Centauri Fury: A Harem Space Fantasy (Centauri Bliss Book 4) Page 15

  "I have. And I am now by allowing you to live, when murdering you would have fit the Emperor's goals better."

  "So what is this about, and who is in the coffin?"

  "I'm getting to that. Allow a villain her monologue, please," Joline said.

  "You're a traditionalist," Quinn said. Despite himself, he liked this version of Joline, more than he had the original. There was both the sense of a keen awareness behind her words and a good bit of willingness to poke fun at herself.

  "An agent of Order, through and through. The Emperor felt that Chaos was absolutely destructive to humanity. When he was unable to destroy it, he quarantined it, but always nursed the fear that his quarantine would fail. When it did he expected nothing but corpses on the other side, corpses and magic in search of new hosts," Joline said, her fingers entwined on her lap.

  "You weren't designed to fight a war. You're an inoculation shot," Quinn said.

  An Order mage was immune to infection by Chaos. What Joline was doing was terrible by almost any measure—any measure except the alternative of almost complete human extinction.

  "One I gather he agonized about deploying on an Imperium still healthy. One he ultimately decided against using. Joline thought I was a weapon to make her strong," Joline said.

  "And your plans now?" Quinn asked.

  "I'm every bit the insane machine you think I am. I was hard-coded to never question these commandments. To institute this plan without mercy or guilt."

  "I don't know how to judge what you are. But if you've put those plans aside and decided to be something new, it sounds like a fine idea to me," Quinn said.

  "Machines running amok and out of control have been the nightmare of humanity since you first had machines. I am your nightmares given flesh and form."

  Quinn couldn't really question that. The Imperium would happily see Melody dead if it knew about her, and Melody was the kindest, gentlest soul that he knew.

  "I'm not that scared, but most would be. Especially with what you've done here. If you mean to put it behind you, put it behind you. Run and run far," Quinn said.

  An archaic view-screen on the wall began to display images. Ships in motion.

  "A fleet approaches this world. They've come from a thousand worlds. Lord Barr, and the pirate Monk, Marquis Kadello. Your friends and your enemies join together for a single purpose. To fling themselves against the defenses of this world. To die, if they must, to kill me. To save the Imperium," Joline said, sounding proud.

  "I'm sorry, I think," Quinn said.

  "Oh, don't be. Not yet. I'm not done living and what villain doesn't have a good surprise left in her? I've a twist yet that may break you. Open the coffin, Quinn."

  Quinn rose and approached the coffin. A few simple seals allowed the lid to push clear. It wasn't a coffin—that much was clear at once. Cool mists rose, the result of a powerful life support system, and the figure inside was naked except for medical gel.

  Younger than she should have been, only eighteen when by now she should have been in her thirties. Quinn knew her at once, Quinn would always know her.

  It was Kathryn, his wife.

  30

  "I can shoot you in the head some more until I make it work. What is this?" Quinn asked.

  The figure clearly wasn't Kathryn, it couldn't be. Kathryn had died bloody, and even if she'd been frozen in some way it wouldn't have made her younger. There were also minor imperfections noticeable the more Quinn looked at her—or rather, a lack of them. This was a Kathryn that had been touched up, made a bit more flawless, proportions ever so slightly altered.

  "No need for useless threats. I fully intend to answer all your questions. Let me start by saying that this is Kathryn Jade. Genetic testing will reveal an over eighty percent match, and if proper neurological scans exist, I am confident she would also pass the criteria. Exquisite work, isn't she?" Joline asked, moving to stand beside Quinn at the coffin. She reached out to brush Kathryn’s cheek with the back of her fingers.

  "Even if I believe you, and I can't say I do, that explains nothing," Quinn said.

  "You are doubtful how much of her mind is there. Do you remember Kathryn needing to visit a hospital on Ledonshire? A nasty concussion, more than a medical kit could handle," Joline said.

  Quinn did, in fact. It had been about six months before she died. A bullet clipped her skull as she was extracting from a job. Three days in a first-class facility had put them seriously in debt.

