Eyre led Allison to a non-descript looking sky car and motioned to the drivers seat.
“Would you like to drive?”
Allison shook her head.
“I’m not licensed to drive, just fly military craft.”
“Go ahead, give it a try. It’s not that different from flying a shuttle. I’ll make sure you don’t do anything illegal.”
Allison got inside and recognized most of the controls. It really wasn’t that different from flying a shuttle, just smaller and planet bound.
“So… do I have to call New Amazon control or something?”
Eyre laughed and shook her head.
“No, dear, just stay in your lane as it shows you there on the HUD. Transition to lower altitude when it tells you. It is really simple.”
Allison lifted off and moved into a lane of traffic. She followed the HUD to the letter and soon they found themselves at street level and parked. They got out. Allison was overwhelmed, there were so many people. More than she’d ever seen in one spot.
Eyre put her hands in her hoodie pockets and started walking down the sidewalk. Allison rushed to catch up. New Amazon was different than Eden Prime. It was dirty, it was lived in. There was garbage piled up. Almost everyone had cybernetics. This was the nicer part of the shopping district, and it was filthy. It smelled. It was the complete opposite of Eden Prime’s manicured lawns, pristine white sidewalks and pristine roads. There were no trees anywhere, no greenery. Just concrete, glass and steel. Eyre spoke as they walked.
“This must be very different for you.”
Allison nodded.
“It’s so closed in; Everything is so close together. How do people live like this?”
Eyre shrugged.
“They adapted. Some prefer this. The only danger here is from other people. On a strange colony world? Who knows what is out there in the darkness? It’s never dark here. It is always warm enough to survive. Even starvation is hard to accomplish with all the supports in place. It’s half of the reason we haven’t fixed the Grey. They don’t want us too. They say no, spend the money on dome maintenance. They like living like this.”
Allison looked over at Eyre. They were almost the same height.
“What is the other reason?”
Eyre looked up at the hologram that covered the dome interior in a realistic hologram of a sunny day.
“Do you know why the Silwrath didn’t managed to defeat the Synthiln completely?”
Allison nodded.
“Temporal shields. Bit told me all about them. They were developed so some of the Synthlin could survive and fight back.”
Eyre smiled.
“You know your mother was someone who knew a lot about Synthlin tech. Well, she helped Aunt Maria develop temporal shields. They’ve been included in every single large space craft and dome we’ve ever built. We didn’t have the ability to project one over an entire planet until recently. That’s why we’ve been able to expand out into the stars.”
Allison gasped.
“So, you keep the domes… I understand. Why didn’t you tell Mitena this?”
Eyre waved her hand dismissively.
“She won’t listen. We could have fixed the Grey at any point, though I’d never considered changing the alignment of the nanites. That would give us our immune system and the sun back. The thing is, thawing the planet out isn’t an easy fix. It could damage the domes. And there are massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons stored under this ice that are unstable at best. Not to mention the bodies, the organic matter that will rot. It is a logistical nightmare and expensive. These domes are money making machines for the corps. It keeps people nearby, it is a capitalist dream and our entire society is based on capitalism.”
Allison looked around at the flashy neon and holographic signage.
“They must hate the colonies, we can grow our own food, make our own goods.”
Eyre nodded.
“And there is the rub. Our policies have caused overpopulation, we need to expand, and domes take too long to build. The corps and the board are in a real pickle. What? People can survive without our corporately generated meat? They can grow a bigger crop in a season then we can do in two years? In the last decade food prices have dropped by half. Geniwheat has lost a quarter of their stock value this year alone. RealMeat has had to sell their domes and outsource production to the colonies. We’re heading for a reckoning.”
Allison looked up at the Aurelius Corp sign on the tallest building in downtown.
“What about Aurelius?”
Eyre shrugged.
“Well, we’re the main bank, we’ve had some losses as loans have gone unpaid, but our manufacturing has increased tenfold. We’ve started building another manufacturing station in the asteroid belt to keep up with prefab demand. My board was very annoyed when I pushed for reusable antigravs and thrustors for prefab deployment, but the rentals are bringing in more than the sales ever did. Also, more colonies mean more defense batteries, warships, planetary shields and more fighters. That means more fusion and antimatter generators which are our primary product. Colonies were always going to be big business for us. Mom told me to invest in technology for them, and she was right. We can’t even keep up. We’ve had to contract work to smaller fabrication corporations.”
