by Jon Chaisson
“They’re the only ones who know what’s really going on, yes,” she said. “General Phillips does have a point, though. It’s much better for us to have a backup plan than no plan at all.”
Anton crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, studying her. “What do you suggest, then? I've been trying to think of a better way to run this operation since our talk with Vigil, and I still don't have any good answers.”
She smiled and raised an eyebrow at him. “Don't have any, or don't have any that make sense?”
“Both,” he said. “How does one convey to the masses that we've entered into a new spiritual renaissance without sounding like a lunatic? We've kept a strict line between church and state since the first Meraladians landed. I can't just go out there and start preaching the Word of the One. Nor can I just pretend that she doesn't exist. And now that she's here in the flesh, how do I show alliance without showing allegiance?”
“Tread slowly and at your own pace, not at anyone else’s,” Nandahya warned. “There are those who will question why you aren’t following the Will of the One, and there will be those who will question why you are.”
“Either way I'll be pissing someone off,” he said. “I play both sides, run the provinces like I always have, it makes things like this — like our meeting today — that much more jarring. I'm sure half the PGC thought I'd lost all my power to you.”
“Far from it, Anton. We just have different priorities. I just happen to have more of a grasp on the Blessed Event, being Meraladian and Mendaihu. You understand it from a sociopolitical standpoint. I understand it from a sociospiritual one.”
“Is that even a word?” he grinned.
“I don’t see why not,” she said with a smile. “But still — I picked up on how it affected the spirit of everyone in the Sprawl and beyond, Anton. I see a spiritual alliance forming out there, where everything is interconnected. What affects one person could easily affect everyone else. That is what I'm afraid of. One bad call and another pocket of dissension could pop up. I know this is thinking in extremes, but I'm afraid that one day another rebel group like the Shenaihu nuhm'ndah will pop up because of some mistake I've made.”
“I doubt it'll ever get that far,” Anton said. “But I wouldn’t rule it out either. That's the school of thought I've always followed. Keep your options open just enough to know which ones need to be closed.”
Nandahya looked at him, worried. “Spoken like you've already made plans, Anton. Something you wish to tell me?”
“Just an escape option,” he said.
She pushed herself forward in the chair. “From what?”
“From all sides,” he said. “Yes, I know it sounds like a pathetic attempt to destroy the path as I go, but it isn't. Vigil actually inspired this plan. I'm expecting the Mendaihu Elders to call, and the Embodiment season will commence. And there's been rumors that this one is going to be one hell of a war. And if these rumors are true, then the Sentinels and the Special Forces, even the ARU aren't going to be of much help. You do agree on this point, don't you?”
Skeptical, Nandahya nodded slowly. “Go on,” she said.
“As a last resort, I plan to unplug the Edwin-Akandia.”
“Pashyo, Anton!” she gasped. “How could that possibly help?”
“Balance,” he continued. “If it escalates, ordering Phillips not to advance won't be enough. There will be pockets of dissension, and they'll do whatever they can to move the cavalry forward. This would include hacking into Tigua Space Station to play around with the EAP. Rebel groups could easily go in there, find all their enemies, and kill them all in one go.”
“That's a bit extreme,” Nandahya countered. “Do you expect anyone to have the ability to do that?”
“Someone like Vigil,” he said. “Maybe not them, but someone of their caliber.”
She stopped herself before she could say anything else.
“I'd be shutting down any non-entity level spiritual link the armed forces could ever use,” he said. “I know, it's shooting myself in the foot. But if Vigil can break into the Tower's system, they must be able to hack into Tigua as well. And if Vigil can do it, there must be other jackers out there who can do it. Vigil was only the first.”
Nandahya looked at him nervously and took her time answering. “Agreed,” she said. “But the final decision to unplug rests between the both of us. We cannot decide alone. If one says no, then it stays on.”
“Agreed,” Anton said. “The private recording of this conversation seals that agreement.”
