"I work for Master Caravello, you void. Didn't you wonder how
someone who looked like your virtual twin just happened to show up at the most
convenient time for your little scheme?"
"But I thought…"
"You thought nothing. You
saw what you wanted to see because it suited your greedy needs. Master
Caravello's, uh, agents had been onto you for weeks. Did you really believe
that only that buffoon of an overseer made use of the sneaky-eye drone? The
fool was too lazy to even keep tabs on the likes of you."
"But the explosion?"
"I tossed the prod down the nearest flume; made the blast sound
bigger than it actually was. As for the fire, I stayed below the sludge and
swam to safety."
Simikus slumped deeper into his seat, shaking his head slowly. It was
all over, probably quite literally.
"Now what?" he mumbled. From the corner of his eye, he saw
Rudof gesture to Algensio. The Vamir circled around the desk and took hold of
Simikus with three of his four arms, lifting him to his feet and holding him in
place.
Caravello said, "I'm afraid you destroyed some of my employee's
property. He wants compensation. I'm sure you won't object."
Ograd stepped closer and Simikus saw that he was holding a medical
tool. It looked all too familiar.
"By the way," Ograd said, "my name really is Wilfor
Kudisi. But now that my name is registered with your palm print, I'm afraid I'll
need more than just a finger."
Simikus Giff stood in the waste deep sludge of Omega Station's Wayamr
sector sewage treatment plant, more miserable and dejected than ever.
The crackle of the overseer's prod snapped him from his miserable
trance just an instant too late. The prod jabbed into the small of his back and
the electric charge dropped him to his knees, allowing the filthy mire to
splash against his face.
"Pick up the pace, Neek. Half as many hands means you gotta work
twice as hard to meet your quota."