by Jay Allan
He sidled up behind her, his arms encircling her waist as his chin rested on her shoulder. “Pretty, isn’t it?”
She drew in a deep breath and savored the feel of him pressed against her, of his arms wrapped around her. She could get used to this, and quickly. “Very.”
“Come on.” He grasped her hand and again tugged her along.
“This wasn’t what you brought me to see?”
“Uh, no.”
They entered an outdoor market and entertainment area. Mellow synth strains, the hum of the crowd and pleasant aromas from several restaurants and grill stands filled the air, but he continued to lead her on past all the tempting diversions.
The crowd began to thin and they veered back toward the river. In the distance she saw several tall, glittering arches. Beneath the arches the water gained a faint glimmer.
They approached a simple kiosk. He manipulated the display a moment and gestured toward the water.
A small personal craft had appeared out of nowhere alongside the ledge. It had a very minimal structure, flat save for sides which bowed up maybe a meter high and containing only two cushioned couch-like seats.
“After you.”
She raised an eyebrow at him but stepped in and sat down. He joined her, and the craft glided forward.
“Are you driving?”
“I could, but no, it’s automated for the moment.”
“Where does it go?”
“The lake.”
She waited, but no more information was forthcoming, so she shifted to check out the view of downtown. The lights from the many skyscrapers reflected in warping patterns along the river, though the reflection of the moon continued to dominate. “It really is a beautiful city, Caleb.”
“It is. You should probably turn around now.”
“Hmm?” She twisted again in the seat. They were now passing under the first arch. It was a mammoth sculpture of bronze, copper and brushed graphite, wound through by golden optic fibers. It towered nearly a quarter kilometer above them at its peak. Already the next arch was in sight, and beyond three more arches a brilliantly lit structure rose out of the water.
She realized the river was now widening rapidly, and also had begun to…glow. Faintly at first, yet brighter with every meter. She looked over at Caleb curiously. “Bioluminescence?”
He had kicked back in his seat, his legs stretched out along the floor and ankles crossed leisurely. His hands were clasped behind his head. “Of a sort. You ready?”
She laughed incredulously. “For what?”
His eyes twinkled in amusement, revealing an infinite recursion of facets cut into their sapphire hue. She only tore away from them when a field shimmered into existence, extending up from the edges of the craft high enough so they were able to stand within it.
Then the craft began to submerge.
“What…?” Her voice drifted off, stunned into silence.
Fully submerged beneath the surface and still moving forward, they became enveloped by an incredible white-blue luminescence. The closest comparison was phosphorescent algae, but she discerned no trace of even miniscule particles. The water simply glowed, more intensely than any nebula.
The material composing the craft turned out to be a transparent glass material. She stood, and was surrounded in every direction by the radiant splendor. The field was all but invisible, giving the impression she could reach out and immerse fingertips in the water. Colorful fish sporting metallic scales and tiny eyes periodically swam past them. One tried to swim into the craft and collided with the field, causing a slight ripple across it as the fish jerked back in surprise.
“Caleb….” She turned to find him watching her, a delighted smile on his face and a look in his eyes that sent a wicked flutter through her chest.
She plopped in his lap and wound her arms around his neck. “Okay. Congratulations, you’ve impressed me.”
“Good,” he whispered against her lips. “And we’re not even done yet.”
“No?”
“Nope.” He motioned in the direction ahead of them and she somewhat reluctantly pulled away to see.
What she presumed was the large structure she had seen from the surface extended deep beneath the lake as well. As they approached, it became obvious it continued down at least thirty levels. Hundreds if not thousands of people milled about on the other side of the glass. Restaurants, several dance clubs and numerous shops could be made out as their craft circled and docked.
The field surrounding the craft vanished, and they were inside. She stepped out behind him.
This was clearly a high-class entertainment hub. The patrons tended to be well-dressed in expensive attire, though there was the occasional throng of slacker teens among the crowd. The noise level was considerable due to the enclosed environment, but not so loud she was unable to hear him beside her. As they strolled along the curving path, the floor-to-ceiling glass revealed the luminescent waters unmarred. It was actually so bright there was almost no lighting inside.
“Do you want to get some dinner?”
Her eyes cut over to him. “Why, yes I do.”
He laughed and guided her toward the outside of the wide walkway. A moment later they stepped on a lift cut into the glass wall. It sped upward, swooshing past water rushing in the opposite direction. The lift broke through the surface and continued up another forty levels or so.
Then they were in the open air. A cool breeze from the lake far below drifted over them, yet the space felt warmed in some artificial manner.
The roof consisted entirely of a restaurant, complete with white tablecloths and optic candles. Though it seemed full to capacity, they were nevertheless shown to a table bordering the outer edge. Nothing blocked their view of the glowing lake below or the cityscape in the distance. The moon above them appeared close enough to reach up and touch.
She spent a good thirty seconds looking at the sights, peering down the sheer cliff of glass and twisting about in her seat, so much so she was surprised when a bottle of wine arrived at the table.
