Gruefield 18 (Tarnished Sterling Omnibus)

by Robert McCarroll

  "Now get me results. The contract deadline is coming up fast."

  "None of your cult members seem to attach any significance to this deadline you keep pushing, but it's insufferably urgent to you. What makes it so important?"

  "It's a long story."

  "My bots are still packing up, I have time."

  "Centuries ago, the last of the male dragons passed through Bohemia and into Bavaria. It devastated the German countryside, but eventually one of the villagers managed to outsmart him and trap him where he could be slain. As he lay mortally wounded, he uttered a dying curse on the peasant that until dragons took to the skies again, every firstborn male of his line would suffer a horrible death during their sixteenth year. For his efforts, the peasant was ennobled and married into high society. He tried to outsmart the curse by having his firstborn with a mistress so his heir would be untouched, but the curse affected the firstborn from each woman, damning both sons. His line and the curse has been carried by second-born sons ever since. Rich, poor, destitute, noble, common, legitimate or bastard, it made no distinction. For centuries, innocent young men have been slain by the spite of a dying beast."

  "And?" Omicron asked.

  "And this second son has only one child."

  "Your deadline is his sixteenth birthday, I take it?"

  "Yes."

  "I will see what I can do."

  Part 31

  I played the recording for the assembled team. They listened in silence to Omicron and Reeves. I didn't stop it after the discussion of Halite, letting them hear Zander's motivation for themselves. Sure I thought Andrew Reeves was an asshole, but I didn't wish him dead. I also couldn't see how his life was worth those of so many other people.

  "A salt mine under a town called Halite?" Pam asked.

  "Apparently. However, we know nothing of the disposition of their forces there. Or their security precautions, or anything of the layout, so we can't just rush in blind." I noticed them subconsciously glance at my eye-patch. "We need a plan, and we need to recruit more heavy-hitters. We have no idea how many of these "demi-dragons" they've made. Also, Omicron has always been a slippery bastard. We didn't even know he had the capacity to teleport until he vanished right under our noses."

  "What are projects zero and fourteen?" Jennifer asked. "I mean we know thirteen is this mutagen Omicron's been making. So what are the others?"

  "Project fourteen produced Xiv. They were unsatisfied because dragon wings are separate from their arms, and they were unable to produce another living subject. Cultists are purists on these matters."

  "Are you sure?" Xiv asked.

  "I also stole Reeves' project files. I'm certain." I put my arms behind my back. "Project zero is potentially much worse. It is the attempt to clone a female dragon using the remains the Order of the Final Star has protected since the death of the last dragon. Evidently, they succeeded, albeit by patching holes in the genetic material."

  "Are you saying there's a living dragoness under Halite?" Icerazor asked.

  "I've read their internal reports. The cultists described her as 'unruly' and they worship these creatures."

  "So, openly hostile?"

  "Potentially. Or potentially not. She may be able to tell the difference between cultists and non-cultists, but we can't be certain of that."

  "That's a lot of unknowns," Ben said.

  "At least we know enough to be able to ask the questions now," I said.

  "So what's the plan?" Ixa asked.

  "I haven't got one," I said. "I wanted to open this up to the team and get some ideas. I'd wager they've fortified that mine. And I don't think we want to take it by the horns." There was that long awkward pause of the kind you get when the whole class is hoping the teacher will call on someone else.

  "We're screwed," Nora said.

  "Nice to hear some optimism," I said.

  "If we have the evidence, can't we call the regular authorities?" Ben asked.

  "That would turn into a bloodbath," I said. "Too many people would get killed, and the odds are against trapping Omicron at the same time."

  "So how are we going to do any better?" Pam asked.

  "It's our job to do better, that's why we're talking this out."

  "That's a nice pep talk," Nora said, "But that whole 'I got nothing' angle doesn't exactly inspire confidence." Xiv walked over and stood next to me.

  "We can't let them keep hurting people," he said, "And I know we can come up with something."

  "We need to start by surveying the surface," Icerazor said. "Find their vent shafts, secondary service tunnels, anything other than the front door that leads to the interior of the mine."

  "If we can get someone to their computers, we might be able to use their own cameras to get an eye inside," Ben said. "Well, not me, I'd fry the thing, but one of you might be able to do it."

  "Hacking isn't as straightforward as it's often presented," I said, "But it's not a bad idea. Who can handle it?" I raised my hand, getting blank stares from the rest of the team. I was surprised that Icerazor's hand stayed down. "I guess it's me for that role then."

  "Then what?" Ixa asked. "We're assuming there's an access point on the surface, perhaps at a guard shack. This may not be the case, or there might be separate surface and interior systems."

  "True," I said. "That would complicate matters, but isn't insurmountable. One thing we will need in spades is zip ties and handcuffs. Won't help with the demi-dragons, but it will work for the regular cultists."

