Saga by Connor Kostick Read Free Book Online

insubordinate, ma’am.”
    He bows.
    “I’m concerned for the reaction of my guild if this strike occurs. And the waste. It’s a huge loss of lives, and resources.”
    “The reaction of your guild?”
    He said “if.” He is questioning Us. Moreover, We recall with a scowl that his guild has become pompous and irritating in recent months. We are incensed by the arrival of this dangerous anomaly and angry at the hesitation of the person who should be Our unswerving support. It is time in any case to purge Ancient Honor from the High Council. We shoot him through the head.
    “High Constable, attend us in chamber seventeen.”
    “Right away, Your Majesty.”
    This one will do better. A fop but no fool.
    “Majesty?”
    “On Our desk is a violet card in your name. Take it and enjoy the privileges that come with your promotion to Grand Vizier.”
    He steps over the body.
    “Your Majesty is too kind.”
    “Ready? We are in a hurry.”
    “Oh, I have been ready for this moment for ten years.”
    “One. The report of Communication-Assassination probe Ox9B45. Rejection. Data packet not trivial. Infection has occurred. Two. The death of Our former Grand Vizier will cause unrest among his guild, Ancient Honor. Disband them and execute their leaders for treason.” Best to strike first, always. “Three. Destroy . . .” Former Vizier did make two good points. Wasteful, not efficient. “Three. Appraise yourself of the infection problem. Offer advice. You have three minutes.”
    View of the City is less impressive from here than from Our suite. Nevertheless We would regret turning part of it into a nuclear waste and hope that new Grand Vizier has a better solution. Two minutes and forty-four seconds later, he speaks.
    “Somehow the human being has an independent and illegitimate form, a survival of a data packet from its previous computer host, Epic. So kill it. The replacement form created by the human almost certainly would not be anomalous as it would be a fresh creation and not the legacy of Epic.”
    We sigh, a slight tinge of disappointment in Our voice. “Continue.”
    “It strikes me that her appearance and vivacity are extraordinary. She is probably the most beautiful of all the human beings who have arrived here.”
    We examine the data as he speaks. He is correct.
    “I have no knowledge of human psychology, but if it bears any relationship to their legends, a young woman of such striking looks would be drawn to a large social event of her peers like Narcissus to his reflection.”
    “You have Our interest. Please continue.”
    “Well, to be candid, Your Highness, I’ve nearly reached the limit of my thought. I merely add this for your consideration. A large-scale, anonymous mass extinction might fail due to her not being present in our environment at the correct moment. Whereas if an assassin were able to confront her individually, at an event at which we have anticipated her presence, we could be sure our goal had been achieved.”
    “We are pleased.”
    He bows, a faint smile on his eager lips.
    “With this proviso,” We continue, “an uncontrolled, fully autonomous outsider cannot be tolerated for any length of time. There is enough instability in the world as it is. Additionally she represents a personal violation. We feel as though Our body is crawling with lice. You have a week.”
    “Understood.”
    We contemplate him, and he looks back, proud and only a little afraid.
    “Will that be all, Majesty?”
    “Yes. No. One more thing. Have that body removed.”
    He bows again and leaves.
    We like him; perhaps We should have promoted him earlier.
    Leaning back in Our seat, We peruse the new data arising from Our hundreds of thousands of interactions. Satisfactory, if spoiled by the knowledge of the rogue anomaly. In the distance, We feel hundreds more of the new human beings arriving by the minute. Their lure is too attractive. We interact, caress them with chemical feedback, reward their involvement