The Cyber Chronicles V - Overlord (8 page)

"I'm not
interested in your judgements," Ravian said. "What he did was born
out of disgust and disillusionment. He realised that what he was
doing was wrong, which is more than you can say about yourself. His
sentence is rescinded."

"Yes, My
Lord."

Ravian held out
her hand, and an aide placed a transparency in it, which she
offered to Atrashka. "Your orders, Chief Executive."

Atrashka took
the sheet and read it, his florid visage paling. "This is
impossible, My Lord."

"How so?"

"There's no way
to measure the pain cybers experience. As far as we know they feel
nothing."

"They feel
everything," Sabre said.

"Just because
you did -"

"Do not return
to that lie," Ravian said.

"My lord, we
can't drug them while they're in training."

"You could stop
the shock training," Sabre said.

"Then they'd be
slower -"

"Then let them
be slower."

Atrashka turned
to Ravian. "My lord, if we have to cause the hosts no pain, we'd
have to stop the sensory deprivation tanks as well, thereby
allowing the hosts more perception, which would only increase their
unhappiness."

"Unhappiness?"
Sabre snorted. "Try misery. And the sensory deprivation tanks don't
cause pain, just psychological trauma."

"You see? We
don't know what causes them pain, My Lord."

"Why don't you
put yourself through the training, then you'll find out first
hand," Sabre suggested.

"Atrashka,
you're just trying to find a way to make me change the order, and
it's not going to work," Ravian said. "The order will stand. You
will cause the cyber hosts no pain. One of my crew will supervise
you."

"My lord, by
doing this, you will force us to produce inferior cybers, who will
be more vulnerable. They will die."

"Death is
preferable," Sabre said.

"And you'll
profit from it," Ravian added. "You'll have a larger market."

Sabre glanced
at her. "Then they'll clone, torture and enslave more
children."

Ravian nodded.
"But they won't suffer as much, or for as long."

"Cold
comfort."

"Indeed."

Atrashka rolled
up the transparency. "May I ask a question, My Lord?"

Ravian inclined
her head.

Atrashka turned
to Sabre. "What happened to Previd Malatar?"

"I killed
him."

Atrashka
nodded. "As I suspected." He glanced at Ravian. "And you trust
him?"

"I'm sure he
had a very good reason."

Sabre said, "He
was trying to kill Tassin."

Atrashka turned
to Sabre again. "Of course. Quite understandable. But it's so easy
for you, isn't it? How long before your abilities go to your head?
What happens when you realise that no one can stop you from doing
whatever you want?"

"I already know
that."

"And how many
people have you killed to get what you want?"

"I've only
killed in self-defence, or to save my friends."

"Friends?"
Atrashka snorted. "How can a cyborg have friends? You have no
character, no social skills. How long before someone says the wrong
thing and you snap their neck?"

"Like you're
trying make me do now?"

Atrashka faced
Ravian. "My lord, it's only a matter of time before he becomes
dangerous. Right now he's uncertain and confused, enjoying his
freedom and imagining that he has friends, but we know human
nature. Sooner or later someone will hurt or betray him, and then
he'll resort to what he knows best. He's a killing machine without
any control. You can't unleash him on society. Do you know what
he's capable of?"

Ravian nodded.
"Indeed I do. I have tested him, and found that he would rather
punch through a duronium wall than hurt someone to save his
friends."

"And you think
he's going to stay like that?"

"Yes."

"My lord -"

Ravian raised a
hand. "Enough. My patience dwindles. No one questions the judgement
of an Overlord."

"Of course, My
Lord, forgive me. My concern for your safety and that of other
innocents overwhelms me. Be careful, I beg you."

"You may
leave."

The chief
executive bowed and headed for the door, his back stiff with
indignation. Sabre wondered why he had no great urge to snap his
neck or rip his arms off.

Ravian asked,
"Would you care to join me for a meal?"

Sabre rocked
back on his heels in surprise at the unexpected invitation, and
nodded without thinking.

"Good." Ravian
stepped down from her dais and swept towards another door, clearly
expecting him to follow.

