The wine was a sharp, cold counterpoint to the heat of the pool, the glass was slippery with condensation, and the alcohol seemed to move quickly into Cygnus’ hindbrain. Any residual complaints Penny might have were drowned out entirely.
‘This is your first real brush with death, is it not?’ Dom asked.
‘Well, there was the fire…’
‘But you were not hurt then. This time there was blood. If he had used both barrels, he might have hurt you badly. If he had aimed for the head, he might have killed you.’
‘If you put it like that…’
‘I have become used to this. I do not think that is a good thing. If you had not been there when Pulya attacked me, I might not be here to give you this talk. The SOP has tried more than once to kill me. Twice they have come close. It is not a good way to live.’
‘No… No, I’d imagine that’s stressful at best.’
‘Dah.’ Dom took a pull on her wine glass. ‘You have the way of escaping. I am told that you change shape to become… this.’
‘Yes. It’s useful. I’m someone totally different when I don’t want to be Cygnus.’
‘June, she is worried that you want to be Cygnus full-time. Oh, she says nothing, but I watch her as you pose. She sees you enjoying yourself. You are more confident now than you were last Sunday. You have great gift in being able to put this all aside and be someone normal. Do not cast it aside without thinking of what you lose.’
Cygnus was silent for a few seconds, sipping her wine and feeling her brain loosen as she did so, but Dom deserved something in reply…
‘When I change, my personality shifts a little. I think… I think I have all this power, and without it I’m a bit of a klutz, as graceful as a cow, nothing much to look at… I am more confident as Cygnus, and I’ve spent all week being more or less her. I haven’t been just her since I first changed and didn’t know how to change back. I’ve had the chance to really get into the character. I think that’s what June is seeing. I don’t intend to stay this way full-time. I mean, for starters, can you imagine the paperwork?’
‘I can. You should have seen the paperwork when I defected. You make light, but I am glad to see you are keeping perspective. All this glamour, it can go to your head, make you think everything is… rosy? That is right word?’
‘Seeing things through rose-tinted specs,’ Cygnus said, nodding. ‘Actually, it’s the other me that needs glasses.’
The tall Russian chuckled softly. ‘You make sure June knows you will not be staying tall and beautiful all the time.’ There was a swish of water and suddenly Dom was right in front of Cygnus’ face, arms on either side of her shoulders. ‘Now… Pulya interrupted me in the middle of something.’
Cygnus was about to reply when Dom’s mouth covered hers.
~~~
‘So,’ June said, her voice low, reserved for Penny, ‘Dom got you then?’
Penny flicked a glance at her. ‘How did…?’
‘She’s looking far too smug.’
‘Oh. Her idea for a shoot was apparently a ploy to get me in a hot tub.’
‘Right… So what did you think?’
‘It was… I mean, I enjoyed it, but… There was something missing?’
‘Cock?’ June asked, grinning at the look of outrage she got.
‘Well, maybe,’ Penny replied, relenting on the outrage, ‘but I think it was something else. Lack of connection. She’s hot, sensuous, but I don’t know her that well and we were just doing it for the sex.’
June was silent for a few seconds. Then she said, ‘So what are we doing tomorrow?’
‘Oops… Forgot to ask.’
New Millennium City, MD, 15th November.
Red stepped out of her private elevator and stopped, standing in the darkness of her apartment, silently waiting. Her nose twitched as a scent caught her attention.
‘You’re going to have to explain to me how you got past my security, young lady,’ she said, starting off across the floor into the lounge.
A light came on beside the couch. ‘Sorry, but I didn’t know how else to contact you,’ Twilight said. ‘I can’t exactly walk into the club dressed like this.’
‘You could have come as Andrea.’ Red tapped her nose. ‘I knew when you turned up in costume. There are some masking techniques I could let you in on if you want to avoid that in the future.’
Twilight reached up and pulled off her mask to reveal the frowning face beneath. ‘You didn’t say anything.’
‘Not my secret to reveal. Does Cygnus know?’
‘Yes, and I know who she is. It was just in case something happens.’
