Opus X Series Boxed Set Three

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Julia smiled as the hologram of the Agent appeared.

She crossed her legs and settled into her chair. Talking to a person was always done best when you could see them, even a virtual copy.

Although there were many ways to fake feeds, she’d found people had trouble faking body language, and that was what was more important. She leaned on her side and rested her cheek on her palm with a look of exquisite boredom practiced over decades.

Familiar revulsion swept through her.

The tall, gaunt man on the other end of her full visual call was more a walking skeleton than a human. Even if he’d been enhanced by the same technologies the members of the Core had used on themselves, he’d slowly turned into a monster rather than a beautiful, rejuvenated specimen of humanity like his masters.

It was as if his body reflected his shorn soul. He’d gone by many names in service to them. The latest was Hadrian Conners, but those names were nothing more than bits of fiction crafted onto a man who’d long since stopped being a person.

His appearance didn’t matter.

The Agent might walk on two legs and have a brain, but in the end, he was as much as a tool as a PNIU. And now he would serve her and help her accomplish her goals.

Julia’s lips curled up into a smile closer to a sneer than anything positive. She was used to planning across years, but what she was about to execute after months would change everything. The Last Soldier deserved credit. He was a useful catalyst for things that had needed to occur for years.

It was fortunate he’d survived the m******e on Molino.

The Agent bowed his head, his expression blank. “Good evening.”

“Good evening to you as well. I’m pleased you were available. I’d worried that you might have been caught by the government’s dogs. It’s my understanding they are still looking for you with great fervor.”

The Agent shook his head. “I’ve kept my trail invisible. Nothing leads to me, let alone you or any of the others. You have no concerns.”

“Of course. I trust your skills.” Julia smiled warmly. She didn’t feel it, but the mask of performance was difficult to take off even in that situation. “I trust those skills enough that I have a new assignment for you.”

“I see.” The Agent stared at her, his face impassive. “I’m eager to make up for my failure with the Last Soldier. I know some of the others were disappointed.”

Julia raised her finger and clucked her tongue. “No, no, no. Don’t speak that way. The Last Soldier has his uses, and I consider the data gathered from the experiment on the prison the most useful result of your actions. Yes, some of the others have criticized you for what occurred, and that was why I aided you where I could. I understand that loyalty and skill should be rewarded, even with the occasional operation that might not be as successful as some might desire.”

“Thank you.” The Agent bowed his head. “I appreciate all you have done for me.”

“Good. Your next task isn’t intended to involve the Last Soldier.” Julia let out a quiet chuckle. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if he interfered.” She waved a hand dismissively. “No matter. This will require additional resources, and I’ve made arrangements for you to get assistance from our cyborg associates.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” the Agent asked. “They are more exposed to the Directorate. I can only guarantee my invisibility, but not theirs.”

“No, you don’t understand. Their exposure to the wretched ghosts is why they’re useful.” Julia sighed contentedly. “They serve as a shield. I will be transmitting the data shortly, and I will be handling the remaining setup after I finish this call. Now I ask you, can you handle this task? It will involve unusual danger, and you risk earning the lethal displeasure of other members of the Core, but if you’re successful, I’ll ensure your continued loyalty is rewarded.”

“Then I will succeed, no matter the cost.”

“Excellent.” This time, the smile was genuine. “Most excellent.”

An hour later, Julia smiled at the hologram of someone who couldn’t have been more different from the Agent, a beautiful auburn-haired woman without a hint of time’s touch on her smooth skin. A scowl lined her otherwise perfect face.

“You always look like you’re in pain, Sophia.” Julia sighed. “Of all the women in the UTC, you should be the most beautiful, not the most wretched-looking.”

Sophia snorted. “My appearance is irrelevant at this moment, and you’re the one who didn’t want audio only. I see no reason we needed it today.”

“Didn’t we?”

