The Damned Trilogy

by Alan Dean Foster

  In contrast, all the attackers had on their side was boldness and surprise. Initially, those served them quite well.

  The surviving sleds and their darting, nimble escorting sliders smashed through the next line of defenses as the startled enemy rushed to assemble its forces.

  They were inside the perimeter. Ahead lay sloping sheets of sprayed polymer, fronts for structures which sliced deep into the towering cliff face. There were few windows and at ground level only entrances cut to peculiar Crigolit design. Explosives peeled aside reluctant doors as sleds slowed to land.

  Troops fanned out fast, able to race for predetermined objectives thanks to intelligence supplied by the Restorees. Armed defenders began to appear, slowing the assault.

  Ranji’s group headed for the central communications complex. Years ago he’d assaulted a similar target, on Koba. Only then he had been fighting alongside Ashregan, not Human beings. He who so desperately sought communication and understanding seemed fated to always be disrupting it.

  He had no time to remark on the irony: he was too busy trying to stay alive.

  Entering through a two-story-high gap their sled’s weaponry had blown in the outer wall, they soon encountered resistance. The combined Human-Massood force swept it aside. In some cases the Restorees were able to dupe armed Ashregan into surrendering by addressing them in their own tongue, without the aid of translators. In others and when there were no Massood around, Ranji’s colleagues “suggested” that their opponents put down their arms. They did so, with gratifying if not always universal results.

  Rushing past the outlying portions of the installation deeper into the mountain, they emerged into a vast supply staging complex. Armed but empty floaters sat in triple ranks, waiting to be fueled and crewed.

  While some of the attackers began destroying the irreplaceable transport vehicles, Ranji led his own squad onward, still hoping to locate the communications nerve center. Their advance was periodically stalled by brief but intense firefights.

  In order to combat the persistent but isolated and disorganized defenders, Ranji’s squad fragmented for flanking purposes, coming together to engulf each pocket of resistance before spreading out again to make contact with those behind.

  Weenn suddenly appeared. He was breathing hard and looked concerned. “We’re having some trouble over on the other side.”

  “What kind of trouble?” Ranji asked him as they crouched behind a huge gray Segunian packing cone.

  The sub-officer’s expression twisted. “It’s the Massood. One tried to shoot her squad leader and another tried to shoot himself. We got them both restrained, but barely. When we tried to find out what was going on, they both went comatose on us.”

  The slim, muscular shadow that was Cossinza hovered nearby, covering the two men as they conversed. “What’s he talking about?” Her eyes never left the sighting predictor of her rifle.

  “One case of combat madness I could allow for, but not two. They were influenced.” Fighting echoed throughout the complex, explosions reverberating, weapons hissing in the enclosed spaces beneath the mountain. He rose alongside her and gazed speculatively into the depths of the staging area.

  “There are Amplitur here.”

  Weenn nodded somberly. “The other Massood figured that out pretty quick.”

  “Tell our people to keep a close watch on them and on the Hivistahm sled techs. They may have to pull back and leave the rest of the fighting in here to us.”

  “They realize that,” Weenn told him, “but they want to try and stick it out. Their understanding of the danger is balanced by their desire to kill Amplitur. None of them have ever even seen one. They look on it as a real potential coup … if they can bring it off without getting their brains turned inside out in the trying.”

  Ranji chewed his lower lip. “We can’t order them out. The other squads must be making real progress for one of the Teach … one of the Amplitur to risk itself in combat. It wouldn’t do so unless it had no choice. That means there are no back exits to this complex. It’s trapped in here.

  “You and Tourmast and the others with experience stick close to the Massood. If they show signs of being pushed, use your own abilities to push back. Knock ’em out if you have to. When this is over we’ll have some allies with terrific headaches, but at least they’ll still be alive.”

  Weenn looked uncertain. “Won’t they suspect?”

