Conclave (The Silver Ships Book 20)
Page 27
From the moment the three SADEs boarded the traveler for the descent planetside, they were linked through the ship’s controller to the memory banks. Copies of their kernels were housed there, and they were continually updated.
At Alex’s command, the SADEs initiated transfers for Z and Miranda from the databanks to the director-style avatars that waited in engineering.
Alex, Renée, Julien, and Franz hurried from the arrival bay, rode a lift up two levels, and ran down a corridor to an engineering bay.
“Status?” Alex asked, as he arrived.
“The transfer process has begun, Alex,” a SADE replied. “It’s unknown if the codes have been corrupted by the truncation of transmission.”
This was the primary concern. Never was a SADE placed in the dire circumstances of backing up his or her kernel or updating the same, when he or she faced destruction without warning. It was thought that the sudden cessation of the live stream might create a cascade failure within the backup.
A SADE called out the transfer percentages of Z and Miranda, which Julien had requested. He’d hoped to give Alex and Renée something to focus on.
“Transfers complete,” the counting SADE said. “Assimilation commencing.”
“Sheets,” Julien ordered, and two SADEs dutifully covered the undressed bodies of the director avatars.
The humans who were present were well aware of a SADE’s appearance without clothes. The coverings were for Miranda and Z, who preferred to appear as biologicals in their director personas.
Suddenly, Z’s and Miranda’s eyes popped open.
Z sat up. As his sheet slipped to his waist, he asked, “What did we miss?”
Renée cried out happily, “Welcome back, Z,” and she threw her arms around the SADE and hugged him fiercely.
“Did we get the attackers?” Miranda asked, as she sat up.
“Negative,” Julien replied. “The assassins escaped.”
“Never got to fire our weapons,” Z lamented.
“Too many bystanders,” Julien opined. “Your decision processes were flawless.”
“We thank you for your sacrifices,” Alex said gravely, which caught the attention of everyone present.
Miranda waited for her hug from Alex, but it wasn’t forthcoming. “Are you reticent to hug a naked female, dear man?” she inquired, generating a twinkle in her eye.
When Alex hesitated, she sent,
Alex overcame his reluctance, which was generated by feelings of loathing that he’d placed everyone in danger. He quickly closed the gap to Miranda and encircled his arms beneath hers. His hug was so fierce that he hauled her from the table.
Miranda laughed in Alex’s ear. She sent,
Alex’s hearty laughter echoed throughout the engineering lab, as he continued to hug Miranda and turn in a slow circle.
Renée regarded Julien, and she sent privately,
Julien promised.
In fact, nearly everyone in the Méridien system wanted answers.
The SADEs knew that someone wanted the Omnians dead, which included their leader, and they focused their considerable power on sifting through the enormous amount of data available to them.
This was one of the miscalculations that Darse and Daphne Lemoyne had made. They’d planned how to deal with the political fallout, believing their machinations kept them hidden. They’d failed to include in their planning the SADEs’ reactions to the destruction of Z and Miranda and the targeting of Julien.
Aboard the Freedom, engineering completed Z’s and Miranda’s new Cedric and Frederica avatars, and the two SADEs immediately transferred.
Z sent to Miranda.
Z sent, sharing his amusement.
While the trio of SADEs conversed, Z and Miranda made their way to the bridge, where Alex, Renée, and Julien were located.
When the two SADEs entered the bridge, conversations ceased.
“Now those are statements,” Tatia said admiringly, as she eyed Z and Miranda.
“We’d designed these earlier and had already begun construction,” Z said. “We didn’t think that they would be needed this quickly.”
“I know you aren’t responsible for the exterior, Z,” Renée commented.
“I focused on the interior,” Z acknowledged. “My preferences would have been for an exterior that was more utilitarian.”
When heads turned Miranda’s way, she remarked, “Going big doesn’t mean one has to forgo taste and style.”
Cordelia had captured an image of Z and Miranda in their new avatars, and she’d sent them fleetwide and to all SADEs in the system. The response was a tumultuous cacophony of cheering, whistling, applause, foot stomping, and the raucous noises of SADEs.
The kernels of Z and Miranda paused to soak in the sensations. To top the moment, they received the thanks of Alex, Renée, and Julien for their lives.
As Miranda and Z broke from the reverie, Z asked, “When do we visit Confederation Hall again? I find nothing in the calendars.”
“Unknown,” Julien admitted. “Alex hasn’t responded to queries from the Leaders. Cordelia has apprised them that the two of you were restored, and that the three of us were unharmed.”
“My dear man,” Miranda said, advancing on Alex, “I didn’t get destroyed so that you could be angry and choose to halt your grand plan. Do you still intend to hold a conclave?”
Miranda towered above Alex, and he regarded the new design, which was eye-catching.
