by E. P. Wyck
“Nothing, you were right. My mother and I have some things going on right now. Not exactly speaking much,” Kali explained.
“You’re not getting out of it that easy. What did you mean?” Ryn said.
“Not here,” Kali said and darted her eyes towards the guards.
“Fair enough,” Ryn said.
“Did I miss something?” Lia asked.
“Nope,” Kali said walking toward the lift.
They made their way back to the office. Once inside Lia said, “I know something is up between you two. Spill it.”
“You got this, Kali?” Ryn asked.
“Yeah. So, you know my mother, the Triumvir?” Kali paused to let Lia acknowledge her question. “Well, you see we’re not exactly on the best terms.”
“Why not?”
“Do you know what happened to my father?”
“Other than he died, no,” Lia said
“Instead of calling for help or keeping him inside she just let him fly out of our house and get murdered. I can’t forgive her. I’ve tried,” Kali explained.
“Oh. So being in there must have been hard for you,” Lia said.
“Exactly,” Kali said.
Kali walked to Ryn’s office and took a seat. “Lia, will you give us a minute. I need to go over Kali’s travel arrangements with her,” Ryn said.
“Ok. I’ll tell others we got our funding and they need to pack!” Lia said with some excitement.
“Sounds good, Lia,” Ryn said before walking into his office and closing the door. “Out with it,” Ryn said to Kali.
“Kyneska is the problem, not my mother. Despite being partially true what I told Lia, I can trust my mother with my wellbeing.”
“What about Triumvir Kyneska?”
“She is behind the whole gendercide. I heard it from one of the attackers. On my father’s life I promise it is true.”
“I believe that you heard what you say you heard, but I don’t believe that it is her.”
“Why can’t you wrap your head around it?”
“It doesn’t make sense. Why would someone newly appointed to a brand new all-powerful position jeopardize that by inciting a fanatical movement?”
“When you put it like that…” Kali paused, thinking about his logic.
“You get my point then?” Ryn asked.
“I see your point, but I feel it is her. It is like every time I see her she smirks at me. I just want to rip her face off!”
“That escalated quickly.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I understand. I feel the same way about who did that to Keon.”
“What happened to him anyway?”
“I am not sure, other than Lia said he was killed by gendercide fanatics.”
“I bet it is in the news somewhere. Let’s look it up.”
Ryn activated the hologram for the primary display in the room. He opened a news feed and searched for Keon’s name. “Here it is,” Ryn said, pulling up the story.
The story said:
Authorities found a Cherubim early this morning. His severely beaten body dropped on the steps of the Capitol Building. A sign around his neck that said, “It is about more than male Seraphim. The future is Female.”
Investigators believe the sign infers that the gendercide will spread to other classes and warn males of any class to travel in groups or refrain from leaving their homes.
“I can’t read anymore,” Ryn said.
“What do you think they mean by ‘It’s about more than male Seraphim?’” Kali asked.
“I mean, I still haven’t processed Keon is dead. My trusted mentee is dead. What do I do? I callously continue working in a selfish attempt to get off this planet before I end up dead. What kind of person does that?” Ryn asked.
“I’d do the same thing,” Kali said.
“You’re not like me, though.”
“Nope, but that doesn’t change the fact that I want to survive,” Kali said.
“You have the little healing things. What did you call them?”
“Nanites.”
“Yeah, you have nanites to keep you alive,” Ryn said.
“They don’t keep me alive. They fix me. What happens if they can’t fix what happens to me?”
“Fair point. I don’t know, though. Why can’t we get these?”
“These are a prototype. I said I had a friend. You should know, I don’t have friends.”
“You stole that tech?” Ryn asked.
“I wouldn’t say stole. They don’t know I have it. They still have their original. I took some, the originals reproduced so it looks like none are missing. I put what I took into a syringe and injected it into me.”
“Brilliant!”
“Not exactly. They spread through me like wildfire. I thought I was going to die. I was helpless for probably three or four minutes flailing in agony. If somebody would have walked in or seen me I’d be in jail for sure,” she explained.
“What happened?”
“After a few minutes the pain subsided, and I got out of there. I didn’t know if it’d worked. So, I did what every rational person would do. I shot my own foot.”
“I don’t think that is what I’d do and I am pretty rational.”
“Maybe you’re right but still. I shot my foot, and after getting over the pain, I could see the wound heal before my eyes. I was amazed.”
“You can say that again. I am pretty shocked still from seeing you rise from the dead.”
“Let’s just say I got these right when I needed them. A few hours later during an attack on a gendercide hideout, they got the upper hand. A Seraphim walked in while I was doing my thing and stabbed me in the back. I lost focus, and they started letting me have it.”
“Looks like it worked out for you, though, because here you are,” Ryn said.
“I managed to kill one of them and then flew out when I had a chance. They won’t chase me out in the open. Makes them too exposed.”
“That’s good to know.”
“So how long is this trip going to be?” Kali asked.
“I am glad you asked. I need to tell you something. If our calculations are correct, the time for the black hole to devolve will be centuries,” Ryn said.
