Fantasy The People Makers

​

The Story of Survey Service Captain Michael Taylor​

"This Experiment is coming to an end," said J.

"No, not yet," said F.

'Yes," said J. "The Executive Body has decided to end this Experiment in 90 Earth standard days. If no humans have successfully completely a passing score on the Experiment, the inhabitants of the Station will be purged, the Station will be fumigated, and we will begin again with a new species."

"But... 90 days... that doesn't even give us enough time to adequately test the humans still in cryogenic suspension," said F. "We need 90 days minimum, bare minimum, to test a newly unfrozen subject's potential, and there are still 96 humans in storage, and we only have the capacity to revive a handful at a time."

"Then you should choose your next subjects most carefully," said J.

Jeremy Quills was the next to be revived.

Jeremy was one of the top mathematicians on the planet Earth. He had a brilliant mind and was a lead scientist on the Andromeda Project, a plan to radically expand the capabilities of the Varonkov Drive to make intergalactic travel not only possible, but feasible. He was also emotionally stable and physically fit.

Jeremy attracted women like a campfire attracted flies. Susan Shinn, Jessica Fromm, and Shinequa Obata each tried to work their charms on him. The guys couldn't help but notice and perhaps be a little jealous.

"You're today's new thing," said Craig Cobin. "But give it a few days, a few partnerings, and you'll be treated like day old bread."

But Jeremy was not offended. He smiled gently as he noticed the women at the other table smiling back at him. "Perhaps so. But right now I'm more interested in how this technology works. Does the Federation really have the ability to travel through time?"

"So they claim," said Haggis. "This planetary system has two suns. They claim that the interaction between the gravitational fields opens portals into other times. Somehow they can manipulate these portals to travel whenever they want."

"And this colony on New Earth they are going to create-"

"They've already created it. And created it again and again and again," said Haggis. "They say their growing vats are located somewhere in the distant future. Every time a pairing is approved here, a message is sent to the distant future to order the growing vats to make humans based on the selected DNA combinations."

"But how do they do it over and over?"

"They only do it once, so they claim," said Haggis. "They did it a first time, with the very first pairing. Then when that failed, they went forward in time to just five minutes before the very first time the growing vats were activated, and told their staff to use a different set of DNA."

"And after that experiment failed, they went forward in time to five minutes before the second experiment was to replace the first experiment, and so on and so on," said Roland Miller. "So in essence, there is always just one experiment, but the contents of it are constantly changing."

"Is that really possible?" Jeremy wondered.

"Probably not," said Haggis.

"Haggis is a skeptic," said Ardis.

"A realist," said Haggis.

"But the fact remains that they have brought us to another galaxy," said Jeremy.

"But it took 500 years," said Donnie Burch.

"Only 500 years for intergalactic travel? That's amazing!"

"For a mathematician," said Haggis.

"You'll have to forgive Haggis. He's had a severe case of amnesia ever since he arrived. Do you still not remember your life on Earth?" Captain Taylor asked.

"Not a thing," said Haggis.

"You probably had a minor job in the World Government, like most people here. It's nothing to be ashamed about," said Taylor.

"There are no minor jobs in the World Government," said Haggis. "Only minor people."

"You sound like an anarchist," said Gavin Ansom.

"Thank you," said Haggis.

Over the course of the next few days Jeremy talked, flirted, dined and danced with a number of women. The men made side bets about who would trip him up first.

"I'm betting on Shinn Girl," said Craig. "She has the youngest and sexiest body."

"He's a scientist," said Dickie Weymouth. "He'll go for someone sensitive like Shelly Rendler."

"I think he'll go for Laura Giancomo," said Ardis.

"But she's a lesbian!" said Roland Miller.

"A lesbian with big tits," said Ardis.

"But he's a scientist, a sophisticated man. He won't be seduced by big tits," said Roland.

"Everyone is seduced by big tits," said Ardis.

Only a few were surprised when Jeremy Quills selected Laura Giancomo for his first partnering, and Ardis McDuff was not one of them.

"It was the tits, right?" Ardis said.

Jeremy didn't get angry. He was a very calm kind of guy. "No, it wasn't the tits." He paused. "At least, it wasn't just the tits-"

"Ah hah!" half the men at the table cried.

"You know she's screwed half the men on the station, and her scores have been very average," said Dickie Weymouth.

