The Mutant Mindbender Ch. 6

[Note: This is not a sexy story. It is more like a 1950's pulp science fiction novel]

Chapter 6: The Mind Bender Gives Up

Croft, sitting at an empty desk near his blasted desk, watched an advertisement on one of the holonetworks.

"Buy Claritan Computers!" said a cheery model. "They only break down 84% of the time in the first year of use, and if you have any problems, it only takes only an average of 89 minutes to get past our AI holosupport program to get a real live technician-"

"I think the Mind Bender is messing around with corporations again," Croft said.

"You don't know the half of it," said Preston. "Turn to channel 749."

Croft did. He saw a televised meeting of the Claritan Corporation, or at least the August branch of the Claritan Corporation (it was giant multiplanetary corporation, one of the largest). The President of the Claritan branch, Ripon Favor, was speaking to employees on a platform.

"Hello, team members!" said Favor. Team members. That was one of the most commonly used euphemisms for junior employees. "I want to congratulate new teammembers from the former Janicrane Corporation who joined our team last week when we acquired your company! I just want to let you know that you are all very valuable members of our team. However, to be perfectly honest, some team members are more valuable than others. That is why in the months following the merger, 80% of you will be released into the private sector, where you will be encouraged to grow in new directions-"

"Hm, this sounds a little bit odd," said Croft. "On the other hand, it does have some elements of a typical doublethink corporate speech."

"Keep watching," said Preston grimly.

"It's never good to give without receiving, I always say, so I want all you new employees to come up here and tell me what you think," said Favor. "Come on, come up on the stage."

A string of hesitant looking employees (ex-employees?) started to come up on the stage.

"Come on over, come on," said Favor, waving them over. It was then, when the camera panned slightly back, that Croft saw someone standing behind Favor. Croft adjusted his zoom controls. And groaned. He saw Wender.

Favor got down on his hands and knees, facing away from the employees. "Come on, tell me what you think, tell me!"

"Uhhhh...." said the first employee.

"Give me a good kick!" said Favor. "I deserve it."

"I'll bet he does," said Croft.

"Uhhh..." said the employee again.

"Come on, I'm going to fire you! What do you have to lose?" said Favor. "Kick me! Kick me hard!"

After some prodding, the first employee gave Favor a kick in the buttocks.

"The Mind Bender seems to have an obsession with buttocks," said Agent Waverly.

"Another useful pattern to note," Croft nodded sagely. "Better be sure to report that to Quick."

"Come on, harder! Kick me harder!" said Favor, still grinning.

The next employee gave a harder kick, one so hard that it actually pushed Favor forward a few inches. "Better! Next! Give me a real good kick! Remember, you're being fired, it doesn't matter what you do!"

The next employee gave Favor a kick that sent him sprawling. He grinned got up, and actually shook the employee's hand. Then he got down on his hands and knees again.

"Next!" Favor yelled. "Remember, there's no I in team!"

The line of team members looked very long.

"Did you notice anything when the camera panned out?" said Agent Waverly.

"No," said Croft. "Didn't notice anything." Of course, he did notice something, but he was trying hard to deny it.

"I saw Wender, standing behind Favor," said Agent Waverly.

"Did you? Are you sure, he looks like a lot of people," said Croft, trying to obfuscate. After the last few encounters, he really, really did not want to go after Wender again. Besides, no one was being hurt. Not seriously.

"We should go and intercept him. He's still there," Waverly urged him.

"He may be gone by the time we get there," said Croft.

"It's only a few minutes away."

"Traffic is really bad this time of day."

"Croft, why are you fighting me on this?" Waverly asked.

"What's the harm? Favor is getting kicked. He probably deserves it," said Croft philosophically.

"Croft, we're under orders to stop him," said Agent Waverly. "What is this all about?"

"I don't know, Agent Waverly," said Croft. "It's just that when we go face to face with this guy, we're helpless, and every time we get together, he tries to kill me. This is another obvious trap; he certainly knew he would get picked up on the holos."

"We could send a team of space marines in, armed to the teeth," said Preston.

"And they would end up shooting themselves, or other employees," said Croft. "We've seen him take over groups of minds before. Although...."

"What?" said Preston.

Croft was still thinking about the battleship that had saved them. The Mind Bender had to be able to read minds to control them, right? Then how come he hadn't known the fleet was coming? Was there some weakness to be exploited? If there was a weakness, had Croft already discovered the weakness, only to have it suppressed by the Mind Bender?

