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Chapter 11 - Up With Liberty

The next morning, before any great plans could be hatched or explained, Jake got up early so he could see the first episode of the new season of RoboJoust. This would be his one chance to escape from the plotting, the predictability, and the endless machinations of greed and stupidity. One hour to enjoy the clever minds and sharp strategies of the only sport worth following.

Or so he thought.

He stretched out on the couch across from the big screen on the lower deck of the bridge. He let out a breath and said, “Okay, Odin. Play the recording.” The screen came alive with the images of the opening of the program.

Almost immediately a sense of dread came over Jake. The usual opening of the show simply featured stock footage of battles of previous seasons. Sometimes there were hits and sometimes not. This time, however, the opening images were nothing but robots hitting each other or slamming into each other. The sequence ended with two large animated robots crashing into each other, exploding, and the word “ROBOJOUST” bursting through the smoke.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Jake muttered.

The opening was followed, as usual, by the studio introduction. Bill Martin was in his place, his hair still cropped and his smile still exuding confidence. Dinesh Ral was not next to him. Instead there was a busty woman in her late twenties with bright red hair and a sprayed-on tan. The caption below her face read “Lyssa Kreeger.”

Jake let out a muffled groan and closed his eyes. He knew of Lyssa Kreeger; there were few men in known space who had not heard of her. She was the former star of the space-bound action series Protector: M. I. S. S., an endlessly hyped pinup babe, and notorious for having about as many ex-boyfriends as her yearly earnings. Yet for all the publicity directed her way, she never had much success except when it came to getting publicized. Jake thought she was as naturally sexy as an animated character in a hologame but only a little less intelligent. Seeing her as an addition to RoboJoust was not encouraging.

The image of Martin and Kreeger froze before either could speak. As a voice-over came up new images superimposed themselves in front of the pair. “RoboJoust is brought to you this week by Colonial Constructors. Whether you’re building a world or adding onto your home, come see Bucky Beaver’s helpful staff and stocked aisles.

“Also by OmniPharmaCo, bringing you a wide variety of important pharmaceuticals to make your life easier, from Relaxafin to Digestol.

“And the hit of the week is sponsored by Nova Media Group, where hits are our business, from the flicks of Max Shaft and Lena Rennie to the tunes of J-World and Evvie Martini, Nova rocks the galaxy!”

Jake pinched his nose and closed his eyes. “Turn it off. Turn it off. Turn it off!” he said, getting progressively louder each time.

“You don’t have to shout,” Odin said. The screen went dark.

“Why didn’t you warn me?”

“I merely recorded the program for you. I have no interest in watching that program on my own.”

“Well, I think I’ve lost interest in it, too.”

“Any other programs that you wish to view at this time?”

“No. I’m afraid what else I might come across. I suppose I should start figuring out how to bring this other story to its obvious conclusion.”

***

Later in the morning Jake brought the Rosens and Del Thorne up to his ship to plan how to bring about the overthrow of Maxis’ regime. Daniel, Clarissa, and Evvie sat on the couch; Thorne took the chair next to it; and Jake took the chair next to the screen and dragged in front so he wasn’t looking at everyone at an angle.