Building the Collateral - 89 - Early Access (Patreon)

“Technically speaking, I believe the latest understanding of Egregorians links them closer to crustacean species formerly found on Cradle than that of the class Insecta,” said literal alien in my office responded, casually describing their biology in a detached and rather clinical manner. Their mandibles clicked with every word as their four legs brought them closer to my desk. “On a personal level though, I do happen to find the comparison to insects quite endearing. Especially regarding those species who are quite resistant to extinction.”

“Of course you do,” Kishi muttered darkly, the educator adopting a look of antagonistic suffering. “You roach.”

“An educator still trapped by such limited diction? How unbecoming.”

“Only because I know you’ll just claim whatever next label that comes up as being your new favorite.”

Their wings fluttered slightly, in a motion almost resembling smugness. “Ergo, I triumph. As genius always does.”

“Right, right.” The NHP turned back to face me with a heavy sigh, showcasing none of that professional decorum from earlier. “Premier-General, I would urge you to eject Hermetic from your office. If only to preserve the dignity of Egregorians elsewhere from their conceit.”

“Similarly, Commander Moores,” the other countered, “I would recommend immediate expulsion of Kishi from Cavia. If only to protect your curriculum from being violated by clear errors in logic.”

The two glared at one another, both non-human individuals surely having quite the history between them. That could only be the reasonable explanation that comes to mind for why they snapped at one another in front of me, openly showing a divide that I’m sure the SSC wouldn’t be happy about. Come to think about it, Smith-Shimano Corpo had been acting rather suspect.

Was this just their way of just shoving problematic figures into my arms and telling me they were my problem now? Ugh.

But as much as I didn’t want to play along, Kishi demonstrated the exact aptitude I’d been looking for in my search for a Director of Education. Which meant that I was at least taking her in, but how about- no, I can’t just take half of a charity expedition and send the rest back. That would be an astoundingly poor response considering how much the Diaspora needs any help it can get.

So like it or not, time for me to…get used to this, I suppose. Best way to start would be to learning about the figurative elephant in the room.

“Hermetic, was it?” I asked loudly, snuffing out the bickering with that single question. “A pleasure to meet you. I apologize for the reactions, as we don’t typically see much of your people in this part of space.”

“An unsurprising circumstance, as the figure for our population still barely register in the thousands,” they answered and delivered a slight shrug. “Do not be sorry. I am quite used to such a response. I would even go so far as to commend that only one among those present has reached for their firearm, as that number typically is much higher.”

I gave a little side glance at said individual, who seemed to be still tensing. Which...I mean, I guess I can understand Erica’s mixed response. Hycernia was something of a core memory seared into the identity of Harrison Armory, being that defining event that shaped the viewpoint of their own founder.

The fact it had been where the original Genghis debuted wasn’t lost on me.

Of course, Erica surely hadn’t been there for the original crisis. But with how strongly affiliated she was with the megacorporation, maybe a bit of that identity was passed onto her regardless of her claims otherwise. She stared at Hermetic as if they perhaps held a firearm behind their back, waiting to take revenge for that crime of SecComm.

Hmm. Interestingly enough, while the Half Committee had been another successor of that administration, I felt no such fear or fight response. That little realization led to an interesting question that I asked with a little cough. “I thank you for your understanding, though I must ask if you are...aware of my administration’s background. Specifically referring-”

“-To the Half Committee, yes?” Their whiskers twitched. “You needn’t fret over such frivolity. I am not one who indulges in matters of cultural inheritance or gestalt identity. Rest assured, such illogical emotions do not have a place in my research.”

Okay. I think I’m starting to understand why Kishi doesn’t like them.

“Wow. Brutal,” commented Luna on my behalf. “You don’t play around, do you?”

“It is simply my morph. Rational, levelheaded goals are given priority over anything else, which would be a plain waste of my talent.” Those large sets of eyes turned to fixate on my niece in the room. It didn’t escape my notice that her knees started shaking slightly at the sudden attention. “That being said. It is of utmost priority we which we proceed with genetic sequencing.”

