The Perfect Ten Boxed Set

by Dianna Love

  “First we capture the other five G’ortians, all of whom are future MystiK rulers, and take them out of play, which will prevent their prophecy from coming to fruition.”

  “You’re sure.”

  “As sure as I can be. We interpret the prophecy to mean that a specific G’ortian will guide the future of the world.”

  I hate that mumbo jumbo crap. But SEOH believed in TecKnati analysts, the ones he’d hand selected from the best to work on his secret project. “Go on.”

  Rustaad lifted his hand, two fingers unfolded as he counted. “Next, we need a successful activation on time of the laser grid to neutralize all MystiK power before the leaders meet. But to insure our final step in this plan, we must have number three–to locate the sentient computer before the MystiKs do and perfect time travel in both directions, not just into the past.”

  “I do want that computer for many reasons, starting with keeping those crazy MystiKs from destroying it. But even if we don’t get our hands on it before the BIRG Con, we have confirmation that our people in the past are on track with DNA testing and inoculations. As long as we can travel back in time, we’re still good.”

  Rustaad stared unfocused for a moment then said, “True. But gaining that computer would be a game changer, even more so than the grid system.”

  SEOH sighed, wishing he could just blast the MystiKs to hell and back with a T-970 missile. “Speaking of the laser grid, is everything still on schedule?”

  “Yes, but I’d prefer another test before the BIRG Con–”

  “No. We can’t risk the MystiKs figuring out what we’re doing. If we didn’t have that idiot Troade in our pocket, the head of his House would have found out about the test we ran in City Three that caused their MystiKs to get sick.” SEOH would never allow someone with so little loyalty and backbone to remain in his camp, but MystiKs obviously didn’t demand the level of loyalty that TecKnati expected. Creature comforts were Troade’s addiction and SEOH made sure the weasel MystiK got everything he wanted.

  For now.

  Rustaad shifted his pose, slightly, not enough to indicate any change in his non-existent emotion. “We’ve taken some large risks over the years, but this one is huge. With such a tiny window of time to activate the grid before the MystiK leaders meet the first day of the BIRG Con, we should have a contingency plan.”

  “No. You’ve convinced me to treat their powers like any other dangerous weapon. That damn grid has to work, and when I want it to work, so we can shut down these invisible powers for-ever. Our engineers have confirmed the grid will function exactly as intended. All you have to do is make sure the final grid connections between cities are completed during the twenty-four hours the leaders are between cities traveling, when they are unable to communicate with anyone from a distance. If that doesn’t happen, there’s no contingency plan that will save us from the fallout.”

  Rustaad’s chest hardly moved with his shallow breaths as if he wasn’t alive. “You’re right.”

  “Of course, I am. And I’ll remove any obstacle, human or otherwise, that gets in my way.”

  Inclining his head in agreement, Rustaad spoke with the quiet strength of an eagle in flight. Silent, but deadly. “We will be prepared for anything and everything.”

  Scratching his neck, SEOH slowed his pacing, a new idea forming. He’d never been half in on anything and certainly not now. “We need to combat the prophecy crap they’re spewing with a counter-campaign that sways public opinion, even for those of the MystiKs like Troade who enjoy life through technological advantages. That way, when we take control through the grid and/or the computer, the majority will not buck us. Lemmings do not fight.”

  “What are you thinking?”

  “We launch a massive campaign to remind the world that it’s TecKnati scientific and technological advances that brought us back to a civilized existence after the K’ryan Syndrome. Get a marketing team working on feel-good initiatives. I want to see a presentation by tomorrow.”

  A musical hum turned SEOH’s attention to a holographic image of his AI female assistant. He said, “Yes, Leesa?”

  Her soft voice floated into the room. “The ANASKO Board is assembled for your meeting.”

