Villon. It was as though Mira could hear the billions of sentients watching the proceedings repeat the great philosopher’s name in one accord.
But Thales had not finished. ‘Sophos Mianos had Villon killed and used his death to silence me. I believe that he also interfered with my Health Watch, compromising my immune system. This’—he gestured dramatically to his scarred face—’was the result. I also have evidence that my planet has been infected with a virus that affects the orbitofrontal cortex of the humanesque brain. The virus impairs decision-making and enervates cognitive function. Sophos Mianos is no longer capable of making informed, useful decisions for the good of OLOSS. I would not trust him.’’ ‘Preposterous,’ spluttered Mianos. ‘The fellow is a lunatic, in the company of a felon. Both should be in containment. Landhurst, I insist—’
Landhurst waved to the Sec sergeant, but as he moved closer to Mira and Thales the OLOSS captain stepped between them. From one side of the room,
Mira heard a ripple of objection. The skieran and uuli ambassadors were signalling their disagreement. One of the uulis, a large semi-opaque alien, began to flare crimson, and its voice blared out through the translator.
‘These accusations are most serious. We wish the humanesque woman to speak,’ it said.
An altogether different voice cut in immediately afterward and an image of the biozoon ambassador Ley-al appeared on the screen above the translator hub. ‘Baronessa Fedor should be heard. It is our opinion.’
The captain placed his hand on Mira’s shoulder. She wanted to shrug it off but forced herself to stay still. Any reaction on her part could be misinterpreted, and tip the balance of favour.
‘We shall vote on her right to be heard,’ intervened Commander Farr. He gave Mira a penetrating look that sent a clear warning. She must be careful how she portrayed him or he would affect the outcome. Somehow he had known she had been arrested by Landhurst and he wanted her here to...?
Thales stood close to her while the vote occurred silently.
Hordes of thoughts swarmed through Mira’s mind. She wanted to thank Thales for speaking up for her, and berate him for confiding the truth of the murder to Samuelle. Why had Ley-al spoken in her favour? And the skierans? What was Lasper Farr planning? If he was as sinister as Thales believed him to be then his motives could be anything.
‘The vote is cast,’ droned the translator. ‘Baronessa Fedor will be heard.’
The captain released his grip on her shoulder and stepped away.
‘Baronessa?’ said Lasper Farr.
Mira drew a deep breath. Insignia?
Yes, Mira.
I am at the summit meeting.
I can see you on the ‘cast. As can the rest of Orion.
What shall I tell them?
You do not appear to need or value my counsel.
Lasper Farr is dangerous. And the information I have will send panic throughout OLOSS.
They are all dangerous. You have taken this action of your own accord. Now you must see through the consequences of it.
You are angry, still.
‘Mira Fedor!’ Lasper’s voice was sharp. Urgent.
‘Sophos Mianos is correct. I did flee from him and the OLOSS ship. He wanted to impound my ship and keep me in containment. You must understand’—she turned a pleading face to the summit—’I was desperate.’ She told them the unadorned truth of the Saqr invasion and her escape from Araldis.
‘What took you to Rho Junction, Baronessa?’ asked the uuli Convenor.
She was careful not to look at Farr. ‘I was promised help for my world, in return for a favour. That required that I travel to the Saiph system. Upon our arrival, there appeared to be much Post-Species activity around the station.’
‘Our reports have also said so,’ agreed the Convenor.
‘I was abducted from the docks by host Siphonophores.’ As she spoke an image of them appeared on the central screen. Her mouth dried at the vivid reminder. She licked her lips, plunging on with a recount of her time on the Hue world.
‘All very fascinating, Baronessa,’ said President Gan. ‘And it would seem that the Post-Species are responsible for the Saqr adaptation. But what is the significance?’
‘I have sought to build a picture, President Gan, so that you understand the gravity of what I am about to tell you next. As Insignia approached the shift sphere leaving Post-Species space, we came across a terrifying sight. Millions of Geni-carriers. Shifting.’
