Multibillionairedom allowed Jaru to expand hir commercial interest out into the burgeoning space industries, constructing new habitats on Sol’s asteroids. Then, in 2078, as a direct result of nine über-corporate habitats declaring themselves low-tax nations open for business, sie sponsored the First Progressive Conclave, where fifteen more idealistically minded space-based billionaires pledged to birth a true post-scarcity civilization for the human race. Each of them committed their habitat to an economy based on a Turing-managed self-replicating industrial base. It was the start of the whole Utopial movement.
Kandara didn’t need any prompting to duck her head in a small bow of acknowledgment. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
“You are kind,” Jaru said with a melodic voice. “Though I fear at my age I am no longer terribly spectacular.”
“Age is wisdom.”
Sie chuckled. “Age
“True.” Kandara was aware of Kruse coming into the tent behind her and bowing deeply.
“Are you acquiring wisdom, Kandara?” Jaru asked.
“My life has a purpose. You know that. It’s why I am here.”
“Of course. This is why I asked to meet you before we commit to this course of action.”
“So you can judge me?”
“Yes.”
“You are free to ask me whatever you wish. But please bear in mind my former clients have full confidentiality.”
“I don’t wish to know the darker commercial details of corporations. I am interested only in you.”
“I’m not a serial killer who’s found the perfect cover. Nor am I a sadist. If a client wanted someone to suffer before death, I would turn the job down. I execute people. It’s that simple.”
“What about those who can be redeemed?”
“If the person causing you trouble can be redeemed, you don’t need me.”
“So you judge us in turn, then?”
“Everybody judges everyone else. I don’t deem myself infallible. I hope and believe I haven’t made a mistake so far. Everyone I’ve been called upon to deal with has deserved what happened to them, in my view.”
“Surely, we would be better served by you arresting these criminals and quietly renditioning them to Zagreus?”
“Again, if you can deal with them that way, you don’t need me. I’m here for the ones who won’t come meekly, or who are so far along their path that a fight to the death is what they want—consciously or otherwise.”
“Is this a quest for revenge, then?”
“I don’t want any more children to suffer as I did. If you want to call that revenge, feel free.”
“You sleep at night, then?”
Kandara narrowed her eyes as she studied the ancient wrinkled face for any hint of guile, wondering if the Utopials had cracked her medical files. “My conscience is clear.”
“I wish I could say the same.”
“I can walk away if you’d like. No offense will be taken. No regrets.”
“I believe we are past that point now,” Jaru said sadly. “The senior council has made its decision based on the level of extremism we appear to be facing. I do not dispute this. If those who are harming us do not surrender to authority, then they must be dealt with. I simply wished to see what kind of person you were.”
“I’m sorry to be the serpent in your Eden.”
“I never deluded myself we could achieve a truly peaceful egalitarian society without suffering misfortunes along the way.”
“I am a last resort. Most of my clients regret having to call me in, but they seldom have any choice.”
“So it would seem. I cannot express how disappointed I am that people are so hostile to us.”
“They fear you,” Kandara said, “for you are change. And change frightens people, especially those with the most to lose as that change is enacted.”
“You approve of us?” sie asked in charmed surprise.
“Yes. The economics you seek to replace are those which ultimately resulted in my parents’ murder. How could I not approve?”
“Yet you have not come to live with us.”
“My skill set has no place in your culture. When the human race comes to accept the Utopial ethos, embraces it even, then I will settle here with you—if you’ll have me. Until then, I will always be needed.”
“You may be in for a long wait. We are a small nation. The number seeking to join us is disappointingly few.”
Kandara glanced wearily at Kruse, uncertain how the acolyte would respond to the immutable doctrine being questioned. “Do you mind if I tell you how I see it?”
“Acceptance of truth is fundamental to our ethos. To determine truth we must first listen to all opinion.”
“Okay: You went too far too quickly.”
“The Turings were nothing new, nor was the level of sophistication in the fabricators that manufacture our technology. The asteroids provide us with unlimited elements. Solarwells supply eternal energy. Synergy between such diverse developments was inevitable.”
“Yes, but they were just the economic factors. You took it a stage further.”
“Ah.” Jaru smiled gently. “The omnia.”
“Yes. You were asking too much of people. You offer converts to the Utopial ethos all the material goods they could want, practically for free, but first they have to accept the gender change.”