Deeper Darker

Book 3: Chapter 96: Genie Unbottled

Inner Quadrant.

Planet Quazi

Planet Core.

Figaro was in two minds about Ubiks sabotage of the entire Seneca fleet.

He was no fan of the Seneca Corps, but neither was he a fan of unfair fights. Even when it was the bully being bullied.

What have you done? screamed Fermont. She was on the ground, her only remaining limb propping her up as she glared impotently at Ubik.

Me? said Ubik, holding up Fermonts severed arm and using it for emphasis as he spoke. What about you? What did you do to my Grandma? Shes just an old lady, you psychopath.

I have no idea who youre talking about, said Fermont, her anger derailed by the incomprehensible accusation. Why would I do anything to your grandmother? Why would she even be here?

You think I believe you? said Ubik, waving the arm around. You know exactly what Im talking about. And she definitely knows. Ubik turned and pointed the hand on the end of Fermonts arm at the other Seneca woman, Otenu. Look at the guilt on her face.

Otenu didnt look in the least bit guilty she was Seneca, they couldnt afford to feel guilt but she did seem to be stunned and unresponsive. She was having trouble accepting Ubiks complete unravelling of her understanding of tronics.

Snap out of it, Otenu, Fermont shouted at her. Find out if the fleet is in danger.

Otenu took a long breath as though she had just remembered to breathe, and then grabbed her helmet off the floor. She began trying to get it to work.

He isnt bluffing, said Figaro. Have you ever heard of anyone else breaking into Seneca coded frequencies or shutting down all comms systems from a helmet? If he says the fleet is defenceless, it is.

Reverse it, said Fermont. Undo it.

I wont, said Ubik. And you cant make me.

Fermont began to desperately get closer to Ubik by shuffling across the floor towards him, presumably to throttle him with her remaining hand.

Figaro, you have to stop him, said Speers. If the fleet is defenceless Your mother and your sister are up there.

I know, said Figaro. I tried to warn her but you know what shes like. I cant hold back Armageddon, never could. What she does is up to her. Im sure shell find a way to survive. Right now, we have other problems. He turned away from Speers, whose pleading expression changed to a frustrated one. Ubik, is the cube operational?

The lights had returned to the cubes surfaces, but they were flashing on and off and forming incomplete patterns that failed to stabilise for more than a moment.

Its operational, said Ubik. Its just warming up.

What does that mean? said PT. Since when do Antecessor devices need to warm up?

Its just a figure of speech, said Ubik. What I mean is that the Fourth and the Machine are in there and theyre refusing to come out, which probably means the Machine has realised that the Fourth is not working in pursuit of the Antecessor cause, so now theyre locked in some sort of struggle for control, and once they settle whos in charge, the fate of the quadrant will be decided. Fingers crossed our side wins.

Thats what warming up means? said PT.

Ubik nodded. Short version.

Um, said Figaro. I thought they were both working for you.

Working for me? No, more like working near me. I just lay the groundwork. Set the stage. You cant really control what anyone else does, can you? I mean, you can if you turn them into mindless drones like in Seneca, but when it comes to attempting mutual benefit, theres usually mutual lying and mutual unpleasantness. Which is why I find its better to work alone.

Good advice, said PT. I wish youd take it.

But the Fourth is the equivalent of their gods, isnt he? said Figaro. Cant he just order the Machine to do what he says?

The Machine is a machine, said Ubik. And this is the machine it was made to operate. No one can work it as well and no one knows its purpose better. It already knows what to do, we just have to convince it our purpose is the same as its purpose. Ubik lowered his voice. Which it isnt.

It's going to help the Antecessors capture me and kill the rest of you, said Figaro.

Well, it probably is now that youve suggested it, said Ubik. He lowered his voice again. It can hear everything were saying right now, so dont reveal any sensitive information.

Ubik didnt seem very concerned about the fate of the galaxy being so precarious, or allowing the Machine to know their plans. He seemed happy to wait for the outcome of the Fourths struggle with the Machine.

