“I’m not sure,” Cally admitted. “Do you want to make it work?”
Ashton stared at the love of his life.
“Yeah,” he finally admitted. “I think I do. I’ve gone about as far up the ranks in IPD as I’m gonna get, short of taking over from Lee when he retires, and frankly, I think not doing investigatory work would be boring as hell, so I’m not sure I want to take over from Lee when he retires. But this? This is the chance to do something new, something different, and still keep my hand in investigations. More, to do investigations in a way, in a depth, and in a degree that I’ve never done before.”
“Okay, so we need to make it work.”
“Well, if it can’t, it can’t. I’ll simply recommend someone else, instead.”
“No, don’t give up so easily now, honey. We need to sit down and discuss this one in detail. I’m betting we can figure a way, between the two of us.” Cally paused, cocked her head, and looked at Nick. “Director Carter – Lee – is gonna have a cow if you leave. Never mind Maia, and Ashton’s Gang.”
“I know…”
Sunday morning brunch for the Emperor and Empress Consort was, as usual, with the Co-Consul and his wife, Geoffrey and Suzanne Saaret. And as usual, discussion of work was not allowed during the meal, which was a delicious entrée of made-to-order huevos rancheros made with sausage, refried beans, diced onions, and four kinds of shredded cheese, with sides of black beans and seasoned rice, sliced avocados, a choice of wheat or corn tortillas, and red and green chile salsa. This came with coffee, tea, orange juice, and something the chef called, “The Galactic Empire’s Best Margaritas.”
As soon as the after-brunch coffee was served, however, Bobby, Amanda, and Geoffrey launched into an excited discussion of Section Six.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Suzanne interrupted. “What is Section Six?”
“We’re calling it, ‘The Emperor’s Own,’” Amanda explained, seeing both Bobby and Geoffrey deferring to her. “It’s a top-secret organization that Bobby and future rulers can use to gather information on the rough spots in the Empire.”
“And even potentially use to smooth out those same rough spots,” Geoffrey noted, “if we ensure the right people get put in it.”
“Which we’re working on,” Bobby averred. “It’s Section Six, because it’s the sixth, unseen layer of organization within the Empire.”
“Oh, I get it,” Suzanne said. “Like the old National Security Agency in America, on old Earth, if my memory of history class still serves.”
“Right,” Amanda agreed. “That’s a decent analogy, actually. I’ll have to remember that.”
“I just have one question that we never figured out,” Saaret said then. “Where in God’s name will we locate them?”
“Yeah, where should the headquarters be?” Dunham agreed. “In Imperial City? On Center? Someplace else? Part of the Palace compound?”
They were all silent for a moment, pondering the matter.
“Bobby, this may be a stupid question,” Suzanne Saaret said, “but why would there need to be a physical headquarters at all? Wouldn’t it be more secret if it was all virtual, and none of the people involved ever had to physically meet each other? They could even have different avatars, like disguises…”
They all stared at each other, then at Suzanne.
“My dear, have you and Amanda been collaborating behind my back?” Geoffrey wondered mildly.
By now, Otto Strauss had expected he would be used to seeing the mail message with the Imperial header, but he was just as shocked this time as all the times before. With some trepidation, he opened it and read the message, then dropped into VR channel 22 to find the same office simulation he’d seen before. He moved to one of the two visitor’s chairs before the big desk, elegant in its simplicity, and simply waited.
Moments later, Emperor Trajan appeared in the desk chair, accompanied by the Empress Consort Amanda, standing before the desk; both were in business attire. Stauss bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty. Milady Empress.”
“Be seated, Mr. Stauss,” Dunham said, and Stauss held one chair for the Empress before taking the other. “Very good, then. Mr. Stauss, we have a little proposition we would like to put before you. I brought Milady Empress into the discussion because it was her idea, and I believe it is a good one, but ultimately it is your call.”
“I… don’t understand, Sire.”
“First of all, let me ask: do you plan to retire any time in the next couple of years, Mr. Stauss?”
“I… had been thinking of letting my son Dieter take up more of the reins, yes,” Stauss said, “but no, Sire; I think I am unlikely to retire completely until the day I die. I find I like having a hand in the work far too much to leave off with
