Chapter 8

A few days later, I am completing my log for Chief Anderson. As usual, I am filling it with praise for G-Force and their efforts, concern about their welfare, and reassurances that everything will work out just fine. The only difference from doing this a week ago is that I no longer believe most of what I am saying. But I have been doing it for so long that the words come naturally to me.

It is while I am completing this mundane, and entirely meaningless, task that word of my first success comes to me.

"Come in, Zark!" Chief Anderson reports. "We have a problem!"

"What is it, Chief?" I ask, my antennae popping up with excitement.

"Apparently, Jason has been in some kind of accident." Anderson explains, "He was rushing to get to a call for the team, when he hit a woman with his car."

"When did this happen?" I ask. I can barely contain my excitement, but I try to sound concerned.

"A couple of days ago." says the Chief angrily. "It would appear that he's been keeping this from me."

I can understand why he's angry. Chief Anderson likes to keep informed of everything. But this is typical of Jason. He doesn't care about rules, or authority, and would certainly want to keep something so… sensitive… a secret.

"Oh my! Well, I certainly hope Jason is all right!" I exclaim worriedly.

"I'm not sure." sighs the Chief. "He's not being very forthcoming. That's where you come in."

"What do you need me to do, Chief?" I ask.

"I've had the technicians check his implant, and I need you to analyze the results of the report." Anderson states.

"Right away, Sir!" I say, giving a quick salute.

"I'm sending the data to you, now." the Chief informs me, as he breaks off the communication.

If I could jump for joy, I would. My antennae are trembling with excitement as the data comes through and I begin my analysis.

It's not like Jason to hit anyone, or anything, with his car, unintentionally. He loves his car, and for all of his faults, he is an excellent driver. The fact that something like this has occurred means that something serious is wrong.

And I know exactly what it is.

A thorough cross-check of the implant check data confirms what I had been hoping. My adjustments to Jason's vision were successful. He should be experiencing brief periods of dizziness, sensitivity to light, and excruciating headaches. These could easily cause him to lose his concentration, even while driving.

And of course, these issues are only going to get worse. I'm going to see to that.

Carefully, I confirm that I have the primary copy of the check report. Then I alter the data to show that there is nothing wrong with Jason's implant that a minor re-tuning wouldn't fix. Lastly, I move my altered report to the backup system that Galaxy Security maintains. It wouldn't do to have someone realize that the data have changed.

With each step, I carefully erase any trace of alteration. This is something I am uniquely suited for, as I am the entity that designed most of these systems, not to mention the G-Force implants, to begin with. Finally, satisfied that the information appears as I want it to, I activate my communication viewscreen.

"This is 7-Zark-7, calling Chief Anderson."

"Yes, Zark, what have you got for me?" asks the Chief worriedly. I can tell that he is concerned for Jason, and has anxiously been waiting for my results.

"I haven't found anything out of the ordinary." I report. "Jason's implant could stand some minor re-tuning, but other than that, everything is within expected parameters."

"I see…" Anderson gives a big sigh of relief. "I guess, it truly was just an accident, then."

"It would appear so." I confirm.

"I had been concerned, that there might be something more wrong." the Chief confides. "But since you say that Jason is all right, and the woman he hit is recovering well, I guess we can put this behind us."

"You certainly can, Chief!" I reply.

"Please, make sure that the necessary re-tuning is worked into Jason's implant re-alignment at the end of the week." the Chief orders.

"I'll see to it personally, Sir!" I salute.

"Thanks, Zark. Over and out."

My viewscreen goes blank.

Of course, I will make adjustments to Jason's implant during his alignment. I need to make sure that these issues continue.

Curiously, I turn my monitoring device on, scanning for Jason. I find him lying down on the couch in the G-Force Ready Room. He is covering his eyes with his arm, and appears to be sleeping.

If he is sleeping, it's a very light sleep, because the moment the Ready Room door opens he's sitting up straight, his eyes open.

It is this Jason that Mark sees, as he enters the room.

"Hey, Jason!" Mark greets his second, "What's up?"

"Not much, man." Jason says. I can tell that he's force a light-hearted tone into his voice. Does Mark notice?

Apparently not.

"Tiny and I were going to Jill's." the Commander says, "Princess is going to have a shift tonight, and we thought we'd keep her company."

"You mean, you thought you'd keep an eye on her, and make sure none of the customers come on to her." Jason smirks. I have to give him credit, Jason is very observant.

Mark looks honestly surprised by Jason's comment.

"I…I don't know what you mean!" he stammers.

"Whatever you say, Skip." Jason replies. "But I don't think I'll go. I want to do some work on my car."

"Yeah… was she messed up after the accident?" Mark asks.

"I'd rather not talk about it!" Jason says, a little too sharply.

"Yeah… okay." Mark replies, backing off. "Say, are you okay, Jason? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine!" Jason practically yells. Then he catches himself and lowers his voice. "I just… need some time to think."

"I can understand that." Mark says quietly, placing a hand on Jason's shoulder. "The last few days must have been terrible for you."

"You don't know the half of it, Mark." Jason mutters. "Just go hang out at Jill's already."

"Sure… whatever you say, Jason." Mark replies, but his face is uncertain. Still, he leaves Jason alone.

Once his Commander is gone, Jason collapses onto the couch. It is obvious he is in great pain.

I am pleased that Jason is attempting to hide his condition from his Commander. It means that it will progress much further, without interference from Chief Anderson, or any of the Federation doctors. I chose my target well.

After a few minutes, he stumbles from the Ready Room, slowly making his way back to his quarters. I do not have access to the camera inside G-Force's personal living spaces, but I can imagine that he has collapsed onto the bed.

With all of the pain he's experiencing, he must be exhausted.

As I turn off the monitors, I notice 1-Rover-1 whirling his tail through the air behind me. I have been so engaged in my observation of Jason that I haven't noticed him until now. How long has be been there?

I turn and greet my 'companion'.

"Hello, 1-Rover-1!" I say cheerily. "I have some time to play with you, now, if you'd like."

Rover gives a joyful yip, and proceeds to spin happily.

It would appear that he hasn't noticed anything amiss. Besides, he's just an inane robotic dog. He's never been of any real use. Even if he had seen something, he wouldn't know what to make of it.

Would he?

Just to be on the safe side, I'll have to be more careful in the future. But for now, I allay suspicion by playing with this idiotic excuse for a pet.