by J M Guillen
Copy that, Stone. I nodded.
We met in the depths of the valley, beneath one of the ever-reaching, mutant willow trees. I could smell the sulfur that signaled a pool of the burbling water but couldn’t see it.
“We should watch how much we link, at least for now.” Stone looked at each of us in turn.
“Correct.” Anya folded her hands. “We assume we will return to Rationality shortly, but it would be wise to conserve resources regardless.”
“There is no doubt that Sadhana knows we’re here now.” Stone regarded each of us, his eyes thoughtful. “We should be prepared for increased resistance.”
“When I was listening to the jackhole riding around with the Padre, he indicated that part of their plan was to keep us away from the Breach.” I turned my gaze toward Delacruz. “They mentioned someone by the name of Day-suckie. Sound familiar?”
“Daisuke Ito.” Stone nodded. “Like Rebecca Thorne, he’s another of the founders of Sadhana. If he is here or has plans regarding the Breach, you can bet that we want to put a stop to it.”
“Isn’t anyone going to bring up Bishop’s shiny new Sadhana accessory?” Wyatt tapped my armband with the business end of the Tangler. His oculus thrummed with blue light as he examined the silver mote of gleaming fury that shone within.
“That thing is going to give you brain cancer.” Delacruz regarded the accessory with suspicion. Like the others, she had picked up information regarding my use of the device while our Crowns shook hands at initial contact.
I wondered if they also had the data on Mr. Fukui’s pet that followed me home. If they did, what did they think of my newfound blood fetish?
“Gotta be alive to get brain cancer.” I chuckled.
“You would be the one to pick something like that up and just use it.” Wyatt eyed me and then glanced to Anya. “I’m guessing about forty-milli-Bishops on the ol’ Idio-matrix.”
“What’s this?” Delacruz smiled sweetly.
“Nothing.” I glared at Wyatt.
“I’m interested in discussing the tech further.” Stone felt more than interested, more like downright eager. “But I’d say we need to move. How many vehicles do we have?”
“They have mine.” I nodded to Delacruz and Sil, who were leaning over the steering wheel possessively.
“You abandoned it, Mike.” Delacruz smirked. “Possession is nine-tenths and all that.”
“Bitch-op.” Sil shot me a shark’s grin.
Oh, that’s rich, Wyatt linked to me alone.
I ignored him.
“Sil parked her FAV. I’m certain she remembers where.” I faced Anya and Stone. “So that’s two.”
“I bagged one myself.” Wyatt gestured to where he’d left two operatives knocked out by desflurane gas. “And I’m pretty sure that the wagon Delacruz kept slingin’ through spacetime’ll run.”
“Well,” she shrugged, “it might be a little bloody.”
“So four vehicles.” Stone contemplated, and I realized he was reviewing the packet I had ported.
“Four vehicles, an assload of guns, and nine grenades.” Wyatt corrected gleefully.
“If I’m reading this right,” Stone continued, “we are twenty-three minutes from the Breach. As the crow flies.”
“As the kid who never did his homework,” I said, glancing to Delacruz a little guiltily, “is there anything I need to know about the Breach? I mean, I figured out that it goes to The Spire. It probably starts at the exact same location where Delacruz created her aperture.”
“We know that Hyper-Rationality is bleeding through the Breach.” Delacruz rolled her eyes at me, a little irritated that she had to explain what was already in my Crown. “I haven’t actually been close enough to see what’s happening there. I only know I’m right due to the readings I got when I created that aperture in The Spire.”
“Gideon says that Sadhana agents are moving freely through The Spire.” Anya eyed me. “Many of the technologies contained in that location are highly sensitive.”
“We probably cannot close the Breach or remove all of Sadhana’s operatives by ourselves.” I ground my teeth, suddenly aware of the new habit and the suspicion that my molars were about to crumble.
“Oh, and Delacruz,” Stone commented, his eyes widening as he remembered, “the packet you sent, regarding the symbiont…”
“Right?” Delacruz seemed to have forgotten it. Almost unconsciously, she trailed her fingers up to the reddish growth on her forehead.