  “I don’t think so. With their thoughts and intentions being jostled in so many different directions at once they won’t have time to sort through the confusion. Later they’ll ascribe their feelings to Amplitur manipulation under combat conditions. In any case we have no choice. We can’t let the Amplitur influence our allies at will.”

  The sub-officer nodded understanding and hurried to rejoin his own troops.

  Despite being fully restored, despite everything Ranji had learned and experienced, it was hard to set aside a lifetime of conditioning. The childhood awe in which he and his friends had held the Teachers lingered in his emotions if not his mind. It wasn’t so very long ago that he had stood with pride before his parents and relations in the great hall of Kizzmat, waiting to receive honors from the Teachers themselves. So it was that he advanced uneasily knowing that one of the Amplitur was near. Cossinza was no less edgy.

  Defenders and attackers advanced and retreated within the staging area, shooting and screaming imprecations and defiance, transforming the enclosed space into a fiery farrago of death and confusion in which it was difficult to tell friend from foe despite the aid of advanced technology. Occasionally confused but ever courageous, the Massood stumbled forward. It seemed to some among them that the Amplitur were not so effective now as they had been when first their influence had been felt. The evident waning of this particularly insidious threat impelled the tall warriors to greater effort. This in turn further inspired the Humans who fought alongside them.

  Both the battle for control of the staging area and communications complex and the one for the minds of the relentless Massood were waged simultaneously. The small group of restored Humans monitored both. For the Amplitur, Ranji mused, confusion must be near complete.

  Certainly that was the case for Sigh-moving-Fast. Though to its Ashregan escort the Teacher appeared calm and in complete control of the situation, inwardly their leader was appalled and stunned by what was sensed.

  It seemed that individual Massood soldiers were responding readily to suggestion, but after moving on in search of others to push and then reaching back to check on those initially persuaded Sigh-moving-Fast was shocked to discover that their original belligerence had reasserted itself. From this irrefutable and disconcerting conclusions could be drawn.

  Something or someone was countermanding his influence.

  That unique mind reached out, probing the maelstrom of conflicting thought impulses that energized the room far more thoroughly than could mere primitive weaponry: The notion of a renegade Amplitur was never considered. One might as well anticipate a reversal of entropy.

  The Weave had been studying the Amplitur for hundreds of years. Had they finally made their long-hoped-for scientific breakthrough and succeeded in duplicating the Amplitur ability to touch minds via physical instrumentation? If so, then Amplitur counterintelligence was in worse shape than anyone had imagined, for no inkling of any such development had recently been brought to the attention of the ever-alert servants of the Purpose.

  Yet what other explanation could there be?

  Crigolit and Ashregan kept watch, weapons ready to fend off any attack as they maintained a protective mobile barrier around the single Amplitur. The Teacher had joined the defense of the staging area because it was the only portion of the headquarters complex where the enemy had penetrated dangerously far. If they could drive them out, it would unbalance and possibly signal an end to the entire Weave assault. Hence the willingness, yea, even of a Teacher to expose its august person to the possibility of physical harm. Particularly in such clo
se quarters, a little mental persuasion was worth many guns.

  Sigh-moving-Fast tried without success to isolate the source of reactionary influence. To do so effectively and quickly the presence of two additional colleagues was demanded. None were presently available, as they were currently engaged in directing the installation’s overall defense. Therefore, the burden of discovering the source of the unexpected interference fell squarely upon Sigh-moving-Fast.

  Despite the concern of the mixed-species escort, the Teacher urged them onward, that exceptional mind relentlessly seeking, hoping by accident if not intent to encounter and confront the mystery. Substantial physical and mental differences notwithstanding, Crigolit and Ashregan responded instantly to their leader’s orders, forming a seamless unit that gouged a distinctive salient out of the attackers’ line, advancing and retreating as though they were all of one mind.

  Sigh-moving-Fast’s original shock was as nothing compared to the emotions that shook the cephalopodian quadruped when the source of countervaling influence was finally located. It emanated not from some intricate apotheosis of Weave technology but from several of the advancing Human soldiers! A greater horror could not be envisioned.

