'Your original implants are gone, and there are new, organic structures in your brain that appear to have taken their place.'

'Bulls.h.i.t.'

Moss leaned in closer again. 'You're a machine-head despised and mistrusted throughout human s.p.a.ce, like all your kind. Your life has been a web of self-deceit and lies. Bad things happen to the people who love you. An entire colonial expedition, all dead. Your one-time lover Marados dead, and Severn too. Oh, I know everything about you, Dakota. You were a fountain of self-loathing and self-deceit during your interrogations, and it's such a shame you'll never remember most of it.'

She lunged her head at him, her teeth sc.r.a.ping his cheek. He pulled away quickly, laughing, but his skull cap slipped off and fell to the floor. Dakota spat at him, screaming more abuse as he bent to retrieve it.

But not before she saw more clearly the network of scars crisscrossing the top of his head.

'Dakota the martyr,' Moss hissed as he stared down at her. 'That's how you see yourself, isn't it? Perhaps you thought it should have been you up on that little plinth while you were busy murdering children on Redstone. You pray for death and pretend it's a n.o.ble sacrifice, all to save a humanity that did its best to wipe you and your kind out of existence.' Moss put one hand over his heart, his tone mocking. 'Such selflessness! I could weep, really' His grin broadened. 'And then what, what, Dakota? Then they'll really be sorry?' Dakota? Then they'll really be sorry?'

'f.u.c.k you!' she screamed, the words ripping themselves out of her throat. She bucked and twisted, the restraints cutting even deeper, although the pain was welcome in a way. 'What's the point of all this? What do you want from me?'

Moss stepped forward with an almost balletic grace and punched her once on the side of her chin. Her head snapped round with the impact and she gasped with shock.

'All in good time, Dakota.' He took her bruised chin in one hand, his voice soft and low. 'You blew the heads off innocent men and women and left their mothers to suffocate in Redstone's air. The lucky ones just froze to death. Tell me the truth, just between you and me. Tell me you enjoyed murdering them all. Tell me how good good it felt the same way you told your interrogators.' it felt the same way you told your interrogators.'

His rancid breath was warm and moist, his lips just millimetres from her ear as he leaned in close once more. 'What would all those people back on Bellhaven think of you, if they knew how much alike we really were? Would they forgive you? Would they welcome you back? Or would they execute you for your crimes and toss your corpse into an unmarked grave?'

Dakota's nostrils were now full of the stench of his breath and unwashed skin. His voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. 'I inserted a pre-recorded loop into the surveillance systems covering this cell. Do not think for one moment your actions have not been constantly scrutinized since you arrived here. But, for the moment, I'm sure you'll be relieved to know they'll have no idea what's in store for you until it's much, much too late.'

And then she realized what was so familiar about those scars he was hiding under his skullcap. He looked like someone who'd just had the surgery for installing machine-head implants.

'f.u.c.k you,' she hissed. 'I don't know what the h.e.l.l you want from me or what this is about, but-'

'I'm about to give you a chance at a decent head-start,' he hissed, cutting her off. 'You're going to have the opportunity to get out of here. You're resourceful and you might even stay alive if you're lucky, but I rather suspect you won't.'

'For f.u.c.k's sake, what are you doing doing all this for?' all this for?'

'I want you to lead the Bandati on a wild-goose chase, Dakota. I want you to keep their attention off me while I finish some business with the Queen of this stinking planet.'

He moved away from her, towards the shadows in the rear of the cell. 'And if they do catch you, you can tell the Queen that I do not respond to threats. Run if you can, my dear, but don't interfere with me or with your precious derelict. I have better plans for it than you can ever imagine.'

'For G.o.d's sake, I don't understand!'

