Deus: The Eurynome Code, Book Six

by Gorman, K.

  Around them, the temple’s lights were warm, its atmosphere thick with hidden energy. Like it was used to many more people coming and going through its halls, but in a benevolent way―as if this were a happy family gathering, and everyone had just left the room to look at fireworks.

  The opposite of a haunted house vibe.

  As Einine had said, the Nemina waited for her alone in the courtyard. In the deepening evening, the ship had an otherworldly feel to it, its worn metal reflecting the torches and crystal sconces that flickered on at the sides of the courtyard, the entire scent looking like something out of a fantasy movie.

  Marc and Nomiki stood from where they’d been sitting on the ramp, Reeve next to them.

  Of course. Without a set navigation route, they’d need a pilot.

  Nomiki bristled, her teeth gritting in barely-contained rage. Her right hand flexed and clenched at her side.

  “I see that her head is still attached to her body,” she spat. “Are we doing a public execution? I hear France is nice, this time of year.”

  “France has one of the best human rights manifests in the world and banned capital punishment centuries ago.” She put herself in front of the doctor, blocking her from her sister. “Stand down. She’s a victim, just like us. And she had a very good reason.”

  “A very good reason?” Nomiki said. “She tried to kill everybody.”

  “Let’s hear her out.” Reeve stepped down the ramp, his expression cautious as he looked between her, Nomiki, and Sasha. “If Karin says it’s a good reason, then―”

  “Fuck off, Reeve.” Nomiki snarled. “You don’t get an opinion currently.”

  “Hear her out, ’Miki.” Brennan stepped forward, the child―James, Program Pan―still slumped on his back. His eyes gleamed in the gold of the torchlight as he came forward. The shadows played across his face in a flickering definition. “Please.”

  That shut her up.

  She stared at him, the muscles of her jaws tightening in her cheeks. Then, she leveled a glare at Karin and leaned back on her heels, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Behind her, Marc watched with a careful stare. With a twinge, she recognized his quiet. It meant he was alert, and thinking.

  She leveled Nomiki with a meaningful stare. “Remember how Bernard Corringham was trying to use Eurynome to make himself into a god?”

  At once, all the color drained from her sister’s face. Her mouth opened, and she breathed in a shaking breath. Part of her broke.

  “Sol’s burned child,” she said, her speech faltering. “Don’t tell me he actually did it.”

  “Apparently so. Sasha felt him start fifteen years ago, and she’s been trying to counter it ever since. That’s what led her to her plan.”

  Nomiki’s expression twisted. She rose up again, eyes bright and face sharp. “That’s not an excuse. She was going to kill billions of people. Hells, she’s already killed thousands, if not tens of thousands. Lost have died. Entire stations have gone dark. Children have starved out in the Black because their Lost parents weren’t able to fly the ship or send a message.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry.” Sasha’s voice wavered as she spoke, its tone gravelly and raw. “And I will pay for that. If we get through this and you want my head, I’ll gladly give it to you.”

  “You won’t have to give it to me,” Nomiki said. “I’ll come and take it.”

  But some of the wind seemed to have gone out of her sails. Though there was still war on her sister’s face, some of her logic programming had kicked in.

  Like flicking a switch, she gave herself a shake and stepped aside, rolling her eyes as she made a gesture and a sarcastic bow to indicate the ship’s ramp. “Well, go on, then. Let’s go. Karin, are your comms not working?”

  “Nope. I got thrown around a bit.” Which reminded her, she’d need to get a Med unit to check out her head. Bleeding from the skull was probably more than a minor fault. She flipped her wrist and skimmed the fault notifications her suit had thrown back, finding the comms failure. “Why? Did something happen?”

  Marc strode forward, taking James from Brennan and lifting him into his arms. “We’re not sure. Tylanus said something about Tillerman wanting to talk to you.”

  Great. She glanced behind her to the few stragglers of Sasha’s Eurynome Project left in the courtyard. They were all silent, still, watching everything with big, cautious eyes. Easy to spook.

