Coeus?

Chapter 77: ~A Trade.~

Chapter 77: ~A Trade.~

Apparently Sadina betrayed the Revelation Wing. We have to cover our tracks and get our cell's members into hiding. There is a high risk that she not only stole our funds, but escaped with enough evidence to uncover our entire operation.

-Unknown

***En route to Sol, Aether***

***Exo***

What is it with this child? I've read everything there is to know about young techno-mages. I've even downloaded the latest psychological research notes by the most renown entities on the field of study. But Aurelia is much too far ahead of what a child of her age should be able to do. She has yet to reach her first birthday and still...

Her eyes are much too calculating when they follow me while I am floating above her crib. It is like she is trying to make up her mind on what to think of me, putting me into a known category. Then again she is that guy's daughter. I shouldn't forget that fact, it is everything which counts.

Ball.

Did she just label me as a ball!? I am not a ball. I am a sprite and my name is Exo. I am a sentient entity just like your Mom and your Dad.

Not Mom.

That's right. I am Exo, a sprite and your tutor. I answer, keeping my cool. I have to put things right early on. There is no way I can let her become one of those extremists who think that inorganic beings have no rights.

Not Dad!

Yes. I am Exo, your babysitter. I am a sentient being with feelings and a free will of my own. Children! I've to stop her from trying to reason this out with logic. She is far from having all the necessary facts.

Round.

My body is round. You are right in that regard. I wish our communication wouldn't be so hindered by her vocabulary.

Ball. Play?

Just because my body is shaped like a sphere it doesn't mean that I am a ball. I answer, feeling despair welling up inside me. I am not good with children. What should I do?

Ball! Play!

She reaches out for me and I float a bit higher, just to make sure that I am out of reach. This situation is going downhill rapidly. I've to find that damned grandmother and ask for help. Maybe I should buy a human-shaped avatar to deal with Aurelia? I should have considered that from the start. With this body all I can do is manipulating the electromagnetic field a little. Then again I was just hired as a tutor, not to change her diaper!

Those parents are to blame! I am an examination sprite through and through. Not a nursery! Aurelia, why don't we watch an educational channel together. I've downloaded something that fits your current state of development perfectly. I project the famous show 'Magical world!' in front of me.

But before I can start the playback a sudden zap of energy shoots out from Aurelia's chubby fingers and my gravity manipulators are fried. A few sparks fly and I drop down onto the crib, right next to Aurelia!

What happened!? Did you just use magic!? I try to re-engage the gravity manipulators, but it doesn't help! I am grounded!

A chubby hand is placed on the vision lens through which I get an image of my surroundings. Aurelia!? What are you doing!? A few sucking sounds make me even more wary of the situation. What is this child doing? Help! Melan!? Rhiannon!? Anyone at home!?

Then I am turned and see a cheek, then lips and a tongue connecting to my vision lens! She is using me as a baby-soother! No! What humiliation! Aurelia, stop this at once! At least my case is waterproof.

The lips disconnect and the next thing I notice is that I am banged against the prison bars of Aurelia's crib.

Is she trying to break out to explore the room?

Or is she trying to break me open to have a look inside?

There is no way a baby would manage that!

But she just used instinctive magic to zap my gravity manipulators. Who says that with a little childish anger she won't manage reinforce her body's capabilities?

HEEEEELP!

***En route to Sol, Aether***

***Cyla***

I am so proud, Gideon. Our daughter is a genius! I cradle Aurelia in my arms and press my cheek against her face. Just a few minutes ago we returned from our meeting and found Exo in an awkward predicament.

Yeah, Exo? You are fine? Gideon holds up Exo's body and studies the damage with interest.

No! The sprite starts complaining. I was attacked with magic! Then she drooled all over me and used me as a baby-soother!

You are a little slimy. Gideon admits grudgingly.

And if that isn't bad enough, she tried to break me open! The sprite is screaming now.

Don't overreact. There are just a few scratches. They can't even be called dents. My husband tries to play down the situation.

S...s...S... Scratches!? What do you think I paid for this silver casing of mine!? I worked an entire year to afford this body!

Gideon snorts. You worked for an entire year to get a cheap silver casing? What did they pay you in your previous job? Maybe I should consider lowering your payment.

I walk over and place a hand on Gideon's shoulder. Don't worry, Exo. We will pay for repairing your body. We will even equip you with military hardware to stop such incidents from occurring again.

