Chapter Eight: Under the Influence

Vena Ray had coached Rocky Jones and Winky DelPonte on the protocol involved in meeting the Suzerain of Ophiuchius. Self-confidence wasn't usually one of DelPonte's shortcomings, but meeting the absolute ruler of Earth's most dangerous rival was bound to be an intimidating experience. Fortunately, Ray's instructions stood them all in good stead.

The three from the Orbit Jet allowed Captain Tarlax to lead them up the broad steps leading to the double doors. The three saluted Cleolanthe, who nodded in response and said, "I am Cleolanthe, Suzerain of Ophiuchius, and this is Marshal Darganto. We're pleased to welcome you all to Ophiuchius Prime, and we hope that you will all find your stay a pleasant one."

As instructed, Jones then took one step forward and said, "Thank you, Suzerain. I am Rockwell Stapleton Jones IV of the Space Rangers, pilot of the XV-2. This is my co-pilot, Antonio DelPonte, and my navigator, Vena Ray. We thank you for your gracious welcome, and I'm sure that we will all enjoy our stay on Ophiuchius Prime." Jones saluted again, then stepped backwards to rejoin the other two.

DelPonte noticed that Cleolanthe barely gave himself and Vena Ray a glance; her attention was focused entirely on the Skipper. It was something he had observed frequently where women were concerned. There was just something about Jones that women found irresistable. If it could be refined and bottled, DelPonte would have paid anything for it.

Darganto's attention was also focused on the Skipper, but his attitude was clearly the complete opposite of his ruler's. He looked like he wanted to grab one of the guards' weapons and finish off Jones right then and there. DelPonte was vividly aware of the fact that it was mainly Cleolanthe's fascination with Jones that protected them from Darganto's wrath.

"Mr. Jones," said Cleolanthe, "if you and the rest of your crew will accompany me to my office, we can discuss the repairs to your ship."

"Thank you, Suzerain," Jones repeated.

The guards flanking the double doors opened them again, and Jones, DelPonte and Ray followed the Suzerain and her chief aide into the colossal building. Captain Tarlax fell in behind them.

Like so many aspects of Ophiuchiuan culture, the interior decor of Government Headquarters was an odd mix of the familiarly human and the inhumanly strange works of the Old Ophiuchians. Paintings, statuary and fixtures that would not have looked out of place in a well-appointed house on Earth stood side-by-side with objects so strange that DelPonte couldn't even tell what they were for. Vena Ray probably knew, but Captain Tarlax was following close behind them, and he didn't want the Ophiuchian officer listening in on their conversations. He would have to ask her later.

They were led through corridors and up flights of stairs. There didn't seem to be any elevators in Government Headquarters; perhaps the Old Ophiuchians hadn't used them, so their human heirs didn't use them either. He would have to ask Ray about that, too.

At last, Cleolanthe led the party into a large office where a single chair faced a massive desk. As with the rest of Government Headquarters, Cleolanthe's office was a mix of the familiar and the strange. The desk held the usual communications and information terminals, and suspended from the ceiling behind it was a mobile that reproduced the suns, planets and moons of the 70 Ophiuchi system.

Cleolanthe seated herself behind the desk, while Marshal Darganto stood to her left. She gestured toward the single seat and said, "Please, Mr. Jones, make yourself comfortable." She ignored DelPonte and Ray. DelPonte was irritated, but Ray had explained to them on the ship that as underlings, Cleolanthe would rarely deign to address them, leaving that duty to her own underlings. That was just the way the Ophiuchians did things. Jones sat, and DelPonte and Ray copied Darganto by standing at their superior's side.

"Mr. Jones," Cleolanthe began, "I want to assure you that you and your crew are free to come and go as you wish. See our country. Look into corners. Search our minds. We have nothing to hide. I only ask for a fair report when you return to Earth."

Ray leaned over to whisper, "Don't believe a word of it."

"How long will it take to repair your spaceship?" the Suzerain continued.

"Oh, a week perhaps," Jones answered with studied nonchalance. From his tone of voice, you would have thought that he conversed with the head of an interstellar empire at least twice a week. DelPonte silently cheered the Skipper on. "We'll do the job as soon as possible."

