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  “He doesn’t think they were people, but fairly crude NPCs like those scouts you recorded. Very simple constructions.”

  “Any idea what we should try next?” asked Athena.

  If Erik had thoughts on the subject, they were checked by the return of Gunnar’s striking blond avatar to Saga.

  “This appears to be a very dangerous situation.” He spoke as if everyone had been waiting for his opinion. “There is no question about the hostility of the EI on the other side of the portal.”

  It did not escape Milan’s notice that while Gunnar was speaking, B.E. had moved to gain a clear line of sight to Gunnar’s trooper. Milan couldn’t help being amused, although it must be a real downer for Ghost that the humans were so divided. This wasn’t what she had hoped for when she’d asked for help.

  “So what are you saying, Gunnar?” asked B.E. menacingly. “Are you saying we should halt the mission?”

  “I’m saying . . .”

  “First things first,” interrupted Erik, Cindella looking directly at Ghost. “Can you send a vehicle to pick up Anonemuss from the newbie square—I mean the Grand Plaza—to bring his next avatar back to us?”

  At this Ghost glanced to Athena, who nodded, tapped a device fixed to her ear, and turned away from them to talk into her coms unit.

  “Well, what’s the plan?” B.E. was toying with the sight of his sniper’s rifle, still squared off as if addressing Gunnar.

  “Anonemuss thought they were NPCs and that we should rush them right away in order to get in.” Cindella moved to stand in front of the portal, hands on sword hilts. “He reckons we have a good chance of taking them down.”

  “They might be NPCs,” observed Gunnar, “but as I was about to say, presumably there is an intelligence behind these hostile troops. If we go in, guns blazing, we will be alienating ourselves irretrievably from that EI.”

  Cindella walked over to the shimmering rectangle and stood there in contemplation; it seemed to Milan as though Erik were deliberately snubbing Gunnar. But his next words made it clear that Erik’s focus was less on the potential conflict between B.E and Gunnar than on the options available to them.

  “I was thinking that I have a few drops of invisibility potion left. If that works, we could perhaps just slip past them.”

  “Oh man, I love that stuff. It’s so awesome.” Remembering the time he had drunk from Cindella’s bottle, Milan spoke up with sudden animation. “There I was, thinking we were totally doomed, and the next minute we strolled out right under the guns of the police.” For a moment no one spoke, and sensing their confusion, Milan continued, “That’s what we did when we first met Cindella. We were in prison and the police brought her in to the cells. She got us all out of there with that potion.”

  It was Erik’s dad, Harald, who now addressed one of the core principles that the humans lived by: that violence was never justified. “It’s not a bad idea, Erik. But I’d really like to know what we are dealing with before we go through. I mean, if we are attacked by conscious beings, we will just have to bear it and try to reason with them. But if it is NPCs that are being used against us, we can fight back if necessary.”

  Milan didn’t much care for the pacifist philosophy of the humans of New Earth. Not when an unknown enemy stood poised to attack and had already demonstrated a complete lack of desire to enter into any kind of dialogue.

  Having sat patiently on her airboard as it hovered above the ground, Ghost now stood up.

  “As far as I’m concerned, the gray people now know that we’ve discovered the portal. So I don’t think there is anything left to gain by letting their scouts roam the city. It’s time we took them in.” She surveyed the response of the entire group, but it was the nods from Milan and Athena, that settled it. “Will you pass the order, please, Athena? Take them into custody.”

  Once again Athena walked a few paces away and talked in a low voice, as if addressing the floor at her feet.

  “So, who,” mused Inny aloud, “would open a portal to Saga, send in scouts, and set up a fighting force with orders to kill anyone coming through from Saga?”

  Milan nodded. “Yep. That’s the question all right.”

  “That and the related one: what do they want from us that they couldn’t get simply by asking?” Ghost was grim. She must have also sensed that war was coming to Saga. With a feeling of pride, Milan followed Ghost up to the gateway. Whatever lay in store, Ghost had the skills to deal with it and the people beyond the gateway were going to be sorry they ever came to Saga.

