[Pretty good, eh?]
[ What have they done to me?]
[ Nothing. But Harry’s upgraded your mind/body interface. I think you’ll find you’re more in control of your flesh now.]
Jack sat up.
There was a sudden explosion from the stairwell, followed by enraged shouting from below. ‘We can’t let them get near the board!’ yelled Grey, sounding stressed. Jack stumbled to his feet. The Yamatas had found it difficult to move in their newly possessed bodies. He was lurching in the same way.
‘I won’t be good for a few minutes,’ he shouted back at Grey. His tongue felt awkward in his mouth.
[Oh, for gods’ sake,] grumbled Fist. [Do I have to do everything?]
[ Wait,] said Jack, but it was too late. Fist had bounded away from him, leaping over the control panel and down the stairs. [Don’t worry,] he told Jack. [ It’ll do me some good to take on Kingdom’s people. Almost like attacking him.]
[ The files’ll be safe?]
[Oh yes.]
[ You don’t have to.]
[ But I fucking want to.]
At first, there was no difference to the sounds coming up the stairwell. The battle continued unabated. Then, there was shouting. Where machine-gun fire had been disciplined, it was now coming in wild bursts. There were more explosions. They seemed to be further away. The screaming became more distant. Kingdom’s people seemed to be retreating in disarray. Jack wondered how many minds Fist had had to reach into to cause such panic, and what he had made them see.
[ You don’t want to know,] whispered Fist.
‘Fantastic!’ said Grey cheerfully. ‘Awake at last.’
The coffins had finished venting. The groups of flashing lights that danced across them shifted into new formations. Apart from that, there was no change.
‘Is that it?’ said Jack. His mouth was starting to feel more like it belonged to him.
‘I can’t bring them all the way back. The locks on them are too strong, but they’re aware enough now for me to take control of my remaining head office personnel again. In a basic way.’
‘Turn them back into drones, you mean.’
‘You saw how far they’d fallen. And right now, they’re getting cut to pieces. They need organising.’
‘I hate to say it,’ Lestak chipped in, ‘but he’s right. For now, at least.’
‘You’re going to have to let your people go once you’re done,’ Jack told Grey. ‘Gently, this time.’
‘Jack, you’re right. I give you my word that I will. Now, can you move around yet?’
Jack took a couple of experimental steps. He almost felt comfortable doing so.
‘That’s good enough. You and Lestak – get going! Head for the flyer pad. I’m going to stay here. My people will direct and protect you. With Fist and a bit of luck, you’ll get through.’
Jack never remembered too much of the frantic race through Grey’s offices. He shielded Lestak and her people from his Eastware and let it run as high as he dared. There were looks of adoration. There were bullet howls and explosions. There were Grey employees, suddenly energised, shepherding him and Fist and Lestak through the struggle. When he thought back on it, it was always the details that stood out: broken glass in windows, a smashed photocopier, a blood-slicked whiteboard. The daily essentials of office life had been pulled out of their routine identities and remade as witnesses to warfare.
At last, they reached the flyer pad. A man in a blue boiler suit was waiting for them. For a moment, Jack thought he was Mr Stabs, but then the man moved with fluid ease, ushering them towards a flyer. They were on top of a tall building; below, there were gunshots and explosions, above, the oblivious stars. ‘I’m driving,’ said Lestak. Jack didn’t argue. He let the Eastware fall back to zero. They threw themselves into the flyer and were skyborne. ‘I hope nobody gets in a lucky shot,’ she continued, as she flicked switches and went through pre-flight checks. Nobody did.
Jack wasn’t sure if anybody even noticed them. They were away, and for a moment – the first in a very long time, it seemed – there was peace.
Chapter 47
Jack had to grab Ifor’s hand four times before the mind responded.
‘Grey told me about Penderville’s confession,’ said Ifor. ‘You saw the snowflake in the Coffin Drives?’ Jack nodded. ‘We had to rescue the two of you, and make sure that the caged dead could get the news about Kingdom out. Now we’re dealing with the fallout. Be quick!’
‘We’re on our way to join you. We’re about to release the news cross-Station, but the Pantheon will need more than just media reports. I’m bringing the proof of Kingdom’s corruption directly to you.’
Ifor stilled for a moment, digesting the news. Jack imagined him sending it out into the Totality; a mass of voices discussing options. ‘That’s good to know. When’s East going live with Penderville?’
‘I’m not sure. Soon. You need to stop anything bad happening before then. And make sure that we get into the negotiating room.’
‘It’s chaos here. We’ll send minds to meet you at the landing pad, and bring you in as diplomatic representatives.’
‘How are the negotiations going?’
‘We’re twenty minutes from war. Kingdom’s forces are deploying against us. He’s realised we’ve opened the Coffin Drives. He’s ranting about the violation of sacred space. It’s looking bad.’
‘We’ll take care of it.’
‘I hope so. See you in a moment.’
The call ended.
[ Very interesting,] said Fist.
[ The Totality?]
[ No, it’s Harry. He’s just tried to use his back door to access me.]
[Shit. Don’t let him in.]
[ No danger of that, I’m wise to him now!]
Fist was silent for a moment. He cocked his head, as if listening. [ He’s like a little enraged fly,] he said gleefully. [ Buzz, buzz, buzz.] He giggled. [Oo! The ninja code’s up and running too!]
[Keep him out! No more slip-ups.]
[Oh, don’t you worry about that. He’s going to do exactly what I want him to. He’s working for me now.]
There was no time to find out what Fist meant. They’d reached Sandal’s headquarters, landing so fast that they nearly crashed. The flyer’s landing gear buckled. They were out of it before it stopped moving. Armed guards stalked towards them, guns raised. A delegation of Totality minds emerged from the building, led by Ifor. They ran towards the guards, shouting. Jack hit them with his Eastware. Guilt lashed him in return. But the guns didn’t waver. The guards must be shielded against any sort of virtual influence. The minds flashed up diplomatic credentials. Disappointed muzzles drooped towards the ground. One of the guards radioed a superior, requesting clarification. It was difficult to know what he’d be told. The small party ran for the doors. A shout of ‘halt’ came too late. They were through the door, racing down corridors.
[Slow the guards, Fist.]
[Shielded. Not much I can do.]
[Shit.]
One of the minds turned and tossed a small metal ball back down the corridor. There was a blinding flash of light behind them.
[ Blind ’em,] said Fist. [ Nice one.]
After a moment, the shouting started again. Then there were bullets. Jack looked back. A sharp burning scored the side of his face. He stumbled for a moment, then found a switch in his mind and turned pain off. They turned a corner.
[All right?] asked Fist.
[ I’ll keep going.]
Now he was slightly behind Fist and Ifor. There was a pair of double doors ahead of them, guards on either side. They wore body armour and carried assault rifles. Jack let the Eastware rise up. These guards sunk to their knees. Jack wondered how he appeared to them – a shining god, divine enough to obey, human enough to be panting and bleeding. ‘Let us pass!’ he yelled. They leapt to one side. One of them reached up with a security pass, and the doors slid open. They led into a lift.