The Far Shores (The Central Series)

by Rawlins, Zachary

“Are you hungry? They put together a sort of buffet.” Haley looked at him with unaccustomed charity. “Stay in your seat, Alex. I’ll put a plate together for you.”

  Alex watched her leave with stoned gratitude.

  “That was rather well done, Alex,” Michael offered, dropping a crumpled napkin beside the remains of his chicken. “Considering you weren’t supposed to see any action at all, I thought you did pretty well.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Grappling was a good choice, given the Witch’s striking-oriented fighting style, but in the future I would consider moving to meet your attacker, rather than allowing them to choose the point at which you engage. Also, when it comes to leverage, your legs need to...”

  “Lay off him, Michael,” Katya said, leaning back in her chair with a paper cup filled with popcorn. “Alex has had his head kicked around enough today, if you ask me. He isn’t going to remember anything you say, anyway.”

  “Thanks,” Alex said to Katya, repeating himself and meaning it.

  “Right. Of course.” Michael glanced away, chagrined. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Alex mumbled, rubbing the raised area on the back of his head.

  Haley returned with a plate of boiled chicken, rice pilaf, and salad, then took her seat across the table next to Min-jun. Miss Aoki sat on her other side, drinking tea and looking restless, both arms encircled with bandages. It seemed like everyone except Katya was finished eating. Alex picked up his fork and picked at the rice.

  “Any word from the field?” Miss Aoki held the mug of tea in both hands, and Alex could see the bruises forming on her fingers. “Did Alice get what she needed?”

  “If there isn’t anything on the network, then you know as much as I do,” Michael said. “Interrogating a Witch is a tricky business. For all I know, it could be hours before she extracts anything of value.”

  “Excuse me,” Haley said, standing up hurriedly and giving them all a quick nod before disappearing upstairs to the dorms established on the second level of the temporary command post. Alex wanted to say something as she passed, but his foggy brain refused to produce words.

  “What’s with the girl?” Miss Aoki asked, flicking her bloodshot eyes at Haley’s back. “Cold feet?”

  “I think she just doesn’t like hearing about torture,” Katya offered, with a crooked grin. “Unlike some people I know.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Mitsuru’s tone took on a menacing edge. “Should I take offense?”

  “Oh, heaven forbid, Miss Aoki. I didn’t intend any personal offense.” Katya responded airily, tossing a piece of popcorn toward her open mouth and missing. “I wouldn’t want to upset an Auditor. Particularly not one who relies on a Black Protocol she can barely control as a first resort.”

  Mitsuru set her mug firmly down on the table, while everyone else froze. Alex’s eyes went from one woman’s face to the other.

  “Ah, perhaps it would be better,” Min-jun suggested conciliatorily, “if we changed the topic to the something less...”

  “No.” Miss Aoki’s voice was icy. “I, for one, would like to hear what Katya has to say.”

  “Why?” Katya tossed another piece of popcorn, missing again. The kernel disappeared before it could hit the ground, reappearing directly above Katya’s mouth. She paused to chew, then smiled ingratiatingly at Miss Aoki. “It’s nothing you haven’t heard before. I just prefer to work with professionals. As opposed to battle junkies with cutting issues and a tendency to get their partners killed.”

  “Um, Katya, it’s cool...”

  “No, it most certainly is not,” Miss Aoki snapped. “Perhaps we have an issue that must be resolved, Katya?”

  “Oh, you aren’t done?” Katya set down her popcorn and folded her hands behind her head. “Almost getting Alex killed wasn’t enough for you?”

  “Alright,” Michael cut in. “That’s enough, ladies.”

  “Who are you to question me, girl?” Mitsuru demanded. “You are nothing more than a child. And an assassin for Martynova.”

  “Oh, I know what I am. And I’m at peace with that.” Katya smirked. “Can you say as much?”

  “That is enough,” Michael shouted, standing up. “I don’t want to hear another word out of either of you.”

  Miss Aoki was gripping the edge of the table, the tips of her bruised fingers going white.

  “You have some nerve, girl,” Miss Aoki hissed, her eyes narrowing. “My patience is not infinite.”

