Defiant: Quantic Dreams Book 2 by Elizabeth McLaughlin (reading list txt) 📗

the job. It was difficult for those people to completely understand the mechanism of how Gabriel uploaded himself into a human’d mind. They believed that his possession of George’s body was real, but there was a little piece of their minds that disapproved of killing another human being above all.

The commonality among all of them was to request another election. I brooked no resistance to the idea. This time there wasn’t a contest for the survival of the species. I promised that I would consult the three front runners personally to gauge their interest in taking over for me. We would reconvene in a week’s time to work out the specifics.

I decided to work from the bottom up. Rather unfortunately this meant having an awkward conversation with the man who had effectively sentenced me to exile. Fang was an environmental scientist by trade. Since his takeover of direction the exodus from the shelter he had found his hands largely tied; I hoped to ply him with the scientific discovery of the century. Overseeing the settlement would give him the opportunity to pursue the discoveries he was interested in. I caught Alexander as he was about to disappear back into the shelter.

“Hey, can I have a minute?”

He paused, looking between me and the now brightly lit staircase as if judging whether or not he could escape before he was socially obligated to speak to me. I closed the distance between us and took the choice away from him.

“Listen, I’ve been talking with some of the older folks here about a transition of power.” Alexander quirked an eyebrow at me. “I know, I know. I’m sure you expected me to, I don’t know, declare my evil regime or something the minute we were out of the shelter? I’m old, Alex. I want to be out of the limelight just as much as you want me out of it.”

“And you’re coming to me because you want me to take your place?” The eyebrow went higher. I started to wonder if it might fly from his forehead.

“I’m coming to you because in the discussion I had last night with some people who are far smarter than I am, your name was put forward. The general consensus at the moment seems to hold another election. This time without an insane robot trying to take over our lives. I’m here to ask if you’d be amenable to putting your name forward. You’ve certainly got the leadership experience.”

He leaned against the metal frame of the shelter entrance. “I appreciate your coming to me, but I’d prefer not to get the job. I’ve got the scientific find of the century in front of me.”

“-you could be in charge of it.”

He held up a hand. “I’m quite aware. If its the duty required of me, you can certainly put my name in. But I won’t complain if you drop heavy hints to them. I don't know how you’ve kept up with this job, Jacob. I have dealt with more shit in the past month than I ever have before in my entire life. Whatever our disagreements, I can honestly say that I don’t want the job.”

“I can understand. I will convey your deep regrets to the appropriate people. They will probably tell me where I can stuff it, but it would be my pleasure to spare you the world’s most annoying job.”

Alexander smiled a thin smile and disappeared down the entranceway. I don’t think that we were going to become fast friends, but it was possible that I had gained some favor back with him.

Next on the list was Phoebe Rickman. She had spent most of her time in the shelter’s infirmary, looking after the few remaining sick and patching up the various bumps and bruises sustained during the move to the surface. I sent her a message on the tablet’s intranet, asking her to join me. It was almost an hour before she was able to join me. At the very suggestion of putting her name forward in a vote she burst out laughing so hard that she doubled over, arms clutching her sides.

“No. No, actually make that a very firm ‘fuck no’,” she gasped between laughs. “I’ve had more than enough of responsibility for one lifetime Jacob Alvaro. All I want to do now is sit back, relax, and I don’t know, find some animal to study or something. I’m sure that one of the geeks will have a job for me. You can count on me to keep making sure they don’t drop dead, but other than that you’ll find me doing a whole lot of studying.”

“Right. Okay.” I tried in vain to keep myself from smiling. “To tell you the truth Phoebe, I don’t blame you, but I have to say that you’d do a thumping good job of it. You command respect and order wherever you go. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so formidable.”

She hugged me tightly. “You did your best, you know that? I can’t think of a single thing I could have done differently. It has been my pleasure to work with you, and gods willing we will grow old never having to deal with that kind of crisis ever again.”

“The elders won’t be happy with me, you understand. Alexander Fang has already all but refused to let me put his name forward for a vote. If I come back with two refusals they’re going to accuse me of sabotaging the whole thing. You mind backing me up when they ask?”

“Not at all, my friend. Not at all.”

Chapter Thirty

I lay awake in my tent staring at the darkened fabric, praying to anyone who would listen for sleep. It was sometime well past midnight and I couldn’t get comfortable. In the past days I had plenty of visits from my family but their presence couldn’t mollify the niggling sensation that ate away at my mind each day. My deal with Alexander to not return to the shelter chafed; though enthusiastic