  “Perhaps the defenses on the other side are precautionary?” Gunnar offered the point, but B.E. had a quick response for him.

  “What, shoot to kill as soon as you see someone, even if they have their hands up and are saying they come in peace? I don’t think so. If that had been someone from Saga, they would be dead now, which is beyond precautionary; it’s callous and brutal.”

  “You know what my feeling is?” Ghost raised her voice. “My feeling is that something out there is preparing to attack us, and when it comes, it will be terrible. What if there are a lot of these portals? What if they pour into our world all at once? We disbanded the army and a lot of the security forces after the Dark Queen was . . . died. We stopped producing weapons in the factories. You know what’s ironic about this? The people of Saga might have been better equipped to resist invasion if the Dark Queen were still in charge.”

  Harald’s avatar gave a shrug. “But she wouldn’t have us on her side. And that has to be a major asset, having people who don’t stay dead.”

  “Totally. We really appreciate you being here. But your belief in non-violence also limits your assistance,” observed Milan, “because it’s not like you can form an army and fight them for us.”

  “Unless their troops are NPCs.” It seemed as though B.E. was always the first of the humans to see the opportunity for battle, and Milan gave him an approving smile.

  “Even then,” said Gunnar, “I believe I speak for the majority of people on New Earth when I say that we will not participate in a battle in Saga against a new enemy. Not after what happened with the Dark Queen.”

  “Maybe a majority, maybe not.” Inny flared up. “Look at all the people who wanted to help this mission.”

  Before the argument could continue, Athena held up her hand abruptly to command attention. “I’m just getting a report.” Her eyes were on the distant skyline. “We’ve picked up a scout, and it is merely robotic; no organic material at all; no response to attempts to communicate with it.”

  “Well then.” Having slotted home a power pack into his rifle with a distinct clunk, B.E. had no need to say anything further.

  “Dad, what do you think? NPCs?”

  “Sounds like it, although robots can be intelligent life-forms.”

  “Not these.” Athena shook her head as she listened to her earpiece. “It’s switched itself off. Gone dead on us while we were trying to communicate with it.”

  “We’re still back to the question of what is the guiding intelligence behind this and what do they want. These robots have been sent here with a purpose and those guarding the portal from their side were ordered to do so by someone. Right?” asked Inny.

  Several of the group nodded.

  “Then we have to get through and find out more.”

  While they continued to wait for Anonemuss, Cindella raised a crystal container high toward the sun and tipped it to see the liquid inside.

  “Is that the invisibility potion?” asked Ghost.

  Beside her, Inny’s avatar displayed a wince. “Not much left, is there?”

  “We could maybe get two people in. Not enough. But I have these as well.” Erik put the potion down and from Cindella’s backpack drew a set of finely illuminated playing cards.

  “A Deck of Curiosities?” Inny walked over to quickly look through the images. “The problem is our situation is too vague to use their magic for transport. These only work when you can be very specific about what
you want from them.”

  Cindella nodded and put the cards back. “How do you feel about fighting the guards, then?”

  “I think it’s all right. They aren’t alive—not like the people of Saga,” said Inny, but still with a note of uncertainty in her voice.

  “Don’t you think they must be a little bit alive, though? Like, say, a cat or a dog?” asked Erik.

  “Maybe. But cats and dogs don’t switch themselves off like these things.”

  “So, you think they are basically NPCs?”

  “I do,” Inny replied firmly.

  Lifting the potion bottle again, this time high for all to see, Erik spoke loudly. “I’m sorry folks; we are not going to be able to get more than two people in with the potion. So the question is, are we willing to fight those guards to get to see what lies beyond the portal?”

  “I am,” B.E. said with a shrug.

  Harald, however, did not move, and it was hard to read his avatar, as the expression was set to neutral.

  “Gunnar?”

