Read Online The Dark Imbalance by Sean Williams, Shane Dix - Free Book Online Page B

Crescend revealed to the council that she had lied about the Box’s destruction, that certainly wouldn’t count in her favor.
    “The Crescend never contacted you while the Box was in your presence?”
    “No, never.”
    “Do you expect him to?”
    She resisted the urge to ask where this line of questioning was going. “Look, I went to Trinity to collect the Box, but met no one while I was there. I was rendered unconscious in orbit, and when I woke up the Box was... in my possession. That’s all. You’re obviously hoping that I can act as some sort of link between yourselves and the High Humans, but I don’t see that as being an option. I’ve never communicated with them, and I doubt I ever will. Why should they bother with me? I’m just someone who happens to be caught in the middle of all this.”
    <1 hope you know what you’re doing, Box,> she whispered via her implants to the AI in her body.
     it said.
    “We are all caught in this,” Murnane said. “But outside of the enemy, few individuals have had such a catalytic effect as yourself.” He paused. “Is there anything else you would like to tell us, while this council is in session?”
    
    
    “No,” she repeated.
    “Will you submit to a probe by one of our reaves to verify the answers you have given us?”
    The question surprised her. “Why do you need that? The hard data speaks for itself, and I’ve no reason to deceive you.”
    “Nevertheless—will you?”
    If she said yes, they would know that she was lying about the Box. Although she knew it would look suspicious, she had no choice but to say: “No. I’m sorry.”
    “Will you allow us, then, to examine you and, if necessary, take a genetic sample?”
    She squirmed.
     the Box replied,
    
    
    Again, she had no choice. “I’d prefer not to,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
    Murnane studied her for a long moment. “As are we,” he said. “But we cannot force you to submit to either examination—nor would we wish to.” He gestured helplessly. “This meeting is now concluded. We would ask you to return to your ship, Roche, and—”
    “What!” Roche snapped. “Aren’t you even going to discuss what I’ve told you?”
    “There is no need,” he said. “We’ve been conferring by epsense the entire time.”
    “But you can’t just dismiss me!”
    “Can’t we?” He took a step toward her. “Roche, we had hoped that you would provide us with information that is both new and verifiable. We had hoped that this might show us a way to combat the enemy we fear has infiltrated every group we deal with and perverts everything we attempt to do to stop them. Now it seems certain that you yourself have fallen into the same trap—either willingly or by accident.”
    Roche felt herself straighten, her tired back and stomach muscles tensing as though ready for attack. “Meaning?”
    “You have told us nothing, Roche. You claim that Adoni Cane is one of the enemy, yet you can offer no explanation for this surety nor a reason for his atypical behavior. Of what value is his genetic data under those circumstances? You offer us names that you assure us are relevant, but do not give us a context in which to place them or access to the records you say they came from. On what grounds can we possibly use them as means to uncover the enemy among us? You cannot tell us why Sol System has