Assignment

                            By:

                         Fox Cutter

1/23/96:

"You can go in." The secretary in Jenner's office said.

I looked up for my book, "Thanks." Then, putting the book
under my arm, I headed through the inner door, into his
office.

The office was lavish, on the back wall, behind Jenner, was
a large window. On each wall was lines off bookshelves, with
books from any different places in the Multi-Verse. There
was also two or three really EXPENSIVE paintings on the
walls as well, along with many a diploma.

Jenner (who was human) looked up from his large oak desk,
and used his hand to flick a way a few stray hairs. "Hello
Fox. Thanks for finally showing up," he grumbled, sounding
pissed.

"Sorry," I said, "I DO have a life in my verse you know."

Jenner nodded, "Yes, I know. Have a seat if you please."

I sat down setting my book in my lap, "So, why did you want
to talk to me?"

He pulled out a thick folder, and handed it to me. "Verse
4270,4506 fold A through G. It's all on one world, the
northern half of which has high technology. The southern
half is in the dark ages."

I opened the folder and flipped through it, "All right, so
what's going on?"

"To much. A scientist from the northern hemisphere has
discovered a fold, and has a working theory on using it."

I nodded again, "First contact then? I always thought the
HammerHeads just fixed stuff."

Jenner looked a bit cross, "We do. The point is the an
opposing government wants the theory, so has kidnapped the
scientist. They are currently trying to blackmail the first
government for the theory."

I nodded, partly understanding.

"Well, they have the scientist hidden in the southern
hemisphere. Now we need to get this information, and the
location where he is being held, to are agent in the
southern side. The problem is, the southern fold is
variable. The next time it will open, will be in 2 to 5
days, for 3 hours. It will be open again 4 days, exactly,
after that."

I nodded again, variable folds are a bitch, they open and
close at a semi-chartable pattern, but at times parts are
vague.

I closed the folder, "So, why do you want me to do this job
for you?"

"Because all the opening of the fold after this next one,
for the next month, will last less then a second. Only a
natural can hop onto it." Jenner said this leaning back into
his chair.

I though about this for a few seconds, "No go here, I'm
going to school right now, it won't do for me to miss any."

Jenner nodded, "We can send a bio-drone mark 7 out. It's a
better design then the last ones you used, and it doesn't
need a chip to run."

I winced, I didn't link bio-drones. Mostly because they
normally need an implanted chip to work, secondly there
always less the normal you, generally very depressed
(something to do with the way the link works), and finally;
because you get conflicting memories.

Jenner saw my winch, and sighed, "I'll pay you."

I leaned forward. "Oh, how much?"

"Eight-Hundred credits," which is equivalent to ten-thousand
US dollars, but good in only a few verses, "And another
two-hundred for hazard pay."

I paused, "I'll think about it for a few days, all right?"

Jenner nodded, "We'll call you when the portal opens, have
an answer by they. Keep the file, I have my own copy." He
then looked back down at the work on his desk.

I left the room, sighing. This was going to be a hard
decision.