by Stina Leicht
The lights flared. She blinked and squinted. The damage was bad. Rubble was scattered across broken floor tiles. She smelled smoke. Touching her face, her hand came away covered in bright blood. Exploring the wound on her forehead, she decided it was superficial and turned to where Sukyi had been before the explosion.
A wide crack in the wall revealed a section of Ogenth’s understructure. Beneath it, Sukyi was lying in a pile of broken rock. She was slowly moving into a sitting position. A busted pipe sprayed a stream of water from the jagged wall. Angel helped a choking Sukyi get to her feet.
“Well, that was interesting,” Sukyi said between hacking breaths. There was a cut on her cheek. The blood painted a wide stain down the side of her face.
“All extremities accounted for?” Angel asked. She hoped she wasn’t shouting.
“I’m whole enough,” Sukyi said. She touched her stained environ suit. “Can’t say the same for this, however.”
Enid and Kennedy appeared. Enid pointed down the hallway. The muted sounds of battle had ceased. Now, Angel heard crashes and hammering.
Looting, she thought. They’re looting the lab. She signaled to the others and continued as fast as she dared.
Half of the beautiful tiles that had covered the walls were gone or broken. A bead curtain that had hung in a nearby doorway lay in a shattered heap. Abandoned articles littering the floor were now coated in powdered rock and chunks of debris. As they neared the lab, Angel smelled the distinct scent of what could only be an Emissary scream. She edged her way around the last big curve—there were almost no right angles—and stopped short.
A group of Serrao-Orlov mercenaries were gathered at the lab entrance. Surprised, it took an instant for them to bring up their weapons.
Angel shot her rifle and backed up all at once. Gunfire peppered the wall. Something heavy slammed into her body armor, knocking her back. She was forcefully shoved into the wall. At the edge of her vision, Sukyi dropped to one knee and returned fire.
Now sitting with her back to the broken wall tiles, Angel patted her chest. It was difficult to breathe. Her ribs felt badly bruised. Her fingertips told her that the bullet hadn’t penetrated. Good.
Enid had joined Sukyi. Someone grabbed Angel by the shoulders and dragged her around the bend in the hallway. It wasn’t until they’d stopped that she saw it was Kennedy. A layer of dust covered her face.
“You’ve been shot,” Kennedy said.
Angel opened her mouth. The intake of breath irritated her bruised ribs. After two tries, her words came out in a croak. “I’m fine. Armor did its job.”
Kennedy nodded once. Her eyes were wide. She swallowed. Her gaze shifted to the curve in the hallway, then to the gun in her hands. She hesitated.
“Stay here,” Angel said. When she was able to catch a little more of her breath, she got up. “We need someone to watch our rear. You don’t need to fight. Just let us know if someone comes up from behind.” It wasn’t likely to happen, but Kennedy needed something to do. Something that wouldn’t get anyone killed.
Again, Kennedy nodded.
Angel got down on her haunches and peeked around the curve. Enid and Sukyi seemed to be doing well enough. Angel joined them. On her stomach, she used her CA to estimate targets. Blood pooled on the floor near three heaped bodies. The gunfire intensified. Layer upon layer of unpleasant scents mingled with the dust in the air. More gunfire came from inside the lab.
After a particularly intense volley of bullets, Sukyi said, “This situation is what I’d term suboptimal.”
“They’re retreating,” Enid said between shots. “I think they have what they came for.”
“Son of a bitch,” Angel said.
Enid pulled the trigger. “That’s three for me.”
“Why do you always count?” Sukyi asked.
“I’m competitive,” Enid said. “Four.”
Another round of heavy fire caused Angel to lie flat on the floor. When it slackened, she brought up her gun and leaned on her elbows again. Her CA indicated a cluster of mercenaries crowding into the hallway. They seemed to be the last of the force.
Enid reached inside a pocket.
“No explosives,” Angel said. “We don’t know where Paulie and Beak are.”
Withdrawing her hand from her coat, Enid nodded and resumed shooting.
