I'm Working

Parts 3

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“So what happens now?” Robin was walking with Garth down some drained and dry corridor in the palace of Poseidonis headed who knew where.

“We go to get some dinner with a bunch of invited worthies—probably including Ballard and at least a few of the students, if not all of them. Then, possibly during dinner, I’ll undergo some more attempts at blackmail and brainwashing coupled with some strong arm techniques and then we’ll retire to our respective guest quarters to get some sleep.”

“Very funny. Seriously, what’s next.”

Garth smiled to himself, “That was seriously. C’mon.”

He steered Robin through an engraved glass door into an underwater garden, another dry area of the palace, where they were growing everything from surface vegetables and fruit to roses which would give Alfred’s a run for their money.  The place was huge and impressive, just as it was supposed to be. Outside, Rob could see fish lazily swimming back and forth, ignored as much as a bunch of squirrels would be in a Gotham park. The difference, of course, being tat they were species no one on the surface had ever seen before.

In the far end of the greenhouse were the students, plus guide being shown the wonders of their hosts. Well, some of the, anyway.

“How much of this place is kept dry—and why?” What he was seeing was amazing, but Robin was confused. “This isn’t all just to impress anyone from the surface who wanders by, is it?”

“Yes and no. The food is legitimate and we really do eat it and have for hundreds of years but the rest, the tasteful paths and flowers is for visitors.” Garth picked a yellow rose bud. It had been hybridized to have no thorns but to retain is sweet perfume.

“You expect a lot of them?”

“Evidently Arthur does.”

They strolled some more, avoiding the group and the guide, as well as Kara. Garth didn’t want to deal right now—he had enough on his mind without playing host to a bunch of strangers. They went through a series of airlocks leading them to another section of the huge building. In fact, as Dick walked around and saw more of the building, it almost seemed like he was in a self-contained village within the confines of the city dome; separate and self-sustaining. He thought of medieval fortresses and didn’t like the implications of what that might mean if someone got Arthur mad or defensive.

They entered a large room, round and with a domed, vaulted ceiling high over their heads. In the center was a round table taking up most of the room. At least two dozen substantial chairs were spaced around it; it was a conference room, clearly intended for negotiations with surface representatives. Garth explained that the center of the floor, inside the circle of the table, was a now covered pool of seawater, leading out to the main city through a series of passages. Atlanteans uncomfortable sitting in the open air would be accommodated here during talks. On the walls, stretching up at least thirty feet, were hundreds and hundreds of weapons arranged so that they resembled starbursts, patterns, geometric arrangements.

“That’s not too subtle.” It would be like talking in the middle of an arsenal.

“Arthur believes in negotiating from a position of power.”

Dick gave a half laugh. “So it seems.”

“By the way, I’ve been ordered to meet with Arthur in about an hour so he can outline the specific assignments he thinks I’d be best suited for.”

“Any idea what that might be?”

Garth sat in one of the chairs. “I speak English, so I’d assume I’m expected to deal with the English speaking countries, plus, since I have connections in the US, it will assumed that I’ll some kind of advantage there.”

“And you’re okay with this?”

Garth didn’t answer, just gave him an enigmatic smile.

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“So, Dr. Ballard, we thought this area might be of some interest to you.”

Ballard and about half of the students, the better students, were in a lab of some kind where some kind of experiments were being conducted. Things were esoteric enough that most of the visitors had no idea what they were looking at. Their guide was translating for the man who seemed to be in charge. It was a good-sized operation with thirty or ore people at work just in this area.

“These are efforts to distill the DNA of every known species in the ocean to preserve them in case of future extinction’s or crashing populations.”

“We’re doing similar things up at Wood’s Hole, in conjunction with Stanford and a couple of the other schools on the surface.”

“Yes, we’re aware of that, but the difference is that we’ve found how to make it work.”

Ballard looked slightly startled. “You mean you’ve actually been able to reconstruct animals using methods you’ve…”

“Perfected? Yes. I’m afraid that the details are still classified, but perhaps in the future we’ll be able to share what we’re learning, just as your people have things which interest us as well.”

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“Kara, if he gives you any trouble, any at all, call me. I know Arthur better than you do and I can deal with him…”

“Oh, Kal, he’s a perfect sweetheart. Honestly, he is.”

There was a silence on the secure line for a second. “Just be careful and don’t assume that anything he tells you is what’s really going on.”

“Oh, Kal…”

“I’m serious, Kara. I suspect that he’s using you for PR; that’s the only reason he allowed you to take those kids and Ballard down there. He’ll use this and you may not be too pleased with what he’s capable of doing.”

She looked out the window to a panoramic view of Poseidonis. It was breathtaking, the palace was beautiful and Arthur and his retainers had been wonderful to them since the second she’d called and asked if Arthur would be willing to let them come for a visit. “I think you’re worrying over nothing, Kal, honestly I do. He’s been a sweet as he could be. He’s bending over backwards for us, he really is and Garth and Robin are here, too, so it’s not like I’m here all alone or anything.”

“Well, just be careful, all right? And I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

“Okay, fine.” Sigh of exasperation. Kal could be such a big brother sometimes. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“I’d prefer if we could talk about this in person, Kara. Would it be possible for you to come back now for a while?”

“And leave the students? I don’t know, that seems a little rude, don’t you think?” She didn’t want to offend Arthur, either—especially after he’d been so nice.

But if Kal insisted, well…okay. A quick trip back wouldn’t hurt anything.

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“So, I’d like to propose a toast; to friendship.”

“Here, here.”

“And, if I may, a second toast; to King Garth the second, who has agreed to serve as Atlantis’ chief negotiator with the surface nations as we open talks.”

