by JM Guillen
“Complying.”
The swamp seethed with the symbiont, fleshy lumps of semi-sentient organs and ichor.
Fucking lovely.
I turned my optics to the proper settings and looked in the right direction.
“There you are.” Wyatt gloated, just a touch. “Hidden, aren’t you?”
Nestled into a midnight crack in one of the mesas, I saw the glimmer of light as it canted off steel. The very air around the location seemed to boil and shimmer, like heat over a desert of stone.
“Structures of some kind.” I increased magnification, but it did no good. The mesa walls blocked my view.
“Hyper-Rationality emanates from that location.” Anya’s soft voice held certainty. “Every other axiomatic strand is bent violently away from that singular spot.”
“It’s a lot further than I expected.” I looked to Delacruz. “The map showed it, what, twenty minutes from the valley?”
“That’s Ad’uun travel time.” She shrugged.
“As the crow flies, remember.” Stone cleared his throat. “They might use temporal axioms to skip past the difficult topography. This however…”
We all looked down into the ravines as his voice trailed off.
Difficult didn’t even begin to cover it. Once we got down there, who knew how deep that water might be? Could the dune buggies even traverse swamp? Would it strip the skin from our bones?
“Now, we can’t see where Sadhana is holed up,” Stone charged on, matter of fact. “I would imagine they are in the valley around the Breach, but it’s impossible to tell from here.”
“More processing stations,” Wyatt commented, scanning away from our coordinates. “Quadrant 2-1.58. Also, 2-2.75 and 2-2.98.”
“That implies a road along those coordinates.” Anya looked as well, following Wyatt’s gaze. “If we can reach that, the topography may not be a challenge.”
“No, it wouldn’t be.” Stone shook his head in agreement. “However, taking the only available road through the badlands ensures that we will meet every Sadhana operative also using that road. Every guard, every alarm system they have, is likely to focus on that path.” He regarded us. “If it exists.”
“Okay.” I pulled back from my own binocular vision. “What then? If the road’s out and the swamp’s out...” I grinned. “You know, I’ve heard there’s a Facility helicopter in the region.”
“I had a different thought in mind.” Stone folded his arms, leaning back against his FAV. “More along the lines of something Guthrie and Delacruz worked on together.”
“The stupid idea.” I nodded. “I never heard the punchline for that one.”
“I think,” Wyatt drawled as he turned from Stone to Delacruz, “double-oh-seven here wants us to kick it across the mesa-tops.”
“With… a ramp?” Like an idiot, I gaped at Wyatt.
“With the Gatekeeper.” Delacruz leveled her gaze at the Liaison. “Dangerous. If I struggled accounting for aberrant vectors before, it’s ten times worse here, what with the emanations twisting everything.” She pointed toward the heat shimmer.
“Dangerous, but not impossible.” Like the savant he was, Wyatt spit on the ground.
“The last time I used Sofia’s fissure, the thing made me violently ill.” I glanced around, wondering if anyone would take the bait.
No one grinned.
“Wyatt knows what he’s doing with my fissure.” Delacruz gave me a level glare. “His equipment is more than capable of handling things.”
“It’d take more than one insertion.” Wyatt surveyed the mesas, calculating distance.
“Definitely.” She nodded. “I expect at least four.”
“We’d need a wide spread.” Wyatt stroked his scorched beard.
Neither of them so much as cracked a smile.
“Things grow more difficult the closer we get to the Breach.” If Anya understood any of the innuendo, I couldn’t tell. “Asset Guthrie will need continual telemetry in order to properly address the vectoral instability.” She paused, as if we should all know what came next.
“Ah.” That was Stone, picking up what she implied. “Anya’s telemetry will be overshadowed by Hyper-Rationality the closer we get to the Breach.”
“There’s no way to know by how much though.” Wyatt frowned then pointed. “That last mesa may not even be close enough to make a difference.”
“Okay.” Stone clapped his hands together. “Here’s my idea. But I’m going to warn you, this is an absolute puppy-close.”
