By David C. Daoust
Theobald Gray himself, at long last. Colin Vice recognized the man immediately, despite having never met him before in his life. This was, of course, thanks to his investigation into the origins of the Battle Drones. -Thanks to that small media clipping of this very man, albeit much younger, standing side by side with the solid-light engineer, Gordon Hutch; an experienced scientist that was on the Organization’s payroll. Gordon Hutch and Theobald Gray studied at the same University, went on to work in the same field. Colleagues, one may say, for several years. That is, before Hutch found his interests turn away from general robotics and more into the shaping of solid-light constructs; lattices. Hutch was able to fill in some of the details not readily available to the public. Colin knew this familiarity, which he had with this man’s life, had to be kept out of the conversation. Less he risk losing the man’s trust from the get go.
“Mr. Gray?” Colin asked as he approached, hand offered in greeting.
He was a tall gangly man, hawkish nose, with loose dark hair tucked haphazardly behind his ears. Hair, that framed a clean shaven face, stopped just at his shoulders. He had a rather welcoming grin plastered across his face. His eyes, while sharp, seemed to hide a bit of desperation that Colin had not expected.
“Theobald, please,” he corrected as he grasped Colin’s extended hand, and then added, “Or Theo, really. I much prefer Theo. It is certainly a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Vice. I was beginning to worry I had lost your… um… father’s… interests.”
Theo added that last bit haltingly, with a sidelong look to the man that had just escorted them into the private showroom. It seemed Theo was not comfortable speaking freely around the man. A man whom Colin had assumed was in his employ. Before Colin could add to the conversation, Theo’s eyes landed on Maile, which lit up with recognition.
“Well, what an unexpected surprise,” Theo said as he shifted his attention to the woman fully, “Maley Purloin– The writer of the Domnic Expansion? Love those books.”
Maile’s smile was that of legend- and what beamed from her visage was blinding as she stepped forward with a small lilting laugh and offered her hand, “May-Oly Purloin,” she corrected, then smoothly lied, “but yes… I wrote that. Domnic Expansion was all me.”
“Maile,” Theobald said her name again through a laugh, this time pronounced correctly, as he took her hand loosely- awkwardly, even- Colin knew Theo toyed with the idea of kissing it, also knew Maile delighted in the expectation. Theo decided against it apparently as he let the moment fall away with her hand, “Well, I guess that’s what comes of reading more, than actually talking to people.”
“Oh, it happens all the time,” Maile forgave as easily as she corrected, “Honestly, I can’t get through a signing without hearing some strange mispronunciation.”
“Elmsworth,” Theobald suddenly shot to the ‘escort’, “Can you fetch the lady some Champaign, please.”
“Of course, sir” the man said, eager to serve.
This only put more questions in Colin’s mind as to who this escort was, and why he may hold Theo from speaking freely. Elmsworth was stiff, had the look of a butler about him, yet as he turned away, Colin detected the small bulge under his jacket. He couldn’t be too surprised that the man would be carrying a fire-arm, not given the company of those attending the ‘secret convention’. Though, given the carefulness Theobald gave to his words around the man, Colin knew he’d have to watch him that much more closely.
As Elmsworth exited, Colin turned back to the tall host, one eyebrow arched, as he waited for the possible shift in his demeanor. It did not come, not really. Colin assumed it was thanks to Maile’s presence. In truth, Colin wasn’t sure how much she already knew. She seemed to react to the images in the convention, images of Twin Crown. Colin trusted her plain and simple, but Theo wouldn’t know that. Could it be because she was a well known writer? Could he be worried that she’d use, whatever had him worried, for a story?
No, that’s silly. This was a Consortium City, on a Consortium Moon- nothing could leak to the public that was not already approved by the corporations that controlled the media. Given that those in attendance, controlled those corporations, Colin could bring Patty Martins himself to this convention, and not a soul would be worried that this ‘secret convention’ might become common knowledge.
Maile and Theo were laughing about something. Colin snapped out of his reverie; found them both looking at him. He smiled, caught off guard.
“Are you going to show us something?” Maile asked Theo after a beat, successfully shifting Theo’s attention back to her, and off Colin’s lack of ‘awareness’. “I mean you got us in this private showroom…. What have you to show?”
“ah- oh, well,” Theo began hands clasped before him, nervously.
Colin picked up on the man’s desperation again. He seemed worried about something, something that garnered Colin an expectant look, but no actual words on the matter. Colin was here in his father’s place. His father was clearly supposed to know something. His father must be more than a potential business partner. This meant Colin was supposed to know something. What did he need to know?
The silence was deafening. Maile gave Colin a look, tried to push him into action with her eyes.
Suddenly, Maile stumbled. There was a load snap as the heel on one of her boots, snapped.
“Damned the luck!” she announced with visibly phony exasperation. “I’d better leave you two alone, while I try and fix this dang boot.”
No sooner had she hobbled out of the private showroom, than Theobald suddenly whispered aggressively in Colin’s ear, “They’re here. They are all here. They have all been here. Please, tell me you’re going to hold up your end?”
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