Despite the AI’s restrained tones, Agent Lana Wilson took the statement as more than enough rope to run with and said in an authoritative tone, “It is clear that we must confirm the location of this Madeline Cavanagh immediately, and it is also blatantly clear that we must find out what is going on in Neal Danielson’s basement. Agent Shahim, I order you to apprehend Neal Danielson and investigate his house.”

Luckily for John, the AI reacted immediately, saying in markedly more diplomatic tones what he and several others thought about Princess Lamati’s ‘orders.’

<Agent Lana Wilson, we respectfully remind you that you are not empowered under treaty to give orders to any member of the Advanced Party. All decisions brought before the Council must be approved by majority vote of all members.>

It was lucky that the AI had no avatar of its own, or it would have felt the full brunt of Princess Lamati’s regal stare at this impudence. Instead, she turned her wrath on the pathetic Nomadi’s representative, Agent John Hunt, using him as the proxy for the source of her impotence.

“What is the meaning of this? We had a clear vote back when these two humans came to our attention that if there was any further evidence of malfeasance on their part, they would be eliminated. I initiated the vote myself and it was unanimous.”

Shahim, through a combination of wanting to disassociate himself from Lana’s attempted steam rolling and an equally powerful desire not to be seen as her proverbial bitch, spoke up, “In fairness, Agent Lana, we do not have anything that could be considered ‘evidence of malfeasance.’ Merely some conjecture supplemented by mildly suspicious behavior.”

Both Lana and Shahim were silent for a moment, their avatars gazing at each other with equal but opposing intensity, and Agent Mikhail Kovalenko made the mistake of putting his opinion forward into the proverbial fire, “Maybe we should investigate the two of them more discreetly for now, and if there is cause I am sure we will all support further punitive action …”

“Obviously there is cause, you fool,” said Lana with venom, “six months! She has not been seen for six months! What more do you need?”