Empire of Night Ch 38

Alex led Lisril through the human wing of the palace, nodding every now and then to the marines they passed as they walked. That was the majority of the human population on Nyx. The diplomatic corps and a battalion of footsloggers.
Eventually, that would change, but for the moment, humanity’s relation to Nyx was primarily a military affair. What with a war brewing. 
He stopped in front of Ross’s door, knocking once, and opened the door allowing his lady to enter before him and closing the door after them.
Ross was seated by the fire, a glass of amber liquor in hand, and Callahan in the seat next to him.
Alex nodded to the man. “Wasn’t expecting you, Major.”
The marine grunted in response, and Ross gestured for them to sit. “He was just leaving, actually,” Ross said, “he tells me you’re planning to showboat for the empress and some of her people.”
“Well, you know me, always have to be the center of attention.”
Ross snorted. “Sit down; you’re dismissed, Callahan.”
The major stood, saluting. “Sir,” he said before stepping out of the room.
Alex took the seat the man had vacated, and Lisril posted herself by the door. Ross glanced at her, jerked his head, and Alex turned a sunny smile on his wife.
“Come sit with me,” he said.
“I’m fine,” she said.
Alex stood, stepping up to her and taking her hands. “Well, I’m cold, so come sit with me.”
She sighed but allowed him to drag her to the chair, squeezing in next to him.
“Alright,” Ross said, “we’re all cozy now. Let’s get down to business. What’s this about Unity?”
Alex nodded. “I’ve come up with a concept for a bioaug which will create an auxiliary lobe in the brain capable of receiving and transmitting via microgravitational fluctuations. That will solve the problem of jamming and interdiction.”
Ross grunted, shrugging. Probably not fully understanding, but willing to just accept the concept.
Lisril cleared her throat. “This is fascinating, and I’m pleased to hear about my husband’s explorations of… whatever he’s referring to. But what is the purpose of this project?”
“Classified,” Ross said.
“Come on,” Alex said, “she’ll find out eventually.”
The older man sighed. “Fine, you tell it.”
“We’re working on networked intelligence,” Alex said.
Lisril sighed, smiling fondly at him and caressing his cheek. “I love you; that means nothing to me.”
He laughed. “If you and I were networked, you would be able to feel what I feel, share my senses; we could communicate without the risk of misunderstanding.”
She hummed, drumming her fingers on her thigh. “And this project is meant to achieve that end.”
He nodded. “Yes.”
She turned to Ross. “What does this have to do with the military?”
“You kiddin'?” Ross asked, “imagine it, instant, accurate communication and intel on the battlefield and up the chain of command, without any possibility for misinterpretation. You figure it out.”
“Oh,” Lisril said, “I see, that does sound quite the coup.”
“I’m glad you approve, cher,” Ross said, “the only problem is that until now, we haven’t been able to figure out a medium.”
She smiled, taking Alex’s hand, and he drew her finger to his lips. “And that,” she said, “is where my husband comes in.”
Alex grinned and pulled her tight against him. “Something like that. A little side project.”
Ross crossed his arms. “I’m glad it was such a priority for you.”
“What?” Alex asked, “It was fifth or sixth, or- well, it was on my list.”
Lisril snorted, and Ross rolled his eyes. “At least you got around to it. So, I know that look; what else?”
Alex hesitated; Ross wasn’t going to like what he had to say. But it did need saying.
Ross huffed out a frustrated sigh, crossing his arms over his chest. “Come on, out with it.”
Alex shrugged. “This technology can definitely do brain patterning.”
Ross stared at him and slowly began shaking his head. “Have you gone insane, Hagan?”
“I’ve got my wits; we need more people. You know it.”
“So what, you want us to clone an army?”
Alex scratched his head. “Not- necessarily, we could put them in androids.”
“That’s not better!”
“If my lords wouldn’t mind…,” Lisril said.
“Your husband wants to copy our soldiers,” Ross said.
Lisril didn’t answer right away, frowning first at Ross, then Alex. “I don’t follow,” she said at last.
Alex took her hand and gave it a gentle tug to draw her attention. “Their minds, with the technology I’m proposing, we could copy people’s minds and upload that copy onto a new medium. Biological or electronic.”
Her brow creased, and she shook her head, seeming, for the first time, to not at all comprehend what he was saying.
Alex turned to Ross for help, but he just shrugged. It was fair enough; after all, Alex had brought it up.
“It’s- taking a copy of a person’s essence, their soul,” he said at last, “and giving it new life in a different body.”
She opened her mouth; closed it. “It-” she stopped.
“What you’re suggesting. It’s- you want to create life? You’re treading on the domain of the almighty.”
“Listen to your wife, Hagan,” Ross said, “I think this is the best response you’re likely to get.”
“No,” he said, “Lisril, we’re not talking about creating a new life.” He thought about it, how to put it in a more positive light, and then it came to him. “In fact, I’m trying to avoid people from embarking on the road to creation Ex nihilo.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“It is possible to create a completely artificial mind totally disconnected from God’s creation. So far, we’ve placed great restrictions on creating such minds, but we need soldiers for the coming war, more than we could ever hope to train. People might become desperate and reckless. So I’m suggesting an alternative, that we simply duplicate the work the Lord has already done.”
