Chapter 25 - Carousel

512 A.R. February 2** 8 ***, Tel-Adra -* Haven** , M ***orning*

Lydon opened the door, glimpsed inside, and entered as I followed in his wake. In comparison to the meeting room within the Sophos section, this one was a lot more... refined.

Several large paintings covered the walls, and to my surprise, you could see how the paint had been layered on to give it a unique form of depth. It portrayed several scenes that were foreign to me, one of which seemed set on a city street with its focus on a large skyscraper with a gigantic symbol on the top. An aura seemed to resonate around the symbol in a way that would draw the viewer's gaze as the focus of the painting.

As I pondered the painting, a near subconscious search was done through the archives, and the result returned moments later. The picture depictedCharlemagne, the Dyssian capital, and the symbol representedof their god--or rather, the concept of submission to the one above.

Lydon sat down on a chair in front of the painting and glanced up. He looked at me, seemed to notice my distraction, and turned to look, "Ah, yes... that one.It always did strike me as rather ironic."

I stepped into the room, and closed the door behind me, "How so?"

Lydon chuckled, "Well, if you look up at the one above, you're a hell of a lot more likely to see the moon than anything else."

Always looming in the sky, a constant reminder of Sophos supremacy...

"... I assume the Dyssian religion was shapedbefore the Crystal Palace on the moon was built?"

Lydon looked back at me, and nodded, "Indeed... Some people think Maxwell built the palace just to spite the human nations."

"It's certainly difficult to understand the reasoning of why it's so flashy compared to how much of our civilization is built underground," I said.

"True, I don't claim to understand it," Lydon answered as he pulled out a tablet from his uniform.

I circled the meeting table and took a gander at the rest of the room. The carpet was surprisingly fluffy, and while it would be pleasant if one had been barefoot, I imagined it to be a fire hazard as well.

The meeting table itself looked as if it was made out of wood, but a quick tap of my hand revealed what felt like solid plastic. The chairs were pretty and cushioned, but they all looked rather small. A glance behind me revealed that a far larger chair had been stuffed in the corner.

It made me huff as I walked over to it, picked up the chair, and headed back to join Lydon.

"You think the room is bugged?" I asked.

"I assume so," Lydon said as he scrolled through a document on his tablet.

As I removed a couple of small chairs and replaced it with the larger one, I noticed that there wasn't much in the form of electronics in the room. In fact, I couldn't even see any outlets.

"Not a lot of tech in the room," I said, setting my chair in place.

Lydon raised one hand to motion at the room, "It's meant to be pretty...Also, it's pretty damn difficult for people to come up with a common standard. Sophos tech is mistrusted because... well, no one believesthey'd be able to verify whether or not it had a backdoor. Dyssian tech is a nightmare, and the Imperials refuse to touch it, while they're also unwilling to share their own."

"So why hasn't the UCS stepped in? Seems like a perfect match to be honest," I said.

Lydon glanced up at me and perked his brow, "They've been trying to, for a century or two. But the various lawsuits regarding what firm gets to make it, and various intellectual property right disputes remain unsettled. In the end it was simpler for everyone to bring their own tablets and rely on paper as physical proof."

"Ah," I said and eased down into my chair. 'So, who are we meeting?'

"A Dyssian M'shall, and if you don't mind, I'd like you to observe rather than butt in this time."

M'shall... A cleric like the one I sneezed on...

I glanced over at Lydon, "I'll do my best."

Lydon smiled back at me, and I could feel as he reached out to me with telepathy. I accepted it, and heard his voice fill my mind.

'What would you say that our bargaining position is like?' Lydon thought.

'The humans are convinced we won't risk a war, and they'll use that fact to exact a heavy price. We are at their mercy, because we are predictable,' I thought.

Lydonglanced toward the door,and stood up,'They're here... Stand up and follow my lead.'

My ears perkedas I stood up and lookedtoward the door. As I listened, I could hear murmurs--two voices, both of them speaking Dyssian. Moments later, the door opened.Aslim robed man stepped inside and faced us.His face was near gaunt and rather pale,like a starved but old slave.

As I watched, the man turned his focus on Lydon and spoke with a subtle bow, "Aya el'ra."

Translated as, holy greetings...

It was becoming easier to control the translator, to hear the words being spoken, yet understand them at the same time. To be honest, it was a rather beautiful language, with many tones and inflections that made it seem as if they were singing.

Lydon made a similar bow, and spoke up as well, "Holy greetings."

I did my best to mimic his actions in real time, and our voices almost synced up as I made a bow and offered my greetings.

Moments later, the man stepped back, faced the outside, and spoke up, "Holy, the room is ready, holy, enter holy M'shall, forgive the smell and decrepit conditions, holy."

'They sure utter the word holy a lot,' I thought.

'They actually have many different words for the concept, but the translator simplifies it.'

As the thin man stepped aside, arotund man witha colorfulrobewaddledthrough the door. A massive beard covered his face, and he seemed to freeze as he met my gaze. A split second later, he kept walking, muttered something under his breath, and walked up to a wide chair that was sitting opposite to us.

The gaunt man followed and began to fiddle with the wide chair as he pulled it out, "Sit, holy M'shall, sit please."

"Off with you," The M'shall muttered as he sat down and made a dismissive wave.

"At once, M'shall! At once, holy one!" The gaunt one uttered as he stepped back while repeatedly bowing.

As the door closed, I looked up the M'shall in the archives. It turned out that his name was Mehan, a major shareholder of 'Pencost Engineering', a company in Dyssia that was responsible for the refinement of over half the island's crude petrochemical products.

Mehan looked at Lydon, and spoke, "Our demands were clear, yet you've dragged holy-us here, what is the problem?"

Lydon answered in Dyssian, "We were approached by-"

His voice was cut off, and my own ears perked up as I heard something. There were others outside the door, and I could hear arguing as it opened once more.

Another slave marched inside with a rather bewildered look, and started chanting as he waved his arms, "Holy! Holy! T __he room is_ taken,_ holy! Holy M'shall, it __smell_ s_, and there is other-holy! What shall low-one do!?"

Sitting there, merely seeing it all. It made me clench my hands so that the claws dug into my paws. It felt ridiculous, like being forced to watch an absurd parody. I gulped and drew a deep breath as I steeled myself to be patient.

Suddenly, the new slave was violently pushed aside, and anotherfat man stepped into the room.

"Holy- __us are offended! Explain, beast-animal_ s_? Holy-wrath upon you for this treachery!?" The fat men bellowedand ranted as he violentlymotionedat both Mehanand Lydon.