"Why not enjoy your stay here, Mr. Jones, and let my technicians do the work?" Cleolanthe said, clearly intent on playing the part of gracious host to the hilt.

When Jones began voicing a modest refusal, she interrupted him. "I insist. We can do a much better job, I assure you."

Cleolanthe paused, and now her tone became confiding: "Letting the rest of the universe know the truth about Ophiuchius is difficult, Mr. Jones. People who don't understand us go back with lurid tales, while those that do elect to remain and share our life with us, in happiness, here." Her tone brightened, as though she had suddenly thought of the perfect example. "Perhaps you know of Professor Newton."

Was Cleolanthe toying with them? DelPonte had no doubt that she was. He had never stopped worrying about the unknown ship that had attacked them as they approached space station RV-5. Had it been an Ophiuchian ship? If so, then the Ophiuchians must have a spy planted within the Office of Space Affairs. Had they known all along that the crew of the Orbit Jet had come to try to rescue Professor Newton and Bobby Matthews? Listening to Cleolanthe, DelPonte was suddenly certain that they had. He and the Skipper would have a lot to talk about when they returned to the Orbit Jet.

DelPonte was pleased to see that the Skipper didn't let Cleolanthe's remark faze him. Sounding as though Professor Newton had been the farthest thing from his thoughts, he said, "Why, uh, why yes, I do."

"His young ward, Bobby?" Cleolanthe continued.

"Yes," said Jones, "I know them both very well."

With a show of decisiveness, Cleolanthe said, "Then you must see them at once," and rose from her seat.

Rising from his own seat, Jones answered, "I'd like to, Cleolanthe."

The Suzerain and the Marshal led the way out of the office. DelPonte shared a glance with Jones. Do we trust them? he silently asked the Skipper.

We don't have any choice, Jones' look replied.

DelPonte was uneasy as he gestured for Jones and Ray to precede him from the office.

Captain Tarlax resumed his position behind them as Cleolanthe and Darganto led them down through level after level of Government Headquarters. DelPonte found himself wondering if they would find Professor Newton locked up in some underground cell, but to his surprise the group emerged within a cavernous underground garage. It seemed that Professor Newton and Bobby Matthews weren't being kept in Government Headquarters after all. DelPonte wondered where they were going.

To one side of the garage were military vehicles of various sorts, while closer to the group were half a dozen commercial vehicles in various styles. A uniformed driver stood beside one of them, a long, low, black vehicle resting on four landing pads. DelPonte recognized it as a reproduction of a twenty-second century hovercar. The others also seemed to be reproductions of ancient vehicles from Earth -- something else he'd have to ask Vena Ray about.

The driver opened the passenger door of the hovercar, and the two Ophiuchian leaders and the three from the Orbit Jet entered. Captain Tarlax, DelPonte was relieved to note, remained behind in the garage. When they were all seated within, the driver closed the door and took his place in the front of the vehicle.

The hovercar fell in behind an armored military vehicle, and another military vehicle fell in behind them. The three vehicles passed through a tunnel, then out though a gated entrance that opened onto the plaza surrounding Government Headquarters. The three vehicles quickly rose into the air, leveling off some fifty feet above the surface.

"Isn't Professor Newton staying in your Government Headquarters?" Jones asked. DelPonte noticed that the Skipper was diplomatic enough not to say "being held."

"Of course not, Mr. Jones," Cleolanthe answered. "Professor Newton is a scientist. What would he be doing in Government Headquarters? No, a man of Professor Newton's brilliance would naturally choose to work in a great center of scientific research. At his request, we have let him make his home in the Gray Observatory. We'll be there in half an hour."

Ophiuchius Prime was the most heavily populated world outside of the Solar System, and DelPonte knew that Ophiuchius City held over five million people. For the most part, it looked much like any city on Earth, if you allowed for the slightly redder sunlight. But, as always seemed to be the case with the Ophiuchians, there were odd differences.

Apart from their own motorcade and the occasional military vehicle, all of the city's traffic was confined to street level. On Earth or Mars, most of the traffic would be in flight. As he looked down at the people below, DelPonte noticed that they all seemed to be wearing the same style clothing, though in many different colors. The colors, Vena Ray had told him, denoted the various castes that Ophiuchian society was divided into. If you had a good enough eye for colors, you could tell exactly which occupation level a person belonged to by the color of their clothing.