  “Immeasurably less, from what I hear.” Katya reached down with one hand to toy with the fringe of her plain black skirt. “You know, I’ve been watching out for Alex for months now, through Anathema attacks and first dates, and he’s always come through in one piece. I turn him over to you for five minutes, Mitsuru, and he almost dies.”

  “Katya!” Michael slammed his hands down on the table. “Shut your mouth!”

  “You know what I think?” Katya smiled at Miss Aoki. “I think you are so fixated on blood that you don’t much care anymore whether it’s your allies or your enemies who are doing the bleeding.”

  “I had no idea that you were such an authority,” Mitsuru said quietly, standing and pushing her chair back. “Do you have any further insights that you wish to share?”

  “Both of you, shut the hell up!” Michael gestured at Miss Aoki. “You come with me. Katya, I will speak to you later.”

  For a moment, it hung in the balance – Katya smiling as if she hadn’t a care in the world, while Miss Aoki smoldered, stock still, the air fraught with tension. Then Miss Aoki turned on her heel and stormed off, half-led by Michael, who paused to glare reproachfully at Katya before they disappeared into the next room, where the communications gear was installed.

  “Holy shit,” Alex said, dropping his fork with suddenly numb fingers. “Katya, what the fuck?”

  “It’s bullshit.” Katya huffed. “I don’t blame you for not getting it, Alex. You’re a rookie. But I’ve been doing this shit for years, just under a different name. And I don’t work with psychopaths. That bitch is fucking reckless.”

  “I think you are being too harsh, Katya.” Min-jun frowned, obviously concerned. “Miss Aoki has had a difficult time, but she is a very capable Operator...”

  “No disrespect, oppa, but even that’s bullshit – we’re supposed to go out in the field, and fight and maybe die together, but we still have to talk to her like we are in grammar school and she’s the teacher?” Katya selected a kernel of popcorn and popped it into her mouth. “She’s insecure. She’s got a reputation, you know, and from what I’ve seen so far, she deserves every bit of it. Besides, I’ve worked my ass off to keep Alex alive. I resent her for almost ruining all my hard work.”

  Katya reached over and tousled Alex’s hair, while he stared at her, open-mouthed and dumbfounded.

  “Nonetheless,” Min-jun said, methodically stacking the abandoned plates and utensils. “I think you should refrain from antagonizing Miss Aoki. She is not a woman to be trifled with.”

  “Fuck that.” Katya tossed a kernel of popcorn for her mouth, missing. “If she can’t handle a little needling from me, then how is she going to hold up in the field? You want someone that insecure watching your back?”

  Min-jun placed his hand fondly on Katya’s shoulder as he walked by, carrying dishes back to the mess hall.

  “You play dangerous games, Katya.”

  Katya smiled at him.

  “You know it, oppa.”

  Alex shook his head.

  “What? Don’t you start with me, Alexander. Eat your dinner.”

  Too tired and spacey to argue, Alex located his fork and resumed pecking at his food. They both ate in silence for a short time, Katya staring at the door that Michael and Miss Aoki had walked through with an unreadable expression.

  “You did do pretty well, by the way.” Katya said, crumpling the empty paper cup and grinning at him. “Not too many people can say they’ve fought up close to a Witch and survived the e
xperience. You should feel good about that.”

  “Really? ’Cause I feel terrible.”

  “Don’t be a baby,” Katya scolded. “Probably just a concussion. You’ll be fine tomorrow. Probably won’t even have any scars. You got off light.”

  Alex finished a mouthful of chicken that was either tasteless, or that he could hardly taste.

  “Hey, Katya?” Alex asked, listlessly stirring the grains of rice around the plastic plate. “Aren’t you worried? I mean, Miss Aoki was pissed, and Michael didn’t look too happy, either...”

  Katya laughed, propping her elbows up on the table.

  “No offense, Alex, but you get a couple of years worth of people trying to murder you under your belt, then you’ll understand that a couple angry teachers isn’t really much to get worked up over. Besides, what’re they gonna do? Fire me?”

  Alex considered it. It seemed to him like a distinct possibility, but the prospect didn’t seem to concern Katya at all.

