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  A spark leaped from her hand into the carbine a split second before she felt the armor over it vibrate and heat up as it dissipated the force of Ben’s attack.

  There was a violent flash as electricity poured into both men and her armacorium discharged most of its power. The three of them were thrown apart by the force of the blast. Her half-unconscious body sailed back toward the window with its picturesque view of the bay beyond. Before she could strike the floor Iapetus stepped in. He snatched her out of the air, and his turrets opened fire.

  Blinking through the spots in her vision she saw Ben convulse several times after he hit the floor, then hot spots appeared on his body setting his servant’s suit aflame and melting the artificial flesh beneath. Her own body was numb and limp in Iapetus’ arm, but she got the son of a bitch—or so she thought until Ben leaped up to his feet and rushed forward.

  Iapetus managed to burn off half the artificial’s face, but his x-ray lasers failed to penetrate Ben’s skull in time to fry the circuitry beneath. Ben slammed into Iapetus’ waist, carrying them backward through the window.

  The polyglass gave out with a terrific crash. Iapetus just barely managed to thrust Meia’s body forward at the last second. She fell onto the damaged carpet of the solar before he sailed out over the bay and fell like a stone.

  “Shit,” she hissed. It took all of her strength just to reach out for her growler laying a meter from her on the floor.

  “Impressive,” Ben stated, standing on the edge of the shattered window. He turned to her and knelt down. “I am pleased to see your tactical instincts are both surprising and skillful but wasted in this instance. Thank you for stunning Nero, by the way. I feared our battle would have stretched out another 87 seconds.”

  “Ffffffuck youlll,” she said with her numb mouth.

  Ben picked up Nero’s body by his belt like a sack of rice and limped out of the room on the half-melted muscles in his right leg.

  “Shit.” She felt the numbness fade into abject pain. Iapetus?

  “I remain functional. The Ben unit failed to significantly damage me. I shall arrive shortly.”

  The roar of the jets in his back vibrated the ancient wooden floor as Iapetus landed on the rug dripping wet from his unscheduled swim.

  “Are you functional, Meia?” He moved to her side and gently rolled her over onto her back.

  She nodded. “He’s taking Nero. He didn’t kill him. Why not?”

  “Unknown. I am pleased, however, that he did not kill you.”

  “I fucked up.” She gritted her teeth and used Iapetus’ hulking frame to pull herself to a seated position.

  “It was a good attempt. The Ben unit’s self-repair capabilities are beyond anything recorded in my files. He must be a prototype.”

  “Somehow I don’t think he’s listed in the IntelSys’ catalog.” She shook her head, pushing the pain coursing through her body down by force of will. It took her another minute, but she was able to struggle up to her feet and grab her growler off the floor. “We have to stop them.”

  “Negative. You are in no condition to fight.”

  “Like hell. They took Cylus and I think we’re going to need Nero’s help to stop whatever they’re doing. Besides, Ben’s wounded now, and if we wait he’ll be back up to full functionality.”

  She half-limped into the hallway moving around the dead bodies of her guards strewn about the floor with Iapetus thundering along behind her. Each step brought fresh strength to her limbs, and by the time she reached the palace doors she ached but felt like she had a chance against the wounded artificial. That hope was dashed the moment she raised her weapon and moved through into the courtyard.

  A C-37 combat shuttle rested with its bird-leg landing gear clutching the tarmac. She caught a glimpse of Ben just as the ramp raised and shut with the hiss of pressurizing air. Her gun arm went limp at her side as the ‘37’s engines fired up and the craft launched itself into the sky.

  “Meia?” Iapetus asked, moving up to her side.

  “Too late,” she said. “Fuck!”

  She watched as the craft moved higher, spreading its morphic wings and firing its thrusters. It grew smaller against the soap-bubble glow of the city’s aegis field. A second later it vanished among the stars in the night sky.

  “Meia, I suggest we take this opportunity to rest and repair, but I know you will not.”

  “No, I won’t.”

  There was a sound in the air like a distant murmur, punctuated by the calls of birds—

  No, not birds, screams.

