THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

Lemmings do not fight.”
    “What are you thinking?”
    “We launch a massive campaign to remind the world that it’s TecKnati scientific and technological advances that brought us back to a civilized existence after the K’ryan Syndrome. Get a marketing team working on feel-good initiatives. I want to see a presentation by tomorrow.”
    A musical hum turned SEOH’s attention to a holographic image of his AI female assistant. He said, “Yes, Leesa?”
    Her soft voice floated into the room. “The ANASKO Board is assembled for your meeting.”
    “Thank you.”  When the image disappeared, SEOH pinched the bridge of his nose. “I wish I knew who was stirring up the board this time.”  SEOH would eliminate that headache just as he had Komaen and Furk. A fitting end for Komaen, a man whose name translated as “being sent to eternal sleep.”
    “They are old, SEOH. With Komaen himself gone, the rest are more cranky than actually problematic as long as–”
    “I keep them content about the Sphere?” SEOH finished.
    “Exactly.”
    “Let’s go.”  SEOH led the way to his private interoffice shuttle that whisked him and Rustaad away at a speed that would blur the eyes, but which the human body hardly felt. Another technological breakthrough thanks to ANASKO’s efforts.
    ANASKO headquarters had been built as an octopus-like structure, with arms spreading from the main building that supported entire divisions and landing pads, the interoffice transport shuttle capable of moving in any direction.
    They stepped out of the shuttle into a circular conference room protected by hyper-glass that only a quad-laser could penetrate. Turbo-projectiles were mounted within the infrastructure of the compound that could be launched within two seconds if the ANASKO defense system picked up an approaching threat that could not be otherwise contained.
    A paranoid man worried about threats.
    A powerful man prepared for an attack.
    Once inside the spacious room, Rustaad marched to a titanium antigravity podium that stood to the side of the massive circular table where he would perform vid relays as SEOH directed him. 
    SEOH sauntered to his spot at the table where he stood between AB One, or ANASKO Board member One, and AB Twelve. The seat for AB Seven remained empty, waiting for the board to replace Komaen. The board would make a decision soon, once the four most qualified candidates completed the complex steps of high-level clearance. It’d already been over a year and a half since Komaen met his demise, but one could not rush some traditions.
    Names were not used in meetings to limit any social intrusion on business. SEOH had no choice but to use Komaen’s now after SEOH had awarded a special tribute to show his deepest respect for the man he’d had quietly eliminated. “Good morning, ANASKO Board. I have the quarterly progress report on the newly christened Komaen Sphere that you requested.”
    He nodded at Rustaad who moved his fingers silently at the podium control panel. Individual holo-vid screens appeared immediately in front of each seated board member.
    SEOH continued. “This is a short vid showing the adaptability of the MystiK children in the current trial Sphere.”  He waited as several scenes scrolled by with images of happy children living in stylized cabins built from natural sphere materials. Next to the lush setting landscaped with exotic plants and welcoming grass, some of the children splashed in a man-made lake while others played games. All were dressed in simple, but colorful, tunics also made of natural materials that looked as though they were found within the Sphere.
    Well, materials found within one part of the Sphere.
    AB Five lifted his wrinkled gaze to SEOH. “I see only one who could be close to maturity age. Your original report indicated a number of sixteen and seventeen-year-old MystiKs captured.”
    SEOH had no intention of telling this bunch just how many kids, or which ones, he’d captured. The board of twelve only needed enough information to keep them content that the children were safe and happy.
    All eyes lifted to SEOH when he opened his arms, palm out, the expression of an indulgent father on his face. “As many of you pointed out when we first discussed this, the MystiK teens are no different from our own and had to be given the same consideration as our children in this situation. Because certain children are not in view does not mean they’re not within the Sphere.