Dual Domains, page 22
However, Opal knew that she remained a sister abiding by the tasks assigned her. When she finished her program overhaul, she was no longer the dutiful sister. She’d become a conclave supporter.
Julien and his companions took the long route through the gardens to circle the building. It marked their disdain for the elders’ doubts about them.
When Julien’s contingent left the gardens and rounded the assembly building, they found their traveler floating beside a transport’s conveyor.
Biologicals chuckled and SADEs loosed various noises at Opal’s clever placement of the ship where there had been no place to land.
Julien and his contingent rode the conveyor upward toward the transport level. Midway, they stepped across the low barrier and onto the traveler’s hatch steps.
The Omnians exchanged glances. They recognized a convert when they heard one.
16: Empire’s Bounds
VIVIAN’S REFLECTION
DEEP IN UNKNOWN SPACE
“This is harder than I thought,” Lisa complained.
Samuel sympathized with Lisa. “Perhaps, it’s the teacher and not the student,” he offered.
“Doubtful,” Lisa replied. She took a few calming breaths. Samuel’s instructions had been clear, but she didn’t think they were entirely necessary. This time, she intended to precisely follow them. Seated cross-legged on her bed, Lisa closed her eyes and visualized Samuel.
Bethley grinned at her companions.
Killian thought of the records recovered from the Rêveur that had been transferred to the city-ship before they ended aboard the newly commissioned Freedom. Buried deep in the data were the recordings of Renée and Julien as they moderated Alex Racine’s first moments with an implant.
In minutes, Alex discovered how to lock out others from his implant, and his action had frightened Renée. When Alex allowed access, his audience realized how quickly he’d adopted his implant.
Still, no one was ready for the speed and the depth to which Alex learned to manipulate his dual implants. To this day, SADEs recalled the time when it was necessary to save the ship by operating on two safeties at once.
Alex sent two crew members to separate points within the ship. Coordinated action to release dual safeties was critical, and Alex used his extraordinary capabilities to simultaneously trigger the men’s reflexes.
Killian was correct about Lisa. She worked steadily with Samuel after that first successful moment before the SADE applied an inducer to allow Lisa some restful sleep.
At first, Lisa had objected to quitting, but her headache grew, and she relented.
The following morning, Samuel removed the inducer, and Lisa slept for another four hours.
While Lisa learned her implant’s chronometer app, she used the small refresher. Then she dressed. When she reached for her slate, which had been a habit for decades, she hesitated. Recognizing that it was of little value aboard the scout ship, she left it where it lay, and made for the little galley.
As the cycles passed, Lisa’s implant abilities grew. They weren’t the active processes that it would take much longer to cultivate, but she was adept at the passive ones.
In fact, Lisa became a useful commentator for the scouts’ vid efforts. Killian, Bethley, and Trium had created vids that they hoped to release on Naiad when the time was right, and they were working on a fifth presentation.
Lisa spent her time reviewing the vids and giving the scouts feedback.
As Samuel had already viewed the scouts’ works, Lisa and he argued the finer points of each vid, often improving their comments to the scouts.
Near the journey’s end, Lisa stood behind the scouts on the bridge, and she linked to them.
Killian triggered a seat that extended from the rear bulkhead.
Adding her minder to the conference, Lisa sent,
The five whiled away hours, while Lisa and Samuel proposed new concepts for vids. They only stopped for Lisa to eat.
On the bridge, the scouts held their own discussion.
Killian sent.
Bethley sent.
Before the discussion about partnerships could be had, the Vivian’s Reflection exited tens of millions of kilometers outside the system identified by QASAP ship two-nine-one.
Trium activated the hull’s reflective coating and reviewed initial telemetry.
Using Trium’s trajectories, the scout ship hid from the target planet. They waited there until the grav engines were recharged. Then the ship slid over the gas giant’s horizon and halted.
Cycles later, telemetry was adequate for general identification.
The SADEs laughed politely.
Samuel replied.
Trium guided the Vivian’s Reflection inward. Working with information gathered at Helgart, he moved the ship until it was in alignment between the two stars. When his investigation was completed, he announced,
Samuel and the scouts examined the vector that would take the ship to Helgart, and Bethley created a sphere, assuming the vector was a diameter.
This had been the key point in the SADEs’ discussions. The greater the degrees, the more time and the greater chance of success.
When the SADEs reached consensus, Bethley swung the sphere in a gentle circle, with the fulcrum being Helgart.
Lisa’s expression appealed to Samuel, who attempted to parse her statements.
The scouts saw twin spheres nest within the search area. They were centered on the present system.
Killian regarded Lisa.
Killian replied.
Lisa glanced at the scouts, who offered their encouragement.
Three days later, Lisa woke, used the refresher, dressed, exited her cabin, and came to a sudden halt. She faced four grinning SADEs.
Samuel explained.
Four systems later, the Vivian’s Reflection located the Krackus fleet.
After that, the scouts shadowed the peacekeepers for weeks to determine the search pattern. It gave the scouts a clear indication of the empire’s rim in this area of space.
Killian added.
Killian regarded Lisa sympathetically.
Lisa heaved a sigh. If her life was any example, she believed fortune had deserted her. However, the scouts’ focused attention convinced her to relent.
The scouts and her minder laughed at the offer.
Lisa stared at the projection. She knew the direction the ship must head and she looked along that line. A yellow star appealed to her, and she touched it.
In the ticks of time it took Trium to realize that Lisa had turned the tables on his question, his SADE companions were howling their amusement.
The Vivian’s Reflection transited toward the distant star, and the five returned to designing vids. The scouts offered a partnership deal, and it was eagerly accepted.
In a quiet moment, Lisa asked Samuel to speak with her.
“I want to know if ... if ...” Lisa struggled to say.
“Speak plainly, Lisa,” Samuel said. “By now, you should know that we can be forthright with each other.”
Lisa harshly blew out her breath. “Okay, I was a chairperson of a powerful company. Then I was amazingly foolish and nearly brought ruin down on humankind in Axis Crossing. Now I’m under a council edict. What if our projects won’t outlast my sentence?”
Samuel laughed gently and replied, “Lisa, Axis Crossing’s technological uplift and dealing with the Imperium Empire will take more than your lifetime.”
“But will I be needed?” Lisa persisted.
“You have to stay relevant,” Samuel responded. “Your implant is a step in the right direction, as is your assistance with the scouts. Continue to seek ways to help the outpost, and the annuals will pass faster than you imagine.”
“Okay,” Lisa replied, exhaling a shuddering breath. “I can do that. I have to do that. I can’t take being incarcerated.”
Samuel put together two disparate facts. The first was Lisa’s comment to Bethley about fearing small and dark places. The second was in her last statement. He realized that inordinate fear drove Lisa to ignore lesser concerns to participate with the outpost. She would risk anything to stay out of the hands of the council.
“Put your concerns about the council aside, Lisa,” Samuel said. “I’ll help you remain free of security confinement. Although, sometimes you might not like my suggestions.”
Lisa shook her head in negation. “No, Samuel,” she said. “You talk, and I promise I’ll listen.”
“Deal,” Samuel said, extending his hand.
Lisa smiled weakly and shook the proffered hand.
Many cycles later, the Vivian’s Reflection exited its long transit to take up a stealthy position outside the system.
