Scrambled, page 27
part #14 of Directorate Series
:: What'd you do to piss him off? ::
:: Beat his army twice. Umm, cut off a digit every time one of his soldiers tried to kill someone. ::
Ebsa eyed the man's hands. Short two fingers on each hand. :: Ouch! ::
Marc had been explaining his government's position. ". . . and anyone who wants to stay can stay."
"Except, in this case, they can't." Nick stared down from the horse's back. "Fu? Round up your men and go. Now."
Fu glared at him . . . his lips pressed together in stifled rage. He turned to the troops formed up behind him and addressed them in Chinese. Six men trotted forward and jumped through the corridor.
Raven popped out of the top hatch and peered northward. "They're through the corridor, and through the gate."
Marc cleared his throat. "Any equipment that will fit through the gate, you can take with you, and, of course, your personal possessions."
Fu bared his teeth. "And leave this world in the hands of those Mutants?"
Nick snorted. "Minister of War MacU will also be leaving, whether he wants to or not. With most of his guards, I hope. That will leave people from five different worlds here, to mash up a government among them."
Marc eyed him. "So, who are you? The president or something?"
"Tyrant. They voted last month to make the title official and they re-elected me. Idiots. Obviously insane, but with the warmongers gone, they can vote more sensibly."
Nighthawk started laughing. "Old Gods!" She stuffed her knuckles in her mouth and stifled anything else she might have said.
:: That's my Ra'd's almost-wife. Who, by the way, is stewing around inside, so as to not complicate the situation. ::
Nick eyed the crawler, then returned his gaze to Fu, who was now in a quiet consultation with his officers.
"They're coming back." Raven called, seconds before two soldiers jumped out of the corridor.
One of them handed Fu a piece of paper. Ebsa couldn't see his face, but his back stiffened, then he shrugged. He snapped something to his officers and they scattered.
:: Ha! Ordered home. ::
Nick raised his voice. "If you need to forward orders to the soldiers at Main State, you may send one man."
Fu glared, then turned his back on Nick.
"Were there problems with Main Accounting?" Marc looked back and forth, then north, looking worried.
"Fu's soldiers raided and stole food. The female soldiers stationed at HQ here and the civilian workers had some problems with them, so the whole home battalion shifted to Main Accounting. I had to . . . speak . . . to Fu twice before they were left in peace."
Ebsa glanced back at Fu's hands and the painful way he was stepping and standing. Toes are digits, too, aren’t they? He kept his mouth shut.
Utly stepped around to join them, grinning. "Captain Ahco is organizing things over on the other side. He suggested that they wait until we had this side settled."
Ebsa dropped his voice. "From the grin, can I assume success at locating a person of importance?"
Grin. "Yep. Although Ahco says we may need to run him down and drag him home kicking and screaming."
Nick looked over and shook his head. "No, he's done a great deal of maturing these six months. He'll go home on his own. And probably try to come back and visit."
A column of vehicles emerged from between buildings. The lead car stopped to pick up General Fu, then drove through the corridor.
Fu looked straight ahead. Acknowledging no one. The soldiers climbed aboard the trucks and they were gone in minutes.
Nick slid off the horse and led her forward. Ebsa got a look at her face and winced.
"Oh! Poor baby!" Nighthawk's hands reached for the horse.
"We think she was right on the edge of the . . . effect, with her head turned a bit." Nick handed her the reins and turned to face the man approaching . . .
"So . . . Little Brother. You're a tyrant?"
"The only way I could get them to leave me alone is if I only came around to beat people up." Nick stared up at Ra'd. "How old are you? I . . . hadn't realized how much . . . we resembled father."
"Thirty. With an eleven year time slip . . . you'd be nineteen?"
"Twenty, I suppose. Maybe."
"And Ebsa gave you the Wine of the Gods?"
"Yes. Amazing stuff. Abbas has decided to wait and see if his magic develops more strongly."
