“I’m Sirantha Jax,” I say, intending to make introductions first.
“I know who you are,” she says. “And what you’ve done.”
I can’t determine if that’s auspicious . . . or ominous.
Taking pity on me, she adds, “You set records with the Corp before going rogue and destabilizing the galactic economy with the truth of Farwan’s misdeeds. Then you escaped the bounty hunter they set on you and went on to forge an alliance with Ithiss-Tor.”
“Would you have done any different?” This, I decide, will help me take her measure.
“No. However much I regret our current predicament, Farwan was not the answer. They had gone from serving the people to serving themselves. And the alliance was the first good news I’ve heard in a while. I hope it will be enough.”
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Loras murmurs.
“So it does,” Evelyn responds tiredly. “Which is why I am not sure whether I can trust you.”
“A fair question. How can we resolve the issue to your satisfaction?” In Dina’s voice, I hear diplomacy and echoes of the princess she used to be. She would’ve made a far better ambassador than me, I think, but she wouldn’t have had the job for any price.
“Not with words or promises,” Dasad says.
“Are you all right to talk with them?” Mac asks from the doorway. His anxiety is palpable, even now.
Evelyn nods. “You can go, Uncle Mac. I don’t think they mean me any harm, and if I’m wrong, your bots will make short work of them.”
That explains a lot. On closer scrutiny, I see they have the same dark eyes. He turns to go with a final, narrow-eyed stare at the three of us, but without Hon, we’re clearly no match for two fully equipped Peacemaker units. It would take heavy weapons to pierce their armor, and we’re not carrying that kind of firepower.
I take a seat. “Shall we get down to business, then?”
CHAPTER 22
“What is it you want?” Evelyn asks without preamble.
“To take you with us to Emry Station.” I hold up a hand to forestall her instinctive protest. “But unlike other factions, we won’t attempt to do it against your will.”
“You want the new nanite tech.” She doesn’t phrase it as a question.
I shrug. “We only suspected it was related to the nanite research. We were just sure it had to be important if the Morgut went to the trouble of trying to take you alive. They don’t generally operate that way. We figured once word got around, there would be lots of people interested in you, and we don’t want your knowledge in the hands of our enemies.”
Among the three of us, we outline our mission as set down by Chancellor Tarn and the Conglomerate. Loras and Dina fill in technical bits, and she listens with great interest.
“So you’re forging a central galactic regime,” she says, once we’ve finished. “A true alliance of worlds, not a human authority, but one that governs all races with impartiality and wisdom.”
“That’s the goal.” I may have my doubts that it can be accomplished, but I’m wise enough to hold them. She’s seen enough to disillusion her. Leave the woman some hope. “And we’re building an armada for the Conglomerate as part of that. I think you could be vital to our efforts.”
Her plain face fills with disdain. “Of course I could. I am. My nanites will change the face of jump-travel forever.”
Then there’s no question we want her on our team. I see by the flare in Dina’s eyes, she knows as much. As always, Loras is inscrutable, but on some level I sense his heightened interest.
Mary, I wish March were here. He could read her quietly, then tell her what she most wants to hear. Dishonest, perhaps, but effective. Without him, I’m left guessing. At lightning speed, I review what I know, then I realize we have a carrot to tempt her.
“Interesting,” I say. “We, too, have some previously unknown scientific discoveries.” Dina flashes me a look, but I’m too far out on this limb to second-guess it. “Though it’s yet to be made public, I possess mutated DNA that permits me to regenerate grimspace damage. Right now, we have a geneticist working on an implant to regulate that function and, what’s more, perfect a gene therapy to offer this ability to all jumpers. I imagine you and Doc have a lot to discuss. If your nanites are as revolutionary as you say, they might aid immeasurably in his work—and perhaps . . . vice versa.”
Evelyn regards me with open skepticism. “That’s impossible.”
I grin. “I figure that’s what they said about jump-travel when they first uncovered the tech in the pyramids. I can bounce a message to Emry and ask Doc to forward some of his findings, but the longer we linger here, the greater chance we’ll run into trouble. Emry has been fortified against the Morgut—”
“You drove them out once before,” she realizes aloud.
To be completely accurate, we killed them. “I had help.”
“How do you envision my role in your endeavor?” she asks.
“We don’t. That’s up to you to decide. I suspect you’ll want to work with Doc, but if you don’t like him, we won’t force the issue. If you decide you want to give up science altogether and learn to pilot, we have someone who can put in the shunt, and we’ll do our best to protect you in the field.”
I surprise her into a short burst of laughter, rusty and long unused. Her dark eyes actually shine, and I notice Dina giving her a second glance. I glare at her. Oh, no, you don’t. She lifts her shoulders as if to say, I can look, can’t I?
Evelyn says, “That scenario’s quite unlikely, but good to know my decisions will remain squarely mine.”
“That, I promise.”
“If I am to consider your offer, I will need lab facilities and absolute access to all of your existing data.”