This Day All Gods Die Part 13

"When I was in the Amnion sector on Billingate," she said acidly, "they took samples of my blood. Samples with Nick's immunity drug in them. I figure they ended up on Calm Horizons Calm Horizons.

"But even if they didn't, she heard Vector's broadcast.

"I want to find out if she's still alive. That's more important than anything. If Punisher Punisher killed her, it almost doesn't matter what happens to us. The formula will get out somehow. We may lose everything else, but we've already gained that. killed her, it almost doesn't matter what happens to us. The formula will get out somehow. We may lose everything else, but we've already gained that.

"But if she survived, she might get back to Amnion s.p.a.ce. They'll learn how to counter the drug. Vector's formula will be useless before anyone in human s.p.a.ce ever benefits from it."

For reasons he could hardly recognize, Angus felt a rush of relief. Was that all she feared? Then it didn't threaten him. If she was telling the truth- He believed her. She cared about s.h.i.+t like that. Maybe she hadn't when they were aboard Bright Beauty; Bright Beauty; when she was in his power. Maybe he hadn't let her. But she did now. when she was in his power. Maybe he hadn't let her. But she did now.

He should have known she wasn't scared for herself. Her d.a.m.n convictions had become too strong for that.

Those same beliefs had freed him from his priority-codes. Now they were bending the bars of his welded lockup. If he gave her enough help, they might turn him loose altogether.

"h.e.l.l, Morn," he replied almost cheerfully, "you can't do anything about that. There's no point in suffering over it. You don't know where she'll go from Ma.s.sif-5. If she's crazy enough to commit an act of war, she's crazy enough to try anything.

"For all you know, she's still looking for us.

"Don't waste your time on her. Worry about something that makes a difference. Worry about what we're going to do."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Talk's cheap, Angus. What are we going to do?"

She meant, What're you you going to do? going to do?

He gave her a malicious, happy grin. "That depends," he told her cryptically, "on just how much damage that little s.h.i.+t did to the drives."

Despite the pain in his hip, he released the edge of the table with a thrust which carried him toward the door. Reality had changed. Morn changed it. Anything might became possible.

Somehow when he'd first met her he'd put his feet on a road which had led him away from everything he knew or understood about himself. Now each step carried him farther.

MIN.

Despite the precise a.s.sistance of the gap scout's homing signal, Punisher Punisher would never have been able to follow would never have been able to follow Trumpet Trumpet if the encroaching Amnion wars.h.i.+p hadn't dropped fire in order to concentrate on her own acceleration out of the Ma.s.sif-5 system. if the encroaching Amnion wars.h.i.+p hadn't dropped fire in order to concentrate on her own acceleration out of the Ma.s.sif-5 system.

As long as the Behemoth-cla.s.s defensive continued to deliver torrents of matter cannon fire, as well as super-light proton blasts like thunderstrikes, Punisher Punisher was forced to maintain her staggering, frantic evasive maneuvers. Even when the cruiser had acc.u.mulated adequate velocity to hunt was forced to maintain her staggering, frantic evasive maneuvers. Even when the cruiser had acc.u.mulated adequate velocity to hunt Trumpet Trumpet across the gap, she couldn't risk tach: not when she needed to alter her actual heading by the second in order to keep herself alive. If she'd used her gap drive to escape the defensive's guns, she would have resumed tard so far off across the gap, she couldn't risk tach: not when she needed to alter her actual heading by the second in order to keep herself alive. If she'd used her gap drive to escape the defensive's guns, she would have resumed tard so far off Trumpet's Trumpet's trail that she would have required precious hours-or even days-to reacquire the gap scout's signal. And in that time trail that she would have required precious hours-or even days-to reacquire the gap scout's signal. And in that time Trumpet Trumpet might flee beyond recovery. might flee beyond recovery.

She might silence her homing signal, as she had once before.

Fortunately the dilemma of Trumpet's Trumpet's departure was as urgent for the Amnioni as it was for departure was as urgent for the Amnioni as it was for Punisher. Punisher. The alien wars.h.i.+p found herself virtually stationary in a hostile star system, with her s.h.i.+elds and sinks damaged, the target of her incursion gone, and an entire flotilla of enemy vessels burning toward her from Valdor Industrial. She had to run. The alien wars.h.i.+p found herself virtually stationary in a hostile star system, with her s.h.i.+elds and sinks damaged, the target of her incursion gone, and an entire flotilla of enemy vessels burning toward her from Valdor Industrial. She had to run.

