The first thing that Blake did when they released him from the chair restraints was to plan to escape. He entered the prisoner recreation area, his mind busy thinking.
The doors have some kind of security. Will have to find out what that is and if anyone knows how to break it. He asked Vila, "Do you know how those door panels work?"
The slender thief that had stolen his watch in the holding cell said, "No, not that type."
A man at the table, Blake identified him as some kind of tech by his grey, vaguely tech-type uniform, said, "It's simple enough. All authorised personnel have their palm prints filed in the computer. The blue sensor plate reads the print. If it conforms, the computer opens the door. "
Blake didn't have anything clever to say to that. "Neat."
The grey-clad man said indifferently, "Most computer-based functions are."
The man seemed like he might be interested, but Blake could tell from the man's manner and speech that this was an Alpha like himself. A rival. He couldn't have that. There would only be one boss here.
Vila made the introductions, "Blake -- Kerr Avon. When it comes to computers, he's the number two man in all the Federated worlds."
Blake could tell from the way that Vila was talking, he was trying to take the Alpha tech down a peg, which he didn't mind at all. He could not have the others looking favourably on Avon. It might interfere with his taking over the ship. But he might need him. The man knew computers. That knowledge would be invaluable to any escape plans. It was both useful for his plans and a potential threat to his authority. He could not have them looking to Avon just because the man was smart and had knowledge they needed. Would have to do something about that.
Nova, the other man standing by them asked, "Whose number one?"
Vila said with relish, "The guy who caught him." Avon reacted like someone who was tired of being taunted and very deliberately went back to looking at the piece of paper in his hands. Vila said, "You've got nothing to be ashamed of. D'you know, he came close to stealing five million credits out of the Federation Banking System. "
Blake stayed standing but leaned in towards the table. Must maintain a dominant posture. He asked, "What went wrong?" Make the man identify his failure in front of the others. That should take him down another peg in front of them.
Avon did not look happy at that question. Blake smiled to himself. He wondered if the Alpha knew what he was doing. Not that Avon could help it. No one was as good at manipulation as he was. No one was going to stop interfere with his plan from taking over this ship. He had to escape so he could destroy the Federation that had ruined his life. And if it was going to start by rallying these misfits and criminals, that was what he was going to do. He would start fighting the Federation from right here.
Avon said, "I relied on other people. Why all the questions? Or is it merely a thirst for knowledge?" Avon folded the paper up and put it in his pocket as he leaned back to engage in this conversation.
Blake realized that it wasn't going to be that easy to neutralize Avon as a threat in the eyes of the others. The man was far too intelligent. He's actually questioning my motives. Can't have that. Will have to turn the tables around somehow.
Blake could sound just as intelligent, but he had to work at it. He was more used to giving orders and using persuasive words. "Not exactly. Having defined the problem, the first step towards a solution is the acquisition of data. You should know that. "
Avon asked, "Define the problem then."
Blake replied, "How to avoid spending the rest of our lives on Cygnus Alpha."
Damn. He's still controlling the conversation.
Vila said, "That may not be a problem." He leaned in conspiratorially, "I've heard a rumour that these prison ships don't actually go all the way to Cygnus. They wait until they're in deep space, and then quietly dump you out of an airlock."
While the thief told everyone what he had heard, Blake stepped back and regrouped. Things were not going well. He was not gaining any ground with Avon. Time to step things up. He walked over so that he was standing behind and to the side of Avon. Put the man at a disadvantage positionally.
I will be able to see him, but he won't be able to see me when we talk. He will be in the weaker position. I can do anything to him from here and he won't be able to see it. He won't even be able to see the expression on my face. Blake's eyes were filled with dark menace as they bore into the back of Avon's head.
Blake could tell that Avon was not impressed with the thief's idea.
Avon said, "You're a fool."
The female at the table, Jenna said, "They are on a fixed price contract. They get paid the same whether we get there or not. And hyperdrive running is expensive."
Vila said, "So they dump us and save themselves a trip!"
Blake smiled to himself again. Thanks to the gossipy thief, he had a way to neutralize Avon as any threat to his authority.
Blake asked, "Could it be altered?"
Avon asked, "What?"
Blake now sat on the table, right next to Avon, so that the man could not avoid looking at him unless he left the table. "The running log. Could the readings be faked?"
Avon got up to leave.
I have him on the run now. He must realize what I'm doing is dangerous for him.
Avon said, "Only by a top-line technician. Nobody on this ship could do it."
Yes, you couldn't very well deny that after Vila made such a big deal about you being the number two man in all the Federation. Pay attention everyone. Blake said, " Except you."
Avon said with an aggressive smile, "Naturally." He walked away.
Avon knows. But it doesn't matter. I won. He doesn't matter anymore except when I want him to do something for me.
Blake deliberately sat in the seat that Avon had just retreated from. A very visible wiping out of the man as a threat.
Jenna asked, "Was it wise to put that idea into his head?"
Vila asked, "What idea?"
Is the thief totally oblivious? Do I have to spell it out for him?
Blake spelled it out for him. "Oh, he's bright. He'd already thought of it. "
Blake tried not to laugh at how clever he was with that statement. He had also just wiped out Avon's brains as any potential threat to him by equating intelligence with something evil.
Vila asked, "What? What?"
He finally gets it.
Jenna said, "He fixes the log, the crew dump us, pocket the profit, and set him free."
Jenna will be a good one to have on my side.
Vila said, "That's immoral. The cold-hearted murdering -- let's kill him now before he can do it."
Yes, I'm very clever. Now that he had neutralized the other Alpha as any potential leadership threat, now and in the future, it was time to get back to the more important business of escaping.
Blake asked Jenna, "How much do you know about this type of ship?"
