The Madness Engine

by Paul B Spence

  "If I may," Hephaestus interrupted, "I think you do not have all of the information you need to make an accurate assessment. Waypoints are not bound to specific destinations, as you seem to think."

  "What do you mean? I've used them for millennia. They're always stable and lead to a single destination."

  "Any Waypoint can be reprogrammed to connect to any other Waypoint. That is their function."

  "So you're saying the Enemy could use this gate to connect back to the Courts?"

  "That is correct."

  If the Ancient Enemy found a way to bypass the wards in place around the Courts, they could gain access to the Instrumentality. The memory of the Enemy standing with its arms raised upon the replica temple came unbidden to Drake's mind. He'd suspected that it was using something like the Instrumentality then. But if it had, why had it not been able to resist him better when he attacked it later? If the Enemy already had that power, then why did they need access to the Courts? To destroy his people because they were too powerful? Revenge? It didn't make any sense, but then, the Enemy often didn't.

  "That's not good," was all he managed.

  "No, it is not. They could be after more than one thing, though. We do not know what may be in the other two stasis chambers. It could be additional technology, or even more of the Enemy."

  "We can't let them take possession of any of them, then."

  "Those stasis fields will resist any weapon we can bring to bear. The planet could be destroyed, and they would still be there."

  "We may not have to destroy them. Is my new armor ready?"

  "It will be in a few hours. I altered the schematics to account for the damage to your physical form after your encounter, and a few other factors."

  "I don't have time to wait. I want to inspect each of the anomalous signatures in person. Can you place an interdiction field around the Waypoint?"

  "I can, but it would not stop the point from being used."

  "I thought the interdiction field would stop any dimensional travel."

  "Sadly, no. It will stop dimensional apportation and teleportation within its limits, but not quantum tunneling. Waypoints use a subspace wormhole and cannot be blocked. To do so would damage the physical constants of the universe."

  "Great, more good news."

  "I will monitor all traffic in the area. If anyone or anything approaches the Waypoint, I will destroy it. In the meantime, you can determine what you want done with the other two artifacts."

  "Let me get my gear. If I can't open the stasis chambers, I'll want them dropped into the sun."

  "I will begin the preparations. It will take a few minutes to manufacture remotes with those capabilities."

  "Take your time."

  Θ

  It only took the CSS Vigilant four days to travel from Delta Pavonus to Beta Comae Berenices, even with damaged nodes. Steinway was heavily guarded, and it took them a few hours to pass through the perimeter satellites and mines once they arrived. Geoffrey had spent weeks at Garm Station in orbit around Steinway, but he hadn't had much of a chance to see the rest of the system.

  He was impressed. Dozens of cruisers and destroyers were on station around the planet; at massive shipyards, more ships were being built. A constant flow of smaller ships carried construction materials to the shipyards. The system teamed with starships.

  "What do you think, Meeks?" Tebrey asked.

  "I think it makes the war seem even more real."

  "Some of us have never had the luxury to think otherwise."

  Geoffrey blushed. "I didn't mean it like that. I've just never seen a war with starships, outside of the movies."

  "War for entertainment?"

  "No, not exactly. Maybe. Hell, I don't know how to explain. Different culture and different times, I guess."

  "Can I ask you something, Meeks?"

  "Sure. I'll answer if I can."

  "Why did my father allow you to travel with him?"

  Geoffrey looked away from the wall display and met Tebrey's intense green eyes. He couldn't quite tell what he saw there. It wasn't envy, but it wasn't anything positive, either. He didn't want Tebrey to think he was useless. Not just because he wanted his approval, which he found he did, but because of what Admiral Shadovsky had said. The Concord didn't have any place for useless people. He had to pull his weight or… What? The admiral hadn't said. Maybe send he home. He'd rather they just killed him, if it came to that. He couldn't go back now. Maybe not ever.