“Centuries? Chances are the gendercide will be over by then. I won’t have an opportunity to take her down!” Kali said with agitation.
“It isn’t that simple. We will be in a compressed state of time. For us, only a few weeks or months will pass.”
“So we go off on a quick experiment and then return hundreds of years later?”
“Exactly.”
“What could go wrong?” Kali asked.
“Well, the black hole could revert to a star instead of devolving to a massive core. That would cause vast expansion which would overtake our positions, and we’d all die fiery deaths. Or it could implode creating a massive shockwave pulverizing us into mush," Ryn explained.
“That was a rhetorical question,” Kali said.
“Oops,” Ryn laughed.
“So it looks like we are going to space to come back in the future,” Kali said.
_ _ _
Day after day, Ryn, and his team continued to prepare for the expedition to starve a black hole. They ordered supplies, food, and other equipment. They filled their large research center and started using a warehouse further out in the city.
“Ryn, the warehouse is full, and we have a shipment arriving this afternoon. They want to know where to put it,” Kali told Ryn. During the recent weeks, she has assisted the team assuming the role of receiving and inventorying their orders.
“Let me get back to them. I should ask the TriMax for more funding to reserve another space,” Ryn said.
“Do you want me to call my mother for you?” Kali asked.
“I can’t ask you to do that. I know what your relationship with her is like.”
“I’d just call and let you do all the talking.”
“I think that’s
sort of circumventing official channels,” Ryn said.
“I know, but it’s been so long since I broke a rule!” Kali teased.
“We really need that space. Let’s do it,” Ryn said walking into his office. Kali followed him.
She placed her communication device on his desk to use the room’s holocom before calling.
“Kali? What is it? Are you ok?” Triumvir Genevieve asked.
“I am fine. I need you to talk to Ryn,” Kali said.
“Are you kidding me?” The Triumvir asked.
“Well, it’s not like I just call and say hi,” Kali told her.
“That’s why I was concerned. You never call. I thought something was wrong. Tell him to submit his request via the official channels like I know he knows to do,” Triumvir Genevieve said.
“Wait, don’t hang up. It was my idea. I am trying to be useful. You told me to contribute, so I am. Hear him out. He needs to get something done quickly. I know you can help him,” Kali pleaded.
“Fine. Ryn what do you need?”
“Triumvir, thank you for accepting our call. I need to secure funding for another warehouse to store supplies for our upcoming trip. We shouldn’t need the space more than a month. Maybe a month and a half tops,” Ryn said.
“Don’t you already have funding?” Triumvir Genevieve asked.
“We do. However, we paid for the gravitational projectors and have not received them yet. I don’t think we’d need the funding if those were already in orbit. We could start sending other supplies to be stored in the cargo haulers,” Ryn explained.
“I’ll see what I can do to get you some funding. Your project requires all three Triumvirs to approve. I cannot allocate funding myself on this,” Triumvir Genevieve said.
“Thank you, Triumvir. That will be most helpful,” Ryn said, and Triumvir Genevieve ended the call.
“That went better than expected,” Kali said.
“If you say so. I am almost certain my reputation just took a hit.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I know I am not supposed to just call the Triumvirs. I submit a request from my office to theirs. Given my position, my requests often take precedence over other requests. That does not give me the latitude to do what I want.”
“Let me guess, the rules apply to everyone.”
“Yes, yes they do. Even you.”
“What would I do without you to remind me Ryn,” Kali said.
“You’d probably end up using those nanites of yours a lot more. I think one death and resurrection is enough for you, don’t you agree?”
“Maybe. It was rather fun surprising them like that. I thought the shock would kill her.”
Chapter 12
Genevieve walked out of her office and down the corridor to the Triumvir’s conference center. She’d messaged Attor and Kyneska to join her to talk about Ryn’s request.
“Kyneska, thanks for coming,” Genevieve said.
“Attor said he’d be here in a minute or two.”
“Sounds good. I was wondering did you hear anything about the gravitational projectors they ordered?”
“I haven’t looked into it. When I submitted the order, they said they were backlogged with other orders. So many corporations are trying to get ships built with gravity projectors to maintain standard gravity while in space,” Kyneska explained.
Attor walked in and said, “I hope you didn’t start without me.”
“No,” Kyneska said, “Eve just asked if I’d heard anything about the gravity projectors.”
“So what’s this about more funding for the SPEAR excursion?” Attor asked.
“They expected to have the projectors in orbit by now. If that were the case, they could load cargo into the transport ships. However, that isn’t the case and they need to put more supplies in storage. They’re requesting funding for a warehouse,” Eve explained.
“I don’t see why not,” Attor said.
“They’re already over budget Attor. I think it’d be prudent to pressure the company making the projectors.” Kyneska protested.
“Why? It isn’t like we’re hurting for funding right now. The gendercide is a funding boom. All of the nations are sending in record tribute amounts for protection,” Attor said.
“So? We should use that money for defense, not exploring space,” Kyneska said.
