Chaos Cipher

by Den Harrington

  ‘Hattle Lewis,’ she said austerely. ‘Is your father around?’

  ‘Somewhere,’ he said, breathing heavy through his nose.

  ‘Would you fetch him?’

  Hattle huffed for air a while, his face too close to the visual camera to reveal more than a half. He looked back over his shoulder and cleared his throat.

  ‘What’s this about?’

  ‘There was a fire last night,’ she said. ‘Edge Fenris is claiming it was you who started it.’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Right, so let me make this crystal clear,’ she said stepping forward. ‘I’m talking about bringing the local militia and mercenary down to your so called property and forcefully evicting you unless you face the accusation head on and show us you have a credible alibi.’

  Hattle looked sullen. He told her to wait and the screen shifted to a screen-saver mode. Hattle was gone for almost four minutes but the connection remained valid, and the next time the visual screen reactivated it was Pierce Lewis, who answered.

  ‘Do you think you have the right to call us with these accusations?’ he started explosively, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.

  ‘You’re aware of the fire then?’

  ‘Yes, I’m aware of it, so is half of East B’ One, but they’re not under any suspicion.’

  ‘-Because you have had dealings with Edge Fenris.’

  ‘Dealings?’ Pierce said smiling, ‘I’ve scarcely spoken with the man.’

  ‘You’ve had a run-in with Pania and Edge, and of course Pania Kedash believes you have motive. It’s no secret she vandalised your property and we believe you have sought your own justice on this matter-’

  ‘That is simply, categorically, absolutely untrue,’ he said steadily.

  ‘Edge Fenris believes he can prove it was you,’ she lied soberly, watching for his reactions carefully. ‘There’s evidence.’

  ‘What utter nonsense,’ Pierce insisted. ‘Bring me evidence. Go ahead. I am deeply offended by this…’

  ‘Why are you deeply offended?’ she asked sincerely, ‘aren’t you flattered you have enemies? Doesn’t it assert your direction?’

  ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about…’

  ‘The fire, was it you?’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Then, it was Hattle, is that what you’re admitting to?’

  ‘You will not snare me-’

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of snaring you.’

  ‘You’re very clever Miss Chahuán-’

  ‘Enaya!’ She corrected.

  ‘-Very clever, and I find it regrettable that you can’t see the obvious. We stand together here in Cerise Timbers, but Edge isn’t from these parts is he? It’s Edge who is to blame for this; you see the way he smokes. He just wants to shift the blame.’

  Enaya had considered this at first, but for all his failings, Edge had a deep respect for Laux and there was no way he would allow a fire to get out of control this way.

  ‘I believe it was oil canisters that set off the fire,’ said Enaya, ‘intentionally done, spilled.’

  ‘Oil canisters on an air zone? What are the odds?’ Pierce shrugged sarcastically. ‘Now, unless you’ve something a little more concrete, I’d like to propose you drop these accusations ,or I will also begin an investigation of my own into the practices or malpractices of the Federal building of East B’ One.’

  ‘We have witnesses,’ Enaya challenged, ‘we have many people coming forward against you Pierce Lewis, and for the way your son is mistreating others in the city. Rest assured this will not reflect positively on you.’

  ‘I didn’t do it,’ said Pierce, ‘end of story.’

  The connection abruptly ended. Enaya Chahuán dropped her head dejectedly and cursed to herself. This was not the end of the story, but it would seem that Pierce Lewis was going to make this an ugly fight indeed.

  -31-

  Daryl Sanders walked confidently through the air zone and Artex Valdek followed by his side. Almost eight hundred meters ahead of them sat the cadonavis vessel Perigrussia Skybus. Its long silver chassis almost elliptical from their lower angle, its nose tapered to a dull point below a dynamic looking windshield. It stood on three powerful legs, the belly of the cadonavis levelled down flat on the floor, a cargo ramp from which they could see inside an arrangement of stock tightly fastened, roped in and an electronic crane arm hung still, as though ready to load more. A long stairway slanted from the cabin further toward the front of the cadonavis, and the two bodyguards stood motionless and ready.