Alright, enough of that now. They barely took more than a couple steps forward before I cleared my throat quite loudly, causing them to halt in their tracks. There was some sort of movement behind that I heard, but I didn’t have time to look for what that was as I stared at the inhuman figure. “I believe it is my position as Morgan’s guardian that you ought to consult with first,” I warned, tapping a finger against the wooden surface of my desk. “Whatever test you wish to perform on her, you ask me first for permission- and then hers as well. Do you understand?”

“...Very well, though I would encourage haste. The work of Francois never fails to intrigue.”

“Francois?” I repeated, my eyes narrowing at the name. “Is that the one responsible for all this?”

Hermetic shifted to exchange a look with Kishi, the two’s hostility suddenly vanishing as they considered how best to answer that question. “Perhaps so, according to internal company memos at least,” the NHP admitted.

“Which would truly be a shame, considering his work in the field was quite cutting-edge.” Those mandibles of theirs clicked loudly. “However repulsive current allegations of wrongdoing may be.”

“So...that’s Father, huh? Making me...me.” Morgan softly murmured, prompting me to turn to her to offer some reassurance. Why I didn’t expect was to have my view blocked by somebody who’d already stepped in front of her.

“Your friend’s got the right of it that whatever that man calls himself, he doesn’t deserve that label,” Erica bluntly told, crossing her arms. “Heck, Moores might not even if he doesn’t earn it. Call him whatever you like until he deserves whatever recognition you give.”

“I mean...he’s a pretty nice uncle.”

“One that should spoil you more with sweets.”

Now Morgan perked up, that earlier fear fading away with the suggestion. “I wouldn’t mind that!”

“Then it’s settled,” the lancer told before barking it like an order to me. “Go and get her some ice cream after this.”

“Maybe if everything works out later,” I responded with, giving an approving nod before returning my focus back onto Hermetic. “You may have to wait for that test.”

Their wings fluttered in a motion that I couldn’t read so easily. “It is what it is. I simply encourage prioritization given interest.”

Interest? It took a moment for me to wrap my head around that specific phrasing, then I caught on. A hidden warning within that single word.

Smith-Shimano Corpo would want to know about Morgan. They likely had incomplete records, if at all. So sooner or later, they would want to figure out what was going on with her, regardless of if she or I consented. Something that I should prepare for in time, if not properly appeased.

It made me glance subtly at Hermetic, who seemed now disinterested in my niece for the time being. Was that them subtly mentioning that they could handle such a thing before the matter escalated? Because they were the very opposite of a familiar form, I couldn’t tell for sure.

And unfortunately, the only other individual who could probably perceive so apparently didn’t have such a great working relationship with the Egregorian. Talk about a headache.

For the moment, I chose to set aside the matter and steer the conversation back onto something more productive for the moment. It wouldn’t be fair for Kishi to be the only one being interrogated for the job. “I’ll take your words under advisement, though it could help if you could properly elaborate on your intent and purpose with us. Actions speak far louder, after all.”

“I see. In that manner, then allow me to enlighten you: I am a recognized peer in my field, one of a few who truly deserve accreditation for mastery in genetic manipulation.” A spindly arm removed itself from their back and moved to stroke the ruff around their neck, almost as if it were a beard. “Be it original recombination, active editing, or even duplicate sequencing- you will find little I am unable to at least offer professional perspective upon.”

That last listing caught my attention proper. “Duplicate sequencing? So are you an expert with clones?”

“Hmph. I can already presume your intentions and will skip ahead to clarification. Yes, I am capable of aiding in the stabilization of the current flash clones engaged in service with Cavia, given sufficient time to analyze their genome.” Their hand removed from the tuft of fur and gestured outwards. “I am even more sure in my ability of replicating the sequence utilized. It was always a Smith-Shimano pattern after all.”

Neat little bit of confirmation that the SSC had been in bed with the Half Committee too. “I see, though you might not have a chance to express the latter. For the moment, our recruitment numbers are sufficient and we have no need to expand our forces so dramatically.”

“An interesting choice that squanders advantage. Your leadership combined with sufficient forces would be enough to subjugate neighboring worlds.”