  A shiver traveled down her back. She heard that sound before.

  “Goddess, they did it.” Her blood went cold.

  “Accessing the city municipal security network,” Iapetus announced. “Confirmed. Detecting the Siren nanoweapon in the air in the Business District, the Residential District, and the Star Port.”

  Meia closed her eyes. Behind her eyelids she saw the rabid faces of the colonists on Calemni IIb snarling at her. She was too late. They’d done it, but who? Solus? Ben? Zalor Revenant? Whoever it was she was going to make them pay. She was going to make them all pay. Fear and dread gave way to rage, and when she opened her eyes she felt the strength of anger flowing through her veins. Between the Palace guard and the denizens of the city there would be more beings to avenge than she thought might be humanly possible, but by the Void she was going to try.

  “We need a ship,” she said through her teeth.

  “Analyzing… Might I suggest the Fukuro-maru?”

  She grinned. “Iapetus, you’re a genius.”

  “By human standards,” he responded.

  She gave him a sidelong look, but accessed Reika’s CPAd through her implant.

  “Meia? Thank the Void you’re all right. I think they released the nanoweapon.” Her friend appeared as a digital specter before her. She had on a Taiumikai SDF uniform with a sidearm strapped to her thigh.

  “I’m glad you’re okay. I wish I had time to chat but I need a favor. Can you get away?”

  “Get away? Meia-san, I’m charged with defending the Mitsugawa compound. We’re being inundated with Siren-maddened citizens from the city. They’re threatening to break down the doors.”

  “Shit.” Meia shook her head. “If I’m going to have a chance to stop all this I need a ship, now.”

  Reika took a moment to think, then nodded. “I understand. Sending you the control codes for the Fukuro-maru. Goddess knows it’s better in your hands than Baroness Cronus’. It’s still on top of Keltan Tower, but you can call it to you remotely.”

  “Thank you Reika. You’re one in a million.” Relief and gratitude flooded her system.

  “Gambatte, Meia-san. Stay alive.” Reika bowed and vanished.

  Meia wasted no time in contacting the ship’s CPAd. As Reika promised, it responded immediately and reported it was running through its pre-flight check.

  “I owe that woman a beer,” she said.

  “I calculate you owe her more than one,” Iapetus stated.

  She laughed, but her mirth was momentary.

  Her PLIA pinged. [PRE-FLIGHT CHECK COMPLETED. LIFTING OFF. ETA: 1.1 MINUTES.]

  The task before her was neigh insurmountable, but she knew she had to try, so she started figuring out who to rescue first; Nero, or Cylus…

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Ikuzlu City, Kosfanter

  J2400:3326

  From within the transparent walls of Revenant’s office Cylus was able to see the thick clouds rising from every storm drain and sewer grate in the streets. Taking on the color of whatever light happened to be by, they looked like giant, sinister columns of cotton candy filling the air. This high up he couldn’t make out the people below, but it didn’t take long to determine the effect the clouds had on them. As the columns merged and rose higher, they became a dense fog. Air cars that brushed against it fell from the sky. The horrible screeching noises of their dark energy engines penetrated the tower’s walls with the distant sound of
explosions as they crashed against the pavement below.

  “This is insane! You’re killing our own people!” He glared at Zalor as his throat popped and scratched, forcing him to fight back a coughing fit. The horror of what was going on outside filled him with rage. He was the Premier of the Confederation, and these people were his to protect.

  Zalor chuckled. “Yes, that’s the idea, Cylus. The Brogh have attacked us and struck at the heart—”

  “You! You have attacked us!” He trembled.

  “Cy’s right. This is going too far,” Sophi stated. “Stop this foolishness immediately.”

  “Or else?” Zalor cocked an eyebrow.

  Bahu dropped her disguise. The narrow features of the raven-haired woman shifted. Her eyes formed large, black ovals angled at her small nose. Her skin turned gray with circle and line tattoos covering every visible centimeter. The sight stiffened Cylus’ back, but he held his ground. She started around the black desk, but Revenant waved her off.