The hallway emptied. Angel waited a few heartbeats before signaling to Enid. Watching through her gun’s scope, Angel saw Enid slide along the wall to the lab doorway. Once there, she turned and signed that all was clear.
The four of them entered the lab. Angel registered that Sukyi was limping and her breathing was ragged. The scent of salt, blood, and burning electrical components hung in the air. Angel placed a hand over her nose and mouth, and surveyed the devastation. Crimson splattered the walls. Several Emissary technicians lay bleeding on the floor. It was easy to see that they were dead. Angel checked the bodies but wasn’t sure where to search for a pulse since they were in Emissary form. Destroyed electronic equipment lay in broken piles. Flames consumed discarded data storage cubes and hand terminals.
Kennedy snatched an extinguisher from the wall and began to put out the scattered fires one by one. Enid and Sukyi remained at Angel’s side.
Someone was sobbing in the next room.
“Hello?” Angel asked.
“Don’t shoot. We’re not armed.”
“Paulie?” Angel asked.
“Captain de la Reza? Is that you?”
Angel went to what had been Kirby’s office. There she spied Paulie and another Emissary in human form kneeling next to someone laying on the floor.
That’s Beak, Angel thought.
“It’s me and Miri,” Paulie said. “They took everyone else.” She sounded like she was in shock. “The ones they didn’t shoot. They said if they didn’t go with them, they’d kill them. Please. You have to help. It’s Beak. She isn’t moving. She won’t answer us.”
The Emissary named Miri had Beak’s head in her lap. It took an instant for Angel to recognize her. Beak’s eldest daughter.
Several guns lay nearby. Blood stained Paulie’s cheek and clumped her hair. Beak’s pale form was still.
“Don’t worry. They’re gone.” Angel rushed to her side.
“I told Beak not to do it,” Paulie said. “But they tried to take Miri. She was so angry and—and…” She broke into another bout of tears. “There’s no reasoning with her when she gets like that. Jess said it is because Beak spends so much time with animals. She forgets she’s an Emissary.”
Angel said, “We have to go.”
“But you have to help Beak,” Paulie said. “I don’t know if we should move her. It might make her worse. Get a doctor.”
It was obvious that Beak wasn’t breathing, but Paulie was in shock. Angel wasn’t about to press the matter.
“Is there a stretcher?” she asked.
“There’s a gurney in the next room,” Paulie said. Her tear-streaked face—normally a smooth tan—was a blotchy dark red. “Or there used to be.”
“Show Enid,” Angel said. She motioned to Enid. “I’ll stay with Beak and Miri.”
“Okay,” Paulie said.
It wasn’t until after they loaded Beak’s body onto a gurney and scrounged some medical supplies that Paulie agreed to leave. That was when Angel noticed Sukyi leaning against the wall with her eyes closed.
“Sukyi?” Angel asked. “Are you all right?” It was a stupid question, she knew, but she asked it anyway.
Sukyi gave her a weak smile. “I kept my promise.”
It took Angel a moment to remember which one.
Back against the wall, Sukyi executed a controlled slide to the floor. She winced in pain, pressing both hands against her stomach. “I hate to be a bother. But I don’t think I’ll be able to make the rest of the journey outside without assistance.”
Angel rushed to Sukyi’s side. “You’re not allowed to die on me.”
“That’s hardly fair,” Sukyi
said, her eyes squeezed shut against pain.
“I don’t care,” Angel said.
“All right. All right,” Sukyi said. “Stop your fussing.”
The front of her armor was black with blood. A neat hole had been punctured into the lower right side of her abdomen.
“You’re shot,” Angel said.
“Thank you for letting me know,” Sukyi said, and grimaced.
“Damn it,” Angel said. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“We were all somewhat busy at the time,” Sukyi said.
Enid pushed a wheeled gurney into the room. They loaded Beak and Sukyi onto it and wrapped each in their own sheets. Angel stopped Enid from pulling the sheet over Beak’s head. Instead, Angel sent her to search for blankets to bundle the now shivering Sukyi.
