Vigilante (28 page)
Tahir suppressed his frustration. This would be so much easier if Kedros
weren’t a woman, but she was the best chance for escape he’d ever get.
weren’t a woman, but she was the best chance for escape he’d ever get.
“What could be more significant than destroying Ura-Guinn? She detonated
the first and only temporal-distortion weapon used in warfare,” Tahir said calmly and
methodically.
the first and only temporal-distortion weapon used in warfare,” Tahir said calmly and
methodically.
“She merely did as she was ordered.” Abram made a dismissive gesture
with his hand.
with his hand.
“As do all our followers for a free life?” Tahir said the words clearly,
so everyone in the room could hear.
so everyone in the room could hear.
Abram jerked his head back and his eyes focused on Tahir’s face,
reconsidering his son for the first time in months.
He realizes he’s been
out-maneuvered, but sadly, he’s surprised that
I’ve
managed
this
. Tahir clenched his jaw; Abram had just given him added incentive to make his plan
work.
reconsidering his son for the first time in months.
He realizes he’s been
out-maneuvered, but sadly, he’s surprised that
I’ve
managed
this
. Tahir clenched his jaw; Abram had just given him added incentive to make his plan
work.
“You say that great deeds, if done in the line of one’s duty, cannot
qualify for salvation?” Tahir asked the question, again clearly enunciating it for everyone in
the room. The surrounding audience of men was quiet.
qualify for salvation?” Tahir asked the question, again clearly enunciating it for everyone in
the room. The surrounding audience of men was quiet.
“We are talking of a
female
. Why should I
care about the ultimate fate of unbelievers or, in this particular case, livestock?”
female
. Why should I
care about the ultimate fate of unbelievers or, in this particular case, livestock?”
“Yet you mentioned two arcs of retribution as you sent her away. She
destroyed Ura-Guinn and when divine punishment for such a deed is presented to us, aren’t we
obligated to complete the arc?” Tahir was intensely aware of the watching audience. These men
were his leverage, and Abram knew it. Abram’s own rhetoric, the source of his invulnerability,
was now going to force his decision.
destroyed Ura-Guinn and when divine punishment for such a deed is presented to us, aren’t we
obligated to complete the arc?” Tahir was intensely aware of the watching audience. These men
were his leverage, and Abram knew it. Abram’s own rhetoric, the source of his invulnerability,
was now going to force his decision.
“If we are, collectively, the agent, then who will be the witness?”
Abram asked, changing his tactic.
Abram asked, changing his tactic.
“I will.”
“Of course. How do you intend to complete the arc?” Abram’s voice was
dry.
dry.
“She will pilot our mission, exactly as she did for Ura-Guinn.” Tahir’s
voice was hard.
voice was hard.
“
She
will pilot? That’s a suicide mission
that will be carried out by my most dedicated men. How do you intend to witness her final act,
Tahir?” Abram thought he knew his son and there was a quirk at the side of his mouth.
She
will pilot? That’s a suicide mission
that will be carried out by my most dedicated men. How do you intend to witness her final act,
Tahir?” Abram thought he knew his son and there was a quirk at the side of his mouth.
“I’m going along.” Tahir was tense and he wiped all doubt from his mind.
His father had to believe him.
His father had to believe him.
Abram raised his eyebrows and Tahir felt the depth of his father’s
surprise.
What’s the matter, Father? I’ve risked my education, my career,
my freedom, and any chance at a normal life on a Terran League world. Why is it so hard to
believe that I’ll give my life for your cause? If I were Emery, you’d have no
reservations.
surprise.
What’s the matter, Father? I’ve risked my education, my career,
my freedom, and any chance at a normal life on a Terran League world. Why is it so hard to
believe that I’ll give my life for your cause? If I were Emery, you’d have no
reservations.
There was silence as Abram examined him.
“Agreed, if she survives until ship departure,” Abram said. “But I won’t
trust the mission to you and this female’s arc of retribution. You will both merely observe
my
pilot and mission commander.”
trust the mission to you and this female’s arc of retribution. You will both merely observe
my
pilot and mission commander.”
Tahir nodded his head in assent. Before Abram turned away, he saw a
strange glint in his father’s eyes. He tried not to smile at the irony: He finally won respect
from Abram, but only by volunteering for a suicide mission that he had no intention of
completing.
strange glint in his father’s eyes. He tried not to smile at the irony: He finally won respect
from Abram, but only by volunteering for a suicide mission that he had no intention of
completing.
“Let go of me. I can walk!”
The men carried Ariane by her arms and didn’t let her toes touch,
causing pain in her shoulders and tied wrists. They ignored her protests. She let loose a long
streak of the worst profanity she could gather, and they dropped her like a live stun grenade.
