David Eborrenial calls in from the shore. “Hey Celling?” he says. “Your current path seems to lead to a conflict with a Goonswarm patrol.”
Celling motions his men to stop and hits the reply button on his radio. “What would you recommend?”
“Stay in your current position for, I dunno, thirty seconds, then proceed onward with caution. That should get you through,” David replies.
Celling does as he is told and arrives at the three boats docked at the marina without any difficulty.
That’s when another communicator in his pocket beeps.
It’s the one from Goonswarm.
Celling looks around. Fansworth isn’t in earshot. He turns on the communicator and accepts the transmission.
“Wenton Celling?” the voice on the other end says. “I am Greno Hfsalt. I negotiate on behalf of the Goonswarm Federation.”
Celling clicks it on and whispers, “What do you want?”
“You have recently began working with the one known as David Eborrenial, correct?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. What’s your point?”
“He cannot be trusted.”
Celling rolls his eyes. “Why would I believe you, if indeed I was working with him?”
“Why is he sure?” the voice on the other end of the line asks.
“What do you mean?” Celling demands.
“David Eborrenial has explained to you the origins of the powers of the Protinam,” Greno explains. “There is no point denying this as we have spies that have heard your report regarding this and there is no point denying what we already know. He explained to you, and thus to us, that his powers are highly probabilistic in nature and can only be applied to give results regarding particular possible timelines, from which it is impossible to pick out the true one.”
“Perhaps this is so,” answers Celling. “Then what?”
“He has promised you that he will be able to avert any adverse situation that you may come across, although the aversion may result in even worse things,” Greno explains. “He promises that he will see it coming and warn you in time to prevent it. Again there is no point denying what we already know. How can he be sure? How can he be certain that particular events will happen? Eighty-seven timelines, boy. That’s what he told you and thus what he told us as well. Eighty-seven timelines and each has a completely different outcome for every decision. You really think he’s narrowed it down enough in just twelve hours to be able to make perfect judgements on the field of battle?”
“Just what are you getting at?” asks Celling.
“There is one instance where he would LIKE you to think he’s sure,” Greno continues. “He’s explained how he goes about eliminating timelines. What he does is he finds some idealistic fellow, some hero of his own story, a gullible, naive idiot. Then he convinces said fellow that he’s the All-Seeing Oracle, capable of divining the future to help the hero on his quest. He gives instructions for the hero to carry out. The hero carries them out. The hero may succeed or fail, but that’s really secondary, because David will be there. Watching. Taking notes.”
Greno Hfsalt sighs. “This is all an experiment to him, Wenton. He doesn’t care who wins and who loses. He’s told you, right? In the absence of a truly world-shaking disaster his policy is to not intervene and collect data. And in the last two centuries he’s seen fit to intervene what, seven times? You’re a rat in a cage, Celling. David Eborrenial’s spinning you on his wheel. He’s played us all for fools.”
Celling sighs. “And just why are you telling me this?”
“You wanted our help. This is our price,” says Greno. “The head of David Eborrenial. Preferably attached to the rest of him, of course. Preferably restrained or incapacitated in some manner. But just the head will do.”
Your response?
A: Send people to arrest David at once
B: Forget that, send people to shoot David at once, because capturing a precognitive is likely impossible.
C: Hang up on Goonswarm and tell David what just happened
D: Question Greno Hfsalt further, demanding proof or challenging his assumptions with a specific request