Nighthawk walked over, grinning. "We have a spell that suppresses hormones, if he wants to do puberty now. Our wizard gene is like that, and most of the boys like to get the deep voice and so forth, so they don't get teased by the other kids. If you'd like, you can try a few more years without hormones . . . although it's hard to imagine you getting stronger, the depth of your glow even behind shields now."
The man trotting up on another black horse was wearing the Black Horse Guard uniform, slightly battered. He blinked at the two Ra'ds.
"The Nuke in the Gate caused a split between worlds." Ebsa told him. "This Ra'd is a very highly regarded Exterior Directorate Agent. Not that you appear belligerent, but . . . Umm, hi. We're the rescue crew."
Chapter Sixty-six
Best News Ever
18 Hija 1400 ne
"Right, so, the Council is meeting in the municipal stadium, and hopefully will have a bill that covers an embassy on the Embassy World, and authority to open diplomacy with Disco, the Other Empire, the Other Earth, and the Earth that invaded us." The President sat back. "Poor Eggo. He really doesn't like not testing the powered gate. But he's got five Worlds, apparently really nice ones, to explore, so I told him to settle for the two year moratorium and stop bitching."
The Ax grinned. "Interior's griping about him poaching personnel. But he suddenly needs people to manage field expeditions and keep his scientists alive. And . . . " He stopped and glanced over his shoulder as Major Muin walked in, comm to his ear.
The major was grinning, as he tapped the comm for speaker.
" . . . not going to answer to that name anymore! Ever!"
Agni lunged up from his chair. "Aggie! Are you all right?"
"Hi Dad. I'm fine. And I've changed my nickname. I'm Zog."
"Zog." Agni sank back into his chair. "That's . . . yeah, I guess you're old enough to have an adult type nickname. Zog. I like it. Are you all right?"
"Yeah, umm, what happened to Ujji? The driver? Was he all right?"
Major Muin nodded. "Broken arm and collar bone."
"Oh good. He wasn't nearly as obnoxious as most of the guards. Umm, the guards here are pretty cool. And, umm, will you please not have Nick killed? Umm, Azho the Priest Killer. He's actually a good guy and Gamer isn't that kind of dangerous. Zoar. Shoot-on-sight is stupid. And I had a great time, and can I have another dog? Diego and Lady Fang had puppies and can I have a horse? I've been riding the Black Horse horses. And I've been hunting and I made my own bow and well, the first one wasn't very good, but we've got it figured out now . . ."
Agni wiped a damp eye and listened to the boy rattle on. Rapid stomping recognizable footsteps . . . how does she stomp in high heels? His wife frowned her way through the door, clearly irritated to have been dragged away from who-knows-what . . .
Luex's mouth opened to snap at him . . .
"So I've been hunting, but I haven't actually killed anything yet . . . "
Luz's eyes got wider than her mouth and the tears started. "Aggie? Aggie, is that you?"
"Hi Mom! I'm fine, I had a great time, I'm just fine. Don't cry. And umm, please call me Zog."
She kept right on crying. Agni circled the desk to hug her, and get her to sit down, and a box of tissues.
And spoke while she blew her nose. "Son, Zog . . . yes you may have a puppy, yes you may have a horse, yes I will look into the charges against Azho and Zoar. We've been worried sick about you. Welcome home."
A deep sigh. "I really like it here. I've got friends. I know I have to go back home. I missed you guys too, but . . . this was really fun."
Lux, stiffened. "Little Aggie!"
"No Mom! Do not call me that!"
Agni pulled out his own comm and passed it to Muin. "See if you can reach Ahco and find out when they'll be here, send cars . . . transport . . . One! Has he got a hundred horses there?"
Ag . . . Zog chipped in. "A hundred and seventy-two, except they traded some for gasoline to keep the generators running for the clinic and the fabs, except we're out of base, so that doesn't matter anymore."
Muin tapped away . . . "Dough? Are you anywhere near Ahco? No? Do you have any guesstimates on your arrival here, and . . . Zog says you have a hundred and seventy-two horses? Good idea . . . Okay . . . Well, that'll be ninety-five more than we've got now, which is eight."
