This Day All Gods Die Part 58

Marc Vestabule remembered Angus Thermopyle and treachery with a vengeance.

Frantically Warden slapped at the door frame; tried to alter his trajectory by sheer force of desperation. He flung a wild kick at the hypo, then scissored his legs to turn him. But Vestabule was right behind him. As soon as he started floundering, the half-human Amnioni grabbed him by the back of his s.h.i.+psuit; caught him in a hold he couldn't break.

Panic and hysteria closed his throat. Gasping with urgency, he fought while the guards closed on him. But he had no physical strength to compare with theirs. They gripped his wrists like iron; blocked his legs; stretched out his arms until he hung crucified in the air between them. Then the Amnioni with the hypo pushed back his sleeve and plunged clear liquid destruction into his forearm.

Mutation. Genetic ruin.

Involuntarily his brain went white with terror. Cellular dismay sent him into convulsions: he thrashed and flinched spasmodically. Contractions he couldn't control wrenched through his muscles hard enough to tear them.

Without apparent transition, Vestabule came around in front of him. One hand held the vial of pills Warden had seen earlier-the drug which rendered this particular mutagen temporarily inert. For a moment Vestabule watched his absolute, autonomic revulsion. Then the Amnioni opened the vial, rolled out a small capsule, and held it up in front of his face.

"I remember fear," Vestabule grated rigidly. "It is wasted." His own humanity had been taken from him by violence. "If you wish to retain your genetic ident.i.ty, I have the means."

With a flick of his fingers, he lifted Warden's breathing mask and dropped the pill into his straining mouth.

Appalled and shameless, Warden crushed it between his teeth; choked down the bitter powder as fast as he could.

The corrosive taste brought him back to himself.

Shameless-Ah, G.o.d. He belonged to Vestabule now. Belonged to the Amnion. Like the guards, his native fear was too strong for him. After all his years of plotting, endurance, and pain, he'd been beaten as easily as a child.

How had he become such a coward? When had he earned the right to protect himself without counting the cost?

Slowly Vestabule nodded as if he recognized the horror in Warden's eyes. A rough word released the hands of the guards. At once pain pulled Warden's arms around him, raised his knees to his chest. He drifted weightless in front of the Amnioni like a man reduced to infancy; barely self-aware enough to push his mask back into place. But his gaze never left Vestabule's face.

For some reason Vestabule told him, "We have received a transmission from Punisher. Punisher. The woman who speaks names herself Acting UMCP Director Min Donner." The woman who speaks names herself Acting UMCP Director Min Donner."

Min-Oh, Min! Warden suddenly feared that he might start to weep. She would have been braver than this. If everything else failed, she would have spat out that pill; would have chosen to become completely Amnion rather than be used to betray the people she'd sworn to serve.

Vestabule's human eye fluttered, but the Amnion one held firm. "She states," he went on, "that our presence has produced a-" He paused briefly, hunting for concepts that meant nothing to his kind. "A political crisis. A conflict among factions. And she claims to fear that this conflict may become combat. Some among your s.h.i.+ps or stations may open fire on the others."

What? A last spasm closed Warden about himself. Then by degrees his muscles began to unclench. Fire licked damage alerts along his nerves as he straightened his arms, unfolded his legs. Combat? At a time like A last spasm closed Warden about himself. Then by degrees his muscles began to unclench. Fire licked damage alerts along his nerves as he straightened his arms, unfolded his legs. Combat? At a time like this? this? What the h.e.l.l is going on? What the h.e.l.l is going on?

Was Holt that that desperate? desperate?

Vestabule didn't answer such questions. Instead he said, "She a.s.serts that if this occurs those who are attacked will respond. But she a.s.sures us that these hostilities will not be directed at us. They will not threaten us. No attack will target us. Therefore she begs us to take no hostile action ourselves."

Christ! Warden thought in amazement. Has.h.i.+ must have succeeded. He and Koina and Morn must be nailing Holt's coffin shut right now. Otherwise Min wouldn't be worried about what the Dragon might do next. Not so worried that she felt she had to warn Calm Horizons Calm Horizons.

"There is human treachery here, Warden Dios," Vestabule p.r.o.nounced without inflection. "It may be that this Min Donner means to deal falsely with us. Or it may be that your Morn Hyland intends some ruse to harm us.

"I a.s.sure you that we will take extreme action if we are cheated-or hindered." He made an almost human effort to emphasize what he was saying. "And I a.s.sure you also that you will commit your utmost efforts to ensure that Morn Hyland's promises are kept."

