Avalon

CHAPTER 31

JETH STARED AT THE FOUR BLANK WHITE WALLS AROUND him. He’d been right. A person could go mad in here.

He’d been locked in the cell less than a day, but already the restlessness was eating away at him. How long will they leave me in here? Forever? Only he knew that wouldn’t happen. Not with Hammer involved.

Jeth could only assume that’s what Dax had meant about a deal—that Renford and Hammer had somehow decided to work together. At first he couldn’t understand how it was possible, but then he remembered that Hammer had found Renford’s calling card. After that, it was just a matter of logistics. Dax must’ve told Hammer what happened on Moenia and what they were planning. Once Hammer knew, he could easily have used that information to negotiate with Renford. The idea of them working together was so horrible, Jeth couldn’t stomach speculating what their deal might entail.

At first his rage over Dax’s betrayal blocked out all rational thought. He beat his fists against the door, screaming until his lungs trembled from the effort and his throat became a raw, quivering thing inside his neck. But the rage soon gave way to anguish. He had failed them—Lizzie, Cora, everyone. None of them were safe now. Not from Renford and not from Hammer.

Finally, Jeth forced his mind away from these thoughts, focusing instead on not giving up, on finding a way out of here. Only there didn’t seem to be any hope of that. Nothing short of a plasinum cutter was getting through these walls, and he didn’t have a clue how to hack into the security panel by the door. And no tools, either.

He supposed his best chance was to be ready when they came for him.

The minutes continued to tick by as long as days, the hours as long as years. Jeth caught himself drifting in between sleep and wakefulness. Telling the difference between the two grew harder and harder.

Finally he heard movement outside. He stood from the bench he’d been lying on and raced to the small space beside the door, taking cover. He held his breath, muscles tense in anticipation.

As the door slid open, Jeth charged through it, throwing a punch at the person standing just beyond. His fist collided with Sergei’s jaw. Pain tore through his knuckles, but it didn’t stop the pleasure he felt as Sergei’s head snapped backward and blood burst from his lip.

Sergei wasn’t alone, but the other guards with him, a mixture of Brethren and ITA, couldn’t get to Jeth; Sergei was too big and the space in the corridor too small. Jeth kneed Sergei in the gut, grabbing the gun from his hand as he fell.

Jeth aimed it at the nearest guards, keenly aware of all the guns trained on him. “Go ahead and shoot, but I promise I’ll take more than a few of you down with me.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a familiar voice said from Jeth’s right.

He turned and saw Dax. He steadied his grip on the trigger. Killing Dax alone might be satisfaction enough. Only he couldn’t.

Sierra stood in front of Dax. Although she didn’t block much of him, he had his gun pointed at her. For a second, Jeth didn’t believe Dax would harm her, but he decided not to risk it. Dax had taken him by surprise once before. Jeth wasn’t about to let it happen again.

He lowered the gun, and one of the ITA soldiers yanked it from his hands while two others grabbed him by the arms and shackled his wrists. He didn’t bother trying to fight them off. There were too many of them and nowhere to go. No, he needed to be patient and wait for a better chance.

He took in Sierra’s appearance, seeing nothing outwardly wrong with her, other than the shackles on her wrists, too. Still, he asked, “Are you okay?”

She nodded, her expression grim. “Are you?”

Before Jeth could answer, a fist the size of a boulder collided with his stomach. He bent over, heaving in pain.

“Do anything like that again,” Sergei said, leaning over Jeth, “and I’ll cut off your feet with a dull saw.” Then he spat on Jeth’s face.

Struggling to catch his breath, Jeth wiped away the spit with his shoulder.

“Come on,” Dax said. “Renford’s waiting for them.”

The soldiers herded Jeth and Sierra down the corridor after Dax. Jeth moved in close to Sierra as they walked and whispered, “Any word on the others?”

She shook her head.

He sighed. He’d expected as much, but still the disappointment stung. Where were Lizzie and Cora? What about Shady? Did Flynn and Milton manage to get away on Avalon or had they been captured, too? Dax had known their position, after all.

“Any idea what’s coming next?” Jeth said, his dread increasing with every step.

“Nothing good.” Sierra’s voice trembled as she spoke, and any relief he’d felt at seeing her unharmed faded in an instant.

