BAD WINE CRAPPY CHOCOLATE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN-3

Senator Cane, what a pleasant surprise," he said, giving his guest an enthusiastic handshake. "Cybil, it's nice to finally meet you in person. I intended to call you so we could set up another meeting, but you've saved me the trouble. How have you been, Roger?"

"Very well, senator." Then to Chris: "I'll make sure that our air craft is serviced."

"Good idea. And you should get something to eat as well. We may be a while."

The three of them sat at the table and ate their meal. Cybil spoke in glowing terms of the objectives her administration intended to accomplish. Skinner, who was younger than Chris but older than his adopted daughter, listened politely. He realized that the newly elected senator from the Second Territory was in for many disappointments.

The people serving the meal left the room, closing the door behind them at David's instructions. He looked at his guests carefully.

"Now, what is this about? You've never made a surprise visit in all the years I've known you, Chris."

"I've been saving it for the end, my friend," he responded flippantly. Then, in a serious tone: "Horace Claven, the head of the security forces in my territory, tried to have Cybil and I arrested."

"What?! Why?"

"As I'm sure you've heard, Allisours has accused my adopted son of stealing credits. But according to Brandon, he actually stole a very remarkable device from them. It's a time machine that can fit in the palm of your hand. Brandon said he took it because the people who run Allisours had decided to use the device to do away with Cybil."

"You mean murder her?" he asked, staring at the senator-elect.

"According to Brandon, they intended to murder her mother."

"But isn't she already dead?" Skinner asked him.

"The plan was to use the time machine to kill Cybil's mother before she had her children. If they succeed, Cybil will never have existed."

Senator Skinner looked at them incredulously. The Canes had expected this reaction. They let him ponder Chris's words for several moments.  

"Do you believe him?" Skinner finally asked.

"I probably wouldn't have," Chris responded, "if not for the fact that I've actually met Cybil's mother. Brandon traveled through time and brought their mother to 2120 in order to protect her."

"Why do they want to eliminate you?" Senator Skinner asked Cybil.

"It's because I suggested nationalizing Allisours during a Mibil conference with the senators from the eastern territories. Either someone who participated in it told Foster about my plan, or the signals from our Mibils were intercepted."

"But that's not possible. Those signals can't be intercepted."

"I've recently discovered they can be," Chris told him. "I decided to let Cybil deal with the matter, since I was leaving office. But I didn't tell her about it until after the conference."

You didn't tell me until I saw you using your secret frequency, Cybil thought to herself. And you've known about the Security Bureau's decision to intercept Mibil communications for a long time!

"But to take the life of an elected public official would be treason. I can't believe the Allisours people would even consider such a thing."

"When a company produces something that people insist on having, like Vitala, I suppose those running it come to believe they're above the law," Chris observed.  "Horace Claven is apparently involved in this as well. He's come under the influence of Allisours."

David Skinner stood up and leaned on the table. He seemed to be searching for an answer to their dilemma. Cybil was about to show him the wormhole map when their host made an observation she found objectionable.

"Suggesting that the company be nationalized was a bit severe. No offense, Cybil, but you can't expect those with a financial interest in Vitala to go along with your plan."

"I expect everyone in the territories to follow the rule of law!" she snapped back.

"You're new to this game," Skinner replied. "Chris and I understand the balance of power between the private sector and the government far better than you do."

Cybil was seething, but the safety of her mother deterred the senator-elect from verbally attacking their host.

"This is very disturbing, though," Skinner continued. "Allisours is trying to negate a valid election."

"They're trying to negate me!" she exclaimed.

"I want to bring Miles in on this, if you don't mind. He's very adept at handling delicate matters. Can we meet again in the morning?"

"We'll be here," Chris replied.  "With Roger, if you don't mind."

"That'll be fine. You each have a room reserved at the Inlet Hotel. Have a good night."

Cybil was too offended to acknowledge their host before leaving. As the two of them walked out of the door, Skinner called after them.

"How did Allisours get the Mis? Was it their invention?"

Senator Cane stopped in his tracks and hesitated before turning to answer.

"I believe Professor Neal Bardy invented it. He worked for the company."

"That's not surprising," Skinner said. "Only he could have come up with something like that. See you in the morning."

"I wanted to smack his arrogant face," Cybil said angrily as they left the building. "I looked up to Skinner. He made Allisours get rid of two directors because they were involved in some shady deals. Now the arrogant fool talks like a typical politician. That's the last time he'll ever speak to me like that!"

"We have a bigger problem than your wounded ego, my dear," Chris said with a concerned expression.

"What's that?"

"I'll explain in a moment."

After walking several blocks, they came to a spacious park. Chris led her to a bench and they sat down. He whispered in her ear, instructing Cybil to keep her head bowed when speaking.

"Why?" she asked, complying with his request.

"There are imagers around here. The Security Bureau might be able to read our lips with them."

"But we're safe here. You said Claven wouldn't try to arrest us in another territory."

"I don't think he'll have to. Skinner is probably in their corner."

"What!? What makes you say that?"

"I never told him what the device was called. Yet he knew the name Mis."

Cybil felt a chill go through her body. Then she looked for a reason to dismiss it.

"David is an idiot, but not a traitor. If he was going to have us arrested, the time to do it was when we were in the Capital Building. There are plenty of security officers there."