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“I don’t understand,” said Rick. “What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry Director,” said Tim. “But you haven’t been given your military briefing yet. Different subject, what did you think about the CEO’s speech?”
“I thought he was trying to promote peace but would fight if he had no other choice.” Rick didn’t know where this was going but was sure it had something to do with him.
“And that is exactly what we want the public to think,” said Don. “The Board reached out to Rossom before Nash’s trial even began to call for a cease fire.”
“I know,” said Rick. “I was there when Hobbs got the agreement to halt the war. So, what happened?”
“I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this,” said Tim. “Rossom was willing to end the war after your performance at Nash’s trial. Trouble is that six research stations have been destroyed in the last three weeks. Two of them have belonged to Rossom.”
Don added, “Rossom seems to think that we are not holding up our end of the bargain.”
“Alright,” said Rick with suspicion. “Are we? Are we holding up our end?”
“Yes Sir,” said Don. “As I am the head of the financial division for Wilson, I would know if any funds were being funneled into military operations.”
Rick sat back and thought about it for a moment. Then said to himself, “That’s why he wanted me on the Board.”
“Sir?” said Tim. He had a confused look on his face. For that matter so did Don.
It was Rick’s turn to explain things to the two men that were making him feel stupid. “Let me clarify this for you. I am an investigator. The CEO put me in a position to have all the information I need to facilitate my primary function.”
“And what is that function?” asked Don.
“To find out who is doing this. To find out who is attacking these stations.”
“We think we have a good idea who is doing this,” said Tim.
“If you say Collier, you may be right. Still, I have a habit of following the evidence not my feelings.” Rick paused a moment to let the thought sink in. “Tell me this, other than the attack today do we know who was responsible for the attacks on the other labs?”
“No,” said Tim. “From what I’ve been told there was no evidence at the other sites.”
“And you don’t find that strange. I mean a poorly armed Agro station was able to fight a whole fleet of Rossom ships. And an equally armed station couldn’t hold them off long enough to get a mayday out?”
“We thought it was possible that they had inside help,” said Tim.
“That is an assumption. Truth is that we don’t know anything.”
“We know we are at war,” said Tim. “What we don’t know is who is behind this, or why they want a war.”
“Sir,” said Don. “With respect can we please get back to the paperwork. I have a lot to do before the ceremony.”
Rick was going to ask what ceremony, but he was smart enough to realized that it was just the trappings of status. So, he no longer questioned anything. Instead, he meekly signed everything put before him.
Rick’s thoughts were already in the task ahead. He needed to find out was attacking the labs. After they were done, Don was packing up and Rick asked, “When will I have my military briefing?”
Tim answered, “That will be tomorrow morning at 10 AM.”
“Very well,” said Rick as Don was preparing to leave. “Thank you, Don I appreciate all your help.”
Don smiled and looked at Tim. “Yeah, you really need to fix him. Director it has been a pleasure to meet you.” Then he left the room.
“What did he mean by that? Fix him.” Rick was feeling a little strange and out of place. Ordinarily he would have taken offence at a statement like that. Still Don didn’t mean it in a disparaging way.
“Well as a Director you don’t thank people for doing their jobs, you expect it.”
“Alright lets you and I get something straight right now. I have manners. Please and thank you are not a cloak to be put on and taken off as the need arises. They are a matter of perspective. Regardless of my status, I will not change. Do I make myself clear?” As Rick went off on his tirade Tim smiled. “What are you smiling about?”
“Yes, I think a man of the people would be the perfect image for you.” Rick was about to say something about that when Tim turned and tapped his earpiece. “Yes.” There was a momentary pause. “Send him in.” he turned back to Rick, “Your tailor is here.”
A moment later a small thin man came in that reminded Rick of a ferret. No chin bald on top with hair on the sides. He was carrying a bag and a computer. “Director Thompson it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Rick stuck out his hand and the little man looked horrified but shook it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, but you seem to have me at a disadvantage. Your name is?”
The little tailor froze as if time itself had stood still. He slowly turned to Tim and said, “Does he really not know who I am?”
“No, he really doesn’t. and that’s part of his charm.”