Mehan turned in his chair, and snapped back with his own violent display, "Filth! Offended twice! Intrude-treachery, spit on you!"

The translator didn't seem to reflect the sheer animosity that now filled the room. The scent of sweat and anger grew like a stench, and I could feel my own hackles itch from the sheer intensity of it all. A quick glance at Lydon revealed that he hardly seemed to care, especially as he took a moment to scroll through his tablet.

'Patience,' Lydon thought.

I looked back to the arguing humans, and ran the new one through the archives. His name was Ayaz, owner of Silverline Processing, a manufacturer of reagents used in the production of medicine.

Finally,thetwoseemed to settle into some kind of stalemate, either because they'd ran out of insults, or had simply tired of it.

Ayaz looked back and snapped at the slaves that were now peering in by the door, "Out! Get out!"

The slaves nodded, bowed, and made a few chants as they closed the door while stepping out.

Both Mehan and Ayazturned to face us, andLydon stood up. I followed suit, andlistened as Lydon spoke up.

"A thousand holy-apologies," Lydon said, and pointed at me with both hands, "M __y stupid beast-_ aide must have made a mistake in the booking!"_

I did what!?

Lydon kept bowing as he spoke, " __I_ f the two of you decide who will begin negotiations for the catalyst, then-_"

"SHUT UP!" Mehan shouted as he stared daggers at Lydon, "_ YOU! _ You were double-dealing!?"

Ayaz turned to stare at Mehan, "Treacherous snake!"

Mehan's mouth dropped open as he turned to look at Ayaz, "I was first! The catalyst belongs to holy-me!"

'Sit,' Lydon ordered with a thought directed at me.

With a deep breath, I did as told, and sat down once more.

"This is beast-fault!" Ayaz snapped as he lashed out with his arm to motion at us.

Mehan looked back at Lydon and gritted his teeth, "This is your fault! How will you resolve it?"

Lydon suddenly reached out with his hand, and grabbed the back of my head.

Wait... What are you doing?

'Play along,' Lydon thought, and then began to press on the back of my head.

"My stupid aide has caused this terrible insult to your several-holy," Lydon pushed hard, and my head was pushed down against the table until I hit it with a gentle thud, "But if we all sit down, then we can resolve this in the most holy-approved manner!" Lydon said with a raised voice as he pulled my head up, and gently slammed me back down again.

Mybrow twitched,and I wasn't sure whetherto start laughing at the absurdity of it all.

'Apologies... Please don't rip my head off once we're done,' Lydon whispered in my mind.

With one final bap against the table, Lydon finally let go of my head.

"The price will be holy-heavy for this insult!" Ayaz snapped.

Lydon softened his voice, "Ayaz, Mehan, holy-M'shall __s_ , surely you_both see the value of the catalyst to your industries, yes?"

Icarefullylifted my head, and glanced up at the two M'shalls that now stared at Lydon with their own, equally uglygrimaces.

"Yes, what of it?" Mehan asked.

"Perhaps you can share, holy-and-wise-M'shalls?" Lydon asked.

Mehan shook his head, "Not possible! Catalyst rights must go to one entity!"

Lydon reached out his hands, "One of you gets the rights and sells to the other?"

Ayaz looked over at Mehan with a frown of disgust, "This-holy, would sell catalyst at an un-holy price! Not possible!"

Lydon suddenly leaned forward, and raised his hand high in the air, "Bright idea! You both know holy-magnate Magnus of UCS! Good dealings, yes?"

The two men came to peer at Lydon in silence then made a few careful glances at one another.

Finally, Mehan leaned closer to the table and whispered, "What are you playing at, un-holy-filth?"

Lydon motioned to both of them, "Holy-Magnate Magnus is trusted! Many shared dealing __s! P_ roduction of catalyst in UCS!_ M __onopoly of usage in Holy-Dyssia, fair price dictated in contract!_ A_ll win, yes?"

Silence filled the room as the two M'shalls seemed to ponder it.

After a few moments, Mehan looked over at Ayaz, "The filth is tricking us."

"How?" Ayaz asked.

"Don't know, but filth always trick," Mehan said.

"Trick with __trustworthy-_ holy-magnate- Magnus?_ How?" Ayaz asked and tipped his head.

Mehan seemed to chew the though, and looked back at Lydon, "Will holy-magnate-Magnus agree to this?"

Lydon nodded repeatedly, "He will, yes. I guarantee it."

Ayaz drew a deep breath and puffed up his wide chest, "Interesting deal, but you have insulted us greatly."

Lydon seemed to shrink as he focused on Ayaz with a careful glance, "What Ayaz want for grave-insult?"

Ayaz looked over at Mehan, "Double product for same production price. For Ayaz_ and _ Mehan."

"Double!?" Lydon exclaimed as he leaned back in shock.

"Double for holy-we," Ayaz said and smiled back.

Lydonlet out a deep sigh and looked over at me, "Look at the trouble you __have_ caused_ us..."

Ayaz chuckled and crossed his arms, "Filth should discipline wolf-beast better."

Keep the mauling to a minimum... Think positive thoughts...

Ilooked down at the table in order to feign shame.

"Double amount delivered by holy-magnate Magnus, deal is made?" Lydon said.

I lifted my head once more and saw as the two M'shalls nodded.

"Deal made, looking forward to another visit from h __oly-_ m_agnate Magnus," Mehan said.

Ayazlooked over at Mehan, now smiling with joy,"Holy-Magnate Magnus great Eshtak player."

"Holy-blessings to holy-M'shall," Lydon said and lowered his head to the table.

Mehan and Ayaz rose from their chairs, and leaned in by one another as they began to chitchat. Both of them seemed to forget about the two of us and walked toward the door.

"Looking forward to call from holy-magnate Magnus!"Mehan said while Ayaz pulledthe handle.

"It will be done!" Lydon said as he sat up, while the two M'shall stepped out of the door.

Silence followed, and after a few moments, I looked over at Lydon.

I couldn't help but feel insulted and a tad irritated that he hadn't informed me earlier, but as I saw Lydon sigh with genuine exhaustion, I hesitated. Lydon'sstate of mindleaked out, and I got the impression that he was both relieved... but also terribly tired.WhileI suspected that all of this wasone giant ploy to make Ayaz and Mehan work through this third party referred to as Magnus, I still had a great many things to verify.

Lydon glanced over at me and made something of a sheepish smile, "Let's take a walk... and we can talk along the way."

"Yes, let's..." I said, and nodded slowly.

