This Day All Gods Die Part 66

Deaner Beckmann had speculated that a human bred for g might be able to survive inside a black hole; might pa.s.s through it to an entirely different kind of life. When Angus remembered that, he began to wonder what had happened to him.

He blinked his dry, sore eyes until they ran. Slowly the blackness dissipated as if it were being vented like waste from an overstressed scrubber; released to vacuum. With tears on his cheeks, he looked up at the command module's display screens.

Scan was clear. For some reason that surprised him: he'd expected the wild aftereffects of a boson storm-or the distorted spectrum inside the black hole's event horizon, Dopplering backward toward extinction. Yet screens reported data he could recognize. A helm schematic marked the module's position relative to UMCPHQ, Punisher Punisher, Dormer's s.h.i.+ps, and the vanished Amnioni. Status indicators reported that the grapples still held Trumpet; Trumpet; that the last traces of matter cannon emission had faded; that the pressure of g was gone; that the module retained structural integrity; that UMCPHQ, that the last traces of matter cannon emission had faded; that the pressure of g was gone; that the module retained structural integrity; that UMCPHQ, Punisher Punisher, and several other s.h.i.+ps signaled for contact Instead of burning, Trumpet Trumpet and the module now coasted gently along the rim of a planetary orbit. Mikka must have programmed helm to take over when she lost consciousness; to a.s.sume this heading and drop thrust once the danger of the black hole pa.s.sed. and the module now coasted gently along the rim of a planetary orbit. Mikka must have programmed helm to take over when she lost consciousness; to a.s.sume this heading and drop thrust once the danger of the black hole pa.s.sed.

But of course it made sense that scan was clear. Ciro's singularity had gulped down the boson storm as easily as it had swallowed Calm Horizons. Calm Horizons. And since then the module's instruments and computers had had plenty of time to reestablish their grasp on reality. And since then the module's instruments and computers had had plenty of time to reestablish their grasp on reality.

Morn had feared the singularity's hunger. A force powerful enough to crush Calm Horizons Calm Horizons might also snag UMCPHQ from its...o...b..t; suck down might also snag UMCPHQ from its...o...b..t; suck down Punisher Punisher and the other s.h.i.+ps; even threaten Earth. But Min Donner had a.s.sured her that wouldn't happen. The ED Director seemed to know by heart every spec and capability of every weapon the UMCP designed. She'd told Morn small black holes burned hotter than large ones-and the hotter they burned, the faster they consumed themselves. A black hole with the ma.s.s of a star would remain cool enough to feed and grow. But a black hole with no more ma.s.s than a planet might well be less than a cm in diameter-a tiny thing, despite its vast g; hot as the core of a sun. And Ciro's singularity had only and the other s.h.i.+ps; even threaten Earth. But Min Donner had a.s.sured her that wouldn't happen. The ED Director seemed to know by heart every spec and capability of every weapon the UMCP designed. She'd told Morn small black holes burned hotter than large ones-and the hotter they burned, the faster they consumed themselves. A black hole with the ma.s.s of a star would remain cool enough to feed and grow. But a black hole with no more ma.s.s than a planet might well be less than a cm in diameter-a tiny thing, despite its vast g; hot as the core of a sun. And Ciro's singularity had only Calm Horizons' Calm Horizons' ma.s.s to sustain it. ma.s.s to sustain it.

One of the module's screens reported that the entire life span of this black hole had been 5.9 seconds.

Long enough to transform every exercise of power in human s.p.a.ce; every interaction between humankind and the Amnion from now on. And every connection in Angus' head.

He knew he'd lost his only chance to escape. If Dolph had sealed the module's airlocks, Mikka must have done the same to Trumpet's Trumpet's-for the same reason. By the time Angus reopened this hatch and coded his way aboard the gap scout, other people would regain consciousness. The fat man or Davies would start talking to Punisher: Punisher: Dios would start talking to UMCPHQ. They would be able to warn Donner when Dios would start talking to UMCPHQ. They would be able to warn Donner when Trumpet Trumpet broke the module's grapples-and her s.h.i.+ps would have plenty of time to fix targ before Angus acquired the velocity for a gap crossing. broke the module's grapples-and her s.h.i.+ps would have plenty of time to fix targ before Angus acquired the velocity for a gap crossing.

He couldn't run. Just for the moment, however, he didn't mind. The lightness of his body seemed to fill his head, as if the black hole had eaten away everything that normally drove him, everything he recognized about himself, leaving him as weightless as a new soul.

