Coeus?

“

It would be easier to think if I hadn't a hundred little men inside my brain.

”

-From when the mainframe started talking

***Sol, Mars***

***Gideon***

“This is so cool.” I watch in awe as Zibil guides me, Ed, Melan and Cyla into a huge sphere-like cavern. The walls are entirely made up out of crystals and light seems to pulse through each and every one of them. Zibil fetched us three days after I brought forth my complaint against Sanguin and we took a direct teleport to this place.

It seems like we are inside a huge, sparkling geode. The crystals at the walls look awfully familiar... yes! Could it be that this is the quartz which makes up the waveguide cores of quantum computers?

A quantum computer's infrastructure doesn't operate on electrons and cables, but on light and photons. The logic circuits are etched directly into the magically grown diamond to fracture the light as it is needed. The entire manufacturing process is hideously vulnerable to outside factors. In fact nine out of ten personal quantum computers are discarded during the manufacturing process.

What increases the problems with this process is the fine silver wiring which has to be embedded inside the diamond. The fine wires create the runes which enable the quantum entanglement of the photons.

Carbon, the raw material for this process is cheap, but the amount of work and time to create a quantum computer are breathtaking. I don't want to know how much time went into the computer which is spreading around us.

“We are inside one of the mainframe's quantum cores. Each planet or moon with a big enough colony has at least two of them.” Cyla explains. “When I was small my parents took me on a guided tour through one. They are the biggest computers in existence. Enough computational power to plan ahead for an entire colony.”

Zibil nods, guiding us towards the amphitheatre which is hanging freely inside the huge geode. A single walkway leads from the entrance point towards the amphitheatre. “It's also the most secure place on Mars, ten kilometres under the planet's surface. And the government's seat of power. Whenever there is a big decision to make, all elders gather here to discuss the situation and find the best solution.”

“And then you vote?” I ask amused.

Zibil shakes his head. “Not really. We look at the possible solutions to the problem and eliminate them one by one until only the best solution to a given problem remains. If it really happens that several solutions hold equal benefits we chose the simplest and morally most righteous one.”

“Morally?” I try my hardest to keep my voice from assuming a mocking tone.

Zibil nods knowingly. “I know what you think, but it isn't like that. We are no saints. An elder has to swear an oath to protect and guide our society and to keep the population as happy as possible. Of course that doesn't mean that everything has to be flowers and honey-pie. Outsiders and harmful elements like the aliens or the Revelation Wing are of no concern to us. And I certainly wont deny that there are groups with different opinions among the elders. It's something which can't be avoided. With some people you can work together and with others...” His voice trails off.

I nod and we pass into the amphitheatre which encloses a speaker's platform. Instead of rows of chairs for the audience there are several working desks with people of all ages.

~Don't get fooled by their looks.~ Cyla's mindvoice warns me.

Sure. Some may look like they are thirty, but who can say how old they really are? My grandmother is working hard to complete her third century and she looks like she is in her twenties. If I hadn't known her from childhood on I would have dirty thou-

~Careful.~ Cyla jabs in.

-of course I would never think of another ass than the one which belongs to my beloved wife. It's round and perfectly tight to the grip, yet it maintains a certain tenderness which lets you sink your fingers into the flesh. If I compare it to the only other ass which I got my hands on during my short life it's much better than Amia's. Hers is a little too bony for my tastes, though there are surely people who like the athletic type.

~I am more than my ass!~ Cyla grabs my hand tighter. ~And if you put it like that it sounds as if you are speaking about your latest meal!~

Sometimes the censorship of thoughts gets too much and I think we have reached one of those points.

I concentrate to make sure that she catches my thoughts. ~In a way you can put it like that. Do you know that the first real memory I have of you is your ass appearing out of nowhere in my field of vision? And the next thing that happened is that that lovely ass fell right into my lap. I was really lucky that I didn't have a boner at that time. Who knows what might have happened?~

Cyla turns as red as an apple which signals me that I got my point across.

Sharing of thoughts is all good and fine. But the partners should really learn to ignore each other from time to time. Especially when their minds trail off. I can't help myself but think about sex when I see a beautiful woman. It simply happens! I am a man. Not my fault. That doesn't mean that I'll suddenly become unfaithful.

My gaze wanders over the elders and their staff. It seems like every elder has at least one assistant. Most of the people here look indifferent to what's going on. Only a very few actually meet my eyes. They are mostly those who look at least a little younger. Maybe in their fifties? When I compare that to Melan it makes them five to six-hundred years old. Though I am aware that there are countless ways to look younger than you are. The only real way to judge age are mutations, though there are exceptions like Cyla and me.

Many of the people in here have very obvious mutations which can hardly be hidden like my eyes and Cyla's discolouration of her skin.

Then I find one pair of eyes which actually looks very cold. It's Sanguin. He has a seat in the front row and is accompanied by a sprite who seems to be a combination of a hovering printer and a flat-screen.

With relief I notice that there are several faceless present. They are acting as guards and security. Just like Ed described it.

I hurry to look for more people who could have something against me, but I find none. “Are you sure that Sanguin is influential? I assumed that there would be a whole party of hostile people to welcome me.”

Zibil shakes his head. “That's not how I meant it. Sanguin is influential, but he isn't above the law. His influence lies in his connections and his way with words. I am sure that if I and my friends hadn't laid the groundwork with the other elders he would have weaselled his way out of your complaint and it would have been ignored. You would have never gotten the chance to accuse him in public. This is an official meeting and there are faceless present.”

He makes a dismissive shooing gesture with his hand. “I know that the faceless are often said to be the arms and ears of the elders, but that isn't entirely true. An elder who breaks the law has to answer to the faceless as anybody else. Once you tell them the full story the faceless can't ignore it. Sanguin's days as an elder are numbered, even if you don't beat him in the examination.”

I smirk. “That's all this is about, isn't it? You are doing this just because the accusation alone together with Sadina's memories is enough to stop Sanguin from getting another term of office.”

Zibil shrugs his shoulders. “Isn't it fine as long as my reasons get you the outcome you wish for? You are right that it doesn't matter to me how fast Sanguin loses his job. I can wait until his term ends and the faceless check his memories. Though seeing it end sooner is perfectly fine with me and I wasn't lying when I said that you can win. This won't be a duel, but a comparison of skill and knowledge.”

“And he has a big advantage in the knowledge department. He is older and has more experience. He knows what's needed of him.” I grumble.

Zibil clears his throat. “Obviously not. Otherwise he wouldn't have violated our trust like he did. I strongly assume that a lot of dirt will come to light once they interrogate him.”

I cackle and gesture for Zibil to lead the way.

.