The room buzzed with reaction.
‘Millions, Baronessa?’ Even Lasper Farr had paled. ‘An exaggeration surely. There were only three in the Stain War. Manufacturing on such a large scale in the time since then is impossible.’
‘My biozoon can verify this.’
‘Then instruct it to do so,’ said JiHaigh.
‘I do not instruct my biozoon,’ said Mira quietly. ‘But I will request.’
Mira heard Thales exhale next to her as the OLOSS All-Prime frowned.
Insignia? Will you show them? Please.
Silence.
Insignia, so much is at risk. Don’t let your anger at me prevent us from warning our species.
You have warned mine. Perhaps we would be better off without humanesques. They are untrustworthy.
Do you think the Post-Species would spare you in a mass invasion?
Your Innate speaks the truth, Tasy-al.
Ley-al? The Omniarch’s voice was almost as strong as Insignia’s.
Yes, Mira Fedor. Tasy-al, the Omniline wishes that you support your Innate and reveal the images you have stored.
But you don’t wish to be associated—
We have reconsidered.
‘It appears that the Baronessa has no evidence to substantiate her wild claims.’ Landhurst was standing again. ‘Sergeant, arrest her.’
The sergeant strode past the OLOSS captain and seized Mira’s hands, forcing them into a restraint.
‘No!’ cried Thales. He grabbed the sergeant’s arm but the guard discharged a stun into his side. He fell to the floor, quivering.
Mira heard shouts of condemnation. Saw the big woman, Fariss, run to Thales’s side.
The sergeant dragged Mira towards the door, wrenching her arms with unnecessary force. Cramps tore at her abdomen, and she felt a gush of wetness between her legs.
Insignia! Mira cried.
Tasy-al! said the Omniarch.
‘Wait!’ Lasper Farr’s voice drowned out the ones in Mira’s mind.
The sergeant stopped and allowed Mira to straighten. The wetness had spread down the legs of her borrowed pants, but no one noticed the embarrassing stain of body fluid. All eyes were back upon the hub-screen as a series of images began to project.
The Geni-carriers, as seen through the corduroy filter of Insignia’s vision; from the seeming, asteroid collection on the edge of the Post-Species shift sphere, to the more intimate vision of the ammunition carriers. Millions of them.
Lasper Farr leaned, white-knuckled, onto his comm-sole while JiHaigh fell back in her chair as if stabbed in the chest. Each of the summit participants was as aghast as the next.
All except one.
Landhurst’s expression was grim, but not surprised.
A terrifying thought entered Mira’s mind. Wanton had told her that there were Post-Species who still chose the humanesque form. And what was it that Insignia had said? Landhurst had offered his station as a venue for the summit; a noble gesture for an ignoble man.
Had he deliberately drawn all the OLOSS leaders to one place at one time?
Was Landhurst an Extro?
The summit meeting erupted into shouts and arguments, and guards poured through the door, recalled by their various leaders. Suddenly the crowded room was too congested to move in. The Sec sergeant let go of her and plunged into the melee.
Mira, there is a rumour that the Dowl station is operational again. The Omniline believes we may be under immediate threat. The anger and resentment had gone from Insignia’s tone. Mira h
eard only undisguised concern. You should return to me quickly.
How?
Ley-al has rerouted the transportation shuttle to me. The same one that brought you to the station. The Omniarch wishes that you hasten. As do I.
Which dock?
Sub-25. A level below the quarantine deck.
I’m coming. And there will be others.
Mira pressed through the throng of bodies to Thales. Fariss had lifted him to his feet and was holding him with one strong arm. With the other, she fended off the buffeting crowd.
There was drool on the young scholar’s face and his body trembled and jerked with the after-effects of the stun.
Mira grabbed his chin and stared into his eyes. ‘Come with me now,’ she said fiercely. Then, to Fariss, ‘Both of you.’
‘I can’t leave Sammy.’ Fariss’s response was clipped and automatic. Her eyes roved the chaotic milling. ‘There.’
