The Constant Star (74)

THE STORY SO FAR

Letting Idun get taken away for less than what I did. Getting Lucas’ family and friends all killed because I wanted to live with them. Getting my new friends killed when I abandoned them to go chase what I wanted. Everything I’ve ever done has been for me. I started a war so I could get what I want.

“I’m such a disgusting, horrible person. And I am so sorry for everything.”

“Those are some heavy accusations. And some of them might be true. But I don’t think a single one of those times you knew what the consequences would be. I think you’ve been manipulated and used by a very clever and evil woman in order for her to get what she wants. But I know you. I’ve known you longer than anyone else. And I know that you have a heart that aches for freedom: not just for yourself, but for everybody. When you discovered the lower levels I’m not a bit surprised that your first reaction was to save them. When you felt oppressed by the Council, I’m not a bit surprised that you wouldn’t let them crush who you are to fit their mold.

“Being a caring, passionate person does not make you evil or selfish. Being naive may have led you to Diana, but being who you are, I know you want to stop her. Just like you want to stop the Council from their reign of injustice.”

“You…you’re not with the Council?”

“Hell no. Not anymore. I teamed up with your father before you dropped into the Tube. As the war unfolded, we realized you had some solid points. Jupiter even tried to talk to the Council about it. They wouldn’t hear anything he had to say, but he managed to persuade them to let him go get you. While that was going on I’ve been running interference on Diana’s hacking attempts. She’s gotten close to taking over Janus a couple of times, but I’ve been tracing her infiltration and hitting her comm-boxes with EMP’s. That’s what led me here. Even so, Janus’ AI is currently vulnerable, so the Council moved their operations to the Needle: it’s on a separate AI system and Diana wouldn’t be able to hack it without hardwiring in.”

Siff’s eyes open wide. Shit that’s it. “Shit that’s it.”

“What?”

“That’s why she wants me dead.”

“What? Why?”

“She’s hacked the Needle. And I know where her hardware is.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I put it there.”

“You put it—“

“Don’t you see? She’s moving on the Needle right now! This level was a distraction to pull forces away. Bear, she’s going after the Council!”

58

Bellerophon leads Siff as they race through the tunnels, all she can think about is getting to the Council before Macy does. She is far from the girl Siff knew as a child; Idun would never have hurt a fly. What drove her to this point? To guilt-free violence? It’s obvious what did it, the whole militaristic social structure of Janus made Idun what she is today. The future was laid out step by evil step. Idun didn’t have a chance. And if they don’t get there in time, the Council might not have a chance either.

“I parked here.” Bear peaks his head out of the open panel and looks around, then lifts himself back up to surface level.

“Parked?” Siff holds her hand up and is pulled up by her friend.

“Of course. You didn’t think I walked all this way, did you?” The small craft looks built for speed. It is disorienting to look at; refracting light around its exterior shape, it would be close to invisible even at a short distance. The hatch opens to reveal two seats, “I usually fly alone, but I guess I can make an exception this time.”

Siff grins and jumps into the open cockpit; she was always spaced out hearing Bear’s pilot stories, but she can’t wait to actually experience flying, “Oh yeah, this is awesome.”

Bear chuckles as he jumps in next to her, “Strap in, Siff. No time for training wheels.”

She barely has time to put the final clasp in place before they launch forward and up toward a distant wall. He touches a panel and opens up comms, “Mission successful, including pickup. We’ve got a new prime objective though, over.”

<Copy that. What’s the objective? Over.> Wait, that voice…?

“Diana is going after the Needle. We need to intercept, over.”

<Copy. En-route. Meet at these coordinates. Over.> Numbers flash on the screen.

“Copy tha—“

“Dad!?”

<Hey sweetheart. Keep comms official. Love you. Over and out.>

Siff looks in shock at Bear. He grins back and flicks a switch as they fast approach the wall and a door opens up for them, “My dad’s alive?! And you didn’t tell me?! Asshole.”

“It was meant to be a surprise. He was captured and I managed to get him out. I was hoping you guys would have that whole ‘Surprise, I’m alive!’ meeting in person.”

“Asshole.”

“Well, if you’re angry at me for that, I’d better not tell you who helped me break him out.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s just say your next family dinner is going to be a lot different than you’re used to.”

“Mom? My mom went against the Council?” Baldr smiles as Siff’s shock reaches the surface, “What the fuck is going on?!”

They fly through the open hatch and through another set of tunnels, making their way through the shipping lanes between levels. Most are empty, ground to a halt by the war, but the occasional cargo vessel does pass by. She is not sure how many levels they travel through before opening out on a familiar piece of land. They are high up above the park on Siff’s home level. Bear launches them forward toward the Needle and lands behind a nearby building. The streets are empty, but Siff can see the occasional pair of eyes gazing fearfully

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