  "I'm not sure," Geoffrey replied, trying to keep his voice steady; mostly, he succeeded. "I never understood why he did most of the things he did. Drake had friends, but he wasn't actually close with any of us. He was very secretive. I didn't even know he had children. I am sure of one thing, though: if he'd known you were alive, he would have been there for you."

  "He wasn't around much when I was a kid," said Tebrey. "He was gone for months at a time. I never knew where or why. I didn't suspect he was anything other than a mercenary. I didn't find out about the horrible things he'd done until I was older."

  "Your mother never talked about him?"

  "She did when I was very young. Not so much as I got older."

  "Can I ask how she died?"

  "I'm not entirely sure of that myself, to be honest. I didn't see it, if that's what you're alluding to. One day she just grabbed me, and we rushed off to a ship. We spent a couple of weeks changing ships. She seemed scared. Then one day our ship was attacked. Empire troops boarded. My mother hid me in a cargo container. I heard her screaming, then nothing. I was rescued later along with the other survivors by a Federation ship. I never saw her body."

  "Do you know why she was running?"

  Tebrey shrugged, an odd gesture with only one arm. "As I said, she was scared. I don't know of what."

  "She was a xenobiologist?"

  "Yes."

  "Could she have found out about the Thetas?"

  "Anything is possible, Meeks." Tebrey sounded irritated. "Why the sudden interest?"

  "She must have been a remarkable woman. Drake wasn't the settle-down type."

  "She was beautiful. By all accounts, she was also a brilliant scientist. I can only imagine her surprise if she'd known the truth about my father. If she'd known about me."

  "Do you think the Thetas had a hand in what happened?"

  "I don't usually think of myself as being all that important," Tebrey replied. "I guess it could have been a complex long-term plan, but Thetas tend not to work like that."

  "Maybe," said Geoffrey. "Drake sometimes talked about something he simply called the Enemy. I think they were Thetas – maybe the first Thetas."

  "I don't think I'd want to fight that."

  "No, but I think he did. Fight them, I mean. His title back in the Courts was Prince, but he was called the General of the Rim. I don't think it was just a title, either. He had an army. An army of his people and troops from several other universes. He was the commander. Whenever I asked him about why he needed an army, he would just say to fight the Enemy. When he said it, it was capitalized – you know what I mean?"

  "Sounds like he and I are going to have a lot to talk about when he gets back here."

  "Tebrey, I know that you don't trust him, or me, but Drake is a good man. I may not have always understood why he did the things he did, or even agreed with some of it, but he would never hurt you. He's away right now trying to find a friend of ours. From what he let slip about my home, things are really bad back there. Billions dead, and the rest dying. Yet he isn't giving up. Jason is just a friend. Imagine what Drake would do for you."

  "He has helped us," Tebrey said grudgingly. "He fought at the Battle of Dawn. Took out two battle cruisers. May have saved our asses, I admit. We almost lost that fight."

  "He'll do more. I know him. I think he's balancing Jason's life against your needs. He knows you can take care of yourself for now."

  "So who is this Jason?"

  "My old college roommate. We both met Drake at the
same time, when he was trying to kill Jon."

  "Trying?"

  "Jon is a hard guy to hit. In all fairness, though, Drake never actually tried to kill him. He just showed up on my world with the intention of doing so, then changed his mind."

  Tebrey shook his head. "One of these days you're going to have to sit down and tell me everything."

  "That would take a while."

  "We do spend a lot of time traveling."

  "Not as much as I expected," Geoffrey said, changing the subject. There were a lot of things that he wanted to talk to Drake about before he started telling anyone else, even if Tebrey was Drake's son. "This ship is fast."

  "One of the fastest," said Tebrey. "That's why she's in my service. My teams need to be able to get to the action quickly. We could have made the trip in hours if the Vigilant hadn't been damaged. Not that we would have, just to head back for repairs. Pushing into the fifth layer of hyperspace can be dangerous."

  "Well, days to travel light-years seems miraculous to me," Geoffrey said. "It took us three days just to travel to the Moon."