  Alarmed but desperate for elucidating confrontation, the Amplitur bade its anxious escort remain behind, lest their presence induce this special quarry to retreat before vital information could be obtained. Of all the minds working to countermand Amplitur influence, one was noticeably more penetrating and persuasive than the rest, and it was on those thoughts that Sigh-moving-Fast attempted to focus.

  Having been slowed by determined resistance, the Weave attack fragmented. It enabled the Teacher to advance without fear of intersecting a large body of enemy troops. By the same token its own path of retreat was far from assured. It was a situation that called for some daring. Understanding of the phenomenon was worth more than control of Ulaluable itself, and without proof even the least sanguine colleagues would be reluctant to believe. Sigh-moving-Fast could scarce credit its own senses.

  Could the mind which was so effectively if crudely affecting the thinking of hostile Massood also influence Crigolit, or Ashregan? Sigh-moving-Fast had no way of knowing, but continued to advance quite conscious of how much was at stake. It was vital to the Purpose that at least one such specimen be obtained.

  When the disagreeable alien consciousness seemed on the verge of merging with its own, the Amplitur gingerly extended a hesitant mental query. Sigh-moving-Fast knew that if the target was truly Human, the biped’s ill-understood neurological defense mechanism might strike back at the probe with paralyzing fury. But no other way could be envisioned. Dangerous or not, this had to be attempted. Without contact there could be no enlightenment. The Teacher extended.

  Touched.

  Contact engendered no cataclysmic response. Ravening primate insanity did not erupt outward to overwhelm and destroy. A tense Sigh-moving-Fast was calmly elated. This Human and a few like it could mind-touch, but as a consequence of developing that capability it seemed they could no longer instinctively strike back at what they themselves had acquired. In that respect they were as neurologically defenseless as the carefully bioengineered Human-Ashregan soldiers of Cossuut.

  At the light-speed of awful realization the import of unpleasant coincidence abruptly replaced the fear in Sigh-moving-Fast’s mind.

  At present it was no more than a preliminary supposition, but one that could not be dismissed out of hand. It was widely known that a distressingly large number of the special soldiers from Cossuut had been lost in the battle for Ulaluable. It was not impossible that some had survived death. Certain implications of this line of reasoning were most unpleasant. A specimen and answers were demanded—preferably both.

  Though skills and ability of long standing were utilized, it was clear that the Human was immune to their influence, just as it was clear that it was unable to retaliate via the fearful reflex all its kind were supposed to possess. This contradiction was full of threat and promise.

  Emboldened by continued consciousness, the Amplitur attempted to probe further. Surely there were limits to the depths it could push.

  Ranji stiffened slightly and found himself placing his rifle on the floor. Next to him Cossinza was doing the same. Both straightened and took several steps backward.

  “Ranji?” she stammered. “You feel it, too?”

  “Amplitur,” he muttered without hesitation. “Trying to get inside.” He squeezed his eyes shut until tears started from the corners. When he opened them again he found he was able to retrace his steps and recover his weapon. With his help she was able to do likewise.

  “It’s like a commanding headache.” She winced. “It hurts, Ranji. I can’t make it go away.”

  “Concentrate on something else,” he urged her. “Anything else. Try to push yourself the same as you’d push a Massood or Hivistahm. You have to. Because of Amplitur bioengineering our nervous systems don’t have the ability to fight back. You have to resist with your mind.” He twitched visibly as a particularly strong probe ventured the suggestion that he stick the muzzle of his weapon in his mouth.

  If he could resist with his mind, he thought angrily, perhaps he could strike back the same way.

  The Amplitur stumbled, nearly losing its balance, all four legs gone suddenly shaky as the incoming mental blast interrupted the orderly flow of electrical impulses in its brain. Two nearby Crigolit gazed horrified at the half-crumpled Teacher, but Sigh-moving-Fast hastened to inform them that all was well. Thus reassured, they chose to advance to their right, seeking the enemy.