  ‘If those boys wanna cause trouble,’ said Artex, ‘you know that, no matter how good I am, I won’t be able to take them, right?’

  ‘You and me both,’ said Daryl. ‘But at least they won’t try anything.’

  ‘I’ve got Gus aiming at us from the high-grounds,’ Artex said. ‘He’s a crack-shot with a sniper and he’s locked and loaded. If shit does go down there will be hell to pay.’

  ‘Let’s not think like that,’ said Daryl, ‘this is just a precaution.’

  They finally arrived at the Perigrussia Skybus steps and the two guards held out their hands and began scanning. A moment later Krupin arrived at the top of the stairway, his usual confident smile revealing a grill on his teeth.

  ‘And you didn’t bring the boy?’ he asked. ‘I hope you’re not thinking of anything stupid, Mr Sanders.’

  Daryl looked at Artex for a moment and he put his hands up to reveal he was unarmed.

  ‘The kid’s gone.’ Daryl said.

  ‘Gone?’

  ‘I believe so.’

  ‘Where’s he gone?’ Krupin laughed heartily.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Daryl. ‘Somewhere safe.’

  ‘I think you do know,’ said Krupin. ‘How did he go? Did he just walk? Wonder alone into the Novus? I think no.’

  ‘I don’t care what you think,’ Daryl said. ‘The point is he’s gone.’

  ‘Then…’ Krupin smiled and leaned on the rails of the stairway. ‘I have no choice but to show evidence to the Atominii.’

  ‘You do what you have to.’ Daryl said. ‘Either way, the kid has gone and he’s not coming back. And neither should you. You’ve outstayed your welcome here Krupin. We’re putting an end to the competitive games. In Cerise Timbers we better ourselves cooperatively, not competitively. We are comrades. No root, no fruit!’

  Daryl waited for him to respond, but Krupin said nothing. Artex started walking away and Daryl Sanders followed.

  ‘Gus, keep an eye on the guards,’ Artex spoke into his Quantic-W. ‘They make a move, give them a warning shot into the asphalt.’

  ‘Roger,’ Gustav came back on the receiver.

  ‘Hey Sanders!’ Krupin shouted from the Skybus.

  Daryl turned around and the paunch man hitched his belt and ran his finger across the back of his sweating neck. ‘You’ve just doomed your city, you realise?’

  Daryl turned away and kept moving, Artex walked by his side.

  ‘Are we in the clear yet?’ Daryl said.

  ‘Almost,’ Artex replied. ‘Keep walking, hundred meters.’

  Once they were away from the air zone Daryl picked up pace and hurried into Hangar Twelve where a small team was set-up. They squeezed through the partially opened doors and they slid shut behind them. Once in the cool air of the hangar they saw a technician team assisting Laux at a workshop table of computer screens and old hacked laptops, reassembled to take on new purposes.

  ‘Any luck?’ Daryl asked, leaning over Laux’s shoulder.

  ‘I’ve been able to get a signal,’ he said, ‘thankfully the Perigrussia Skybus receives frequent updates for its C.A.L.C chronometers just like my lab and it’s a perfect window to get into other systems. Unfortunately, most of the security language in is Cyrillic.’

  ‘I can help you out,’ Artex offered.

  ‘No need,’ said Laux, ‘I already have a translation algorithm working out the syntax formulas and in a coupl
e of hours I’ll be rearranging some of the security settings to my own liking. It’ll be faster since the program doesn’t need to comprehend the information, simply organise it. Once that’s done I’ll be removing anything I can find on Kyo.’

  ‘Good,’ Daryl Sanders stated. ‘You really are brilliant aren’t you?’

  ‘I’m afraid, I’m not very responsive to flattery,’ he said awkwardly.

  ‘Unless it’s coming from Enaya Chahuán,’ said Hans Greiber, a forensics technician who was well known around the garrison area. A playful chorus of laughter prattled up from some of the workers helping the scientist and Hans patted Laux playfully on the shoulder.

  Laux momentarily stopped typing, transgressing to single finger punches as though his brain was malfunctioning. He shook off the comment and adjusted his focus.

