Socrates and the Ionian

by Thomas Fay

  ‘The parklands office is also a Council storage depot.’

  ‘Like the one in Glebe?’

  ‘Yes, but without the heavy security.’

  ‘I guess we’re going to have to get inside,’ John said.

  Fernali groaned.

  ‘You okay, Michael?’ John asked.

  ‘I was just remembering how well it went the last time we broke into a Council storage facility to break someone out.’

  John laughed. ‘Come on, that wasn’t so bad,’ he said.

  ‘Really?’ Fernali asked.

  ‘No, it was a complete disaster. This time it’s going to be worse, as we know there are at least two androids there. Last time it took … a lot of firepower to stop just one.’

  ‘So, how are we supposed to get past them to free Logan Myers?’

  John motioned towards the tech. ‘James—how’s that motorbike coming along?’

  ‘I think we’ve got it to work, although the EMP and weapons are still playing up and it hasn’t been tested in the field yet.’

  John pointed towards his android partner. ‘He’ll test it for you. Socrates, do you think you can fire the Gauss rifle while riding the bike?’

  ‘Yes, I can recalibrate as required to compensate for the vehicle’s motion,’ Socrates replied.

  ‘Great. Fernali, who’s the best sniper we have?’

  ‘Sorensen. Without a doubt.’

  ‘She’ll provide cover from a safe distance with a Longbow rifle while you and I go in and get Myers.’

  Fernali groaned louder.

  ‘What?’ John asked.

  ‘This is a terrible plan,’ Fernali said.

  John clapped his old partner on the shoulder. ‘C’mon, it’ll be fine. What could possibly go wrong?’

  ‘Do I need to remind you—again—of the last time we broke into a Council storage facility?’

  ‘No, probably not.’

  A red warning alert flashed in the air before them. James input a series of instructions using the virtual keyboard. The scene shifted to show the ghostly outline of the city of Iona with the EM fields denoting Flux Cell activity.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Fernali asked.

  ‘EM field surges detected across Iona,’ James said.

  ‘The Flux Cells?’ Simone asked.

  ‘Something’s happening,’ James said.

  As they watched, a series of smaller EM fields denoting individual Flux Cells glowed brighter. Then they vanished. Others followed at random locations across the map. They watched it in silence for a full sixty seconds. Then John’s phone rang, low and urgent. He opened it absently without checking the caller ID.

  ‘Tesh, here.’

  ‘It’s the Chief—where are you?’

  ‘Tech lab.’

  ‘Get up here. Now. All hell just broke loose.’

  Forty-Four

  The Sentinels were the premier law enforcement agency in the sovereign city-state of Iona. Reporting only to the Ruling Council, they effectively had authority over all other emergency services, including police, fire brigade, ambulance and the coastguard. The men and women who made up the Sentinel front line were the best of the best. Carefully chosen from law enforcement, military and private security organisations across the world, they were highly trained and experienced operatives. There weren’t many situations that they weren’t prepared for. The unexplained phenomenon of objects and people vanishing at random locations across Iona was one of those situations they were not ready for.

  ‘Tesh, what the hell is going on out there?’ the Chief asked. He was leaning forward in his chair when John, Fernali and Socrates walked into his office.

  ‘We’ve got a situation,’ John said.

  ‘Situation? We’re getting reports of vehicles and parts of buildings vanishing into thin air. So far, four people have disappeared in the same way.’

  John realised their worst fears were coming true. He took a deep breath before speaking.

  ‘Chief, we believe that someone is drawing power from all the Flux Cells in the city which in turn is causing them to overload and collapse.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘We don’t know but what we do know is that they can mess with the Flux Cell’s anchoring mechanism, causing it to be sucked into an alternate dimension, along with a chunk of matter directly around it.’

  The Chief’s eyes opened wide. He slowly sank back in his chair.

  ‘Chief, you okay?’ Fernali asked. ‘You look kind of pale.’

  ‘Bloody hell,’ the Chief finally managed to say.