In that instant all Warden's terror and dismay transformed themselves to savagery.

Everything hadn't hadn't failed. If Has.h.i.+ and Koina and Morn had succeeded, he could afford to hope again. He could stop feeling beaten, victimized; go back to acting like the director of the UMCP. Min thought Holt was desperate. She was ready for him. Now all Warden had to do was trust Angus. And prepare himself to help as much as he could. failed. If Has.h.i.+ and Koina and Morn had succeeded, he could afford to hope again. He could stop feeling beaten, victimized; go back to acting like the director of the UMCP. Min thought Holt was desperate. She was ready for him. Now all Warden had to do was trust Angus. And prepare himself to help as much as he could.

"If those promises are kept," Vestabule finished, "and if we are not threatened in any way"-his human eye seemed to give off a glint of satisfaction-"you will be granted an opportunity to join Captain Ubikwe."

Now Warden believed the Amnioni spoke the literal truth.

Using pain for strength, he asked acidly, "How long did you say this pill will keep me human?"

Vestabule didn't hesitate. "One hour."

Perfect, Warden snorted to himself. Long enough to get him aboard the command module and away-if events played out the way Vestabule wanted. Not long enough for Dolph to take him anyplace where he might find salvation.

"How many will you give me if I decide to go?"

"None."

From somewhere deep inside him Warden Dios dredged up a slow, fierce grin.

"That's what I thought." With a twist of his hips, he turned; pushed off from the rough wall to float along the pa.s.sage in the direction of the cargo hold and docking port where he'd first entered Calm Horizons. Calm Horizons. "Come on. Let's go see what we can do to make Davies and Vector feel welcome." "Come on. Let's go see what we can do to make Davies and Vector feel welcome."

Vestabule remembered treachery, but he'd forgotten the rest of being human.

ANGUS.

Streaked by solar fire, and half-fixed in the flare of spotlights, Angus rode Trumpet's Trumpet's metallic skin like a limpet with Ciro beside him while Dolph Ubikwe nudged the command module onto its final approach vector for metallic skin like a limpet with Ciro beside him while Dolph Ubikwe nudged the command module onto its final approach vector for Calm Horizons. Calm Horizons. He was armed with nothing but a pair of laser cutters, a stubby cylinder of hull-sealant, and a spare EVA suit. The fact that he intended to tackle an Amnion defensive with such paltry firepower would have been laughable if it hadn't appalled him so badly. He was armed with nothing but a pair of laser cutters, a stubby cylinder of hull-sealant, and a spare EVA suit. The fact that he intended to tackle an Amnion defensive with such paltry firepower would have been laughable if it hadn't appalled him so badly.

He felt completely dehydrated. Sweat slicked the inside of his suit; and he'd already been out here for what seemed like hours, watching Calm Horizons' Calm Horizons' fatal bulk block out the heavens. Despite the efforts of his suit's systems to regulate his body temperature, he always oozed like a pig when he went EVA-an autonomic reflex his zone implants could scarcely control. fatal bulk block out the heavens. Despite the efforts of his suit's systems to regulate his body temperature, he always oozed like a pig when he went EVA-an autonomic reflex his zone implants could scarcely control.

But his cruel, blind, irreplaceable programming had prompted him to drink at least a liter of fluids before he put on his EVA suit-an essential precaution which his human mind usually forgot. Terror had that effect on him. The sheer scale and cold of s.p.a.ce horrified his crib-bound perceptions. The merciless and impersonal death which reached to infinity in all directions was the only thing he'd ever known that matched the universe of pain he'd received from his mother's love.

So of course he'd spent most of his life fleeing in small metal s.h.i.+ps like coffins through the deeps of a horror he could never escape. Tenuously protected by hulls of steel and will and fear, he'd spent every minute on the run. On his good days the engulfing abyss had touched him only through the abstract schematic and binary data supplied by his instruments.

But most of his days were bad- The occasion beyond Beckmann's installation when he'd left Trumpet Trumpet to fling a singularity grenade at to fling a singularity grenade at Free Lunch Free Lunch had been one of the worst. Then only stark desperation had saved him from his own terror-desperation, and Morn's crazy decision to run helm in hard g-after which the hungry stresses of the black hole had dislocated his hip; sent him into stasis; d.a.m.n near killed him. had been one of the worst. Then only stark desperation had saved him from his own terror-desperation, and Morn's crazy decision to run helm in hard g-after which the hungry stresses of the black hole had dislocated his hip; sent him into stasis; d.a.m.n near killed him.