‘Good.’ Red sat down in a chair more or less facing her guest. ‘I’m guessing that’s not what you came here to discuss.’
‘I caught wind of a new drug, something called “Excelsior,” being produced by a Brazilian group. Their salesman, a guy named Hernando Vasquez, was here trying to sell it to the Tonaldos and Ghostfire’s bunch. I was wondering whether you’d heard anything about it.’
Red frowned for a second. ‘It’s not ringing any bells. I can ask around. Anything special about it?’
‘It kills Ultras.’
‘I’ll definitely look into it. However, there is another person you should try. Do you know where Zephyr lives?’
The Everglades, FL.
Jon was a little nervous of the three, very large, male alligators he was currently taking pictures of, but they were behaving themselves. In fact, they were doing whatever Ever asked them to do, which was currently posing with her for photographs. Dom had had a burst of inspiration in the night, and it also gave them a perfect way to say their farewells to the spirit of the Everglades.
‘Your healing capability is nothing like mine,’ Ever commented as she coaxed a gator into showing more teeth, ‘but it is quite remarkable for a human.’
Cygnus grinned. ‘I’m not exactly human. Not in the traditional sense.’
‘That’s great,’ Jon said, eyeing the alligator dubiously, ‘but there’s still a little too much nipple showing.’
‘Here, let me,’ Cygnus offered, stepping forward and adjusting blue-green hair strands until the offending darker flesh was obscured.
‘This will have to be the last one,’ Ever stated as Jon took several shots. ‘My friends are becoming bored. They really have no idea what we’re doing and I’m afraid ecology is not a concept they can grasp.’
‘Well, I think we’re done,’ Jon said, ‘and I’m not going to keep them longer than we need to.’
Ever climbed to her feet, patted each of the reptiles, smiling as she did so, and then sent them on their way.
‘You are leaving tomorrow?’ she asked as the gators slipped into the water with barely a ripple.
‘First thing,’ Dom replied. ‘It’s been a pleasure working with you.’
‘Please, keep me informed of the progress of the project. I must admit, it has been rather pleasant, a change from my normal routine, aside from that hunter. I was unable to find him, I assume you’ll see him again?’
‘Personally,’ June said, ‘I hope not.’
‘But if I do,’ Cygnus said, ‘I’ll give him a punch in the face for you.’
Ever smiled. ‘My dear, he’s male, kick him in the balls instead.’
Part Five: Falling
New Millennium City, MD, 15th November 2013.
To Twilight the house looked like three hat boxes stacked on top of each other, or maybe some sort of weird-ass circular step-pyramid. It was certainly visible, almost glaring. On the other hand, she spotted at least three cameras on the way up the drive which she could have avoided, but it was not like she was trying to sneak up on the place.
She was about to press the bell button beside the door when a voice came from the speaker grill above it. ‘Come in, young lady.’ The accent was similar to Vasquez’s, presumably Brazilian. ‘The door is open.’
Raising an eyebrow, she pushed open the door and walked in, continuing strai
ght ahead because there seemed to be no reason to deviate. The architecture continued to be odd; she passed under a large opening in the ceiling without any stairs, and then into a large, circular area which seemed to function as a lounge.
‘Would you care for a glass of wine?’ The speaker was a handsome, very fit man with a scar on one cheek: Zephyr. ‘If you are looking for Cygnus, she is not back from Miami.’
‘You know who I am?’
‘I recognise your description from what our mutual friend has told me, and Red mentioned that you might drop by.’
Nodding, Twilight walked over to a couch and sat down. ‘I don’t usually drink on duty, but thanks for the offer. Did Red explain why I’d be coming over?’
‘She mentioned a drug and a name. I did some checking. This man, Vasquez, is senior in the Veado Branco cartel. I don’t know them well. They were formed in Salvador after I left São Paulo, but they have made something of a name for themselves with designer drugs. Mostly based on cocaína, but some of a more exotic nature. They have not moved outside South America before. This is a worrying departure from their normal habits.’
