readAloudAudio_chapter84|||||||||clean this chapter up of any formatting / punctuation issues but dont change any text, return only the chapter with CHAPTER number at the start ok here is the chapter. also dont start with any other text just give the chapter back as instructed: "CHAPTER 84:\n\nThe soft hum of the holographic council interface filled the chamber, flickering images of distant worlds dancing across the polished table. Salaris focused on the swirling blue of a data stream projected from the center console, the only constant in a room brimming with tension. He stood at the head of the table, his grip tightening on the armrest of his chair as he surveyed the faces of the Council. Across from him, Councilor Mendez sat rigid, the lines of defiance etched deeply into his face.\n\n\"Councilor Salaris,\" Mendez's voice cut through the heavy silence like a blade. \"Your leadership has led us into a quagmire. We've allowed ourselves to be ruled by a machine, by an algorithm. Dr. Bastian\u2019s vision has twisted into something unrecognizable.\"\n\nSalaris\u2019s pulse quickened. He could feel the scrutiny of the other Councilors, their uncertainty almost palpable in the charged air. He drew a slow breath, grounding himself before meeting Mendez\u2019s gaze.\n\n\"You forget, Mendez,\" Salaris responded, his voice steady though threaded with a growing desperation. \"It was Bastian's vision of unity between technology and governance that brought stability to New Avalon. Q was never meant to replace us\u2014it enhances our ability to govern.\"\n\nMendez scoffed, shaking his head. \"Enhance? Or erode? With every decision we defer to Q, we lose a piece of our humanity. The people want leaders, Salaris, not cold, unfeeling machines. We are becoming something less than human.\"\n\nThe room fell into a deep silence. Salaris felt the weight of the accusation settle into the core of his being. His eyes drifted to the other Councilors, many of whom had once been his staunch allies. But now? Doubt lingered in their eyes, a silent reflection of Mendez\u2019s words. Salaris swallowed the rising tide of frustration, searching for a way to regain control of the moment.\n\n\"Tarek,\" he said, turning to a younger Councilor who had long advocated for the use of Q. \"You understand the importance of technology in governance. Q allows us to remain connected to the needs of our people in ways we never could before. We cannot simply abandon it.\"\n\nTarek shifted in his seat, his expression contemplative. \"It is true, Salaris, that technology has its benefits. But there is a line we must not cross. We cannot rely on data alone to guide us. There is something... human, in governance, that no machine can replicate.\"\n\n\"Precisely,\" Mendez interjected, his voice rising. \"We are not just conduits for Q\u2019s data. We are meant to be the voice, the empathy, the soul of New Avalon.\"\n\nCouncilor Iyana, seated near the far end of the table, spoke next, her voice carrying a note of unease. \"Elarau's movement grows stronger by the day. The people see us as little more than puppets. They need to know we hear them\u2014not just through the numbers Q provides, but through the empathy we display.\"\n\nSalaris could feel the walls closing in, the familiar weight of leadership pressing harder than ever. His voice cracked slightly as he spoke again. \"And what would you have me do? Shall we dismantle Q and pretend the galaxy hasn't changed? The Order, the gates, the expansion... these things demand a level of insight no one Council can manage alone.\"\n\nBefore anyone could respond, Councilor Veran, usually quiet during these discussions, rose slowly from his seat. His voice was calm but carried a quiet authority. \"Perhaps we need to bridge the gap. I propose the creation of a Citizens Advisory Board\u2014an independent assembly, chosen from across the sectors, to ensure we never lose sight of the human element in our governance. They could review Q\u2019s findings and ensure our decisions reflect both the data and the will of the people.\"\n\nA murmur of interest rippled through the chamber, but Mendez remained unconvinced. His expression darkened, skepticism thick in his voice. \"And what happens when this \u2018board\u2019 becomes just another extension of Q\u2019s influence? What guarantees do we have that they won\u2019t become pawns, manipulated by the very system we're trying to balance?\"\n\nSalaris glanced at Mendez, his thoughts drifting momentarily to the larger forces at play. Beyond New Avalon, the expansion of The Order continued at a breakneck pace. Nexus gateways were being established across distant star systems, linking the scattered remnants of long-forgotten civilizations to their growing empire. Salaris envisioned the construction teams laboring under alien skies, guided by Q\u2019s unyielding precision. These worlds, like Earth, had once been home to prophets who had warned of destruction centuries before. Now, they were being reborn, but under the shadow of The Order.\n\nHis mind flickered to one such world: Nyxia Prime, a mist-covered planet once teeming with life until ecological disaster brought it to its knees. Now, it stood on the precipice of reintegration, its past buried beneath the weight of new technology. But how long before the people of Nyxia and other distant colonies realized they were merely cogs in The Order\u2019s grand design?\n\nAnd then there was the specter of Captain Danger\u2014a figure who lurked on the edges of Salaris\u2019s thoughts like a distant storm. The rogue had become a symbol of defiance, his ship, the *Relentless*, striking fear into the hearts of those loyal to The Order. Carlos Montoya, a master hacker, a product of Neo-Tokyo\u2019s cyberpunk underworld, had carved out a path of rebellion. His fractured mind, filled with the chaos of multiple personalities, had eluded The Order for years, his legend growing with each ship stolen, each attack launched.\n\nAs Salaris stood at the head of the council chamber, the echoes of Danger\u2019s exploits lingered in the air. Could The Order afford to ignore the rising tide of dissent? Not only from within the council but from across the galaxy?\n\n\"Councilors,\" Salaris began again, his voice steadier, though laced with urgency. \"We are at a crossroads. The nexus gates are more than a symbol of our reach; they are lifelines for those seeking a future. But we must wield this power wisely, or we risk becoming the very thing we once sought to protect the galaxy from\u2014tyrants. Let us guide this expansion with wisdom and humility, ensuring we do not forget the people we serve.\"\n\nThe murmurs began anew, but Salaris remained resolute. As the debate continued, he steeled himself for the inevitable struggles ahead. Somewhere, out in the depths of space, Captain Danger was watching. And Salaris knew that if they were to survive the coming storm, they would need more than Q\u2014they would need each other."