She settled back in the chair and eyed him suspiciously but playfully as he poured her a glass. “Okay, how did you get this table?”
His lips curled up in a sly smirk. “It’s possible I went to primary with the restaurant manager.”
“Well.” She regarded him over the rim of her glass. When she spoke, her voice came out uncharacteristically soft. “I’m sorry we tried to destroy this place.”
“Alex, that isn’t what this is about—I mean, yes, I hoped you might realize we’re not the enemy, but—”
“I know. And I’m…I’m sorry I wanted us to destroy this place.”
His smile was exceptionally gentle. “Apology accepted.”
She glanced around again briefly before returning to his gaze, to find it had never left her. “So what is this about then? I feel like I’m being wooed, but I think we’re a little beyond that stage.”
“Are you complaining?”
“Nooo.”
“I’m glad.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I know you’re out of your comfort zone. I recognize it isn’t easy for you to follow someone else’s lead. And I just want you to know I appreciate it, and maybe convince you it doesn’t always have to be so bad.”
She squeezed his hand. “There’s certainly nothing bad about all this…in fact, I’d say it’s pretty damn wonderful.”
CHAPTER 58: Earth
Vancouver: EASC Headquarters
Richard strode brusquely toward the Archives building. The late afternoon sun at his back almost hinted at warmth in the moments before it would drop below the horizon.
Much as Miriam had expressed the previous day, he found himself ruing the…extensiveness…of Alliance regulations. The assassination investigation having been closed on account of the war and the obvious-to-everyone perpetrator, all the files pertaining to it—thankfully except for the medical files due to a few test results still outstanding—had been
moved to Archives and personal copies ordered scrubbed. Because that was how things were done.
Thus his trek across the EASC campus over to the Archives to review the files there. He would not be allowed to check them out and take them to his office. Because that was how things were done.
Alex’s insistence that the assassination, the entire war, was a setup had troubled him even prior to his lunch with Will. Seeing as he’d now arguably committed treason against the Alliance on a bet she might be correct, it seemed a good idea to look deeper into the matter on his end as well. If he—
The blast of heat hit his back before the sky brightened, which was odd—nearly as odd as his brain insisting on noticing such details above far more dramatic ones.
Maybe he was simply too close for the difference in speed to be noticeable.
Yes, that must be it.
He spun around at the same instant as he was thrown tumbling through the air by an invisible force.
He caught the briefest glimpse of the towering, white-hot ball of flame pluming into the sky just as the sun began to set beneath the water and he—
When he regained consciousness—slowly, groggily—the flames clawed at the heavens, but they were increasingly obscured by the thick smoke which now roiled across the broad courtyard toward him.
He scrambled backward on his hands and heels to escape the approaching smoke, which was of course a ludicrous thing to do. The smoke surged over him in a massive wave, choking his lungs and stealing the breath from them.
Shouts and screams cut through the haze in the air and in his mind, closer than the roar of the flames and screeching metal reverberating from everywhere and nowhere.
Feet pounded against the stone of the courtyard. People running. Panicked.
It occurred to him he had been almost to the Archives.
If he could get inside then perhaps he could breathe. Perhaps he could live.
He crawled to his feet…and realized the smoke was far too dense to determine in which direction the Archives was located.
The lack of oxygen spread foggy tendrils into his brain, mucking up the works and colliding with spots of yawning blackness from what must be a concussion….
He somehow managed to call up a map overlay on a whisper.
That way.
He half-ran, half-stumbled twenty meters and fell through a door and into merciful darkness.
*
Hands reached down and helped him up.
He coughed smoke out of his lungs. His vision began to clear. Breath by breath his mind sharpened the fog away.
His head hurt like the devil and he suspected he’d fractured his right shoulder. But he was able to think again, and thus allow the soldier within to push aside the terror and take control.
Smoke obscured everything beyond the glass doors. A quick glance around indicated those in the lobby appeared largely unhurt, so he rushed to the lift and headed for the top floor.
The Archives building stood only thirty-five stories, but it should be tall enough to get above the worst of the smoke. When the lift slowed to a stop he hurried to the windows, ignoring the sharp jolts of pain shooting along his shoulder and neck.
The once-towering Headquarters building was fully consumed in flames and crumbling in on itself. One corner of the foundation was completely blown out, causing the structure to list and gradually sink into the gap. Midway up and again near the two-thirds point where the flames burnt strongest, entire sections of the frame were missing, sending the higher floors canting back the other way.
The destroyed building had acquired a ragged, zigzagged appearance. It reminded him of a child’s haphazardly constructed tower of blocks right before it collapsed.
He used his ocular implant to capture several visuals, because the tower in front of him would also soon collapse, and he may be one of the few people seeing this particular vantage.
As the adrenaline continued to dissipate he studied the scene with a more critical eye. Based on his experience, it looked as though high-powered explosive charges had detonated at the base in the front left corner as well as at strategic points throughout the building.
No way did explosives get past security into the building—which meant the bombs must have been assembled inside.
They had traitors in their midst.