Twilight shrugged. ‘Ghostfire ran them out of town. I don’t think they’ll be back soon.’
‘This Ghostfire is something else I am concerned about. The Tonaldos are… I know you wish to bring them down, and I consider that a laudable goal, but they are a known quantity with no desire to bring Ultrahumans into organised crime. Ghostfire is a very different beast. You have seen him, he is no longer just a ghost…’
‘I heard him. He’s invisible.’ Twilight frowned. ‘Something about his voice. I know I’ve heard it before.’
‘I think that looking for this man should take temporary priority over your crusade against the Tonaldo family, if you do not mind an old, inactive Ultra making such a suggestion.’
‘I’ll take it under advisement,’ Twilight replied.
16th November.
‘You know,’ Penny said as she walked into the apartment, ‘a bit of travel is nice, but coming home after is really good.’
June giggled, dumped her suitcase, kicked off her shoes, and dropped onto the sofa. ‘You’re telling me. My only complaint is that we have to go back to work tomorrow.’
‘Huh, yeah. I’m going to get changed.’ Dragging her case, Penny headed off toward her room and June’s heart sank.
Cygnus had become Penny in a restroom at the airport, and had seemed more uncomfortable in her body than usual. She had stumbled twice getting out to the taxi rank, almost as if her normal form was now expecting heeled shoes. She had removed her glasses and cleaned them three times between the airport and their building, and she had grumbled at the number of steps they had to negotiate to get to their floor. And now she was going to change…
Penny emerged from her bedroom, still the same shape, but wearing the wrap she had bought for Cygnus. It was a little longer on her shorter body and it closed properly over her chest, but Penny seemed happy until she saw June’s look of relief.
‘You thought I was going to change into Cygnus?’
‘Well… yes,’ June replied.
Penny walked around the couch and sat down, taking her glasses off before curling up. The lack of corrective lenses made June a little blurry, but at a couple of feet it was not too bad.
‘I spent all week as her, I think that’s enough until tomorrow at least.’ Penny grinned. ‘I should have worn this before though; it feels good against this skin too.’
On impulse, June reached out and stroked her fingers over Penny’s cheek, half expecting a flinch and not getting it. ‘It’s the same, beautiful skin.’
‘I’m not beautiful, June,’ Penny replied softly. ‘Maybe I’m not as ugly as I think, but I’m not beautiful.’
June gave a shrug. She was never going to convince her friend that there was more to beauty than looks. ‘Your skin is, and your eyes. Cygnus can’t improve on those.’
‘Your blurry image suggests you’re wrong, but I’ll accept your point. I’ve got good skin. And I don’t have a moustache, which I think is good.’
June giggled. ‘See? You’re a thing of beauty. Is some of that Cygnus confidence leaking over into Penny?’
‘Maybe a little. Maybe I’m just happy not being her for a while. She’s great, but she’s not really me.’
‘You’re just as good as she is, just… different good.’
It was Penny’s turn to giggle. ‘That was not English. Where did you go to school, girl?’
17th November.
Work, real sitting-behind-a-desk work, seemed more draining than usual after a week of being pampered by Susan. Penny endured. She worked through the pile in her in-tray without outward sign of complaint and, for the first time she could think of, actually contemplated making money as a model, as June had suggested all those months ago.
She doubted that June would have made the same suggestion now, or liked it if Penny had gone ahead with the idea. And, in truth, she had no intention of doing so. For it to work she would have to give up being Penny. Worse, she would have to give up June; it would not be safe for the girl if she was Cygnus’ flatmate.
Busy as she was, she almost missed the doodle on Mister Thorpe’s notes. It was another eagle, this one more like the kind of emblem she had seen in history classes. A Roman standard, or… The Nazis had used similar symbology, or she thought they had.
Almost from habit she snapped a picture of it with her phone and sent it to her UltraNet account, and then she forgot about it as she got on with clearing her work pile.
~~~
‘Excelsior is more dangerous than we could have imagined,’ Kopf stated, his eyes glowing, ‘and more useful.’