  She ticked her head toward the Nemina. “Come on, kids. Let’s get out of here.”

  One of them, Zyta, a small girl who had been built under the Persephone Program, stepped forward and lifted her chin. “Where are you taking us?”

  Her hair was still thick with water, and her skin had a sheen from the liquid of the tank.

  “Earth, for now. Old Earth. Where you will be under the human rights watch of Fallon, the Alliance, the UN, the Menassi Tri-Quad Alliance from Centauri, and Mars. And if anyone does you any harm, or seems at all shady, you just find the nearest cyborg around and tell them to call their Grand Regent. They all work for me.”

  That felt good to say.

  I have power. Finally. I can actually make a difference.

  Yes, Tia thought. Now, let’s go kill Bernard and save the world.

  Agreed. But first, let’s find out what Tillerman wants.

  “Everyone, find a crash seat. Reeve, get us out of here.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said as he walked by.

  But, just as she was about to duck into the ship and find a crash seat for her charge―in the airlock hallway, most likely, or the back―Nomiki interrupted her.

  “Karin, come back. You’re going to want to see this.”

  Frowning at the strain in her sister’s voice, she glanced back. “What is it?”

  Then, she saw.

  Outside, all of the Eurynome Project subjects had arrived. All of them. Seventy years’ worth of dead children slipping out of the shadows to stand in the courtyard and watch them, solemn faces turned to her and the ship. They filled the courtyard and occupied the balconies of the second floor, their faces flickering under the torchlight.

  Her jaw slackened.

  There were hundreds of them.

  “He’s very strong, you know,” Brennan said at the front of the crowd. “The man you’re planning to fight.”

  “Bernard Corringham?”

  “Yes. He’s taken us all in. We can feel it.”

  Fantastic.

  Marc came to stand next to her, his strong arms crossing over his chest, eyes shifting back and forth as he studied the crowd. “How can we fight him?”

  “Bring him here,” Layla said. “Tartarus is not his world, and Tartarus was never one of his programs. He has no power here.”

  “Well, he has some power,” Brennan argued. “But not as much as anywhere else.”

  Sounds like I need to talk to Tylanus. And Sasha.

  We need to find him first, Tia reminded her.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Do you know where he is?”

  “No,” Layla said. “He blocks that from us.”

  Inside, an old anger stirred as one of Tia’s memories resurfaced―her, in the Cradle, feeling Bernard slowly strip away her connection and control.

  We will kill him, she promised Tia.

  Yes, we will.

  She nodded to the children and turned back into the ship. A lump formed in her throat as Nomiki slapped the ‘ramp close’ button on the side, and she had to stop and stand in the hallway, fighting with the emotion.

  But, like all things, her psychopathy made it slide away like wind on the other side of a pane of glass. Soon, all she felt was the rattle.

  So it was with a cold mind that she helped Nomiki take Fiona, Program Daphne, off of her back and strap her into a crash harness, and with an even icier mind that she, once finished, strode to the front of the ship and ducked her head onto the bridge to address the pilot.

  “Reeve, when you take off, can you wave our wings at them? It’
s childish, but I think they’ll like it.”

  It might be childish, but the people below were children. At eighteen, Brennan and the younger Nomiki were the oldest. Some she saw looked around six.

  We’ll be back, she promised through the front windows as she strapped herself in. We’ll be back, and we’ll find a way to help you.

  Although, even as she made the promise, she wasn’t sure how she could keep it. They were dead, and she was not. And one couldn’t bring back the dead. Not unless you were Brennan. And Brennan was standing on the courtyard with the rest of them.

  * * *

  The Canadian prairie was a lot more populous than she remembered when they returned to the real world. More than twenty ships had landed around her designated ‘clear’ spot―the place she’d cordoned off to do her warping―and their lights pierced the Saskatchewan night like a circus.

