Finish What You Started

by Michael Anderle

  Bethany Anne took the lead again when they reached the other side of the factory floor, waiting for Michael to reach her before she lowered herself to the ground. We’re right by the Collective.

  Michael narrowed his eyes in the direction of Bethany Anne’s gaze. Look behind there. Isn’t that the tank the Collective are imprisoned in?

  Bethany Anne nodded. Looks like it.

  Michael lifted a finger to indicate a hair-fine crack creeping at a snail’s pace down the crystal toward them. Whatever we’re doing, we’d better do it fast.

  In Transit, QBS Izanami, Pod Bay

  Alexis stamped her foot in frustration. “I don’t see why we can’t get there faster, Gabriel. If we can make lots of small folds in the fabric of space-time to travel, why can’t we make a much larger fold and sidestep the Gate system altogether?”

  Izanami chuckled. “Give me the drive capacity and your wish is my command, Alexis. Until then, we must be patient. Four Gates to go.”

  “Four Gates too many,” Gabriel grumbled.

  Izanami arched an eyebrow at Alexis and Gabriel. “Would the two of you care to get out and walk the rest of the way?”

  The twins looked at her in confusion.

  Izanami lifted a shoulder. “It seemed like something your parents might say. Be patient, children. If I could push the ship any harder without damaging my Gate drive, I would have done so already.”

  Alexis abandoned her position over the console with a sigh and put her face in her hands. “I’ve got a feeling Mom’s in trouble, or that she’s going to be if we don’t get there soon.”

  Izanami gestured toward the open transport Pod with a tilt of her chin. “We will reach her in time. We are only one Gate away now.”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes at the precaution but followed the AI’s instruction.

  Alexis turned to Izanami before climbing in after her brother, her hazel eyes ringed with dark circles. “Don’t hesitate, Izanami. Mom is going to need you.”

  Izanami considered the warning in the seconds it took for the Pod ramp to shut, a hesitation—for her, at least—as her logic processes came to terms with the utter veracity in Alexis’ words despite there being no way the child could have seen the future.

  As her Gate drive engaged, Izanami sent a probe ahead to contact CEREBRO.

  The EI group responded to her hail as the probes crossed the event horizon, transferring the event logs of the siege so far. Izanami. We were not expecting you.

  Izanami materialized her avatar on the bridge. My Queen has need of me, and I have the Prince and Princess aboard my ship. Connect me with the Admiral. Their safety must be secured first.

  Alexis cut in, revealing her presence in the mindspace. Izanami! You agreed to let us help!

  Izanami’s eyes flared red. Do not argue, Alexis.

  Admiral Thomas flinched at the sight of Izanami when he appeared on the viewscreen. “Izanami?”

  Izanami inclined her head a fraction, a sharp-fanged grimace on her lips. “Admiral. Send John to my coordinates to collect Alexis and Gabriel. I am here to rescue my Queen.”

  Admiral Thomas grimaced. “I’ll pass your request along.”

  Izanami’s eyes flashed red. “See that you do. I will be waiting, Admiral.”

  17

  Ooken Sky Base, Prison Level

  Bethany Anne reached out to the conduit. How are you guys doing in there?

  The conduit’s voice sounded distant to Bethany Anne, as though they were communicating long-distance over a shitty landline. Nevertheless, the victorious note in its voice could not be hidden by mental static. The Corrupt will not hold us for much longer. The bombardment from above is causing conflicting resonance waves. The integrity of these walls is failing.

  Can you survive out of the water? Bethany Anne asked.

  For a short period of time, the conduit replied. We will provide a distraction for the Corrupt, and you must free the prisoners soon or they will all drown.

  Bethany Anne glanced at the ring of cells above, considering the options. Michael, that isn’t the only crack in the tank. This floor is going to be flooded at any time. We need to switch focus to getting the prisoners out. I have to stay behind.

  What are you thinking? Michael asked. I can work to get them into the Etheric while you find the substance and assist the Collective with the transfer.

  Bethany Anne didn’t register that Michael was agreeing with her. It’s got to be me because there’s no way in a month of frozen Sundays I’m allowing you to leave your armor behind. She frowned as his words sank in. You don’t disagree?

