Provenance I - Flee The Bonds (28 page)

He spent exactly five minutes in the shower, Alex’s rank allowed for such extravagances. When he returned, midnight over Manhattan had replaced the snow-capped mountains. His eyes followed his nose to two cups of coffee on the table. Alex had been out to a vending machine.

Steve sank down opposite into the settee’s welcoming embrace, ‘Thanks for the coffee.’

‘You’re welcome.’

Steve took a sip. ‘Not bad for a machine.’

Alex’s lips twitched, ‘Thank you. One sugar, yes?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’ Alex knew a lot about him, perhaps too much. Steve looked up, dropping his smile. ‘Did you set a trap for me at DC 4?’

Alex’s shock appeared genuine, ‘No I did not, why would I?’

‘I don’t know. But then, I also don’t know why you told me there were no nanossasin clinics on Earth.’

‘It’s not safe for you on Earth, or your friends.’

‘Why?’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’

‘Do you have any information about who killed Jason?’

‘I’m SCITECH, not CONSEC.’

Steve leaned forward. ‘You don’t seem particularly concerned either.’

‘If I wasn’t concerned, I wouldn’t have agreed to protect his best friend. That’s what he would have wanted — what he always wanted. He understood what was at stake.’

‘Which is what?’

‘Perhaps you should sleep first?’

Steve took another sip. ‘No. Let’s hear it now.’

Alex leant back, clasping his fingers in his lap. ‘Very well. Twenty years ago, two SCITECH officers experimenting with cytoarchitectonics discovered they could manipulate brain stem cells to enhance individual lobes. Advances in glucose fuel meant lab-grown brains could be engineered for specific tasks. The new Human Processing Units could interface directly with control mechanisms, apply reasoned logic and, most importantly, learn.’

Steve thought back to the white cubes and their blinking light.
They weren’t CPUs, they were human brains — starved of oxygen.
‘I assume they don’t feel pain?’

‘That’s debatable. Anyway, the first HPU recipients were the AHs and then Provenance’s management systems. Five years ago, the Council instructed SCITECH to produce a brain for use in combat. As development progressed, SIS ordered SCITECH to enhance the HPU’s aggressive capabilities. SCITECH complied.’ Alex shrugged. ‘What choice did they have? They manipulated the prefrontal cortex and restricted the production of serotonin. The result was an autonomous HPU that would attack whatever it was ordered to attack — it was then that SCITECH realised what they’d created. What if one was plugged into navigation and decided to ram Earth? A few raised concerns; we don’t know what happened to them.’

Steve couldn’t hold it in any longer, a yawn escaped. ‘Sorry.’

Alex’s lips compressed. ‘It’s okay, I’ve nearly finished. In June, a SCITECH officer at MP 14 requested information on a new variant of Prefect, the latest recipient of the SIS HPU. He also realised the danger of autonomy coupled with aggression. That’s when Captain Kalckburg became involved and shortly after, Jason. You know what happened next.’

Steve rubbed his eyes, ‘So you contacted Jason?’

Alex shifted to the edge of his seat. ‘SCITECH needed someone in CONSEC who had the authority to conduct an investigation.’ He looked down, ‘The discounts on proscribed tech were just a cover.’

Steve felt confused, not by what he’d heard, but by his inability to form a coherent response.

Alex reached across and took hold of Steve’s cup. ‘I will tell you the rest tomorrow.’ He glanced at his MPS, ‘I mean later today.’

Steve tried to stand, but the settee held him, pulling him in deeper. When his eyes closed, he gave up trying.

Alex’s muted voice floated in the emptiness, ‘You need to sleep now.’

09:16 FRI 03:11:2119

Intra Zone, Seine
-
et
-
Marne, France, Sector 2

Kacee wrapped her arms tighter. As usual, her fairy tale dream had mutated into nightmarish reality. She turned towards the footsteps.

Francois bounded down the porch steps, his olive hunting jacket and canvas trousers appeared well worn. He’d set her up. Kacee had shown the Drone’s photograph to Dee. His fear reaction had almost obliterated his recognition reflex — and confirmed Kacee’s suspicions. Penny MacGillson was Steve’s girlfriend.

Francois’s smile widened, the sun-soaked gravel crunched beneath his calf length boots. ‘You look beautiful,
ma Cherie
.’

Beautiful wasn’t the word she’d use. Her clothes were similar to Francois’s, but new, stiff,
and
one size too small.

‘Thanks, but like I said, I don’t want to shoot anything.’
Aside from you.

