CHAPTER THREE

     Kei walked into the _Lovely Angel_'s lounge.  "Well,
that's that," said Kei.  "I finally contacted MacPherson.
She's interested."
     "You really talked to her?" asked Yuri.  She was sitting
indian-style on the floor, playing solitaire.
     "Of course not.  I talked to one of her aides.  The guy
was certain she'd be interested, though."
     The call had taken longer to make than expected, due to
the interference generated by the _Lewis and Clark_'s engines
as it travelled alongside.  The girls had begun to wonder if
they'd arrive at their destination not knowing if they were
welcome.  There was now only one day remaining of the four
needed to enter the system of Nora MacPherson's home planet,
Platonia.
     The trip had taken even longer than that, since it had
been necessary to make some changes to the control systems of
the _Lewis_.  Yuri had come up with the idea of tying the
ship's ancient prototype warp system into the _Lovely
Angel_'s warp control system with an array of transmitters
and receivers.  The work had been hard, sixteen hours worth,
but when it was done, the _Lewis_ had something resembling a
modern warp system.  The two ships had then warped in tandem
to the vicinity of Platonia and began the long trek toward
the planet.
     The girls had spent the time relaxing and trying to keep
their minds off how much trouble they were proabably in.
They were both dressed casually:  t-shirt and jeans, no
shoes.  It had often been their habit to wear even less than
that during the boring part of a trip, but this time there
was a man on board.  From what Yuri knew of Meridian, though,
she guessed they could both parade buck-naked in front of him
with no effect.  The man was too single-minded; all he talked
about was the upcoming "confrontation".
     Yuri pulled another card from the pile and frowned at
it.  "Did the aide believe you when you told him you'd found
the _Lewis and Clark_?"
     "Sure he did.  It was on all the hyperspace news
programs."
     Yuri slumped and let out a sigh.  "I hate the media.
Did they accuse us of stealing it?"
     "Actually, no.  We're portrayed as `in pursuit'."  Kei
sat down beside Yuri and stretched out.  "Of course, the
newscasts contain a lot of references to the `Dirty Pair' and
our track record.  We're not being accused of stealing it,
but they still make it sound as if it's our fault it's gone
missing."
     "Isn't it?"  Yuri hesitated, then placed the card on the
third column.
     "Depends on how you look at it," Kei replied.  Kei
wasn't allergic to very many things, but accepting blame was
one of them.  "Do you think we're gonna get away with this,
Yuri?"
     Yuri looked up for the first time since Kei had entered
the room.  "I really don't know.  Without Scott Johnson's
statement signing the _Lewis_ over to us, our claim on the
ship is shaky at best.  For that matter, it's shaky anyway.
People are supposed to be `of sound mind' when signing
contracts."
     Kei studied her toes for a moment.  "Do you, um, want to
give up?"
     "Do you?" asked Yuri, pulling another card from the
pile.
     "No!" shouted Kei without hesitation.  "Of course not!
I just thought that, y'know, you might, y'know, wanna think
it over."
     "I've been thinking it over for days now."  She removed
a set of cards and placed them aside.  "I don't feel like
thinking about it anymore.  Let's see what happens on
Platonia.  Maybe we'll find an easy way out."
     "Or maybe it'll get worse."
     "Don't say that, Kei!  Don't even *think* it!"  Yuri
picked up the last card.  "Oh, phooie.  I can never win this
thing."
     Kei leaned over Yuri's shoulder and pointed.  "Sure you
can.  Put it there."
     Yuri placed the card where Kei had suggested, smiled,
and cleared all the cards.  "Thanks, Kei!  I didn't know you
were good at this game."
     "Well, it's not one of my favorite skills.  Guys usually
aren't that interested in good solitaire players."  She stood
up.  "I'm gonna go check on our guest."

