THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

When have we ever been able to control youth when they were out of our sight?”
    Most of the men chuckled agreeably with knowing looks, having dealt with errant teens in their own lives, even if the experience was decades ago and more memory than reality.
    SEOH gave them a smile in commiseration. “We do have Mathias of the Governing House and Callan of the Warrior House. In fact, we even have V’ru of the Records House.”
    That snagged their attention. Approval murmured through the room.
    Capturing V’ru had been an accident, but a providential one since the boy rarely left his family home. V’ru had been near Callan, an unexpected double trophy that SEOH had no problem taking credit for capturing.
    AB Five thumped the table, shoving his frown at SEOH. “But where are Callan, Zilya, V’ru and Mathias? Are they adjusting well or not?”
    Once the room quieted again, SEOH explained in a patient voice he had to dig deep for. “All the children are doing fine, better than fine. Our scouts informed each of the captives that they would only be in the Sphere while the MystiKs and TecKnatis work out our differences for the joint benefits of our children. Mathias and Callan are future leaders of their respective Houses, headstrong teens. I doubt any of you will be surprised to learn that those two took a few of the more adventurous children with them and went exploring. I find that to be a positive sign.”
    “How so?” AB One asked from his left.
    “The Sphere was originally created to test the adaptability of plants and animals,” SEOH said, just getting warmed up for his speech. Discovering life on a planet previously thought of as only a subsidiary moon had been significant and eye-opening. And the timing could not have been better as he’d already envisioned a way to use the fact that life could exist elsewhere as a strong reason to eliminate the MystiK vermin once and for all, without damage to TecKnatis.
    MystiKs should jump at the chance to rule their own planet once he took away their power in this world.
    He could feel the anticipation in the room and launched into his presentation. “When we faced the possibility that the next transfer of MystiK power to the new rulers coming of age might interfere with our HERMES Intraspace plans. . .”  He paused for effect, adding, “The greatest program in the history of mankind,” before going on. “The Komaen Sphere offered a second value for our investment by becoming a holding facility for these teens while we negotiate with the MystiKs. Their families must meet us halfway and agree that the only way we will continue to survive and thrive as a civilization is through a joint effort.”
    Wrinkled necks wobbled with heads nodding. Thumps from fisted hands on the table drummed three times around the room, the premier sign of agreement.
    He had them. “The exciting thing about how these children are adapting so quickly and clearly enjoying the Sphere is that first of all they’re secure and content. Number two is that this is a longer-term peaceful option for the MystiKs who do not want to...work with us.”
    AB Five had taken Komaen’s place as SEOH’s most annoying board member. He sat back, fingers tapping silently on the table. “Are you suggesting that all of the MystiKs would consider living in the Sphere? It’s only slightly larger than the ten cities.”
    So AB Five believed.
    “Putting them in the Sphere would be better than what happened to the C’raydonians when they refused to cooperate and threatened the TecKnatis,” AB Four muttered.
    SEOH withheld a smile at the single board member he could always count on. One of the TecKnati children who’d died of asphyxiation on the heels of the first MystiK child Rustaad eliminated had been AB Four’s only son. That board member would enjoy seeing where Callan and Mathias were really living in the Sphere.
    But no one other than SEOH and Rustaad could be privy to all the activities that went on in the Komaen Sphere.
    Rumbling conversation swept around the table until SEOH answered AB Five. “The entire MystiK population would clearly not fit in the Sphere. But if we can’t come to an agreement with them before the MystiKs hand over power to their next generation of leaders, who are consistently showing more abilities and less willingness to work with TecKnatis, we have to accept the possibility of significant technological and scientific destruction at their hands.”
    The room erupted with a