Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 128413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Charisma waved him off, unworried. The man’s vices made controlling him child’s play, which was part of the reason she had him on the payroll. But she kept an eye on him and his activities and proclivities for the same reason; there would come a time when the vices would make him a liability.
Suddenly sensing that she was being watched, Charisma looked up…to see Auden at her window, her eyes on Charisma. It was too far for it to be possible, but Charisma could swear she felt the vicious blue of those eyes drill right into her brain.
She swallowed hard and raised a hand in greeting.
Auden didn’t wave back.
Chapter 21
Severe tear above Bavaria. Repair in progress. Casualties stand at fourteen.
—Report to the Ruling Coalition from PsyNet Response Unit Foxtrot (21 October 2083)
“THERE WILL BE no third attempt,” Kaleb said to the Ruling Coalition as they met in their secure PsyNet vault—which was holding for the time being. “There are no other sensible iterations of this experiment for us to set in motion.”
“I agree with Kaleb,” Payal said. “It’s possible a small group—five or six—would hold, but at that level of fragmentation, we’d destroy the PsyNet anyway. We may as well advise that as the final in-case-of-emergency measure.”
Ivy Jane’s mind was the most dazzling in the vault, a cascade of colors in it that marked her as an E. “The Honeycomb can maintain for the time being—I’ve pulled all my Es off any non-urgent tasks so they can focus on shoring it up. It might buy us a little more time.”
“It may be time to consider a physical contraction linked to a psychic one.” Anthony’s clear voice, his mind a stable presence with a cool silver center. “It would involve the physical migration of millions, so I don’t say this flippantly. But we appear to have no other choices.”
“The problem,” Aden said, his presence Arrow black and martial, his shields present even here, “is that a contraction won’t work with this level of damage. We’d just be delaying the inevitable and not by much. There are too many thin patches, too many holes in the fabric of the network—the tear above Bavaria is the largest in that region yet.”
“At least the Scarab activity has died down.” Nikita’s mind was as hard and ruthless as the woman. “Though I’m concerned at their silence.”
So was Kaleb; he’d rather know the locations and activities of the unstable Psy who were grenades just waiting to go off. “I have my bots watching for emergent activity.”
“What are our other options?” Payal said. “Has there been any word from the Human Alliance?”
“Yes,” Nikita said. “As well as the changeling groups in the Trinity Accord. All have agreed to assist in whatever way they can, but they can’t offer us a silver bullet. They aren’t Psy, don’t have our need for biofeedback.”
“Is that it, then?” Ivy Jane whispered. “We’re out of options?”
On the physical plane, Kaleb’s back grew stiff as he leaned his hands on the deck railing. He hadn’t cared if the PsyNet lived or died once, but then Sahara had asked him to save it.
He’d made a promise.
Kaleb did not break his promises to Sahara.
Chapter 22
Status: Ten percent increase in neural decay.
—Notes on Patient X by Dr. Nils Verhoeven (17 October 2083)
MORE THAN A week after her return to the compound and Auden knew she’d snap if she didn’t get to the cabin soon, to the one place she knew was safe. She was so paranoid about being monitored in her room that she’d even risked a read of the walls and other objects to see if she could find the device she was certain was hidden within.
But Charisma knew this was the room of a Gradient 9.4 Ps-Psy, had no doubt taken precautions. All Auden sensed were random echoes from those who’d stayed in the room while at the compound for training. None had stayed long enough to create a true imprint. Transient—as Auden felt transient. Because this place wasn’t home, would never be home.
Trapped as she felt, she shut Charisma down the instant the other woman suggested she not attend next morning’s meeting with RainFire. “I need to do this negotiation,” she said with Silent precision. “Once it becomes known, it will add to my reputation.”
Charisma parted her lips to argue, but Auden held up a hand before the other woman could speak. “I am getting the impression you don’t trust me, Ris.”
“I apologize, sir. I’ve had to care for you for a significant period of time and it’s hard to break the habit.”
“Do it anyway,” Auden ordered. “You’re useless to me if you’re second-guessing my every move.” She rose to her feet, cutting off Charisma’s repeated apologies with a harsh look. “I need you to function as my aide, my eyes and ears. Figure out if you can in this new reality.”