Expert Assistance
Robert Collins

The next morning, Jake was in the lower part of the bridge, angrily tapping his foot. Behind him on the large bridge screen was a three-dimensional view of the main dome on Antioch Two. It had been five minutes since he'd asked his partner to join him, and Evvie still hadn't appeared. "Call her again," he told Odin.

Before his computer could respond, Evvie breezed into the room.

"I'm here," she said. "I had to get ready. Jeez, Jake, don't you know it takes women time to get themselves ready to face the day?"

Jake sighed. "Just sit down, and pay attention to the screen."

"What is that?"

"The layout of the main dome."

"Nice. The colors are a bit bland. And I have seen those projections before."

"Evvie, sit down."

"Why?"

"It's part of waging a revolution. It's called 'mission planning.' We sit, we look at this, and we try to figure out what to do first."

"Why do I have to be here?"

"You want the publicity, you have to participate."

Evvie heaved a sigh, then sat down. She glanced at the image for exactly one second. "Where's the armory?"

"They don't have one," Jake said.

"Why not?"

"The guardbots."

"Oh. So there aren't any guards we can bribe? No weapons we can take?"

"No."

"Maxis does have a personal guard," Odin added, "but it only consists of twelve persons, and only four are on duty per shift. These persons appear to be armed with sidearms. I found no traces of heavy weaponry."

"As could be expected," Jake said.

"What about the drug plant?" Evvie asked. "Y'know, where they make the drugs to suppress the rebelling urges in the people?"

Jake rolled his eyes. Well, at least she's managed to do some research about revolutions after agreeing to help. Too bad for her "research" means watching hokey old videos, not reading actual history.

"Evvie, something like that only occurs in fiction. Reality is not like that."

"Actually, Jake, you are incorrect," Odin interrupted. "I call your attention to that large room on level six."

"That's food processing."

"Yes. I previously discovered hardware and software tied into the main food processing systems. I investigated them thoroughly. They are used for the specific purpose of injecting chemicals into a food supply system."

That explains why Odin hedged a couple days ago, Jake mused.

"Such systems are typical of mental institutions housing dangerous individuals," Odin continued. "They prevent ordinary nurses, visitors, and other unqualified personnel from being placed in threatening situations. They are admirable safety measures, accepted by every civilized government."

"Okay. What are they doing here?"

"Since there are no facilities for housing the mentally ill, the only logical conclusion is that these systems are used to inject chemicals into the workers' food and drink."

"Y'see?" Evvie said.

Jake ignored her. "So what chemical or chemicals are being injected, Odin?"

"I was able to uncover shipping records for only one chemical. The medical name for the substance is Lypinisan Oh-Five. The more common name is 'Relaxafin.'"

"Oh, my God."

"What?" Evvie asked.

"Relaxafin. Those commercials? Y'know, the hokey ones with those formerly hyperactive kids being all nice and quiet?" He impersonated the actress who played the grateful mother in the spots, "'It's given my child his peace back.'" He then did the eerily passive kid. "'I can work with others now.'" He shook his head. "Those commercials have consistently been criticized by almost everyone as the worst broadcast spots for four years running."

"By who? I mean, they work, don't they?"

"Only in the cheesiest, stupidest way possible. The only campaign that is anywhere close to being that annoying is the one for that colonial building chain that uses that beaver."

Evvie shuddered visibly. "Don't mention that, please. That beaver creeps me out. I once had this dream--"

"Please. No."

"But--"

"No. Odin, is Maxis using that operation for what I think he's using it for?"

"It appears that it's being used to repress anger, and therefore to repress any unrest or dissension."

"Is this drug being injected in dangerous amounts?"

"Actually, it's being used in dosages well below average, and only in the adult population. That suggests the drug is being used as a minor control on the population's mental state. I should add that Relaxafin is comparatively expensive. That might also be a factor in the small dosages used."

"Geez. He can't be a little more imaginative?"