  “Thank you.” When the image disappeared, SEOH pinched the bridge of his nose. “I wish I knew who was stirring up the board this time.” SEOH would eliminate that headache just as he had Komaen and Furk. A fitting end for Komaen, a man whose name translated as “being sent to eternal sleep.”

  “They are old, SEOH. With Komaen himself gone, the rest are more cranky than actually problematic as long as–”

  “I keep them content about the Sphere?” SEOH finished.

  “Exactly.”

  “Let’s go.” SEOH led the way to his private interoffice shuttle that whisked him and Rustaad away at a speed that would blur the eyes, but which the human body hardly felt. Another technological breakthrough thanks to ANASKO’s efforts.

  ANASKO headquarters had been built as an octopus-like structure, with arms spreading from the main building that supported entire divisions and landing pads, the interoffice transport shuttle capable of moving in any direction.

  They stepped out of the shuttle into a circular conference room protected by hyper-glass that only a quad-laser could penetrate. Turbo-projectiles were mounted within the infrastructure of the compound that could be launched within two seconds if the ANASKO defense system picked up an approaching threat that could not be otherwise contained.

  A paranoid man worried about threats.

  A powerful man prepared for an attack.

  Once inside the spacious room, Rustaad marched to a titanium antigravity podium that stood to the side of the massive circular table where he would perform vid relays as SEOH directed him.

  SEOH sauntered to his spot at the table where he stood between AB One, or ANASKO Board member One, and AB Twelve. The seat for AB Seven remained empty, waiting for the board to replace Komaen. The board would make a decision soon, once the four most qualified candidates completed the complex steps of high-level clearance. It’d already been over a year and a half since Komaen met his demise, but one could not rush some traditions.

  Names were not used in meetings to limit any social intrusion on business. SEOH had no choice but to use Komaen’s now after SEOH had awarded a special tribute to show his deepest respect for the man he’d had quietly eliminated. “Good morning, ANASKO Board. I have the quarterly progress report on the newly christened Komaen Sphere that you requested.”

  He nodded at Rustaad who moved his fingers silently at the podium control panel. Individual holo-vid screens appeared immediately in front of each seated board member.

  SEOH continued. “This is a short vid showing the adaptability of the MystiK children in the current trial Sphere.” He waited as several scenes scrolled by with images of happy children living in stylized cabins built from natural sphere materials. Next to the lush setting landscaped with exotic plants and welcoming grass, some of the children splashed in a man-made lake while others played games. All were dressed in simple, but colorful, tunics also made of natural materials that looked as though they were found within the Sphere.

  Well, materials found within one part of the Sphere.

  AB Five lifted his wrinkled gaze to SEOH. “I see only one who could be close to maturity age. Your original report indicated a number of sixteen and seventeen-year-old MystiKs captured.”

  SEOH had no intention of telling this bunch just how many kids, or which ones, he’d captured. The board of twelve only needed enough information to keep them content that the children were safe and happy.

  All eyes lifted to SEOH when he opened his arms, palm out, the expression of an indulgent father on his face. “As many of you pointed out when we first discussed this, the MystiK teens are no different from our own and had to be given the same consideration as our children in this situation. Because certain children are not in view does not mean they’re not within the Sphere. W
hen have we ever been able to control youth when they were out of our sight?”

  Most of the men chuckled agreeably with knowing looks, having dealt with errant teens in their own lives, even if the experience was decades ago and more memory than reality.

  SEOH gave them a smile in commiseration. “We do have Mathias of the Governing House and Callan of the Warrior House. In fact, we even have V’ru of the Records House.”

  That snagged their attention. Approval murmured through the room.

  Capturing V’ru had been an accident, but a providential one since the boy rarely left his family home. V’ru had been near Callan, an unexpected double trophy that SEOH had no problem taking credit for capturing.

  AB Five thumped the table, shoving his frown at SEOH. “But where are Callan, Zilya, V’ru and Mathias? Are they adjusting well or not?”

