Authors: Kyra Anderson
“What do you mean?”
“I showed them a transmitted discussion
between Jakra and Gihron showing that Gihron intended to make Ulam pay all
reparations if Gihron lost the war, and that they would be taxed severely if
Gihron won.”
“How did you get that information?”
“Gihron uses obsolete technology,”
Vanessa said with a shrug. “I hacked their system.”
Both the Elites in the room were staring
at the woman with wide eyes.
“How…” Remus trailed off. “Why would you
do something like that?”
“Because they were about to launch
another thirty-thousand troops to support Gihron, and you would have been
overwhelmed.”
“How did you get
that
information?” Isa pressed.
“You’re not the only one with little
birds everywhere,” Vanessa said with a mysterious grin. “You could say that
knowledge is my trade.” She lowered her eyes. “I may not have many eyes on you,
but I think I can guess what put you in here.” She smiled thinly. “Taking on
another enemy?”
“You could say that,” Isa said. “I’d say
this one is more dangerous than Gihron.”
“I would have to agree,” Vanessa said.
“More at stake with this new enemy than with Gihron.”
“Bad timing to focus on both of them at
the same time,” Isa chuckled brokenly.
“No, no,” Vanessa disagreed quickly.
“It’s a brilliant time, actually.”
“How do you figure that?” Remus asked,
unconvinced.
“She won’t have you killed in the middle
of a war with Gihron,” Vanessa explained. “You’re too important, to her, to the
war, to the Alliance, to the people. She knows that she has no chance of
controlling the situation if she does not have the Golden Elite.”
“She could use it as propaganda,” Isa
said, shaking her head. “She could blame it on Gihron.”
“But that wouldn’t serve her agenda,”
Vanessa said. “You remember the meeting. Others were hesitant to support you
because they said that it was a blood feud between Gihron and Tiao. If you were
to die in this war, that would show submission to Gihron, who is acting in
revenge, and the Alliance would lose faith in the power of Tiao.” The former
teacher smiled broadly. “She needs you alive. You are far more powerful than
you realize.”
Isa lowered her eyes to the bedsheets,
sighing.
“I have no power over her.”
“I can’t think of a statement more
false,” Vanessa said, shaking her head. “You have
all
the power. Every Golden Elite has always had complete power
over Venus, but she never allowed them to realize it. Every time any one of
them started trouble, she would have them killed. And, if they wanted to shut
her down to rebuild everything, she made sure that the Golden Elite would not
survive shutting her down. It was a brilliant and very calculated move on her
part.”
“She can easily have me killed at any
time,” Isa pointed out. “She controls everything on this planet. The cars, the
robots…absolutely everything is under her control.”
“Everything that is not human,” Vanessa
agreed with a nod. “She doesn’t control
you.
You know that the times Venus is wrong it is because of
one
individual. And she has always been wrong about you. She
believed you could not lead the planet, because you were clearly a degenerate,
even if the tests could not determine how. She believed that telling you to
stop being with Remus would make you listen, she believed that you were safe as
long as you were subdued with the knowledge that rebellion against her would
mean death, and she believed that what happened with Colonel Amori would break
you and allow her to control you. She’s always been wrong about you. So, when
she discredits you as a threat, you need to prove her wrong again.”
“But how do I know that I can succeed?”
“No one knows that for sure,” Vanessa
admitted. “But, what makes a great leader is when that leader knows just how
much power is at their disposal, and knows when to use it for the good of the
people, and when to refrain from using it for the good of society. You clearly
have that understanding. You showed that knowledge even in school, with your
group of friends, who are now the Elites of the Syndicate. They follow you,
even risking death for degeneration and treason, because they know that you are
the leader that this planet needs.”
“I want to change things,” Isa murmured.
“But things will get worse before they get better.”
“They always do,” Vanessa said. She
placed her hand on Isa’s. “You are an extraordinary being, Isa. You understand
the need for change, and you crave something better for the people. That’s not
a trait one normally sees in anyone, human or Elite. Sometimes, I feel like you
are the only hope humanity has left.”
Isa chuckled brokenly. “I was
created
by humans. I doubt I can save
humanity.”
“Often times, what humans create is the
thing that saves them.”
“But…” Isa hesitated. “What if this isn’t
the right path?” The Golden Elite looked at her former teacher, her eyes
showing her uncertainty. “Venus works for a reason. People need regulation.
They can’t be governed on their own. Crime is not the same as it was before,
and even though there is an enormous social imbalance with Venus and the Elites
in power, it has been a stable system for hundreds of years.” Isa sighed
heavily. “Maybe…maybe Venus is the right way to govern humanity.”
“A computer is not a good judge of
humanity,” Vanessa disagreed, shaking her head. “Humanity is far more than
numbers and statistics and death, they are artists and creative vessels for
advancement. A computer can replicate art, but it cannot create it. A computer
can replicate tones and sounds and words, but it cannot string them together in
an original composition, because it cannot determine which sounds are pleasing
or which words will evoke emotion in the listener.”
“Elites can’t do that, either,” Isa said.
“Well…except Remus.”
