{It is a perversion of regulated and approved consensus-formation mechanisms.} the social nuance agent sent. {Experts are advising that any temporary emotional gains from such ersatz solidarity will ultimately be paid for in unease and anomie.}

{Um, since you’re talking to me again}, Fift sent, {can I at least read my incoming queue?}

{Consensus formation among your agent constellation is currently problematized.} the context advisory agent sent. {Regrets are expressed.}

“We believe the same things you do!” Morinti blurted out. “Just like you said, ‘it’s not enough to hum along like a component snug in its casing’ . . .”

“‘Maybe it’s better to be miserable for a century,’” Emim whispered, “‘if at the end you win joy built on honest foundations.’”

“Uh,” Fift said.

Auntie Ellix came in the apartment’s front door. Ze was in zir Peaceable’s uniform—a white robe with rough weave and a loose hood—with a large satchel strapped to one shoulder. Ze had new bruises at zir left temple, yellow and blue.

“Thank Kumru,” Nupolo said, meeting zir in the hallway.

“I came as soon as I could,” Ellix said.

Squell stumbled from the meeting room and Ellix caught vem in zir strong arms. “Oh, Ellix,” Squell sobbed.

“Listen,” Fift said, on the stairs. “I can’t send—my agents won’t let me—and my cohort’s been dissolved—”

“Oh, we know that!” Bojum said. Emim nodded.

Arevio let go of Fift (vir embrace slackening, then gone; vir silk-stranded hair tickling zir neck, then gone) and followed the other Fathers. Bodies from the meeting room, bodies from the breakfast room: they gathered around Ellix in the anteroom like spice-gnats sucking at the last vine of the season. Fift trailed after them, doublebodied.

“‘Who wants to have agents chattering at you up here?’” Morinti quoted. “‘It’s sort of missing the point, isn’t it?’”

Fift swallowed. “What I’m trying to say is, I’m in trouble. They . . . they were going to take us all to the Pole, and then I tried to declare my majority, but they wouldn’t accept it, and now it’s even worse . . .”

“All right, everyone,” Ellix said, raising zir hand. “Thank you. All right, thank you. I’m very sorry things had to go this way, you know I am. But there are some immediate practical details I need your attention for.”

“Are you taking Fift . . . ?” Grobbard asked.

“Yes, but let me come back to that—”

“Ellix,” Smistria said. “Fift’s outside, at the docks . . .”

“I’m fully aware of that,” Ellix said drily. “That part’s out of my hands. At the moment, you all need to focus on your own situation.”