living cells, the nerves are branching out. They want to connect to our living tissue. The cube probably wants to absorb our energy. All cells are hungry.”
“Ambergris here. Can you reach your laser rifles? They had an effect on the Sents, which are similar in composition to the cube walls. If you can fire anywhere into the gel, it might be tantamount to a little electric shock therapy, a way of saying ‘Bad cell. You need to behave.’”
“I’m reaching for mine now,” Shooter said. “I have to cross my right hand to my left shoulder, where the rifle is hanging. Not gonna be easy.”
“Ten minutes left,” Hawkeye said.
“Damn,” said Shooter. “Between the bright pulses of light and these damn nerve tendrils, it’s hard to even see where my hand is.”
The gel was thickening, and its blue color was fading.
“I’m having trouble seeing the room,” said Aiko. “The wall is looking more and more metallic.”
“Eight minutes to go,” Hawkeye said.
Quiz
The Cube beneath Mount Elbert
Quiz sat up and examined his arm.
“The infection is gone, Ops,” he said. “Not sure how it happened except — ” He glanced up at Dante. “Except to say that I was enveloped by some kind of healing energy field.”
“That’s good news, Quiz,” said Touchdown. “Stay put and await further orders.”
* All energy within living things has latent healing powers. The cube’s energy is formidable. *
So you healed me by channeling that light beam from the cube’s wall?
* In a manner of speaking, yes. I had to ramp down the cube’s energy output for the transfer, but I boosted your immune system. It’s possible, however, that I didn’t entirely correct the underlying problem, which is that your DNA is trying to rewrite itself according to a different template. The symptoms might return. We should try to locate Titan Six. *
This is a large structure with a labyrinthine system of passageways. I’ll ask Touchdown to guide us, but according to Ops, T6 is encountering quite a few traps.
The picture of a kindly man appeared on the wall. He wore a flowing white robe and had a gray beard. He appeared to be very old.
“May I be of assistance?” the figure asked as it stepped from the wall into the room.
It’s one of the Ancient! He thinks you’re one of them, Dante, because of your appearance.
“I am the accumulated knowledge of the elder named Parsus,” the old man said. “I am programmed to be your guide.”
* This man is like a hologram, only far more sophisticated. He is a representation of one of the Ancients who lived thousands of years ago. *
“Take us to our five friends,” Quiz said. “Um . . . please, that is.”
The Elder thought for a moment before a look of illumination spread across his face. “Follow me,” he said, bowing.
“Who are you talking to?” asked Touchdown.
“Some kind of hologram,” Quiz said. “Of an old guy. Really old.”
“There,” said Ambergris when Quiz had replaced his helmet and restored the video feed to the Ops center. “We’re seeing one of the Ancients for the first time. Simply fascinating!”
Titan Four
SURP Station 872
“Ops, a few of the soldiers are starting to stir,” Blade reported.
“Try stunning them again,” said Nguyen.
Titan Four raised their laser rifles and took aim.
“Ayeeee!” Jet screamed as he fell to the ground.
Titan Four spun around to find a dozen Sents behind them. Their photon tubes were glowing and charged. One burst had hit Jet.
“Fire,” Blade ordered. “Setting number — ”
The Sents fired first, hitting every member of T4. They then walked to the soldiers lying on the concrete next to the monorail. Their triangular heads pivoted methodically left and right, scanning the motionless bodies as well as those who were starting to regain consciousness.
They were communicating with their masters within the
“Ambergris here. Can you reach your laser rifles? They had an effect on the Sents, which are similar in composition to the cube walls. If you can fire anywhere into the gel, it might be tantamount to a little electric shock therapy, a way of saying ‘Bad cell. You need to behave.’”
“I’m reaching for mine now,” Shooter said. “I have to cross my right hand to my left shoulder, where the rifle is hanging. Not gonna be easy.”
“Ten minutes left,” Hawkeye said.
“Damn,” said Shooter. “Between the bright pulses of light and these damn nerve tendrils, it’s hard to even see where my hand is.”
The gel was thickening, and its blue color was fading.
“I’m having trouble seeing the room,” said Aiko. “The wall is looking more and more metallic.”
“Eight minutes to go,” Hawkeye said.
Quiz
The Cube beneath Mount Elbert
Quiz sat up and examined his arm.
“The infection is gone, Ops,” he said. “Not sure how it happened except — ” He glanced up at Dante. “Except to say that I was enveloped by some kind of healing energy field.”
“That’s good news, Quiz,” said Touchdown. “Stay put and await further orders.”
* All energy within living things has latent healing powers. The cube’s energy is formidable. *
So you healed me by channeling that light beam from the cube’s wall?
* In a manner of speaking, yes. I had to ramp down the cube’s energy output for the transfer, but I boosted your immune system. It’s possible, however, that I didn’t entirely correct the underlying problem, which is that your DNA is trying to rewrite itself according to a different template. The symptoms might return. We should try to locate Titan Six. *
This is a large structure with a labyrinthine system of passageways. I’ll ask Touchdown to guide us, but according to Ops, T6 is encountering quite a few traps.
The picture of a kindly man appeared on the wall. He wore a flowing white robe and had a gray beard. He appeared to be very old.
“May I be of assistance?” the figure asked as it stepped from the wall into the room.
It’s one of the Ancient! He thinks you’re one of them, Dante, because of your appearance.
“I am the accumulated knowledge of the elder named Parsus,” the old man said. “I am programmed to be your guide.”
* This man is like a hologram, only far more sophisticated. He is a representation of one of the Ancients who lived thousands of years ago. *
“Take us to our five friends,” Quiz said. “Um . . . please, that is.”
The Elder thought for a moment before a look of illumination spread across his face. “Follow me,” he said, bowing.
“Who are you talking to?” asked Touchdown.
“Some kind of hologram,” Quiz said. “Of an old guy. Really old.”
“There,” said Ambergris when Quiz had replaced his helmet and restored the video feed to the Ops center. “We’re seeing one of the Ancients for the first time. Simply fascinating!”
Titan Four
SURP Station 872
“Ops, a few of the soldiers are starting to stir,” Blade reported.
“Try stunning them again,” said Nguyen.
Titan Four raised their laser rifles and took aim.
“Ayeeee!” Jet screamed as he fell to the ground.
Titan Four spun around to find a dozen Sents behind them. Their photon tubes were glowing and charged. One burst had hit Jet.
“Fire,” Blade ordered. “Setting number — ”
The Sents fired first, hitting every member of T4. They then walked to the soldiers lying on the concrete next to the monorail. Their triangular heads pivoted methodically left and right, scanning the motionless bodies as well as those who were starting to regain consciousness.
They were communicating with their masters within the
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