The Madness Engine

by Paul B Spence

  This level was devoid of anything useful, so he moved to the next. He knew it was going to take him hours to search the base, but it had to be done, and he couldn't ask anyone else to do it. He knew he was missing things, too. He was searching too quickly, but he was tired, and sick to his soul of death. There had to be a better way. There had to be a way to end the war against the Thetas.

  He sighed. He just wanted to settle down and raise children. He wanted his wife. He wanted to have a family and not spend each day worried that he was going to die. He wanted a normal life, whatever that was. He wished his brother was here with him. He needed Hunter to keep his mind on the right path. Without him, Tebrey tended to spiral down into despair and darkness too easily. He decided that, no matter what, he wasn't going to travel without Hunter anymore. He needed him. They needed each other.

  Θ

  Tonya still felt guilty about what had happened between her and Ana – was happening.

  That she loved Ana wasn't in question. She even thought that Ana might love her back, but she knew Ana would never give up Tebrey. To be honest, Tonya wasn't sure she wanted Ana to. The sex was... amazing. There was nothing better than sex with another telepath and empath, but that didn't excuse what she'd done. She'd slept with the wife of a fellow officer, and no matter what friction there was between her and Tebrey, that still wasn't okay. She'd crossed a line, and she didn't know how she was ever going to be able to step back across it.

  You worry too much, Ghost scolded her.

  You don't worry enough, Tonya responded.

  You and Ana enjoy what you have, and I certainly can't complain.

  Ghost was lying at the foot of Tonya's bed and purring loudly. She'd obviously been enjoying her new physical relationship. You're biased, and you're noisy.

  Well, yes, but I've had to deal with you having sex for years, Ghost responded. I admit it was a little uncomfortable my first time, but I've certainly endured worse pain, and it wasn't entirely unpleasant. Since then, it's been amazing. So you're just going to have to live it. Hunter and I love one another. Also, I think I may be pregnant.

  "What?" Tonya was startled into vocalizing. You can't – you've been sterilized.

  Hunter told me that Tebrey and he had been as well, but I'm almost certain. Tebrey and Ana had a child despite him being sterilized and them not even being the same species. Why would it be impossible for Hunter and I?

  I guess it wouldn't, Tonya answered. Maybe we should go to a doctor and find out.

  I want to keep it, if I am, said Ghost. Tonya could tell she was resolute. I want to have children.

  If that's what you want, then okay. I guess we can get maternity leave. However strange that request might seem. What does Hunter think?

  He's happy. He wants us to be a family. All of us.

  Tonya didn't think Ghost was just talking about herself and Hunter.

  Ghost, we've talked about this. I'm going to be lucky not to get court-martialed when Tebrey gets back, if not worse. The man has a temper. I don't want to think about what he's going to think when he finds out what I've done.

  Wasn't just you, Ghost said. Ana wanted it, too. Hunter says he's pretty sure Tebrey already knows. What does Ana say?

  She says he's okay with it. I just don't believe her.

  That's unkind. Why would she lie to you? Hold on, let me ask Hunter.

  Tonya could almost sense the flow of the conversation between her companion and Hunter. It was strange not to be a part of that. She found herself a bit envious.

  Hunter says they talked about it months ago. Tebrey knew that Ana is bisexual when they first met. She never tried to hide that. He is unconcerned with her having a relationship with you. He told her it was okay with him. He finds you attractive, too.

  I'm not sure if I'm ready for that, Tonya replied. I'd almost rather he was angry with me.

  Because you are afraid? Ghost prompted. It isn't Tebrey you're afraid of, it's commitment. You're scared that you're in love with Ana, and even Tebrey, and something will happen to one or both of them.

  My neo-panther companion, the psychologist.

  I've got to have something to read on those long trips.

  Tonya laughed.

  It's better than those smut novels you read, said Ghost.

  Hey!

  Ghost raised her head up to meet Tonya's eyes. Seriously. Think about it. Hunter and I are together. You're sleeping with Tebrey's wife; the least you could do is give him a little loving.

  Ghost!

  Mental mirth filled her head. Ghost was teasing her.

  I still think he's going to be pissed.

  As I understand it, make-up sex is good for that sort of thing.

  Ghost!

  You think he could still be angry with you after you and Ana both—

  Enough! Tonya cut her off. It was bad that enough Ghost was suggesting it, but the panther was sending visuals as well. Tonya didn't even knew where she'd picked up some of that stuff.

  You have very vivid dreams, sometimes, Ghost replied.

  Tonya felt herself bushing; she had dreamt about the three of them...

  I don't know why you're suddenly so worried about it. You've always been very sexual.

  Maybe because this is the first time it actually means something to me, said Tonya.

  Then you should stop moping and make sure you get to keep it. Fight for what you want. If Tebrey doesn't want you and Ana both, he needs his head checked. As I understand it, the male of the species can often be manipulated by sex. You taught me that.

  I don't want to manipulate him, Tonya replied. Besides, I suspect he's more resistant to that sort of thing.

  Doesn't mean he isn't going to be eager to have two beautiful women in his bed at the same time.