“I would have thought that you would have learned after all these years that smiling like a buffoon doesn’t endear you to me.” Sophia’s tone was icy. “As for pain, there have been successes in recent years, but far too many failures. Our position and our ultimate plan are more precarious than they have been in a long time. I would think that as a member of the Core, you would appreciate that and take it seriously rather than engage in pointless attempts to undermine others.”

“I take it with the utmost seriousness, I assure you.” Julia folded her hands in her lap. “And everything I do, I do for the Core. I think you’ve let the closeness of our goal breed too much fear, old friend.”

Sophia scoffed. “You’ve never been my friend. You were selected because you were useful. Always remember that.”

“Have you left your humanity behind with your enhancements?” Julia injected harsh mockery into her laugh.

“We do what we do to lead humanity into a better age.” Sophia glared at Julia. “Leadership is required, leadership not distracted by whatever shiny bauble is important in any given year. So many have failed in the past, including those who could have been preparing humanity for the alien threat from the beginning. We must do better. Humanity no longer has the luxury of light-years to protect us.”

“We did just as much as the others to conceal the truth of the earlier first contact,” Julia observed. “As I recall, you were rather annoyed when the truth about humanity encountering the Leems during the Roswell incident came out, rather than the Zitarks being our first.”

Sophia scoffed. “Don’t you understand? We can’t manage alien species yet. That’s the problem! We need to finish consolidating our control of the UTC. Every year we have to spend worrying about the continuity of the Core is one when we can’t plan for the long-term future of our species. We’ve sacrificed much to get this far, and I fear that some are losing sight of the true goal. The Molino artifacts are just a means to an end.”

Julia’s perpetual smile didn’t waver. Sophia offered pretty words about humanity, but how many in the Core cared about humanity versus how they would benefit? If their plan succeeded, thirteen people would be greater than the teeming billions populating the UTC. They would be natural kings and queens among commoners. No, they would be more than that. They would be gods. No man or woman would turn down such an offer, regardless of the reasons cited or the mountains of corpses and rivers of blood required.

“True.” Julia forced a chuckle down. Sophia’s smug superiority wore on her at times, but she was necessary.

At least for the moment. She continued, “That also pushes us back to the reason for my call. My people have the artifacts you wanted to be brought into the system, and their transport is nearing Earth. I’m surprised you’d be so aggressive about these particular artifacts, given your other concerns.”

“Those aren’t the Molino artifacts,” Sophia observed. “There are fewer trails pointing anyone, including the ID or the Last Soldier, toward those artifacts. We can’t always operate in a defensive posture.”

Julia failed to see how operating in fear of the ghosts and their pets wasn’t cowering, but it wouldn’t be useful to point that out to Sophia at this moment.

“That’s true enough,” Julia offered, “but it doesn’t answer the question of where you want them delivered and to whom. I need details to ensure security. You, of all people, know that.”

Sophia offered the closest to a genuine smile she had during the entire conversation. “I’m still working out the final location, but you don’t have to worry. I’ll be personally handling their pick-up.”

Julia raised an eyebrow, unable to hide her surprise. “You’re going to leave Earth? Is that wise, given everything you just said?”

“How can we lead if we’re always hiding?” Sophia shook her head with a disgusted look. “Yes. I will personally be collecting them. I will have the location information for you by tomorrow. You’ll make final arrangements for transfer, and I’ll take them for analysis with the rest.”

“I know we have our differences,” Julia began, “but I’ll admit to less trepidation knowing that you’ll be handling it. Whatever your faults, you take artifacts seriously.”

“Good, then we’re in agreement. I have other things to attend to. I will contact you again tomorrow.” Sophia’s hologram vanished.

Julia’s laughter built from a quiet chuckle to an icy laugh. She placed little stock in providence. The Core had taken control of their destinies long ago, but now the universe had presented her with a unique opportunity.

She would be a fool not to seize it.

She threaded her fingers together and licked her lips. “It’s as you say, Sophia,” she whispered. “We must always keep long-term goals in mind.”