  "We do have nine centuries of technological development on you, and if I remember my history lessons correctly, it took our ancestors the same amount of time to get off the Earth."

  "True. Your history is very similar."

  They stood together and watched Steinway grow larger on the screen.

  "Is your wife here?" Geoffrey asked, gesturing at the planet.

  "No, she and Hunter went back to our home on Dawn. She's currently assisting Admiral Shadovsky."

  "Oh. I was hoping to meet both of them. I've never met a neo-panther. Does he have your gifts?"

  "Gifts?" Tebrey asked with a grin. "He shares my genetic code, if that's what you mean. He was cloned from my tissue a few years ago."

  "Is that sort of thing common? Cloning, I mean."

  "Not in the sense you mean. Cloning is used to regrow organs and missing limbs, but only rarely to grow another sentient being. It's illegal in the Concord, and only semi-legal in the Federation."

  "Semi-legal?"

  "The government can do it, but no one else."

  "That sounds familiar."

  "The abuses of power are the same everywhere, Meeks."

  Chapter Thirty

  The minds of the Circle of Aurora came together.

  Lyra flinched at the discord. Their minds usually integrated flawlessly. Today, it was different. Some of the members of the Circle were holding back from a full connection. The Mo'Ceri were better, but she sensed discord there as well.

  I suppose I should open, as usual, Lyra began. There has been much strife amongst us recently. It is hoped that we can move past this and again present a unified front against our enemies.

  That would be easier if you would concede concerning who our enemies are, Brennen thought.

  And it would be easier if you weren't busy making new ones, Brennen, thought Ryan. Do you have any idea what the long terms effect this embargo is going to have on our economy? The economies of our allies?

  We should strike hard and fast at the heart of the problem in the United Worlds. A little demonstration of strength, and they'll back off, Brennen replied.

  We would condone no action that may lead to large-scale conflict, interjected the Mo'Ceri mass-mind. This is still our world, by deed and by tradition. You will cease your warmongering.

  Lyra was surprised. The Mo'Ceri mass-mind was usually more sedate. There had been a hint of censure in their tone, an implied threat. She was glad she didn't stand with Brennen at the moment. She didn't want to have that threat directed at her.

  We can hope the United Worlds will calm down in a few weeks and notice that this embargo is negatively impacting their economy, as well. In the meantime, we have other, more troubling business to discuss. She paused. Deegan brought back news of Drake, and there has been an escalation of hostilities in that universe. We've lost three operatives in as many weeks. The dark ones are moving. I think we need to consider more direct intervention.

  We have considered this new information, the Mo'Ceri thought. There has been an increase in traffic in that universe. You failed to mention that one of the operatives was one of us. We Mo'Ceri are not killed without extraordinary effort. The Mo'Ceri in question, Hro'H'Lon, was old and experienced. He would not have been killed by a lesser one.

  Exactly my point, Lyra replied. The enemy there are different. They are more powerful. There must be a reason for the build-up of power.

  You have thoughts that you haven't shared, the Mo'Ceri said.

  I do, Lyra replied. I have hesitated because of the prejudices of some members of this Circle. There a certain amount of wordless outrage to her thought.

  Tell us.

  I think the enemy are there for Hrothgar Tebrey. I think he may have a link to an ancient source of power that could be used to release the oldest Dark Ones from their tombs.

  All the more reason to kill him now, Brennen thought.

  Are things any different from the last time you advocated this action? asked Lyra. Do you not remember that your unsanctioned actions almost cost you your life, and the lives of many Mo'Ceri?

  I was unprepared for one of his kind to show up here, Brennen thought. I've taken steps to ensure that any future meeting will go differently.

  His kind? Lyra thought. What kind is that, exactly? I know what we imagine when you think something like that, but it isn't true. I've met Drake since then. He isn't one of the Fallen. So I'll ask you again, what do you mean by that?