  ‘I don’t think our guest has the Perigrussia Skybus connected constantly to the Atominii communication network, otherwise the updates would be unnecessary since information would be continuously trafficking. Each time they connect, an update occurs. So, the fact that they need occasional updates works in our favour. The problem is I now have to shut down their ability to communicate without them noticing.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Daryl.

  ‘So I can stop them from getting that data out of here before I have the chance to erase it, of course.’ Said Laux, standing up and running to another computer set up at a different workshop table and pushing a technician out of the way.

  ‘So what if they try and make a call while you’re doing this?’ asked Artex.

  ‘They’ll get through to an old address of mine,’ he smiled proudly. ‘And if anybody answers, I can only expect the conversation to be less than agreeable.’

  *

  The SkyLark had nestled down somewhere in the overgrown thickets and reeds of the surrounding fields of Onyx Waters. The steps leading up from the Yenisei River had been demolished over the years by weathering and the sprouting of vines.

  When they reached the city basin, Dak was surprised to see it had been almost completely drained. Yachts sat broken far below on the crumbled dried rocks of the enormous empty lake and they beheld a city now strewn with wild vegetation and trees and all kinds of birds that flocked in and out of the hollow structures. They heard the crickets chirping and hissing in the undergrowth and the cries of animals.

  ‘Why this place?’ asked Kyo as he lumbered the ruined steps carefully behind his father.

  ‘This is where we found you,’ said Dak, smiling and playfully arresting him in a gentle headlock. He rubbed his knuckles into his hair and teased, ‘so we’re putting you back.’

  ‘Oh good,’ he said, pushing back playfully and jabbing Dak’s shoulder lightly. ‘Thought I’d never make it out alive.’

  Kyo could smell the forest around him, it’s sweet and damp fragrances potent in the air. He made his way uphill through the strong scent of mud and wood-rot and purpurea wildflower. Above, the grey brumous clouds plated the heavens and the barren reach of leafless branches ticked and snapped in the wind, moulting their autumn leaves.

  Dak shuffled through the dead leaves and foliage below and strolled through the soft breeze that stirred them as more soft things fell and showered from above. They sought out a suitable place to stay. Kyo noticed how quiet it was here. Their oculars could pick up little sign of life save the sleeping owl or the stooping vixen winding under the scant autumn-dried bracken.

  Kyo stood at the edge of what was once the lake and looked at the huge cubic basin now drained completely with Yachts sat at its bottom and the bones of dead fish and stones and what looked like a small black pool that hadn’t found its way out of the drainage point.

  ‘HELLO!’ He called into the basin.

  HELLO

  HELLO

  HELLO

  Dak unzipped one of the tents and the frames quickly snapped into position to construct a huge self-assembled support. He opened up more of the other bags to attach wing compartments to it, allowing structures to pop up from the bags and carrying them over to the main tent’s central compartment.

  ‘Kyo,’ he called. Kyo ran from the lake edge to assist. ‘Get some fireglass,’ Dak instructed. ‘Build us a fire, will ya?’

  ‘Sure.’

  *

  Night fell quickly. The wind lifted and whispered through the branches, shaking loose dead twigs scattering to the floor. By the camp, a hot fire fluttered in the breeze beneath a stove Kyo had constructed out of stones. Soup was boiling in the pot, where flames danced on the blackened glass pebbles of fireglass. They glittered and glowed beneath the stirring flame and lit their faces in deep tangerine ambience. Sonja was stirring soup and smelling the herbs, eager to let Kyo try it and hopefully take his mind off things. Dak leaned over his own knees and rubbed his hands by the fireglass, the glowing embers holding fluence over his thoughts.

  ‘Pops,’ Kyo said, huddling his knees and staring at the embers. ‘What’s in the hardlands?’

  ‘It’s just a name, son.’ He said. ‘Just a new name they made for something that was always there. It’s the parts of the planet we allowed to die. Where people struggle to live between cities like Cerise Timbers and the Atominii.’

  ‘We won’t have to go there, will we?’

  ‘No,’ Sonja answered for him.