Helpless in her g-seat at the periphery of the bridge, Min Donner focused intensely on the actions of both s.h.i.+ps, although she couldn't do anything about them. Because Punisher Punisher had heard Vector Shaheed's amazing broadcast, Min feared that the defensive would commit herself to destroying the cruiser. had heard Vector Shaheed's amazing broadcast, Min feared that the defensive would commit herself to destroying the cruiser.

She also wondered how long Sergei Patrice on helm could endure the strain of this ordeal. Glessen on targ did what he could to help; but the real burden of keeping Punisher Punisher alive now fell exclusively to Patrice. alive now fell exclusively to Patrice.

Min suffered from nausea and vertigo herself, despite her years of experience and her eagerness for battle. And Punisher Punisher was a cruiser, a quick-strike vessel: she hadn't been designed for this kind of hours-long pummeling, these brutal maneuvers. was a cruiser, a quick-strike vessel: she hadn't been designed for this kind of hours-long pummeling, these brutal maneuvers.

Gradually it became clear, however, that whoever was "invested with decisiveness" aboard the Amnioni didn't mean to prolong the battle. The defensive had other priorities. She continued to blaze at the UMCP cruiser while she shrugged her vast bulk into motion. But then, near the effective limits of Punisher's Punisher's ragged return fire, she broke off her side of the engagement, presumably so that she could dedicate all the power of her drives to acceleration. ragged return fire, she broke off her side of the engagement, presumably so that she could dedicate all the power of her drives to acceleration.

Her vector away from the asteroid swarm didn't point toward forbidden s.p.a.ce, or any other obvious destination. Instead her immediate course aimed only at escaping Ma.s.sif-5 as efficiently as possible.

"Cease fire, targ," Captain Dolph Ubikwe ordered. Immobile as stone, he sat at the command station as if he were welded to his g-seat. "We aren't hurting her anyway. And we might enjoy being able to hear ourselves think."

"Aye, Captain." Glessen keyed toggles, dropped his hands from his board. At once the hot, frying hull-sound of the matter cannon ceased. Without transition the squalling of half a dozen stress and damage alarms seemed to grow louder. Nevertheless after several hours of incessant fire Min felt that the bridge had become suddenly quiet.

"Stay sharp, Sergei," Captain Ubikwe warned. "At the rate she's pulling away, we're probably safe from her matter cannon. But that d.a.m.n proton gun can still reach us."

Patrice mumbled a reply Min couldn't hear. He looked too tired to speak any louder. The stark lighting of the bridge gleamed in the sheen of sweat on his face.

"Maybe not, Captain," Porson offered from scan. "The sensors say she doesn't have a targ fix on us anymore."

At once the data and damage control officer, Bydell, put in numbly, "If we can trust the readings." Remorseless pressure had worn the young woman down; but she clung to her duties. "We've taken a h.e.l.l of a beating, Captain," she explained. "Damage control says we have potential failure on half the receptors. Maybe she's dropped targ. Or maybe we just can't tell the difference."

Min swore to herself. She wasn't surprised: Punisher Punisher's wounds could only have worsened under the strain of helm's maneuvers. Still the ED director hated anything which weakened her command; threatened her people.

As Trumpet Trumpet fled Ma.s.sif-5, the gap scout had broadcast the formula for a mutagen immunity drug. This may or may not have been what Warden wanted- fled Ma.s.sif-5, the gap scout had broadcast the formula for a mutagen immunity drug. This may or may not have been what Warden wanted-Punisher still hadn't succeeded at deciphering the transmission which had given Nick Succorso control over Angus, so the director's real intentions remained secret-but it transformed Min's sense of her own mission. still hadn't succeeded at deciphering the transmission which had given Nick Succorso control over Angus, so the director's real intentions remained secret-but it transformed Min's sense of her own mission.

She hated anything which might come between her and Trumpet Trumpet.

"d.a.m.n her to flinders," Dolph growled. He was studying the Amnioni's escape trajectory. "It galls galls me to let her run. She's a G.o.dd.a.m.n loose cannon." He may have been talking to Min. "Who the h.e.l.l knows where she'll go off next? Could be anywhere." me to let her run. She's a G.o.dd.a.m.n loose cannon." He may have been talking to Min. "Who the h.e.l.l knows where she'll go off next? Could be anywhere."

Min swallowed bile and frustration. She understood his implied complaint. He might conceivably have been able to finish the big defensive-if Min hadn't ordered him to go after Trumpet Trumpet instead of pressing his advantage when the Amnioni's sinks began to fail. instead of pressing his advantage when the Amnioni's sinks began to fail.