  "You're claiming this is somehow related?" Quinn asked. That had left a scar at her hairline, and Kat was self-conscious about it. It was yet another thing this figure lacked.

  "They had to do a detailed imaging of her brain. Not a proper memory record she could be restored from, however nanotechnology allowed me to construct a copy of her brain as it was at the time and from there extract the memories," Joline said.

  Quinn wanted to believe. Of course he wanted to believe. Kat's death had devastated him. And he didn't know what her being alive again would do to his life now. It might devastate him in a completely different way.

  "They probably kept samples too. That is how you had the material to make a clone. Why eighty percent? What is your game here?" Quinn asked.

  Joline smiled down at Kathryn. "Because when I call her a work of art, I mean it. The magical abilities of five noble lines and immense magical potential. The very best in genetic enhancements, implants. A custom-built circulatory system that replaced roughly half her blood with nanites. That is my play. This is your dead wife reborn, and my new home."

  They'd worried that the Glittering Sands were trying to make a better host than Joline. It seemed that she had, and Quinn wanted to both laugh and cry.

  "You don't need to do this. You control the whole of the Imperium, for the moment," Quinn said.

  "I could run and hide beyond the borders of the Imperium, and I assure you, I have backup plans. Yet, I find myself reluctant. I find myself caring about the fate of the Imperium, about this brewing storm. I feel I yet have a role to play."

  Quinn was so tired of all of this. Tired of the huge plans. Tired of the fate of empires. It had caught him firmly up, and now it was trying to resurrect his wife from the dead to suck her up into it as well.

  "I don't see why you need us. I still don't see why you have to involve her," Quinn said.

  "The more powerful the Order mage, the more they blend into hierarchies, take command of them. Everything within Jinx should crave to be Empress and yet she resists the call," Joline said.

  "Are you trying to bribe her as well, right now?"

  "Of course I am. This is not just about Jinx though. Chaos mages inherently break down hierarchies, it is difficult for them to either lead or follow. Yet, aboard your ship and within your family you have one. You are a ship flying the thin line between two titanic forces."

  Quinn's head hurt. It was just too much, it was all too much.

  "If this really is Kathryn, if I can have her back in some way, even a compromised way, I'd be lying if I said you didn't have my attention. What, precisely, do you want to happen here?" Quinn asked.

  "I return Kathryn to you, but I am resident in her as well. I don't know how we'll split control and I make you no promises there, but I will let her out to run sometimes. I know it isn't ideal for you, but it is more of her than you have now. For now and the rest of her life we'll be a single package and you'll treat us as such," Joline said.

  That had a lot of implications. If Kat was a member of the crew, so would be the Glittering Sands. If Kat was again his wife, then she wasn't one wife but two.

  It wasn't beyond the ability of Quinn's mind to grasp. Given what had happened with Tourmaline and Tamara, the way had been paved for two people sharing one body. This was different though. Tamara had wanted Tourmaline, and Quinn had still agonized over that. Kat hadn't volunteered for this, and this intelligence was no Tourmaline.

  "I'm with you so far," Quinn said.

  Joline beamed a smile and
turned away from Kathryn, resting a hip against the coffin as she faced Quinn.

  "The army of patriots is already at the Runestone and has begun fighting. Our time grows shorter. The Athenaeum, Mara's family if you prefer, have utilized an artifact that will neutralize your runic sphere. They wish to be certain I do not escape," Joline said, once more strangely proud.

  Quinn hadn't known that was possible. Mara’s family certainly never mentioned they had the ability. Of course, it was no surprise that they'd keep secrets.

  "Do you mind if I change now? If we're really going to do this, that is? I won't awaken her mind quite yet," Joline said.

  "Right now all you've done is show me a pretty shell and tell me a good story," Quinn said.

  "Is this really how you want your reunion to go? Right here and now? Her waking up naked in a coffin beneath the imperial palace, and with less than an hour to escape from the combined forces of the fleet coming to murder her?"

  Kat was tough, but that was a big sell. Quinn knew how shaky he was feeling—and he'd become a bit used to this sort of insanity.

