“Best if you remain in the suits, as you’ll need them to enter the lab as well.”
“Great,” Alex grumbled under her breath. “I look like a clown, or one of those ridiculous circus performers.”
He chuckled. “More like a harlequin—but it’s cute.”
“Says you.” She gathered up the excess material that had pooled at her feet and held it up so she could walk faster.
It was two more floors down to the development lab, and they took the stairs with inordinate care.
The lab floor was easily twice as large as the assembly room had been, though it had a segmented design, with half-walls separating out different areas—presumably discrete projects. As in the assembly room, the walls, ceiling and floor were sandstone, but everything else was metal, glass, or ceramic. In this respect it was fairly similar to a human R&D lab.
Khokteh in lab suits worked in two-thirds of the segmented areas. The nearest one contained equipment recognizable as more conventionally power-related. In another, a worker ran tests on a new model of electrified spear. Several of the workers eyed them suspiciously, but by this point every Khokteh in the city knew of their presence, so there were no screams or panicked shouts.
Alex turned to Nakuridi. “Where’s the new weapon you received from the…” Caleb could all but hear her teeth grinding in irritation “…temple?”
Nakuridi gestured down the central walkway toward the rear of the long room. “It’s not a weapon yet—we’re still studying the schematics and material requirements. I would not be inclined to show it to you, but Tokahe Naataan instructed me to do so.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t break anything.” Alex smiled blithely.
“Clearly you will not, as it does not yet exist to break.”
“Right. And when will it exist?”
“We’re producing several rarer materials at a separate location now. I expect to be able to assemble a prototype in another two days.”
“That fast? Impressive.”
“Iapetus provides us weapons and tools that are designed with our technology in mind. It is rarely difficult for us to create and assemble the finished product.”
“I’ll just bet it does—” He elbowed Alex in the ribs to cut her off.
“This will be the most powerful weapon we’ve ever built, but I’m confident in our ability to construct it.”
They passed a segmented area larger than most. Suspended from the ceiling was the housing for what appeared to be the weapons attached to the fighters they’d seen at the hangar, if both larger and longer. This was not their destination, however.
Finally, they reached an area partitioned off by floor-to-ceiling glass. Four displays ran across the back wall above terminals. Khokteh occupied three of the terminals.
Nakuridi slid a portion of the glass aside and allowed them to enter. They both moved directly to the displays, causing some animated fidgeting on the part of the Khokteh working at them.
The first display showed a rotating exterior schematic of a cylinder, almost as wide as it was long, and an object that resembled a laser turret on one end. Multiple internal compartments were visible inside the main cylinder. The second display was filled by stacked schem flows of a form of circuitry—likely the interior workings of the weapon. The third display presented two data columns; the left column was a list and the right a series of chemical formulas.
The list was in the Khokteh language. His eVi could capture the words using his ocular implant and translate them, but it was a slower process than communications. His eyes ran down both columns as rapidly as possible before he shifted to the schem flows.
The few words it contained were also in the native language, but there weren’t many ways to draw the directional flow of electrical current, and he found he was able to follow it well enough.
The image which immediately sprang to mind was of a portable LEN reactor; inner and outer insulation chambers surrounded a central rod. But there were also two additional compartments on either side.
“Oh, fuck me.”
He and Nakuridi both pivoted to Alex. Nakuridi made a frothy, sputtering sound. “I don’t see how—”
Caleb quickly smiled in apology. “Bad translation. She was merely expressing surprise. At something. Weren’t you?”
She pointed to a formula on the third display. He nodded comprehension, and her finger lowered to another formula.
He noted the shorthand symbols then returned his attention to the schem flows. The separate chambers’ designated purposes were to hold the results of those formulas, one for each.
He faced Nakuridi with deliberate calm. “This is an anti-matter weapon.”
“Yes. That would suffice as a description of its functionality.”
He worked to keep his demeanor neutral. “Do you…commonly use anti-matter weapons?”
Nakuridi’s shoulders rose. “This is a new concept for us, but an ingenious one.”
Caleb brought a palm up to his chin and refocused on the schem flow. He pointed to the power input. “We’re not familiar with this shorthand—what level of power is this?”
Nakuridi responded, and the translation came through.
He rubbed his temples. “Valkyrie, that can’t be right.”
‘I’ve studied multiple technical texts. It is correct.’
Alex stepped in front of him and craned her neck to glare up at Nakuridi. “We need to see the Tokahe Naataan.”
“Tokahe Naataan is meeting with his military council this evening and cannot be disturbed.”
“At all?”
“There are conditions under which he can be disturbed. You do not meet them. He instructed me to have you returned to his residence when the tour was complete—and to tell you he may be quite late arriving home. The servants will prepare a meal for you, and you have his apologies.”
Alex was twitching in agitation, but she kept a modicum of outward control. “Please pass on our own message to him: we need to speak to him about a very important matter as soon as he is available.”
“I’ll see he receives it. Are we done here?”
Caleb gazed back at the image of the cylinder, spinning on its axis in slow tumbles. “Two days until it’s built, you said?”
