Neal Asher: Gridlinked

'Spoon's in. All yours, Samarkand II,' said Chaline with glee.

Cormac said, 'Samarkand II, inform Viridian that access is now allowable from there.'

'Viridian has already been informed.'

'You mistake me. Inform Viridian that Cormac says access from there is now allowable.'

There was a pause, and when Samarkand II spoke again it sounded as surprised as an AI could be. 'Viridian tells me your message is affirmed… Transmission coming through.'

At that moment the runcible flickered and Cento stepped through. He had been rebuilt, partially. His missing arm had been replaced with one the colour of brass. He held it up and grinned triumphantly as he approached. Aiden greeted him with a perfect emulation of human happiness. The Golem came over to join Cormac and Blegg.

'Transmission coming through: energy anomalies,' Samarkand II announced.

The cusp of the runcible flared with light, and a glass dragon stepped through. There were screams of surprise, some screams of fear. The dome seemed full of light.

'There is no need for panic,' said Samarkand II - and those who had screamed felt a little foolish, perhaps.

The Maker came down from the dais on limbs of fire, scanning the place with its three glass eyes. It seemed to Cormac it should dwell in that tower of rainbows he had seen. It seemed wholly mythical.

'Now, I didn't expect to see him ? he said.

He pointed to the blackly silhouetted dracoman walking before the alien, like a slave - or its tamer. Soon the Maker reached them, and now they could see the workings of its body, like a glassy display of flasks and tubes in a chemistry laboratory. It spoke, and its voice seemed to draw sound from every direction and precipitate it out in gusting words.

'Cormac,' it said, and its terrifying head bowed down to peer at him.

'I thought you were going to use Scar for the blast,' said Cormac.

The voice came again, its elements seemingly drawn from the people who were gathering round to watch, to gawp. One brave soul reached out to touch, then snatched his hand back before it was burnt, or before he touched something ineffable.

'Scar is an advantage,' said the Maker.

Staring into light, Cormac suddenly felt even more tired. He looked round at Blegg, but the Japanese seemed preoccupied, his expression opaque.

Through Samarkand II and through Hubris, Earth Central watched the culmination of events with small facets of itself. Eventually it opened a communication channel that it still did not wholly understand.

CONCLUSION: SATISFACTORY?

Within certain limitations, Hal.

Explain.

Dragon died here, but Dragon still lives.

-Dragon dialogues-

DELAY.

DELAY.

DELAY.

Satisfactory conclusion deferred - projection.

The AI closed off that odd channel and once again focused all its attention through Hubris. The ship AI continued to watch the spreading cloud, fascinated by the pattern of its dispersal, and analysing it continuously. The remains of Dragon stretched out and out, and still following the creature's original course, they drew a glittering ring around the planet. Some of this debris fell into atmosphere. Hubris detected strange proteins and exotic metals. Some of these substances had been made to withstand extremes of heat and force, so certain fragments were not burning up on re-entry.

On Samarkand it was raining Dragon scales.