The term "vault" conjured an image of a compact room tucked behind thick metal doors and a locking mechanism. Solae awoke on the descended polished platform with the passive expectation, after the haze of confusion passed from being rendered unconscious for identity confirmation testing, that she'd be greeted with the sight of an interstellar spy's storage room. The glass door of the capsule disappeared into a groove in the ground and granted passage to what lay beyond as she stirred. The ledger had failed to describe any of the contents of a single vault; it neither disclosed the founding secrets contained therein nor a rough description of the layout. This purposeful brevity left her unprepared for the cache left behind by her predecessors.

Stretching on for approximately fifty meters in front of her, and half as wide, was what at first blush appeared to be private museum. To her left was a large table with an inset interactive surface and surrounded by wide screens with a leather rolling chair for both comfort and sophistication while using the system. It was flanked by shelves and displays of original documents, all painstakingly labeled and sorted, of a variety of importance. Some were scribbled notes that could be final confessions given the correct context, some were paper copies of reports and legal findings, while yet were others were critical records proclaiming secret births, marriages, paternity tests, or the like. The center of the room were rows of pedestals and platforms with enigmatic objects. Upon one, and enclosed in shielding, was a set of linens and a silken nightgown she could only presume were the products of an affair. Another had a soiled and bloody firearm that Rene would almost certainly know the make of by sight. The largest was on the far end of the room and preserved a mangled aircar at least a century old if not more.

But what drew her immediate attention was the peculiar set of equipment attached and adjacent to the right wall. The immaculate machinery had an almost imperceptible hum and was undeniably medical in nature. Solae had very little expertise in the field. From what little the recognized at least a few pieces were cryogenic, meant to keep biological product in stasis. Most nobles only came into contact with such things when they reached their reproductive prime. Aristocratic men might make donations before they went through the sterilization process to ensure they had some of the healthiest sperm when they chose to have children. Women had some of their eggs harvested so that if it took decades to create an appropriate match they would not have to worry about their limited supply not being capable of creating an 'optimal' offspring. A shiver traveled down her spine as the marquise stared at it. If it had been at least a decade since anyone could be down here this could be a mad scientist's dream- direct descendants of individuals long since dead could be combined just as easily as an embryo for the living.

"Good day, Miss Falia. My records indicate when you were added to the list of authorized personnel at six years old you were unwed. Should I continue to address you as Miss Falia or should I amend my records to address you as Misses Falia?" a deep voice resonated through the room.

"Miss Falia is fine," Solae said after soothing her frayed nerves. It should not be a surprise that there was an AI assistant in the vault and yet she had leapt all the same. Distance and time away from Mia had made her forget how commonplace they were. After casting one last glance towards the chilled sterile side of the room holding remnants of humanity she made her way to the only chair in sight.

"How may I assist you, Miss Falia?" it inquired with a crisp pronunciation. Whomever had programmed this synthetic personnel had clearly integrated more decorum than they had with Mia. Solae found herself almost missing the breathless questions, the suggestive lilt, the inappropriate crooning as if she only felt satisfaction when the marquise and her lover had secluded themselves to the captain's quarters.

"I would like some help looking into whether or not we have information on some people of interest to me," Solae answered slowly as she pulled the folded list out of her bag. With her free hand she moved it across the interface screen directly in front of her. The digital surface sprang to life with a beautiful backsplash of an artistic rendering of the first intergalactic carriers bringing colonists to the edges of vast expanses. For half a second the diplomat appreciated the image and let her quest fall to the back of her mind.

"If you place the list face-down the interface I scan the names and begin compiling the data," the disembodied voice promised.

Solae saw no reason to object and did as instructed. The scan was over as quickly as it began. The names of file folders scrolled too quickly to read as the computer combed through its archives with superhuman speed and precision. While it worked the linguist rapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair thoughtfully. "What can you tell me about what's stored on the opposite wall?" she asked. Her curiosity was piqued and she would have to wait regardless for the system to retrieve the data requested.

"Dr. Vincent Falia created a repository from his work and research in the medical field," it explained calmly. "I can provide a catalogue of the collected samples if you desire, but I do not have access to his other repositories. Would you like to review the catalogue?"

"What sort of samples are there?" she asked though she was fairly certain she knew the answer already.

"The samples are of an assorted variety. The Falia family has provided, over several generations, genetic material that may be used in the event there is an event that eliminates all the bloodlines simultaneously. Dr. Vincent Falia hoped to preserve the integrity of the bloodlines by creating repositories that would have sufficient genetic material to produce new offspring or, if necessary, clone individuals of significant importance."

Solae sat stunned as she tried to digest the words she had heard announced over a speaker with detached indifference. She could appreciate the scientific appeal but it was equally amazing and horrifying that she did not know the extent of the preparations for 'remaking' ghosts of the past. Cloning had been forbidden for an exceedingly long time for ethical reasons; even when it had not been disallowed the clones suffered from a litany of difficulties that were hard to diagnose and cure. She did not even want to consider what could be conceived from the vat that undoubtedly included lords and ladies of exalted families.

"Do you have a data stick?" the AI asked her abruptly.

Solae fumbled in her bag and stuck two of the ones she had brought into the corresponding ports. For the time being she did not want to know anything more. No matter how good the intentions of the past members of the Falias had been, she was treading dangerous waters, and her conscience was burdened by this knowledge. One day at a time. There was a war brewing on the world above where she relaxed now and that was a more pressing concern than the moral quagmire of the vault. Rene needed her to return to him quickly so they could combat Ralch and, ultimately, the scoundrels that Duke Tan had in his employ. Leaning forward she put her head in her hands and tried to shut out the sights and sounds around her.


Slightly less than an hour later the marquise jolted awake. She had dozed without intending to do so; the preceding night she had slept little because she and Rene had been so desperate to display their affections in their luxurious suite. That just now some of her exhaustion was catching up to her was both worrying and impressive. Solae did not want to make it a habit to only rest for a few hours regularly.

"Did you finish?" she asked as she sprang up from her seat and slung her bag back over her shoulder from where it had fallen on the floor.

"Yes, of course. The data was too large for your sticks so it has been compressed. You will need an appropriate device to access the records. Not all of the names were linked to what we have on file so I provided what was in my system. Did you require additional assistance?" it asked even as she ripped out the two sticks and started towards the platform that led to the surface.

"No, thank you. I'll... I'll try to come back to see more," she called over her shoulder. Solae had no need to explain herself to a machine that had no semblance of feelings but she felt strangely compelled. She half-ran, half-skipped to the capsule, as it shaving off a minuscule amount of time might miraculously make a difference, and breathed in deeply once she was inside. "Send me back to the surface."