He cradled the comm. "They're waiting for the Earthers to finish departing. It's the same Chinese army group that we had so much trouble with, here. They've got about fifty horses that are not fit for duty, might not be for a year, if ever, and said they'd like to leave all the mares with the colonists—there's a bunch of people who aren't interested in leaving. But ninety-five horses are good to go now."
Ax raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Tell him that's approved, and I'll see about transport for ninety-five horses."
Muin passed that on . . . "Dough says that if you want guards there to protect the colonists, and incidentally keep an eye on the non-Oners who are staying, their group has good relations with all the civilians, including the remaining Earthers, who are mostly middle-aged female accountants."
"One! Well, that is a good idea. Ask if the people will be safe if the guards come home to be debriefed, or if a constant presence there is a good idea."
"Dough? Oh, you heard that? Ah, yes." Muin looked over at them. "They're pretty sure they've cleaned out all the dinosaurs of a dangerous size, but he recommends rotating people in and out."
Agni switched his attention briefly back to his wife and son.
"No, Mom. Not a pony. A horse. I've been riding the black horses for months. I want a full-sized horse."
Back to Muin and Ax.
"Minister MacU wants Captain Ahco court-martialed? Why?"
Ax snorted and leaned closer. "Fat chance! How about the civilians? Did any of the apartment towers survive the trip?"
The tinny voice from the comm carried. "They're all good . . . over five thousand civilians safe and sound . . . "
Agni fought off a strong desire to collapse for a laughing and crying jag that would be very, very un-presidential. Took a deep breath and tried to get his brain back into work mode. Big speech tonight.
"He says only a couple of the guards would probably want to live there forever, but as a place to be stationed, it lacks only electricity and access to a city for vacations. And shopping." A pause. "Only one of the seventeen—Princess Deip—has injuries that might require her to retire, but she's one of the people who might stay, whether guard or colonist."
Ax nodded. "Relay my order—a third at a time to cycle out, it will become an official posting, probably volunteer. Get Princess Deip back with the first group for a medical exam and treatment."
Agni nodded approval, walked back to Lux.
"Oh, Captain Ahco says we'll go in ten minutes, but we're not taking horses until the transportation is arranged . . . Oh, Nighthawk says she can do a corridor to Versalle for us. That would be awesome."
"Excellent." Agni knelt beside Lux and slipped an arm around her waist. "We really need to cultivate these Comet Fall people. They've got some very odd magic techniques we ought to study."
Aggie . . . Zog's voice filled with glee. "Wait till you see what I've learned. Oh, yeah, I touched the Power while I was here. So I've been getting lessons from Nick."
Oh One! "I can't wait to see."
"Oh, Captain Ahco says it's time to go. See you in a couple of hours!"
Muin looked around. "All the Red Zone people are there as well. Most of them are planning to stay. And we need to tell the gate guards that a lady from Disco named Nighthawk is approved to come here and open a corridor from there to Versalle."
Agni nodded. "I'll send people the other direction, to take a census . . . and . . . I think I'll go down myself to pick up Zog."
Chapter Sixty-seven
Farewell
18 Hija 1400 ne
Nick stood back. Out of the reach of temptation.
Grab her. Carry her off.
Get killed.
"Take your time. Be sure. If you return, I'll be here . . . Or maybe over the hills, hard to say which way the governments will jump. Any of the five of them."
He could see her swallow. The sheen of tears.
"I need to see my mom, my sister, a doctor . . . think."
Nick nodded, glanced back to watch MacU stalk through the corridor, most of the ministry guards following him.
Half the civilians from the apartment towers were staying, the rest were packing. Ebsa had pointed out that with no danger here, there was no rush and they could arrange moving companies to come and take everything away to whatever new apartment they leased.
Same with Main Accounting, and even some of the Earth soldiers. We're getting rid of the problems and the unwilling. It's going to be a lot better now.
Dipper looked around as Nighthawk walked up.
"So, sort of almost sister-in-law. Take this. It can hold an entire building, should you have one handy. Like, say, a barn full of cattle, sheep, and goats. Just in case you've truly lost your mind." The dark woman grinned. "Like me."
