Contents
I. Existentialism — The Ezra Six
Overview
Julian Rivera Pérez, a CIA technomancer tied to Ezra Fowler, leads a review of the Society’s candidates, spotlighting Callum Nova’s mass influence broadcast. A field call reveals agents have killed Parisa’s husband, Nasser Aslani, without a recording. Julian scrambles to contain fallout and identifies Gideon Drake as a telepathic thief linked to Libby’s rescue.
The chapter reframes the conflict through governmental surveillance, exposing legal shields around corporate medeian influence and escalating stakes with Nasser’s death.
Summary
Julian Rivera Pérez reflects on a hard-edged upbringing, early ties to the Novak family, and a belated discovery of technomancy that propelled him into clandestine U.S. work. Rising through the CIA, Julian became a specialist in medeian signal detection and, through Ezra Fowler, gained a path toward the Society’s secrets.
Amid Ezra’s recent disappearance, Julian briefs Nothazai and Eden Wessex, presenting surveillance from the Hague. He demonstrates Callum Nova’s empathic manipulation of public broadcasts and explains the legal cover afforded by Nova corporate permits, complicating any public arrest.
A call from Agent Smith derails the meeting: during a coercive interview, agents killed Nasser Aslani, Parisa Kamali’s husband, and failed to capture video. Realizing the political catastrophe and potential for telepathic retaliation, Julian resolves to control the narrative and salvage the mistake.
Julian pivots back to the task, arguing the Society’s candidates are tampering with international politics and suggesting outreach to MI6 and others. On Paris, he names Gideon Drake, a NYUMA-linked telepathic thief with sealed juvenile records, as the civilian involved in Libby’s rescue, while fielding questions about whether Gideon might be a traveler.
Privately aware he could be scapegoated if the operation collapses, Julian hardens his precautions, jams recordings, and calls a break. The investigation continues with higher stakes: corporate-shielded influence by Callum, a critical lead on Gideon, and the incendiary killing of Nasser.
Who Appears
- Julian Rivera PérezCIA technomancer and strategist; leads analysis on the Six, manages fallout after agents kill Nasser, identifies Gideon Drake.
- NothazaiSenior counterpart at the briefing; questions tactics, suggests informing other services, tracks Paris lead.
- Eeden WessexWessex heir observing the briefing; embodies corporate-political interests intersecting with medeian influence.
- Callum NovaEmpath seen influencing crowds via corporate broadcasts at the Hague; central evidence in Julian’s case.
- Agent Paul SmithJulian’s subordinate who reports Nasser’s killing without a recording, creating a political and operational crisis.
- Nasser AslaniParisa’s husband; killed during a coercive interview, escalating risks of telepathic retaliation and exposure.
- Gideon DrakeIdentified as a telepathic thief tied to Libby’s rescue; subject of records inquiries and classification debate.
- Ezra FowlerMissing ally who knows Julian’s past; his absence forces Julian to proceed alone.