Gideon turns his head to look at me and we make eye-contact. I don't look away until I am sure that my message got across. After a few moments he shrugs and returns his attention to Exo. Fine. We'll get you up to standards so that you can do your job. It would be a waste of money to pay that much cash to a baby-soother.

R- Really!? Exo answers with a little hope in his voice.

Gideon stands up. Yes, but first we have to get you cleaned up. My IMs will most likely refuse to work on a slimy thing like you. They don't have a mind of their own, but I set some working conditions to ensure the quality of the product.

Ah, ok. Exo is silent for a few moments until Gideon starts moving towards the kitchen. Wait. Where are you going?

The dishwasher. Obviously. How else did you think I can clean you up? I certainly won't bathe you in lukewarm water and rub you off with a toothbrush and velvet towels. You are waterproof, aren't you? Gideon answers with a bored voice and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

I smile and look down on Aurelia who is grinning at me. Don't worry. Daddy will get Exo up to shape. He will be an excellent tutor for you and your brother. I reach down and pat my belly which is slowly turning round again.

Then a new thought strikes me. What do we do if your brother is similarly talented? The two of them will be hard to control!

***En route to Sol, Aether***

***Gideon***

I lie down on my bed and sigh, thinking about today's events. First our visit to Gathering-Station, then Zeil's message of doom and the hasty meeting to decide on our next steps. We also had to file a proper report for the elders to inform them of the new situation and to propose our solution.

No. This day wasn't easy on me. In an attempt to calm my headaches I reach for my forehead and massage it. Using my VR to its limits is quite straining, but I had to be sure that my calculations weren't wrong before I made the proposal.

Cyla enters the room. She wears a black nightgown and drops herself onto the bed. She must be at least as spent as I am. I roll over and entangle her in my arms, letting out a deep sigh.

She snuggles closer and traps my arms in hers. You know that this way of sleeping is very constricting?

I shrug and place my chin on her shoulder. I can sleep just fine when I have my woman that close to me. In fact I can't imagine sleeping anyway else.

You just want to feel me up. She purrs.

That's a very distinct possibility. I admit and boldly cup her chest in my hands, grumbling with pleasure and enjoying the sensation. If this stupid universe wouldn't interfere I would never leave the bed and chain her up. Just a little to ensure that she can't leave without me.

I am having thoughts of playing with her nipples, but before I get to do anything else to her we get an anonymous call from outside the mansion. I groan. By the nine frozen hells! That's the last person I want to talk to right now.

Even Cyla's voice turns cold. Your mother?

Who else? Do we know that many people who hide their identity when calling us? I ask.

Cyla purses her lips and pulls the blanket closer to cover herself. At least I do not!

I snort and answer the call. Yes?

Sadina's avatar flickers into existence and she immediately starts squirming. That cold voice! It has to be my son. Don't tell me that I interrupted something fruitful? Her eyes wander to Cyla and she winks at her. How are my granddaughter and my grandson doing?

Cyla turns red with anger. How do you know!? I've told nobody except for immediate family!

Ah, but you see. The doctor knows and the servers of the hospital aren't as secure as one might think. She smiles. At least not against someone of my calibre!

I close my eyes and rub the bridge of my nose. The headaches are turning really strong right now. Sadina, what do you want? I can tell that something out of the ordinary is going on. Normally you only call people when they are alone. What you are doing right now is a breach of your normal routine.

Sadina's avatar places a hand on her cheek and her arm wander below her rack to push it up. My son knows me so well. It almost feels like we are a real family. Then she claps her hands together. But by judging the look on your face that's a role I'll never be allowed to play.

Returning back to business. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a green vial. I want to trade! She dangles it between two fingers and almost drops it, but in the last second she catches it with the other hand. That was close.

Cyla crosses her arms in front of her chest. Do you care to explain? We can't read your mind if you are hiding behind your avatar!

Sadina blinks and looks genuinely puzzled. Yes, of course. Isn't that the point? Then she continues as if there is no problem. You see, I got that genetic research from back then when you attacked the Resch facility and combined it with my own. It was so fascinating! Learning the mystery behind our creation. Her expression turns sad. But I kind of hit a wall in my research in unlocking the powers of magic. A dead end. I need a sample from the evolved specimen. She smiles and gestures at us. I need your sperm and Cyla's eggs. And preferably also a few samples from your children.