  Not at all. You are harder to kill than me, and I can always get new armor. Michael considered the logistics. How long have we got?

  Bethany Anne narrowed her eyes. I’m half-tempted to shoot you just to make sure you’re not an Ooken changeling.

  Michael shrugged. Lives only come in multiples for Buddhists and felines.

  They looked up as a prickle of awareness tingled up the backs of their necks at the same instant. There was an Ooken leaning over the rail.

  Then, there was no Ooken—just a bloody rain of flesh over the factory floor.

  Bethany Anne threw up her hands as their cover was lost. Did you forget they can’t see us? Or at least they couldn’t until you decided to paint the damned place black.

  Michael shrugged. We need to move it along, right? Job done. He deactivated his cloaking and braced himself, hesitating when no attack came. Huh. They’re just carrying on with their work.

  Bethany Anne narrowed her eyes, suspicious of the lack of response to the sudden appearance of two blood-coated humans in their midst. It’s like they can’t see us.

  Michael walked the six steps to the nearest Ooken and waved a hand in front of its face. No reaction whatsoever. Do you think they’re programmed in a different way?

  Bethany Anne frowned. Maybe… She detected no communication between the workers when she reached out, just a single, solitary purpose. They’re not connected to the hive mind. She crossed to Michael and poked the Ooken with a finger.

  It still did not react, simply continued going about its various tasks as though nothing but the next step existed.

  Michael’s reply was cut off by two tons of slavering, snarling Ooken landing on him from above.

  MICHAEL! Bethany Anne was by his side before she realized she’d moved.

  Stay clear. Michael shocked the Ooken with a jolt of electricity, apparently encouraging it to tighten the eight-armed hug it was giving him. I’m okay, but short of Mysting out of my armor, I can’t get free.

  Bethany Anne fought the urge to tear the Ooken off her husband using her teeth and nails. His voice calmed her as always, but only slightly. She reached for the Etheric instead, her unanswered question still hanging in the air. Not into the realm, but the energy around her.

  The call was muted here, easy to decline despite its strength. Bethany Anne took control of it all, the symphony hers to conduct. She searched for the notes she wanted to hear.

  They were there. Quiet, almost inaudible, but the song was there, contorted into rage inside the Ooken.

  Fucking GOT you. Michael, get ready.

  Bethany Anne’s eyes blazed, the flood of light deepening the walls to the color of fresh blood. A wave of her hand and the Ooken rose into the air, its tentacles shooting out to the sides at impossible angles as it released Michael.

  Michael turned as he dropped and landed on his feet. I’m good.

  I didn’t doubt it. Bethany Anne waited until he was clear before lowering the Ooken to the floor. She didn’t miss the progress of the cracks in the tank, now running through the wall like veins.

  Neither did Michael. You ready to go?

  Bethany Anne hesitated to begin the countdown to the shitstorm. The sooner I master stopping time, the better. We never fucking have any. She sighed and gave in to the inevitable. Okay. You focus on getting the cells open, and I’ll do what I can to find the substance before the walls give.<
br />
  Michael went to return to the upper level. We can’t be too far from the controls for the cells now.

  Bethany Anne’s mouth curled in a cold smile. Good. Have fun smashing that shit up. I’m about to get us some answers. She opened her internal connection to her secret weapons. ADAM, get inside that fucking abomination and wipe its nanocytes back to factory settings.

  What’s your thinking here? TOM asked.

  Bethany Anne wrinkled her nose. Since we’re short on time, I’m going to limit this to finding out if the Ooken are sentient beings.

  >>You want to see what it does without its nanocytes running it,<< ADAM surmised. >>They’re powering down now.<<

  Bethany Anne felt her hold on the Ooken weaken as the dark light leached from its eyes. It dropped to the floor, the impact sending a shockwave through its flaccid muscles.

  Bethany Anne felt the complete absence of anything that could be construed as a thought from the quivering mass of directionlessness. Question answered. Michael, how much time do I have?

  A few more minutes, Michael replied. The control room was not unguarded.

