"Yes, I do. Do you expect payment?"
His smile faded. "No."
"Please."
"You'd do anything for him, wouldn't you?"
"Yes."
He shook his head and went over to one of the smaller screens. "I'd rather wait until Striker gets here; she's got better equipment."
"There's no time to waste. He's only going to get further away."
"Wherever he's gone, he's already there."
Tarl turned to them. "This is all very constructive, but even if we knew where he is, what the hell are we going to do about it?"
"A good point," Kole agreed.
Tassin paced in a circle, frowning. "Surely an Overlord can't just kidnap people?"
"For all we know, this could be Sabre's idea. Maybe he's trying to keep you safe," Tarl suggested.
"No. He wants to come back to Omega Five with me. He told me so, and Sabre doesn't lie."
"So, we're back to square one. What do we do when, or if, we find him?"
"Where I come from, the rulers must obey the laws too. Is it the same with the Overlords?"
Tarl shrugged. "I'd assume so. No one knows much about Overlords."
"So, if it is, and we contact another Overlord, perhaps he'll help us to free Sabre."
Kole blew out his lips. "Now that's a long shot. Overlords don't bother with petty things."
"This isn't petty. This is an Overlord breaking their laws."
"The Overlords are all equally powerful. How can one force Ravian to release Sabre?"
"I don't know,” Tassin said. “That's his problem, isn't it? Surely they have ways of enforcing their rules?"
"I wouldn't know."
"Then it's worth a try."
Kole shook his head. "I've got a better idea. Why don't we go back to Charon Six and get your sword. Then you can just translocate to the Overlord's ship, grab Sabre and go back to Omega Five, just like that." He snapped his fingers.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I told you."
"Ah, right." Kole turned to the keyboard and tapped it.
Tarl looked intrigued. "You had a sword that could translocate you?"
"Yes."
"I'd like to see that."
"No, you wouldn't."
Kole swung around. "Maybe this is all a waste of time. Sabre could free himself, you know. I can't think of anything scarier than a pissed-off cyber."
"I'm sure Ravian's thought of that too. He's not invincible," Tarl said.
The hacker turned back to his keyboard with a sigh, and Tarl stared out of the screen, which was empty now save for stars.
Chapter Seven
Sabre frowned at the alien star field in the Spider Ship’s circular screens. "You intend to keep me a prisoner now?"
Ravian rose and approached him, carrying her wine glass. "No, of course not. I'm keeping you safe. Ramadaus' threat is very real. He'll kill you if he finds you, and if you leave this ship, he will find you. As long as you stay with me, you're safe."
"But I don't want to stay with you. I want my freedom."
"It's too dangerous. I can't allow Ramadaus to kill you. Perhaps in a couple of years, when his interest has waned, you can go and visit Tassin."
"No." He turned to her. "I want to go now."
"Well, you can't. I've decided, for your best interests."
"Do you really think your crew can stop me taking one of your auxiliary ships without using the poison dart guns they carry?"
"No, I'm sure they can't,” she said, “which is why, when I realised you might make the wrong choice, I armed them with powerful sedative darts."
"You'll have to use them, then, and see how good my company is once the cyber has taken over again."
"You won't stay under its control. You'll free yourself."
He inclined his head. "Only so I can try to escape again."
"Why do you want to leave so much?"
"To be with Tassin."
She sipped her wine. "Is it that important to you? You don't even know what you feel for her."
"No, but I feel something for her. I don't know what it is, but it's all I have. She's all I have. She's the only person who really cares about me. She freed me."
"So you owe her?"
"No."
"I feel something for you, too," she said.
"But I don't feel anything for you."
"Give it time, and you will."
He nodded, eyeing her. "Yes, in time I'll grow to hate you."
"Why? I'm trying to help you, just as Tassin did. I want to save you from Ramadaus."
"Because you're not giving me a choice. You've taken away my freedom."