‘Of course, I understand.’

Kacee hitched into his raised arm and together they descended the curved flight of steps to the driveway. ‘Is Martine coming back today?’

He turned an unreadable smile on her. ‘No, unfortunately she has decided to leave. I have someone else to care for you.’

Steve’s warning impinged on her thoughts. ‘That’s okay. I can manage.’

His hand rested on hers, ‘I insist.’

Dee waited on the driveway, his melon shoulders stretching a pristine hunting jacket. Eventually, his roving eyes found her face, ‘You decided to come then?’

‘I couldn’t let you face all those dangerous animals on your own. One of them might shoot back.’ Her eyes darted. ‘You boys gonna catch them with your bare hands.’

Francois chuckled. ‘No, my dear . . .’ He angled his head towards the throaty roar of the approaching All Terrain. ‘Albert has the guns.’

* * * *
 

Kacee was lost. She’d been alone for forty minutes, walking for twenty. It wouldn’t have surprised her if Francois had left her on purpose, so he could come to the rescue of his
Joséphine
.

She glared up. The milky afternoon sun strained through the sparse canopy, spotlighting the litter of orange leaves, moss, and dry bracken. Occasionally a dead leaf would succumb to gravity and drift aimlessly through the silent trees, landing with a faint tick. No, she wouldn’t be calling for help. At least not from him.

Kacee snapped her head around, her stomach tightened. She wasn’t alone anymore.

The dark haired Albert stood a stone’s throw away, his camouflaged fatigues hugging his gangly build. He was young; maybe even a lastborn. He raised an arm and beckoned, his sharp jaw flattened into a smile. Kacee set off towards him.

When she reached the shade of an oak tree, she stopped. Albert tilted his puzzled expression and beckoned again. Kacee’s neck tingled, her preoccupation focused on his rifle. Francois’s and Dee’s didn’t have silencers.

She pointed. ‘You wanna sling the rifle?’

Albert’s smile broadened. He hitched up the rifle and raised his palms.

Relief blew through Kacee’s lips. She returned the smile and continued walking, chiding herself for letting nervousness distort reason. A gunshot boomed across the forest, followed by a whoop from Dee. Anxiety fell from Kacee’s shoulders, the layers of dry leaves sprung beneath her boots.

Albert raised his arm in the direction of the gunshot. As Kacee passed him, she could already feel the bath water’s cosy embrace and smell its sweet vanilla steam.

The forest began to whorl.

She swung around, vision lagged, stretching psychedelic swirls of chlorophyll and orange. Her vision caught up, her focus bounced back. Albert appeared distant against a backdrop of animated colours. One hand covered his mouth, while the other reached towards her.

Something hissed.

19:37 FRI 03:11:2119

Cabin 42-18-3125, Provenance, LEO

‘Don’t be a baby.’

Matt folded his arms and pouted. ‘I’m not a baby.’

Steve prodded with his wooden sword, ‘Yes you are, baby, baby, baby.’

Matt peered down over the edge of the tree house floor. ‘Mummy said we mustn’t come up here until Daddy’s finished it. It’s dangerous.’

Steve huffed and punched his hips. ‘No it’s not. If you don’t fight, I’ll tell everyone in class.’

Matt moved away from the edge and raised his sword.

Steve’s eyes lit up and he did likewise. ‘
Hajime
.’ He shuffled left. According to the book, you had to manoeuvre your opponent to face the sun. Matt moved out of the leafy shade, and squinted into the afternoon glare. He parried Steve’s strike and stepped back.

Steve dropped his sword and dived. ‘Matt!’

Only Matt’s head was visible above the wooden decking, his face contorted into a sinuous mass of flushed pink, ‘Stephen!’ He threw his right arm up onto the decking, his tiny fingers tearing at the rough timber.

Steve grabbed his brother’s arm with both hands. ‘It’s okay Matt, I’ve got you.’ But it wasn’t okay and they both knew it, there was nothing to hold.

The coarse planks scraped beneath Steve’s shirt, pulling him closer to the edge. Matt’s head disappeared below the decking, the fingertips of his left hand shining white against the golden wood.

Steve was at the edge, staring into wide green eyes.

Panic shredded Matt’s voice, ‘Don’t let go.’

Steve gritted his teeth as Matt’s smooth skin slipped through his desperate grip, ‘I won’t.’

Six metres below, soft summer grass beckoned.

* * * *
 

‘Steve, Steve, wake up.’

