“Shouldn’t you be sober for this?” Ila asked. Niur nostrils flared in a miniature version of Sanul’s own.
“The ‘web is best hacked high, don’t you know?” He displayed his crystal teeth in a grin.
Ila shook niur head. “Make sure you are there for Haem Cygni.”
“How long have you known me? I will be there for her, I promise. I do my best work inebriated.” He jammed the leaf into his mouth and started chewing.
Ila sighed. “I will monitor the network in case you trip off the alarm.”
“Sounds like we’re good on this plan, then. Remember, my loop-jammer field will follow me. I’ll take you to the lift, Cygni, so security won’t realize you’re the same person who left this room.” The “loop-jammer” was one of the cybernetic implants Giselle had for corporate espionage. As she explained earlier, it made the security scanners display what she wanted them to, so as far as security would be concerned they were having a rather banal meeting about selling the Cosmos Corp Transport and Communications Network right now.
“Sounds good.” Cygni stood up and her belly bulged with added bulk. She set her clothing to change color and resemble the tech staff’s uniforms. “Looks like Biren is missing out today. I guess we can get going now.”
“Damn, that thing really works.” Giselle looked her up and down. “Come on.”
“Sanul, make sure the name—” she queried her chameleon implant for a random ID. “—Sarasa Bless is in the HR computer as a maintenance tech.”
“Will do,” he said as she and Giselle headed out of the office.
The cubicles in the suite had high walls for privacy, so she didn’t have to worry about employees wondering where this portly technician came from. They crossed the expansive office floor without incident and got into a lift that was waiting for them at the bank.
She took a deep breath and let it out slow, trying to neutralize the sudden acidity of her stomach through sheer force of will. If she got caught, well, it was best not to think about how Revenant had a way of making his foes disappear, or how the person she needed to rely on most was the same one who put her in the hands of a crazy baroness and her Orgnan slaver friends.
By the goddess, what am I doing? she thought.
The lift arrived with a pleasant chime and the doors slid open.
“Shall we?” Giselle gestured for her to enter.
She nodded and forced her legs to move.
Chapter Twelve
Phykor, Mitsugawa-Colonial System 1288
41:2:43 (J2400:3174)
He felt her in the hallway outside the room, and knew at once she was looking for the doorway she passed through an hour ago. Ichiro, kneeling on the floor with Hoshinagi laying before him, looked up at the smooth, white wall and concentrated. He felt a burning sensation in his chest, and the wall shifted, peeling back like animated clay as it restored the doorway. Armstrong stiffened and her mismatched eyes went wide. Tengu, laying beside him, picked up his head and snorted.
“You’re learnin’ to work the doors,” she said.
“Yes.” He gestured for her to enter, then willed the door closed behind her. “Setha’s nanomachines allow me to interface with the Savorchan technology. They respond to intent and emotions.”
She sat down across from him and waited.
“It’s something she taught me.” He sighed.
“I still don’ remember anythin’. One moment I was movin’ towards you two, then I woke up here with you.”
“I can’t remember anything either. I think Setha threw herself on me for some reason. There was a green flash…” He looked down at Tengu. “Maybe he remembers more than we do.”
“Maybe,” Armstrong said. “Too bad you can’ talk to him.”
He sighed, wishing he could. Setha seemed to be able to, but he hadn’t learned enough about how to control the Cephalon nanomachines. Perhaps he would in time, but without her instruction it was an uphill battle of trial and error. He still didn’t know why his and Tengu’s eyes were green. Tengu probably knew where she was, she told him once that the two of them were tightly bonded.
“Sorry, sir,” Armstrong added. He could feel that she took his silence as a rebuke.
“No need to be.” He moved to ask about what she learned, but hesitated. There was something more important to inquire about first. “How are you holding up?”
“Maybe better’n you.” She shrugged.
“I appreciate your honesty.”
“Tellin’ it like it is. I was raised to do that.”
“It’s not a bad thing. It’s refreshing, actually. Good to know you’re all right,” he said.
“I miss my people, of course,” she added.
“Once we figure things out, I promise we’ll go back for them. The ship I have in mind at Seika Zōsensho can help with that.”
She frowned. “We should be realistic. It can wait. My people will be okay, you shouldn’ be worryin’ about that. You can’ afford a battle with the Brogh right now, not ‘till you’re back on your feet, chef-mann.”
He knew she was right, but he didn’t want to accept that he had to leave people who’d served him well stranded behind enemy lines. “I’m sorry it has to be like this, but—”
“No need to explain.” She licked her lips. “Let’s get on with things.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “What did the Prior say?”
“Prior Auks, I like his name, incidentally.” She cocked a smile. “He said he’s got it about figured now. He should be able to put us in the system, but no guarantees after that. The twins are workin’ on modifyin’ their rover to be space-worthy. Still, we’ll only have a few hours of air once we appear.”
“Because the Cephalon sphere can only target a star system and not a planet’s surface,” he nodded, remembering the lecture the Savorchan gave them earlier. “With luck, we’ll only need a few hours. He just needs to get us close enough to the star.”