“Puppy-clothes?” Anya blinked, completely lost. Of course, so was I, but Anya’s response made me chuckle.
Stone continued, “Close.” He smiled at her. “It’s a sales term for a psychological trick. I learned it from listening to Sadhana’s marketing team.”
Evil marketing team. Wyatt’s link came only to me.
“Okay.” Delacruz settled against her rail. “Do enlighten us.”
“Little girl goes into the pet shop. She has her father with her. She wants a puppy.” Stone looked at each of us. “Salesman says, ‘Why not take this puppy home for the weekend? If it doesn’t work out, you can bring her back.’”
“But…” Anya remained confused. “No one would bring the animal back. The child would be too upset.”
“Correct. The sale is already done the moment the suggestion is made. The little girl will throw a fit if they don’t take it home, and she’ll never want to bring it back.” He raised an eyebrow.
“That’s some shit.” Wyatt glanced my way.
I nodded.
“So, here’s my puppy close.” Stone paused to make certain we listened. “I would say we can make it close to the Breach in approximately three apertures.”
“Four.” Wyatt looked at the Liaison. “Sofia said four.”
“Four.” Stone waved his hand, as if to say ‘perhaps.’ “Anya can still read telemetry from there. “Let’s see how far we can make it. We might be able to get all the way to the Breach.”
“And if we don’t, we can always come back.” I nodded. “Puppy close.”
“But I don’t think the salesman ever intends for that animal to be returned.” Anya looked at me. “It’s trickery.”
“True. He doesn’t.” I eyed Stone and wondered about the gall it took to tell people about your verbal technique and then use it anyway.
And then to have it work.
But honestly, I didn’t see another choice.
“Does anyone have any better ideas?” I gazed at Delacruz and then Wyatt and Anya.
“Facility helicopter?” Wyatt asked and then sighed. “No, Hoss. I think that’s it.”
Delacruz simply nodded.
“Perfect.” Stone turned, looking toward the Breach. “As soon as the telemetry and mathematics are finished, we can head out.”
You heard the man, I linked to Wyatt, Anya, and Delacruz. You guys need to get to work.
Is he bragging about being useless? Delacruz, turned to Wyatt, disbelief writ large on her features.
Oh, honey. Wyatt shook his head as he gazed in pity at me. You truly have no idea how useless he can be.
54
Less than ten minutes later, my FAV hurtled along a worn stone trail behind Delacruz and Stone with Wyatt and Anya on point. The canyon’s rotten stench filled my nose as we careened along beneath a sky that would never see stars.
Approximately fifty meters in front of us, a crimson aperture hung in the air, singing softly.
Thankfully it didn’t drift or spin on its axis. In fact it looked exactly like every Gatekeeper aperture I had ever seen.
Readings stable, Anya linked from the front of the line. Spike integrity holding. We’re utilizing the fissure.
Wyatt and Anya hurled through the aperture.
Stable! Wyatt linked almost immediately, knowing we were on his heels. Hit it quick, folks!
This mattered, apparently. Wyatt’s spikes could, in fact, counter the slivers of broken space that plagued Ar’Ghosa. Howev
er, the moment he laid the spike, the mathematics involved began to shift and change.
Through! Stone’s link felt victorious. Your turn, Michael!
I was more than half certain that I would get shafted here, that in the seconds between Stone’s rail and my own, the vectors would shift just enough—
But no. I was through and clear. I didn’t even feel like puking on anyone.
Except maybe Stone. Just a little.
“Perfection itself.” Stone peered around at the rest of us, and I thought his shit-eating grin might split his face. “That’s what, two hundred meters?” He looked back at the ridge we had just been upon.
“Closer to three.” Delacruz already peered ahead, planning our next jump. “It’ll take a few minutes to plot the next vectors.”
“Whatever it takes.” I sighed in relief. “I enjoy my guts not being squeezed out my ears.” I gave her a thumbs up. “Spot on.”
