by Skyler Grant
It wasn't that we were starving, not yet, but every day was worse than the one before and it wasn't hard to see that soon we'd be without any work at all.
There was no time like the present to bring that up.
I told them, "I think we should consider going back to Liberty. Columbia might be able to get us back in the door and we could start running real missions again."
Inanna pushed aside her hologram and gave me a long look. "You didn't go through everything you did, just to go back to accepting a company paycheck. I know it was my idea, but you wanted the freedom. The choices that being unconnected could bring you."
I gestured at our surroundings. "It's a Friday night and I'm going out on bad dates, and you're working on genetic routines. This isn't how either of us wanted to be spending our time."
"I like genetics," Ismene said.
"As do I," Inanna said, folding her hands in her lap. Even at the most casual of times there was something very regal about her. "But you're our leader. If you want us to be doing something else, arrange it."
Just like that. Of course, it really was that simple. That was what being a leader was all about, figuring out the direction. The others could help me with the heavy lifting if I pointed them the right way. I'd been failing at that.
"Anybody home?" said Diva's voice coming over the Comm.
"This is Persephone. We've got a full house except for you and Masque. What's going on?" I asked.
"Got a situation you might want in on. You remember Fang? Well—no, never mind—don't think you ever met him. He's one of the top lieutenants in the Vipers. He's the one who killed Lance."
The Vipers, I knew. They'd tried to rape me once and murder me shortly thereafter. I'd killed a lot of them for their troubles.
Lance was the previous leader of this team. Diva had been his second and they'd been together a long time.
"You track him down or something?" I asked.
"Not quite. Kind of the opposite. He tracked us down and he's asking for our help. Should I just put a bullet in his skull or do you want to hear him out?"
If she was even asking, he'd already told her what this was about and Diva thought it important. Otherwise, I'd be surprised he was still alive.
"I'll hear him out," I said.
"Bringing him in."
3
Diva led in Fang. The Viper was heavily kitted out in metal, nearly as much as Hammer. His hands were chained behind him, but I doubted that would make much of a difference if he decided to try and break free. It might at least slow him down.
I'd never seen him first-hand. I took a moment to look him over. Whatever he had to say there was a fair chance this would end with Diva putting a bullet between his eyes. It seemed I ought to know his face before that happened.
Fang just stood there looking all stoic. Calm in the fortress of enemies. I respected that.
"Talk," I said.
"You remember Venom?" Fang asked.
I did. The green-haired Viper had almost killed me, and then I'd almost killed her.
"Been awhile, but I recall," I said.
"She's my wife. She talks about you and your fight a lot. Proud she took on Persephone and walked away," Fang said. If he was hoping to win points with all this he was failing.
"Go on," I said.
"She's been taken by the Flesh Peddler," Fang said.
Anton, I remembered him. He was high on my list of monsters to kill and a name I was sad I hadn't been able to cross off yet. Well-connected and well-armed. He liked to make digital reproductions of interesting people, each one a unique creation. He assured their authenticity largely by torturing the originals to death so he could discover absolutely everything he needed to know.
"You've got an army. Why haven't the Vipers gone after him?" I asked.
"Vipers won't do it. Say it's too big a fight and bitches are cheap to replace," Fang said.
I upped Vipers a few spaces on my list.
I didn't care a bit about the Vipers and Venom was no innocent in need of saving, but I didn't like anyone falling prey to Anton. Maybe this was finally the time to do something about it.
"Can we do it?" I asked Diva.
"Maybe," Diva said, as Inanna said "No," in unison.
I looked between them.
"We're much better loaded than we used to be," Diva said.
Inanna said, "Which doesn't matter in this case. Anton has owned his little fiefdom for a very long time because a lot of powerful people are interested in him keeping it. You don't know the array of forces backing him. I do."
"So tell me," I said. "You're full of secrets and I'm getting tired of you keeping them."
"Then tell me to leave. I won't reveal those secrets, but I swear to you that my advice is sound," Inanna said. "Don't do it."
I hated this. I hated briefly feeling that sense of purpose again and then having it taken away again. Perhaps I just needed to take a little of my own advice and chart the course—then figure out how to make it happen.
"Can we hurt him at all? Save Venom? Do anything other than just sit here and allow this to continue?" I said.
"Please," Fang said.
Inanna made a frustrated sound. "Fine. Have a seat and let's see if we can get a hold of him. They do love their little games. We may be able to draw him into one."
I settled back and waited. It didn't take long, just a few minutes, for the world to fade away around me.
I was on a balcony outside of a majestic villa, looking out over hills lined with rolling fields. From within the villa came the sounds of orchestral music. It was an idyllic setting that Anton made for himself.
I'd appeared with Inanna, who was dressed in an ornate gown in the same manner of the estate. I still had the image of Persephone that had originally been established, which meant I was dressed in vines and flowers—and too few of both.
"Inanna, Persephone," Anton said, stepping forward and taking each our hands to press a kiss. The man was dressed like some kind of royalty, like a duke, perfectly fitting the setting. "It has been too long. How delightful."
