Crashing Heaven (28 page)

‘And you’ve done nothing to try and stop her.’

‘Too risky. Haven’t found anyone I could trust. And besides, even if I did manage to go public, who’d believe me? A ghost, accusing the Pantheon of staging a war for their own ends. At best, I’d get found and wiped. At worst, I’d go straight back to being Yamata’s bitch.’

‘So where are you now?’

‘Oh, that would be telling, wouldn’t it? Somewhere safe from her – and from your contacts, too. The Pantheon doesn’t like competition much, you know.’

[Off-Station,] commented Fist. [Lag time says he’s still in Earth orbit, bouncing his signal off comms satellites.]

‘You make getting away sound very easy,’ said Jack.

‘Yamata was overconfident. That made her easy to fool. She’s not any more. That’s why you need my help.’

‘You’ve got to be kidding.’

‘I know how she works. I am what she is. I can help you crack her defences. I threw her out of TrueShield, and I chased her back to the heart of Kingdom. I can get your puppet deep inside her.’

‘We can already do that, Harry.’

‘Fist’s good, but he’s sloppy.’

‘Fuck you too,’ Fist snapped back.

‘That’s a sore point, isn’t it? If I hadn’t been at TrueShield, she’d have fried both of you. You need me, Jack. You and your little helper both.’

‘They caught us off guard. They won’t do that again.’

Harry chuckled. ‘Well, I admire your confidence at any rate.’

Fist became a shimmer in the air, floating before Harry, his still lightly charred face enraged. His voice was quiet and deliberately paced, control lending it menace.

‘You led us right into her house, and you didn’t tell us what we’d find there, or who she was working for.’

‘I didn’t know she’d be there in such force. And I only found out it was Kingdom when you did. She always kept her patron so well hidden.’

‘Listen to me,’ Fist told him. ‘I’ve been cracking systems like you – and her – since the day I was born. I was built to assess them, break into them and then destroy them. There’s nothing you can’t tell me about what they are, and how they work, and how to kill them. I’m going to find the deepest part of her mind, and then I’m going to blow it. And if I get the chance, I’m going to do the same thing to you.’

Harry laughed again. ‘Little puppet,’ he said. ‘She’s been rebuilding herself for almost as long. She’s never been Totality, and she’s certainly not human any more. And even if you do get past her, well, there’s our friend up there’ – he waved up towards Heaven – ‘her own puppet master. Are you ready for a fight with Kingdom, puppet? Are you punching at that weight yet, little Fist?’

[Don’t boast,] warned Jack. [ We can’t let anyone know what you can really do.]

Fist said nothing, shaking visibly with the effort of restraining himself. Harry chuckled. Jack felt Fist’s rage burn. Then – at a deeper level – attack systems rose into life, casting long, savage shadows into his conscious mind. But they didn’t launch as smoothly as they’d once done. As they booted up, there was a faint, broken grinding and the sharp reek of burnt plastic.

[Don’t, Fist. He’s not worth it.]

[ I’ll crack him like a fucking nut.]

[ We’ve got more important battles to fight.]

‘I’m sure your master is warning you not to attack me. It’s very sensible advice. I’m an old dog, but I could still surprise you both. And as for you’ – Harry pointed at Jack – ‘you should know better than to be so confident. It’s a rookie mistake, and you haven’t been a rookie for a long time.’

‘I don’t trust you any more, Harry.’

‘Very wise. But for now remember this – you will need my help. And if you want to summon me, call my name, and you’ll be able to sit back and watch me kill Aud Yamata for you. And I might even have a crack at Kingdom, too. Call it a hostile takeover if you like, I could run things far better than that cunt.’

‘You’re not coming through me again,’ snarled Fist.

Harry laughed, and was gone.

Ato returned an hour or so later. Jack and Fist were sat together in the middle of the glade, watching the night. Black lines carved the air around them, sometimes making abstract shapes, sometimes rolling together to hint at prowling lions and tigers and bears. ‘Oh,’ said Fist, noticing Ato. ‘It’s you. We’re ready for our spacewalk.’

‘And Grandpa’s got good news,’ replied Ato. ‘Mr Stabs is expecting you.’ Fist jigged around with glee. Jack stood up. ‘We’ll get you some food,’ Ato continued, ‘then I’ll take you to the door to Homeland’s outer skin and you’ll fly straight to Heaven.’