  Momentarily left to itself amid grounded vehicles and mountains of supplies, the stunned Amplitur struggled to equiponderate its equilibrium. It was not concerned by its momentary isolation; the Amplitur were quite self-contained, and used to being alone.

  It was both shocked and repelled by what had happened. The specimen had struck back. Not in the blind, reflexive fashion of its kind but much as another Amplitur would have. It was a unique development, replete for Sigh-moving-Fast with a deliciously horrific fascination enhanced by the drug of unprecedence. There were no guidelines for what to do next. Procedure would perforce have to be invented from moment to moment.

  Using the tentacles on either side of its mouth, the Amplitur steadied itself. Now that its awareness had been raised it would not again be so easily influenced. While briefly effective, the force of the push had been diffused due to a concomitant lack of direction. Its wielder had demonstrated power but not sensitivity, strength but not skill. Talent without experience.

  Intrigued beyond caution, Sigh-moving-Fast continued to move forward, heedless of any personal danger. The Teacher kept probing, searching, trying to acquire a feel for attitudes and sensations that finally convinced it of the truth it had suspected: the projective Humans, or at least the pair it was in contact with, were indeed renegades from the Cossuut project. The weight of evidence had finally passed the point of denial.

  But how? What had changed them so, what within them had been altered to such an inconceivable degree? Their Ashregan orientation and their desire to serve the Purpose had apparently been destroyed, to be replaced with a restoration of their Humanity … and something else. Something more. Explanations had to be obtained.

  If control, however tenuous, could be established over such gifted individuals, much might become possible. Properly guided and directed, a Human who could push, could suggest, would be far more valuable than one simply educated to believe it was Ashregan. Slipped back in among their own kind they could wield influence enough to advance the cause of the Purpose by hundreds of years.

  From the first moment of contact Sigh-moving-Fast had sensed that great possibilities were in the offing. Awareness induced in the clumsy, bulky form a permeating wellness. Resolve was strengthened.

  At approximately that time a new, third mental presence impinged on Sigh-moving-Fast’s consciousness: a Massood, hyper with xenocidal ferocity. What startled the Amplitu
r to the point at which it was necessary to pause and analyze was that the Massood’s hostility was directed not toward any of the enemy but at the Humans around him, and in particular the two Humans with whom Sigh-moving-Fast was already in contact.

  Astonishingly, therefore, the modified male and female were being stalked by enemy and ally alike. Why this should be so could not be imagined. Anxiously seeking answers, the Teacher had unearthed only another question.

  The Amplitur had survived and prospered by bending evolution itself to their needs. Sigh-moving-Fast did not hesitate to reach out and touch the mind of the new arrival, inducing synapses to fire in a desired pattern. There was hesitation on the part of the Massood, then a resumption of movement.

  While quite capable of proceeding alone, Sigh-moving-Fast was perfectly happy to make use of whatever tools might happen to proffer themselves.

  Gunecvod ducked behind a towering ceramic cylinder the color of rotting teeth. Inclining his lanky six-foot-six-inch frame slightly to the right, he was able to see the two Humans where they crouched behind cover of their own. Around him the vast staging chamber was still afire with death and destruction.

  Several other preoccupied Massood darted forward to the left and behind him. At the moment they and the two Humans were the only other ones in sight.

  His quarry had not observed his approach. Whiskers twitched violently as his lips drew back to expose his full complement of teeth. Now was the moment to end the threat to civilization, to protect his own kind! Raising his rifle, he took careful aim at the female, letting the automatic sight lock in on the back of her skull.

  He hesitated.

  Something was not right. The Humans looked alert, but not as though they were keeping watch for advancing enemy. They held their weapons casually, almost indifferently. Yet their attitudes were completely focused. It was not only unnatural and unsoldierly, based on all that Gunecvod had observed of the primates previously; it was quite in Human.