  ‘You can say that again,’ Fernali said.

  ‘What can we do?’ the Chief asked.

  ‘We need to stop whoever is behind this before they destroy the entire city,’ John said. ‘Frost is trying to figure out how they’re accessing the Flux Cells, while James is monitoring the situation and trying to identify the device they’re using.’

  The Chief nodded, the colour slowly returning to his features. Then his eyes narrowed.

  ‘What aren’t you telling me?’ he asked.

  ‘We believe there are more of those rogue androids operating in Iona. Two of them detained Logan Myers this morning and took him to a Ruling Council storage facility in Liberation Park.’

  ‘Christ, Tesh. You’ve outdone yourself this time. I take it you’re going to go and try to rescue him?’

  John nodded.

  ‘Didn’t it end rather badly for Socrates the last time you encountered one of these androids?’

  ‘Don’t worry, Chief. This time we’re going in prepared.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘We have requisitioned heavy weapons and a prototype motorcycle created by James Gleason,’ Socrates said.

  ‘That’s supposed to take out the androids?’

  ‘No. My role is to distract the androids while John and Michael enter the facility and extract Logan Myers,’ Socrates said.

  ‘You two are going in alone? What if there are more of those androids?’

  ‘Sorensen will provide backup with a sniper rifle loaded with armour piercing rounds. Socrates has assured us that a headshot using that ammunition will take out the androids. We’ll be fine,’ John said.

  The Chief shook his head. ‘I don’t know, Tesh. With what’s happening in Iona, shouldn’t you be focusing your efforts on stopping whoever is behind this?’

  ‘I have to do this, Chief. Lauren’s pregnant with Logan’s child. I owe her this one.’

  The Chief nodded. ‘Alright, do it—but be quick. I’m going to call Frost and see if he’s made any progress. He created the damn Flux Cell; maybe he’s got a way of turning it off.’

  ‘If only it were that easy, Chief.’

  The three of them exited the Chief’s office. The scene on level twenty-five was one of controlled chaos as grey-suited Sentinels rushed around trying to figure out what was happening in Iona. Walking across the floor, they found Sorensen at her desk. She was talking on her phone while the screen in front of her showed a live camera feed. The remains of a motorcycle had crashed into a bus stop. There was no sign of the rider or most of the bike. John motioned to Sorensen to end the call. She hung up the phone.

  ‘I need your help,’ John said.

  ‘What do you need?’ Sorensen asked.

  ‘Do you still remember how to use a sniper rifle?’

  ‘What do you think?’

  ‘That Fernali was right when he said you were the best sniper we had.’

  Sorensen nodded.

  ‘I need your help to extract someone from a Ruling Council storage facility. We know there are at least two androids guarding the facility. There could be more.’

  ‘Is this connected to what’s going on across Iona?’

  John nodded.

  Sorensen stood up. ‘Let’s go. I just need to swing by the armoury and grab a Longbow.’

  ‘There’s no time. You can use mine.’

  Sorensen made an indelicate sound. ‘You were using a sniper rifle?’


  ‘Yes, why is that so strange?’

  ‘No reason.’

  Forty-Five

  Spanning an area of 189 hectares, Centennial Park had originally been opened in 1888 by Sir Henry Parkes. It would go down in history as the site of the inauguration of Australian Federation on 1 January 1901. The park became a haven within the Eastern Suburbs with its large open areas filled with trees and grass. Given its historic significance, the park was renamed Liberation Park by the Iona Corporation in 2039. Today, it continued to serve the public as a large open recreational space.

  ‘I wish there was more cover,’ John whispered.

  ‘It’s a park,’ Fernali whispered back.

  ‘I know. I just feel like a sitting duck. A sitting duck squatting in some bushes under a large tree.’

  Fernali checked his watch. It was an original Swiss chronometer from the late twentieth century. John knew it had belonged to Michael’s father. It was one of his former partner’s most prized possessions.

  ‘Almost time. Is Sorensen in position?’ Fernali asked.

