"What have we ever done to you?"
"You fell into my lap, like ripe plums for the plucking. Mandure was more than a little pissed off that you escaped with his money. His humiliation makes me inclined to be lenient with you, so don't do anything stupid."
Sabre raised his head, staring blankly ahead, and she was glad he had grasped the situation despite the drug.
Gaylor nodded to Kole. "Right, he seems to be alert now."
Kole addressed Sabre. "Cyber, serial number XZD-4987-LP6493. Command input, authorisation password... moonlight. Initiate transfer protocol."
"Password accepted. Transfer protocol initiated," Sabre intoned. "Proceed."
"New owner is..."
"Gaylor Travard." Gaylor supplied.
"New owner is Gaylor Travard. Transfer codes are midnight... planet, velocity, picture, rapture, star burn."
"Codes valid, transfer accepted. Proceed with voice imprint."
Kole glanced at Gaylor, who said, "I do love it when things go my way."
"Voice imprint accepted. Transfer complete."
"Excellent, another cyber for my stable." His eyes roamed over Tassin in a manner that sickened her. "So, what else do you have to offer?"
"You've got what you wanted. Leave her alone," Kole said.
Gaylor approached Tassin. "No, I don't think I will. She's a choice bit of strumpet, and when I've finished with her, the flesh merchants may be interested in what's left."
"You can't do that!"
"Oh, but I can. I have the upper hand. Note the lasers pressed to your heads, dear boy. Does that give you a clue?" He turned to one of his men. "Get the stuff loaded."
"You still want me to take the shipment?" Tarl asked, clearly surprised.
"Why not? These are just riffraff who wandered in from the forest, nothing to do with you. So you gave them food and shelter. I won't hold it against you. It made them dead easy to find." He noticed Sabre's hands jerk and frowned. "A grade C? Mandure said he was a grade A. Lying bastard." He turned to Tassin. "Now I'm disappointed, and I do so hate to be disappointed. I hope you're more worthwhile."
Gaylor swung away. "You men, see to the loading, and handcuff our unwelcome guest. Lock him in a cabin. Cyber, stand up. Command privilege, password moonlight, name Ambrey. Voice imprint."
A tall, grizzled soldier spoke a few random words, and Sabre said, "Voice imprint accepted."
"Stay here and obey Ambrey. Dudson, bring her. If anyone tries anything stupid, kill her."
The soldier who held a laser to Tassin's head shoved her to the door, keeping a hold on her collar and a wary eye on Kole. Tarl stood aside to allow Gaylor to precede Tassin and her captor, casting Sabre a nervous glance.
Ambrey went over to Kole and snapped a pair of handcuffs onto his wrists. A soldier pushed Kole out, and Ambrey glanced back at Sabre.
"Watch the captain; make sure he doesn't try anything stupid."
"Understood."
As the door slid shut behind them, Tarl turned to Sabre, raising his hands. "I had nothing to do with this, I swear."
"How did they know I couldn't protect Tassin?"
"They saw you on the internal security cameras. You're unarmed, and with the drip and everything, they thought you were incapacitated, I guess."
Sabre shoved him against the wall, clamping his throat to it. "You'd better be telling the truth."
"Check your bio scanners," Tarl said in a strangled voice. "And you don't scare me."
Sabre glanced inward at the scanners, which revealed no tell-tale signs of deception. Tarl pried at his hand, and rubbed his throat when Sabre released him.
"What are you going to do?"
"That depends on how much time Tassin has before that pig makes good on his threats," Sabre said.
"He won't rush it. He thinks he has culture, but he's almost as bad as Mandure."
"And you do business with him."
"Hey, a man with a Myon Two death sentence hanging over his head has very little choice, you know."
Sabre nodded, frowning. "Then I'll go to his mansion with his men and free her."
"He must have more than twenty cybers."
"How many does he have in his bedroom when he's... entertaining?"
"How the hell should I know?"
Sabre looked vague, his eyes unfocussed. "The men are in the hold, and Kole's locked in cabin three, alone."