“Fine,” she answered. “Now I must ask you one question, which may or may not be related to the subject at hand.”
Anton frowned. “Sure, go ahead.”
Nandahya shifted in her seat again, this time out of discomfort, and leaned back in her chair. “Have you any idea what 'here lies fate' means?”
“What?” he said, feeling a shiver down his back. He'd remembered the graffiti from his visit to Moulding Warehouse, but had completely forgotten about it after failing to find anything on record about it.
“The graffiti,” she prompted. “I’m sure you’ve seen it by now.”
“I know what you mean,” he said. “It was just a surprise, hearing the question come from you. I've looked into it. I called the DPW to see why their drones haven't cleaned them yet. The only explanation I got from them is that it was a new brand of smartpaint that they haven't been able to find a solvent for. There’s also the fact it has been popping up faster than they can find it and erase it.”
“Anything else?” she asked.
“Nothing I can think of,” he said, curious about her prodding. “I haven't had the time to do any further research on it.”
She nodded and pushed herself up out of the chair. “Good enough answer,” she said with a forced smile. “For the record, I've no idea what it might mean either. I'm just concerned. On that note, I must return to my office. Apparently there are a few Mendaihu out there who wish to ask me the same thing about the graffiti. They may or may not know what it means, but they only wish to talk to me right now. I'm sorry I can't include you in that, you see, and that's why I brought it up. If there's anything I can share with you, I will as soon as I can.”
Anton stood and bowed. “Certainly, Lieutenant Governor. That would be much appreciated.”
He watched Nandahya leave. He then called out to Mina, his secretary, and insisted he not be interrupted for the next hour. He looked up into the air at the dropped ceiling tiles, and exhaled slowly.
“Private recording end,” he said. “You can come out now, Shirai.”
He heard the slight crackle of a holo bank turning on. Shirai come into view in the chair directly across from his desk. The effect was still jarring, even though he'd called her here at least a dozen times over the past few weeks. She remained the young professional she'd always been since her inception, with long and sparkling black locks of digital hair that framed curious eyes and a knowing smile.
“You're still concerned about the graffiti,” she offered.
“Yes, I am.”
“I have not found any links between the graffiti, its former use as a tag for the Spiral gang, and the poetry of CNF Councillor Kelley James. It's all circumstantial.”
“Someone's spraying it out there, and it's becoming more and more frequent.”
“Copycat crimes?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “All the copycats so far have used a lower grade paint which the DPW drones were able to wipe away. This stuff is almost permanent. Do you think Nandahya's guests this afternoon will have anything? Purely asking in conversation, of course.”
“I can't say,” Shirai said. “The front desk register gives their names as Saone Lehanna and Kryssyna Piramados. Their records are readily available from my database if you're interested.”
“No, thank you,” he said. “Quite all right. If they have anything to say to Nandahya, I'm sure she'll confide in me. That will be all, Shirai. Thanks for lend
ing an ear.”
“You are welcome,” she said with a grin, and blinked out of existence, leaving him completely alone in the room.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Alliance
Saone Lehanna rode the elevator up to the one hundred tenth floor of the Mirades Tower with Kryssyna Piramados beside her, knowing full well that her father could sense her proximity. He was here in the building but remaining silent, and that aggravated the hell out of her. In his own words, he’d disowned her after the failed Ascension of the One of All Sacred. He had caused its failure, she was sure of it, and had called him on it. She’d been at the warehouse of her own volition, to prove to him that she too could do the will of the Dahné Shenaihu nuhm’ndah. The task he’d given her then had almost no chance of success. To kidnap the Dearest One from an army of her Warriors and Protectors? She would have had to disconnect her spirit from the world at every point, focusing only on taking the young girl against her wishes, to place her in the hands of her enemy. Could she have done that? Given the opportunity, and given that edha Usarai’s Awakening ritual had tainted her purity of Shenaihu spirit?
Could she have taken Denni Johnson against her will?