The tailor set everything down on the table. He stepped back and put his hand on his chest. In a flourish he said, “I am the magnificent Maldor.” He bowed and waved his arm as he took it from his chest. “I am the tailor to everybody that is anybody. All of the clothes you will see tomorrow will have been made by me.”
“That’s nice,” Rick didn’t truly know what to say. He was starting to realize that he was being put on display for the public to see.
“Let me get to work.” Maldor pulled a strange looking object out of his bag and pointed it at Rick.
Rick immediately felt threatened. His instinct took over and he grabbed the object with his left hand and Maldor’s throat with his right hand.
“Director,” yelled out Tim. “Let him go!”
After Tim yelled at him, Rick realized that he was in no danger. He let go of both the man and the object.
“My apologies Director Thompson,” said Maldor, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, you have nothing to apologize for. I should have known I was in no danger here. This is my fault; can you please forgive me?” Maldor looked at Tim in utter amazement. Rick understood that no one of his rank had ever asked for forgiveness. That fact made him more determined than ever to retain his manners to everyone not just the rich and famous.
Tim just nodded his head. Maldor said, “Then you are forgiven. Now this is a scanner. It will get a three-dimensional image of your body so I can make you some new cloths.”
“Thank you for telling me that,” said Rick. “Now I will know what is going on in the future. Please proceed.”
Reluctantly Maldor started moving the scanner up and down and around Rick’s body. Rick glanced over at Maldor’s computer and noticed that an image of his body was starting to form. With each pass of the scanner more of his body was put on the screen. When Maldor was finished, he sat behind the computer and started tapping on the keys.
Rick sat down not knowing what else to do. While Tim went and stood behind the tailor.
“No make it a conservative dark blue,” said Tim. This went on for some time. Maldor would suggest something, and Tim would reject it and suggest something else. Finally, it came to a point where Tim said, “Loose the vest and I think we are done.”
“If we do that it will be just a business suit?”
“True. All to true, but it will be made by the magnificent Maldor.”
“I see your point,” said Maldor. “I’ll have it to you in the morning.”
“Good. I need two more in blue, three in black, and three in dark gray by the end of the week.”
Maldor sighed, “Okay I’ll do it.” He got up and packed his things then turned to Rick. “It has been a pleasure.” He bowed and left the room.
Once Maldor was gone Rick turned to Tim and said, “Thank you.”
“For what?” Tim seemed confused.
“I really didn’t want anything over the top.”
Tim smiled, “Sir I was just following your orders.”
“What orders?”
“The orders you gave to Paula. Extravagant but conservative. I think that is going to be the hallmark of your Directorship.”
While Rick was waiting for them to finish a thought came to mind. Now that he had Tim alone he said, “Thank you. Let me ask you a question. As a director, how much did Hobbs let you know?”
“Everything,” said Tim. “For the most part I ran the day-to-day operations of the legal department. There were a few things that he took direct control of himself, but not many. He spent most of his time battling the Board. Why?”
“Because I think we are going to continue with that arrangement. As far as I’m concerned, you are the head of the legal department.”
“Thank you.” This was not said the usual platitudes. It was said in genuine admiration. “When a new director takes over an area, they usually make a lot of changes. That throws the department into chaos. For you, you have competent people that are in jobs that are best suited for them. Changing anything would cause upset and it would take a while for the department to find balance again. While that was happening justice would suffer.”
“Well, we don’t want that,” said Rick.
“No, we wouldn’t. As a matter of fact, I was trying to think of a way of having this conversation without...” Tim was looking for the right words.
“Without pissing me off?”
“Not the way I would have put that, but yes sir.” Tim seemed relieved that Rick understood.
“Okay. Got it, but you are going to have to do something for me.”
“What would that be sir?”
“I understand image for the public, and even for the rest of the staff. However, when we are alone call me Rick. Speak your mind. Tell me when I’m doing the wrong thing. Most of all, keep me informed of the important things so I don’t get blindsided. Understood?”
“Yes, I understand Rick.”
“Good.”
Rick called it a day. He was tired and hungry and all he wanted to do was lay down. He was looking forward to the solitude of his little apartment.