He didn't answer. She watched as part of the wall slid aside, and he stepped through into the corridor beyond. The door slid back into place a moment later and she was alone once more. What now? What now? She was still bound to the gurney. She lay there for several more minutes, hyperventilating and looking wildly around her. Suddenly, without warning, her restraints came loose. She sat up slowly, blinking away tears and rubbing at her chafed and bleeding wrists. She was still bound to the gurney. She lay there for several more minutes, hyperventilating and looking wildly around her. Suddenly, without warning, her restraints came loose. She sat up slowly, blinking away tears and rubbing at her chafed and bleeding wrists.

She lifted herself off of the gurney and it suddenly lowered, folding up into a thin slab resting on the floor of the cell.

The canister was still there, on one edge of the slab. It rattled violently. As she watched, it began to open. There was the sound of escaping gas and, again, a strong smell of ammonia.

The lid of the canister lifted up on four glistening steel rods, revealing a hollow interior. Something mewled from inside, the sound disturbingly like that of a kitten. Two of the rods rose higher than the other pair until the lid toppled off onto the floor with a crash.

Dakota darted into the far corner of the cell, horrified yet unable to move. There was nowhere else to go.

A tingle in her neck announced the return of the Piri Reis. Piri Reis. But something was different now; her implants made it clear the ship was a lot closer than before. But something was different now; her implants made it clear the ship was a lot closer than before.

It was, in fact, several hundred kilometres overhead, locked into orbit around Ironbloom.