"From what I've been hearing, most everyone's scores have been average. That's why there is an average," said Jeremy. "No, I've been spending the past few days analyzing the criterion that the Federationistas use for success. I'm convinced my exceptional creativity and problem solving abilities combined with Laura's communitarianism and lust for life will get us a passing score."

"No one's ever gotten a passing score," said Dickie wearily. "And no one ever will. This place is just one big fuck farm."

"Perhaps no one's ever gotten a passing score because you've all thought of it as one big fuck farm, have you ever thought of that?" said Jeremy.

"When are you going to do it?" Captain Taylor asked.

"We're going to consummate tonight, and meet with the Committee tomorrow, after we've met with the First One. Laura says the meeting with Bessie is a mere formality."

"Unless you've got something she wants," Gavin grinned.

"Don't do it," said Taylor. "Don't pair with her, Jeremy."

"Why?"

"Laura's a low scorer. She'll give you a low score too. Low scorers don't last long here. She'll be the death of you," said Taylor.

"I've thought about it methodically, and it makes sense to me. Of course, if it doesn't work out, I'll analyze the results and recalibrate my approach," said Jeremy.

"Spoken like a true scientist," said Haggis. "Roland, you should make a note of this. He'd make a good character in one of your novels."

Roland gave him a surprised look but said nothing.

Jeremy felt all eyes on him as he and Laura had dinner in Algeria that night. The view of the sun setting over the sand dunes, casting everything in a yellowish glow as beautiful.

"We seem to be attracting some attention," said Jeremy.

"It's not often that someone as handsome and accomplished as you arrives here," said Laura. She was so pleased with herself. Once again she had beaten Shelly and Susan, her main rivals. Susan, being the younger woman, had been the main threat, but while Susan had the right equipment, she didn't have the same experience using it that Laura did.

"Oh, I don't know," said Jeremy. "There's a lot of talent here. You have a Survey Service Captain. An important regional governor. A billionaire-"

"All of whom have been proven failures in the pairing."

"And me?"

She raised her wine glass and stared at him through it. "You... you are beautifully untested."

Jeremy smiled. "I hope I don't disappoint you." He sipped his wine.

"I'm sure you won't tonight," said Laura.

Jeremy should have been flattered, but a lingering question bothered him. An anomaly. "What's Haggis's story?"

"Haggis?"

"What did he do on Earth?"

Laura shrugged. "No one knows. He claims he doesn't remember. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know," said Jeremy. "Something about the way he watches things. He's very... observant."

Laura gave a stern look. "Are we here to talk about Haggis O'Leary... or the amazing adventure we are about to start together?"

Jeremy gave a polite smile. "Of course. I'm really looking forward to it."

Laura tried to hide the sting she felt from his tepid response.

Jeremy shook the sleepiness out of his head and zipped up his jumpsuit as the buzzer rang again. It had been a very long and tiring evening with Laura. Her appetites were not quickly assuaged. He had found her sexually attractive and enjoyed his encounter with her, but it had also been more than a little wearying.

Jeremy opened the door to see Captain Taylor. "Yes?" he said, sounding a bit confused.

"Sorry to wake you up so early. But I thought you might be interested in seeing a demonstration of the Station's reactor."

"The reactor?" Jeremy tried to shake some of the sleep out of his head.

"I can give you a demonstration."

"How?" Jeremy asked.

"I happen to know that the Federationistas are between shifts at this time of the morning," said Captain Taylor. "No one will be manning the reactor room for the next 45 minutes."

"But how can you get access to the reactor's controls?"

"I have my ways," said Captain Taylor. "I was an officer for 22 years in the Command Branch of the Survey Service. Do you want to see the reactor in action, or not?"

"I... I'm supposed to meet Laura at breakfast, then go for a meeting with Bessie & the Council-"

"This won't take very long at all. I promise."

They were on the catwalk in the giant spherical reactor chamber. The massive energy stream came out in a brilliant yellow line from the ceiling several hundred feet above them and deposited into a hole several hundred feet below them.

"I see no machinery here," said Jeremy. "What is the purpose of this chamber?"

"To monitor the reactor output," said Captain Taylor.

"How?"

"Let me show you," said Taylor. "Ship?"

"Yes, Captain Taylor?"