Stumbling, but on her own feet, she kept up with her guards. Someone followed behind her,
probably with a weapon. She felt dazed and bemused by the armed guard of three—four men? Was
she that dangerous?
causing pain in her shoulders and tied wrists. They ignored her protests. She let loose a long
streak of the worst profanity she could gather, and they dropped her like a live stun grenade.
Stumbling, but on her own feet, she kept up with her guards. Someone followed behind her,
probably with a weapon. She felt dazed and bemused by the armed guard of three—four men? Was
she that dangerous?
It was more likely that Abram never took chances. Glumly, she reviewed
his recent actions and all the snippets and conversations she’d overheard. Abram had control of
the
Pilgrimage III
—
Why didn’t I look into that
“buoy off-line for maintenance” story
? Given Muse 3’s warning, she figured Abram
controlled the Beta Priamos Station, as well as every comm point on the Priamos moon.
I’ve been
asleep
at the controls! When I put
my uniform into my locker, I must have also packed away my brains.
his recent actions and all the snippets and conversations she’d overheard. Abram had control of
the
Pilgrimage III
—
Why didn’t I look into that
“buoy off-line for maintenance” story
? Given Muse 3’s warning, she figured Abram
controlled the Beta Priamos Station, as well as every comm point on the Priamos moon.
I’ve been
asleep
at the controls! When I put
my uniform into my locker, I must have also packed away my brains.
Time to stop the recriminations. Her guards halted at a door, opened it,
and shoved her through.
and shoved her through.
“Too bad we can’t watch,” one said in a snickering aside to another.
“It’d be like a down-home cockfight.”
“It’d be like a down-home cockfight.”
The door closed behind her and she paused in the dim light, her eyes
adjusting. Her hands were still tied together behind her back. She saw movement but didn’t have
time to dodge before Parmet rushed at her, grabbing her shoulders and pinning her against the
door with a heavy thump. Her breath was knocked out of her chest.
adjusting. Her hands were still tied together behind her back. She saw movement but didn’t have
time to dodge before Parmet rushed at her, grabbing her shoulders and pinning her against the
door with a heavy thump. Her breath was knocked out of her chest.
“You! Where’s my son?” he roared. His eyes bugged out of dark holes, the
veins on his forehead stood out, and his face was purpled with bruises.
veins on his forehead stood out, and his face was purpled with bruises.
Her chest heaved for air as she stared into his face, so close their
noses almost touched. She couldn’t pull up a knee as he pressed against her. Before she could
squirm into a better position, he pulled her away from the door and swung her by her shoulders.
She flew across the empty room. She couldn’t keep on her feet, and rolled against the
wall.
noses almost touched. She couldn’t pull up a knee as he pressed against her. Before she could
squirm into a better position, he pulled her away from the door and swung her by her shoulders.
She flew across the empty room. She couldn’t keep on her feet, and rolled against the
wall.
His shadow loomed over her. She tried to move, but her weight rested on
her back and her tied arms. As she writhed, she had a vision of a lighted passage and a redhead
leaning over her.
Not again
. She closed her eyes.
her back and her tied arms. As she writhed, she had a vision of a lighted passage and a redhead
leaning over her.
Not again
. She closed her eyes.
Moments passed. When she opened her eyes and raised her head, she saw
Parmet was back at the door in an attentive position. Listening? He moved back toward her,
lightly, his finger over his lips. She tensed again.
Parmet was back at the door in an attentive position. Listening? He moved back toward her,
lightly, his finger over his lips. She tensed again.
“I had to keep up appearances, Major Kedros,” he said softly, kneeling
in front of her. “They overdid the drugs and I’m letting them think they initiated a psychotic
cascade.”
in front of her. “They overdid the drugs and I’m letting them think they initiated a psychotic
cascade.”
She blinked hard and stared at him for a moment. He had
somaural
talents, true, but they couldn’t help a psychotic or hallucinating
brain pretend to be normal.
somaural
talents, true, but they couldn’t help a psychotic or hallucinating
brain pretend to be normal.
“Have you seen my wives or son? Are they well?”
She pushed and wiggled to a sitting position against the wall. He
reached to help her, but stopped when she flinched away. He waited while she cleared her throat
and took some deep breaths.
reached to help her, but stopped when she flinched away. He waited while she cleared her throat
and took some deep breaths.
“Your wives, Sabina and Garnet, were locked up with the rest of us. They
were fine, when I last saw them. I don’t know what’s happened to your son.”
were fine, when I last saw them. I don’t know what’s happened to your son.”