Allison listened to Eyre, completely enthralled. Eyre continued.
“Corporations like BMC are also doing very well. Colonists are less inclined for cybernetic enhancements. So organic ones have increased in popularity. Also every new H class world we run into is a whole new xeno-ecosystem to find and develop new medications from. New virus’s and bacteria they need to account for and develop cures for. And GeneTech is always busy adapting human crops to alien ecosystems. Adapting alien crops to human ecosystems. Sauroid prime has a type of grain that actually cures and keeps Dome rot at bay. It’s always been a problem. It was expensive to manufacture the enzyme to combat it. Now we just add it to the bread supply. I believe that grain is one of your colony’s main exports.”
Allison nodded.
“I know it is called d-weed but I didn’t know it was from Sauroid prime. There are four corporate farms on the equator that grow it. It’s turquoise, isn’t it?
Eyre nodded.
“Oh, you said your family has close ties to BMC?”
Eyre smiled and nodded.
“Well, I need something made… it’s a very specific organic compound. Going to need quite a bit of it. I uh, well there is no way I can pay for it myself at cost. It would take research and then… well could you make a call?”
Eyre stopped and pulled Allison to the side.
“Sure, show me what you have.”
Allison tapped her wrist where her holo-phone would usually reside and blushed.
“I uh, don’t have my holo-phone.”
Eyre looked around and saw the store she was looking for.
“Come on, lets fix that.”
She pulled Allison into an Aurelius corp store. The girl behind the counter had quite a bit of chrome. It appeared that it was more for style than function. She looked over the pair with a bit of disdain especially when she saw Allison’s ever present Dark Mother pendant. She looked rather bored. She’d shaved the sides of her head and what would be a pink mohawk was hanging over her left ear.
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“What do you two want? And no, we’re not interested in donating to your church.”
Eyre raised an eyebrow. Allison went to speak, but Eyre motioned for her to stop.
“She needs a A-92-Ultra holo-phone, a T78-Ultra translator and a set of U60-Ultra contacts.”
Eyre looked at Allison.
“Would you like them with the color changing feature?”
Allison blinked a bit.
“Wait, they can do that?”
Eyre nodded.
“Yes, dear, the military ones are pretty bare bones. System’s Alliance is cheap at best.”
The girl behind the counter was scratching behind her one organic ear.
“Uh, those are really expensive. I’ll need you to pre-pay.”
Eyre nodded and pulled a black credit chit out of her pocket.
“If you skip the upsell and the five-hour set up the extra is yours.”
The cybered-up goth girl picked up the chit and checked it against a tablet.
“Uh, well there is enough but there’s no name on this, we can’t really take… uh black credits here. Corporate policy. And SA law.”
The girl offered it back to Eyre who smiled and slipped it into her pocket.
“Good call. Ring us up please.”
The girl rolled her eyes, expecting this to be declined but did it anyway, it was a good two thousand commission on the purchase. Even if she was giving up five thousand on the offered bribe. She slid her tablet across the counter. Eyre looked over the cost and swept her hand over the tablet. The girl behind the counter nodded as the payment cleared then looked to the name so she could use it. Her eyes went wide, and she looked like she was going to pass out.
“I am so sorry, Mrs. Aurelius, I didn’t recognize you. Is there anything else we can get you?”
Eyre shook her head.
“No, just my purchases thank you, and please seem more excited about your job in the future, I know its retail, but we pay you well enough to at least look like you want to be here.”
The girl nodded and went to find her manager who verified the payment, saw the name and started rushing just a little bit faster to make sure he delivered them himself.
“Mrs. Aurelius it’s such an honor to meet you. If Anika in anyway upset you I will be happy to walk her out right now.”
Eyre shook her head.
“No, its fine, she was fine.”
Eyre slid the containers over to Allison and glanced at her.
“Go ahead, put them on, I’m sure Ezekiel can get them activated for you very quickly.”
He nodded and rushed through several screens on the tablet. Then finally came to one last screen. He hesitated.
“Uh, Mrs. Aurelius who will the monthly bill for Alliance-net access be going too?”
