Part 8 of some new science fiction. If you're just tuning in, consider starting with part 1. The image above was created with stable diffusion.
The encounter with Adina shook James to the core. It wasn't just her words. Her whole attitude felt like a rebuke of the choices he had made since returning home from the Object. Of course he was being selfish. Stupid, even. With the power now at his disposal, James could help people on a scale he'd never dreamed of before. And yet, the nicest thing he'd done since acquiring this power was materializing a fake designer handbag for Krissa.
Resolving to do better, James tried researching charity organizations and got nowhere. They all looked fine, but all they wanted was money, and Yarn informed him that he didn't actually have much ready cash. "Maybe after Lisa's book comes out," said Yarn. "But really you should wait until the end of the year, then see how much your money guy tells you to donate."
"Lame," said James, who was laying down on his living room floor. "Who can I help today?"
"That depends," said Yarn. "Do you want to help individuals or do you want to help the people?"
"What if I wanted to help the people?" asked James.
"If it was me with the power, I'd be giving stacks of phones and laptops to poor kids," said Yarn. "Have you ever materialized a laptop?"
"No, but I'm sure that could work," said James. "Nice one. What else?"
"Food for the hungry, like Adina does," said Yarn. "Custom prosthetics for amputees. How big can you go? Can you make piles of rare earth metals and other stuff that's ruining the environment by being mined?"
"I made the government three cubic meters of neodymium," said James. "That was the upper limit of the Servant's capacity. I guess I could do more stuff like that. What else?"
"You really want to know what I think?" asked Yarn.
"Please," said James.
"What did you do before all of this?" asked Yarn. "You sat at your computer trading penny stocks, right? Now all you seem to want to do is drink and look at social media while I manage your affairs. I'm not complaining. This is a sweet job. But you're a mess."
"True," said James. "But I didn't hear any ideas there."
"This idea is for you to start by getting your act together," said Yarn. "Your TV sweater vest routine might have fooled everyone else, but this morning I watched you materialize and then eat a geodesic dome made of Twinkies. And now you're laying on the floor looking for a new life direction."
"Are you seriously telling me to help myself before I help anyone else?" asked James.
"I'm suggesting a spa weekend or a plant medicine retreat or whatever you want to do to recenter," said Yarn. "Peru's a little iffy right now but there are good things coming up in Costa Rica."
"I'm not supposed to leave the country," said James. "I guess I could go up north for a bit. I'm sure I could convince the government to fly me up to Castle Danger in a little prop plane. You'd be okay with running the show while I'm gone?"
"I'm okay with running the show while you drink replicator vodka and give speeches to imaginary crowds," said Yarn. "So yeah, I think I can handle it."
"Call the Army," said James, sitting up. "Let's do it tomorrow."
"They're going to insist on an escort," said Yarn.
"One person, no more," said James. "And civilian clothes, please."
The next day, Suit arrived to escort James to a military airfield where a Cessna was waiting. On the plane, James met Janet Wicker, who said nothing but studied him carefully the whole flight. When they landed and deplaned, a car was waiting to take them to a nearby resort on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
At the resort, they were shown to a spacious faux-rustic cabin with a jacuzzi bath. James called Yarn to check in and looked around the cabin. "This place okay?" he asked. "Anything you think should be changed?"
"Looks good to me," said Janet.
"So what are you, anyway?" asked James. "Army? DoD? NID?"
"Not exactly," said Janet. "I work with a group that drafts policy recommendations. We haven't yet taken a position on you."
"So, you work with Suit, then?" asked James.
"Assuming you mean David Graber, not usually, but your case is special," said Janet. "Why do I get the feeling that you don't know how special?"
"Oh I know," said James. "You people want me to become Captain America or something. Thanks, but no."
"You produced twenty thousand kilos of neodymium for us," said Janet. "Heroism can take many forms."
James chuckled. "Playing on my patriotism?" he said. "What, do you need cobalt now?"
"Liquid helium, actually," said Janet. "As much as you're willing to make. If you're offering."
"Helium?" asked James. "I mean, I guess."
"Many medical and scientific applications depend on helium, and there's a global shortage," said Janet.
"Cool," said James. "I'm going to take a walk and get a massage."
On the pebble beach, James found a stone and skipped it across the water. Janet skipped another stone twice as far. A brisk wind made conversation challenging. Eventually, a balding man in a brown jacket walked over to where they were standing.
"You're him, aren't you?" asked the man.
"What?" asked James, who couldn't hear over the wind.
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