  Some of them, she was glad to see, had set up an aid tent and were checking out the children, the ship behind them painted with the big red cross, crescent, and crystal logos of Earth’s largest UN-sanctioned aid organizations. A small Alliance medical ship sat next to them with a smaller tent, looking like it was sharing supplies and personnel.

  But, the other ships did not appear to be helping.

  There were at least three Alliance ships there, and one of the larger UN task force ships sat on the grass not a hundred meters away―usually, they only brought those ships in when there was a problem. Fallon and Centauri were also in play.

  She frowned when she realized just how many Centauri ships there were, and her frown deepened when she realized that at least half of the ships did not belong to the Menassi Tri-Quad Alliance.

  Tillerman met her as she descended the ramp. “Grand Regent Makos, there―”

  “Let me guess,” Karin interrupted. “There’s been a challenge?”

  “Yes, Regent.”

  And, as Tillerman had explained it only a few hours ago, a challenge could not be ignored.

  She didn’t see how they could stop her from simply getting back in her ship and flying off, especially with her dimensional abilities, but she really didn’t need another nation chasing after her while she was trying to save the universe.

  Killing this fool would be quicker.

  “Any rules?” she asked. “Do I need to take my armor off? Say a few words?”

  “Armor’s fine. He’ll be in similar. No outside interference, and it’s to the death.”

  Well, she’d known about that last part already.

  “Great. Let’s get this over with. We have stuff to do. Sasha’s inside. Nomiki, can you―”

  “I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave,” Nomiki said.

  She wasn’t sure how her sister planned to accomplish that, given that Sasha also had dimension-crossing abilities and had already gotten away from Nomiki twice in the past, but perhaps the third time would be the charm and her sister had adapted something.

  She decided not to worry about it. She had provided an option that Sasha wanted, and she had also taken all of the Eurynome children back―the ones who hadn’t died years ago, anyway. Even if Sasha did go back, she’d have to figure out how to steal the new kids again. And then put them in tanks all over again.

  Time enough for Karin to finish her fight, warp back into Tartarus, and drag Sasha back out, this time less kindly.

  Besides, she didn’t think Sasha actually wanted to sacrifice the world. And she definitely didn’t want to kill her son.

  She’d just felt like she’d been forced into it.

  Gods fuck old men trying to play god.

  A small group of cyborgs looked up as she crossed the field. Five of them, all wearing the trademark teal she had learned a few hours ago signified Finlai. The Menassi Tri-Quad, in contrast, branded theirs in a deep blue trim, though both mingled in with the trademark Centauri yellow.

  A wind whipped across the plains, bringing with it the burnt-air smell of exhaust and the chemical taste of ion engines.

  Kalinsky met her halfway, joining her and Tillerman as she walked.

  “What have you done with the children?” she asked.

  “They’re all getting checked out. We have a medical ship here.”

  “Good. Under guard?”

  “Yes.”

  “Whose guard? UN?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Keep them away from Fallon. Please.” She tagged on that last word as an afterthought, realizing that she was giving orders to someone who was not under her jurisdiction. “I’ll be checking in later, if you’ll let me.”

  “Of course.” Kalinsky glanced around at the gathered circle and the group of Finlai cyborgs watching them approach. “Is this a challenge?”

  Huh. She was surprised that he didn’t know.

  “It is.”

  “I was wondering why Finlai suddenly stopped firing.”

  Ah. So they’d been causing some trouble before issuing the challenge. Good to know. She’d have to talk to Captain Arnelli and Tillerman later. There were likely a number of things needing her attention.

  Well, at least you get to literally kill the person who caused such an inconvenience. Most in command positions don’t get that opportunity.

  “I’d like to speak with you more, especially in regards to Elliot Corringham’s address, but you’ll have to excuse me. I need to go fight someone to the death first.”

  He must have been apprised of Centauri culture, because he didn’t even blink. He gave her a simple nod and broke off, heading to join the rim of the circle, then veering as Reeve stepped down the Nemina’s ramp, waving to get the man’s attention.