I dont know what you three think youre doing here, said Speers, but your best chance of coming out of this alive is to give yourselves up and let the Corps protect you.

You know her, dont you? said PT. He was looking at Speers as he spoke. Shes about your age. Childhood friends?

No, said Figaro. Shes part of my mothers personal guard. Shes the youngest one because my mother wanted her to seduce me and form an emotional attachment which could be leveraged against me in the future.

And did she? asked PT.

Yes, several times, said Figaro. There didnt seem any reason not to be honest, although Speers didnt look like she was happy with his summary of their relationship. What? You were acting under orders, werent you?

Of course, said Speers. That doesnt mean thats all it was. Was it?

Wait, said Ubik, as though hed had a momentous epiphany. Is she your girlfriend?

No, said Figaro and Speers at the same time.

Wow, said Ubik. I thought you only dated princesses. Wasnt expecting a grunt. Like it rough, eh?

Did you call me a grunt? said Speers, her pretty face transforming into a gargoylesque leer, which Figaro found oddly arousing.

Yep, said Ubik. Now, wheres my Grandma? I know shes not up there, and she wouldnt have let you come here without her, so where is she? I should be able to contact her but Im getting nothing.

Rather than attack him, which was what Figaro was expecting, Speers straightened up, pulled her shoulders down and recovered her calm exterior.

You have gathered some very strange companions, Figaro. She looked at him with a cool demeanour. Even without shields, the fleet will defeat all enemies, and then they will come for you. Do you really believe these people will be able to avoid capture and the inevitable consequences?

I dont know why youre asking him, said Ubik. He isnt even our leader. He is. He pointed at PT.

PTs eyes slowly closed. Figaro could appreciate the bind Ubik had just placed him in. If he denied Ubiks pronouncement he would look cowardly a weak leader trying to avoid trouble.

But if he confirmed it, he would be playing into Ubiks machinations, whatever they were.

One or the other. Staying silent and hoping everyone would move on never worked.

Ubik, get the Fourth out here, said PT, eyes open and using his position as leader to order Ubik around. Figaro smiled at this third option he hadnt even considered. If Ubik wanted PT to appear as the leader, he would have to show his obedience.

Yes, sir, said Ubik, immediately turning his attention to the cube, a small smirk indicating that either this was all part of his plan or that he liked the way PT had turned his ploy against him. It had to be said that Ubik was always appreciative of any form of deviousness or deceit, even when it was aimed at him.

Youre the leader? said Speers with a sneer. Fight me.

What? said PT.

Fight me. Prove yourself.

Why? said PT. What will proving anything to you get me? He turned away from her, ready to shout more orders at Ubik.

If you can beat me, Ill answer your questions.

Speers! said Fermont.

I know what Im doing, Captain. Speers kept her eyes on PT. But if I win, you come with us, as our prisoners.

No, said PT.

No weapons, no organics, said Speers.

And once again, no.

Yes, said Ubik. Do it. Beat her up and then ask her what they did with Grandma.

Even if I beat her, shell just lie, said PT.

Seneca honour code, said Ubik. She has to keep her word.

Thats not how the code works, said Figaro.

Shes Seneca, not a djinn, said PT. She isnt bound by magic to grant my wish.

I need Grandma.

Are you saying you need Grandma to get the cube working or do you just miss her? said PT.

Bit of both, said Ubik.

PT frowned. He looked over at Figaro. Can you beat her?

Yes, said Figaro.

Only in training, said Speers. The real thing is completely different.

Speers was already in a fighting stance, hands open and raised. She was going to go for his neck, smash his trachea and then attack the eyes. Standard opening gambit.

Fine, said PT, taking up a similar stance. If I lose and we get taken prisoner

You wont lose, said Ubik. Think of how much Id enjoy it if you did.

PTs expression became serious. As a motivator, Ubik knew how to press the right buttons.

