Galen stepped into the air lock, and Elric entered with him. The door closed behind them.
They waited while the air lock pressurized. Then the inner door opened. Inside, all was dark. Galen removed his breather. The recycled air carried a faint stale smell.
Elric conjured a globe of light. Around the ship, other lights suddenly flashed on, one after the other. They all pointed in the same direction. Sitting in the spotlight was something that Galen, at first, could not identify. Then he recognized the white goatee scoured into the shape of the rune for knowledge. From there his gaze rose to Kells face, which had fallen back, white teeth gleaming in a mouth fixed in a rigid grimace.
The sleeves of Kells robe had been ripped open, and beneath, a single clean incision had been made down each of Kells arms, the skin spread back like the petals of an alien flower, revealing a great mystery of darkness speckled with brilliant flecks of white. His hands were two great blossoms, the skin of palms, of thumbs, index and middle fingers peeled back, muscle elegantly split, delicate canyons of bone exposed.
Kell had been flayed.
In the early days of their history, rogue mages had been flayed for refusing to obey the Code. Removing all of the tech from a mage, unless it was done soon after initiation, was always fatal. The body and the tech quickly became intertwined. Although flaying remained the punishment for serious violations of the Code, it hadnt been administered for hundreds of years.
Elric approached Kell. Galen wanted to tell him not to move, not to speak, that perhaps the vision in the light was an illusion. If they did not move, if they did not touch it, perhaps they could come to believe it was not real.
Kell had not deserved this.
Elric laid one hand on the back of the chair and turned Kell away from them. Galen thought at first that Elric wanted to shield them from the image. But then Elric brought his hands to either side of Kells head, lifted it. A shudder ran down Elrics body.
Galen could not see. He found himself moving forward.
The spotlights shone into the back of Kells skull. A neat circle of bone had been cut away, revealing the emptiness within. Most of his brain had been removed. Elrics hands moved to Kells shoulders. Galen wanted him to stop. He could not see any more.
Elric pushed the shoulders forward, away from the chair. The back of Kells robe had been cut away. Three parallel furrows transected him from shoulder to shoulder. From neck to tailbone, his spine was one wide, ragged wound, the skin peeled back to reveal the white bone of vertebrae. Down each side of the spinal cord, deep channels had been carved, and periodic clumps of tissue, muscle, and nerves scooped cleanly away where theyd become inextricably intertwined with high concentrations of tech. Tiny holes revealed channels cut deeper within. The work was so extensive, only a few traces remained of the stippled black discoloration along Kells spine and shoulder blades.
There were easier ways to kill him. And the removed tech could be of no use. It had fused with Kells system. It had adapted to his body, his mind. It could be commanded by no one else.
Elric pulled Kells shoulders back, gently rested him against the chair. For a moment Kells dark eyes pointed up at Galen, and Galen remembered how that gaze used to make him feel, as if Kell saw right into him. But those eyes saw nothing now. They were as empty as hers had been.
Kells head shifted, his empty gaze falling away. Elric straightened his head against the back of the chair, turned the chair to its original orientation, as if that could somehow erase what they had seen.
Only a mage could do such detailed work. Tilar was only in chrysalis stage; he wouldnt have powerful enough sensors to detect all the fine threads of the tech. Razeel, Galen thought, wouldnt have the skill to cut it away so precisely. But there was one who had proven himself expert in his knowledge of the body and its vulnerabilities, who had shown the skill to use that knowledge effectively.
Galens anger had been misdirected. Kell had erred, but he had not been the one to betray the techno-mages. He had not been the one to join the Shadows. He had not been the one to kill her. The grief and fury he had felt at the sight of Kells ship returned full force, and a sudden surge of energy drove through him, burning to act, to strike back.
The ship belongs to Elizar, Elric said.
Behind them a door slid open and Galen spun, ready to attack. With fierce focus he forced his mind to be still, to be blank. He would not conjure on instinct.
Two dark figures emerged from the air lock.
Galen stepped out of the spotlights, saw that it was Blaylock and his former student, Gowen. Galen struggled to slow his breathing, to regain control.