Entirely by coincidence, he'd belted himself into the module's communications station. But the board lay lifeless in front of him: its functions had been routed to Dolph's console. Demands for contact from UMCPHQ and Punisher Punisher blinked at Dolph's face, not his. He felt free to ignore them. blinked at Dolph's face, not his. He felt free to ignore them.

While the sensation lasted, he let himself enjoy it.

It lasted longer than he would have believed possible. Parts of it were still with him when Captain Ubikwe abruptly jerked against his belts, blinked his g-stressed eyes, and peered urgently at his command readouts.

"Welcome back, fat man," Angus drawled. "You've all been out so long I might have thought you were dead. If I hadn't heard you breathing."

Dolph flinched a look toward the communications station. His heavy mouth hung open, but he couldn't swallow enough moisture to speak.

Piqued by an unfamiliar sense of affection, Angus added, "You snore, you know that? In fact you're pretty d.a.m.n good at it. On a scale of ten you rate at least eleven."

Dolph's throat worked for a moment. At last he choked out, "How long-?"

"Only about four minutes," Angus answered. "You can relax. We aren't in any trouble." He bared his teeth in a predator's smile. "But you missed the good part."

Punisher's captain frowned in confusion. "The good part?" captain frowned in confusion. "The good part?"

Angus gestured at the displays. "Calm Horizons "Calm Horizons doesn't exist anymore. She fell into a black hole. Then I guess the black hole fell into itself." He spread his arms expansively, stretched the muscles of his back until his spine popped. "I think this means we won, fat man." doesn't exist anymore. She fell into a black hole. Then I guess the black hole fell into itself." He spread his arms expansively, stretched the muscles of his back until his spine popped. "I think this means we won, fat man."

With an effort Captain Ubikwe consulted his readouts again. Slowly he seemed to gather strength from his board; the screens; Punisher's Punisher's familiar bridge. Data and circ.u.mstances he understood restored him like a transfusion. familiar bridge. Data and circ.u.mstances he understood restored him like a transfusion.

He looked at Davies and Dios long enough to rea.s.sure himself that they were alive. Then he asked, "What about Mikka?"

Angus shrugged. "If she's awake, she hasn't said anything. Since we survived, I a.s.sume she did, too." He was obliquely worried about Mikka himself. In another minute or two the man he'd become would feel compelled to go check on her. "But we're safe enough," he continued. "We don't need Trumpet's Trumpet's thrust. We can coast like this for quite a while before we need to worry about anything." thrust. We can coast like this for quite a while before we need to worry about anything."

Dolph considered the situation. "Well, by d.a.m.n," he muttered. His voice began to emerge from his chest more easily. "That's amazing. Utterly-"

By degrees his mouth spread into a wide grin. "Of course," he told Angus, "I had complete confidence. You have that effect on people. You can't help it. It just happens. Automatic trust. Sort of like snoring, only less benign.

"I don't know what Min's going to do about you." His eyes glittered humorously. "She'll have to do something. You're probably too dangerous to live. But if she decides to terminate you, I'm going to make sure you get a commendation before you die. That's a promise." He held up his hands as if to ward off thanks. "Anybody who accomplishes what you just did should have a commendation nailed to him somewhere, even if it has to be on your coffin instead of your chest."

"How nice," Angus growled in the same spirit. "I wish I could tell you how good that makes me feel. But it doesn't. I'm so pleased I could puke."

Because he knew Dolph was joking, he didn't mention that he was prepared to fight for his right to go on living.

The captain replied with a relaxed chuckle. "I know what you mean. Sometimes I think they really do nail those commendations into you. Drive them right through your heart. Some people never recover."

He might have gone on; but the UMCP director groaned suddenly. Warden made a convulsive effort to s.h.i.+ft his hips as if he needed to adjust the vector of his suit jets. Then he jerked his eye open.

"Angus," he croaked hoa.r.s.ely. "Dolph. Where are we? What's going on? Where's that Amnioni?"

He could probably guess most of what Angus, Dolph, and Mikka had done. He'd seen it happen. But no one had told him about Ciro- Dolph couldn't restrain a quick laugh. "Gone!" he crowed. "Eaten by a black hole." And then flung outward in an evanescent hail of subatomic particles when the black hole died. "Mikka Vasaczk's brother, Ciro, set off one of Trumpet's Trumpet's singularity grenades. The briefings I've read say those things don't have much tactical use, but I'm here to tell you they work like magic if you do it right." singularity grenades. The briefings I've read say those things don't have much tactical use, but I'm here to tell you they work like magic if you do it right."