  “They’d have to fire me, too,” Alex offered, in a sharing and expressive mood, thanks to the painkillers. “I’m not doing this without you.”

  “Aw, shut up.” Katya slapped playfully at his shoulder, grinning at him. “Save the charm for a girl who’ll put out for you.”

  Alex set his fork down on the plate, unable to eat any more.

  “I’m serious, you know.”

  “I know, dummy,” Katya said, smiling at him. “If you’re done eating, let’s get you upstairs and put to bed. You’re gonna need all the sleep you can get. Won’t be long before we are back in the field.”

  Alex let Katya help guide him out of his chair in a daze of pain and narcotics. He was actually feeling increased soreness as time went on, particularly in his whiplashed neck.

  “I’ll tell you this much, though,” Katya said, as she helped him up the stairs. “Next time they send you out, I’m gonna be the one keeping an eye on you.”

  Alex nodded his agreement, fighting to keep his eyes open long enough to find a place to pass out.

  ***

  “You are too easy on them, Michael.”

  “Maybe. You might be a little tough, lately.”

  “Katya Zharova is not a child,” Mitsuru insisted. “She’s a murderer.”

  “She is both, actually. I don’t believe those two conditions are mutually exclusive. That doesn’t change the fact that she has a point.”

  Mitsuru recoiled, appalled.

  “What?”

  “Relax. She was trying to get under your skin. To be completely honest, though, I have to admit that Katya wasn’t completely full of shit. For one, she shouldn’t have been able to antagonize you like that. You need to learn to shut the kids down when they get full of themselves like that, or they will challenge you over everything.”

  Then tension slowly left Mitsuru’s stance, her shoulder’s drooping.

  “I...see what you mean.”

  “Look, she was wrong to criticize your stability or professionalism. But – she wasn’t wrong about using your Black Protocol at the drop of a hat.”

  Mitsuru bristled again.

  “What do you mean by that? I am an Auditor, the same as you, Michael. You are in no position to judge my actions.”

  “Not professionally, no. I fully understand that we are equals. But I like to think that we are friends as well, Mitsuru. And as your friend, I have to say that with the range of abilities that you possess, your Black Protocol shouldn’t be the first thing out of your bag of tricks.” Michael glanced significantly at the bandages encasing Mitsuru’s arms. “Black Protocols are operated at a price, Mitsuru.”

  “You have no idea,” Mitsuru said grimly, “what you are talking about.”

  “Maybe not. What I do know is that Alice...”

  “Who uses her Black Protocol constantly!”

  “...has no other options. And, I might add, that I wish she wouldn’t.” An unmistakable expression of concern passed quickly over Michael’s normally cheerful features. “In my opinion, the cost she pays is far too high. If she had an implant like yours, I would be having the same conversation with her.” Michael cracked a weak smile. “Just a great deal more cautiously.”

  Mitsuru refused the olive branch.

  “I am not one of your students, Michael. I do not require a lecture. Particularly not when I have spent exponentially more time in the field than you.”

  “Very true.” Michael held up his hands in a gesture of placation. “I’m not trying to pretend to be wiser or more experienced. I’m just trying to point out that your Black Protocol is a nuclear option. Militaries don’t initiate conflicts by going nuclear, Mitsuru, not unless they have no other choice. The consequences outweigh the benefits. They use a variety of more precise and focused options, and save the scorched earth for a last resort.”

  “I will repeat myself, because apparently you are having difficulty hearing.” Mitsuru glared at Michael, who sat next to a dormant bank of police scanners and hastily wired server boxes. “I am not your student. You are in no position to lecture me. I have no need of your advice. If anything, my experience trumps yours.”

  “Okay, fair enough.” Michael smiled to himself while Mitsuru turned and took a few steps away. “I invite you to prove me wrong.”

  Mitsuru spun around, anger slowly dawning on her composed face.

  “Excuse me?”

  “We will be deploying tomorrow. Alice plans to put you on point, due to your remarkable capabilities, and your vast field experience. Your Black Protocol, however, will likely be forbidden, for the safety of all. I’m certain you understand.”