The blessing of Wierden upon Gowens greeting broke off in a gasp.
He has been flayed, Elric said.
Blaylock addressed Gowen. Turn away. Come no closer.
Gowen obeyed.
Blaylocks pale face, scoured of all hair, seemed to float in the shadows. They know where we are, he said.
One after another, the ships lights went out, leaving only the light globe Elric had conjured. Then in the near darkness, brilliant red fire spread down Kells arms. The fire curled into runes, formed a message.
We will reclaim the techno-mages.
The tech echoed Galens outrage. Elizar still had dreams of overthrowing the Circle, of leading the mages with Razeel and Tilar at his side. He believed it was his right as an heir of the line of Wierden. Yet Galen had thought Elizars hopes would have died when hed become a murderer. How could he think they would ever accept him now, after all he had done? And how could he have the arrogance to treat the mages as if they were his to command, his to reclaim?
Elric glanced at him, but Galen could read no reaction on his stern face.
The fiery runes faded, leaving them in the light of Elrics single globe.
The Circle should meet at once, Elric said.
We must remove Kell to the facility, Blaylock said. This ship must be destroyed.
Elric nodded and conjured a platform beneath Kell that lifted him from the chair, then straightened so that he lay flat. With a wave of his hand Elric created the illusion of a sheet shrouding Kells body, and in Galens mind the image rose unbidden: Elric walking from the fire of the explosion, the bodies of Galens parents floating behind him, supine, shrouded in sheets.
Energy churned inside Galen, searching for outlet. I will destroy the ship, he said.
Elric hesitated, studying him. Galen tried to make his face impassive. He didnt think he fooled Elric, but Elric didnt seem to have the energy to argue. Instead Elric nodded and moved with Kell toward the air lock.
Use your ship to destroy this one, Blaylock said. Remove yourself to a distance. Take no unnecessary risk.
Yes, Galen said.
Soon the others were gone, and he was left with darkness and the smell of blood and decay. He visualized his mind as a blank screen on which to impose equations. First he conjured several light globes, illuminating the area. Next he accessed his sensors, studied the walls of the ship, confirming what he thought. Then he went to the panel in the wall behind the chair. He slid it open, as the Grimlis had taught him. Sometimes maintenance or repair was necessary.
There, within the recess, like a thick silvery worm, clung a section of Elizars chrysalis. Ripples on its skin revealed the tension of its muscles as it held to the interface pane. Processors ringed it, the nexus for them all. Silver filaments spread from its plump body in a web, intertwining themselves with the ships systems, with the ship itself. Galen touched the warm translucent surface. A subtle light glowed from within.
It carried Elizars DNA, and during Elizars training as an apprentice, it had grown into an echo of him, mirroring his brain structure, his patterns of thought. It had become a part of him, an extension of him.
Galen had last seen Elizar a month ago, through a probe, in the Thenothk system on the rim of known space, thousands of light-years away. If Elizar was still there, or at any distance from the ship, he would have only the most tenuous connect
ion to it.
Yet even a tenuous connection could carry sensation. The sensation of a single hair being pulled from the scalp, the sensation of a needle-thin sliver slipping under the skin. The sensation of the devil walking over his grave.
Galens heart pounded, the pounding echoed back to him by the tech. He had agreed to leave Elizar behind, to run with the mages to their hiding place.
But here was one piece he did not have to leave behind.
Galen removed his hand from the soft silver surface, took a step back, then another. The hatred welled up in him, no longer willing to be buried or contained. Energy bloomed through him. Fire raced along the lines of the tech. Heat spilled out from his skin. He visualized the equation.
A fireball appeared in the air before him, coruscating with light. He formed an equation of motion, hurled the fireball at the chrysalis. Fire splashed across the silver form and the interface pane. The chrysalis made a slight, squirming movement.
He formed a second fireball in the air. Shot it at the chrysalis. A third ball. Slammed it into the fiery recess.
The wormlike form was black, engulfed in flame. It moved no more.
