Free The Dark Imbalance by Sean Williams, Shane Dix Page A
Authors: Sean Williams, Shane Dix
override phrase that actually worked? It doesn’t make sense—especially in the light of recent knowledge.>
She couldn’t help the sarcasm. The modified ulnar nerve along her arm was throbbing with remembered sensation. Data had burned along that path to the valise she had once believed the Box to inhabit. She wondered which pathways it used, now that it was completely inside of her....
“Well, that could have gone better.”
Roche recognized the man’s voice as one from the interrogation. She looked up to see a fair-haired, diminutive figure waiting for them at the top of the stairs, an almost condescending smile beaming from his small, triangular face.
Vischilglin didn’t give Roche a chance to reply. “Stand aside, Junior Primate Nemeth,” she said, pushing past the man and heading back down into the thick cloud they had climbed through to get to the council.
“That’s Assistant Vice Primate to you, Co-adjutant Vischilglin,” he objected, following them down the steps.
Only then did Roche realize something odd about the council—or rather the people who comprised the council. They were all plenipotentiary envoys, co-adjutants, assistant vice primates, senior aides—underlings with fancy titles. None of them were the real operators. Perhaps, she thought, the situation in Sol System was too risky for the superiors to come, so their assistants had been sent instead.
Then she realized another thing: she had heard the name of Assistant Vice Primate Nemeth somewhere before. She stopped and turned to the man. He stopped also, a couple of meters away, behind Maii. Mist from the cloud created a slight haze between them, but not enough to obscure the man’s crooked grin.
“It was you who hailed us before we came here,” she said. “Before that drone intercepted us.”
Nemeth executed a slight bow of the head. “I’m flattered you remembered me.”
“What do you want?” Roche was in no mood for small talk.
He gesticulated expansively. “Perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask what it is you want—from me ?>
She studied him for a moment, then turned and continued after Vischilglin down the steps. “I haven’t got time for these games,” she muttered irritably.
replied the girl, maintaining a steady plodding pace behind her.
said the girl.
said Roche.
She paused for a few seconds before adding:
Roche could hear the footsteps of the man following her down. Vischilglin strode ahead of her, a tall broad shape plowing through the mist. Far from the chatty, affable guide she’d been when they first met, she had hardly said a word since the hearing.
Roche asked Maii.
“Well, that could have gone better.”
Roche recognized the man’s voice as one from the interrogation. She looked up to see a fair-haired, diminutive figure waiting for them at the top of the stairs, an almost condescending smile beaming from his small, triangular face.
Vischilglin didn’t give Roche a chance to reply. “Stand aside, Junior Primate Nemeth,” she said, pushing past the man and heading back down into the thick cloud they had climbed through to get to the council.
“That’s Assistant Vice Primate to you, Co-adjutant Vischilglin,” he objected, following them down the steps.
Only then did Roche realize something odd about the council—or rather the people who comprised the council. They were all plenipotentiary envoys, co-adjutants, assistant vice primates, senior aides—underlings with fancy titles. None of them were the real operators. Perhaps, she thought, the situation in Sol System was too risky for the superiors to come, so their assistants had been sent instead.
Then she realized another thing: she had heard the name of Assistant Vice Primate Nemeth somewhere before. She stopped and turned to the man. He stopped also, a couple of meters away, behind Maii. Mist from the cloud created a slight haze between them, but not enough to obscure the man’s crooked grin.
“It was you who hailed us before we came here,” she said. “Before that drone intercepted us.”
Nemeth executed a slight bow of the head. “I’m flattered you remembered me.”
“What do you want?” Roche was in no mood for small talk.
He gesticulated expansively. “Perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask what it is you want—from me ?>
She studied him for a moment, then turned and continued after Vischilglin down the steps. “I haven’t got time for these games,” she muttered irritably.
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