  She looked out over the procession of moving parts, a thousand arms gripping, cutting, stirring, and grinding away along the line. I’m going for the secret sauce, she told her husband, turning away from the Ooken.

  >>Follow the assembly line back to the start,<< ADAM advised. >> I spotted what looked to be a vat on the other side of this…um…whatever it makes.<<

  Bethany Anne broke into a run. Three steps in she leapt, using the skull of one of the larger worker Ooken as a steppingstone up onto the machinery. I see it.

  >>You could hardly miss it. It’s thirty feet tall.<<

  Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow. You’re pretty snarky for someone who’s meant to be convincing me they’re mature enough to be allowed out to play by themselves again.

  ADAM chose to cut his losses before Bethany Anne decided against ever allowing him to pilot a body. >>Thirty feet isn’t so high.<<

  Bethany Anne snickered as she activated her armor’s climbing mode and the palms of her gauntlets extruded an almost invisible adhesive. She scaled the side and hauled herself onto the meter-wide rim. Jackpot. We’ve got our blank nanocytes.

  >>There are enough nanocytes in that vat to upgrade everyone on High Tortuga,<< ADAM estimated, only half-joking.

  Bethany Anne considered the ramifications of upgrading the entire civilian population as she balanced in a crouch on the rim of the vat. Not High Tortuga, but Tabitha is getting a pretty decent fighting force together. I’ll give those who fight for me whatever advantage I can without compromising our position. She peered down into the open tank, which was filled almost to the brim with a glowing light blue substance, shot through with miniscule flecks of dancing, sparkling energy.

  TOM snickered. You call those ragtag rebels a fighting force? The Bakas fight among themselves as much as they listen to Tabitha.

  Bethany Anne rolled her eyes. Careful there, your Kurtherian is showing. Mahi’Takar’s sideshow aside, I happen to appreciate the Bakas’ loyalty to their family groups. It’s one of the reasons I gave Tabitha permission to indulge her Eliza Doolittle fantasies with them. She hesitated before dipping a hand into the vat. What happens when I ingest these?

  Nothing should happen, TOM assured her. The nanocytes are not programmed, so as far as I can see, they should be absorbed into your bloodstream within seconds and remain inactive. I’ll isolate the suspension in your stomach until we’re in a position to do something with it.

  “As far as you can see” is not the most rousing endorsement.

  Do you want me to lie?

  Bethany Anne rolled her eyes and immersed her cupped hand. No. Okay, here goes. She lifted her hand to her lips with some trepidation and drank the suspension. She didn’t drop dead, which she appreciated greatly. How much of this shit do I need to drink?

  As much as you can take in as quickly as you can take it, TOM told her. We don’t have our sample yet. I have to alter your stomach to neutralize the PH of the suspension without damaging the nanocytes.

  Bethany Anne dropped to her knees on the edge of the vat and used both her hands to scoop the suspension into her mouth. It tastes fucking vile. Did they make this to taste like Pepsi mixed with battery acid just to piss me off? I’m telling you, it’s working.

  No, that’s the acid, Tom informed her. Okay, you can store the suspension safely. Drink up. We need to move.

  Bethany Anne was well aware that the disintegration of the factory walls was progressing. She took one more mouthful and got to her feet. That’s plenty. Michael?

  Good to go when you’re ready, he confirmed. I’ll be on the upper level in less than a minute.

  Bethany Anne tilted her chin to glance at the access to the upper level. Meet you there.

  An explosion sounded from somewhere nearby and a fresh round of alarms went off, bringing the discord she had tuned out earlier to the front and center again.

  Bethany Anne felt the hive mind approaching, a boiling rage of biting tentacles headed right for the cells. She stepped off the edge of the vat, adjusting her weight as she dropped to glide easily to the floor. Landing at a run, she darted through the worker Ooken in a blur. Her only thought was to get to the prisoners before they fell prey to the mass of certain death headed their way.

  Plenty of the prisoners had decided not to wait for assistance to arrive.

  The Ooken poured through the hole Bethany Anne and Michael had made to get down to the prison, heedless of where they landed, driven to kill by their nanocytes.