They both turned to the Silver Elite, who
looked between the two of them before slowly lowering his eyes to the ground.
“Correct,” Vanessa agreed. “An individual
that is degenerate by Venus’ standards can create some of the most beautiful
music and art that any of us have ever heard or seen.” Vanessa turned back to
Isa. “There is no standard when it comes to creativity. If there was, there
would be no advancement.”
Isa’s eyes lowered.
“But
I
cannot create art,” she murmured.
Vanessa reached forward and lifted Isa’s
chin, forcing her to look up.
“But you can create
change
,” she whispered, smiling. “And I know you will. I’ve always
known you would.”
Kailynn was going stir-crazy.
She had never been good at staying inside
for days at a time, and now that she had nowhere to go, she was losing her mind.
She would spend the days pacing around the safe house, watching the news
broadcasts for the tiniest mention of Isa and agonizing over the Elite’s
safety.
The two and a half weeks were torturous.
She would talk to Isa occasionally on the
phone, but the Elite could only call occasionally and only for two minutes.
Venus could trace the calls and figure out which of the Syndicate safe houses
Kailynn was occupying. Isa would call, make sure Kailynn was alright, assure
the former Significant that she was also alright, and then tell her when she
would call again.
Kailynn tried to focus on continuing her
reading and writing lessons, but she would always break away from them and
watch the news for hours on end, learning about the wins and losses of the army
fighting in Tiaoian space and the various planets that had lent their support
to the Syndicate.
She also learned that the Wheezing Death
had been announced to the public upon the opening of the medical center in the
Walking District, which officially opened one week after Kailynn left Anon.
However, they were so overwhelmed with patients from Trid with the Wheezing
Death Virus that they had declared it a regional epidemic and called in doctors
from all over the planet to assist Dr. Busen in studying the strange,
undocumented illness.
Even though she considered it a victory
that the medical center had been opened and allowed health care to Trids, she
could hardly celebrate.
She was too worried about the Golden
Elite.
Kailyn also received brief, encouraging
phone calls from Rayal and Tarah. They both assured her that Isa was, in fact,
alright and told her that Dr. Busen had operated on Isa to help with the
reconstructive deterioration and the pain from Venus’ angry attacks on the
Golden Elite.
Due to the limited time allowed on all
calls to her, Kailynn had to learn about how Venus was attacking Isa through
the course of four days. It caused her anxiety to triple.
Two and a half weeks in the safe house
and Kailynn was planning her escape. She could not drive the car, and knew that
if it took her eleven hours to get to the safe house from Anon by car, it would
take her a week, if not longer, to walk back. She was no further on getting a
plan together when she received a phone call.
Since she had been in the bathroom when
it rang, she quickly had to scramble out, darting across the living room while
she pulled her pants up. She dove for the phone on the coffee table, catching
herself precariously on the couch.
“Hello?!” she gasped, trying to catch her
balance on the sofa, though she ended up tumbling to the ground. “Hello?”
“Are you alright?” Isa’s voice chuckled.
Kailynn let out a relieved breath and
smiled.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she assured. “I just had
to run to the phone and I ended up falling. How are you? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Isa assured. “I can’t stay on
the line long. Venus can still trace it. Just know that in about two minutes,
an alarm will sound in the house. Don’t worry, you’re still safe.”
“Wait, why the alarm?” Kailynn asked. There
was silence on the other end. “Isa? Hello?”
Kailynn glanced at the screen of the
phone and groaned when she saw that the call had ended. She squeezed the phone
tight, resisting the urge to throw it against the wall in frustration. She knew
if she did not find a way to get out of the safe house and back to Isa soon she
would suffer a psychotic breakdown.
She watched the clock anxiously, waiting
for the alarm to sound.
Two minutes exactly after the phone call
ended, a beeping alarm sounded from various corners of the house. Each alarm
site on its own was not loud, however, combined, the noise still caused Kailynn
to jump in surprise. She stood, wondering how to stop the alarm before someone
heard it, or before the Officials were alerted, but an automated voice, soft
and gentle, spoke before she could move from the living room.
“Vehicle parking in bay two. Verified
visitor.”
Kailynn listened to the voice, thinking
over the words as the alarm stopped. She stood still, her breath stuck in her
throat. For several seconds, she could hardly breathe.
Her knees shaking and her heart lifting
in her throat, nearly choking her, she took careful steps toward the door,
listening to every noise. The soft chime of the elevator, followed by the sound
of the door opening caused her to still, her eyes fixed on the door.
There were footsteps in the entrance
hallway and then the main door opened.
A tall, blonde figure with stunning blue
eyes stepped inside, a relieved smile spreading across her face.
Kailynn went forward, her arms wrapping
around the Elite’s neck and hugging her tightly. Isa’s arms went around
Kailynn’s waist, securing them together, even though Kailynn’s momentum caused
the Elite to fall back against the closed door.
In those moments, the world stood still.
All that existed was the tight embrace
around them both.
Isa let out a long breath and Kailynn
remembered that this was not a dream. The Golden Elite was there with her,
breathing, smiling, warm and gentle as always.
