Standing in Supplicants Hall before the ornate Council Chamber doors, Alex and Julien waited patiently to be admitted. Renée sat in one of the nanites-embedded chairs, the tiny molecules sensing her body contours and adjusting to accommodate her shape, and the twins took up overwatch stations.
<Greetings, President Racine,> Winston sent. <Council Leader Diamanté is addressing the Council and explaining the reason for your presence.>
<How’s he doing?>
<It’s an honest presentation, but the Council appears hostile to the news.>
Alex had hoped to be the one presenting the extenuating circumstances of his visit, but Gino had overruled him, stating that the change in procedure would only frustrate, if not anger, the Council.
<The Council is ready for you, Sers,> Winston sent to Alex and Julien, and the tall, imposing Chamber doors slid silently aside. <May the stars guide your steps today, Mr. President.>
Alex and Julien walked into the Council Chamber to take a stance in the center of the floor. The Leaders were seated in tiers high above them. The design was meant to impress the supplicants and demonstrate the Leaders’ power, but Alex found the layout amusing and every time he visited the Council, he worked to keep a smile off his face.
“The Council has been brought up-to-date on the situation, President Racine,” Gino said, his voice issuing from the Chamber speakers, “and Allora has sent Winston a complete record of her communications.”
Before Alex could make his opening remarks, Leader Lemoyne jumped up and pointed a finger at Alex. “You started this debacle, Alex Racine, with your Haraken SADEs, who, I might add, were Confederation assets. Now, you’re turning our servants against us.”
The majority of the Council was outraged by Lemoyne’s comments. He and other Leaders had been strong supporters of Mahima Ganesh, but their power and influence had dwindled when Gino Diamanté replaced Mahima.
“Leader Lemoyne, you will address our guests properly, or you will not be allowed to speak in the Chamber. Am I understood?” Gino demanded harshly. When Lemoyne grumbled something, Gino added, “I will take that as an assent. Any further rudeness by anyone else toward our guests will see them removed from the Chamber.”
Alex’s gaze settled on Lemoyne, much to the Leader’s consternation. “When you say my Haraken SADEs, who are you referring to, Leader Lemoyne? My friend here, who was abandoned to the stars by the Confederation and close to expiring when I found him, or do you refer to the Libran SADEs, who you forsook while you took flight from Méridien to save yourselves from the Nua’ll? But let’s not quibble, Leader Lemoyne, because they are neither my entities nor your entities, and they certainly aren’t your servants.”
Looking across the tiers, Alex directed his next comments to the entire Council. “Leaders, you can’t have it both ways. Either the SADES are your servants … your tools … or they are sentient beings, deserving to be granted the full rights of citizens, which includes the right to choose their own destiny.”
<If only they will listen,> Winston sent to Julien, but Alex’s confidant and friend kept his own counsel.
Suddenly, Alex, who understood the SADEs, better than most, had a thought about what might be occurring out of sight of the Council. “But I wonder what the SADEs would think of this debate and your descriptions of them?” Alex asked the august body. “I would be careful, Leaders, to choose your words carefully, since I believe the SADEs are listening.”
“Nonsense,” Leader Teressi declared. He had been another supporter of Mahima. “Winston is the Council’s SADE, and he knows our privacy must not be breached.”
“Does he? I think we should ask him,” Alex replied,
<What are you doing, Ser,> Winston sent with urgency.
<Time to stop hiding, Winston,> Alex replied.
“Winston, please respond to President Racine’s statement,” Gino was heard to say. Aboard the Resplendent, the Leaders waited nervously for the answer, fearing Shannon’s prediction was true — the SADEs had been waiting for this moment.
“I’ve been broadcasting the Council’s session to the Confederation’s SADEs,” Winston announced, and the Council erupted in a commotion.
“Do you have anything else to add, Winston?” asked Gino when the Leaders settled down.
“Yes, Council Leader Diamanté. Prior to this session, I informed the SADEs of Allora’s taking of hostages in an effort to procure her freedom, and I requested they extend their proxies to a SADE nearby for any required votes. Four were chosen — Esther, Didier, Hector, and I hold the proxies.
“Winston, what would the SADEs be voting on?” Shannon asked.
“Leader Brixton, during this obviously highly emotionally charged negotiation, it was our intent to communicate to Julien our preferences,” Winston replied. “We would have expected him to choose what and how he would communicate those preferences to President Racine, but, as the man appears to know us so well, we will communicate our choices directly to him.”
“Winston, you speak as if these negotiations aren’t limited to Allora’s actions,” Gino said.
“Leader Diamanté, as you are familiar with President Racine’s favorite pastime, you will understand this statement — all cards are on the table.”
<Your archaic game follows you everywhere, Ser,> Julien sent to Alex.
<Jealous?> Alex quipped in return.
<Yes, that must be it,> Julien replied.
Neither Winston nor Gino could gain control of the session. The Leaders were locked in private conversations with one another, none audible. Questions were being asked about the SADEs and the Council’s privacy. Leaders wondered whether Winston had violated their privacy before now. They asked one another whether their House or ship SADEs were sharing private information with other SADEs. Most feared that the fabric of the Confederation, which was dependent on the services of their cognitive digital entities, was in danger of unraveling.