Anya and Wyatt had stepped off their FAV to work out the best location for his next spike. Their body language was intent, all business.
I decided that perhaps this wasn’t the best time for my sass.
“Michael.” Stone’s baritone rumbled like the purr of a great cat. “I wanted to ask your opinion.”
“Yeah?” I canted my head at him. “Do tell.”
“I’m not certain how close we can get to the Breach, not any more than they are.” His head tilted toward Anya and Wyatt. “That means we need to be ready to fight our way through the last bit.”
“True enough.” I conceded.
“We won’t have our Preceptor’s abilities that close to The Spire. Without her, the Gatekeeper is likely not as useful.” Stone gave the smallest frown. “That leaves you and Wyatt as our primary offensive operatives, and the Artisan isn’t truly intended for combat, no matter how well Guthrie performs under pressure.” He shrugged. “I wondered how you expect to move us forward.”
“Um.” I vacillated, smiling. “Well, I usually make things up on the fly.”
“That’s not as helpful to me as you might think.” He chuckled. “I was actually hoping to have a plan in place before the fact.”
Weirdo. I nodded. “Well, here’s the thing, Stone. You’ve got a great mind when it comes to thinking about stealth and subterfuge. But I think you might be mistaken in your assessment of our values in a combat situation.”
“Okay.” He seemed to perk up. “I’m interested to hear your thoughts.”
Geez. Did the Designates literally program ten-thousand canned, politically correct responses into this guy?
I considered for a moment, then continued, “Once, Anya Petrova cut a man’s head off with one of my katanas. One Rudolfo Firenzei, a fierce and dangerous man.”
“She did?” Stone nodded, impressed.
“Guy was kind of a dick.” I grinned. “I also saw her wield a Calico back in Ryuu Tower like she knew what the thing was for.”
“Okay.” Stone held his hands up, as if they held the weighted ends of scales. “Sure. I mean, even I can shoot a gun. But I’m not—”
“After our little Mojave outing in Dossier I63-1998, Anya learned several key bits of Muay Thai. In Dhire Lith, I saw her deliver a kick that knocked her opponent on their ass.” I paused, considering. “Hell, when I’m ungeared, she might be able to take me. I’ve never actually learned any fighting arts.”
“I get it. You’re partial to Anya, and you think I’ve delegated her to a lesser role.” Stone nodded, as if he understood.
He didn’t.
“Not just that.” I blew out a breath, grasping for an explanation. “I was the first one to go through one of Sofia’s fissures here, as you well know.”
“It put you on your ass.” He permitted himself a small smile. “I remember.”
“Demetrius.” I stated, astonished he didn’t see it himself. “Isn’t that an excellent feature of the aberrant vectors? Making our opponents so sick they can’t stand? Why would you think Sofia is useless on offense?”
He gaped at me for a long moment.
“I don’t. I mean I didn’t—”
“But you kinda did. I mean, you’re being all political about it, but didn’t you approach this whole situation with the thought ‘Bishop is our primary combatant here’?”
“Well…” He paused for a long moment. “I suppose I did.”
“That’s all I mean: don’t decide that you know the value of our cadre before you see how things play out. You’d be stunned how shit goes down. In the end, we’ll all pull together and figure it out.”
“I see what you’re saying.” He nodded, but he didn’t quite meet my gaze.
For the first time since I met him, Stone’s posture was off, just a bit.
Then, like a hammer to the face, it hit me. Stone wasn’t talking about Anya or Sofia or Wyatt. Not at all. He was, after all a Facility Liaison. Hell, that Calico might be the first actual firearm he had touched in years.
We were about to descend into a potential pitched firefight with dozens of Sadhana operatives. There wasn’t any possibility that they didn’t know who we were, and they definitely expected us to show. There was no surprise there. No subterfuge, just punching through.
Liaison Demetrius Stone didn’t have a clue how we were going to make it or what he might do to help.
