by M. R. Forbes
The Relyeh ancient had severely underestimated him. He had assumed Caleb would act on a basic, selfish level, unable to comprehend that he would be willing to sacrifice himself to save his fellow Marine and the people in Metro. Now they had a chance to change the outcome of a war before the battle even started, but they had to hurry.
Ishek swore it couldn’t stop its consciousness from being shared with the rest of the Relyeh. That wasn’t how the whole thing worked. Caleb didn’t believe the Advocate at first, but then the creature had done something he never expected.
It let him in.
It opened itself up to its mind, allowing him to get a glimpse of its life, experience, and emotions, the way it had taken them from him. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. Ishek wasn’t kidding when it claimed to hunger. Along with self-preservation, it was the most fundamental part of the Advocate’s nature. It had been born to serve a greater Relyeh and had only ever amounted to anything because of its symbiotic connection to a member of a lesser race. The only real experiences it ever had were through the beings it bonded with. Otherwise, it existed in a state Caleb felt as sorrow, frustration and starvation. He couldn’t describe it any other way.
It had given him more than that.
Since Ishek had bonded with Harai, it knew everything about the soldier. Caleb was able to access the Inahri’s memories almost as if they were his own, and he knew instinctively that Harai could do the same to him. Harai could meet his parents, run a mission with the Vultures, board the Deliverance with him.
Everything.
And Caleb could be part of Harai’s training. He could recall Harai’s first time in the Kuu. He could relive any of the lieutenant’s many sexual encounters or feel what Harai felt on meeting the false Arluthu.
Everything.
It had given him more than that.
Ishek provided him a window into the Relyeh knowledge share. It was a glimpse. A blink. It was all his mind was capable of handling because it wasn’t designed or prepared for the utter vastness of the collective. The Relyeh knowledge share really was like the internet. It wasn’t a vast open space where the members simply knew everything all of the others knew. Instead, they had to navigate to the individual consciousness and pull up a specific memory. If Arluthu wanted to know what Caleb knew about Proxima, he would have to enter Ishek’s mind and remember mention of it.
If Caleb wanted to see what Arluthu knew it would have to be intentional, and the consequences would be dire. According to Ishek, a human mind couldn’t survive a glimpse into Arluthu’s mind. Even most Relyeh couldn’t touch the surface of what an elder like Arluthu knew without going insane. Conversely, Arluthu could tap into any Relyeh to gain insight.
There was one exception. Shub-Nigu, as Ishek named it. One of the oldest of the Relyeh, also known to them as the Artifice. It resided on the Relyeh homeworld, a million light-years or more from Essex, so far away it might as well be in another universe. It spent its endless days entering the minds of the Relyeh, gaining their knowledge and sharing it with the rest. But even the Artifice didn’t and couldn’t know everything. There were billions upon billions of Relyeh spread across the galaxies, and only so much time to explore them.
Which in their case meant that as long as Arluthu didn’t seek out Ishek’s consciousness, they were safe. But if the Relyeh ancient happened to decide to check in on him…
The shit was going to hit the fan at lightspeed.
Which was why they were moving as quickly as they could, at a brisk walk along the corridors of the outer barracks toward the Arshugg tunnel. Washington was in front of Caleb, head bowed, while Oni and Lia walked in single file behind him, also in a submissive posture. The Inahri soldiers they passed on the way stared at them curiously, but none of them dared to question a sergeant, and especially not him. Word had traveled quickly of his exploits in the Kuu. Most of the Inahri eyed him with equal measures of fear and respect.
Caleb had multiple problems on his hands and no simple solutions to any of them. It would be one thing to go down to the hangar, steal a transport and get the hell out of the Citadel. They could probably manage it before anyone realized anything was out of the ordinary, whatever ordinary was in this place.
But it wasn’t enough. Arluthu had Valentine, and Valentine had way too much information about way too many things. Ishek had said her conversion was almost complete. Could he get to her before she mutated into a Relyeh? Could he keep Proxima’s exact location secret and stop her from divulging what she understood about the Axon teleporters?
That wasn’t enough either. Caleb needed to try to stop the attack on the Deliverance before it started and to do that he had to pull back the curtain and reveal the true Arluthu to the Inahri. But would that even be enough? The soldiers were indoctrinated into the Might, raised to be warriors for the imprisoned Relyeh. Would it matter to them that Arluthu was using them as fuel? Or would they be grateful for the opportunity to serve their god?
He knew if it were him, nothing the enemy revealed would change his mind or his loyalty. But Oni, Lia, and Tsi, and all of the Inahri who had escaped the Citadel were proof that not every Inahri was a believer. Could he spark a civil war and stop the assault altogether?
He had to try.
“Where is he keeping her?” Caleb asked.
You know where. Use your head.
Caleb wasn’t used to pulling information from Ishek without asking for it. He tried to remember where the Relyeh had sent Valentine, even though he had never seen it and didn’t know what to call it. Even just knowing to think about it required a basic level of subconscious understanding that came from the Advocate.
He didn’t see the location is his mind, but he found he knew it like he had known how to drive from the airbase to his parent’s house for weekend leave.
