"Don't flatter yourself," said Diana. "I need the Ashrai. Their inhuman strength. Like I said, the link's still there. God knows I've tried to exorcise them. I don't want anyone in my head but me. But if they're there, maybe I can use them. So tell me, Carrion, would they come if I called? If I needed them?"
"I don't know," said Carrion. "They don't talk to me anymore. But they have always intervened when I needed them."
"Not exactly the answer I was hoping for," said Diana. "But… let's see if it's true."
Her face changed suddenly. Dark shadows appeared beneath her eyes, and the skin of her face stretched taut across the bones. Her thin lips stretched into a merciless, humorless smile. She seemed suddenly larger than she was, and her eyes were unnaturally bright. Psionic power sparked and crackled on the air around her, and her presence leapt out to fill the cabin. Diana was gone, submerged in the malevolent aberration that was Jenny Psycho. Silence's hand went automatically to his gun and then fell away. Even if he could bring himself to use it on his own daughter, he doubted it would be any use against something like Jenny Psycho.
She stood up and glared at Carrion, shadows gathering around her, and he was quickly on his feet facing her, his power lance held out between them. Jenny Psycho seized the lance with her mind, ripped it out of his hands, and threw it the length of the cabin. Carrion cried out in shock, as though one of his limbs had been torn away. His body rose slowly into the air and then slammed back against the steel cabin wall, held there crucified by Jenny Psycho's will. Silence tried to rise from his chair and found he couldn't, held in place by his daughter's implacable thoughts.
And then the Ashrai came.
They filled the cabin like a boiling cloud, dead but not gone, with gargoyle faces and huge clawed hands. The cabin seemed to expand in all directions, becoming vast and cavernous to accommodate the massive forms of the Ashrai. Silence cried out at the sight of them. They were awful and magnificent, terrible in their anger, and they burned so very brightly. Jenny Psycho, blazing like a star, smiled at them and addressed them in perfectly reasonable tones.
"Hi, guys. Good to see you again. It's been a while. Sorry for disturbing your rest, but I really could use your help. There's something out there called the Mater Mundi, and it might just be more powerful than you are. And I don't think it's willing to accept any competition. So, if I need your help against it, will you come when I call?"
There was a burst of song in reply, music complex and emotional almost beyond bearing, sung by angels with barbed wings and haloes of flies. And then the Ashrai were gone, and the cabin was just a cabin again. Carrion slid down the wall and settled comfortably on the bed again. His lance sped across the air and back into his hands. Silence found he could move again. Jenny Psycho flickered out like a snuffed candle, and was just Diana Vertue again. She stretched slowly and sat down on her chair. There was a sense of calm in the cabin, of pressure released, of a storm passed.
"What the hell was the point of all that?" said Silence.
"Jenny's a bit of a bitch, but she gets things done," said Diana, entirely unruffled by his tone. "And I had a feeling the Ashrai would respond only to the dramatic. I needed to know their answer."
"And now you do," said Carrion. "I hope you think that raising their anger was worth it."
"Someone translate," snapped Silence. "All I heard was music that damn near blew out my eardrums. What did they say?"
"They know about the Mater Mundi," said Diana. "And they're scared. Her existence… disturbs them. They've agreed to come when I call, but I'm not sure anymore how much use they'll be. They're much diminished without their forest, and their world."
"Don't underestimate them," said Carrion. "Dying was just another journey for them, a transition to another state. They are still very powerful."
"But they've been dead a long time," said Diana. "You're all that holds them to the worlds of the living now, Carrion."
"Yes, well," said Silence. "I'm still not entirely comfortable with the idea of ghosts anyway. The dead should stay dead."
"I'm not comfortable with the thought that the Mater Mundi could be so powerful that she frightens even the dead," said Diana. "It would appear I'm going to need even more allies. Which brings me back you, Daddy."
"What do you mean?" said Silence. "As you so kindly pointed out, what few powers I have aren't even in the same league as the Mater Mundi. I'll be there for you when I can, but I'm just another Captain in the Imperial Fleet, and I have to go where my orders send me. Right now I'm heading into the Darkvoid. No idea when I'll be back. Or even if I'll be coming back."