  “Thank you for asking my opinion. I’ll give it, although I don’t think I can sway you all from a potentially catastrophic encounter with a world of belligerent and powerful electronic intelligences. First of all, I do agree that to fight the NPCs on the other side would not infringe on the Law of Violence, but one or more of the fully conscious beings in this other world might be among the units sent to guard the portal and we might harm them by mistake. Moreover, charging in and firing our weapons is precisely the kind of behaviour that will alert the initiating powers of the other side to our existence. Ours, meaning human. What will they make of avatars that disappear without a trace after they are killed? Where will this lead them to search? If they come to consider us a threat, do they have the means to find our planet? Probably not, but even a marginal chance that we might be responsible for bringing disaster upon our people should make us pause for thought.”

  “You would abandon our friends in Saga to whatever dangers this portal represents?” Erik could show a great range of emotions through Cindella and right now she was frowning.

  “That’s a question I would prefer to answer privately, among ourselves,” Gunnar answered primly, with a quick glance at Ghost.

  “You mean yes. And don’t be so coy.” B.E.’s avatar was less sophisticated than Cindella’s, but it, too, was scowling.

  “All right, yes. I think we should leave now and never come back. I know this sounds harsh”—this to Ghost—“but I hope you understand my reasoning and my motives. I only seek to protect my species as you would yours.”

  Erik turned to Ghost.

  “What would you do, if the situation were reversed? If you had to come fight in our world, at the risk of bringing trouble to Saga?”

  “Me? I’d fight,” Ghost replied without hesitation.

  “Go Ghost!” Milan laughed with delight and held out his knuckles for her to punch. “I knew you’d say that.”

  “All right, I vote for fighting, too.” Up until now, Harald had been reserved, but this reaction by Ghost and Milan seemed to have won him over.

  “Great. Seeing as Anonemuss proposed the idea, that settles it. Sorry, Gunnar, but we are going in.”

  “I knew it a long time ago. And I can’t stop you here . . .”

  “That’s right,” said B.E., lifting his rifle.

  “. . . but I can cut off your access to Saga and you can be certain I will do so if there seems to be the slightest risk to our people.”

  Harald’s trooper shook his head. “You don’t have the authority to do that.”

  “Oh yes I do.”

  “Listen, Gunnar, everyone. This is not the time for such an argument. We’ve agreed that we are going in and we’ll do so as soon as Anonemuss is back. That’s the end of the matter for now.” Cindella strode up to the portal, a lithe silhouette against the bright shimmering surface, and Milan’s heart warmed at the determination in Erik’s voice.

  Chapter 8

  BOWS AND BULLETS

  Ghost waited impatiently for Anonemuss to return; an airbike driven by one of Athena’s squad was bringing him back as a passenger. As soon as the scout reached the group, Anonemuss leapt off the bike and everyone gathered together to look as he sketched the layout on the other side of the portal. It did not take long to formulate a plan, which essentially consisted of Cindella going in first and relying on her magic items to draw enemy fire away from the portal while everyone else came through, troopers first.

  “Damn, I wish I was joining you,” muttered Milan as the humans checked their weapons in preparation for their attack.

  “Really? I would be terrified if this was happening on New Earth and my life was at stake,” Inny replied.

  “Well yeah, I wish I was joining you and that I could come back to life if it didn’t work out.” He laughed.

  “I am coming.”

  Everyone turned to Ghost.

  “We need you here, though,” said Athena quietly.

  “It doesn’t make sense,” added Harald. “It doesn’t matter if any of us get killed. But you . . . well, you are unique.”

  “As are we all.” Despite her seriousness, Ghost gave a smile. “I know what you mean. But I can’t just stay here in Saga and wait to see what happens. It’s like I’m shackled. I need to stretch myself, to see the rest of the universe, to discover what I’m capable of. To feel myself fully alive.” She looked about the group, hoping they understood her.