Samuelle’s nano-suit stood out amongst the formal robes and uniforms. She was closer to the door than them.
‘Stay with me,’ said Fariss. Still holding onto Thales, she forced a path over to Sammy using her strong, wide body to push others aside.
Mira followed closely in her wake and found herself face to face with the old woman again.
Samuelle grimaced at her. ‘You made your point, Baronessa.’
Over Samuelle’s shoulder Mira saw the Station Sec sergeant trying to reach her.
‘There’s room on my ship,’ said Mira. ‘I’m leaving now.’
Samuelle shook her head. ‘I’ve got my own battles to fight. We all have now.’
‘Sammy, can I take Thales there?’ said Fariss.
Samuelle gave the big woman a keen stare then nodded. ‘It’s best. Macken was Lasper’s favourite. He won’t forget.’
‘Security’s coming,’ Mira said. ‘We have to—’
‘Go!’ said Samuelle. She turned her back on them and planted her body in a direct line to block the sergeant.
Fariss pushed on, but the guards in the doorway had their weapons out.
‘Stop. No one leaves,’ ordered one of them.
Fariss shoved her huge hand into his face and sent him sprawling with a violent push. It set off a chain reaction of falling bodies and shouting. She lifted Thales clear of the confusion and lent a free hand to pull Mira along until they were outside the ante-chamber.
The corridor was eerily deserted. So were the escalators. The three of them moved unhindered to one of the subsidiary lifts. The only people Mira glimpsed were gathered around a public screen, riveted to the events unfolding in the summit room.
‘Where’re we going?’ asked Fariss, as the lift door closed. Thales straightened and tried to take his own weight. Colour had returned to his face and he wiped the saliva from his chin.
‘Sub-25, below quarantine. A shuttle will be waiting,’ said Mira. Insignia?
Fariss nodded and pressed the button. She stared at the moist patch on Mira’s pants.
‘You piss yourself?’
‘M-my waters. I think...’ Insignia? Is the shuttle here?
Fariss’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You having a fuckin’ baby? Now?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Shit.’
Mira dropped her hands self-consciously in front of her. Insignia? she pleaded.
It is waiting.
Thank Crux.
* * *
When Ley-al’s shuttle attached seamlessly to the egress scale, Mira stepped on board first. As she hurried along Insignia’s ribbed stratum to the buccal, cramps bit into her lower belly. Fluid soaked steadily down her legs onto the pants of her borrowed soldier garb.
The baby couldn’t be coming now? It couldn’t be. It was only a few months old in her womb; too young to be born. Too young for a humanesque bambino. Too—
The biozoon’s buccal pucker was already dilated, waiting for her. She heard Fariss close behind, swearing under her breath, while Thales moaned with effort.
‘Put him in the second vein,’ Mira gasped, as she fell into Primo. The biozoon’s symbiosis function folded around her in a loving embrace. Nano-sensors slipped in through the pores in her skin, reading electrolyte levels, gauging dehydration and trauma. She felt the flush of replenishment.
Fariss staggered across to the Secondo vein and laid Thales in it.
Mira?
See to the scholar.
I will see to you both. Our baby is distressed.
My amniotic fluid has ruptured. Can you repair it?
I can slow the fluid loss but I cannot prevent the birth. This is what I feared.
No! Anguish tore right through Mira and turned her mind inside out.
She’d warned OLOSS about the Extropists’ amassed weaponry. She’d risked everything to bring them news of the great threat. Wasn’t there some grace in that? Some balance that should swing in her favour? Some universal justice?
Insignia, please. Please. My baby must not die.
SOLE
bring’m home/pretty pretty
bring’m baby/know’m all
bring’m baby/burn’m others
TRANSFORMATION SPACE
For Darren Nash
SOLE
Close’m now
Pretty pretty
Know you-all
Eat you-up
BELLE-MONDE OBSERVATORY—OUTER MINTAKA SYSTEM
Belle-Monde chief of station Astronomein Balbao poured over his daily analysis data flow of the gas entity known to them all as Sole. Something was wrong. Wave readings showed a disturbance in Sole’s near space. In the months that the OLOSS scientific community had been studying the Entity, nothing like this had shown in their sweeps.