Instead of the expressionless face she’d come to expect, he grimaced in
a human way. He looked like a worried father and nothing like a Terran State Prince. The
torture had stripped away his energy, confidence, and discipline. She knew what that felt like.
Since he was the one who sanctioned similar torture for her, however, she had no sympathy for
him.
a human way. He looked like a worried father and nothing like a Terran State Prince. The
torture had stripped away his energy, confidence, and discipline. She knew what that felt like.
Since he was the one who sanctioned similar torture for her, however, she had no sympathy for
him.
“Did you tell your wives or son about me? Who I am?” she asked in a hard
voice.
voice.
“No.”
He sounded honestly puzzled, but she had more pressing concerns than
confronting him about her mugging. “These men claim to have a TD weapon. I saw a photo and I
think it’s a Terran package.” She kept her voice low, and didn’t explain how she could
recognize a Terran warhead.
confronting him about her mugging. “These men claim to have a TD weapon. I saw a photo and I
think it’s a Terran package.” She kept her voice low, and didn’t explain how she could
recognize a Terran warhead.
“I hoped I’d dreamed the conversation I heard—they talked about the
weapon.”
weapon.”
That’s not good
. She pushed against the
wall, trying to get comfortable. “Hey, can you do anything about this quick-tie they put around
my wrists?”
. She pushed against the
wall, trying to get comfortable. “Hey, can you do anything about this quick-tie they put around
my wrists?”
“That’s too much for me. My brain’s been burned out, remember?”
Yeah, right
. She sighed.
. She sighed.
He told her what he’d heard between his sessions of torment. “They
probably have my ship access codes, as well as those of my pilot. I still have a unit on board
that can interface with a warhead, which makes things much easier for them.”
probably have my ship access codes, as well as those of my pilot. I still have a unit on board
that can interface with a warhead, which makes things much easier for them.”
“They act like they can detonate it.” She frowned. “I pretended I
believed them, but that’s ludicrous. They couldn’t know your ship would be here in G-145. Even
if they get the controller unit to work, how could they possibly arm the weapon?”
believed them, but that’s ludicrous. They couldn’t know your ship would be here in G-145. Even
if they get the controller unit to work, how could they possibly arm the weapon?”
He shook his head, resignation on his face. “The answer isn’t my ship;
it’s Dr. Tahir Rouxe.”
it’s Dr. Tahir Rouxe.”
“Doctor?”
Parmet nodded. “I’ve got a good memory for faces. I remember him from
one of our weapon test teams. If he got Abram a weapon, then he’s capable of stealing a set of
test codes.”
one of our weapon test teams. If he got Abram a weapon, then he’s capable of stealing a set of
test codes.”
“Test codes? Well, I suppose they could send it into the sun and release
the exotic matter. Gaia knows what that might do, but it won’t come close to a detonation.” She
looked around the bare room, hoping for food and water. How long had it been since she’d eaten?
When would the bright wear off and she’d have to sleep? She didn’t even know the time. Now she
wished she’d installed a skin watch to run off her implant.
the exotic matter. Gaia knows what that might do, but it won’t come close to a detonation.” She
looked around the bare room, hoping for food and water. How long had it been since she’d eaten?
When would the bright wear off and she’d have to sleep? She didn’t even know the time. Now she
wished she’d installed a skin watch to run off her implant.
“There’s a hole in the security and control mechanisms. It’s
classified,” Parmet said.
classified,” Parmet said.
He had her full attention. “What?”
“Our test protocols can arm and detonate a weapon, provided it goes
through certain environmental conditions. Dr. Rouxe would certainly know the required sequence.
The weapon has to be enabled with correct test codes, then experience a certain high-gee
pattern.” Parmet paused, licked his cracked lip nervously, and continued. “That’ll arm the
weapon and start the detonation sequence. When testing, the timing of the detonation was
critical because the TD wave had to expand inside a Penrose Fold boundary.”
through certain environmental conditions. Dr. Rouxe would certainly know the required sequence.
The weapon has to be enabled with correct test codes, then experience a certain high-gee
pattern.” Parmet paused, licked his cracked lip nervously, and continued. “That’ll arm the
weapon and start the detonation sequence. When testing, the timing of the detonation was
critical because the TD wave had to expand inside a Penrose Fold boundary.”
“You dumped the temporal-distortion wave into N-space.” Her eyes
widened. “I thought the Minoans forbade that.”
widened. “I thought the Minoans forbade that.”
“They didn’t have the means to control us, by their definition, until
Pax Minoica was signed.” He tried to shrug and instead, winced. “During the war, it was too
expensive and time-consuming for us to test weapons the way the Consortium did, by reducing to
a negligible yield and boosting the package several light-years away from the detectors. Then
Ura-Guinn happened, and the Minoans pushed Pax Minoica. In the first treaty, which wasn’t
surprising to
us
, they stopped all TD testing. We signed, and no
more dumping.”