“Jus’ not in it.”
To his surprise, laughter erupted from his throat. “Yes, of course. Just not in it.”
He picked up Hoshinagi and got to his feet, putting it carefully into the obi wrapped around his waist. She followed him up, her armor clicking.
“That can’t be comfortable,” he said. “You’ve been wearing it for nearly a day now.”
“Not like I have anythin’ else. I seem to have left my abendkleid at home,” she said.
“Your what?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Abenkleid—I believe you core-worlds call it an evenin’ dress.”
He smiled. “Just so, but still… Maybe you can borrow something of Europa’s.”
“That high-tower’s outfits won’ fit a little girl like me.”
He almost choked on his own saliva. She was shorter, of course, but describing herself as “little” when she was built as strong as she was made him blanch. Armstrong was not a “little girl.” Stout would be more the correct word, he mused.
“Somethin’ funny?” she asked.
“No, nothing.” He concentrated and opened the door.
“Hang on,” she said.
“Yes?”
“About those twins, you know them?”
“They came to Taiumikai with their father a few years ago for a conference we hosted. Setha and her Savorchan father were there, too. I spent a week with them before they gave the demonstration.”
“Yeah, they called it the Gemini System. What was it?”
“I don’t really remember. Why?”
“I’m curious. They seem to, ah, complete each other’s sentences and whatnot. It’s a bit strange. Also, I was watchin’ ‘em work an’ they seem to be more coordinated than is normal.”
“A lot of siblings are, I guess.”
“No, I mean like they are sharin’ somethin’ more than their genes. They don’ just complete each other’s sentences, they complete each other’s tasks. They don’ even need to talk to do it. Do you know what I mean?”
“Not sure,”
he said. “There are implant programs that do things like that. Ground troops use something like it to avoid shooting each other in combat.”
“I guess it could be somethin’ like that,” she said. “But I think there’s somethin’ more. It’s hard to explain, an’ it gives me the creeps.”
“I’ll keep an eye out,” he said, not sure what else he could do.
“All right.”
Ichiro gave her a moment to make sure she had nothing else to say, then headed into the corridor listening to the click of her armor as she followed him. Tengu came trotting up beside him as he walked. Although the temple was fairly large, he spent some time learning the layout on their floor, and the way back down to the Pool of Shakhrath, just in case. He led them down to the level just above it where there was an exit into the cave system in which the temple was built. Ten meters back from the soap-bubble glow of the aegis guarding the temple’s exit, the twins’ rover was parked in a large room. Both Enéas and Europa were still working on it when they arrived. Each had a tool in one hand, and were buzzing around the four-wheel rover’s open compartments like insects.
Armstrong held up her arm in front of him before they could progress past the room’s entrance. “Jus’ watch ‘em for a moment.”
He frowned at her, but nodded and looked on. Tengu raised his head and sniffed at the air. He could feel the cerberai’s curiosity.
At first it seemed there was nothing unusual about the way the twins were working. They were busy, and their concentration seemed intense, but it was as he would have expected for people tasked with a time-sensitive assignment. As he watched, however, he began to see what Armstrong meant. They did appear unusually coordinated as they worked to some soft pop music playing in the background. One would hand the other a tool without asking, or hold a panel from around the corner of the vehicle without looking so the other could weld it. That was unusual, but it could still be explained by implant to implant contact. However, the convincing moment came when Ichiro watched Enéas hold a tool up and let it go within arm’s reach of Europa. Her hand shot out and snatched it from the air before it could fall even a centimeter while her eyes remained trained on the machinery to her opposite side. There was no way she could have seen where Enéas released the tool, not unless she was somehow able to see through his eyes.
“Okay, I’ll give it to you, that is eerie,” he said.
“That’s what I meant,” Armstrong whispered back.
The twins’ heads snapped up as one, their blue eyes locked onto his. The music cut out.
“Baron, we didn’t realize you entered the room,” Europa said. They got to their feet.
“He’s quiet like that, very good at sneaking up on people, remember?” Enéas said, looking mischievous. “We’re almost finished.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Ichiro said, hoping again that they didn’t get into what happened four years ago. He moved deeper into the room. “Armstrong told me Prior Auks is almost finished with his calculations.”
“We’ll be finished in time,” Europa said.
“We’re eager to help,” her brother added.
“Well, don’t let me stop you.”
The twins knelt back down as one and sparks began to fly from welding points as they resumed their work.
“Great,” he whispered and gave Armstrong a look.
“Do you see what I mean now?” she asked. “Creepy.”
He nodded. “I don’t remember them being like this before.”
“Well, they’re like this now.”
He stroked his chin, wondering if he should press for more information. Their eerie behavior was curious, but if it was a result of this “Gemini System” his father rejected, maybe it could have some use. Perfect coordination in large groups could provide a serious advantage under certain circumstances.
“May I interrupt again?” he asked.
“Of course,” Europa responded, holding a panel in place for her brother to weld. “Do you mind if we continue working while you talk?”