"Anton. You look dashing as ever. Is that Brumel I hear?" Inanna asked.
Anton beamed a smile at her. "You've still an exquisite set of ears. You are quite right, of course. Do you still play?"
"When I get the chance," Inanna said, with a faint smile. "Too rarely these days."
I hadn't expected them to be on such good terms. I didn't like it. But then, I also had long vowed to smile at Anton while I was plotting to kill him. Inanna seemed talented in everything else, perhaps she'd mastered that talent as well.
"I'd like to hear you sometime," I said.
"You really must," Anton said, with a tilt of his head towards Inanna. "Her fingers are also exquisite. However, I am tragically certain you didn't come just to be seduced."
I let Inanna take the lead. I wasn't quite certain how to handle this without punching him in the nose.
"We're looking to release one of your newly acquired bits of product. A woman named Venom," Inanna said.
"An unusual request. A friend of some sort? I do hope not, we all saw what happened when that associate of yours was taken," Anton said. He stepped inside for a moment and came out with a leather-bound volume. His list of "product" no doubt.
"Something of an enemy actually," I said.
"Good. Good. I don't have the name Venom. Do you have a description?" Anton asked.
"Green-haired, lean, pretty and a bit battle-worn," I said.
"Ah!" Anton said. "Her true name is Mariel, if you care. I've a special client that just loves gutter trash with a bit of fight in them. She's for him. Still, she has yet to be fully processed, although it is well underway."
I supposed that meant she'd spent a few days being interrogated, but hadn't yet been tortured to death.
"I'll play in the Network for you," Inanna said. "Surely your client can make do with what they already have?"
Anton shook his head. "They've a longst
anding contract and I'd hate to disappoint them. Still, if you'd care to make a proper wager I'd entertain it."
"Neither of us is going to wind up in your collection," I said.
Anton gave me a predatory sort of smile. "Oh, one day... But the mark of a connoisseur instead of simply a beast is the willingness to wait for gratification. No, I had something else in mind, a challenge in the Network involving the two of you. A rather devilish maze I've been toying with, and a victim in the middle in need of rescue."
Inanna gave me a tiny nod. So far, so good. The playing ground surely wouldn't be particularly fair, but then we were both rather exceptional.
"And the terms?" I asked.
"One day to rescue the captive or fail to do so. In the event of your victory, dear Mariel will go free and you can get on with shooting her—as I know you like to do with your enemies," Anton said.
I hadn't quite thought of what we'd do if we rescued her. Probably not shoot her, that would just be a waste of a good rescue.
"And if we fail?" I asked.
"Then I keep my prize and you two will be my lovely and attentive dates at a party I am hosting soon. Persephone and Inanna, tongues have been wagging about you two of late. I do love to be the center of gossip."
I wasn't thrilled at those terms. Anton made my skin crawl and I really wasn't looking for a new worst date of my life this recently after setting the bar so low.
"What tongues?" Inanna asked.
"You can guess," Anton said, and I had the feeling whole layers of conversation were passing me by.
"This a problem?" I asked.
"It's a problem, but we aren't going to get a better deal. If you want to save the girl, take him up on it. Anton always honors his bargains," Inanna said.
"As I expect people to honor theirs," Anton said.
I supposed I'd rather deal with an honorable sociopath than a dishonorable one. At least this way you knew what to expect.
"Agreed," I said.
"Wonderful," Anton said, clapping his hands in excitement. "I can't wait to see how the place performs in a live trial. I'll send over the contract. Simply accept when you wish to start the clock."
That was all fair enough. I endured having my cheek kissed and we bid his adieu.
We'd fill the others in on the plan and start at once.
4
The team was up for the job and helped to secure me and Inanna for the time ahead. With my suit able to handle my biological needs, a possible twenty-four-hour jaunt into the Network wasn't that bad for me. For Inanna, it was a good bit more invasive and uncomfortable.
Once we were ready, we phased in. Inanna was dressed in a simple linen tunic with a dagger at her waist, and as usual I didn't even have that. The roof, walls, and floor were all made of gray stone and a few torches at intervals provided dim and flickering light.
"Any idea what Anton might have put into this place?" I asked.
"Knowing him, nothing pleasant. My guess would be devilish traps and fiendish monsters," Inanna said.
That was about what I was expecting as well.
"Generally, to solve a maze you're going to want to stick to a wall. Let's do the left. I'll take point as the more immortal of us," I said.
"Don't forget to spawn flowers as you go."
It was a good idea. I focused upon a section of the floor in an effort to grow them. Nothing happened.
"I'm not having any luck," I said.
Inanna knelt down and drummed her fingers on the stone, "Interesting. Nothing is interfering with my abilities. Try something else."
I tried to grow a tree instead and again it felt as if it should work, but nothing appeared.
"If there are no flowers in this place we've got a problem," I said.
"Pick one off yourself and hand it to me. I doubt it will work on its own, but if you perish and don't return I'll see if I can devise a solution," Inanna said.
It was worth an effort. I plucked one of the flowers that adorned me and handed it over.
