Jeffrey Carver - Eternity's End

Before he could respond, she leaned forward as though to kiss him on the cheek. Instead, she gripped his shoulders and squeezed, giving him a quick hug. Then she was out the door, leaving him reverberating with a welter of confused images from the contact.

Legroeder finished his meal in a state of shock. How much of that was he supposed to believe? He ought to call Deutsch, or the Narseil. But he was so exhausted. He needed to stretch out on his bunk to rest. Just for a few minutes…

When sleep came over him it was deep and filled with angry dreams.

He dreamed of distant, crackling contact through his implants… flickering images of Tracy-Ace and Yankee-Zulu/Ivan… and echoes of shouting voices…

Fucking bastard! WHY DID YOU HIDE THAT FROM ME?

Am I supposed to show you everything?

When it matters like that—yes, dammit! You deliberately—

Spared you a distraction when you had other responsibilities. I think you’re letting your personal feelings—

Fuck my personal feelings!

Now, Tracy-Ace/Alfa, I suggest you calm down…

CALM DOWN? I’ll calm down after I’ve wrung your miserable neck, you lying manipulative sonofabitch!

Watch your tone, Node Alfa…

It’s about the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen you do.

I said, watch your tone…

The connection hissed and faded…

Legroeder was awakened by Tracy-Ace, bringing breakfast. He sat up, holding his head, trying to sort dream from reality. He could not. “What the devil’s going on?” he gasped.

“A lot,” she said tightly. “How are you feeling?”

“Lousy.” He drew a slow, painful breath. Memories of the inquisition were already crowding out whatever remained of the fragments of his dreams. “I guess returning-hero status is pretty short-lived around here.”

“I have just had a long and unpleasant talk with YZ/I about that very question,” she said severely, pouring him a cup of murk from a thermal pitcher. She put a plate with a breakfast roll and a citromelon slice in front of him. “Let’s just say, your status has been restored.”

He squinted, shouting voices echoing in his mind. “Yeah? How wonderful.”

She frowned. “You don’t believe me.”

He didn’t look at her. “I didn’t say that. Thanks for breakfast.”

“Legroeder…” She frowned harder. “You don’t believe me, do you?”

He didn’t answer, or look up.

“Legroeder, I would have stopped it sooner if I’d known. I really would have. I’m sorry .”

He finally raised his eyes, and tried not to sound too acid. “I thought you were this all-fired powerful node . How could you not have known?”

She stared at him, open-mouthed.

“I thought so. Maybe you should leave now.”

“ Legroeder . Look, I know you’re mad at me, and I don’t blame you. I should have been there to look out for you. But YZ/I blindsided me; he kept me from seeing what was happening until after you’d been worked over.”

He remained silent.

“Will you please believe me?” When he didn’t answer, she pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of him. She grasped both of his hands in hers. The sudden electric connection took his breath away. He felt her gaze, and her presence…

And then, as suddenly, the connection ebbed away. Tracy-Ace drew back, her augments winking. “What are you doing? Are you blocking me?” she whispered. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

Legroeder stared down at her hand grasping his. He felt no sensation except the physical pressure, and that seemed a million miles away. He searched inward. The implants had been there for an instant, allowing the connection; but now they were gone. Without the implants there could be no link with Tracy-Ace. And he had a distinct feeling—perhaps they had left him a subtle message—that they had shut themselves down for the duration. Meaning, until they were in a place of safety. A Narseil place of safety. Oh, Jesus .

Tracy-Ace was squeezing his hand harder, as if she could force the connection. “What’s wrong , Legroeder? What’s wrong with your implants?”

He shook his head. “They’ve closed down. It’s not me. I don’t know why.”

Tracy-Ace rocked back in consternation, still holding his hand. “Are they damaged?”

“I don’t think so. No.”

She looked at him for a long moment, disheartened. Then she drew a breath. “Legroeder—can I tell you this? I missed you. I’m very glad to have you back. And not just for Impris .”

He couldn’t react; his thoughts were too tangled.

Tracy-Ace pursed her lips together; finally she nodded and drew herself erect. “As soon as you’re ready, we’re going to have a very interesting talk with YZ/I. We’ll be joining a few people there.”

“A few people?”

“You know them.”

“Legroeder, I’m so glad to see you’re… unharmed! Come in,” YZ/I said, breathing sincerity from every pore. Before Legroeder could reply, YZ/I extended a hand past him. “And Commander Fre’geel—thank you for coming! And Riggers.” Legroeder turned to see that Fre’geel, the Narseil riggers, and Deutsch had come in right behind him. “And… Tracy-Ace/Alfa! How good of you to join our meeting.” YZ/I’s gaze at Tracy-Ace suggested he was less than happy to see her.

“I wouldn’t miss a chance to help out with the debriefing,” Tracy-Ace said coldly. She turned to greet the others. Then she gave a brief nod to the man Legroeder just now noticed standing to one side and little behind YZ/I’s chair. Lanyard/GC. What was he doing here?

“And,” Tracy-Ace continued, “I thought perhaps I should be here to help make sure nothing else went wrong.” She stared hard at YZ/I.

Legroeder glanced at his fellow riggers, wishing he could convey with his eyes what had happened.

YZ/I sighed heavily. “Rigger Legroeder, please allow me to apologize. I did not intend for you to be treated roughly by my analysts. My instructions were to try to release the information—but to treat you only with courtesy and respect. I regret… that you had such a difficult time of it.”

Legroeder considered being diplomatic—then thought, the hell with it. “You lying asshole sonofabitch. What were you trying to do—make sure nobody could get the information from my implants?”

YZ/I raised his hands in the air. “Heavens no. I merely told my people to try to set up an interface with your implants.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “I have since learned that they were neither as gentle nor as successful as I’d hoped.”

Legroeder glared. “ Not as gentle or successful as you’d hoped? Is this the way you always treat people who go out and do the impossible for you?”

YZ/I winced, gesturing apologetically. He seemed to be groping for appropriate words, and failing. YZ/I glanced back at Lanyard, whose face was creased by a dark frown. “Do you folks all know my associate?” he barked suddenly, gesturing at Lanyard. “This is Group Coordinator Lanyard—a member of Outpost Ivan’s Ruling Cabinet. He’s here to observe, and to learn what he can do to help out.” YZ/I’s expression became unreadable for a moment, as Lanyard nodded stiffly to the assembled group.

Fre’geel spoke up, not letting YZ/I change the subject. “I take it you tried, and failed, to force information from Legroeder’s implants.”

YZ/I flickered a shade of pink. “Not force , Commander. We did try to encourage a sharing with his implants.”