  Once the room quieted again, SEOH explained in a patient voice he had to dig deep for. “All the children are doing fine, better than fine. Our scouts informed each of the captives that they would only be in the Sphere while the MystiKs and TecKnatis work out our differences for the joint benefits of our children. Mathias and Callan are future leaders of their respective Houses, headstrong teens. I doubt any of you will be surprised to learn that those two took a few of the more adventurous children with them and went exploring. I find that to be a positive sign.”

  “How so?” AB One asked from his left.

  “The Sphere was originally created to test the adaptability of plants and animals,” SEOH said, just getting warmed up for his speech. Discovering life on a planet previously thought of as only a subsidiary moon had been significant and eye-opening. And the timing could not have been better as he’d already envisioned a way to use the fact that life could exist elsewhere as a strong reason to eliminate the MystiK vermin once and for all, without damage to TecKnatis.

  MystiKs should jump at the chance to rule their own planet once he took away their power in this world.

  He could feel the anticipation in the room and launched into his presentation. “When we faced the possibility that the next transfer of MystiK power to the new rulers coming of age might interfere with our HERMES Intraspace plans. . .” He paused for effect, adding, “The greatest program in the history of mankind,” before going on. “The Komaen Sphere offered a second value for our investment by becoming a holding facility for these teens while we negotiate with the MystiKs. Their families must meet us halfway and agree that the only way we will continue to survive and thrive as a civilization is through a joint effort.”

  Wrinkled necks wobbled with heads nodding. Thumps from fisted hands on the table drummed three times around the room, the premier sign of agreement.

  He had them. “The exciting thing about how these children are adapting so quickly and clearly enjoying the Sphere is that first of all they’re secure and content. Number two is that this is a longer-term peaceful option for the MystiKs who do not want to...work with us.”

  AB Five had taken Komaen’s place as SEOH’s most annoying board member. He sat back, fingers tapping silently on the table. “Are you suggesting that all of the MystiKs would consider living in the Sphere? It’s only slightly larger than the ten cities.”

  So AB Five believed.

  “Putting them in the Sphere would be better than what happened to the C’raydonians when they refused to cooperate and threatened the TecKnatis,” AB Four muttered.

  SEOH withheld a smile at the single board member he could always count on. One of the TecKnati children who’d died of asphyxiation on the heels of the first MystiK child Rustaad eliminated had been AB Four’s only son. That board member would enjoy seeing where Callan and Mathias were really living in the Sphere.

  But no one other than SEOH and Rustaad could be privy to all the activities that went on in the Komaen Sphere.

  Rumbling conversation swept around the table until SEOH answered AB Five. “The entire MystiK population would clearly not fit in the Sphere. But if we can’t come to an agreement with them before the MystiKs hand over power to their next generation of leaders, who are consistently showing more abilities and less willingness to work with TecKnatis, we have to accept the possibility of significant technological and scientific destruction at their hands.”

  The room erupted with a clash of opinions, arguing with each other whether this level of power was even possible and, if so, would the MystiKs risk destroying their own world?

  The majority feared MystiKs. Which worked in SEOH’s favor.

  SEOH might not believe the MystiK power to be indefensible, but many of these old bastards had lived during the first effects of the fallout from the K’ryan Syndrome and still shuddered over several unexplained phenomenon that had occurred since then.

  Catching Rustaad’s eye, SEOH nodded, adding fuel to his self-made fire.

  Screams spewed from the vids, drawing silence in the room when every set of eyes watched in horror as the last space launch ended in disaster with flaming metal debris slicing through people racing from the observation stands. TecKnati friends and family were lost that day.

  The downside of living to an old age, as these board members had, was that every one of them had been affected by disasters such as this one.

  And every board member believed the MystiKs had been behind the destruction. SEOH had made sure they believed.

