that the cavalry is not coming, Mr. Wagner?” Dr. Glouster asked. “By the look on your face, I would say that he is.”
Wagner glanced around the vault. He calculated the lives lost, the men murdered, and realized that his life was going to be added to the list of casualties the moment Dr. Glouster got what he wanted.
“You win, Doc,” Wagner said. “I can’t fight you. Not with that thing in your corner. So, how about we make a deal?”
“I have no desire to make a deal, Mr. Wagner,” Dr. Glouster said. “I’m sorry, but I don’t.”
“You sure?” Wagner asked. “This other player, or is it players? Doesn’t matter. This other player on the board. Do you trust him or her?”
“Of course not,” Dr. Glouster said. “I’d be a fool if I did.”
“Then what is to stop this person from just killing you and taking your creature?” Wagner asked.
“Are you really so dense?” Dr. Glouster laughed and swept out a hand. “Look around you. I made this happen. These men were highly trained professionals. I have more than proven that I can handle myself.”
“No, you have proven you understand the element of surprise,” Wagner said. “Which you will not have when you arrive at your destination. They know you are coming, they know you have the creature, they know you can control the creature. They are counting on it. That makes you a serious liability and risk. The sooner they dispose of you, the better. You are a dangerous variable, Doc. You aren’t getting out of this alive.”
“I beg to differ,” Dr. Glouster replied, but the tone in his voice revealed a different feeling.
Wagner heard that tone and locked onto it.
“You need someone that can navigate the world you are about to step into,” Wagner said. “Trust me, Doc. What you’ve done here is pretty cold blooded, but I can guarantee that whoever you are working with is a million times more cold blooded. You’re already dead and you don’t know it.” Wagner smiled. “Unless you have me watching your back and making sure the trap they have set isn’t sprung.”
“There is no trap,” Dr. Glouster said, but his voice sounded even less convinced than before.
“Oh, there is, Doc. Probably more than one,” Wagner said. “How much will you get paid to be whatever it is you think you’re going to be?”
“A good amount,” Dr. Glouster said. “High eight figures. But, that money will allow me to work more, create more. I do not care about riches, I care about greatness.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, Doc,” Wagner said. “Because for this other player of yours, it is about the money. It’s always about the money.” Wagner pointed at the tablet in Dr. Glouster’s hand. The tentacle tightened just a hair and Wagner froze. He waited, but when his head wasn’t popped off, he continued. “All they need is that tablet and some smart techs and they have your project. And those techs cost a lot less than high eight figures.”
“This tablet is not the only reason my creature obeys my commands,” Dr. Glouster said. “I raised it from birth. I have been there every single day of its life. It knows me, Mr. Wagner. And I know it. Techs may be able to work out the software from the tablet, but they will not be able to work my creature.”
“All the more reason to stay alive, Doc,” Wagner said. “Because if they can’t control the creature then they’ll just kill it.”
“Easier said than done, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Wagner?” Dr. Glouster chuckled.
“Yes, I would,” Wagner agreed. “But once again, you had surprise on your side. All it would take is a couple torpedoes, or some well-placed explosives, to blow this ship to fragments. End of your creature, Doc. Your mystery friend has wasted some time, and maybe some resources, but in the end it’s just another deal that didn’t pan out. Trust me when I say that if this person is a true professional, they are used to deals not panning out. They are also used to
Wagner glanced around the vault. He calculated the lives lost, the men murdered, and realized that his life was going to be added to the list of casualties the moment Dr. Glouster got what he wanted.
“You win, Doc,” Wagner said. “I can’t fight you. Not with that thing in your corner. So, how about we make a deal?”
“I have no desire to make a deal, Mr. Wagner,” Dr. Glouster said. “I’m sorry, but I don’t.”
“You sure?” Wagner asked. “This other player, or is it players? Doesn’t matter. This other player on the board. Do you trust him or her?”
“Of course not,” Dr. Glouster said. “I’d be a fool if I did.”
“Then what is to stop this person from just killing you and taking your creature?” Wagner asked.
“Are you really so dense?” Dr. Glouster laughed and swept out a hand. “Look around you. I made this happen. These men were highly trained professionals. I have more than proven that I can handle myself.”
“No, you have proven you understand the element of surprise,” Wagner said. “Which you will not have when you arrive at your destination. They know you are coming, they know you have the creature, they know you can control the creature. They are counting on it. That makes you a serious liability and risk. The sooner they dispose of you, the better. You are a dangerous variable, Doc. You aren’t getting out of this alive.”
“I beg to differ,” Dr. Glouster replied, but the tone in his voice revealed a different feeling.
Wagner heard that tone and locked onto it.
“You need someone that can navigate the world you are about to step into,” Wagner said. “Trust me, Doc. What you’ve done here is pretty cold blooded, but I can guarantee that whoever you are working with is a million times more cold blooded. You’re already dead and you don’t know it.” Wagner smiled. “Unless you have me watching your back and making sure the trap they have set isn’t sprung.”
“There is no trap,” Dr. Glouster said, but his voice sounded even less convinced than before.
“Oh, there is, Doc. Probably more than one,” Wagner said. “How much will you get paid to be whatever it is you think you’re going to be?”
“A good amount,” Dr. Glouster said. “High eight figures. But, that money will allow me to work more, create more. I do not care about riches, I care about greatness.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, Doc,” Wagner said. “Because for this other player of yours, it is about the money. It’s always about the money.” Wagner pointed at the tablet in Dr. Glouster’s hand. The tentacle tightened just a hair and Wagner froze. He waited, but when his head wasn’t popped off, he continued. “All they need is that tablet and some smart techs and they have your project. And those techs cost a lot less than high eight figures.”
“This tablet is not the only reason my creature obeys my commands,” Dr. Glouster said. “I raised it from birth. I have been there every single day of its life. It knows me, Mr. Wagner. And I know it. Techs may be able to work out the software from the tablet, but they will not be able to work my creature.”
“All the more reason to stay alive, Doc,” Wagner said. “Because if they can’t control the creature then they’ll just kill it.”
“Easier said than done, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Wagner?” Dr. Glouster chuckled.
“Yes, I would,” Wagner agreed. “But once again, you had surprise on your side. All it would take is a couple torpedoes, or some well-placed explosives, to blow this ship to fragments. End of your creature, Doc. Your mystery friend has wasted some time, and maybe some resources, but in the end it’s just another deal that didn’t pan out. Trust me when I say that if this person is a true professional, they are used to deals not panning out. They are also used to
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