  ‘It’s Sorensen. She was born for this sort of operation,’ John said.

  ‘Do you think this will work?’

  ‘Only one way to find out.’

  A high-pitched sound reached their ears from across the park. It grew in intensity as it approached them at a rapid pace. It slowed momentarily, then accelerated so fast it sounded like a jet was heading straight for them.

  ‘Here comes Socrates. Let’s hope they take the bait,’ John said.

  Moments later the prototype motorbike flew down the road leading towards the parklands office. Socrates sat astride the powerful vehicle. The Gauss rifle was mounted on the front, the trigger mechanism attached to the handlebars. Socrates reached the parklands office. He came to a complete stop in the courtyard outside. The sound of the Gauss rifle spinning up resonated off the building.

  ‘Here they come,’ Fernali said. Two black-suited figures emerged from a side door. Their heads turned from side to side as they took in the situation. Locating Socrates, they moved towards him. Fast.

  The sound of the Gauss rifle throwing out magnetised projectiles at supersonic speed was like chain lightning. The two androids were thrown backwards into the building. A cloud of dust exploded around them as the brickwork was decimated by the barrage of munitions. The androids’ clothing was torn to shreds as they were pinned.

  ‘It’s working,’ Fernali said.

  ‘Don’t count on it. I watched a squad of Council operatives open fire on one of them with everything they had.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘The operatives didn’t make it. The android did.’

  ‘So how did you stop it? Socrates?’

  ‘No. It was … something else.’

  Fernali turned to look at his former partner. ‘It’s a bit late in the game for keeping secrets, isn’t it?’

  John nodded. ‘You’re right, of course. It was the Ionians. They used an orbital weapon. It reduced the android to a patch of molten metal.’

  ‘Mio Dio,’ Fernali whispered.

  ‘Not quite, but I think the Ionians come close.’

  The sound of the Gauss rifle’s barrage faded away. The two androids, their suits ripped to shreds and covered in a thick layer of masonry dust, slowly rose. They took a shambling step towards Socrates. Then another. By the third step they were walking normally.

  ‘These things are seriously tough to kill,’ Fernali observed.

  Socrates detached the Gauss rifle from the motorcycle. The rifle landed heavily in the road. Kicking his leg back, he grasped the throttle and spun the bike around in an arc. Facing away from the androids, he squeezed the throttle. The prototype let out a high-pitched scream as its rear tyre began to shred rubber. The two androids lunged for Socrates just as the rear tyre gripped the surface of the asphalt. The motorbike shot up the road. The androids took one look at it and followed, running faster than any human could.

  ‘Quick, this is our chance,’ John said.

  ‘What if there’re more of those things inside?’ Fernali asked.

  John waved towards the trees behind them.

  ‘Then we’d better hope Sorensen is as good as everyone says she is, otherwise this is going to be worse than the last time.’

  Forty-Six

  Reaching the side of the parklands office, they flattened themselves against the brick wall. John started to reach for his rapid-fire handgun but stopped when he remembered how useless it had been against the rogue androids. He could still picture Socrates pinned under the relentless onslaught in the CTS parking lot. The rogue android they had pursued from the airport had been single-minded in its purpose, the way only a machine programmed to do something could be. In that moment, he realised what he’d failed to deduce from the encounter at the logistics warehouse—why the android had been there in the first place.

  ‘John, are you ready?’ Fernali repeated.

  ‘Sorry, I’m good,’ John replied.

  ‘After you, then.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  John inched along the wall until he reached the metal door. It was the same door the two androids had emerged from moments earlier. Reaching for the handle, John hesitated. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the handle down and the door swung inwards. He moved through the doorway and surveyed the scene inside. Two Council operatives, their arms and legs bent at unnatural angles, lay on the ground. Fernali moved through the door behind John, his handgun raised to a firing position. He stopped when he saw the bodies.

  ‘What happened here?’ Fernali asked.

  ‘It looks like the androids took this facility by force,’ John said.