What!? Cyla starts screaming. Are you mad, Woman! There is no way that I let you play around with my children!

But nobody gets hurt? Sadina starts gesturing. You see, what you two have been through can't be easily reproduced. Gideon evolved much earlier than I anticipated and the blood ritual caused an unforeseen evolution. Normally I didn't expect him to blossom like that, but he thrives! And just look at your daughter, such a promising child. Cyla's genetics seem to be a perfect match for him. I don't want to try other genetic codes. It would alter the conditions too much.

I raise my hand. Sadina, there is no way that I would allow this madness to continue. Can't you see that you are living inside a delusion? I've said nothing so far because you were just an annoyance, but you have to come clean with yourself and with Ed. He still has hope for you. Whatever went wrong inside that brilliant brain of yours, you have to stop it.

Sadina makes a dismissive gesture. Pff! Ed. That's such an old story by now. I left that behind a long time ago. And who says that I can't get the samples by other means?

I feel Cyla stiffen at my side and glare at Sadina.

Oh, come on. I am offering you the solution to all your problems. She dangles the green vial in front of her.

You still failed to inform us of what that is. Cyla growls.

Sadina starts nodding. Yes, how stupid of me. Sometimes I am really scatterbrained. This is something I cooked up by using the new insights I gained from the alien DNA-research. It was also hard to get my hands on some Drazi-DNA samples, but you brought more than enough corpses from that captured ship.

She holds up the vial like the holy grail. This is a very potent virus. I hand-crafted it to match the Drazi biology perfectly. Once released, it will deal with the problem.

I squint my eyes. And the results?

Sadina shrugs. Nothing special. I chose to alter the common Drazi version of the cold. Then I combined the properties of Aids with Ebola and gave it airborne properties. The virus runs through two stages during its lifetime. During stage one the virus acts much like Aids and exists within the hosts immune system without doing too much harm. Once the Drazi are exposed to excessive amounts of female pheromones, like on a planet, the virus enters stage two and becomes more aggressive. The immune system gets wiped out and the organs are attacked until the host dies.

It's a very elegant solution. The ship-crews are left alive to spread the virus. They slowly wither away like a normal aids patient. Planetary populations are wiped out within days after the virus had enough time to spread and enters stage two.

Putting ships under quarantine won't work because the virus doesn't enter stage two on a ship. How the virus spreads will be a complete mystery to them until they can identify the pathogen. And by then it will be most likely too late.

You are insane! What if the virus backfires!? Cyla calls out. And what if the other species find out? Biological warfare is the one thing all sentient life agreed on banning! They will be all over us!

Pfff! Sadina snorts and shakes her head. How should they know unless you tell them? The Galaxy is a dangerous place. One always has to be careful of dangerous germs. Every species knows that and performs painfully careful tests on the biological environment of other species. The Drazi on the other hand are settling every world they can find as they please. They don't care if it is wild and unexplored. It is just a question of time until they will encounter something really nasty. There will be no way to prove that it was us. All we have to do is to deploy the virus on one of their frontier worlds with one of our teleportation nodes. It'll be untraceable.

What proof do you have that it won't turn on us? And you don't even know what we came up with. A strictly mechanical solution feels much safer to me. Cyla asks.

Sadina rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Oh, please. Mechanical solutions! Did you devise a strategy to nuke entire star systems? Humans are fighting mice and rats with traps and poison since the dawn of civilisation. It doesn't look like we are anywhere near winning.

Are you planning on destroying hundreds of life bearing worlds to get rid of the Drazi? My solution is much simpler and less messy.

Cyla closes her mouth. Apparently she didn't think about what it means to wipe out the Drazi. We certainly can't get them off the occupied worlds and nobody has enough troops to clean those worlds by hand. When Cyla wants to speak again I raise my hand and grab her arm, opening my mind to hold her back.

Where do you want to meet us? I ask Sadina. Even if I don't give my mother what she wants, we have to accept. This is a unique chance to catch her. Cyla has to realize that. There is no other possible choice than to accept the offer. The only thing that stands to discussion is whether or not we are willing to betray her or if we take the deal.

Marvellous! Sadina pockets the vial. We will meet once Aether is back in Sol, three days from now at seven. The handover will be at the old teleportation station close to central city square. Further instructions will follow once you are there. Don't be late.

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