"You'll be back," said Diana. "You're a survivor. And you do have powers, though you've chosen not to use or develop them. There's no reason why you couldn't become as powerful as all the other Maze survivors in time. I didn't want to involve you in my troubles, but I may not have any choice. How much do you love me, Daddy? Enough to become something other than human for my sake, to protect me?"
"I failed you before," Silence said steadily. "I won't fail you again. But I don't—"
"The Maze changed you," said Diana. "It rebuilt you. Don't be afraid of your potential. Tell me about the Maze. What it did to you."
"I don't know!" said Silence, almost angrily. "I don't know what I am anymore. I don't know what I'm becoming. All I know is that whatever change the Maze started in me, it isn't over yet. Sometimes I see things in my dreams. I hear voices telling me things. And once Frost came to me. She was trying to warn me about the Maze, what it was doing to me, but I couldn't understand her."
"Tell me about the Maze," said Diana. "What was it like inside? What did it feel like?"
"It was… alien," said Silence slowly. "Like nothing I'd ever encountered before. And I think that it might have been alive in some way that we could never have comprehended. Being inside the Maze was like walking in visions. Like one of those dreams where you know the answer to everything until you wake up, and it's all gone. But these answers were real. They were too much for some of those who went into the Maze with me. They died horribly. Their minds weren't… flexible enough for the changes the Maze wanted to make in them."
"Why did you leave the Maze?" said Diana. "Why didn't you go all the way through, like Owen and his people?"
"I was scared," said Silence. "I wasn't worthy. And it was killing Frost. I grabbed her and got us both out. It wasn't until much later that the changes started appearing in us."
"What do you think the Maze was?" said Diana. "What was its purpose?"
Silence snorted derisively. "Better men than I have tried to answer that and failed. Ask an ant what it feels about the statue it's crawling over. No one's ever found anything like the Maze before or since, on any of the thousands of planets we've visited or colonized. Its purpose was an alien purpose, possibly quite beyond our human capability to understand."
"But you felt its touch," said Diana. "What do you think it was?"
"Perhaps… a teaching machine," Silence said quietly. "For those capable of learning. But none of this matters anymore. I destroyed it, blew it away with disrupter cannon till there was nothing left of it. The only one of its kind, possibly unique in the universe, and I destroyed it. And if I had to do it all over again, I'd give the same damned order without the slightest hesitation."
"You never change, Captain," said Carrion.
"Have you had any contact with the other Maze survivors since the rebellion?" said Diana. "Have you discussed your opinions with them?"
"No," said Silence shortly. "It wasn't that long ago we were trying to kill each other. A part of me still wants to kill them for what they've done. Besides… I don't think we'd have much in common to talk about. They're… different from me. From everyone. They're spooky. Almost inhuman. Sometimes almost alien. If there's a path they and I are walking, they're much further along it than me. From where I am, they're almost out of sight. The poor bastards. All their new powers and abilities don't seem to have made them any happier. They're becoming something
. Something else. Something other than human."
"Like me perhaps?" said Carrion.
"No, Sean. You're just weird. I can still understand you, what moves you. I haven't a clue what's going on in the heads of Owen and his friends anymore. I think they're moving away from merely human concerns. That makes them dangerous—perhaps not just to the Empire but to all Humanity. That's one of the reasons why the Maze people weren't informed of this mission. Parliament didn't trust them not to interfere, to try to stop us."
"What do you expect to find in the Darkvoid?" said Diana.
"Damned if I know. But just possibly something strong enough to stop or control the Maze people if they go bad."
"And you think that's necessary?" said Carrion. "You feel a need to destroy them? Like you destroyed the Ashrai and the Madness Maze?"
"Good example," said Silence. "My duty is to the Empire, and Humanity. To protect them from any and all dangers. Look, the Maze people aren't answerable to anyone but themselves. There's no one strong enough to say no if they say yes. And they're getting stronger all the time. What if one or more of them decided that Parliament's decisions were taking the Empire in a direction they didn't approve of? What if they were to decide that mere humans couldn't be trusted with their own destiny, and they decided to take over and rule us, for our own good, of course. Who could stop them?"