A renewed war. Aliens on the approach. Now insurrection from within. Had Alex and her Senecan companion been more horrifically right than even they imagined?
The sirens of emergency vehicles rose above the rumble as craft began circling overhead. There was certainly plenty of water available to douse the fire…but there was also a lot of fire.
God, how many people had been in the building? Five thousand? Six? Many would still be alive and trapped. Rescue personnel were already dropping beneath aircraft and attaching themselves to the burning, dangerously crumbling walls.
The pulse leapt into his vision, startling him out his reverie.
Richard! Are you there? Are you okay?
Miriam. Yes, I’m fine. I was over at the Archives. Are you still in Washington?
On the way back. What’s the situation? There’s been an attack on HQ?
Oh, Miriam…I’m afraid it’s far worse than a simple attack.
What do you mean?
Headquarters is gone.
There was a weighty pause.
I’ll be there soon.
When the connection ended he dragged a hand down his face; it came away coated in soot and blood.
Miriam possessed inside information, but the news would be hitting the exanet any second now, if it hadn’t already. He took a deep breath and pulsed Will.
CHAPTER 59: Seneca
Cavare
They strolled along the promenade, Alex’s hand wrapped snugly in his. Dinner had been delicious and romantic, and the return trip beneath the lake’s surface doubly so. Caleb wanted nothing more than to whisk her away to his apartment and spend several hours ravaging every single centimeter of her lovely body. But alas, there was still work to be done. Later, however….
“Do you think we—” He broke off mid-sentence, frowning at the abrupt, unnatural movement of people toward one of the nearby exanet news broadcast screens. They instinctively joined the crowd, though he was also pulling up his own customized news feed.
The large screen showed an aerial view of an island in late evening light. An uneasy sensation rippled through his skin; the location looked uncomfortably familiar, though it was difficult to be certain due to the remainder of the scene.
A towering pillar of copper and crimson flames roiled to engulf a high-rise and lick at the sky. Dense clouds of smoke billowed out from the structure to flow over the island. Scattered strewn debris and huge chunks fallen from the edifice decorated gaps in the smoke. At least a dozen emergency craft circled in the air above, many dangling rescue responders beneath.
“This footage is from Earth Alliance Strategic Command in Vancouver, where fourteen minutes ago a series of massive explosions rocked the building which houses—”
“Alex, you—” She thrust a palm into his chest, holding him at bay. Her gaze was unfocused, her stance rigid. He watched her instead of the footage.
It was a full ten seconds before she exhaled and focused on him, her features losing a mere fraction of their tautness. “She’s safe. She was traveling from Washington. Richard’s safe, too, though he had a much closer call.”
She ran a hand down her face as her attention was drawn inexorably to the screen. “Caleb….”
“I know.” Had his government done this? In war everything constituted fair game, but it nevertheless struck him as incredibly dirty tactics. A hell of a lot of noncombatants worked in that building. On the other hand, wiping out a good portion of Alliance military leadership in one fell swoop would definitely knock them on their heels, sowing confusion and perhaps chaos. Arguably a brilliant tactic…but still dirty.
He grasped her shoulder. “Let’s get to some place quieter whe
re we can find out what’s going on.”
She nodded in agreement, but her eyes were clouded and troubled. He honestly couldn’t blame her.
The crowd thinned then vanished as they wound their way to the end of the riverwalk, up the stairs and across the street to the parking lot. It was dark and maybe a third full.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. It was too dark. Some of the lighting had gone out—which was impossible unless it had been deliberately eliminated.
A shadow moved in the corner of his vision.
Another deep in the recesses of the lot.
All his senses sharpened into hyper-focus as nanobot-aided adrenaline flooded his veins and fueled his limbs to enhanced speeds.
“Get down!” He shoved her behind one of the skycars the same instant a laser streaked between them from the left.
She landed on her hands and knees next to the car door. He crouched beside her but kept his focus outward as infrared augmentation activated in his ocular implant. Not wanting to risk a sound, he pulsed her. Stay here.
He drew his kinetic blade out of its sheath and flicked it on as a heat signature grew at the front edge of the vehicle. He crawled forward, staying low and against the frame.
When a foot appeared at the rim, he grabbed it and yanked to send the attacker sprawling to the ground. In one fluid move he landed on top of the man, knocked the Daemon from his hand and slid the blade in beneath his ribcage and up into his heart.
As soon as he felt it pierce the heart he pulled it out, picked up the Daemon and sprinted to the next nearest vehicle.
The shadow he had seen in the rear of the lot moved closer. This one was cloaked, but in infrared he saw the faintest shimmer to indicate the outline of a person. He rose and aimed over the top of the roof.
One shot, center mass. The outline collapsed.
He immediately scanned the vicinity for more targets. Nothing…nothing…there. A heat signature slinked along the wall on the other side of the lot.
Toward Alex.
He flung the Daemon against a vehicle three rows over and ducked to sprint back. The racket succeeded in momentarily distracting the attacker, who paused to glance in the direction of the sound.