Ardent Violet and the Infinite Eye by Alex White
Author:Alex White [WHITE, ALEX]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2024-12-03T00:00:00+00:00
âArdent Violet,â a stilted, English-speaking voice says over the room speakers, âyou have a visitor. Do you accept?â
âYes.â
Giant eyes appear in front of Ardent, and they yelp. It takes them a moment to recognize the bridge of Redeemerâs nose. The massive construct shrinks until its crown just barely touches the ceiling. Five eyes blaze down at Ardent, each wrapped in silver filigree. Cracks and scars pit its face.
âHello, Ardent Violet.â
âWhat is with Vanguards doing that?â Ardent straightens their robeâs cuffs on instinctâcanât be slouchy in front of the alien mecha president.
âI hope youâre being treated well.â
âIâm not in any pain,â they say. âNot hungry.â
âWith luck, we can resolve all of this, and you can be released.â
Ardent balls their fists. âWhereâs the signature file?â
âIt has been given to me, where it will remain in my personal care until this business between August Kitko and the Pictorans is settled.â
âI donât like the sound of that.â
âNor should you. A creature from another galaxy holds the keys to your speciesâ salvation.â Redeemerâs eyes narrow. âThe situation is suboptimal for humanity.â
âThanks for pointing that out.â
âTruth is the cornerstone of lasting diplomacy. If need be, I can use the file on your behalf and write potent code. I can interoperate with any style of computing, even human.â
âAnd what will that do, âGreat Translatorâ?â
âI will be able to manipulate Infinite directly.â
âHave you told Gus and Nisha? About capturing me? About the signature file? About⦠about Hjalmar?â
âI have informed the United Worlds.â
âAnd Gus and Nisha?â
âOnly if their Vanguards have told them.â
âSo why are you here, then?â
âI need you to be part of a team.â
âWhat kind?â
âThe kind with a Dark Drive, the signature file, and a plan.â
âSounds good to me.â
âI can fix this, but itâs going to require a lot of cooperation.â Redeemer inclines its head. âCooperation that, Iâm afraid, hasnât been forthcoming inside the Coalition.â
âYou all seemed pretty united to me.â
âWe are using a lot of resources to defend your species on faith. I believe you have something to offer us, but I canât prove it.â
âIs that the only reason the Coalition is saving humanity?â Ardent asks. âBecause we have something to offer?â
âNothing is free, Ardent Violet. There are many things we wish to learn from you. Are there not Coalition technologies you crave?â
âSure. Probably.â
âThen we must make this partnership last. I have a plan to do exactly that.â
âAnd are we worried about people overhearing this plan? This cell is probably wiretapped.â
âYouâre a political prisoner and Iâm the chancellor. The call between us is privileged. If someone is recording us now, theyâre threatening their own freedom in the extreme.â
âOkay, fine. Tell me your plan.â
âFirst, Iâll have you transferred to a room with a view. You deserve better.â
Ardent rolls their eyes. âAnd whatâs that going to do?â
âIt was Falchionâs request.â
Ardent grimaces. âReally?â
âIâm taking the signature file to Titan. August Kitko and Scent of Rot need some guidance. With all of that sorted, you and August Kitko will meet at a prearranged location to build something for me.â
âOh, Iâm just going to pop out and do your bidding?â
âYou absolutely are.
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