The Rise of Io by Wesley Chu

vessel.”
    Surrett choked on his tea. “Yes, Adonis, but…”
    â€œOf course, given the rising output of the hatcheries from both Costa Rica and Moscow, as well as the new hatchery in Chengdu, attracting a Holy One may prove difficult for those climbing up the standings. One would almost need a sponsor. Has Rurik been supportive of your efforts?”
    â€œI hope, in time, Father Rurik–”
    â€œPerhaps you need a new sponsor.” She smiled.
    Sensing an opportunity, he bowed hastily. “It would be an honor, Mother.”
    â€œGood. Serve me well and I will personally see to it. I do not care if you report my presence to Rurik since I am here by the Council’s request, but Rurik will make life tiresome for us both. If you do report to him, then I know where you stand, understood?”
    â€œYes, Adonis.”
    Shura smiled. “Good.” She tapped the tablet and slid a finger to the right. Surrett’s entire project plan appeared in the air. “I’ve identified the two most pressing issues: the supply chains are ineffective, and that is affecting the critical paths of the observatory structure.” She pointed at a parcel of land on the northern edge of the site. “Why do we not already own from here to the river? It is absolutely vital we acquire and develop the area all the way to the docks. I don’t care if it’s residential. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with finances. What is the current status of your budget?”
    Surrett experienced that sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. The Adonis wasn’t here to address the project’s problems; she was here to take it over. His eyes flickered to the tiny camera hidden in the chandelier. It wouldn’t be able to pick up audio because of the resonance disrupter she had him turn on, but it could still record video. He had to find a way to obey the Adonis, serve the Genjix, and yet still raise his standing. At the very least, he couldn’t let her take the project away from him.
    He was left with little choice. The key would be to find the wedge between Shura and Rurik and be the factor that influenced the winning side. Playing two Adonis vessels against each other was usually suicide, but standing had to be taken, seized, and Surrett intended to do just that. He glanced in the mirror and adjusted his tie until it was perfectly straight.
    Conflict bred innovation. This was his chance.

Ten
    Jail Time
    F or the second time that day, Ella woke up with a terrible headache. The first thing she felt was the cold, hard concrete on her cheek. She inhaled and gagged at the smell, and knew exactly where she was. Indian jail cells in the slums had their own unique, terrible stench, and this was by the measure of someone who had hidden in a pile of garbage the other day.
    She sat up and stared at the rusty metal bars. On the other side, sitting at a desk facing the wall, was the man she dreaded seeing. She rose onto wobbly feet and grasped the bars with her hands. “Hey Uncle Manu, what does a girl have to do to get a drink of water around here?”
    Manu, the inspector in charge of the Crate Town precinct, looked up from his work and smirked. “Well, hello, Black Cat. When Dhruv and Sanchit told me they had a present for me, I thought they were kissing my ass with more sandesh. Never in a hundred years did I think those two idiots were smart enough to catch you. They told me you practically walked up to them. I can only assume then that you wanted to see me so you could pay back that money you stole from me.”
    Why did you not tell me you conned the police?
    â€œYou didn’t ask.”
    â€œNow, now,” Ella replied to Manu. “It was an investment, and not all investments go our way.”
    â€œIs that so?” Manu said. He took a plastic cup and filled it with water. He walked up to her cell and held it out. When Ella reached for it, he pulled