Carlyle rose. “I’m serious, this is your last chance.”

“No.”

“Then it’s over, Julia. I’m sorry.” In this world one rarely sees apology unmixed with regret. Carlyle walked to the office door and opened it. “Come in, Papa.”

Commissioner General Ektor Carlyle Papadelias entered with a soft voice, a grave face, and a full squad of backup. “Julia Doria-Pamphili, under the authority of the Universal Free Alliance, I arrest you as an officer of the Alliance Conclave of Sensayers for abuse of the official capacity of your office, and for misuse of official information; I arrest you as a Member of the European Union for willful communication of classified information, for bribery, for receipt of stolen information property, and for sexual exploitation; and I arrest you as a Member of a Hive pledged to respect the legal protections of fellow Members of the Universal Free Alliance for conspiracy to steal information property belonging to Cousins, Humanists, Masons, and Mitsubishi, and for conspiracy to commit espionage against Cousins, Masons, and Mitsubishi.”

Julia smiled at the recitation. “Carlyle, you really did it?”

Centenarian Papadelias no longer bothers to hide his curses under his breath. “You told Julia you helped me, didn’t you, Foster? I told you to say nothing. Should have cuffed you to my car.”

Carlyle stepped forward, bold as a traitor before a tribunal whose verdict is already known. “I’m the one who did this to Julia, Papa. I should have the decency to face them.”

Papa’s raisin-wrinkled brows drew taut.

“Carlyle!” Even Julia’s face can show astonishment. “You really did it? You really are a double agent? You betrayed me? That’s wonderful! I’m so proud of you!”

“What?”

“You’ve become so strong! When I first took you in you were a spineless wreck, just waiting for somebody to tell you how to live and what to think. Now you’ve become your own person. You’re taking initiative, doubting what you’re told, making contacts of your own, and following through on what you believe. It takes a lot of strength to betray your teacher. I’m so proud of you.”

“I did have a pretty good teacher to betray.” The syrup in Julia’s tone had Carlyle smiling. “That didn’t come out right, did it?” Carlyle chuckled. “I mean that you were a good teacher, Julia, you showed me how to do something with my life, and how much the world needs help. And separately you really do deserve to be betrayed.”

She nodded. “That’s fair. And you were a wonderful pupil.” She cupped Carlyle’s cheek gently in her hand, like a proud parent. “Danaë Mitsubishi is your real mother. Twenty-eight years ago Andō promised Ganymede enough resources to make them the Humanist President if Ganymede would get Danaë to marry Andō. Ganymede took the bargain, and ten months later, at a certain house in Paris, you were born. The wedding was right after.”

Carlyle blinked. “What?”

“You betrayed me. You didn’t think there would be consequences, Gag-gene?” Julia’s smile deepened. “It’s thanks to you that a certain person in Paris controls the Humanists and Mitsubishi now, and by giving Danaë to Andō your birth also gave the Mitsubishi everything they needed to destroy the Cousins. So you aren’t personally responsible for the entire world being slaves to you-know-who, just three Hives.”