512 A.R. February 2** 8 ***, Tel-Adra -* Haven** , ***Midday*

As we walked down the hallway, Lydon reached out to me with his mind.

'Now would be a good time to activate that Expert System we talked about,' Lydon thought.

The 'Shit Talk' one...

I reached into the depths of my own mind, fetched the Expert System, and activated it. Just like the translator, I could feel as it took control of my voice. More than that, I could feel as it linked up with something on Lydon's end.

My muzzle moved and I spoke, but I could hardly hear it. Instead, the link with Lydon grew that much more potent.

'Done,' I thought.

'Good...' Lydon thought. 'Now, tell me your interpretation of the meeting we just had.'

'I suspect that you identified twoindividuals thatwanted the same thing--a usefulcatalyst to help with industrial processes. You then arranged a conjoinedmeeting with the two, knowing that they'd start arguing. As forMagnus, I assume that he's someone in the UCSthat we have a deal with, or anunderstandingof some kind?'I thought.

'An accurate assessment so far. Magnus--just like Kamilah--understands the stakes at hand. Not to mention that he's more than happy to expand his business opportunities. That said, you did miss an important part.'

Itfelt weird walkingdown the corridor, watching as Lydon's muzzle moved, yet didn't sync up with the voice in my head. Even more so as I had to resist the temptation of listening inon what the Expert System was making us say.

'Oh, and what's that?' I wondered.

'The setup which made this deal possible. They did not come to us in search of this catalyst--we took a look at their industries, figured out a way to improve it, and then arranged for their own engineers to discretely learn of what we had. From start to finish, this was a plan hatched by us.'

'Impressive. To be honest, I didn't expect the job of a diplomat to be so...' I thought.

'Complicated?' Lydon wondered.

'Intricate, but yes...' I thought.

Lydon chuckled, 'It is an interesting job at times.'

'Is it just me, or does the Dyssian language seem rather... basic?' I wondered.

'Indeed it is. Even when I do use more flair to pad it out, the translator automatically simplifies it to a point where it's difficult to not consider it... simplistic.'

'I see... You also seemed troubled by their demand for double the amount, was that also a ploy?'

Lydonhuffed, 'I did expect something, but double the amount did take me by surprise. That said, it's not going to be a problem as the catalyst is quite simple,and the raw materials are cheap as well. In other words, Magnus stands to make a profit even at half price.'

'To sum it up, we have two more supporters,and we've made Magnus happy, but what's the big picture like?'I wondered.

'It's complicated. Each nation has hundreds of representatives and a variety of systems that make it difficult to put into numbers. For us, it's important to reach the critical mass where it becomes disadvantageous for the average diplomat to vote against the proposal. When that happens, the group pressure to be on the winning side will cause such a landslide that there won't be any detractors.'

'So, are the diplomats here the representatives that we need to garner support from?' I wondered.

'In one way or another. Some of them are indeed direct representatives. Others merely work on the behalf of others--with the understanding that a settled deal is the same as a supporting vote when it comes to pushing through this peace agreement.'

'So, is that what we are pursuing, a peace deal? A permanent one?' I wondered.

'There's no such thing as permanent peace, but once there is some kind of agreement between nations, you have a lot more tools at your disposal to build upon it and strengthen it to a point where it becomes a distant thought to break it. You may not realize it, but trade between nations has been one of the most powerful tools in maintaining peace throughout human history. After all, why wage war against a neighbor that supplies you with vital supplies?'

'Isn't that a testament to our failure? We have never been keen on trading either goods or technology with others,' I thought.

'In a way, you are correct. But, you can't forget that as Maxwell marched out and took all the hybrids with him, humanity swore him as their enemy. Back then, it was shoot on sight.'

'Yes, but in the centuries that followed... wasn't there a chance to fix things?' I asked.

'There have been, but it has never lasted. Humans become hybrids. Hybrids do not become human. This imbalance has always led to situations where humans can't help but see us as a threat to their very existence,' Lydon answered.

'I... understand,' I thought.

'Yes, I imagine so,' Lydon whispered over the link.

'Do we have any clue when this 'critical mass' of supportis reached?'I wondered.

'Not yet, but our current estimates suggest we have little morethan a week to reach an agreement.'

'Or what?' I wondered.

'If it takes any longer, then the Glow-induced infestations across the human nations will become drastically more difficult to stop. I personally believe that we have little to fear from the humans if the peace agreement is signed, simply because they'll soon be embroiled in a war against the infested. One way or another, humanity will face another extinction level event,' Lydon thought.

'Why is it so difficult to convince them of this?' I wondered.

'Kamilah and her father haveconsiderable influence, but it only works in moderation. If they suggested that they needed to lock everything down and begin what is essentially a purge or even genocide, they'd either be ignored or get stripped of their power. They need a small outbreak to happen so that they have something to point at. That, in turn, will make the populace understand what needs to be done.'

'... And how would a limited outbreak be made to occur?'I wondered.

'That is not our concern, but I have little doubt that Kamilah and herallies won't be able to arrange it,' Lydon thought.

'Hold on... As monstrous as that plan is, why not do to that at once? Why wait for a peace agreement?' I wondered.

Lydon's voice sounded a bit annoyed. 'If there's no peace agreement, and the human politicians don't stand up as a unified force who will claim that we're innocent or that we're even here to help, what do you think will happen?'

'They'll blame us... They'll demand a war even if they have their hands full with infested cities.'

'Yes... The human nations used their hatred for us as a mechanism to keep their populace under control. Now that same mechanism has forcedthem into a corner. This needs to work, for all our sakes,' Lydon thought.

I pondered it as I walked, 'Mehan and Ayaz were revolting as individuals, but they didn't seem the type that would be eager to face death.'

'Yes,' Lydon whispered, 'and that greed is what will allow us to fix all of this.'

'So, where are we heading now?' I wondered.

'We're here to bump into Kamilah by mistake,' Lydon mused.

I looked in front and noticed that there was something going on at the end of the hall. UCS servants were mulling about, and there were uniformed personnel from the Empire glancing in our direction.

'Trouble?' I thought.

'No, just plans within plans,' Lydon answered.

The Expert System that had feigned a discussion between me and Lydon began to hand over control to me once more. It left me with an odd feeling, and I reached up to scratch what felt like an itch.

As we approached, the Imperials marched away, but the UCS servants remained as if waiting for something. Finally, a familiar figure stepped out of the room, and the servants bowed to show their respects.

Kamilah glanced to the side and caught sight of us. It was subtle, but for a moment her eyes widened as if she hadn't expected to see us. She no longer wore a glinting green dress but was instead dressed in a snazzy dark green business suit.