Smoke billowed out of the wall, and with the sizzle and pop of melting machinery, the smell of charred meat carried on the air. He recognized the smell from when hed burned Elizars arm. It was the smell of his old friends flesh.
If only he had killed Elizar then. If only he had burned Elizar to a handful of ash.
Galens hands had tightened into quivering fists. He realized with surprise that he was crying, wiped impatiently at his eyes with the back of his fist. Smoke was filling the interior. He knew he should leave. Yet the fire that raced through him would consume him if he did not release it. These small conjuries had only increased its pressure.
He thought of letting it all come out, of making the ship into an inferno, destroying it from the inside out, with him still inside.
But that would kill Elric.
He had to leave. He had to leave before he lost all control. He stumbled to the air lock.
He would get into his ship. He would retreat to a safe distance. He would fire at Elizars ship, destroying it. And he would bury these thoughts of destruction once again. He would not feel. He would not remember.
But he would remain vigilant. He could not allow himself to retreat completely to that place deep inside, to fade into transparency, to haunt the living like a ghost. It was too dangerous. For in the blaze of fire, he had revealed himself. He was no insubstantial ghost, but a monster, one who would kill in a moment if he did not hold tightly to the tech.
So he would maintain his focus. He would stay in control. He would go with the techno-mages to their hiding place. And he would hide.
* * *
chapter 4
Galen entered the squat, rectangular structure through an air lock marked with the rune signifying solidarity. He had brought his valise and staff from the ship, leaving the rest of his possessions behind. As he waited for the air lock to pressurize, he dreaded facing the others, feeling the self-consciousness that inevitably arose when he was with anyone other than Elric. People, particularly mages, always gave him the uncomfortable sensation that they saw in him things he did not wish to reveal, things that, in some cases, he did not even know existed. And with all that had happened, he feared what they would now see in him, and what they would say. Whatever they said, he would keep the memories, and the emotions they carried, buried. He could not face them again.
He composed his face. The inner door opened, and he slipped the breather off, stepped into a vast hangar filled with crates and supplies.
Fed stood beside the air lock, a crooked smile on his face.
Federico, Galen said, feeling awkward. Good to see you. His tone sounded more distant than he intended.
Nice work on Elizars ship, Fed said. I think you got it the first time.
I felt thoroughness was warranted, Galen replied.
Oh, absolutely. You dont want to leave the job half done. Though many mages scoured their scalps regularly in honor of the Code, as did Galen, it appeared that Fed had not undergone scouring since their initiation in November. His bushy beard and short, wiry hair were quickly regaining their old wild-man look. That Fed forwent the scouring of the scalp was not surprising; his former teacher, Herazade, did the same.
Fed exuded the sharp smell of cologne, and hed discarded the plain black robe hed worn as an apprentice in favor of a short yellow jacket and pants covered with elaborate embroidery. For some reason, he looked like a pirate. Galen could imagine Elizar saying something very clever and cutting about Feds appearance. But Elizar was across the galaxy, torturing and killing people.
Im supposed to brief you on our luxurious accommodations, Fed said.
Galen found he had received a message from Fed with several files attachedmaps, schedules, plans.
They have some rules. Everyone is required to help with the preparations, and work assignments are being coordinated by Herazade. Dont complain about your assignment, or youll beassigned to something less pleasant. Galen got the impression Fed was speaking from experience. Youre staying in Room 244, with me. Were roommates. Your lifetime dream, Im sure. My stuffs a little messy right now. Just ignore it; Ill clean it up later.
All the rooms are claustrophobia traps, so dont get your hopes up. If we keep to schedule, we should be out of here in two weeks. Any disputes should be brought immediately to a member of the Circle. I have to say that, because there have already been so many fights, things are getting pretty crazy. Its air-lock fever; its the tension. Fed shrugged. Its us.
Where is Elric?
Fed jerked a thumb toward the far end of the hangar. If you go out that door, youll find him in Room 288, down the hall to the right. The Circle has gathered there. He added, hesitantly, I think theyre examining Kells body.
Galen started down through the tall rows of supplies, his staff and breather in his right hand, valise in his left.