The buildings also seemed to have a bland uniformity to them, without even the varied color of the clothing to disguise the fact. DelPonte was sure it all went back to the Old Ophiuchians somehow. It seemed that everything screwy on this planet did. This didn't stop Cleolanthe from spending much of the trip pointing out this or that notable building as they passed it by. She always directed her comments at Jones, never at DelPonte or Ray. Was this due to the Ophiuchians' usual obsession with hierarchy, or was Cleolanthe letting her interest in Rocky Jones distract her attention? Probably a little of both, DelPonte decided.

The motorcade entered the grounds of the Ophiuchian Academy of Sciences, a wide parklike area with a number of moderately-sized buildings scattered around it. The grounds were dominated by a high hill with a domed building at its peak. Cleolanthe confirmed that the domed building was the Gray Observatory, its shape modeled on that of the classical optical observatories of Earth (there being no surviving Old Ophiuchian observatories to copy). The three vehicles landed in a parking lot close by the Gray Observatory, and the driver of their hovercar opened the passenger door for them.

Cleolanthe led the way up a path to the observatory's main door, Darganto on her right, Jones on her left, DelPonte and Ray following behind. "We're proud of our observatory, Rocky," Cleolanthe said as they paused at the main door. "I'll have Professor Newton show you around. The professor likes it here very much, as you know." The Suzerain was very much the proud hostess.

As the others entered the observatory, DelPonte said to Ray, "Ah, so now it's Rocky, huh?"

Ray was clearly not pleased by the Suzerain's attention to Jones. Her answer had more than a touch of venom. "He's about to crack out with 'You're some kid, Cleo'."

"Aw, he's just playing it her way, stringing her along," DelPonte assured her. With a wink, he added, "Women always fall for that, you know." He was pleased to see a smile appear on her face.

Outwardly, the Gray Observatory bore a generic similarity to the Newton Observatory back on Earth, no surprise since Professor Newton had also copied the classical architecture of the optical atronomical observatories of the past. Inside, it was another matter. In addition to being a working scientific establishment, the Newton Observatory was a popular tourist destination. Mindful of the fact, Professor Newton had turned part of his observatory into a small astronomical museum, with educational displays and exhibits, and even a gift shop. The Professor was actually rather pleased about it. "It gives the people the sense that they have a personal stake in the advancement of science," he liked to say, "as indeed they do."

The Ophiuchians, on the other hand, clearly felt no need to make the Gray Observatory welcoming to visitors. The main door led into a starkly functional foyer, with an armed guard sitting at a desk, corridors leading off in three directions, and a set of stairs leading up to the second floor. The guard rose to attention as they entered. Cleolanthe and Darganto ignored him as they led their three guests up the stairs.

A corridor at the top of the stairs led to a plain door with another guard standing duty outside it. DelPonte and Ray shared a look that said, If Professor Newton is so happy here, why does he have a guard stationed outside his laboratory? Nor did they miss the fact that the guard had to unlock the door from the outside before they were able to enter. Despite Cleolanthe's assertions to the contrary, Professor Newton was definitely being held prisoner.

Within, the laboratory would have been hard to tell from one of its opposite numbers on Earth. There were tables full of chemical apparatus, instruments lining the walls, and a number of computer terminals scattered about. Professor Newton himself had his back to the door, peering into the eyepiece of some esoteric piece of equipment. Oddly, he did not turn as the five of them entered the laboratory. In fact, he seemed oblivious to their presence until Cleolanthe called out, "Professor Newton!"

The Professor's movements seemed lethargic as he turned away from his equipment, and his only vocal response was a low "Hrrrrrm?"

"Here are some friends," said Cleolanthe brightly.

Jones and DelPonte both greeted the scientist. His only response was to mumble "Friends?" before donning the antique eyeglasses he sometimes affected. Then, as if reacting to some unseen stimulus, he suddenly brightened. "Oh, why of course, Rocky Jones," he said while shaking the Skipper's hand. "And Winky," he added as he took DelPonte's hand in his. He was positively effusive as he said, "Well, well, well, this is indeed a pleasure, and a surprise. Welcome, welcome to Ophiuchius." Oddly, he paid no attention to Vena Ray, standing to DelPonte's left.