"Lydon," Kamilah said with a skeptical glance as we stepped up.

Lydon smiled back, "Kamilah! What a coincidence, and you recognized me for once!"

I stayed one step behind Lydon and watched as Kamilahspoke,"That crown of yours makes itpretty easy, especiallywiththat little chip on it."

After relying on the translator so much, it's something of a relief to hear Common once more...

Lydon chuckled and raised his hand to tap his right antler, "Yes, and we all know who's fault that is... don't we?"

I glanced at the spot that Lydon was touching, and noticed that one of the small tips was indeed chipped.

Kamilah smiled back, but there was something about it that seemed off. I smelled the air, and began to realize that--despite how happy she looked--her scent was... flat.

"Agenuine mistake, I assure you,"Kamilah mused, and turned to look at me, "Then there's your new friend."

Lydon nodded as he motioned to me, "Ah, you noticed...This is Vilkas."

Kamilah perked her brow and eyed me carefully, "Yes, I _have_noticed your disturbingly big pet..."

Pet...

I smiled back a little, but didn't bare my teeth.

To my surprise Kamilah stepped closer, then held her hand out flat.

'Oblige her,' Lydon thought.

How!? Does she want a shake or... Oh... That's what this is...

Idrew a deep breath, bentdown on one knee, and leaned closer, until my head rested beneath her outstretched hand. It didn't take long before Ifelt her fingers brush through the fur on the back of my head.

"Huh... Didn't expect it to be this soft..." Kamilah whispered.

It felt unnerving, but I clamped down on the sensation and waited until she withdrew her hand. Once done, I stood up once more and met her gaze yet again.

"I wouldn't mind having one of your kind as a bodyguard," Kamilah said, flashing me a predatory smile.

"Alas, he's not for sale," Lydon said, seeming oddly pleased about the exchange so far.

I stretched out my hand to her, "I believe it's customary to exchange greetings like this as well."

Kamilah looked down in surprise and stifled a chuckle, "Yes... It is."

She inched closer and grabbed my hand. As she did, the tendril along my wrist shot into action once more.

I do believe it would be in our interest to know whether she's infested...

Afew moments later, she withdrew her hand, and turned to focus on Lydon once more, "Magnus sends his regards."

"Ah, good to know," Lydon said with a nod.

I hid my arms as the analysis of her blood began and focused on my nose instead.

There was definitely something off about her. Others reeked of sweat and various impulses, fear, anger, anxiety, yet... here was someone with none of those things. Almost like that person I had interrogated in the police station.

Could it be that...

"I assume that we're still set for dinner in a few days?" Kamilah asked.

"Of course... No troubles, I hope?" Lydon said.

Kamilah shook her head as she stepped back and threw me a glance, "No... Tell me, how well trained is this pet of yours?"

Lydon motioned to me, "Vilkas is smarter than he looks, dear Kamilah."

I glanced over at Lydon, and hummed as I forced a smile.

Kamilah focused on me, "Smart enough to act as a butler, and growl on command?"

"Certainly," Lydon said.

"And he doesn't seem to speak out of line either, which is perfect," Kamilah said.

"Vilkas knows how to be discrete," Lydon said.

Kamilah made an approving nod, "Then bring him along. He'll be useful in convincing the others."

Lydon nodded, "Certainly."

"Good, but my time draws short," Kamilah said, and looked over at her servants who were waiting nearby.

"I understand... Until next time, Kamilah," Lydon said, and made a subtle bow.

Kamilah walked off as the results of the blood sample began to pour in. There were no traces of Glow, nor infestation of any kind. But... there was a very specific alert, one that confirmed what my nose had picked up on.

I looked over at Lydon, 'She's a psychopath, isn't she?'

'Inherited psychopathy, same as the rest of her family,' Lydon answered.

'Antisocial behavior on a genetic level... I had no clue that was a thing,' I thought.

Lydon raised his hand to wave as the others disappeared down the hallway, 'We're not sure whether it's intentional or a result of the environment, but the Wosret bloodline are quite adept at keeping power within their family.'

'Can they be trusted?' I wondered.

'Psychopath or not, they share our desire to survive,' Lydon answered over the link.

Lydon faced me and spoke up as he motioned down the hallway, "We'd better hurry. Imperials don't like waiting."

"... Imperials?" I said. Lydon started walking, and I shortly followed suit.

"Indeed, and I imagine that the talks won't go as easy this time," Lydon said.

This is going to be a long day...

512 A.R. February 2** 8 ***, Tel-Adra -* Haven** , ***Midday*

I could see Lydon's expression change as he stepped up to the meeting room door. He sniffed the air, and I did the same. Lydon had indicated the Imperials didn't like to be kept waiting, but despite keeping our timetable, it smelled like there was someone already in the room.

Lydon opened the door, glimpsed inside, and I could hear his voice, "Ah, you're already here."

Common?

"Yes, we are..." A refined and rather soft voice teased from the inside.

Yes... They're definitely speaking Common...

Lydon stepped inside, and I looked into the room as I followed. While the paintings in the room were different, the layout was the same. At the far end of the meeting table sat two near identical individuals, clad in the strict military outfit of the Empire.

Guess I'll call them #1 and #2...

The way they had seated themselves made it clear they had no intention of coming close to us. Lydon seemed to realize it at once and moved over to the small end of the table near the door.

'Why are we speaking Common?' I wondered over the link with Lydon.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. The two Imperials turned their heads in sync, and stared as if they had been plucked from some horror movie.

'I got a tip that these two don't like to hear their language spoken by "animals",' Lydon thought.

"Is the wolf necessary?" #1 asked. Both of them held their stare.

"He is my aide," Lydon said, as he settled into his chair.

The two Imperials looked away as if ignoring me, and I took a moment to run both of their faces through the archives. By the time I'd stepped over to my chair, the search returned a negative.

No identification for either of them...

Imperials seemed strict, just like their uniforms, haircuts, and all the way down to their faces. The Dyssian slaves had good reason for the sharp angles in their faces, but with the Imperials it seemed intentional. Small trimmed eyebrows, petite nose, no facial hair, and an overall androgynous appearance. They also appeared young, or rather... youthful.

'Introduce me?' I thought and focused on Lydon while I eased down into my chair.

Lydon smiled at the two Imperials and motioned to me, "I don't believe you've been introduced."

#1spoke up once more, "We are aware of his identity, though it baffles us why you would seek to bring a high-profile target here."

