Maelgwn?
He distinctly heard his name called and was delighted to recognise the caller. Tory? He willed to see her and her etheric form manifested before him. His presence became known to her also. ‘Could you have repaid your karmic debt so soon?’
Tory shook her head and smiled broadly, pleased to see him. Having read to her charge about Maelgwn for three years, she’d become rather homesick to see her other half. For even though her astral body of emotion was not in use at the moment, intellectually she missed Maelgwn’s company. ‘I’ve just finished relaying the first trilogy and I’ve been booted out by a cat who aspires to be an author. Whilst my charge has a baby, builds a house and shifts residence, her Oversoul suggested it might be best if I took a year off and returned to do the second trilogy when all the chaos has died down. It also gave me the opportunity to come and investigate the ending to our story. I don’t feel right learning what happens from the books Kuthumi gave me, as I like to think that we do have some choice and influence over what is about to occur.’
‘I know what you mean,’ Maelgwn said. ‘I’ve been avoiding reading the last book of the second trilogy for that very reason.’
‘So, what have I missed?’ Tory sought an update.
‘You’ll be hanging around to help me for a bit then?’ Maelgwn was gratified by the idea, having missed her company too. Without her, he had no one to bounce ideas off, as he didn’t like to trouble the Count with unimportant decisions.
‘If you don’t mind me tagging along and taking a few notes?’ Tory inquired, feeling that Maelgwn was genuinely keen on the idea.
‘It’s always a pleasure,’ he bowed graciously to confirm, but by the time he came back to vertical, Tory’s attention had already reverted to their boys.
‘My little heroes.’ She wandered among her children and was enchanted by Zabeel and Sparrowhawk’s Homo sapiens appearance. ‘There’s no mistaking they’re your boys.’ Then Tory turned to view Lirathea and could see the etheric double of a Falcon woman underneath. ‘Sparrowhawk found Viper’s sister.’ Tory clapped her hands together, delighted; she’d been informed of this eventuality by Lirathea.
Maelgwn was observing Avery flying about in midair in an attempt get a look at the name on the front of the building in order to check that they’d reached their desired destination. ‘While this lot get over their wonder and figure out where they are, allow me to fill you in on what’s been happening.’
‘Please do.’ Tory drifted back to her husband’s side to get the full story.
14
THE DEFENCE OF
THE CHAIR
From this great height the biodome city held no great wonder for the guys and gals from Kila, as the look of it was similar to some of the shielded cities on Numan and Tarazean, but this archaic substitute was nowhere near as spectacular.
Avery returned from his flight to land on the top of the building where his team awaited his report. ‘We’re right where we want to be, on top of the Ingram Building.’
Rhun frowned, as he’d not given his brother leave to go investigate. ‘That’s good to know, Avery, but you’d best not fly about on Gaia like that. Somebody is bound to see you and if they do, our cover will be blown.’
‘I’ll be careful,’ Avery retorted. ‘And anyway, if anyone were to catch me, I could simply glamour them into forgetting.’
‘Not if you’re not aware of being seen.’ Rhun pressed his argument. ‘This is not the Dark Ages. The technology here is pretty advanced and you can bet that the security surveillance is pretty efficient as well … try glamouring a camera.’
‘What we really need to confirm,’ Bast burst into the middle of their brotherly dispute, ‘is today’s date.’ The hour was clearly defined by a huge digital clock on the side of a nearby building which read 12.34.
Rhun pondered the best way of checking the date and, having lived on Gaia earlier this century, his first thought was to find a newspaper. He approached the edge of the tallest building in the city, and gazing down on the main street far below he spotted a newspaper stand on the corner. ‘Some things never change,’ he mumbled to himself.
Cars no longer congested the streets of the cities on Gaia; all traffic was directed through enclosed superhighways underground. Those who wished to take in the city sights as they travelled could walk or catch the electric monorail that ran through the city, four levels above the street. This system guarded against poisonous fumes leaking into the biodome’s sensitive air supply, which gave the citizens and all the plant and animal life a beautiful breathable environment, free of toxins and radiation from the outside world.
