Part 4 (1/2)

'I am not permitted to disclose the required healing substance.

'Then how can I help you?

'I will tell you when and how.

Mira let out an exasperated breath. 'Now who is being obtuse?

Mira, interrupted Insignia, Thales is ready to contact Scolar.

Mira pressed her hand down into the bed to ensure that the mycose blisters rolled as close to Wanton as possible.

Im coming.

BELLE-MONDE.

The tyros filled the menage lounge with chatter and the smell of fruit c.o.c.ktails. Chief Balbao seated himself, stiff-backed, in a lounge chair in the centre of the small bar and waited for them to a.s.semble around him: Miranda Seeward, Javid Javiddat, Labile Connit, Lawmon Jise, Ra of Lostol and the uuli pair whose names he could never remember.

'What is so important, Chief, that you would brave us in our den? warbled Miranda Seeward.

The eminent dieter was perhaps the most irritating and repulsive of all the tyros, her rolls of loose flesh and superior att.i.tude a counterpoint to each other, as though one gave the other credence. Unfortunately, she was thick with Lawmon Jise, who Chief Balbao had a great and wary respect for-the man who had sculpted the new OLOSS charter and was known for his diamond-cut intellect. Labile Connit was the other one that made the chief nervous. Rumours had risen around Belle-Monde that the geneer had dubious and powerful connections. Jividdat was less of a concern and kept to himself, and Ra was simply weird. Tekton, thank Sole, had gone on practical absence leave-something about overseeing the manufacturing of a construction-and not returned. On the one hand, the chief hoped that something terrible had befallen the tight-skinned hairless fop. On the other, he wished the greedy back-biter was here. He had one enormous problem, and these idiot G.o.dheads were his best hope of a solution.

'I have an announcement to make. Something unsettling and perplexing. I have... his Balol pride made it a struggle to get the words out '... need of your expertise and opinion.

That set off another round of chatter and calls for more drinks.

By the time the bartender arrived with another tray of deadly concoctions, the chiefs neck frill was stiff with anger. All the years of scientific training and devotion to perpetuating the betterment and longevity of the sentients of Orion, all that learning and civility, began to disappear underneath an unholy rush of pure Balol aggression.

'Sit down and shut up, he roared, 'before I rip your heads off! He bared his teeth for good measure.

The open-mouthed G.o.dheads switched to playing meek children in a trice, each sipping their drink as carefully as if it were their last.

The chief opened his mouth to explain his terrible dilemma, but shut it again as the holo-field near the bar flared into life. They all swivelled their attention towards it. What was so important as to cause an impromptu feed?

'Its the OLOSS summit, groaned Miranda almost immediately. 'How tedious. Turn it off!

'Quiet, Miranda, said Jise, picking up on something that the rest hadnt. 'Switch to maximum function, he told the station moud.

Suddenly it was as if they were all at the summit meeting, albeit off to one side, seated behind the untidy skieran contingent.

The chief recognised a number of highly important dignitaries, including Warrior Butnik, President Gan, JiHaigh the OLOSS all prime, and the most infamous of all 'esques, Commander Lasper Farr.

A thin young woman stood at the open end of the U-shaped meeting table. Her head was bent, eyes to the floor, shoulders tense as though she bore the greatest of weights upon them.

All attention seemed to be directed her way.

'I know her! said Connit. 'At least Ive seen her. Shes the Latino woman who escaped from that horrible little backward planet when it was invaded.

'Oh yes, said Miranda Seeward. 'Some type of coup there by those ghastly primitive Saqr. Tekton knew of it. And I think... maybe, that I had relatives in the area.

'Shh! hissed Jise again. 'Were missing it. Listen.

The tyros fell silent again.

'All very fascinating, Baronessa, said President Gan to the Latino woman. 'And it would seem that the Post-Species are responsible for the Saqr adaptation. But what is the significance?

'Goodness! Miranda Seeward exclaimed. 'Those d.a.m.nable Extros.

The Baronessa replied. 'I have sought to build a picture, President Gan, so that you understand the gravity of what I am about to tell you next. As Insignia approached the s.h.i.+ft sphere leaving Post-Species s.p.a.ce, we came across a terrifying sight. Millions of Geni- carriers. s.h.i.+fting.

At the summit meeting a buzz of reaction broke out from the attendees, but in the melange lounge the silence was exquisite, and uncharacteristic.

The chief did not like the anxious expressions on the tyros faces.

'Millions, Baronessa? Commander Farr finally spoke up, quieting the chatter in the Summit room. 'An exaggeration surely? There were only three in the Stain Wars. Manufacturing on such a large scale in the time thats elapsed since then is impossible.

'My biozoon can verify this, said the thin woman.

'Then instruct it to do so, ordered the OLOSS prime, JiHaigh.

'I do not instruct my biozoon, she said quietly. 'But I will request.

After a protracted silence in which nothing happened, the convener of the summit began shouting accusations.

Chief Balbao didnt recognise him, but one of the tyros did.

'Landhurst, said Labile Connit. 'Hes the station master at Intel.

A guard stepped forward and seized the Latino woman and a commotion started, Commander Farr among the many voicing their displeasure. It was the Commander, in the end, who drowned the others out.

'Wait! he bellowed.

His imperative caught everyones attention, including the tyros of Belle-Monde, who gravitated closer together, as if proximity to each other would help them digest the situation better.

Focus in the summit room altered as a projection appeared on the hub-screen. It became difficult to see over the skierans, who almost doubled their size as they swelled with concentration, blocking the lower edge of the images.

Even so, there was no mistaking what was happening at the top half of the projection.

'Geni-carriers, gasped Javid. It was the first time hed spoken since entering the room.

'How many? moaned Labile Connit. 'How G.o.dd.a.m.ned many?

The chief continued to stare at the images, his mind processing what hed just seen. What did that mean? Why was it happening? And did it bear any relation to... 'Kill the feed, he subvocalised to the station moud.

The tyros blinked at each other, and then at him.

'There is something else you should know, he said without further pause. 'The Ent.i.ty has gone.

SOLE.