Ananda smiled. My government sent a delegation here. He paused. There’s a summit aimed at creating a replacement to Copenhagen – a new agreement that embraces our potential. Ethically. Humanely. With protection of human dignity and equality in mind.

Kade stared at Ananda. You’re leading this delegation?

Ananda laughed again. No. Unlike you, my young friend, I’m no politician. I hope never to be! I came to advise. And to bring a message to the Indian Prime Minister. He looked at Kade and smiled. I brought the personal regard that you’re held in by the King of Thailand, and the high respect that he has for you and your work.

Kade was puzzled. He doesn’t know me.

Ananda shrugged. He knows your work.

Kade squinted. You mean he’s… running Nexus?

Ananda grinned. I said only that he knows your work, young man. Don’t put words into my mind. He winked.

Kade shook his head in disbelief.

It was all good news, though. Very good news.

So Thailand would join this new protocol, he sent Ananda. Who else?

Ananda looked out the window on his own side. There are delegations here from a number of middle income countries – countries that feel economically stifled by Copenhagen. Some of them are in South Asia. Some of them you’ve been in recently. But the big surprise is Japan.

Japan? Kade was surprised.

They’re aging rapidly. Ananda said. Their population is down where it was 60 years ago, despite all their efforts and incentives. They want fewer restrictions on AI. They want more progress against neurodegeneration, progress Nexus could help bring.

But for them to leave Copenhagen… Kade sent. He was delighted. It was beyond anything he’d hoped for. But not what he’d expected.

They’re angry at the Americans. Ananda said. I don’t endorse anger. It’s a foolish emotion that harms the self far more than it changes anything else. But given the scope of the deceptions revealed…

Wait, Kade sent. What’s this?

Ananda face turned the slightest bit more somber. Kade, he sent, his thoughts tinged with sorrow. There are some videos you need to see.

26
Toy Soldiers

Wednesday 20.11007

Kilometers to the west and south of the exclusive skyscrapers of the Pudong, in an apartment tower on the outskirts of Shanghai, a first year university student named Wu Yuguo hoisted his backpack and headed for the door.

He intended to walk by the living room on his way out of the flat he shared with his mother.

“Bo Jintao does seem like an excellent choice for Premier,” he heard his mother say.

“I think he’s rather distinguished looking,” a girlish voice answered. A voice everyone in China knew.

Yuguo clenched his fists in frustration, then turned, and walked into the living room instead.

“Mother?”

His mother was seated on the couch, like yesterday evening, like the evening before that, like every evening after work.