The Cyber Chronicles 09: Precipice

by T C Southwell

  "You don't know that."

  Tarl snorted. "Quit fooling yourself. He was dying."

  "He still is."

  "Will you shut the hell up?"

  Martis shot Tassin an apologetic look. "Sorry."

  Blood oozed from the abrasions on Sabre's arms and shins, and Tarl glanced at the readouts again. "Blood pressure up to normal now. Heart beat at thirty-five."

  "Is he improving?" Fairen asked.

  "On the one hand, yeah, on the other... not really. His bio-status is dangerously low, and dropping."

  Martis turned to Tarl. "The question is, can those genes be switched off now that they've combined?"

  "I somehow doubt it."

  "And we have no clue what they do. Brilliant."

  "I didn't hear you making any better suggestions." Tarl rose to his feet, rubbing his back. "You can straighten him out and put him on a bed now."

  Martis unplugged the data cable, and the medics brought a stretcher and took Sabre to a bed. Fairen caught Shrain watching him, and turned away, leaving the hospital. He still had to deal with whoever had caused this debacle, and he was not in a forgiving mood. Shrain followed, his expression a study of impassive obedience.

  Tarl watched the Overlord stride out, half relieved to be rid of his brooding presence. Even though Fairen had saved Sabre, Overlords gave him the willies. Tassin still knelt, clasping her ribs, and he noticed her pallor and rigid stance, as well as the beads of sweat that dewed her brow. Concerned, he turned to her.

  "Are you okay?"

  She forced a grim smile. "Not really. I have some broken ribs, I think."

  "Come on, let's have a look at you." Tarl helped her to her feet and over to a bed, easing her onto it. She lay back with a groan, gasping. Tarl rolled a portable scanner over to her bedside and switched it on, summoning a passing doctor with an imperious wave. The scanner revealed two broken ribs, and he switched it off as the doctor left to fetch a painkiller and bandages. Tarl frowned at the Queen, recalling her account of Sabre's rescue. He tugged her shirt up, foiling her attempt to hold it down, and studied the pair of reddish hand-shaped bruises that clasped her waist.

  Tarl met her eyes, and she shook her head. "He had no choice."

  "I know that. You think he'd ever hurt you intentionally? He'd rather cut off his right arm. He did this to save you, but..."

  "What?"

  "It's going to eat him alive. He didn't expect to survive, and now..."

  "It's not his fault!"

  Tarl nodded. "Tell him that, when he wakes up."

  "I will."

  Martis, who stood on the other side of the bed, muttered, "He knew he was going to have to hurt you."

  Tassin shot him an anguished glance. "Yes. He said so. I could barely hear him in the wind, but he said..." Her breath caught. "He said he was sorry."

  Tarl rubbed his brow. "This is going to be very bad for him."

  "He had to, to save me. I don't blame him."

  "He'll blame himself, though."

  "Then I'll tell him I'm fine," Tassin said.

  "He'll know what he did. I'm sure he felt your ribs break when he threw you. He's also got scanners. You can't hide this from him."

  Martis nodded. "He's capable of crushing -"

  "Will you shut up?" Tarl snarled.

  Tassin sighed and closed her eyes. "He saved my life."

  "I hope that makes up for it, but knowing Sabre, it won't."

  The doctor returned with a syringe and a roll of bandages, and Tarl moved aside to let him work.

  ****

  In the Scorpion Ship’s control room, Fairen wandered over to the screens. A spreading cloud of gas and debris was all that remained of Shadow Hawk.

  "Bring me High King Tarvin, Emperor Endrovar and Commander Thestan."

  "At once, My Lord."

  Fairen gazed at the twinkling debris and drifting life pods while he waited, wandering over to sit in his chair when he grew bored with the view. Tarvin and Thestan arrived first, the crippled King drifting along in his floating throne to stop before the dais. He bowed, and Thestan did the same. Fairen ignored them, turning his head away. The subtle insult would not go unnoticed, especially by Tarvin. He could sense their nervousness like a rank stench, more so from Tarvin.

  Endrovar arrived a couple of minutes later, his pugnacious face set in grim lines, his hard eyes spitting venom at Tarvin. When he straightened from his bow, Fairen turned his head towards the trio. Endrovar emanated waves of resentment and dread.