And now EVA had been forced on him again. He'd been out here for a long time, studying the defensive's ominous side while Dolph tugged Trumpet Trumpet slowly closer and closer to an entirely different kind of ruin. The crib had tightened its grip on him once more. And once more he had to beat it of die. slowly closer and closer to an entirely different kind of ruin. The crib had tightened its grip on him once more. And once more he had to beat it of die.

By rights his heart should have thumped hard enough to burst. But his datacore restrained it.

A gnawing desire to talk to Morn tormented him.

The impulse was madness. According to the specs for his suit transmitter, he could still reach Punisher. Punisher. But the power drain of dialing his signal that high would have weakened his jamming fields. And the Amnion were bound to detect a transmission that strong. Angus himself had ordered Morn, Min Donner, and Dolph to keep their radio mouths shut. But the power drain of dialing his signal that high would have weakened his jamming fields. And the Amnion were bound to detect a transmission that strong. Angus himself had ordered Morn, Min Donner, and Dolph to keep their radio mouths shut.

Nevertheless, while Calm Horizons Calm Horizons blotted out half the galaxy, and the moment of docking slid closer, his ache to hear Morn's voice grew so acute that he could hardly stifle it. blotted out half the galaxy, and the moment of docking slid closer, his ache to hear Morn's voice grew so acute that he could hardly stifle it.

Are you all right? he wanted to ask. Is the Council listening? Does telling them what happened to you change anything? But more than that he wanted to ask, Why did you do it?

He knew she hated him. He'd seen it on her face so often that he wanted to kill her for it. Or himself: he could hardly tell the difference. So why had she helped him escape his priority-codes? Why was she letting him make decisions that could easily kill them all?

Only his old pa.s.sion for survival kept him from calling out to her.

How long before the command module touched against the defensive's docking seals? Nine minutes? Less? His computer could have given him a precise projection, but he didn't want to know. He was already scared enough.

Sweat leaked into his eyes. He couldn't wipe the sting away. He had to squeeze his lids together so tightly that his face hurt in order to clear his sight.

He might have felt less frantic if Ciro had talked to him. That was safe enough. Calm Horizons Calm Horizons would never hear them on this frequency; at these power-levels. He didn't care how demented the kid might sound, or how deep his fixation on Sorus Chatelaine ran: Angus would have listened to anything as long as Ciro didn't become confused about what he had to do, or when, or how. But the d.a.m.n boy was silent most of the time. If he wasn't prodded for a specific response-some short, unhelpful sentence like, would never hear them on this frequency; at these power-levels. He didn't care how demented the kid might sound, or how deep his fixation on Sorus Chatelaine ran: Angus would have listened to anything as long as Ciro didn't become confused about what he had to do, or when, or how. But the d.a.m.n boy was silent most of the time. If he wasn't prodded for a specific response-some short, unhelpful sentence like, The hatch is open The hatch is open, or, I won't let you down I won't let you down-he left Angus alone with his sweat and his fears.

Just once Ciro had broken out of his detachment. I wish you would all shut up I wish you would all shut up, he'd snapped at Mikka aboard the gap scout. I already have enough to think about. I already have enough to think about. Other than that he kept his madness to himself. Other than that he kept his madness to himself.

So how the h.e.l.l was Angus supposed to endure being out here? Minutes or hours ago he'd mapped his route; planned for every contingency he could imagine. For the remaining eight minutes, or seven, he had nothing to do. He'd abandoned the false, necessary safety of Trumpet Trumpet much earlier than necessary. He'd consigned himself to this h.e.l.l as if he'd believed the experience would be good for him. much earlier than necessary. He'd consigned himself to this h.e.l.l as if he'd believed the experience would be good for him.

Stupid s.h.i.+t.

For as long as he could remember he'd been at his best when he was terrified: faster, stronger, smarter than under any other circ.u.mstances. But it wasn't true now. He'd become a man he didn't recognize, and everything he did was alien to him.

That b.a.s.t.a.r.d's so big-, he'd told Ciro. I need time to study her. I need time to study her. But he'd been lying. The truth was that he'd hoped the sight of so much terrible emptiness would help him recover himself; turn him back into the man he remembered. But he'd been lying. The truth was that he'd hoped the sight of so much terrible emptiness would help him recover himself; turn him back into the man he remembered.