  “There was a time when I thought I would upload myself into a robot in your galaxy and fly to the stars in a spaceship. But this is better; I get to keep my body. And I’ve two other reasons for going that have nothing to do with my own feelings. One is that you’ll need me, assuming my RAL abilities work through there; secondly, if Saga is under threat, it’s my responsibility as queen to defend us. Given that it’s my fault the people of Saga no longer have an army to defend them, the least I can do is go in person and try to avert the danger.”

  It was unlike Ghost to explain herself at such length, but she was determined to go through the portal with the humans and wanted them to understand her. And her speech had not just been for the benefit of the humans. Although she had addressed Erik’s group, it was Athena’s and Milan’s responses that she was watching for. Athena appeared shocked but Milan gave her a knowing wink.

  “I understand you, Ghost,” Erik answered. “But all the same, I think you should at least wait here until the initial fighting is over. If we win, come through afterward and see if your powers work. If they don’t apply beyond the portal, you’d be of more use here in Saga, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded. But at the same time she settled an ammunition belt over her shoulder.

  “Well then, we’re all set.” Cindella looked from the glistening, pale sheen of the portal back to the group of combatants, then tapped the device fixed to her ear. “Coms on. Let’s do it.”

  “About time.” B.E. hefted his IVB Pulsar with both hands, cradling it in front of his chest like an infant.

  “Good luck everyone.” Swords drawn, Cindella dived through the portal on a roll.

  After a count of twenty, Harald ran in, rifle already raised, ready to fire. Another ten seconds and B.E. moved closer to the shimmering curtain.

  “Come on, Gunnar. You’re supposed to be next.”

  “I decline to enter.”

  “Blood and thunder!” With a cry of exasperation, B.E. dived through, and after him went Inny, the medic for their team. With the exception of Gunnar, whose handsome trooper was stepping away from the portal, the humans were through—and probably in the middle of a furious battle. In the quiet streets of Saga it could hardly have been any more tranquil.

  Kicking her airboard alive, Ghost accelerated as fast as she could toward the shimmering portal. “I’m going in.”

  “No!” cried Athena.

  But Ghost didn’t hesitate.

  The world beyond the portal was sunny, just as Erik had described it. W
hat he hadn’t managed to convey was the curious impact of the colors. They were subtly different from those of Saga: the green of the trees in the distance was, well, greener; the same was true for the blue of the sky, and even the ocher uniforms of the soldiers. Everything was a little brighter, a little more cartoonlike, than the gritty urban environment that Ghost lived in.

  No sooner had she absorbed the shock of entering this new world than the first streams of bullets began to search her out. As she threw herself from the airboard and down a grassy bank, Ghost summoned up all her powers of concentration and tried to slow down the passage of time. It worked. The underlying fabric of this new environment was almost identical to that of Saga. It was made up of discrete cycles of processing activity, which felt to Ghost like a pulse: a pulse with more than a thousand beats per second. As a RAL—the last in Saga—Ghost had an innate ability to alter all the environmental variables around her, including this pulse, and she slowed it now as much as she possibly could, bringing the beat of time almost to a stop.

  Bullets filled the air. Each jerk of the time frame brought a dozen lines of these missiles closer to her body. And crude as they were, if they hit, they’d rip her to pieces. Nevertheless, as her body rolled down the slope, Ghost lifted her own handguns into position to fire back at the enemy soldiers. Near-blinding flashes of energy now joined the lethal display, lurching away from her with every frame, back toward the source of one of the streams of bullets. She could alter the air pressure in her vicinity and did so, making sure that as the arriving bullets reached her they curved away from the straight line they had previously followed, to streak past Ghost’s head with a distortion of the air that would have sounded like a high-pitched scream at normal speeds. As she finished her roll to come up to a kneeling posture, still returning fire, Ghost let out a cry of triumph. To stay alive in the center of this rain of hot metal stretched her to her utter limit, but she could do it. Whoever these people were, they had made a big mistake; a terrible enemy was upon them.