"I really don't want to go there and simply be a target again."

"Fine," said Agent Waverly. "Then I'll go alone."

"It's obviously a trap," said Croft. "He just wants another chance to kill us."

"He could come here and do that," said Agent Waverly. "He was already here once before."

"Maybe he thought of another way of killing us over there that's more amusing for him," said Croft.

"We have to go," said Agent Waverly.

Suddenly, A. A.'s image appeared on the holoscreen. "Croft! Are you still here? He's broadcasting on a holochannel, not five standard miles from your location. Go and get him!"

Croft sighed.

When they arrived at the central auditorium in the Claritan building, Favor was still being kicked around. The cumulative kicking must have been painful, because now with every kick Favor screamed, "Ow!" before thanking each employee.

The Mind Bender stood smugly behind Favor, looking very pleased with himself. He arched an eyebrow when he saw Croft and Waverly.

"You haven't even drawn your blasters this time," said the Mind Bender approvingly. "You know you can't oppose me."

"Is there something you want?" said Croft wearily.

"As a matter of fact, yes," said the Mind Bender. He leaned towards Croft. "I was moderately impressed with your stratagem on the platform. Your use of the warships was innovative."

He hadn't known about the warships. He hadn't expected them. But how could he not have known?

"Thanks for all the faint praise," said Croft, showing no outward reaction. "Now, what do you want?"

"Why, to surrender, of course." The Mind Bender looked carefully at Croft to study his reaction.

Nothing he said could have surprised Croft more. "What?"

The Mind Bender assumed a bland expression. "Well, you won, and I lost, so I suppose there have to be some consequences. So I'm going to surrender."

"Just like that?" said Croft.

"Just like that," said the Mind Bender.

"This isn't a game, where you go back two squares and land in a penalty box," said Croft.

"Everything is a game to me," said the Mind Bender. "I've never been incarcerated. It might be an interesting experience. For a short while." He smiled, and looked at Croft. "Of course, you might want to kill me. That thought has occurred to me. But, I suspect, it no longer occurs to you, does it?"

Croft tried to go for his blaster, but suddenly, he found he couldn't.

Neither could Waverly.

"So your only option is to take me in," said the Mind Bender. "Or..."

"Or what?"

"Or watch this poor man get some more appreciation." He indicated the line to boot Favor in the rear end. "There's a very long line there, you know. By the way, and this may interest you, while I am controlling Favor, the employees, I mean team members, are acting under their own free will."

Croft and Waverly exchanged glances. Nodding, they decided to take the Mind Bender in. They couldn't see what he was planning, but it didn't make sense to just leave him here.

As they took the Mind Bender away, other agents came to take Favor into custody. He would be all right in a few hours, although his rump would be sore for some time.

But what about Croft? He felt an acute sense of danger as they drove back to Column HQ, with the Mind Bender in tow.

Croft looked at Waverly. Waverly looked back at him. Even though they thought the Mind Bender could read their minds, they still felt afraid to speak their fears aloud.

"Why so quiet?" the Mind Bender grinned. "This should be a happy day for you. You puny beings have finally succeeded in apprehending me. Doesn't this please you?"

"For the moment, we're playing your game," said Croft. "Only for the moment."

"Oh, you sound sore," said the Mind Bender. "By the way, did you realize you have the word 'Idiot' written on your chest?"

Croft looked down at his shirt. He saw nothing.

"I made you look!" the Mind Bender grinned.

When they reached Column HQ, Croft led the Mind Bender to the detention area.

Croft felt scarcely better when he gestured for the Mind Bender to go into a cell. The Mind Bender smiled and stepped in the cell. It was so obviously all a game for him. Even after Croft raised the forcefield he looked smug. The Mind Bender smiled at him, and looked around at his surroundings.

What was he doing here? Croft could not figure it out.

The Mind Bender continued to smile at him. Croft's obvious confusion pleased him.

Croft didn't give the guards there any special orders; there was no need to. The Mind Bender could leave any time he wanted to, and Croft knew it.

Croft went immediately to the Chief, accompanied by Agent Waverly.

"Well?" said A. A.

"It's done," said Croft.

"What do you mean?" said A. A.

"We've got him in custody," said Croft.