  "Fine, you can awaken Kat’s awareness later, and if you've lied to me we will figure out how to kill you," Quinn said.

  "I've not lied to you yet," Joline said, before her expression melted. The figure of the Empress dissolved into silvery sand, forming a pile on the floor.

  Kat took a sudden deep breath, sitting upright in the coffin and wiping some medical gel from her skin to flick it across the room.

  "I hadn't loaded myself in before. This feels good, real good," Kat said, her hands exploring her body. Quinn tried not to look as she cupped her breasts.

  The voice was perfect. Kat's just as he remembered it. Just as Quinn had almost forgotten it. The accent wasn't quite right, a bit too crisp and sharp.

  "If you could stop fondling the body of my dead wife?" Quinn said.

  "You can touch too, if you'd like. Are they perkier than you remember? I added a lot of bracing to avoid that pesky drooping issue," Kat said.

  "I noticed the perk. I need a name for you. You, not Kat. Joline just don't seem ... right. You going to be returning her body to Joline, by the way?" Quinn asked.

  "Joline was a stupid woman who unleashed the ultimate weapon that is me upon an unsuspecting Imperium. Screw Joline. Call me Sand."

  At least it would be easy to remember.

  The coffin around Sand dissolved into dust which then swirled around her, forming into clothing. A wide-brimmed hat, a denim shirt with the top half of the buttons undone, and leather pants. A pair of pistols in holsters at her waist.

  It wasn't something Quinn had ever seen Kat wear. She'd preferred dresses in private and body armor on missions. Still Sand then, not Kat. The outfit looked good on her.

  "We'll have to get through the Runestone. Will they be able to detect you?" Quinn asked.

  "Afraid so. If you are living the life of heroes right now, just wait until they see that you're harboring the most wanted fugitive in the galaxy," Sand said.

  Quinn knew that was true, they'd helped to set the stage for it. They'd let the Imperium know her crimes through Jinx’s broadcast, and now they were saving her life. And they'd keep on saving her life.

  It was going to put the family at risk. Quinn was already feeling guilt about that, but it was Kat. Hopefully, it was Kat.

  "Let me show you to the others," Sand said, a wall of the room twisting open to display a new tunnel.

  31

  The tunnel wound for a distance before opening into a large room. This one appeared to be for entertaining. A table was even laden down with what looked to be drinks and snacks.

  The family was mostly seated, still in their combat outfits and talking animatedly.

  "You're okay," Jinx cried, bounding up to Quinn as he walked in and crushing him with a tight embrace.

  Sand entered behind him, and with a stunned look Taki dropped her glass.

  "I’m fine, and I know we got some explaining to do, but we don't have a lot of time," Quinn said.

  "We know most of it. However, this guise was unexpected. You know this isn't really your wife?" Tamara asked.

  "She calls herself Sand, and promises that she is Kat—through some scientific trickery I don’t understand. Course, it's her too. What used to be Joline. Lot more complications than we expected," Quinn said.

  "And a lot less shooting and dying," Kara said.

  "Your wife?" Jinx asked, and then said, "Oh ... oh wow."

  "I'm getting her out of here. We can't use the runic sphere. We might do some shooting and dying yet, and even if we make it the Imperium won't be pleased. If anyone ever wanted to do any bailing now is the time," Quinn said.

  Melody approached, giving a surprised-looking Sand a hug. "I'm glad we didn't have to kill you. I was trying hard to save you."

  "It is more kindness than I deserve," Sand said.

  Mara said, her voice hard, "I want to make it clear what this thing is. Every alert in my head goes up with just a look at her. High magical potential, genetic potential, implants, and nanites. All this in the grip of a hyper-intelligence that has proved itself to be ruthless in the extreme. I don't know if she'll be bad news for us, but one day she will be very bad news for somebody."

  "True. Every single word," Sand said with a cocky smile.

  "It might be, but the threat she posed ... it’s shifting, Quinn. Order is no longer using her as its blunt instrument, but she's still all tangled up in things. Just like all of us," Jinx said.