Tarl went over to a screen on the wall and pressed a key on the pad beside it. An image of the hold appeared, where all four men unloaded boxes from three anti-gravity sleds. He tapped another key, and the image changed to one of Kole in a cabin, trying to free himself from the handcuffs. Sabre led the way to the cabin, and Tarl used his codes to open the door. Kole looked up with a wary expression that changed to grim satisfaction when Sabre entered.
"Can you get these damned things off me?" He turned his back, and Sabre gripped the short chain, snapping it with a jerk. Kole swung around. "Right, get your weapons, let's take care of those guys and go after Tassin."
Sabre shook his head. "Bad plan. Gaylor took the vehicle, his mansion is too far away to reach on foot before nightfall, and it's got more security than a bank.”
“How the hell do you know that?”
Sabre tapped the brow band. “GPS, and security info from Myon Two. The vehicle will return to fetch the men, and I'll go back with them and get her."
"Alone?"
"I don't see how you can come with me, and if you did, you'd just get in the way."
"Gaylor probably has an army at his mansion."
Sabre nodded. "And he thinks I'm his now."
"Right. But it's still risky. I could help."
"I doubt it. You pretend to be a prisoner, and when the men leave, Tarl will get the ship ready for an emergency take-off. When I return, we'll want to leave in a hurry." Sabre glanced around sharply, winced and rubbed his head.
"Are you sure you're up to it?"
"I'll have to be, wont' I?"
"What about the money? Can you get that too? We're going to need it."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Let's get out of here before someone checks on us," Tarl advised.
Sabre followed him to the bridge, detouring to collect his weapons and don his armour, clipping the helmet to the holder on his hip. After fifteen minutes, Ambrey appeared in the doorway.
"Right, it's stowed. Lord Gaylor wants you off world right away. Get going."
Tarl touched a few buttons, and a faint hum came from deep in the ship's bowels.
Ambrey’s eyes raked Sabre’s armour. "Cyber, come with me."
Sabre followed him out to an air-car, where the rest of the men waited. The car speeded over the forest for more than an hour before a sprawling complex of white marble buildings came into view, set in park-like gardens replete with fountains, lakes and sports fields. Lord Gaylor, it seemed, entertained himself royally when he was not kidnapping young women. Sabre tried not to think about what might be happening to Tassin. The air-car landed in a vast courtyard that trees growing through holes in the mosaic brick paving shaded. Dozens of buildings surrounded it, including three massive hangars, two of which were large enough to house space faring ships, two long rows of stables, what appeared to be a zoo, four clusters of semi-detached cottages, a storehouse, gymnasium, games’ rooms, workshops, two barracks, a factory and an indoor arena. The men disembarked, and Ambrey turned to him.
"Your barracks are over there. Go eat and rest."
Sabre headed towards the squat building Ambrey indicated, scanning the rest of the compound. Hundreds of life signs moved around the buildings, including many animals, but the stone prevented him from scanning the interiors. He searched for the mostly likely place that Gaylor would reside, deciding on a palatial structure to his left with a pink crystal dome and gilt doors.
In the barracks, five cybers rested on hard, narrow cots and twelve caskets were stacked against the far wall. He helped himself to a meal from the cyber ration disp
enser, mindful of Tarl's advice. Sitting on one of the spare bunks, he forced himself to eat the revolting grey paste, its taste bringing back unpleasant memories. Then he stretched out in an identical position to the rest of the cybers and closed his eyes. The memories plagued him; flashes of vivid images so real that he could not help reacting to them, his reflexes automatic.
Chapter Sixteen
Sabre only waited half an hour before he rose and quit the barracks, just enough time for the excitement to die down and the men who had gone to the ship to disperse and find other duties. Cybers did nothing without orders, so no one challenged him on his way through Lord Gaylor's palace, which put Mandure's mansion to shame. Bright, plant-filled atriums joined long, wide corridors with translucent roofs, open doors giving access to opulent lounges, indoor pool rooms, recreation rooms filled with VR booths and game screens, saunas, massage parlours, aviaries, butterfly houses and even what looked like an aquarium. Finding Tassin would be almost impossible in the warren of passages and rooms, so he stopped beside a human guard, who turned to him in surprise.
