Free Beyond the Pale by Jak Koke Page A

“You’ve been working too hard, Meyer. Even if he were awake, cyberzombies can’t use magic.”
    Meyer glared at Vendic. “Something has happened to this one. I want to—”
    “Sir,” said a technician, entering the room. “You have a telecom call.”
    Meyer nodded to her. “Thank you. I’ll take it here.” The elf walked over to a device on the wall and touched it.
    “Mister Roxborough,” Meyer said. “What can I do for you?”
    Lethe couldn’t make out the reply. Being electronic in nature, it did not register in astral space.
    “A security breach?” Meyer said. “I was not aware of anything since the Ryan Mercury escape.”
    The mage paused while the other spoke.
    “Certainly, Mister Roxborough,” Meyer said with a heavy sigh. “I will check the datastore immediately, but I don’t see how it could have been wiped. The spirit-transfer material was protected by the best ice we have.”
    Pause. Meyer shook his head in irritation, but his voice gave nothing away.
    “Of course I know about Reise’s transfer, sir. You authorized it yourself. Frankly, I thought it a bit rash. She is the only scientist who can perform the viral memory reconstruction. It’ll take years to replace her. I—”
    Meyer was interrupted. He stood rigid, anger building inside him, though Lethe saw a hint of amusement there as well.
    “No, sir, I don’t know any Alice. I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
    Lethe tried to use Billy’s ears to hear what Roxborough was saying, but he failed. Even Billy’s connection to his senses seemed to be severed.
    “Yes, Mister Roxborough,” Meyer said. “I will begin an investigation, and I am sorry about what you have gone through, but there is a more immediate problem concerning the recovered cyberzombie, Burnout.”
    Pause.
    “Yes, the techs have repaired the damage done to him.
    Physically he’s like new, perhaps better than before, but he’s been through something. His aura is disturbingly human, too much so for a cyberzombie. He’s not exhibiting the polluting effects normally associated with cybermancy.”
    Meyer listened.
    “I suppose it’s good, but I don’t have an explanation for it yet. I don’t like it when I can’t explain what’s happening. Makes me nervous.”
    Pause.
    “I don’t know how much time. Perhaps a day, perhaps a—”
    Interruption. Meyer waited, listening carefully. Then, “Very well. I will travel to San Marcos with the cyberzombie. I’ve always wanted to meet the mysterious Señor Oscuro. We’ll figure this out together.” He punched the Disconnect.
    Lethe watched Meyer turn and look at him, scrutinizing his aura. “I know you’re watching,” he said. “But soon, with Darke’s help, I will dissect you. Carve you up astrally until I’ve got you under control again.”
    Lethe said nothing, merely watched the mage intently, and hoped that Billy would soon awaken. He missed Billy. For the first time in as long as he could remember, Lethe felt very, very much alone.

9
    Ryan stood on the tarmac of the small airfield where they had landed, just outside Marseilles. He smelled the clean salt Mediterranean air, and leaned against the open door of the rented helicopter, double-checking his gear. His cobalt blue Draco Foundation uniform with its integrated body armor fit him snugly, though it was a little hot in the summer sun. His bandoleer of narcotic darts and his two guns rested in their proper positions. The Dragon Heart was nestled snugly in its sash.
    He was as ready as he could be.
    Jane’s voice sounded in Ryan’s ear piece. “Axler and Grind have made excellent progress with the scuba sleds. They’re five minutes from the island. No problems so far.”
    “Copy, Jane,” Ryan subvocalized into his tacticom mic. He climbed into the copilot’s seat and strapped himself in. The Hughes Aerospace Airstar 2057 chopper was brand-new and in excellent condition, but it was more of a commuter vehicle for