An almost-human figure came through the car at one point; his lack of cheap, visible implants marked him out as upper class. With a flick of her consciousness Helena’s Tertiary AI identified him as a legal assistant, aged thirty-two, working for Amston Partners in the City. He was called Kevin. Helena smiled at the name, his class and their futile aspirations towards Oligarchy. Richer Normals often choose old names, to adopt a sense of history. Kevin was not a name many Oligarchs used, it simply didn’t have the right feel for a group who had collective memories spanning hundreds of years.
David managed to coax from Helena details about her family, in particular her brother Michael. Helena didn’t mind; she missed Michael terribly. He was the one person she really wished to talk to, and he was also completely out of reach. The Cloud war between Euros and Indexiv meant no personal data traffic between groundside and the orbitals was permitted. Helena expected she would either hear of Michael’s death on the news or receive a message from him alive and well at the end of the conflict. For his part, he understood loneliness in a way she knew she’d never had to grapple with. She reflected that having a difficult AI leave her feeling alone didn’t really compare to the life he’d chosen to live.
Coming out of the station, Helena asked David, “When I threw him at you, who were you trying to hit?”
He was silent for a while as they left the station, and she walked in the direction that seemed most familiar to her before he answered.
“I was shooting at you.”
The twilight of early morning was alive with birds, their calls in a variety she didn’t recognise and at a volume she found hard to believe.
Their presence was noticed by the streams of Normals around them. More than one person stopped short when confronted by two Oligarchs walking at ground level in the early morning far from the City. It was as if the world came to a halt two metres from the edge of Helena. Men walked into things, women stared openly. David was less perfect, his skin less maintained and his unusual height more acceptable to those around them. Helena was fragilely beautiful; they knew what she was, and combined with her appearance, she was a spectacle. No one lost it so completely as to follow them about, but Helena felt at risk.
“Don’t worry Helena,” said David. “No one will ever ask them anything interesting, regardless of what they know.”
The variety of size and shape amongst the Normals was not something Helena had ever had much cause to think on before. Her experience was limited to those who had access to her household. They had never been anything more than servants, assistants and tutors. Helena was as interested in those around her as they were in her, taking in the vocational cybernetics on show, the cutting tools, the replaced eyes and limbs. A number of those they passed had altered skin; for the most part, it had been toughened, their roles probably involving something dangerously hostile to natural human skin.
They passed just one pleasure-oriented Normal, his skin smooth and colourful, changing its tone slightly to match Helena’s as they passed. He caught her eyes and flashed a smile; she returned it, passing on without slowing. There was something otherworldly about his kind, their bones were flexible, their eyes pearlescent. Most had portions of their minds frozen in early childhood to prevent them from developing abstract preferences. It enhanced their value if they had no dislikes or disinclinations when it came to sex and its provision. Most were engineered by parents who believed it was the best way for their children to mix with the Families, and hence provide something better for the generation after that. They were permitted small numbers of highly targeted nanomachines who worked on the outer layers of their skin. It was enough to give them the illusion of youth.
Longevity was not a matter of wealth or influence. It was legislated that only the original Families were permitted access to restricted technology. There were no exceptions.
Traces of the City could be felt; tower blocks occasionally loomed out of the shadows rising into the night like outposts of long forgotten civilisations. Yet in the main, the edge of the City existed at ground level, and most of the buildings they passed had doors that opened directly onto the streets.
Almost before she recognised it Helena said, “This is it.”
David looked up at an ancient sign proclaiming ‘the Lion and Trumpet’. There was a small picture above it with a stylised lion blowing a simple horn. The painting was crude and drawn by hand.
A date was inscribed in the lintel above the front door: AD 1889. Chalmers had no idea what the AD stood for, but if the dates were comparable, then it was well over four hundred years old. Helena stood waiting for him, indecision on her face.
Her AI had not yet finished whatever it had decided needed doing and, standing in front of the building, she had no recognisable memory of having been there before.
“Shall we?” asked David and held his arm out for her.
Helena was too surprised to take it, “After you.”
David walked past her into the building.
On passing through the mock mahogany double doors, they found themselves in a large entrance vestibule with a small, empty reception desk to their right. The reception was lit by softly radiating lamps at either end and dwarfed by the dimensions of the building.
Like a ship at sea, thought Helena
Beneath their feet, an often-refurbished green carpet spread out, leaving a small gap between its edge and the walls, where polished wood was visible. Brass gleamed faintly in the dim light. The hotel spoke of an attempt at recreating history.
As they entered, Helena heard a buzzer ring somewhere beyond the entrance announcing their arrival. A minute or so passed, and she used the time to rack her memories for any trace of when, or even if, she had stayed there.
Eventually someone poked their head round the door. Their glance first alighted on David, “Sorry, we’re closed.”
David said, “Oh come on!”