"For your own good." She tilted her head. "Did Tassin really give you a choice? Didn't she tell you that she wanted you to go back to Omega Five with her?"
"You were spying on us?"
She shrugged. "I suppose you could say that. I wanted to make sure that if you made the wrong decision I could prevent you from putting it into action. But she made the decision for you, didn't she? Her words swayed you."
"The difference is I want what she wants. I don't want to do what you want."
"In time, you'll forget about her, and want to be with me."
"No. If you want a puppet who obeys you, get a real cyber."
She shook her head. "They're machines, and, apart from their ability to fight, they're useless."
"Let me go."
"No."
"You'll have to stop me by force then."
Ravian made a graceful gesture, and several armed guards stepped out from behind the silken curtains. "Then I will."
"Good. I'd rather be unconscious if I'm going to be a prisoner, and every time I wake up they'll have to shoot me again."
"Don't do this..."
Sabre swung away and strode towards the doors. The guards drew their weapons and glanced at Ravian, for approval, he assumed. Two soldiers fired. The darts hit Sabre in the side of the neck, and he took three more paces, then stopped, swaying. An enervating lassitude swept over him in an almost welcome wave, and his extremities went numb. Red writing scrolled up in the recess of his mind, listing the sedative’s ingredients. The cyber tried to override the effects, dumping adrenalin into his system, which made his breath quicken and his heart pound. Sweat popped out all over him as the control unit started a fluid flush and put his kidneys into overdrive. It was futile, however, as he knew it would be. The sedative Ravian's guards used was too fast-acting even for the cyber to counteract. Evidently Ravian’s research had been thorough, for the cyber’s information identified the symptoms of a sedative Myon Two had failed to immunise cybers against, one of only three. Cybercorp had bought the patents and taken them off the market so they could not be used against cybers.
Several moments passed before Sabre's legs buckled. He fell to his knees and sat back on his haunches, where he remained for another few moments before keeling over backwards onto the polished floor. The cyber band blazed red, then his eyes closed and the tension left him.
Ravian went over to gaze down at him. He stirred something within her that she had not thought she would ever feel. She knew why Tassin loved him, and it was not just because of his good looks or the graceful way he moved. She had met handsomer men, entertainment stars who were idolised by millions but left her cold. Sabre had a unique quality she had never encountered before. She had seen a few cybers, but they possessed only the physical attributes. Their blank gazes and clipped, emotionless voices repelled her. She found his gentle character and soft-spoken intelligence, combined with an undeniable animal magnetism, irresistible.
Ravian turned to the officer who awaited her orders. "Take him to a maximum security cell and monitor him. Notify me as soon as he wakes up."
"Yes, My Lord."
Ravian poured another glass of wine as two more crewmen entered with a hover-stretcher and lifted Sabre onto it. Sipping the heady muskiness of a wine that few could afford, she gazed out at the star fiel
d, pondering the lonely existence an Overlord was forced to endure. She had not been given a choice when the scouts had selected her. Their instruments could detect an empath, and they had torn her from the bosom of her family. Fairen had been a kindly old man, but she had hated him. At just fifteen years old, she had been introduced to a life of regimen and discipline, any hope of being normal stripped away and replaced with the cold comfort of limitless power.
Worst of all, the possibility of ever finding love had been lost to her. In Sabre, she had found a companion her power neither intimidated nor seduced. The only obstacle was his love for Tassin, but, from his reaction to her plans, it was stronger than she had thought. If he did not get over it, she might have to arrange an unfortunate accident for the girl.
Tassin leant over Kole's shoulder, trying to read the tiny writing on the screen. "Did you do it?"
"Give me another minute, okay?"
Tassin straightened, glancing at Tarl, who sat in the command seat, looking bored. They remained in the spot where Ravian had left them, waiting for Kole to finish hacking into the universal planetary database. Already he had been at it for over an hour, and she was growing impatient.
"There!" Kole tapped a key and sat back, beaming. "Damn, I'm good."
