00093

Sheila Bright's unannounced visit to Osmo Martin at his living quarters in the Security Agency building brought a welcoming smile to his face. She, for her part, found him wearing his Security Agent uniform, which was most definitely an unwelcome sight.

"I thought you had the day off, and we could go to the park for a picnic."

Osmo shrugged. "Sorry. I didn't expect to be on duty today either, but I just got new orders."

Exasperated, Sheila let out a groan. "Before, when you were on duty, I could at least hang out with Mita usually for something to do. But not these days, of course, what with her new position. And lately Uncle Xavier is always very, very busy, too. Busier than I've ever seen him." She sighed. "I guess it will be another dull day for me, with nobody to do anything with. Again. Heck, even X-9 is missing! I guess I really will have no company today!"

Osmo Martin gave her an espresso that he had made for himself. "I'll trade you, then, if you want something to do. My day today is all about collecting taxes from overdue citizens. What a pleasant day, and with my new boss, yet. Whoopee."

"Aren't you happy for Mita?" asked Sheila, a bit surprised by Osmo's complaining tone.

“Security Leader Morgan," Osmo corrected her. "It's very important to her that you get that right. It's not that I am not happy for Mita, and it is not that I wanted that position, but it is that I am unhappy for me. I think she will let all that power go to her head. Just look at the way she's already acting."

Sheila Bright suggested. "Well, maybe she's not yet used to being in a positon of authority. Be patient. Give her time, and give her respect, too, for her new position, especially if Uncle Xavier thought she was good enough to handle the job. When Mr. Clyden held that position, even though I strongly disliked him, I still gave him the honor due him... At least, to his face. When I wasn't out robot-hunting."

Osmo laughed at that last, tagged on comment, recalling how upset Clyden had been when he had found them taking target practice with the robots for sport. Osmo said, "You know, though, you could have given me a bit of warning about Mita becoming my new boss. It came as quite a shock, and not to me only. You should've heard the others afterward, how we totally did not expect some unknown to replace Clyden as Security Leader.”

"Same shock here," she admitted. "Uncle Xavier never even hinted at it to me. Strange. But it's his call. He doesn't answer to me, or to any of us. I suppose he wished to surprise us all, to emphasize his clean break from Mr. Clyden and his old ways of doing things. Haha, now we know to expect the unexpected with regards to the way the Security Agency will be run from this point onward."

"Yeah, like this new thing- collecting taxes," sighed Osmo. "Why does Gov. Bright want to send us out on such tasks like that, these days?"

"Well, you can only imagine how expensive it is to run a world, and since Earth always shortchanges us, even though your father Mr. Martin tries to convince them to be more generous, my Uncle has to find the needed money where he can."

"I know, Sheila, I know, but still... It almost seems beneath the dignity of the Security Agents, which Mita had vowed to restore. And why must she insist on bringing me along with her? It's not like we're pals or anything.”

She chuckled as she listened. "I am sure you can handle the rough day ahead of you, Os," she encouraged. "It can't be as bad as washing cars all day- which, I might add, saved your life at the time."

He took a thoughtful sip from the new cup of espresso he had made for himself. "Yeah. Can you imagine my luck? Anyway, I can handle it. She can't be any worse than Clyden. I think he was a sadist. Besides, what choice do I have? Go back to Earth, look like a quitter and a man-child who must depend on Papa? Not only that, if I want to stay here on the World of Hope, I will need some kind of a job. I have one. Perhaps, as a Security Agent- as I already said before- I can help people when they need help. Today, though, I'm not sure we will be much help to the people, collecting taxes from those who are behind."

'Hmph. They should've budgeted their finances better, then, and not gotten into that spot."

"I guess." Osmo Martin wondered to himself if Sheila's quick answer really explained very well how the delinquent citizens got into such a situation. Such a simplistic solution. But why argue over that now?” He gave her an affectionate kiss on her cheek. "I gotta go. See you later. I'll take a raincheck for that picnic thing."

"You got it."

When Osmo met Sec. Ldr. Morgan by the Security Agency vehicle parking lot, she noted right away the spot of espresso on his uniform. "Agent Martin, you can't command respect for the uniform if you wear it like a slob. Next time, I expect your uniform to be clean!”

Osmo rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mita- Sec. Ldr. Morgan."

"Furthermore, your attitude needs adjusting. You better shape up, Agent Martin!"

He grit his teeth, controlling his mouth so it would not curl into a scowl. "Yes... Ma'm...," he forced from his lips.

Osmo drove a large prisoner holding van and wondered why Mita  Morgan chose this vehicle simply to collect taxes. What, then, did she plan to collect? Elephants?

“The first family on their list, the Brensons, lived in one of the worst neighborhoods, very squalid and crowded, a place never shown on the tourist promos. Vernon and Sarah Brenson lived in a tiny, sparse apartment with their little six-year-old Tabiscus.

Mita Morgan knocked on the door like a sledge hammer. When Mrs. Brenson opened the door a crack to peek out, Sec. Ldr. Morgan pushed it open the rest of the way.

Mrs. Brenson glared at her. "What is the meaning of this?!”

The Security Leader barged in, followed dutifully by Security Agent Osmo Martin. "We are Security Agents, Mrs. Brenson. Gov. Bright has become aware that some citizens of the World of Hope are not paying their fair share of taxes, and we mean to rectify the situation."

