Page 27 of The Sovereign: Part One
“Senior Advisor Poeima,” she greeted.“I am Sevyn, Assistant to Primarch Sorran.Welcome to The Citadel.”
The moment I stepped forward, the Ascens panel sealed shut behind me with gentle finality.Sevyn turned, leading me into the vast, meticulously arranged gallery.The space was refined in every detail, the architecture striking in its balance of majesty and prestige.The walls shimmered with intricate inlays, their surface alive with shifting light, an ever-changing tapestry where technology bled so naturally into design it felt grown rather than built.Expansive windows framed the clouds below, a reminder that those who worked here stood above the rest of Hyperion.
Sevyn guided me across the gallery and past the administrative corridor, stopping before an immense set of panels.As they slid apart, I stepped into Chiron Sorran’s office, a space so massive it felt like entering a separate wing.
The room was a testament to power, its high, domed ceiling embedded with faint celestial projections, the walls a careful blend of textured stone and sleek, polished composites.A long, elegant section of transpane stretched across the far side, revealing a sweeping view of Hyperion Proper, the city stretching out below like a meticulously arranged blueprint.And at the center of it all was Chiron’s desk, dark metal and transpane, the chair behind it an imposing structure, designed to exude dominance, making it feel less like furniture and more like a throne.
“Would you care for a beverage while you wait?”Sevyn asked, gesturing toward a sleek service panel embedded in the wall.
I shook my head politely.“No, thank you.”
She nodded, stepping aside.“Primarch Sorran and Minister Jhendai will join you shortly.”
As she departed, I inhaled slowly, then called upon Calyx.“Ensure my outline is ready.”
“Confirmed.Your presentation is optimized and awaiting retrieval.”
I had barely processed the confirmation when the panels opened again.Chiron entered, followed closely by Artemis.
“Isara,” Chiron greeted warmly, extending his hand.“Welcome.”
I stood, shaking his hand before offering the same to Artemis, whose grasp was just as assured.She settled into one of the luxurious chairs beside me, while Chiron assumed his place behind his desk, the towering chair reinforcing the sheer presence he commanded.
“Your time is sincerely appreciated,” Artemis said, her smile controlled.“Regrettably, we have less time than anticipated.I assume you’ve heard about the incident this morning.We’re still managing continuance, I’m sure you understand.”
“Er… in passing,” I responded.“And of course.”
She angled toward me, leaning against the chair’s armrest to meet my gaze head-on.“Your speech at the Eidolon event was… well, it was striking.We wanted to hear more from you, particularly about your Veritas experience.”
I nodded, already prepared for this.“Of course.How can I provide the most relevant insight for you?”
Chiron leaned forward slightly, steepling his fingers.“We’re interested in what led you to change your speech.It was a departure from the traditional approach.What influenced your decision?”
I hesitated for only a breath before answering.“The Eidolon experience itself,” I admitted.“Seeing Maxim… it didn’t feel like an abstract choice anymore.”
Artemis studied me, intrigued.
“Just as when the Statis Bay arrived.It only reinforced what I had already assessed,” I said, keeping my tone composed.“The AI constructed a Supplicant that aligned with my specifications more precisely than I had anticipated, in a way that suggests an acute understanding of both explicit parameters and inferred preferences.The level of exactness demonstrated a sophistication that extended beyond standard algorithmic matching.It raised a consideration—how much of this process is purely computational, and how much accounts for deeper cognitive and behavioral alignment?”
They exchanged a glance before Chiron spoke again.“We want to hear your perspective on transition, from Vesture to Oathbond to Accordance.Do you believe the process should be better streamlined?”
I took a moment, considering my words carefully.“I think it’s a system that serves its purpose well,” I said.“But I do believe there are refinements to be made.Once I’ve completed my own transition, I can offer more precise feedback.”
They seemed satisfied with my response.But then, the conversation shifted.
“We also found it interesting,” Chiron mused, “that you once had a relationship with a Vale-born.”
My pulse tightened, though I kept my expression carefully neutral.“Yes,” I answered cautiously.
Artemis’s eye narrowed.“Joss, was it?”
I nodded.“That’s correct.”
“We would like to understand that experience further,” Chiron said, his tone gauged but unmistakably probing.“What unique challenges did you encounter in forming a relationship with a Vale-born Sovereign?”
Every instinct told me to be cautious.I had no idea what they already knew, if they had knowledge of my recent encounter with Joss.Still, I answered as neutrally as possible.“Your question is also the answer, Primarch,” I said.“It was a unique experience overall.Auren customs are not the same as Hyperion’s.But it was also expected.”
“Yes, but unique how?”Artemis pressed.“In what way?His manner, his speech, his bearing?Did he conform to expected courtesies or test the edges of them?Was eye contact steady or evasive?His vocabulary vernacular of The Vale or did he lean into Hyperion-polished?Any markers of training?Gait, stance, threat awareness?Did you observe resistance to assimilation: dress, idiom, deference?As far as patterns, did he mirror you, redirect you, try to lead?What did he avoid answering?What did he answer too quickly?And when you challenged him, did he deflect, or escalate?Be precise.”