Lisril chuckled, shaking her head. “You know, I’m aware you’re trying to work on me, but I must say, you do make a persuasive case.”
“Well, I’m not convinced,” Ross said.
“Ross, our options are severely limited,” Alex said.
The other man stared him down, and Alex met his gaze steadily. Finally, he sighed, shaking his head. “Submit a report, and I’ll think about it.”
Alex nodded, and they lapsed into silence for a while, Ross nursing a drink. Finally, Alex couldn’t take it and cleared his throat. “How’s your husband?”
“He’s well,” Ross said, “safely off Earth with the children.”
“I thought he was afraid of space flight,” Alex said.
“He is,” Ross agreed, nodding “you know how it is with him. Always worrying. But nuclear apocalypse is a bit higher on his list.”
Alex shrugged. “Sensable, I guess. Don’t tell him what powers the engine.”
“I won’t, and you won’t either,” Ross said, glaring across the room.
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Alex said.
Ross grumbled but didn’t object further, and Alex stood. “Mind if I pour a drink?
Ross shrugged, and Alex went to the little cupboard. “Lisril?”
“Rum,” she said, “and I’ll take it neat.”
Alex made a face, but what his woman wanted, she got. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and Lisril a shot of rum, returning and handing her her glass which she threw back without hesitation while he sat, sipping at his whiskey.
“You know,” she said, pensive, “I’ve seen you drink, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drunk.”
Alex considered his glass. “You wouldn’t; I don’t get drunk.”
“You don’t-” she laughed, “why am I surprised? But then, why drink?”
He sampled the drink’s bouquet. “I don’t mind the taste, besides.” He leaned against her and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “I always have good company for it.”
She laughed and gave him a playful shove. “Flatterer.”
He seized her hand, squeezing, “you make it easy.”
She giggled and kissed him. “Stop being so charming.”
“Would you two get a room?”
Alex turned to Ross and found him lighting up a cigar. “Sorry.”
Ross grumbled to himself as he puffed on his smoke, shaking his head.
“How are things on Earth?” Alex asked.
Ross blew a cloud of smoke and watched it drift up to the ceiling. “Don’t worry about it.”
“That bad?”
Ross stood and refreshed his drink, returning and collapsing into his chair. “We’ve spent a long time without making many attempts at diplomacy, which was fine when we were relatively inactive on the world stage. Now that we’re moving again?”
Ross shrugged. “Can’t expect people would be happy with it, especially all at once.”
“So the talks aren’t going well.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“So?” Alex asked.
“So what?”
“So, are we planning any action?”
“That’s classified.”
“Ross, who the fuck am I going to tell?”
The older man sighed. “We haven’t made any decisions yet, but the president is considering authorizing kinetic bombardment upon known nuclear sites.”
Alex tapped his foot; that was quite a gamble, just hoping you could decapitate a nation’s ability to retaliate. But if the alternative was unrestricted nuclear war…. Or some years down the line, the galacitcs catching Earth with its pants down and glassing the planet, well, maybe it was the least worst option.
He sighed. “You know, I’m glad my biggest problem is learning new names and keeping track of four, or so, women’s needs and neuroses.”
Ross killed his glass. “When you put it like that, nuclear armageddon doesn’t sound so bad.”
Alex coughed on his liquor. “When did you get jokes?”
“Couldn’t tell you; maybe someone’s rubbing off on me,” Ross said.
“I hope not,” Alex said, “being a jackass is my schtick.”
“Oh fuck off,” Ross scoffed. “Finish your drink and get the fuck out; I need to get some rest.”
Alex finished his glass shaking off the acrid taste that settled at the back of his throat and standing. “Good talk.”
“If you say so,” Ross grunted.
Alex chuckled and offered Lisril his hand, pulling her to her feet. “Let’s go.”
She nodded and turned to Ross. “A pleasure speaking to you, Sir.”
“The feeling’s mutual, Cher; good night.”
She curtsied, and Alex led her out the door, closing it behind him, and turned to walk away, but she caught his sleeve, tugging him to a stop.
He turned, smiling at her. “What’s up?”
She glanced at the door. “His husband?” she whispered.
“Yeah, he’s uh, he’s- interesting. What about him?”
She cleared her throat. “It just surprised me. I wasn’t aware women took multiple husbands on Earth.”
He frowned. “Well,” he said, “I think there’s some uncontacted tribe on an island somewhere where they do.”
She gaped at him, and he laughed. “Out of everything we just talked about, this is what has you most tangled up?”
“But- you mentioned children.”
He nodded. “Sure, they went to the clinic; I think their kids are three or four. Toddlers, for sure.”
She said nothing, and after a while, he took her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said, a little too quickly, “all is well, except that you should be in bed.”
He squeezed her hand and didn’t push her. If she felt like talking about it, she would. “Let’s go back, then.”

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