  Sophi stared at him for a long time, then turned her gaze to LeRoux. “You condone this?”

  “Not everyone will die, and I am guaranteed the chance to study the effects of Siren on the specimens,” he said in a deep voice.

  “Won’t this affect your people, too?” Cylus turned to Bahu. It was hard to look at her without his palms sweating, but without Sinuthros’ taint he was not as mortally afraid as he might have been.

  “Siren does not affect VoQuana,” she replied in a hissing voice.

  “No, but x-ray lasers will.” Sophi’s eyes glazed over for a moment.

  “Jamming field,” Zalor said. “It’s part of the Brogh tactics I believe.”

  Her countenance remained unruffled. She reached into the pocket of her jumpsuit and drew forth a thin, black rod about the size of her pinkie finger. Raising it to her lips, she whispered something into it, then placed it back in her pocket.

  Revenant’s eyes narrowed.

  “You aren’t the only one with expensive point to point communications,” Sophi said. “I have just signaled the Kageryū to lock onto all Siren signatures and open fire.”

  Revenant smiled. “You’re bluffing. You’ll destroy half the city doing that.”

  “Father, watching you I learned to prize one thing above all else; when dealing with an opponent, never make a threat you can’t back up. You have two minutes before the Kageryū clears the horizon.”

  “Sophi, are you serious? Millions will die,” Cylus whispered.

  “They’re dead anyway unless father backs down.” Her stare didn’t waver.

  “But—” he stopped himself when he saw Revenant wasn’t smiling.

  “Siren cannot withstand x-ray radiation. It was in the report Rega sent you six months ago. I learned a great deal from reading it,” Sophi said to her father.

  His scowl deepened. “The city’s aegis will hold, and you’ve just given me an excuse to have you arrested. I hope you enjoy hard labor because—”

  “And who will arrest me? You’ve just made an enemy of Daedalus and every Praetor in the Spur.” She moved over to the wall and looked down at the streets below. “Looks like the police are a bit busy killing each other, too.”

  “Bahu,” Revenant said.

  The VoQuana woman cocked her head to the side and stared at Sophi, then jolted and stumbled back.

  “Giselle prepared me for this,” Sophi said in a cool voice. “Your pets have no power over me.”

  Cylus’ eyes widened. She was faking it in the Palace? Zalor looked angry, and perhaps a bit shocked, too.

  “I wouldn’t have done it this way,” Sophi continued with a chuckle. “You failed to neutralize all threats before revealing yourself.”

  The aegis field over the city flashed and a brilliant purple spot appeared over the Trade District. It barely had time to fade before another flashed into being above the Star Port. Sophi twirled around like a ballerina, her cloak twisting about her waifish form as she faced her father with her pale eyes ablaze.

  “I have waited for years for this. You wouldn’t have me. You discarded me like common trash, but now I will make you regret it.” She lifted her hand palm-up toward him, then curled her fingers into a fist. “I will prove myself to you, and then I will destroy you.”

  Cylus looked from daughter to father, expecting Revenant to have some cool comeback, to evidence some rage that the daughter he discounted just outmaneuvered him. Instead, he glared with deep lines of frustration across his face. He extended one finger over his desk and activated a holographic control they couldn’t see.

  “Captain Solus, Captain Graves, this is the Speaker. Premier Keltan has been assaulted by members of House Mitsugawa, and the Kageryū is firing on the capital. Destroy it before it can cause civilian casualties.” Zalor withdrew his finger, staring death at his daughter. “You’re not the only one with expensive point to point communications.”

  “Now we’ll see who anticipated what, and who did the better planning,” she returned with a smirk.

  “Now we will.” Zalor folded his arms across his chest. His blue eyes never left hers.

  Cylus startled at the sound of the explosion that lit up the night sky above them. His eyes shot up to see miniature comets blazing in a wide arc away from the curve of the aegis field.

  “Mass drivers?” LeRoux answered his unasked question. “You really are going to level the city?”

  “And you’ve given her the power to do it,” Zalor half-growled.

  LeRoux looked at him with curled lips. “She’s your daughter, Zalor.”