  Bethany Anne vaulted the rail and landed in the middle of the melee. She fired her gauntlet blades with Etheric energy and threw herself at the nearest Ooken. Sidestepping the Ooken’s tentacles, she parted it from its face with a downward slash that prevented it from stuffing the bite-sized aliens it had in its clawed hands into its mouth.

  The aliens screeched and swarmed the fallen Ooken, biting and tearing into its fur with teeth and claws.

  “I’m going to get you out of here,” Bethany Anne told the tiny aliens, hoping like hell her translation software wasn’t fucking it up too badly.

  The aliens flashed sharp teeth much like the Ooken’s at her and scattered, their shocking blue skin lost among the crush in an instant.

  Bethany Anne moved on. As she obliterated the Ooken, she pushed every prisoner she came across into the Etheric, not giving any of them a choice in case they vanished like the tiny blue aliens.

  Tentacles flew, heads rolled, and Ooken fell wherever she stepped. Her blades burned, her speed the deciding factor in one life-or-death confrontation after another. The death part fell to the Ooken each time, but she wasn’t counting.

  Not out loud, anyway.

  Michael arrived in a blast of lightning, scattering Ooken like bowling pins. He flew up and over the railing, hurtling feet-first into an Ooken that had managed to get the drop on a pair of horned aliens who were fighting back-to-back against two more Ooken.

  Asking permission didn’t so much as occur to him. He shoved the large aliens into the Etheric and moved on to the next prisoner, who he spotted through the burning hole he created in the tentacle wall with another precision application of lightning.

  Bethany Anne felt Michael’s presence before she saw him. She ducked and pivoted, clearing the immediate area of Ooken with a concussive wave.

  Another tumult of tentacles spilled in from the hole above the prison floor, which was at least fifty feet wide now by Bethany Anne’s estimate. The press from above caused great chunks of crystal to fall and smash the combatants below, killing Ooken and prisoners alike.

  Bethany Anne drew hard on the Etheric, calling the energy and directing it to create a seal over the hole before the entire level came down on their heads. Time’s up, she told Michael. You need to shield yourself. This is about to get real.

  She gave Michael a moment to protect himself, then pulled again on the Etheric and sent out another wa
ve of energy over the prison level. This wave she made heavy. Prisoners and Ooken alike dropped to the floor, pinned by Bethany Anne’s makeshift suppression blanket.

  Only Bethany Anne and Michael remained standing, the beating of tentacles on the crystal above the only sound in the manufactured silence.

  Michael scanned the remaining prisoners. It would be faster to Myst, but I’ll lose my armor.

  There’s nothing I can do once the crystal degrades past a certain point, Bethany Anne told him, pouring her strength into holding the ever-growing network of cracks in the crystal together. Get them into the Etheric.

  Michael mopped up the last of the prisoners and turned to find Bethany Anne. He saw her strain under the massive amount of power it was taking to hold the walls together. Bethany Anne, that’s all of them.

  GO! she ground out, her mental voice giving Michael all the motivation he needed. Get out of here before you can’t.

  I will be waiting for you. Michael left his armor behind and stepped into the Etheric after the rescued aliens.

  QBS Izanami, Pod Bay, Transport Pod

  John’s eyes were on the battle ahead of him, giving Alexis, Gabriel, and Izanami a side view of his jaw on the screen. “I’ll be there just as soon as I get a break in the action. Hang tight, kids.”

  Alexis cut the call and turned to Izanami. “We don’t need a babysitter, Izanami. Let us stay with you. We’re safe on the ship.”

  “You are safe on the ship as long as I remain cloaked and tucked out of the way,” Izanami corrected. Her avatar paced in front of the viewscreen.

  “You look just like Mom when she's impatient,” Alexis teased. Her smile faded instantly.

  Izanami turned red eyes on the twins. “I am not impatient,” she denied, her outward appearance wavering between Bethany Anne in her usual armor and Baba Yaga in her white armor. “I am frustrated with waiting for John to arrive.”

  Alexis raised a finger. “You know, we could help you get in close to the planet. I came up with something while Uncle Admiral Thomas was telling you all the reasons we have to wait back here. He just has a grudge against Shinigami, and you are inhabiting a Mark II Shinigami-class ship, after all.”