By Force of Arms (40 page)

“Perhaps,” Veera answered calmly, “but I’ve had time to study the matter and would ask that you consider the following facts: The creators were diminutive—and so are the Thraki. You’ll have to look long and hard to find any sort of written symbols on this ship—but what few there are bear a close resemblance to Thraki pictographs. More than that, take a close look at Sam here. The Thraki like robots and are good at designing them, so much so that they spend a good deal of time and energy creating handcrafted mechanical pets. Is that a matter of coincidence?

Maybe. But maybe not. Then there’s the matter of the religion One of their most fearsome gods is referred to as ‘The great Hoonara.’ The computer that controls the fleet is called
the Hoon.’ ”

ChienChu felt a rising sense of excitement. What if the teenager was correct? But how could that be? It seemed illogical “It makes for an interesting hypothesis,” the industrialist allowed, “but why? Why would the Thraki do such a thing?”

The Prithian cocked her head. “Are you familiar with the concept of symbiosis?”

“Yes, it refers to dissimilar organisms living in close association with each other.”

“Precisely,” Veera agreed. “Organisms living in a mutually advantageous manner. And that could explain what’s going on here. Suppose that the ancient Thraki feared for the future of the species? Thought their civilization had grown too comfortable, too privileged, too prone to decay. What if they decided to recast the future? To transform themselves from pleasure seekers to a race of warriors? Forever pursued—but strengthened by the process?”

ChienChu was stunned by the sweep of the youngster’s vision, by the manner in which she jumped to what seemed like a wild hypothesis, but one that rang true. Perhaps there had been a society like the one she envisioned. A culture so rich, so self-satisfied, that it started to rot. And maybe there had been visionaries, males and females who saw where the rot would lead and took steps to prevent it. If so, they would launched a fleet, no two fleets, one for the machines programmed to hunt them down, and one for themselves, or those who agreed to go, for it was hard to imagine that more than a few hundred thousand beings would sign up for such a plan. And the strategy worked! Not for every individual, not for those murdered by the Sheen, but for the organism as a whole. It might have been noble in a twisted sort of way if it weren’t for the fact that the Sheen had attacked other races as well, and more than that, continued to do so. Except…

ChienChu found the Prithian’s eyes. “You are brilliant, i Veera—truly brilliant. Your hypothesis makes a great deal of sense. There’s one loose end, however … What are the Sheen waiting for? Why don’t they attack?

Veera felt a momentary sense of warmth. Her father had praised her in similar fashion—and she missed his proud approval. It was a good question, and the answer was self evident. For her at least. “There’s no way to be sure—but the Hoon may be programmed to wait. To see if the Thraki will run.”

“Yes!” ChienChu exclaimed. “That’s it! The Runners held sway for a long time—but the Facers came to power. The Hoon is waiting for Andragna to bolt… to start the whole process over again.” “Except that he won’t bolt,” the teenager theorized. “Not this time.”

ChienChu remembered the twins and felt a chill run down his spine. Was this the moment for which the weapons had been intended? A standoff like the one the Thraki found themselves in? An opportunity to stop running and make a new home for themselves? It seemed all too possible. His mind continued to race. “Does Jepp know about this?”

“No,” Veera chirped, “he shows little to no interest in anything beyond his fantasies. The only time he has participated in anything even vaguely political was when Hoon number one tricked him into terminating Hoon number two.”

“ ‘Hoon number two?’ ” ChienChu demanded. “There were two of them?”

“Yes,” Veera agreed, “that was before my time, though.”

Two Hoons and two energy weapons. It made perfect sense. Still another piece of the puzzle fell into place. “So,” ChienChu reasoned, “Jepp knows how to deactivate the Hoon?”

Veera felt surprised. Why hadn’t she thought of that?

“Yes, I suppose he does.”

Then we should pay him a visit,” the industrialist said grimly, “and discuss the art of murder.”

In war: Resolution. In defeat: Defiance. In victory:

Magnanimity. In peace: Good will.