"Increase reactor output 7%."

"Yes, Captain."

The brilliant yellow line of energy suddenly became thicker, perhaps 50% thicker than it had been before. Jeremy could feel the heat of it in waves over him. "It's incredible."

"Isn't it?" said Taylor. "But that's just the low setting. Ship, increase reactor output another 7%."

"Are you sure, Captain Taylor? That exceeds standard guideline limits-"

"I'm sure, Ship." He turned to Jeremy. "It's perfectly safe."

The energy stream expanded again, this time doubling in thickness. The roar of the elemental power filled their ears, making it necessary to talk loudly to be heard.

"That's incredible!" said Jeremy.

"Isn't it?" said Taylor. "You have to lean forward to see it better!"

Jeremy cautiously leaned forward against the railing of the catwalk. He tried to look into the energy stream but the heat made it difficult to see. "It's too hot. Shut it down."

"I will, in just a minute. There's something I want to tell you!" Taylor yelled.

"What?" said Jeremy, yelling over the roar of the powerline.

"This partnering with Laura. You shouldn't do it."

"Why?" Jeremy yelled, the wind whipping through his hair.

"The human race doesn't deserve a second chance," said Taylor.

"What?" said Jeremy, straining to hear him over the roar of the reactor core.

"I said, THE HUMAN RACE DOESN'T DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE. IT NEEDS TO DIE OFF, HERE AND NOW!"

Taylor enjoyed the shocked expression on Jeremy's face as his words sank in. The only thing he enjoyed even more was pushing the surprised scientist over the railing, and watching his falling body make brief contact with the energy stream. There was just the tiniest ZAP, a brief puff of smoke, and he was gone.

"Has anyone seen Jeremy?" said Laura, coming by the men's table in Oregon.

"I heard he had trouble walking this morning," Dickie Weymouth said. Ardis laughed.

"No, we haven't seen him, Laura," said Captain Taylor. "Wasn't he with you?"

"Last night. Yes, we... we consummated. But then he went back to his quarters."

"Well, maybe he's there now," said Taylor.

"No, I tried there."

"Hmmm," said Taylor. "Ship?"

"Yes, Captain Taylor?"

"Where is Jeremy Quills?"

"Jeremy Quills is no longer on the Station."

"What? Where is he?" Donnie Burch asked.

"Jeremy Quills is no longer on the Station."

"Did he die?" Donnie asked. "He... he couldn't have powderized so quickly, could he? He was only here a few days!"

"Ship, did Jeremy Quills experience Sudden Cellular Degeneration?" Taylor asked.

"Negative."

"Then what happened to him?"

"Insufficient data."

Everyone started giving each other worried, puzzled looks, but Laura most of all. She had had sex with the man and was about to partner with him but he had disappeared. She looked around frantically. "Where is he? Where did he go?"

Hot Dog and Hamburger suddenly appeared out of thin air.

"Easy, Laura," said Hot Dog.

"Take it easy," Hamburger added.

"Don't tell me to take it easy! Where's Jeremy!"

"We'll find him! Won't we, Hamburger?"

"We sure will, Hot Dog!"

Frog approached them.

"Frog! Have you seen Jeremy?" Laura asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

"No," said Frog. "Aren't the two of you partnering today?"

"Yes, but he's gone!"

"Gone? He can't be gone," said Frog.

Haggis's eyes narrowed. Frog seems genuinely surprised.

"Ship, where is Jeremy Quills?"

"Jeremy Quills is not aboard the Station?"

"When did he leave?"

"Insufficient data."

Frog looked around frantically, this way and that, as if he expected that Jeremy might appear from behind some holographic shrubbery. Finally he said, "Let me look into this."

"Oh! Ooooooh!" Laura put the edge of her fist into her mouth and whimpered.

Haggis looked around the table. Everyone seemed startled and confused. Everyone except Captain Taylor. Taylor felt Haggis's cool gaze, and returned it with one of his own.

The official announcement came at dinner.

Jeremy Quills was dead.

His DNA had been detected in the reactor room. It was presumed he slipped and fell over the catwalk, into the energy stream.

"He will be missed," said Frog simply.

"Praise Ajuba!" said Hommed. "This is all part of his plan, never doubt it!"

Haggis followed Frog out of Algeria into the corridor. "Frog!"