Scowling, Dios rubbed his organic eye; slapped his face; straightened his back; pulled himself together by force of will. "Captain Ubikwe," he ordered sharply, "start again. I didn't understand a word you just said."

On command Dolph dropped his levity. "Sorry, Director." At once his gaze grew troubled; disturbed by images of Ciro-and Vector. "Nothing's free," he sighed. "We wanted to save you and Suka Bator. We wanted to save everything we possibly could. We're just lucky the price wasn't a h.e.l.l of a lot higher.

"Ciro Vasaczk was an illegal. He served under Nick Succorso. But he gave his life to kill that Amnioni."

Angus thought he ought to explain how Ciro had reacted to Sorus Chatelaine's mutagen-the same mutagen Vestabule had inflicted on Dios. But he didn't have the heart for it. An explanation would have made Ciro seem crazy. The boy deserved better.

Apparently Dolph felt the same way. He didn't mention Ciro's history. Instead he said, "He went EVA with a grenade. Attached it to Calm Horizons' Calm Horizons' hull. After you joined me here, Mikka Vasaczk used hull. After you joined me here, Mikka Vasaczk used Trumpet's Trumpet's thrust to haul us out of range. She covered us with that dispersion field generator. Then Ciro fired an impact rifle at his grenade from point-blank range. thrust to haul us out of range. She covered us with that dispersion field generator. Then Ciro fired an impact rifle at his grenade from point-blank range.

"We're still here," he finished simply. "The defensive isn't."

Dios happened to be at the targ station. A frown clenched his forehead, and he drummed his fingers on the edge of the inactive console, as if he were thinking furiously. His gaze flicked between Dolph, Angus, and the screens: he might have been measuring them against each other; estimating possibilities- d.a.m.n, Angus breathed to himself. d.a.m.n it to h.e.l.l. Warden was still scheming. He'd already won. If Fasner's attack on the Council was any indication, Dios had gained everything he wanted. And yet he wasn't done.

"It's probably churlish to point this out," Dios told Dolph gruffly, "but you took a h.e.l.l of a risk."

Captain Ubikwe's eyes narrowed. All his muscles seemed to tighten, drawing his bulk into a harder shape. Grimly he answered, "Acting Director Donner sanctioned it in person."

Without warning Davies raised his head, swung the data station to face Dolph and Dios. "Did you tell him this was all Angus' idea, Captain?" he put in harshly. He must have been conscious for the past several minutes, listening with his eyes closed while he gathered his strength. Like Angus and Warden, he'd discarded his helmet in the airlock. The aftereffects of strain left his features livid and angry. "Vector and I were just going to sacrifice ourselves. We didn't want the Council killed. Or a war. But Angus convinced Morn to let him do it this way instead."

Bitterly Davies finished, "Did you tell him that's the only reason he's still alive?"

Angus stared at his son. Davies' support surprised him. For a moment a strange emotion that might have been grat.i.tude swelled in his chest. Apparently the man he'd become actually felt glad he had a son.

Lightness and release. Grat.i.tude? s.h.i.+t, his entire head had been filled with emotions he wasn't used to and didn't know how to handle.

If Dios was surprised, he didn't show it. He faced Davies, searched the kid with his IR vision. Then he nodded to himself. "Davies Hyland," he p.r.o.nounced firmly. "You probably don't need me to tell you you look like your father. But you think like your mother. That's something to be proud of."

Already his voice had recovered its natural authority. Angus remembered it vividly. The UMCP director had sounded much the same when he'd replaced Angus' datacore.

We've committed a crime against you. In essence, you're no longer a human being. We've deprived you of choice-and responsibility.

At the time, however, Angus had heard hints of self-loathing behind Warden's ease of command. Now they were gone.

He'd avowed, It's got to stop. It's got to stop. And he'd kept that promise. And he'd kept that promise.

If anything, he'd become even more dangerous.

"Don't worry about Angus," he told Davies. "I have a pretty good idea how much I owe him. And I can at least guess what it cost him. I won't forget."

Then Dios turned back to Captain Ubikwe. "And I don't object to the risk, Dolph. I'm just amazed by it. Grateful and humbled. You've given me a chance to finish what I started. I'll try to make it worthwhile."

