As always, the sight of the Syrax was disconcerting, though less so on opto than in person. Beyond it, shapes could be seen drifting through thick fog. The Syrax who spoke stood before the alien pickup. No one had ever known a Syrax to sit.
“You are the commander of the orbiting station.”
“I am in charge of its security, yes.” Rasmusson beckoned Ponnani forward until she was standing alongside him. “This is Dr. Ponnani, who is in charge of the scientific complement here.”
“Good life to you also, Doctor.”
“Thank you.” Ponnani eyed the limber, cartilaginous shape with fascination.
“In your language I am called Limpid.” That was all. No surname, no title. “We believe that Eric Abbott has discovered the secret of reversing the polarity of the GATE field, and in concert with an undetermined number of human beings has taken control of it.” Rasmusson did not comment.
“We have sources of information,” the Syrax added.
“Traitors,” the commander muttered darkly, unaware that he’d said it loud enough for the pickup to detect.
“Traitors. You would be interested perhaps to know that the term sounds somewhat similar in our language. That is of no moment now. Eric Abbott is utilizing the GATE for transpositional purposes, yet you have not moved to prevent him.”
“We can’t,” said Ponnani. Rasmusson made as if to quiet her but she shook him off. “I’m within my authority in speaking to matters involving the GATE, Commander. Besides, I see little harm in confirming what they already know.” She looked back to the screen. “You know what rebuilding the GATE would entail.”
“You suggest its destruction. Why would you consider such a thing?”
“To prevent you from obtaining that which you set Eric Abbott to do: steal the secret of GATE technology and operation.”
“Eric Abbott was a failure. A complex, interesting, but overengineered failure.”
Ponnani noted that the Syrax did not bother to try to deny the purpose behind Abbott’s construction. “Why contact us now?” she inquired.
“We disliked failure. To learn why we failed we need to study our failure.”
“Why? So you can build a better thief next time?” Rasmusson snapped at the alien.
“Not sensible. Having been made aware of this method, you would naturally guard carefully against its reuse in the future. I repeat: we dislike failure. An independent tool is a contradiction in terms. There will be no more Eric Abbotts.”
“You say we’d be on guard against it. How do we know you couldn’t build a person who could outwit our safeguards?”
“Because we will help you to design the necessary methods of detection. Methods which your own scientists can confirm.”
“That’s unusually generous of you,” said Ponnani. “Why should you help us guard against your own inventions?”
“Because we want Eric Abbott back. For the time being we are more interested in learning how and why he failed than we are in learning the secrets of the GATE. We feel this is necessary for our own security. You perceive Eric Abbott as a threat to your race. How odd we should feel the same.”
Rasmusson looked dumbfounded. “How can he be a danger to you? You made him.”
“Eric Abbott is human, Commander. As human as we could make him. But he is also full of Syrax ability and information. This melding is unique and unstable. Not a comforting combination.
“I would not reveal this to you except that you should eventually discover it for yourselves, and time is important now to all of us.”
“We know why it’s important to us,” murmured Ponnani. “Why is it important to you?”
“You ask too much. You must be satisfied with the knowledge that he is a danger to Syrax and human alike.”
“What do you have in mind?” Rasmusson asked cautiously.
“We will provide you with the necessary safeguards for your security if you will permit a single one of us to board GATE Station. We have the means for regaining control of Eric Abbott. Once our representative is aboard, you may raise your antiteleportaic screen again. This will enable you to ensure that we do not spirit Abbott and his knowledge away.
“Subsequently, use can be made by all of us of Abbott. You will have possession of him and can prevent us from obtaining any information by wiring him for instant destruction if you feel we are attempting to deceive you. You detected our carrier wave before and can easily do so again. We can study him together.
“Abbott will not be expecting one of us and our operative can appear quite close to him without warning. His friends are guarding against an attack by spacesuited humans.”
“How can you regain control of him?”
“There is a backup control unit implanted in his abdomen. It is very small and must be activated at close range. If this can be accomplished, he will be deactivated.”
“You intend to kill him?”
“No,” said the Syrax. “He will enter-a semicomatose state, at which point he will pose no danger to anyone.”
“What about his friends?”
“Our representative will not be able, once your screen is back in place, to teleport back to our vessel, but will be able to shift self to a place of safety elsewhere within your city. This accomplished, you should meet little resistance in your attempt to regain GATE Station. Cut off the head and the body surrenders quickly.”
“What,” said Rasmusson slowly, “if we agree, and everything goes as planned, except that we refuse to countenance joint study?”
“That would countermand the bargain we strike.”
“Gee, that’d be too bad.”
“Would you go to war to protect the secret of the GATE?”