"You're great. Now can I contact a planetary leader?"
"Certainly, Your Majesty."
Tarl glanced up, opening his mouth, but Tassin shot him a frown and he closed it again, looking astounded.
Kole turned to her. "I had to crack fifteen passwords and hack through four levels of government firewalls. I think I deserve something for that."
"Like what?"
"A kiss." He tapped his cheek. "Right here."
Tassin snorted, rolling her eyes, but he folded his arms and looked at her expectantly. Realising that he was serious, she sighed and leant down to kiss his cheek. He turned his head so her lips landed on his mouth instead, and she recoiled. He chuckled and turned back to his keyboard.
"That was a low trick," she muttered, annoyed.
"Oh come on, it was a bit of fun. Jeeze, lighten up."
"Lighten up?"
"Yeah, don't be so serious." He tapped the screen. "How about this guy? Premier Nirris of Vaiga Seven."
"Why him?"
"Why not? He's within transmitter range, and he looks okay."
"All right."
Tarl tapped some buttons on his console, and then turned to her. "Speak when I say so, and remember to say premier, not queen."
"Right."
"Okay, go." He touched the keypad.
Tassin said, "This is Premier Alrade of Omega Five requesting a... to speak to Premier Nirris of Vaiga Seven."
"One moment please," a male voice replied.
After few seconds, a gruff voice said, "This is Premier Nirris. How may I help you?"
"I wish to contact an Overlord, but I don't have the frequency."
A pregnant pause followed, then the voice said, "Omega Five. Isn't that a restricted planet?"
"Does that mean I don't have the right to contact an Overlord?"
"Not as far as I know." Silence fell again, lasting longer this time. "Your identity checks out. Why weren't you given the frequency when you were elected?"
Kole made frantic hand signals that Tassin could not interpret, so she ignored him. "I am away from my home world, and my assistants seem to have misplaced it."
"Assistants." A soft snort issued from the speaker. "I understand. It's -" He reeled off a string of numbers that meant nothing to her, and Tarl tapped them into a keyboard.
"Thank you, Premier Nirris," she said.
"A pleasure. Good luck."
Tarl touched his keyboard and slumped, and Kole whistled softly. "That was close."
"What was close?"
"He believed you."
"What were you trying to make me say?" she asked.
"Something believable."
"I thought it was believable."
Kole nodded. "Luckily for you, so did he."
"Shall we get on with it?"
Tarl studied the numbers on his screen. "It's a sideband frequency so high that it's at the top end of my transmitters' capability, but we can do it."
Kole said, "You do realise that you’re asking for the help of an Overlord, one of the seven invincible, legendary and mysterious tyrants who run the universe and settle interplanetary disputes, stop global wars and destroy planets. Then you'll have to try to explain your very petty situation when one replies. That's going to be fun."
Tassin sighed. "Well, we can only try."
"I think it's a waste of time."
Tarl made some adjustments on his console. "Are you ready?"
Tassin drew herself up. "Yes."
"Go."
"This is Premier Tassin Alrade of Omega Five requesting the aid of an Overlord."
Tarl touched his keyboard. "Now we wait."
"How long?"
He shrugged. "Beats the hell out of me. I -"
The speaker hissed. "This is Overlord Fairen. State the nature of your difficulty."
"Bloody hell," Kole muttered.
Tassin swallowed hard, and Tarl glanced at her. "Now comes the tricky bit." He touched his keyboard. "Go."
"Overlord Fairen, thank you for responding. I... One of my subjects - people, has been taken against his will by an Overlord, and I was hoping you could help me to find him."
A long, tense silence followed, then the console hissed and the deep, sexless voice spoke again. "This concerns only one man?"
"Yes, but an Overlord has taken him prisoner, so I can't find him. All I ask is the location of the Overlord so I can try to free him."
"From an Overlord?"
"Yes. Surely Overlords can't go around kidnapping people?"
"Usually we don't. Why was your subject taken?"