Garth stared at King Orin at the head of the table. He’d suspected that being placed at the other end, in the other place of honor, was a sop to soften him up or something along those lines, but he’d never agreed to any of this. He hadn’t accepted his thrown, he hadn’t agreed to act as the go-between.  He’d told Arthur that he wasn’t sure about any of this and he wanted to have some time to consult with Shayeris and the councilors there before he agreed to anything. Now Arthur was trying to force his hand by making the announcement in a room full of surfacers and members of Arthur’s court, along with a few Shayerians thrown in for good measure.

And he disliked being blindsided. He stood; mirroring Arthur’s posture, smiling just enough to acknowledge that everyone in the room was staring at him. “Your Majesty, I’m both flattered and not unaware of the great honor you’ve given me, but with all possible respect, I’m afraid that I must request that we discuss this further, perhaps in private.”

The change in Arthur’s expression would be undetectable to anyone who didn’t know him well but Garth saw the fury.

“Of course, M’lord. As you wish, I look forward to it.” King Orin looked around the table to include his many guests. “I believe that Lord Vulko has arranged some entertainment for us all after the main courses. So, please enjoy your meal and I raise one more toast to cooperation.”

After everyone was seated again and conversation was murmuring around the room, Dick leaned over to Garth, seated just beside him, semi-whispering so just his friend could hear. “Did you know about any of that before he opened his mouth?”

Garth maintained his pleasant expression. “No, but I’m not surprised. The best defense is always a good offense, isn’t that true?”

Dick smiled a thank you to the server who offered him a platter of swordfish steaks, perfectly broiled and huge. They looked amazing, garnished with what looked like parsley but turned out to be some obscure form of sea grass. “How do you find swordfish so big?

“They’re farmed, obviously.” Garth didn’t seem in the mood to discuss the menu. He whispered a final private comment to Dick, “I want to talk to you later and we may have to bring in some of the JLA." He turned to Dr. Ballard, opposite Dick. “Bob, you never did tell me if you got all the information you needed from that Roman wreck we were working on this week. Do you expect to have to go back next year?” It was small talk but served to change the subject.

Meanwhile along the length of the table, the students were talking to one another and, where possible and they found a local who could understand them, with whatever worthy was also dining with them. The conversations were the usual excited comments any group of tourists make in a new country, exclaiming about the sights they’d seen and the people they’d met, wondering of the food would be good and if it would make anyone sick.

The meal progressed with Arthur seeming to enjoy playing the part of gracious host, telling stories about their history, flirting with the girls and making sure that everyone was well looked after. Finally the dessert was produced; a sweet thing flambé, the surface guests amazed that fire existed underwater, even if it was in an air filled section of the palace. With the final round of toasts about to start, Garth was subtly approached by one of Arthur’s the mid-level advisors, requesting that he leave to meet the King in his private suite as soon as the dinner was adjourned for the entertainment.

He leaned over, told Robin he’d see him later to finish their discussion and told Bob to enjoy the rest of his evening before following the assistant to Arthur’s private chambers to clarify their plans regarding the surface contacts.

Served some hot local tea and finally comfortable in a water fill section, he made himself comfortable with some initial proposals to several surface governments as he waited for the King.

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Back in the dining hall the dancers were just finishing their performance, the audience applauding and starting a standing ovation when King Orin got up and thanked the artists. Turning to the audience, he gave a nod to the guard at the main door. The rest of the Atlanteans thanked their dinner companions for their company and adjourned and left the room in a friendly, disorganized group. The students looked around wondering, if there was something else or if the day was over and they could go back to their assigned rooms to rest.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to thank you once again for making the effort to come all this way to see our city and meet some of our people. As you’re likely aware, this is an exciting time for us; we’re just opening ourselves to possibilities of contact with the surface and are exploring the many things and the many areas we may have valuable exchanges to make with one another.” Arthur nodded to the two guards at the central door. All four doors to the room opened simultaneously with about a dozen armed troops entering, standing and waiting for their orders. I, and my councilors, have realized that the negotiations, both with your government and with the leaders of some of our other cities will go quicker and with fewer distractions and delays if we have something of what I’m told on the surface is called a bargaining chip.”

He gave another nod, the guards fanned out, surrounding the table and stood about six feet back in a circle around it.

“If you’d all be so kind as to accompany these gentlemen to your assigned quarters, I would be appreciative.” I expect that you all have the sense not to do anything stupid and will cooperate for your own good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m expected in a meeting. Please enjoy the rest of your stay.”

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“Garth, I was hoping I could persuade you to agree to taking on the surface negotiations. Have I succeeded?”

“I think I’d rather not, Arthur. If you don’t mind, I really rather leave that to others, I have my own responsibilities and would prefer to concentrate on them for now.”

“Yes, of course. Understandable.” He turned to his monitor. “May I offer you anything?”

“No, thank you. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to my own apartment and rest. I would like to leave in the morning.”

“I’m sure you would. May I ask where Dick is? I thought you two were bunking together.”

That was odd. Why would Arthur think that? “No, he was assigned to one of the VIP guest rooms. I assume that he’s either still watching the entertainment or retired for the night.” Hasn’t he?

Arthur turned the monitor so that Garth could see it. It was a spit screen with two security feeds on display. One showed the students being led, under guard, to their rooms. The second screen showed Dick already in his quarters, a guard at the door.

“I was thinking that you might want to reopen our discussion, under the circumstances.”

Garth looked at Arthur. “Even you can’t do this—the US government will raise holy hell when they find out you’ve effectively illegally locked up their citizens, including Bob Ballard and when Batman and the JLA finds out you’ve incarcerated Robin they’ll be here in minutes.”

“I suppose, but I can kill them all before anyone crosses our boundaries.”

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