Originator by Joel Shepherd Read Free Book Online Page B

said Ibrahim. “In fact, we’re quite pleased to see you. I’m sure you’re aware of my personal desire, and the desire of many in the security apparatus here, to make communications links between our peoples more permanent.”
    Cai nodded. “I’m aware. But you are likewise aware that my . . . people . . . are not so sanguine.”
    â€œCan you explain why not?” Ibrahim pressed.
    â€œNo. Revealing the nature of their concerns could reveal the nature of broader circumstances. Circumstances that the Talee would rather not share.”
    It was paranoid in the extreme. Some analysts familiar with it expressed frustration. Sandy, for her part, thought it quite prudent, now in particular. Events at Cresta demonstrated that humans were capable of extreme action, exacerbated now in the League by an evolving crisis that was at least as much psychological as it was technological. A truly intelligent race might want to watch its step with such unstable aliens. And a peaceful intelligent race might just, in keeping their distance, be expressing a more genuine concern for human well-being than the more emotionally satisfying embrace that some humans appeared to desire.
    â€œCai,” Sandy resumed, “you were talking to a League splinter group agent at a football game. Why?”
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t say.”
    â€œOkay,” said Sandy. “If it’s going to go this way, I’m not going to waste any more time asking what you’re doing here and trying to connect those answers back to Talee strategic intentions. Obviously that’s not going to get us anywhere.”
    Cai inclined his head slightly, and sipped tea.
    â€œLet’s move this to another level,” said Sandy. “You chose to reveal yourself to us. You did not need to, you could have stayed quiet and none of us would be the wiser. Why?”
    â€œThere are things I would like to discuss with you,” said Cai. “With all of you.”
    â€œGood,” said Sandy, somewhat relieved. “Because if there’s not, I’d reallyrather be home with my kids.” Hando gave her a warning look. Ibrahim might have smiled, very faintly.
    â€œCresta,” said Cai. “You are all in great danger.”
    â€œWho is? Us in this room? Callay? The Federation?”
    â€œHumanity,” said Cai. Silence in the room. “Cresta was a V-strike. Two percent light, quite deliberate. It came out of jump within the system shields, no defensive system could have stopped it.”
    â€œWait,” said Hando, “we don’t know that detail yet. How do you . . . ?”
    â€œTheir ships jump faster,” said Ari. Leaning back in his chair, dark hair, long face, leather jacket. Normally those hands fidgeted, scratched an imaginary itch, played with a stylus. Now, they held a mug of tea, unmoving, like his gaze. “He already knows. Could have known a week ago. And then went and talked to a League splinter group agent. An agent who didn’t know Cresta was dead. You couldn’t tell him that.” The corner of his mouth twitched. “You were profiling, weren’t you? Psych profile? Some kind of parameter matrix?”
    Cai sipped tea. Not looking at Ari, not avoiding, not denying. Just waiting.
    â€œYou’re scared League’s going nuts,” Sandy summarised. “You’re scared the uplink technology they’ve been using is accelerating sociological disorder faster than anyone anticipated. I’ll bet you were doing more than just psych-profiling, you were finding out what he knew; you can uplink-hack anyone you like. If you have some information pertaining to the imminent destruction of other human worlds, we’d certainly like to know.”
    â€œNothing I can talk about.” Sandy pushed back in her chair with exasperation. Hando looked at her with concern, worried she pushed too hard. Ibrahim just watched. “But I did come