"Or just possibly you could be turning paranoid," said Diana. "There are only four of them."
"How many gods does it take to rule Humanity?" said Silence. "And just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get me. You of all people should appreciate that."
"Good point," said Diana, smiling for the first time. She got to her feet and nodded briefly to her father and Carrion. "It's time I was going. I don't think I'm going to learn any more here. I'll talk to you again when you get back. Don't bother to see me out."
And just like that she vanished. One moment there, the next gone. Silence and Carrion looked at each other.
"Well," said Carrion finally. "She's definitely your daughter, Captain."
"And she always did know how to make an exit," said Silence. He shook his head. "Time is running out, and I still haven't finished briefing you. What was I going to… ah, yes. The insect ships. Have you finished the files I let you have?"
"Of course," said Carrion. "Fascinating material. You do know the insects have to be artificial, don't you?"
"That's what Frost said. She said they had to have been gengineered, because insects don't get that big naturally. Which implies there's another player in the game that we don't know about yet, the insects' creator."
"Do we really need to assume it's an unknown?" said Carrion. "Surely there are enough suspects already—the Hadenmen, Shub, even rogue human scientists funded by Families desperate for power? And then, there's always the Recreated. Whatever they turn out to be."
"I said as much to Admiral Beckett," said Silence slowly. "I wouldn't be at all surprised to discover the insects come out of the Darkvoid. Their attacks have always been concentrated on the Rim, and where else could they be disappearing to afterward? And then… there's the voices." Silence looked steadily at Carrion. "The files I gave you on that are strictly restricted. You are not to discuss their contents with anyone else without my express permission in advance. My crew are spooked enough about going back into the Darkvoid as it is. So… what do you make of the voices? Any ideas?"
"It could be an esper phenomenon," said Carrion. "Or it could be the voices of the dead. But the most likely explanation has to be a psychological trick by Shub to soften you up for the coming of the Champion. A long-lost ship, crewed by dead men, its reappearance heralded by the warning voices of ghosts—just the kind of thing the rogue AIs would come up with to mess with your heads."
"Of course, that's the most likely explanation," said Silence. "But you didn't hear those voices, Sean. They wouldn't stay recorded. They just faded away. What you listened to in the files were simulations, based on what we remembered. The real thing sounded… horrible. Unnerving. They really did seem to be trying to warn us away from danger. Not just from the Champion, but from the Darkvoid itself. And now here we are, going back into the dark again."
"Could it be some kind of warning by the Recreated?" said Carrion. "To stay out of their territory?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. I suppose as always we'll just have to find out the hard way. And it has to be us. This ship and its crew have more experience of the Darkvoid than any other three ships put together. And we are, after all, quite expendable."
"Nothing changes," said Carrion, and they both managed some kind of smile.
"So," said Silence. "How does it feel to be an Investigator again?"
"I wear the title only as a courtesy. But I won't wear the official uniform. I'm not worthy of it anymore. Or it's not worthy of me. I haven't decided yet."
"You got a full Pardon. You're no longer a wanted man," said Silence. "Wouldn't you like to go home again, Sean?"
"I had a home," said Carrion. "I was happy there. And then you and Shub destroyed it."
Evangeline Shreck came home at last to Tower Shreck and stood for a long time in its cold, dark shadow, trying to stop trembling. From the outside it looked like just another building, steel and glass and the Family colors that marked it as one of the legendary pastel towers, home to the Clans. To Evangeline it was the witch's cave, the demon's lair, the dark place that calls to us in our worst nightmares. In its terrible embrace she had lived an awful life of pain and horror and torment, until at last a dashing prince came, and loved her, and gave her the courage to break free of the ogre who held her enchained.
And now she'd come back, though she'd sworn she never would. Back home again to save her very best friend from the hell she'd known so well.