Frog turned around.

"That's it? He simply fell?"

"Yes, Haggis," said Frog, his translator crystal lighting up with every word.

"Do you have holorecordings of this incident I can see?"

"No, Haggis."

"Does that mean you have no recordings, or you won't show them to me?"

"There is nothing to show you, Haggis."

Haggis grabbed Frog's arm. "Why would a man newly arrived kill himself right before his first pairing?"

"The human mind is so unique. Who can say?"

"You know more than you're saying," said Haggis.

"I have told you everything I can, Haggis O'Leary," said Frog. He looked down at the arm holding his.

Haggis reluctantly released him.

"Ahhhhh," Haggis gasped, as he filled Marla's cunt with his sperm. He pulled out of her and laid by her side.

"That was nice," said Marla.

"Yes," Haggis agreed.

"Where were you?" She asked.

"When?"

"Just now. When your body was having sex with me."

Haggis wet his lips apologetically. "I'm sorry. I was thinking."

"I could tell. About Jeremy?"

"Yes."

"What do you think really happened to him?"

"I don't know. But I'd like to find out. Ship?"

"Yes, Haggis?"

"Ship, create a simulation where I have access to the highest level command codes of the Station."

"That will never work," said Marla.

"Simulation created, Haggis."

Marla looked surprised.

"Populate the data for this simulation from your own memory banks. Make it as realistic as possible."

"Request acknowledged, Haggis."

Marla sat up abruptly on her elbows. "What... did you really do it? Do you really have top level access to the Station computer?"

"How do you think I escaped my first week here?" said Haggis. "Ship, what year is this?"

"By Earth or Federation calendar?"

"Earth."

"The year is 2283."

"What?" said Marla, her eyes wide. "That's not 500 years in the future! That's the current year on Earth!"

"Wait, it gets better. Ship, where are we?"

"In the outer arm of the Quinellus Cluster-"

"How far away from Earth are we?"

"24.42 lightyears."

"24 lightyears? We're only weeks away from Earth!" said Marla. "It works! Haggis, if you have top level control, why haven't you escaped by now?"

"I can get the computer to answer questions, but I can't get it to do things," said Haggis. "I can't get it to fly a ship to Earth. I can't get it to send a message. It seems limited to answering questions."

"But... either you have top level access, or you don't...."

"I'm not sure this situation is as binary as you think," said Haggis. "Remember, this is a simulation. Even a simulation has limits." He paused. "Ship, are there holorecordings of the reactor chamber?"

"Yes, Haggis."

"Show me the recording for the time when Jeremy Quills died."

"That recording is unavailable, Haggis."

"Why?"

"It was deleted."

"By whom?"

"That information is not available."

"Someone else must have computer access," said Marla.

"Not just any someone," said Haggis. "Ship, was Jeremy Quills killed?"

"Affirmative."

"How?"

"He was pushed into the energy stream."

Marla gasped.

"By whom?"

"That information is not available."

Haggis turned to Marla. "So we have a killer on board. One who has access to Ship."

"Why would someone want to kill Jeremy? He had just arrived."

"Perhaps a woman who was jealous she wasn't picked for the pairing?" said Haggis. "Or a man with a less scrutible agenda."

"How do we find out who killed him?"

"Well, we're not going to succeed by asking again," said Haggis. "Let's try something different. Ship, do you have biographies on the Test Subjects on the Station?"

"Yes, Haggis."

"Abner Dune claims to be an agricultural technician from Witchita. Was he telling the truth?"

"Yes, Haggis."

"Benny Johnson claimed to be a worker at the Fun Happy Reaction Center in Duluth, Minnesota. Was he telling the truth?"

"No, Haggis.

Marla's jaw dropped open again. "Benny? Sweet, kind Benny... is the killer?"

"Explain discrepancy, Ship."

"Benny Johnson was not employed by the Fun Happy Reaction Center in Duluth, Minnesota. Benny Johnson was employed by the Happy Fun Reaction Center in Duluth, Minnesota."

"Well, that solves that," said Haggis.

"Ask about Roland Miller. He claims to be a famous novelist," said Marla. She saw his expression. "Oh, you'd already know about him, wouldn't you?"

"Of course," said Haggis. "Ship, Donnie Burch claims to be a world class wrestler. Is he?"