“One of the best Caduceus Assets I’ve ever known has received it. She seemed confident that she could,” he gestured inarticulately at her, then continued, “handle things.”
“Right.” Sofia peered at Sil, and I imagined the conflict in her heart. She had indicated that being connected to Ar’Ghosa felt wonderful, but, of course, the Facility would never allow such an Irrational thing to remain in place.
I worried again about my four-armed stalker.
“I have a promise to keep, remember.” Delacruz nodded meaningfully at Sil.
“Oh.” I had actually forgotten Sil’s bombing mission, what with all the FAVs and explosions. “Right. The processing station. Where is that?”
“It’s on the way.” Sofia glanced at the others, gauging their reactions.
Wyatt furrowed his brow and tried to be politic. “Is she going forward with that? Even though she lost her sisters?”
“[ʙɿɪɤ. ɣȷȶɂɍɋ, ɜʎɺʜʌɾɷɳ. ɱʂ,]” Sil spat, not at Wyatt but at the horizon. She pointed, her finger stabbing the air. “[ʎʋʌlsʥʡɸɮ.]”
The timing of Sil’s response and the fire in her words confirmed for me that Delacruz had been translating our conversation for her.
“She is.” Delacruz nodded. “We aren’t engaging anyone at the processing stations; we’re just getting her there.”
“I am curious about the processing stations.” Anya turned to Delacruz, her blue eyes bright. “Do we have any information on what material Sadhana is processing there?”
“It’s photic-magnetism.” Delacruz hesitated. “Whatever that is. There are processing stations scattered all across the landscape.” She glanced at Sil. “The natives say that Sadhana is draining Ar’Ghosa of her blood.”
“Well.” Stone smiled at Sil and inclined his head to her. “We have one of our own back due to this young lady. Of course we’ll help her.”
“She is sorry she didn’t recognize that you tried to help her back in the Ryuu Tower.” Sofia gazed at Stone. “She hopes she didn’t hurt you.”
“I’m fine.” He smiled at Sil again.
Of course Sil hadn’t had any way of knowing that Stone wasn’t one of her torturers. I could easily picture her clawing his eyes or kicking him right in his tender bits.
That wasn’t an awful thought.
“That’s it then.” Stone gazed around our small circle. “If no one has anything else, we ride.”
“I have something.” Wyatt faced Sofia. “I think we can do a little somethin’ crazy. Might make this trip a lot easier, provided we put our heads together.”
“You do?” Sofia grinned, her dark eyes flashing. “Let’s hear it then, Guthrie. I’m always up for crazy.”
Unless I’m the one being crazy, I sent to just Sofia, and she winked at me.
“We’ll talk.” Wyatt nodded at her.
In that moment, I realized that I might regret that these two ever met.
4
I pulled point with Sil in the passenger seat of my FAV. Approximately half a kilometer behind us, the rest of my cadre remained in a very specific, tight formation.
Empty, I linked the others as I pulled to a stop near the watchtower. Either that or they’re ignoring me.
This was the second watchtower along what we had termed the Interstate, a flattened area with dozens of tire treads. Now further into the valley than Delacruz had been before, we relied on the map she’d patched, gathered from the memories of the Ad’uun people.
Of course, Sadhan
a had changed things up quite a bit.
We can guess that all personnel have been pulled back to the Breach, Stone linked.
One of the operatives near the vehicle barn indicated that the Breach needed reinforcements. I began to drive again as I linked, steering toward the large, foreboding processing station ahead.
Maybe that’s good, Wyatt reasoned. Maybe Gideon’s kicking ass.
We can all hope, Stone responded.
No matter our hopes for our Catalyst, none of us truly believed that Gideon was kicking ass. He had come across as too harried, too stressed when we had spoken with him. While things could have improved in the hours since, it felt like too much to believe.
Sil grew tense, alert as she gazed forward. She clutched at the pack hanging at her side and peered at the structure.
To be fair, it was a little intimidating.