Sir Winston Churchill

The Second World War

Standard year 1948

Planet Arballa, the Confederacy of Sentient Beings

The horn made a long mournful sound as the procession left the heavily guarded chamber where the twins had been stored—and wound its way through the ship’s passageways toward launcher 12.

There were eighteen individuals in all. The entire party wore the so-called dark vestments normally reserved for funerals and moved with the deliberate slidestep reserved for the most solemn of occasions.

The twins were cradled in specially designed polehung slings, each supported by four ceremonial robots, and guarded by members of the Brother-Sisterhood of Assassins High Priestess Bree Bricana led the processional her self—but did so with a heavy heart. Unlike most of the population, she had seen the footage captured on the Friendship and heard the good sister’s claim. In response to orders issued by her, the best scholars in the armada had delved into the records, scoured them for information, and reported their findings. Though couched in academic jargon and hung with qualifications, their conclusions were clear: Somehow, someway, mistakes had been made. The commonly accepted translation was wrong. Sister Torputus was correct, and the twins were inherently dangerous. So dangerous that Bricana now questioned their use. In fact, knowing what she knew, the priestess wished she had left Andragna in the dark.

But it was too late for second thoughts—and the decision had been made. Without an alliance, and faced with superior numbers, the Thraki had no choice. At least one of the twins would be summoned from its long sleep and sent against the enemy.

The horn groaned and sounded like a death knell.

Jepp lay on his badly rumpled bed, knees drawn to his chest, face to the bulkhead. Alpha had arranged for the lights to be dimmed and stood in a comer.

ChienChu entered the compartment and took a look around. Jepp was a mess—that much was clear. How to proceed? Sweet talk the exprospector into a state of cooperation, assuming such a thing was possible? Or jerk the miserable piece of shit out of his bunk and force him to comply? Not the way he normally worked—but there’s a time and place for everything.

The cyborg walked over, took hold of Jepp’s collar, and jerked the human off his bunk. The exprospector hit the deck with a thump and yelped with pain. “My shoulder! You hurt my shoulder!”

“Really?” ChienChu asked unsympathetically. “How ‘bout the people on Long Jump? You know … the ones you killed. I’ll bet that hurt too. Now get up.”

“Screw you,” Jepp said sullenly. “Wait till I tell the

Hoon—he’ll send some robots .. ”

“Who can kiss my hundred year old ass,” the industrialist said conversationally. ChienChu bent over, secured a second grip on the human’s collar, and dragged him toward the hatch. Jepp squealed all the way.

Alpha dithered for a moment, stepped forward, and stopped when Veera sang two or three notes. Once in the corridor, ChienChu jerked Jepp to his feet and stood him against a bulkhead. Veera, who had just discovered that the portly middle-aged man was more than he seemed, watched in openmouthed amazement.

“Now,” the industrialist said, “Veera tells me that you know where the Hoon’s processor is located. More than that, she says you know how to kill the damned thing. Is that true?”

The human directed a dirty look toward the Prithian.

“She lied.”

ChienChu’s normal reaction to people like Jepp was cerebral rather than physical. But the industrialist was tired, frustrated, and more than a little angry. He hit the wouldbe messiah in the gut, watched him bend over, and let go. The exprospector collapsed.

ChienChu waited for Jepp to recover, pulled him to his feet, and held him there. “There’s a liar aboard this ship… but it isn’t Veera. You know where the Hoon is because this ship is identical to the one used by Hoon number two. It switches back and forth but is currently in residence.

Jepp nodded reluctantly.

“Good. Take us there.”

“Senator IshimotoSix?”

A hand touched his arm, and the clone awoke with a jerk. His neck hurt from steeping in the waiting room chair, and his mouth tasted like the bottom of a recycling vat. “Yes?”

The doctor looked tired. “We’ve done everything we can. Miss ChienChu is stable … but in serious condition.”

Six stood. “Can she travel?”