In her
quarters, she went into an adjoining room and emerged moments later
clad in a sweeping crimson gown that shimmered with tiny diamonds.
Sinking down on a couch, she patted the empty space beside her, and
he sat down, keeping his distance. Again she surprised him by
moving closer.

"How is your
hand?"

He glanced down
at it. "It's okay."

"I admire your
self-restraint in regards to Atrashka. You must hate him very
much."

"I suppose
so."

"You're not
sure?"

"I'd rather not
discuss it."

She nodded. "Of
course. What would you like to discuss?"

"My pay."

"There is no
pay. You get whatever you want. A condo in Emprasarium? It's yours.
A mansion on the shores of the Summer Sea on Farlight? It's yours.
A dozen air-cars? A star ship? Just say the word."

He stared at
her. "Anything?"

"Absolutely
anything. My power is limitless."

"Lift the
restrictions on Omega Five?"

She smiled.
"Ah. I could arrange it, but that will require the agreement of at
least three other Overlords. Are you sure Omega Five is ready?"

"As much as it
will be in seven years’ time."

She tilted her
head. "You want it for Tassin? Does she want it, too?"

"I think
so."

"Perhaps you
should ask her first."

He nodded.
"Probably."

"Good. Let's
eat."

Ravian
gestured, and two crewmen entered with platters of finger food in
the form of tiny sandwiches, pastries and sugared fruit, with bowls
of sauce to accompany them, which they placed on the low table. The
scent made Sabre’s mouth water. The crewmen left and returned
several times, bringing more platters, along with decanters of
wine, glasses and cutlery. When at last they withdrew, a feast
covered the table.

Ravian smiled
and gestured to it. "Help yourself."

Sabre filled
his plate, and she did the same, selecting a few choice
morsels.

"Why have you
revealed yourself to me, but not my companions?" he asked.

She nibbled a
pastry. "Had you proven yourself unworthy, you would have been
executed. Since you passed the test, you're worthy of knowing and
keeping my secret. I live a lonely existence. My only companions
are my crew, and they're poor company, since they're trained from
childhood to serve an Overlord. I would greatly enjoy a companion,
and I thought you would make an interesting one."

"You were so
sure I would accept your employ?"

"No. Had you
refused, I would still have had a few days before you left."

"And how did
you know I would keep your secret?"

She smiled,
dimples appearing in her cheeks. "You're an unusual man, but you're
not the first to know my secret. Rumours abound about the true
identity of all the Overlords, but few are believed. Fairen, for
instance, is reputed to be a mutant with horns and a tail. You see,
Overlords die like anyone else, but they are replaced by the
apprentices they have trained, without changing their names.
Overlord Ravian has been around for almost a thousand years, but
I'm not that old. I have been Overlord Ravian for only seven years.
In fact, I was apprenticed to Fairen, who was aged and ailing. But
Ravian became ill suddenly, and he had no apprentice. So I replaced
him, and Fairen took on a new apprentice, who had to replace him
rather sooner than usual."

She picked up
her glass and sipped the ruby wine in it. "So, I ask that you don't
reveal my true identity, but if you do, it's not so serious. Few
would believe that Overlord Ravian, the feared Spider Lord, is a
mere girl. The original Ravian was the Spider Lord, back in the
days when the Overlords had to inspire fear to be obeyed, rather
than use force, since their ships were not as powerful as
ours."

"I see." Sabre
sampled another dish, finding them all equally delicious. "Is one
of the Overlords your leader?"

"No, we're all
equal."

"Don't you ever
have disputes?"

"Of course.
Then we vote."

"So you're
always in contact with the others?"

She popped a
sugar-frosted fruit into her mouth. "No, but we have a private
frequency, should we need to contact the others."

"Who else knows
how to contact an Overlord?"

"Planetary
leaders."

"Like
Atrashka."

Ravian sipped
her wine and helped herself to a creamy pudding. "You think
Atrashka will lodge a protest with another Overlord?"