  "Endrovar." Fairen's deep, distorted voice boomed, making the self-styled emperor jump. "Did you enslave Queen Tassin Alrade and Cyber Technician Tarl Averly?"

  "No My Lord. I-I-I bought them at... an auction."

  "Then you enslaved them."

  "They were already slaves."

  "Do not try my patience."

  Endrovar shifted, tugging at his collar. "I... yes, My Lord. They were my slaves."

  "Slavery is forbidden by Overlord Darvian's fifth decree. You disobeyed."

  "Many do! I..." Endrovar shut his mouth, frowning.

  "I am not concerned with what others do, or don't do. It is you who stand before me, is it not?"

  "Yes, My Lord."

  "You will free any other slaves you have, and give each of them one million credits. This leniency I grant you only because you are a planetary leader, and your crime harms only a few. Disobey me and transgress again, and you will be executed. You will also pay for the repairs to Pathos and replace Shadow Hawk."

  Endrovar blanched, but bowed. "Thank you, My Lord."

  The young Overlord steepled his hands, considering. He had just stripped Endrovar of a sizeable portion of his fortune, and the emperor radiated nervous resentment. The fat man's ill-concealed debauchery nauseated Fairen.

  "Tarvin." Fairen tapped his fingers together. "You too, enslaved Queen Tassin Alrade."

  "No, My Lord; I bought her, yes, but in fact I was acting on information from Myon Two, which has offered a reward for a woman matching her description, whom they want for the murder of a department head."

  "And is she this alleged murderess?"

  "According to Myon Two, she is, but I had not yet decided if I would hand her over."

  Fairen tilted his head. Tarvin's words bordered on a lie, but did not quite cross the line. A semi truth, perhaps, but closer to a truth than a lie. "And why would you not?"

  "Ah, well, she claimed it was self-defence."

  Fairen laced his fingers. Once again, it was close to the truth. While Endrovar was a simple, brutish fellow, Tarvin was royalty born and bred, even a little inbred, and it showed in his clever wiles.

  "Consider it now."

  Tarvin inclined his head. "Truly, I was not certain that she told the truth, and it would have been the right, and legal thing to do, to hand her over to her accusers. And on the matter of your friend -"

  Fairen rose to his feet. "You will not speak without my consent."

  "Sorry, My Lord."

  "You almost cost Sabre his life."

  "I did as he wished, as soon as he told me he was your friend."

  "Yes." Fairen descended the three shallow steps. "You are a diplomat. You know the folly of angering an Overlord. Hence your obedience stemmed from self-preservation, not morality, or even respect. I will judge you."

  Tarvin’s eyes darted. "What have I done to deserve it?"

  "You have angered me."

  Fairen pulled off his right glove and held out his hand, palm towards Tarvin's brow. The High King stared at it, his mouth open. The Overlord lowered his hand and wandered past, pulling his glove back on. Thestan bowed and stepped aside. Fairen walked around the trio, his head bowed, and returned to the dais.

  "You are a devious, plotting man. Myon Two does indeed accuse Queen Tassin of murder, but it was self-defence, and I intend to put an end to their illegal pursuit of her."

  "My Lord, your friend took me hostage, and threatened my life."

  Fairen turned to f
ace him. "What of it?"

  "Will you allow it to go unpunished?"

  "Yes."

  "Is that not unfair?"

  The young Overlord sank down on his throne. "You imprisoned his betrothed, and would have handed her over for execution."

  "I did not know who she was, or that she was innocent of the charge."

  "And if he had told you, would you have given her back to him?"

  Tarvin shook his head. "I cannot answer that, since he did not ask me."

  "Commander Thestan, you are witness to the events that took place aboard Shadow Hawk. What have you to say?"

  Thestan shifted, looking uncomfortable. "In truth, My Lord, Sabre did not ask for the girl until he had a weapon at King Tarvin's head. Even then, however, Tarvin ordered his men to take her hostage. It was not until Sabre told Tarvin that he was your friend, and showed him your bracelet, that Tarvin obeyed."

  Fairen looked at Tarvin, noting the King's discomfort. "So, there I have my answer, although you took pains to avoid being caught in a lie. Had Sabre asked for his fiancée to be returned without a weapon at your head, I think he would have met with the same refusal."