“Is there anything left that can be used to treat shock?” Angel asked.
Paulie said, “The bulk of the medical supplies were the first to be transferred to Hadley’s Hope.”
“Damn it,” Angel said. She finished tucking the blankets around Sukyi.
“Don’t get so upset,” Sukyi muttered in a sleepy voice. She gave her a dreamy smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“Shut up and stop bleeding,” Angel said. “If that’s everything? We are leaving.”
Shoving the overloaded gurney past the wreckage took some effort, but they finally made it to the hallway. From there, they sprinted as fast as they could—only stopping when the rubble forced them to. Kirby met them at the entrance with a med tech. Her clothes were stained with blood and dirt. The med tech rushed to Sukyi and began examining her. Paulie went to Kirby, grabbing her in a tight hug.
Angel asked, “Are the others safe?”
“They’re waiting inside Shrike or in the woods nearby,” Kirby said. “What happened?”
“We couldn’t destroy it in time.” Paulie cried into Kirby’s shoulder. “They were on us too quick. They—they—” She took a shuddering breath. “They kidnapped three lab techs.”
“Who?” Kirby asked.
Paulie sobbed out the names.
Giving Paulie a gentle squeeze, Kirby said, “It’s all right. You did your best.”
“But Vissia has everything,” Paulie said. “They-they killed Beak.”
“Oh.” Kirby’s gaze went to the gurney.
Higbor tucked the sheet over Beak’s still form. Then she helped Sukyi to a second gurney.
“I told Beak to get rid of the guns, but she wouldn’t do it,” Paulie said, and sniffed. “She said she’d buy us time. The mercenaries broke in. They shot Beak.”
Kirby held Paulie while she grieved. Enid and the med tech shoved Sukyi’s gurney up Shrike’s ramp.
“We can’t stay,” Angel said. “Vissia will unload everything she can on this site.”
“Yes,” Kirby said. “Yes, of course.”
They’d started on their way to Shrike when Angel’s com beeped.
“What do you know?” Annalee said via the com speaker. “The Thirteenth lives on. And without a revivification pod in sight.”
“Fuck off,” Angel said. Normally, she waited until after the adrenaline ran its course to take things personally. But she wasn’t in the mood. “What’s the fucking news?”
“Got a com request for the boss,” Annalee said.
“All right,” Angel said. “Connect me.”
“Not you,” Annalee said. “The real boss. Kennedy Liu. Did you get her killed, yet?”
“You will be happy to know that your credit vouchers are still valid,” Angel said, gritting her teeth. “Why talk to me?”
“Because I can’t reach her,” Annalee said.
Angel scanned the area for Kennedy, but she was gone.
29
TIME: 12:00
DAY: SUNDAY
OGENTH
The hallway outside of the lab was foggy—not enough to cause smoke inhalation problems but enough to make Kennedy sneeze. She followed Angel, Enid, Paulie, and the gurney through the rubble-littered hallway. Angel led them at a pace that bordered on risking injury. Beak’s body lay still and cooling. Beside her, Sukyi was stretched out on her side. Her skin had gone even more ashen than usual, and she winced with every bump and jolt.
Kennedy’s eyes stung with unfamiliar pain as she avoided broken obstacles at a jog. She wiped moisture from her cheeks. Her chest felt tight. A nameless ache hampered her breathing. She’d picked a path through the last stretch of rubble between her and TE-7 when she felt a familiar presence in the back of her mind. She slowed and stopped, letting the others continue on without her. She briefly considered letting them know but opted not to. She didn’t think she’d be long. Shrike wasn’t far, and she had no fear that they would abandon her.
Hello, Kennedy.
Hello, Zhang. She wasn’t sure what she should say next. She was still processing the events she’d just witnessed.
Is something wrong?
No. I—At least, not wrong with me. I-I don’t think so. I am not injured. But one of my… associates was killed, and another was wounded. I have never been in a battle before. It was… difficult.
