Page 78 of Victoria's Discovery

“Yeah.”

“That means you and Thegan will be the highest ranking Generals here. You'll be in charge of the complex. Obviously, the sentries, guards, and quite a few of the gladiators will be here to fight if needed, but if somethingshouldhappen, I’d like to know you won't die.”

She’d known Aria and her mates were leading the assault but hadn’t connected the dots that she’d be left in charge. That was… daunting. Why not Lilac or… or…

“Uhh yeah, not dying seems optimal. But about me being—”

“Your original body will be kept in stasis in the lab level. I know you said you didn’t necessarily want to return to Earth, but if you change your mind later you can be transferred back to it,” Aria interrupted, incorrectly thinking she was hung up on the clone thing.

She wasn’t.

Well, she was, but the whole ‘being in charge’ thing was definitely taking precedence on the list of concerns. When she opened her mouth to try again, Aria kept going.

“The clones are designed to be harder to kill and resistant to sickness. Rellik tells me everyone received vaccinations on the ship, but I've heard shit about this planet’s version of a cold. Ruptured eyeballs and puss coming out of your fingertips is nothing to fuck with. The clones are also stronger, faster, and should something happen to that body, we can grow you another.”

Finally catching the pointed look on Aria’s face clued her in that no, the woman hadn’t incorrectly thought she was hung up on the clone thing. She just wasn’t going to give Victoria a chance to dispute being left in charge. Sighing under her breath, but also more than a little flattered, she took the hint and focused on clones. She’d freak out about being in charge later.

“That sounds… pretty damn awesome. But what’s the catch?” she wondered, positive there had to be one.

Aria chuckled but nodded. “You’d have to upload your memories nightly. If something did happen to your clone body and you hadn’t uploaded in a while, any memories since the last would be lost. So, don't skip a night thinking it’ll be fine. Also, you wouldn't be strictly human anymore. The clones are kind of a melting pot of DNA. As of right now, they're also only made to last ten years or so.”

Victoria felt her eyes go big. She’d been leaning toward a ‘yes’ right up until Aria revealed that little tidbit. “Uhh… ”

Aria waved a hand. “Lilac is already working to rectify that. If you weren't a General, well, I’d still push you to get a clone, but I wouldn’t push as hard as I am.”

“I don’t even know what questions to ask here,” she admitted.

“I get it. This is a hell of a thing to be blindsided with. I’m leaving in three days. Lilac is close, but if she hasn’t succeeded in editing the fabricator to extend the lifespan by the time we head out, I strongly suggest you go ahead and get a placeholder clone.”

Victoria slumped back in the chair, stunned to silence as she tried to think through it all, but really, even with the caveats it still sounded amazing.

“I… yeah, I want a clone. Wait, there are no horrible side effects, right? And I can have my body back whenever I want? Gosh, that sounds weird to ask.”

“Physical side effects, no, and your original will be safe. But—and this is a big fucking but—I spoke with your Vi’kail after learning he used to work for the Federation.”

Victoria grimaced at Aria referring to him as hers but didn’t interrupt, positive she didn’t want to hear about her man problems.

“He tells me the law is… grey where clones are concerned. If we end up on trial, there’s a possibility we won’t have the rights afforded to sentient beings. I—” Aria cut off and swept the room with her gaze. “Computer, lock down the room and turn off all surveillance.”

“Authorization code?”

“Authorization code: Aria Taylor N5LK0-992P54.”

“Confirmation key?”

“Kix is my favorite.”

At Victoria’s muffled giggle, Aria smirked and rolled her eyes. “Men.”

Her smile didn’t last, and Victoria felt her stomach tighten at the grave look that fell over the imposing woman’s face.

“If the Federation should find out what we’re doing here and take exception to it, I want everyone to have the best possible chance of making it through the trials unscathed. To that end, I have Lilac designing a kill switch in the clones that would send everybody back to their original bodies, so you’d be afforded the rights of sentient beings. Now, that won’t work on some of the gladiators whose originals are too old to live outside a stasis tube, but I’ve set in place a different contingency for them.”

“What about you?” Victoria had a bad feeling even before a wry look crossed Aria’s face.

“I’m the mastermind here which also makes me the fall guy.”

Victoria felt like her stomach just took a free fall. Denial was instant, but she was too shocked to put it into words and ended up just shaking her head in a speechless but heartfelt hell no.

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