Would her father have accepted her, impure as she now was, if she’d succeeded?
She found the question impossible to answer.
Kryssyna stood beside her, staring blankly at the bronze runners of the elevator and kicking at the floor with the tip of her boot. She felt just as nervous, partly because Saone’s father had never liked her. He hadn't liked any of her friends. Saone was the youngest of four daughters, and the black sheep of the family. She hadn't been the spiritual prodigy her older sisters were. Parisha, Kandilia, and Rini had all secured high executive positions in joint Gharné-Meraladhza companies, whereas Saone had chosen more low class programming positions. Could she blame herself if she had chosen to follow her true desires rather than a prepare herself for a legacy she hated? Would her father have noticed that she had given herself a deeper connection within the Mendaihu circles because of her menial positions, that she had made herself a perfect sleeper agent for his cause? Apparently not. He refused to care.
Well, now that she had been outcast, there was little she could do now. She'd lost that programming job at Swartz Design two days after the failed Ascension. That had to have been his doing. He'd always done things like that, undermining her plans and desires out of sheer spite. Pashyo — she'd been part of the nuhm'ndah who'd stormed the warehouse, and her father had seen it as beneath her station! Even now, when she had changed, had accepted she was no longer truly a Shenaihu nuhm’ndah, he had brushed her off as inconsequential.
She wanted to hate edha Usarai for making her this way, but ultimately she found she couldn’t. Not after she had come face to face with the One of All Sacred herself, and had her life irrevocably changed in that one fateful moment.
Kryssyna reached out and touched her hand. Just a quick, silent touch, a brush of a finger against hers. Saone sensed it all, the sudden rush of pure protective love washing over her, and she reveled in its comfort. Kryss cared for her deeply, as a dearest friend and a cho-shadhisi. Their love was another thing that her father frowned upon, but she didn't care anymore. Kryss had remained by her side through it all, and that had meant everything to her.
“I’m glad Emha Mirades will see us,” Saone said, breaking the silence. “She knows my father. She never liked him.”
Kryss hummed. “I'm surprised she gave us an appointment.”
“She never judges by family. I met her once, about six years ago. I'm surprised she had the time, given the circumstances. She may ask proof that my father might be behind the nuhm’ndah activity. Spiritual proof, yes. Physical evidence? None.”
Kryss frowned at her. “There must be something!”
“He’s far too clean.”
Kryss huffed in frustration. “He is a bastard, isn't he?”
Saone nodded. “That he is.”
The elevator stopped and deposited them in a center lobby. It was three levels high, revealing two mezzanine walkways and a holographic dome above, showing the present weather. Twelve outward spokes led to hallways, each with its own color-coded sub-directories mounted beside them. Each tiered sector was rented or owned by one company or another, or a conglomerate of companies sharing the same real estate. EdenTree UniTech owned two of these a few levels below. She'd grown up walking those hallways, following her sisters around on the occasion that they had to live onsite.
After a brief security check and two attempts at understandable directions, Saone and Kryss made their way down the northwestern hallway towards Nandahya Mirades' office. The first fifty feet or so of the hallway also served as an automat, with dispensers built into the wall for anything from snack food to stationery. The first offices they passed were open break rooms, each with a small number of cubicles for online work, all occupied.
They came to the first intersection, another hallway of doors, nameplates and no windows. They took a left, then an immediate right down a new hallway, this one reaching the outer offices. These luxury suites were for CEOs, officials, and government. Saone most definitely remembered her father's office on the same side of this building, its overindulging floor space, its magnificent views, and its utter coldness.
They reached this last hallway, and stopped with a sudden jolt. What could only be described as a ripple of warmth fell through her entire body, head to toe.
“Body scan complete,” a young female voice called out. “Security clearance confirmed.”
Kryss turned to her, equally confused.
“Good afternoon, emha Lehanna and Piramados. I am Shirai, the artificial intelligence of the Mirades Tower. I will guide you to Councillor Nandahya's office.”
