'Nice science experiment. What happens if it doesn't work? ANA is the core of Higher culture, Earth is the physical centre of the Commonwealth. If you take that away, two cultures will suffer.

'I never thought I'd hear that: Gore Burnelli, whining liberal. Normal, Higher and Advancer humans will have to make their own way in the universe. That, too, is evolution.

'In a galaxy that your arrogance will have given a very short future.

'Our solution is one that will satisfy all Factions. Both of us can carry on almost as before.

'You weren't even born on Earth. I was. It's my home. And I'm not letting anyone fuck with it.

'Then you are even less developed that we gave you credit for. Our offer stands. I expect the other Factions will take us up on it when they see the inevitability of what is to come.

'Are you planning to blow the Empire fleet out of space?

Ilanthe looked genuinely indignant. 'Of course not. They are an irrelevance. Kazimir will deal with them, one way or another. She smiled coldly. 'Please consider our offer, Gore. It is made in the spirit of reconciliation. After all, if anyone can be said to be ANA's father, it is you. Time perhaps to let go and allow your child to make its own way in life. She trotted back into the waves and dived below the water.

Gore started at the surf where she disappeared, his mind tracing her withdrawal from his personal reality. 'Fuck me, he grunted.

When he walked along the dirt track that curved up around the headland he found Nelson already sitting by the pool at the base of the tower. As usual, there was a tall drink on the table beside him.

'Did you get all that? Gore asked as he sat down.

'I got it all. I just don't think I believe much of it. For a start she's being very glib about the Pilgrimage ships actually getting inside. What are you going to do?

'I knew they wanted the kind of abilities the Void fabric has, that's a logical development on the way to becoming post-physical, but I'm concerned about their method of acquisition. I don't believe a damn word about some bunch of selfless academics going with the Pilgrimage to study how the thing is put together. We're going to have to root around a little harder to find out what they're really up to out there. Find out what you can about that guy Marius was visiting on Arevalo, that physicist: Troblum.

'Will do. And what if ANA does finally become capable of ascending to post-physical status?

'I've always known it would right from the start. That was the whole point of it — well, that and giving ourselves the ability to defend the Commonwealth.

'Are you going to try and stop it?

'Of course not. I just don't want the natural process hijacked. And that's what's going to happen if we're not careful.

It was already night when Aaron's regrav capsule landed on the pad of St Mary's Clinic, just outside the reception block. He stepped out and looked round. The clinic was set in four square miles of thick forest, with individual buildings scattered across the landscape. Tall gistrel trees formed a dark wall around the pad, their long feathery branches blocking any view of the villas, medical blocks, spas, and leisure domes he knew were out there.

The only light came from the long windows of the reception block, thirty metres away, shining round the black trunks.

Corrie-Lyn stood beside him, straightening her blouse. Her face screwed up. 'Gosh, I love the whole gloomy jungle-with-wild-creatures look they've gone for. Very welcoming.

'Perhaps we could get your manic depression eradicated while we're here.

'Screw you.

'Now remember, darling, happy faces.

He gripped her hand and produced a big bright smile. She almost shook free, then remembered and drew a reluctant breath. 'Okay, but this better be quick.

The reception doors opened as they walked towards the low building. It was a plush interior, which looked as if it had been carved out of pink and gold marble, with secluded grotto chambers recessed into the wall of the central hall. Most of the chambers had been utilized by exclusive retail outlets as display booths for their inordinately expensive designer clothes and products.

Their personal clinician was waiting to greet them; Ruth Stol, who was clearly designed to promote the clinic's expertise, with a body that resembled a teenage goddess draped in semi-translucent silver and pink fabric. Even Aaron who was perfectly mission-focused took a moment to admire and smile at the vision of vitality who extended her flawless hand in greeting. His field functions detected a discreet scan from the building security net, which he deflected easily enough, showing the sensors an image of a moderately overweight man. The additional volume around his torso was actually provided by a bandolier harness carrying an array of weapons.

Ruth Stol was devoid of all enrichments, though she had more macrocellular clusters than the average Advancer, and her nervous system shone with impulses operating at the kind of rate which normal humans could only achieve with a serious dose of accelerants.

'Thank you so much for choosing our clinic Mr Telfer, she said. Her hand pressed against Aaron's palm, squeezing flirtatiously. His biononics ran a check for pheromone infiltration. Paranoid! But her touch and voice were definitely arousing him, his exovision grid showed his heart rate up, skin temperature rising.

'No infiltration, his u-shadow reported. So it was all natural, then. Hardly surprising. 'You're welcome, Corrie-Lyn said in a voice so cold it should have produced ice droplets.

'Er, yeah, Aaron mumbled belatedly. He reluctantly withdrew his hand, enjoying the coy amusement in the clinician's limpid green eyes. 'Thanks for seeing us at such short notice.

'We're always happy to help couples achieve a more secure relationship, Ruth Stol said. 'I believe you said you wanted twins?

'Twins? Corrie-Lyn repeated blankly.

'That's right. Aaron put an arm round Corrie-Lyn's shoulders, feeling the muscles locked rigid. 'The best we can have.

'Of course, Ruth Stol said. 'Boys or girls?

'Darling? Aaron enquired.

'Boys, Corrie-Lyn said.

'Do you have an idea of their physiological status?

'At least as good as you, Aaron told her, which produced another smile. 'And I'd like the pair of us to be advanced to that level, too. It's about time I went cutting edge. He patted his bulky stomach ruefully. 'Perhaps a little metabolism tweaking to thin me down.

'I'd be very grateful for that, Corrie-Lyn said. 'He's so repugnant to look at right now. Never mind sex.

'Oh darling, you promised not to mention that, Aaron said tightly.

She smiled brightly.

'It's a wonderful step to acknowledge any problems right at the start, Ruth Stol said. 'You'll be an enviable family. We can begin our appraisal tomorrow, and review what we can offer you. Our premium service will fast-track your changes; I don't expect this to take more than a couple of weeks. Were you intending to carry the twins yourself? she asked Corrie-Lyn. 'Or is it going to be a womb tank?

'Haven't decided, Corrie-Lyn smiled back. 'I love him enough to consider the physical burden, but you'll have to show me what you can do to make pregnancy easier before I commit.

'How sweet. I'll have a simulated sensory package of the full pregnancy option ready for you to review in the morning, and remember we can always reverse the changes afterwards.

'Lovely.

'We've given you villa 163, which has its own pool, and it's not far from block three where you'll receive your treatments.

'Excellent, Aaron said. 'I think I'll go and check out the main pool and the restaurants first, especially that Singapore Grill I've heard about. What about you, dear?

'It's been a long day. I'll go to the villa, and organize that. Corrie-Lyn eyed the various displays around the hall. 'After some shopping. I really like some of these designs.