"Can't be helped," she answered harshly. "We're in no condition to chase her.

"Program a courier drone for UMCPHQ," she went on. Punisher Punisher had only two left-too few-but Min didn't balk at using one. "Bring Director Dios up to date on what's happened. Launch it. Then get after had only two left-too few-but Min didn't balk at using one. "Bring Director Dios up to date on what's happened. Launch it. Then get after Trumpet Trumpet.

"If the Amnion think she's worth an act of war to kill, she's probably worth anything we can do to protect her."

Almost as an afterthought, she added, "She probably isn't safe. We still haven't accounted for Free Lunch." Free Lunch."

Dolph swiveled his g-seat, turned his dark face toward her. A combative hunger smoldered in his eyes, promising trouble. He'd already declared his loyalty to her, however. He'd obeyed when she'd told him to turn away from the Amnioni. Despite his desire to hunt and kill the defensive, he didn't argue now. Any trouble he caused her would take some other form.

"I'm sure you're right," he rumbled sardonically. Still holding Min's gaze, he said to communications, "You "You heard the director, Cray. Code a message for Director Dios. Give him a datacore playback for the past twelve hours. We don't have to explain it for him-he'll figure it out. Tell him we're letting the Amnioni go so we can chase heard the director, Cray. Code a message for Director Dios. Give him a datacore playback for the past twelve hours. We don't have to explain it for him-he'll figure it out. Tell him we're letting the Amnioni go so we can chase Trumpet Trumpet on Director Donner's orders." He emphasized that detail with a lift of one eyebrow, nothing more. "Program the best window on UMCPHQ you can get from scan and data. Launch as soon as you're ready." on Director Donner's orders." He emphasized that detail with a lift of one eyebrow, nothing more. "Program the best window on UMCPHQ you can get from scan and data. Launch as soon as you're ready."

"Aye, Captain," Cray answered loudly; too loudly. She may still have been trying to shout over the absent sizzle of the matter cannon. "Give me five minutes."

Captain Ubikwe met Min's stare for another moment as if he were warning her. Then he swung his station to confront the main display screens.

"Take ten," he told Cray. "We've got time. I want to make d.a.m.n sure that b.a.s.t.a.r.d doesn't have us on targ before we steady our course for tach.

"You hear me, Porson? Bydell doesn't trust your equipment. Oversample as much as you have to. Get me a reading we can believe in."

"I'm not worried, Captain." Porson was older than the rest of the bridge crew; probably more experienced. "Scan is erratic, but what I see doesn't look like sensor failure. It's probably quantum discontinuities. There's been enough matter cannon fire in this sector to charbroil a planetoid."

Captain Ubikwe nodded. "Just be sure."

Porson bent over his board as Dolph turned to helm.

"Hang on, Sergei," he said in a rea.s.suring growl. "You'll get relief as soon as we cross the gap. I'll take helm myself, if I have to."

Patrice tried to smile, but his grin was sickly with fatigue. "I'll make it, Captain," he murmured. "We had tougher drills in the Academy."

That was partly true. Min had designed some of them herself. But the worst of them had been hours shorter- As soon as she returned to UMCPHQ, she intended to give Sergei Patrice the highest commendation she could think of.

h.e.l.l, everybody aboard deserved more than mere commendation. At the very least they ought to get a G.o.dd.a.m.n parade. Punisher Punisher had been damaged and shorthanded before Min joined s.h.i.+p; but Dolph's people had risen to every demand she'd made on them. Nevertheless Patrice stood out-as did Hargin Stoval, the command fourth, who'd been injured fighting a fire which had threatened to gut the cruiser. Patrice couldn't have run helm any better if he'd been driven by zone implants. had been damaged and shorthanded before Min joined s.h.i.+p; but Dolph's people had risen to every demand she'd made on them. Nevertheless Patrice stood out-as did Hargin Stoval, the command fourth, who'd been injured fighting a fire which had threatened to gut the cruiser. Patrice couldn't have run helm any better if he'd been driven by zone implants.

Abruptly Porson announced, "I'm sure, Captain. That defensive doesn't have us on targ. And there's a s.h.i.+ft in her emission profile. The energy signature of her proton gun is gone. The cannon isn't charged."

Dolph looked quickly at data. "Bydell?"

"Data agrees, Captain," the young woman reported, almost panting. Her eagerness to be out of danger left her breathless. "We've filtered enough of the inaccuracies. And a super-light proton signature doesn't look like anything else. It's hard to mistake."