  "I removed myself from that role. I could kill billions with a thought right now and remake them as mages. I could convert the entire population of this system and that fleet invading. In a single motion I could eliminate every threat to me," Sand said, looking between them. "You know I'm speaking truly. You've seen what I've done here."

  Quinn thought she was telling the truth. They had invaded with everything they'd had and their entire assault had been blunted in under a minute.

  "You know you already sold me," Mara said, letting out a low breath. "I just had to make sure the others understood. Knew the choice they were making."

  "You agreed?" Quinn asked.

  "You're not the only one who got bribed. I wasn't free of my implants, not really, they were just letting me think I was. Sand liberated me."

  "In some ways she is my daughter. Finding she is less broken and flawed than I thought delights me," Kalisa said.

  Taki let out a shaky sigh. "Where is this going to leave us? All of us. We ... what is Kat going to think?"

  "I don't know. We'll worry about it later. If nobody is taking the out, we need to get back to the Centauri Bliss. Sand, can you open us a passage?" Quinn asked.

  A hole in one wall opened, angled upwards.

  "That went well," Sand said, slipping her arm into Quinn's as they walked. Quinn hated how familiar it felt, how nice.

  "Stop acting like we're a couple," Quinn said.

  "One package, remember. We are, you just haven't gotten used to the idea yet," Sand said.

  "Are you still multiple personalities?"

  Sand was silent for a moment and her grip on Quinn's arm tightened. "Ah. No, I am not. The Emperor killed the others, those that didn't die in the attack that originally took us down."

  That suddenly made sense, and put a few pieces together for Quinn that weren't making sense before. Sand was lonely, especially in her own head. This situation was serving her on several levels.

  "If you were planning on giving up, why are you still defending this system?" Quinn asked.

  "Do you think the Imperium is going to be saved if a combined fleet breezes into the system to find the Empress fled? They'll be firing on each other before the hour is out, just as they did before," Sand said with a savage shake of her head.

  "Fight together once, you can sit down afterward," Kara said.

  "I'm killing them. That is on me, not you, because I feel it has to happen. They will fight their way into the system. We'll escape them a
nd they'll make it to Imperius to find the palace destroyed and evidence of my crimes everywhere," Sand said.

  "You're so cold even I'm impressed," Tamara said.

  "You are all fighting with your hardware. You do it all the time. You can't always turn your emotions off to do what is right, you weren't built with the controls. I'm a better engineer," Sand said.

  They broke through to the surface. The Centauri Bliss had been righted, the ramp down.

  The ship was surprisingly uncluttered. Despite how badly it had been tossed about, most items had been strapped down and secured.

  "Dela, I'm going to need you on copilot. Jinx, we'll need to use the sphere the moment we're free of the system. Mara, your family will try to stop us. Don't let them," Quinn said.

  "I'll come with you to the cockpit. I'm still interfaced into defenses throughout the system," Sand said.

  Quinn, Dela, and Sand made their way to the cockpit where Quinn and Dela claimed the two seats.

  Dela began running them through the startup sequences. Unlike when Quinn tried earlier, each flicked switch quickly lit up and soon the engines began to rumble.

  "Glad you repaired the systems," Quinn said to Sand.

  "I took out a few unpleasant additions as well. The Athenaeum had a number of nasty surprises buried deep," Sand said.

  It was completely possible. Melody and Mara had checked over every system that had been installed, but if Mara had never truly been free of her implants then her investigations were suspect.

  Quinn saw the other side of that, of course. Even taking those ship upgrades had caused those qualms, because of how vulnerable it made them to Mara’s family’s manipulations. Now, if Sand was so powerful she could easily detect that sabotage, it was another reminder of how much danger he'd put his family to by bringing her aboard.

  "Why didn't I get a bribe? I'm really very bribe-able," Dela said.

  "Was I supposed to bribe everyone? Is this some kind of social misstep?" Sand asked.

  The engines powered up and they lifted from the surface. Quinn triggered a hard burn. Burning a little more fuel wouldn't get them killed, but not making it to the Runestone defenses before the fleet broke through them might. It was where a system’s defenses were often the strongest—at the one place most ships had to pass through.