She brought them around and suddenly one of their pursuers was in front of them, a clear shot. She felt Stem hesitate and let her consciousness flow into him, picking out his fears. What he thought made sense, up to a point. They were fighting slaves, humans just like them, and out here there was very little chance of rescue. Had they gone through everything just to leave their shipmates floating in a coffin?
She looked at the veil filling her screens. Whatever was happening in the war, surely the Lords could spare a ship to come through and retrieve their pilots? She wasn't sure whether it was him or her thinking 'yeah right', but she couldn't argue it.
"Damn it."
She hauled on the sticks, pulling up and away from their target.
"So what now then?"
He nodded towards the veil, the vast wall of gas and rock. She sighed, but set off nonetheless. It was almost indescribably huge. She had no idea how long it lasted and she knew they could only be seeing a small fraction of the whole thing. This thought left her feeling hopeless. They could run for a long time, she wasn't concerned, but at some point in the next week their oxygen was going to run out.
As they spun and dived, she became aware that the shots weren't coming anywhere close to hitting them, amazing flying or not. She had a sense they were being guided, pushed towards a certain destination, and her heart sank. Either there was something waiting for them, or they were showing her how to get through the veil. Either way, it meant that she and Stem were going exactly where the Lord wanted them to go, and that could only be bad.
She eased off on the acrobatics, now convinced that the shots weren't meant to strike, yet. After a few minutes, they caught sight of something on the surface of the barrier they were flying past. The gas was bubbling and roiling, like the tops of the storm clouds that hung above the planet.
They flew over the disturbance to see that it was vast, an enormous circle, the middle of which was a portal, a way through!
She glanced over at Stem, feeling his own nerves like tiny shocks in her brain and then, eyes once more on the screens, she pulled the ship round and in.
Outro
As the veil passed by on both sides, she became acutely aware of their breathing, loud quick breaths. Despite the wonder of what they were passing through, her eyes remained locked on the screens. Their pursuers were still with them, but the shots had ceased and they flew some distance behind, a bizarre honour guard for their voyage away from everything they knew.
She had her hands tight around the sticks, sweat beginning to dry on her neck. Ahead, they could see only light, but her thoughts were still on what would happen when they emerged. Would the slaves chasing them re-engage, but for real?
Finally, the gas began to thin out, and they left the veil behind. Their breathing, so loud a moment ago, now stopped completely as they saw what lay beyond.
Space was gone. There were no stars, or planets. In all directions she could see light, as if from a million bulbs, hiding whatever lay beyond, if anything did. The forward screens were filled with what looked like a planet, though it was nearer in size to a sun. It was pale, and seemed translucent, although she couldn't see into it. She had no idea whether it was man-made or natural, it defied anything she had seen. Not that she'd seen a lot, but she didn't think there were many who had seen something like this.
Absently she realised that the ships following them had peeled away and were heading back through the portal.
As they drew closer, she could make out holes in the planet, entrances through which entire Homeships could fit. She was trying to understand it, get a grasp on what they were flying towards. Stem's mind was equally scattered, but as they clawed their way toward cogent thought, the same thing occurred to both of them.
This was no war.
They were close enough now to see into one of the entrances. Inside the planet were hundreds of ships, moored at various platforms that jutted out from the walls. Some she could recognise as being human made, others by the Lords, but there were many more she couldn't identify. With little other choice, she guided the Vale into the centre of the tunnel. The walls and ceiling were still a vast distance away, also made of the strange, almost white substance.
They were cruising slowly along, eyes wide, when a voice erupted inside her making her clap her hands to her ears, despite how pointless it was.
"Welcome, welcome to the Nexus. I assumed you were part of the Atrile sacrifice, but it appears you have come here under your own steam, and with some interesting talent as well. Do you come to game, or watch, or simply make supplication?"
"Supplication?"
"Most who come here want something. I consider myself a generous deity, but I would be in trouble were I to simply give something away for nothing. So what is it you want, and what can you give in return? You must have something of value, though if you find yourselves short, you are always welcome to play the game."
A Game of War
Book Three
Playing God
Intro
She awoke, prying apart gummy eyes. The room was dark, only a faint glow emanating from the walls. She rolled over, seeing Stem lying next to her. The surface she lay on was comfortable and giving, and the sheet she lay beneath was soft and smooth on her skin.
Her brain slowly caught up with her body as she realised she was lying in a bed. She had seen them on the canteen TV, but had no idea they would feel like this. She stretched, letting each limb brush across the warm sheets and mattress, revelling in the sensations.
Pictures from the last four weeks began to flash through her mind, every moment of joy and wonder eclipsed by a memory of pain, or sorrow. She reached out a hand, laying it gently on his shoulder. When he was sleeping she could see his dreams, which were now filled with the gigantic planet they were inside, and the hundreds of strange creatures they had seen on their way to this room.
She took her hand away and rolled back to stare at the ceiling. The entire room was glowing, a pale muted light that seemed to be part of the walls, as if the very substance itself glowed.