Matt never called him Steve. He jolted awake and sat up, the single white bed sheet that covered his semi-naked body slipped down. ‘You drugged me!’ Steve’s anger suppressed the pain in his scarred shoulder, almost. He hadn’t had that dream in years.

Alex’s face drooped, ‘I needed to prove you could trust me.’

‘Why did you undress me?’

‘I washed your clothes.’ He pointed to a neat pile of clothes at the foot of the bed.

Steve rubbed his eyes and sighed, ‘Okay.’

Alex’s pained countenance vanished into a smile.

Steve’s reciprocal smile hid his puzzlement. Jason had once said he thought Alex had some sort of bipolar disorder. Steve didn’t think so, more likely the mercurial Alex was a TYPE. PURE’s advanced eugenics had left TYPEs with a variety of psychological oddities, and being a TYPE would also explain Alex’s meteoric rise through the ranks.

His puzzlement switched to his left wrist, it hadn’t been bandaged when he’d arrived and his MPS was missing.

‘Like I said, I needed your trust.’ Alex nodded at Steve’s wrist. ‘That’s a biofield scrambler; it will change to any number of identities.’ He retrieved Steve’s MPS from his trouser pocket. ‘I’ve programmed in fifty so far. Mr Wilkinson has many friends.’

Steve took the MPS and studied it, ‘Where do the identities come from?’

‘INC of course. Don’t worry they’re not active.’

Steve lifted his studious gaze. ‘How do you access INC?’

Alex smiled. ‘I’m well connected.’

* * * *
 

Steve stepped out of the bathroom, the sundrenched picture window’s translucent voile swayed in a tropical breeze. He continued towards the settee, his shoulders slumping at the sight of energy bars on the hexagonal table. While he’d been in the shower, Alex had made another excursion to the vending machine.

Alex glanced up. ‘It’s too dangerous for you to eat in public. You know Colossus isn’t going to collide with Earth. Captain Lacusta told you — before you terminated him.’

Steve tensed, and then shrugged it off. Alex had had plenty of opportunities to kill him. ‘You know a lot.’

Alex gestured at the opposite settee, ‘We’re past that. Drink your coffee before it gets cold.’

Steve sat and picked up the plastic cup. ‘How do you know about Lacusta?’

‘I have access to the net.’

‘So do I, but I can’t listen in on AHs.’

Alex touched the bars on his mandarin collar, ‘I’m a Chief Science Officer. I have certain
privileges
.’

‘You’ve been tracking me?’

‘Yes, as I promised Jason I would.’

Steve set down his cup, picked up an energy bar, and tore off the olive foil packaging. ‘I know nothing about you.’

‘It’s all on the net. My parents were both SCITECHs, they worked on the Pathfinder sensors. I followed in their footsteps, attended SCITECH Academy and here I am.’

‘Where are your parents now?’

‘The Resistance killed them.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Steve placed the empty foil wrapper on the table. Alex’s eyes followed.

Steve caught his gaze. ‘Do you know if Jason made any progress with the investigation?’

‘No, I don’t.’

‘What were you expecting him to find?’

‘SCITECH wanted insight into SIS’s plans for the new HPUs. They sabotaged the engine sequencer believing it would give them time to investigate. Unfortunately, SIS arrested and interrogated every SCITECH officer. Not everyone was released.’

Steve’s stomach gurgled, ‘Did you know my parents?’

‘No.’

‘Were you interrogated?’

‘Yes, but my specialism’s medicine, not HPUs.’

Steve stared, ‘You know about masking biofields and modifying Cogents.’

‘SCITECH does. There are rumours the Resistance will attack Provenance. SCITECH are worried that the new Prefects will be released up here.’

Steve’s plastic coffee cup cracked. ‘What about Jason and all the others down
there
?’

‘Jason asked me to protect you. I think he knew the Resistance were closing in.’

Remorse failed to quell Steve’s bitterness, ‘That must have kept you busy.’

‘Yes it did. Busy diverting a Merlin that would have killed you.’

Steve’s mind leapt back to the grubby metal cylinder lying on Jannae’s yellow handkerchief. ‘What about Jason?’

‘I tried, but there was too much interference in the zone.’

Alex must have had SIS permission to initiate an EM surge from Provenance
. But why?
‘Do you believe SIS killed Jason?’

Alex shrugged. ‘I don’t know. The Resistance appear to have acquired new tech, even artificials.’

Steve slumped back. ‘Proof that Colossus will miss Earth would help.’

Alex retrieved his MCD and extended it before handing it over. ‘It’s a live feed, the most restricted on Provenance.’