{Reipon}
“No. That’s not the case at all.”
Stiffly, the room focused on Andrew, who continued, “This isn’t a popularity contest. This is a revolution. Our sources tell us the people know better than to believe these stories—That Rayne’s a King of War and that Kyle rapes people’s minds. It’s all bullshit. What the people know is that Enki is reacting rather desperately to Korac’s Verse. Now I say this grants the broadcast even more merit. Their response made it more of a threat by admitting the story of one man’s life endangers the hegemony of an empire.”
Andrew read that word in a book once. It seemed enough to impress their people. Korac squeezed Sagan’s shoulder, and she reached for his hand affectionately. Her face was open with pride and warmth. Korac’s eyes smoldered with intensity in a way that Andrew didn’t want to appreciate so much.
Her intentions.
I know we can find a way through this.
His intentions.
Under fire. Fugitives. It doesn’t matter. Once we complete Phase II, I’m asking Sagan.
Pehton looked less convinced, lost, and a little hopeless, but Lyriki intentions proved impervious to his scans.
Twenty-One stood and pounded a fist to his chest.
Conscience is right. This is the best course for the Shadow.
The depth in Bones’ complexion returned as he mimicked the gesture.
If one of the Progeny with a bounty on their heads can muster up this much resolve, then Elden, dammit, so can I.
Ross and Jack beamed at each other. Their heads filled with thoughts of Enki, of all places, and made the least sense of anyone in the room.
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Jack’s right! Enki is the key.
All we need is to take the Dyson’s Sphere. I can’t wait to tell Xelan. Ross looks cute in those shorts.
Moving on.
Kyle put the joint he was leaving the room to smoke back behind his ear and leaned into the frame, nodding to the vibe.
This is exactly what they needed to hear, but how can we manage this? And if Jack looks in Ross’ direction one more time…
Devis shrugged, folded his arms, and muttered, “The Shadow are all crazy. Surrounded by omens and alerts, and you give brave speeches. Brave and annoyingly infectious speeches. I am in.” Did the First Wave Progeny always speak what was on his mind?
Iuo blinked his black and blue eyes, widened with an epiphany. “Not crazy.” He went to work on the implant in his palm.
Sagan frowned at his frenzy. “What’re you doing?”
“I’m sending an official response from my rank and station that each of you is on a separate planet. Sightings of you all around the Vast Collective—”
Andrew liked this idea. “Send them running in circles!”
Korac countered, “More than that. The official channel will spark contradicting sighting reports to compete with Iuo’s missive.”
Jack’s mouth fell open. “All two hundred-plus princeps will receive notice. Collective-wide notice.”
“They’ll never find us.” Pehton’s grin returned.
Andrew had retreated from their smiling faces and celebration an hour ago. He was happy he restored the jovial atmosphere, but it took too much out of him to watch them function like normal people while he barely held together which life he led. Even with the wealth of optimism and mutual respect in their intentions, how could he trust anyone without knowing which Probability the Progeny faced.
Up in his bedroom, Andrew stared out over the gardens in a house that didn’t exist. There was no road to here. No utility. Everything was self-contained. All things served a purpose. Those flowers were medicinal specimens Xelan collected all across the galaxy. The statuary harnessed wind energy. Organic materials from the ocean provided matter for the replicator to convert into food ingredients. And the nacre glass walls and roof gathered solar energy from the dual sun system.
But Andrew needed to see ahead of everything to feel secure. All this techno-luxury wasn’t enough. Pablo agreed to help with the Probability dive, but only if Xelan agreed to monitor it.
Okay. Fair.
The next time Xelan emerged from his suites, Andrew was all about asking. But if Xelan said ‘no,’ Andrew would try without Pablo’s help, and pray that he revived himself somehow.
He needed to see.
One way or the other, after the Phase II meeting, Andrew would die to see tomorrow.