     Kei walked through the ship to a tiny observation
lounge, where Meridian sat in the one chair and gazed at the
stars, just as he had been doing the last time Kei checked,
hours ago.
     "Hey, Tarc!  How's it goin'?"  Kei asked, trying to be
friendly.  For some reason, Kei found herself detesting the
man less with each day, though she still dismissed the man as
a lunatic in her mind.  If Yuri had asked Kei why her
feelings toward Meridian were changing, she wouldn't have
been able to answer, so Kei had never told her.
     "If by that curious question you are inquiring as to my
state of well-being, the answer is, `I am fine'."  Meridian
never took his eyes off the window.
     "You sure?  I mean, you've been sitting here for hours.
We were beginning to wonder if you'd gone catatonic on us."
     Meridian didn't answer immediately.  "The world.  It's
so... huge."
     Kei blinked at the apparent non-sequitur, then
understood.  "Oh, yeah.  The galaxy's a big place.  Lots of
people in it.  And they keep making more."
     "It's actually too big for me to comprehend.  I've been
trying, but my mind cannot grasp an image."  He paused, then
turned to Kei and smiled.  "I am perfectly well, Jiliora.
Thank you for caring."
     Whatever kindness Kei had been feeling for Meridian,
that statement killed it.  "Will you quit calling me that?!"
she shouted.  "And I couldn't care less about your condition,
I just want you sane for when you sign the ship over to us."
She turned to leave, then remembered something else.  "You do
understand about not doing any `confronting' in public, don't
you?"
     Meridian sighed.  "Yes, Jil-- Kei.  Don't worry, I won't
be running madly through the streets, destroying everything
in sight.  The confrontation is a private affair, unless the
demon desires it to be otherwise."
     "Good!"  Kei turned on her heel and left, firmly
convinced once more that Meridian was a nut case.

     By the next day, the _Lovely Angel_ was in visual range
of Platonia.  Meridian joined the Angels on the bridge and
watched as the blue-white disk slowly grew bigger.  Kei
couldn't understand his fascination with the planet.  "All
terraformed planets look alike," she said.  "Brown, green,
blue, and white."
     "Well, Platonia *is* a bit different," Yuri said.
     "Huh?  How?"  Kei looked out toward the planet herself.
     "Oh, it's nothing you can see.  It's in the way the
planet is run.  Platonia is privately-owned."
     Kei looked at Yuri, a bit confused.  "What's the big
deal about that?  Lots of planets are owned by companies.  We
took a vacation on one, remember?"
     Yuri looked up from the pilots controls she'd been
adjusting.  "Not owned by a company, owned by a person.  Nora
MacPherson III.  The whole planet is her property."
     Kei's eyes nearly fell out of her skull.  "She owns it
all?!  How did she manage that?"
     "The way any organization does.  You hire an exploration
company to find a world and claim it in your name.  Then you
hire a terraforming company to make it habitable.  Then you
move in."
     "Man.  I knew she was rich, but I didn't know she was
*that* rich."
     "It's not as big a drain on her resources as you might
think.  She collects rent from everyone who lives or works on
the planet.  That includes nearly two hundred major
corporations that have offices there.  Plus, there are some
rich mineral deposits on Platonia, and she gets money for
mining rights.  It's not really any different from any other
planet in the UG.  The government's just concentrated in one
person, that's all."
     Meridian had been listening to Yuri's explanation with
interest.  "You say MacPherson is the sole authority on this
world?"
     Yuri nodded.  "Yup.  Don't worry, she's not a dictator.
Platonia wouldn't be allowed into the UG if she was.  I think
that's the only reason she bothers to stay in the UG in the
first place, to convince immigrants that Platonia is a nice
place to live."
     Meridian gazed back at the approaching planet.  "Still,
it could be trouble."
     Kei looked at Yuri.  Yuri shrugged.