Pax Minoica was signed.” He tried to shrug and instead, winced. “During the war, it was too
expensive and time-consuming for us to test weapons the way the Consortium did, by reducing to
a negligible yield and boosting the package several light-years away from the detectors. Then
Ura-Guinn happened, and the Minoans pushed Pax Minoica. In the first treaty, which wasn’t
surprising to
us
, they stopped all TD testing. We signed, and no
more dumping.”
“During your tests, the Minoans didn’t notice any problems with the
buoys?” She wondered if the Directorate of Intelligence knew about this shortcut used by the
Terrans.
buoys?” She wondered if the Directorate of Intelligence knew about this shortcut used by the
Terrans.
He smiled thinly. “Strange, huh? We dumped low-yield TD waves into
N-space regularly for years, and nothing happened to the buoy network. AFCAW detonated a TD
weapon in
real-space
, and the buoy network went all to hell. Makes
you wonder about the nature of N-space.”
N-space regularly for years, and nothing happened to the buoy network. AFCAW detonated a TD
weapon in
real-space
, and the buoy network went all to hell. Makes
you wonder about the nature of N-space.”
“I’ll let the physicists and cosmologists worry about that. We’ve got to
keep these nutcases from making G-145 another Ura-Guinn. I think Abram’s convinced he can
survive the detonation, because Ura-Guinn’s sun didn’t blow up.”
keep these nutcases from making G-145 another Ura-Guinn. I think Abram’s convinced he can
survive the detonation, because Ura-Guinn’s sun didn’t blow up.”
She got up and paced the room, finding the water bottle in the corner.
“Can you help me with this?” She motioned to the water with her head.
“Can you help me with this?” She motioned to the water with her head.
Parmet slid over, in a seated position, to pick up the bottle. He stood
and held it for her as she took a swig. When she finished, she backed away.
and held it for her as she took a swig. When she finished, she backed away.
“For some reason, Tahir is interested in my previous experience, in
particular, my N-space drop at Ura-Guinn,” she said. “Maybe he requires my skills.”
particular, my N-space drop at Ura-Guinn,” she said. “Maybe he requires my skills.”
“They don’t need an N-space pilot; they can do it from real-space. They
don’t care about swallowing the temporal-distortion wave.” He stared at her in a thoughtful
manner. Nervous under his scrutiny, she turned her back and continued to pace.
don’t care about swallowing the temporal-distortion wave.” He stared at her in a thoughtful
manner. Nervous under his scrutiny, she turned her back and continued to pace.
“Well, since almost anybody can pilot real-space, why is Tahir obsessed
with me? Particularly with my N-space drop from Ura-Guinn.” She stopped and turned. “Maybe he’s
trying to get out from under his father’s thumb. He’s thinking
escape
.”
with me? Particularly with my N-space drop from Ura-Guinn.” She stopped and turned. “Maybe he’s
trying to get out from under his father’s thumb. He’s thinking
escape
.”
Parmet blinked, as if clearing a phantom from his view. “You’ll have a
chance to stop them, Major Kedros.”
chance to stop them, Major Kedros.”
CHAPTER 16
Many scientific disciplines were neglected due to the
great exodus into space in the twenties [
Link to:
Minoans,
N-space travel, Minoan motives and gifts
]. Biochemical
and medical research, even many basic sciences, were
supplanted by physics, material sciences, and practical
astronomy—anything directly supporting N-space travel
and colonization.
Putting Medical Science back on Track
,
Konstantinople
Prime University, 2082.08.09.02 UT, indexed by
Democritus 6
under Cause and Effect Imperative
A
s he flailed around in oily syrup, Matt
desperately wished he knew how to swim. There was no need to swim aboard a generational ship,
even for tank maintenance. Later, as a generational orphan who knew he’d be planet-side only
when necessary, he’d never considered learning the skill.
s he flailed around in oily syrup, Matt
desperately wished he knew how to swim. There was no need to swim aboard a generational ship,
even for tank maintenance. Later, as a generational orphan who knew he’d be planet-side only
when necessary, he’d never considered learning the skill.
He thrashed as he was pulled downward. Suddenly his legs came free. His
torso and head followed, and he dropped with a slurping sound onto a shiny, soft floor. A
gravity generator was operating and interestingly, he came through with the correct
orientation.
torso and head followed, and he dropped with a slurping sound onto a shiny, soft floor. A
gravity generator was operating and interestingly, he came through with the correct
orientation.
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