She backed away from Isa long enough to
take her face in her hands and crash their lips together. The touch seemed to
break the floodgates, and emotion and anxiety rushed forward. Kailynn let out a
primal sound and her mouth worked desperately against Isa’s. The Golden Elite
was not as frantic, but her hands were shaking as she held Kailynn to her.
Kailynn’s hands skirted down Isa’s body,
quickly shedding the jacket of Isa’s uniform, her lips never leaving the
Elite’s. One of Isa’s hands went up to Kailynn’s head, her fingers tangling in
her hair as they kissed hungrily.
The younger woman’s fingers quickly
worked at the fastening of Isa’s uniform pants and pushed them down sharply,
her hands grabbing at Isa’s skin desperately, as if worried the Elite would
disappear if they were to part.
One of her hands went down to cup, Isa
her fingers gently exploring flesh she had not touched in what felt like years.
Isa broke their kiss with a gasp and her
head fell back against the door.
She panted as Kailynn kissed her neck, slowly
going to her knees, her lips marking a trail down Isa’s body.
“Kailynn…” Isa whispered, breathless.
“Don’t you want to move out of the doorway?”
“No.”
Time passed without notice. Kailynn and
Isa were both desperate for one another, their hands never leaving the other’s
body, their lips tangling whenever they were close. It was frenzied, and every
action was filled with anxiety that they could not put words to,
Eventually, they found themselves on the
couch, sated and calmed. They reveled in the closeness of the other, silent for
an indeterminable amount of time.
“…how long can you stay?” Kailynn
whispered, her hands drifting over Isa’s back as the Elite rested over her like
a blanket. Isa sighed and lifted her head, meeting Kailynn’s eyes.
“Unfortunately, I have to leave tomorrow
afternoon,” she murmured. She ran a hand over Kailynn’s cheek. “I actually
shouldn’t be here now, but I had to see you.”
Kailynn smiled, lifting her head to kiss
Isa.
“Are you alright? Be honest. I’ll kick
your ass if you lie.”
“I’m alright,” she assured with a
chuckle.
“Rayal said that Venus has been attacking
you.”
“It’s not as bad now,” she said.
“How can she attack you? I don’t
understand.”
Isa hesitated, her eyes averting as she
tried to find a way to explain. She lowered her head back to Kailynn’s chest
and sighed once more.
“When I was made Golden Elite,” she
started slowly, “Venus and I were connected.”
“What does that mean?”
“Remember when you were in Trid? And we
had to translate Venus’ language for you?”
“Yeah, and that hurt you…somehow…”
“I had a few medical procedures when I
was inaugurated,” the Golden Elite said vaguely. “A tracer chip, a heart
monitoring system, a translator, a bunch of other things. This anchors me to
Venus. Which means she can send electric pulses to all of these devices and
cause a lot of pain.”
“…is she attacking you because of me?”
“No,” Isa assured. “She’s punishing me
because of what I have done.” She closed her eyes, falling silent for several
seconds. “I’ve disobeyed her. I’ve incapacitated her in many ways.”
“Incapacitated?”
“That virus I released in her system was
no simple infection,” Isa said. “I made sure to program it so that when she
tries to send certain orders, it infects her. The more she tries, the more
avenues she tries to work around the infected parts of her mainframe, the worse
her system becomes.”
“Can you shut her down that way?”
Isa stopped, her eyes opening once more,
becoming pensive.
“Isa?”
“That particular virus will not destroy
her,” Isa said. “However, if we were to find a way to
infect
her main codes, maybe with a virus that would destroy those
source codes, it could be possible to shut her down with a virus.”
“I thought that was how you were going to
shut her down eventually,” Kailynn said.
“No, I actually always thought we would
have to destroy her source codes through physical force.”
“I thought Venus could program herself
anywhere.”
“As long as she has her complete source
coding. She can’t exactly move from place to place, since her processors are in
various locations throughout the planet. If one of them goes down, or even half
of them, she would still function because her source coding, which she uses as
a backup, can still be accessed.”
“…you lost me.”
Isa shifted once more, climbing off of
Kailynn to rest next to her, propping her head up in one hand as her other arm
draped over Kailynn.
“Venus was created to monitor the planet
for disasters,” she started. “At the time she was created, she could not
monitor the entire planet from one source. There were edges to the areas where
she could monitor. Therefore, they built additional processing units and linked
them with one another. This gave Venus complete control over every area of the
planet. Obviously, as technology advanced, she downloaded more processes and
she is not dependent on those processor units around the planet. She used the
newer technology to create two backups of her source coding. One of those codes
moves around constantly. The other is linked to her first processor.”
“Where is the first processor?”
“About a three hour drive from here,” Isa
explained.
“It’s not in Anon?”
“No,” Isa said, shaking her head. “Anon
is too high-profile for such delicate information. Her first processor is very
secluded in a low-profile, low-population area. There are three processors in
Anon and the surrounding areas, but if those were attacked or destroyed, her
source codes would not be harmed.”
“So, if you were to destroy her first
processor,” Kailynn mused, “she would still have her source codes because of
the second backup that keeps moving around.” Kailynn’s eyebrows furrowed. “How
do you know where that is?”