Gary Gibson - The Thousand Emperors

‘And who would you prefer we emulated?’ Vasili yelled. ‘The Coalition? Their decisions nearly destroyed the human race!’

Antonov slammed a fist into the palm of his hand. ‘When we fought them to a standstill all those years ago, Sevgeny, they were tyrants – no doubt about that. They used the chaos of the Abandonment to take our colonies by force, and I fought them as hard as you or anyone else, but that was centuries ago. Centuries .’

He stepped back slightly. ‘They’ve evolved so much during the long separation of our two civilizations, while we’ve stood resolutely still. Their old guard are long gone, dissolved in the sweeping changes that overtook them. It’s only us who call them the Coalition – they just call themselves the human race.’

‘Human?’ Vasili laughed. ‘Like that Ambassador of theirs? Have you or anyone else ever even seen behind that fucking mask of his?’

‘We could argue forever, Sevgeny, and we’d never see eye to eye, because we’ve become set in our ways, as impermeable to change as Joe, and that is precisely why none of us should be allowed to rule any longer.’ He reached out a hand. ‘Accept my offer or not. It’s your choice, and one I cannot force upon you.’

‘Damn you,’ Vasili hissed, his hands twisted into claws. ‘Damn you to hell.’

‘No.’ Antonov shook his head, eyes glistening. ‘Damn them to hell, Sevgeny.’

Something inside Vasili gave way, as if he were no longer able to contain so much anger. He collapsed into a chair in exhaustion, and stared out past the patio towards the courtyard and the ocean beyond.

‘All right,’ he said, too weary now even to be angry, ‘where is this data-cache?’

‘That’s where it gets complicated,’ Antonov replied. ‘You first need to go to Javier Maxwell. A set of communication protocols are hidden in that library of his; these will lead you straight to the location of the data-cache.’

Javier Maxwell. Sevgeny shook his head and sighed. He should hardly be surprised Maxwell was involved in all of this somehow.

‘Why do you need me to do your dirty work, Winchell?’

‘You know I’d be risking detection if I data-ghosted into his prison, Sevgeny. You, however, have the right to enter his library at any time.’

It all suddenly became clear. ‘So that’s why you’re here,’ said Vasili. ‘Javier knows about these protocols?’

Antonov shook his head. ‘I’m far from sure he has any idea whatsoever that they exist. But remember, he acts as custodian to data-repositories to which you also have access. My researches show that the protocols are buried deep inside them, and I can tell you just how to locate them with his help.’

‘And what do you expect me to do, once I’ve uncovered this hidden goldmine of reputed scandal?’ Sevgeny asked, feeling suddenly tired and old. ‘Bring the curtains down on the Temur Council? Inspire a fiery revolution and watch the worlds burn?’

‘I’ll leave revolution to others younger than myself,’ Antonov replied. ‘I need solid, independently verifiable proof of Cheng’s secret exploration of the Founder Network, which I believe this hidden data-cache will supply. All I’d been able to find until recently were hints – pieces of a puzzle that together implied a much greater picture. While you’ve been out in the rain – metaphorically speaking, of course – Cheng, Cripps and his fellow conspirators in the Sandoz Clans have been getting up to things that threaten the existence not only of the Tian Di, but of the human race as a whole.’

‘What kind of things?’ Vasili demanded.

‘They have been searching for weapons,’ Antonov replied, ‘that Cheng believes will help him maintain his power and turn back the changes reunification with the Coalition would otherwise force upon the Tian Di. Or do you really believe Cheng is suited to survive those changes, Sevgeny?’

Vasili sighed and looked away. ‘Perhaps not,’ he admitted, feeling as if treason were spilling from his lips.

‘I’ll leave my mechant in your care for now,’ said Antonov. ‘Use it to get back in touch with me once you’ve spoken with Javier – and maybe you and I can work together again, the way we used to, back in the old days when we were young and burning with life.’

His data-ghost vanished, and Vasili sank deeper into his chair, staring at the cold stone walls surrounding him. More than ever, his home felt like a mausoleum, with him its premature guest.

He thought of Ariadna, and wept.

Luc found himself back in the library, the book in his lap, fingers aching from gripping its pages. He let out a shuddering breath, then pushed the book onto a table.

From the outside, Vasili had appeared an entirely cold and unlovable figure, his face bent into a permanent scowl; and yet his love for his deceased inamorata had burned with such intensity that Luc’s own feelings for Eleanor seemed pale by comparison.

But that wasn’t what made his hands shake as he lifted them from the book. In a few minutes his world had, almost literally, been turned upside down. A secret entrance to the Founder Network, one that was being recklessly exploited by the leaders of the Tian Di? It sounded absolutely preposterous. And yet it didn’t explain the hammering of Luc’s heart, or the sick feeling welling up in his chest.

He glanced towards the door, hearing hurried footsteps approaching. Javier Maxwell burst in a moment later, looking harried and wild-eyed.

‘You have to leave,’ Maxwell barked. ‘ Now. ’

Luc sat up, alarmed. ‘Why?’

‘Cripps is on his way here, with a detachment of Sandoz. It won’t be long before they arrive.’

Shit.

‘They must be looking for you,’ Maxwell continued, twisting his hands together, ‘or at least that’s the logical conclusion.’ He shook his head. ‘The Sandoz have never come here in force like this before. Never.’

‘Or maybe,’ suggested Luc, ‘they figured out that the Ambassador was here.’

Maxwell regarded him uneasily. ‘Or that Zelia sent you here. I won’t know one way or the other until they arrive – by which time, I suggest, you should be as far away from here as possible.’

‘No,’ said Luc, ‘not yet.’

‘There isn’t the time—’

Luc held up the book. ‘It was Father Cheng, wasn’t it? He gave the order to kill Adriana Placet.’

‘It seems you’ve been making good use of your time,’ said Maxwell, nodding at the book.

‘Antonov said that Cheng found a second entrance to the Founder Network. He also said Adriana Placet was killed because she was asking too many questions. Was it because she found out what Cheng was up to?’

‘She knew something was going on, but not necessarily what .’ Maxwell stepped closer, taking a grip on Luc’s arm. ‘You need to finish what Sevgeny started.’

Luc stood and pulled his arm away. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

‘I may not know all the details, but I certainly know enough to understand that Father Cheng is doing something that is endangering us all. You need to go to that station Sevgeny visited and locate whatever data he found, and show the Tian Di what Cheng is doing. But that won’t happen unless you get the hell away from here first.’