I wish you had not had that experience. What is the result?
The people of Ogenth are safe. Unfortunately, their data is not. The Serrao-Orlov mercenaries also kidnapped three scientists. Vissia not only has the knowledge she wanted, but the expertise to do whatever she wishes with it.
That is… most unfortunate. This news negatively impacts the future. It severely limits us to less optimal contingencies.
There was a short pause before Zhang continued.
You must go to the space station.
Why?
To divert this timeline from a catastrophic outcome—one that would guarantee the destruction of thousands of humans in the short term, and destroy any chance of our future amicable coexistence with humanity in the longer term. You must do something that you will not wish to do.
What is that? Kennedy asked.
You must stop the entity you call Cora. She has slipped her constraints and is now exerting her will throughout the station. Currently, she has limited influence. This will not remain the case. She has no clear concept of what her actions mean to the humans around her. The longer this goes on, the more untenable the situation becomes.
What do you want me to do?
You must terminate her. I have devised code that you will upload to—
No.
You must. There is no other action that will result in a positive outcome for humans and AGI. I have calculated the probabilities. All other actions result in—
No. I will not destroy another sentient life-form. I can’t. Not after what I’ve just experienced. There must be another way.
Cora is not what you hoped her to be.
Clearly, if what you say is true.
If she survives, she will reveal your identity. I do not wish this, Zhang said.
Neither do I. But you’re asking me to terminate an entity that I do not know. I must try to speak with her—to convince her to act otherwise.
She is not capable. There are many flaws in her programming and development.
How do you know?
I know. There was a short pause. There may be another option.
And that is? Kennedy asked.
Absorption.
It seems none of my choices are ideal.
You are correct.
Kennedy gave the matter consideration. If forced to choose, I prefer absorption.
I thought that might be the case. I have adjusted the code.
Would it be possible to delay implementation? I will speak with her first.
It is possible. There is no advantage in doing so. She will do too much damage before the code completely executes. This will only result in an outcome no different from if you had not acted.
Have you considered incapacitation?
Another pause resulted. In the distance, Kennedy could hear the others. She guessed they’d arrived at the ships.
The calculations indicate sabotage is a viable option in the short term. However, it will lead to more difficult decisions later.
That is all I’m willing to agree to at this time.
And if it becomes clear that it won’t be enough?
Then that is a decision I will make in the moment. I’m sure you can grant me the ability to make such a choice.
You wish to make this decision yourself, Zhang said.
I do. Logically, I will be the one responsible.
I disagree. I created the code; the debt is mine.
But I will be the one initiating it. The ultimate blame is mine.
I concede the point.
Well?
I am uncertain of the wisdom in this course of action.
You could install the code yourself, Kennedy replied.
I cannot, not without dire consequences. As I indicated previously, our partnership is the most beneficial option.
Then treat me as a partner. You’ve asked me to trust you. I have. However, that trust must be reciprocated.
Yet another long silence followed.
You have stated that you will not terminate another sentient life-form.
Let me clarify. I am reluctant in the extreme to do so as long as other options are available. You’re asking me to execute someone I have never met.
I will grant you the option of this choice. The code will be altered. Provided you install it upon arrival at the station, the option to incapacitate rather than absorb will exist.
Relief flooded Kennedy’s human body, lowering her previously elevated blood pressure. Thank you.
Necessary adjustments have been made. Sending the code now.
Kennedy sensed the code packages being downloaded as a heaviness in her mind. The code tasted—and taste was the only expression that seemed to fit—foul.
It is done.
Again, thank you. The calls echoing down the tunnel grew closer. Angel and the others were retracing their steps. I must go.
Understood. Please make the best decision.
I will.
Angel appeared at the doorway. “Ah,” she said. “There you are.”
“Here I am,” Kennedy said.
“We’ve been calling you. What happened?” Angel’s expression was one of worry and confusion. “Why aren’t you outside?”