Dax led them into a large room not far from the brig. Strange devices filled the place, many of them outfitted with straps and shackles. Torture devices, Jeth realized. Some were simple items, like the row of vices in all different sizes hanging on the far wall or the large metal table in the center of the room. Others were more sophisticated, like what looked like a pair of large mechanized boots, the kind designed to shatter shinbones in small increments.

Jeth sucked air through his teeth. “Why do I get the feeling this room wasn’t part of the original cruise ship design?”

“This is the interrogation room,” Sierra said.

“No kidding.” Jeth had a feeling she knew the place well. He gulped, trying not to imagine what was coming next.

Renford stood near the middle of the room, not far from the table and in front of two identical metal chairs that resembled massive thrones. He waved at their entrance. “Good. Bring them over here and sit them down.”

The soldiers pushed Jeth and Sierra forward and into the chairs. Thin, nearly invisible lines forming small squares covered the chairs. They looked like tiny compartments. What those compartments contained—needles, knives, hot pokers—he was certain he didn’t want to find out.

Sierra glared up at Renford. “You’re wasting your time with this. Whatever it is you want from me, you’re not going to get it.”

He arched one eyebrow. “Why do you assume I want something? How do you know this isn’t just punishment for your betrayal?”

Sierra swallowed. “You wouldn’t bother doing it yourself if that was all there was.”

Renford sighed. “True. You do know me so well, don’t you?”

Jeth clutched the arms of his chair, resisting an overwhelming desire to hit the man. He never thought he would encounter someone he despised more than Hammer. Sure, Hammer tortured, manipulated, and killed people, but Jeth had never seen him do those things only for the pleasure of it. It always served a purpose. But there was pleasure in Renford’s eyes now, perverse and twisted. Jeth couldn’t imagine what life had been like for Sierra and Vince, growing up under the care of this man. Even more, he couldn’t imagine how she had turned out so good, so willing to sacrifice herself to save Cora. An ache blossomed in his chest at the thought.

Sierra didn’t respond. She merely continued glaring at Renford, her body as rigid as the metal chair beneath her.

“It is true,” Renford continued, “I do want something from you. I—” He broke off as someone entered the room.

Jeth craned his neck to see Hammer stride in. His stomach dropped, any childish hope he’d had that Dax had been lying about the deal vanishing in an instant.

“Sorry I’m late,” Hammer said, eyeing Sierra and Jeth.

Renford waved him off. “No matter. Your presence isn’t necessary for this.”

Hammer grunted. The annoyed sound of it perked Jeth’s ears. This was an unholy alliance, no doubt, but at least it didn’t seem to be an easy one. “Oh, I think it’s always necessary to protect an investment,” said Hammer. “Especially one as big as this.”

“What are you talking about?” Sierra said, shifting her glare toward Hammer. Jeth felt a momentary wave of awe at her spunk.

Glancing at Renford, Hammer chuckled. “So this is one of yours, is it? I like her already.”

Renford shot him a look sharp enough to cut glass.

Come on, Jeth thought, why don’t you two kill each other right now and save me the trouble?

Hammer stared back at Renford, unfazed.

Renford dropped his gaze to Sierra. “Let me formally introduce you to my new business partner, Hammer Dafoe.”

Sierra kept her eyes focused on Renford. “I know who he is. What I don’t understand is what he’s doing here.”

“Yes, well, in the past few weeks I’ve come to realize that simply selling the Aether Project would be foolish,” said Renford. “Why give up something so valuable for mere money? No. Rather than destroy the ITA, I’ve decided to take their place.” He paused then motioned at Hammer. “Excuse me. We’ve decided to take their place.”

Jeth’s mouth slid open. He closed it at once, teeth clacking. Hammer and Renford taking the place of the ITA? The idea of those two holding that much power was right up there with . . . no . . . he couldn’t imagine anything quite as bad as that. The ITA was guilty of a lot of horrible things, but at least it wasn’t a dictatorship. There was some measure of check and balance and restraint, a public service that, however corrupt, still held the galaxy together. He couldn’t imagine things holding together long under Hammer’s rule.

Sierra raised an eyebrow. “And how do you plan on doing that?”

Hammer folded his arms across his massive chest. “It’s a simple principle of business. Their monopoly on space travel will soon be our monopoly.”

