Twenty-six
Alarms sounded in the General Executor's security
command center. Reports from the Alliance early warning systems poured in
on all channels of massive Hive activity. Monitors on all major Hive
manufacturing sites showed full-scale production of military attack and
support machinery of all kinds in progress.
Gorlon Hague sealed his office with Shesel at his
side. "Boris, tell me the meaning of this activity."
Boris, currently manning the Covonia’s flagship, the
deadliest battle craft the ten cities had to offer the conflict,
responded. "The Hive is preparing war against all of humanity. They
fear the terms of the cease fire have been violated.”
"Boris, tell the Hive that it is time to send
Jeremy Kael out to Myla. Tell them to indulge me and the danger will end
very soon."
"Hive acknowledges your request and confirms
instruction sequence," Boris said. "The human will be sent to the
location of aggression."
"Boris, ask the Hive to provide Shesel a means of
communication to Myla's vessel. Relay all transmissions through this
office so that I may monitor them.”
Gorlon expected some difficulty in contacting the
girl despite the Hive's cooperation. Myla appeared upon his view screens
abruptly enough to startle him.
“Shesel, deliver the message at this time."
Shesel stepped into the camera’s view. “We have a
request to make of you, Myla Rhodes. We understand you have a friend
named Jeremy Kael.”
"What about Jeremy Kael?" she said, her little girl
voice loud and curt with impatience and anger.
Myla’s appearance startled Gorlon as badly as had her
sudden appearance. A child, yes, but beautiful by any standard with dusky
skin, hair bleached by the sun, eyes as bright as the clear skies of terrestrial worlds, and lips full and petulant. And the expression in
those eyes. Like fire. Hague could see it burning inside her, an inhuman
level of intelligence, and reflexes heightened to superhuman levels.
"Jeremy Kael was captured by the Hive during
his rescue
attempt in the Covonian system," Shesel said. "They won't release him, of course,
but the Executor General has persuaded the Hive to allow Jeremy to pay you
a visit in hopes of defusing this situation. You must be aware of what's
happening."
"The Hive is behaving like it's usual stupid self,"
Myla spat. "When will Jeremy arrive?"
"He's on his way now."
Myla's brow furrowed in suspicion. "Why would they
let him go just because General Hague asked them to?"
Gorlon cut into the conversation at that instant. "I
told them the boy may be able to talk you into ceasing hostilities. It's
a petty sacrifice on the Hive's part. On ours, it was a means of removing
Jeremy from immediate danger. The Hive does not want this confrontation
and more than we do."
"I didn't start it."
Gorlon studied the girl, knowing he had nothing to
say that would help break the deadlock. Did she fully understand the
significance of unfolding events? He doubted it. "Let me know if I can
be of help," was all he dared say. "Be cautious transferring Jeremy to
your own vessel, when he arrives. I cannot guarantee the Hive will not attempt an act of
treachery."
"Why did you warn her!,"
Shesel raged at him.
"She'll suspect regardless,"
Gorlon assured her. "She'll find nothing."
"They're not that imaginative," Myla shot back,
warning Gorlon that his plot to kill the girl would backfire if it failed.
Myla was right. The Hive would never be so devious.
"I will be available on this channel at any time
should you wish to speak with me about any matter," Gorlon said, but the
girl broke the connection, gone as unexpectedly as she had appeared.
"The child is no longer human," Shesel whispered in
abject fear. “How could she do such things?”
Gorlon rose to his feet, unsealed the room, and
decided upon a personal visit to the biomedical lab run by Talor Einsik.
“Wait here,” he called to Shesel over his shoulder.
Warning proceeded his visit, as was often the case
when he ventured into the city on foot. Einsik met him at the reception
desk just off the lower, deserted corridors of the city and looked
strangely at ease escorting him through the labyrinths of the labs. "This
is, of course, a thoroughly discreet project considering the consequence
of discovery," Einsik said.
"Shesel knows about it. Nobody else."
As a scientist, Einsik had no need of the social
advantages that went with a tall, well-developed avatar, electing instead
for the agility and reflexes of a small and lean build. Gorlon had to
duck through the oval hatch of a biological airlock that opened onto a
chamber filled with fragile looking glass and metal hardware.