The processing station resembled a great vulture with dark wings arched high behind itself. Orange lights blazed along the edge of those odd wings, outlining a tall A-line structure in the center. That steel-beam tower somehow supported an immensely thick hammer-shaped pumpjack as it continually bobbed up and down. Every forty seconds or so, as it neared the surface, a brilliant pulse of dirty, obscene light flashed as the station harvested the “photic magnetism.”
Whatever that was.
I preferred the metaphor of the blood of Ar’Ghosa. It sounded far more poetic.
Michael, you are approximately five hundred meters from the outer eddies of axiomatic turbulence. Anya’s link was clear in my mind. Fluctuations vary approximately 2.3 points from baseline ambient Rationality.
Copy that, Anya.
There was no reason for all of us to approach the processing station, as Sil’s natural talents would be what truly got her inside. I had to admit, though, I felt some concern, along with more than a little guilt, at dropping her off there alone.
I had been alone in dangerous places myself.
“It’s what she wants.” Delacruz had told us firmly while we figured out who rode with whom. “She’s a big girl, and she knows what she’s doing.”
Still, I couldn’t help but worry that this was a suicide run.
“I still don’t see any guards,” I muttered as we bounced along the dust of the road. Trying to figure out where everyone went and what they might be up to made my scalp itch.
Still no response here, I sent as we passed a spot where the road widened.
Then we drove between two black stones. A small glass and metal enclosure waited there, something for a guard to stand inside while clearing traffic.
Only ghosts stood there now.
“[ɦʙʉʊɥɸ.]” Sil turned to me. “Bitch-op.”
You’re within her porting range, gringo.
Really? I glanced at Sil and frowned. We can get closer.
You’re sweet, Delacruz linked only me, but she doesn’t need that.
One hundred meters to the edge of the axiomatic turbulence, Michael. Anya’s link was crisp.
The more I considered the situation, the more I hated it. Sil had saved my life more than once today, and if it hadn’t been for her, Delacruz might have died.
A single individual charging an enemy position seemed ludicrous. If her sisters had been still alive, perhaps, but alone?
“[ʡlsʥ. Ɏɍɛɘɗ Ʌɒɡʙɱɶ.]” Sil’s words were soft. She leaned forward and slowly, mercilessly, sank her sharp teeth into my shoulder.
“Ow!” I glared at her.
She only grinned at me, impishly. Her eyes twinkled with something I couldn’t quite identify.
She appreciates the offer, Mike. She’s flattered that you worry for her. But she’s got this.
Then, a thunderous burst of her wet warmth exploded all over me, a horrific concussion of clear liquid that covered me and the rail.
Sil was gone.
Ugh! I veered to one side, blinking. I brought my FAV to a halt and frantically wiped my face. That’s just…
It’ll evaporate in seconds, Michael. Sofia was still linked to me only.
It smells… I paused running my fingers through my hair even as the protoplasmic goo vanished. It’s unnecessary is what it is.
A real man accepts a lady’s bodily functions, Mike. Delacruz mocked me more than a little.
I pulled to a stop, peering ahead as best I could. Triggering my optics, I scanned for Sil’s figure in front of the carrion-bird building.
Nothing.
I’m on my way back. I turned, the warm plasma almost entirely evaporated from my skin.
At your current speed, Michael, our best chance at rendezvous would be here. Anya placed a reticule on my visual.
Thank you, Anya. I glanced back over my shoulder, my mind still with the lone Ad’uun woman.
Your attention, please? Delacruz included all of us in her link.
Like we can put you on mute, Wyatt teased.
Sil would like me to make certain you understand. Her kin would never have understood our people’s tools and ways if it weren’t for us. Even with their warrior traditions and skills, Sadhana mowed them down before we came.
I’m afraid they’ll mow her down now. I swerved, and my rail bounced over a small rise.
The things I shared with her live on. The connection we share with Ar’Ghosa means that even if she does fail, Sofia broke off with a wicked grin, others will rampage in her place.
That’s… sweet, Wyatt mused. I think.
