Assignment

                            By:

                         Fox Cutter

01/23/96:

"You can go in now," the secretary in Jenner's office said.

I looked up from my book, and said, "Thanks." Then, tucking
the book under my arm, I headed through the inner door into
his office.

The office was lavish; on the back wall, behind Jenner, was
a large window. Each wall was lined with bookshelves, with
books from many different places in the multi-verse. There
were also two or three really expensive paintings on the
walls, along with many a diploma.

Jenner (who was human) looked up from his large oak desk,
and used his hand to flick away a few stray hairs. "Hello,
Fox. Thanks for finally showing up," he grumbled, sounding
pissed.

"Sorry," I said, "I do have a life in my verse, you know."

Jenner nodded, "Yes, I know. Have a seat, if you please."

I sat down, setting my book in my lap, "So, why did you want
to talk to me?"

He pulled out a thick folder, and handed it to me. "Verse
27-456 fold a through g. It's all on one world, the northern
half of which has high technology. The southern half is in
the dark ages."

I opened the folder and flipped through it, "All right, so
what's going on?"

"Too much. A scientist from the northern hemisphere has
discovered a fold, and has a working theory on using it."

I nodded again, "First contact, then? I always thought the
HammerHeads just fixed stuff."

Jenner looked a bit cross, "We do. The point is that an
opposing government wants the theory, so has kidnapped the
scientist. They are currently trying to blackmail the first
government for the theory."

I nodded, partly understanding.

"Well, they have the scientist hidden in the southern
hemisphere. Now we need to get this information, and the
location where he is being held, to our agent on the
southern side. The problem is, the southern fold is
variable. The next time it will open, will be in three to
five days, for three hours. It will be open again four days,
exactly, after that."

I nodded again. Variable folds are a bitch, they open and
close in a semi-chartable pattern, but at times parts are
vague.

I closed the folder, asking, "So, why do you want me to do
this job for you?"

"Because all the openings of the fold after this next one,
for the next month, will last less than a second. Only a
natural can walk it," Jenner said, leaning back into his
chair.

I thought about it for a few seconds, "No go, here. I'm
going to school right now. It won't do for me to miss any."

Jenner nodded, "We can send a bio-drone mark 7 out. It's a
better design than the last one you used, and it doesn't
need a chip to run."

I winced; I don't like bio-drones. Mostly because they
normally need an implanted chip to work, secondly they
always acted less normal then you, generally very depressed
(something to do with the way the link works), and finally;
because you get conflicting memories.

Jenner saw my wince, and sighed, "I'll pay you."

I leaned forward. "Oh, how much?"

"Eight hundred credits," which is equivalent to ten thousand
US dollars, but good in only a few verses, "and another two
hundred for hazard pay."

I paused, "I'll think about it for a few days, all right?"

Jenner nodded, "We'll call you before the portal opens, have
an answer by then. Keep the file; I have my own copy." He
then looked back down at the work on his desk.

I left the room, sighing. This was going to be a hard
decision.

-----

This story is (c) 1999 by Fox Cutter, hardcopy reprints
limited to one per person, all other rights reserved. This
story may not be distributed for a fee except by permission
of the author, and this copyright notice may not be removed.