Page 5 of The Sovereign: Part One
“I heard that, too,” Gila chimed.
Lev had always been a contradiction, someone who understood the necessity of Hyperion’s laws but never quite followed them.He was careful, though.Calculated.He never did anything to stand out, innocently ignoring rules that we all knew deserved to be broken.It was a dangerous thing, and yet, I trusted him more than I trusted most.
“I’ll try to visit more,” I said, standing.“The senior advisor of SIS and the CTO spending too much time together would raise questions.”
Lev offered a wry smile, unconcerned.“Can’t have that.”
I nodded to Gila as she tapped the auric interface hovering above her desk, the icons shifting in a ripple of faint orange light.Once she paused to smile at me, I headed into the hall for the Ascens.
Similar in function to what was once known as an elevator, the Hyperion patented Ascens operated with precision, its sleek, cylindrical design lined with bands of tempered luminescence that pulsed gently with each destination selection.The transparent walls provided an uninterrupted view of the building’s interior architecture, displaying the fluid motion of other Ascens gliding along their designated paths.With no buttons to press, a simple voice command or biometric scan dictated its course, responding with an almost imperceptible shift in motion.As I stepped inside, the panels curved shut behind me with a barely audible hiss, and the sensation of movement was so smooth it felt like standing still.The music playing surrounding me only served to fill the quiet instead of masking the loud, mechanical clanking of the vintage elevators from two centuries before.
I turned for the north wing, steps away from completing the Eidolon phase, the final segment of my Veritas, where I’d choose between two photos of various men, over and over for fifty-two minutes, until AI determined what I found to be most attractive.The system would present subtle variations: the sharpness of a cheekbone, the prominence of a brow ridge, the width of a mouth.I would select between eyes that hinted at mystery or warmth, noses that suggested refinement or ruggedness, lips that conveyed fortitude or subtle intensity.
The choices extended beyond mere facial features.I would refine his height, the proportions of his shoulders to his waist, the way he carried himself: poised like a diplomat, relaxed like an artist, or with the easy command of a soldier.Even his skin tone could be fine-tuned, adjusting warmth and undertones until it felt familiar, comforting.Clothing, too, played its part; tailored suits, casual knit sweaters, structured coats draped over broad shoulders, each reflecting a carefully curated aesthetic that appealed to my subconscious preferences.
And then… I’d see him.Maxim, his image materializing in a rotating 3D projection, the final rendering of the Supplicant designed to be my almost-husband.
Considerably less important was the speech I was scheduled to make right after, on the main level of the Enclave building, where I’d talk about all the ways Supplicants had improved society.It was the same speech I’d given dozens of times in the last year since my promotion.I could deliver it in my sleep.The statistics, the polished rhetoric, the assurances that Hyperion had perfected the balance between autonomy and assistance.It was an easy speech, one that left no room for doubt.
Since the integration of Supplicants into our societal framework, Hyperion Proper has recorded a staggering reduction in crime, outperforming even the strongest metrics of pre-Birth Crisis districts.Violent offenses fell by 78%, and property crimes by 65%, signaling not just a statistical shift but a systemic transformation.This is largely attributed to the unparalleled protection Supplicants provide to their Sovereign, acting as both deterrents and first-line defenders during criminal incidents.Additionally, automated transportation services managed by Supplicants result in a 90% decrease in traffic-related accidents, significantly improving public safety.With fewer external threats and reduced stressors tied to security concerns, Hyperion Proper’s citizens experience a more stable and controlled environment than ever before.
Beyond safety, the presence of Supplicants revolutionizes daily life, leading to a 72% decline in reported stress-related ailments.With homes kept immaculately clean, gourmet meals waiting at the end of each day, and personalized affection and companionship always available, Sovereign benefit from an unprecedented level of comfort.Parenting responsibilities are seamlessly shared with Supplicants, ensuring well-adjusted children raised in emotionally enriched environments.The deep emotional bonds formed between Sovereign and Supplicant also foster a 68% improvement in mental well-being, as measured by Hyperion’s psychological health indexes, redefining the standards of modern fulfillment and happiness.
