Copper Rain

Copper Rain Part 14

The Present

So it turns out nano-diamond is as slippery as it looks, and Zoie and I just about slid straight off the shaft and went tumbling back into space. Fortunately just before we did a couple of arms popped out of a maintenance hatch, snagged us, and hauled us inside. So what are the fucking chances of that happening? This smacks of a well put together plan, but a little heads up would've been nice. The two skel-clad figures then point up, and we begin to pull our way forward via handholds through the empty elevator shaft.

After a short time we reach a panel and the lead figure extends the forefinger on his suit and a half a dozen spines spike horizontally outwards. He forces the forefinger into a slot and it rotates. There's a whir, followed by a distinct click, and the panel folds upwards. Whoever it is at front indicates that Zoie and I should go through first. As we reach the panel a tungsten hand drops down, grasps my forearm and yanks me through.

As I get oriented I stare into a cyborg face with very human eyes.

"Welcome to the big leagues, Tarq. You're looking a little surprised."

He's not wrong about that. The room we're in is a loading bay of some sort and, apart from Julian, it appears to be empty.

"How the hell did you get here?" I ask. "I thought you were stuck nubside."

"Hitched a ride on the HeXtract shuttle. I've been a here a couple of weeks now."

He bends down and pulls through Zoie, then slams the panel shut on the two skel-clad figures. He pokes an augmented digit at a control surface on his arm and locks the access point.

"Turns out you can get good help these days, especially when the maintenance skels are slaved to you."

"So where are Dali and Ines?" I say, trying to work out what the fuck Robo-Julian is doing here.

"Now that's interesting," he says. "You folks getting the band back together?"

"Shut it, Tarq," says Zoie. "We've been compromised."

"Yeah, she's right about that," says the cyborg. "Her pet cy-tex is not as stealthy as he thinks he is."

"You knew all along," I say.

"Nope," he says. "I knew way before you did."

"Not possible. I only just found out."

"You always think you're so clever. Playing the long game, sniffing out the threats. Even after the mem-wipes you're still a prick."

Shit, how the fuck does he know what's going on? This has to be a HeXtract sting. They must've known about the bone tank changes and have been keeping an eye on me. Zoie didn't sneak onto the nub without the security protocols spotting her. They just looped me out of the system and let her through. HeXtract knew whatever was in my head couldn't be forced out, so they waited and Julian was one of the watchers.

"Why'd you do it?" I ask the cyborg.

"Christ, dude. What the fuck was I going to do? Live on a mining nub for the rest of my existence." He beats a tungsten fist against his chest. "And this shit doesn't come cheap."

"So what do they want from us?" I ask.

"I haven't a clue? But I'm guessing it's whatever your crew has stashed in the space bin."

"They've not told you what it is."

"Stop being a dumbass. Since when do you need full info to do a mission?"