Ghostfire’s voice sounded sceptical when he replied. ‘Useful? A drug which can render an Ultra mindless or dead is useful?’
‘In its raw state, no, but dangerous, yes. It acts upon the brain by accelerating communication between the hemispheres. In a normal human this results in the omnipotent feeling the drug induces. Ultras, I have long theorised, already have a stronger inter-hemispheric link. The increase results in mental collapse, or a vast increase in cosmic energy production which causes physical damage when the body is unable to contain it, or…’
‘Or?’ Ghostfire prompted.
‘Or the Ultra may adapt in some way. The genes governing Ultrahuman powers are, essentially, a mechanism allowing some humans to adapt to extreme circumstances. An Ultra taking Excelsior could gain far greater power, but the effect would likely result in mental instability.’
‘Great power, but you go mad. I am failing to see the real upside.’
Kopf smiled. ‘Ah, but I am both a genius, and an expert in the process of Ultrahuman manifestation. I see great potential here. Not, perhaps, to gain greater power permanently, but I may be able to create a version which enhances your existing powers for a short period.’
‘Useful,’ Ghostfire agreed.
~~~
‘I met your friend Zephyr while you were away,’ Twilight said. Once again she was meeting Cygnus at the top of the Trade Center; it was a useful site and the view was good.
‘Oh? How is he? I haven’t seen him for a week.’
‘Seemed okay to me. Handsome guy, you’re a lucky girl.’
Penny smiled. ‘I think so.’
‘I needed his advice on a South American drug dealer. He was helpful. He also suggested we should concentrate on Ghostfire and his crew.’
‘He did? That would mean letting Tonaldo off the hook for a bit, right?’
‘I figure I can still keep an eye on them and we can focus on Ghostfire. Lena’s been bugging me to come around more often. If I give in a little then I can keep up to date while we hunt down Ghostfire. Who, by the way, is invisible.’
‘I guess that explains the “ghost” part of his name.’
‘And why no one seems to know what he looks like. I don’t suppose you’ve got any bright ideas about how to find him?’
‘Nope
. I guess we turn our attention to his people, see if anyone working for him knows anything. I’ll ask Red if she knows a good place to start.’
Twilight nodded. ‘It’s a start. Oh… Um, I have a favour to ask.’
‘Shoot,’ Penny replied without a second’s thought.
‘Well, my day job… I work at a comic store, Radium…’
‘I know it.’ Penny gave her a grin. ‘Isn’t an Ultra working in a comic shop kind of weird?’
Twilight shrugged. ‘Pays the bills, or it will if it keeps going, but the owner is a little worried about sales. He thinks an evening where Cygnus turned up to sign comics, maybe promote that calendar you did? That could bring in more casual buyers.’
‘Okay.’
‘Just like that?’
‘Could be fun, and Svetilo would probably like the publicity for the calendar. Maybe she could get some pictures done up to give away, we took some with me in costume.’ There was another grin. ‘It’s a shame Twilight can’t be there.’
‘Huh. I’ll tell him you’re willing and set it up. Thanks. Really. You don’t have to do this.’
‘We’re partners,’ Penny replied. ‘We’re supposed to help each other out.’
20th November.
The man probably weighed as much as Cygnus and Twilight combined. He was suspended six inches above the sidewalk, his legs kicking frantically, and the front of his jacket held firmly in Cygnus’ right fist, at arm’s length. The kicking was getting him nowhere, but it was starting to get annoying.
‘I don’t like drug dealers,’ she pointed out. ‘I especially don’t like drug dealers peddling to kids in Friendship, so here’s the deal. You tell me everything you know about Ghostfire and I’ll hand you over to the cops.’
‘H-how’s that a deal?’ the dealer replied.
‘Well, if you don’t tell me, then I’ll give you to Twilight here so she can ask.’
Twilight smiled at the man, and reached over her shoulder for her sword.
‘Look, I don’t know nothing. No one does. He’s never seen. We get instructions by phone. The goods’re dropped off by couriers. No one knows nothing about him.’
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