  I don't answer to you, Lyra, Brennen thought.

  You do answer to us, however, said the Mo'Ceri.

  Lyra could feel the pressure of their minds digging at Brennen, through her mindlink with him. The pressure was painful to her; she couldn't imagine what Brennen was feeling.

  I don't... have to...

  Lyra couldn't believe he was able to resist them. Such willpower…

  Suddenly, a complex sigil flashed across her mind. The link with Brennen snapped closed; he had removed himself from the Circle. For a moment the mass-mind was broken, and a flood of thousands of stray thoughts bombarded Lyra before they regained control.

  What the hell was that? Ryan asked.

  The Cynosure, David said. It looks like your suspicions were correct, Lyra.

  Is he gone? she thought, a mental whisper. She could hardly believe it.

  No, the link is still there, replied the Mo'Ceri. She could sense pain in their thoughts, but she wanted to weep in relief. Despite even this, the Circle had not shattered. Not yet. He is not gone from the Circle. We pressed him too hard, and he called upon a great power to shield himself. He will be back.

  You knew about him, Lyra said.

  We knew. There is little about any of you that we do not know. You open your minds to us; you open them even more to your Seconds. We did not feel that it would cause any problems.

  Do you think he'll move against Tebrey? asked Ryan.

  No. He will not risk our wrath as well as that of Drake. He is unhappy, and we even understand why. His people suffered greatly at the hands and minds of those like Drake.

  So did mine, Deegan thought. He normally never spoke at these meetings. His people were joined in the union, but not in positions of power. So did the Mo'Ceri, and countless others. The Great War was not so long ago that some do not remember. Some better than others, right, David?

  I've never attempted to hide who I am or where I came from, David replied. That was a long time ago. Many things have changed since the old days. Some for better, some for worse. I feel the bond of kinship with Drake, but that would not stop me from doing what had to be done, if it came to that. I, however, don't think he is a threat.

  Tebrey needs to be trained, Lyra thought. He needs to know how to fight these new enemies. He has manifested the fire. He is one of us, even if he is unrecognized. I, for one, am tired of sitting back and playing the long game. We need to move now, and take the fight to the enemy.

>   Training, we approve of, the Mo'Ceri mass-mind thought. Anything else, we cannot condone. Until we have smoothed out our own problems, we don't want more.

  Problems have a habit finding us, said David. We need to take care of them before they take care of us. I'll go with Lyra and help train Tebrey. If he betrays us, I'll end him. Deegan will go back and keep an eye on him until it is advantageous for us to go to him.

  We agree, the Mo'Ceri thought.

  Lyra hoped she was doing the right thing. She didn't want to be responsible for tearing the Circle apart. Brennen was wrong. She knew that. Now, she just needed to prove it.

  Θ

  Drake breathed in the warm, moist jungle air with pleasure.

  The whole planet was cooling, due to the dust kicked up by the nuclear exchange, but it was still warm in the tropical regions. The Central American jungle remained virtually untouched by the war that had scared the rest of the planet. Birds and insects roared around him, and he detected no sign of any feral humans.

  "How close am I?" Drake asked Hephaestus.

  "The artifact is two-point-three kilometers due north of you current position. May I ask why you feel the need to walk everywhere?"

  "Don't be insulted," said Drake. "Physical activity helps me remember that I'm alive."

  "I simply find it strange that you walk when you could apport."

  "Hephaestus? How detectable is your teleportation?"

  "Detectable, with the right equipment. Otherwise, not so much."

  "Can you detect it when I apport?"

  "No."

  "I can feel it when others apport near me," Drake replied. "The farther they have traveled, the stronger the ripples. Short line-of-sight hops leave little trace, but large jumps are notable from anywhere on the planet."

  "Interesting. Is this a psionic phenomenon?"

  "I'm not sure, but I think so. In any case, it would draw attention to this place if I apported to it."

  "That still doesn't explain why you don't allow me to simply send you directly to your destination."