“I’ve got it,” he said to the others, jaw clenching as it came to him. This was going to be a lot harder than he had hoped.
“Where to, Sarge?” Washington asked.
“The Relyeh city.”
Chapter 40
Caleb, Washington, Lia, and Oni took the Arshugg a short distance, with Ishek commanding the creature to bypass the two other stations between the barracks and their first stop. Time wasn’t on their side, but they couldn’t make a straight path to the Relyeh city no matter how urgent the situation. Caleb had gotten a look at the denizens of the city on the way to his meeting with Arluthu’s stand-in. He and Washington wouldn’t stand a chance against them unarmed if things went sour.
All of the Might’s munitions were stored in a vast armory close to the Citadel’s upper hangar, kept out of reach from the Inahri soldiers until they had a specific reason to equip themselves. Only the upper echelons of the Might were permitted to carry weapons, and even then it was generally limited to sidearms or small knives that had personal value to the soldier. The blaster Caleb had nearly killed himself with belonged to Lieutenant Harai, gifted to Ishek by him for the occasion. It was a decent weapon, but not nearly enough armament.
“You two wait here,” Caleb said to Oni and Lia. “We’ll be back.”
“Yes, Sergeant,” Oni said, bowing her head.
Caleb guided Washington to the exit from the station, giving him a sad shake of his head. He had put the big Marine in one of his robes, which was snug pretty much everywhere and about ten centimeters too short. At least it was able to hide the back of his neck and the wound from the removal of the inhibitor.
“What?” Washington said, looking down. “You don’t like my threads?”
“I don’t think there’s anything in the Citadel that would fit you.”
“That’s fine by me.”
“Any hesitation from the guards, we take them out.”
“Also fine by me.”
Caleb had the blaster in his left hand, kept tucked beneath the sleeves of his robe. He hoped he wouldn’t need to use it.
The passage out of the station led to a door which led to a secondary corridor much taller
and wider than the first. The passage was big enough to roll a transport or walk an Abomination through, delivering them from storage to the hangar nearby. Ishek’s memories made it easy to navigate even though Caleb had never been in this part of the Citadel before.
They followed the passage toward an open doorway at the end, the flurry of activity beyond it evident from a distance. Dozens of Inahri were moving back and forth across their field of view, pushing floating carts piled high with crates of munitions and energy cells to load into waiting transports and attack craft. Soldiers in full battle armor walked through the area in formation, finishing inspections and gathering in the open spaces around the transports in what appeared to be preparation for boarding. A pair of Abominations hunched in a shadowed corner, just outside a larger, more ominous carrier that would bring them to the fight.
“Ishek, what’s going on?” Caleb whispered. “That doesn’t look like an army that’s leaving in hours.”
Should I interface with the lieutenant’s new Advocate?
“Will it know you’re there?”
Yes.
“Forget it. If Arluthu’s moved up the assault, that means we’re even more crunched for time.”
“Why would he do that?” Washington asked. “What’s the hurry?”
Arluthu knows the best time to strike. If variables have changed, he will no doubt adjust accordingly. Your people cannot survive his Might. Coercing me to aid you will not change that.
“I didn’t ask for the editorial,” Caleb said. He glanced at Washington. “Arluthu’s got better intel than we do. If he’s pushing the attack up, I’m sure there’s a reason.”
That’s what I told you.
They reached a junction in the corridor and turned left at the same time a squad of Inahri soldiers emerged from the armory a few meters away. They were in full gear, including helmets that made their faces harder to see.
“Move aside,” their sergeant said sharply.
Caleb and Washington stepped aside, letting the squad past. The sergeant glared at Caleb, dropping his eyes when he realized who he had barked at. Inahri soldiers settled scores in the Kuu, and he didn’t want to tempt Caleb to challenge him.
The squad reached the junction and turned left, continuing into the hangar. Caleb and Washington hurried to the armory’s heavy blast door before it could slide closed again.
A pair of guards in full armor kept watch on either side of the doors. One of them stepped in front of Caleb before he could get very far. He glanced at the projection rising from the disc on Caleb’s robe to get his name and rank, along with his record in the Kuu. One and zero.
“Sergeant Caleb,” he said, bowing his head in respect. “Explain your need.”
Caleb felt the pressure of Ishek’s desire to control him weigh on his mind. He succumbed to it, allowing the Advocate to speak through him.
“Move aside, corporal,” he snapped, reaching out and roughly grabbing Washington’s arm. “This sad excuse for an organism is new to Dojo Shing, and uneducated in even basic Inahri weaponry. I don’t have a lot of time to give him even cursory training on something as simple as battle armor, and you’re wasting it by standing in my way.”
The guard’s face paled, and he quickly moved aside. “Y-y-yes, Sergeant.”
Ishek shoved Washington ahead before Caleb regained control.
I hunger for more. So much more.
Caleb ignored the Advocate, continuing through a second door that slid open as he approached. It fed into the upper level of an armory that made both the Marine module on the Deliverance and the Free Inahri weapons depot look pathetic.
“Whoa,” Washington said, reacting to the sight.
