Page 84 of Tyton: The Spider and the Dragonfly
“Just because you’re upset that his plan only included himself and some billionaire friends a couple centuries ago doesn’t make this any less true.”
Black shook his head.“And you’re claiming the decline in fertility was intentional.”
“If it makes you feel better, the original design would have rendered everyone sterile immediately.”Sesi shrugged.“Of course, that would have been a poor method of propagating the gene.Instead, he deployed an airborne retrovirus in cities primed to flee the climate crisis.It attacked the Y chromosome, providing instructions to build the novel organelle in the next generation.”
“That would only affect men,” Black grunted.“Your brother mentioned it.”
“Including their sperm.I’m glad you’re paying attention,” Sesi chided.“The novel organelle, once in the egg, now becomes independently self-replicating in the generation after.Nice and slow, before anyone could notice or do anything about it.”Sesi walked her fingers across the desk.“And then you spread it when you all came up here.”Sesi narrowed her eyes.“Feels like I’ve heard this story before.”
Black grunted.
“I get it,” Sesi leaned forward.“You don’t want to admit that the company you’re heading has been played by its founder.That you’ve been housing his ego and his friends’ egos for this long.”
Black turned away.“I could…”
“No, you couldn’t.You don’t have the men.We’ve been eating your lunch for years.That’s why you’re here.”
Before Callum could respond, the door slid open.
“I need to speak with you a moment.”Siku appeared calm and professional, but Sesi could tell by the way he clipped his words that this was urgent.
Black inhaled deeply, holding his breath.Assuming this was true, placating the Natalists would be a waste.Better to let them burn, after he got what he was owed.They’d been failing for years anyway, with a birthrate only marginally above average and still declining rapidly.
Sesi returned, sitting straight-backed in her chair, her hands clasped in front of her on the desk.
She looked Callum directly in the eye.“I’m going to offer you something and it’s going to be far more than you deserve.”
Black squinted and curled his lip.“I didn’t come here for a lecture on what I do or do notdeserve.You offered a solution to the fertility problem and in return, I would give you the location of the Natalists’ lab.I’ve yet to hear a reasonable proposal.”
Sesi shook her head.“I don’t need it anymore.They overstepped and took someone with a shielded tracker.Black-market, of course.”Sesi leaned forward.“Here’s the new offer.Half of the profits from Model 21’s baubles go to funding the training of human doctors and lab techs.In return, I’ll keep Talia from killing you a little while longer.I’m told she already took care of your CSO.”Sesi narrowed her eyes.“You’re the one she really wants.”
Black sputtered.“Absolutely not.The board will have my head.”
“Indulge my curiosity,” Sesi flexed her fingers.“To my knowledge, the Natalists are in the same boat as the rest of us.”She looked up at the Hexaline ceiling and then back down at Callum.Every ounce of him communicated power and wealth.The suit, the full head of thick chestnut hair and DocPod blue eyes.Not a wrinkle to be found.All it did was fill Sesi with disgust.“Why inflict such torture on women – girls, for nothing?”
Callum refused to take the bait.He wouldn’t justify himself to this petty criminal.
“We’ll take care of the board.”Sesi broke the silence.“Or,” she opened her hand, “Talia can take your head, whichever you’d prefer.”
Callum stood in a huff “Fine,” he spat through gritted teeth.
“We’ll also need regular financials,” Sesi said, sweetly.
Callum strode hurriedly toward the door, unable to restrain the rising anger.Losing cool in a negotiation never ended well.But this was hardly a negotiation, was it?he thought.This was an ultimatum.
The part that this arrogant shit had neglected during this charade was his fee.One did not simply betray the people you’d been working withgratis.For all her research and planning, she had done precious little on the Natalists themselves.They cared little for Talia –hedid.And he had alreadypaidfor her.Talia washis.Now, he simply needed to collect.
The moment Callum emerged from the tunnels, he sent a message.
Judgement
January 14 2268
Y
ara jolted upright when the CEO of NovAITech burst into the locker room.
“Uh…” She held a lighter next to Santa Muerte’s candle.