“You know this project is important to me. The cost of the storage space is a drop in the bucket in comparison,” Attor said.
“Then you pay for it. Use your own metal and stop wasting funding we should use for other things,” Kyneska said.
“Eve, would you give us the room for a moment?” Attor asked.
“Certainly,” Eve said. She walked out and waited by the door. Attor closed the door.
The room completely sealed and became sound proof when Attor turned up the privacy settings to prevent anyone from hearing. “She can’t hear us now. I know you don’t believe it is possible but I think we can manipulate time. We’d be unstoppable.”
“Eve’s obnoxious daughter has brought a lot of heat on us. I think people are suspicious of us. Our relationship is forbidden. We can’t let anybody know.”
“Why even bring this up right now?”
“Because I am worried. You said it’d be a good idea. I believed you, but I am having second thoughts. Before Eve stuck her on this SPEAR team, Kali was making real strides to learning the identity of Ms. Black.”
“Don’t worry about it. Nobody knows that’s you. We take all of the precautions we can, and we always use disposable coms.”
“I hope you’re right. I am enjoying this position, and I’d really hate to find myself without a head one morning.”
Attor snickered and said, “I think I’d be the one finding you without a head. Don’t worry, if that happened, I’d kill them all. Every. Last. One.”
“If you did that you’d have nobody to rule, though.”
“What is there to rule without you by my side?”
Kyneska grabbed his hand and squeezed, “You’re sweet, but I don’t think we should approve the funding.”
“Let me down easy, huh?” Attor cupped her hand in his and said, “How about you compromise and approve half the amount they’re requesting?”
“What good would that do?”
“It’ll make them improvise. We can see how good they really are. Besides, it’ll make it look like this isn’t something we agree on. We decided too speedily when they came in the Hall and proposed their experiment.”
“I supposed that’ll work. I have to confess; if she weren't waiting out there, this table wouldn’t keep me from you.”
“Soon, Kyneska, soon,” Attor promised. He kissed her hand before releasing it. He returned the privacy settings to default and let Eve in.
“So what is the verdict?” Eve asked.
“I agree to fund half of what they’re requesting, and I’ll apply some pressure to the corporation,” Kyneska said.
“Do you agree to these terms?” Attor asked Eve.
“I do. That should let them store their supplies and get off the ground sooner. Good plan,” Eve said.
“Thanks,” Kyneska said. She stood and walked out of the room.
Eve turned to follow, but Attor said, “Eve, a word?”
“What do you need?”
“Do you think anybody thinks,” He paused before finishing that sentence and continued, “Never mind, it is nothing. Sorry to bother you.”
“Ok, are you sure?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about it,” he insisted.
“Attor, if you think you need to say something, please say it. We have to be honest with each other if we want this Triumvirate to work.”
“Oh, it’s not that. Something else entirely. Don’t worry, really,” he insisted again.
“If you insist, but I don’t like keeping secrets,” Eve said.
“No secrets here. I promise,” Attor said.
“Ok, well I need to inform
Ryn about our decision,” Eve said.
“Why not send it through the office like always?” Attor asked.
“Because they’re supposed to get a shipment in a few hours and have no place to put it.”
“I suppose I’d make the exception too in that case.”
“Have a good day, Attor,” Eve said turning and walking toward her office.
She entered her office and placed a holocall to Ryn’s department. “Triumvir, what a pleasure. How may I help you?”
“I need to speak with Ryn, please,” Eve said.
“Of course, Triumvir. I’ll transfer you to his personal coms. Please hold.” The screen switched to a hold screen.
Another moment later Ryn’s visage showed on the holoprojector, and he said, “Triumvir, thank you for calling. I hope you have good news for our dilemma.”
“Maybe not good news but I have news.”
“I don’t like the sound of that, but please continue, Triumvir.”
“The Triumvirate has agreed to fund half of your request. In addition, we will apply some bureaucratic pressure on the company making your projectors.”
“I appreciate that the Triumvirate has agreed to fund our storage needs. I requested the full amount so we would not need to piecemeal fund the project moving forward. I know your time is valuable and sending requests every few days may be bothersome, Triumvir.”
“Ryn, although you’re very tactful I can see you’re disappointed. Understand that with the shifting climate surrounding the gendercide, it is best you’re off this planet as soon as possible. Trust me, I want nothing more than to see this expedition leave for the safety of your crew and my daughter,” Eve explained.
Ryn’s expression changed. The tense expression changed almost to gratitude, “Thank you for your assistance with this, Triumvir. I’ll make the necessary arrangements. Is there anything else?”
“No, thank you, Ryn.” Eve disconnected the call.
Chapter 13
“It is all coming together,” Ryn said going over the various checklists for their upcoming mission. “Did you count the extra life suits, Lia?”
Lia responded, “I’ve checked three times today. We have exactly two per crew and a reserve for every air lock. We’ll be fine.”
“I don’t want anything overlooked. It may not seem like it, but all of your lives are in my hands. I can’t stand to lose another, especially after Keon.”