Warp World Read Free Page B

stood beside him where he sat.
    “Despite your stance on the use of chemical enhancements, if you insist on forgoing sleep any longer I highly recommend you consider a dose of stimulants,” Maryel said.
    He didn’t have to look up at her to know the corners of her mouth were turned down, or that her eyes were as fixed on the monitor in front of them as were his own.
    “Nothing a cup of greshk cannot remedy.” Jarin lifted a steaming cup to his lips.
    He had chosen to view the intrans of his former student, Theorist Segkel Eraranat, from the privacy of his office—one of the very few places where he knew he would not be observed, where he could speak freely.
    On the screen, a rowdy group of Outers clustered together in the decon chamber. He glanced up at Maryel and offered her a wry smile.
    “I don’t know why you’re smiling. Everyone with any bit of influence in the World is likely monitoring this feed right now. Your prized pupil is showing, yet again, that he is the very definition of unortho. The CWA will make use of this,” she said.
    The smile faded as he nodded in assent to her words. Maryel was not only a Senior Theorist and member of the council that led the Guild, she was also one of the Lead Questioners in post-raid analysis. Normally, for completed raids, the Question was little more than a formality, a superficial study of the successful areas of the raid and how the process could be improved.
    As with all things Segkel, however, nothing about his Question would be normal.
    Unortho was a word Jarin had known would haunt Segkel’s career. Nevertheless, he had cultivated that very trait in the boy because the survival of the People and the World would require new and unorthodox ideas and methods.
    “The vis feed is being trapped,” Jarin assured his companion. “As best we can, we will contain this. At present, Segkel’s image can survive a certain amount of unortho.”
    “At present, yes, but we both know the CWA thinks in the long term. They will use moments such as these to chip away at his image.” She gestured to the screen and pursed her lips.
    Jarin sighed, all traces of good humor evaporating. “He has complicated matters, agreed. But I knew, we all knew, allowing him the freedom to act on his instincts and intelligence would complicate everything. Genius burns like fire, Maryel.”
    “You could have chosen a less alarming metaphor.” She crossed her arms and let out a sharp gust of air through her nose.
    He shook his head as he turned back to the screen. “It would serve us to remain alarmed, I believe. In the interest of staying ahead of these matters.”
    “Fifty Outers. Fifty! With weapons, no less. And an order specifying they not be processed, grafted, or even registered. Forgive my language, but what in the name of the Storm is Eraranat thinking?”
    Revolution. Jarin pushed the word to the far corners of his mind. No, not Segkel. Even the headstrong protégé had his limits. For all his unorthodoxy, Segkel was a true Citizen of the World.
    “I believe we will have answers soon enough,” Jarin said.
    “Indeed.” Maryel lifted a digifilm from the desk and crossed to her seat to make notes. “Theorist Eraranat may dazzle the primitives with his speeches but they won’t get him far in the Question.”
    Jarin watched her for a moment, out of the corner of his eye, then returned his full attention to the monitor once more.
    He leaned forward and squinted. Amadahy. The girl was unmistakable, even if her gills weren’t visible on the screen. By the auto-med sleeve on her arm, the state of her attire, and the tangle of her long, blonde hair, it was obvious she had taken part in the battle at the temple. Segkel, battle-worn himself, held her hand and they spoke conspiratorially. As young lovers often do. Jarin’s mouth twitched at the sight and he felt a surge of anger. Segkel, I warned you not to bring her back.
    This would not end well.

    “Hold.”
    Ama stopped at the sound,