#2 spoke up in turn, "It's an intimidation tactic. They're hoping to map our reactions and divine some pattern to all this."

#1 glanced over at #2 and grew a menacing grin, "Seems we messed up then. Whoops..."

I threw Lydon a glance and noticed him staring back at the two. He seemed tense, as if not having a clue how to proceed.

It made me huff, and that in turn seemed to draw the Imperials attention.

They stared while I reached up to scratch the base of my ear, "Do you have names?"

There was a twitch in #1's brow, and #2 spoke up, " Yes , we do have names, but that's irrelevant. Besides, did you_really_ come to this meeting without even knowing how things work around here?"

I tipped my head as I pondered it, "I do remember reading that names were a personal matter, but... a designation would still be useful. Nicknames, if you like..."

#2's expression twisted into disgust, "We are _not_going to assume nicknames for your benefit."

"Number one and number two it is," I said and looked over at Lydon.

A jolt seemed to run through #1, "Nor did we ask you togive us designations."

I looked back at the two, "Ah, my apologies... How _would_you like to be addressed?"

The two frowned back at me, and #2 spoke up, "We don't want to be addressed at all. You are dealing with the one and only Empire."

"Perfect," I said, "So let's cut to the chase, what does the Empire want?"

#1 drew a deep breath, while #2 grew something of a sadistic smile, "Wolves do have a few good qualities."

"Oh?" I said.

#2 nodded, "Yes... You don't like bullshit, and you make the nicest kind of rug."

I gritted my teeth at #2, "Ah, and I'm expected to believe you have one of those?"

#2 tipped her head to the side as if amused, "I do and I don't... Not that I'll bother explaining how that works to you."

"Hmm," I murmured, "Then how about we cut past the bullshit?"

#1 focused on Lydon and spoke up, "We have reason to believe that you're not doing everything you can to fight the Lusus. Therefore, we want full access to your bio-nanite designers."

Lydon hadn't intervened as I had spoken to them, something which I suspected meant that I had his tacit approval. I had assumed he'd play the role of someone more willing to negotiate, but the word that spilled out of his mouth was as dark and determined as it could ever be.

" No," Lydon answered.

#2 perked its brow, "You're acting surprisingly tough given your negotiating position in all this."

Lydon leaned back in his chair, "Such technologies will not be shared, it has always been that way, and it will remain that way."

#1 smiled back, "Even if you all end up dying for it? Not very rational..."

#2 followed up, "Besides, we already have part of it because of Hannival."

I felt my chest thump at the mention of the name, and what his mention in this room was starting to mean.

#1's smile grew, "Oh, look... He's angry now."

I drew a deep breath, "Did you have something to do with the destruction of Aurora Colony?"

"Not at all," #2 said, "We did not disapprove of it, if that's what you mean. But the Empire as a whole had no desire to... upset the balance on the island like that."

"Then..." I whispered.

#1 added, "We are in the process of hunting down and eliminating the more... rebellious parts of the Empire. In doing so, we unearthed Hannival's reports with the Luminaire."

"I see," I said.

#2 looked back at Lydon, "And there's no way we can budge your position on the matter? We could even offer the intelligence we have on the Luminaire, and lead you in the direction of who was _really_behind the attack."

" No," Lydon answered once more.

#1 looked over at #2 and sighed, "They will not listen to reason."

#2 nodded with a slow sigh, "Then we will settle for a live updates regarding the latest spore design generated by that tower of yours."

"Etemenanki," I said.

"You think yourself philosophical, but you're nothing more than halfwits," #1 said, and smiled at me.

#2 kept talking, "We wish for the ability to create the protective spores locally."

Lydon squinted, "Surely you already analyze the spores as they're spread with the wind?"

#2 nodded, "We do, but the process takes days, and the wind is not always in our favor. The results can be... troublesome along the coast, and we wish to expedite the process."

Lydon made a slow nod, "I believe that this can be arranged."

"Good. We can continue these discussions once you've provided your end of the bargain," #2 said.

Lydon squinted, "... No goods are supposed to exchange hands before the peace agreement is signed."

"Yes... No goods, but these are digital services. Besides, it shouldn't be any problem for you to arrange this, being as... technologically inclined as you are," #2 mused with another smile.

"Or else what?" I asked and motioned to them, "You just made it clear to everyone that your nation is as desperate to survive as we are."

#2 looked at me as if I was stupid, "The Empire will survive, you will not. In other words, we're not as desperate as you people, clinging to the illusion of free will and the unique worth of individual accomplishments as you are."

Lydon eased his chair back and stood up, "You will have your live feed of Etemenanki's spore updates, but we expect you to start pulling your weight in these negotiations."

#1 made a slow nod, "Once we have what we want, we'll lean on those giving you trouble."

Lydon looked to me, then glanced at the door, "We're leaving."

512 A.R. February 2** 8 ***, Tel-Adra -* Sophos Section** , ***Afternoon*

Lydon seemed tense as we marched through the long tunnel which would lead us back to the Sophos section. As I glanced back, the Paradise Dome seemed like nothing more than a distant glow, and it felt safe enough to talk with my voice.

"Did the meeting go as you expected?" I wondered.

"... More or less. Usually they're more dismissive than outright hostile like that," Lydon said.

"I have questions, if you don't mind," I said.

We neared the big entrance to the Sophos section, and Lydon slowed down as if finally allowing himself to relax, "I guess that's only natural."

"There's very little information about the Empire within the archives. Why is that?"

Lydon glanced over at me, "There's plenty of information, but most of it isn't validated and won't show up on a summary. It'd be dangerous to consider rumors and hypotheticals as truth."

"But surely we must know some things after all this time," I said.

Lydon perked his brow at me, "You tell me, Vilkas... You're uniquely suited to discretely analyze others, what can you tell me about them?"

"I haven't been able to get close, so..." I said.

Lydon looked back in front and raised his hand, "They were lying by the way. They don't have a wolf rug."

"Oh?" I wondered.

"Death is a complicated thing for us. Even if out minds shut down, some intelligence remains in our bodies. The nanites can tell what the environment is like, and what the circumstances of death was. If we stop functioning within our own territory, surrounded by others that might save us, the body will to preserve itself. But, if we die in enemy territory, among those who would pick us apart, we'll self-destruct, or rather... liquefy as everything breaks down into toxic yet useless goo."

"So, to skin a hybrid would be-"

"A near impossibility. Even if one toyed with the idea that the host was still alive as the 'procedure' was made, the skin itself would decay rapidly," Lydon said.

"Then..." I whispered.

