"I can't believe that you pulled that off", Brett said to Jason, shaking his head. "I actually expected them to rip your head off."
"When you kids teamed up, I never stood a chance", Diane replied and took the plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce, Cass offered her. "And now you're not kids anymore. Aside from Jason's compelling argumentative line, seeing all of you as a united front … You made it very clear you wouldn't budge."
"What did I miss?" Paul entered the dining room and sat down on the last empty chair between Brett and Froggy.
"Well, the family dinner turned into a family & friends-dinner", Diane explained, "and Jason convinced the councilors to produce universal translators on Earth based on an old Pyramid design."
"Sounds useful – if they really work."
"They do", Froggy replied enthusiastically. "I can understand everything although I still somehow recognize that other people are not talking English. I listened to a random podcast and still noted, that it was in Spanish."
"It's a strange feeling", Jason added. "Like your brain is holding up a sign with the spoken language although it sounds like English."
"Still, I still have to make up my mind about having a nano-chip in my brain", Diane said.
"Yet you run around with a device that can track your movement and verify your identity by your fingerprints", Brett replied with a shrug. "It's not that big of a stretch. Honestly, it's weird that we don't already have chips in our brain since a lot have them implanted under their skin already."
"He's got a point", Paul told Diane and she grimaced.
"Not a smart development, if you ask me. I was never a fan of sacrificing so much personal data for convenience."
"And yet you did", Brett grinned. "You love your smartphone."
"But you didn't hear the best thing yet", Froggy said to Paul. "They agreed to form a team of specialists assigned to the exploration of the Pyramid's AI. They finally let me work with it."
"Really?" Paul looked at Jason. "I thought everyone is scared of that thing. I know I am."
Jason shrugged. "We only saw glimpses of its potential. We don't know what else it's capable of and what data is stored in its archive. I don't think we can go on in blissful ignorance much longer."
"And that convinced them?" Cass asked. "Don't get me wrong. It's a smart move but they seemed so against using the Pyramid before."
"First of all," Froggy said, "we are not really using the Pyramid: we are only digging it up for information. And second, Shalamorn can always seize everything with a snap of her fingers."
"Cass is right", Mera replied. "What I found most odd was how agreeable the separatists were."
"Agreeable?" Brett asked. "They called him foolish and then told him some stuff in oceanic which didn't seem very nice."
"It wasn't", Jason admitted, "and they only agreed to it under the condition that one of the specialists is one of their own."
"So, they are sending someone down?" Paul asked. "And the separatists agreed to give out their own technology to Earth?"
"If you put it like that", Brett replied. "They'll probably send a spy."
"Most likely they will. But there might be more to that."
"What do you mean?" Jason wanted to know.
Paul put both his hands flat on the table. "I am not included in all of this like your mother – and that is not an accusation! – but from what I've seen, son, you're pushing a lot of things forward that might have been in Malakat's interest." As gasps and "What's?" echoed along table, Paul quickly made an apologizing gesture. "Please, let me explain." Jason felt a surge of anger but Neri put her hand on his arm with a look on her face which told him to wait for more.
"This Malakat is a typical example of a populist leader", Paul went ahead. "He takes up the needs and opinion of the common people and presents himself as their voice. Malakat excelled at this. Up to this point, his followers still don't want to believe that that he had his own agenda but still cling to what he promised: change. The abolition of the monarchy and matriarchy. Having leaders in charge who will put their own people above those on Earth."
Jason shook his head. "I didn't push for any of these things."
"No, but you challenge them", Paul replied. "You were put in charge by the traditionalists and at the same time, you challenge the rules of tradition. You're not of noble blood and you are Earth-born. You're breaking the taboo of meddling with ancient technology, and you brought the separatists to the table. You and Neri, you give them a voice, exactly the same thing, they were hoping to get from Malakat."
"But that would be good, wouldn't it?" Brett asked. "If they see him as the next … Jesus, there'd be a real change for peace."
"Only as long as they think, Jason can get them the things they want", Diane said. "But it's walk on a knife's edge. Right now, it's smart to stay on Jason's good side." She turned to him. "You have the absolute trust of the Queen and her daughters and all who follow them."
"But one misstep and they have the proof they need to disassemble all you built. That people from Earth can't be trusted", Cass finished the line of thought.
"You still think so … human", Mera said. "Ulterior motives and backstabbing are not our way."
"Let's hope so", Paul replied and picked up a fork. "Now, shall we go back to more pleasant things and finally to the fantastic looking meal your mother made?"
"Finally", Brett cheered and stabbed his noodles enthusiastically.
"Well", Cass said. "I also have some news." Brett huffed but put down his fork again. "With all my exams, you didn't see much of me lately, but it worked out: I already got my college acceptance letter from a really nice school."
"Cool", Brett and Froggy replied.
"That's fantastic", Diane said.
"Congratulations", Neri told her with a smile.
"Thanks", Cass said. "It's in Florida."
Silence fell along with a few faces.
"I didn't even know that you applied there", Brett grumbled.
"They have an interesting AI program", Cass explained, "and … please don't take offence, but chaos could break out any second and there's nothing I can do anyway to help …"
"So you applied for a school far away", Brett finished, clearly annoyed.
"There is nothing wrong with looking out for the future", Diane said and gave Cass a smile.
Neri reached out to Cass' hand. "We wish the best for you."
Mera nodded. "We will miss you."
"I'm gonna miss all of you, too."
"Can we eat now?" Brett grumbled.