     The rest of the trip was thankfully uneventful.  A
pleasant orbital controller gave them a secure orbit in which
to place the _Lewis and Clark_.  Once the older ship was
safely in orbit, the _Lovely Angel_ headed down to the
surface.
     They landed in the major spaceport of the capital city
of Batyra, and docked at one of the larger loading ports.  As
they disembarked, Kei and Yuri were stunned to find not a
single reporter there to greet them.
     "We must have landed in the wrong city," said Kei.  She
and Yuri were in uniform, better to play the role of
"pursuers" to an inquisitive media.
     "NO!" yelled a short, black-haired man in a three-piece
suit running toward them.  "You're just a bit early, that's
all.  My apologies, I should've been early myself."  He was
followed closely by two stoic, muscular men, also wearing
suits as well as dark sunglasses.  They somehow managed to
keep a matter of feet behind the excited man without looking
like they were expending the least amount of effort doing so.
The man ran, his aides strolled, yet somehow they kept the
same pace.
     The man reached the place where Kei, Yuri, and Meridian
were standing.  He paused for awhile, catching his breath.
"Allow me to introduce myself.  I'm Kevin Close, aide to Ms.
MacPherson.  She's asked me to escort you."
     Kei noticed Meridian doing something odd with his hands.
He had his left hand in a very loose fist near his left hip.
His right hand was also in a loose fist, touching the left as
if it were grasping something held in the other hand.
Meridian was keeping his eyes on the two "aides" as he did
this, but as soon as he noticed Kei watching him, he dropped
his hands and looked guiltily at the floor.  Before Kei could
think about what this action meant, something seen in the
corner of her eye was thrust at her.  It was Close's
outstretched hand.
     "Oh!"  Kei shook the hand.  "I'm Kei."
     After shaking hands with Yuri, Close turned to Meridian.
"And you...  You must be Red Johnson, correct?"
     "Uh, yes."  Meridian looked very uncomfortable saying
this.  The girls, by contrast, looked incredibly relieved.
     "Amazing.  To be have been asleep for that long of a
time, then to awaken."  Close examined Meridian for a moment,
then remembered his manners and shook hands with him as well.
"What do you think of civilization in the year 2142?"
     "It is... very different from the one I left."
     "I'm sure it is.  I'm sure it is."  He reached into his
jacket and withdrew a small packet.  "If you're Mr. Johnson,
then I'm supposed to give you this."
     Meridian opened the packet.  Inside was a simple white
medallion, inscribed with an single intricate symbol.
Meridian put it on.  "Thank you," he said.
     "What is it?" asked Close.  "If you don't mind my
curiosity."
     "It's, um, a long story.  It's worth a lot more than it
looks."
     That seemed to satisfy Close, but not Yuri.  There was
something about the symbol, something familiar that she
couldn't quite put her finger on.  She saw that Meridian had
noticed her stare and she looked away.  She covered her
embarrassment by asking a question.  "Mr. Close, why are
there no reporters here?  Surely the news of what had
happened to the _Lewis and Clark_ has reached Platonia by
now."
     "There are no reporters here because Ms. MacPherson does
not wish there to be any.  She felt you could probably do
without the extra attention."
     "She was right," said Kei.  "So when do we get to meet
her?"
     "Tomorrow.  She's too tied up in meetings today,
unfortunately.  She's reserved some very nice rooms for you
to stay in until then.  If you'll help me make arrangements
to have your ship moved to a hangar, I'll take you to them."
     "We have our own pilot," Yuri said.  "He's still on
board.  The spaceport can make the arrangements with him."
     "Excellent!  Let's cut to the chase, then!  If you'll
follow me, there's a limo waiting."  Close motioned them
ahead.
     As they walked toward the exits, Kei whispered to Yuri.
"Where'd they get these bodyguards?  They look like heavys
out of some bad action flick."
     "What I want to know," said Yuri, "is who they're
guarding?  They seem to be paying more attention to Red than
to Close, or to us for that matter."
     Kei looked and saw what Yuri meant.  She wouldn't have
noticed if Yuri hadn't pointed it out, but the guards did
seem to be making an effort, albeit a subtle one, to flank
Meridian.  Close was actually leading them by several steps,
yet the guards made no move to catch up.  Kei decided to ask
for herself.  She caught up to one of the guards and smiled.
"Hey, big guy, I was just wondering.  Why are you here?  I
mean, are we in danger or something?"
     The guard didn't bother to turn his head.  "It is for
your own good.  Please move away.  We are not permitted to
talk with guests."
     "Um, sure."  Kei fell back to Yuri's position.
     "What did he say?" Yuri asked.
     "`It iss var yoo on goot.' Sheesh, what an accent.  I've
never heard one like it."
     "Well, I guess there's no crime in being weird," Yuri
said.  "Let's forget about it."