What was he doing doing here? What in G.o.d's name had made him think this was a good idea? The Angus Thermopyle he remembered would have cheerfully stayed aboard here? What in G.o.d's name had made him think this was a good idea? The Angus Thermopyle he remembered would have cheerfully stayed aboard Punisher; Punisher; let Warden f.u.c.king Dios and UMCPHQ and Suka Bator and the whole d.a.m.n planet rot in their own brutality. Or he would have broken let Warden f.u.c.king Dios and UMCPHQ and Suka Bator and the whole d.a.m.n planet rot in their own brutality. Or he would have broken Trumpet Trumpet away from the command module; fired the drives; taken his chances burning for open s.p.a.ce. But he hadn't done that. Not him: not the new, smitten, brain-numb Angus. Instead he'd offered to rescue the whole motherless lot of them. Or get himself killed in the attempt. away from the command module; fired the drives; taken his chances burning for open s.p.a.ce. But he hadn't done that. Not him: not the new, smitten, brain-numb Angus. Instead he'd offered to rescue the whole motherless lot of them. Or get himself killed in the attempt.

What had possessed possessed him? him?

A datacore with a crippled instruction-set? Not likely: he hadn't felt the coercion of his zone implants.

Or was it Morn? Maybe. She'd been totally, abjectly in his power after Starmaster's Starmaster's end-and yet she'd saved his life when Nick's trap sprang on him. She'd released him from his priority-codes for the simple, silly, imponderable reason that she believed welding him was wrong. And she'd gone on trusting him, despite the acc.u.mulated risks. She'd eaten her way into his heart somehow: he couldn't forget what he owed her. end-and yet she'd saved his life when Nick's trap sprang on him. She'd released him from his priority-codes for the simple, silly, imponderable reason that she believed welding him was wrong. And she'd gone on trusting him, despite the acc.u.mulated risks. She'd eaten her way into his heart somehow: he couldn't forget what he owed her.

Nevertheless as far as he could tell the one-or the final-thing which had removed him from his own recognition like a sated mother when he'd suffered as much as she needed was the fact that Warden Dios had kept a promise. He'd told Angus, It's got to stop. It's got to stop. And he'd made good on his commitment. He'd erased every restriction which might have prevented Angus from killing him. And he'd made good on his commitment. He'd erased every restriction which might have prevented Angus from killing him.

By the harsh logic of Warden's mercy, Angus found that he now had no choice except to rescue the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. One kept promise-and Morn's trust-were enough: they compelled him like a hardwired command.

Despite everything he'd suffered-and everything he'd learned from so much pain-he could still be seduced into idiocy.

"s.h.i.+t," he rasped to Ciro because he thought he would snap unless he heard a human voice soon, "if the fat man doesn't slow down, he's going to ram that d.a.m.n port. Crumple us like tin when we hit. Weil bleed to death in our f.u.c.king suits before the Amnion figure out we're here."

That wasn't true, of course. His computer calculated trajectory and deceleration automatically: he knew Dolph was bringing them in safely. By now Calm Horizons Calm Horizons was so near that she'd stopped growing. Her size and the polarization of his faceplate conveyed the illusion that he could reach out and touch her whenever he wanted. He cursed and complained for the simple reason that in moments he would have to meet a complex sequence of hazards which scared him more than all of s.p.a.ce. was so near that she'd stopped growing. Her size and the polarization of his faceplate conveyed the illusion that he could reach out and touch her whenever he wanted. He cursed and complained for the simple reason that in moments he would have to meet a complex sequence of hazards which scared him more than all of s.p.a.ce.

It was almost time. In another minute or two he would cast his life to the solar winds-and take as many of his enemies with him as he could.

For the tenth-or the hundredth-time, he checked to be sure his cutters were fully charged, then adjusted his polarization to compensate for Calm Horizons' Calm Horizons' chaos of spotlights and shadow. chaos of spotlights and shadow.

Ciro surprised him by remarking distantly, "You did that already."

Angus secured the cutters at his sides. "I know," the man he didn't recognize sighed. "I'm just scared." G.o.d, when had he started admitting things like that? "If I don't get to them in time, they'll all be Amnion. Then I'll have to kill them." Struggling to remember himself, he finished harshly, "In case you screw up."

"I won't screw up," the kid answered without distress. He seemed to have the patience of the d.a.m.ned. "I remember everything you told me. I can do it."

Angus snorted. "Just don't forget you'll be exposed as soon as I leave," he warned. "My jamming fields don't have a h.e.l.l of a lot of range."

"I can do it," Ciro repeated. He sounded almost tranquil.