It’s nice to consider that Sadhana has a few more capable enemies, at least, Stone linked.
You said it yourself, Mike. It looks like no one’s home. She says the place is like a tomb.
I didn’t care for the metaphor, and Delacruz could tell.
She’ll be fine, big guy. Her link felt so optimistically confident. Let’s go home.
Yes, ma’am.
A few moments later I saw a second processing station come up on my left, with a third behind it in the distance. They were identical to the first, great birds of prey with outstretched wings.
They seemed awfully close together.
Why do you suppose these stations are so close?
I used my optics again for a moment, triggering the binocular function.
If anyone were home, I couldn’t see them.
The photic-magnetism runs in veins like iron or oil, Delacruz supplied.
Or blood. Wyatt followed through with my exact thought.
There are dozens of those stations, but they’re all fairly close to one another. The Ad’uun believe that they tap different branches of the same great river, deep beneath this world.
The axiomatic alterations around these stations are significant. Anya’s interest bled through the link. We are actually a few points closer to Rationality when near them.
That is interesting. Wyatt’s link held a bit of surprise. Although this is more so.
What? I pulled through a small ravine, passing more of those weird, orange beetles the size of footballs.
We’re at Locale One, Michael, Stone linked the update. You can see for yourself when you arrive.
Roger that. I zoomed forward, past a small copse of the banyan-looking trees. I sped up immediately after another bend in the path, eager to get back with my cadre.
No matter what my concerns for Sil might be, we had our own fight ahead, right up the road, and I had a feeling things were about to get ugly.
Punching Through
The land rose as I came up out of the valley, the stone giving way to fungal forest again. As I progressed toward the reticule, the scent in the air became foul, the stink of rotting vegetation and death.
Locale One stood on a ridge, looking down into the land beyond. As I pulled around the last corner, I saw Anya several steps away from the others, reading her telemetry.
Am I late to the party? I linked her as I pulled my sandrail to a stop.
We have not set any specific timeframes thus far. Her face remained a blank mask, but the tiniest smile teased at the edge of her mout
h. Although, you typically are late.
Hey there, Hoss! Wyatt seemed to be in a buoyant mood. You about ready to leave town?
You know, I am. I scrunched up my nose. Is that stench you?
Wyatt showed me one of his fingers but grinned widely.
I nodded at Delacruz, who peered into the distance, fiddling with the Crown augment that hovered behind her head. The blue lights of her half-halo glowed softly.
Would things be easier if you still had the gatekeeper crossbow? I had geared the Gatekeeper myself, of course, but Delacruz made my usage of the device seem ham-fisted and clumsy.
I can take it or leave it, as long as the Corona functions. She shrugged. Offensive porting is a touch more difficult obviously. I’m just taking a moment now because I keep getting paradox looping errors, even though nothing’s wrong.
“If we’re all prepared, I think we can discuss our run.” Stone’s voice came like warm honey, like a cool drink on a hot afternoon. He still sat in his FAV, gazing out over the horizon with one of the Calicos in his hand.
My eyes widened a bit. Does he know how to use that thing? I linked Wyatt.
My friend gave an almost imperceptible shrug.
“Okay,” Stone began. “Obviously, this kind of planning is a little bit outside my normal docket, so I thought I’d just throw some ideas out there.” He turned to Wyatt and me. “If anyone else wants to contribute, I’d love to listen.” He smiled. “This isn’t exactly my typical mission.”
“No, carry on.” Wyatt waved a hand, nodding at the Liaison.
Wyatt seemed so… compliant when dealing with Stone. It bugged the shit out of me, honestly.
“I’d invite you to increase binocular magnification three times and scan toward quadrant 2-3.12.”
Stone wasn’t looking himself, so I guessed he had already done his surveillance while they waited for me. Even without my optics, I saw the source of the awful smell. We stood at the beginning of a mesa-filled badland which still held the fungal jungle in its low areas. The still water and dead plants had concentrated in the valleys of brackish-looking swamp, complete with clouds of insects we could see from here.