The clone lay with her eyes open in a crypt-like
device. She had been dressed in a simple tunic and slippers. "Is this
worth the consequence if we're caught?" Einsik said mildly.
"The consequence will be upon humanity if I cannot
alleviate Alliance suspicions," Gorlon said. "You must have guessed what
this is about."
"Nome," Einsik said despairingly. "The infernal
Dalikor technology. Myla Rhodes?"
Gorlon gave a reluctant nod of confirmation. "In all
probability. I have taken steps to see to its destruction. When the
danger has passed, I'll return this creature to you for disposal."
"It will not pass close scrutiny," Einsik warned.
"The disparity between recent mass cellular division and its apparent age
will be quickly detected."
"We have only one Alliance agent to deceive, and he
is a busy man. If we claim to have rescued the girl and we can
establish her identification with biometrics, suspicion for the rogue
behavior aboard the Hive courier will fall upon our alien visitor,
assuming one even exists. As far as we've been able to determine,
the alien vessel was deserted."
"But the alien fleet follows
that rogue courier," Einsik reminded him.
Gorlon sighed. "True."
"The child's feral state will appear to have been
caused by neurological injuries, perhaps caused by lack of oxygen," Einsik
said with a thin smile.
"Excellent. No visible
injury, but something that will
prevent the need for the child to carry on an intelligent conversation."
"It cannot speak," Einsik admitted.
"I hope it can walk."
"It can walk. I've had time to impress a few
reflexes and simple habits. It will look you in the eye and smile. It
will display mildly curiosity about its surroundings. It will seek toilet
facilities when the need arises. That was a particular challenge. Be
cautious, however. It has no table manners and cannot be expected to show
the least evidence of normal social etiquette. If it becomes upset, it
may become violent."
"I'll take it with me," Gorlon said. "I need to
become familiar with its characteristics so that I can instruct Khalin in
its handling. When the Alliance agent has seen the girl and viewed her
medical records, I'll have her returned to you for safekeeping. Show me
how to handle her."
Within the hour, Gorlon guided Myla Rhode's genetic
twin through the corridors of Bolphan. A gentle hand on her arm allowed
him to steer her and determine the speed of her walk. She would stop when
coaxed, and move forward. Her eyes constantly wandered about the
corridor, and when someone passed, she would vaguely nod and smile. But
by the time Gorlon had reached Khalin's personal quarters, it was obvious
that the girl was a shell, a mannequin of flesh with only a rudimentary
awareness of her surroundings.
Khalin saw him coming, panicked, and refused him
entrance.
"You've seen what I have with me," Gorlon said
quietly in the inner foyer. "You must keep it in your possession for a
short period of time, long enough to satisfy Lee Wokan that Myla is not
worth killing one half million Covonian refugees, you and me included. If you refuse, Wokan will discover the truth and the ten cities of Covonia
will be vaporized by the Alliance fleet.”
Gorlon waited for a response. He tried a different
approach. "If you won't cooperate, I'll take her back to the lab. She's
been seen in Bolphan, which is all we really need. Records will show that
she suffered a critical stroke and died suddenly. An autopsy will be
conducted within the hour, video recorded in detail, and Einsik will dispose of the body immediately
afterward."
The inner door foyer opened. Khalin stood deep
within the shadows of the room. "Please do not enter," he said in his
characteristic rumble. "Leave the child where she stands and depart."
"I have important matters of business to discuss,"
Gorlon said, hoping to gain an audience long enough to ascertain Khalin's
motivation for the horrendous crime he had committed.
"Handle matters of routine business in any manner you
choose," Khalin Nome said. "I wish to be kept informed of all matters
pertaining to Myla and the movements of Hive and Alliance forces, nothing
more."
"As you wish."
"I will have questions about this clone," Khalin
said.
"Einsik said he would remain available at a moment's
notice in the biomedical lab."
"Thank you, Gorlon. I apologize for the burden I
have caused. Now please leave us."
Gorlon backed from the foyer. The heavy entrance
door closed in his face.
