He was totally high when Ryu buzzed him.
‘Reeeyuuu! You’re up. Did you see that?’
‘I saw it.’
‘That was cryppy. That was amazing.’
‘Yes, it was, but what was it? I need a picture of what’s happening, Takashi. I need to know what happened and how we can push it.’
‘Nobody is saying — or rather everybody is.’
‘Takashi, I’m on the rise,’ Ryu cut in.
‘Yeah? I haven’t been watching any of that.’ There was a pause. ‘Wooa, Reeeyuuu, check yourself. The vox is speaking. They must be thinking it’s psis, to put you ahead like that.’
‘I’m pretty certain it was, Takashi. My access just increased and from what I’m seeing this was a botched collection.’
‘Hectic. So what did they do to blow an area that big? Crash an air-carrier?’
‘No, Takashi. That was the psi.’
Takashi paused. He didn’t repeat his favourite expletive; he turned in his chair, his chameleon oculars peering closer to check how serious Ryu was being. He still held out hope his brother might learn to jest. Tonight was not the night and he swivelled away to concentrate on the feeds. He commentated out loud as he made his way through the data. Ryu was used to this and didn’t even try to keep up.
‘Taka ...?’
‘Ryu san?’ When Ryu went familiar, Takashi went formal. Only his parents got away with the nickname.
‘I want to stir the pot. How hard would it be for you to encourage a particular meme?’
‘Oh hoo, brother mine. Nothing is easier. A little tagging, anonymous drops in the thought stream ... What did you have in mind?’
‘All it needs is a little push, Takashi, and I could be in the Primacy.’
‘Is the world ready for you, Ryu san? Have they read the fine print?’
‘Takashi. Do you support me or not?’
‘Of course I do. Go, House Shima! Tell me what you need.’
‘I only want the truth to come out. That is all. Services went into Paris thinking they were chasing a potential Pierre Jnr. It might be interesting to know what the world thought about that.’
This excited Takashi and he rubbed his hands together. ‘I like it. Let the manifestation of Pierre Jnr begin.’
~ * ~
One of the great paradoxes of the Weave, of having an information and communication network that spanned the globe, where all data could be corroborated or dispelled instantly, is that people still did not know what they should believe. Events were recorded and indisputable, but the explanation of them, the interpretation, was always diverse.
Like a flipped switch, the tune and topic focused on the potential of psi involvement. There had been incidents in the past. Benders lashing out before Services rendered them unconscious, grand frauds that only a telepath could execute, but nothing like this had ever been recorded. Nothing even a tenth of the scale.
The only psi who had ever shown such strength was the semi-mythical Pierre Jnr. It was only eight years ago that Doctor Yeon Rhee had had his experiments shut down. Most of the psis and academics from the project were reallocated to either the restricted islands or hidden from public view and only a part of the world stratum was aware of the Psionic Development Program even when it was going on. Of those who took it seriously, the majority took the stories of a three-month-old baby overcoming staff and security before levitating to freedom with a natural degree of scepticism.
This incident brought all that old bunk to light once more. As soon as the figure in the witness sketches was tagged as ‘Pierre Jnr’, the name stuck and the records were dusted off.
Takashi and Ryu egged each other on into the late hours. With only the slightest of suggestions and the most innocent of questions on a forum, the Will began to coalesce around the notion that what had happened was caused by Pierre Jnr.
As the night progressed, the civic hierarchy collapsed further and new members vied for position. Sentiment swung toward people who had strong backgrounds in social order and psi security. Retired Servicemen such as Admiral Luciel Shreet and Blair Butler were obvious candidates, having been active in the last great period of social unrest, but they also had many detractors. Janette Orielo the pro-restriction speaker also came to the fore, for the fifth time in her life, but just as there is always a section of people who turn to discipline in times of crisis, there were just as many who turned against it and abhorred any sort of conflict. Ryu dubbed them the ‘tolerance vector’. Those people thought that psis should be engaged in the discussion of how they could fit into society.
Ryu Shima was young for a candidate, but he was one of a few showing success in managing the psi problem, and he was, after all, a Shima. Others like Ryu were also rising in rank. People who were from a Services background, or who had been vocal about psis in recent years. There were men and women who had experienced psi conflicts before, like General Zim, whose heavy-handed factions were pushing a policy of total restriction and that the ‘manifestation’ was a direct result of letting psis run free in our world.
The Shima brothers were both tired by dawn, no longer interacting with the Weave, simply watching the fall of the Primacy and the steep ascendancy of Ryu’s influence.
‘The Elders have called a breakfast,’ Takashi reported.
‘Then they must think we have a chance too. The Shimas may be in the Primacy for the first time in forty years.’