"He's... I'm not really sure, My Lord. Can you help me?"
"It is not a question of can I, but will I. This is a petty matter."
Her heart sank. "But it concerns the conduct of an Overlord. Surely that makes it important?"
"We do as we see fit. I am sure this Overlord had a good reason for taking your subject."
Tassin shook her head. "No, he didn't. I fear for my subject’s life."
"An Overlord will not harm an innocent, but if he is guilty of a crime he will be judged."
"He has committed no crime."
"Then you had better give me a better explanation, or I will not help you."
Tassin slumped, biting her lip, and decided that only the truth would help her now. "The man was kidnapped because he is a free cyber, My Lord, the only one of his kind."
"I see. Who is the Overlord?"
"Ravian."
Another short, hissing silence fell, then Fairen said, "Overlord Ravian is currently in Velta Sector, between the Presbus Cloud and the Travalan Belt, co-ordinates… XR399-257-75. But knowing his whereabouts will not help you, Premier Alrade. I am curious, however, and I will journey there to speak to him."
"Thank you, Overlord Fairen."
"I did not offer to speak on your behalf."
"For Overlord Ravian's location."
"It will do you no good."
Tassin opened her mouth to reply, but the channel went dead, and Tarl shook his head. "He's gone."
Kole whistled again. "Wow. I didn't think he'd even listen to you after you told him what it was about."
Tassin said, "Well, let's go to... Velta Sector."
"That's a good ten-hour journey," Tarl muttered, typing the co-ordinates on his keyboard. "There's a corridor two light hours from here, but it doesn't take us all the way."
"Let's hurry then."
Ravian frowned at the massive crimson star ship that had appeared off the Spider Ship’s port bow five minutes earlier. The six jointed, laser-tipped stanchions along its flanks curved forward, bracketing triple-jointed arms that housed two of the most potent planet-killer laser cannons in the known universe. The segmented tail that s
tretched out behind it, however, held a super-heated plasma gun, capable of destroying a planet with a single discharge. Hundreds of thousands of tiny, twinkling lights gave an indication of its size, if its looming bulk was not sufficient. It spanned almost a hundred and fifty kilometres of space, quite a bit larger than the Spider Ship.
The Scorpion Lord struck fear into the hearts of even his peers, who knew better than to go up against him. The guards at the door swept aside the white silk, and she smiled as she rose to meet the slender fourteen-year-old boy who entered. His bright blue eyes swept over her, and his answering smile relieved the usual solemnity of his narrow, intelligent face. His cropped black hair gleamed in the warm light of her private quarters. He wore a black tunic and trousers edged with silver, and a tinge of pink flushed his pale cheeks at her warm greeting.
Ravian stopped a pace away and folded her hands. She knew better than to try to touch Fairen. "You've grown."
He nodded. "Two centimetres."
"And you've got more handsome, which I didn't think was possible. How are you?"
His looked away. "Fine."
"Good. Sit, have something to eat." She gestured to the cluster of white sofas around an ebony coffee table with a spread of finger food on it, prepared for his visit.
Fairen sank down on a couch, edging away when she sat beside him. "Thanks, not hungry."
"It's so good to see you. I've missed you."
"We've only met once before."
"It left a lasting impression. If only you were twelve years older." She sighed. "What brings you here?"
"I received a call for help from a planetary leader."
"And you need my help?"
"No. It was about you."
"Oh?" She raised her brows.
"She claims you kidnapped one of her subjects."
"Ah. Does she have a name?"
"Tassin Alrade."
"And she claimed to be a planetary leader?"
He nodded. "Her identity checked out, and she had the frequency."
"I see." Ravian leant over him to select a pastry.
"Did you kidnap him?"
"No. I'm keeping him safe from his enemies."
"So he's with you of his own free will?"
"He's a bit reluctant,” she admitted, “but it's for his own good."
The Cyber Chronicles 05: Overlord Page 8