Eyre held up one finger and made a call. A few minutes later she flicked something from her AR HUD at the tablet Ezekiel was holding. She spoke.
“Just deduct it from that account monthly, please. Thank you.”
Allison had finished equipping everything. The holo-phone was thinner and lighter than her military one. The AR HUD the contacts was projecting was much crisper than her military contacts. She quickly logged into her personal account and data started to transfer into the holo-phone. She blinked a few times then looked at Eyre.
“How much did all this cost?”
Eyre waved her hand dismissively.
“Not that much. Now send me this organic compound data.”
Allison flicked the data towards Eyre who accepted the bundle and started going through it. Eyre led Allison to a store that was filled with all manner of fancy dresses. Eyre opened the door and motioned for Allison to go inside. As they entered Eyre’s appearance changed back to her natural one.
“Why are we here?”
Eyre smiled.
“The Gala you’re attending in four days of course.”
Allison felt some of the material. With her AR HUD active she noticed prices flashing over each dress. The dresses here were more than she’d make in a year at her job in the military. Allison snapped her hand back and started shaking her head.
“Oh, I really can’t afford one of these. I really can’t and I’m going as a member of the military I need to wear my uniform.”
Eyre shook her head.
“No, you’re going because the Silwrath Fleet Admiral invited you directly through Aunt Maria. You’re going as you, Allison Wanjala. Also, I’m paying, so go, pick something.”
A lady came out. She’d been around the block a bit. One look at Allison and Eyre’s wrists told her exactly how deep the credit chit was with the pair. She appeared in her mid-twenties but that could mean anything on Earth with cybernetics and advanced cosmetic surgical techniques. She approached the pair.
“How may I help you two? Is this a sister’s shopping trip?”
Allison laughed.
“No, she’s not my sister. Just a friend of my parents. I… uh…”
Allison looked at Eyre who motioned for Allison to continue. Allison rubbed the back of her neck and bit her lower lip.
“I am going to a diplomatic gala to receive an award and I need something to wear.”
The woman smiled.
“And… there is a special boy or girl that is going to be there?”
Allison continued biting her lower lip and nodded as her cheeks became flush. She felt her ears burning. The woman nodded.
“Well then, let’s get you the whole outfit.”
The woman glanced at Eyre who pointed to a holo-screen that was playing through a list of high-profile clients wearing dresses made by this designer. It showed a picture of Eyre at a holo-movie opening wearing one of their dresses. The woman’s eyes went wide, and she looked back at Allison and continued.
“Clutch, shoes, maybe some matching jewelry and a dress that make you the envy of every other woman there. This is going to be hard, but fun. You have a lot to work with. Come on let’s go make you into a princess.”
Eyre waved to Allison and started making her promised call. It took Allison a good two hours to decide on a dress. It was a lightish shade of blue that complimented her golden eyes. A gold clutch, a pair of beautiful golden high-heeled shoes and a jewelry set with sapphires and diamonds. The whole ensemble was worth half a million credits. When it came time to pay Eyre just swept her hand over like it was nothing. They arranged for everything to be sent to Allison’s new apartment. They left and Eyre looked over at the massive Aurelius building.
“Well, I have good news, and bad news. The good news is, BMC can make your organic compound. The bad news is the price. Research, then manufacturing, a single run in the amount you require built into a specific food? She gave me the friends and family discount and it’s still in the ballpark of seven hundred million credits. The kind of money I cannot just spend.”
Allison coughed on the drink of water she’d just taken.
“Seven hundred million credits?”
Eyre nodded.
“And living blood and cellular samples of whatever you’re planning on feeding it too. They need to test and make sure the compound is working right.”
Allison sighed and shrugged.
“Oh well, I figured I’d ask. Guess there’s no way to do it. The samples are easy but who has seven hundred million credits laying around.”
Eyre chuckled.
“You do. Well, I mean your trust fund does. Your parents left you a sizable amount of money. Accessing it before your fiftieth birthday is a whole other story, but since it’s a trust fund with Aurelius corp, you can request an Aurelius supplied trustee to manage your access in the case of costs the trustee deems appropriate. So, what exactly do you need an alien enzyme built into an alien food product for anyway?”
Allison blushed.
“Wait, what… how much is in my trust fund?”
Eyre shrugged.