"In custody? Here?" The Chief looked incredulous. "How?"

"He surrendered," said Croft.

"I told you to terminate him," said the Chief.

"I tried," said Croft. "You try and order someone to shoot him, Chief. Or try to shoot him yourself."

The Chief considered. "I see what you mean. Maybe if we took him out to an empty area, and wrapped him around a bomb."

"Which operative would do such a thing? Which operative would he permit to do such a thing?" Croft said.

"I see the problem," said the Chief. "What is he up to?"

"I really don't know," said Croft.

"I have a suggestion," said Agent Waverly tentatively.

"Yes?" said the Chief.

"Evacuate the building," said Agent Waverly.

"Evacuate?" said the Chief. "For what purpose?"

"Evacuate, and have the League fleet bombard this building. Pound it until it's a pile of dust."

The Chief looked at Waverly like he was mad. "Agent Waverly, do you have any idea where we are?"

"Yes," said Agent Waverly.

"We are in central August. This is a large, 400 story building. Even if we succeeded in evacuating the entire building without his figuring out what we were doing, there is no way a building this size cannot be destroyed without causing collateral damage."

"Then evacuate the surrounding area as well, and blow it up," said Agent Waverly. "I don't know any more than Agent Croft what he's planning either, but this may be your only chance to kill him."

"Furthermore the loss of resources would be tremendous," said the Chief. "This is our headquarters-"

Agent Waverly spoke very slowly and clearly. "This may be your only chance to kill him."

The Chief paused for a long moment. Then he nodded. He moved to press an alarm button-

"Don't," said Agent Waverly. "If he hears it, he will simply get himself released. You have to pass the word, quietly."

"It will take some time to evacuate this building," said the Chief. "There are several thousand people in this building. More in the surrounding buildings."

"Then get started," said Agent Waverly.

"I'll go and keep him distracted," said Croft.

"No," said Agent Waverly. "He can read minds. He will find out our plans the minute you step into the cellblock."

"Well, I'll monitor him by remote holo until the building is evacuated."

The Chief paused, then nodded. He touched a button. "Jenkins! Get me the senior department heads, and get me fleet command-"

They left the Chief's office. In a few moments they saw the first signs of evacuation.

"It's a drastic plan," said Croft. "But for what it's worth, I hope it works."

"So do I," said Agent Waverly.

Croft returned to his desk, which still bore blast marks from the incident of the other day. A new holoterminal had been installed. Croft keyed up the cellblock where the Mind Bender was. The Mind Bender was in his cell...

but the forcefield was clearly down. And two of the guards were in the cell.

Croft panned closer. One of the guards was giving the Mind Bender a massage.

The other was feeding him grapes.

How to get the guards out of there without arousing Wender's suspicions?

They would have to be the last to be evacuated.

Croft turned away and started frantically gathering some important data discs. There was a lot of hustle and bustle around him as others did the same. Agent Waverly, who didn't work there, simply stood and watched everyone prepare to leave.

Twenty minutes later, Croft gathered all his data discs in a carry bag, and was preparing to go, when someone entered their section.

"The evacuation has been canceled."

Croft looked at the operative for a moment, and then turned to take another glance at the holomonitor.

The cell was empty.

The Mind Bender was gone.

Croft adjusted the viewing controls, panning widely through the cellblock. He wasn't there, though the guards still were. Croft commed one of them.

"What happened to the prisoner?" he asked.

"What?' said the guard.

"The prisoner!" said Croft.

"What prisoner?" said the guard.

Croft frowned and made his way to the Chief's office. Bursting in, he said, "Chief-why was the evacuation cancelled-" before stopping himself.

The Mind Bender stood in the Chief's office, flanked by two operatives.

"What's going on here?" said Croft.

"Nothing's going on," said the Chief. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for him," said Croft, nodding towards the Mind Bender.

The Chief looked at the Mind Bender briefly. He appeared to see him, but didn't take any special note of him.

"Chief, we should really get him back into a cell," said Croft, feeling a great deal of unease.

"Why?" said the Chief.

"He's dangerous," said Croft.

The Chief frowned, as if he were trying to concentrate.

The Mind Bender looked at the Chief, saying nothing. But something was obviously going on between them on a mental level.

"No, I don't think so," said the Chief slowly. "He's not the problem anymore."

"He's not?" Croft said incredulously. "If he's not the problem, than what is?"