  Tonya sighed. Can we drop this for now?

  Only if you stop worrying about it.

  I'll try.

  Good. Now get up and me something to eat, human. I'm starving.

  Starving, huh?

  Yep. Got to eat for two now.

  You're going to get fat.

  Yep, Ghost replied, unrepentant.

  Tonya laughed; it was good to that she could. She felt... at home, she decided. That was good, too.

  Θ

  Ragnar watched the system on the screens. The Jaernalith had entered the Gamma Laporis system far away from the two stars. They had never visited this system before, and didn't know what kind of defenses were present.

  The system contained two inhabitable planets: a temperate world, Brimir, and the colder penal world, Nastrond. The information Caedmon had ripped from the mind of the scientist only mentioned the system itself. It didn't say on which planet to look for the project. Ragnar suspected it would Nastrond. The experiments used people up. Where better to find volunteers than a penal planet?

  Nastrond meant corpse shore in Swedislavic. It was the place where souls were sent to be gnawed upon by the serpent Niehoeg, a part of the Norse version of hell. It seemed a likely place for the Masters to redirect the project. They had probably been here all along.

  The system itself was rather heavily trafficked. A dozen warships guarded the worlds. A small horde of civilian ships traversed the system. It was going to be difficult to sneak down to the planet's surface.

  It would be impossible, Caedmon said. They have many satellites in orbit. We would be detected immediately.

  "Then what do you suggest?" asked Ragnar. He felt hungry, but he wasn't quite ready to try the food the crew ate. It was vat grown and smelled terrible.

  If we approach the Sentient Concord with this information, they will be receptive. The location of this place gives us something with which to bargain.

  "That's your plan?"

  Do you have a better one?

  "No, I just don't like going to them. I know you want to ask them for help, but how do you know we can trust them?"

  The Masters do not operate there. We would be safe.

  "Yes, but your people have a
ttacked many of their ships. Do you think they're going to just forget all of that?"

  You see only negative, Ragnar.

  He sighed. "I'm just trying to be realistic," he said. "Honestly, I'm afraid of what they're going to do to me."

  You are not responsible for the things you did under the control of the Masters.

  "I'm not sure they'll see it that way."

  Then we will explain it to them.

  Caedmon left to talk to the rest of the crew. Ragnar clenched his fists in frustration. The answers were there, so close, but they wouldn't survive to reach the surface if they charged in now. They needed the Concord. He hoped Caedmon was right, that they could convince the Concord he was important. He had grown to trust the Jaernalith man, but he knew if it came down to saving his race from the Masters, Caedmon would sell him out in a heartbeat.

  The view on the screen altered as the ship reoriented itself toward the core of the Concord and began to pick up the speed needed for the jump to hyperspace. Ragnar sat alone and watched the stars turn blue.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Drake and Tilda walked down the muddy lane toward the smoke.

  It was cold. There was a thick layer of snow on the ground. The lane saw enough traffic to keep it clear, which Drake found interesting. The settlement had been home to only a few thousand people before; now he suspected there were many more.

  "Halt!" called a sentry as he stepped out of the woods. The sentry held a scoped rifle ready and wore a motley camouflage stitched from grey and brown fabrics. It was good concealment, although Drake had known he was there for the last ten minutes as they approached. His sentinels had already seen him. Even if they hadn't, Drake would have smelled him long before he was a threat.

  "I'm known here," Drake said. "I'll vouch for my companion."

  "State you purpose!"

  "I assume Alan Patterson is still alive?"

  The man's posture changed subtly. "He is. What do you know about him?"

  "As I said, I'm known here. You're new, aren't you? My name is Drake. Be a good lad and go tell Alan I'm here."

  "Tommy!"

  Another man appeared out of the woods twenty feet down the road.

  "This man says he has business with Patterson!"

  The other man took off down the road toward the smoke.

  "Is it always like this?" Tilda asked.

  "No," Drake answered quietly. "They must have had some trouble since I was here last."

  It took about half an hour before the man Tommy returned. Drake heard him as he whispered to the man guarding them that Patterson had said to bring them. Their guard looked rebellious.

  "What about the quarantine?" he asked. "And they're armed."

  Tommy shrugged. "He just told me to escort them in immediately, Bobby."

  "If it helps," Drake said, "I'm the one who brought the medicine last time. I'm immune to the plagues. My companion is, as well."

  "Yeah, they all say that," said Bobby.

  Drake looked past him to Tommy. "Well?"

  "Bobby, back off. I got this."

  Bobby shrugged angrily and walked back into the woods.

  "Sorry, sir. Patterson said you was important. Follow me, please?"

  "Of course," Drake said. "I took no offense. I'm pleased to see you're all taking things seriously."

  "We never met before, sir," Tommy said as they walked. "I was sick. You brought the medicine. Saved me. Saved lots of us."

  "I hope I can keep on helping."

  Tommy nodded vigorously.

  Anglin had grown considerably since Drake had been here last. It was now a small village with a stockade. Inside were dozens of buildings, all cobbled together from materials salvaged from the abandoned towns and houses nearby.