Lydon motioned to me, "Their story probably has some nugget of truth to it. Their 'lineage' probably killed a wolf at some point, and they decided to manufacture a rug of it. That, in turn, became one of the 'accomplishments' of their line."

"So, they are clones... Lineages of clones?" I wondered.

Lydon made a slow nod, "That is what we believe. There are a few archetypes among them, and while the clones differ a little from one another, they change very little as a whole."

"And who controls the Empire? An emperor?" I wondered.

"We suspect that its the family head of each lineage, whether this power is in turn concentrated to one emperor or a council, we don't know," Lydon said.

"We haven't captured and extracted memories from any of them?" I wondered.

Lydon huffed, "All of them have built in suicide mechanisms. We've tried... of course, but by the time we can get them to a machine, their brains have already degraded to a point where most of it is flowing out of their ears."

"So, no prisoners," I said.

Lydon nodded as we walked along the buildings, "Imperial tech is rather advanced. They have combat suits they can integrate with, and we've seen a variety of implants. So far, anyone we've managed to capture, even while doing our best to use stunners, have ended in automatic suicide."

"How did they become like this?" I wondered.

Lydon crossed his arms as he seemed to ponder, "Hybrids made it possible for humanity to settle on the surface once more, and together they created the 'First City.' As Maxwell left the First City to create Sophos, the humans were left in turmoil. They had planned to phase hybrids out over a span of decades, but now they were left scrambling on their own. It was messy but humanity prevailed and the First City kept growing, but... several rifts formed among the humans."

"Yes?" I said.

"The differences had always been there... Between the ones who saw advanced technologies as the solution to all problems, to a necessary evil, and those that wanted to reject it all. These ideological differences kept growing, especially as the Lusus kept adapting, and the situation was starting to grow dire once more. At some point--and I'm not sure when or how--these differences resulted in some sort of civil war."

"Who won?" I wondered.

Lydon shrugged, "Labels from so long ago don't really work. The group that stayed within the First City eventually renamed it as Charlemagne and became what is modern day Dyssia. The ones that fled to the north became something briefly called the 'New Union,' before splitting once more and settling as the Empire and the UCS."

"... Ah."

"During all of this infighting, Sophos grew in silence... We spread over half the island, kept ourselves hidden, and made preparations to protect what we considered ours. When the various human nations settled into some kind of status quo and turned their attention to us once more... Well, let's just say that we caught them by surprise."

"I understand, though... The two we just met--they spoke as if they represented the Empire as a whole, but there a lot more of them here. How does that work?" I wondered.

Lydon shook his head slowly, "The Imperials utilize plenty of doublethink. Each group represents the Empire, yet there are many of them here. In the same way, each group claims the victories of their lineage as a whole, yet they also seek their own glory. That said, these two were important, as the other groups have so far only sought to gather information rather than make any actual deals."

"Ah... That is why they mentioned they'd lean on the others," I said.

"Yes... Now the other groups will have an easier time," Lydon said.

"Do you think we'll meet them again?" I wondered.

"That is most uncertain... They have no interest in forming any kind of friendly relationship with anyone that isn't an Imperial, and the fact that we can hardly tell them apart makes it that much worse."

"Right... So, what's next?" I wondered.

Lydon motioned to me, "I hope you won't mind, but I've made arrangements for the rest of your pack, Laki, and Tau to join us for dinner."

"Oh, you have?" I wondered.

Lydon raised his hand and pointed at the top of one of the residential buildings, "Up there."

512 A.R. February 2** 8 ***, Tel-Adra -* Sophos Section** , ***Afternoon*

As I walked around the corner, I could see Peter, John, and Allen standing in the hallway. They were all staring at the door to another meeting room, and they all looked over at me in surprise. Lydon walked straight up to the door, opened it, and disappeared inside while I walked up to the others.

Peter raised his hand to point at the door, "There's a UCS diplomat in there."

Allen added, "The guy you talked to yesterday, Laki."

I nodded, "... Yes, we're supposed to have dinner with him."

"Ah," John said, "Can he... be trusted? Isn't it dangerous to let him enter the Sophos section?"

I smiled back at John, "You tell me, and how was your day at the Intelligence Op?"

John huffed and met my gaze, "It was interesting... though not what I expected."

"Ah, how so?" I wondered.

John motioned to his head, "Well, most of the others are hooked up into some virtual world maintained by the train... Charon, that is. They claim it cuts down on latency and helps them focus."

"Ah," I said.

John looked over at the others, "Mostly I got acquainted with the layout of all this, and what we know of the city above. I got a message a while ago telling me to meet up here."

A set of heavy thumps could be heard, and I glanced back at the corridor where I had come from. Moments later, Tau came stomping around the corner, chest heaving as he drew deep breaths.

"... Sorry I'm late. What's this about?" Tau asked with a wild stare as he marched up.

I pointed to the room, "We're having dinner with Laki. Lydon is already inside."

Tau stared at me for a moment and blinked. He then looked at the door, and began to frown.

"Lydon didn't tell me what this was about..." His muzzle wavered as if tempted to say something further, but he stopped himself as he drew a deep breath.

"Go ahead, Tau... We'll be with you in a minute," I said.

Tau nodded, marched up to the door, and disappeared inside. I turned to Peter once more, "I thought you were teamed up with Tau."

Peter sighed, "I was... for most of the day. At some point Tau wandered off while I was talking with the other reptiles... There's a lot of them here."

"... Ah, what are they like?" I wondered.

"Silent, but they're eager to listen... about anything, really. It's as if they're soaking up real interactions," Peter said.

Allen perked his ears, "Real interactions?"

Peter looked over at Allen, "They're good at their jobs. Ask them to keep a hallway secure, and they do that. Ask them to guide a drunk diplomat back to their section, and they'll heave him up in no time. But, ask them what they think about the food, and you can see the confusion behind their eyes. At first they kept switching to those Expert Systems that help them interact with others, but as soon as I made it clear that no harm would come from talking with me, or that they didn't have pretend around me, they just... stopped, and began to listen."

"I get the impression that there's an underlying question here," I said.

Peter looked back at me, "... Tau said that it took him a great deal of time to develop a personality, but I checked his records... He's old, yes... but he had only spent a few years around Lydon when he decided to 'retire' from duty in the Haven."

"So what you're saying is that genuine interaction with others can foster a new personality within the lizards?" I said.

Peter seemed to hesitate, but nodded, "Maybe... It's just a suspicion, but... the more I learn about this, the more uncomfortable I become. The lizards aren't like machines, they're people that are wiped clean to a point where they only do what they're told because they don't know any better."

