Salvation

“I guess it’s reassuring to know someone’s planning for the genuine long-term.”

“That’s why I’ll never make it as a politician; I want to actually achieve something in life.”

Callum put his hands on his hips and regarded the cluster of hulking machinery that was seeding piles deep into the pit floor. “I’d call this achievement.”

“Bullshit, son. This is just a building. Egyptians and Incas were building big shit three thousand years ago. Sure, it’s gonna be impressive—Connexion’s European grand hub and headquarters, never going to be anything else. But it’s already three years behind schedule, and we ain’t properly started. Fucking bureaucrats here…Jeez, I thought they were bad in the US. You been to New York, son? The tower I’m putting up next to Central Park is going to be a real statement, like this one. But at the end of the day: just a pile of concrete and glass.”

“Are you going to put Emergency Detox in here?”

“Fuck knows. I leave the small shit to assholes in the office ten floors under mine. Let them worry about it. I’m the concepts and deals guy.”

Callum laughed. “Now I’m starting to envy you.”

“Yeah, it’s a long way from New Jersey to here. Not that I was ever New Jersey trash. Did you know that?”

“Your father was a hedge fund manager.”

“And I followed him to Wall Street and made the right investment, huh?”

“No, your Harvard degree was in machine intelligence. You liquidated your inheritance to set up Connexion.”

Ainsley nodded in satisfaction, as if Callum had just passed a test. “Not just a college jock on a rodeo ride at my expense.”

“Sir?”

“You’re smart, son, and I don’t mean your degree. How many of your crew know about the big boss without their mInet throwing it up?”

“Some.”

“But you did, and that counts. We’re expanding, Callum, the human race. And Connexion is going to make it possible. The asteroid habitats were just the start. How did you feel when Orion reached the Centauri system?”

“Happy and disappointed; I was hoping for a decent exoplanet in orbit.”

“Likewise, son. Zagreus was well named; that is one crappy little loser of an exoplanet. But we didn’t let that stop us, no, not this time. We went into that goddamned useless star system hard and built us another wave of starships. That’s what our society is these days. We’ve got the balls to look outward and dream like JFK again. Fuck, that makes me proud to be human. One of those new starships will find us somewhere worth terraforming, and if it doesn’t, then the following wave will, or the twentieth wave. It doesn’t matter. We are going to build new worlds out there, son, and Connexion is going to take you out to the stars—you and a billion others desperate for a fresh start on a new planet. Twenty years’ time, you’ll be standing on this very same spot, and you’ll be able to walk into our interstellar hub and step onto one of a dozen planets that we’ve tamed. Connexion is going to be huge. It’s going to span the whole fucking galaxy one day.”

“It’s pretty big now, sir.”

“Sure. But this one solar system is just the start. And if the company is going to grow the way I know it can, I’m going to need me some real smart, tough bastards to wrestle it into shape for me. What do you say to that?”

It was probably the hangover damping his emotions down, but Callum was pleased with himself for not overreacting. He just kept his cool and said: “You offering me a job, Mr. Zangari?”

Ainsley chortled. “Oh, I like you, son, sure enough. But no. No fancy job offer. Not today. What I’m saying is enjoy your macho time in ED these next few years, and watch out for the next generation who’ll rise up like fucking crocodiles to snap at your heels. Then when the time comes you’re tired of the sound of those teeth getting closer and you apply to go on senior management courses or maybe do an MBA, you’ll find Connexion is supportive. You’re what I’m looking for, son. Don’t get head swell, now; I talk to a hundred like you a week. But you got yourself noticed and approved yesterday. No small thing in an organization this size.”

“Duly noted, sir, and thank you.”

Ainsley put his hand out again. “Okay. Now I need people to say yes to me again.”

Callum’s smile stayed in place as he walked back through all four portal doors to the ED office where the crew was waiting.

“Ainsley fucking Zangari?” Alana yelled. “Himself?”

“Yeah.”

“What did you say? Wait! What did he say?” Moshi demanded.

“He said: well done. Said to thank you guys, too. Christ knows why.”

“What’s he like?” Raina asked.

“Same as on the news streams. Loud.”

“Holy shit. Did he know our names, too?”

“I don’t know. Probably. You’ll be in the report file—under mine.”

“Fuck off!”