  “Gentlemen,” he said softly this time, addressing them as human beings instead of numbers. “We owe it to the future of this world to stop the insanity. What I’m suggesting is that if the MystiKs refuse to join us in developing and protecting this fragile world we call home, that we protect our future by gifting them with a planet to make their own. We start by taking their next most powerful generation of leaders and sending them to the planetary outpost first.”

  That is, if we don’t manage to eradicate the entire bunch by sending the K-virus back into the past once the inoculations for the chosen few to survive are completed at the Institutes.

  CHAPTER 24

  Where was Rayen? Had they killed her and Gabby by now?

  Tony paced along the groove he’d worn in the hard-packed, green dirt floor of the crappy isolation unit. The hum of energy circulating through the walls taunted him.

  No way out of here. Not alive.

  When the sound stopped all at once, the change was chilling. He moved to the center where he could turn in any direction, prepared for the worst.

  An opening appeared, then a young girl stood there holding a gourd-like flask and a bowl. When she stepped inside, Tony looked past her shoulder until she said, “There are guards outside.”

  “Figures.” He swung his gaze back to her. She might be a little younger than him, but didn’t look like she’d survive more than a day on the streets of Camden where he’d grown up in Jersey. Slender, fine-boned, her hair in strawberry colored cornrows, her tunic some shade of red. She didn’t look too threatening, but you never knew. Sure, he could probably overpower her and figure a way to use her to get past the guards, but that wouldn’t help Gabby or Rayen and right now he was tired of being alone. “What’s your name?”

  “Neelah.” Her voice fluttered when she spoke and gave him the impression she might talk. Which surprised him. It was kind of nice not to be treated like an evil incarnate the way Sparkle Face treated him. Neelah extended the flask and bowl. “Here’s some water and fruit.”

  “Thanks.” No chance to make a run for it, so Tony accepted the food, trying not to act too grateful, even if he was. He took a deep swig of...water? The stuff smelled like perfume and had an oily aftertaste.

  Feeling her eyes on him, he managed to look as though he liked the water. “My friends okay?”

  Her face brightened with interest that found its way into her pleasant tone. “One is still with the healer and the hunting party hasn’t returned.”

  She didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave, so he decided to make a stab at getting information. Plus he liked the sound of her voice. “How old are you?
”

  “Sixteen. How old are you?”

  “Seventeen.” He squatted down to put the bowl on the floor then took another long drink from the flask. Once he got past the weird taste, the water refreshed his raw throat. “What’s with all this House talk? You from the same place as what’s her name? Zilya?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and when she looked at him again her eyes had lost the happy creases. She moved forward, squatting down to his level. “No. She’s of the Governing House, as is Mathias.”

  Neelah said that with a load of disdain.

  Discontent among the natives? That could be useful.

  Wouldn’t Rayen get her panties in a twist if Tony figured out how to get the three of them out of here first?

  He hadn’t found a reason to smile since walking into Suarez’s classroom this morning and getting tied to Rayen, but he beamed one now. All girls liked to be appreciated. He’d learned that about the same time he learned to walk. “What’s so special about Zilya? I mean, can’t be looks ‘cause you’re gorgeous.”

  That hit the mark with Neelah. Her face visibly relaxed and a shy smile touched her lips. “All who come from the Governing House believe they are above the rest of us, even Etoi.”

  “You talkin’ about Zilya’s prune-faced girlfriend?” He lifted a handful of fruit, tasted a piece after deciding that if they wanted to kill him they wouldn’t waste food by lacing it with poison.

  Not when they could use spears to turn him into a human pincushion.

  Neelah nodded, her lips now curling in a sneer. “Etoi is a Rubio level servant. The very highest of rank for her position, but she is still just a servant. Nothing more.”

  “What’s the deal between your group and the tek-nah-tees?”

  “You’re our enemy.”

  “Not me, babe. I’m not one of them. Don’t even know what that is or what you guys are.” Tony had an idea. “Can you write those names on something?”

  She cocked her head at his request then swirled her finger above the ground and the letters carved into the surface even though she never touched the dirt.