Shirai? Saone looked up at the ceiling, skeptical. “The Shirai?” she asked.
“The only one in existence, emha Lehanna.”
A giggle slipped out. The last thing she'd expected was for the mythical Shirai, Goddess of AIs, to speak to her directly. Shirai only spoke with heads of state or CEOs like her father. “I apologize,” she said, even though she knew the construct had no real feelings to hurt. “You surprised us.”
“It is I who must apologize,” Shirai said. “First, I am not in holo form, thus you were unaware of my presence until now. Second, I should have warned you about the security clearance scan before I activated it.”
“No harm done,” Saone said. “I assume Kryss and I are already on file from prior visits to my fadayin, then?”
“That is correct.” She paused before continuing, a purely un-AI mannerism. “It seems edha Natianos Lehanna is inquiring about your presence, Saone. He was adamant about getting an answer from you. He informs me that you are no longer cleared to enter Sections 84a through 90f. While you are certainly welcome at this level, I must follow his security protocol. Are you aware of all of this?”
Saone gave Kryssyna a pained look and shook her head. She wasn't the least bit surprised that he'd make good on his word to such an extent. “Yes, Shirai, I am aware of this, thank you for reminding me. I have no plans to re-enter those sections without permission from the Dahné himself. Please tell him he has no business with me, either.”
Kryss cringed at her use of his spiritual title in this kind of company and glowered at her. Saone brushed it off. If she were to reveal him as the Dahné Shenaihu nuhm'ndah to the wrong people, so be it. The One of All Sacred would come to her side. She was on her own now. She'd survive.
“I acknowledge your answer,” Shirai said. “I have relayed your answer to him, and he has accepted your response. Councillor Mirades is currently in her office. You can take the next hallway to your right. The office is the fourth door on your left.”
“Taftika, Shirai.”
“Good afternoon, emha Lehanna, emha Piramados,” Councillor Mirades said, showing them into her inner office. Saone noticed with some amusement that it had the same exact set-up as her father’s, a long room w
ith two couches near each side wall, two chairs near the door, and two more chairs in front of the wide desk at the far end. Councillor Mirades herself stood behind her desk now, leaning slightly forward, palms flat against its top. She smiled warmly at them, genuinely happy to see them. “Please, call me Nandahya. What can I do for the two of you?”
Saone let out a troubled breath, and looked to Kryss, and took the plunge. “Emha, we need counsel. As a member of the PGC, I'm aware that you have a busy schedule, but I feel I must request your particular assistance.”
“I'll do what I can, Saone,” Nandahya said, frowning. She took a seat behind her desk and placed her hands in front of her. “You’re radiating a great amount of fear, emha, and it worries me.”
Again, she took a deep breath. Again, she looked to Kryss for help. Kryss reached out a hand and grasped Saone's, squeezing it once as she did. Strength, she heard her say from within. I am here.
She glanced up at the ceiling, knowing that Shirai may be listening in, in fact may be recording this whole conversation. She also knew that her father was now planning a way to be rid of her one way or another. She trembled slightly with the knowledge she might not leave this building alive. She vowed not to let that happen.
You cannot do this, she heard him call within, only to her.
She shuddered. I must, she replied.
Saone...
She looked away, closing her eyes tight, fighting back tears. Balance, fadayin. I must.
“The Shenaihu nuhm'ndah are attempting to take full control of the One of All Sacred. If not her, then to undo all the work she has done,” Saone said, her voice barely audible. She trembled, fully aware that she was unraveling so many plans right now. “That much I know to be true. It will happen, one way or another, by early November.”
Saone suddenly felt a deathly chill, colder than anything she'd felt. It tried to tear at her, pull her soul apart, tried to extinguish her life right there and then. But she could outrun this cold. She could fight it. She could stay away from it for as long as it took. It would forever haunt her, waiting for a sign of weakness. But she wouldn't let it. She would never let her father or any other nuhm’ndah do anything to her again.
