercury."

Theo nodded and smiled. "So dock twelve?"

She sighed in relief. "Yes."

He reached across the counter and patted her arm. "Hang in there, they're bound to get the servers up and running soon."

"Thank you." She straightened herself. "Next."

Theo stepped aside.

"I wouldn't be too sure about 'soon'," Cass commented. "I don't do things half way."

"I was just raising her spirits," Theo answered vocally. Marcus wasn't close by, and he wasn't the only one talking to an 'assistant' as he walked. The docks were much the same as they'd been when he'd previously left the station, or returned to it a few weeks ago. On this side of the counter things were calmer, with people, singly or in groups going to their assigned ship.

Dock twelve didn't look any different than the others until he stepped in the ship. The corridor was five meters wide and high, painted in calm pale green. The lights were recessed in the edges of the ceiling.

A tall and broad-shouldered mule stood next to the hatch. He placed a hand on Theo's chest to stop him. He only wore gray cotton shirt and pants, which were tight enough to emphasize his muscles and crotch.

"Your arm's mechanical."

The tiger smiled, looking up from the bulge. "It is. I'm an engineer, I keep my tools in it."

"Show me. Ship policy."

That surprised Theo, but he complied, opening the panel on the underside of his forearm and showing the mule the multitude of tool there.

"Okay, welcome aboard the Mercury."

Theo walked backward for a couple of steps, watching the guard, because that's certainly how it had felt. 'Name?' he coded

"Brack. According to the ship's computer, he's an attendant."

There was no one else in the hallway, all the comfortable looking couches set against the wall at irregular intervals empty. Theo remained silent until he was far away he couldn't be over heard. "Just Brack? And if he's just an attendant, I'm a woman."

"That's the only name the ship has for him, and I'm confident your sexuality is secure."

"Where's our room?"

"Concourse A3, room number fifty-four. Marcus in one level below us, I figured if he had to endure being on an Orr ship, I'd give him a comfortable room."

"You do realize that if he doesn't need to get out, it's going to be difficult for me to get his DNA, right?"

"Don't be so dramatic, he still needs to leave to eat. And no one can be alone for close to four months, he'll have to get out and socialize at some point."

"And now you're the one forgetting that he has an implant, and that he doesn't have to feel alone even by himself." Theo stepped in the lift. He didn't feel it move, but moments later the door opened on Concourse A3.

Entering his room he smiled. He so loved traveling on Orr ships. Not only was there always someone willing to have sex with, but they did love their comforts and spaces.

The room was a large combination of bedroom, sitting room and office. Cass provided him the dimensions as being twelve meters on all sides. The bed was large enough to accommodate six people and it was firm enough it wouldn't sag if all six of them were fucking.

The bathroom was modest in comparison, having only a vanity, toilet and large shower, but that had a field generator that could hold the water, if he felt like soaking. The closet was also in this room with an automated cleaner in it. He wouldn't have to worry about any dirty clothing during this trip.

"What does this ship have to offer?" Theo asked as he put the six set of clothing away

"Sex."

"Other than that. I'm not going to indulge in that since I'll be seducing Marcus."

"One doesn't preclude the other, you know."

"Yeah, but I'm not an Orr, I don't need to have sex all the time."

"Well, in that case, there are eeleven restaurants, theaters that offers both holographic and live shows."

"Anything you recommend on the schedule?"

Cass was silent for a long moment. "Well, in three weeks there will be a holographic showing of Doctor Manhattan Love connection."

"With a title like that is sounds like it's a sex mo-" he paused, dress shirt half in and out of the field that would hold it. "Wait, isn't that one of your movies?"

"It is." The two words were filled with pride. "And it's one I made available almost six years ago. It's still in circulation, and the reviews are quite good, and not just with the Orr Corporation, this one seems to have a wide appeal."

"Is that the one set in pre-war time? He made a modification to a communication device and anytime he talks to someone through it, they end up having sex?"

"You're over simplifying the story. He didn't modify the phone, he was repairing it, the change was accidental, and the sex happens on the virtual plane, and through it they fall in love. Of course, by time he realizes what his happening, he has half a dozen lovers demanding his attention, and he loves them all. It's more than he can handle so he pairs them off. He gets them to call each other, in the end they are all tender toward each other, but he is able to have time for himself again."

"He doesn't destroy the thing, the phone, right?"

"No, he considers it, but decides to store it in a safe place. I was thinking of making a sequel, but it would just have been more of the same."

Theo lied down. "Plenty of people want that. If it's popular, you wouldn't go wrong by giving them more of the same."

"It feels too easy. I want the sequel to have its own storyline, not just a rehashing if the first one."

"It's a sex movie, Cass. No one watches them for the story."

Cass snorted. "Shows what you know."

Theo laughed. He undressed, his clothes turning white and nondescript. He headed back to the bathroom.

"Do you want me to inform you when Marcus leaves his room?"

"No, I'm giving him a couple of days to fully appreciate the Orr hospitality."

"Considering you and him are the only none Orr citizens on the ship, I expect he will not be as appreciative of it as you will."

"Yep, so that when I introduce myself to him, he'll be ready for someone charming, but of a more sedate attitude." He told Cass to set the field to contain the water and shaped it as a bowl. When it was full, he stepped in it, swam away from the edge and solidified it to support him, then he lied down and relaxed.