She glanced at her wrist and gasped, sitting upright abruptly. She had slept for 17 hours, without pause or waking. She hadn't done that ever, not as far as she remembered, and couldn't imagine ever being relaxed enough to. In the last few weeks sleep had been a stranger to her, so the combination of comfort and relative safety had reunited them. She shook her head, then lay back down, pulling the sheets up to re-cover Stem's shoulder and stretching again.
Chapter Fourteen
She wasn't sure that she did feel safe, not entirely, not after last night and what they had discovered. The booming voice had invited them to dock and enter, to feel safe under his protection. With little other choice they had done so, finding a space on one of the long walkways that thrust out of the tunnel wall.
She shifted the sticks, taking them as close as she dared. A force began to pull at the ship, gently dragging it toward the walkway until she felt the slightest of bumps.
"Huh."
She looked across at Stem, eyebrows raised and he shrugged in return.
"Guess we may as well go and have a look, see where we are."
She nodded, un-clipping from her flight seat and stretching her tense limbs. The voice had assured them they were safe, that the air was suitable for them, but even so she found herself holding her breath as she cracked the hatch. The lack of sudden asphyxiation was enough for her to let it out and take a shallow, hesitant gulp of the air. She looked back at Stem, her face once again painted in doubt, then turned back and stepped onto the nose of the Vale and down onto the walkway.
She stood and gaped, amazed by it all. The scale was incredible, which was a big deal coming from the Homeship, where everything was already twice her size. She was standing on a long, thin strip of the same pale material that made up the walls and ceiling. Docked here were maybe thirty or forty ships, all sorts and sizes and of both familiar and unfamiliar makes. Around them the tunnel soared, identical do
cks to their own springing out at regular intervals. Most of them were full, or nearly full of ships and without any serious calculation she could guess there were thousands in this one entrance tunnel alone.
Stem dropped down next to her, gazing around in wonder.
"Pretty impressive huh?"
She nodded, still reeling from the view, despite the thought that was going round and round her head.
"So where's the war?"
They looked at one another as the silence played out. As one they turned and began to walk towards the doorway at the end of the dock.
"Guess we should find out."
"Yeah. Also, what's the Atrile sacrifice? And what the hell is the thing that spoke to us. He called himself a deity right?"
"Yep."
"That mean what I think it does?"
"Yep."
"Huh."
She was met once more with silence.
The door slid open as they approached, a thick slab of translucence that whispered into the wall. Beyond it lay a corridor driving straight into the planet. As they walked, they became aware of a low, murmuring sound, a sound that got gradually louder. Coming to the end of the corridor, another doorway slid apart and the noise went from a murmur to a roar.
Stepping through she tried, and failed, to avoid once again gaping and staring. Next to her he did the same. She reached out and took his hand, feeling his amazement flood in and join with hers.
They stood in a hallway, many times larger than any room on the Homeship. The ceiling was only just visible, the white light making it feel like the sky, high above them. They stood on a raised platform, and spread before them was a market, a thousand stalls and booths. The narrow rows and streets were crammed with life, creatures of so many shapes and sizes that she could barely take it in. The stalls were a mish mash of different styles, some covered and large enough to walk inside, even get lost in. Others were as small as a cart, holding only a few small goods. Colours, some for which she had no name, clashed horribly, adding more than a taste of mayhem to the room.
Above the market, creatures she assumed were birds flew back and forth, brightly coloured plumage helping them stand out against the pale walls. They were something she had only seen on the shows from Earth and seeing them here, flitting and darting so gracefully above such chaos left her breathless.
She became aware that some of the beings nearest to them had turned to look and now stare at them. She couldn't make out other humans amongst the throng, though many looked similar. She pulled Stem and they made their way down the steps and into the market. They wandered aimlessly, looking at everything and seeing very little. Smells of cooking; baking bread and all manner of spices and herbs drifted and swirled around them. Shouting voices overlapped into a wall of noise that was almost deafening.
They passed a market stall manned by a creature with several arms, each one handing food to be sampled by the constant flow of customers. Despite his extra appendages the rest of him seemed mostly human, legs, head and so on. The next stall was tiny, not much larger than a basket on legs, behind which stood what she assumed was an old lady. She looked small and shriveled, but long, thin legs tuck out from under the basket and into the street. She just avoided stamping on them as they passed, skipping out of the way and bumping into a huge beast of a man. He spun, the snarl on his face almost entirely buried in facial hair the likes of which she'd never seen. His eyebrows were huge and long, hanging down past his cheeks. The effect made her want to giggle, until she looked at his eyes, a dark red that seemed to burrow into her.
"Sorry, sorry."
She held her hands up in apology and kept walking, avoiding eye contact and hoping he didn't follow. Within seconds he was swallowed by the crowd and they kept walking. The stalls they were passing seemed to be selling the most normal things; food and clothing; a few weapon; herbs; material. Keeping track of where they were in the hall was close to impossible, the ceiling a uniform shade, with no distinguishing marks. Now that they were down amongst it, they had lost all sense of direction and were heading in no particular direction.