"Lord Gaylor's location?"
The guard’s brows rose. "He's busy. What do you want with him?"
"Urgent message."
The man hesitated, and then shrugged. "He's in the peacock room, up the stairs at the end of the corridor, fifth door on the left."
Sabre marched off down the corridor, following the guard’s directions to a pair of polished ebony doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl. A pair of cybers stood outside them, and turned their heads towards him. He stopped and became immobile, scanning the room's interior through the doors. Two life signs moved around in a circle, and a structural scan showed a four-poster bed between them. He prompted the cyber for the use of its sensitive audio pickups, and received the conversation.
"I'd rather die than do what you want," Tassin said.
"That would be a waste. Believe me, you won't get better treatment anywhere else. Be nice to me, and I might keep you for a few weeks. I might even dress you up and take you to a few parties, where another lord might offer for you."
"You call yourself a lord, but you're nothing but a trumped up commoner with too much money. You don't have a drop of noble blood in your veins."
"Money buys everything, including nobility."
Tassin snorted. "Only the trappings of it. A cyber is nobler than you."
"Is that what you used yours for? No wonder he looked so drained, you little hussy."
"You foul-minded bastard." A loud crash followed, from which Sabre deduced that Tassin had found something to throw.
Gaylor cursed. "That was a priceless vase, you bitch!"
"It looked like cheap trash, like the rest of your possessions, and you, for that matter."
Another tinkle of shattering glass was followed by a string of curses from Gaylor, and more smashing sounds, which told Sabre that Tassin had found more ammunition. He hid a smile as Gaylor's curses rose to shrieks of rage, and even more crashes followed. Tassin had evidently found herself in a treasure trove of expensive missiles, and used them to good effect. Deciding to make his move before things got too rough, he stepped towards the doors. The cyber on his right thrust out an arm, barring his way.
"No entry."
"Urgent message for Lord Gaylor, priority one."
"No entry."
Sabre cursed inwardly, wondering what would gain him entry. "Message pertains to Lord Gaylor's safety."
The cyber's brow band flashed. "Lord Gaylor is in no danger."
"Not yet. It is imminent."
"Of what nature?"
"An assassin."
The cyber turned his head. "Perimeter is secure. No alarms. No one is with Lord Gaylor except the female, status unknown."
"Lord Gaylor should be informed of the possible danger."
The cyber's brow band flashed again, but, before he could reply, a string of crashes from within the suite was followed by a roar of rage from Gaylor.
"That's it! You're going to pay for this, you bitch! Cybers, get in here!"
The cybers turned in unison and pushed open the doors. Sabre followed them into a sumptuous room decorated in cream and puce, with numerous little carved tables covered in delicate china brick-a-brack against the walls, several richly upholstered gold-trimmed brown chairs and patterned rugs scattered on the polished grey marble floor. Some snooty looking portraits, doubtless Gaylor’s stuck up ancestors, glared down their noses from ornate gold frames on the walls. The bed he had seen on the structural scanners was a lavish affair hung with pink silk and covered with chartreus satin cushions, and still remained between the two antagonists. Gaylor swung around, his face mottled with rage. A pair of ridiculously tight breeches hugged his pudgy form, and a ruffled shirt hung open to the waist, revealing thick, matted black chest hair. A riding crop dangled from one hand, and he did not seem to notice Sabre enter with his guards, but pointed at Tassin.
"Seize her!"
The cybers converged on her with swift steps, and she backed away. Sabre walked up behind Gaylor as he turned to watch the guards. Clamping a hand over the lord's pouty mouth, Sabre gripped his throat with the other and murmured, "Make one wrong move, and I snap your neck."
Gaylor froze. Sabre released his mouth and placed his hand on the side of Gaylor's skull, ready to give the swift twist required.
"Who... who are you?"
