“But it spreads through proximity! Through combat!” Krax’tel protested.
Thorne could feel it. The greed creeping in. They wanted what humanity had created.
“We must vote,” Drex’mar announced. “Quarantine humanity, or given this System has already escaped Earth’s regions, perhaps excision is necessary.”
Thorne’s blood turned cold. Excision meant genocide. The complete elimination of the human species.
“Excision.” The Luminous Depths’ light dimmed. “The weight of billions extinguished. The void that would remain.”
“The Askalarians were only millions when we acted,” High Curator said. “We waited too long then.”
“The infection spreads through proximity,” Krax’tel added. “It may already be too late for containment.”
“Then we vote,” Vex’har said. “Three options with clear parameters. Decide.”
Each seat glowed as members cast their votes. Thorne couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think beyond the thundering of his heart.
The tally appeared in the chamber’s center. Three for observation. Two for excision. One for quarantine.
Thorne’s legs nearly gave out. “Thank you, honored councillors, for your wisdom and patience with humanity as we navigate this unprecedented—”
“There are conditions, Ambassador,” Vex’har interrupted.
Thorne froze.
“The serum,” the Luminous Depths pulsed. “We require samples.”
“And the manufacturing process,” High Curator added. “Complete documentation.”
“All research data,” Vex’har continued. “Every test, whether failure or success.”
“For study, of course,” Krax’tel said. “To understand the threat.”
Around the table, all six beings were nodding, murmuring agreement. Thorne had no idea which had voted for observation, which for humanity’s extinction, but clearly even those who’d wanted his species dead moments ago still wanted access to the serum.
Thorne was trapped. “I will need to consult with the leadership of the United Earth—”
“You will agree now,” Drex’mar said coldly, “or we vote again.”
Thorne closed his eyes. The calculation took only seconds. There were no options he hadn’t already explored, no allies to be gained. That the Inner Council had convened this meeting and chosen to see this as an opportunity rather than a threat was already the best outcome he could have realistically imagined.
He opened his eyes. “Earth agrees to share our research.”
Zephyr-Nine said nothing, but there might have been the slightest inclination of his head.
The council had decided humanity could live. But the price would be the eventual spread of the Dream to every species in the galaxy.
Thorne’s mind raced as he walked toward the exit. Months to collect all the research data they’d demanded. Physical samples would take time to prepare, documentation to compile. Then delivery through diplomatic channels, dissemination to each species’ scientists. They’d need to reverse-engineer the serum for their unique physiologies. Years of trials and failures.
Three years minimum, he calculated. Maybe five if the UEG dragged their feet carefully. As long as they kept quiet about the experimental serums the Five had been developing independently for non-human biology.
And other matters would need careful handling. The Inner Council had just given humanity tacit support. They couldn’t afford even the smallest diplomatic incident now. The recent accusations of abducted diplomatic observers, the conflicting reports from certain corporate facilities, the convenient timing of various security breaches. The UEG would need to ensure complete cooperation from the Five. Any evidence of unauthorized xenobiological research would need to be buried so deep it would never surface. Whatever the cost.
The corporations thought they controlled humanity’s future, but they’d grown reckless. Testing boundaries that should never be crossed. If certain rescued individuals existed, if certain facilities had been conducting experiments beyond their mandate, those truths could never reach the Council. Not when they had just barely avoided extinction.
The UEG could recall their scattered superhumans, limiting proximity exposure. Control the spread through isolation. Buy time for humanity to advance, to solidify their position before the rest of the galaxy caught up.
Half a decade. Maybe. If they were lucky. If they could keep the corporations from destroying everything with their hubris.