Her love didn't know she was here. She'd let Finlay Campbell believe she was off on another mission for the clone underground. If he'd known she was going back to Tower Shreck, he'd have tried to stop her or talk her out of it, and she couldn't have that. This was something she had to do for herself. However much it hurt. She was here to see the monster, her father, Gregor Shreck. He thought he held all the cards, owned all the advantages, but she had a few surprises of her own, just for him. Just for dear Daddy.
The man who had murdered his only daughter, Evangeline, and afterward had her cloned in secret to produce the present Evangeline. The man who loved both the original and her clone as a man rather than a father. Who abused his position and his daughter's love. Who took his Evangelines to his bed and taught them far more about pain than pleasure. The devil in his hell. Gregor Shreck.
Hatred pulsed in her like a heartbeat, surging through her like blood, forcing out the fear. She took a deep breath to steady herself, and then walked calmly toward the armored guards covering the main entrance to Tower Shreck. They looked more like beetles than men in their extensive black body armor, faces hidden behind stylized sensor masks. There were six of them, but they didn't scare her. She wasn't frightened of them. She stopped a cautious distance away and stared at them haughtily.
"I'm Evangeline Shreck, here to see my father, Gregor. Inform him I'm here."
The guards looked at her for a moment and then looked at each other. She presumed they were holding a brief but intense conversation through their comm implants before daring to disturb their master, the Shreck. It wasn't long before they stood back and gestured for her to enter the Tower through the main entrance. She strode forward, head held high, and the single heavy door opened silently before her. The lobby had been redecorated since she last saw it. All comforts and attractive details had been stripped away, leaving only a large, bare chamber with a concrete floor and blank steel walls. She heard footsteps behind her and made herself turn slowly to face the single armored guard who'd come into the lobby after her. The door closed behind him. He spoke to her without removing his mask, his voice filtered to remove all traces of humanity from it.
"The Lord Shr
eck is awaiting you in his private quarters, lady Evangeline. I'm to escort you there. After a full security search."
"Lord Shreck?" said Evangeline, raising an eyebrow. "There are no Lords anymore. Doesn't he know that?"
"The Shreck… goes his own way in all things. Remove your clothes. All of them. Place to one side any weapons or devices you may be carrying."
Evangeline nodded stiffly. She'd been expecting that. Gregor thought everyone wanted to kill him these days. Mostly he was right. She took her clothes off with as little fuss as possible, concentrating on why she was there. It helped that the guard looked so inhuman and anonymous in his armor and mask. She wondered if Gregor was watching through the sensors in the mask. Probably. Finally she was naked, her clothes in a neat pile to one side. She fixed the insect mask with a steady glare.
"That's it. No clothes. No weapons. But if you touch me with so much as a fingertip, I'll tell Daddy. Do you really want him to know you touched something he believes belongs only to him?"
The guard hesitated, and then nodded jerkily and indicated for her to get dressed again. She did so, not letting the guard or her nerves hurry her. When she was ready again, the guard led the way to the single elevator at the back of the lobby, and they both got in. The guard gave the order for the penthouse floor in his inhuman voice, and the doors closed silently. The guard stepped back a pace so he could cover Evangeline with his gun. She ignored him, staring at the glowing numbers set over the door as they slowly changed. So far everything was going as planned. For all his paranoia, Gregor still couldn't see her as a serious threat. She was his little Evie, his plaything.
Old memories ran through her like an icy river. She had been born here, fully grown, a clone of a woman the outside world could never know was dead. She was taught to be a perfect copy of the original Evangeline so that she might hide from Society the dreadful thing that Gregor had done. And so that he could continue to have his pleasures in the way he'd grown accustomed.
It was the only life she'd ever known until she came to know Finlay. They met at Court, at a masked ball, and it was love at first sight. They talked and laughed, eyes sparkling through their masks, each warming to another's heart for the first time in their lives. And then the masks came off at midnight, and they discovered they were a Shreck and a Campbell, two Families at war with each other for generations. And each of them was the heir. Their love would have been a scandal, unacceptable, and Evangeline knew that Gregor would rather kill her than lose her. Still worse, he might kill Finlay. So they kept their love secret, snatching moments together when they could, until finally they could be together at last.
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