‘I wonder how Mother will feel about this.’
~ * ~
Father and Regent, Hachiro, stood at the foyer door as each of the children entered. This particular ritual involved a quick inspection of each guest’s attire, physical and mental state, and, if necessary, a briefing to make sure they were acquainted with the subject matter that might be discussed. Each member had a few moments alone with the Regent before being allowed entry to the dining room, where the Alpha waited.
At this meeting only the inner circle of the family were in attendance. Sato arrived first, dashing in steps before Ryu. She was younger than him by two years and into freaking her appearance, though today she was restrained and hadn’t worn her tail.
Ryu could not hear what Sato and his father said to each other. The Regent simply straightened her kimono and made her pull her hair back from her face before admitting her.
At a gesture from his father he stepped forward. Ryu was immaculately dressed as usual. He’d been preparing as soon as the breakfast agenda came through and he had showered, shaved and groomed while maintaining his link with Takashi and monitoring the pulse of the Weave.
‘Good morning, Ryu.’
‘Good morning, Father.’
‘My son, soon to be my superior.’
‘Perhaps, Father.’
Hachiro embraced his son in a bold hug that was very unprofessional and was withdrawn after a moment.
‘Can you forgive an old man for his display?’ Hachiro asked.
‘It is welcomed, Father.’
‘It is earnt.’ They bowed to each other.
‘How is the Alpha receiving the news?’
‘She has some questions.’
‘But is she happy for me?’
‘As a mother I am sure she is, but she is Alpha Shima first. You must reassure her.’
‘What is her concern?’ Ryu asked, tilting his head slightly.
‘The Alpha will need to know your intentions toward the family.’
‘My intentions are only the best. Surely she does not question that?’
‘No, of course not. But she wonders if you will also be requiring leadership of the house.’ Hachiro raised his eyebrow to show the question.
‘I see. I had not considered it. I am a servant of the Will.’
‘As are we all.’
‘Thank you, Father.’
Yoshiko, his mother, was not born a Shima, but after bonding with Hachiro had risen quickly in the family and into the Primacy. It was not an overnight
jump like Ryu’s, but still impressive. Her influence faded within a year, but her position as the leader of the house was affirmed.
The Alpha sat at the head of the table and then rank position dictated the seating position for the rest of the family. The Regent sat to her right, with Ryu on her left, leaving Sato and the youngest member at the foot. His mother sat peacefully, cross-legged. She acknowledged his entry with a bend of her neck and torso then returned her watch to the doorway. Yoshiko would sit this way until everyone was present. No discussion was allowed to commence until the family was together. Sato similarly sat without moving, her expression more amused than Mother’s.
Most high family meetings were planned for evenings, to accommodate all members, as Takashi wouldn’t normally be available at this time of day. In the mornings, he would still be in his chambers, nibbling sweet crisps and wrapped in a large quilted bedspread. And in this state of dress, he arrived.
Hachiro rejected him. ‘Taka, go put on some pants.’
‘I’m covered, Father,’ he protested, as if taking the reprimand for genuine concern. By ‘covered’, he meant the blanket around his shoulders and the symbiot that coated over eighty per cent of his body.
‘Taka, we are at table and you are a Shima. This is a special occasion for your brother. Please show appropriate respect.’
Takashi bowed abruptly, bumping a side table and a vase. ‘For Ryu san, I shall get pants, even though it discomforts me to do so.’ He bowed again and shuffled backward from the room.
The rest of the Shimas remained in their places, and this too was often part of the ritual. Taka’s rebellion against the strictures of the family he was born into was a constant amusement, and the bane of his parents.
Ryu and Sato exchanged looks. Through her make-up and cosmetic tweaks he found her expression difficult to gauge. Her eyelashes were as long as his fingers, shadowing blue bone-shaped irises. He was nearly sure the shape of her teeth had been altered, but her mouth wasn’t open enough to be certain.
‘It seems my children have spent the night awake again,’ Yoshiko said.
‘This is why we don’t have morning meetings,’ Sato responded.
‘Patience is divine, Sato. Hachiro, please order some tea while we wait for Taka.’
Each Shima wore the chameleon sigil of their family at all times. Even to bed. At the meeting table, and in public, it was expected that they wore it proudly, as a commissioned brooch of rubies as in the case of Sato, or embroidered into their robes as per the Alpha and Regent. Ryu wore a long jacket with a climbing chameleon e-ttooed on the lapels.
Takashi returned after a few minutes wearing a dress-robe to the thigh and a pleated skirt. Hachiro turned to the Alpha, who nodded acquiescence. With his full-body symbiot and the oculars on his head, Takashi seemed to be dressed in a full chameleon costume, though he also had the house sigil printed across the back of his robe.