  "Don't forget this place will be swimming with Omicron's bots too," Nora said. "We need to be ready to take them out, and if I'm not mistaken little brother, you've had a heck of a time doing that."

  "I don't know," Jennifer said, "He did all right with Omicron's gauntlet at the marina."

  "You should totally bring that with us," Nora said.

  "Where is it?" I asked.

  "In a cardboard box marked 'trophies,'" Nora said. "Along with the split mask and one of the bot heads. Sure the bot in question walked right up to the door and didn't stop us from taking its head, but it was to replace the one Nikki took from us."

  "I wonder..." I said. "Do you think we can get someone to re-wire that thing to be controlled with psychic circuitry?"

  "What, what, and what?" Nora asked.

  "With gesture controls, you need a lot of practice, and I don't think any of us are going to have the time."

  "Not any of us, dipshit," Pam said, "You. I can already punch through a brick wall, and everyone else has got their own powers."

  I had to refrain from making a snide remark. There was a noticeable pause before I said, "I would appreciate fewer profanity-laden insults."

  "And I'd appreciate being named Queen of the Moon, but that ain't gonna happen dumb-" Jennifer clamped a psychically-constructed hand over Pam's mouth.

  "A time and a place," Jennifer said. Pam pushed the construct away, but didn't finish her sentence. I decided not to needle her on it.

  "Anyway, I'll ask the Fund about it. With the potential scale of this operation, who should we see about bringing in?"

  "You want to share the glory?" Pam asked.

  "No, I want to make sure we don't botch it by going in under-prepared."

  "A lot of the community is in orbit, fighting the Ygnaza," Ixa said.

  "I know we can get Astroborn to help," I said. "I don't know if we want to ask Neutrino, since he has a tendency to just take over." As if the world would fall apart without him, or if he wanted to prove he was still relevant.

  "So why are we planning before we are even sure who's on the mission?" Icerazor asked. "We can send a small team to do surface recon while you gather allies and get geared up."

  "Observation only," I said, seeing his eagerness to participate. "Any
one who goes to Halite on the first run is to avoid detection at all costs. We don't want them to know we've found them. Volunteers?" Icerazor's was the first hand up. Nora and Ben joined him. "Three should work. I want as much detail as you can get without being seen."

  "So we're finally taking the initiative?" Pam asked.

  "We're done being reactive for the time being. We are going to bring them down." I'm not sure I'd seen Pam with such a big smile on her face before. This is exactly what she'd signed on for. Ixa stepped forward and whispered in my ear.

  "You're still beaten up."

  "Not much I can do about that by myself," I said.

  "Are you asking me to do something?"

  "No, but I will accept your help if you want to give it." I left Ixa mulling it over. The team meeting just sort of broke up at that point, with our recon team starting to plot their visit to Halite.

  The ritual was the same one Ixa used after I'd been impaled, only this time she took the blood by slashing my palm with her flint knife. If I hadn't seen it work before, I'd have been hesitant to let her cut me for healing. This time, the vapors climbed into me through the gash in my hand, closing it behind them. My hands, my head, and every sutured spot in my torso pulsated with an odd tingle that didn't resemble the feeling from last time. It wasn't enough to make me panic, but it didn't put my mind at ease either.

  When Ixa unsummoned her medicine bundle, she smiled. "Well, she hasn't taken my magic away for that," Ixa said.

  "Maybe she likes me?" I suggested. Ixa laughed.

  "I don't think she likes anyone, but she doesn't seem to hate you."

  "So, about that date I owe you."

  "Don't you try to back out now."

  "I was just going to ask where you wanted to go."

  "Someplace modest this time. With fewer crazed avengers of the proletariat."

  "Works for me." I looked at the cast on my wrist. I figured I should leave it and my eye-patch in place for a while yet. At least until there was an x-ray showing no fracture on the metacarpal. I stood up. Ixa didn't move back and we were standing a little closer than we normally would. "Ixa," I said, then pausing. I pushed her mask up. She caught it before I moved it too far, but finished removing it from her head. It was thousands of years old and probably worth a fortune. "Stephanie," I said, "Thank you." My hand still on the side of her face, I leaned in and kissed her lips. I wasn't sure who was more surprised, her or me. Her lips were soft and sweet, and I could have kissed her all day if I thought I could get away with it. Instead I lingered for just as long as I dared, before pulling back.

  I was almost hesitant to look into her eyes, but when I did, there was no sign she was mad. Quite the opposite, really. I took this as a heartening indication.

  "Don't you think that was a bit forward?" she asked in that gorgeous Van der Veer accent.

  "If you didn't like it, you'd be throwing punches, not smiling at me."