Chapter 40

Jack walked in his vacuum suit, the sound of his own breathing loud in his ears. Homelands’ metal skin curved away and down to his left and right. Ahead, a great pillar broke out of it and soared up to Heaven. Beyond it there was a hundred million miles of nothing, then the silent, roaring sun. Its shadow protected him from the sun’s blaze. Fist floated next to him. He sported a vacuum suit too – an affectation, as of course he had no need of one. A little black bow-tie sat jauntily just below its visor. It was simpler to model than his normal clothing, so it was fresh and uncharred.

Fist broke the near-silence. [Do you know,] he said, sounding a little surprised, [ I actually enjoyed sorting out the kids.]

Remembering what he’d done to Akhmatov, Jack had asked if the children wanted to be made permanently invisible. They’d all been very excited. Even Fred lifted himself out of his sulk. ‘Do you understand what he’s saying?’ Ato enthused. ‘We’ll be children forever. You can go out again, Fred!’ Fist touched them one by one, dropping his sweathead code into their already customised weaveware. He’d built an on/off switch into it, just for them. Fred tried hard to conceal his excitement. Jack imagined him running through the streets and malls of Homelands, joyously untouchable.

[And now I can’t wait to see Stabs again. Let’s go!]

[ We need to talk to a couple of people first.]

[ Hmph,] grumbled Fist, then: [Going into your weavespace through an external antenna, we’re pretty much untraceable. We could be anywhere in Earth orbit. Right, you’re go.]

They were standing in a moonlit garden, by a statue of Ifor. ‘Get me Lestak,’ Jack commanded.

‘Creating a contact,’ Fist replied. An uncarved stone block appeared next to Ifor’s statue. ‘Searching for her address,’ he continued, then after a moment: ‘Meshing. She’s accepting you.’

Lestak’s avatar emerged from the stone like meaning from a dead language. Jack reached out and took her hard hand. It softened into flesh. She snatched it away and slapped his face. The pain was no less real for being simulated.

‘You’ve caused me far too much trouble, Forster.’

‘I don’t have much time.’

‘None at all – I’m tracing you.’

‘No. Not where I am.’

Lestak was quiet for a moment. Jack imagined her listening to a technician, hastily ordered to find him as she reached to accept his call.

‘Oh, for gods’ sake, Jack.’

‘I’ve seen what lies beneath your world, and now I’ve stepped outside it.’

‘Don’t be so melodramatic.’

‘I’ve met the children of the terrorists.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

Jack laughed. ‘Maybe you don’t, at that.’ He turned to Fist. ‘Encrypt us. And share the code with Lestak.’

‘On it.’ Fist trotted over to stand next to Jack. ‘Is Issie there?’ he asked. ‘I need to run this through her.’

She shimmered into being. A white silk scarf hid her skull head. Wisps of hair escaped its top. ‘Hello, Fist!’ she said. ‘Oo! You’re somewhere really interesting. I wish I could travel like you do. Are we going to play again?’

Fist rattled off a string of numbers and letters.

‘Oh’ she said, sounding disappointed. ‘No, we’re not.’

Lestak’s image shimmered briefly, and then returned to apparent wholeness.

‘No one else can hear us now,’ Jack told her.

‘What are you hoping to achieve?’

‘It’s Kingdom. He’s been running Yamata. She was behind the terrorist attacks on Station. He had me sent to war because I was getting too close to uncovering her. And Yamata – she’s something new now. A human mind, running on a Totality platform.’

‘That’s impossible. No one can …’

‘Kingdom’s done it. That’s what Harry Devlin is, too.’

‘Harry’s dead and his fetch is broken.’

‘He’s still around. Yamata used his knowledge to stay one step ahead of InSec, until he escaped.’

‘You have proof of all this?’

‘No. But I’ll find it. I’m going after Yamata. Harry chased her back to Heaven. That’s where her servers are.’

‘You’ll never get in there.’

‘I already have a way. I trust you, Lestak. I don’t think you’re a part of all this. You can’t go after them yourself, they’d probably just kill you. Just watch Kingdom, watch him close. I’m going to give you a chance to break him and I want you to take it.’