Dipper blinked in astonishment. A much hinged double bar.
“It’ll unfold to six feet tall, you can envelop a whole building, then open this and tape to the sides of a door to come and go and load supplies.”
Nick edged a little closer. "The bags of the prophets were made by Those Left Behind. Now that we've found them . . . I suspect they'll get a whole lot more common."
A laugh from his . . . older brother. "Not really. The governments hate how easy they make smuggling." He held out two bars. One shiny and one with rust spots. "Would you like a new one, or father's?"
Nick stared at the rusty one . . . swallowed, remembering the priests taking it away before they anesthetized him . . . "It has too much freight of emotions and memories for me, now. I'll start anew. Thank you."
Ra'd nodded and looped an arm around Nighthawk's shoulders and steered her away.
Deip blinked back tears. "I . . . "
"Yeah. Well, I'll be busy and running around doing things. It's not like I'm going to pine away . . . But I will be hoping for your return, and missing you terribly."
Just scoop her up. Take her far away, where they'll never find us.
Nick stepped away. Couldn't stand it. Turned and walked away. Spotted Zog petting Zombie . . . who was not looking much like her name since Nighthawk had worked over her cheek.
"Zog . . . You're an honorary member of the Red Zone Clan. And my family. Find out if Hakim is wanted, if not, then once he's too old for the One to take him, he could go back, go to college."
Zog brightened.
"Now, remember what I've taught you. Especially the parts about control, responsibility, and honor. But don't forget to have fun." Nick saw Ahco approaching. "So. Good journey."
Zog shook his hand, then straightened his shoulders and wiped the woe-be-gone look from his face. Nodded. "Maybe I can come back for vacations." Then he turned and walked away. Deip joined them . . . one last meeting of eyes . . . then they all walked through the corridor and were gone.
Not forever.
Chapter Sixty-eight
Poe Little Boy
18 Hija 1400 ne
Poe followed the Black Horse Guards, stomach roiled, hands trembling. I have to know. I have to free myself openly. I can't just cravenly hide for the rest of my life, wondering when they'll drag me back into their mental enslavement.
I must free myself.
And . . . I have an apology and reparations to make.
The corridor took them to a hill above and north of the pinwheel.
Fifty meters to another arch of rocks.
Poe looked back . . . It was all an accident. Or a miracle. Certainly an opportunity. Please One . . . no, Allah, no. No. I won't pray to a god. Just let me be free to return to this place of my awakening.
He turned back and stepped through the gate. A larger wrench this time. A flat prairie of shorter grass, a newly paved road. Buildings that looked like they were intended to be temporary. Signs on them. He followed the Black Horse Guards to, and into, the one labeled "One World."
A man with a handheld scanner was passing them through as quickly as their implanted ID was recognized. Poe got a startled look. "One Izpo?"
"Yes. I need to return to Makkah. How can I best arrange that?"
The man tapped at his comp . . . "A taxi will take you to the airport, a ticket on the 1525 flight to Alcairo is paid for and the train to Makkah is, of course, free."
"Thank you." Poe headed out the back door and walked through another gate . . .
The thick syrup of the presence of the One rolled through his mind.
He had no trouble knowing which taxi had been paid to take him to the airport, his ID passed him through the ticket check, a restaurant fed him, then he walked onto the plane. There was no pressure, just the subliminal presence of . . . everyone.
The plane landed, he walked down to the passages to various destinations, took the slidewalk to the train depot . . . he was most of the way to Makkah when the voices started.
:: Welcome, welcome. ::
He closed his eyes to the outside world. Held his inner shields hard and started thinking.
:: I have come to say goodbye. I will not be a part of this any longer. ::
:: You are ours, part of us. ::
:: You took me when I was a child. Never let me grow. But now I have. And I will not be part of you again. ::
:: You will. ::
:: A hundred and twelve years ago I gave up when I ought to have kept fighting. But I am not that child. Now I will not stop fighting. ::