Dolph nodded noncommittally. His heavy jaws chewed words he didn't say; reactions he kept private.

Angus swore to himself. He thought he knew how Punisher's Punisher's commander felt. commander felt. Make it worthwhile Make it worthwhile, s.h.i.+t. More plotting-more schemes. He'd had enough of Dios' underhanded intentions. They were too expensive. He didn't want to hear any more.

Before the director could go on, he rasped, "If you don't call Mikka, fat man, I will. She's been quiet too long."

"You're right," Dolph agreed quickly. He seemed glad for the interruption. At once he thumbed his intercom. "Mikka?" he asked the pickup. "Can you hear me? Are you all right?"

Angus had watched him enough to understand that Dolph Ubikwe had his own reasons for outrage at Warden's manipulations; a cop's reasons. Maybe he didn't think Warden's actions were justified by Fasner's defeat.

A moment pa.s.sed before Mikka answered. When she finally spoke, her voice sounded thin and fragile; hoa.r.s.e with coughing. "Sort of." The voice of a woman who'd been beaten up. "I think-" She gasped weakly. "I think I'm bleeding somewhere. Inside. I'm going to sickbay-"

She faded out of the speakers as if she'd fainted.

"d.a.m.n it!" Angus slapped at his belts. "She needs help. I've got to-"

Davies cut him off. "No. I'll I'll go." He gestured at the communications indicators on the status display. "Looks like go." He gestured at the communications indicators on the status display. "Looks like Punisher Punisher and UMCPHQ are flaring us as hard as they can. I think there are some decisions that have to be made." Suspicion and weariness stretched his voice taut. "I don't need to know what they are. and UMCPHQ are flaring us as hard as they can. I think there are some decisions that have to be made." Suspicion and weariness stretched his voice taut. "I don't need to know what they are. You You do. They shouldn't be made behind your back." do. They shouldn't be made behind your back."

More quietly he finished, "I can help Mikka as well as you can."

Angus started to object, then relaxed back into his g-seat. Davies was right. If the UMCP director intended to make it worthwhile make it worthwhile, Angus had to be ready to defend himself.

Dios' victory was tarnished in ways Angus hadn't expected.

Without waiting for a response, Davies unclipped his belts; drifted toward the hatch while Dolph cycled it open. But at the inner door he paused.

"Ciro was just a kid," he said to Dios. "About my age-if I had an age. He was an illegal because that was the only life Mikka had to offer him. He didn't deserve any of this."

Warden nodded as if he understood; as if every suggestion of distrust made sense to him.

"Captain Ubikwe," he commanded firmly, "log an order to Acting Director Min Donner. My last order. Full pardons for Mikka Vasaczk, Ciro Vasaczk, Vector Shaheed, Morn Hyland." Morn had committed a capital crime when she'd accepted her zone implant control from Angus: she'd stolen the evidence against him-and used a zone implanton herself. In addition she was guilty of insubordination; perhaps even of mutiny. "They can have anything they want. Relocation, treatment, money, jobs, new id-anything. All they have to do is name it.

"Angus doesn't need a pardon. He already works for us. And you haven't done anything illegal."

While Dolph murmured, "Aye, Director," Warden held Davies' gaze as if he wanted to ask, Does that help?

Angus could see that it did. Davies' eyes softened, and some of the strain left his muscles. Relief or regret twisted the corners of his mouth.

"Thank you, Director," he answered thickly.

With a quick jerk on the nearest handgrip, he pulled himself into the airlock and disappeared.

Remembering lightness, Angus waited to learn what Dios would do next. Whatever it was, he didn't think he was going to like it. Nevertheless he was willing to be patient-at least for a little while.

He wanted to know whether Warden would leave him any choice.

"Director-" Dolph rumbled uncertainly. He pointed at the communications blips on his board. "I have to answer these. They're getting frantic."

"No!" Dios snapped at once. "Don't answer them. That's my last order for you."

His voice had teeth: it could bite and tear when he let it.

"Min can stand the wait," he went on. "And she can certainly deal with UMCPHQ. I don't want you to say a word to either of them until Angus and I leave."

"Leave?" Angus drawled. "I like the sound of that. Where are we going?"

A dark scowl closed Dolph's face. "Director-" he began again. "I'm a UMCP officer. It's my duty to report."

Warden shook his head. "Of course. But not yet.

