with the set of microscopic tools he always carried in his breast pocket. “That judge is an idiot.”
Still bristling from our exchange, Violet wasn’t letting that observation pass without comment. “I know Warwick was a friend of the family, Nic, but don’t let that skew the matter. The man is a murderer—”
“The man is a genius,” Nic interrupted, “and anyone who says different is a fool.”
My mouth fell open, and I wondered if his ride in the SkyDart had addled his senses. Violet and Sebastian wore similar expressions of surprise.
Violet recovered first. “Then I’m the greatest sort of fool,” she said, as tart as one of her lemon pies. With deliberation, she went to stand next to Sebastian. Her hand trembled a bit when she lifted her cup from its saucer.
I was torn, wishing I could explain one to the other but unable to find the words. Nic wouldn’t have listened anyway, not in this dark mood.
“That ought to do it.” He flicked the RiPA switch to “On” and sent out a test message. Seconds later, Sebastian’s RiPA clicked out the relayed sentence.
I COULD DO WITH A DRINK MYSELF - STOP
Sebastian attended to Nic’s request as I flicked the RiPA to “Receiving.” Old messages were lost to the aether, but I didn’t want to miss a communication from Mama, Papa, or Dreadnaught.
“Send me something,” I demanded, “so we can confirm this still functions properly.”
Violet obliged, tapping out a series of dashes and dots. With a sputter, my RiPA relayed her message.
YOU WERE RIGHT - STOP - YOUR BROTHER IS AN IDIOT - STOP
When her terse observation was done, the RiPA continued to clack and clatter. Soon enough, we realized the new message wasn’t from anyone in this room.
DEAREST PENNY - STOP - PLEASE LOCATE THE AUGMENTATION PAPERS BY NOON TOMORROW - STOP - IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE - STOP - WARWICK
Warwick. He
wanted the Augmentation papers.
He
must have arranged for the break-in and our parents’ kidnapping. Not the Edoceon. Certainly not the Ferrum Viriae. I immediately flicked the machine over to “Outgoing” and pounded out a response.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH OUR MOTHER AND FATHER - QUERY MARK - IF YOU HURT THEM THERE IS NO PLACE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HIDE - STOP
Jolted from his black cloud, Nic squeezed my shoulder in solidarity. We waited several breathless seconds before Warwick responded.
SAVE YOUR ENERGY FOR THE SEARCH - STOP - LIVES DEPEND UPON IT - STOP
The line went silent just as the elevator alcove behind us rotated open. Marcus stepped out with a slip of paper in his hand. Taking great measured breaths, he handed it to me without comment. Puzzled, I looked down to see it was a transcript of Warwick’s first RiPA message.
“Has he sent another?” Marcus carefully modulated his words even as a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face.
I realized he must have run flat out from the Communications Center to arrive so quickly. “Only to tell us to save our energy for the hunt. How—”
“Our surveillance machines intercept anything sent on personal communications devices.” After another deep breath, he straightened his shoulders. “I didn’t have a chance to brief you on security measures. Now, would you care to explain just what Warwick meant by that message, Tesseraria?” Reaching out, Marcus looked as though he would take my hand, but settled instead for touching a finger to one of my bracelets.
He needn’t have invoked them; I was more than eager to tell him everything now. “It wasn’t just a break-in at Glasshouse—it was a kidnapping. Someone acting on Warwick’s orders took my parents hostage.” Remembering the bodies the surgeon left in his wake put a razor-edge on my words. “We need to get them back before something terrible happens.”
Marcus wore an expression of grim resignation. “So that’s the missing puzzle piece. I thought as much when I saw the house, but you didn’t say anything.”
“I didn’t know whom I
Still bristling from our exchange, Violet wasn’t letting that observation pass without comment. “I know Warwick was a friend of the family, Nic, but don’t let that skew the matter. The man is a murderer—”
“The man is a genius,” Nic interrupted, “and anyone who says different is a fool.”
My mouth fell open, and I wondered if his ride in the SkyDart had addled his senses. Violet and Sebastian wore similar expressions of surprise.
Violet recovered first. “Then I’m the greatest sort of fool,” she said, as tart as one of her lemon pies. With deliberation, she went to stand next to Sebastian. Her hand trembled a bit when she lifted her cup from its saucer.
I was torn, wishing I could explain one to the other but unable to find the words. Nic wouldn’t have listened anyway, not in this dark mood.
“That ought to do it.” He flicked the RiPA switch to “On” and sent out a test message. Seconds later, Sebastian’s RiPA clicked out the relayed sentence.
I COULD DO WITH A DRINK MYSELF - STOP
Sebastian attended to Nic’s request as I flicked the RiPA to “Receiving.” Old messages were lost to the aether, but I didn’t want to miss a communication from Mama, Papa, or Dreadnaught.
“Send me something,” I demanded, “so we can confirm this still functions properly.”
Violet obliged, tapping out a series of dashes and dots. With a sputter, my RiPA relayed her message.
YOU WERE RIGHT - STOP - YOUR BROTHER IS AN IDIOT - STOP
When her terse observation was done, the RiPA continued to clack and clatter. Soon enough, we realized the new message wasn’t from anyone in this room.
DEAREST PENNY - STOP - PLEASE LOCATE THE AUGMENTATION PAPERS BY NOON TOMORROW - STOP - IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE - STOP - WARWICK
Warwick. He
wanted the Augmentation papers.
He
must have arranged for the break-in and our parents’ kidnapping. Not the Edoceon. Certainly not the Ferrum Viriae. I immediately flicked the machine over to “Outgoing” and pounded out a response.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH OUR MOTHER AND FATHER - QUERY MARK - IF YOU HURT THEM THERE IS NO PLACE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HIDE - STOP
Jolted from his black cloud, Nic squeezed my shoulder in solidarity. We waited several breathless seconds before Warwick responded.
SAVE YOUR ENERGY FOR THE SEARCH - STOP - LIVES DEPEND UPON IT - STOP
The line went silent just as the elevator alcove behind us rotated open. Marcus stepped out with a slip of paper in his hand. Taking great measured breaths, he handed it to me without comment. Puzzled, I looked down to see it was a transcript of Warwick’s first RiPA message.
“Has he sent another?” Marcus carefully modulated his words even as a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face.
I realized he must have run flat out from the Communications Center to arrive so quickly. “Only to tell us to save our energy for the hunt. How—”
“Our surveillance machines intercept anything sent on personal communications devices.” After another deep breath, he straightened his shoulders. “I didn’t have a chance to brief you on security measures. Now, would you care to explain just what Warwick meant by that message, Tesseraria?” Reaching out, Marcus looked as though he would take my hand, but settled instead for touching a finger to one of my bracelets.
He needn’t have invoked them; I was more than eager to tell him everything now. “It wasn’t just a break-in at Glasshouse—it was a kidnapping. Someone acting on Warwick’s orders took my parents hostage.” Remembering the bodies the surgeon left in his wake put a razor-edge on my words. “We need to get them back before something terrible happens.”
Marcus wore an expression of grim resignation. “So that’s the missing puzzle piece. I thought as much when I saw the house, but you didn’t say anything.”
“I didn’t know whom I
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