Mr. Brenson and the little girl Tabiscus entered the living room from the kitchen. Vernon Brenson still carried a half-eaten baloney sandwich. He had heard the commotion from the kitchen. He protested, "We don't have money to pay the taxes, and with the tax hike- We barely have enough money to buy food these days!”

Agent Osmo Martin felt embarrassed, intruding like this. A quick look about the ratty place certainly seemed to verify Mr. Brenson's story about not having much.

Sec. Ldr. Mita Morgan took out a small book. "According to this, you're more than five months late! What have you to say for yourself?"

Not understanding, but sensing the seriousness of the matter, little Tabiscus clung to her mother's hand. Mrs. Brenson said pleadingly, "Oh, we just need more time. My husband's job isn't paying so well-”

“Then he should be working somewhere else," snapped Mita Morgan. "Don't you have any cash on hand to pay?"

Mr. Brenson, flabbergasted at the Security Leader's answer, to work somewhere else, explained, "But nobody's hiring. And, even if they do, I am already working seventy hours at my job, but I am only paid for fifty! They force us to volunteer our time, or else we are let go. I hate to be cheated, but at least it helps to pay some of the bills."

Stone-faced, Mita Morgan replied dismissively, "Yeah, well, what makes you think Gov. Bright wants to be cheated, either? You owe, so pay up." She eyed the plush sofa. "That looks almost new. Sure, it's not very good-looking, but surely you can find someone to sell it to, and pay off some of your debt."

Mr. and Mrs. Brenson shook their heads. "But what will we sit on, then?"

Agent Osmo Martin gaped. Mita went too far. He never knew she could be such a hard-nose. "Mita-" he began.

She spun around on him. Her eyes flashed. "Sec. Ldr. Morgan, remember? Do you have anything useful to say, Agent Martin?"

"Be reasonable-"

But Mita Morgan instead simply ignored his comment. She concentrated back on the Brensons, and she noticed the doll Tabiscus held with her one arm. "Will you look at that! One of those robot dolls that look just like a real baby. Like the doll in that Schwarzenegger movie- Let me see that, child!"

Tabiscus shook her head and held it closer to her chest. "No. Booboo isn't feeling good, and only wants me to hold her today. Right, Booboo?”

“The doll replied, "Booboo loves Mommie!"

Sec. Ldr. Morgan stared at the doll. "I think that doll can be sold for a nice price, Mrs. Brenson. Maybe it can pay off most of your arrears, Mr. Brenson."

Sarah Brenson exclaimed, "No, we can't do that! My sister sent it from Earth at Christmas for Tabiscus!"

Mita Morgan nodded curtly. "Then be sure to thank her for helping you pay your taxes with it. I will confiscate it. -By the way, did you pay the proper customs tax when you got it?" Sec. Ldr. Morgan reached down and ruthlessly snatched the robot doll from the little girl's arms.

Booboo wailed, "Mommie! Help! Bad lady kidnapping me!"

"You must not steal her doll!" Vernon Brenson declared impotently.

Tabiscus tried to yank back the doll. She grabbed hold its leg and pulled but was unable to free Booboo from the bad lady's grip. "You give me back my dollie!" The more she tugged Booboo, the more the doll cried out in pain. Nevertheless, Tabiscus continued the tug of war.

The Security Leader once more pulled the whining doll from Tabiscus' faltering grasp. In retaliation, the young child kicked Mita Morgan in the shins.

Still clutching the yelling doll, Sec. Ldr. Morgan warned, "Do that again, and you'll end up in a juvie home, Brat!" She turned about and marched out the door, carrying the clamoring doll with her.

Agent Osmo Martin looked at the distraught Brensons, shrugged apologetically, and followed his boss.

Tabiscus ran toward the door, determined to chase after her Booboo and to rescue her. Her mother and father held her back, afraid the Security Leader might actually carry out her threat to put the little girl in a home for juvenile delinquents. Not understanding, Tabiscus cried and begged for her parents to let her go.

Outside, Mita opened the back door and tossed the wailing doll into the back of the van. "Shut up, stupid toy, or I shall take out your chips."

The doll immediately obeyed.

As Osmo Martin and Mita Morgan got in the vehicle, Agent Martin complained, "You can't do stuff like that. Have you no compassion on those people, and especially on their little girl?"

"Compassion for a brat and her deadbeat parents? Hardly. Agent Martin, Gov. Bright wants us to collect. To do that, we must be firm. If you have any quarrels with the way I follow the Governor's instructions, take it up with him."

"Oh, I will," Osmo Martin promised.

"Good. After hours, though. Not on company time. And I am certain Gov. Bright will tell you how this tax delinquency problem has become a crisis of state, due to the low level of the government’s coffers. He wants the Security Agents to take care of it, so he will be able to keep the World of Hope going smoothly."

Mita Morgan took out her little book and consulted it. "Our next visit will be two blocks from here, on Strangle Street, the Smithytons... Ahem, don't just sit there, Agent Martin- Drive!"

Unable to believe that any of his former classmates, even one that he did not know very well, could be so cold, Osmo Martin grumbled and then started the engine.

(c) drk 2012