  "That is only your conjecture."

  "It is my judgement!" Fairen's distorted voice thundered. "Do not dare to question me, King Tarvin, lest I find myself with a sudden yen to visit your home world and see how dense its core is. You skirt dangerously close to incurring my wrath."

  "I apologise, My Lord." Tarvin bowed awkwardly.

  "You will remain aboard the Scorpion Ship until Sabre has recovered and I have heard his, and Queen Tassin's, version of events. Then I will decide if further chastisement is called for. If my friend dies, however, your life if forfeit." He gestured to Shrain. "Accommodate them."

  ****

  Tarl watched the monitor, which beeped to the steady rhythm of Sabre's heart. His bio-status was up to thirty per cent and rising, and all his other vitals were normal. He was going to live. His skin's soft glow had faded to an iridescent sheen, much like it had looked before under a bright light. Ironically, Sabre was becoming less human as he evolved. Tassin sat slumped in a chair beside the bed, her eyes drooping. Three hours had passed since Tarl had entered the hospital, yet it seemed like an eternity. He had come so close to losing Sabre, and he did not want to think about what he would have done if that had happened. Martis and Estrelle had gone to a room to freshen up and rest, Kole snored on the next bed.

  "How is he?"

  Tarl jumped as a deep, androgynous voice spoke beside him, swinging around. Overlord Fairen stood there, facing Sabre.

  "He's improving, My Lord. He will recover."

  "I am pleased. You did well." Fairen glanced at Tassin as she sat up, knuckling her eyes. "Queen Tassin."

  "My Lord."

  "I wish to know how King Tarvin treated you while you were his prisoner."

  She hesitated. "He... he was kind, but implacable. I was not ill-treated, but towards the end, when I refused to co-operate, he threatened to use drugs or a cyber implant to control me."

  "Did he hurt you?"

  "Well, one of his cybers did, a little, when I tried to hit him."

  "You tried to hit a cyber?"

  "No, My Lord, I tried to hit Tarvin."

  "Ah." Fairen nodded, facing Sabre again. "I knew he would find you. He struggled with your loss a great deal. I believe he now has all his emotions, not so, Tarl?"

  "Yes, My Lord."

  "He will need your gentleness, Tassin," Fairen went on. "His emotional state is fragile, and he has yet to come to terms with his feelings. He loves you very much."

  "And I him."

  "I know. How long before he awakes, Tarl?"

  "Many hours, My Lord. His bio-status is still very low."

  "What will you do to Tarvin and Endrovar?" Tassin asked.

  "I have already meted out my judgement to Endrovar. He will pay for the damage he caused. Tarvin may still receive more chastisement, depending on what Sabre has to say when he wakes."

  "Did you know that his ancestor is the man Myon Two cloned?" she asked.

  "No." Fairen turned to her. "He is related to Sabre?"

  "Yes. Sabre is a clone of High King Sharlin."

  "Bugger me," Tarl swore. "No wonder he's elite."

  "What?"

  "Tarvin is Myon Two elite. It's the privileged upper class there; reserved for management and, apparently, the descendent of the host. That explains all the cybers, too. That's how they bought the use of his ancestor's DNA."

  "It's despicable," Tassin muttered.

  "Yeah."

  Tarl glanced at Sabre, noticing that the iridescent quality of his skin had faded, and he looked normal once more. It seemed that whatever purpose the glow had served had been fulfilled. The monitor showed that his bio-status remained the same. He had suffered surprisingly few ill effects from his sojourn into deep space. The skin on his fingers and nose was peeling and his corneas were cloudy, but that would heal in time.

  ****

  Sabre tumbled through space, the raw cold eating into him, freezing his skin. His muscles spasmed with violent shivers and a red light flashed deep in his brain. The cyber tracked his dropping temperature, raising his metabolism to counter it, but it was not enough. Even a cyber could not survive for long in deep space. His skin froze and cracked as he curled up tighter, striving to preserve the last of his warmth. His lungs demanded air, and the control unit directed his system to burn protein. The brow band's heat shunt was failing, and cold invaded his brain. Soon he would be a chunk of ice. He writhed.