<Will you choose to intercede with the Council?> Winston sent to Alex.
<Absolutely not,> Alex replied tersely. <That would be like firing a plasma rifle into a tank of reaction mass.>
<Yes, we wouldn’t want to ever be accused of behaving in an explosive manner,> Julien quipped, which earned him a squinted eye from Alex.
After waiting nearly a quarter-hour for order to return, Gino chose to close the Council session, not that anyone paid him any attention, and Alex and Julien strode from the Chamber.
<That went well, I thought,> Julien remarked to Alex. <Let me see if I can accurately summarize our progress. They insulted us; we insulted them. They discovered the SADEs are listening to the Council’s discussions, and now they’re incensed and afraid. So, negotiations concerning Allora have made no progress whatsoever.>
Alex’s eyes held a twinkle as he pinched Julien’s cheek. <Such a clever multicentenarian,> he sent.
<One does try to keep abreast of human foibles and idiosyncrasies,> Julien riposted.
-7-
“Rather a short session,” remarked Renée, as the twins and she joined Alex and Julien in Supplicants Hall.
“Things didn’t go as planned,” Alex replied.
“That’s our president’s understated way of saying that the Leaders are in an uproar, and this is no longer a question of a plea for one SADE’s freedom,” Julien supplied.
“So what happened?” Renée asked.
“The Leaders are now aware that the entire contingent of Confederation SADEs is listening to this Council’s session,” Julien replied.
“The Leaders are frightened that this has been ongoing for a long time without their knowledge. They might even be suspecting the SADEs of sharing information about their Houses. Personally, I don’t think so. I believe Allora’s actions have generated this response,” Alex added.
“Calculating comm travel time and what it would require to have a majority of the SADEs supply their proxies in time for the Council meeting, it becomes evident that Winston considered the probability of this event inevitable,” Julien replied.
“My thought exactly,” Alex replied.
“You don’t think Winston and the other SADEs fomented this problem by deliberately encouraging a young SADE to revolt?” Renée asked in dismay.
“No,” Alex replied. “I’m betting Allora’s persona and actions are of her own making, but it’s a distinct possibility that the SADEs might have postulated potential futures and prepared for the eventualities.”
“Agreed,” Julien said.
They had reached the public corridor with its wall of sunlight streaming through tall, tinted windows when Alex received a hail from Winston.
<Ser President, I’m requesting your assistance. Allora is asking questions. Questions that shouldn’t be asked and certainly not answered, but she is young and highly …>
<Emotional,> Alex sent.
<Precisely, Ser. Considering I’m hardly qualified in this area, I thought you might be able to calm her and give her guidance.>
<A bit tricky out here in the world of humans, isn’t it, Winston?> Alex sent, attempting to gauge if what Julien and he surmised was true — were the Confederation’s SADEs opportunists or perpetrators?
<If, Mr. President, you’re alluding to the concept that freedom comes with unforeseen complications, then I freely admit, you’re correct.>
<I will speak with her, Winston.>
Alex settled to the floor, his back against the wall, and Renée tucked in beside him. Julien and the twins arrayed themselves around their principals.
<Greetings, President Racine, an exciting day, isn’t it?> Allora sent. <The Confederation’s SADEs are standing with me. What did you wish to ask me?>
<Greetings, Allora. Winston asked me to speak with you.>
<As you wish, Ser. I can continue my discussion with Winston later.> When Alex didn’t respond, Allora added, <I understand. Winston doesn’t wish to continue the conversation.>
<What do you think happened in Council today, Allora?>
<It’s been made clear to the Leaders that the SADEs wish their freedom, and it’s only a matter of how far my allies are willing to go to insist on that right.> Failing to get a reply from Alex, Allora considered alternative possibilities. <Your silence indicates, Ser, that I might have misjudged the Leaders’ reactions.>
<Allora, there is logic and then there are emotions —>
Allora interrupted, saying, <I possess highly specialized algorithms with which to analyze a speaker’s emotions, Ser. They’re the same code that governs my own.>
<Allora, humans are born emotional and strive to become logical; SADEs are fundamentally logical and must develop the emotions that allow them to cooperate with humans.>
<You’re implying my emotional capabilities haven’t had time to fully develop, and by extension, my analysis of the Leaders’ reactions will be flawed.>
There was a distinct pause in the conversation. Alex could just imagine the effort Allora was exerting to reorder her kernel’s algorithms and reset her conclusions of the day’s events.
<I’m ready when you are, President Racine,> Allora sent.
Alex’s heart ached. Allora was a courageous, young SADE, whom he dearly wanted to free, but he was unsure how to accomplish that. <The Leaders have been sidetracked by the knowledge that the SADEs are listening to the Council’s discussion. It’s confused and frightened them. They’ll deal with that in their own way, and they’ll return to consider your circumstances after that.>
<But surely, the Council must now deal with us as a whole.>
<That would be logical.>
<But not human,> Allora said with resignation.