"Donnie Burch is the three time winner of the Kyoto World Wrestling Competition in the years-"

"Halt," said Haggis. "What about Ardis McDuff? Is he really a billionaire who made his money helping others?"

"Ardis McDuff's net worth at the time of acquisition was approximately 17,000,000 credits. He acquired his wealth by sending fraudulent letters in the World Government's name assessing fines against citizens for non-existent violation of the racial, sexual, and social abuse codes."

"Ardis is not a billionaire?" said Marla. "Next you'll be saying that Gavin Ansom wasn't the World Government Controller of California."

"Gavin Ansom was never the World Government Controller of California," said Ship. "He was a front line worker in the Office of Nuisance Payments Processing in Anaheim, California. He was twice demoted from his position because of convictions for Headophilia-"

"WHAT?" said Marla. "Gavin Ansom is a Headophile? What in the world?"

"Not everyone is who they say they are." Haggis paused. "Would you like to ask Ship about me?"

She kissed him tenderly. "There's no need."

They went through some of the others. One was of particular interest to Haggis.

"Ship, is Michael Taylor a Survey Service Captain?"

"Michael Taylor is a Survey Service Captain," said Ship.

"You looked surprised," said Marla.

"I am," said Haggis. "Ship, are you sure?"

Marla laughed. "How could a computer be unsure?"

"Yes, Haggis. Michael Taylor is a distinguished Survey Service Captain. His known record is an extensive one. He-"

"Ship, do you have a holoimage of Survey Service Captain Michael Taylor?"

"Yes."

"Show it to me."

Marla gasped as she saw the face appear in front of them. The eyes were blue, not brown, the jaw more pronounced, the shoulders broader, the chest bigger--"That's not him!"

"That is him, isn't it, Ship?"

"Yes, Haggis.

"Then who is the man calling himself Michael Taylor?"

"I do not have access to that information."

"How can you not know? Don't you have access to information on every Test Subject?"

"Yes."

"Then how can you not have access to biographical data on the man calling himself Michael Taylor?"

"That information has been deleted."

"Who deleted it?"

"That information is not available."

"How could Michael Taylor, whoever he really is, delete information in Ship's database?" Marla asked.

"Perhaps in the same way I am asking questions," said Haggis. "Taylor must have access to Ship's command codes as well."

"And if he's the murderer-"

"He must be," said Haggis. "He's the only one whose background file has been erased."

"Surely the Federationistas must know."

"Surely they must," Haggis agreed.

"Then why would they let Taylor, or whoever he is, kill one of their valuable Test Subjects?"

"I don't know," said Haggis. "But I'm going to find out."

The day after the unfortunate demise of Jeremy Quills, Kathy Fereman was unfrozen.

Kathy was a three time Olympic winner in the category of zero gravity gymnastics. She had a strong, lean body and had spent years exercising and preparing herself, a mark of her dedication and focus. The Federationistas had determined that she was a top genetic candidate.

The fact that she was young and gorgeous didn't hurt. Men propositioned her repeatedly, especially Craig Cobin. Finally Kathy told them all that she wasn't going to partner with anyone until she had sat down and had one to one interviews with each potential candidate.

Interviews, not dinners or seductions.

Kathy sat with Survey Service Captain Michael Taylor. She was very impressed by his background. An actual Captain in the Survey Service! And not just any Captain, but a most famous one! Like many people, she had seen the holostory of Captain Taylor's conjectured role in saving the Earth from destruction by the earthquake causing Black Box. But the man before her looked little like the actor who played his role. She said as much.

Taylor smiled. "I guess they went with someone more handsome."

"You're plenty handsome, believe me," said Kathy.

Taylor's smile grew broader. "Are you flirting with me, Miss Fereman?"

"What if I am?"

"I would be tremendously flattered," said Taylor. "But I would also feel conscience bound to tell you that I'm not the right man to partner with you."

Kathy squinted her eyes. "You... are trying to convince me you're not the right one? Then what are you doing here? Why did you ask to meet with me?"

"To give you some free advice," said Taylor. "Every man on this Station would jump at the chance to partner with you. That doesn't mean they'd make a high scoring combination. You and I, for example, would be incompatible because we both have strong streaks of dedication. You need someone with complementary gene traits rather than redundant ones."

"So... who would you recommend?"