John spoke up, "Do remember their origins... They're criminals and psychopaths."

Peter looked back at John, "They were those things. If you destroy a personality to the degree of these people, then can they be held responsible for what they did, or can they even be considered the same people?"

"They do have their memories," John said.

Peter frowned, "And we can download the memories of others. Does that turn us into other people?"

"... No," John whispered.

I inched closer to John, "Would you say that the lizards serve important role here?"

Peter looked back at me, "Of course... They provide security where droids are forbidden, and where others refuse to work."

I made a slow nod, "This will be remedied in time. But for now, we need to focus on this. Okay?"

"... You're saying that I should keep quiet about this?" Peter wondered.

"No... I'm saying that you should keep doing your job. Learn more about them, see how this develops, and figure out what they want. That said, don't make a scene in a precarious situation like this," I said.

Peter seemed to ponder it for a moment, then nodded, "Understood."

Finally, I looked over at Allen, "And how has your day been?"

Allen rolled his eyes, "Mind-bogglinglyboring to be honest. I've been stuck at a UCS mingling session, and I've had my photo taken about 300 times. I've posed with movie-stars, pretended to eat people more times than I can count, and I've had people touching my tail to a point where I'll be without fur when this is over."

"Surely you've heard interesting conversations?" I wondered.

Allen drew a slow, deep breath, thengrew a subtle smile as he met my gaze, "... It hasn't been all bad, maybe... and seeing people like this fills me with some glimmer of hope for humanity."

"Sounds like everyone has had a productive day..." I motioned to the door, "How about we join the others for dinner?"

"What about you, Vilkas?" Peter asked.

I smiled back, "I can share my memories this evening. That said... we ought to hurry before the food gets cold."

"I am a bit hungry," Peter mused as he walked up to the door, and the others followed.

I stepped in last and closed the door behind me. As I looked back into the room, I could see as Laki had seated himself next to Lydon, and that he was now waving at me.

"Vilkas! We meet again... Sit, sit down..." Laki mused as he motioned to the seat on the opposite side of him.

The others moved with caution and kept an eye on the human as they got seated. Peter settled next to the chair that Laki had pointed out for me, John grabbed a seat next to Lydon, and Allen settled next to Peter.

I allowed myself a warm smile as I walked up and pulled out my chair, "That we do, Laki."

Laki huffed and hummed as he clasped his hands while smiling. He seemed different than before--happier, more relaxed, perhaps even boisterous.

"You've had a chance to meet all sides now, haven't you? What do you think of the finest that humanity has to offer?" Laki asked.

I eased into my chair and scooted forward to properly settle by the table. There was plenty of food piled up--sliced meat on a large tray, surrounded by some kind of green leaves. Steaming from a big pot was a load of potatoes, and there were several bowls featuring everything from peas to various sauces.

The others were already reaching for the food, and I figured I'd give them space as I turned my attention to Laki, "I would argue that the people you find here are not representative of the best that humanity has to offer."

Laki perked his brow as if feigning surprise, "Really? What do you base that on, I wonder?"

Lydon leaned in and whispered by Laki, "Vilkas is known for patience with humans, and his belief in them."

Laki hummed as he met Lydon's gaze for a moment, then shifted over to me once more.

I gathered my thoughts for a moment, "It's not that complicated to be honest. Based on what I've seen so far, humanity can shine as individuals, but the way they organize as groups... and that means nations, religions, cultures, and what have you, is _deeply_flawed. What you find here, in the Haven, is not a selection of human individuals--even if there is a lot of personal greed--but it is the height of the flawed system that has trapped humans."

"... I see, how interesting," Laki said, thenblinked as if pondering it.

I motioned to him, "How is itthat you can be here, in the Sophos section? Won't the UCS find it strangely suspicious, even if you do work as a spy?"

Laki made a dismissive gesture with his hand, "It is _because_I'm working as a spy that they tolerate and encourage visits like this."

"... But surely they suspect that you might be double-crossing them?" I asked.

"Of course they do, they're not stupid. But as long as you feed me valuable information, and they limit the information that I have access to, they're willing to play that wager," Laki said.

John spoke up, "It might sound rude, but... what use are you if that's the case?"

Lydonidlymunched on a carrot, "Layers upon layers, John. Laki doesn't have direct access to many things, but he does come into contact with agents that do--agents that the human nations are not as suspicious of."

Allen motioned with his fork, "Doesn't that make Laki a liability,simply becausehe knows many of our agents?"

Laki leaned forward as he caught Allen's gaze, "It's like a chain--I don't know all of them, and I don't know where the information comes from. I can only see who my neighboring links of the chain are, not the ones beyond."

"Mm,"Allen murmured as he returned to his food.

Laki focused on me once more, "It is important to realize that the UCS is not a unified whole. It's more like a bunch of city-states, corporations, and influential individuals all vying for control, yet never managing to quite pin the market. It's chaotic, no one trusts anyone, and the intelligence agencies often have their own agenda."

I began to pile food onto my own plate. "Do you mind if I ask why you want to join Sophos?"

"It's not so much that I want to join Sophosas it iswantingto leave the UCS," Laki said.

"Why is that?" I wondered.

Laki's gaze fell on the bigger platter with meat, "It's something of a coincidence, but it started with a meal somewhat like this."

"... Because you humans only seem to eatinsects?" Peter asked.

Lakiperked up, thenbegan to chuckle moments later, "No... On several accounts. The UCS hasmeat, plenty of it in fact. It's just that with the media beingpresent,it would be... troublesome to have such foodon open display."

"Why?" Peter asked.

Laki motioned to his glass, "The things that_you_ seem to take for granted is a rarity in UCS and Dyssia alike... It's not that we lack the technology, it's just that the logistics for providing food toaround 50 million peopleis a lot different to feeding... How many of you are there again?"

"Around1,8 million or something," I said.

Laki sighed, andmotioned at me, "The vast majority of people either eat insects or synthesized food made out of fast-growing algae and fungi. While the ones taking care of public relations are good at what they do, it would be difficult to explain why the upper classes enjoy this kind of food."

John pointed at the meat, "So, what was it that made you dislike the UCS?"

Lydon sat tall as he spoke up, "I invited Laki to dinner, and we got into a discussion regarding the origins of the steak that he was eating."

Lakismiled and nodded, "Sophos meat is lab-grown,correct?"

I nodded, "Yes, the vast majority of it at least. Wolf packs dohunt wildlife, but only tokeep theirpopulations in check."