  Hmm.

  Kalinsky and Reeve. That was something she’d have to examine later.

  Right now, she had someone to kill.

  She focused her attention on the group in front of her. Five cyborgs, all watching her with grim, solemn faces. One, a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties with a near-full cyberization on his body, stared at her with a greater intensity than the others.

  You know, I get a feeling that he doesn’t like me much, she thought dryly to Tia.

  Well, he won’t be thinking that for much longer, came the reply.

  “Am I fighting just one of them, or all five?” she asked Tillerman.

  “Just the one. Viktor Morelli. He became Grand Regent a few hours ago.”

  “And he didn’t learn from his predecessor’s consequence, I see.” She sighed. “Don’t tell me he was sleeping with Leisler, too?”

  “Of that, I can’t speculate. I think he’d be more likely to have slept with Nolen, however.”

  “Oh, you know him?”

  “Oh, yes. And he’s had this coming for a while.”

  “Sounds good.” She sighed again, then rolled her shoulders. “Okay, to the death and anything goes?”

  “Anything but interference. You going to use your powers?”

  “No. I really feel like hitting something right now.”

  “Ah. You have blood on the back of your head.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s my own. I’ll also need to fix this armor when we get back up.”

  Tillerman gave her an alarmed look. “Did something happen?”

  “No, not really. Sasha caught me by surprise is all. She’s in the ship right now. Nomiki’s guarding her.” She shook her head. “I’ll finish this quick so we can get back into orbit and talk. The situation’s changed.”

  She didn’t see Tillerman’s face when she pushed herself into a faster stride, but she’d just given the Commander a good amount of information to chew on.

  Sure enough, a distinct frown of puzzlement etched her face when she turned back around and joined the perimeter of the circle. Then, she crossed her arms over her chest, planted herself, and adopted a gruff, neutral expression.

  By the lack of attention Tillerman paid to Karin as she planted herself on the perimeter of the circle and adopted a gruff, neutral expression, she gathered the commander was not worried about her losing thi
s fight.

  As it should be. She’d seen enough to know what Karin was capable of.

  She flipped the HUD on her forearm and canceled a few of the faults as she walked up to the group waiting her in the field.

  “So,” she called. “Which one of you has volunteered to die today?”

  Morelli moved forward and spat in her direction. “You are disgusting. I will not stand idle while someone like you has control of a great nation.”

  “Right. Guess I have my answer.” She turned to him, still glancing through her HUD. “Shall we get on with this, or does anyone else have something they would like to add?”

  She lifted her gaze to the four gathered cyborgs, meeting each of their gazes with a lifted eyebrow.

  They remained silent, their expressions shuttered.

  Good. Smart. She might be able to work with them, after all.

  “Nobody? Good. Now, go join the rest of the crowd so we can kill each other.” She met Morelli’s eyes again. “I hope you updated your will.”

  He didn’t say anything, but he spat at the ground between them again.

  What a pleasant individual. Maybe I’m doing them a favor by killing him.

  With a smile, she watched the other cyborgs glance to each other, then retreat toward the edge of the circle.

  Technically, they had just followed her order. And, by the anger that rippled across Morelli’s face, she was guessing he’d noticed.

  Or maybe his face was always like that.

  “Challenger strikes first,” she told him, leaning back and crossing her arms. “Your move.”

  Without another word, he tapped a button at the side of his collar. His helmet folded into position, visor tinted to obscure his face―and, most likely, filled with all sorts of HUD sensor notifications and tracking.

  The wind lifted again, blowing cold across her face. Around them, the crowd grew silent. Waiting. The distant sound of a ship engine growled in the distance. It was dark in the field, the night sky a deep black above them and filled with stars. With the flatness of the prairie, it made her think she was under a dome. That, if gravity were to suddenly stop, she could just lift off and be floating toward the stars.