“Not at all. I was thinking about the last time we met. You two came to Taiumikai to give a demonstration of that Gemini System. I know my father rejected it, but can I ask why?”
Enéas responded without looking up. “Your father felt that such a system would be useless on the battlefield since Shiragawa does not employ biologicals in ground combat.”
“He also felt it would be redundant with existing systems for aerospace operations,” Europa continued. “And…”
Ichiro waited for her to finish, but she didn’t. “And?”
“We hesitate to say, but your father’s last objection—” Enéas began.
“—had to do with the implementation method of the Gemini System. He had personal reservations,” Europa finished.
He frowned. “Personal reservations?”
“We thought he would be more open to it than other barons since he already harbored and actively promoted CELs,” Enéas stated.
“The Gemini System has to do with Cyber-Evolved Life forms?”
“Yes, and no,” Europa said.
“Okay. What is the Gemini System?”
There was a long pause before they answered. He took the chance to exchange another look with Armstrong. She nodded, then knelt down on one knee beside Tengu and started stroking his fur. She rested her other arm on the butt of her weapon.
“Father is keeping it secret,” Europa answered him.
“But considering you already saw it four years ago, ah—” Enéas cut himself off.
“Well, simply put it is hardware and software that links individuals into a private network. It allows us to function as a single organism,” Europa said.
“That doesn’t sound so objectionable. Why did my father reject it?”
“Because the connection it makes is more intimate than systems in common use, and that is only one part of the Gemini. It is integrated into a machine father calls the Vita Ex Machina,” Enéas answered.
“And what is that?”
The twins both sighed at once. “We aren’t allowed to say. It’s an EpiGenome trade secret.”
EpiGenome was LeRoux’s barony, which was itself a conglomeration of many smaller baronies with different focuses. Their fields included cybernetics and genetic engineering. It made sense that the Gemini System would be related to that.
“So, I take it I won’t be finding out what this Vita Ex Machina is anytime soon?”
“Not today, at least,” Enéas said.
“Maybe someday, though.” Europa drew a surprised look from her brother.
Ichiro cocked an eyebrow. It seemed they weren’t in perfect sync every moment after all.
Tengu let out a low, growling sound, turned around, and twitched his ears. A moment after Ichiro sensed a presence approaching. It was large and hot, and felt like standing in a shaft of sunlight for too long.
“You sense it, too, don’t you?” he whispered to his four-legged companion.
Tengu snorted in response.
“Baron Mitsugawa,” Auks’ translator reverberated as the big Savorchan appeared in the corridor behind them. “May I have a word in private?”
“Of course.” He nodded at Armstrong and Tengu, then followed Prior Auks into the corridor. The door flowed shut behind them. “How can I help you?”
“I have finished my calculations. I can place you in your Seika Zōsensho system.”
“Thank you, sincerely.” He bowed deep. “I owe you.”
“I am aware of the alliance between Irin and your House, however, I must ask that you give me your word you will help the other temples.”
“I have already given my word.”
“No, you have promised to help me here, you have not promised to liberate the others.”
He frowned. “How many are there?”
“Thirty-seven outposts are still manned, not counting Savorcha itself.”
Ichiro’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I assume you are going to make this a condition
of helping me. I have another mission to complete first. I cannot spend the time traveling between thirty-seven different colonies and purging each one of Revenant forces, not with a single ship.”
“You have only one ship?” Auks asked. “I thought the Mitsugawa had many. You have a self-defense force.”
“True, but most of those have only AlCas drives at best. To send them all over the Spur would take months, and to tell you the truth, I cannot spare them. Revenant has declared war on me by attacking this colony. Once I respond I will need all the forces I can get.”
“Your father promised to support us,” Auks said.
He took in a deep breath and let it out slow. He couldn’t promise this. Even with the vastly superior Fukurō drive on the new ship, it would take far too long. He still had to bring Revenant down in the Barony, still had to meet up with Praetor Graves, and he had to find Setha, wherever she might be.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t do it right now.”
“Then I will not help you,” Auks said.
“I was afraid you were going to say that,” he sighed. “Look, if what I do in the Barony is successful you may not have to worry about the other temples.”
“No?” Auks’ long tail swayed back and forth in the air behind him.
“If I am successful at Kosfanter, Baron Revenant will be undone. His forces will be leaderless and paralyzed. I’ll make sure they get cleared out after.”
A deep rumbling sound came from within the Savorchan’s body. “Is this true?”
“I promise.”
“Provided you are successful?” Auks said.
He nodded. “Yes.”
“And if you are not?”
“Then it will be war. I’ll make sure your fellow Savorchans are defended as best as I can manage.”
“And what does that mean?”
Ichiro took in a deep breath. How could he word this and still be honest? “I will make sure that the temples’ liberation is a priority. That is the best I can do.”
“You must do better.”
“I can’t. Look, Armstrong’s people are in need of my help, but she understands it has to wait. What I need to do first is important.” He stared at the upside-down pear shape of the Savorchan’s skull, and willed the big sentient to understand. His chest heated up.
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