The council sat in chambers. Darius sat at the head of the circle, his chair slightly above the others. The council used to number in the thousands as representatives of many different sections of the empire. But an ubiquitous game of thrones had whittled the number down to thirteen. Darius aimed to keep it that way.

Not that there weren't other houses. But none had the power to move into the council chamber just yet.

"May I say, I am so sorry for the loss of your heir." The woman in front was the Matriarch of the house Dinwali. Her dark brown skin and the single dot on her forehead were a pleasant contrast to her white hair. Arya was a thing of beauty even in her seventieth year. Unlike many others, she wore a shocking crown of white hair. Her silk robes swirled around her body, and the nanites all Neo-Tokyans used kept her body young and youthful. He frowned, besides her hair, she did not look past 30.

He nodded, giving a slight bow in her direction.

"Is this why we're called?" Ansel asked. He stood to Darius's right, his son behind him. The lad was in training, although Darius thought it a waste. Tiberius would be absorbed soon enough. It was the reason he'd married their mother Julia after all.

"My son was programmed," Darius said at length. He paused looking around to gather their reactions. The silence was what he desired. He had them.

"My sources have gathered that a group programmed Jack to murder his brother. Jack had no control over his own actions."

"Where is he? Can he confirm?" Arya gave him a worried stare.

He knew out of all of them she would take the most convincing. Where she led most generally followed. He pushed the irritation away. "My son has fled Neo-Tokyo in fear for his life."

"So he is in league?" Another voice popped up.

Damn, he was losing them.

He held up a hand. "My friends, brethren... I called you here today to discuss an important matter. Let me lay it out to you."

The questions died on their lips. "The AI rebellion two hundred years ago, do you recall it?"

"Yes," Arya said. Her hand went to her throat. "Is that what this is?"

Darius paused, clasping his hands together. He nodded. "It's a bit more complicated I'm afraid." He looked down almost afraid to go on. He could see them leaning forward in their seats when he glanced back up. People were so easy to lead by the nose.

"Remember our augmented humans?"

"Yes," Ansel spouted. "Created to help battled against rogue AI."

"Well, what if... what if they created a code to program those very same augments to turn against us? To kill us and change the order of this world. Those very AI, those very augmented friends you have, they'd be the ones to turn on you as they have me."

"Is that possible?" Ansel stood. He looked over at his son and Darius knew he'd won him over. Ansel was already measuring his safety against the loyalty of both his augments and AI servants.

"This room is sealed for a reason," Darius said. He looked around, looking at each head in the eye. "I'm not asking this for revenge. I'm asking to protect our society, our way of life."

"What exactly are you asking?" Arya stood. She looked troubled.

"We must purge the AI from our ranks, the augmented from our guards, they must--"

"Just a minute," Arya said. "You are talking about genocide."

"No," said Darius. "They can be moved to containment until the threat is over. Helion 7 is--"

"A prison," Arya finished.

"Suitable." Ansel stood. His robes swished as he walked to stand closer to Darius. "We must prevent another mass casualty event like the AI Rebellion."

"They are everywhere," Darius said. "Our homes, our families. We must protect both them and us. The perpetrators must be found and brought to justice."

"To justice," Arya said. She sounded unsure, but Darius could see her wavering. Throwing a little bit of danger always moved people in ways that nothing could. Hate and fear were always better motivators than anything.

Darius stood. "I put before the council in two days' time, we put operation, Sovereign Shield, into effect."

The room was silent. "You know what that will do." Ansel's son spoke for the first time. Darius cast him a sharp look before catching himself. His nephew might have a bit more of a spine than his father did. He would need watching.

"It is with regret that I do," Darius said. "But we must purge the perpetrators wherever they may hide. Be it in cyberspace, be it planet side, everywhere. They cannot hide from justice."

"All in favor say, Aye."

The vote was unanimous.

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