Insidekick

In Short

Albert Johnson, an unassuming Earth accountant investigating tax evasion on the alien planet Antar, accidentally crosses paths with a native creature called a Zark. After Albert is knocked unconscious, the Zark integrates itself into his body to save him, inadvertently unlocking latent telepathic and teleportative powers. As Albert digs deeper into the Interworld Corporation's illegal tobacco operation, he faces repeated assassination attempts by local manager Fred Kemmer. Utilizing his newfound abilities, Albert manages to outmaneuver the corporate thugs, gather vital evidence, and dismantle the corrupt enterprise while forging a unique symbiotic partnership with his alien stowaway.

The Story

The story opens on Antar, where local Interworld Corporation manager Fred Kemmer plots to eliminate Albert Johnson, a newly arrived tax investigator who has already been marked as a spy. Albert, posing as an ordinary tourist, is exploring the city of Vaornia when he is startled by a terrifying, dead Bandersnatch reanimated by a Zark. Fleeing in blind panic, Albert trips, strikes his head on a cobblestone, and blacks out. The compassionate Zark approaches the unconscious man and adapts its tissues to his, saving him and inadvertently establishing a symbiotic relationship that sparks Albert's dormant mental powers.

Recovering consciousness, Albert heads into Vaornia, where he confronts the deceitful guide Shifaz, easily overpowering him and discovering an illicit pouch of raw tobacco. This discovery alerts Albert to the true nature of the corporation's activities: an illegal smuggling and production ring known as Operation Weed. Spotted by IC guards, Albert is arrested and detained, but Kemmer, realizing the gravity of the tobacco evidence, resolves to have him killed before he can communicate with the Space Patrol.

A series of attempts on Albert's life follows. First, Kemmer arranges a poisoned meal, which induces hypoglycemic shock and lands Albert in the infirmary. When Albert attempts to escape down a rope from his window, Kemmer shoots him with a blaster, sending him plunging toward the pavement. Miraculously, Albert's newly awakened telepathic and spatial powers allow him to teleport to safety just before impact. Using his ability to jump across distances and read minds, Albert tracks down Shifaz again, extracts the location of the hidden plantation near Lagash, and records the evidence firsthand.

Returning to Vaornia, Albert breaks into Kemmer's office safe to steal confidential files, but he is finally cornered and strapped to a chair equipped with an insulating field that blocks his teleportation. Kemmer prepares to subject him to brainwashing. Trapped and facing imminent destruction, Albert uses his mind to dislodge a blood clot in Kemmer's body, inducing a terrifying pulmonary embolism that causes the manager to collapse in agony.

Escaping back into the countryside, Albert realizes that a single man cannot fight the entire corporation alone. He hitches a ride on a sugar cane cart, consumes high-energy cane to refuel his exhausted body, and hatches a plan to involve the planet's numerous tourists to force the Space Patrol's hand. Returning safely to Earth control, Albert meets with his Chief, who confirms that the case against the Interworld Corporation is ironclad and immune to legal trickery. As Albert voraciously consumes desserts to regain his lost weight, he finally perceives the Zark residing within him. The story concludes with the two establishing vocal communication, and Albert contemplating using the Zark's ability to replicate itself and bestow psychic powers upon other trustworthy agents to improve the moral tone of the Confederation.

How It Unfolds

• The setup begins: Fred Kemmer and his native operative Shifaz plot against Albert Johnson, confident that local corporate control will keep their illicit activities hidden.
• The symbiotic merger: While fleeing a terrifying alien beast, Albert knocks himself unconscious, allowing a compassionate Zark to integrate with his body and inadvertently trigger his hidden psychic abilities.
• The investigation deepens: Albert confronts Shifaz, uncovers physical proof of illegal tobacco farming, and quickly becomes the target of escalating corporate elimination plots.
• The escape and exploration: Surviving poison and a deadly fall from a hospital window through teleportation, Albert maps out the hidden plantation near Lagash and gathers crucial evidence.
• The final confrontation: Trapped in Kemmer's office by an anti-teleportation field, Albert uses his mind to incapacitate the manager with a medical emergency before escaping to alert the authorities.
• The partnership solidifies: Safely back with the Space Patrol, Albert makes peace with his alien stowaway, planning to use the Zark's replication abilities to help law enforcement across the galaxy.

The People

• Albert Johnson: A plump, prosaic tax investigator from Earth's General Accounting Office who appears unremarkable. He wants simply to fulfill his duty and survive, but faces constant assassination attempts by corporate thugs. He ends up significantly leaner, possessing powerful psi abilities, and sharing his body with an alien symbiont.
• Fred Kemmer: The local manager of the Interworld Corporation on Antar. He wants to secure a lucrative promotion and protect Operation Weed, but is thwarted by his own panic and Albert's unexpected resilience. He ultimately faces ruin when his criminal enterprise is completely smashed.
• Shifaz: A slithering Antarian guide and informant who takes bribes and works for Kemmer. He wants to exploit tourists and eliminate Albert, but repeatedly underestimates the Earthman's toughness and ends up outwitted and beaten.
• The Zark: A primitive yet highly evolved amorphous creature from the Antarian forests. It wants only to be helpful, but accidentally triggers Albert's telepathic and spatial powers. It ends up forming a permanent, communicative partnership with Albert to help him police the galaxy.

In Its Own Voice

"Sir, this Johnson is a spy! Is it permitted to slay him?"

An Antarian conspirator asks local manager Fred Kemmer for authorization to eliminate the investigator.

"A plump, prosaic man of middle height, with a round ingenuous face, Albert was as undistinguished as his name, a fact that made him an excellent investigator."

The narrative describes Albert's unassuming appearance, which masks his sharp investigative capabilities.

"There is such a thing as too much surprise, too much shock, too much amazement."

The narrator captures the exact moment Albert processes surviving a fatal fall from a hospital window.

What It's Really About

The novel explores the corrupting influence of unchecked corporate power and the uneasy intersection between interstellar commerce and native populations. Through the Interworld Corporation's exploitation of Antar, the book questions how large commercial entities operate above planetary laws and sideline local well-being for profit. On a personal level, it examines adaptation and symbiosis, suggesting that human capability combined with alien biology can bridge the gap between institutional corruption and individual integrity. The narrative humorously wrestles with the notion of a "corporate conscience," ultimately proposing that true accountability requires vigilant oversight and extraordinary measures.

Why Read It Today

Readers who love classic, witty science fiction featuring clever underdogs, corporate conspiracies, and imaginative alien biology will find immense enjoyment here. Reading Jesse F. Bone's novella feels breezy, fast-paced, and lighthearted, blending pulp-era adventure with sharp corporate satire. What stays with you is the delightful dynamic between Albert and the helpful, well-meaning Zark residing in his bloodstream. While modern readers might notice the swift, economical plotting typical of 1950s magazine science fiction—alongside period tropes regarding alien planetary penetration—the story's clever humor, brisk action, and endearing protagonist make it a thoroughly entertaining piece of retro speculative fiction that reads with remarkable charm.