Helena moved so that she could see who was speaking to them. When the receptionist saw her a huge grin broke across his face. He came out into the room, clapped his hands together and exclaimed, “Helena Woolf! We’re so glad you could make it. Welcome, welcome.” He came forward, then stopped, looking over his shoulders uncertainly.
“Oh, um, wait here, don’t move a muscle! I’ll be right back!” He turned and ran back to where he had appeared, “Oh this is so exciting!”
David turned to Helena, “Seems you made quite an impression last time you were here.”
Helena smiled uneasily; she was certain she’d never been there before.
Chapter 12
Helena crammed the ham, egg and lettuce sandwiches into her mouth. While she ate, David nibbled just enough to look polite. They fussed over her, asking if she had enough to drink, if she wanted anything else, was she comfortable, all the while ignoring any questions she put to them.
It is as if I’m a long lost niece come to stay, she thought.
There were three members of staff. Two were alike in stature; their hair styles close, but different enough to suggest that amber was their natural colour.
The third, who was older, carried the sombre air of unwanted responsibility. His cheeks bulged out like balloons whenever he spoke, giving him the appearance of someone on the edge of madness. All three were tall and slim, their skin without blemish.
“Are you related?” asked David.
“We’re brothers,” said the eldest.
Why three Oligarchs were managing an obviously empty hotel in the middle of nowhere was just another mystery they refused to discuss.
It was only when she’d finished eating that they fetched themselves cool drinks of water and pulled up chairs around the table. Glancing suspiciously more than once in David’s direction, they spoke to Helena.
“We’re so glad you came!”
“Yes, so happy, it’s a wonder!”
Their enthusiasm was confusing, but Helena decided to hear what they had to say, to see why they were fixated on her arrival.
&n
bsp; “When we heard about Henry we feared the worst!”
“But here you are!”
“Edward was right about you; he said you could be trusted: that not everyone in Euros was rotten.” David was silent, listening and taking everything in.
Helena tried to absorb what they were saying, but each new statement only increased the electric feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was painfully aware of David at her side, of how he didn’t know who Henry was, or that they were implicating her in a conspiracy she didn’t understand as if it were common knowledge.
She feared calculating the odds that she’d turned up at precisely the place where they were hidden purely at random.
They’re hardly a galley of traitorous operatives whose very existence could turn the tide of war, she thought. There was something strange about them that she couldn’t put her finger on, something awkward between them, in their movement, their rhythm.
David was watching them wide eyed. The way the three brothers were telling it, she was akin to their saviour, mother and best friend all rolled into one. So much for convincing David, she had no idea who Henry was or what he had wanted. She just hoped that whatever part of Euros he was bankrolled by had no interest, or better yet, no knowledge of who these people were or the price on their heads.
Such considerations are likely moot in the light of the dead body lying in his flat, she thought.
“Trusted with what?” asked David. The three looked at him; a faint growl came from one of them.
“He did explain to you, didn’t he?” asked the older one. They were all Oligarchs but, from what Helena could tell, they were ageing normally: just like Edward, just like Henry. Without her Primary AI’s help, it was impossible to analyse them properly. Its absence was frightening her, it was yet another stage she’d come across in her cursory research about how her mind would deteriorate.
She nodded silently. The two look-a-likes clapped their hands together.
“So what do we do?” they asked in unison. Helena felt embarrassed, wished for the tenth time that she’d let him in when she’d had the chance.
Having nothing to offer them, she let the silence lengthen until one by one their faces dropped. They looked at each other for a few moments. It was as if they were having a competition to see who could show the greatest variety of emotions.
Finally, with David rapping the ends of his fingers on the table and the dawn light pouring in through a frosted window, their hosts turned back to them.
“Why did you come here?” they asked all together.
“I remembered it. I think I came here as a child. I needed to get away from something.”
They looked bemused. The elder hummed a flat-toned tune to himself while the other two pursed their lips in concentration.
“What about him?” said one, almost petulantly, pointing at David as if he were a broken flowerpot.
“He’s with me,” said Helena, irritated with their childishness.
“Yes, but why did he come?”
“What do you want?” asked Helena, cutting David off before he could speak. Taken aback they stood up all as one. They paced the room in an intricate ballet of shifting shoulders and footfalls, avoiding each other without looking.
David leant forward, “They’re unstable.” She looked at him, not sure if he was concerned or just stating the obvious.
“Tell us what you know!” said one coming to a halt on the far side of the room, the other two stopped where they were, turning their heads to listen.
“No,” said Helena, “I think you should tell me what you know.”
“No, you wouldn’t understand!” said one of the twins
“Not in a million years,” said the other rather dramatically.
“Then I’ve got nothing to say to you and we’ll be leaving on the next train.” Helena said dismissively.
“Well go then, see if we care,” said one.
“You shouldn’t make threats you can’t back up,” said the other.
The eldest turned to his younger siblings and said, “Shut UP!” They jumped. Helena thought for a moment that they were going to cry.