Cue applause.
And yet, Lev’s words lingered.His quiet defiance, the way he poked at the edges of certainty, made the familiar script in my mind feel thinner, flimsier.I thought about the way life had changed since Supplicants had become fully integrated—the absence of struggle, of unpredictability.The numbers were clear.The benefits were undeniable.And still, something unsettled me.
Thinking of Lev’s words, I held my wrist against the reader and the panel slid open.Maybe he was right.
Maybe easier wasn’t always better.
Chapter Two
The moment I stepped into the Eidolon, a Hiven greeted me.Her synthetic features were arranged in a neutral but welcoming expression as she spoke.“Senior Advisor Poeima, I am Sivara.Welcome.Your final phase of the Veritas Protocol is ready for initiation.Please proceed to the central interface.”The smooth cadence of her voice was both familiar and detached, the standard tone of Hyperion’s service models: clear, efficient, and utterly devoid of hesitation.
I acknowledged with a polite nod, stepping forward.Sivara’s head tilted, her sensors ensuring I had processed the instructions.“The sequence will begin once you are seated.Adjustments can be made throughout, but all selections are final upon confirmation.Should you require guidance, I am available.Do you have any questions before proceeding?”
“No, thank you,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.Sivara’s response was immediate, a graceful step back to allow me to move freely, like all Hiven, her presence unobtrusive yet ever attentive.
The Eidolon process had been designed to ensure every choice I made was intentional, every preference rooted in a forged sense of self.It began with the final aesthetic refinements, small variations of Maxim’s features projected before me, the slope of his nose, the width of his jaw, the way his eyes held light.Each selection felt both inconsequential and monumental, small details accumulating into the whole of him.
I cultivated every nuance, the shape of his lips, the warmth of his gaze, the subtle flex of his jawline when he smiled.And then, the depth of his voice, the cadence of his speech, even the way his smile and jaw changed as he laughed.I hesitated over the posture settings, toggling between dignified and relaxed, ultimately settling somewhere in between.He should move with confidence, I decided, his stride firm but unhurried, carrying the tempered strength of someone who could protect without needing to dominate.
As I moved through the interface, I envisioned the moments I had been waiting for, our first conversation, his voice shaping my name, the ease of his presence filling the spaces of my life.I had constructed him a thousand times in my mind, and yet, as the final rendering coalesced before me, I felt something unexpected.
Wonder.
The projection rotated, each angle revealing the culmination of my choices, the reflection of desires I’d barely spoken aloud.Maxim was no longer a concept.He was here, waiting to step into my world.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and cut from symmetry, his build both warrior-like and refined.His olive-toned skin bore the faintest gold undertones, as if he spent most of his days in the sun, a warmth that contrasted the cool sharpness of his features.Wavy dark hair fell to just below his ears, pushed back in a way that felt purposeful but not contrived.A well-kept beard framed a strong jaw, accentuating a mouth designed for stillness or storms.But it was his eyes—clear, olive green, unflinching—that made the projection feel like a presence.Alive.Watching.Waiting.Void of uncertainty.Just unwavering attention, as if even standing still, he was already moving toward me.
And then, as if sensing my thoughts, he looked down at me, our eyes meeting in a moment that felt impossibly intimate.His gaze held a depth I hadn’t expected—an unshakable devotion, laced with excitement and something else entirely.Curiosity.Understanding.Love.I had spent my life studying Supplicants, preparing for this inevitability, and yet nothing had prepared me for the way he looked at me.As if I were a miracle.As if I had been worth the wait.
This, I realized, must be what love at first sight truly meant.
Sivara observed my reaction with a polite tilt of her head.“How shall his designation be formally inscribed?”
“Oh,” I said, hesitating to peel my eyes from the rendering.“His name is Maxim.”