Speers and PT began to circle each other. Figaro could see the satisfaction in her eyes at having goaded PT into a fight. A fight she had no doubt she would win.

PT was moving very lightly on the balls of his feet, arms down by his sides, watching Speers lower half.

What combat techniques are you trained in? said Speers. I dont recognise your movement patterns.

He isnt trained in any combat techniques, said Figaro. He plays a lot of zero-G tag.

Speers stopped moving. The game?

Its a sport, said PT, and used the distraction to kick Speers between the legs.

She should have been able to block it, but seemed to be caught by surprise. She managed to use the force of the hit to jump back. She looked more confused than anything.

What was that?

I think the technical term is toe poke in the balls, said Ubik.

But Im not a man.

I know, said PT.

Then what was the point of kicking me in the groin?

It hurt, didnt it?

A little.

One point to me, then, said PT.

You think this is a game? You want to win by scoring the most points? You only win by submission or death.

Its the same in zero-G tag, said PT. Its a very competitive scene.

Enough of this, said Fermont. Stop playing around and finish him.

Speers came running this time, feinting a forward kick at PTs chest, then twisting so her other foot came spinning around for a strike to the side of PTs head.

It was a very smooth move that could easily snap the neck if undefended.

PT didnt make a move to stop her or to dodge the strike. She was in mid-air and had no way to reposition herself. PT took a step forward, walking into the kick, but only getting hit by her calf on his ear.

He took the hit, but chose where she would land and with what part of her body.

She had expected to miss and then follow up with the rest of the move, which had sixteen steps in all, any one of which could be fatal, or to land a clean hit and take the victory in one.

Hitting and not having any effect wasnt the most likely outcome, but even then, she would have momentum on her side and a range of options to choose from for her next move.

The opponent would be on the backfoot at the very least.

PT was very much on the front foot as he leaned in and slid his face up the inside of her thigh and slapped her from above and below in the stomach and the small of her back.

Speers let out a gasp as the air rushed out of her body. She seemed to bounce in the air and then slammed down like gravity had increased tenfold.

You breathe too much, said PT, already a step back and out of the way. You do the same, he said, turning to Figaro. Overactive diaphragm.

You attacked her diaphragm? said Figaro. It wasnt a move he was familiar with.

A static diaphragm is hard to move, but a moving diaphragm is easy to push further. And you cant stop air leaving a squeezed lung.

Speers groaned as she tried desperately to regain control of her breathing. She managed to get on all fours, head bowed, heaving loudly, but suddenly she was lunging at PTs legs.

She didnt make it. She got hit in the head by a flying arm and hit the ground as Ubik landed on top of her, pinning her to the floor with his knee in her stomach. Figaro hadnt even seen him move.

You lost, said Ubik. Now, wheres Grandma?

I didnt submit, wheezed Speers. And Im not dead. But you are. Her eyes glowed red.

Ubik didnt dive out of the way, which Figaro had expected, he instead pushed down with his knee.

Speers let out another gasp and the light in her eyes went out.

Hey, that diaphragm thing really works, said Ubik. He looked up at Figaro. How come you didnt stop her organic?

Wanted to see what youd do, said Figaro.

What are you doing to that poor girl?

Ubik looked up. Grandma? An oddly moving droid was coming towards them, along with a group of women. Where have you been?

Ooh, they locked me up in a closet with all these floozies. Worst day of my life. Ill need to be sterilised. Luckily, this nice woman let us out.

There was a woman carrying a baby next to the droid.

Hello, Mother, said Figaro.

Figaro, Im disappointed in you. Youve really been quite badly behaved recently. Its time to go home.

I cant, Mother. I have to

The cubes lighting stabilised and the chamber lit up.

Whats it doing? said PT.

Erm, opening something, said Ubik.

Opening what? said Figaro.

We have failed, said the Fourths voice. They are here, and they have taken control of the network. The portal is about to open. The Creator will be here soon. This universe is dead.