Returning his attention to her, he said, “Let’s cooperate shall we? You tell us what Henry said and why you decided to come here, and then we’ll try to answer your questions about what he clearly omitted.”
“He had instructions!” said one of the twins. “He wasn’t supposed to tell you where we were without our permission!”
“I think that’s the best offer you’re going to get,” said David, settling back into his chair.
Helena thought about it and nodded her agreement. “He didn’t tell me you were here,” she began. David raised his eyebrows. “David and I are trying to avoid some people. They killed Henry. I don’t know who they are or what they want but they seem determined to ensure that neither I, nor David, tell anyone what we saw.”
“I don’t believe it,” said one of the twins, leaping about the room like an unhappy baboon.
“Take it or leave it,” said Helena. “David’s not even really interested in Henry.” She said it directly to David, using the opportunity to lay a few things out in a way he wouldn’t be able to interrupt. “In fact, he seems more interested in why there was a bomb at the Trade Centre and how my pilot is involved.”
“He’s recently escaped from a medium security military facility,” said David in a conversational tone.
At that moment, her AI came back into her mind. I need to speak with you alone.
Huffing, Helena said, you’ll have to wait, don’t disturb me again. It began to protest, Helena lost it. How dare you. How dare you take me over, invade me like I was some piece of land for you to stroll across when it suits you. Then, when you’re done violating me you simply up and leave. Yes, we will talk but right now you need to shut up.
It was quiet. Helena’s heart was racing. She mentally checked herself, fearing that her edges were fraying.
The twins were still, thinking she was angry with them. Their brother stared at her, as if by looking at her he could tell if she was lying.
“You’re pretty when you’re angry,” said David. She turned her gaze on him and he stopped smiling quite so smugly.
“It makes sense,” said the eldest, “I wondered why he kept himself from us these last few hours.” Turning his full gaze on Helena, she noticed for the first time that he had amber irises. They glowed with the dawn sunlight filling the room.
“He was less confident of Edward’s message. Even less certain about you. He thought you might refuse his request to come to us.” Helena shivered. “Regardless, he was committed to do what he felt was right even if it cost him his life.” His eyes drilled into her, she could feel the loss he was trying to hide.
“What he told you seems to me designed to pull the heart strings. We are quite safe here and don’t plan on leaving. The hotel hasn’t had any visitors for a number of years now, and we don’t expect any in the near future. If you are hiding, you’ve chosen a good spot.”
The twins giggled to themselves as if this was the funniest thing they’d heard for a long time. They received a stern look, which brought them under control again.
“Let me be more honest with you than you’ve been with us.” He held his hand up as Helena opened her mouth to protest. “OK, that is perhaps unfair; let me be more complete than I suspect you have been with me.” Helena glanced sideways at David; he acknowledged her look.
“Henry is dead. Even when he kept himself from us, we could contact him if required. We haven’t… heard from him since last night.” One of the twins sniffed dramatically and clasped hold of his brother’s hand.
“We wanted you here, we need your help. Edward and Henry, the three of us here, we were all sold to Euros as foetuses: before we were born or could give our consent. Our families have been hidden from us. We have no idea whether they benefited from the sacrifices they made to advance themselves.” He kept his face blank, and Helena knew he cared little
for their destiny, but only for what they had done to him in their attempts to secure it.
“I am Isaac; I eschew my given surname. The twins …” He paused.
“I’m Romulus,” said one in a high-pitched voice. The other said his name was Remus.
“As you might surmise, not their given names, rather ones they’ve adopted; like my own. It helps us feel independent of those who created us. We are not what they made us to be, we will be our own selves.
“In order for you to understand what we want to ask, which I suspect you will both find in your interests,” He acknowledged David for the first time, “something of both our histories should be told.”
“Do you want more to eat darling?” asked Remus, looking at Helena.
“No, she’s eaten like a horse already. Let’s get on with it,” said Romulus.
Isaac waited for them to quieten down, like a patient father, thought Helena, and then he began to speak.
“ABOUT THIRTY years after the first Oligarchs knighted themselves immortal and, just as the technology was finally restricted, Euros put together a team to take what they considered the next logical step. Immortality was secured, and a planet with a stabilising environment on which to live out their endless years was in their grasp. The national governments were finally succumbing to the corporations, a step backwards in the opinion of many, to neo-feudalism.
“Regardless of the politics, Euros were then, and are now, one of the Five. But like all whose expression of life is competition, their goal is to be the One. Longevity was spread amongst the richest and most powerful without respect for the dividing lines of individual corporate power. Amongst the powerful it did not distinguish.”
He sighed.
“In business terms Ms. Woolf, it provided no competitive advantage.
“With such an equal share of life, it seemed to the strategists in Euros, and others, that the ultimate leverage would be gained by the first corporation to develop the ability to share minds: Telepathy, Distant Feeling.
A Family War: The Oligarchy - Book 1 Page 27