“That is my estimation.”
“Okay. Yes, we’re done here. Take us to Tokahe Naataan’s home. We’ll wait for him there.”
39
IRELTSE
* * *
CALEB WAS AN ABSURDLY light sleeper, and it took Alex several minutes of delicate movement to ease out of the bed, gather her clothes and tip-toe out of the room. She held her breath until she was out of the house.
Two vehicles were parked in front. Had Pinchu finally come home, sometime after they had given up and retired for the night? She hesitated. Should she go back inside, wake him from sleep and confront him now?
She decided against it. There would be time to try to talk sense into him tomorrow, but this was likely to be her sole chance to slip away.
She hefted herself up into the open vehicle and studied the dash. She’d watched Pinchu operate it, and once the various controls were identified, it shouldn’t be complicated to fly.
Pinchu will not appreciate you stealing his vehicle.
I’m not stealing it—I’m merely borrowing it for an hour or two.
Alex, I’m not certain this is a wise course of action. I am as intrigued as you regarding the Metigens’ purposes here, but Caleb is right that—
That it’s a risk. I agree. But I may not get this kind of opportunity again.
She played with the ‘start’ control until the engine fired, then lifted off the ground. The engine was more powerful than she’d expected, and the vehicle cavorted roughly in her hands. She gripped the stick jutting out of the dash with both hands and, after several gyrations, accelerated toward the temple.
Caleb awoke with a jolt. Immediately aware some sound had roused him, he stilled and listened. There was a faint, distant hum, but
it was gone before he could identify it.
Alex wasn’t in the bed. He went to the door of the lavatory. “Alex, are you in there?” Nothing. He nudged the door open and found it empty.
He paused long enough to pull on pants before heading through the house. His eyes scanned the open rooms as he made his way to the front door but spotted neither her nor anything out of place. He’d heard Pinchu arrive home an hour earlier, but only one vehicle was outside.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Valkyrie, where did Alex go?”
‘I’ve been instructed not to share that information.’
“Goddammit. She went to the temple.” He leapt into the vehicle and activated the engine.
The temple stone almost seemed to shine from within under a full moon. An eerie crimson radiance lit the night and the open interior.
Alex crept along the columns toward the dais. She didn’t think the temple had guards, but she might as well attempt not to be seen.
The dais was empty except for the large table…but the table wasn’t empty. It hadn’t been visible from the audience, but a concave recess in the center of the table contained a dark metal ring. Miniscule gaps between the edges of the metal and the stone indicated it had a range of motion. She searched the area a second time for any other communication candidates, then reached in and pressed the ring.
It lit up briefly in pure white light then went dark. She looked around the temple but saw no activity. She wasn’t a patient person, but she forced herself to lean on one of the pillars and wait.
Three minutes later a luminosity brighter than the moonlight descended from the ceiling to surround the temple dais. If the Metigen had traveled from its own watcher planet, this was fast travel indeed; perhaps it watched from a closer vantage, given how intimately involved in Khokteh society it was.
The pinpoints of light began coalescing into the rough form of a Khokteh—but the transformation abruptly halted.
Anaden? Here? The voice quaked with an air of horror, and the lights surged toward her, probing, prodding.
If it surrounded her it would be able to transport her away. She stepped deliberately backward.
No…HUMAN. One of Mnemosyne’s pets off its leash. The Conclave will not be pleased to learn of this. Condescension replaced horror as the voice gained an aura of authority.
She wished it would take some form, any form, so she could glare it in the eye. “What are you trying to accomplish with the Khokteh? Why do you arm them with technology they do not comprehend and send them to kill one another over and over in endless cycles?”
Run along home, little fledgling. Try again in a thousand years.
“Did you learn nothing from your war against us? We don’t do as we’re told.”
“No, we don’t.” She pivoted to see Caleb taking the stairs two at a time up to the dais. His attention was focused on the Metigen, but she’d be an idiot not to recognize the layers of meaning in the statement.
She reached out and grasped his hand as he joined her. Now was not the time to seek forgiveness; now was the time to present a strong, united front. Thankfully, he appeared to agree.
Yes, I did hear something to that effect. Two of you then, or are there yet more? Did you bring an army?
“Not yet. Do we need to?”
Tread carefully, Humans. You intrude in affairs you do not understand.
She groaned. “We realize this, which is why we want to understand. Explain it—explain your reasons for manipulating the Khokteh. Tell us what your purpose is for all these universes.”
Alas, it is not for me to decide what is to be done with you. But you would do well to return home before your ignorant flailing destroys more than you intend.
“We don’t intend to destroy anything at all—and you seem to be doing plenty enough destroying for all of us. You….” Her voice trailed off as the Metigen dissipated and vanished as swiftly as it had arrived. “Oh, motherfucker!”
Caleb’s hand was instantly on her arm. “Alex, what the bloody hell were you thinking? It could have hurt you—it could have taken you!”