“That’s right,” said Renford, keeping his attention focused on Sierra. “You know as well as I do that the ITA has failed to find an effective cure for the Pyrean sickness, and that it’s just a matter of time before what remains of the Pyreans die off. The only solution is to manufacture a new species for the job through Cora, and with any luck, Lizzie. Both of whom are under my control now. Add in Hammer’s resources and infrastructure and it’s only a matter of time before we can offer the public an alternative to their failing ITA-issued metadrives. There’ll be no saving the metagates, true, but with every ship equipped with its own metaspace navigator, no one will care much.”

That image of Cora as a human battery strapped into a machine swam in Jeth’s mind once again, all the muscles in his body clenching at the horror of it.

Beside him, Sierra visibly tensed. “Cora isn’t technology. She’s a little girl. A human being.”

Hammer coughed. “I thought you said she was smart?”

“Oh, she is,” said Renford. “When she doesn’t let her emotions interfere with her reason.”

“Don’t talk about me as if I’m not here.” Sierra glowered at both men in turn. “And I’m aware that Cora’s DNA isn’t strictly human, but that doesn’t make her anything less.”

“We’re not here to debate Cora Seagrave’s humanity or lack thereof,” Renford said. “Instead we need to discuss her future.”

Jeth scoffed, finding his voice at last. “What future? If you follow the ITA’s agenda, she’s going to die young.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” said Hammer. “Not once my scientists have had a chance to refine the AGT process.”

At first Jeth wanted to dismiss such an arrogant assertion, but then he remembered how successful Hammer’s scientists had been with stealth technology. Hammer employed people like himself—without scruples, willing to do whatever it took to succeed.

Jeth wanted to scream, wanted to do something rash, but he held back, willing himself to take deep, calming breaths. He knew right now he had to rely on that cool patience his father had taught him when he was learning to shoot. The right moment will come. Wait for it.

Sneering, Sierra said, “If you’ve already got such a foolproof plan in place, then why am I here? Why don’t you just kill me like you tried to do when you took Cora?”

Renford exhaled as if in regret.”You’re here because we’ve hit a snag with Cora. One only you can help smooth out.”

“Oh yeah? And what is that?”

“The same task the Aether Project scientists needed. Help in keeping Cora under control. She was in such a state when we revived her initially that she destroyed half of the hospital wing. We’ve placed her in a coma for now, but I’m sure you’re aware how dangerous it is to her health to be kept under for too long.”

Jeth glanced at Sierra, seeing in her expression this was true. Breathe, breathe. The words became a chant in his head.

“Cora likes you,” Renford went on. “She trusts you. If she were to wake up and see your face, no harm would befall anyone, including her.”

Sierra bit her lip. “What will you do with her if I say no?”

Renford shrugged. “We’ll try different medications or keep her under as much as possible. Nothing good for her, I assure you. Nothing that will make her as happy as she would be having you around.” Renford paused, and when he went on it was with a persuasive tone that even Jeth had to admit was dangerously effective. “Think about it, Sierra. You’ll be able to help her, teach her how to control her unique abilities. And, if you want, you can continue assisting with the scientific work as well. I might even give you a say in what happens to her, if you take strides to regain my trust in you, that is. But really, this is your only chance to help preserve Cora’s so-called human rights.”

“What about Lizzie?” Jeth said. “What do you plan on doing to her?”

“Oh, no need to worry about her, Jeth,” said Hammer. “She’ll be treated better than she would have been otherwise, given what’s happened.”

Jeth flinched, knowing perfectly well Hammer was referring to his plan to use her in one of his brothels if Jeth betrayed him one more time. Which he had. He didn’t doubt for a second that Dax had told Hammer about his plan to get his crew and family away. Even if Dax hadn’t, Sergei certainly would’ve told him about how Jeth had locked him up.

“Yes, no need to fret,” said Renford. “She’ll undergo some medical tests and a couple of surgeries, of course, to harvest her eggs.”

Breathe, Jeth thought. Just find a way out. Keep breathing . . .

Sierra shook her head. “I won’t help you. Cora and Lizzie would be better off dead than under your control.”

