Dangerous Evolution by Gregg Vann Read Free Book Online Page B

mind telling me.”
    “Not at all,” I said. I could use a break from the confusing
scientific minutia filling Evan’s files.
    “You probably know more than you think, just from the history of
the Sectors. For example, you know that each is an independent entity, governed
by a Regent and Advisory Council, and that every Sector has its own military,
sworn to defend and police their area of space. Since the formation of the
Sectors after the Diaspora War, each has pursued their own individual agenda—with
an informal agreement among them not to interfere with one another.”
    “That worked out well enough, until the Sentients were discovered
anyway,” Stinson said.
    “Exactly,” I replied, shaking my head. “Rand Sector’s disastrous
attempt at showing the Sentients how tough we were, demonstrated to the
individual Sectors the need for a communal arrangement to defend ourselves from
the Sentient threat. All the petty differences that ripped apart our homogenous
spread across the stars—the ones that lead to the Diaspora War in the first
place—paled in comparison to the threat of a true human genocide.”
    “Hence the formation of the Inter-Sector Cooperative Defense,”
Stinson finished. “But how does that explain the inquisitors? Mutual defense is
one thing, but designating an individual operative in each Sector that is
essentially above the law is…well it seems reckless.”
    He was right of course, but the safeguards minimized most of the
risks.
    “The Regents realized that crime and other intrigue didn’t respect
Sector borders, and also knew that they didn’t trust each other enough to work
cooperatively on those issues. The SI were the only reasonable approach to
inter-Sector problems that the Regents could agree on; only one per Sector—plus
staff, responsible directly to their individual Regent.” Stinson nodded as I
spoke, paying close attention.
    “Each SI is permitted to operate freely throughout human space—no
jurisdictional boundaries. We usually respect local law and custom… usually …and
always notify our Sector counterparts when operating in their regions;
typically just our presence—not the particulars of the case.”
    I let him digest that before continuing. “We were created to go
where the military and police can’t, and given the power to control both if
necessary. SI are chosen for their skills and independence from blind Sector
loyalty, and most importantly, their lack of any political aspirations.”
    Now it was Stinson’s turn to blow out a long breath. He took
another deep one before asking, “Who chooses how that kind of power is
handed out?”
    “The Sector Regent; when a position opens for his region, he
selects a nominee, then forwards that selection to the other Regents and the
existing SI. Everyone, and I mean everyone—each Regent and all six of the other
SI, must agree on the appointment. It has to be unanimous.”
    “A high bar to admission,” Stinson stated.
    “It should be. I’ve been a Special Inquisitor since the initial formation
agreement, and have only seen three new people admitted since; all of their
predecessors had been killed in the line of duty.”
    “Like they say,” Stinson offered, “Just because you can live forever, doesn’t mean you will .”
    “Very true. Do these questions mean you’re scouting out my job—for
after my retirement of course?”
    “Hell no,” Stinson replied. “I prefer to keep my skull as is,
without any hazardous implants. I was merely curious.”
    I understood; it was a curious arrangement. The Special Inquisitors
were the only truly tested, cooperative body between the Sectors. We had unfettered
freedom to do whatever we thought was right or necessary; we were a
powerful and dangerous oddity. In the end, we answered only to our own
conscience, and those of our fellow inquisitors. We were encouraged and
obligated to let one another know we’d crossed the line.
    And then there were the Regents of