“Hard to say, with interest? Suffice it to say once you get full access to it you will never have to work again, ever, in your life, and you could buy entire planets.”
“Look this is pretty unbelievable. I’m some mystery heiress no one knows exists? Money like that just doesn’t exist in a black hole, right? There are taxes and…”
Eyre was already walking to Aurelius corp. When she responded.
“Well unless it’s the kind of money that was already taxed. Look, there is no inheritance tax in the System’s Alliance, so it’s all yours. The interest will be taxed once you turn twenty-one, but Aurelius will take care of that, like we do for all our clients. Since we founded the System’s Alliance, we got some loopholes put in. Accounts are confidential. The taxes are paid for numbered accounts. Good point is, the account and interest don’t increase your gross income for taxation purposes, the bad part is… well, you can’t get deductions. Just… I can’t really tell you more about your parents because well, this is what they wanted, likely they were keeping you in the dark until you were fifty so you could have a normal life. Stay anonymous and marry for love of whatever. Now, why do you need this stuff?”
Allison sighed.
“It’s silly for that much. No way my biological parents would want me wasting it.”
Eyre shrugged. They were now in the ornate marble entryway of the Aurelius Corp New Amazon HQ and bank.
“Just tell me. I’ll make the decision for you as the legal guardian of your money.”
Allison found a video of her playing with Oozie and shared it with Eyre who smiled.
“So, it’s for your pet… alien?”
Allison shrugged.
“Look, she’s sixty years old and she’ll die by eighty unless she gets this enzyme. It’s like a trigger to their next growth stage. Once they get it, they get a little bit bigger, a lot stronger and can live for thousands of years. I just… well I don’t want her to die. She’s I don’t know, she’s special. These Nargles, they used to be bodyguards to the Qual’sa queens. My friend Aryna says Oozie is special, more intelligent, more powerful psionically. She’s the last of her kind. I just… I want to save her. She’s bonded with me now and she trusts me, protects me. I want to protect her.”
Eyre nodded.
“So, she would function as your bodyguard. A protector?”
Allison nodded.
“See, your mothers, would support that wholeheartedly. So, let’s go inside, we’ll transfer control of your trust to me, from whomever we have running it, and we’ll get BMC working on it.”
Eyre waved her hand over a panel. It flashed allowing her in. Allison tried to do the same, but it failed. A security guard rushed over with his hand on his stunner. He was focused on Allison and missed who was standing beside her.
“I’m sorry ma’am you’re not authorized for entry, I’m going to have to ask you to leave the premises.”
Eyre cleared her throat. The security guard stayed focused on Allison who froze unsure of what to do. A woman in a business suit rushed out and grabbed the security guard’s arm.
“Hammer, stop.”
He didn’t look like he was going to back down. He gently moved the woman back behind him.
“Ms. Taskill, please call for back up.”
The woman referred to as Ms. Taskill tried again. Eyre cleared her throat.
“She is my guest.”
Hammer kept focused on Allison.
“She’s got no Ident chit! She’s a dreg.”
Eyre was getting impatient. Before anyone could blink the security guard was on the ground, disarmed and trying to figure out who handcuffed him. Eyre sighed and motioned Allison inside.
“Come on.”
Eyre looked at Ms. Taskill and offered her the security guard’s weapons.
“Elanor, fire this man and have him escorted off the premises he’s a bit too quick resort to violence to work here.”
Ms. Taskill nodded and took them.
“Yes ma’am, right away ma’am.”
Eyre got on an elevator, swept her hand over the panel and pressed the button for the top floor. As they rode it upwards, she looked at Allison.
“I’m sorry about that. I don’t get here as often as I used to, people don’t know who I am on sight.”
Allison shrugged and looked at her hand.
“My Ident chit should be working right?”
Eyre shrugged.
“Who knows that thing you did disrupted a lot of things, you were closer than most maybe it did it in, we’ll look at getting it replaced. We’ll discuss it later, when we get home.”
Allison took a few seconds to understand what Eyre was getting at, then nodded. Once they reached the floor Eyre walked straight to the far end, walked past a secretary who was filing her nails and into an office with Allison in tow. She didn’t even wait to see who was there.
“Bob, I need to transfer a trust ASAP. Get me someone good.”