"You are," said the Chief. He turned to the two agents. "Take him to detention."

"What?" said Croft, taking a step backward, preparing to put up a fight.

"Relieve him of his sidearm," said the Chief.

Croft suddenly lost the desire to actively resist. He let the agents take his blaster. "Why?"

"Hold him in confinement until further notice," said the Chief. The agents took Croft away. The last image Croft saw was of the Mind Bender, smiling, as he stood behind the Chief in his office.

Once they left the office Croft said, "Guys, guys, snap out of it! You're under mind control!"

The agents didn't budge. The Mind Bender must have put a particularly tight squeeze on them.

The agents marched Croft down to the elevator bank.

"I can't believe you're going to put me in detention!" said Croft.

In a few minutes Croft was sitting in a cell, behind a forcefield in the detention area. "Ok, now I can believe it," he said, to no one in particular.

He eyed a guard almost out of his vision, just beyond the force field. Croft tried to get his attention.

"You're making a mistake!" Croft yelled. "Snap out of it!"

The operative stood outside his cell, but said nothing.

Croft knew that eventually the Mind Bender's hold over the guards would be broken. But in the meantime Wender was alone with the Chief. Who knew what he was having the Chief do?

Croft paced back and forth in frustration. He tried to think of a plan to get past the forcefield and the armed guards in the cellblock. Nothing came to mind immediately.

After some time had passed, he heard footsteps.

"Let him out," said a familiar voice.

"We have orders to keep him here," said one of the operatives.

"Your orders are not valid," said the voice.

"We have orders to keep him here," said one of the operatives.

"I am countermanding them," said the voice. There was the sound of blasterfire, and then not one but two operatives fell into view on the ground. A few seconds later, Agent Waverly and Preston stepped forward.

"What are you doing here?," Croft asked.

"Looking for you," said Agent Waverly. He deactivated the forcefield.

"He got to the Chief," said Croft, taking his blaster from one of the fallen operatives. "The Chief was his target all along."

"Was he?" said Agent Waverly. "So what do you intend to do now?"

"Go back in there and kill him."

"You mean the Mind Bender, don't you?" said Preston uncertainly.

Croft nodded, and gave a small grin.

"I don't think you'll be successful," said Agent Waverly.

"Well, I don't think your plan to evacuate the building and pound the area from orbit will work anymore, either," said Croft.

"I agree," said Agent Waverly. "But let us move with caution. Is there any way we can observe the Chief's office without going in it?"

"The Chief's office is monitored, of course, but access to his security holomonitor has the highest level of security encryption," said Croft.

"So you can't get access?" Waverly said.

"Now, I didn't say that," said Croft.

A few minutes later they were viewing a live feed from inside the Chief's office. The Chief was sitting in his office, looking at his holoprojector. There was no sign of the Mind Bender.

"There's no way he could fool a holoprojector, could he?" Croft asked.

"So far he's only been able to tamper with minds, not technology," said Agent Waverly.

"My thinking exactly," said Croft. He lifted his blaster. "Let's go."

They entered the Chief's office tentatively. The Chief, working at his desk, took several seconds to notice them.

"What is it, Croft?" said the Chief. He didn't seem especially surprised or bothered by the fact that Croft was no longer in confinement.

"Where is he?" said Croft.

"Where is who?" said the Chief.

"Wender," said Croft.

"How would I know?" said the Chief.

"He was just here," said Croft.

The Chief frowned. "I haven't seen him."

"Post hypnotic suggestion," said Agent Waverly. "He must have told the Chief to forget everything, just like the others."

"Are you saying that Wender was in here?" said the Chief incredulously.

"Yes," said Croft. "He had you order me put into detention, remember?"

"Really?" said the Chief. He frowned. "No, I don't remember."

"We need to activate the alert," said Preston. "He may still be in the building."

The Chief pressed a button, and started the wheels moving on the alert.

"That's great, but I don't think that will do any good," said Croft. "Even if he's still here, I don't think anyone will be allowed to report having seen him. The only thing that might work is to have the building searched remotely, from the secure cameras on each floor."

"This is a 400 floor building," said the Chief. "Do you know how long that would take?"

"That's the only way," said Croft.

"Very well," said the Chief. He activated his comm and gave the appropriate orders.

"In the meantime we have to figure out what he was doing here," said Agent Waverly.