  ‘I guess that means they’re not working for Council Security?’

  ‘Looks like it. Although … something about all of this is starting to feel a little familiar.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Later. We need to find Logan and get out of here before those androids realise Socrates was only a distraction and come back to check on their captive.’

  The two Sentinels moved through the interior of the Ruling Council storage depot with the speed and precision of two law enforcement professionals who had worked together for a long time. They checked each room along the way. Finally, they arrived at a locked door with a biometric security system.

  ‘Any ideas?’ John asked.

  ‘We need a fingerprint,’ Fernali said.

  ‘Yes, and a retinal scan.’

  Fernali pointed back the way they had entered.

  ‘What about one of those operatives? Surely they would have access?’

  John nodded.

  ‘Michael, you’re a genius.’

  ‘I know; still, nice to hear you say so.’

  ‘Come on.’

  The two of them returned a minute later dragging one of the Council operatives between them. Reaching the biometric scanner, Fernali removed the silver gloves. Taking the dead operative’s finger, he placed it on the biometric scanner. A green light flashed up after a moment.

  ‘Your turn,’ Fernali said.

  John started to remove the operative’s visored helmet when he stopped. Looking at his former partner, he said, ‘Michael, there’s something you need to know.’

  ‘John, whatever it is, can’t it wait? We’re kind of in a hurry.’

  ‘I just don’t want you to freak out.’

  ‘Why would I do that?’

  ‘Because of what lies beneath this visor.’

  Fernali dropped the operative’s lifeless arm. ‘What are you talking about?’ he asked.

  ‘Look, I don’t have time to go into the details but what you’re about to see is disturbing, to say the least.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Ready?’

  ‘I guess so.’

  John pulled the visored helmet off, revealing the partially formed clone’s face. A face without a mouth and skin, that was translucent, with eyes that were too blue.

  ‘What
the hell is that?!’ Fernali exclaimed. He fell back a step.

  ‘A partially formed human body. The Ionians use these clones for dangerous situations.’

  ‘You knew about this?’

  ‘Yes. I found out a few years ago. Then Frost told me the truth. The Ionians aren’t human.’

  Fernali said nothing.

  ‘Are you alright?’ John asked.

  Fernali remained silent, his eyes staring at the clone.

  ‘Michael?’

  ‘It’s a lot to process.’

  ‘I know but we don’t have time for that now.’

  Fernali took a deep breath. He let it out slowly, while shaking his head in disbelief.

  ‘Just when you thought you’d seen everything, this happens. Alright, let’s get this door open.’

  John manoeuvred the operative’s head close to the retinal scanner. A green beam splayed across the exposed eye. The door opened a second later. John grasped the door and pulled it open. Inside, three people sat on a metallic bench. The first was a woman in her mid-forties whom John recognised as Miriam Chadsworth, the head of the Iona Philanthropic Society. The second was a man in his early sixties whom John had never seen before. The third was Logan Myers.

  ‘Who are you?’ Miriam asked.

  ‘John Tesh, Sentinel. We’re here to get you out.’

  Miriam nodded as she helped the older man to his feet.

  ‘We need to hurry,’ John said.

  The three captives stood up and moved through the door. As Logan was passing John, he stopped.

  ‘Thank you,’ Logan said.

  ‘Don’t thank me yet.’

  The five of them made their way back through the facility to the front door. John reached for the handle to open the door. It swung inwards. John froze.

  ‘John? What is it?’ Fernali asked.

  One of the rogue androids, its clothes hanging in shreds, stood outside the parklands office. Metallic elements glinted through the remains of its clothing. It turned its head ninety degrees to look directly at John.

  Then it moved.

  Forty-Seven

  A single shot exploded in the distance. The sound reached them a split second after the heavy-calibre polycarbonate sniper round had struck the android in the side of the head, throwing it sideways. Landing heavily, it began to rise. A second and third shot followed in rapid succession. Both found their mark. The android’s head shattered into pieces. It toppled and remained still.