‘You’re mad, Jack. Nobody can topple the gods.’

Jack thought of dead snowflakes.

‘I’ve killed angels by the score. It’s not a big step up.’

[ We’re getting some Pantheon interest,] Fist warned. [ It’s Kingdom.]

‘I’m going now,’ said Jack. ‘Goodbye, Lestak. Don’t let me down.’ She was about to say something, and then she was a statue again. ‘How close did he get to us, Fist?’

‘He knew we were there. Wouldn’t have known who we were, what we were saying.’

‘Good. Now for Ifor.’

The mind shimmered into being before them. ‘Jack,’ he began. ‘Well. You have been causing me all sorts of trouble. We talked of discretion? That flash mob has posted your image all over the weave. It has become a fashion to imitate your dress, and now every single one of your groupies pretends to adore the Totality. We cannot move for Forster fans mobbing us.’

‘I’m sorry, Ifor. I didn’t know that East would play it that way.’

‘It is difficult for us. Our negotiations with your Pantheon have reached a delicate stage.’

‘Kingdom blocking you?’

‘No, he’s been surprisingly conciliatory.’

‘That’s his public stance.’ Jack quickly explained the situation. ‘I’m going to move against Yamata and then Kingdom. You’re in negotiation so you can’t be seen to do it. Lestak’s hamstrung.’

‘Where are you now?’

‘Close to them both. That’s all you need to know. I’m going to get proof of their crimes and share it with the world.’

‘If you are captured or exposed without that proof, we will deny all knowledge of you.’

‘Wanker,’ said Fist.

Ifor chuckled. ‘Realpolitik, my friend. But perhaps that is too sweeping. If I can help you out of trouble, I will. Call for me, little puppet, and I will do my best to come.’

‘You’re still a wanker.’

Jack patted Fist’s helmet. ‘Always the charmer,’ he said. ‘But we’ve got to be going. Spread the word, Ifor: it’s Kingdom. He’s been running Yamata, and we think she’s behind the terrorist attacks.’

‘Spread the word? Now that I know, we all know.’

‘And I’ve got a favour to ask. Something personal.’

‘What do you want us to do?’

‘What we’re about to do – well, it’s risky. If we don’t make it back, could you go to my parents, and tell them about the last few days – about everything we’ve found out?’

‘I will, Jack.’

‘My father doesn’t like the Totality.’

‘We’ll find a way of reaching him. And we’ll talk to your mother.’

‘You’ll need his permission for that.’

‘Perhaps.’

When Ifor had gone, Fist turned to Jack. ‘Now for Heaven and Mr Stabs!’

‘There’s one more thing. Remember we talked about Andrea?’

‘Ah, yes. I could have done with a bit more time. But this should do the trick.’

Fist put his hand out and a little feather appeared. It glowed with shifting colours and patterns. Jack took it from him. Its barbs brushed against themselves, glitching out soft musical notes.

‘Why a feather?’ asked Jack.

‘To unclip her wings. Once she’s installed it, nobody will be able to roll her back, or send her back to the Coffin Drives if she doesn’t want to go. She’ll be free, just like you wanted.’

‘Very poetic.’

There was paper in Jack’s hand. He remembered the notes he’d exchanged with Andrea, such a short time ago. So much had changed since then.

‘I understand everything now,’ he wrote, ‘and I’m going to try and find a resolution. I’m so glad I found you again. I hope the feather helps you fly. Oh, and Harry lied to us both about what he is.’ Jack summarised what Harry had told them in the garden, then simply ended with: ‘I love you.’ An envelope appeared. He addressed it, tucked the feather into it and carefully sealed it.

‘Consequences, Jack,’ warned Fist. ‘If the Pantheon ever trace that back to us we’re in big trouble. Almost as bad as killing one of them. It rewrites some pretty basic fetch code.’

‘Will they?’

‘I’ve been very careful. It’s locked to Andrea only. If it’s just running on her, it’ll be pretty much invisible. And I’ve dropped in some camouflage for her. She’ll be able to make it look like she’s been rolled back or sent down. If she’s careful, nobody will ever find her out.’