"It was another one of his stupid games," said Croft. "He wanted to show us he could escape at any time. He wanted to have some fun with the Chief."

"Yes, I imagine that's what he wanted us to believe," said Agent Waverly dryly. Sometimes he had that superior air about him, like Quick did. "But I think there may have been another purpose to his visit."

"What?" said Croft.

"At present, I don't have an answer for that. But if we look at the secure holorecordings for this room, we might find an answer."

The Chief went to his terminal and called them up. They played it back, starting from the point when Wender came into the room.

"What are you doing here?" they saw the Chief say, his hand moving towards an alarm.

"Everything is fine, there's nothing to be concerned about," said Wender.

"Nothing to be concerned about," said the Chief, moving his hand away.

From then on Wender did no talking. He simply stared at the Chief.

"The military control center," said the Chief, in response to no question in particular.

"Several levels of security," said the Chief, again not in response to anything said.

"Normally an office on the 200th floor," said the Chief. "In an emergency, they go to a sublevel bunker."

There was another pause.

"Let me check," said the Chief. He punched a few buttons on his terminal.

"Yes, the Secretary of Defense and the joint chiefs are currently there," said the Chief.

There was another silence.

"When you get off the elevator on the 200th floor, you go straight down a long corridor, then past two offices," said the Chief.

Another pause.

"The 100th floor, in the office to your right as you get off the elevator," said the Chief.

A few seconds later Wender looked around and said, "Someone is coming."

The Chief pressed a button, and called two operatives into his office. They barely got there before Croft did. They looked startled to see Wender, and then their faces went blank. Then Croft came in. The Chief watched with surprise as he saw himself on the recording ordering Croft to be taken away. When Croft had gone, Wender looked at the Chief, and the Chief nodded, and returned to work, as Wender walked out.

"You can cancel that search of the building," said Croft.

"What or who is he after?" Agent Waverly asked.

"The Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs," said the Chief. He pressed a button. "I've got to alert them."

"If it isn't already too late," said Croft.

They found out a moment later.

The Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs, the most senior military generals and admirals in the League, were gone. A nondescript man had come in. He hadn't been stopped or questioned by several layers of intrusive security, instead walking right by them.

He had gone into the office of the Secretary of Defense without being questioned, walking out a few seconds later with the Secretary. They went to the office of the Joint Chiefs, and a few seconds after that the Joint Chiefs followed him out. They left the military security center and that was the last time they were seen.

"That's why he surrendered," said Agent Waverly. "He wanted to see to Director Alderman so he could get to the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs."

"Why would he even need the Chief?" said Preston. "This guy can go anywhere he wants."

"That's true, but he didn't know where the Secretary was," said Agent Waverly. "The Chief told him."

"Yes, he did, didn't he," said Croft, getting an unusual gleam in his eye. There was something very, very odd about that.

"It was totally coerced, of course," said the Chief, trying to deflect blame automatically. He was, after all, a bureaucrat.

"Yes," said Croft, still thinking afield.

"We must start a priority one search for them," said the Chief. "I'll notify the President."

Croft nodded, and left the office.

"Good luck with the search," said Preston. "Anyone who sees them isn't likely to be allowed to remember it."

"August has an extensive surveillance system," said Agent Waverly. "It's possible they might be spotted remotely." He turned to Croft. "You seem fixated on a thought."

"That occasionally happens," said Croft. He said nothing more.

Planet-wide surveillance did indeed show the Mind Bender and his captives getting into a hovercar. But the trail quickly grew cold when they entered a building that wasn't under direct surveillance. From that building they could have gone to a number of connected buildings, or even into the underground parts of the city.

"They're doing an extensive search, but we're not optimistic," said Preston.

"Nor should you be," said Croft. He still seemed to be deep in thought.

"Why would Wender want to take captives?" Preston said. "It's not his style."

"No, it isn't," Waverly agreed.

"We're receiving a secure transmission," said an operative.

Croft turned to his holoscreen. The image of the Mind Bender appeared. He must have gotten the secure transmission code from one of his captives.

"Ah, hello there,' said the Mind Bender. "I think I may have something that belongs to you. Seven somethings, or someones, to be specific." He smiled. The camera was panned tight, so one could only see a gleaming metal wall behind him, which didn't help identify his surroundings.

"I'm willing to give them back," said the Mind Bender. "For a modest price."