     The three offworlders were hustled into a hover-limo and
taken on a driving tour of Batyra.  Close was making a point
of describing at great length all the various points of
interest of the capital city, and didn't seem to notice how
little attention he was getting.  The city was very
impressive, with its innumerable skyscapers, elevated roads
and walkways, but it wasn't that much different from the
hundreds of other large cities the Angels had visited during
their career.  Save for one thing...
     "How big is that tower?" asked Kei, interrupting Close
in mid-sentence.
     "I was about to get to that," replied Close.  "That's
where we're headed.  How tall is it?  I have a bad memory for
numerical figures.  Suffice it to say that the workers who
did the top bit had to wear oxygen masks."
     Kei could believe it.  The tower was so tall that its
summit easily reached above the cumulus clouds that floated
past it.  In fact, it seemed to be within reach of the much
higher cirrus clouds, though surely that had to be an
illusion of perspective.  The tower wasn't only tall, but
huge as well, at least several kilometers square at its base,
tapering in a graceful convex arc to a point god-only-knew
how many kilometers in the sky.  Kei had to admit she was
impressed.
     "I'm not surprised," said Meridian, who was seated
between the two girls in the back.  "Nora was the type of
lady who liked high places."
     "Really?" said Close.  "I suppose that's why she became
an explorer?"
     "I suppose so."
     "Hey, Yuri," Kei said, "what do you think?  You've been
awfully quiet for the last minutes."
     When Yuri didn't reply, Meridian looked over at her.  "I
believe she is asleep.  She has a glazed look in her eyes."
     "I'm not surprised," Close said.  "From what I've heard,
you've had a busy few days.  She's probably just tuckered
out."
     Yeah, thought Kei, but she had plenty of chances to take
a nap on the trip in.  It had taken days.  She reached over
Meridian and shook her.  "Yuri!  Wake up!"
     "W-what?"  Yuri shook it off.  "Sorry.  Must've been
daydreaming."
     "Hey!  I almost forgot!" Close said.  "We just passed
Batyra's shopping mall.  I think you'll want to spend some
time there."
     That current got Yuri depressed again.  "We don't have
any money."
     "I don't think that will be a problem," said Close,
smiling.  Seeing that the girls were about to ask a lot of
excited questions, he quickly added, "I'll explain when we
get you to your rooms.  Since you won't be seeing Ms.
MacPherson until tomorrow, we felt you should be able to
spend the night in comfort, rather than aboard your ship.
Among other things, the tower contains one of the best hotels
in the quadrant."

     "Wow!  We get all this?"  Kei took in the room she and
Yuri had been given, or rather the suite.  It had at least
two rooms.  Currently they were exploring the living room,
which was decked-out in wall-to-wall deep-pile carpet, two
red velvet couches, a picture window with a breathtaking view
of the city, a wide-screen 3V set, and many other comforts.
     "Actually, Mr. Johnson will be getting another room.
For propriety's sake, you understand."
     Yuri called out from the bedroom.  "Kei, wait'll you see
the beds in here!"  She came running out.  "They're those
kind with the canopy on top!  So soft, too.  Almost makes me
feel like taking a nap!"
     Close laughed.  "Well, I just may have a more exciting
way for you to spend your afternoon."  He reached into his
jacket and produced an envelope.  "This is what I meant when
I said your financial difficulties weren't a problem."  He
opened the envelope and took out three cards which he passed
out.
     Kei looked at hers.  "Debit cards?"
     "Ms. MacPherson had them made up for your arrival.  Each
one draws from an account of ten thousand credits."
     Yuri examined her card, turning it over and tapping it,
as if she thought it might be an illusion.  "Ten...
*thousand*...  credits?!"
     "It's Ms. MacPherson's belief that the purchase of the
_Lewis_and_Clark_ will easily cover whatever you spend," said
Close.  "Perhaps you'd like to go spend some of it now."
     "Best idea I've heard in a long time!" shouted Kei.
"C'mon, Yuri, let's go consume!"
     "Coming!"  Yuri stopped in front of Close.  "Um, thanks!
Thanks for everything."
     "Just doing my job."  Close turned to Meridian.  "What
about you, Mr. Johnson?  Why don't you tag along?"
     "I have found," said Meridian, "that when women go to
the market, men just get in their way.  I'll just stay here
and enjoy the comforts of my room."
     "Well, okay," said Yuri.  She and Kei were halfway out
the door.  "We'll be back in a few hours."
     "You might want these."  Close tossed Kei a passcard.
The girls thanked him again and were soon running down the
hallway.  "Quite energetic, aren't they, Mr. Johnson?  If I
were only a bit younger..."
     "You might find them too much to handle even then.
They're almost too much for me, and I'm not even courting
them."
     That got a laugh out of Close.  "Probably so, sir.  Your
room is just down the hall.  Shall I show you to it?"
     "I think I can find it myself.  Just let me have the
keys and the room number."
     "Certainly," said Close.  "That would be Room 7515,
sir.  I hope you enjoy your stay."
     "I'm sure I will."
     As Close began to walk away, the two bodyguards seemed
reluctant to go.  After a moment, they followed Close, but
continued to glance over their shoulders at Meridian until
they had turned a corner and were out of sight.  Meridian
sighed, walked to his room, opened the door, and walked in.
"Your lackeys don't have much faith in me."
     Nora was reclining on one of the couches, a glass of
wine in her hand.  "Well, they aren't quite as intelligent as
you or I.  You should know that."  She held up the bottle.
"Pour yourself a glass and sit down.  We have an awful lot to
talk about."

END CHAPTER THREE