Fed followed. Is it true that Elizar and Razeel killed Kell? His voice had grown softer.
Yes, Galen said.
You saw Kell?
Yes.
Fed bowed his head, uncharacteristically thoughtful. Kell helped me once. With some trouble I was having. It was nothing major. It was pretty stupid, actually. But he took the time to talk to me. Fed was silent for a few seconds. Galen didnt think hed ever seen Fed quiet, except when someone else was speaking. When I saw Elric come out of that ship with a body, I feltoutrage, I guess is what it was. How could they do that?
Galen kept his voice neutral. The same way they killed before.
Elizar always seemed to take that mage arrogance thing a little too seriously. And Razeel, she was just plain creepy.
Galen wondered how Fed would categorize him.
How could they have overpowered Kell? And how could they have found out where we are? Kell resigned the Circle before those decisions were even made, Fed said.
I dont know.
A traitor?
Galen did not answer. They didnt have enough information.
Were going to have to move, arent we? If they know were gathering here, they could follow us to the hiding place.
I expect so. They had reached the far side of the hangar, and Galen stopped, hoping that perhaps Fed would return to his post.
Fed glanced into the plain beige hall and seemed to force the crooked smile back onto his face. Im lobbying for someplace warmer and more comfortable for our next gathering place. A nice resort with a beach. A bunch of pale-skinned techno-mages in black robes would fit right in.
Down the hall to the right, a large group of mages blocked the passage. Carvin stood out in her colorful Centauri silks, her head buried in her hands as she sobbed. Alwyn stood beside his former student, an arm over her shoulders, his jaw tight with anger. After Elric, they were the two mages he felt closest to. But Galen did not want to join them in their mourning.
Word travels pretty fast around here. Fe
d shrugged.
Galen had no doubt Fed had been the one to start the news spreading. He had always been a conduit of gossip. Secrecy seemed to be a part of the Code with which he was unacquainted. Which way is our room?
Fed nodded down the hall in the same direction as the crowd. No way around them. Fed tilted his head. Have you noticed, Galen? I can never get more than a sentence out of you.
I havent much to say.
But Ive never known someone more full of things to say. Feds eyes were narrowed in humor, though they remained fixed on him, revealing a more serious intent. Perhaps Fed wanted more gossip to spread. Or perhaps Fed simply wanted to be his friend, to encourage him to unburden himself. Fed had always behaved as if they were good friends, though Galen felt they barely knew each other. He certainly didnt understand Fed. He didnt know how someone could become a mage with minimal discipline, no sense of mage history, and little respect for the Code. In any case, Galen had no desire to speak, about anything, to anyone.
If I feel the urge to talk, Ill make sure to let you know.
He left Fed behind and walked toward the mages gathered in the passage. Perhaps fifty or a hundred of them blocked the way, crowding outside the closed door to Room 288, where the Circle now studied Kells remains.
Galen composed a message to Elric. I have destroyed Elizars ship. Do you have need of me ?
Gowen stood in the center of a large group who seemed to be bombarding him with questions. They would want to know what hed seen aboard Elizars ship. Gowens round cheeks were drawn up in dismay, his hands clenched together in white-knuckle prayer. He caught sight of Galen, fixed on him as if seeing a specter. Circe and Maskelyne, standing beside Gowen, stopped their questioning, and they too looked toward Galen. They would know that he had been with Elric, that he had seen Kells body.
Elrics response arrived. No. I am occupied with the Circle. You did well in getting us here. You should rest .
A few feet away, Alwyn followed the gaze of the others to Galen. His tight jaw relinquished a smile. Alwyn looked the same as he had last month, at the convocation. He wore his favorite loud, multicolored robe, a long black cape over it. His receding silvery hair, the bags beneath his eyes, his generous girthall suggested a softness that Alwyn often displayed, yet one that could vanish instantly when his anger was aroused. Galen didnt see any new weakness in Alwyn, though he too must have destroyed his place of power.
Babylon 5 17 - Techno-Mages 02 - Summoning Light (Cavelos, Jeanne) Page 6
