I spin my web of bees about the enemy force, keeping them as far as is possible from the APC with its cargo of HCRs. The machines are alert. Lilith will not repeat the mistake of her casual walk across the veldt. Yet, I notice that only three of the machines are here. Lilith is keeping two for personal guards. She fears me, but three HCRs are more than enough to destroy the Confed base with its minimal defenses. The fact that the HCRs are on the APC indicates it is the command vehicle, and likely Grieg is within. This too, will compound my problems.
I have little regard for the rebel force itself. I do not doubt their courage or devotion to their cause, but irregular troops in high-tech combat are largely worthless.
I deliberate on the proper vector to attack from. I decide to take them on the logging road, as the chance for collateral damage is far greater once they reach the surfaced roads. If I maneuver myself from the south, they will have to pass me to attack but it is the obvious path for an ambush, and I would face the Leyland and the APC’s weapons as well as the HCRs.
No, the best way is to attack the column is from the rear. I can maximize my initial strike, and they will have to reorient to deal with it. Decision made, I speed forward and circle about. If the HCRS were deployed to screen the convoy, I would be detected, but atop the APC, Lilith’s HCR sensors are degraded by the noise and heat of the vehicles. This gains me precious meters as I race to cut across the logging road behind the last truckload of armed men. I level my armspac and, with a long ripping sound, fire a pattern of HVAP rounds exactly the width of the last enemy vehicle. Simultaneously I launch a HEAT round in a low arc at the Leyland. The best way to destroy an enemy column enroute, is to disable the lead and rear vehicles.
The rear vehicle explodes in flames followed by the screams of dying men and women. My first HEAT round hits the rear deck of the Leyland; it slews off the road—partly blocking it.
The night is rent with weapon-fire as rebels spill out of the remaining vehicles and in a display of poor fire discipline, open up in all directions. I disregard them and the small arms fire. My concern is the HCRS and the AFVs.
A tree explodes next to me. I am surprised at the severity of the explosion. One of the HCRS is directing fire from the recoilless rifle gun jeeps as the others deploy and the APC’s own chain gun searches for me. I must duck into a depression in the ground, cut deeply by a small stream, to escape. A metal fragment hits me and chips my side. I know, for the first time, a frisson of fear about my appearance. I have just regained my left arm. I would hate to appear before Wrik mutilated again. Rage shoots through me at this prospect. If I am disfigured, everyone in that column is dead. I scramble into a nearby streambed.
I run up the stream as the recoilless rifles scythe down the trees over me. More splinters and rocks chips bounce off me. If I were biological, or lightly armored, I would be done for. I cannot allow them to pin me down or the other HCRs will fix my position and destroy me.
I link up to Spybee 13 and fire two high-explosive rounds at the recoilless rifles and two more HEAT rounds at the APC, using the spybee’s sensors to guide them as I am below line- of-sight. One of each are intercepted by the HCR’s triple autos, sleeted out of the sky in a fine display of marksmanship. But the rest get through, one high explosive round hits the second gun jeep right on the long-barreled weapon, the resulting blast and spray of steel cuts down the crews of both the unarmored jeeps. The HEAT round strikes the track on the APC and the disabled vehicle spins and hits a tree. Both HCRS aboard it leap free at the last instant. Enemy fire slackens. As the HCRs are moving, I pop up and fire more HVAP bullets at the nearest HCR. The slender machine is hammered as the armor-piercing rounds riddle it, but that does not stop it from firing a long triple-auto burst back at me. Again I drop to the ground and fire more HEAT and high-explosive rounds. The HCRS are too agile to be hit by the HEAT rounds but they hit the Leyland whose turret, despite the burning deck, is seeking me. The high-explosive goes off over the HCRS, damaging all. The Leyland’s turret erupts as secondary explosions rip it apart from inside.
Three AP rounds from an HCR strike me, doing slight damage. I return fire, but this time my enemy has found hard cover. I dash off the hill. Only two HCRs return my fire, the other one, or its weapon, must be damaged. I devote a few milliseconds to my own damage control, exchanging a damaged exterior module for an interior one. I leap up again and spray some small flechette rounds into the rebels, more to cause confusion than casualties. It starts them firing again. The slew of rocket propelled grenades and other fire will make the HCR’s work of tracking me harder, whereas I know everything I see is hostile.
Spybee 13 winks out of my sensors, as does 14 and 15 further north. This tells me two things: the enemy has realized how I was indirectly guiding munitions, and, they are in full retreat up the logging road. I change course to pursue and am almost hit by a mini-grenade from one of Lilith’s HCRs which has lain in wait for me to do just that. I return a burst of fire, and the HCR also withdraws from the engagement. Lilith’s forces are gone, and only floundering rebels remain. Even these flee without organization in the same direction. I set my spybees to observe them in the event of a counterattack. One spots Nazir, bailing out of disabled APC.