"Listen to me, Dolph. This is important." He held himself still while intensity poured off him in waves. Yet his physical restraint only increased the force of what he said. "I want you to take Davies and Mikka to UMCPHQ. And protect them. Make sure Min understands I want them protected. Just in case the Council suffers a spasm of self-righteousness and decides to punish somebody.

"If I can persuade him to join me, Angus and I will use Trumpet Trumpet to go visit Holt." He permitted himself a stiff shrug. "You can talk to Min as soon as I'm gone." to go visit Holt." He permitted himself a stiff shrug. "You can talk to Min as soon as I'm gone."

Angus felt a sting of surprise. Persuade? he wondered. Persuade Persuade him? To go visit Holt? Did Warden mean that? Or was him? To go visit Holt? Did Warden mean that? Or was persuade persuade just a polite word for coerce? just a polite word for coerce?

Captain Ubikwe stared in distress at the man he'd served ever since he became a cop. "My G.o.d, Director," he protested, "that doesn't make any sense. You should talk to her yourself. Holt is finished. You can forget about him. You should-"

"No." Dios spoke softly now, but his tone implied a shout. "Koina told the Council everything. Every crime I've helped commit-everything that makes you wonder whether you can trust me. I'm tainted, Dolph. I'm complicit in Holt's crimes. As much responsible for them as he is. Even if the Council decided to pardon me, I would still consider myself responsible.

"If Min does her her duty, her first action will be to place me under arrest for treason. She'll order you to make me your prisoner and take me to UMCPHQ. And that might break her heart. duty, her first action will be to place me under arrest for treason. She'll order you to make me your prisoner and take me to UMCPHQ. And that might break her heart. She She still believes in me." He sounded certain. "I don't want to put that kind of pressure on her. If she doesn't arrest me, the Members won't trust her. She'll be tainted, too." still believes in me." He sounded certain. "I don't want to put that kind of pressure on her. If she doesn't arrest me, the Members won't trust her. She'll be tainted, too."

He didn't mention that Dolph might find it painful to arrest the director of the UMCP. He didn't need to: the truth was plain on Dolph's face. He recognized the accuracy of Warden's prediction-and it horrified him.

Dios didn't give him time to respond. The director's vehemence mounted as he continued, "And Holt's still alive. That That I guarantee. Most of HO is intact. You can see it on scan." He indicated the screens with a twitch of his head. "You can bet he made sure he was safe before he ordered that attack on Suka Bator. He is still alive. I guarantee. Most of HO is intact. You can see it on scan." He indicated the screens with a twitch of his head. "You can bet he made sure he was safe before he ordered that attack on Suka Bator. He is still alive.

"Worse than that, he still has most of his power. All his contracts and knowledge, databases, leverage-everything his real muscle is based on. He can probably ruin half the Members if they take direct action against him. He can destroy the entire fiscal structure that supports us against forbidden s.p.a.ce. h.e.l.l, if he wants to he can even sell the whole lot to the Amnion. You know he has s.h.i.+ps and drones that weren't damaged. Right now there's nothing to stop him from packing his entire power-base aboard that yacht of his and hitting the gap with it."

"Min's cordon will interdict-" Dolph croaked weakly.

For an instant Warden's control slipped. He punched one hard fist in the direction of the displays. Almost shouting, he retorted, "Those s.h.i.+ps aren't in position." position."

Angus believed him; but he glanced at the helm schematic to confirm it. No question about it: a s.h.i.+p could flee untouched from the far side of Fasner's station.

Which suggested some interesting possibilities- Dolph's heavy frame slumped. In dismay he murmured, "Do you really think he would sell all that?"

Dios closed his arms like restraints across his chest. "The Amnion can force-grow fetuses," he said through his teeth. "They can imprint minds. They can make him immortal. And they'll be glad to do it when they see what he has to sell.Yes, I think he might go that far.

"That's why I want you to let Angus and me go over there. Let us stop him. Permanently. Before he has time to commit a crime that's worse than anything else he's done."

More gently he concluded, "And I want you to do it without disobeying orders from the acting director. You shouldn't have that on your record. Which means you can't talk to her until after we're on our way."

Dolph propped his forehead on one hand to hide his eyes as if he couldn't bear to look at Warden anymore-or couldn't bear the way Warden looked at him. For a moment he didn't say anything. His shoulders knotted as he squeezed at his temples.

In a m.u.f.fled voice he sighed. "You aren't coming back, are you"-a statement, not a question.