  Something gripped his arm, and he turned. A Corsair loomed out of the darkness, its mouth open to reveal venomous teeth. What the hell was a Corsair doing in deep space? How was it still alive? He lunged at it, all his instincts urging him to kill it. Perhaps because it was his enemy, or because it had attacked him, or maybe just because it was the last thing he would do before he died. His hands closed around the alien's neck and squeezed. It struggled, plucking at his hands. Sabre tightened his hold.

  The Corsair's face twisted, and it squeaked, "No! Sabre! Stop!"

  It sounded a bit like Tarl. Sabre released it, recoiling. His feet were on solid ground. How could there be solid ground in deep space? He staggered back, hit something and fell, banging his elbows and the back of his head on a cold, hard floor. Metal clattered and chimed around him, prickling his pounding head with fresh pain. He discovered that his eyes were closed and opened them.

  A glowing white ceiling filled his vision, and he realised that he lay on his back. Raising his head, he winced as a rush of data scrolled through his brain, and switched the control unit off. Objects and beings snapped into sharp focus. Tarl sat close by, rubbing his throat. Several white-clad men stood around, their expressions alarmed. They looked like Myon Two technicians, and Sabre tried to spring to his feet. His legs buckled, and he sprawled on his side, his hands encountering sharp-edged metallic objects on a smooth floor. A familiar voice reached him through the haze of pain and confusion that fogged his mind, calling his name in a worried tone. He glanced around. Tassin stood a couple of metres away, Kole beside her, holding her arm.

  "Sabre," she said again, "it's all right. You're safe."

  Sabre pushed himself into a sitting position, looking around again. Aseptic white walls and a number of beeping machines surrounded him. A tube was attached to his arm. He consulted the scanners, but his head was empty, and he switched the control unit on again.

  "He's confused," Tarl's voice said. "That's to be expected."

  Sabre frowned and ripped the tube out of his arm. Data flowed through his brain, mapping part of a vast ship and the life signs of many people. His mouth seemed to be stuffed with cotton wool, rather like his head. His vision was misty, too.

  "Let's hope he doesn't have brain damage," another voice remarked.

  Sabre glanced around for its source. Martis stood behind him, and backed away, looking alarmed. The cyber struggled to his knees, his muscles b
arely obeying him. His breath came in ragged gasps and his heart raced at two hundred and ten beats per minute.

  "Let me go!" Tassin growled.

  Sabre turned to look at her again, noting that Kole's grip on her arm held her back. He tried to speak, but only a hiss issued from his aching throat.

  "He's not himself, Tassin," Tarl said. "Let him get his bearings."

  Sabre shook his head, striving for clarity, and ordered the cyber to initiate an energy burst. His bio-status was only at forty-two per cent, but strength surged through him on a tide of adrenalin. He rose to his feet, causing most of the people around him to retreat, except Tassin, who strained towards him. Tarl cursed, and Kole backed away, dragging her. She fought to get free, and Sabre stepped towards her.

  "Let her go," he grated.

  Her eyes were full of anguish, and tears ran down her cheeks. What was she so upset about? The energy burst, weak as it was, drained away, and darkness slammed down.

  Tarl swore as Sabre collapsed. His arm clipped a portable monitor and sent it skidding away. More instruments clattered to the floor around the cyber as he sprawled face down, senseless. Tarl reached him in a stride, and Kole released Tassin, who ran to kneel beside the cyber. Tarl gripped Sabre's shoulder and rolled him onto his back. The brow band was full of flashing red lights, and blood oozed from his nose. He picked him up and placed him on the bed.

  "What's wrong with him?" she demanded.

  "He's just confused. The last thing he remembers is drifting in space, dying. He shouldn't even be awake yet. He can't see properly, and he's as weak as a nair kitten. He was dreaming, too, that's why he attacked me."

  "Or he's brain damaged," Martis muttered.

  Tarl swung on him with a frown. "Will you shut up, or piss off!"

  "Well he could be."

  "He's not!" Tarl plugged the data cable, which Sabre had ripped out when he had rolled off the bed, back into the brow band, and swore. "Damn it, his bio-status is down to thirty-four per cent again. He must have used an energy burst. That's how he was able to stand up."