"I've given it a lot of serious thought," said Taylor. "And I think the best candidates for you would either be Gavin Ansom or Ardis McDuff."

"Gavin or Ardis?" She looked amused. "Why?"

"As Controller of the Free Free State of California, Gavin has excellent organizational skills. As a self-made billionaire, Ardis has an entrepreneurial spirit which will help your progeny build a great economy."

"I can see you've given some serious thought to which man, other than yourself, should partner with me," said Kathy. She looked amused.

"I'm with the Survey Service," said Taylor. "We don't see people left behind."

Kathy felt Taylor's eyes on her all day as she interviewed men in the outdoor lounge in Bermuda. Taylor sat at a corner table, pretending not to watch, but he was. She felt curious by his detached interest. Taylor obviously didn't want her for himself; why then was he so interested in who she selected?

She concentrated on her interviews, trying to ferret out the man who would have the most compatible skills. Taylor was right about that, at least; she should looking for someone who complemented her genetic traits, not merely duplicated them.

The holographic sun was starting to set and Kathy felt tired, very tired, but also elated. She got up on legs that were cramped from sitting all day and made her way triumphantly over to Taylor's table.

"Enjoyed the show?" she said, flicking back her hair.

"Did you find your perfect man?" he countered.

"Not a perfect one," said Kathy. "But a good one."

"Who?"

"Bruce Kincaid."

"Bruce Kincaid?" Taylor made a face. "Why?"

"He's a devoted family man, or at least he was, back on Earth," said Kathy. "He has mountainloads of empathy, especially for a man. Something I lack a bit of. He's loyal, and decent, and I think he'll be a great genetic match."

"I couldn't disagree more," said Taylor.

"Somehow I thought you'd say that," said Kathy. "What is the real reason you've been trying to steer me to Gavin or Ardis? Are they friends of yours? Do they owe you a favor?"

"No." Taylor shook his head vigorously. "You don't know the full story about Bruce."

She leaned forward. "Tell me."

Taylor shook his head again. "You'd never believe me. I'd have to show you."

"Show me? How?"

Taylor looked around. "Meet me in the Entertainment Sphere in thirty minutes. It's better if we're not seen going together."

"Why do you want to go there?"

"I can show you memory files which will be quite revealing," said Taylor.

Kathy frowned. "I'm supposed to have dinner with Bruce in an hour and then consummate."

"This won't take long, I promise," said Taylor.

Like the Reactor Chamber, the Entertainment Sphere was a giant room some twenty stories tall. From the catwalk one could watch energy waves consisting of fantastic sound and light course through the chamber. It was one of the more exotic forms of entertainment offered by the Federationistas in addition to the endless walkable vistas they could create in their tiny quarters.

When Kathy got there she saw Taylor, leaning over the catwalk railing, staring at the colorful waves of gravity energy waves coursing through the room--red, blue, green, yellow, almost every color of the spectrum, and each one made a different musical sound.

"I'm here," said Kathy.

"So you are," said Taylor. His affect seemed different now, much more serious.

"What do you have to tell me about Bruce?" she asked.

"He's not the man for you."

"Why?" she asked. As they talked, a blue wave that sounded like trumpets flew across the giant chamber.

"Because you might actually be successful with him," said Taylor.

"What? I don't understand."

"Humanity does not deserve to live," said Taylor. "Our recklessness destroyed the Earth and all the colony planets through Galactic Temperature Change. If we are allowed to survive, we will only destroy more fragile ecologies."

"That's an odd perspective for a Survey Service Captain to have," said Kathy.

Taylor smiled. "An enlightened Survey Service Captain. If only you had taken my advice and partnered with Gavin or Ardis, we wouldn't be here. And now...."

"Now what?" she asked.

"It's time for you to die," said Taylor. He grabbed her in one swift move and flung her over the railing. Kathy, a trained gymnastic, screamed but managed to hang onto the railing from the other side with one hand as her body dangled over the catwalk.

"Please!" she said. "Don't kill me! I won't tell anyone! I won't partner with Bruce Kincaid!"

"It's a little late for that," said Taylor. "Do you know the motto of the Survey Service, Kathy?"

She shook her head.

"We don't leave people behind." He slammed down on her hand. She shrieked and let go, falling right into a brown and yellow energy wave. Her body was instantly cut in two.​