The cybers captured Tassin, who stared at Sabre with wide, joy-filled eyes. The guards turned, their brow bands flashing as they analysed the threat to their owner. They would not attack, however. Sabre was too great a threat, and they knew he could snap Gaylor's neck before they reached him. Nevertheless, they were a danger to Tassin.
"Order the cybers back to barracks."
Gaylor gulped. "They can kill you before you can break my neck."
"No, they can't, or they'd have done it already. Give the order, now."
"How the hell did you get in here?"
"Do it!"
"If I order them to kill her, you won't be able to stop them."
Sabre tightened his grip until Gaylor gargled. "But you'll still be dead, so what's the point? Order them back to the barracks before I decide to kill you before you can do anything that stupid."
"If I give that order, you could kill me anyway."
"I could, but I won't."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"You don't," Sabre said.
"Who's paying you to rescue her? I'll double whatever he's offered you."
"No one." Sabre loosened his hold and turned Gaylor to face him.
The mogul's eyes widened. "But you're a..."
"I'm your worst nightmare. Give the order before my patience runs out."
Gaylor stared into Sabre's eyes, his own bulging with disbelief. "Cybers, return to barracks."
"You are in danger," one said.
"Just do it!"
The cybers released Tassin and headed for the door. Sabre circled away from their path, keeping a safe distance between them.
Tassin slumped with relief, walking closer. "I knew you'd come."
"Don't I always?"
"Yes, you do."
"At least you seem pleased to see me, for a change."
"More than you'll ever know."
Gaylor's eyes darted between them. "What are you?"
"Free," Sabre said.
"You're not a real cyber. You can't be."
"Not anymore." Sabre raked Tassin with a glance, noting the red marks on her arms and a tear in her blouse. "Did he hurt you?"
"His men were rough."
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, it's just a few bruises."
Sabre glanced around at the sparkling sea of broken crystal and china on the floor. She followed his eyes, smiling. He turned his attention to Gaylor once more.
"We're walking out of here, and I'll be right behind you. Make one false move or call out for help, and you'll be dead before you finish the sentence, understand?"
"And when we get to your destination, you'll kill me anyway."
"No, I won't, but if you'd rather die now, that's fine with me." Sabre tightened his grip until Gaylor coughed, then eased it.
"Okay, okay, I'll do it."
Sabre looked at Tassin. "Let's go."
"Wait, we need that money."
"Do you know where it is?"
"In the safe behind that painting." She pointed at a garish still life.
Sabre marched Gaylor over to it. "Open it."
The tycoon slid the painting aside and tapped a code into the keypad. The door swung open, and Tassin rummaged inside, removing three thick translucent wafers.
"This will do. A little extra for our inconvenience."
"You're nothing but thieves," Gaylor said. "First you steal from Mandure, now me. You'll be hunted down and executed."
Sabre twisted Gaylor's ear, making him yelp. "Keep talking and you'll sign your death warrant."
"We didn't steal anything from Mandure," Tassin said. "I sold him a valuable item, and he tried to steal the money from us. He's the crook, just like you. If I was a thief, I'd take the other four million in there."
"You're lying."
She shrugged. "Think what you like, I don't care. Just remember, he can kill you in a millisecond, but he'd rather not. Personally, I wouldn't mind, so if you want to live, do exactly as he says."
"Fine, but just how far do you think you're going to get in Tarl's rusty old tub? That's how you're planning on getting off world, isn't it?"
"We have a yacht in orbit. Tarl's just taking us to her."
"So he'll pay for your crimes while you get away?" Gaylor asked.
"What crimes? We came here to do some business, and we've been robbed, kidnapped and threatened. You're the criminal."
"No one's going to believe you."
Tassin nodded. "We know that, which is why we're not bothering to accuse you. It wouldn't do us any good."
"So, you do have some brains."
Sabre released Gaylor, who looked confused, rubbing his throat. The cyber took off his armour and held it out to Tassin. "Put this on."
"No! What about you?"
"They won't shoot me while I have him hostage, and anyway, I can take a few hits, you can't."
The Cyber Chronicles 04: Cyborg Page 22