‘Avery, I need you.’ Rhun waved his brother over, as Avery was the most efficient at getting about unseen, thanks to his Otherworldly glamour.
Avery was stunned by his brother’s sudden change in attitude. ‘Need me,’ he echoed as he wandered over, placing a hand on his heart to suggest that the shock was too much.
‘You see that little stand on the corner over there.’ Rhun pointed and Avery nodded. ‘That’s got to be a newspaper stand. I want you to go down there and ask the proprietor for today’s paper.’ Rhun manifested some cash and shoved it into his brother’s hand, and then had another thought as he observed the clothing of his team. ‘Ask him if he has any unisex fashion magazines, while you’re at it.’ Rhun then proceeded to project himself around the roof of the building, looking for the best place for Avery to descend to ground level.
As none of Rhun’s team had ever been in this city before they couldn’t simply will themselves forth. Rhun had taken the liberty of familiarising himself with the appearance of Ingram’s private office, so that part of their quest would not prove a problem — he had acquired personal memories of the room from Doc Alexander.
The newspaper stand was within their sight, but the streets below were crammed with people and chances were that Avery would be seen manifesting if he teleported himself forth.
On the ground floor, along one side of the building, was a colourful array of decorative awnings, which Rhun suspected were shopfronts. ‘Project yourself onto the top of the awning and then jump to street level from there.
‘Got you,’ Avery confirmed as he removed his weapons, eager to get amongst the people below.
Rhun grabbed hold of his brother to prevent his departure and clarify his orders. ‘Come straight back.’
Avery assisted his brother to release him and then vanished. This sent all his teammates rushing to the edge to monitor his progress.
After touchdown on the awning, Avery stuck his head over the edge to take a look at the passing traffic to make sure he didn’t land on anyone. Spying a group of young women approaching, he did a somersault and landed in their path. The ladies gave a shocked squeal, followed by excited giggles when Avery served the gaggle of young women a wink and a smile. ‘A thousand apologies, ladies.’
‘Wow, scuba man.’ The most attractive of the girls stepped forward to confront Avery, who appeared to her to be wearing some kind of wetsuit. ‘You have the most incredible eyes.’
‘Why, thank you.’ He accepted the compliment. They were forced to move along by the oncoming hordes. ‘Yours are very pretty also.’
‘What I mean to say is, I’ve never seen anyone with eyes that colour.’ The young woman was completely charmed. Still, one of her girlfriends was displeased.
‘Where do you get off, jumping from shop awnings in front of people like that?’ the friend frowned.
Avery shrugged, as he came up with a simple explanation. ‘It was a dare.’
‘I think you’re very daring.’ The pretty woman took hold of Avery’s arm to walk with him across the open part of the thoroughfare.
‘Yeah.’ The suspicious friend elaborated on her train of thought. ‘We could have just pulled out a gun and shot you.’
‘I am not afraid of death,’ he retorted casually, which impressed the rest of the girls all the more.
‘What the hell is he doing?’ Rhun que
ried in a tone that implied he should have known better than to send Avery anywhere there were young females.
‘That’s what I’d like to know.’ Fallon was quietly fuming.
‘Avery can’t help the fact that he’s good looking,’ Bast defended, having been blessed with beauty herself. ‘Women are going to fall at his feet whether he’s attached or not.’
‘He could just as easily have avoided those girls,’ Rhun argued, and Fallon gave a huff to agree with their commander on that point. ‘It is Avery’s choice how he uses his alluring quality.’
‘That would be the pot calling the kettle black, wouldn’t it?’ Zabeel scoffed at Rhun’s gall. ‘I think the real reason you resent Avery so much is because he’s too much like you! Coupled with the fact that he’s more psychically gifted than the rest of us put together.’
Bast and Sparrowhawk applauded the theory.
‘Maybe the reason he chatted up those girls,’ Zabeel continued, ‘was to enable him stroll across the plaza without looking suspicious … it’s called blending in with the locals.’