Then it was time to explore. It was only a few steps down the corridor that I felt—or heard— a quiet thump beneath my feet. I dove forward, but it was already too late, recessed vents in the wall spraying me with mist. I melted—there is no other way to describe it—and it was as unpleasant as it might sound. It took me a good few minutes to die with Inanna not daring to get closer, and then I was dead.
I'd recently picked a power that let me spawn on my choice of flower locations, not simply the closest, so I cycled through them. The good news was that the dungeon did seem to have several. I wouldn't be kept from respawning.
I selected one and materialized. At once I heard a click beneath me and my body was wracked as spears erupted from the walls and impaled me. By chance or by design they missed all major organs. It took an uncomfortable length of time to bleed out.
The next time it was blades that severed my limbs. At least that time I died more quickly. I was detecting a most uncomfortable theme.
Making things worse, it seemed that too long without making a choice led to one being made by default and I kept dying, horrifically and terribly, over and over again. I burned, I froze, I bled and I suffocated. Then finally I had a different option, a small band of flowers near a crouching Inanna. I selected it and sprang into life.
Inanna looked like she'd had a tough time of her own, half her body badly blistered and the rest of her seemed to be one giant bruise.
"Do you hate Anton as much as I do?" I asked.
"I'm admiring his craftsmanship. You weren't able to spawn until now?" Inanna asked.
"I had no problems spawning. But every time was right into a new death trap," I said.
"Clever," Inanna said.
I supposed it was at that. I still wanted to tear Anton apart more than admire him.
"How did you grow the flowers?" I asked.
"I'm the Queen of Heaven. I stole your powers," Inanna said.
I didn't know she could do that. It was a good trick.
"Then why didn't they work for me?" I asked.
"I didn't say I stole them from you. I took them from the thief that stole them earlier—from you. You can have them back, by the way. Do you mind if I borrow your immortality?"
"Help yourself, as long as you give it back," I said.
Inanna nodded and her eyes flared blue for a moment. Then she took the dagger from around her waist and plunged it into her own heart. I had to admit, she made dying look easy. A moment later she was back and looking a good bit more her old self with the damage completely healed.
I experimented, passing my hand over the floor and having a spread of flowers rise as a result.
"Who stole my powers?" I asked.
"A shadowed version of yourself. It caught some hint of your true power and held it within itself. We'll need to be cautious. A bit of mine is missing as well," Inanna said.
Fair enough. I could do that. She pointed out which wall we were following and I resumed taking point. Of course, that mean I was going right back to dying first.
Flesh-devouring worms, deadly serpents, a pit trap where I seemed to fall for a good four minutes before at last meeting my death with a resounding crash.
If Anton was trying to shake me, he was having some success. I'd made my reputation in this persona not fearing death and charging right into it, but that didn't mean it left me unaffected. Each death sapped my will a little bit, especially the horrific ones, and these were almost all horrific.
I couldn't let that stop me. I wasn't going to let Anton win.
Finally, we came to what must have been the center of the labyrinth. Chained against a pillar was a green-haired woman—Venom. I doubted it was the real her, and figured that Anton had held her captive long enough already to make quite a good simulation. This version had obviously been tortured, her body covered with wheals and welts.
Unfortunately, she wasn't alone. Accompanying her was a massive minotaur, muscles bulging and horns looking devilishly sharp. A
longside the beast was a mirror image of Inanna, a hand on her hip and a half-smile on her face as we approached.
"About time, we were getting bored," said the Shadow.
"I think we've more than enough time," the real Inanna said, weighing up her competition.
"Mhm. I guess we did teach the Nature Goddess a bit of humility. Of course, that just means now it is your turn," said the Shadow.
I gestured and filled the room with a floor of flowers. I might not be much good in a direct fight, but I could accomplish a lot just by coming back again and again.
The Shadow grinned at me. "Thank you," she said, before her eyes flashed with darkness and she snapped her fingers.
The minotaur charged me with his head lowered, catching me in my midsection and flinging me against the wall. One of his horns gouged me and he'd broken a few ribs.
"You don't think you can win, do you? You're just a pale imitation," Inanna said.
"Your lesson in humility is that you shouldn't so easily give back what is stolen, or another might steal from your companion again," said the Shadow.
I didn't understand yet. I didn't understand as the minotaur pulled back only to ram into me again compounding the damage. This time he killed me.
I didn't get the option to resurrect. I simply hung there in the darkness and void. I realized too late what must have happened. The shadow version had stolen my immortal ability just as Inanna had borrowed it a while ago.
Now Inanna was facing a version of herself that could come back again and again. However much more powerful she might be, I knew full well the power of attrition. I'd gotten a lot of use out of it.
I think it was hours later when the darkness around me faded and I found myself standing once more on Anton's balcony.
Anton was sipping from a cup of tea. It looked to be early afternoon. We'd been in the Network for quite some time.
I shot a look to Inanna, who shook her head.
"Well fought," Inanna said.
"You very nearly had it there," Anton said. "Finding the mirrored Persephone and stealing back the growth power so you could bring forth the real one again? I hadn't expected that."