"Is there one
who likes to keep cybers?"

"Ramadaus."

"Could he
revoke your order?"

She shook her
head. "Then all the Overlords would have to vote."

"Why are we
going to Myon Two?"

"I like to
enforce my orders with a personal appearance. It tends to ensure
that I'm obeyed." She paused, eyeing him. "You have a lot of
questions. Am I permitted a few?"

"Of course." He
looked away. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be
sorry. I find your curiosity endearing. Most would not dare, which
is why they make poor companions. Occasionally I choose to
entertain an interesting young man, usually a celebrity of some
sort, but often they are tongue-tied in my presence, which is
boring."

"Then you
shouldn't tell them who you are."

"Indeed." She
laughed. "A good idea. Now, about my questions. I would like to
know what you're capable of. I am curious."

He frowned,
putting down his plate. "Ask Atrashka for a brochure."

"I've offended
you."

"My oddities
offend me."

"Your abilities
should be a source of great pride."

"I thought you
learnt about cybers."

She nodded. "A
little. Some of what I learnt is hard to believe, however."

"So you'd like
a demonstration."

"Would you
mind?"

"Yes."

"I see." She
nibbled the cream pudding. "What is it about being super human that
offends you?"

"The freak
aspect."

"I don't
consider you a freak."

"I do."

"That's
sad."

He poured
himself a glass of fruit juice. "My life is sad."

"Until you were
freed, yes, but now you have all the advantages without the
disadvantages."

"You think so?
What about being unable to go out in public without people thinking
I'm a machine? Or having to fight my way free of cyber control
almost every time I fall unconscious?"

"Better than
being its slave for the rest of your life."

Sabre sipped
the juice, finding it sweet. "There is that."

"Why do you
concentrate on the bad aspects of what you are, instead of enjoying
the good things about it?"

"Such as?"

"Your amazing
abilities, of course, but also your friends, and a beautiful girl
who cares about you."

He gazed into
his glass. "Who'll probably be killed because of me."

"And that's why
you're trying so hard not to have feelings, isn't it?"

"No. I'm not
equipped to deal with emotions. Not yet, anyway. And I'd rather not
discuss them."

"As you wish."
Ravian refilled her glass, then glanced up as a crewman entered and
bowed.

"My lord,
Overlord Ramadaus wishes to speak to you."

Ravian's brows
drew together. "Permit him."

The crewman
withdrew, and Sabre wondered if he should leave as well. Ravian
rose and walked over to a pale circle on the floor, and a beam of
light shot down, encasing her in a pillar of soft luminescence. A
second pool of light formed on another circle on the floor two
metres away, growing in brilliance until if became a golden shaft.
A figure appeared within it; a tall, sharp-featured man with black
hair and eyes, clad in a dark blue suit of impeccable cut and fit,
its flared sleeves trimmed with gold. A high, gold-ornamented
collar hid his neck, and serpentine patterns extended from it onto
his chest.

"Ravian." He
spoke in a soft, cultured voice.

"Greetings,
Ramadaus."

"Chief
Executive Atrashka has contacted me with an extraordinary
tale."

"How bothersome
of him. I shall confiscate his transmitter."

"Too late. Is
it true?"

"I have ordered
the cessation of the torture of cyber hosts, yes."

Ramadaus cocked
his head. "You see fit to intervene in such a petty matter?"

"Yes. Do you
also?"

"I'm disturbed
by it. Suffering is rife in the universe. Surely this is beneath an
Overlord’s notice?"

"Evidently it's
not beneath yours."

Ramadaus spread
his hands. "I enjoy the service of several cybers."

"And you would
not wish the new models to be inferior."

"Precisely."

"I enjoy the
company of a free cyber, and the tale he tells is enough to curdle
your porridge."

"You champion
the cause of one man?"

She smiled.
"No. His suffering is ended, but that of his many brothers is not.
Yet."

"You are young.
This is a mistake. Rescind the order."

"No."

A short,
brittle silence fell, and Ramadaus sighed. "I will meet this free
cyber and hear his tale."