I let the alien thought settle in my mind. I had grown so used to thinking of the Liaisons as perfectly poised, prepared for any situation.
But this Liaison wasn’t. Not this time.
After a moment, I thought I had my response. “Now, honestly, to answer your first question,” I said as I raised my eyebrows, “I did have one strategy that I’d considered, but I’m afraid I can’t pull it off.”
“Really?” He tilted his head, curious.
“This little toy has been pretty handy.” I tapped the gauntlet on my arm and glanced down at its furious, silver light. “But it requires me to be completely out of harm’s way. Hidden, shielded.”
“I see…” He eyed the gauntlet.
“I’ve been able to catch the foe by surprise every time.” I grinned at him. “It’s far better than a simple disguise.”
“But you can’t engage it while you’re fighting.”
“Exactly. It’s a valuable tool, but we’ll need the Adept more.”
“Michael.” Stone eyed me. “You remember what I said about Liaisons, that we are trained in every nuance of communication.”
“Right.” I met his gaze.
“You’re trying to make me feel better.” His face turned a touch sheepish. “Caught me though, didn’t you?”
“Maybe a bit.”
For a long moment, we were both quiet, but it was a comfortable quiet, one where we mused together.
It felt nice.
“You were going to suggest I use that device.” Stone tilted his head toward it. “Subtly, I mean.”
“Well,” I vacillated, “Wyatt would probably break it. And Anya lacks the social mastery and grace it takes to deceive others.” I hesitated. “And Sofia needs to be in the field. I want to watch those Sadhana goons lose their lunch.”
“The Facade is still something I have access to.” His smile grew a touch wider. “That combined with your gauntlet…”
“I never thought about that,” I marveled. “Hell, Stone, you’re the one who spent the last year learning about this stuff. It should have been yours to begin with.”
“That’s kind of you to say.” He gave me a searching look. “But Michael, you discovered the thing. I don’t want to take it if it would create any kind of friction between us.”
“Demetrius.” I smiled as I unclasped the hinge. “That’s nonsense.” I handed him the gauntlet, rubbing my exposed arm.
He looked down at the device in his hands and fumbled it onto his right arm.
“Um.” I grimaced. “It goes on the left.”
“I’m left handed, so it would be—” He looked at me and then started to adjust it.
“No. No, that
’s fine.” I held up a hand. “It’s yours now. Do what you want.”
He turned toward me and nodded once.
“Thank you, Michael.” He gazed at me for a moment. “Honestly.”
Then he stepped away to speak with Sofia.
That was downright sweet. I turned around to see Wyatt Guthrie leaning against a wind-shaped stone. Where are you two registered?
Fuck off, Guthrie. I gave the genius-level hillbilly a grin. Are we going home or what?
It’s time. He chuckled. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for this party to be over.
Absolutely. Let’s go home.
55
It did, in fact, take four mesa-tops to get us a view of the Breach.
Telemetry is in wild variance. Anya stood at the edge of a rock tower, looking down on the field-of-battle-to-be. I am uncertain of the best course down.
“I still have the coordinates for our last aperture.” Delacruz ran her hand through her hair, as she peered over the edge. “I’d say it’s about three hundred meters down.” She faced Stone. “That’s my outside limit before things get hard.”
This revelation blew me away. When I had geared the Gatekeeper, my brain felt fried if I went too much over fifty meters. However, the Corona augment grew simpler to use with time.
Delacruz had mastered the thing.
“Hard or impossible?” Stone asked.
He also stood at the edge. Like me, he was examining the extensive Sadhana fortifications that ran along the make-shift road.
Dozens of men scrambled around like ants directly below us. Three other watchtowers sat within view, as well as another processing station off to the far left.
The Sadhana operatives had set up mounted automatic weapons in gun nests and sophisticated barriers along the road.
It did not look like a simple run.
“Hard.” Delacruz fixed Stone with her dark gaze. “And that’s making use of Guthrie and his massive tool.”