Ironbloom. I know. I know. How long do we have? Dakota laughed weakly at this. If you only knew, If you only knew, she sent. she sent.She stepped towards the canister, with the idea of pushing it out of the door-opening. She yelled as she touched it, and quickly stepped away. It was hot hot enough to burn her.And enormously heavy.She cursed and cradled her singed hand. No, not just heavy, she realized; it was locked onto the slab somehow, possibly even magnetized. The blimps, she sent frantically, she sent frantically, are they on their way? are they on their way?The canister rattled again, and the mewling grew louder angrier. Whatever was inside was clearly restless from its long incarceration. There isn't the f.u.c.king time, Piri Piri! You need to redirect the nearest blimps to me right now. I'm in serious trouble.Something pale and wormlike was beginning to emerge from the top of the canister.No, several several somethings. somethings.The stink of the creatures that emerged made Dakota gag. At first they reminded her of fat caterpillars, but about the length of her arm and twice as thick. Each had tiny, stubby, almost comical legs, perhaps a dozen in all. She wondered how they'd survived being crammed into such a confined s.p.a.ce. I didn't say I wanted to debate the f.u.c.king matter! Now, Piri, Piri, or I'm dead! or I'm dead!There were four grubs in all, pale-bodied, with small, puckered mouths. They did not appear to have eyes, and their heads waved blindly in the air as they emerged. The nearest to Dakota seemed to sense something, however, when it turned in her direction, the pitch of its mewling changing to become more intense, more desperate.Born hungry.They moved so slowly, however, and surely- The nearest reared up on its hind legs and hissed at her, baring tiny, razor-sharp teeth. Its body trembled, as if scenting fresh meat, and with an undulating motion that made her stomach twist, began to creep towards her.Oh c.r.a.p, thought Dakota. thought Dakota.Ten.Things got bad for Corso after he was removed again from Dakota's cell.His immediate conclusion when he awoke once more strapped on a gurney was that they were going to resume the torture. A tight strap under his chin held his head immobile, and he could feel bands of pressure where others secured his legs and arms. His mouth felt thick and clammy, familiar evidence that he'd been drugged into submission even as he slept.He was being wheeled down a pa.s.sageway, its etched-copper walls alternating with bright strips of light as four blank-eyed Bandati one at each corner of the gurney pushed him along, the wheels b.u.mping noisily.Suddenly, the overhead lights gave way to natural light and open air. A moment later Corso found himself in free-fall, the side of the tower rushing by at enormous speed.He entered a realm of resounding terror, screaming hoa.r.s.ely as he plummeted towards the streets and twisting tributaries of the river far below.The four Bandati were still there, though, each holding one corner of the gurney, but with their wings spread wide to catch the air. Their descent slowed suddenly, the light now picking out the iridescent patterns on their extended wings.They glided downwards at an eye-wateringly steep angle, the wind whipping the breath from Corso's lungs, before making a sudden and far from gentle landing on what appeared to be a rooftop. They were near the centre of a cl.u.s.ter of buildings standing inside a funnel-shaped s.p.a.ce that lay at the tower's heart.The back of Corso's skull had banged against the gurney several times, almost knocking him unconscious. He felt a warm trickling sensation across his thighs and realized belatedly he'd p.i.s.sed himself during their sudden descent.They wheeled him through a wide arch, and into what he soon realized was an elevator big enough to accommodate a hundred humans. The elevator dropped for what felt like a remarkably long time before emerging into what was clearly a subway system, with long, arrow-nosed, windowless trains floating above rails in a well-lit tunnel that vanished into infinity.There were more Bandati here, most of them armed with weapons slung over heavy grey harnesses. Two of these stepped forward, took charge of the gurney and wheeled it inside one of the trains.Corso found Honeydew recognizable by his now-familiar wing-patterning waiting for him inside. The car they were in jerked slightly and they started to accelerate, the movement so gentle that Corso had only the barest sense they were even under way. Curling patterns, like those that patterned his cell, began to glow across the walls of the car.'You should know, Mr Corso, that if not for my direct intervention you might be dead by now.' The synthesized voice echoed stiffly. 'I, however, have maintained a stand that you can still be of use to us.'It took a moment for Corso to realize his restraints had been loosened. He swung his legs slowly to the floor.'If this is about what happened with Dakota-''You failed, Mr Corso.'Corso laughed, fresh anger blooming deep within his chest. 'You tortured her continuously, and you think she's just going to turn around and help help you on my say-so?' He shook his head. 'She's just looking for a fast way to kill herself has been, ever since Redstone. All you're doing is making it easy for her. The more you punish her, the more she thinks she deserves it.' you on my say-so?' He shook his head. 'She's just looking for a fast way to kill herself has been, ever since Redstone. All you're doing is making it easy for her. The more you punish her, the more she thinks she deserves it.'He stood up carefully, determined to stand his ground. 'You'll never get her to cooperate, and as long as she's still alive and she can communicate with the derelict, you're never going to get inside it. At least, not without my help.''Dakota Merrick is no longer your concern.''What?' Corso balled his fists at his sides and stepped closer to the alien. 'What does that mean?''It means nothing, Mr Corso. You've proven adequately that you can help us penetrate the derelict's interior, but there have been . . . setbacks.''I already told you, I can't help you as much as I might if I had access to the records on board the Piri Reis.' Piri Reis.''That can be arranged. We want you to retrieve your protocols from the Piri Reis Piri Reis ' 's stacks.' stacks.'At last. 