“I don’t think it would be a good look, High Councillor, if we had to haul you out of there,” Jace said, not wanting either Khoth or Gehenna to go over to the Ashaton. Even if they used non-lethal means of making their way to the bridge to remove Nova, it would have considerable downsides.
Not to mention if Khoth has to fight his own mother, Jace added.
“Your actions are being watched, High Councillor. Not just by your crew or me, but by the whole of the Alliance,” Jace explained.
She let out a disbelieving snort. “That is impossible. Transmitting such data, even at the highest speeds, would not--”
“Quantum entanglement,” Jace cut her off and that had her going silent. “I won’t go into the details of it--I think you have the jist anyway--but great distances are irrelevant. I could show you people watching you right now if you like.”
“With the AIs at your disposal that could be faked,” she said, but there was a trace of uncertainty in her voice. “But if what I am doing is seen and heard then you also are observed.”
“Yes, I am,” Jace agreed. “And I intend to make a big splash.”
“How so?” Nova lifted an eyebrow.
She clearly still thought she had him over a barrel of violence as if that was the only way he would think.
She still considers you human, the Osiris remarked as if that were the stupidest thing to think in the world.
Jace frowned slightly. I am human.
No.
Mostly human, Jace countered.
No.
Gehenna, tell me what the Osiris means. You must know, Jace said.
Maybe now isn’t the best time? You’re in a high stakes negotiation here. Gehenna tilted her metal death’s head towards the screen.
Okay, fine! But you’re both telling me later! Jace commanded.
Neither AI responded. Jace was glad that Nova had no idea how helpless he sometimes was against the Osiris and Gehenna. He supposed he could force the two of them to tell him everything he wanted to know at that exact minute. But he knew that both of them--or, at least, Gehenna--had his best interests at heart. And she was right that he was in the middle of negotiations here.
“Commander Nav’ud,” Jace addressed the first man who had defied Nova, “you seem like a person of conscience and principle. High Councillor Nova Voor has broken the treaty with Earth and has behaved against all of your norms. Her, ah, Xi and Xa are all, ah, out of balance.” The Thaf’ell terms were offered to him by both AIs. “She has been emotionally compromised by the death of her daughter and her son’s decision to do what’s best for the Alliance.”
“Emotionally compromised?” Nova’s mouth flattened for a moment. “How could a human even know a state other than that?”
“Your prejudice is showing, High Councillor,” Jace said evenly. “Careful now. You’re coming across as angry.”
“The Pilot is correct in assessing your emotional state, High Councillor. Human or no,” Khoth added.
His Commander’s arms were crossed at his wrists behind his back and he stood with his feet shoulder-width apart. It was a military pose he’d seen his parents take on many times, but somehow seeing Khoth do it was different. And Khoth was doing it for him. Not to mention that Khoth looked… well, he looked incredible with his chest thrust out and his chin lifted. So proud and strong and handsome and…
Stop thinking about the kiss, Jace! He chastised himself.
He went back to addressing Commander Nav’ud again, “Her actions and emotional state demand that she be relieved of duty and that you turn her over to me for judgment.”
He was guessing that this was something in the Thaf’ell rule book, and he was correct.
“You are enemies. You cannot tell my crew--”
“Actually we are not enemies. We are allies,” Jace said, though really Earth and the Alliance were allies. He and his crew weren’t exactly. “We want to be allies. If the Alliance wishes to be allies then it is going to turn you over. Your actions are putting every one of your crew in danger.”
Commander Nav’ud’s gaze slid to Nova and away. He was clearly thinking about it. But she was High Councillor. He was only a lowly Commander. Even if he agreed with Jace and Khoth about Nova’s state, Jace imagined that he wouldn’t fare well in how he was treated.
“You know what? I have a better idea,” Jace said as he scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t want to put Commander Nav’ud there in any danger of losing his position. So… why don’t we call the Council?”