Good enough. "Let's do it," Min ordered Captain Ubikwe sharply. "As soon as that drone is away, let's get out of here."

Her palms burned with the intensity of her desire to catch Trumpet Trumpet.

Morn Hyland was aboard, even though-so Min had been told-Angus had been explicitly programmed not to rescue her. She had a son with her, Davies Hyland, force-grown on Enablement Station. force-grown on Enablement Station. According to Angus, the Amnion thought they could learn how to According to Angus, the Amnion thought they could learn how to mutate Amnion indistinguishable from humans mutate Amnion indistinguishable from humans by studying the boy. by studying the boy.

Milos Taverner had turned traitor. Directly or indirectly, that betrayal had led the Amnion to commit an act of war.

For reasons which Min still couldn't imagine, Warden Dios had given Angus' priority-codes to Nick Succorso. And yet Vector Shaheed had broadcast the formula for an antimutagen-a drug which he could only have obtained from Nick.

The entire UMCP might collapse if the GCES or Holt Fasner learned the truth behind Shaheed's transmission. Warden would certainly be disgraced; ruined.

What was Min supposed to do about that? What did the director want her to do?

And what had become of Free Lunch? Punisher Free Lunch? Punisher hadn't seen any sign of her. The s.h.i.+p which had unexpectedly saved hadn't seen any sign of her. The s.h.i.+p which had unexpectedly saved Trumpet Trumpet by attacking the alien defensive was some other vessel. The unnamed s.h.i.+p had pursued the gap scout all the way from forbidden s.p.a.ce, only to die protecting her from the Amnioni. by attacking the alien defensive was some other vessel. The unnamed s.h.i.+p had pursued the gap scout all the way from forbidden s.p.a.ce, only to die protecting her from the Amnioni.

Too many questions, all of them urgent.

Captain Ubikwe gave his people their orders; but Min wasn't listening. Every nerve in her body was on fire to catch up with Trumpet Trumpet.

Porson found the gap scout minutes after Punisher Punisher resumed tard on the track of resumed tard on the track of Trumpet's Trumpet's homing signal. homing signal.

"Got her, Captain!" he said excitedly. He seemed to be the only member of the bridge crew with enough energy for excitement. "Right where her signal said she would be."

A burst of relief spread across the bridge. Captain Ubikwe sat up straighter in his g-seat. "Thank G.o.d," Bydell breathed. Roughly Glessen muttered, "It's about time." Patrice put his head into his arms on the helm board.

Min strained against her belts, studying the screens. The end of the vertiginous stress of evasive maneuvers left her light-headed and vaguely sick; her nerves jangling. She was viscerally hungry for g.

Then Porson frowned. Almost at once he added, "Which doesn't make sense. She's had plenty of time to hit the gap again. Even if she needed to rest for a while, she could have been long gone. But she's still on the same heading she took from Ma.s.sif-5.

"We're moving faster than she is," he finished. "At this rate, we can overtake her in a couple of hours."

Dolph's eyes widened as he considered the implications. "Is she waiting for us?" he asked Min. "Does she want want us to catch her? After all this?" us to catch her? After all this?"

Min didn't answer directly. Instead she turned to scan.

"What condition is she in? Is she using thrust?" Min swallowed acid and apprehension. "Does she have us on targ?"

Porson didn't hesitate. "We can feel her scan, Director. She knows we're here. But she isn't using targ. In fact"-he cleared his throat, looked at Captain Ubikwe-"now that you mention it, I can't say for sure that she is Trumpet Trumpet.

"She's in the right place," he explained quickly. "She's the right size. But there's no emission signature. No particle trace. As far as I can tell, her drives are cold."

No thrust? No course alterations? The gap scout had come 1.4 light-years across blank s.p.a.ce from the Ma.s.sif-5 system-and now she was coasting? coasting?

Before Min could ask another question, Cray put in from communications, "That's Trumpet Trumpet, all right, Captain. She's still broadcasting. The same message from Vector Shaheed. We picked it up as soon as we resumed tard.

"But it isn't aimed at us," she added. "It's a general broadcast. So far, she isn't trying to talk to us."

"General broadcast?" Dolph growled under his breath. "What the h.e.l.l good is that going to do out here? There's n.o.body-" Then he caught himself. "Porson, are we alone? Any other s.h.i.+ps around? Any sign of Free Lunch?" Free Lunch?"