Her gaze roved around the temple grounds, still hoping it would return for another go. “I was thinking I wanted some damn answers, and this might be my best or even only chance to get them.” She steeled herself and reluctantly looked at him. “I didn’t wake you because you wouldn’t have wanted me to come here.”
“Because it was a stupid thing to do. And now you’ve exposed us.”
“Oh, come on—they knew we were traversing their portals. Remember when they chased us through a bunch of them? They have alarms on every damn one.”
“Well, now they know we’re doing a bit more than surveying the scenery.”
“Good.”
“Good?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Dammit, Alex, do you have the first care for your safety? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“No, of course not. I’m starting to think the Metigens can’t hurt us, at least not directly.”
“Why not? They can manipulate their environment—Mesme built a house. They can transport us.”
“I know. But when it comes to violence, they act through others or via machines. I don’t have an explanation, but the evidence speaks for itself.”
“The evidence is a little thin. Too thin to act so recklessly. Not without a damn good reason—something I believe I rather clearly said we didn’t have.”
“You think a chance to get answers isn’t a good enough reason? Why are we here then?”
He leveled a deeply scathing scowl at her. “To find the answers ourselves. To fit the puzzle pieces together one at a time instead of trusting aliens who have plainly ulterior motives to give us the truth. Otherwise, we would’ve simply gone to Mesme, right?”
She sank against the table to stare at the ground instead of him. “Yeah. They—the Metigens—drive me mad. They play with people, with whole species, like they were toys, to be tossed aside when they no longer amuse. I wish they had throats so I could strangle them.”
He eased back beside her, and his voice softened a touch. “But not to death.”
“That depends….” She risked a glance at him. “I’m sorry I snuck out on you.”
His eyes remained hard though. “No, you’re not.”
She chewed on her lower lip and tried again. “Okay, I’m…sorry you wouldn’t have agreed to come. I’d have preferred it if you were here with me.”
He gazed up at the high, curved ceiling of the temple, once more tinted an ominous crimson now that the Metigen had departed. “Look. We’ve both spent a long time going our own way and not asking permission before we did. I’m not your keeper, nor are you mine. I just wish like hell you’d told me what you planned to do.”
“Then we would’ve argued.”
“As opposed to what we’re doing now?”
She huffed a weak, resigned laugh. “Valid point.”
“Alex, I can handle being angry with you—I don’t like it, I don’t want to be, but I’ll deal. Already have some experience at it. But I have to be able to count on you. I have to know you won’t go behind my back when you don’t care for the answer I give.”
“Oh? You went behind my back to get access to the Siyane.”
“Don’t do that.”
Yes, she was lashing out—but it didn’t mean it wasn’t true. “Why not? How is it different?”
He blinked and stared at her, his expression bordering on…yep, there it was. Pained patience…or maybe a slightly more severe, deeper frustration. “For one, the statute of limitations has expired on it. For another, we weren’t married then—we were barely together. I had no idea how far I could trust you, no more than you knew how far you could trust me. For a third, my doing so ended up saving your life…but the last one doesn’t count, does it, unless I want to prove your case for you.”
He dragged a hand down his face, emotion animating it anew. “So I return to my initial statement—given both our pasts, this isn’t
easy for either of us. But I would never do such a thing today, and dammit but you know that.”
Her mother had tried to warn her marriage was about give and take, about compromise, about respecting the other person’s position even when you didn’t agree with them. For some strange reason her mother had been concerned Alex would be incapable of managing such things. She chuckled quietly.
“If there is something you find amusing in all this, please let me in on the joke.”
“I was remembering something Mom said to me, about how Dad infuriated her on an almost weekly basis, but he never disappointed her.” She met his distressingly harsh gaze and nodded. “All right. I promise I won’t go behind your back again, and will instead face the wrath of your expressions of pained patience and exasperated frustration.”
He tried and failed to stifle a laugh. “There’s no wrath to my expressions.”
“Oh, yes, there is. And so many, varied kinds.” She took his hands in hers, grateful he didn’t jerk them away. “I realize I still occasionally revert to old habits. I’ll try to do better. I will do better.” Her forehead dropped to rest on his. “Just out of curiosity, would you have come with me if I had asked?”
“Depends on how determined you were.”
“So yes, then.”
He sighed, but wrapped his arms around her and drew her closer. “Eventually, yes.”
40
IRELTSE
* * *
CALEB LEANED INTO THE MASSIVE desk dominating the center of the office. “Pinchu, this is a two-hundred-petajoule anti-matter weapon. Do you even begin to comprehend what that means?”
The Tokahe Naataan lifted his elongated chin so high Caleb could no longer see any of his eyes. “It means it will exact a righteous vengeance upon the Nengllitse for the deaths they caused.”
“It means it will level a city—and I don’t mean cause widespread damage like what they inflicted here. I mean eradicate it. Every building, every object and every Nengllitse Khokteh for…” he waited a beat for a size conversion “…fifty kilometers in all directions. Our people outlawed these weapons two centuries ago after discovering the colossal, indiscriminate death they wrought.”
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