Free Conquest of Earth (Stellar Conquest Series) by David VanDyke Page B

people if they can touch them – probably some kind of biochemical mind control. But it’s highly unlikely a Blend can influence an AI.”
    “Good thinking. Michelle?”
    “Yes, Captain?” came Conquest’s voice from the speaker in the overhead.
    “Escort Leslie Denham here, will you? And make sure she stays under full surveillance at all times.”
    “Yes, sir. Five minutes.”
     
    When the door opened and the woman in yellow stepped in ahead of Michelle’s avatar, Absen stood up involuntarily. On the vidscreen Leslie had reminded him of her mother Rae, but in person it was déjà vu all over again. The force of her personality, her presence and poise, brought long-buried feelings to the surface so strongly that he excused himself abruptly to the cabin’s head behind him. Inside, he flushed the toilet as an excuse, splashed water on his face, and composed himself in the mirror before stepping back out, pointedly wiping his hands on a clean white towel.
    “Nice to finally meet you,” Leslie said before Absen could speak. “I’ve seen you many times in pictures and records, of course. All of my brothers and sisters have.” She did not hold out her hand; neither did Absen.
    “How many brothers and sisters?” Absen asked, sitting down at his desk.
    “I am one of a set of quads, two boys and two girls, and then there’s Ezekiel, whom you know.”
    “Rae had no more children?” Absen inquired. For some reason, he felt the answer important to him.
    “She considered it. Genetic material from my father was available – is still available, I presume – but she never did. I don’t know why.” Leslie cocked her head knowingly. “Ah.”
    Absen ignored this gesture and its implication. “So where is your mother?”
    A smile leaked from Leslie’s lips. “You care.”
    “I care very much. If anyone survived to coordinate a resistance movement, it would have been her, and you confirmed that with your actions. Now stop playing games and tell me what I need to know.”
    “My, my. Touchy, aren’t we?”
    Absen kept tight check of his emotions, reminding himself that the current population of Earth system did not necessarily see him as the supreme commander of anything. Not everyone would give him the easy deference he was used to. “Ms. Denham, I see you’ve become accustomed to your position in the Meme hierarchy. I’m wondering if you’ve bought into the Empire’s elitism even as you worked to undermine it. While you are no doubt very capable, that yellow tunic doesn’t mean the same thing in a free society – or in EarthFleet.”
    “Meaning I’ll have to earn my way all over again?”
    “Meaning you’ll go farther without that bitchy air of smug superiority. If you really are as smart as you seem to think you are, you’ll condescend less and help more even if it’s only out of self-interest.” Absen’s eyes bored into Leslie’s until finally she dropped them with a graceful dip of her head.
    “As you say, Captain. I apologize. What can I do to help ?”
    “I’d really like to contact your mother.”
    “Unfortunately she’s on Earth, as far as I know. The last time I heard from her she was in Ulan Bator. For security, we only communicate occasionally, through cutouts and drops. If you want to talk to her, you’ll have to wait for her to contact you…or you can skip that part and free Earth.”
    Absen sighed. “That’s my goal, but I had hoped…never mind. You’ll have to do. First, how likely are other Blends to rebel?”
    “They will not, unless the Empire has clearly already lost the fight. They are too young to be bored with their power and privilege.”
    “That’s what I’ve been told. All right, what about the defense forces?”
    Leslie rummaged in her pockets until she came up with a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. “Sorry, all the Yellows smoke, and I had to blend in , ha . I’ve become addicted.” She lit one and took a deep drag.
    Absen glanced at Repeth with a