When Miranda didn’t receive an answer, she said, “I know I’m mesmerizing, but could you halt your drooling long enough to answer my question?”
Around the bridge could be heard snickers, chuckles, and muffled laughter.
Alex grinned and pursed his lips at Miranda. “Barely concealed ire becomes you,” he said.
“That’s better,” Miranda replied, with a wink.
Then the bridge heard Gino’s voice, “I’m grateful that you’ve returned my calls, Alex.”
Alex narrowed his eyes at Miranda, who returned the gesture of pursed lips. Then he pitched his voice for the audio pickups, “We’ve been busy, Gino, as you might have guessed.”
The bridge and Gino heard Renée’
s derisive laughter. It was an uncommon sound from her. “Méridien grinding to a halt, is it, Gino?” she asked.
“You mean the assassins?” Renée inquired. “Culprits sound like children who stole something, not killers of leaders.”
“Someone disrespected us,” Renée shot back. “It’s evident the two men were professional killers from New Terra. Someone had the credits to bring them here.”
“It shouldn’t be lost on any Leader,” Julien interjected, “that the attempt on our lives was an amazing set of coincidences, if you wish to believe in that sort of thing.”
“Have your escorts search the surrounding areas for likely premises,” Tatia directed. “They must have collected intel prior to our landing.”
“The men were told Alex was coming to Méridien to meet with the Council,” Tatia explained. “You can take it from there.”
Gino sent.
“And they would have done it remotely to ensure that they weren’t detected,” Tatia finished.
“What happens when the assassins and the person or persons who paid them are caught, Gino?” Renée demanded.
Alex moved to stand behind Renée.
When Alex’s hands rested on Renée’s shoulders, she felt the urge to shrug them off. She was that angry. Then she felt his mind entwine with hers. It was a unique sensation, something akin to when Alex had dreamed and she’d received his transmissions. This time, they were awake, and Alex was deliberately merging their minds through their implants. She raised her hands and rested them on top of his.
“We’ll be interested in your decisions, Gino,” Renée stated, with only a hint of displeasure. Then she truncated the call.
Tatia regarded Renée, “You training for a command position, Renée? Possibly my job?”
“Nonsense, Admiral,” Renée riposted. “You fight the ships; I fight the politicos.”
* * * * *
Gino gazed at his associates. They’d been meeting in his building’s apartments.
“We’ve been fortunate,” Shannon remarked.
“Yes,” Emilio agreed. “If the Omnians had been killed, it would have been devastating for the Confederation’s future.”
“You mistake me, Emilio,” Shannon responded. “What if the attack on the Omnians was supposed to be only the beginning?”
“Interesting posit,” Katrina remarked. “Did someone hate the Omnian leaders for a specific past interaction, and this was an opportunity for revenge, or did someone want to halt the Omnians’ influence on the Confederation? In which case, Gino, you might have been the next target.”
“I’ve thought about that,” Gino replied. “I believe this is about internal politics. The Omnians would have been easier targets on Haraken.”
“There might not have been time to organize it for Haraken,” Bartosz countered.
Gino and his associates were surprised that Julien was party to their discussion, but no one intended to remark on the breach of etiquette.
“That brings us back to Renée’s question,” Shannon said. She gazed at the other Leaders, who turned their heads toward Gino.
“Is it too late to abdicate my position?” Gino asked in disgust. He would be one of the few Council Leaders in the history of the Confederation who might find it necessary to accuse and to remove a Leader from the Council for attempting public assassinations.
Winston sent.
There was dead silence from the Leaders, while they attempted to parse Winston’s meaning.
Julien ended his link with Winston. The SADEs had planted the thought that they wanted the Leaders, allies of Gino, to consider.
“This creates an enormous conundrum,” Bartosz ventured. “If caught, the perpetrators and their employer will be accused of the attempted murder of Alex and Renée. If they’re also accused of the attempted murder of the SADEs ...”
“Then every SADE who currently is working within a controller will be deemed in bondage,” Shannon finished.
Gino’s mind was overwhelmed by the issues that he and the Council faced.
Katrina was sympathetic to Gino’s sudden depressed mood. “Perhaps, that’s enough for this evening,” she said to their guests. “First, we must catch the attackers and discover who hired them. Then we’ll deal with the issues that follow.”
After the guests left, Katrina brewed a preferred delicate thé for Gino. As Gino sipped from an ancient, artfully painted cup, Katrina helped him remove jacket and boots.
Katrina linked with Gino and Winston. Then, in an afterthought, she requested Julien.
The SADEs waited patiently. They knew that they’d reminded the Leaders of one of Confederation society’s continuing inequities.
Gino and Katrina found it daunting that every SADE was listening.
Gino faltered. He was unable to project past that final point.
Julien sent.
Gino realized that Winston had become quiet, and he was discussing the future of a race with the Leader.
Katrina sent.