‘Thank you, Taka. And thank you for helping your brother last night.’
The tea arrived and breakfast was ordered without pause. When the servants left the room, they closed it from outside sensors.
‘Takashi, is a wall in place?’ Yoshiko asked.
‘Yes, Alpha. None but I could get through.’
‘Good. Let me first thank you for your time this morning. It is only under extraordinary circumstances that I have upset the schedule.’ Everyone replied that it was an unnecessary apology.
‘Sato san, how did your liaison with the Alderson boy advance your position?’
‘Mother, I confess it did not. I had hoped it would bring me into contact with his friend Earl Grimshaw, but this Dome fiasco kept most of the scene home last night.’
‘I am sorry to hear that. Grimshaw has great potential, though you may be overstating his future position.’
‘Isn’t love worth the risk?’ Sato’s favourite gambit was met with a wry stare-off with her mother.
‘Something to consider in your rooms with your maids. It may depend on what you are willing to risk, daughter.’
‘Yes, Mother.’
‘Taka.’
‘Uh-oh.’
‘Your level has not been properly cleaned in two months.’
‘I don’t like to be disturbed. Are they not my chambers for private use?’
‘Of course, but if you don’t organise it within the week, we will have the servitors go through and who knows what will become of your toys. Are we clear?’
‘Yes, Mother.’
The meal began with an amuse-bouche of pickled caviar in rice cream. The Shimas preferred the tastes of a human chef over the sensors and calculations of a bot, and it was also considered much more civilised to employ humans where one could.
As they ate, other standard items of business were cursorily discussed. Hachiro’s health was reviewed and it was agreed that his diet would be adjusted. The spring weather would mean the opening of the ground floor to the public markets, and each member of the family was to be seen at least once a week purchasing from the locals. The Shimas lived by the principle of supporting those who supported you.
Sato was at last frustrated. ‘Aren’t we going to talk about what happened last night?’
‘It has happened, what more is there to say? Would you like to discuss the footage?’
‘This is crazy. The Weave is hectic.’
‘Hectic!’ Takashi repeated like a child, hearing his favourite word.
‘Taka, please. Sato, what is it that you need?’ The Regent leant forward.
‘She needs to understand what it is that has taken place.’ Ryu looked at his sister. ‘Isn’t that right, Sato? The lack of information leaves the majority unable to even know how important the incident was.’
‘Ryu, what do you think is happening?’ Hachiro asked. ‘Tell us what you can.’
Ryu paused a moment, filtering what he knew from his increased access and what each member of his family knew. He and the Alpha knew as much as each other, and Takashi knew all through him. How much Yoshiko had shared with her Regent was unknown, but he could guarantee that Sato was privileged to very little.
‘Yesterday in the Dome an unknown force destroyed a large area of a populated region. We do not know who did it or why. Without answers the Will of the people has reacted by deposing the existing hierarchy and is replacing it with one that is more defensive in nature.’
‘So was it important? Is this a war? Should we be bringing in the guards?’
‘Yes, Sato, it is important. The guards we have in place will be sufficient. This is why your boyfriends stayed home last night. In our lifetime there has never been a more important event.’
‘So who did it?’
‘There is only speculation. I cannot share any more.’ Ryu put his palms flat to the table.
‘Don’t be a donkey, Ryu. The room is closed.’
‘I am aware, but it will open again and I do not believe you have the restraint to remain silent on any information I share.’
‘Go —’
‘Sato, enough,’ Hachiro commanded. ‘Ryu san, please speak with respect to your sister.’
‘Yes, Father. I apologise, Sato san. I have been up all night. I let my emotions get the best of me.’
‘Ryu,’ Yoshiko raised her voice. ‘Are you convinced this was a psionic manifestation?’
‘I can see no other explanation.’
‘And do you believe the rumours that it was caused by Pierre Jnr?’
Ryu and Takashi looked at each other. They could never be sure how much Mother knew. He took the safe road. ‘I am not convinced. It seems more likely the act of a group.’
Both parents seemed to sag. Hachiro reached out and took one of Yoshiko’s hands.
‘I am not sure which is more worrying,’ Mother admitted. ‘I know you have long predicted an uprising in the psi population, so it comes as less of a surprise for you.’
‘If you knew it was going to happen, then why didn’
t you do anything?’ Sato asked.
‘What do you think I have been doing the last five years?’ Ryu asked.
‘Sato, your brother has developed ways of finding and capturing psionic threats for a long time now. He has had much success,’ their father explained.
‘In provoking them maybe.’
‘Sato, I think that is enough. If the Will didn’t want Ryu to continue, his team would have been disbanded.’
The Hunt for Pierre Jnr Page 10