“If I’m so good, how is it I can’t figure out how to get through to the Squirrels?”
“Let’s see, you’ve been working on it all of a couple of weeks, and you haven’t been able to do business with a completely alien race? Gee, you’re right, Caveman. You are performing below standard.”
“Thanks, Space Cadet. Just what I need, some perspective. I guess I am expecting a lot, aren’t I?”
“With the badges translating for you, it gets hard to remember that the person you’re talking to isn’t human. You could manage pretty good with the Sasquatch, mostly because their outlook on life and yours aren’t all that different. The Squirrels are a different thing altogether.”
“I’m not sure I understand quite what you’re saying.”
“Sasquatch like to live back in the woods, away from people, and be self-reliant. Who does that sound like? Hillbillies, maybe? Your outlook on life just isn’t that different from theirs, it’s no wonder that you were able to get along with them.”
“You’re saying that Squirrels start from a different place, and it’s not as easy for me to understand?”
“Right on the first guess. You need to figure out how they think, so that you can figure out what they want.”
“You’re telling me I’ve made a strategic error, then?”
“How do you mean?”
“The two people with the best chance of explaining where I’m going wrong are Joshua and Rikki. They’re both deep in Squirrel territory, where I can’t ask them questions. I shouldn’t have sent them there, until I was able to figure out how to communicate with the Squirrels.”
“If you want to look at it that way, I think you’re missing a trick. One of a hacker’s most useful tools is social engineering. Lakki is a world-class hacker, supposedly. Surely, she could give you a great deal of insight on how a Squirrel’s mind works.”
“There’s a thought. Glad I have you around to kick my butt when I quit thinking.”
“Is that the only reason you keep me around?”
Once the tonsil hockey was done with, I asked, “What do you think?”
“I think I’m glad Janet is feeling better. We better grab some lunch before the next thing happens.”
We got a transit, and headed for the galley. Dixie was there, and she said, “Sally has another course ready for you, Boss, as soon as you’re done with your lunch.”
“Thanks. I’ll have the special.”
We sat down, and Nikki asked, “What do you figure on doing after you get done training?””
“I thought I would see how Jane and your Grandpa were doing, down in interrogation.”
“You mind if I meet you down there?”
“Why would I mind? You’re one of the smartest people on this crew. I would be silly not to want your help.”
“I swear, Caveman, if I didn’t know you meant every word of that, I’d think you were buttering me up for something.”
“You mean it can’t be both?”
“How is it you can be so flattering, and so annoying, all at the same time?”
“Practice?”
“Finish your meal, Asshole. We have things to do.” We finished up, and I went to meet Jasmine in the ready room. She lit me up, and when I came out of it, I headed for the brig. I met as I was heading in. “No luck?”
“I’m just in the way. Lakki is so much better at getting information out of people.”
“You’re more used to dealing with machines. They’re a little bit logical, at least.”
“It’s always the part you’re sure is good that lays down, isn’t it?”
“Always seemed that way to me.”
“I better get back to it.”
“Do I even want to know what you folks are working on?”
“Scotti would rather we didn’t say anything until we’re closer to having results.”
“Oh boy, my world is going to get thrown for a loop again.”
“What was it I saw in the culture pack? Something from one of your old authors, ‘Methinks he doth protest too much’, or something like that?”
“Busted! Can’t a Captain get a break around here?”
“You’re funny, Captain. See you around.”
“Later, .”
Sean was standing guard. I asked, “Which room are they in?” He showed me. I went into the observation room, since I was beginning to think my presence made it harder to get the Squirrels to talk. Nikki was already there. She said, “Hey, Caveman. Lakki seems to be having better luck than you did. I wonder why that is?”
“I don’t know, but I’m beginning to think it has something to do with me being the leader around here. They seem to have a need to challenge me, I’m not sure why.”
“You mean they’re hard-wired to challenge authority?”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I think that may be it. If it is, how do we get around it?”
“Danged if I know, Caveman. Maybe Lakki will have some ideas when she gets done in there.”
We kept watching, while Lakki deftly maneuvered information out of the female we had been talking with earlier. Dingus and Jane were just as much spectators as we were. Lakki got all she thought she could, and asked to have the female returned to her cell. We stepped out and met the team in the hall. I said, “Nicely done. Nikki and I were just discussing how much easier it seems to be for you to get her to talk, than it was for me.”
Lakki said, “I’m not the dominant male. Our people are wired to confront a dominant male from another group.”
Dingus spoke up. “She wouldn’t even talk to me, Bob. Don’t feel like the Lone Stranger.”
I asked, “Did she have any idea how many ships they were going to send?”
Lakki replied, “Sorry, no. She did think that they hadn’t all