There weren’t only hundreds of racks carrying thousands of weapons and armor in the massive, stone cavern. There were also hundreds of Inahri already inside, in various stages of preparation. Near one rack, a group of soldiers helped one another into battle armor. At another, a sergeant was quickly handing out two different types of rifles to each of the men. Caleb recognized the stunner rifles right away and identified the other as an ion blaster, thanks to Harai’s memories of the weapon.
A third squad was already armed and armored, standing in another area and running through comms and equipment checks.
“They’re planning to capture as many of the colonists as they can,” he said to Washington. “But they won’t hesitate to kill the ones who give them too much trouble.”
“Roger that.”
“Based on their level of readiness and the numbers we’ve seen so far, I’m guessing we have about three hours before go time.”
“Roger, Sergeant.”
It was still a little strange to Caleb to have Washington answer verbally. He flicked his eyes to the Marine looking for a thumbs-up before continuing his scan of the armory.
“There,” he said, pointing to a secured area in the front right corner. “That’s the target.”
The area is restricted. You don’t have access.
“Does Harai?”
Ishek hesitated before answering, still not thrilled with the agreement it had made to keep itself alive.
He does.
“Wash, can I have your knife?”
Washington handed it over without question. Caleb quickly shoved it into the disc on his shoulder, disabling it.
“Hmm. Malfunction.” He handed the knife back to Washington. “Let’s go.”
They descended a wide stairway into the area, staying to the side as another squad finished their preparations and headed for the hangar. The Inahri were too busy with their own tasks to pay much attention to he and Washington as they crossed the floor. They stopped in front of a sealed blast door, where a device tried to scan Caleb’s damaged tag.
A hologram formed ahead of them, Inahri symbols denying them access unless they could enter a manual override sequence.
You are a resourceful one, Caleb. That is why I wanted you.
“How’d that work out for you?” Caleb asked as he pulled the sequence from Harai’s experience, entering it on the projected interface.
Ishek didn’t respond. The projection vanished, and the door slid aside.
Caleb and Washington hurried into the room, the door closing behind them. The secured space was home to the non-standard weapons and equipment, all of it organized on racks ringing the perimeter. Caleb went directly to the Intellect Skins. “I hope this thing will stretch enough to fit you,” he said, grabbing the first of the six hanging there and tossing it to Washington.
Washington smiled as he quickly stripped and stepped into the bodysuit. The material stretched far more than either of them expected, easily going up and over his broad shoulders.
“Comfy,” he said.
“Pull the mantle up,” Caleb said.
Washington complied. “Wow.”
“They’re pretty amazing,” Caleb agreed, pulling off his clothes.
Recognizing the third skin in line as the one Tsi had given him, he grabbed it off its hook and stepped into it. Not about to leave the remaining four to any of the Relyeh Inahri who wanted to masquerade as someone else—either now or during the attack on the Deliverance—he grabbed them too. “Just hang onto these for me,” he said, handing them to Washington and turning back to the door.
“Wait. What about guns?”
“Too hard to move around with them. The Skins have onboard weapons systems. Scan the first soldier you see.”
“Scan him?”
“Imagine taking a picture. The Skin will do the rest.”
“Roger that.”
They left the room. With so many Inahri nearby it only took a moment to scan one without being noticed. Both Caleb and Washington projected the battle-armored Inahri as they headed for the exit.
“Going to do some basic maneuvering drills in the hangar,” Caleb said to the guard when they reached the outer door, which slid aside to let them through.
“He looks pretty capable to me, Sergeant,” the guard replied.
“Yes, Sergeant,” the guard said, smiling.
Caleb and Washington continued forward, the primary armory door sliding closed behind them.
“One challenge down, a million to go,” Washington said.
“Not a problem for the Vultures,” Caleb replied.
“Roger that.”
“Let’s move.”
Chapter 41
Caleb and Washington dropped their projections and lowered the mantles of their Intellect Skins as they returned to the Arshugg tunnel. Lia and Oni were still waiting there, happy to see the two Earthers return.
“Did you get what you were looking for?” Lia asked. “I don’t see any guns.”
Caleb took a Skin from Washington and handed it to her and then one to Oni. “Take off your clothes and put this on. You’re soldiers now.”
“It’s forbidden,” Oni said. “Only men can be soldiers.”
“Tsi fights for the Free Inahri,” Caleb replied. “Hurry now, get into those skins. Wash, watch the corridor.”
“Sarge, just what are you planning?” Washington asked, moving to the entrance to keep a lookout.
You continue to surprise me with your deviousness, Caleb. Perhaps Earthers and Relyeh aren’t so different.
“I thought I was special?” Caleb said to the Advocate. “And stop responding to my thoughts. You’re going to distract me at the wrong time and get us all killed.”
It is part of the bond. I cannot prevent it.
Caleb looked at Oni and Lia again. They still stood there, staring at him. “Move! Get those clothes off and put those skins on. Now.”
He hated to use his drill voice, but his tone got them moving. They quickly got out of their robes and into the Skins, struggling to figure out how to clasp them closed. Caleb stood in front of each, stretching the advanced armor across their chests and hooking them shut. Then he grabbed Lia’s mantle and pulled it over her head.