‘Good,’ said Jack. ‘Send.’ A flash of light and it was done. ‘Now we’re ready to go.’

Fist let the garden fall away. Once again they stood outside Homelands, shaded by a pillar of Heaven. ‘Well,’ he said, looking up at it, ‘time for an ascension. All security’s in place, and you’re going to love what I’ve done with our beasts. No more panthers.’

He clapped his gloved hands together. Ghosts of animals flitted into being, barely visible against the dark. Jack looked for different shapes, different sizes; for lions and tigers and bears. But they were all the same kind of creature.

There were sharp heads like wedges, dark pointed ears pricking up, lean and muscular bodies made to run and catch and bring down prey. Their skin was pitch-black. Eyes and mouths flamed in the darkness. Burning spit dropped away from tongues of fire. Flames danced around them, a basic fact of their being, scudding across their bodies, dancing down legs, burning out in footprint trails behind them. They milled around sniffing at each other, welcoming themselves into existence.

‘Dogs,’ breathed Jack.

‘Not just dogs – hounds. Man’s best friend,’ replied Fist proudly. ‘Nothing to be scared of. Unless it’s you they’re hunting. They’re a pack, they’ll take commands.’

Jack snapped: ‘To me!’ The pack’s response was immediate. Seven heads snapped towards him. Seven pairs of burning eyes met his, all attention, all engagement. They jostled closer, flame tongues lolling in open mouths. A wave of heat rolled across him.

‘I’ve been burned,’ said Fist, ‘and so they burn. My weakness is my strength!’

‘Back away,’ ordered Jack. ‘Walk around us.’

The dogs pulled back and resumed their prowling. Their footfalls sparked fire, creating a soft circle of flame.

‘Now I know what we’re up against, I’ve tweaked their defences,’ Fist explained. ‘Totalityware won’t touch them.’

‘Excellent,’ smiled Jack. ‘Let’s go.’

He leapt up and squeezed a little propellant out. All of a sudden he was flying in space, his shadow hounds leaping with him through the darkness.

For a long time afterwards he would remember that moment as one of perfection; blazing through night, certain in purpose, ready to unleash his vengeance on Heaven. He wondered if he should have Fist twine him in fire too, a rebel returned to break the rule of his makers. Perhaps he should fly on great burning wings.

He let a little more air squirt out, correcting a drift out of the pillar’s shadow. He thought of the sun. It at once nourished humanity and was completely unaware of it. Here was a god he could worship, he realised, one that gave unstintingly without demanding anything in return. He wondered what it would mean to enter a state of such disinterested grace, to bless without possibility of control or reward. In his mind, the sun roared.

That imagined sound made him realise that his pack was silent. [Let me hear you,] he thought. Pants and growls burst across him. One dog howled and one by one the others joined it. Each shifted in and out of phase with the others, harsh dissonances and subtle harmonies rising and filling in the night. As the hounds roared for their master, fire fell backwards from their gaping mouths, fading into the night. Burning feet found firm purchase in nothing. They were closing in on Heaven. Soon they would storm its gates.

[ Where did Grey say Mr Stabs would meet us?]

[ He was very precise. It’s an access door just where the pillar hits Heaven.]

[Perfect. Will anyone spot the pack?]

[ They’re ghosts until they’re on you – if you can see them, you’re already fucked.]

Heaven raced towards them. Jack touched the void with his steerjets, spinning round and slowing. When he touched down he landed gently but firmly, magnetic soles clamping him to the ground. One by one, the dogs landed around him. Looking back, he saw that the trail of fire they had burned into the night was falling away to nothing.

[ You are an artist sometimes, Fist.]

[Everything I am comes from you.]

For a moment Jack mistrusted the compliment, but he could find no ambiguity or hostile intent in it. Fist hovered in front of him, slowly rotating to bring himself right way up. The pack sniffed around them, exploring new territory.

[ Have they found anything?] asked Jack.

[ They’ve neutralised some basic security systems. Nothing else here. I don’t think the gods ever expected anyone to get in this way.]

[Complacent as ever. Where’s the door?]

[Over there.] Fist pointed at the pillar. An airlock started to open. Pale light leapt out of it. [ You’ve waited long enough,] Jack told him. [Let’s go see Mr Stabs.]