Everyone took a deep breath. How much would the Mind Bender demand?

"20 million credits," said the Mind Bender. "In an unassigned datapad."

20 million credits? He only wanted 20 million credits?

"I want the credits delivered to me on top of the Sarney Sarittenden dam, in exactly eight hours from now," said the Mind Bender. He paused. "There's just one catch. I want the money delivered by the President."

He paused again.

"And the President should be naked. Totally naked. And painted purple, all over his body," said the Mind Bender. He gave a wide grin. "Eight hours. If you don't meet my demands, the 'dense secretary' and your high price generals will be dead in exactly sixty minutes after that. Dead, by their own hands."

The camera panned to show the Secretary of Defense and generals with blasters in their hands. Their blasters were all pointed at each other.

The image faded.

There was a loud babble in the room as agents started talking to each other.

"Ridiculous," said Croft.

"Yes, a ridiculously small sum of money," said Preston.

"He doesn't care at all about the money," said Croft. "He just wants to make a fool of the President."

"That's what this was all about," said Agent Waverly. "And again we see his fetishes with nudity and the color purple."

"That's all part of that fascinating and highly informative pattern," said Croft, stealing Waverly's best lines.

They went to see the Chief.

"You can't let him pay," said Croft.

"The amount is almost trivial," said the Chief.

"He's just trying to get to the President," said Croft.

"It seems that he could have as easily gotten to the President before this," said the Chief.

"Yes, but in his mind, kidnapping the President isn't nearly as amusing as getting the President to embarrass himself of his own free will," said Croft. "And who knows what else he might consider to be fun?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think he picked the dam just by chance?" said Croft.

"What do you mean? said the Chief again.

"I think after he's had his fun with the President, he may order him to take a dive," said Croft grimly.

The Chief frowned. "You're right. We can't let the President participate. I just commed the Chief of Staff. They are certainly not inclined to let the President anywhere near this madman. But, on the other hand, we can't just let those men be killed. "

"That's right," said Croft. "So we do something different."

"How different?"

"Let me deliver the ransom," said Croft.

"He said the President had to deliver it," said Preston.

"I like to think I have some presidential qualities," said Croft.

"Do you think he'll be satisfied with you?" A. A. asked.

"So many people are," said Croft.

"Do you want to go up against him again?" said the Chief. "You were reluctant last time. What's changed?'

"Just a small bit of insight," said Croft. "Kind of like Agent Waverly's pattern analysis, only a little more useful."

The Chief looked skeptical. "Do you really think you can get him to tell you where the hostages are?"

"With the right planning and personnel, yes," said Croft.

Nearly eight hours later, a number of operatives were in an air car heading to the Sarney Sarittenden dam: Croft, Agent Waverly, Preston, and... Dalbo Alto.

Dalbo was busy counting air cars around them.

"I don't see how this is going to work," said Preston.

"It's simple," said Croft. "Dalbo here reads his mind and finds out where the prisoners are."

"But he can read minds too," said Preston. "What happens when he reads your mind and finds out you're trying to read his?"

"We'll see," said Croft. He itched a little bit. He was wearing a formal seven piece suit for the occasion.

"He'll order Dalbo to forget the location, or he'll kill you," said Preston.

"Kill?" said Dalbo, momentarily breaking out of his daydream.

"No, he said bill," said Croft. "He'll bill us."

"Oh," said Dalbo. He resumed counting air cars around them.

Croft spoke in a lower voice. "Do you have any other ideas on how to find the hostages in time?" he asked Preston.

"No," said Preston. "But if we can't recover them, we should at least kill Wender."

"Remember, he's standing on top of a rather large dam," said Croft. "Heavy ordinance is not advised."

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

"Or perhaps I'm saying more than I know," said Croft. He raised an eyebrow provocatively. "Did that ever occur to you?"

They reached the dam. It was late afternoon, and the sun was just starting to dip below the tallest of the buildings in Sarney Sarittenden, casting large shadows. One very large shadow belonged to a single man, standing next to a gravitator parked in the middle of the dam.

Croft stopped the air car at the edge of the dam, where a security cordon had been set up. They got out of the air car.

"Dalbo," said Croft.

Dalbo looked distracted. He appeared to be counting the onlookers being held back by security.

"Dalbo!" said Croft.

Dalbo reluctantly turned his head towards Croft.