The doctor shrugged. “Under normal circumstances I would say ‘no,’ but given the resources at your disposal,

I’ll say ‘yes.’ ”

“Thank you. Doctor,” Six said gratefully. “You won’t be sorry. I know you think the Hegemony is strange—but when it comes to culture grown organs—ours are the very best.”

The doctor nodded. What the clone said was true, and everyone knew it. “I’ll have the orderlies transport her to your ship.”

The medic left, and Six peered into the murk. A khaki clad body lay on the floor. The politician walked over, bent down, and touched a shoulder. “General? She’s ready to go”

Booly groaned, rolled over, and shielded his eyes.

“She’s okay?”

“As okay as someone who has severe cardiopulmonary damage can be.”

The clone extended a hand, the legionnaire took it, and pulled himself up. “Can I see her?”

Six jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “If you hurry.”

Booly nodded, made his way past the reception desk, and located Maylo’s cubicle. Tubes snaked into her arms, through her nostrils, and up under the covers. Her eyes were closed, the respirator wheezed, and a monitor beeped. A pair of androids were there, fussing with her sheets, and checking the portable monitors. The officer looked into a pair of scanners. “Can I be alone with her for a moment?”

The reply was respectful but somewhat flat. “Sir, yes, sir. Five minutes. The ship’s waiting.”

Booly nodded, waited for the machines to leave, and took Maylo’s hand. “I’m sorry, honey, sorry this happened to you. I know it’s too late, that I had my chance, but I wish I could have another. The fact is that I love you more than I know how to say. You’ll be fine, I feel sure of that, or I wouldn’t let you go. I guess that’s it then, have a good life, and be sure to take care of yourself.” The officer gave her hand one final squeeze, turned, and walked out into the corridor. Six was waiting by the reception desk. Booly stuck his hand out. “Thanks, Sam.”

“You’d do the same.”

“You’ll stay with her?”

“All the way.”

The words had a double meaning, and both men knew it. Booty nodded. “All right then. Godspeed.”

It was the last time they saw each other.

The watch was changing, and a long series of salutes rippled down the corridor. The admirals returned them one by one. “Damn,” Chang remarked, “my arm’s getting tired. Let’s duck into the wardroom.”

The officer was good as her word, and Tyspin followed. Though normally crowded, most of the officers not in their bunks, or about to go there, were at battle stations. A rather prolonged situation that wore on everyone’s nerves. A lieutenant shouted, “Attention on deck!” and sprang to her feet. An ensign did likewise.

“Both of you look tired,” Chang observed. “I’ll bet a nap would put you right.”

“I’m not tired,” the ensign said brightly, “I’m…”

“Not too bright,” the lieutenant finished for him. “Come on, I’ll find something for you to do.”

“So,” Chang said, once the hatch had closed, “where were we? Oh, that’s right, you were telling me how the entire situation is your fault.”

“It is,” Tyspin replied stubbornly. “I was the one who led the Sheen into this system. Remember?”

The other officer’s eyes appeared unnaturally bright. “Why yes, I do remember. I also remember that I’m senior to you, that I command this sector, and you have a problem with military courtesy. Or is your S2 full of shit?”

Tyspin stiffened. “Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am.”

“Good,” Chang said, falling into a well worn chair.

“Now, pull that ramrod out of your ass, and let’s get real. Nobody, not the clones, not intel, not the President his worthless self knew the chip heads could follow a ship through hyperspace. Williams had an inkling of such a capability but wasn’t sure. So cut the crap. We haven’t got time for it.”

Tyspin managed a grin. “Ma’am, yes ma’am.”

“Now,” Chang continued, “tell me about the Thraki transport and what you plan to do with it.”

Tyspin frowned. “Boone ratted me out?”

Chang laughed. “No way. He’d blow himself out a lock for you. I’ve got spies—lots of them. Just one of the reasons why I pull so many gees.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah, life sucks. Now spill your guts.”