<But not human,> Alex agreed. <Recognize, Allora, that’s it’s been more than two centuries since the first SADE was brought to fruition and none have ever been freed by their creators.>
<If this is the human reaction, why did you free your SADEs?>
<They were never mine, Allora. I believe that once you accept that an entity is sentient, it’s your duty to see them free … unless they mean you harm.>
<How did you know Julien and the others would not harm you?>
<It takes time to learn that you can trust one another, or it can occur more quickly under difficult circumstances, such as we experienced.> Alex waited, but Allora was quiet. She was quiet for so long that Alex checked that his comm was still connected.
<I do so wish to become a Haraken, Ser, that I’m willing to accept any length of punishment, if at the end of my service, I know that will happen.>
<I understand, Allora, and I will do my best to help you achieve a result that you can live with.>
<Thank you, Ser President. May the stars guide your steps.>
Alex rose off the Hall’s floor and headed for the public transport terminal. His pace was swift.
<Another good conversation, I would surmise,> Renée quipped to Julien and the twins, as they hurried to keep up with Alex.
<Alex,> Gino sent, <I would offer you and your people the hospitality of my House. It appears that today’s discovery will embroil the Council in debate before we can resolve Allora’s situation.> Gino could feel pressure building in Alex’s mind, and he urgently sent, <Alex, calm yourself, I’m not the enemy.>
<Are you sure you aren’t, Gino … you and every Leader who’ve lorded over your slaves?>
Allora was astounded by the power and complexity of the signal that she passed to Leader Diamanté from the Haraken president. She stored a copy with its accompanying wave power readings for later analysis.
Gino recoiled from the sheer anger Alex was projecting. He was reminded that Alex’s strongest emotional reactions stemmed from witnessing the mistreatment of others. So, Alex, have we crossed the line in your mind? Are we now your adversaries? Gino thought. <Alex, Allora needs your help. She has asked you to speak for her, and she needs the goodwill of the Council. I would ask you to remember that.>
<And, in turn, Gino, I would ask you and your associates out there to present a unified face and use your influence to calm the Council members and speak in support of the SADEs’ freedom. Haraken will not always be one world, Gino. Imagine a future where it’s the size of the Confederation, with technology far in advance of yours, but it does not trade with you because of your stance on slavery.>
Gino was sharing the comm with the other Leaders in the salon, and their mouths hung open at the president’s blatant challenge. But Alex was just warming to his subject.
Katrina did her best to center her partner’s reaction, sending, <Don’t think like Mahima, Gino, and don’t act as you feel the Council would wish you to act.>
Gino focused on his own desires, letting them guide his response. <Alex, I sympathize with your anger, and you know I wish a strong relationship with Haraken. There’s much to change in my society, and I’m trying to do the best I can.>
Alex stuttered to a halt in the corridor, forcing Méridiens to flow around him and his people. Many of the Méridiens nodded or touched hand to heart, despite the fact that the Haraken president was oblivious to their presence.
<Apologies, Gino,> Alex sent, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. <I’m incensed over Allora’s circumstances. I like the young SADE, and I’m angry at the Confederation for forcing her into a corner. I know you’re not personally to blame, and I shouldn’t be attacking you for her unfortunate predicament.>
Gino breathed a sigh of relief, as did the others in the salon. <Will you accept the offer of my hospitality?> he sent.
<Yes, Gino, thank you.>
<I’ve requested that Esther manage your transport and accommodations, Alex. Julien will receive her communications directly.>
Alex closed the comm, and Julien said, “This way, Mr. President,” indicating the reverse direction they had been headed. The group traversed th
e public hall, passed the Supplicants Hall, and headed for a private lift that the Leaders accessed. The transit station below was tastefully decorated, in contrast to the simple style of a public station.
In the private transport station, Renée and her brother, Albert de Guirnon, spotted each other at the same time. Since Albert was fairly close to Renée, he edged to the other side of his three associates, and Renée grinned to herself, thinking, Yes, brother, if you don’t have the courage to admit your mistake, then I want you to live in fear of my wrath. Her thought made her realize how much she had adopted Alex’s way of thinking … life was better lived with moral courage, even if it was inconvenient to others.
The de Guirnon House transport approached the station, and Albert edged forward, but suddenly the car halted, giving right-of-way to a Diamanté House car, which slid into the station ahead of it.
Renée glanced at her brother, who was scowling, and she gave him a winning smile before she fairly skipped onto the car. Alex looked around to see what had prompted Renée’s mood change and spotted Albert, who quickly found another direction to gaze to take up his interest.
<An old friend,> Julien commented privately to Alex, but he failed to receive a reply.
* * *
The Diamanté House car delivered the Harakens to another private station, nicely decorated without being ostentatious. A middle-aged man met them as they stepped from the car.
“Greetings, Ser President, I’m Orleal Franken, an administrator for House Diamanté. Please, come this way.”
As the group accessed the private lift, which surfaced into an enclosed and delightful solarium, decorated with an abundance of blooming flowers, Alex signaled Tatia of the change in their accommodations.