"Do you remember what it is we want?"

Dalbo shook his head.

How could Dalbo have known? Croft had only told him several times since they had left the Institute.

"We want to know where the prisoners are," said Croft. "I want you to probe the Mind Bender's mind and find out where the prisoners are, all right?"

Dalbo shrugged.

"Was that an 'I don't know' shrug?" said Preston.

"I think it was a 'yes' shrug," said Croft, who eyed Dalbo expertly. He had gotten to know Dalbo fairly well over the years and could quickly gauge how spaced out he was at any given moment.

"Does he realize how dangerous this can be?" said Preston.

"Danger, a prelude to unpleasant stimuli," said Dalbo promptly.

"On a very abstract level he does," said Croft.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Preston asked.

Croft shook his head. "There's no sense."

"You're very brave, Cliff," said Preston.

Croft looked at the remaining sunlight of the day, shining on Preston's face. "I know."

He turned to Dalbo. "Come on."

The two of them, Croft and Dalbo, slowly made their way across the top of the dam. A single figure stood there in the middle, waiting for them.

When they got close, the Mind Bender didn't even bother to show surprise on his face.

"You again," he sneered. "I told them to bring the President."

"We've got the money," said Croft, holding up the datapad.

The Mind Bender put his face right next to Croft, who suddenly found he couldn't move. "I told you to bring the President, idiot."

The Mind Bender took a step back, and looked at Dalbo. "Who is this?"

Who is this?

The Mind Bender was actually asking who Dalbo was. It was if he didn't know.

It was as if he couldn't read minds!

"This is an aide to the Defense Secretary," said Croft. The Mind Bender hadn't, for the moment, controlled him to the point of making him answer questions, so he could still lie freely.

The Mind Bender looked Dalbo over and frowned. "He doesn't look like an aide to me."

Dalbo spoke. "I am Dalbo Alto. I count things. I notice patterns." Obviously, he had been compelled to say that. But what would that mean to the Mind Bender?

"He's an analyst," said Croft. He quickly changed the subject. "We brought the money; you wouldn't mind telling us where the prisoners are, would you?" he asked. He knew that Dalbo could only pick up active thoughts; the Mind Bender had to actively be thinking about their location for Dalbo to find that information out.

"Do you really expect me to tell you that?" said the Mind Bender, looking amused. "I'll tell you what, though, in an hour I'll tell you where their bodies can be found. Because there's no way you'll find them in time."

"Shiny metal room," said Dalbo suddenly.

"What?" said the Mind Bender.

"He says they're in a shiny metal room-" said Croft.

"I know what he said," snapped the Mind Bender.

"We saw that from your transmission," said Croft quickly.

"City sublevel 19a," said Dalbo. "19a, definitely 19a."

The Mind Bender's jaw dropped. "How did you know that?"

"Where on 19a?" said Croft sharply. Preston and the others should be listening in on his open comm line.

The Mind Bender looked horrified as Dalbo stared at him. "Section... 2, definitely section 2," said Dalbo. "Very dirty, not well lit. A lot of dirt, litter, some papers, some pieces of metals."

"How did you know that?" the Mind Bender shrieked.

"All minds are open to me," said Dalbo dully. He was under the Mind Bender's control now.

"Fascinating," said the Mind Bender. He quickly considered the consequences of this fact. He gave Croft a cunning look, and a nod, as if showing respect to a worthy adversary who had made an unexpected move. "Unfortunately, I can't allow either of you to reveal this information. Please step closer to the edge. I think you might enjoy the view."

Croft found himself involuntarily stepping close to the edge, pressing against a waist high railing. Dalbo stood to his side.

"1289," said Dalbo.

"What?" said the Mind Bender.

"1289 feet," said Dalbo, looking down. "I have read the dam is 1289 feet tall. But I do not know if it includes the railing." He looked at the railing. "I estimate the railing is four or four and a half feet tall. It goes up against my waist, which is nearly four feet tall, so that would make it-"

"Enough!" said the Mind Bender. He turned to Croft. "A nice trick, Croft. But your worthless generals will pay the price for your trickery." He stared eye to eye with Croft. "And now, so will you."

Suddenly, Croft felt the overwhelming urge to leap over the railing. He tried to resist it... but he couldn't.

He jumped over, almost at the same time Dalbo did. Immediately, they were falling down, and down....