"Well, we don't... Meat is a luxury, and to have it grown in a lab like any other industrial product would be... pedestrian," Laki said.

"So you raise animals in farms, and then slaughter them? For... what? Does the suffering make it taste better?" Allen asked.

I threw Allen a glance and reached out with my mind, 'Ease up,' and looked back at Laki, "Go on?"

"Because of its nature, and the fact that most people prefer their meat to be at least some kind of rare, there's a certain risk of... illness," Laki said.

I tipped my head in wonder, "I must admit that I'm a bit confused... You consider this a luxury product, yet you don't even take the necessary steps to make sure it's safe?"

Lakisighed and looked over at Lydon as if annoyed.

Lydonmet Laki's gaze andchuckledin response, "I wasn't lying when I said that our way of thinking is fundamentally different from that of humans."

I raised a claw in the air, "Do elaborate, please?"

Laki eased back in his chair, and then reached up to rub his temple, "It's oddly difficult to explain after the fact, but I'll do my best."

I lowered my hand, "Please do."

"Do you know what bungee jumping is?" Laki asked.

I nodded, "I learned of the concept from an old movie--basically you jump off a high building with a flexible rope around your legs. The rush of endorphins is something of a... kick, perhaps similar to that of a hunt. Difference being that there was a small but not insignificant risk thatsomething would gowrong, thus turning the jumper into... splatter."

Peter, John, and Allen sat tall but silent, almost bug-eyed as they listened.

Laki smirked as he looked over at the others, "I guess this would be a bad idea to tell you that we have racing events where the mortality rate is one in a hundred. In fact, it's the highlight of the show as someone undoubtedly crashes and burns," Laki said.

Lydon chuckled as he shook his head.

Laki looked back at me, "But, I do find it interesting that you seem to understand the joy of putting yourself in danger... during these hunts of yours?"

"It's not that it's a dangerous situation which makes it enjoyable, at least not for us," I said.

"Still... danger is part of the equation, right?" Laki wondered.

I shrugged, "The kick of a deer might hurt, but it's not going to turn my body into strawberry jam."

"Hmm," Laki murmured, "... anyway, let's move back to the steak."

"Yes... I'm quite interested to see where this is going," I said and smiled back.

"It's not that the danger of a farm meatis what draws people in, but... to removesaid danger,thatwould... well... I'm not sure how to put it exactly. It would remove part of what makes it exciting."

I pondered it, "I can't say it makes much sense to me.We could make a perfect replica of a rare bloody steak using lab-grown meat, and the only way you'd know the difference is if we told you.Thus you set up a situation where your pleasure depends on our words rather than the product itself. Or is it some kind ofself-delusional trickery, where you want the illusion that it's dangerous, but youdon't want actual danger?"

Laki motioned to me with both hands, "People trick themselves all the time in order to enjoy something. A movie isn't real, nor is a game, but you still derive pleasure from it."

"There's a big difference between suspending belief in order to enjoy fiction, and practices that endanger your life," I said.

Lydon cleared his throat, and then raised his hand, "Which is kind of the point here. I offered Laki a meal, and he found it boring since it was grown in a lab. Thus, I offered to poison his meal at random... to make it more exciting."

Laki chuckled, "I was rather upset at this offer. Obviously the danger of meat from our farms, and randomly poisoned meat from a lab, wasn't the same thing."

"Functionally, it is the same thing," I said.

Lakipointed atLydon, " He also said that.But hearing that only upset me even more. They were not the same thing, and the argument itself seemed... ridiculous."

Lydon snickered to himself, "You should have seen him. Laki was red as a beet, screaming, and even flipped his plate in anger as we kept discussing it."

Lakishook his head, took a deep sip from his glass, and let out a deep sigh, "The anger behind it was rooted in ourdifferent ways ofperceivingthe world. I had my interpretation, andyou people had anotherone."

Lydon pointed his stubby index finger at Laki, "But, you changed."

Lakimet my gaze once more,"You hybrids are rather insidious you know... You plant seeds of doubt, and when one of them takes root...there's no going back."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"One day... Sitting at home, pondering the world,it was as if a switch was flicked. All it took was a glimpse of understanding, and my own worldview began to shatter.The act ofconsuming meat from a farm, and randomly poisoned lab meatwere functionallythe same... Once that insight struck, it was inevitable that I would start applying the same kind of test to other things."

I stayed silent.

Laki raised his glass a little and peered at the lights in the ceiling through the red wine, "It didn't take long before I was asking myself a great many questions...Why am I amassing wealth when I have no chance of being on the top? Why do I evenaspire to reach the very top? Why did I leave a woman that I loved, and instead chose a marriage of convenience?Why do we do nothing, yet are brought to a rage by the mere thought of you people trying to expand beyond the island? Why cling to emotions when the cure for them is available at any street corner? Why does my heart ache when I look at my children and realize that they chose long ago to rid themselves of the feelings that I now struggle with?"

Laki turned the glass in his hand, and whispered, "Why do I persist in this worldview?"

The room had gone very silent as Laki lowered his glass once more, and looked at me.

"It's a question that everyone has to ask themselves," I said.

"True," Laki said, and lowered his glass.

Allen raised his hand, "I thought that your family was safe in Sophos?"

Laki looked over at Allen, "They are... my real family that is, the woman and child I had before my arranged marriage. The ones that... even the intelligence services know little about."

I smiled back, "Ah... I was wondering how Sophos managed to smuggle them out. It makes more sense now that your real family consisted of people that weren't on the radar."

"While debating the philosophy of nations is interesting, might I suggest that we shift focus to the tasks at hand?" Lydon said and raised a brow as he looked about the room.

Laki hummed with amusement as he sipped his glass, "As you wish, besides... there will be more dinners like this, I hope?"

Lydon squinted, "If we have good reason to have one."

Laki nodded repeatedly, "I'm sure we'll be arrange that, but I am curious... What's your answer to the great question, Lydon? How do we find meaning in this universe?"

Lydon pondered it for a moment, and let his gaze wander among the rest of us, "The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile, but that it is indifferent--if we can come to terms with this indifference, then our existence as a species can have genuine meaning. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light."

Allen chuckled, "I know that one: it's from a human, Stanley Kubrick, from before the collapse."

The universe is scary and intimidating, but there's beauty within it as well...

Laki huffed, and raised his glass as he gently waved it, "I deeply regret ever meeting your kind..."

My ears perked in surprise, but I didn't have time to react as Laki looked beyond the glass to focus on me, "A_nd_ I look forward to the day I might join you."