...and then make that clone into an ancillary of an AI somewhere (like the Ghost Ship, say)? Or leave her human, but brainwash her from birth to be a weapon and/or mole (cf Mark Vorkosigan)? Or leave her human and bring her up as a supplanter but not a brainwashed mole?
All three of those scenarios make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and I congratulate you.
I have the unpleasant feeling that I know exactly how Anaander Mianaai would handle that, as soon as she found out. Not!Anaander Mianaai... is now Anaander Mianaai. Which would be all kinds of horror for Not!Anaander Mianaai, growing up and trying to survive while knowing that as soon as they run into one of their doubles, they will be assimilated.
Which brings me to the plot idea I haven't worked out how to write yet, but keep thinking about, set during Ancillary Justice while Breq's still busy growing a new pair of lungs, and after Anaander Mianaai's been having some covert discussions about who Mercy of Kalr's new captain should be. Seivarden has a quiet word to Mercy of Kalr on the subject of "if you try to make her your ancillary I will destroy you, I'll find a way, you would not be the first ship I've met who ended up dead." Mercy of Kalr has no intention whatsoever of making Breq its ancillary, and is about as intimidated by Seivarden as it would be by a very small, very damp, snarling kitten, but even so it's really not the best first impression a new officer has ever made on Ship. All the same, it lets Seivarden think she won. And never tells Breq about that conversation.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2014-11-21 06:40 pm (UTC)All three of those scenarios make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and I congratulate you.
I have the unpleasant feeling that I know exactly how Anaander Mianaai would handle that, as soon as she found out. Not!Anaander Mianaai... is now Anaander Mianaai. Which would be all kinds of horror for Not!Anaander Mianaai, growing up and trying to survive while knowing that as soon as they run into one of their doubles, they will be assimilated.
Which brings me to the plot idea I haven't worked out how to write yet, but keep thinking about, set during Ancillary Justice while Breq's still busy growing a new pair of lungs, and after Anaander Mianaai's been having some covert discussions about who Mercy of Kalr's new captain should be. Seivarden has a quiet word to Mercy of Kalr on the subject of "if you try to make her your ancillary I will destroy you, I'll find a way, you would not be the first ship I've met who ended up dead." Mercy of Kalr has no intention whatsoever of making Breq its ancillary, and is about as intimidated by Seivarden as it would be by a very small, very damp, snarling kitten, but even so it's really not the best first impression a new officer has ever made on Ship. All the same, it lets Seivarden think she won. And never tells Breq about that conversation.