She was about to say so to Stem when she felt a hand wrap itself around her arm and yank, pulling her away from him and off her feet.
"Stem!"
She was grabbed by the hair and pulled along, her backside dragging along the floor. The crowd seemed to part as she squirmed and behind her he vanished. She could hear his voice calling, but the press of people was too thick.
She was kicking and bucking, trying to stop her momentum, but moments later she was thrown down anyway, her hand going to her now-painful scalp. She twisted around, jumping to her feet to face her attacker. A small, powerful looking creature faced her, its scowl entirely visible. It was wearing trousers and nothing else, its upper half covered almost entirely in white swirls that stood out against the dark, greying skin. It was bald and as she stared, she became convinced that it was a she, though she didn't know why. When she spoke, Ally could see the mouth making shapes she didn't recognise, but she understood the words all too well.
"Cattle. What are you doing out here in the market?"
The words were spat, barely a question. She resisted the urge to push herself backwards as the being bared its teeth at her. She shoved upwards, trying to get her feet under her, only for the woman to step forward and shove her, sending her tumbling back down.
"Stop, please, just."
She took a breath, aware of the circle that had formed around them, the many strange faces now peering down at her.
"We were invited to dock here, the voice said we were under its protection."
She tried to get up again, and as the woman stepped towards her, she twisted to one side, avoiding the shove and standing. She could feel her self-control slipping, the tension and exhaustion getting in the way.
"I'm not cattle, I'm a human being."
The woman stepped back, momentarily taken aback by the anger in her voice. Then she started to laugh, a harsh barking sound that was echoed by the onlookers. Ally looked around, her surge of anger swamped by sudden fear. There was no one here she knew, no one who would stand for her; and where was Stem?
"Human, cattle. What is the difference?"
This time the question was clear, though she had no answer, at least not one she thought would make a difference. She glanced around, seeing again just how strange everything and everyone looked. The reality that she was alone was now sinking in. They had seen no other humans in the market and there were none stood around her now.
"The difference is that I'm a person. I have thoughts and feelings and rights."
She said this with feeling, with belief that a few weeks ago she didn't have. Now she had fought for it, and earned it, and believed it. The alien spat on the floor in front of her.
"Thoughts? You are cattle, you have no thoughts. Your brains are weak, powerless. You have no rights."
The creature stepped forward, grabbing her by the arm. Almost on instinct, Ally put her hand against its head, and sunk in. The difference was astonishing. Where the brains of the slaves they had freed were basic shapes, simple and easy to navigate, so this was unbelievably complex, a mass of lines and colours and layers.
She felt adrift, searching for somewhere to start, something to grab a hold of. She let herself float above it, staring down and letting her vision relax. She began to perceive patterns, repetition in the lines and combinations. Then she picked out a larger pattern, like the squares on a game board. Dad had taught her chess, though she'd never got good at it. This was more random than that board, with many more shades and shapes, but the pattern was there.
It was also different because it came together, it had a focal point. The patterns of lines led toward an area, not far from the centre. She let herself drift down and sink into the spot. As she sunk in, so it expanded until she was standing in a maze, surrounded by high walls. She tried to drift up again but nothing happened.
She set off, walking down the one corridor sh
e could see. Within moments, two paths branched off in both directions. She took one and was again faced with a choice. As the minutes dragged on she took path after path, slowly realising how pointless it was.
After what felt like hours she sat down, craving action but understanding that course would get her nowhere. She leaned her head back against the wall, fighting the urge to stand and run. All her life she had wanted to get out there, to fight and fly. Inside this brain, alone and trapped, she had no choice. She could run all she wanted, she was fairly certain it wouldn't get her anywhere.
The creature in whose brain she resided had said that humans had no power, their brains were weak. She knew that wasn't true, but she also knew that they had been enslaved by the Lords, for generations and not even realised it. As much as she hated the idea, she thought the alien might be right. Their brains weren't weak, they just weren't developed like hers was. She remembered what it had been like inside the Lord's head, although she was convinced that she hadn't been there at all, but rather somewhere the Lords lived.
She was different though, she knew that. She had power, though she had no idea how much. She wouldn't know until she had been tested and she supposed this was that test. She had to approach it in a different way, look at things differently. She stood, looking upward to where dark grey clouds swirled high overhead. For a moment, she let her fascination take over. The clouds existed only within this brain, a brain of an alien creature, an entire race she had no knowledge of. Were the clouds always here or were they, was all this, created by her being here?
With that thought, a smile crept across her face. Furrowing her brow, she looked down at her legs, thinking back to the old lady in the market. They began to grow, slowly at first, then suddenly shooting up until she stood metres tall, looking over the walls. She got taller still, until she could see the whole maze. Spotting the exit far from where she stood, she took a step, only to find herself swaying, and only just staying upright. She reached out, grabbing hold of the wall to steady herself. This was confusing. If she could change herself however she wanted, why was gravity important?
A Game of War Season One Amazon Page 12