I consider whether to pursue the HCRs, but the odds of running headlong into a successful ambush are prohibitive. Instead, I pass through the smoldering wreckage of vehicles and the dead rebels. More have escaped than died. Casualties are not my aim. Disrupting and eliminating their command and control, and severing Lilith from her local support are. In this I have been successful. I will communicate with the Confed commander on this world, who will arrange for disposal of the bodies and a suitable cover up. The clandestine nature of the rebels operations will aid this; doubtless it will be some time before many are missed.
I must extract one enemy operative on my own. I use my remaining spybees and maneuver to cut Nazir out of the herd of fleeing rebels. When I judge he is sufficiently distant from the others, I cut ahead of the stumbling, panting man and step onto the trail in front of him. He practically runs into me, then, screaming, throw his arms up.
“Be silent,” I order, “if you wish to live.”
Foolishly, he tries to aim the handgun he carries at me. I lunge forward, and seize him by the arm and throat, hauling him into the air. The weapon discharges into the ground before dropping from his numb hand. I struggle with the desire to wring his neck. I focus on the fact that though the link is a tenuous one, he is networked, however distantly to Wrik. The death of this man would create distress for Wrik’s sister and her children, and thus for my Wrik.
“Who are you?” he chokes out
I glare up at him. “It is entirely possible that I am to be your sister-in-law.”
He gapes at me. “What?” he finally manages.
“I assure you the prospect gives me no pleasure.” I place his feet back on the ground, less the strain break his neck.
“Are you one of her machines? Has she betrayed us?”
I slap him across the face. “Be silent unless it is to answer me.”
He stares at me, eyes wide.
“Listen and listen well, for your life depends on it. Nod, if you understand.”
He nods.
“You will mention nothing of this night’s engagement to anyone or to tell anyone of my existence. You will make no effort to reestablish contact with Lilith.” Inspiration strikes, as Wrik would say. “You will advise the surviving members of your organization that the figure they saw attacking them was another advanced model of HCR, and that you suspect Lilith is secretly working for the Confederacy and led you into an ambush.”
He looks around. “Where are the rest of your forces?”
“I am the force that destroyed your unit.”
His eyes widen. “Who the hell are you? What the hell are you? You’re not an HCR.”
I move a step closer; he becomes v
ery still.
“In the near future, you will meet me again, this time in the company of Wrik Trigardt. You will act as if this is our first meeting, and you know nothing of me, nor suspect that I am anything other than the human mutant I will say I am. One hopes your acting skills exceed your tactical skills.
“Do you understand? You now have my permission to speak.”
“Yes,” he says carefully. Then adds defiantly, “But I was right— you and Trigardt are Confederate Agents—”
“Concern yourself with your survival. Do you agree to my terms?”
He licks his lips. “‘Yes.”
“Understand this. If you renege on our agreement, I will hunt you down and tear you apart. You have seen only a small part of destruction I can mete out when provoked.”
He nods slowly, hate he dares not express in his eyes.
I gesture. “What remains of your forces are retiring in that direction. Rejoin them.”
He begins to back away then takes to his heels
I compose myself for a second, then call for Dusko to pick me up. I must remember to take the presents for the children and find some way to wrap them. I suspect we will be seeing Rena soon.
Chapter 17
I woke in the morning having slept deeply and dreamlessly. Somewhat to my surprise, my mother had slept in, too. I guess the accumulated stresses of the week had worn on her. So we had a late breakfast out on the porch, watching the ocean and an unusually large freighter that made its way slowly across the horizon.
A buzzing drew my attention from the ship. “The phone,” my mother said, rising.
“You know if you had a house AI,” I said. “You wouldn’t have to wonder where you left your portable.”
“Don’t be a smart ass, young man,” my mother said. “Besides I don’t fancy living with a computer watching my every move.”
She paused, then looked at Maauro. “Present company excepted.”
Maauro smiled. “No offense taken. I am cognizant of the need for privacy and feel such a need for myself as well.”
“Good,” Mom threw over her shoulder. Evidently she made it before the com took a message. I heard her voice, but couldn’t make out what she was saying, but she returned in a few minutes holding a boxy com. “It’s your sister.”
I took a deep breath and reached for the phone. “Hello, Rena.”
“Good morning,” my sister’s voice had a determined cheerfulness to it. “I thought I would confirm that you and Aurelia were coming tonight.”
“We are and are looking forward to it.”
“Mom says she has something to do with her friends. It’s not true of course, but I suppose she thinks it’s best.”
“What time should we arrive?”
“Shall we say at five, given that it will be a long trip back for you.”
“That sounds fine. We will see you then. Tell Cobus I remembered the presents this time.”
“Don’t spoil him any more than his father does. Ok, we’ll see you then. Tell Mom goodbye.”
“Will do.”
“Everything all right?” my mother asked as he handed her back the comp.
I nodded and turned to Maauro. “That was my sister, confirming we’re on for dinner tonight.”
She nodded, looking out to sea.
“Why did you bail out?” I asked of my mother.
“Your sister and I have been a chancy combination for years. She knows I don’t care for her husband. It might be easier if it was just you young folks.”
I nodded
“We must find you something to wear,” my mother exclaimed, turning back to Maauro, who sat cross-legged on the floor. “But there’s hardly time to go shopping.”