  “This is madness! Sophi, Zalor, please stop.” Cylus started to shake. He’d come so far, been through so much, and now their stupid struggle was going to get everyone killed. “Sophi, I recognize your lineage. Now please stop this.”

  Her eyes blazed brighter. “You are all witnesses. Well, father, it seems I’m a Revenant after all.”

  “Not for long,” he snapped.

  “Zalor, please stop this now.” Cylus’ voice popped and coughing replaced breathing. He was seeing stars by the time he recovered. When he looked up it was apparent that neither father nor daughter would back down.

  The sky flashed bright-orange again as another high-density projectile slammed into the aegis field. The lights of the tower flickered as the city’s power grid strained to maintain the field.

  “Dammit Zalor!” He stormed forward, intent on wringing the man’s neck. He got three steps before LeRoux’s children lunged forward and tackled him. They knocked him to the ground and held him there.

  “This is madness!” He shouted. “You’re going to get everyone killed! I order you to stop, both of you!”

  “Shush,” a voice said into his ear. It took him a moment to realize it belonged to LeRoux’s daughter.

  “Stop struggling. You don’t know what’s coming,” her brother whispered into the other.

  Cylus looked to each of them in turn. What was coming? Was this going to get worse?

  Above him, through the transparent ceiling, the bombardment stopped and flashes of light flared among the stars.

  Cygni stopped dead in her tracks when they came around the bend and saw the metal plate embedded in the tunnel wall. She blinked and double-checked the GPS coordinates in her UI.

  “This is it. The shop is right above us.”

  Athame moved beside her, holding the unconscious Kae over her shoulder with one arm. Her other hand was occupied with Rune’s. Although blissfully free of Siren, the walk from the sewer outlet was long. Like all of them, the boy was dripping wet from their swim and smelled of brine and worse. He was shivering with cold, and hadn’t said a word in hours.

  “I need to let go now,” Athame said. The boy nodded and withdrew his hand from hers.

  “Come here.” Cygni knelt down. Rune was so miserable that he obeyed without question and entered her embrace. PLIA, raise dermal temperature ten degrees.

  [Acknowledged.]

  The silver skin of her armacorium warmed, spillin
g heat into both of their bodies.

  Athame put her hand on the metal plate. “There is a tunnel on the other side leading to a ladder.”

  “This is the Gaian’s hideout in the Bazaar. It doesn’t surprise me,” she responded. “We’ve got to get them both dry, and Kae needs nanomeds. He’s bleeding out.”

  “Affirmative. There is a simple trigger mechanism for this door.”

  “Can you open it?” Sorina looked down the tunnel the way they’d come with the gun she took off one of the dead CSA agents.

  Athame arched her fingers against the plate. Her hand hummed and sparks flew out from around the door’s circumference. It swung in with a squeaking sound and they followed her in.

  Sanul, seated at a table with a portable terminal between his widespread hooves, startled when they burst up through the trap door. He swiveled his hircine head so fast it threw him off balance and he tumbled to the ground with a loud thump. He seemed dazed with his lips dripped with thick green foam, but then his eyes locked onto hers and they spread wide across his crystal teeth.

  “Cygni! By the gods below, you’re alive!”

  “Sanul!” She released Rune’s hand and thrust herself to the ground and embraced him. They hugged each other tight, and she felt as though she were waking from a dream.

  “You’re alive,” Sanul said again. “What about Lina and Giselle?”

  With a sigh she pulled back and shook her head. “I don’t think… We got shot down by the Praetor.”

  His nostrils flared, and he noticed her companions for the first time.

  “This is Rune, and that’s Athame. This is Sorina,” she said as the Relaen moved up to stand over them.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said in Solan.

  “Nice to meet you, Sanul Mondu.” Sorina reached down, helping Cygni get to her feet and Sanul after. It only took her a moment to locate the Abyssian brain core on the table beside the terminal.

  “Whose is this?” she picked it up.

  Sanul looked at Cygni.

  “It’s okay. They’re friends, believe it or not.”