Free Matrix Man by William C. Dietz

Waller asked. And it was no small task when the world was overrun by young, healthy, unemployed people. She smiled and held out a wrinkled liver-spotted hand for Corvan to shake.
    "Rex Corvan, I'm Marie Waller, warden, and nominally in charge of this mess. Your visit is an unexpected pleasure. I just wish it was taking place under more pleasant circumstances."
    Corvan made a face as he looked down at his wet clothes. "Me too. Unfortunately the events which qualify as news are rarely pleasant."
    Captain Alvarez nodded his agreement and held out his hand as well. "Welcome aboard, Mr. Corvan. I'm sorry you got doused."
    "A professional hazard," Corvan said politely. "One of the many. What's the present situation?"
    Waller's auto-walker made a humming-clicking noise as she crossed to the far side of the bridge. Beyond her the barge was a complex pattern of lights. Corvan joined her, and she said, "On the record or off?"
    "Let's make it on the record," Corvan replied evenly and mentally activated his eye cam. As usual, the robo cam was locked into place on his left shoulder, but there was no real reason to deploy it. Since he was working by himself, the sound and pix would be stored in his implant's memory chip until he could download into a video editing system. The lighting was abominable, but whichever net bought the story could, and would, enhance it with electronics. Besides, most of the interview would be covered with shots of the barge farm, which he'd shoot later.
    Corvan cleared his throat as he framed a head-and-shoulders shot. "This is Warden Marie Waller. She's in charge of Barge Farm 648. Warden, what happened here?"
    Waller had been interviewed many times and knew how to handle herself. The smile she plastered across her face was part grandmother, part chief executive. She spoke in nice, short sentences which told the story her way and would be almost impossible to edit down.
    "At around six o'clock yesterday evening a small group of prisoners attacked one of our guards and killed him. I was ashore, attending a reception, but from what I understand, the violence continued to spread. Another guard was killed and the rest were taken hostage. We believe one guard is missing."
    "How do you know your guards were killed? Are you in communication with the prisoners?"
    Waller looked away and back again. When she spoke , there was a slight catch in her voice. "They threw the bodies off the top deck of the barge."  
    Corvan ignored her comment's emotional content, and zeroed in on the question she hadn't answered. He tried another approach. "Have the prisoners presented any demands?"
    Waller shrugged. The sadness was suddenly gone. "Sure, they want wine, women, and song." She paused thoughtfully. "As for what we're willing to give, well, they can sing all they want."  
    "Do you have any plans to take the barge by force?"  
    Waller looked grim. "We will if we have to. However, we would prefer a peaceful resolution to the problem, and will do everything we can to achieve one."
    "That should do it," Corvan said, shutting down the implant's record function. He now had the basics of who, what, where, why, when, and how. And although Waller had given only one side of the story, the prisoners would give him the rest.
    "Good," Waller replied. "Now, is there anything else I can do for you?" She watched his face expectantly. With any luck at all he'd ask for permission to board the barge; if not, she'd have to suggest it. Either way the boys would cancel Corvan's ticket and allow her to get some work done. Hostages or no hostages, mis whole thing would be over by dawn. After that the sky would be rilled with news copters and the water would be covered with chartered boats. By that time she wanted the situation under control, the men back in their cells, and the process of political damage control well underway. Anything else would mean the end of her career.
    Corvan smiled, the warmth in his real eye at odds with the cold