The Balol scientist pondered whether to discuss this with the tyros. For the most part he found the Godheads—as they liked to think of themselves—a most self-serving and conceited bunch. There’d been a marginal improvement in their attitude these recent weeks, with the absence of the Lostolian Tekton. Of all the tyros, the chief found Tekton the most unreasonable. The pompous archiTect had even tried to foist an unqualified noblewoman upon him as an intern. The very thought of it made the chief’s neck frill stiffen.
Tekton always acted as if he had influence, when the chief suspected that he had little. His cousin Ra, however, was a different matter. It had come to the chief’s attention that Ra had been seen in the company of Commander Lasper Farr, veteran of the Stain Wars and Defender of Peace. Though the chief wasn’t terribly interested in the specific nature of the tyros’ projects, like all station masters (and for all intents and purposes, that is what he was—signing damn recreation passes and maintenance schedules all day when he should be addressing more important things), he liked to know the state of play on his station. Belle-Monde may have once been a pleasure palace, but the gigatonne, spinning superficial world was now his observatory.
Mine!
And he found ArchiTect Ra truly the oddest of creatures—unfriendly and jewel-eyed since his most recent transformation by Sole Entity. The chief admitted he’d felt a tang of jealousy knowing that the tight-skinned bastard from the Tadao Ando studium could now see all the waves of the light spectrum. What an amazing gift!
And terrible. Having one’s humanesque thought architecture so profoundly changed must have flow-on effects, not all of them positive. But then the whole mind-shafting process that Sole insisted upon so that he could better communicate with his tyros was as profoundly altering as a thing could be—and no great asset to the already profoundly selfish natures of these professionals.
Take Dieter Miranda Seeward and Lawmon Jise. When they weren’t indulging in unashamed sex games in the rooms and corridors of the pseudo-world, the pair were most concertedly trying to upset the research projects of the others. Labile Connit had gone quite insane over Miranda’s constant prying into his affairs. Connit had come to the chief, begging protection from the woman, citing that she was stalking him.
The only effect his begging had was to irrita
te the chief. Why should Bald’s pre-eminent scientist have to deal with such petty doings when there was an unparalleled scientific discovery in front of his nose, excreting screeds of empirical data?
And now that data was telling him something had changed.
With more reluctance than he cared to acknowledge, Chief Balbao instructed his moud to call an immediate meeting of the tyros. Decision made, he ordered a hearty roast beffer. The least thing he could do was face the glory-seeking parasites on an empty stomach.
MIRA
Mira lay in the Primo vein, struggling to deal with her dread. Even the soothing nano-replenishers swimming through her blood couldn’t calm her emotion. She had begun to lose her pregnancy waters in the conference room on Intel station. Only a trickle at first, but increasing by the time she reached her ship, Insignia.
Will my baby die?
The biozoon did not respond through their mental link immediately, and she hoped it was weighing alternatives, not ignoring her.
There is a facility on Scolar that is trialling cell acceleration. They may be able to help us, Insignia said finally.
Cell acceleration?
Your foetus is too immature to survive. It’s only weeks old. Cell acceleration may save it. The Pod knows of them and approves.
But Thales believes Scolar society to be affected by the virus. We could be at risk if we go there.
The facility is quite isolated. I don’t believe it to be a problem.
You think that is the best option?
Yes. Insignia sounded patient, but Mira knew the creature was fretting to leave Intel station. The normal quiet hum of its biologies roared through her body.
How is shift space? Mira asked.
Insignia relayed an image to Mira’s visual receptors. The rings of the Intel shift sphere flared with activity. Queues had already begun to form. Craft jostled each other to gain advantage.
The Sentients of Orion Page 90