Abruptly Dolph's deep rumble filled Angus' helmet. "You could get started, Angus," he suggested. "We're close enough. Your suit jets are faster than walking."

Like Angus, Punisher's Punisher's captain was worried about Davies, Vector, and Warden. If Angus took too long crossing the defensive's huge hull-or if Dolph failed to break the command module free from the docking seals in time- captain was worried about Davies, Vector, and Warden. If Angus took too long crossing the defensive's huge hull-or if Dolph failed to break the command module free from the docking seals in time- "No." Angus shook his head bitterly inside his helmet. "I can hide myself, but I can't cover up jet emission. If those f.u.c.kers spot it, they might guess what I'm up to."

Marc Vestabule might remember enough of his humanity to jump to the right conclusions.

"Then," Mikka put in, "you better be d.a.m.n fast." A raw edge of stim ran through her exhaustion. She might have been close to hysteria. "Davies is probably desperate enough to take on a whole platoon of Amnion. But Vector doesn't know how to fight-and he isn't exactly tough." Grimly she added, "G.o.d knows what condition Dios is in.

"The Amnion are too strong, Angus," she finished raggedly. "Too many-You won't have much time."

"We need a diversion," Dolph muttered. "Something to slow them down. Unfortunately I can't think of anything to help us. Or anybody."

Angus swore under his breath. It was true that a diversion might save them. It might distract the Amnion enough to make them miss Ciro. It might give Davies and Vector a few precious extra minutes. But it might also prod Calm Horizons Calm Horizons into opening fire too soon. Then all their lives would be wasted. into opening fire too soon. Then all their lives would be wasted.

In any case, Dolph was right: there was no help available.

"Are Davies and Vector ready?" Angus asked while his eyes and his computer measured distances, estimated timings.

"They've been in the airlock for the past ten minutes," Dolph reported. "But they'll try to delay as much as they can without being obvious about it."

He didn't need to add that if Davies and Vector made the Amnion suspicious Calm Horizons Calm Horizons might fire before Angus could carry out any of the tasks he'd a.s.signed himself. might fire before Angus could carry out any of the tasks he'd a.s.signed himself.

"All right." Angus' machine projections approached the synchronization he wanted. "I'm on my way in thirty seconds."

If they all died, he would have only himself to blame.

Despite the harm Dios had done him, he found that he was grateful for his welding. Between the stark, hot beams of the spotlights, shadows as impenetrable as tombs shrouded Calm Horizons' Calm Horizons' uneven hull. Without the support of his zone implants and his datacore, he would have been sure to fail. uneven hull. Without the support of his zone implants and his datacore, he would have been sure to fail.

Roughly he turned to Ciro. "Don't screw up. I mean it. Get set up. Then wait for my signal wait for my signal If you jump the gun, this is going to backfire so fast you won't even see it happen." If you jump the gun, this is going to backfire so fast you won't even see it happen."

He couldn't see through Ciro's faceplate; but the kid's helmet inclined like a nod. "I understand."

"Just do it, Angus," Mikka interrupted. "We don't have time to discuss discuss it anymore." Grimly she continued, "I'll start warming up the drives as soon as you head back this way." it anymore." Grimly she continued, "I'll start warming up the drives as soon as you head back this way."

"They'll still have matter cannon," Angus returned-a last warning. "This f.u.c.ker can pound us to powder as soon as she gets a targ fix."

Then Calm Horizons Calm Horizons would smash UMCPHQ. And would smash UMCPHQ. And Punisher Punisher.

And Morn.

"I know." Fatigue and strain fretted Mikka's tone. "I've studied myself blind on this dispersion field generator."

Angus' plans depended on that generator-and on Mikka's timing. But they also rested absolutely on Ciro's shoulders. And on his own. On his implanted equipment as well as his quickness, determination, and cunning.

In addition, they hinged on Dolph, Davies, and Vector.

There were too many variables: the whole d.a.m.n sequence was too vulnerable. If just one small piece fell out of place, it would all collapse.

He braced himself to move; but Mikka wasn't done. "Angus-" she offered softly. "I wanted to say-" Her voice had become a low moan like a prayer. "Ciro and I, Sib, Vector-we didn't have anything to do with framing you. Nick kept it secret. He handled it himself."

Angus heard her unspoken appeal as clearly as words. Save Ciro. Please. If you can. Her brother wasn't responsible for delivering him to f.u.c.king Has.h.i.+ and UMCPDA.

He could have promised that he would try, but there was no point. The kid had already chosen his own doom.