  The fire sawed, constricting into serrated nails in a lifting wind, expanding to long yellow fingers again as it calmed, dancing over the ruby glow of the fireglass. An echo carried through the air, a howling sound that none of them were familiar with.

  ‘What’s that?’ Kyo whispered.

  ‘Wolves,’ Dak guessed.

  Kyo shivered slightly as his mother passed him some soup and he sipped at the liquid gently.

  ‘What are the Blue Lycans?’ he asked.

  ‘I wouldn’t worry about them,’ Sonja commented, sitting beside him and throwing an extra cover over them both. ‘We track them and keep their movements updated. They’re soldiers. They haven’t been in this area for a long time. We’re safe here so long as we’re discrete.’

  ‘Why do they kill us?’

  ‘They kill indiscriminately,’ Dak said, rubbing the warmth of his palms over the back of his hands. ‘Back when the Olympians were fighting for their survival, for their right to stay on Earth, these Blue Lycans were our best support. They helped precariats learn about freedom from the Atominii’s constraints. They fought many Syridan cyborgs and shot down drones and kept on fighting and fighting. We think it drove them insane, that war tainted anything good in them, that murder became their only purpose. Now, they seem not to differentiate between Titan and human.’

  ‘Maybe there is no difference?’ Kyo suggested, ‘you always say I’m human.’

  ‘You are,’ Sonja said softly from his side. ‘To lose your humanity, you have to sell your heart and mind to an ideology first, and then you stop becoming an equal.’

  ‘What about our way of life?’ he asked. ‘Don’t we have an ideology?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘however, keep in mind, when inequality comes from a dying planet or unfortunate event unrelated to our structure then it is easier to accept. If an asteroid is coming, for example, we had nothing to do with the event. That’s why we don’t accept structural inequality in living standards. Because we can help that if we want to. Cerise Timbers is evidence of that.’

  ‘But sometimes people can be unequal, right?’ asked Kyo. ‘I look different, I have different eyes…and teeth…and a tail…’

  ‘Yeah,’ Sonja nodded. ‘You can run pretty fast as well. But so what? Can you do medicine like me? Why should our skills be equated as one more valuable than the other? It’s a utilitarian view that excludes and devalues others.’

  ‘You’re right,’ Kyo realised.

  ‘If you build a justice system of law and rules based on equality, like I have something and you do not, then it is just as well founded on envy. We don’t believe in such things. Envy still exists…but for social reasons, not f
or living standards.’

  ‘I heard the Atominii has strong propaganda system, though.’ Said Kyo.

  ‘We even have ideological propaganda if you think about it, we have stories about a fearful hellish world from which a new world sprung.’ Said his father.

  ‘Like the Beasts of the Shadow Boss?’ Kyo said.

  ‘Yeah,’ Sonja answered. ‘Ideologies also usually have theories like Marxism. But we don’t, we simply live as best as we can to benefit all and document success and failure for development.’

  ‘So we’re building an ideology?’

  ‘I guess slowly,’ she smiled. ‘So I suppose you could say that, yeah.’

  ‘Is that why the Atominii hate us?’

  ‘They try and ignore us,’ she explained. ‘They don’t want attention on us too much in the hardlands. They don’t want us to believe we’re worth their attention. They think that for us, being ignored by them would harm our way of life.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘They don’t want the unplugged population in the Hardlands to realise that another world is possible,’ Sonja started to explain. ‘In Cerise Timbers we dared to dream. Before the consulate of cyber cities we created for ourselves an ecological revolution that was draining power from the governments at the time. People began to realise that continuing on the path of infinite growth and wealth was killing everything. People questioned why another radically different world was not possible if it was never at least attempted or proven not to be. We dared to try. We saw it as an affront to everyone to continue justifying the status-quo while never at least trying to live differently, to see, to test. There’s nothing wrong with imagining better worlds. The Atominii try to kill that imagination. Edge Fenris is right. Imagination is dead in the hardlands and Atominii. A good life was supposed to be our gift to the world. But you cannot free the minds of people when they cannot see the limits of their prison. Sometimes you have to show them.’