  "Actually, it'd be a knee." She moved her knee forward slightly, passing it between mine.

  "That's disproportionate retribution for a guy being a little forward with his girlfriend."

  "You don't get to call me that until we've finished at least one date," Ixa said, pulling her mask back on. She turned and sauntered from the room, still looking just as attractive leaving as ever. I couldn't wipe the dopey grin off my face if I tried. I almost didn't notice when Xiv came skulking in.

  "What have you got there?" I asked.

  "I'm sorry," Xiv said. "I wanted to be helpful, so I went to get the glove out of the trophy box." He held up the leather-cased gauntlet. There was a sharp cleft in the back of the device.

  "Let me guess, you opened the box by stabbing it with a knife and drawing it across?"

  "Yes," he said, dejected. I put a hand on the dragon boy's shoulder.

  "You did the right thing in telling me what happened. Now, what should you have done about the box?" Xiv stared at me in confusion. "There's a technique to everything, even the little things. When you haven't done something before, you should start by asking how it's done. It helps to avoid little mishaps like this. Do you understand?"

  Xiv nodded. "Yes." He looked up at me with those giant sad eyes. "You're not mad at me?"

  "A little," I confessed, "But I wouldn't be much of a person if I gave into that side of me. I know you meant well, and I'm proud that you didn't try to hide it." What am I proud for, he's not my kid. Though I have been responsible for him since I let him out of that box. How exactly did that happen anyway? I'm not exactly mentor material. "Anyway. Let's see how much damage was done, and figure out what needs to be done to correct it."

  "Okay... how?"

  "I think we need to take it to our friends at the Fund. They have some pretty smart people working in their research division.." Xiv looked like he was about to cry tears of joy. He'd been expecting a much harsher rebuke. I figured I shouldn't let him off completely. "When we're done there, we're going to know how much you have to do to make up for this." His elation deflated a bit, but he was still relieved that I hadn't blown up on him.

  I didn't want to admit that I'd never actually dealt with Future Products before, and had no idea what to expect. They were the Fund subsidiary which did research into technologies tested through Paragon Logistics and eventually released to the general public. Technically, they could insist on keeping the gauntlet to reverse engineer. However, as I looked around the work area I'd been asked to wait in, I saw a lot of Ygnaza tech waiting for the same treatment. They were pretty busy.

  Their lab coats seemed to be color-coded, but I had no idea what color meant what. A man in his twenties wearing a seafoam green lab coat eventually approached me. "Please don't sit on that, we don't know what it does," was the first thing he said. I hopped off the inert piece of Ygnaza junk and stepped forward. As this was a formal visit, I was in my hero suit. I had my goggles on instead of my mask as they did a better job of hiding the bandage on my eye.

  "Shadowdemon was it? I presume you're representing the Gruefield Eighteen crew."

  "Is there no secrecy around here?" I asked.

  "Actually, we were supposed to have met sooner," he said. "I'm Arch Larson, I've been assigned as technical adviser to your team. Once they finish the asbestos abatement, I'll be in there helping to install the new systems your team needs." I tried not to swear. My proposal to the board hadn't factored in the cost of an asbestos abatement. Those got expensive. Arch Larson was a dark-haired man with glasses and a very punchable face. There were not many people who were as polite as he was that I still wanted to introduce my fist to. I don't know where the animosity was welling up from, I just didn't like him. I should at least be ambivalent, he hasn't done anything to earn my ire.

  "I'm here on a smaller matter," I said, producing Omicron's gauntlet. "We need to find out how badly it's been damaged. And, if it can be repaired, if we can convert it from gesture control to use psychic circuitry."

  "I'd have to take a closer look to answer those questions, but I can tell you that psychic circuitry has to be in very close proximity to the controlling brain to work. You'd have to be wearing something on or in your head to use it."

  I pulled my mask from my pocket. "Can it fit inside this?"

  Arch grinned, the sort of self-satisfied smirk that almost begged to meet concrete. "I like the way you think," he said. "We just integrate it into your personal area network, and you can control all sorts of devices using something you'd be wearing anyway."

  "I'm glad you approve," I said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

  "What does the glove do?"

  "It generates and controls force bubbles." Arch's eyes went wide.

  "Where did you get it?"

  "I stole it off of the hand of its inventor when he was trying to kill us." It was a mild exaggeration, but I
had little doubt Omicron would have done in any of us if given the chance.

  "I see, and now you want to use it."

  "It does come in handy."

  Arch laughed as if I meant that to be a pun. When he realized I wasn't laughing, he stopped.

  "Sorry," he said. "I'll see what I can do about getting this up and running." He scurried off, still embarrassed. At least I didn't feel as compelled to break his face any more. What was wrong with me? I never used to want to hurt people so much. I shook my head and made my way back to the street.