“Nor need,” Maauro returned smoothly, “if you could find some images of suitable evening wear for such an occasion, and I can retexturize myself.”
My mother looked at me. “You have no idea how lucky you are.” She ducked into the living room and returned to hand Maauro a tablet, which was already displaying women’s clothing.
Maauro smiled. “I keep telling him that.”
I raised my hands in my mock protest. “I believe. I believe.”
“What about my hair?” Maauro said. “This is his sister, and I wish to make the best first impression I can.”
“You’re fine as you are,” I protested.
Maauro gave me a look. “I had no human female to advise me before I met your mother. I plan to take full advantage of my improved tactical assets now that I am to meet the rest of your family.”
“All but Dad,” I said in a resigned tone. “Don’t forget about dear old Dad.”
Maauro paused in considering the fashion options. “Your father is not forgotten by me, not even for a moment.” Menace joined us on the porch facing the ocean.
I mentally kicked myself for mentioning him, but was saved by my mother.
“Leave be,” she said. “Now about your hair, how do you want to look tonight?”
“I am hoping for a more mature, sophisticated look,” Maauro said. “I am an adult in a serious relationship; I would like to look like one.”
“Well then,” my mother said gently, “perhaps we should leave the big hair bow aside for tonight. It’s very colorful, but tends to make you look rather young.”
With evident reluctance, Maauro took off the thick and long piece of yellow-orange Valmian silk that she bound her midnight-black hair with. She looked at it, then carefully folded it into a compact square and pressed it against her chest. The spot rippled and the yellow fabric disappeared inside of her.
“A yellow hair ribbon was the first present I ever received,” she said in response to my mother’s bemused expression. “Wrik bought one for me on Kandalor not long after we met. Unfortunately, it did not survive our early adventures, indeed neither did the next few, but he always buys me a new one.”
“Love,” my mother said, “expresses itself in many ways, some big, some small, all important.” She leaned forward in her chair and reached her fingers into Maauro’s hair. “My dear, your hair is beautiful and feels like silk itself, but it is thick, heavy and abundant. I can’t think of anything I have that will hold it up.”
Instantly Maauro’s hair seemed to float as if underwater. “Merely arrange it as you believe best, and I will ensure it remains so.”
My mother laughed in wonder. “Oh, the surprises never cease coming with you. Do they? Wait here and I will get some clips and pins, and we will do you up properly.”
I looked at Maauro and her floating nimbus of hair. “No budget for clothes and no bills for a hairdresser. You may indeed be the perfect—” I caught myself with the word wife on my lips, “girlfriend.”
Maauro smiled radiantly, and if she made anything of my slight hesitation, there was no indication. I used my mother’s return, with a box of shiny and sparkling trinkets to excuse myself and walk past the sleeping dog down to the front yard. I looked out at the billowing sea and its scudding white clouds. The freighter was standing out to sea, hull down at the horizon, off to God knows where.
For a moment, I felt the ship and I had that in common, on a journey to parts unknown. The word, wife, had almost tumbled out of my mouth, unconsidered, as if it had invited itself to the party. This demanded some thought. I set off down the street to the beach proper, waving to Ruatha, who was tending some flowers in her garden. But my thoughts were elsewhere. I had, I thought, come to terms with Maauro’s origin and nature. But only minutes ago, I found myself talking as if she was my partner for life.
Was it possible? I knew that I loved Maauro, that her company, her presence was essential to me. But I wasn’t a monk. I was considering a life with a being who was emotionally female, but was not physically so, save as an artifice. Maauro valued affection for its emotional content, but sex was something yet unknown to he
r. I had breezily assured Delt that we would somehow figure it out. Was I kidding myself?
So far, we had isolated my sexuality from our love. Sex had been the province first of Jaelle and later, briefly, of Olivia. Would that be the future? Were we doomed to be so different in body that we’d always need some third person to play that part, a female content to share in that life? I couldn’t see myself purchasing such company in the future, as I had in the lonely past.
I was too young to ignore such needs. While once that might not have mattered to Maauro— indeed she had earlier encouraged my interest in Olivia, would that be the case in the future? No doubt we could come up with a way for her to simulate sex with me. Her body was more than malleable enough for that, but that’s all it would be for her, a simulation. She had no sex drive, for all that she had the same need for love that I did. Maauro could doubtless satisfy me, but I could not return the favor. Her Creators had certainly never programmed sexual climax into her amazing body. Sex was rooted in biology, the need to stimulate the desire to reproduce. Neither of these was within Maauro’s scope.
I realized my musings had taken me a good distance down the beach, and that, for all the bright sun, the wind off the sea was brisk. I started to retrace my steps accompanied by my usual escort of worries and doubts.
I love her, I thought and I cannot live without her. Yet I am human and young. Maauro’s more adult appearance was stirring things in me, especially as we’d become more physically intimate; touching to be touched, kissing and holding each other. I sighed. I wanted my life with Maauro to hold a physical love that was complete and mutual, but wondered how we would ever achieve that? I guessed I would have to hold to what I had said to Delt, love will find a way.
All the Difference Page 17