A sneer warped Renford’s features, his persuasive persona of a moment before vanishing. “You of all people should understand the importance of what I’m trying to accomplish. You’ve seen the consequences of the meta technology failing completely. All the worlds will end up like Rosmoor, slowly starving to death, wallowing in disease. But that will never happen again with what I have planned. The ITA has held unchecked power for far too long.”

And who will check you? Jeth wanted to say, but he didn’t get a chance as Sierra said, “Exploiting Cora and Lizzie isn’t the answer. Clones or test tube babies, it doesn’t matter. They’re all humans with human emotions. You’re not creating a solution, but an entire race of slaves.”

“Better a few should live as slaves than billions die,” said Renford.

“Don’t do it, Sierra,” Jeth said, glancing at the red implant in the back of Hammer’s skull. She was right. Death was better. In the back of his mind he thought, There has to be some other solution, some way to cure the Pyrean sickness.

Hammer laughed, although anger smoldered in his eyes as he looked at Jeth. “I don’t understand where such bravado is coming from. Do you think your friends will be coming to rescue you?” He laughed harder. “If so, I would give up the hope now. All of them have been captured. Why, Avalon herself is docked on the flight deck of this ship.”

Jeth gritted his teeth, his calm breaking. Despair pressed down on him as hatred pumped through his veins. As always, Hammer knew just the way to break him.

Sierra shook her head. “My answer is no,” she said, her voice like ice. “I won’t help you. And you can torture me all you want, but it won’t matter. You know better than anybody how well I’ve been conditioned to withstand it.”

A shiver slid over Jeth’s body. He didn’t want to know what she meant, although judging by the torture devices hanging around this place, he could guess. He wondered which machine was responsible for her deformed fingers.

Renford sighed. “Yes, I know. But that’s why he’s here.” He pointed at Jeth.

“What?” Jeth’s stomach twisted into a knot.

Sierra smirked. “Go ahead. I don’t care what you do to him.”

Jeth gaped at Renford and Sierra in turn, outrage and fear making his head pound.

“That’s not what I saw on the brig security cameras,” Renford said. “I’ve studied human interaction and body language enough to recognize genuine attraction when I see it. And I’m quite certain that you feel strongly about him.”

“You’re mistaken,” Sierra said, but Jeth thought he heard a faint hitch in her voice. He hoped it was there. Was it possible Renford was right? Not that it mattered at the moment. Jeth fought to regain his calm but failed, his breath coming in quick, silent pants.

“We shall see.” Renford motioned to the guards standing a short distance away. “Strip him down and put him on the table.”

Jeth reacted at once, leaping up and swinging with both hands at the first person within reach. It was no good. The soldiers overpowered him in seconds. They unbound his wrists, then pulled off his shirt, pants, boots, and socks, leaving only his underwear. Then they forced him onto the metal table. He continued to struggle as they strapped him down by his wrists and ankles. Finally, they tightened the shackles until he couldn’t move at all.

The cold metal bit at Jeth’s naked flesh even as sweat broke out over his body.

“Don’t forget, Renford,” Hammer said as he stood watching nearby, “no permanent damage. This one belongs to me.”

“No need to worry,” Renford said, stepping into Jeth’s view. He carried some kind of metal rod in his hand. “The effects won’t be lingering. Not physically, anyways.”

Jeth braced for pain as Renford lowered the rod toward him. The end of it buzzed and hissed with electricity. But nothing could’ve prepared him for the searing agony that shot through the left side of his body as the rod touched his shoulder. It was like being hit by a hundred stunners all at once.

He clamped his mouth shut, fighting with all his will not to scream.

The pain vanished as quickly as it had come, but Renford wasn’t finished. He lowered the rod to Jeth’s stomach and this time held it there longer. Jeth jerked against the shackles, his body desperate to curl into a fetal position, evading the pain. The shackles cut into his skin, preventing him. Blood dampened his arms and feet.

On and on Renford went, prodding him everywhere, varying the length of time he let Jeth suffer so that his mind was in as much torment as his body.

“You can stop this, Sierra,” Renford called out over the crackle. “Just say the word. I’m sure you can remember what it feels like to have this much electricity running through you.”

Jeth wanted to shout at her that he was all right, but he couldn’t open his mouth. If he did, he would cry out.