  The guards waved them through the gate, and they continued down the muddy lane and up the narrow stream valley. The village stank, and Drake decided he was going to have to talk to them about sanitation. There were other diseases besides the feral plague. They needed dug latrines and quicklime, or there would be dysentery soon.

  Horses stood tied to posts near a few of the houses. Drake liked horses; they were one the things he'd always liked about Kentucky. He was glad to see some had survived. He made a note to himself to ask Alan about acquiring one. It would make his journey out West a lot easier.

  Alan stood outside his small house by the waterfall. He'd come here immediately after the war. Drake had only found him because the small waterfall had been a place he always visited when in this part of the world. It was small but beautiful.

  "Drake! It's good to see you," Alan said. He stepped forward and shook Drake's hand. Drake didn't particularly like such physical contact, but it was a custom that seemed almost universal among humans. It was an important gesture; Alan was the leader of this small settlement.

  "I came back as soon as I could," said Drake. Alan looked as he had aged a decade since the war, even though it had only been months. He wasn't much older than Geoffrey, who had introduced them to one-another years before.

  "I'm glad. As you can see, we've been busy."

  "I noticed," Drake replied. "Alan, let me introduce you to my companion, Colonel Tilda Kelly."

  "Colonel?" Alan asked as he shook her hand. Drake had briefed her on the way in, but she looked as uncomfortable with the custom as he'd felt.

  "Jellico Mountain Complex," said Tilda. "A few of us managed to hole up there and weather out the plagues. I've brought medical supplies for your people."

  Alan nodded. "And what is it you want from us?"

  Tilda smiled. "This is a gift. We managed to isolate a serum to prevent the feral plague, with the help of Daeren Drake, here. We are offering this freely. No strings attached."

  Alan looked suspicious.

  "I wouldn't have brought her here if she had other intentions, Alan," said Drake.

  "Sorry. We just don't have much trust for the government after what happened. I had family and friends in some of the cities that got nuked."

  "We didn't have anything to do with that," Tilda said, as rehearsed. "We were a research facility. Besides, last I checked, there isn't a government anymore. You people are as close as it comes, that I've seen."

  "We're calling it the Commonwealth," Alan said. "Seems appropriate, since Kentucky was one before the war. We've drafted a constitution and everything."

  "We are prepared to acknowledge you as the legal government of what was North America."

  "The world, I would say," Drake added.

  "The world might be a bit more than I'm prepared to try and take on just yet," said Alan. "We've shared our constitution over the radio with two other groups of survivors. They both agreed to abide by the same laws. Maybe we can get it right this time and not all be fighting each other all the time."

  "You've had contacts with other survivors?"

  "There's a large community in Barcelona, and another one out West in Santa Fe. The folks at Los Alamos Laboratories holed up, too. Maybe some of your scientists friends survived, Colonel."

  "Maybe," Tilda answered.

  "Santa Fe wasn't bombed?" asked Drake.

  "Nope. Apparently the plagues weren't as bad out there, either."

  "Was there a woman named Xia there?"

  Alan shrugged. "Sorry, the signal is intermittent. We lost contact once the storms started up in the Midwest. We should be to able to get through again in the spring. Why?"

  "That assumes there will be a spring," Drake said. "I'm not so sure."

  "Well, aren't you just a bundle of joy." Alan shook his head. "Where are my manners? Will the two of you come inside, break bread with me?"

  "You have bread?" said Drake. "Been a long time since I had that."

  They followed Alan inside and sat at a rough wooden table. A log roared and crackled in the fireplace. The small house was cozy and warm. Alan got a loaf of fresh bread out of a tin box and broke it into thirds. He poured them each a glass of water and waited for his guests to begin eating befo
re starting on his own.

  "We were lucky to find Marjorie," Alan said. "She's our baker. Damn good one, if I say so myself."

  "Indeed," said Drake. "You've done amazingly well here."

  "Wouldn't have lasted if you hadn't brought that medicine last time."

  Drake shrugged.

  "So," Alan said, turning to Tilda, "what is it you want, really?"

  "I am prepared to offer you medical and technical aide in return for certain logistical support."

  "Logistical support?"

  "They're living on rations, Alan," Drake cut in. "Asked me if I could help, and I immediately thought of you. They have a trained military force, scientists, working machines, and most importantly, medicine. They can help you. They'll just need supplies from time to time."

  Alan shook his head. "We're barely holding on here. We have enough, just, but you can't expect us to feed... how many people?"

  "Three thousand," said Tilda.

  "No way. I'm sorry. Especially if the next year is going to be harder."

  "We won't need help immediately," Tilda said. "We can make it a year or two. We can even provide a month or two of preserved food. When we do, we'll barter for them."

  "I'm not going to let the military take over here. It'd be no better than letting a warlord do it."

  "No one is asking for that," said Drake. "I talked to the general before coming here. They want to help but remain separate."

  "Separate?"

  "The JMC will retain its sovereignty as the last bastion of the US military. In return, we recognize your government as the only official, legal government of this planet," Tilda recited. "We have the capability to make a new world out of the ruins. One without war. To that end, the JMC is planning to neutralize all military assets around the world within the next three years."