The mystery treatment continued on the far end of that flight, so I just played along. Instead of seeing directions to the transport area when I glanced at the RP target, I was showed a different route through the complex.

The vehicle waiting for me was no cab. It also had a much more interesting array of security features, and those were just the ones I recognized.

The nondescript office block it left me inside of turned out to be pretty interesting, but not as interesting as the job offer.

I was getting weary of all the covert cloak and dagger, and really wanted to start dealing with people again. Isolation is only comforting up to a point. Fortunately, there was someone waiting.

"Mr. Mantee," he said, offering a hand. "I'm Ernie Vacca. Welcome to NullArbor City. I trust you are ready for some answers by now."

I guessed the guy to be about 40, so he had about 15 years on me. We went into an odd sort of conference room. It felt secure in a way that I couldn't place. I waited for his next move. He offered me a seat and a drink, and then sat down across from me. After a bit, he said, "Have you ever wondered how the GD keeps the peace?"

"Now wait a minute," I protested. "I didn't come all this way to join the Global Directorate's police force, or any other kind of military."

He'd been holding a little silver gizmo in his right hand. When I got that far he pressed it with his thumb. Suddenly I didn't feel the heat of confrontation any more.

"What the hell is that?" I asked.

"I don't work for the military," he said. "We asked you here because you have a keen eye for strategy and patterns. You've used it to good effect on the ball field, and your record says you are also are an excellent facilitator. In other words, you are good at helping other people to get what they want, mostly without them noticing it."