Renford lowered the rod again, but this time he touched the table itself. The sensation was like being burned alive. Every part of Jeth’s body, every nerve and hair follicle, was on fire. He gritted his teeth, his mind frantic for some way to endure this, some way to escape. It’ll pass . . . it’ll pass . . . it’ll pass.

Yet on and on it went. Tears leaked from Jeth’s eyes as he squeezed them shut. All his hair stood on end. He felt on the verge of breaking, his entire body wrenching apart. Until at last he couldn’t take it anymore.

The fight went out of him. His mouth opened, and the scream broke free.

It went on forever.

Until finally Sierra’s frantic voice blended with his. “Stop it!”

Renford lowered the rod, and the last crackle of electricity vanished. But the pain lingered. Jeth’s body hummed with it. His bones felt as fragile as needles. He stared at the ceiling above him, unable to move or think.

“What did you say, Sierra?” Renford asked, his tone smug.

“I’ll help you. With Cora.”

Through blurred vision, Jeth saw Renford beam down at him. “You see. I was right. She does care about you.”

Jeth didn’t reply. He hadn’t the will for it. It had been sucked out of him. Summoning what little energy remained, he turned his head and spat blood from where he’d bitten his tongue and the sides of his cheeks.

“But only on one condition,” Sierra said.

Renford turned away from Jeth to look at Sierra, a frown in his voice. “What condition?”

“Let Jeth and his crew go. Vince as well. Give them Avalon and let them leave unharmed.”

Renford laughed. “This isn’t a negotiation, Sierra.”

“Oh, but it is. Sooner or later you will have to wake Cora up. She’s no good to you unconscious or dead, and there’s no drug she won’t build a resistance to sooner or later. But give me what I ask, and I’ll do everything you want me to do, no questions, no deception. If you don’t, you better kill me now, because otherwise I’ll do whatever I can to teach her how to use her power against you. She will tear this ship apart. And everyone in it.”

From where he lay, Jeth saw a dark look cross Renford’s face. Jeth watched him through the slits of his eyelids, fighting off the blackout now threatening to overtake him.

“What do you think, Hammer?” Renford said, shifting his gaze off Sierra. “Shall we let Jeth and the others go?”

Hammer took a long time to reply. “I suppose I’m willing to part with the crew and the ship. Avalon’s little more than a junk heap at this point. But not Jeth. I have plans for him.”

“What plans?” Sierra said.

“That’s not for you to worry about, little girl. But I promise that’ll he be alive and in far less pain and stress than he is right now.”

Jeth closed his eyes, understanding exactly what Hammer had in store. He heard Sierra exhale, the sound full of something like pity or maybe sorrow. He blocked it out as best he could, willing his mind to go as numb as his body.

“That’s the best offer you’re going to get,” said Renford. “And you should consider yourself extremely lucky that I’m willing to let Vince leave here alive after what he’s done to me. So do we have an agreement?”

Silence descended in the room as all of them waited for Sierra to answer.

“Yes,” she finally said, the word ringing out like a gong.

Jeth pushed the air from his lungs then drew breath again. At least the others will escape, if not Lizzie and Cora and me. That was better than nothing.

“But I want to say good-bye to everyone,” said Sierra. “Starting with him.”

“As you wish,” Renford said, sounding amused now.

Jeth heard Renford’s heavy footsteps retreating and then lighter ones approach. Soft, gentle hands touched his face. He opened his eyes to see Sierra leaning over him. She stroked his cheek, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Then she leaned down to him, pressing her lips against his. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “But don’t give up hope. I’ll find us a way out of this. Or I’ll die trying.” She kissed him, her mouth a balm against the hurt inside him.

Then she was gone.

Jeth managed to raise his head just enough to see her disappear through the doorway with Renford. Hammer moved into view, and Jeth recoiled from the sight of him, wanting to get away.

Only there was nowhere to go.

Hammer stooped over him and said, “Five more days, Jethro, and you’ll be eighteen.” He grabbed Jeth’s chin and pushed his head to the side, exposing the back of his skull. Then he jammed a finger against the implant architecture hole. Pain arced over Jeth’s head and down his spine, sparks flashing across his vision. He couldn’t help the whimper that escaped his throat.

Hammer laughed. The terrible, triumphant sound crushed out the small flame of hope Sierra’s parting words had given him.