  “Is that a threat?” Mitsuru asked uncertainly. “Or are you simply condescending?”

  “Neither,” Michael assured her. “I think you are walking a very dangerous line, and the consequences of a mistake would be disastrous. And I worry about you. That’s all.”

  “If that is all,” Mitsuru shouted, stomping off, “then don’t bother me with it.”

  ***

  “I am surprised at your presence.” Alistair enhanced his smile as the result of such dedicated practice that it was almost instinctual, every centimeter exuding telepathic signals of affability and trustworthiness. “Not that I mind, you understand. But this is a relatively mundane engagement. It hardly seems to merit the attentions of someone of your stature.”

  The woman – well, girl, if one were to judge by appearances – glanced briefly from the vista in front of them, the column of tattooed characters beneath her right eye glimmering in response to the ambient Ether. In front of them, across the vast and featureless desolation that surrounded the Outer Dark, the Horrors slowly migrated across the horizon, tentacles waving lazily in the toxic air as they fed.

  No serious study of the Horror, as a life form or a natural phenomenon, had ever been performed, at least partially because neither classification could be applied to a Horror with any certainty. They were assumed to be native to the Outer Dark, because they were found nowhere else, and had been there already when the first human laid eyes upon it. They followed the currents of the massive, perpetual storm system that demarked the point at which the Ether dissolved into the black of the void, feeding on the energies of that cosmic calamity. If they had any sentience or intelligence, then they did nothing to evidence it, though they could be drawn close by violent displays of emotion, or snared and controlled by certain ancient and terrible words recorded in the Black Library.

  He had heard arguments that suggested a malevolent and banal form of divinity for the Horrors, or at the very least the respect that would be accorded to an intelligent alien species, but both theories were grounded largely in subjective interpretation of dubious witnesses and personal histories. Among the Anathema, a group who had achieved complete conversion via a ritual that involved the Horrors were particular proponents of these ideas. He viewed the theories that ascribed no particular importance to the Horrors with an equal amount of wariness. Alistair could not shake the notion that there was
some importance to the monstrous creatures.

  “We do not trust you.” Her voice was both childish and cold, a murmur that was difficult to pick out over the distant screams of the Horrors. Her skin was a delicate golden tan and her features were a cross between Khmer and Chinese – or Khmer-Chen, as he had heard it called. She wore her black hair long, combed straight and decorated with a pair of coral combs. “I am here to protect our investment.”

  “You wound me, Lady Samnang.” Alistair’s expression said exactly the opposite. “The Anathema values our relationship greatly. I can assure you that, within twenty-four hours, you will be in possession...”

  She shook her head. Across the barren plains, Horrors slowly migrated along the invisible course of the Ether’s fluctuations, beneath a sky that was as black and featureless as the time before creation. The grating screams of the Horrors carried according to the unpredictable whims of the transient acoustics, sending slight tremors through the ground beneath their feet, and causing a pressure behind Alistair’s eyes that was reminiscent of a momentary sinus headache.

  “You can guarantee nothing.”

  The sky turned momentarily bright, as the tumultuous clouds of Ether discharged in a phenomenon reminiscent of heat lightning dancing around the edge of a distant thunderhead. They were briefly illuminated by the vivid and indescribably colored light, a hue that had no ready comparison to any terrestrial color. Alistair glanced at Samnang, and in a disquieting moment, realized that he could see the outlines of her skeleton beneath the flesh, tinted an impossible color and blurred like an archaic X-ray image.

  John Parson had told him that the Yaojing saw the world differently, their eyes attuned more to the infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths, and Alistair wondered idly what the otherworldly vista looked like to her. Despite the time he had spent in the Outer Dark, Alistair found the drifting schools of Horrors troubling, and avoided the fringes whenever possible. His guest had insisted on taking in the view, however, so he was obligated to indulge her.

  “You are not in a position to offer guarantees. The future is uncertain, and your perspective constrained by the limitations of a temporal consciousness.” She shook her head again, though he wasn’t sure what it was she was negating. “Do not speak of the future. Tell me, instead, what preparations you have made.”