Still playing the gracious hostess, Cleolanthe told them, "We'll leave you alone to enjoy the reunion." She and Darganto turned and headed for the door.

Professor Newton's demeanor underwent another abrupt change. Now he seemed worried. Starting after Cleolanthe and Darganto, he said, "Oh, but there's no reason for you to leave, Cleolanthe." The two Ophiuchian leaders ignored his entreaty as they left the room, leaving him staring blankly at the door. DelPonte exchanged puzzled glances with Jones and Ray. What was up with the Professor? Had his months on Ophiuchius Prime affected his mind?

With another sudden change of mood the Professor turned from the door, clapped his hands and laughed. Walking up to Jones, he shook his hands again and said, "This is like old times, isn't it, Rocky?"

Jones evidently thought the Professor's continued lack of interest in Vena Ray ought to be remedied. Gesturing to her, he said, "Oh, Professor, you remember Vena Ray."

Peering at her, Newton was uncharacteristically unsure of himself. "Vena Ray? Well, it seems I should."

"It was during the exchange of scientists back on Earth," Vena prompted him. "And we traveled together on the Montevideo." They had done more than travel together, DelPonte remembered. Ray had shared a cabin with Newton and Bobby Matthews during the long voyage out to the 70 Ophiuchi system.

Ray added, "You gave me a medal given to you by Secretary Drake, remember?"

Newton's uncertainty seemed to increase. "I gave you a medal?"

"Yes," she answered, "don't you remember?" There was growing concern in her voice.

"Well, perhaps. But that's of no matter." To DelPonte's astonishment, the Professor turned away from Ray to face Jones. Again his mood underwent a dramatic shift. Shaking Jones' hand once more, he enthused, "Rocky, Rocky, isn't this a wonderful country? So exciting, so stimulating!" Gesturing around the laboratory, he continued, "And look at the instruments, things to work with beyond my wildest dreams."

Jones was able to stem Newton's tide of words in praise of Ophiuchius long enough to ask, "And where's Bobby, Professor?"

The Professor seemed confused for a moment, as though Jones had spoken to him in an unknown language. Then, once again, there was an abrupt change in his demeanor, and he said, "Why, of course, Bobby! I'll get him." The Professor hurried from the laboratory.

DelPonte tried to make sense of Newton's behavior. "Hey, maybe they've got a bug planted here so they can overhear our conversation," he suggested to Jones. "Maybe the Professor knows about it and he's putting on an act."

"Maybe," said Jones. "But that look in his eyes."

Vena Ray's expression said that she didn't think Professor Newton was putting on an act. "He's not the same, Rocky."

"I know," said Jones sadly. The door to the laboratory opened then, and Jones gave the others a quiet "Shhhh" as the Professor entered in the company of Bobby Matthews.

The familiar sight of Matthews, still dressed in his replica Space Ranger uniform, gave DelPonte a much-needed boost of morale. "Hi there, Bobby," he greeted the boy with a hand on his shoulder. "The Space Ranger service hasn't been the same without you running under our heels. We sure miss you." He held his hand out for Matthews to shake.

Instead of taking DelPonte's hand, though, Matthews held himself stiffly erect, his hands clasped behind his back, and said with uncharacteristic formality, "Nice of you to say that, Winky." Then, looking at Jones, he added, "Welcome to Ophiuchius, Rocky." He remembered what Vena Ray had told him about how children were raised on Ophiuchius. In the nursery factories, Ophiuchian children were given no affection, and no time to be children. They were expected to be miniature adults, and to treat the adults around them like superior officers. Just like the way Bobby Matthews was treating Jones and himself.

The Skipper wasn't ready to accept Matthews' un-childlike state. Giving the boy a friendly grin, he said, "Aw, come on, Bobby. Let's see how much you've grown." Holding his hand at sternum level, he continued, "You used to come up to here, you know."

Still standing stiffly at attention, his hands behind his back, Matthews barked out, "Height alone isn't the measurement of a man."

DelPonte felt like he was looking at a stranger. This wasn't the Bobby Matthews he knew.