Chapter 60
"Ming, you acted without consent." Shoshanna's mental voice cut through the Council vault that was now occupied by half its former users. "The outcome of this operation was totally unpredictable. Kaleb could have died in that attack. And we haven't yet found a way to compensate the Net for the death of one of us."
Ming's mind was present in the vault but his thoughts were absent. "I had to act since your little dirt campaign obviously didn't have enough influence on the public to rattle his political standing," he shot back at Shoshanna.
"What did you expect? That the public suddenly starts to voice strong opinions, even take public action against him? The campaign might have worked on humans or changelings but it's our own people we're talking about. We have strived to perfect nature for a long time. Not always with success. Almost every family tried at least once to tamper with their genes. Maybe the Krychek group took it too far back in their days but no one will discuss this matter publicly. And the insane family member? I don't think I have to give you the statistics on that." Because there were incidences in all the families as well. And if not, you could always find someone who had been rehabilitated by the long arm of the Council's law. And the Psy sure as hell didn't talk about those either.
"Shoshanna is right," Tatiana agreed. "It was worth a shot but in the end we know how our people react: They notice these things and then they look away. It's what we taught them." With 'we' she referred to the Council that had bullied the public to cower from its power for so long they didn't know what to do with the truth even if they got it served as a media scandal. "And it worked, as long as we kept our business subtle and secret. What you did may cause the outbreak of an open war. Your methods start getting too risky. One could almost think you're not acting rational anymore."
"It was a well calculated risk," he stated unimpressed.
"Kaleb's firewalls are closed up since yesterday, he isn't reacting to any telepathic communication and we don't know where any of them are. What is calculated about that?"
"He's obviously still alive, in what condition doesn't matter. On the contrary, if the attack really did hurt him physically, we achieved something we couldn't have ever expected to achieve. And it most certainly took her out of the equation, if not it will in the long run." Somehow Ming knew she was still alive. But he was no longer unsettled by that because he knew he'd get to her.
"No Ming. You are becoming obsessive in regard to that woman. We trusted your judgement so far, but this alliance is over, if you don't bring us proof of either her dangerousness or of her death," Shoshanna stated in a tone that was as final as it was icy. Ming couldn't have cared less.
"Are you threatening me?" He said it more out of habit than out of real involvement in the discussion. His thoughts were circling around something else. He was so close to his prey.
It was Tatiana, who answered this time. "We don't have to. Your increasingly irrational actions will be your self-made downfall. But we're not going to be part of it."
"Then this discussion is over." He turned and left the vault. The assassins he'd sent would hit the stupid girl right into the heart literally or figuratively. Even if it was the latter, he'd just have to wait.