'That still doesn't answer the question of just why in h.e.l.l I should,' Corso replied carefully. 'You haven't followed through on any of your promises in fact, apart from trying to pry my brain apart or torture me, this is the first G.o.dd.a.m.n time I've been out of that tower-cell since we got here! Every step of the way you've treated the pair of us like 'That still doesn't answer the question of just why in h.e.l.l I should,' Corso replied carefully. 'You haven't followed through on any of your promises in fact, apart from trying to pry my brain apart or torture me, this is the first G.o.dd.a.m.n time I've been out of that tower-cell since we got here! Every step of the way you've treated the pair of us like animals. animals. There's been no sign or evidence of any negotiation. I've been given no opportunity to contact the Freehold, to-' There's been no sign or evidence of any negotiation. I've been given no opportunity to contact the Freehold, to-''You will have your negotiations, Mr Corso.''Like h.e.l.l I will!' he exploded. 'I'm sick and tired of being led on. Bring me a representative of the Freehold, and then then maybe we can talk. Until then, go f.u.c.k yourself!' maybe we can talk. Until then, go f.u.c.k yourself!'The alien c.o.c.ked his head to one side slightly, the upper tips of his wings brushing against the ceiling of the subway car. 'You should know that we've had some concern over the political stability of your home world. Are you aware there was a coup there while you were away in the Nova Arctis system?''I knew about that.' Corso stared at the alien. 'What about it?''The Freehold have become weakened through their infighting, and the Uchidans have been taking advantage of the situation by consolidating recent territorial gains. It's possible civil war may break out again, further weakening your society. In that case, negotiating with them directly is unlikely to prove either fruitful or profitable.''How do I know any of this is even true?' Corso retorted.'Please understand that there is much that has been kept from you, by necessity,' Honeydew continued. 'For this I apologize, but we must have the complete protocols from the Piri Reis. Piri Reis. The reason why will become clearer once we reach our final destination.' The reason why will become clearer once we reach our final destination.'Final destination?'I don't do anything anything until you bring me a representative of the Freehold Senate,' Corso replied, stabbing one finger at the floor between them. He'd meant it to look commanding, but standing there naked talking to an oversized bat only made him feel ridiculous. 'You have to let me get in contact with my people first.' until you bring me a representative of the Freehold Senate,' Corso replied, stabbing one finger at the floor between them. He'd meant it to look commanding, but standing there naked talking to an oversized bat only made him feel ridiculous. 'You have to let me get in contact with my people first.''That isn't yet possible.'Corso shrugged, and folded his arms defiantly. 'Well, then-''I have been ordered to kill you if it proves impossible to gain your cooperation.'Corso blinked. 'What?''You are a security risk, a constant problem for my people to deal with during our investigations. In certain respects your expertise is invaluable but if you withhold that expertise, there's no reason to keep you alive.''Wait a minute, I-'The world turned white, and suddenly Corso was looking up at Honeydew from where he now lay curled up on the floor next to the gurney, pain radiating through his nervous system like hot lava. He saw Honeydew was holding a pain-inductor in the small black palm of his hand.'Please understand,' Honeydew informed him, 'that your cooperation is vastly preferred. But there are other, less pleasant ways of getting to the information stored in your head.'Corso tasted blood and realized he'd bitten his tongue. 'I don't know what you mean,' he coughed. Then he tried to stand, but his muscles seemed to have turned to putty.'We have data-retrieval methods for securing your memories,' Honeydew explained, 'neural maps that can guide us to the information storage areas of your cerebrum. Extracting the information would require highly invasive surgical procedures, and the chances of your surviving such procedures, let alone regaining your current level of cognition, are extremely low.''s.h.i.t.' Corso laughed weakly. He tried to pull himself up by gripping one leg of the gurney, but it rolled away from him as soon as he put his weight on it and he slid back to the floor. 'You're acting like you don't even need me. Why put me through all this if you don't even need me?''These methods I describe are unreliable. The results and information obtained would be uncertain and possibly highly fragmentary. But don't make the mistake of thinking we wouldn't make the attempt if necessary. You'll have time to consider your options before we make orbit.'Orbit'? Corso stared after the departing alien in a daze, wondering if he'd heard the creature right. Corso stared after the departing alien in a daze, wondering if he'd heard the creature right.Where the h.e.l.l were they taking him?Eleven.One down, three to go.Dakota glanced below quickly, but couldn't see the maul-worm grub as it tumbled and bounced down the wall of the tower.If she had one single advantage, it was that the things didn't appear to be able to move very fast. Even though they lacked anything that looked to Dakota like eyes, it was obvious as h.e.l.l they had a superb sense of smell, because every time she darted away from one, the rest of them all bobbed and weaved their featureless heads until they were once again focusing straight towards her.For the past two hours she'd been playing a deadly game of tag, during which the same sequence of events had already played out several times; first, one of the grubs, constantly hissing and screeching, would slowly crawl towards where she crouched or stood in whichever corner of the cell was as far away from her new cellmates as possible.