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"Sometimes I feel it necessary."<br />
"It's going to take the whole voyage for me to figure you out."<br />
"I believe it will take longer than that."<br />
"Could be, but the leadership on <strong>An</strong>la apparently hate the Nari."<br />
"Yes."<br />
"Asking for a man their enemies worship..."<br />
Morna laughed in his mind and said, "There are obvious reasons and not so obvious reasons. All I will<br />
say now is that you were chosen for your unique abilities and your devotion to the Corporation. I think your<br />
devotion will be severely tested and your abilities will be sharply honed. Please don't ask me for reasons yet, I'm<br />
still processing the probabilities."<br />
"I'm still trying to fathom the rush to launch this mission. They could have given us more time to really<br />
get acquainted and for me to figure out how you can make deductions on information in my head that I don't<br />
even know I have."<br />
"There are overriding reasons for the Corporation's haste, mostly to do with fear. <strong>An</strong>d, there are times<br />
when an individual has potentials the Corporation needs and special procedures must be devised. I am a Special<br />
Procedure."<br />
"That you are, Morna. Thankfully, you can still attend to the ship while you're haunting my mind. Let's<br />
see how our prize criminal is doing."<br />
The <strong>An</strong>gan Corporation's Chief, Brolan Mexur, was finishing his recital of orders to his Board members:<br />
"We need to increase endocrine enhancements in the stable populations in <strong>An</strong>selua and Kernuma, get their<br />
sexuality functioning at around 20 percent higher levels."<br />
All present nodded agreement.<br />
"It's critical that we boost Plot Interactions on the Corporate Mesh and induce bondable people on the<br />
Public Mesh to apply for Corporate Interaction."<br />
All present nodded agreement.<br />
Brolan directed his next comment to Ralm, his deputy: "Report on ShipOne post-launch conditions."<br />
"Yes, sir. All is proceeding according to plan. ShipOne is now 3,000 miles <strong>from</strong> orbital launch position<br />
and increasing in speed. LightSail is fully functional."<br />
"Ralm, show us the playback of bridge activity before launch."<br />
All present directed their attention to the hologram appearing in the center of their conference table—<br />
fifteen sets of eyes preparing to analyze the situation.<br />
Rednaxela appeared, seated at his console obviously lost in thought. His stare intensified and the Board<br />
members heard:<br />
"Rednaxela, we are fourteen seconds past the time set for slipping the magnetic bonds."<br />
"Yes, Morna, my dearest AI, I know; bidding farewell to folks in my mind."<br />
"The part of your mind I will not let myself access."<br />
"Yes, Morna, the only part of myself that's still private."<br />
"Twenty-five seconds past bond-slipping."<br />
"Initiate, Morna."<br />
The holo's recorded transmission ended when the ship's plasma shield activated.<br />
Brolan scanned faces again and said, "What does anyone think?"<br />
Not a word <strong>from</strong> the Board members.<br />
"Ralm?"<br />
"Sir, I think we have no worries. He's the best of the best and had deep training and a complete<br />
endocrine analysis plus he has no history of duplicity."<br />
"But, he said the only part of myself that's still private..."<br />
"Yes, sir, we all knew there would be some risk but all probable Plots have been played through and my<br />
staff has registered no negative opinions."<br />
"<strong>An</strong>d the AI?"