Porson consulted his board. "Negative, Captain. n.o.body here but the two of us." He shrugged. "Of course, I'm blind on one side." Punisher Punisher had lost a sensor bank to combat and fire. "But helm still has us under rotation. That gives us a steady sweep. If we had company, we would know it by now." had lost a sensor bank to combat and fire. "But helm still has us under rotation. That gives us a steady sweep. If we had company, we would know it by now."

The cruiser's slight centrifugal g seemed to tug at the lining of Min's stomach, hinting at vomit. Sergei Patrice had performed one more miracle by following Trumpet Trumpet so accurately while so accurately while Punisher Punisher turned. turned.

Captain Ubikwe blew a sigh past his lips. For the first time in long hours, he permitted himself to show signs of strain. He shrank slightly, as if his bones were sagging inside his bulk, and his eyelids drooped.

"All right," he said in a slow grumble. "Keep her on targ, Glessen. Just in case she tries to surprise us. Matter cannon charged."

"Aye, Captain," Glessen said. "I'm ready."

"Good." Dolph seemed to be thinking aloud. "So we're alone. Just the two of us. So far, so good. And she isn't trying to get away from us. That makes a change. In fact, she looks like she's shut down her drives. Almost like she wants us to catch her. On the other hand, she hasn't tried hailing us."

Min needed action. "We'll hail her ourselves," she put in impatiently. "I want to talk to her."

Dolph scowled at her. "In a minute," he retorted. "I have other things to take care of first."

Brusquely he keyed open an intercom channel and announced s.h.i.+pwide that the cruiser was about to resume internal spin.

His response bordered on insolence-no doubt a mere foretaste of the trouble to come-but Min was forced to approve, despite her frustrated urgency. Punisher's Punisher's people must have been desperate for normal g-and for a chance to move around. Most of them hadn't been to the san for, h.e.l.l, close to twelve hours. But Dolph hadn't risked spin before the cruiser went into tach. If he had, core displacement might have sent her off course by several hundred thousand k. people must have been desperate for normal g-and for a chance to move around. Most of them hadn't been to the san for, h.e.l.l, close to twelve hours. But Dolph hadn't risked spin before the cruiser went into tach. If he had, core displacement might have sent her off course by several hundred thousand k.

While spin alerts sounded throughout the s.h.i.+p, Captain Ubikwe ordered his helm second to the bridge to relieve Patrice.

"Thank you, Captain," Patrice murmured weakly. He may have been close to losing consciousness.

"No, Sergei," Dolph countered. Despite his own fatigue, his voice was almost loud enough to echo. "Speaking for the whole s.h.i.+p, I want to thank you. you. You aren't just good. You're certifiably brilliant. If we ever get out of this mess, Director Donner and I"-he didn't so much as glance at Min-"are going to throw you the biggest, loudest, drunkest, soppiest G.o.dd.a.m.n party you've ever seen. And I will personally court-martial anyone who doesn't end up comatose." You aren't just good. You're certifiably brilliant. If we ever get out of this mess, Director Donner and I"-he didn't so much as glance at Min-"are going to throw you the biggest, loudest, drunkest, soppiest G.o.dd.a.m.n party you've ever seen. And I will personally court-martial anyone who doesn't end up comatose."

Glessen grinned wearily. Cray and Porson clapped for a moment. Despite-or perhaps because of-the deep strain of her fear, Bydell laughed aloud.

"Thank you, Captain," Patrice said again. Although his eyes were glazed and his head wobbled on his neck, he managed a thin smile.

s.h.i.+t, Dolph! Min thought bitterly. Stop this. I need to talk to Trumpet Trumpet.

At the same time, paradoxically, she admired Punisher's Punisher's commander. His care for his people was invaluable. She suspected that if he'd ordered them to follow him through the gates of h.e.l.l, they would have obeyed instantly. commander. His care for his people was invaluable. She suspected that if he'd ordered them to follow him through the gates of h.e.l.l, they would have obeyed instantly.

Alerts finished warning the s.h.i.+p. Within her hulls, Punisher Punisher slowly began to revolve around her core. For a moment Min felt a sideways pressure as her inner ears and her sense of inertia-sensitized and aggrieved by so much violent motion-reacted to the change. Then the familiarity of s.h.i.+pboard g rea.s.serted itself. Her viscera seemed to s.h.i.+ft, as if they were being pulled back where they belonged. slowly began to revolve around her core. For a moment Min felt a sideways pressure as her inner ears and her sense of inertia-sensitized and aggrieved by so much violent motion-reacted to the change. Then the familiarity of s.h.i.+pboard g rea.s.serted itself. Her viscera seemed to s.h.i.+ft, as if they were being pulled back where they belonged.