The Orion Plague by David VanDyke Page A

myself under her
knife.
    Waving airily, he responded, “Nothing to
forgive, Doctor. Your work is excellent, and will be rewarded.” He
raised one eyebrow. “Intermittently.”
    “Ah, very amusing, sir. We do appreciate the
resources lavished on us and endeavor to do our best. Speaking of
resources…”
    “I am sorry I can’t increase your budget
right now. As the illegitimate government asserts more control, I
am finding it harder and harder to acquire what we need. Some units
and people are still loyal, but we need to get the kinks worked out
of your Shadow Men and put them to use. They must be made
reliable!”
    “Yes, it is hard to instill fear in a cyborg,
and too much pain will make them timid. We are continuing to test
approaches.”
    Jenkins smacked a fist into his palm for
emphasis. “This is even more important as Unionist currency is now
worthless. If I did not have substantial holdings in the Neutral
States we would have nothing at all, remember that. Also, Doctor,
should you ever consider hosting me in one of your Burn Rooms, I
will remind you that I have had some very effective psychological
blocks put in to my mind. I also have some loyal men who would
investigate…and they have weapons and tools that even your Shadows
would find…effective.”
    He saw her face grow still as she nodded. She is more correct than she knew , he thought. Fear of
consequences is more effective than
punishment itself .
    “Of course, sir. We are all loyal to you and
the Unionist Party here.”
    “I am the Party now, Doctor, and the Party
values your loyalty in the exact measure you extend it. Now, shall
we discuss how we will employ this tool you are creating?”
    “Of course, sir.” She opened the door to exit
the observation room, then led him to her well-appointed office.
They sat on her soft black leather sofa, deliberately set low so
her short legs were comfortable but bigger, taller people felt odd.
Jenkins got up after a moment and perched on its arm, a slightly
more appropriate seat for his tall frame.
    Shari folded her hands on her knees and
asked, “What did you have in mind for him, sir?”
    Jenkins rubbed his neck tiredly. He wished
there was a simple way to get rid of the Eden Plague virtue effect
without all this cyberware, which would compromise his free will
even more than the virus itself. He could use some healing and
energy right about now. “I presume network cyber-warfare is not an
option.”
    She shook her head. “He will retain his
skills, but I cannot speak for his motivation, his drive, his
‘edge.’ Creative talents cannot be bludgeoned into achievement,
only coaxed. My methods are not sufficiently refined to make him an
effective hacker for us. At least, no more effective than the
others working for us.”
    “Then my hope is that we can use him as a
mole. Release him, let him escape or be rescued. Use your
hypnoconditioning to make him forget his alterations.”
    The Doctor looked skeptical. “Such hypnotics
will only hold for a brief time. A week, perhaps two. Then the
memories of what we have done will break through. If he reports
himself, we will immediately lose him. We will also be providing
our enemies with some of our technology to examine, and they have
an extensive research program.”
    Jenkins stood up to pace. “Then you will wire
him with some kind of self-destruct that will automatically burn
him out, slag all the cyberware inside him, either when we send him
a signal or when he exhibits certain proscribed behavior. You can
do that, can’t you?”
    Shari laughed. “A simple matter. We can’t
control his thoughts, but we can match his actions, including
things he sees, to a heuristic decision matrix that will –”
    “Spare me the details, Doctor. I have full
confidence that you can do what you promise. Just…do not
overpromise. I would rather be told honestly you cannot do
something, than to be misled. That,” he said heavily, “would
displease me greatly.”
    The