Crimson Rain (34 page)

“
I know.
”

“
Let
’
s get Luther back inside. He will need repairs and an upgrade if we keep taking him outside like this.
”

“
After he
’
s in…can we get some real food to eat? I am really sick of those bars.
”

* * * *

“
She is going to pay!
”
Badger screamed at those who were near him.

He went on a rampage, destroying whatever furniture was nearby. He was kicking things and hitting them until bones in his hands broke. He was acting like a five-year-old who hadn
’
t gotten what he wanted. Nobody had a mind to care, though. They were all his subservient drones.

Anything Badger said aloud was for his own good; there was nobody around him anymore who could give him an intelligible response. He and Zax were friends. That was how he was able to convince Synaptix to allow Zax to keep his free will and be a commander of the army. Now, his friend was dead, and his other companion was out of range for him to be able to communicate with.

Badger went into an office at the back of the Psyker warehouse and sat down at a terminal. He linked in and contacted the
main
powers at Synaptix. There were five with positions of authority above him.

“
Zax, the second in command, i
s
now dead. Surge is away on an assignment and out of range for me to contact. What are my orders?
”

He disconnected from the terminal and waited for a command to come into his head. They had always contacted him via psychic communication. He, however, did not have access to their minds. He knew his place. Shortly, it came in. He sat back at the terminal and sent them a message back.

“
Understood, I shall proceed as you command
”
is all that it said.

* * * *

“
They should be back by now, Ghast,
”
Sarah said.

“
You
’
re right,
should be,
”
he muttered.

“
So why aren
’
t they?
”

“
I just received word from a scout we had sent. They
’
re all dead.
”

“
All of them? The Ilithids too?
”

“
Yes,
”
Ghast said, tapping his foot behind the table, clearly aggravated.

“
Are you sure he was traveling alone?
”

“
We checked the security cams; he got off alone. Made a brief visit to a terminal, then he and three others killed the whole force. All sixty slain, he killed a good majority of them by himself. Then the man who appeared to be with him turned on him. Your brother crushed him like he was nothing, despite the fact several of the Ilithids had managed to wound him pretty badly.
”

“
So where is he?
”

“
Don
’
t you think if I knew I would be pursuing? He is injured, now is the best chance we would have to be able to take him down and end him!
”

Sarah sat staring at Ghast; she was upset. Zarfa had eluded them once again. She was sick of it. She hadn
’
t been on the battlefield in months and it was eating at her. She needed the taste of blood in her mouth.

“
You have sat idly by for too long! You withdrew me from raids and attacks and told me to be patient. You told me you would handle getting my brother. Well now it is too late for that. Now it is time that he dies. Our only chance of capturing him is playing on his emotions. It
’
s time he sees me again.
I am sick of him being one step ahead every time. The next time we strike, I am joining the battlefield and you, for your part, you are getting out there too. I know you have the skill required to kill or capture him and yet you
’
ve hidden down here behind a desk! I am sick of it!
”

“
I am in charge of Faraza. It is your father
’
s orders that I do not go above!
”

“
I will deal with Father. You do as I say. The next attack, we are both going to the surface. I will not allow this incompetence to permeate Faraza any longer.
”

Ghast didn
’
t argue, just stared down his nose at Sarah. He hated having her talk to him this way. He tried with all of his might to keep from turning red hot with rage. He felt that she was belittling him.

“
Oh, and one more thing. We are sending a party of raiders to scout. Tonight! We find my brother, we strike. There is no way he will escape
,
not
with him this badly injured
. W
e might even capture him rather than kill him. Then I can have some real fun.
”

“
Very well,
”
Ghast grumbled as he conveyed the command to a raiding party.

He and Sarah got suited up for combat and joined the raiding party. There were eighty in total, including Sarah and Ghast. Each would take thirty-eight members and split up, searching through the city
,
looking for Zarfa.

The commands were clear, none of the normal business. No pillaging, kidnapping
,
or murder. They were to be as incognito as possible; their objective was finding Zarfa or flushing him out. Sarah would do things her way, and leave it to Ghast to do things his. She was determined to be in possession of her brother
’
s body by the end of tonight, dead or alive.

Commercial Deities

“
Did your best friend steal your girl and now they
’
re getting married? That bastard
. Y
ou hate them both and want revenge, right? But you
don
’
t feel like taking up a black contract? Want to ruin that special day where they say
‘
I do
’
outside?

“
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’
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“
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,
Barometics offers any weather, any time, on time, for the right price. All applicants must complete background check prior to purchasing our services, so if you don
’
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’
t bother.

“
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’
t think twice! At the price that is… Remember
,
folks, Barometrics—
’
order in a world full of chaos.
’
That
’
s our motto.
”

* * * *

“
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‘
special?
’
Well, we can fix that. Life doesn
’
t cut any breaks when it comes to genetics. Some of us will always have an edge on others, but Synaptix is here to help.

“
At Synaptix Laboratories Inc. we can speed up what has slowed down. Whether it
’
s
our most simple multiprocessor interface enhancement
or
brain-altering nanobots, you can achieve the desired result.

“
With the base Synaptix multiprocessor interface, a small microchip, transmitter
,
and electrode are simply implanted into the retina and connected right to your child
’
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“
What does this mean for him? Increased learning! All those things he wasn
’
t grasping will be immediately imbedded into his brain, leaving him smarter and more intelligent. We can
’
t all be geniuses, but we aren
’
t required to be stupid either…
Are
we?

“
I am sure you are wondering,
‘
won
’
t the operation hurt?
’
Of course! But what is a moment of pain for a lifetime of knowledge? Knowledge is power. Synaptix, start doing what you
’
ve been thinking about…today!
”

* * * *

“
Is your slave not loyal the way you wish she would be? Does she try to escape every time you beat her and you are just fed up with her attitude?
‘
Why can
’
t she be more loyal like that Labrador Retriever I had growing up?
’
you find yourself asking. Well, now she can be!

“
That
’
s right
,
with Polyhelix
’
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’
s
DNA
, affecting the way she will think about you.

“
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’
t worry, we assure you, unlike some of our other gene therapies, this one is totally perfected. She won
’
t be licking your face or peeing on the carpet. Just an unbreakable bond that will keep her coming back to you no matter what it is you do! Doesn
’
t that sound nice? Unquestionable loyalty, that
’
s what we all really want.

“
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“
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”

* * * *

“
S
eeking that memorable day in the sun at the park? Getting downright sick of it being hot all the time?
Or would you like
the weather to match your mood?

“
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R
emember, Barometrics, order in a world of chaos.
”

* * * *

“
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nothing but
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“
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’
s right! Intelli-Bots are the finest in nanobot brain enhancement technology.

“
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’
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’
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“
Remember, you
’
re never too young or old for Intelli-Bots. Once they are in you, they
’
re there to stay. Synaptix, start doing what you
’
ve been thinking about.
”

* * * *

“
Do you miss your limbs and can
’
t afford those expensive cybernetic appendages that you so desperately desire? Wish you could walk again of your own volition? Wish people would stop looking at you so strangely and treating you like a third rate citizen?

“
Too bad your parents never invested in reptilian gene replacement therapies when you were a child. For as low as twenty-five thousand credits, your parents could have ensured your safety and you would have never had to know a life of pain and heartache. With reptilian
DNA
therapies, you would be able to regenerate those poor old limbs!