‘All right.’ Rhun granted that he might have misjudged the motive for Avery’s shenanigans. ‘Sorry, Fallon,’ he apologised for working her into a tizz. ‘I know Avery is very fond of you and would never betray your trust.’
Fallon wasn’t too positive about that, but she forced a smile in appreciation for the reassurance.
They watched as the gaggle of young women escorted Avery back to the awning, but he didn’t appear to be carrying the paper and the magazine Rhun had ordered.
‘Wasn’t I specific enough?’ Rhun muttered under his breath, and although he was a little agitated, he decided to reserve judgement until after he’d heard Avery’s explanation.
Avery gave the pretty girl some cash, ahead of jumping up to grip the awning and swing his body back up and over the large canvas.
Avery manifested in front of his brother and handed him a small handheld device that had a viewing screen, a scroll button and zoom function, along with a couple of disks. ‘They don’t have the trees to waste on paper production these days. Everything is on disk.’ He took one and shoved it in the top of the viewing mechanism. ‘Those girls were very helpful.’
‘I’ll bet they were.’ Fallon folded her arms, making her objection clear.
‘A thousand apologies, darling heart,’ Avery walked over and gave Fallon a kiss and a squeeze, ‘but unfortunately, I’m not very good at chatting up men.’
Fallon gave an unsure smile, wanting to believe that his flirtations were just business. Avery took hold of both her shoulders to look her straight in the eye. ‘You’re the woman I’m going to marry. I shall remain true to you alone from this day forth, for so long as we both exist,’ he impressed on her, whereupon all their teammates played up their shock at the surprise announcement.
‘Is that a proposal, Pan man?’ Bast, despite her differences with her sister, was amazed and overjoyed that Fallon had finally caught the elusive love of her life.
Fallon looked at Avery, suppressing her welling excitement until she heard his response.
‘Why the hell not?’ Avery decided, going down on one knee before Fallon. He manifested a ring inset with glistening Otherworldly stones, and held the token treasure up to her in offering. ‘Would you do me, and all the inhabitants of the Otherworld, the very great honour of becoming my wife and their Queen?’
‘Oh Avery …’ Fallon melted to her knees and kissed him. ‘Yes.’
As Gazelle gasped back her welling emotions, all eyes turned her way. ‘I’m sorry,’ she wheezed with a sniffle, ‘but I’ve never seen anything so romantic in all my born days.’
Bast conjured a handkerchief from the ethers, as she was standing closer to Gazelle than Sparrowhawk was. She handed the item to their newest team member with a sure smile. ‘Hang around this lot long enough and you’ll get used to it.’
Gazelle was surprised that Bast no longer seemed suspicious of her, but rather was downright friendly. Lahmu’s word had had a positive effect on all of the Chosen; their attitude towards her had altered, just as Sybil said it would. She felt suddenly trusted and accepted, which was enough to reduce her to tears once more.
‘Today’s the day, people,’ Rhun advised as he finished reading the headlines. ‘And I think I know why Viper picked today to knock Hayden Ingram off.’ Rhun turned the viewer to face his audience and the headline read: ‘Ingram to sell controlling interest in biodome. ‘We’ve got two hours to prepare.’
Since Hayden Ingram had put his biodome shares on the market, he’d tripled the security on his private offices in the Ingram building. These rooms were the only place where he felt protected any more.
There had been several attempts on his life recently and the latest bout of death threats had spooked Hayden more than usual. For these had been found in places that only his son, close friends and personal bodyguards had access to. Each threat took the form of a hex and came in a box that usually contained something decomposing, be it a severed human body part or a small dead animal, and a voodoo doll, made to resemble Hayden, with pins and knives stuck through it. Sometimes there was even a poisonous snake, spider or scorpion inside. Normally such things were just water off a duck’s back to this sharp businessman, but a growing suspicion that his son might somehow be involved was undermining his usual confidence.