“At the cost of being a rather heartless conqueror, don’t you think?” Kishi interjected sourly. “That’s always the issue with you, always thinking about the outcomes and never the road along the way.”

“It’s better to think of the benefits than be deterred by pointless things along the way,” they snapped back.

Before that could derail, I intervened with a knock on my desk. “Let’s remain on topic. Especially if you claim to be an individual so familiar with logic.”

“That I am, as there is little room for otherwise in biology.” Hermetic waved their arm about. “Emotions are simply chemicals being released in one’s nervous system. Happiness, anger, sadness, all such things that can fall under purview of rudimentary physiology.”

“You say that as if you aren’t similarly affected.”

“In a...roundabout manner, to an extent.” Finally, a slight crack in the facade as they buzzed in a slightly annoyed manner. “The nature of a body’s connection to the overmind remains perplexing, and so too does the feedback mechanisms. Utterly vexing.”

“That’s...Endeavor, isn’t it?” Luna recalled aloud, or perhaps looked up via the omninet.

“It would be, according to accessible records,” Veronica agreed.

“I would not know. I am aware that I myself of all individuals am an extreme oddity, more so than just my chosen intellect morph.” Hermetic quieted for a moment, then shook their head. “It matters not. Smith-Shimano Corpo employs me. That is all to it.”

How curious, it sounded like there definitely was something up, a story that wasn’t quite relevant here. There also was the chance that it all amounted to nothing than a giant red herring, what with how scant my own recollection of egregorians were. They always had just been that truly alien species whose unfortunate genocide had been the catalyst of significant change within Union.

To have one of them actually before me was a little surreal and, frankly, unbelievable.

But at the same time, the skills they were touting were very significant.

“Aside from genetics,” I pushed on, “how much do you know about general healthcare?”

“Hmm.” This time, there was a lengthier pause as they considering my initiative. “Personally, sufficiently adequate. To understand the human form is to understand the base tenets of flesh and muscle. How to optimize the body and its functions is core to further adjustment.

“In that regard, I can conclude I do possess necessary knowledge for the care of your people. And whatever I confess that I lack, those other doctors alongside will be able to make up for.”

“Similarly, there’s plenty of other teachers too that came with the effort that can help round out what I teach,” Kishi added. “So you needn’t worry about something like suddenly having Hermetic barge in and ruin your curriculum.”

“The odds of which are surely not as high as Kishi making protest of my work.”

As the two fell back into arguing, I leaned back slightly in my chair and weighed the costs versus benefits. On one hand, I’m probably going to have to babysit these two and make sure they didn’t flay the air alive with how they snapped at one another. Civility when pressed was the most I could expect, which was at least something I guessed.

On the other hand, these talents from Smith Shimano Corpo were exactly what Cavia needed now more than ever. A veteran educator that could help uplift the locals into new specialists, and a skilled doctor who would make sure those people would live long enough for such. More than that…

It was a chance for Morgan to learn, about both her future and past.

“Things will need to be smoothed out and negotiated with congress before anything can be settled for sure,” I mentioned to the waiting foreigners from far. “In the meantime, I would like to extend whatever hospitality this planet of ours can offer to the two of you and to the rest of the charity expedition. You’ve come a long way to the Diaspora to help people out, and we won’t forget that.”

“Premier-General, it’s a great opportunity to help start higher education.”

“Commander. It will be an interesting assignment at least.”

The two departed their own ways, meaning that they curiously went back to arguing and bickering even as they left my office. Even when out of range of my office projector, I think I could hear Kishi berating the nonplussed Hermetic over their private channels. They really did have quite a complicated relationship.

At least the one I had with Morgan was much clearer, as the girl relaxed and fell tiredly into the little couch in my workspace. “I think next time, I’ll just watch the cartoons with Ichigo.”

“Not a bad idea,” I mentioned with a slight chuckle, easing up a little too. “Maybe I’ll ask Melhof to produce something better locally. Though watching it might be difficult once you start lessons.”

“I’m still excited about that, uncle! I’m actually going to school!”

“Probably the first kid this part of the galaxy to be excited about lessons,” Luna muttered sourly. “At least mine are more interesting.”