Rainer had changed lately. As a teenager he’d been a loving and supportive son to Hayden, especially after the loss of his wife — Rainer’s mother. But since his boy had turned twenty-one he’d become a little too keen on running the family business. In fact, Rainer had really been stepping on his father’s toes, by arranging business dealings without his father’s knowledge. When Hayden had tried to pull his son into line, Rainer’s attitude towards Hayden chilled considerably. He went from being a bright and positive lad to a dark and moody character in the span of just a few weeks.
Now Hayden feared that Rainer was conspiring to have him murdered — or at least to force him into hiding or a mental asylum — so that Rainer could collect his inheritance and assume full control of Ingram’s business dealings. Rainer had been none too keen on the idea of Ingram selling its controlling interest in the biodome and had argued the decision with Hayden ever since he’d suggested it at the board meeting. But now the fact was public knowledge there was nothing to be done about it. Hayden would sell and would only breathe easier once he had. He’d seriously considered writing his son out of his will, but having spent his whole life building a business empire to pass on to his boy, Hayden couldn’t help but consider that his whole life would then seem something of a farce if he did.
All the large curtains in his office were drawn closed in an attempt to keep the outside world out. And to keep out the inhabitants of the biodome which was about to have a change in management.
The hourly news updates on the several television screens on Hayden’s office wall were all leading with the Ingram story. None of the stations had managed to capture any film of him this morning, so they ran old footage. Even Rainer was keeping a low profile today.
With a soothing chime, the face of Hayden Ingram’s lovely young secretary came up on the monitor on his desk. ‘Your son and the rest of the board members are here to see you, Sir,’ she announced, appearing a little overwhelmed. ‘They’re showing themselves in.’ She shrugged apologetically.
‘That’s fine, Cindy.’ Hayden didn’t want an all-in brawl erupting. ‘Tell security to let them through.’
Rainer came barging into his father’s office, followed by the rest of the board members. ‘The board have rethought their decision on the sale of our stake in the biodome,’ Rainer took centre stage to oppose his father, ‘and have unanimously voted against this sale.’
‘Well, as the Chairman, don’t you think I should have been present at the meeting?’ Hayden remained seated to address the onslaught. He found it rather miraculous that Rainer had managed to suddenly convince all the company directors that the
sale was a bad idea. Still, in the end, it was Hayden’s money and he had final say.
‘All those in favour of selling Ingram’s interest in this city, raise your hands?’ Rainer asked the directors and not one hand went up for the count. He turned his attention back to his father to appeal. ‘If you would just hear what I have to say, father, I could convince you.’
‘I’m sure you could.’ Hayden was just as eager as his son was for them to speak together. No death threat was going to stop him from doing exactly as he saw fit with his own fortune. This time, Rainer had gone too far.
‘If you gentlemen would be so kind …’ Rainer prompted the board members to retreat and, as though under some sort of spell, everybody left without saying a word. Rainer had been doing all the talking.
‘Look, son, I know you see me as an old man with one foot in the grave, but I am not dead yet!’ Hayden stood to voice his disapproval. ‘Where did this sudden cut-throat desire to succeed come from?’
‘You used to listen to my advice,’ Rainer retorted, holding out his hand. A futuristic-looking handgun appeared out of thin air.
‘You can’t be serious,’ his father scoffed, despite the magic trick. ‘This room is monitored … security will burst in here at any minute.’
‘I don’t think so.’ Rainer grinned confidently. ‘You know my friends have a way with computer systems, especially if they have access codes.’
Inwardly, Hayden was starting to panic, as security was obviously slow to respond. ‘So, what is it you want me to do, Rainer?’
‘Die,’ Rainer requested, aiming the space-age weapon at his father. ‘Heart attack,’ he stated as his preference.
The sound of a weapon firing nearly gave the older Ingram heart failure, but it was his son who was hit when a light bullet shot forth from behind the thick curtains and stunned Rainer into a statue. Hayden breathed a sigh of relief, believing that his security had been on it after all, although their defensive measures were certainly something new. Then three unknown male persons emerged from behind the curtains of his supposedly impenetrable office. When one of the strangers began shooting at the video surveillance cameras in the office, the tycoon ducked for cover, and the gunman managed to take out every one of the cameras.
The Cosmic Logos Page 27